Varied Clinical Features and Outcomes of Autoimmune Encephalitis: A Retrospective Case Series.

Introduction: This study discusses the various clinical profiles, investigatory findings, treatment responses, and prognosticating factors in seven cases of autoimmune encephalitis (AE).

Methods: The clinical records of seven AE patients admitted to the Neurology Department, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Chennai, from July 2022 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: The patients' ages ranged from 18 to 35, and all experienced seizures.

Cutaneous Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Their Correlation With Cardiac Involvement.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by widespread immune dysregulation that affects multiple organ systems, including the skin and cardiovascular system. The crosstalk between different cell death pathways-such as apoptosis, necroptosis, and neutrophil extracellular trap (NETosis), plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of SLE, influencing both cutaneous and cardiac manifestations. Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is one of the most common early signs of SLE, affecting up to 80% of patients.

Assessment of Contributing Risk Factors Leading to Heart Failure in Patients Who Are Methamphetamine Users.

Background: Methamphetamine abuse is a public health problem across the world, and the cardiovascular system experiences a significant effect on the myocardium over time. Methamphetamine is a common cause of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The prevalence and risk factors for HFpEF and HFrEF in this patient population remain unclear.

The association of donor and recipient sex on sepsis rates and hemoglobin increment among critically ill patients receiving red cell transfusions in a retrospective study.

Background: Existing research presents conflicting results on the influence of blood donor sex on hemoglobin (Hb) change and transfusion-associated infection and mortality in transfusion recipients.

Aim: This retrospective study explored the association between donor and recipient sex on hospital-onset sepsis (HO-sepsis) and Hb changes in critically ill patients receiving red blood cell (RBC) transfusions.

Methods: Data from 2010-2020 were extracted from an academic hospital's clinical database and a blood supplier's donor database.

HLA-matched related peripheral blood stem cell and bone marrow transplantation with RIC regimens yield comparable outcomes for adult AML.

Introduction: Understanding differences in clinical outcomes between PBSCT and BMT is important, and this study compared outcomes of HLA-matched related PBSCT and BMT using reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) in adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients.

Methods: Data from 402 patients who underwent either PBSCT ( = 294) or BMT ( = 108) between 2000 and 2022 were analyzed using the Japanese nationwide registry database. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and secondary endpoints included disease-free survival (DFS), non-relapse mortality (NRM), and GVHD.

Association of the nutritional risk index recorded prior to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation with the clinical prognosis in children.

Introduction: The nutritional risk index (NRI), calculated using serum albumin levels and body weight ratio is a known prognostic factor in adult hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). However, its usefulness in pediatric HCT settings remains unclear.

Methods: In a retrospective study, we examined pre-transplant NRI impact on outcomes in 82 pediatric patients undergoing allogeneic HCT.

Microvesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells: A promising therapeutic strategy for acute respiratory distress syndrome-related pulmonary fibrosis?

Pulmonary fibrosis significantly contributes to the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), markedly increasing patient mortality. Despite the established anti-fibrotic effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), numerous challenges hinder their clinical application. A recent study demonstrated that microvesicles (MVs) from MSCs (MSC-MVs) could attenuate ARDS-related pulmonary fibrosis and enhance lung function hepatocyte growth factor mRNA transcription.

Protective activity of adipose-derived stem cell extracellular vesicles in ischemia and/or reperfusion.

Increasing evidence of the significant clinical value of protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury has contributed to the realization of the independent importance of this approach in improving prognosis and reducing cardiovascular mortality. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived by adipose mesenchymal stem cells may mediate the paracrine effects of stem cells and provide regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties, which are enhanced by γ-aminobutyric acid. The protective effects on cardiac myocytes may result from the EV embarked by miR-21-5p, which is a target for thioredoxin-interacting protein, regulating the formation of thioredoxin-interacting protein-thioredoxin complexes and subsequently enhancing the antioxidant activity of thioredoxin.

Broadband internet access as a social determinant of health in the early COVID-19 pandemic in U.S. counties.

Recent work suggests that internet access was key in delivering life-saving health information about the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper expands on these findings by focusing on the early pandemic in the United States to examine the role of internet access on masking and COVID-19 incidence and mortality. Using county-level data from the American Community Survey, The New York Times, and other sources, weighted OLS regression models with state fixed-effects were used to predict the association of internet access on self-reported masking in July 2020 and COVID-19 incidence and mortality during multiple periods from July-October 2020.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): from mechanistic insights to therapeutic strategies.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a clinical syndrome of acute hypoxic respiratory failure caused by diffuse lung inflammation and edema. ARDS can be precipitated by intrapulmonary factors or extrapulmonary factors, which can lead to severe hypoxemia. Patients suffering from ARDS have high mortality rates, including a 28-day mortality rate of 34.

Strategies in Management of Pulmonary Embolism With Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) and acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are serious conditions with high morbidity and mortality. In the USA, PE causes around 100,000 deaths annually, with higher incidence in males. AIS following PE occurs in 1-10% of cases and is a leading cause of death within 2 - 4 weeks post-stroke.

