Effectiveness for remission maintenance rate and safety of different rituximab regimens for treating anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis in Japan: a J-CANVAS study.

Rituximab (RTX) has been reported to effectively maintain remission in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). In this multicenter study involving 57 patients who achieved remission after 24 weeks, we evaluated the effectiveness of RTX in maintaining remission in patients with AAV. Patients were divided into three groups based on RTX administration: continuous, induction phase-only, and maintenance phase-only groups.

Advanced maternal age is a risk factor for both early and late gestational diabetes mellitus: The Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Aims: This study investigated the association between maternal age and early and late gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods: In total, 72,270 pregnant women were included in this prospective birth cohort study. Associations between maternal age and early GDM (diagnosed at <24 gestational weeks) and late GDM (diagnosed at ≥24 gestational weeks) were evaluated using a multinomial logistic regression model with possible confounding factors.

The high efficacy of claudin18.2-targeted CAR-T cell therapy in advanced pancreatic cancer with a strategy to ensure the safety of patients.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal digestive system tumors. Claudin18.2 is highly expressed in PC tissue and could serve as a suitable target for CAR-T therapy.

Issues and Limitations on the Road to Fair and Inclusive AI Solutions for Biomedical Challenges.

Objective: In this paper, we explore the correlation between performance reporting and the development of inclusive AI solutions for biomedical problems. Our study examines the critical aspects of bias and noise in the context of medical decision support, aiming to provide actionable solutions. Contributions: A key contribution of our work is the recognition that measurement processes introduce noise and bias arising from human data interpretation and selection.

Effects of Antioxidant Amino Acids on Cancer Sarcopenia.

Cancer sarcopenia is highly prevalent in patients with advanced cancer, which is closely related to the disease prognosis. Overcoming cancer sarcopenia is important for cancer treatment. Cystine and theanine (CT), antioxidant amino acids, have been applied to the nutritional intervention of various diseases but their effects remain unclear on cancer sarcopenia.

Detection of Human GPCR Activity in Drosophila S2 Cells Using the Tango System.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are essential cell surface proteins involved in transducing extracellular signals into intracellular responses, regulating various physiological processes. This study validated the use of the Tango assay, a sensitive method for detecting GPCR activation, in Schneider 2 (S2) cells, focusing on the human Dopamine Receptor D4 (DRD4). Plasmids encoding the LexA-tagged human DRD4 receptor and a luciferase reporter were co-transfected into S2 cells and stimulated with dopamine.

A Simple One-Pot Method for the Synthesis of BiFeO/BiFeO Heterojunction for High-Performance Photocatalytic Degradation Applications.

This study presents a facile one-pot synthesis method to fabricate BiFeO-BiFeO-BiO heterojunction photocatalysts with controllable compositions and pure phases. Three different binary heterojunctions (BiFeO/BiFeO, BiFeO/BiO, and BiFeO/BiO) and a ternary BiFeO/BiFeO/BiO heterojunction were formed, all exhibiting significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) and phenol under visible light irradiation, outperforming the individual compositions. Notably, the BiFeO/BiFeO heterojunction achieved the highest degradation efficiency (93.

Solution Casting Effect of PMMA-Based Polymer Electrolyte on the Performances of Solid-State Electrochromic Devices.

Electrochromic devices (ECDs) are devices that change their optical properties in response to a low applied voltage. These devices typically consist of an electrochromic layer, a transparent conducting substrate, and an electrolyte. The advancement in solid-state ECDs has been driven by the need for improved durability, optical performance, and energy efficiency.

Nutritional Status in Locally Advanced or Metastatic Solid Cancer Patients Treated With Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, and Immunotherapy in Spanish Outpatient Oncology Units.

Objectives: Malnutrition is a prevalent condition in cancer patients that significantly impacts patients' clinical outcomes and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). The outcome was to characterize the nutritional status by describing the prevalence of malnutrition (mild, moderate, or severe) and its risk in outpatient cancer patients.

Methods: Multicenter, prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive, two-cohort study conducted on consecutive adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors (stages III-IV).

Microvascular decompression: a contemporary update.

Background: Microvascular decompression (MVD) is the gold-standard surgical treatment for cranial nerve compression disorders, including trigeminal neuralgia (TN), hemifacial spasm (HFS), and glossopharyngeal neuralgia (GPN). This review synthesizes historical milestones, recent advances, and evolving techniques in MVD, with a primary focus on these conditions.

Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed, SpringerLink, Google Scholar, BioMed Central, Scopus, and ScienceDirect.

Machine learning in the prediction of human wellbeing.

Subjective wellbeing data are increasingly used across the social sciences. Yet, despite the widespread use of such data, the predictive power of approaches commonly used to model wellbeing is only limited. In response, we here use tree-based Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to provide a better understanding of respondents' self-reported wellbeing.

Guidance on biomaterials for periodontal tissue regeneration: Fabrication methods, materials and biological considerations.

