Polatuzumab vedotin plus bendamustine and rituximab in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A phase III bridging study in Chinese patients.

Background: Patients with transplant-ineligible relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) have limited treatment options and poor outcomes.

Methods: This phase III study (NCT04236141) evaluated the efficacy and safety of polatuzumab vedotin plus bendamustine and rituximab (Pola+BR) versus BR in Chinese patients with transplant-ineligible R/R DLBCL to support regulatory submission in China. Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive Pola+BR or placebo+BR.

Variations and Opportunities in Postnatal Management of Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn.

Importance: Preventive efforts in pregnancy-related alloimmunization have considerably decreased the prevalence of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). International studies are therefore essential to obtain a deeper understanding of the postnatal management and outcomes of HDFN. Taken together with numerous treatment options, large practice variations among centers may exist.

Infectious keratitis following photorefractive keratectomy: a 13-year study at a tertiary center.

Introduction: Infectious keratitis is a rare but devastating complication following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) that may lead to visual impairment. This study assessed the clinical features, treatment strategies, and outcomes of post-PRK infectious keratitis.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on patients with post-PRK infectious keratitis presenting to Khalili Hospital, Shiraz, Iran, from June 2011 to March 2024.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Children with Pulmonary Atresia and Intact Ventricular Septum: Mortality and Associated Outcomes.

Data on outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are limited in patients with pulmonary atresia intact ventricular septum (PAIVS). The objective of this study was to describe the use of ECMO and the associated outcomes in patients with PAIVS. We retrospectively reviewed neonates with PAIVS who received ECMO between 2009 and 2019 in 19 US hospitals affiliated with the Collaborative Research for the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society (CoRe-PCICS).

Strategies to enhance management of HER2-positive breast cancer in the elderly: an expert consensus perspective.

Therapeutic decision-making for older patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer highlights the importance of a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA). This assessment considers the functional status, comorbidities, and relevant conditions of the patient, and allows for an estimation of life expectancy, but it does not facilitate individualized treatment plans. There are also other challenges to consider related to the cardiac toxicity of the treatments and the under-representation of older patients in clinical trials.

Efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in renal cell carcinoma venous tumour thrombus shrinkage (UroCCR 128).

Purpose: Surgery remains the cornerstone of localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) care. Pembrolizumab has recently been recommended as a standard of care for RCC patients who are at high risk of recurrence. Data regarding the efficacy of ICIs either alone or in combination with ICIs or VEGF TKIs for VTT shrinkage are scarce.

Advancements in the fight against globally distributed OXA-48 carbapenemase: evaluating the new generation of carbapenemase inhibitors.

Carbapenemase OXA-48 and its variants pose a serious threat to the development of effective treatments for bacterial infections. OXA-48-producing Enterobacterales are the most prevalent carbapenemase-producing bacteria in large parts of the world. Although these bacteria exhibit low-level carbapenem resistance , the infections they cause are challenging to treat with conventional therapies, owing to their spread and complex detection in clinical settings.

Cost-effectiveness of cetuximab combined with radiotherapy versus radiotherapy alone in locally advanced head and neck cancer in Spain.

To estimate the cost-effectiveness of cetuximab in combination with radiotherapy compared with radiotherapy alone, for the treatment of locally advanced head and neck cancer patients in Spain. A probabilistic Markov model (second-order Monte Carlo simulation) with a five-year time horizon and quarterly Markov cycles was performed from the perspective of the Spanish National Health System (NHS). The additional cost and quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gain per patient receiving radiotherapy in combination with cetuximab compared with radiotherapy alone was €4356 (95% CI: €4350-4362) and 0.

Peroxidase (POD) Mimicking Activity of Different Types of Poly(ethyleneimine)-Mediated Prussian Blue Nanoparticles.

Prussian blue nanoparticles (PBNPs) have been identified as a promising candidate for biomimetic peroxidase (POD)-like activity, specifically due to the metal centres (Fe/Fe) of Prussian blue (PB), which have the potential to function as catalytically active centres. The decoration of PBNPs with desired functional polymers (such as amino- or carboxylate-based) primarily facilitates the subsequent linkage of biomolecules to the nanoparticles for their use in biosensor applications. Thus, the elucidation of the catalytic POD mimicry of these systems is of significant scientific interest but has not been investigated in depth yet.

Circulating T Cell Subsets in Type 1 Diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a complex disease driven by the immune system attacking the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Understanding the role of different T cell subpopulations in the development and progression of T1D is crucial. By employing flow cytometry to compare the characteristics of T cells, we can pinpoint potential indicators of treatment response or therapeutic inefficacy.

Evolution of Physical Self-Esteem During Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Observational Study.

: Patients with COPD have altered self-esteem, and good self-esteem promotes personal, health, and social success. Improving self-esteem could be a method for encouraging the maintenance of physical activity. Only one study has evaluated the effects of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on self-esteem in moderate COPD patients.

Impact of Baseline Thrombocytopenia on Early Outcomes in Patients With Acute Venous Thromboembolism.

