Exploring the Endothelin-1 pathway in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension microvasculopathy.

Targeted vasopeptide therapies have significantly advanced the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, due to insufficient preclinical evidence regarding the involvement of the endothelin-1 (ET-1) pathway in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) pathophysiology, the potential of ET-1 receptor antagonism in treating CTEPH remains uncertain. In this study, we investigated the role of the ET-1 pathway in CTEPH microvasculopathy using a multifaceted approach.

"The Chambat Sardine Can" technique for the treatment of chronic quadriceps tendon rupture.

Ruptures of the quadriceps tendon (QT) are rare but serious injuries accounting for less than 2% of all tendon injuries around the knee. These injuries, often occurring in individuals over 40, are leading to a loss of active extension and a significant impact on knee function. While the treatment of acute QT ruptures through various reinsertion techniques has shown excellent outcomes, managing chronic injuries and failed primary repairs remains challenging due to tendon retraction and difficulties in repositioning the tendon stump.

Locally advanced/metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer in Lebanon: focus on ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Treatment of non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC) has evolved over the last decade. According to studies, the use of targeted therapies has significantly increased the life expectancy of patients. Moreover, ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (ALK-TKIs) have improved clinical outcomes.

Antivascular Endothelial Growth Factor Injections for the Chronic Treatment of Macula-off, Fovea-on Diabetic Tractional Retinal Detachment With Vitreous Hemorrhage.

To evaluate the use of antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) as treatment for tractional retinal detachments (TRDs) involving the macula. A case report was evaluated. A 40-year-old man with a medical history notable for congenital heart disease and proliferative diabetic retinopathy presented with decreased vision.

Tools for Assessing Communication in Pharmacy Education: Review and Recommendations.

Objectives: Well-developed and finely tuned communication skills are foundational for pharmacists and should be at the core of Doctor of Pharmacy curricula. This narrative review aimed to identify and summarize useful instruments for pharmacy educators interested in assessing communication skills.

Findings: Fifty-seven studies were evaluated.

The LAVA Study: A Prospective, Multicenter, Single-Arm Study of a Liquid Embolic System for Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Hemorrhage.

Purpose: To present the results of the Liquid Embolization of Arterial Hemorrhages in Peripheral Vasculature (LAVA) study evaluating safety and effectiveness of Lava Liquid Embolic System, an ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), for peripheral arterial hemorrhage (PAH).

Materials And Methods: LAVA was a pivotal, prospective, multicenter, single-group, centrally adjudicated study of adults with active PAH. Patients received EVOH at 1 of 2 viscosities, administered by experienced physicians.

Proteomic identification of potential biomarkers for heat tolerance in Caracu beef cattle using high and low thermotolerant groups.

Background: Heat stress has deleterious effects on physiological and performance traits in livestock. Within this context, using tropically adapted cattle breeds in pure herds or terminal crossbreeding schemes to explore heterosis is attractive for increasing animal production in warmer climate regions. This study aimed to identify biological processes, pathways, and potential biomarkers related to thermotolerance in Caracu, a tropically adapted beef cattle breed, by proteomic analysis of blood plasma.

Endo-Bag Retrieval Using the "Fishing Technique".

In minimally invasive procedures, one of the surgeon's goals is finalizing the surgery safely while using the minimum number and size of trocars. In this article, we present the "fishing technique" which helps to avoid using an extra 10mm trocar in order to deploy specimen retrieval bags.

Replaced unclassified right hepatic artery arising from the celiac trunk: A case report.

Anatomical variations in hepatic arteries are both common and diverse. According to the classic classification systems, a replaced right hepatic artery typically originates from the superior mesenteric artery, supplying blood to the right liver lobe in the absence of the right branch of the proper hepatic artery. This article reports 2 cases of a rare variation, a replaced right hepatic artery arising directly from the celiac trunk.

Percutaneous Repair of Chronic Aortic Pseudoaneurysm: A Single-Center Experience.

Background: Aortic pseudoaneurysm (AP) is a late complication of aortic repair that, without intervention, carries a high mortality rate. Surgical repair has significant in-hospital mortality and high health care costs. Endovascular stent grafting use is currently limited to branch-free aortic segments or the use of complex fenestrated devices.

Epstein-Barr virus flare: A multiple sclerosis attack.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS)-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) relation is similar to doing a complicated puzzle: it consists of many pieces that become more and more clear as the issue is viewed from different sides. Based on the research findings, there is powerful evidence that EBV and MS have a strong relation where high levels of EBV DNA are able to be shown in all the spinal cord and the blood of the MS patients, but these are shown during disease relapses, and this implies a role in these illnesses. It kind of narrows the choices that you have to look for, just like how gathering evidence can lead to finding the missing person.

