Patient-reported outcomes following ciltacabtagene autoleucel or standard of care in patients with lenalidomide-refractory multiple myeloma (CARTITUDE-4): results from a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial.

Background: In CARTITUDE-4, ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) significantly improved progression-free survival (primary endpoint; previously reported) versus standard of care in patients with relapsed, lenalidomide-refractory multiple myeloma. We report here patient-reported outcomes.

Methods: In the ongoing, phase 3, open-label CARTITUDE-4 study, patients were recruited from 81 sites in the USA, Europe, Asia, and Australia, and were randomly assigned 1:1 to cilta-cel (target, 0·75 × 10 CAR-T cells/kg) or standard of care (daratumumab, pomalidomide, and dexamethasone; pomalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone).

'Findings of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Knee with Post-Reconstruction Infection of the ACL: A Descriptive and Reliability Study' as per instructions.

Objectives: Septic arthritis after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a rare but potentially devastating complication. The imaging findings associated with such infections are not well-described or quantified. The purpose of this study was to describe and quantify the frequency of the characteristic MRI findings of infection following ACL reconstruction.

Belzutifan plus cabozantinib as first-line treatment for patients with advanced clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (LITESPARK-003): an open-label, single-arm, phase 2 study.

Background: Belzutifan, a first-in-class HIF-2α inhibitor, has shown antitumour activity as monotherapy and in combination with cabozantinib in patients with previously treated advanced kidney cancer. The phase 2 LITESPARK-003 study was designed to determine the antitumour activity and safety of belzutifan in combination with cabozantinib in patients with advanced clear-cell renal cell carcinoma that was previously untreated (cohort 1) or previously treated with immunotherapy (cohort 2). Here, we report results from cohort 1 of this clinical trial.

Vanzacaftor-tezacaftor-deutivacaftor versus elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor in individuals with cystic fibrosis aged 12 years and older (SKYLINE Trials VX20-121-102 and VX20-121-103): results from two randomised, active-controlled, phase 3 trials.

Background: The goal of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators is to reach normal CFTR function in people with cystic fibrosis. Vanzacaftor-tezacaftor-deutivacaftor restored CFTR function in vitro and in phase 2 trials in participants aged 18 years and older resulting in improvements in CFTR function, as measured by sweat chloride concentrations and lung function as measured by spirometry. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vanzacaftor-tezacaftor-deutivacaftor compared with standard of care elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor in individuals with cystic fibrosis aged 12 years and older.

The Potential Of Autologous Patient-Derived Circulating Extracellular Vesicles To Improve Drug Delivery In Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Recognizing the need for innovative therapeutic approaches in the management of autoimmune diseases , our current investigation explores the potential of autologous extracellular vesicles (EVs), derived from blood of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, to serve as therapeutic vectors to improve drug delivery. We found that circulating EVs derived from arthritic mice (Collagen-induced arthritis model) express the joint/synovia homing receptor, αVβ3 integrin. Importantly, both autologous labelled EVs, derived from blood of arthritic mice (Collagen antibody-induced arthritis model) and healthy mice-derived EVs, exhibit targeted migration toward inflamed synovia without infiltrating healthy joints, as demonstrated by an in-vivo imaging system.

Communications needs of family caregivers of geriatric unit residents at end-of-life.

Background And Objective: There is a dearth of literature regarding the communication needs of family caregivers of institutionalized older adults and the degree to which these needs are fulfilled. This study aimed to clarify those needs regarding communication with staff in geriatric facilities during older non-communicative residents' end-of-life.

Research Design And Methods: Personal interviews were conducted with 135 family caregivers from two geriatric medical centers and two nursing homes in Israel.

The impact of body mass index on surgical complications in minimally invasive hysterectomy for uterine fibroids.

Research Question: We aimed to assess the impact of Body Mass Index (BMI) on 30-day postoperative complications in patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy (MIH) for fibroids.

Design: Using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database (2012-2020), we analyzed major and minor 30-day postoperative complications, stratified by BMI, in patients with uterine fibroids who underwent MIH. Complications were stratified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification.

Critical evaluation of extracellular polymeric substances extraction methods: Extraction efficiency, molecular characteristics, and heavy metals binding properties.

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) significantly influence the properties and performance of waste activated sludge. Various pretreatment protocols with different extraction efficiency and characteristics of EPS have been reported, which markedly impact subsequent treatment and disposal of sewage sludge. This study systematically assesses the EPS properties from twelve extraction pretreatment methods.

IVIM-Morph: Motion-compensated quantitative Intra-voxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) analysis for functional fetal lung maturity assessment from diffusion-weighted MRI data.

Quantitative analysis of pseudo-diffusion in diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) data shows potential for assessing fetal lung maturation and generating valuable imaging biomarkers. Yet, the clinical utility of DWI data is hindered by unavoidable fetal motion during acquisition. We present IVIM-morph, a self-supervised deep neural network model for motion-corrected quantitative analysis of DWI data using the Intra-voxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) model.

Regulation of physiological and pathological condensates by molecular chaperones.

Biomolecular condensates are dynamic membraneless compartments that regulate a myriad of cellular functions. A particular type of physiological condensate called stress granules (SGs) has gained increasing interest due to its role in the cellular stress response and various diseases. SGs, composed of several hundred RNA-binding proteins, form transiently in response to stress to protect mRNAs from translation and disassemble when the stress subsides.

Migrasome formation is initiated preferentially in tubular junctions by membrane tension.