Managing acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with thrombocytopenia is challenging. We used data from the RIETE registry to investigate the impact of baseline thrombocytopenia on early VTE-related outcomes, depending on the initial presentation as pulmonary embolism (PE) or isolated lower-limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT). From March 2003 to November 2022, 90 418 patients with VTE were included.

Neuropsychological test performance in mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: We sought to characterize the cognitive profile among individuals with mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies (MCI-LB) to help guide future clinical criteria.

Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis included MCI-LB studies with cognitive data from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and PsycINFO (January 1990 to March 2023). MCI-LB scores were compared to controls, MCI due to Alzheimer's disease (MCI-AD), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) groups with random-effects models.

Early Feasibility Study with the SATURN Transapical Mitral Valve Replacement Device.

Purpose: To report the outcomes of the early feasibility study of transapical transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) with the SATURN System (InnovHeart, Milano, Italy) to treat patients with severe functional mitral regurgitation.

Description: Five high surgical risk patients underwent transapical transcatheter mitral valve replacement with the SATURN System at a single center. One-year follow-up is complete for all patients.

Iatrogenic Aortic Regurgitation After Tricuspid Annuloplasty Treated by Transcatheter Valve Repair.

We report a case of a woman who underwent mitral ring and tricuspid annuloplasty. Two months later, she presented with acute heart failure secondary to severe aortic regurgitation, which was a complication of the cardiac surgery. Given the high surgical risk of reoperation in this the patient, she underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation, with a good result.

The Omics-Driven Machine Learning Path to Cost-Effective Precision Medicine in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a significant and growing global health challenge, making early detection and slowing disease progression essential for improving patient outcomes. Traditional diagnostic methods such as glomerular filtration rate and proteinuria are insufficient to capture the complexity of CKD. In contrast, omics technologies have shed light on the molecular mechanisms of CKD, helping to identify biomarkers for disease assessment and management.

Cut-Off Points for Low Relative 30-s Sit-to-Stand Power and Their Associations With Adverse Health Conditions.

Background: Despite muscle power derived from the 5-rep sit-to-stand (STS) test having been demonstrated to be a valuable biomarker in older individuals, there is limited information regarding muscle power derived from the 30-s STS test, a widely used test in the clinical setting. This study aimed (i) to compare relative 30-s STS power values between older men and women, (ii) to identify cut-off points for low relative 30-s STS power, (iii) to compare the prevalence of low relative STS power between sexes and (iv) to evaluate the association of low relative 30-s STS power with adverse conditions in older people.

Methods: A total of 1475 community-dwelling older adults (65-98 years; 45% men) from the Toledo Study for Healthy Aging were included.

Impulsivity behaviors and white matter mediate the relationship between genetic risk for cannabis use disorder and early cannabis use in adolescents.

Background And Aim: Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is strongly influenced by genetic factors; however the mechanisms underpinning this association are not well understood. This study investigated whether a polygenic risk score (PRS) based on a genome-wide association study for CUD in adults predicts cannabis use in adolescents and whether the association can be explained by inter-individual variation in structural properties of brain white matter or risk-taking behaviors.

Design And Setting: Longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses using data from the IMAGEN cohort, a European longitudinal study integrating genetic, neuroimaging and behavioral measures.

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.

Risk Factors for Extraocular Relapse in Retinoblastoma.

Background: Metastatic retinoblastoma remains a significant challenge in pediatric oncology, with stark disparities in survival outcomes between high-income countries (HICs) and low-income countries (LICs). Delayed diagnosis and treatment, driven by socioeconomic factors and limitations in healthcare systems, contribute to poorer outcomes in LICs. Histopathological characteristics, including high-risk pathology factors (HRPFs) and the extent of ocular tumor invasion, are critical for predicting metastatic risk and guiding treatment strategies.

Costs of Influenza Illness and Acute Respiratory Infections by Household Income Level: Catastrophic Health Expenditures and Implications for Health Equity.

Background: Seasonal influenza illness and acute respiratory infections can impose a substantial economic burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We assessed the cost of influenza illness and acute respiratory infections across household income strata.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a prior systematic review of costs of influenza and other respiratory illnesses in LMICs and contacted authors to obtain data on cost of illness (COI) for laboratory-confirmed influenza-like illness and acute respiratory infection.

Improving Examination Skills in Neuromuscular Disorders Through an Educational Video.

Background: The acquisition of practical skills is a key objective of medical education. Improving knowledge and skills is essential for early diagnosis of patients suffering from neuromuscular (NM) diseases.

Approach: Multimedia tools have proved to be useful and effective for learning clinical skills.

Effect of Screen Time and Sugar Consumption Reduction on Sleep Bruxism in Children: A Randomised Clinical Trial.

Objective: Sleep bruxism (SB) is associated with alterations in dopamine and serotonin, which are related to increased consumption of added sugar and overuse of screens. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of the interventions 'Food, Fun and Family' (FFF) and Counselling and Education (CE) on the frequency of SB in children.

Methods: A randomised clinical trial was conducted.