Generative artificial intelligence enables the generation of bone scintigraphy images and improves generalization of deep learning models in data-constrained environments.

Purpose: Advancements of deep learning in medical imaging are often constrained by the limited availability of large, annotated datasets, resulting in underperforming models when deployed under real-world conditions. This study investigated a generative artificial intelligence (AI) approach to create synthetic medical images taking the example of bone scintigraphy scans, to increase the data diversity of small-scale datasets for more effective model training and improved generalization.

Methods: We trained a generative model on Tc-bone scintigraphy scans from 9,170 patients in one center to generate high-quality and fully anonymized annotated scans of patients representing two distinct disease patterns: abnormal uptake indicative of (i) bone metastases and (ii) cardiac uptake indicative of cardiac amyloidosis.

Impact of tissue-independent positron range correction on [Ga]Ga-DOTATOC and [Ga]Ga-PSMA PET image reconstructions: a patient data study.

Purpose: The positron range effect can impair PET image quality of Gallium-68 (Ga). A positron range correction (PRC) can be applied to reduce this effect. In this study, the effect of a tissue-independent PRC for Ga was investigated on patient data.

Review of pretreatment and analytical methods for environmental endocrine disruptors: Phthalates.

Phthalates, known as phthalate esters (PAEs), are among the most ubiquitous pervasive env7ironmental endocrine disruptors (EEDs), extensively utilized globally in various facets of modern life due to their irreplaceable role as plasticizers. The exponential production and utilization of plastic goods have substantially escalated plastic waste accumulation. Consequently, PAEs have infiltrated the environment, contaminating food and drinking water reservoirs, posing notable threats to human health.

Revealing distinct treatment mechanisms and outcome correlations in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome after different bladder therapies through urinary biomarker analysis.

Purpose: Urinary cytokine changes may serve as biomarkers to assess treatment outcomes for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). This study analyzed the changes in urinary cytokines following various bladder therapies and explored their clinical significance in therapeutic mechanisms.

Methods: A total of 122 patients with IC/BPS treated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP), botulinum toxin-A (BoTN-A), hyaluronic acid (HA), or low-energy shock wave (LESW) were evaluated.

Optimizing Sedation Strategies in the Cardiac ICU: Induction, Maintenance and Weaning.

Purpose Of Review: We aim to summarize the available literature guiding tailored sedation practices for specific conditions encountered in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CICU).

Recent Findings: Data specific for the CICU population is lacking. Preclinical data and observational studies guide sedation approaches for specific pathologies that we have used to generate a guideline for sedative choice for various scenarios.

FoxO1 promotes high glucose-induced inflammation and cataract formation via JAK1/STAT1.

Purpose: To investigate whether in diabetic cataract (DC), FoxO1 regulates high glucose (HG)-induced activation of NLRC4/IL-6 inflammatory mediators in human lens epithelial cells (SRA01/04) via the JAK1/STAT1 pathway, leading to cataract formation.

Methods: Expression levels of FoxO1, inflammatory factor IL-6 and inflammatory vesicle NLRC4 were examined in SRA01/04 under high glucose (HG) stress at 25-150 mM. Rat lenses were also cultured using HG medium with or without the addition of the FoxO1 inhibitor AS1842856 and the JAK1 agonist RO8191.

Crystalline lens power and astigmatism calculation in myopia by swept-source optical coherence tomography: A pilot study.

Purpose: To calculate the crystalline lens power and astigmatism, as well as their changes following cycloplegia, in individuals with myopia using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT).

Methods: Participants were divided into two groups according to axial length (AL). Crystalline lens parameters, including power, lens thickness (LT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and astigmatism, were measured with SS-OCT and analysed before and after cycloplegia.

Recent progress on nanomaterial-based electrochemical sensors for glucose detection in human body fluids.

In the modern age, half of the population is facing various chronic illnesses due to glucose maintenance in the body, major causes of fatality and inefficiency. The early identification of glucose plays a crucial role in medical treatment and the food industry, particularly in diabetes diagnosis. In the past few years, non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensors have received a lot of interest for their ability to identify glucose levels accurately.

