C-reactive protein (CRP) and otorrhoea as prognosticate markers for necrotising otitis externa treatment response: based on a retrospective cohort study of 62 patients.

Background: Recurrence rate of necrotising otitis externa (NOE) after treatment is 15-20%. This is mainly due to a lack of reliable clinical indicator for the resolution of disease.

Aims: We aim to assess the predictability of the otalgia, otorrhoea and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in a large cohort of sixty-two patients for treatment outcome.

A multi-view learning approach with diffusion model to synthesize FDG PET from MRI T1WI for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: This study presents a novel multi-view learning approach for machine learning (ML)-based Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis.

Methods: A diffusion model is proposed to synthesize the fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) view from the magnetic resonance imaging T1 weighted imaging (MRI T1WI) view and incorporate two synthesis strategies: one-way synthesis and two-way synthesis. To assess the utility of the synthesized views, we use multilayer perceptron (MLP)-based classifiers with various combinations of the views.

Effects of Dexamethasone Intravitreal Implant on Multifocal Electroretinography in Diabetic Macular Oedema.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of the dexamethasone implant on the electrophysiological profile of Diabetic Macular Oedema (DMO) patients over six months.

Methods: In this prospective, single-center study 30 eyes of 22 patients were examined using comprehensive baseline assessments including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), contrast sensitivity (CS) and multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG), before and after 0.7mg dexamethasone implant injection, with follow-ups at months 1, 2, 4, and 6.

Effectiveness of early vocational rehabilitation versus usual care to support RETurn to work After stroKE: a pragmatic, parallel arm multi-centre, randomised-controlled trial.

Background: Return-to-work is a major goal achieved by fewer than 50% stroke survivors. Evidence on how to support return-to-work is lacking.

Aims: To evaluate the clinical effectiveness of Early Stroke Specialist Vocational Rehabilitation (ESSVR) plus usual care (UC) (i.

A critical approach to research on perioperative pain management.

Optimal postoperative pain management is a prerequisite for enhancing functional recovery after surgery. However, many studies assessing analgesic interventions have limitations. Consequently, further improvements in study design are urgently needed.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the perioperative period: current controversies and concerns.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2-specific inhibitors provide significant analgesic and opioid-sparing benefits. However, these analgesics are commonly avoided owing to concerns of potential adverse effects. The evidence for NSAID-related adverse effects is conflicting and of poor quality, and these analgesics are safer than what has been implied.

Correction: Giunta et al. Ameliorative Effects of PACAP against Cartilage Degeneration. Morphological, Immunohistochemical and Biochemical Evidence from and Models of Rat Osteoarthritis. 2015, , 5922-5944.

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The effects of hesperidin on valproic acid-induced reduction in hippocampal neurogenesis through the antioxidant and apoptotic pathways in adult rats.

Treatment with valproic acid (VPA) can induce oxidative stress, leading to neuronal degeneration. Hesperidin (HSD) has an antioxidant function that can mitigate oxidative stress, thereby promoting hippocampal neurogenesis. Because brain function and memory are reliant on hippocampal neurogenesis, this work is planned to elucidate the effects of HSD on the VPA-induced alterations in hippocampal neurogenesis and apoptosis via oxidative damage.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, β-blockers and antihistamines: A clinical trial is needed.

Survival in pancreatic cancer (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, PDAC) at just 5 months is the worst of all cancers. It is predicted to become the second highest cause of cancer deaths worldwide this decade and unlike most cancers, there has been little progress in improving survival in PDAC. Numerous studies including molecular and mechanistic studies, cancer biology studies and retrospective human epidemiological studies suggest that two well-known, approved drug classes - β-blockers and H1-antihistamines - may be beneficial and thus may potentially prolong life in patients with PDAC.

Caffeic Acid Attenuates Neuronal Apoptosis, Oxidative Stress, and Memory Deficits via Antioxidant Properties in Aging Rats Induced by D-Galactose.

Aging is a main factor related to cognitive deficits. D-Galactose (D-gal), a monosaccharide, increases oxidative stress leading to cellular senescence, memory deficits, and neuronal apoptosis. Caffeic acid (CA) is an antioxidant that can interrupt free radicals and reduce oxidative stress.

Healthcare utilisation and costs associated with poor access to diagnosis and treatment for children and young people with tic disorders.

Background: There are no specific national guidelines in England to guide healthcare professionals in how to assess or treat young people with tic disorders. Access to evidence-based treatment, including behavioural therapy, is of limited availability.

Objectives: This study examined the economic impact on services arising from a lack of access to appropriate healthcare services for young people with tic disorders, alongside the impact on school attendance.

The Use of Diuretics in Infants with Established or Evolving Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia and Its Impact on the Duration of Home Oxygen Therapy.

Objective: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), defined according to the level of respiratory support and supplemental oxygen administered at 36 weeks postmenstrual age, has multi-factorial causes. Diuretics have been used to prevent or treat established BPD and are the most frequently prescribed medication for the management of severe BPD. There is significant variation in the use of diuretics, and there is limited evidence showing improvement in medium to long term outcomes.

Social media quality in undergraduate medical education: A reconceptualisation and taxonomy.

Background: Social Media (SoMe) as a learning tool, though ubiquitous in society and popular within medical education, is often criticised as superficial. Its limitless output has been blamed for encouraging shorter attention spans and shirking in-depth reflection. The evidence base is itself superficial and lacking rigour or meaning.

Transcriptomic analysis of rat prefrontal cortex following chronic stress induced by social isolation - Relevance to psychiatric and neurodevelopmental illness, and implications for treatment.

Social isolation is an established risk factor for psychiatric illness, and became increasingly topical with the spread of SARS-CoV-2. We used RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) to enable unbiased assessment of transcriptomic changes within the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of isolation-reared rats. To provide insight into the relevance of this manipulation for studying human illness, we compared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched biological functions against datasets involving post-mortem frontal cortical tissue from patients with psychiatric and neurodevelopmental illnesses.

High α-SMA expression in the tumor stroma is associated with adverse clinical parameters in mismatch repair-proficient colorectal cancers only.

Objectives: As mismatch repair status confers differential prognosis in colorectal cancers, this study aimed to determine associations of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein expression in mismatch repair-proficient (pMMR) and mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) colorectal tumors with clinicopathologic and prognostic features.

Methods: Tissue microarrays from patients with colorectal cancer, immunostained with α-SMA, were assessed through digital image analysis. Total (n = 962), pMMR (n = 782), and dMMR (n = 156) stromal H-scores were assessed for associations with clinicopathologic and survival data.

Conformity Evaluation of Afinion 2 Analyzer Maintainability: Compliance Practicality for Philippine National Standard PNS ISO 15189:2013 Accreditation.

Objectives: The implementation of Philippine National Standard PNS ISO 15189:2013 to support the medical laboratory to produce competent results is a recognised challenge. It is apparent that the approach of ensuring the equipment availability can be specifically optimised. No known research has focused on exploring on the conduct of conformity evaluation of Afinion 2 Analyzer maintainability for the PNS ISO 15189:2013 accredited medical laboratory.

Metoclopramide for analgesia in renal colic: a narrative systematic review.

Metoclopramide, a prokinetic antiemetic with activity at multiple receptor types, may be a useful treatment for renal colic pain. This review investigated whether metoclopramide is an effective analgesic in the management of adults with renal colic.Eligible studies were randomised, quasi-randomised or case-control trials of metoclopramide for the management renal colic pain.