Deception and Fraud in the Justification of "Pediatric Drug Development": A Challenge at the Interface of Medicine and Law.

United States and European Union laws demand separate clinical studies in children as a condition for drugs' marketing approval. Justified by carefully framed pseudo-scientific wordings, more so the European Medicines Agency than the United States Food and Drug Administration, "Pediatric Drug Development" is probably the largest abuse in medical research in history. Preterm newborns are immature and vulnerable, but they grow.

Human migrations, anthropogenic changes, and insect-borne diseases in Latin America.

Rapid urbanization and migration in Latin America have intensified exposure to insect-borne diseases. Malaria, Chagas disease, yellow fever, and leishmaniasis have historically afflicted the region, while dengue, chikungunya, and Zika have been described and expanded more recently. The increased presence of synanthropic vector species and spread into previously unaffected areas due to urbanization and climate warming have intensified pathogen transmission risks.

Suprachoroidal injection of triamcinolone acetonide as adjuvant to surgical treatment of epiretinal membrane.

Background: To analyse the effect of suprachoroidal injection (SChI) of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) on macular thickness (CRT), ectopic inner foveal layer thickness (EIFL-T) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in pseudophakic patients undergoing vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane (iERM) compared to intravitreal injection of TA (IVTA).

Methods: Prospective matched comparison of patients undergoing vitrectomy for Govetto stage 3 and 4 iERM. 25 eyes receiving IVTA (G-1) were compared to 23 eyes receiving SChI-TA (G-2) during vitrectomy.

Faricimab efficacy in type 1 macular neovascularization: AI-assisted quantification of pigment epithelium detachment (PED) volume reduction over 12 months in Naïve and switch eyes.

Background: This study evaluates the efficacy of intravitreal Faricimab in reducing pigment epithelium detachment (PED) and fluid volumes in both treatment-naïve eyes and eyes unresponsive to anti-VEGF mono-therapies, all diagnosed with type 1 macular neovascularization (T1 MNV) over a period of 12-month.

Methods: A retrospective, single-center cohort study was conducted at the Jules Gonin Eye Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland. Clinical records of treatment-naïve and non-responder switch patients presenting T1 MNV secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) from September 2022 to March 2023 were reviewed.

Unraveling the genetic architecture of blueberry fruit quality traits: major loci control organic acid content while more complex genetic mechanisms control texture and sugar content.

Background: Fruit quality traits, including taste, flavor, texture, and shelf-life, have emerged as important breeding priorities in blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum). Organic acids and sugars play crucial roles in the perception of blueberry taste/flavor, where low and high consumer liking are correlated with high organic acids and high sugars, respectively. Blueberry texture and appearance are also critical for shelf-life quality and consumers' willingness-to-pay.

Sublethal and lethal toxicity assessment of lanthanum and gadolinium to Daphnia magna in a 7-day test method.

The use of rare earth elements has increased in recent years, leading to a rise in environmental concentrations. Despite the growth in number of studies regarding toxicity, knowledge gaps remain. For Daphnia magna, standardized test methods involve exposure periods of either 48 h or 21 days to assess toxicological effects.

The role of a "volume sparing" strategy in kidney replacement therapy of AKI: a retrospective single-center study.

Background: The KDIGO recommendation in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients requiring kidney replacement therapy is to deliver a Urea Kt/V of 1.3 for intermittent thrice weekly hemodialysis, and an effluent volume of 20-25 ml/kg/hour when using continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). Considering that prior studies have suggested equivalent outcomes when using CRRT-prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy (PIRRT) effluent doses below 20 mL/kg/h, our group investigated the possible benefits of low effluent volume CRRT-PIRRT (12.

Continued Treatment with Nintedanib in Patients with Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis: Data from INBUILD-ON.

Purpose: In the INBUILD trial in patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF), nintedanib slowed the decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) versus placebo, with a safety profile characterised mainly by gastrointestinal events. INBUILD-ON, the open-label extension of INBUILD, assessed the safety of nintedanib during longer-term treatment. Data on FVC were collected.

Circumferential nerve wrapping with muscle autograft: a modified strategy of microvascular decompression for trigeminal neuralgia.

Microvascular decompression is considered a first-line treatment in classical trigeminal neuralgia. Teflon is the material commonly used. The use of autologous muscle has been occasionally reported.

Long-term monitoring of total suspended matter concentration in fishponds in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Excessive total suspended matter (TSM) concentrations can exert a considerable impact on the growth of aquatic organisms in fishponds, representing a significant risk to aquaculture health. This study revised existing unified models using empirical data to develop an optimized TSM retrieval model tailored for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) (R = 0.69, RMSE = 7.

Non-Caucasian Race/Ethnicity Predisposes to Unfavorable Stage and Grade at Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Diagnosis.

Objective: To test whether race/ethnicity affects stage or grade distribution at upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) diagnosis.

Methods: Within the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database 2004-2020, UTUC patients were identified. Multivariable logistic regression models tested for the association between race/ethnicity and stage as well as grade at diagnosis according to renal pelvis vs.

Age Matters: Early-Onset Rectal Cancer Exhibits Higher Rates of Pathological Complete Response: A Retrospective Analysis of the Influence of Young Age on Treatment Success in Stage II-III Rectal Cancer.

