Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy associated with active systemic lupus erythematous: Anifrolumab as a potentially successful add-on therapy to intravenous immunoglobulins.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an acquired, autoimmune peripheral neuropathy, rarely reported as being associated with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE). We report the case of 53-year-old women with a long history of SLE, diagnosed with CIDP during a lupus flare beginning with progressive muscle weakness of lower and upper limbs, without affection of the central nervous system. She received treatment with steroids, intravenous immunoglobulins and anifrolumab and showed clinical and immunological improvement.

A perspective on the use of patient-reported experience and patient-reported outcome measures in ambulatory healthcare.

Introduction: Patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) are patient reports about their healthcare, whereas patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are reports about their functioning and well-being regarding physical, mental, and social health. We provide a perspective on using PREMs and PROMs in ambulatory healthcare.

Areas Covered: We conducted a narrative review of the literature about using PREMs and PROMs in research and clinical practice, identified challenges and possibilities for addressing them, and provided suggestions for future research and clinical practice.

Neuronal-ILC2 interactions regulate pancreatic glucagon and glucose homeostasis.

The immune system shapes body metabolism, while interactions between peripheral neurons and immune cells control tissue homeostasis and immunity. However, whether peripheral neuroimmune interactions orchestrate endocrine system functions remains unexplored. After fasting, mice lacking type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) displayed disrupted glucose homeostasis, impaired pancreatic glucagon secretion, and inefficient hepatic gluconeogenesis.

Exploring family profiles in explaining heterogeneity in parenting program engagement and effectiveness.

Parenting programs have proven effective in reducing disruptive child behavior. However, not all families benefit equally, and, to date, we have little insight into who benefits more or less and why. One possible solution is to explore how different potential moderators cluster together in individual families and whether such family profiles predict who benefits more or less from these programs.

Hydrolysis, Ligand Exchange, and Redox Properties of Vanadium Compounds: Implications of Solution Transformation on Biological, Therapeutic, and Environmental Applications.

Vanadium is a transition metal with important industrial, technological, biological, and biomedical applications widespread in the environment and in living beings. The different reactions that vanadium compounds (VCs) undergo in the presence of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and metabolites under mild physiological conditions are reviewed. In the environment vanadium is present naturally or through anthropogenic sources, the latter having an environmental impact caused by the dispersion of VCs in the atmosphere and aquifers.

What is the impact of thiamine deficiency on cognitive function in patients with alcohol use disorder? - A systematic review.

Cognitive impairments are frequently observed in patients with Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). Thiamine deficiency is often found in AUD patients and has been suggested as a possible cause of cognitive impairments. While thiamine deficiency is not consistently present in all AUD patients with cognitive deficits, thiamine is traditionally prescribed to patients with AUD to treat or prevent cognitive impairment.

Psychometric properties of the Fear of Birth Scale in women in the perinatal period: A multicountry study.

Assessing Fear of Birth Scale's (FOBS) psychometric properties in the perinatal period using multicountry data is a step toward effectively screen clinically significant fear of childbirth (FOC) in maternal healthcare settings. FOBS psychometric properties were analyzed in women in the perinatal period using data from Australia, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, and Portugal. FOBS' reliability, criterion (known group and convergent), concurrent, predictive, and clinical validity were analyzed.

Reducing reading time and assessing disease in capsule endoscopy videos: A deep learning approach.

Background: The wireless capsule endoscope (CE) is a valuable diagnostic tool in gastroenterology, offering a safe and minimally invasive visualization of the gastrointestinal tract. One of the few drawbacks identified by the gastroenterology community is the time-consuming task of analyzing CE videos.

Objectives: This article investigates the feasibility of a computer-aided diagnostic method to speed up CE video analysis.

Embedding a ribonuclease in the spore crust couples gene expression to spore development in Bacillus subtilis.

Faced with nutritional stress, some bacteria form endospores capable of enduring extreme conditions for long periods of time; yet the function of many proteins expressed during sporulation remains a mystery. We identify one such protein, KapD, as a 3'-exoribonuclease expressed under control of the mother cell-specific transcription factors SigE and SigK in Bacillus subtilis. KapD dynamically assembles over the spore surface through a direct interaction with the major crust protein CotY.

The civil employment experiences of amputee veterans: The case of Turkey.

Military veterans who became disabled due to conflict-related trauma face various challenges in finding and maintaining employment in civilian life. This study aims to understand the transition processes of disabled veterans in Turkey into civilian employment, as well as their experiences in maintaining and sustaining employment during this process. A qualitative research design was used in the study.

Preprocedural imaging guiding ventricular tachycardia ablation in structural heart disease.

