Projections of Public Spending on Pharmaceuticals: A Review of Methods.

Background: Forecasting future public pharmaceutical expenditure is a challenge for healthcare payers, particularly owing to the unpredictability of new market introductions and their economic impact. No best-practice forecasting methods have been established so far. The literature distinguishes between the top-down approach, based on historical trends, and the bottom-up approach, using a combination of historical and horizon scanning data.

The role of the Mediterranean diet in reducing the risk of cognitive impairement, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease: a meta-analysis.

Age-related cognitive impairment and dementia pose a significant global health, social, and economic challenge. While Alzheimer's disease (AD) has historically been viewed as the leading cause of dementia, recent evidence reveals the considerable impact of vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID), which now accounts for nearly half of all dementia cases. The Mediterranean diet-characterized by high consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, and olive oil-has been widely recognized for its cardiovascular benefits and may also reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

Effects of Combined Periodontal, Endodontic, and Dentoalveolar Surgical Treatments on Laboratory Parameters in Patients with Hyperlipidemia-A Clinical Interventional Study.

Patients with hyperlipidemia are of interest because of the possible interplay between chronic local dental infections and hyperlipidemia. This interventional clinical study aimed to evaluate the oral health status of hyperlipidemic patients receiving lipid-lowering therapy for at least 6 months and the effects of non-surgical and surgical dental treatments on serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and lipid markers. Twenty-eight patients with controlled hyperlipidemia and 18 healthy controls were enrolled in the study.

Feasibility of Using Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy to Improve the Dynamic Postural Balance of Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Pilot Study.

Cerebral palsy (CP) manifests with abnormal posture and impaired selective motor control, notably affecting trunk control and dynamic balance coordination, leading to inadequate postural control. Previous research has indicated the benefits of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy for various musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. Therefore, we conducted a randomized pilot study to assess the feasibility of our preliminary research design and examine the effect of the PEMF treatment among children with CP.

Therapeutic Consequences and Prognostic Impact of Multimorbidity in Heart Failure: Time to Act.

: In heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), the early diagnosis and proper treatment of comorbidities (CMs) are of fundamental relevance. Our aim was to assess the prevalence of CMs among real-world patients requiring hospitalisation for HFrEF and to investigate the effect of CMs on the implementation of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and on all-cause mortality (ACM). : The data of a consecutive HFrEF patient cohort hospitalised for HF between 2021 and 2024 were analysed retrospectively.

A Flexible, Implantable, Bioelectronic Electroporation Device for Targeted Ablation of Seizure Foci in the Mouse Brain.

The primary method of treatment for patients suffering from drug-resistant focal-onset epilepsy is resective surgery, which adversely impacts neurocognitive function. Radio frequency (RF) ablation and laser ablation are the methods with the most promise, achieving seizure-free rates similar to resection but with less negative impact on neurocognitive function. However, there remains a number of concerns and open technical questions about these two methods of thermal ablation, with the primary ones: (1) heating; (2) hemorrhage and bleeding; and (3) poor directionality.

Glioblastoma: Clinical Presentation, Multidisciplinary Management, and Long-Term Outcomes.

Glioblastoma, the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults, presents a formidable challenge due to its rapid progression, treatment resistance, and poor survival outcomes. Standard care typically involves maximal safe surgical resection, followed by fractionated external beam radiation therapy and concurrent temozolomide chemotherapy. Despite these interventions, median survival remains approximately 12-15 months, with a five-year survival rate below 10%.

Prognostic Significance of Interim PET/CT in the First-Line Treatment of Follicular Lymphoma Patients, a Single-Center Experience.

: Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a heterogeneous disease, and identifying high-risk patients early is crucial for optimal management. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of interim positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) in newly diagnosed FL patients undergoing first-line treatment. : This single-center, retrospective study included 103 patients with newly diagnosed FL who underwent interim PET/CT.

Preconceptional and Periconceptional Folic Acid Supplementation in the Visegrad Group Countries for the Prevention of Neural Tube Defects.

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are malformations of the central nervous system that represent the second most common cause of congenital morbidity and mortality, following cardiovascular abnormalities. Maternal nutrition, particularly folic acid, a B vitamin, is crucial in the etiology of NTDs. FA plays a key role in DNA methylation, synthesis, and repair, acting as a cofactor in one-carbon transfer reactions essential for neural tube development.

CD8+ and CD8- NK Cells and Immune Checkpoint Networks in Peripheral Blood During Healthy Pregnancy.

Pregnancy involves significant immunological changes to support fetal development while protecting the mother from infections. A growing body of evidence supports the importance of immune checkpoint pathways, especially at the maternal-fetal interface, although limited information is available about the peripheral expression of these molecules by CD8+ and CD8- NK cell subsets during the trimesters of pregnancy. Understanding the dynamics of these immune cells and their checkpoint pathways is crucial for elucidating their roles in pregnancy maintenance and potential complications.

Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Cancer: The Role of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Key Resistance Genes.

Drug resistance is a significant challenge in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), where stromal elements such as adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) contribute to a chemoresistant tumor microenvironment (TME). This study explored the effects of oxaliplatin (OXP) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on PDAC cells (Capan-1) and ASCs to investigate the mechanisms of chemoresistance. While OXP and 5-FU reduced Capan-1 viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner, ASCs demonstrated high resistance, maintaining > 90% viability even at cytotoxic doses.

The Effect of a Secondary Stressor on the Morphology and Membrane Structure of an Already Challenged Maternal and Foetal Red Blood Cell Population.

