An Autoethnographic Account of Familial Mediterranean Fever: A Turkish Patient's Discovery of Spiritual Meaning.

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a genetic autoinflammatory disorder characterized by recurrent febrile episodes that are accompanied by pain in the abdomen, chest, or joints caused by peritonitis, pleuritis, skin lesions, arthritis, and pericarditis. This original article aims to provide an analytic autoethnographic account of a Turkish patient's experience of FMF, with a focus on the discovery of spiritual meaning. In addition to discussing the grief reactions to a loss of health, the article uses self-reflexive discourse and narrative-based analysis to explore four stages of discovery of spiritual meaning through FMF: "omnipotent me," "God's punishment," "God's test," and "God's mercy.

Determination of adequate bony resection margins in inflammatory jaw pathologies using SPECT-CT in primary mandibular reconstruction with virtually planned vascularized bone flaps.

Objectives: In advanced stages of osteoradionecrosis, medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, and osteomyelitis, a resection of sections of the mandible may be unavoidable. The determination of adequate bony resection margins is a fundamental problem because bony resection margins cannot be secured intraoperatively. Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT-CT) is more accurate than conventional imaging techniques in detecting inflammatory jaw pathologies.

Analysis of Seroreactivity and Seropositivity in Balb/c Mice Experimentally Infected with Toxocara canis Using Two Recombinant (rTc-CTL-1 and rTES-120) Antigens.

Introduction: Toxocarosis in human beings is currently diagnosed by serological assay based on the detection of antibodies against Toxocara antigens. Toxocara canis larvae do not reach the adult stage in paratenic hosts like humans and mice. Therefore experimental infection in mice, which mimics the biology of human infection, might be relevant to get a better understanding of human toxocarosis.

The application of the technique for dorsal median sulcus mapping in intramedullary space occupying surgery: a single-center experience.

Purpose: To investigate the technique for dorsal median sulcus (DMS) mapping and assess its application value in preserving dorsal columnn (DC) function during intramedullary space occupying surgery based on a single-center experience.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 41 cases of intramedullary spinal cord tumor admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University from March 2017 to August 2023. All included cases underwent intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring, and were divided into a study group (n = 18) and a control group (n = 23), based on whether DMS mapping technique was utilized.

Preventing the progression of cirrhosis to decompensation and death.

Two main stages are differentiated in patients with advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD), one compensated (cACLD) with an excellent prognosis, and the other decompensated (dACLD), defined by the appearance of complications (ascites, variceal bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy) and associated with high mortality. Preventing the progression to dACLD might dramatically improve prognosis and reduce the burden of care associated with ACLD. Portal hypertension is a major driver of the transition from cACLD to dACLD, and a portal pressure of ≥10 mmHg defines clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) as the threshold from which decompensating events may occur.

Rome Foundation Working Team Report on overlap in disorders of gut-brain interaction.

In patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), overlapping non-gastrointestinal conditions such as fibromyalgia, headaches, gynaecological and urological conditions, sleep disturbances and fatigue are common, as is overlap among DGBI in different regions of the gastrointestinal tract. These overlaps strongly influence patient management and outcome. Shared pathophysiology could explain this scenario, but details are not fully understood.

Sleeve Gastrectomy and Gastric Bypass Impact in Patient's Metabolic, Gut Microbiome, and Immuno-inflammatory Profiles-A Comparative Study.

Background: Bariatric surgery is the most long-term effective treatment option for severe obesity. The role of gut microbiome (GM) in either the development of obesity or in response to obesity management strategies has been a matter of debate. This study aims to compare the impact of two of the most popular procedures, sleeve gastrectomy (SG) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (GB), on metabolic syndrome parameters and gut bacterial microbiome and in systemic immuno-inflammatory response.

Short-Term Evolution of MASLD Following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: A Focus on Fibrotic MASH.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) includes simple steatosis and metabolic dysfuncion-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), with fibrosis in MASH serving as a critical prognostic marker. This study investigates the effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) on fibrotic MASH, assessed using the fibrotic NASH index (FNI) and the non-invasive NASH detection score (NI-NASH-DS), as well as provides further data on the diagnostic accuracy of both scores.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 104 individuals (91.

"The biggest challenge is there's never a routine": a qualitative study of the time burdens of cancer care at home.

Purpose: As cancer care is increasingly delivered in the home, more tasks and responsibilities fall on patients and their informal care partners. These time costs can present significant mental, physical, and financial burdens, and are undercounted in current measures of time toxicity that only consider care received in formal healthcare settings.

Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with patients with gastrointestinal cancer and informal care partners at a single tertiary cancer center between March and October 2023.

Targeted editing of CCL5 with CRISPR-Cas9 nanoparticles enhances breast cancer immunotherapy.

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. Immunotherapy, a promising therapeutic approach, often faces challenges due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. This study explores the innovative use of CRISPR-Cas9 technology in conjunction with FCPCV nanoparticles to target and edit the C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 5 (CCL5) gene, aiming to improve the efficacy of breast cancer immunotherapy.

