Comparison of good review practices of seven countries participating in the ECOWAS medicines regulatory harmonisation initiative: identifying opportunities for improvement.

Introduction: When implemented by national and regional regulatory agencies good review practices (GRevPs) support the timely high-quality review of medicines for enhanced patients' availability to safe, quality and efficacious innovative and generic products. It is important that all aspects of GRevPs are continuously evaluated and updated to promote the continuous improvement of regulatory systems at national and regional levels. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the GRevPs of the national medicines regulatory agencies (NMRAs) of Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo, who are active participants of the ECOWASMRH initiative to identify opportunities for improvement.

Improving postoperative outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer: Inflammatory and nutritional biomarkers.

This editorial assesses the prognostic value of preoperative inflammatory and nutritional biomarkers in patients undergoing surgical resection for pancreatic cancer. Lu evaluated the ability of seven biomarkers to predict postoperative recovery and long-term outcomes. These biomarkers were albumin-to-globulin ratio, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), systemic immune-inflammation index, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, nutritional risk index, and geriatric nutritional risk index.

Predictors for recurrence of drug use among males on probation for methamphetamine use in Japan: a one-year follow-up study.

Background: Methamphetamine use is related to severe health, social, and criminal challenges. However, there is limited evidence regarding the factors associated with the recurrence of drug use among individuals who have used methamphetamine, particularly within populations involved in the criminal justice system. This study aimed to identify predictors of illicit drug use at a one-year follow-up among males in Japan who have used methamphetamine and are involved in the criminal justice system.

Impact of COVID-19 on resuscitation after hospital arrival for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: An interrupted time series analysis.

Background: In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Methods And Results: Using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database, we included patients with OHCA who were transported to hospitals between April 2018 and March 2021. Patients were categorized into groups, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the day of admission (before or after April 1, 2020, respectively).

Factors Related to Ikigai among Home-visit Rehabilitation Users Aged 75 Years and Older Receiving Home Medical and Nursing Care in Japan.

Objective: This study investigated the factors that influence Ikigai among people aged 75 years and older using home medical and nursing care with home-visit rehabilitation.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 66 home-visit rehabilitation users aged 75 years or older who received home medical and nursing care at 2 home-care nursing stations. The following attributes were evaluated: Ikigai-9, life-space assessment (LSA), home-based LSA (Hb-LSA), Frenchay activities index (FAI), functional independence measure (FIM), self-efficacy for activities of daily living (SEADL), self-efficacy scale for going out among community-dwelling elderly (SEGE), and physical function.

Expression of spider silk protein in tobacco improves drought tolerance with minimal effects on its mechanotype.

Spider silk, especially dragline silk from golden silk spiders (Trichonephila clavipes), is an excellent natural material with remarkable mechanical properties. Many studies have focused on the use of plants as biofactories for the production of recombinant spider silk. However, the effects of this material on the mechanical properties or physiology of transgenic plants remain poorly understood.

Psychometric Properties of Chinese Version of the Multiple Intelligence Scale (MIS) Among Older Adults: Rasch Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis.

Unlabelled: The present study utilized advanced psychometric methods (i.e., Rasch analysis and confirmatory factor analysis [CFA]) to evaluate the factor structure of the Multiple Intelligence Scale (MIS) and its validity among Taiwanese older adults.

Descriptive Epidemiology and Prognostic Significance of Diaphragm Thickness in the General Population: The Nagahama Study.

Background: Diaphragm thickness is a potential marker of sarcopenia in addition to muscle mass and strength at extremities. We aimed to clarify the descriptive epidemiology and prognostic significance of diaphragm thickness in the general population.

Methods: The study participants were 3324 community residents (mean age: 61.

Modulation of respiration and hypothalamus.

The hypothalamus is the gray matter of the ventral portion of the diencephalon. The hypothalamus is the higher center of the autonomic nervous system and is involved in the regulation of various homeostatic mechanisms. It also modulates respiration by facilitating the respiratory network.

Factors influencing shared decision-making on hospital wards as perceived by healthcare professionals: A qualitative study.

Objectives: The extent to which healthcare professionals apply Shared Decision Making (SDM) on hospital wards is still unknown. The aim was to explore the current knowledge of SDM among healthcare professionals and the experienced factors influencing SDM on the wards of Dutch hospitals, regarding both treatment and care decisions.

Setting: Twelve hospital wards in two university medical centres and one teaching hospital.

Global impact of 10- and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on pneumococcal meningitis in all ages: the PSERENADE project.

Background: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) introduced in childhood national immunization programs lowered vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), but replacement with non-vaccine-types persisted throughout the PCV10/13 follow-up period. We assessed PCV10/13 impact on pneumococcal meningitis incidence globally.

Methods: The number of cases with serotyped pneumococci detected in cerebrospinal fluid and population denominators were obtained from surveillance sites globally.

A retrospective case-control study of pregnancy failure in Thoroughbred horses in Australia.

Pregnancy failure is a serious economic and welfare concern in the Thoroughbred horse industry, yet its incidence and risk factors in Australia remain unclear. This retrospective, nested, case-control study investigated pregnancy failure in resident mares on studs in the Hunter Valley, Australia, in 2021-2022, in early (46-150 days), mid (151-270 days), and late (>270 days) gestation. We found an annual incidence risk of 5.

