MTHFR C677T rs1801133 and TP53 Pro72Arg rs1042522 gene variants in South African Indian and Caucasian psoriatic arthritis patients.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene is involved in homocysteine and folic acid metabolism. Tumour suppressor protein TP53 gene maintains cellular and genetic integrity. To date, no studies associated the MTHFR C677T rs1801133 and TP53 Pro72Arg rs1042522 with CRP levels and methotrexate (a folic acid antagonist) treatment outcomes in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients.

Estimating Visual Acuity With Spectacle Correction From Fundus Photos Using Artificial Intelligence.

Importance: Determining spectacle-corrected visual acuity (VA) is essential when managing many ophthalmic diseases. If artificial intelligence (AI) evaluations of macular images estimated this VA from a fundus image, AI might provide spectacle-corrected VA without technician costs, reduce visit time, or facilitate home monitoring of VA from fundus images obtained outside of the clinic.

Objective: To estimate spectacle-corrected VA measured on a standard eye chart among patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) in clinical practice settings using previously validated AI algorithms evaluating best-corrected VA from fundus photographs in eyes with DME.

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.

Medical Student Confidence in Meeting Disability Competencies: Results of a national survey-based study.

People with disabilities have recently been declared a population at increased risk of health disparities, and research has cited a lack of physician training as a cause of that increased risk. Prior studies demonstrate that physicians lack confidence in caring for people with disabilities, but there is little research on disability competency among medical students. This study assessed medical students' confidence in six disability-related competencies and tested for associations between perceived confidence and students' personal demographics and institutional characteristics.

Drug repurposing for sustainable antimicrobial use: exploring pharmacists' awareness, attitudes, facilitators and barriers.

This study utilized a validated questionnaire that aimed to assess pharmacists' awareness and attitude towards drug repurposing for antimicrobial use. Despite the reasonable awareness, pharmacists reported unfavourable attitudes. Pharmacists with a B.

Metformin Alleviates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity via Preserving Mitochondrial Dynamics Balance and Calcium Homeostasis.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a commonly used chemotherapeutic medication for treating malignancies, although its cardiotoxicity limits its use. There is growing evidence that alteration of the mitochondrial fission/fusion dynamic processes accompanied by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and alteration of calcium Ca homeostasis are potential underlying mechanisms of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC). Metformin (Met) is an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator that has antioxidant properties and cardioprotective effects.

Do you know your PSMA-tracer? Variability in the biodistribution of different PSMA ligands and its potential impact on defining PSMA-positivity prior to PSMA-targeted therapy.

Background: In clinical practice, several radiopharmaceuticals are used for PSMA-PET imaging, each with distinct biodistribution patterns. This may impact treatment decisions and outcomes, as eligibility for PSMA-directed radioligand therapy is usually assessed by comparing tumoral uptake to normal liver uptake as a reference. In this study, we aimed to compare tracer uptake intraindividually in various reference regions including liver, parotid gland and spleen as well as the respective tumor-to-background ratios (TBR) of different F-labeled PSMA ligands to today's standard radiopharmaceutical Ga-PSMA-11 in a series of patients with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer who underwent a dual PSMA-PET examination as part of an individualized diagnostic approach.

Development of a brief screening measure of unmet supportive care needs (SCNS-P&C-6) in caregivers of people with high-grade glioma.

Purpose: Informal caregivers of people with high grade glioma (HGG) often have high levels of unmet support needs. Routine screening for unmet needs can facilitate appropriate and timely access to supportive care. We aimed to develop a brief screening tool for HGG caregiver unmet needs, based on the Supportive Care Needs Survey-Partners & Caregivers (SCNS-P&C).

Estimated prevalence of post-intensive care cognitive impairment at short-term and long-term follow-ups: a proportional meta-analysis of observational studies.

Objective: Evidence of the overall estimated prevalence of post-intensive care cognitive impairment among critically ill survivors discharged from intensive care units at short-term and long-term follow-ups is lacking. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of the post-intensive care cognitive impairment at time to < 1 month, 1 to 3 month(s), 4 to 6 months, 7-12 months, and > 12 months discharged from intensive care units.

Methods: Electronic databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL Plus, Web of Science, and PsycINFO via ProQuest were searched from inception through July 2024.

Preclinical evaluation of the potential PARP-imaging probe [carbonyl-C]DPQ.

Background: Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) enzymes are crucial for the repair of DNA single-strand breaks and have become key therapeutic targets in homologous recombination-deficient cancers, including prostate cancer. To enable non-invasive monitoring of PARP-1 expression, several PARP-1-targeting positron emission tomography (PET) tracers have been developed. Here, we aimed to preclinically investigate [carbonyl-C]DPQ as an alternative PARP-1 PET tracer as it features a strongly distinct chemotype compared to the frontrunners [F]FluorThanatrace and [F]PARPi.

Geochemical partitioning and leaching behaviour of geogenic contaminants from the partially weathered rocks in chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) endemic regions in Sri Lanka.

Studies regarding geochemical partitioning and leaching behavior of Hofmeister ions, which is considered as a risk/causative factor for chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu), are scarce. Therefore, Hofmeister ions' leaching behavior of partially weathered rocks from CKDu endemic (Girandurukotte) and non-endemic (Sewanagala) areas, Sri Lanka were compared. Rock mineralogy was analyzed using X-ray Diffraction, and total ion contents were determined using alkaline and acid digestions.

Targeting BMP-1 enhances anti-tumoral effects of doxorubicin in metastatic mammary cancer: common and distinct features of TGF-β inhibition.