Predicting Extended Intensive Care Unit Stay Following Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting and Its Impact on Hospitalization and Mortality.

Background: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a prevalent surgical procedure aimed at alleviating symptoms and improving survival in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Postoperative care typically necessitates an intensive care unit (ICU) stay, which is ideally less than 24 h. However, various preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors can prolong ICU stays, adversely affecting hospital resources, patient outcomes, and overall healthcare costs.

Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Retrospective, Single-Center Experience on the Role of Endoscopy and Outcomes.

Background: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a common and potentially fatal medical emergency. This study aimed to investigate the frequency, causes, outcomes, and efficacy of endoscopy in the treatment of UGIB at King Fahad Central Hospital in Jazan, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: Between January 2017 and December 2023, a retrospective study was performed including all hospitalized patients with UGIB.

U-shaped association between the non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and mortality risk in obese adults: evidence from NHANES 1999-2018.

Background: Obesity, often accompanied by dyslipidemia and increased cardiovascular risk, poses a significant threat to overall mortality. The non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHHR) has been identified as a valuable parameter for assessing dyslipidemia. The goal of the study was to elucidate the relationship between NHHR and mortality in obese populations.

The impact of pulmonary hypertension on prognosis in moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation patients treated with transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair: a comprehensive meta-analysis.

Objective: This meta-analysis aims to assess the impact of pulmonary hypertension (PH) on the clinical prognosis of patients with moderate to severe mitral valve regurgitation (MR) undergoing transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TEER).

Methods: As of August 2024, relevant studies were identified through searches of the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase databases. A comprehensive screening process was conducted, with quality assessment performed utilizing the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS).

Improving Patient Outcomes in mTBI: The Role of Integrated Nursing Interventions in the Emergency Department.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, often requiring emergency department (ED) management. Integrated Nursing Interventions play a critical role in the care of TBI patients, but limited research has evaluated their efficacy in this setting. This study aims to assess the impact of Integrated Nursing Interventions on patient outcomes and complications in the ED.

DNA nanotechnology-based strategies for gastric cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a formidable adversary in the field of oncology. The low early diagnosis rate of GC results in a low overall survival rate. Therefore, early accurate diagnosis and effective treatment are the key to reduce the mortality of GC.

Stem cell-derived exosome delivery systems for treating atherosclerosis: The new frontier of stem cell therapy.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of mortality worldwide. As a chronic inflammatory disease with a complicated pathophysiology marked by abnormal lipid metabolism and arterial plaque formation, atherosclerosis is a major contributor to CVDs and can induce abrupt cardiac events. The discovery of exosomes' role in intercellular communication has sparked a great deal of interest in them recently.

Brain-targeting drug delivery systems: The state of the art in treatment of glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most prevalent primary malignant brain tumor, characterized by a high mortality rate and a poor prognosis. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-tumor barrier (BTB) present significant obstacles to the efficacy of tumor-targeted pharmacotherapy, thereby impeding the therapeutic potential of numerous candidate drugs. Targeting delivery of adequate doses of drug across the BBB to treat GBM has become a prominent research area in recent years.

EFFECTS OF PREOPERATIVE ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND PAIN ON QUALITY OF POSTOPERATIVE RECOVERY AND ACUTE POSTOPERATIVE PAIN AFTER RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY: A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY.

Patients with prostate cancer are often in psychological distress and pain preoperatively. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of preoperative anxiety, depression and pain on the quality of postoperative recovery and acute postoperative pain after radical prostatectomy. One hundred and sixty patients scheduled for open or laparoscopic radical prostatectomy were enrolled in a prospective observational study.

Factors Associated with HIV Testing Uptake in Cameroon: Data from the 2018 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey.

Background: HIV represents a significant public health challenge, contributing to increased mortality and morbidity within the population. Despite the implementation of various HIV testing strategies, the uptake rate of HIV testing remains low.

Objective: This study aims to assess the factors associated with HIV testing uptake among women and men in Cameroon.

The relationship between dietary inflammatory index and all-cause and cardiovascular disease-related mortality in adults with metabolic syndrome: a cohort study of NHANES.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the correlation between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and mortality resulting from all-cause and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in adults affected by metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Methods: The focus of this study was to analyze the information of 13,751 adults who had been diagnosed with MetS. DII scores were computed based on a 24-hour dietary intake at the start of the study.

Cost-Effectiveness of Serum Pepsinogen as a Gastric Cancer Targeted Screening Strategy in the United States.

Background And Aims: Current gastric cancer (GC) screening modalities are invasive and expensive. Noninvasive screening for GC precursors with serum pepsinogen (PG) may improve early detection and prevention. Test characteristics of PG based on US prospective data was recently reported and used to study the cost-effectiveness of PG screening vs no screening in the US.

A Pair of Fluorescent Probes Enabling Precise Diagnosis of Liver Cancer by Complementary Imaging.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is by far the predominant malignant liver cancer, with both high morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis and surgical resections are imperative for improving the survival of HCC patients. However, limited by clinical diagnosis methods, it is difficult to accurately distinguish tumor tissue and its boundaries in the early stages of cancer.