Migrasomes, the vesicle-like membrane micro-structures, arise on the retraction fibers (RFs), the branched nano-tubules pulled out of cell plasma membranes during cell migration and shaped by membrane tension. Migrasomes form in two steps: a local RF bulging is followed by a protein-dependent stabilization of the emerging spherical bulge. Here we addressed theoretically and experimentally the previously unexplored mechanism of bulging of membrane tubular systems.

The impact of spillover and crossover effects of job stressors on pregnancy rates in couples undergoing in vitro fertilization treatments.

Purpose: Studies have shown mixed findings regarding the impact of stress on the success of fertility treatments. To the best of our knowledge, stress in the context of the workplace has not been investigated to date in relation to the success of fertility treatments. This research investigates the impact of work-related stress and emotional exhaustion experienced by both partners on in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment outcomes.

Da Vinci's friction for granular media.

The concept of friction was integrated into the broader field of tribology in the 20th century. Here, we revive the older friction coefficient concept and show that it is the defining parameter for a family of granular materials. We show, for the first time, that kinetic friction coefficients of such systems can be described as a function of the lubricating fluid and the shape of the granules, without any fitting parameters.

FOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT ATRIAL FIBRILLATION IN CARDIAC AMYLOIDOSIS. WHY IS THIS ARRHYTHMIA DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER ARRHYTHMIAS?

AF is a common arrhythmia in cardiomyopathy, particularly when congestive heart failure is present. The neurohormonal activation in congestive heart failure may trigger fibrotic and other changes in the left atrium and the atrial stretch associated with heart failure may induce further atrial pathology and/ or directly trigger AF (8). By the time that patients with AF develop extensive fibrosis, the arrhythmia has been shown to be associated with a greater difficulty in maintaining sinus rhythm despite attempted ablation procedures.

The effect of fixed-time interval and on-demand analgesia protocols for post cesarean pain on maternal chronic pain and child development - follow up of randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Post-cesarean delivery (CD) acute pain may progress to chronic pain, which may impair maternal bonding and child development. In 2013, we compared the efficacy of versus on-demand oral analgesia for post-caesarean pain in a randomized-controlled-trial. The fixed-time-interval group had received scheduled paracetamol, tramadol, and diclofenac regardless of pain level, and the on-demand group received medication as needed, with oxycodone reserved for unrelieved pain in both groups.

Impact of postharvest processing on the health benefits of durian-derived products.

Durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) is a seasonal fruit with a short harvesting period, requiring postharvest processing such as cutting, peeling, freeze-drying, cooking, and frying to enhance its shelf life and nutritional quality. In this study, fresh Monthong durian (MTD), MTD Sticks, MTD Cake, and MTD Chips were analyzed for polyphenols, phenolic acids, tannins, flavonoids and thermal stability.

The cardiovascular effects of long-acting bronchodilators inhalers and inhaled corticosteroids purchases among asthma and COPD patients.

Background: Confounding reports of cardiovascular disease (CVD) with the use of Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), long-acting beta-agonists, and muscarinic antagonists (LABA and LAMA) have been reported.

Objective: To explore the relationship between the purchase of ICS, LABA and LAMA inhalers and the incidence of CVDs.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients with COPD and/or asthma, aged ≥ 18 years, who purchased LABA, LAMA, and ICS inhalers alone or in combination between 2017 and 2019.

Patients with severe mental illness in the general emergency department: Clinical characteristics, quality of care and challenges.

Background: Morbidity and mortality rates are notably higher among individuals with severe mental illnesses (SMI). People with SMI often have lower access to healthcare services, and the medical care they receive is known to be suboptimal. Consequently, treatment in an acute care setting rather than a community setting is more common.

Bedouin fathers of children with developmental disabilities-Stress, stigma and collaboration with professionals.

Background: Research has not fully elucidated the challenges experienced by the caregivers of children with developmental disabilities (DDs) in different sociocultural contexts. Studies on parents, especially fathers, of children with DDs in the Middle East are especially rare. Similarly, the subject of collaboration between Bedouin fathers and professionals has seen little research.

Nonhuman primate antigenic cartography of SARS-CoV-2.

Virus neutralization profiles against primary infection sera and corresponding antigenic cartography are integral part of the COVID-19 and influenza vaccine strain selection processes. Human single variant exposure sera have previously defined the antigenic relationships among SARS-CoV-2 variants but are now largely unavailable due to widespread population immunity. Therefore, antigenic characterization of future SARS-CoV-2 variants will require an animal model, analogous to using ferrets for influenza virus.

Coronary Intervention Outcomes in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis.

Purpose Of Review: This review assesses the outcomes of coronary interventions in patients with liver cirrhosis and coronary artery disease (CAD), focusing on the clinical challenges posed by cirrhosis-related hemodynamic and coagulopathic changes. It highlights essential considerations for managing these patients, who have an increased risk of adverse events during coronary procedures.

Recent Findings: Recent studies have shown that patients with liver cirrhosis undergoing PCI experience significantly higher mortality rates compared to non-cirrhotic patients, particularly in the context of STEMI and NSTEMI.

Efficacy of Immunotherapy for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Narrative Review.

Purpose Of Review: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic condition characterized by disproportional pain typically affecting an extremity. Management of CRPS is centered around specific symptomatology, which tends to be a combination of autonomic dysfunction, nociceptive sensitization, chronic inflammation, and/or motor dysfunction. Targeting the autoimmune component of CRPS provides a way to both symptomatically treat as well as minimize progression of CRPS.