Pre-exposure to phage particles reduces their antibacterial therapeutic efficacy both in vitro and in vivo.

Objectives: phage therapy is a promising approach for infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria; this study evaluated the impact of pre-exposure to phage particles on subsequent therapy. Mice were exposed intradermally (i.d.

A Sensitive Ultrafiltration Plus RP-HPLC-FLD Method to Quantify Total and Free Perampanel Concentrations in the Plasma of Patients With Epilepsy: A Fully Validated Assay With Clinical Application.

Background: Perampanel (PER), a novel antiepileptic drug, exhibits high protein binding. Given the drug's susceptibility to various factors, including drug interactions, and the considerable variability in blood concentrations among individuals, solely measuring the total plasma concentration of PER may not provide comprehensive insights. This study aimed to establish an HPLC-FLD method to quantify both total and free PER in clinical samples.

Coccidioidomycosis Prophylaxis in Liver, Kidney, and Heart Transplant Recipients Residing in Endemic Areas Within the United States.

Background: Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients residing in southwestern United States may be at an increased risk of symptomatic coccidioidomycosis (CM). Accordingly, clinical practice guidelines recommend the use of a universal oral azole antifungal prevention strategy for all SOT recipients residing in a CM endemic area. However, this recommendation is based on limited evidence.

Effect of parenteral L-carnitine in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19: A randomized double-blind clinical trial.

Introduction: Pro-inflammatory responses have an important role in developing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). L-carnitine (LC) has been known to possess anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and antiviral effects. So, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of LC in hospitalized patients with moderate-to-severe COVID-19.

Mosaic vaccine design targeting mutational spike protein of SAR-SCoV-2: An immunoinformatics approach.

Introduction: Presently, the development of effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 is absolutely necessary, especially regarding the emergence of new variants that cause increasing morbidity and fatalities.

Methods: In the present study we designed a mosaic vaccine targeting the mutational spike protein of COVID-19 using a bioinformatics approach. Various immunoinformatics tools were utilized to provide the highest potential for a mosaic vaccine that could activate immune responses against COVID-19.

Recent advances in mesenchymal stem cell therapy for multiple sclerosis: clinical applications and challenges.

Multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system (CNS), is characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration, leading to diverse clinical manifestations such as fatigue, sensory impairment, and cognitive dysfunction. Current pharmacological treatments primarily target immune modulation but fail to arrest disease progression or entirely reverse CNS damage. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy offers a promising alternative, leveraging its immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, and regenerative capabilities.

Prevalence of hypertensive retinopathy and its associated factors among adult hypertensive patients attending at Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia, 2024, a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Hypertensive retinopathy refers to changes in the retinal microvasculature resulting from elevated blood pressure, and the global burden ranges from 2 to 85%. However, there was no evidence on prevalence and associated factors of hypertensive retinopathy among adult hypertensive patients in the study area even in Ethiopia.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate prevalence of hypertensive retinopathy and associated factors in adult hypertensive patients attending at Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia in 2024.

National yearly cost of breast cancer screening in the USA and projected cost of advocated guidelines: a simulation study with life table modelling.

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the total national direct cost of breast cancer screening from 2019 to 2022 and project the total national cost and average lifetime cost of screening per woman for three current guidelines.

Design: We estimated the national cost of screening from 2019 to 2022, and per cancer detected in 2022, using real-world data on the number of mammograms performed per year. We also projected the national cost of screening using life table modelling for three guidelines: 2021/2023 American College of Radiology (ACR), 2023 American Cancer Society (ACS) and 2024 United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF).

Increased ferritin levels are associated with incident diabetes after kidney transplantation: A prospective cohort study.

Aim: Iron is known to play a role in glucose homeostasis, and diabetes is highly prevalent in patients with iron overload. Here, we investigated whether ferritin and hepcidin (as parameters of iron status) are associated with the development of post-transplant diabetes in kidney transplant recipients, a population in which around 10 % is known to have high iron status.

Methods: Prospective data from the TransplantLines Insulin Resistance and Inflammation Biobank and Cohort Study from the University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands were evaluated, involving stable adult kidney transplant recipients > 1 year after transplantation.

The novel ginseng Rh2 derivative 2-deoxy-Rh2, exhibits potent anticancer effect via the AMPK/mTOR/autophagy signaling pathway against breast cancer.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women globally, resulting in considerable psychological and physical distress for patients. Our previous study synthesized a novel derivative, 2-Deoxy-Rh2, which exhibited anticancer properties by influencing glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration. The objective of the current study was to investigate the anti-proliferative effects and underlying mechanisms of 2-Deoxy-Rh2 on human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231.

Engineering a Self-Delivery Nanoplatform for Chemo-Photodynamic-Immune Synergistic Therapies against Aggressive Melanoma.

The effectiveness of immunotherapy in killing melanoma is hindered by a T-cell deficiency and the lack of tumor immunogenicity. Consequently, there is an urgent need for a platform that can further activate the immune system and boost the immune response of the host to tumors. Compared with monotherapy, combination therapy shows promise in improving treatment efficacy and response rates.

Hospital pharmacy implementation of a unit dose dispensing system: A qualitative interview study to determine experiences, views and attitudes of nursing staff.

