Low-dose methotrexate in Rheumatology: A reinvented drug.

Low-dose methotrexate (LD-MTX) is the anchor drug used in the treatment of various rheumatological illnesses. There are a lot of misconceptions associated with the long-term use of MTX in the minds of practitioners. The origin of most of these myths stems from the ill effects associated with high-dose MTX used in cancer chemotherapy.

A pan-tumor review of the role of poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) polymerase inhibitors.

Poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, such as olaparib, talazoparib, rucaparib, and niraparib, comprise a therapeutic class that targets PARP proteins involved in DNA repair. Cancer cells with homologous recombination repair defects, particularly BRCA alterations, display enhanced sensitivity to these agents because of synthetic lethality induced by PARP inhibitors. These agents have significantly improved survival outcomes across various malignancies, initially gaining regulatory approval in ovarian cancer and subsequently in breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancers in different indications.

Predicting cognitive decline from neuropsychiatric symptoms and Alzheimer's disease biomarkers: A machine learning approach to a population-based data.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the potential added value of including neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in machine learning (ML) models, along with demographic features and Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers, to predict decline or non-decline in global and domain-specific cognitive scores among community-dwelling older adults.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of adding NPS to AD biomarkers on ML model accuracy in predicting cognitive decline among older adults.

Methods: The study was conducted in the setting of the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging, including participants aged ≥ 50 years with information on demographics (i.

Unhelpful Information About Low Back and Neck Pain on Physiotherapist's Websites.

Background: The internet is increasingly used as a primary source of information for patients with musculoskeletal pain. Private physiotherapy practices provide informative content on low back pain (LBP) and neck pain (NP) on their websites, but the extent to which this information is biopsychosocial, guidelines-consistent, and fear-inducing is unknown. The aim of this study was to analyse the information on websites of private physiotherapy practices in the Netherlands about LBP and NP regarding consistency with the guidelines and the biopsychosocial model and to explore the use of fear-inducing language.

Investigation of Women's Knowledge and Beliefs About Cervical Cancer and Cervical Smear Examination: A Survey Study in Greece.

Aim This study aimed to investigate women's knowledge and beliefs about cervical cancer and cervical smear examinations. Methodology The research was conducted at a health center in Greece from May 15, 2023, to August 15, 2023. The study sample consisted of 160 women aged 21-65 years who attended the health center.

Support Desired by Parents of Infants With Hearing Impairments Diagnosed Through Newborn Hearing Screening: A Questionnaire-Based Survey.

Objective We aimed to highlight problems faced by parents of infants diagnosed with hearing impairment upon newborn hearing screening (NHS) and to suggest how support might be improved. Methods We distributed a questionnaire to explore difficulties encountered by parents when seeking support, whether they were satisfied with the support, and their unmet needs. We enrolled 101 parents of infants with hearing impairments diagnosed upon NHS (hearing levels: 7.

Beyond Trial Counts: Considerations for Measuring Play and Engagement During Early Intervention for Autistic Children.

Play is critical to child development. In early childhood, object play evolves from exploratory behavior to complex symbolic play. Engagement during play, particularly joint engagement, is essential for learning and social interaction.

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of the Taking Care of Us Intervention for Couples Living With Heart Failure.

Background And Objectives: Despite the significant impact of heart failure on both members of the care dyad, few interventions focus on optimizing the health of the dyad. The current study examined the feasibility and acceptability of the novel Taking Care of Us (TCU) program with mid-late-life couples living with heart failure and explored preliminary efficacy.

Research Design And Methods: This NIH Stage I study used a 2-arm randomized controlled trial with pretest-post-test design and an additional 5-month follow-up to compare TCU with an educational counseling attention-control condition.

The association of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte ratio with metabolic syndrome in U.S. Adults: Findings from the 1999-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination survey.

Background: Identifying and treating metabolic syndrome (MetS) early is of great importance, as MetS portends numerous negative health outcomes. Identifying an inexpensive, readily available inflammatory biomarker that accurately predicts MetS could be of use to clinicians.

Methods: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and MetS in U.

Developmental delay and its associated factors among children of 9 months and of 18 months attending primary health facilities in an urban resettlement area of East Delhi.

Background: Early identification of developmental delay in children can help in making early intervention for its management. Routine developmental screening is not being practised in India due to lack of trained field workers, lack of awareness among parents and lack of feasible assessment screening tool. There is lack of studies that focuses on home environment provided to the children as it is associated with developmental delay.

Need for travel health clinic: A cross-sectional study among international travellers availing yellow fever vaccination in a teaching institution.

Background: Traveller's health is one of the factors determining the success of his or her visit to the destination. The health aspects before, during and after travel are often neglected which may lead to untoward incidences during or after travel. Also, with the increase in national and international travel many emerging and re-emerging diseases are on the rise.

Prevalence and associated factors of uncontrolled blood pressure among hypertensive patients in a rural population of Salem, Tamil Nadu.

Introduction: Hypertension, a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, is a prevalent public health concern globally. It imposes a substantial burden on healthcare systems, particularly in low and middle-income countries like India. Despite the availability of effective treatments, hypertension remains poorly controlled leading to increased morbidity and mortality.

Mapping the chromothripsis landscape in urothelial carcinoma unravels great intratumoral and intertumoral heterogeneity.

Chromothripsis, a hallmark of cancer, is characterized by extensive and localized DNA rearrangements involving one or a few chromosomes. However, its genome-wide frequency and characteristics in urothelial carcinoma (UC) remain largely unknown. Here, by analyzing single-regional and multi-regional whole-genome sequencing (WGS), we present the chromothripsis blueprint in 488 UC patients.

