A comprehensive retrospect on the current perspectives and future prospects of pneumoconiosis.

Pneumoconiosis is a widespread occupational pulmonary disease caused by inhalation and retention of dust particles in the lungs, is characterized by chronic pulmonary inflammation and progressive fibrosis, potentially leading to respiratory and/or heart failure. Workers exposed to dust, such as coal miners, foundry workers, and construction workers, are at risk of pneumoconiosis. This review synthesizes the international and national classifications, epidemiological characteristics, strategies for prevention, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment of pneumoconiosis.

Accuracy of the Self-Administered Rapid HIV Urine Test in a Real-World Setting and Individual Preferences for HIV Self-Testing - Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China, July 2020-February 2021.

What Is Already Known About This Topic?: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) self-testing serves as a crucial strategy for overcoming testing barriers, with urine-based self-testing emerging as a potential novel approach.

What Is Added By This Report?: In a real-world setting, this study demonstrated that the urine rapid test exhibited lower diagnostic accuracy compared to the blood rapid test. Study participants expressed stronger preferences for HIV self-testing methods utilizing finger prick samples, accompanied by standard written instructions and lower costs.

Unusual presentation and management of parathyroid carcinoma with pulmonary metastasis: a case report.

Background: Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare and challenging malignancy, often confirmed by histopathological analysis. Due to its rarity, it can present in atypically. We present a case of parathyroid carcinoma with an unusual course of pulmonary metastasis emphasizing the complexities of its diagnosis and management.

COVID-19 dynamic modeling of immune variability and multistage vaccination strategies: A case study in Malaysia.

Hybrid-immune and immunodeficient individuals have been identified by the World Health Organization as two vulnerable groups in the context of COVID-19, but their distinct characteristics remain underexplored. To address this gap, we developed an extended compartmental model that simulates the spread of COVID-19 and the impact of administering three doses of the vaccine (first, second, and booster). This study aims to provide insights into how these vulnerable populations respond to vaccination and the dynamics of waning immunity.

Public Reason in Times of Corona: Countering Disinformation in the Netherlands.

Who should decide what passes for disinformation in a liberal democracy? During the COVID-19 pandemic, a committee set up by the Dutch Ministry of Health was actively blocking disinformation. The committee comprised civil servants, communication experts, public health experts, and representatives of commercial online platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. To a large extent, vaccine hesitancy was attributed to disinformation, defined as misinformation (or data misinterpreted) with harmful intent.

Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Framework Films Integrated with Wavy Structured Design for Wearable Bioelectronics.

The integration of hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) with flexible electronic technologies offers a promising strategy for monitoring detailed health information, owing to their inherent porosity, excellent biocompatibility, and tunable catalytic capabilities. However, their application in wearable and real-time health monitoring remains largely unexplored, primarily due to the mechanical mismatch between the traditionally fragile HOFs particles and the softness of human skin. Herein, this study demonstrates an epidermal biosensor that maintains reliable sensing capability even under extreme deformation and complex environmental conditions by integrating HOFs films with wavy bioelectrodes.

Epidemiology, treatment, and mortality of femoral neck fractures in patients over the age of 65 years: a nationwide retrospective cohort study of 83,789 cases in Turkey.

Background: A population-based study delineating the epidemiologic, clinical, and treatment characteristics of femoral neck fractures (FNFs) in elderly patients has not yet been conducted in Turkey. In this nationwide study, the epidemiologic, clinical, and treatment characteristics of patients aged ⩾65 years with FNFs who underwent osteosynthesis, hemiarthroplasty (HA), or total hip arthroplasty (THA) were examined.

Methods: Patients aged ⩾65 years with FNFs were identified in this retrospective, nationwide study.

A OHCs-Targeted Strategy for PEDF Delivery in Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) results from prolonged exposure to intense noise, causing damage to sensory outer hair cells (OHCs) and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). The blood labyrinth barrier (BLB) hinders systemic drug delivery to the inner ear. This study applied a retro-auricular round window membrane (RWM) method to bypass the BLB, enabling the transport of macromolecular proteins into the inner ear.

Ageing Healthy: Perceptions of Older Persons, Community Members, and Other Stakeholders in Uganda.

Promoting healthy ageing would benefit from an understanding of what this means to stakeholders. We explored healthy ageing perceptions in rural and peri-urban Ugandan communities. Community dialogues, focus group discussions with older persons, community members, community-based organization leaders, key informant interviews with Ministries of Gender (2), Health (1), non-governmental organizations (3) and elderly representatives (5) were held.

Advances in the preparation, applications, challenges, and future trends of polysaccharide-based gels as food-grade delivery systems for probiotics: A review.

Probiotics are highly regarded for their multiple functions, such as regulating gut health, enhancing the immune system, and preventing chronic diseases. However, their stability in harsh environments and targeted release remain significant challenges. Therefore, exploring effective protection and delivery strategies to ensure targeted release of probiotics is critically important.

Pathways and mechanisms of health interventions in the waterfront-built environment of cold regions.

Urban waterfront-built environments in cold regions are more conducive to public health than green spaces alone. However, their failure to meet health intervention expectations calls for further research to explore potential intervention pathways and mechanisms. This study conducted an in-depth investigation of Shenyang, a city in China's cold region.

Multifaceted Analysis of Lactobacillus plantarum DMR14 Reveals Promising Antidiabetic Properties Through In Vivo Assays and Molecular Simulations.