Regeneration of the multiple tissues and interfaces in the periodontal complex necessitates multidisciplinary evaluation to establish structure/function relationships. This article, an initiative of the Academy of Dental Materials, provides guidance for performing chemical, structural, and mechanical characterization of materials for periodontal tissue regeneration, and outlines important recommendations on methods of testing bioactivity, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial properties of biomaterials/scaffolds for periodontal tissue engineering. First, we briefly summarize periodontal tissue engineering fabrication methods.

Digestion of gluten-derived immunogenic peptides along the gastrointestinal tract of the growing pig as a model for the adult human is enhanced with simultaneous consumption of exogenous proteases.

Background And Aims: Digestion of gluten-derived immunogenic peptides along the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is not well established. This study aimed to map the digestion of gluten-derived immunogenic peptides along the GIT using the growing pig as a human adult model, and actinidin as a model exogenous protease.

Methods: Entire male pigs 9 weeks of age (n=54, 19.

Chromatin conformation, gene transcription, and nucleosome remodeling as an emergent system.

In single cells, variably sized nanoscale chromatin structures are observed, but it is unknown whether these form a cohesive framework that regulates RNA transcription. Here, we demonstrate that the human genome is an emergent, self-assembling, reinforcement learning system. Conformationally defined heterogeneous, nanoscopic packing domains form by the interplay of transcription, nucleosome remodeling, and loop extrusion.

Catalytic Hydrolysis of Perfluorinated Compounds in a Yolk-Shell Micro-Reactor.

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are emerging environmental pollutants characterized by their extreme stability and resistance to degradation. Among them, tetrafluoromethane (CF) is the simplest and most abundant PFC in the atmosphere. However, the highest C─F bond energy and its highly symmetrical structure make it particularly challenging to decompose.

Electromagnetic Wavefront Engineering by Switchable and Multifunctional Kirigami Metasurfaces.

Developing switchable and multifunctional metasurfaces is essential for high-integration photonics. However, most previous studies encountered challenges such as limited degrees of freedom, simple tuning of predefined functionality, and complicated control systems. Here, we develop a general strategy to construct switchable and multifunctional metasurfaces.

The Financial Impact of Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes on Patients in the United States in 2022.

Objective: To determine the financial impact of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) on patients in the United States by examining the medical expenses incurred by patients.

Patients And Methods: We used a convenience sample approach and disseminated a self-reported survey questionnaire to individuals with EDS via patient advocacy organizations and support groups across the country, social media, and health professionals from April 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. The survey focused on the out-of-pocket medical expenses incurred by patients.

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.

Reference Values of Handgrip and Lower Extremity Strength for Vietnamese Men and Women: The Vietnam Osteoporosis Study.

Background: Falls and sarcopenia are significant public health issues in Vietnam. Despite muscle strength being a critical predictor for these conditions, reference data on muscle strength within the Vietnamese population are lacking.

Purpose: To establish the reference ranges for muscle strength among Vietnamese individuals.

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.

Spin Canting Promoted Manipulation of Exchange Bias in a Perpendicular Coupled FeGaTe/CrSBr Magnetic van der Waals Heterostructure.

Recently, two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) magnetic materials have emerged as a promising platform for studying exchange bias (EB) phenomena due to their atomically flat surfaces and highly versatile stacking configurations. Although complex spin configurations between 2D vdW interfaces introduce challenges in understanding their underlying mechanisms, they can offer more possibilities in realizing effective manipulations. In this study, we present a spin-orthogonal arranged 2D FeGaTe (FGaT)/CrSBr vdW heterostructure, realizing the EB effect with the bias field as large as 1730 Oe at 2 K.

Pandemic or "Plandemic"?: The Mediating Role of Epistemic Justification Strategies in the Relationship Between COVID-19 Conspiracy Beliefs and COVID-19 Vaccine Conspiracy Beliefs.

Background: In today's post-truth times, where personal feelings and beliefs have become increasingly important, determining what is accurate knowledge has become an important skill. This is especially important during uncertainty crises (e.g.

Implementing Namaste Care in nursing care homes for people with advanced dementia: a systematically constructed review with framework synthesis.

Background: Namaste Care is an intervention designed to improve the quality of life for people with advanced dementia by providing individualised stimulation and personalised activities in a group setting. Current evidence indicates there may be benefits from this intervention, but there is a need to explore the practical realities of its implementation, including potential barriers, enablers, and how it is delivered within the context of nursing care homes.

Objective: To systematically assess the factors involved in implementing Namaste Care for people with advanced dementia in nursing care homes.

Simulated retail food environments: A literature review of systems science approaches to advance equity in access to healthy diets.

As researchers increasingly utilize systems science simulation modeling (SSSM), little is known about how and by whom SSSMs are being leveraged to address inequities in access to healthy diets. We evaluated the extent to which studies (n = 66) employing SSSM to examine retail food environments (RFEs): included three pillars of equity (social position, human capital, socioeconomic and political context) that shape RFEs and access to healthy diets; grounded model design and development in theory; engaged with diverse stakeholders and lived experiences related to RFEs; and translated model findings towards addressing inequities in RFEs. Most studies (n = 58) included some model characteristics related to social position (e.