Communities conquering COVID-19: Black and Latinx community perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 in regions of Michigan hardest hit by the pandemic.

Introduction: In Michigan, the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Black and Latinx communities. These communities experienced higher rates of exposure, hospitalizations, and deaths compared to Whites. We examine the impact of the pandemic and reasons for the higher burden on communities of color from the perspectives of Black and Latinx community members across four Michigan counties and discuss recommendations to better prepare for future public health emergencies.

Pilot training for clinical research professionals in using empathy to recognize and respond to implicit bias in research recruitment and retention.

Recruiting and retaining research participants is challenging because it often requires overcoming structural barriers and addressing how histories of mistrust and individuals' lived experiences affect their research engagement. We describe a pilot workshop designed to educate clinical research professionals on using empathy skills to recognize and mitigate bias to improve recruitment and retention. In a post-workshop survey (22/31 participants completed), 94% agreed the workshop helped them practice perspective-taking, recognize implicit bias, and identify opportunities for empathy.

Applying the Social Cognitive Theory to Design a Health Education Program on Weight-Loss Behaviors Among Police Officers: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Being overweight/having obesity is a prevalent condition not only among the general population but also among individuals with special occupations such as police officers, where fitness is often a necessity. The present study's aim was to assess how much a psychoeducational intervention based on social cognitive theory (SCT) would be helpful for encouraging weight loss behaviors among police officers.

Methods: In a randomized control trial, 102 police officers who were overweight or had obesity voluntarily registered for a weight loss program and were assigned to either an intervention or control group.

State of Lung Cancer in Egypt: Moving Towards Improved Guidelines for Prevention, Screening, Treatment, and Clinical Care Programs.

Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally and presents significant challenges in Egypt. In 2023, the first annual meeting of the Thoracic Oncology Multidisciplinary Faculty, organized by the Egyptian Cancer Research Network and the Egyptian Society of Respiratory Neoplasms, was held in Cairo, Egypt. The meeting aimed to address gaps in lung cancer management across Egypt and the broader Middle East and North Africa region.

Effects of aerobic training on brain architecture, hippocampal volume, cardiorespiratory parameters, and health-related quality of life among patients with schizophrenia: A systematic review.

Background: Schizophrenia is considered to be a condition that usually manifests at any age but commonly seen in young people and is associated with a genetic propensity in brain development.

Aim: The study explores the impact of aerobic training on brain architecture, hippocampal volume, cardiorespiratory parameters, and quality of life in young individuals with schizophrenia. The investigation focuses on the correlation between genetic predisposition, hippocampal atrophy, and diminished cardiorespiratory fitness, aiming to discern potential benefits of aerobic exercise on both physical and mental health outcomes.

Risk of Incident Cancer in Veterans with Diabetes Who Use Metformin Versus Sulfonylureas.

Prior research suggests metformin has anti-cancer effects, yet data are limited. We examined the association between diabetes treatment (metformin versus sulfonylurea) and risk of incident diabetes-related and non- diabetes-related cancers in US veterans. This retrospective cohort study included US veterans, without cancer, aged ≥ 55 years, who were new users of metformin or sulfonylureas for diabetes between 2001 to 2012.

Pregnancy & cardiovascular disease: the PREG-CVD-HH registry.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in pregnant and peripartal women in western countries. Physiological changes during pregnancy can lead to cardiovascular complications in the mother; women with pre-existing heart disease may not tolerate these changes well, increasing their susceptibility to adverse cardiovascular outcomes during pregnancy. The aim of this study is to characterize pregnancy-induced changes in cardiac function, biomarker concentrations and cardiovascular outcomes in women with CVD during pregnancy at a tertiary care hospital in Germany.

Gender Different Impacts of Muscle Mass and Adipose Tissue on Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Surgical Resection.

Background & Aims: Body composition is an objective assessment reflecting nutritional status and is highly gender different. Surgical resection, the standard treatment for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is an energy-consuming major operation that would affect body composition. However, the impacts of body composition on the post-operative prognosis of HCC are still uncertain.

Differences in Plasma BDNF Levels Between Chronic Primary Musculoskeletal Pain, Fibromyalgia Syndrome, and Asymptomatic Subjects: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This cross-sectional study compared plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels among chronic primary musculoskeletal pain patients, chronic widespread pain patients, and asymptomatic controls. The study included 126 participants aged 18-65, divided into three groups of 42 each. Pain intensity was assessed using a Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), and plasma BDNF levels were measured via ELISA.

Bibliometric Analysis of Neuroinflammation and Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction.

Background: The occurrence and development of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) are closely linked to neuroinflammation. This bibliometric analysis aims to provide novel insights into the research trajectory, key research topics, and potential future development trends in the field of neuroinflammation-induced POCD.

Methods: The Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database was searched to identify publications from 2012 to 2023 on neuroinflammation-induced POCD.

Proteomics: An In-Depth Review on Recent Technical Advances and Their Applications in Biomedicine.

Proteins hold pivotal importance since many diseases manifest changes in protein activity. Proteomics techniques provide a comprehensive exploration of protein structure, abundance, and function in biological samples, enabling the holistic characterization of overall changes in organisms. Nowadays, the breadth of emerging methodologies in proteomics is unprecedentedly vast, with constant optimization of technologies in sample processing, data collection, data analysis, and its scope of application is steadily transitioning from the bench to the clinic.