Purpose: Mammary carcinoma is comprised heterogeneous groups of cells with different metastatic potential. 4T1 mammary carcinoma cells metastasized to heart (4THM), liver (4TLM) and brain (4TBM) and demonstrate cancer-stem cell phenotype. Using these cancer cells we found thatTGF-β is the top upstream regulator of metastatic process.

Molecular Epidemiology and Clinical Aspects of Dermatophytosis in Guiyang, Southwest China (2017-2023): A Single-Institution Retrospective Study.

Epidemiological studies combining taxonomic and clinical data have been limited globally, particularly Guiyang, the most under-developed economic provincial capital city in southwestern China. A retrospective analysis was performed of dermatophyte epidemiology involving all culture-positive cases received between May 2017 and May 2023 at the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted on 391 dermatophyte isolates collected from patients using the rDNA internal transcribed spacer sequences.

A systematic review of salivary gland hypofunction and/or xerostomia induced by non-surgical cancer therapies: prevention strategies.

Purpose: This systematic review aimed to assess the updated literature for the prevention of salivary gland hypofunction and xerostomia induced by non-surgical cancer therapies.

Methods: Electronic databases of MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCT) that investigated interventions to prevent salivary gland hypofunction and/or xerostomia. Literature search began from the 2010 systematic review publications from the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer/International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO) up to February 2024.

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.

Clinical practice guidelines for management of disseminated intravascular coagulation in Japan 2024. Part 3: solid cancers and vascular abnormalities.

This study discusses disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) associated with solid cancers and various vascular abnormalities, both of which generally exhibit chronic DIC patterns. Solid cancers are among the most significant underlying diseases that induce DIC. However, the severity, bleeding tendency, and progression of DIC vary considerably depending on the type and stage of the cancer, making generalization difficult.

Evaluating smartphone-based 3D imaging techniques for clinical application in oral and maxillofacial surgery: A comparative study with the vectra M5.

Purpose: This study aimed to clarify the applicability of smartphone-based three-dimensional (3D) surface imaging for clinical use in oral and maxillofacial surgery, comparing two smartphone-based approaches to the gold standard.

Methods: Facial surface models (SMs) were generated for 30 volunteers (15 men, 15 women) using the Vectra M5 (Canfield Scientific, USA), the TrueDepth camera of the iPhone 14 Pro (Apple Inc., USA), and the iPhone 14 Pro with photogrammetry.

Oligogenic risk score for Gilles de la Tourette syndrome reveals a genetic continuum of tic disorders.

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) and other tic disorders (TDs) have a substantial genetic component with their heritability estimated at between 60 and 80%. Here we propose an oligogenic risk score of TDs using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data from a group of Polish GTS patients, their families, and control samples (n = 278). In this study, we first reviewed the literature to obtain a preliminary list of 84 GTS/TD candidate genes.

Fluoroscopy-guided aspiration of the acutely dislocated total hip arthroplasty: a feasible, high-yield, and safe procedure.

Objective: To determine the feasibility, yield, and safety of fluoroscopic-guided aspiration of the acutely dislocated total hip arthroplasty (AD-THA).

Materials And Methods: IRB-approved, retrospective review of fluoroscopic-guided aspirations of AD-THA (January 2005-December 2023) was performed. Data from electronic charts and fluoroscopy images/reports were obtained.

Comparative study between silodosin, tamsulosin, silodosin plus tadalafil, and tamsulosin plus tadalafil as a medical expulsive therapy for lower ureteral stones: a prospective randomized trial.

Purpose: To examine the safety and efficiency of a single-drug therapy with silodosin or tamsulosin versus combined therapy with silodosin plus tadalafil and tamsulosin plus tadalafil as a medical expulsive therapy (MET) for lower ureteral stones.

Methods: This research was a prospective randomized clinical trial carried out at Fayoum University Hospital, Egypt, over one year. Patients with lower ureteral stones (5-10 mm) were randomly allocated into one of four treatment groups.

High variability in the reproducibility of key hemodynamic responses to head-up tilt.

Increased blood pressure upon standing is considered a cardiovascular risk factor. We investigated the reproducibility of changes in aortic blood pressure, heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, and systemic vascular resistance during three passive head-up tilts (HUT) in 223 participants without cardiovascular medications (mean age 46 years, BMI 28 kg/m2, 54% male). Median time gap between the first and the second HUT was 9 weeks and the second and the third HUT 4 weeks.

Analytical review of facial nerve palsy following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: comprehensive assessment.

Purpose: The SARS-CoV-2 vaccination has reduced COVID-19 infection, though facial nerve palsy (FNP) has emerged as a notable side effect of the vaccine. We evaluated the current literature on the clinical presentation and outcomes of FNP related to COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods: A comprehensive search of seven databases was conducted for studies up to January 2023.

Electrocardiographic markers predict hemodynamic parameters in adults with uncorrected secundum atrial septal defect.

Background: Precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) as complication in atrial septal defect (ASD) is closely related to right heart hemodynamics, such as right atrial pressure (RAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). Right heart catheterization (RHC) as the gold standard for their measurement is invasive and not widely available in Indonesia. Electrocardiography (ECG) was proposed to be alternative in this matter.

Management of mass casualty incidents: a systematic review and clinical practice guideline update.

Purpose: Our aim was to generate evidence- and consensus-based recommendations for the management of mass casualty incidents (MCIs) based on current evidence. This guideline topic is part of the 2022 update of the German guideline on the treatment of patients with severe/multiple injuries.

Methods: MEDLINE and Embase were systematically searched to August 2021.