Does the positioning of the patient in the EOS machine affect the validity of cervical and head parameters calculated on whole-spine radiographs?

The aim was to study the validity of free-standing position using modifiers for assessing cervical spine alignment. A total of 26 asymptomatic subjects (45 ± 11years) and 13 with spinal deformities (30 ± 21years) underwent lateral radiographs using EOS®, while adopting 3 different positions, in 2 sequences, without mirror and then with mirror (m) placed in front of them: first, the neutral standing position (upper extremities positioned on the sides of the body, P1 and P1m), then free-standing (P2 and P2m) and modified free-standing (P3 and P3m) positions (shoulders flexed at 90° and fingers placed on clavicles then cheeks, respectively). Participants were asked not to move their trunk and shoulders when moving from P1 to P2 and then P3.

Direct Antivirals Can Achieve a Cure in All Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C due to Genotype 5: A French Multicentre Study.

Background: Hepatitis C virus genotype 5 (HCV-GT-5) is found mainly in South Africa. In our area in central France, the prevalence of HCV-GT-5 is 14%.

Methods And Results: Here we evaluated sustained virological response at week 12 post-treatment (SVR12) in 147 HCV-GT-5 patients from 14 French university hospitals (2014-2021) treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAA) in real-life.

The benefit of automated sac volume measurements in postoperative endovascular aortic repair surveillance.

Objective: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) shrinkage is considered a marker for success following endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). Although maximum diameter is widely used to assess sac behavior, research indicates that changes in AAA morphology do not always affect the maximum diameter. The aim of this study was to investigate if automated AAA sac volume measurements after EVAR can add more nuanced information on sac behavior compared with maximum diameter evaluation alone.

Primary Care Providers' Communication About Medical Cannabis With Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Purpose: Healthcare providers often hesitate to discuss medical cannabis (MC) due to limited understanding, risks and benefits, and misinformation. This reluctance is notable with older adult patients, despite MC's potential benefits. This study investigates whether primary care providers (PCPs) routinely inquire about MC when treating older adults and the frequency of such inquiries.

Valorization of Potato Peels () Using Infrared-Assisted Extraction: A Novel Sprouting Suppressant and Antibacterial Agent.

Recently, there has been a growing interest in reducing waste to promote environmental sustainability, with particular focus on agricultural by-products, especially fruits and vegetables. Potato, a widely used crop across various industries, generates a significant amount of peel waste. This study aims to valorize potato peels using water bath extraction (WBE) and infrared-assisted extraction (IRAE), both with distilled water as the solvent, followed by assessments of antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-sprouting activities.

Edible Insects: Consumption, Perceptions, Culture and Tradition Among Adult Citizens from 14 Countries.

Although edible insects (EIs) are encouraged as a sustainable source of protein, their consumption is not as generalised as other types of food that are internationally accepted. While in some regions of the world, EIs are part of the gastronomic and cultural traditions, in other regions, people are not so receptive to this type of food, and some people even express some disgust towards it. Hence, this research focused on the habits of the participants regarding the consumption of insects as well as their perceptions about EIs being or not a part of the local culture or gastronomic patrimony.

Complex karyotypes in hematologic disorders: a 12-year single-center study from Lebanon.

Conventional cytogenetic analysis is an important tool for the diagnosis of many hematologic disorders (HD). A karyotype is designed as « complex » when several alterations are detected. However, there is no clear consensus on the exact definition of a complex karyotype (CK), and there is a lack of studies that exclusively analyze CK in the literature.

The efficacy and safety of alcohol septal ablation stratified by alcohol dosage for patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Alcohol septal ablation (ASA) is recommended for moderate to severe symptomatic patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. The current guidelines don not recommend particular alcohol doses and the amount of alcohol injected into the septal artery is based more on the interventionalist's decision rather than on systematic evidence. Our objective is to execute a comprehensive assessment of the efficacy and safety of low alcohol doses (1-2 ml)) in comparison to large ones (2-4 ml).

Perceptions of healthcare finance and system quality among Nigerian healthcare workers.

Nigeria's healthcare system faces significant challenges in financing and quality, impacting the delivery of services to its growing population. This study investigates healthcare workers' perceptions of these challenges and their implications for healthcare policy and practice. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 600 healthcare professionals from eight states across Nigeria, representing a variety of healthcare occupations.