Impact of cardiac position, morphology and operative technique on long-term fontan outcomes in heterotaxy.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the outcomes of heterotaxy patients undergone the Fontan operation, focusing on morphological features and surgical techniques.

Methods: Eighty-two consecutive heterotaxy patients who underwent the Fontan operation from 1985 to 2021 were compared to 150 patients with tricuspid atresia (TA) and 144 patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazard model were used to analyze transplant-free survival and predictor of outcomes.

2-dodecyl-6-methoxycyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione protects against MPP-induced neurotoxicity by ameliorating oxidative stress, apoptosis and autophagy in SH-SY5Y cells.

2-dodecyl-6-methoxycyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione (DMDD) is a cyclohexanedione compound extracted from the roots of Averrhoa carambola L. Several studies have documented its beneficial effects on diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. However, its potential neuroprotective effects on Parkinson's disease (PD) have not yet been explored.

Revolutionising Osseous Biopsy: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence in the Era of Personalised Medicine.

In a rapidly evolving healthcare environment, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming diagnostic techniques and personalised medicine. This is also seen in osseous biopsies. AI applications in radiomics, histopathology, predictive modelling, biopsy navigation, and interdisciplinary communication are reshaping how bone biopsies are conducted and interpreted.

Prognostic impact of one-year permanent pacemaker implantation after mitral valve surgery with the Cox-maze procedure.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation within the first year after mitral valve (MV) surgery combined with the Cox-maze procedure, focusing on long-term outcomes, including overall mortality, infective endocarditis (IE), and ischaemic stroke.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) in South Korea, identifying 10,127 patients who underwent MV surgery with the Cox-maze procedure between 2005 and 2020. Patients were classified into the PPM and non-PPM groups based on PPM implantation within one year postoperatively.

Silence as epistemic agency in mania.

Silence is a byword for socially imposed harm in the burgeoning literature on epistemic injustice in psychiatry. While some silence is harmful and should be broken, this understanding of silence is untenably simplistic. Crucially, it neglects the possibility that silence can also play a constructive epistemic role in the lives of people with mental illness.

Effect of Elevated Temperature on Compressive Strength of MICCP and EICCP Biocemented Mortar.

Recently biocementation has got attention of many researchers worldwide as one of the most potent techniques for sustainable construction. Several studies have been carried out worldwide on biocementation by urea hydrolysis. Biocementation by bacterially induced calcium carbonate precipitation by different bacterial species has been among the most widely researched areas in this field.

Effects of Tasimelteon Treatment on Traumatic Brain Injury Through NRF-2/HO-1 and RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL Pathways in Rats.

Secondary brain damageafter traumatic brain injury (TBI) involves oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, apoptosis, and necroptosis and can be reversed by understanding these molecular pathways. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of tasimelteon (Tasi) administration on brain injury through the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF-2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1)/receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3)/mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) pathways in rats with TBI. Thirty-two male Wistar albino rats weighing 300-350 g were randomly divided into four groups: the control group, trauma group, Tasi-1 group (trauma + 1 mg/kg Tasi intraperitoneally), and Tasi-10 group (trauma + 10 mg/kg Tasi intraperitoneally).

Multiple Myeloma: Improved Outcomes Resulting from a Rapidly Expanding Number of Therapeutic Options.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a bone-marrow-based cancer of plasma cells. Over the last 2 decades, marked treatment advances have led to improvements in the overall survival (OS) of patients with this disease. Key developments include the use of chemotherapy, immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies.

Association Between Preterm Birth and Fulfillment of Desired Permanent Contraception.

Objectives: In cases of preterm delivery, the Medicaid sterilization policy mandates a signed consent form at least 72 h before surgery for permanent contraception, which is less than the 30 day minimum waiting period for term births. This study evaluated the association between preterm birth and fulfillment of planned permanent contraception.