Background: Evolving automated technologies in the dispensing process promise effective solution to reduce medication error rates. The Unit-Dose-Dispensing-System (UDDS) is an essential element of the "Closed Loop Medication Management System" that enables the tracking of single medication items across the entire medication workflow thereby improving transparency, patient safety and healthcare efficiency".

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine hospital nurses' attitudes towards the unit dose dispensing system implemented by the hospital pharmacy department, examine their perceptions of opportunities and barriers in everyday practice and explore their experiences with its implementation.

Importance and Obstacles of First Aid in Burn Injuries; A Letter to The Editor.

After a burn injury, pre-hospital care, which includes first aid measures before transfer to a burns center, is considered to be a significantly important step in the process of burn treatment. Individuals who receive medical care at a hospital following initial first aid administered at home experience a better outcome. This letter aimed to discuss about the importance and obstacles of prehospital management of burn injuries.

Barriers to effective communication in UAE community pharmacies: general public perspectives on enhancing patient-pharmacist interaction and policy development.

Background: Community pharmacies serve as accessible points of care, offering essential services such as medication dispensing, health consultations, vaccinations, and chronic disease management, thereby playing a critical role in the healthcare system. This study aims to identify and evaluate the factors that obstruct general public-pharmacist interactions, providing insights to enhance pharmacy environments.

Methods: A total of 406 general publics were surveyed using a validated questionnaire.

A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the use of elagolix therapy alone or in combination with add-back therapy to treat women with uterine fibroid associated heavy menstrual bleeding.

Background: Elagolix is an oral small molecule second-generation nonpeptide gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist drug that can quickly and reversibly inhibit female gonadotropins and ovarian sex hormones. Previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated the efficacy and safety of elagolix alone or in combination with add-back therapy to treat women with heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) caused by uterine fibroids. Hence, this study sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of elagolix alone or in combination with add-back therapy for the treatment of uterine fibroids with HMB.

Advancements and challenges in esophageal carcinoma prognostic models: A comprehensive review and future directions.

In this article, we comment on the article published by Yu . By employing LASSO regression and Cox proportional hazard models, the article identified nine significant variables affecting survival, including body mass index, Karnofsky performance status, and tumor-node-metastasis staging. We firmly concur with Yu regarding the vital significance of clinical prediction models (CPMs), including logistic regression and Cox regression for assessment in esophageal carcinoma (EC).

COVID-19 clinical presentation, management, and epidemiology: a concise compendium.

Coronavirus Disease 2019, caused by severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2, has been an ever-evolving disease and pandemic, profoundly impacting clinical care, drug treatments, and understanding. In response to this global health crisis, there has been an unprecedented increase in research exploring new and repurposed drugs and advancing available clinical interventions and treatments. Given the widespread interest in this topic, this review aims to provide a current summary-for interested professionals not specializing in COVID-19-of the clinical characteristics, recommended treatments, vaccines, prevention strategies, and epidemiology of COVID-19.

A Case of Extended Duration Triple Antithrombotic Therapy in a Patient With an Intracranial Stent and Atrial Fibrillation.

Our case report presents the clinical management of a 77-year-old female with recurrent acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to severe intracranial large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), requiring intracranial stenting complicated by new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). This clinical scenario necessitated the use of triple antithrombotic therapy (TAT) with aspirin, ticagrelor, and apixaban. While guidelines recommend minimizing the duration of TAT or favoring alternative regimens due to bleeding risks, this case highlights the safe application of an extended duration TAT course in a high-risk patient.

The Effect of Vitamin D3 on Serum Creatine Phosphokinase Level in Patients with Multiple Trauma: A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Multiple trauma can cause an increase in creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and subsequently rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury (AKI). This study was designed to evaluate the effect of vitamin D3 on the serum CPK level and the incidence of rhabdomyolysis-induced AKI in patients with multiple trauma.

Methods: Patients with serum CPK levels <1000 IU/L were followed as the control 1 group.

Unlocking the Neuroprotective Potential of Silymarin: A Promising Ally in Safeguarding the Brain from Alzheimer's Disease and Other Neurological Disorders.

Medicinal plants and their phytochemicals have been extensively employed worldwide for centuries to address a diverse range of ailments, boasting a history that spans several decades. These plants are considered the source of numerous medicinal compounds. For instance, silymarin is a polyphenolic flavonoid extract obtained from the milk thistle plant or Silybum marianum which has been shown to have significant neuroprotective effects and great therapeutic benefits.

The Role of AI in Reshaping Medical Education: Opportunities and Challenges.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is redefining medical education, bringing new dimensions of personalized learning, enhanced visualization and simulation-based clinical training to the forefront. Additionally, AI-powered simulations offer realistic, immersive training opportunities, preparing students for complex clinical situations and fostering interprofessional collaboration skills essential for modern healthcare. However, the integration of AI into medical education presents challenges, particularly around ethical considerations, skill atrophy due to overreliance and the exacerbation of the digital divide among educational institutions.

Physical recovery after local resection of non-pedunculated rectal adenomas and T1 carcinomas: endoscopic submucosal dissection versus transanal minimally invasive surgery.

Background And Aims: Rehabilitation of physical activity is an important functional outcome after endoscopic surgery. Our aim was to quantitatively assess recovery following endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS).

Methods: In the TRIASSIC study (Netherlands Trial Register: NL7083), patients with rectal polyps >20mm were randomized between ESD and TAMIS.