The red blood cell (RBC) membrane is unique and crucial for maintaining structural-functional relationships. Maternal smoking induces significant changes in the morphological, rheological, and functional parameters of both maternal and foetal RBCs, mainly due to the continuous generation of the free radicals. The major aim of this study was to follow the consequences of a secondary stressor, like fungal infection, on the already compromised RBC populations.

Direct Vascular Effects of Angiotensin II (A Systematic Short Review).

The octapeptide angiotensin II (Ang II) is a circulating hormone as well as a locally formed agonist synthesized by the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) of endothelial cells. It forms a powerful mechanism to control the amount and pressure of body fluids. All main effects are directed to save body salt and water and ensure blood pressure under basic conditions and in emergencies.

Newly Initiated Statin Treatment Is Associated with Decreased Plasma Coenzyme Q10 Level After Acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) plays a crucial role in facilitating electron transport during oxidative phosphorylation, thus contributing to cellular energy production. Statin treatment causes a decrease in CoQ10 levels in muscle tissue as well as in serum, which may contribute to the musculoskeletal side effects. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effect of newly initiated statin treatment on serum CoQ10 levels after acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and the correlation of CoQ10 levels with key biomarkers of subclinical or clinically overt myopathy.

Novel and Variants and the Observed Clinical Outcomes in a Hungarian Melanoma Cohort.

Accumulating evidence suggests that inherited melanoma is not rare and approx. one in seven individuals with melanoma has clinically relevant hereditable cancer-predisposing and/or -susceptibility variant(s). Concerning its germline genetic background, genetic screening aims to identify either variants of predisposing genes with high penetrance or variants of susceptibility genes with medium or low penetrance.

Application of Biofire Filmarray Joint Infection Panel for Rapid Identification of Aetiology in a Necrotizing Fasciitis Case.

: Monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis is associated with exceedingly high mortality rates. Although effective antimicrobial therapy is an important part of treatment, the traditional microbiological diagnostic methods are not fast enough to meaningfully influence early therapeutic decisions. : Here, we report the application of the BioMérieux Biofire Filmarray Joint Infection Panel (BFJIP) for the rapid detection of the causative agent and susceptibility prediction in such a case.

Comparative Evaluation of Different Mint Species Based on Their In Vitro Antioxidant and Antibacterial Effect.

In our research six different mint species (peppermint, spearmint (five different chemotypes), Horse mint, mojito mint, apple mint (two different chemotypes), bergamot mint) have been evaluated by referring to their chemical (essential oil (EO) content and composition) and in vitro biological (antibacterial, antioxidant effect) characteristics. The EO amount of the analyzed mint populations varied between 1.99 and 3.

Synergistic Effect of Sugarcane Bagasse and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Eco-Remediation of Cadmium-Contaminated Saline Soils in Wheat Cultivation.

Soil contamination with cadmium (Cd) and salinity poses a significant challenge, affecting crop health and productivity. This study explores the combined application of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) to mitigate the toxic effects of Cd and salinity in wheat plants. Field experiments conducted in Cd-contaminated saline soils revealed that the application of SCB (0, 5, and 10 t ha) and ZnO NPs (0, 12.

Near-Complete Avipoxvirus Genome Assembled from Skin Lesions of Dead Eurasian Crane ().

Avian pox is a globally spread viral disease affecting a wide spectrum of wild and domesticated bird species. The disease is caused by a diverse group of large DNA viruses, namely, avipoxviruses (genus , family ). In this study, gross pathological examination and histopathological examination of skin lesions and several organs suggested acute poxvirus infection of a Eurasian crane (, Linnaeus, 1758).

Different Breeding Values Under Uniform Environmental Condition for Milk Production Yield Traits in Holstein-Friesian Cows.

In this study, 1,616,549 Holstein-Friesian females were genotyped for genomic evaluation of genetic merit (BV). Genotyping was performed using the EuroGenomics MD v3.0 chipset on the Illumina microarray scanner platform operated by an accredited Illumina laboratory.

Predicting mortality after transcatheter aortic valve replacement using AI-based fully automated left atrioventricular coupling index.

Background: This study aimed to determine whether artificial intelligence (AI)-based automated assessment of left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI) can provide incremental value above other traditional risk factors for predicting mortality among patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing coronary CT angiography (CCTA) before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated patients with severe AS who underwent CCTA examination before TAVR between September 2014 and December 2020. An AI-prototype software fully automatically calculated left atrial and left ventricular end-diastolic volumes and LACI was defined by the ratio between them.

Primary intrarenal hemangioma - A series of 39 cases.

Intrarenal hemangiomas lack concise clinicopathologic information, due to the predominance of single case reports and inclusion of other vascular neoplasms and hemangiomas of perirenal, hilar, and renal vein origin. Herein, in this multi-institutional study we evaluate clinicopathologic features of 39 intrarenal hemangiomas. The median age was 62 years (range = 27-94 years; 2:1 male to female ratio), with left-sided predominance (left = 21, right = 13; one case was bilateral).

Revealing Stachybotrys-like fungal growth in buildings - Possible exposure highlighted through three case studies.

Genus Stachybotrys (Stachybotryaceae, Hypocreales) requires high humidity to grow and represents one of the most notorious fungi associated with suspected illness in moist buildings. If Stachybotrys conidia are found in settled indoor dusts, their presence may indicate water intrusion and mold infestation revealed after dismantling the building structures. This study describes detection of Stachybotrys growth hidden inside the structures of three buildings in Finland.