Study Design: This was a secondary analysis of a multi-center retrospective cohort study of 3013 patients with a postpartum contraceptive plan of permanent contraception.

Nano-delivery of a novel inhibitor of ERCC1-XPF for targeted sensitization of colorectal cancer to platinum-based chemotherapeutics.

In this study, a novel inhibitor of ERCC1/XPF heterodimerization, A4, was used as an inhibitor of repair for DNA damage by platinum-based chemotherapeutics. Nano-formulations of A4 were developed, using self-assembly of the following block copolymers: methoxy-poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(α-benzyl carboxylate-ε-caprolactone) (PEO-b-PBCL), methoxy-poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEO-b-PCL), or methoxy-poly(ethylene oxide)-block-poly (D, L, lactide) (PEO-b-PDLA 50-50). The nano-formulations were characterized for their average diameter, polydispersity, morphology, A4 encapsulation and in vitro release.

Nanotechnology in Parkinson's Disease: overcoming drug delivery challenges and enhancing therapeutic outcomes.

The global prevalence of Parkinson's Disease (PD) is on the rise, driven by an ageing population and ongoing environmental conditions. To gain a better understanding of PD pathogenesis, it is essential to consider its relationship with the ageing process, as ageing stands out as the most significant risk factor for this neurodegenerative condition. PD risk factors encompass genetic predisposition, exposure to environmental toxins, and lifestyle influences, collectively increasing the chance of PD development.

Intralesional injection of CpG ODNs complexed with glatiramer acetate mitigates systemic cytokine toxicities and synergistically advances checkpoint blockade efficacy.

PD-L1/PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) are mainstream agents for cancer immunotherapy, but the prognosis is unsatisfactory in solid tumor patients lacking preexisting T-cell reactivity. Adjunct therapy strategies including the intratumoral administration of immunostimulants aim to address this limitation. CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), TLR9 agonists that can potentiate adaptive immunity, have been widely investigated to tackle PD-L1/PD-1 resistance, but clinical success has been hindered by inconsistent efficacy and immune-related toxicities caused by systemic exposure.

Global prevalence and moderating factors of malnutrition in colorectal cancer survivors: A meta-analysis.

Purpose: This meta-analysis aims to estimate the global prevalence of severe, moderate, overall malnutrition and moderating factors of malnutrition in colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in Embase, CINAHL, Medline-OVID, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to February 8, 2024, without language, region, or publication date restrictions. A generalized linear mixed model and random-effects model were used to examine the pooled prevalence, and moderator analyses were implemented to investigate variations in the pooled prevalence.

From preparation to success: assessing the effectiveness of Saudi Pharmacists Licensure Examination (SPLE) preparation strategies in Saudi Arabia.

Aim: This study aimed to identify the most commonly used tools by recent pharmacy graduates who successfully passed the Saudi Pharmacists Licensure Examination (SPLE). It also sought to evaluate which tools were perceived as the most useful and representative of the exam content, while considering their monetary value and offering recommendations for future candidates.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was used, involving licensed pharmacists who graduated in 2019 or later and had successfully passed the SPLE.

Impact of impaired renal function on kinetics of high-sensitive cardiac troponin following cardiac surgery.

Background: Impaired renal function can increase cardiac troponin levels due to reduced elimination, potentially affecting its diagnostic utility. Limited data exist on high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) kinetics after cardiac surgery relative to renal function. This study evaluates how impaired renal function influences hs-cTnI kinetics following cardiac surgery, distinguishing between patients with and without postoperative myocardial infarction (PMI).

The correlation between blastocyst morphological parameters and chromosomal euploidy, aneuploidy and other chromosomal abnormalities following pre-implantation genetic testing-a single center retrospective study.

Purpose: To examine the association between blastocyst morphology and chromosomal status utilizing pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A).

Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study including 169 in-vitro fertilization cycles that underwent PGT-A using Next Generation Sequencing (2017-2022). Blastocysts were morphologically scored based on Gardner and Schoolcraft's criteria.