One-minute sit-to-stand test cut-offs for risk stratification based on six-minute walk test thresholds in pulmonary hypertension.

Aims: We aimed to establish one-minute sit-to-stand test (1-min STST) cut-off values that align with the guideline-recommended six-minute walk test (6MWT) thresholds (165m and 440m) for one-year mortality risk stratification in pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients. Furthermore, we aimed to compare clinical characteristics and long-term mortality among patients stratified by these proposed 1-min STST cut-offs.

Methods: All patients performed the 1-min STST and 6MWT.

Photosensitive Hybrid γδ-T Exosomes for Targeted Cancer Photoimmunotherapy.

Melanoma is the most aggressive type of skin cancers. Traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy have limited effectiveness and can lead to systemic side effects. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a photoresponsive cancer therapy based on photosensitizers to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) to eradicate tumor cells.

Polysomnography in a Private Tertiary Hospital in Tanzania: Subjects' Characteristics and Sleep Disorders.

Background And Objectives: Huge clinical and research gaps exist concerning the epidemiology, natural history, availability, and accessibility of care for sleep disorders in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study aimed to profile the characteristics of patients referred for polysomnography and the frequencies of sleep disorders encountered at the new sleep laboratory in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective hospital-based descriptive observational study was conducted at the Aga Khan Hospital Dar es Salaam.

Cranioplasty infection in porous hydroxyapatite: Potential antibacterial properties.

Introduction: Intensive research is dedicated to the development of novel biomaterials and medical devices to be used as grafts in reconstructive surgery, with the purpose of enhancing their therapeutic effectiveness, safety, and durability. A variety of biomaterials, from autologous bone to polymethylmetacrylate, polyether ether ketone, titanium, and calcium-based ceramics are used in cranioplasty. Porous hydroxyapatite (PHA) is reported as a possible material for bone reconstruction, with good signs of biocompatibility, osteoconductive and osteointegrative properties.

Winery By-Products and Effects on Atherothrombotic Markers: Focus on Platelet-Activating Factor.

Platelet aggregation and inflammation play a crucial role in atherothrombosis. Wine contains micro-constituents of proper quality and quantity that exert cardioprotective actions, partly through inhibiting platelet-activating factor (PAF), a potent inflammatory and thrombotic lipid mediator. However, wine cannot be consumed extensively due to the presence of ethanol.

Finerenone: Do We Really Need an Additional Therapy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Kidney Disease?

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) face considerable cardiorenal morbidity and mortality despite existing therapies. Recent clinical trials demonstrate the efficacy of finerenone, a novel non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, in reducing adverse renal and cardiovascular outcomes. This editorial briefly reviews the evidence and its implications for clinical practice, advocating the use of finerenone in these high-risk patients in combination with currently established treatment agents.

Current Status of Plant-Based Bioactive Compounds as Therapeutics in Alzheimer's Diseases.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common central neurodegenerative disease disorder characterized primarily by cognitive impairment and non-cognitive neuropsychiatric symptoms that significantly impact patients' daily lives and behavioral functioning. The pathogenesis of AD remains unclear and current Western medicines treatment are purely symptomatic, with a singular pathway, limited efficacy, and substantial toxicity and side effects. In recent years, as research into AD has deepened, there has been a gradual increase in the exploration and application of medicinal plants for the treatment of AD.

Phage M198 and Its Therapeutic Potential.

The rapid worldwide spread of antibiotic resistance is quickly becoming an increasingly concerning problem for human healthcare. Non-antibiotic antibacterial agents are in high demand for many Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, including . -targeting phages are among the most promising alternative therapy options.

A Comprehensive Review of the Development and Therapeutic Use of Antivirals in Flavivirus Infection.

Flaviviruses are a diverse group of viruses primarily transmitted through hematophagous insects like mosquitoes and ticks. Significant expansion in the geographic range, prevalence, and vectors of flavivirus over the last 50 years has led to a dramatic increase in infections that can manifest as hemorrhagic fever or encephalitis, leading to prolonged morbidity and mortality. Millions of infections every year pose a serious threat to worldwide public health, encouraging scientists to develop a better understanding of the pathophysiology and immune evasion mechanisms of these viruses for vaccine development and antiviral therapy.

