IL-23p19 Antagonists vs. Ustekinumab for Treatment of Crohn's Disease: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background And Aims: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing interleukin (IL)-23p19 antagonists with ustekinumab, stratified by prior biologic exposure, in patients with moderate-to-severe Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: Through a systematic review through August 17, 2024, we identified phase 2 and 3 RCTs comparing IL-23p19 antagonists vs. ustekinumab in adults with moderate-to-severe CD.

Extent of surgical repair and outcomes after surgery for type A aortic dissection.

Background: Acute Stanford type A aortic dissection is a severe emergency condition that, if left untreated, is associated with a high mortality rate. The extent of surgical repair may impact the outcomes of these patients.

Method: Patients operated for acute type A aortic dissection from a multicentre European registry were included.

Performance of an Automated Insulin Delivery System in People Living With Type 2 Diabetes and Insulin Resistance: First Real-World Evidence in 26 427 Users.

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a phenotypically heterogeneous disease. The use of insulin is required in a significant portion of people with T2D, despite recent developments in antidiabetic medications. This study analyzes glycemic outcomes in automated insulin delivery (AID) users with T2D with different insulin requirements.

Platinum-based nanoalloys for the oxygen reduction reaction: exposing the true active phase techniques.

Platinum-based nanoalloys are efficient electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). measurements have revealed that key properties including induced strain, chemical composition, coordination environment, evolve significantly during operation, which can hampertheir effective implementation in fuel cells. In fact, recent studies indicate that the impact of the early surface activation steps of Pt-based nanoalloys has been hitherto underestimated and is an important factor contributing to loss of their initial electroactivity.

Peripheral Muscle Function and Body Composition in People With Cystic Fibrosis on Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor: A Cross-Sectional Single-Centre Study.

Background: People with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) often have multifactorial peripheral muscle abnormalities attributed to, for example, malnutrition, steroid use, altered redox balance and, potentially, CF-specific intrinsic alterations. Malnutrition in CF now includes an increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity, particularly in those receiving CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator therapy (CFTRm). We aimed to characterise peripheral muscle function and body composition in pwCF on Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor (ETI) CFTRm, compared to healthy controls.

Pathogenic and Nonpathogenic Antibody Responses in Allergic Diseases.

Allergen-specific antibodies, particularly of the IgE class, are a hallmark of many allergic diseases. Yet paradoxically, (1) a proportion of healthy individuals possess allergen-specific IgE without clinical signs of allergy; (2) some, but not all, allergic individuals develop a more severe disease over time or fail to respond to allergen-specific immunotherapy; and (3) allergen-specific IgG antibodies can inhibit IgE-mediated responses but they can also induce allergic reactions. In this review, we discuss the occurrence of and transition between nonpathogenic and pathogenic allergen-specific antibody responses in the light of a two-stage model.

Two New Kindreds with Complete Factor D Deficiency.

Inborn deficiencies of the alternative pathway (AP) of the complement system have been associated with life-threatening infections, mainly by encapsulated bacteria. Complete factor D (FD) deficiencies have been reported in only seven families in the literature. We report two new cases of biochemically and genetically confirmed complete FD deficiency, including the first in a Down syndrome patient.

The people behind the papers - Christopher De Bono, Stéphane Zaffran and Heather Etchevers.

Understanding human heart development is crucial for tackling congenital heart disease, but a comprehensive reference dataset for certain periods of development has been lacking. Now, De Bono and colleagues present a powerful atlas of human heart development between 8.4 and 10.

HIV-2EU - Supporting Standardized HIV-2 Drug Resistance Interpretation: an Update.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) is an attenuated retroviral infection characterized by specific natural susceptibility to antiretroviral drugs and acquired resistance profiles. Based on the latest knowledge of phenotypic data and clinical follow-up, HIV-2 resistance interpretation rules have been updated and implemented in a freely available resistance analysis tool.

Construction costs and tradeoffs in carnivorous pitcher plant leaves: towards a pitcher leaf economic spectrum.

Background: Leaf economic theory holds that physiological constraints to photosynthesis have a role in the coordinated evolution of multiple leaf traits, an idea that can be extended to carnivorous plants occupying a particular trait space that is constrained by key costs and benefits. Pitcher traps are modified leaves that may face steep photosynthetic costs: a high-volume, three-dimensional tubular structure may be less efficient than a flat lamina. While past research has investigated the photosynthetic costs of pitchers, the exact suite of constraints shaping pitcher trait variation remain under-explored-including constraints to carnivorous function.

Feasibility of telephone and computerized cognitive testing as a secondary outcome in an acute stroke clinical trial: A mixed methods sub-study of the AcT Trial.

Introduction: Post-stroke cognitive impairment is associated with impaired quality of life. Remote testing provides a potential avenue to measure cognitive outcomes efficiently.