Analysis of the effect of platelet function and different doses of ticagrelor after flow diverter treatment of intracranial aneurysms.

Ticagrelor has become the standard drug for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) with flow diverters (FDs), but the dosage has not been standardized. The effect of platelet function on clinical and imaging prognosis remains unclear. This study aimed to show the effects of different doses of ticagrelor and platelet aggregation function on the clinical and imaging prognosis after FDs treatment of aneurysms.

TNIP1 Impacts Prognosis by Modulating the Immune Microenvironment in BRCA.

Breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA) affects women worldwide, and despite advancements in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, outcomes remain suboptimal. TNIP1, a novel target involved in multiple immune signaling pathways, influences tumor development and survival. However, the connection between BRCA and TNIP1 remains unclear.

A pan-cancer analysis: predictive role of ZNF32 in cancer prognosis and immunotherapy response.

The zinc finger protein 32 (ZNF32) has been associated with high expression in various cancers, underscoring its significant function in both cancer biology and immune response. To further elucidate the biological role of ZNF32 and identify potential immunotherapy targets in cancer, we conducted an in-depth analysis of ZNF32. We comprehensively investigated the expression of ZNF32 across tumors using diverse databases, including TCGA, CCLE, TIMER2.

Spatiotemporal dynamics and driving factors of energy-related carbon emissions in the Yangtze River Delta region based on nighttime light data.

Owing to China's massive area and vastly differing regional variations in the types and efficiency of energy, the spatiotemporal distributions of regional carbon emissions (CE) vary widely. Regional CE study is becoming more crucial for determining the future course of sustainable development worldwide. In this work, two types of nighttime light data were integrated to expand the study's temporal coverage.

Musculoskeletal symptoms associated with aromatase inhibitors in the treatment of early breast cancer: A scoping review of risk factors and outcomes.

Purpose: Aromatase inhibitor-associated musculoskeletal symptoms (AIMSS) are the most common adverse effects experienced by breast cancer patients. This scoping review aimed to systematically synthesize the predictors/risk factors and outcomes of AIMSS in patients with early-stage breast cancer.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI) from inception to December 2024 following the scoping review framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley (2005).

Alcohol drinking leads to sex-dependent differentiation of T cells.

Objective: Global per capita alcohol consumption is increasing, posing significant socioeconomic and medical challenges also due to alcohol-related traumatic injuries but also its biological effects. Trauma as a leading cause of death in young adults, is often associated with an increased risk of complications, such as sepsis and multiple organ failure, due to immunological imbalances. Regulatory T cells play a crucial role in maintaining immune homeostasis by regulating the inflammatory response.

Prognosis of Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy Flap Necrosis: Predictors of Failure and Salvage.

Background: In the realm of implant-based breast reconstruction, mastectomy flap necrosis (MFN) is a prevalent yet grave complication that poses a threat to the stability of the inserted prosthesis. Although numerous investigations have scrutinized the risk factors for MFN development, few have delved into the aftermath, specifically implant failure or salvage. This study seeks to appraise the prognosis of the implanted prosthesis following MFN occurrence, as well as identify predictors of such outcomes.

Quality of orthodontic care in an academic setting in the Middle East.

Assessment of the quality of orthodontic care in a UAE-based orthodontic postgraduate training institution was conducted using multiple indices, including the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR), American Board of Orthodontics Objective Grading System (ABO-OGS), and Index of Complexity Outcome and Need (ICON). Retrospective evaluation of pre- and post-treatment records of patients (n = 201) treated with fixed orthodontic appliances was performed by two examiners Statistical analysis assessed the influence of gender, type of malocclusion, need for extraction, missed appointments and number of treating residents on treatment duration. The average numerical reduction of the PAR and ICON scores at the start and end of the treatment were 17.

Retrieval of conditioned immune response in male mice is mediated by an anterior-posterior insula circuit.

To protect the body from infections, the brain has evolved the ability to coordinate behavioral and immunological responses. The conditioned immune response (CIR) is a form of Pavlovian conditioning wherein a sensory (for example, taste) stimulus, when paired with an immunomodulatory agent, evokes aversive behavior and an anticipatory immune response after re-experiencing the taste. Although taste and its valence are represented in the anterior insular cortex and immune response in the posterior insula and although the insula is pivotal for CIRs, the precise circuitry underlying CIRs remains unknown.

The Sub 2-h Official Marathon is Possible: Developing a Drafting Strategy for a Historic Breakthrough in Sports.

Background: Drafting for drag reduction is a tactic commonly employed by elite athletes of various sports. The strategy has been adopted by Kenyan runner Eliud Kipchoge on numerous marathon events in the past, including the 2018 and 2022 editions of the Berlin marathon (where Kipchoge set two official world records), as well as in two special attempts to break the 2 h mark for the distance, the Nike Breaking2 (2017) and the INEOS 1:59 Challenge (2019), where Kipchoge used an improved drafting formation to finish in 1:59:40, although that is not recognized as an official record.

Results: In this study, the drag of a realistic model of a male runner is calculated by computational fluid dynamics for a range of velocities.