Investigations of Long-Acting Formulations in Children, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review.

Long-acting and extended-release drug delivery strategies have greatly improved treatment for a variety of medical conditions. Special populations, specifically infants, children, young people, and pregnant and postpartum women, could greatly benefit from access to these strategies but are often excluded from clinical trials. We conducted a systematic review of all clinical studies involving the use of a long-acting intramuscular injection or implant in infants, children, young people, and pregnant and postpartum people.

Exploring the Therapeutic Landscape: A Narrative Review on Topical and Oral Phosphodiesterase-4 Inhibitors in Dermatology.

Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) is involved in the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines that mediate several chronic inflammatory disorders, including psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. In recent years, the therapeutic armamentarium in dermatology has expanded with the introduction of PDE4 inhibitors, both in oral and topical formulations. PDE4 inhibitors have gained increasing interest due to their remarkable safety record and ease of prescription, as evidenced by the recent influx of literature detailing its off-label uses.

Targeted Polymer-Peptide Conjugates for E-Selectin Blockade in Renal Injury.

Background/objectives: Leukocytes play a significant role in both acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), contributing to pathogenesis and tissue damage. The process of leukocyte infiltration into the inflamed tissues is mediated by the interactions between the leukocytes and cell adhesion molecules (CAMs, i.e.

Development of an Adaptable Qualification Test Set for Personnel Involved in Visual Inspection Procedures of Parenteral Drug Products Manufactured Under Good Manufacturing Practice Conditions in Hospital Pharmacy Compounding Facilities.

Parenteral drug products manufactured under GMP conditions should be visually inspected for defects and particulate contamination by trained and qualified personnel. Although personnel qualification is required, no practical protocols or formal guidelines are available for the development of qualification test sets (QTSs) used for qualification procedures. The current practice is to either procure a standardized QTS from a commercial supplier or amass sufficient manufacturing rejects during visual inspection procedures to compile in-house QTSs.

Enhancing the Therapeutic Effect and Bioavailability of Irradiated Silver Nanoparticle-Capped Chitosan-Coated Rosuvastatin Calcium Nanovesicles for the Treatment of Liver Cancer.

Liver cancer is a prevalent form of carcinoma worldwide. A novel chitosan-coated optimized formulation capped with irradiated silver nanoparticles (INops) was fabricated to boost the anti-malignant impact of rosuvastatin calcium (RC). Using a 2-factorial design, eight formulations were produced using the solvent evaporation process.

Effect of Staggered vs. Simultaneous Co-Administration of Bempedoic Acid on Pharmacokinetics of Pravastatin: Randomized, Cross-Over Clinical Trial in Healthy Volunteers.

: Bempedoic acid (BA) is a novel cholesterol-lowering agent with proven positive effects on cardiovascular endpoints. Because it is an inhibitor of the hepatic transporters OATP1B1 and OATP1B3, two uptake transporters regulating the intrahepatic availability of statins, it increases the systemic exposure of co-administered statins. This interaction could raise the risk of myopathy.

Therapeutic Efficacy of Intranasal -Acetyl-L-Cysteine with Cell-Penetrating Peptide-Modified Polymer Micelles on Neuropathic Pain in Partial Sciatic Nerve Ligation Mice.

: We previously demonstrated that the intranasal administration of cell-penetrating Tat peptide-modified carrier, PEG-PCL-Tat, improves drug delivery to the central nervous system. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of the post-onset intranasal administration of -acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) combined with PEG-PCL-Tat (NAC/PPT) for neuropathic pain. : Neuropathic pain was induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL) in mice.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Does Not Change the Pharmacokinetics and Transplacental Distribution of Fluoxetine and Norfluoxetine Enantiomers.