Patients And Methods: Prospective cognitive outcomes were collected at 90-180 days using both telephone MoCA (T-MoCA; range 0-22; <17 impairment) and Creyos, a computerized cognitive battery.

Extensive Fragmentation, Atom Transfer, H loss and Cross-linking Induced by Single Collisions between Carbon Ions and Protonated Antibiotics in the Gas Phase.

The direct effects of ionizing radiation on antibiotics are largely unknown. Here, we report mass spectra of the cationic products of the irradiation of three antibiotics by carbon ions at 10.4 MeV kinetic energy.

Therapeutic perspectives for recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose Of Review: Recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) remains a significant therapeutic challenge due to its biological complexity and clinical heterogeneity. This review addresses the relevance of exploring novel therapeutic approaches, particularly in light of recent advances and the persistent unmet needs in patient outcomes.

Recent Findings: Recent phase II and III clinical trials have highlighted promising strategies, including combinations of immunotherapy with targeted therapies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), HPV vaccines, dual immunotherapy approaches, and therapies targeting the tumor microenvironment.

Idiopathic polyarteritis nodosa-does it still exist? Viewpoint 2: idiopathic polyarteritis nodosa is rare, but still exists.

Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN), is the firstly described vasculitis and can be seen in paediatric and adult age. PAN has a heterozygous clinical picture including cutaneous, constitutional, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and renal involvement. Description and splitting of other vasculitis, makes this medium vessel vasculitis, a very rare disease.

Exploring the potential of Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy of urine for non-invasive monitoring of inflammation associated with a kidney transplant.

The global rise of end-stage renal disease is leading to an increase in kidney transplants. Graft survival is dependent on the occurrence of inflammation which can lead to cases of rejection. Traditional laboratory analyses often lack accuracy, and graft biopsies - the current gold standard - are considered invasive and risky.

Characterisation of the Novel HLA-DRB5*01:02:05 Allele by Next-Generation Sequencing.

HLA-DRB5*01:02:05 differs from the HLA-DRB5*01:02:01 by one synonymous nucleotide in codon 14 in exon 2.

Myeloid Fatty Acid Metabolism Activates Neighboring Hematopoietic Stem Cells to Promote Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Background: Despite the high morbidity and mortality of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), treatment options remain limited. The HFpEF syndrome is associated with a high comorbidity burden, including high prevalence of obesity and hypertension. Although inflammation is implicated to play a key role in HFpEF pathophysiology, underlying causal mechanisms remain unclear.

Postoperative Antibiotics After Appendectomy for Acute Appendicitis: No Evidence of Benefit, Even with Intra-Abdominal Fluid.

Objective: To evaluate the necessity of postoperative antibiotics following appendectomy for acute appendicitis, particularly in patients with intra-abdominal fluid, and to identify factors associated with postoperative infections.

Background: Postoperative antibiotic use after appendectomy remains controversial, especially in the presence of intra-abdominal fluid. While some surgeons prescribe antibiotics empirically, there is no consensus on whether they reduce the risk of postoperative infections in patients with intra-abdominal fluid accumulation.

The Novel HLA-DQA1*05:89 Allele Characterised by Two Different Sequencing-Based Typing Techniques.

The novel allele HLA-DQA1*05:89 differs from HLA-DQA1*05:05:01:01 by one non-synonymous nucleotide substitution in exon 2.

Post-procedural fever after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI). A multi-centric study.

Background: Fever following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) poses a clinical challenge, necessitating a comprehensive diagnostic approach to discern between infectious and non-infectious origins. Despite its minimally invasive nature, TAVI disrupts protective anatomical barriers, leading to an increased risk of infection, as well as to aseptic inflammatory responses. Standardized strategies for the management of these patients are lacking.

Enhancing dexterity: Soft pneumatic actuation utilizing granular jamming for a human finger flexo-extension.

This article presents a bioinspired pneumatic soft actuator designed to mimic the flexo-extension movement of the human finger, with a particular focus on stiffness modulation through granular jamming. Three-chamber geometries - honeycomb, rectangular, and half-round - were evaluated to optimize curvature performance, utilizing Mold Star 15 Slow elastomer for actuator fabrication. Granular jamming, both passive and active, was implemented within the inextensible layer using chia and quinoa grains to enhance stiffness modulation.

Bio-electrosynthesis of polyhydroxybutyrate and surfactants in microbial fuel cells: a preliminary study.

Microbial Electrochemical Technology (MET) offers a promising avenue for CO utilization by leveraging the ability of chemolithotrophic microorganisms to use inorganic carbon in biosynthetic processes. By harnessing the power of electroactive bacteria, METs can facilitate the conversion of inorganic carbon into organic compounds. Therefore, this work combines biosurfactant production at the anode and PHB production at the cathode of Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs), while testing the efficiency of Microbial Electrosynthesis Cells (MECs), and traditional culture in liquid media.