Due to the growing concern about diabetes worldwide, we investigated the antidiabetic potential of Lactobacillus plantarum DMR14, assessing its effects on the diabetic mice and identifying safe, bioactive compounds targeting DPP4 protein for drug development through various methods, including in vivo assays, GC-MS analysis and molecular docking simulations. The animal experiments showed that after 3 weeks of treatment, the blood sugar levels of mice given the bacteria were reduced by 35.03% compared to baseline.

Microfluidic-Enabled Self-Directed Hydrogel Microspheres for Multiplexed MicroRNA Assays.

Multiplexed microRNA (miRNA) detection has proven valuable in disease diagnosis; yet, the development of advanced tools for their analysis remains a subject of broad interest. Here, we propose a novel single-particle method for multiplexed miRNA detection using self-directed hydrogel microspheres, which feature supersegmented compartments for loading analyte probes and an air-encapsulated region that grants the microsphere a unique preferred posture in aqueous solutions. By exploiting microfluidic technology, we can widely adjust the size of the microspheres and the number of compartments can be widely adjusted.

Digital Surveillance of Mental Health Care Services in Saudi Arabia: Cross-Sectional Study of National e-Referral System Data.

Background: Mental illness affects an estimated 25% of the global population, with treatment gaps persisting worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these challenges, leading to a significant increase in mental health issues globally. In Saudi Arabia, the lifetime prevalence of mental disorders is estimated at 34.

Artificial Intelligence in Pancreatic Imaging: A Systematic Review.

The rising incidence of pancreatic diseases, including acute and chronic pancreatitis and various pancreatic neoplasms, poses a significant global health challenge. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) for example, has a high mortality rate due to late-stage diagnosis and its inaccessible location. Advances in imaging technologies, though improving diagnostic capabilities, still necessitate biopsy confirmation.

Intervention of a Communication Between PI3K/Akt and β-Catenin by (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Suppresses TGF-β1-Promoted Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Invasive Phenotype of NSCLC Cells.

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) assists in the acquisition of invasiveness, relapse, and resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and can be caused by the signaling of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) through Smad-mediated or Smad-independent pathways. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a multifunctional cancer-preventing bioconstituent found in tea polyphenols, has been shown to repress TGF-β1-triggered EMT in the human NSCLC A549 cell line by inhibiting the activation of Smad2 and Erk1/2 or reducing the acetylation of Smad2 and Smad3. However, its impact on the Smad-independent pathway remains unclear.

An international survey of patient blood management practices.

Background: The Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies (AABB) conducted a global survey of patient blood management (PBM) practices. It determined changes in PBM practices since the last survey.

Study Design And Methods: A working group of AABB's PBM Subsection and AABB staff designed the survey using the Qualtrics™ platform.

POLE mutations in endometrial carcinoma: Clinical and genomic landscape from a large prospective single-center cohort.

Background: To date, 11 DNA polymerase epsilon (POLE) pathogenic variants have been declared "hotspot" mutations. Patients with endometrial cancer (EC) characterized by POLE hotspot mutations (POLEmut) have exceptional survival outcomes. Whereas international guidelines encourage deescalation of adjuvant treatment in early-stage POLEmut EC, data regarding safety in POLEmut patients with unfavorable characteristics are still under investigation.

Bioactive Functionalized Chitosan Thermo-Responsive Hydrogels as Promising Platforms for Therapeutic, Regenerative Oral, and Maxillofacial Applications.

Due to their superior physicochemical features, chitosan thermosensitive hydrogels are multipurpose platforms that are frequently used in the biomedical industry. Many investigations have been conducted recently to modify their pore dimensions, expansion, biodegradability, stimulus-reaction characteristics, and other characteristics in order to better tailor them to the complex craniofacial tissues. They have been the focus of various studies that have attempted to load biological cargos for therapeutic and regenerative uses in the oro-facial tissues.

Descriptive Epidemiology and Prognostic Significance of Diaphragm Thickness in the General Population: The Nagahama Study.

Background: Diaphragm thickness is a potential marker of sarcopenia in addition to muscle mass and strength at extremities. We aimed to clarify the descriptive epidemiology and prognostic significance of diaphragm thickness in the general population.

Methods: The study participants were 3324 community residents (mean age: 61.

Long-Term Clinical Outcomes and Risk Indicator Analyses of Narrow-Diameter Implants in the Posterior Jaw: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 10 to 27 Years.

Objectives: To assess the long-term clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction with narrow-diameter implants (NDIs) in the posterior jaws and to identify the risk indicators for NDI failure.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study reviewed 479 patients with 666 NDIs (diameter ≤ 3.5 mm) -supported fixed prostheses in posterior jaws, with a minimum 10-year follow-up.

RADAR-AD: assessment of multiple remote monitoring technologies for early detection of Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions worldwide, leading to cognitive and functional decline. Early detection and intervention are crucial for enhancing the quality of life of patients and their families. Remote Monitoring Technologies (RMTs) offer a promising solution for early detection by tracking changes in behavioral and cognitive functions, such as memory, language, and problem-solving skills.

Evaluating H2BC9 as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Histone H2B is highly expressed in many types of cancers and is involved in cancer development. H2B clustered histone 9 (H2BC9), a member of the H2B family, plays critical roles in gene expression regulation, chromosome structure, DNA repair stability, and cell cycle regulation. However, the diagnostic and prognostic value of H2BC9 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains unclear.