Background: Integration of preprocedural imaging techniques in ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation may improve the identification of arrhythmogenic substrates, particularly relevant for patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) with sub-optimal outcomes. We assessed the impact of advanced preprocedural imaging on the safety and long-term efficacy of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RCA) for VT, comparing patients with NICM and ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM).

Methods: In this prospective, single-center study, consecutive patients referred for scar-related VT ablation underwent multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR).

Digital solutions for migrant and refugee health: a framework for analysis and action.

Digital technologies can help support the health of migrants and refugees and facilitate research on their health issues. However, ethical concerns include security and confidentiality of information; informed consent; how to engage migrants in designing, implementing and researching digital tools; inequitable access to mobile devices and the internet; and access to health services for early intervention and follow-up. Digital technical solutions do not necessarily overcome problems that are political, social, or economic.

Effects of Social Structure on Effective Population Size Change Estimates.

Most methods currently used to infer the "demographic history of species" interpret this expression as a history of population size changes. The detection, quantification, and dating of demographic changes often rely on the assumption that population structure can be neglected. However, most vertebrates are typically organized in populations subdivided into social groups that are usually ignored in the interpretation of genetic data.

Design concepts for advanced-technology intraocular lenses [Invited].

An intraocular lens (IOL) replaces the natural crystalline lens during cataract surgery, and although the vast majority of implants have simple optics, "advanced technology" IOLs have multifocal and extended depth of focus (EDOF) properties. Optical concepts are evaluated here, with image contrast, focal range, and unwanted visual phenomena being the primary concerns. Visual phenomena with earlier bifocal diffractive lenses led to alternative diffractive designs (trifocals, etc.

Quercetin protective potential against nanoparticle-induced adverse effects.

The rapid development of nanotechnology has resulted in the widespread use of nanoparticles (NPs) in various sectors due to their unique properties and diverse applications. However, the increased exposure of humans to NPs raises concerns about their potential negative impact on human health and the environment. The pathways through which NPs exert adverse effects, including inflammation and oxidative stress, are primarily influenced by their size, shape, surface charge, and chemistry, underscoring the critical need to comprehend and alleviate their potential detrimental impacts.

Drug Delivery Applications of Hydrophobic Deep Eutectic Solvent-in-Water Nanoemulsions: A Comparative Analysis of Ultrasound Emulsification and Membrane-Assisted Nanoemulsification.

The emergence of green chemistry and engineering principles to enforce sustainability aspects has ensured the prevalence of green solvents and green processes. Our study addresses this quest by exploring drug delivery applications of hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (DESs) which are alternative green solvents. Initially, this work showcases the hydrophobic drug solubilization capabilities of a natural hydrophobic DES, menthol, and decanoic acid.

Sleep and circadian rhythms in delayed sleep-wake phase disorder: Phenotypic differences between patients with and without comorbid depression.

Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder involves chronic difficulty going to bed and waking up at conventional times and often co-occurs with depression. This study compared sleep and circadian rhythms between patients with delayed sleep-wake phase disorder with depression (DSWPD-D) and without (DSWPD-ND) comorbid depression. Clinical records of 162 patients with delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (70 DSWPD-D, 92 DSWPD-ND) were analysed, including a subset of 76 patients with circadian phase determined by the dim light melatonin onset.

Smart Polymeric 3D Microscaffolds Hosting Spheroids for Neuronal Research via Quantum Metrology.

Toward the aim of reducing animal testing, innovative in vitro models are required. Here, this study proposes a novel smart polymeric microscaffold to establish an advanced 3D model of dopaminergic neurons. These scaffolds are fabricated with Ormocomp via Two-Photon Polymerization.

Artificial intelligence as a transforming factor in motility disorders-automatic detection of motility patterns in high-resolution anorectal manometry.

High-resolution anorectal manometry (HR-ARM) is the gold standard for anorectal functional disorders' evaluation, despite being limited by its accessibility and complex data analysis. The London Protocol and Classification were developed to standardize anorectal motility patterns classification. This proof-of-concept study aims to develop and validate an artificial intelligence model for identification and differentiation of disorders of anal tone and contractility in HR-ARM.

Clinical expression of radiographic axial spondyloarthritis and its association with HLA-B27 in European and Ibero-American populations.

Objective: To compare the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of Ibero-American patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) to those of European patients, with a particular focus on the influence of HLA-B27.

Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional, and multicentre study of patients who fulfilled the European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group (ESSG) criteria for SpA from the REGISPONSER and RESPONDIA registries. Univariate and multivariate analyses between European and Ibero-American populations stratified by HLA-B27 status were conducted.