: Fluoxetine (FLX) is the inhibitor of serotonin reuptake most prescribed in pregnant women with depression. This study evaluates the influence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on the enantioselective pharmacokinetics and transplacental distribution of FLX and its metabolite norfluoxetine (norFLX). : Ten pregnant women diagnosed with GDM (GDM group) were investigated in the third trimester of gestation after they achieved good glycemic control.

Drug-Drug Interactions Between HIV Antivirals and Concomitant Drugs in HIV Patients: What We Know and What We Need to Know.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy has led to a significant increase in the life expectancy of people living with HIV. The trade-off is that HIV-infected patients often suffer from comorbidities that require additional treatment, increasing the risk of Drug-Drug Interactions (DDIs), the clinical relevance of which has often not been determined during registration trials of the drugs involved. Therefore, it is important to identify potential clinically relevant DDIs in order to establish the most appropriate therapeutic approaches.

Phenolic Compounds and Pharmacological Potential of Extracts for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases.

The search for neuroprotective compounds in lavender is driven by its traditional use for brain health, with antioxidant activity serving as a key mechanism in reducing oxidative stress and supporting cognitive function. Lavender's potential to protect neurons is based on its calming, anti-stress properties, which increase the brain's resistance to neurodegeneration. Although lavender is not a traditional medicinal plant in Ukraine, it is increasingly recognised for its medicinal properties and is widely cultivated in the country.

An Investigation of the Anticancer Mechanism of L. Extract Against Colorectal Cancer by Integrating a Network Pharmacological Analysis and Experimental Validation.

L. has exhibited various pharmacological effects, yet its anticancer activities against colorectal cancer (CRC) and underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the anticancer properties of an ethanol extract of L.

The Genus : A Comprehensive Review of Taxonomic Aspects, Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities.

The genus (Asteraceae) has been traditionally used in Mediterranean medicine for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. However, scientific research on this genus remains limited, highlighting the need for a comprehensive review of its chemical composition and pharmacological characteristics. This review compiles existing knowledge on species, focusing on their secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids, terpenes, and essential oils, as well as associated biological activities.

Curcumin and Vitamin D Supplement Attenuates Knee Osteoarthritis Progression in ACLT + MMx Rat Model: Effect on Cartilage Protection and Pain Reduction.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and debilitating disorder marked by joint degradation, inflammation, and persistent pain. This study examined the possible therapeutic effects of curcumin and vitamin D on OA progression and pain in a rat knee OA model by anterior cruciate ligament transection and meniscectomy (ACLT + MMx). Male Wistar rats were categorized into five groups: control, curcumin-treated (100 mg/kg/day), vitamin D-treated (25 µg/kg/day), a combination of vitamin D and curcumin, and sham-operated.

The Improvement Effects of BC99 on Liver Function and Gut Microbiota of Long-Term Alcohol Drinkers: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

Background/objectives: With the improvement of living standards, alcoholic liver disease caused by long-term drinking has been a common multiple disease. Probiotic interventions may help mitigate liver damage caused by alcohol intake, but the mechanisms need more investigation.

Methods: This study involved 70 long-term alcohol drinkers (18-65 years old, alcohol consumption ≥20 g/day, lasting for more than one year) who were randomly assigned to either the BC99 group or the placebo group.

Protective Role of Dietary Polyphenols in the Management and Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a serious metabolic disorder, is a worldwide health problem due to the alarming rise in prevalence and elevated morbidity and mortality. Chronic hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and ineffective insulin effect and secretion are hallmarks of T2DM, leading to many serious secondary complications. These include, in particular, cardiovascular disorders, diabetic neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy, diabetic foot, osteoporosis, liver damage, susceptibility to infections and some cancers.

Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Manuka Honey and Ohia Lehua Honey.

Unlabelled: Honey is abundant in bioactive compounds, which demonstrate considerable therapeutic effects, particularly on oxidative stress and inflammation.

Objectives: This work sought to evaluate the antioxidant mechanisms of Manuka honey (MH) and Ohia Lehua honey (OLH), correlating them with phytochemical analyses in a rat model of experimentally induced inflammation.

Methods: The identification of polyphenolic compounds in the extracts was carried out using HPLC-ESI MS.