Predictors of 15-year transitions across living and care settings in a population of Swedish older adults.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the association of sociodemographic, clinical and functional characteristics with the volume of transitions and specific trajectories across living and care settings.

Methods: Using data from the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen study, we identified transitions across home (with or without social care), nursing homes, hospitals and postacute care facilities among 3021 adults aged 60+. Poisson and multistate models were used to investigate the association between sociodemographic, clinical and functional characteristics and both the overall volume and hazard ratios (HRs) of specific transitions.

Expansion of medical school admission quotas in Korea, is it really necessary?

Background: In 2024, the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare enforced a policy to increase the number of medical school students by 2,000 over the next 5 years, despite opposition from doctors. This study aims to predict the trend of excess or shortage of medical personnel in Korea due to the policy of increasing the number of medical school students by 2035.

Methods: Data from multiple sources, including the Ministry of Health and Welfare, National Health Insurance Corporation, and the Korean Medical Association, were used to estimate supply and demand.

Evaluation of nutritional, anthropometric, and psychological outcomes in different metabolic and bariatric surgery techniques: a follow up study.

Background: Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is a suitable solution for the treatment of morbid obesity. Investigating an MBS method that has the best outcomes has always been the main concern of physicians. The current study aimed to compare nutritional, anthropometric, and psychological complications of individuals undergoing various MBS Techniques.

Prospective association between breakfast consumption frequency and BMI z-score among European school-aged children. The Feel4Diabetes Study.

Background: The long-term effects of breakfast on childhood z-BMI remain inconclusive.

Objective: To prospectively assess the impact of stable and altered breakfast consumption habits on z-BMI change over two years, in school-aged children across six European countries.

Methods: Data of 6,528 children (8.

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 22 A-3 ameliorates leaky gut in mice through its anti-inflammatory effects.

There are limited studies on the improvement of leaky gut with minor inflammation associated with various diseases. To explore the therapeutic potential of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 22 A-3, a member of the Lactobacillus species, in addressing a leaky gut. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 22 A-3 was administered to a leaky gut mice model with low dextran sulfate sodium concentrations.

Enhancing dementia prediction: A 19-year validation of the CAIDE risk score with insulin resistance and APOE ε4 integration in a population-based cohort.

Background: Dementia is a significant cause of disability and dependency. Persons with high dementia risk but intact cognition will benefit from preventive interventions.

Objectives: The aim was to validate dementia risk score Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) in a national population-based cohort with data on age, education, hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia and physical activity.

Safety and efficacy of satralizumab in patients with generalised myasthenia gravis (LUMINESCE): a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial.

Background: Evidence from preclinical studies suggests that IL-6 signalling has the potential to modulate immunopathogenic mechanisms upstream of autoantibody effector mechanisms in patients with generalised myasthenia gravis. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of satralizumab, a humanised monoclonal antibody targeting the IL-6 receptor, in patients with generalised myasthenia gravis.

Methods: LUMINESCE was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre, phase 3 study at 105 sites, including hospitals and clinics, globally.

Prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus infection among children in Uzbekistan: Impact of vaccination.

Background: Uzbekistan, a highly endemic country for hepatitis B virus (HBV), introduced infant vaccination with hepatitis B vaccine (HepB) in 2001. Since 2002, it had ≥90 % reported immunization coverage for ≥3 doses of HepB (HepB3) and the birth dose (HepB-BD). However, the impact of HepB vaccination and the progress towards achieving the regional hepatitis B control and global viral hepatitis B elimination goals had not been assessed.

Network Types for End-Of-Life Care and Home Deaths Among Older Adults in Europe During COVID-19 Pandemic.

The study identified care network types comprising informal and formal care providers during the end-of-life period, and examined their relationship with home deaths. End-of-life interviews were conducted with proxies during the two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). The sample included 486 participants who passed away during the pandemic and received care during their final year.

Oral Functions and Various Cooking Methods Associated With Chewing-To-Swallowing Time in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Background: Oral frailty in older adults can affect their eating efficiency, prolonging meal times, which can compromise food flavour.

Objective: This study explored the association between cooking methods and chewing-to-swallowing time on the basis of different oral functions in older adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 65 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥ 65 years.

Ethanolic Extract of Leaf Has an Anticancer Activity on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells: An In Vitro Study.

: , or star fruit, is a shrub known for its medicinal properties, especially due to bioactive metabolites identified in its roots and fruit with anti-cancer activity. However, the biological effects of its leaves remain unexplored. This study aimed to assess the effects of ethanolic extract from leaves on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive subtype lacking specific therapy.

Extraction and Processing of Bioactive Phytoconstituents from Widely Used South African Medicinal Plants for the Preparation of Effective Traditional Herbal Medicine Products: A Narrative Review.

Medicinal plants are sources of crude traditional herbal medicines that are utilized to reduce the risk of, treat, or manage diseases in most indigenous communities. This is due to their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It is estimated that about 80% of the population in developing countries rely on herbal traditional medicines for healthcare.