Background: The incidence of rectal cancer has decreased overall, but the incidence of early-onset rectal cancer (eoRC) has increased. Early-onset rectal cancer and late-onset rectal cancer (loRC) differ due to phenotypical, genetic characteristics, and higher stage presentations in eoRC. Thus, eoRC patients undergo more aggressive neoadjuvant treatments.

Safety and Efficacy of Portal Vein Recanalization with Creation of Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (PVR-TIPS) to Treat Chronic Portal Vein Thrombosis in Non-cirrhotic Patients.

Purpose: This study assesses the efficacy and safety of Portal Vein Recanalization with Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (PVR-TIPS) in non-cirrhotic patients with chronic portal vein occlusion (CPVO), cavernomatous transformation, and symptomatic portal hypertension (PH) and/or portal vein thrombotic progression.

Material And Methods: Medical records of 21 non-cirrhotic patients with CPVO and portal cavernoma undergoing PVR-TIPS were analyzed. Hemodynamic (intraprocedural reduction in portosystemic pressure gradient), clinical (data on gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain, ascites, and presence of esophageal varices from imaging exams) and technical success (PVR-TIPS) assessed efficacy.

Early and Mid-Term Disposition of α-PVP and its unknown Metabolites in Urine and Oral Fluid Through a Multi-Analytical Hyphenated Approach Following a Single Non-Controlled Administration to Healthy Volunteers.

Nowadays, synthetic cathinones (SCs) is the second more representative subclass of New Psychoactive Substances, accounting for 104 analogues in the illegal market. Since its first report in 2011, α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (α-PVP) gained popularity among drug users, provoking an increased number of intoxications. Nonetheless, pharmacokinetics data is still limited in the literature.

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty versus lifestyle modifications for class II obesity patients: a French cost-effectiveness analysis.

Introduction: Obesity is a worldwide epidemic, with up to 17% of French population affected. European guidelines recommend surgical management at specific weight and comorbidity level; however, less than 2% of eligible patients undergo surgical bariatric interventions. To extend the benefits of bariatric interventions to the untreated population with obesity, endoscopic techniques such as endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) have been developed.

Deep learning model for automatic detection of different types of microaneurysms in diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: This study aims to develop a deep-learning-based software capable of detecting and differentiating microaneurysms (MAs) as hyporeflective or hyperreflective on structural optical coherence tomography (OCT) images in patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR).

Methods: A retrospective cohort of 249 patients (498 eyes) diagnosed with NPDR was analysed. Structural OCT scans were obtained using the Heidelberg Spectralis HRA + OCT device.

Alkaline phosphatase decline and pain response as predictors of overall survival benefit in patients treated with radium-223: a post hoc analysis of the REASSURE study.

Background: Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) declines and pain responses can occur during radium-223 (Ra) treatment, but their association with treatment outcomes is unclear.

Methods: For patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer treated with Ra in the REASSURE study, we investigated whether ALP decline (Week 12) and/or pain response (during treatment) are associated with improved overall survival (OS). The Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BPI-SF) was used to assess pain at baseline and pain response (in patients with baseline BPI-SF score ≥2).

Uncovering the Fungal Community Composition of Alive and Dead Posidonia oceanica Matte.

Posidonia oceanica retains a large amount of carbon within its belowground recalcitrant structure, the 'matte,' which is characterized by low oxygen availability and biodegradation. Fungi may play a pivotal role in carbon sequestration within the matte, even if little/no information is available. To fill this gap, we profiled fungal communities from the upper and lower layers of alive and dead matte, by using an ITS2-5.

aGvHDtrackR and cGvHDtrackR: shiny applications for graft versus host disease management and clinical data collection.

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is one of the most common and troublesome complications after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Despite adequate GvHD prophylaxis, 30-50% of the patients still develop acute or chronic GvHD, often requiring multiple lines of therapy. Therefore, it is crucial to closely monitor the onset and the response of GvHD to therapies to identify the best available treatment for each patient.

Exploring the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of five indigenous Kenyan plants used in traditional medicine.

Defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as indigenous knowledge and practices used for maintaining health and treating illnesses, traditional medicine (TM) represents a rich reservoir of ancient healing practices rooted in cultural traditions and accumulated wisdom over centuries. Five indigenous Kenyan plant species traditionally used in African TM, named Afzelia quanzensis, Azadirachta indica, Gigasiphon macrosiphon, Grewia bicolor, and Lannea schweinfurthii, represent a valuable resource in healing practices, yet their chemical composition and bioactivity remain understudied. To depict a primary bio-chemical characterization of these plants, their antioxidant and antimicrobial features have been evaluated by the use of methods validated in this context.

Deep learning-integrated MRI brain tumor analysis: feature extraction, segmentation, and Survival Prediction using Replicator and volumetric networks.

The most prevalent form of malignant tumors that originate in the brain are known as gliomas. In order to diagnose, treat, and identify risk factors, it is crucial to have precise and resilient segmentation of the tumors, along with an estimation of the patients' overall survival rate. Therefore, we have introduced a deep learning approach that employs a combination of MRI scans to accurately segment brain tumors and predict survival in patients with gliomas.

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a vascular dysplasia inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and caused by loss-of-function pathogenic variants in genes encoding proteins of the BMP signalling pathway. Up to 90% of disease-causal variants are observed in ENG and ACVRL1, with SMAD4 and GDF2 less frequently responsible for HHT. In adults, the most frequent HHT manifestations relate to iron deficiency and anaemia owing to recurrent epistaxis (nosebleeds) or bleeding from gastrointestinal telangiectases.