Measuring patients' experience with renal services in the UK: development and validation of the Kidney PREM.

Background: Patient experience is a recognized aspect of quality of care for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but current patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) only focus on dialysis care. We developed and validated the Kidney PREM to assess patients' experience with renal services in secondary care for any CKD stage or treatment (transplant, haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis).

Methods: We developed the Kidney PREM in two phases, informed by a multidisciplinary expert group to ensure face validity.

MALAT-1/p53/miR-155/miR-146a ceRNA circuit tuned by methoxylated quercitin glycoside alters immunogenic and oncogenic profiles of breast cancer.

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is one of the most aggressive and hot BC subtypes. Our research group has recently shed the light on the utility of natural compounds as effective immunotherapeutic agents. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of a methoxylated quercetin glycoside (MQG) isolated from Cleome droserifolia in harnessing TNBC progression and tuning the tumor microenvironment and natural killer cells cytotoxicity.

Gambling at the time of COVID-19: Results from interviews in an Italian sample of gamblers.

The coronavirus pandemic affected the life of those suffering from addictive behaviors often confined to prolonged periods of self-isolation. To explore the variation of symptoms related to gambling, 46 outpatients of the mental health services in the Trento Province were invited to take part in a phone interview at the start of the national lockdown. Although only 2.

The natural isoflavone Biochanin-A synergizes 5-fluorouracil anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo in Ehrlich solid-phase carcinoma model.

Isoflavones are considered one of the most extensively studied plant-derived phytoestrogenic compounds. Of these, Biochanin A (Bio-A), a natural isoflavone abundant in cabbage, alfalfa, and red clover, has drawn a lot of attention. As reported in multiple studies, Bio-A possesses a promising anticancer activity against estrogen receptor-positive (ER+)  breast cancer.

Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation, and Validation of the Portuguese Version of the Rotterdam Elderly Pain Observation Scale.

Introduction: This study reports on the translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of a Portuguese version of the Rotterdam Elderly Pain Observation Scale (REPOS), a Dutch scale to assess pain in patients who cannot communicate, with or without dementia.

Methods: This is a multicenter study in pain and neurological units involving Brazil (clinical phase) and the Netherlands (training phase). We performed a retrospective cross-sectional, 2-staged analysis, translating and culturally adapting the REPOS to a Portuguese version (REPOS-P) and evaluating its psychometric properties.

Clinical outcomes of low-pressure pneumoperitoneum in minimally invasive urological surgery.

The adoption of minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques has revolutionised urological practice. This necessitates a pneumoperitoneum (PNP) and the impact the PNP pressure has on post-operative outcomes is uncertain. During the current COVID-19 era guidance has suggested the utilisation of lower PNP pressures to mitigate the risk of intra-operative viral transmission.

An international cross-sectional investigation on social media, fitspiration content exposure, and related risks during the COVID-19 self-isolation period.

With the global COVID-19 pandemic, governments from many countries in the world implemented various restrictions to prevent the SARS-Cov-2 virus's spread, including social distancing measures, quarantine, in-home lockdown, and the closure of services and public spaces. This led to an in-creased use of social media platforms to make people feel more connected, but also to maintain physical activity while self-isolating. Concerns about physical appearance and the desire to keep or reach a muscular and toned ideal body, might have further reinforced the engagement in fitness-related social media activities, like sharing progresses in training achievements or following more fitness contents on popular profiles.

Individual obsessive-compulsive traits are associated with poorer adjustment to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

Background: As COVID-19 restrictions ease, the public are expected to relinquish previously enforced safety behaviors and resume a more normal lifestyle. Despite these aims, our recent survey of 438 adults from the general population, during a temporary release of lockdown in the United Kingdom (July-November 2020), showed that 25% of the public find re-adjustment problematic. This was especially the case in those with a history of mental disorder and obsessive-compulsive (OC) traits and symptoms, including rigidity as measured by a neurocognitive test of attentional flexibility.

Analysis of Cardiovascular Disease Angiography Process Based on Rough Set and Internet of Things.

The angiography image enhancement technology has the potential to enhance the vascular structure in the image while suppressing the background and nonvascular structures simultaneously. This technology has the ability to enhance the result as close to the real structure of blood vessels as possible. Angiographic image processing is one of the essential contents in the field of medical image processing and analysis.

Undergraduate laboratory series that employs a complete polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism experiment for determination of a single nucleotide polymorphism in CYP2R1 gene.

Nowadays, novel Biochemistry lab techniques are being introduced at a very fast pace in scientific research. This requires development of new labs for undergraduate Biochemistry courses to equip the students with up-to-date techniques. However, the time limit of Biochemistry labs for undergraduate students represents a major obstacle.

A critique of narrative reviews of the evidence-base for ECT in depression.

There has been recent debate regarding the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy in the treatment of depression. This has been based on narrative reviews that contradict existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses. In this special article, we highlight the mistakes that occur when interpreting evidence using narrative reviews, as opposed to conventional systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Assessing prevalence, knowledge and use of cognitive enhancers among university students in the United Arab Emirates: A quantitative study.

Background: Cognitive enhancers (CE) are often used to improve memory, alertness and cognitive capacity. These products are commercially and pharmaceutically available. Due to high academic pressure, university students are at risk of CE misuse.

Biosimilar development and review process in the BRICS-TM countries: Proposal for a standardized model to improve regulatory performance.

Objectives: The current study is aimed at proposing a standardized regulatory model for biosimilar development and approval for adoption by BRICS-TM agencies, based on evaluation of regulatory guidelines and potential solutions to challenges.

Methods: An established validated questionnaire was used and the recommendations were collated. Propositions deemed critical for improving the regulatory pathway for biosimilar development were synthesized to design a new regulatory model.

Insights into the therapeutic potential of histone deacetylase inhibitor/immunotherapy combination regimens in solid tumors.

Solid tumors including skin, lung, breast, colon, and prostate cancers comprise the most diagnosed cancers worldwide. Treatment of such cancers is still challenging specially in the advanced/metastatic setting. The growing understanding of the tumor microenvironment has revolutionized the cancer therapy paradigms.

Resveratrol Encapsulation and Release from Pristine and Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Carriers.

Resveratrol, a naturally occurring polyphenol, has attracted significant attention due to its antioxidant, cardioprotective and anticancer potential. However, its low aqueous solubility limits resveratrol bioavailability and use. In this work, different mesoporous silica matrices were used to encapsulate the polyphenol and to increase its dissolution rate.

Knowledge and Use of Novel Psychoactive Substances in an Italian Sample with Substance Use Disorders.

This study aims to determine prevalence and frequency of use of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) and to identify the factors associated with NPS use in an Italian sample of patients diagnosed with substance use disorder (SUD). Prevalence and correlates of NPS knowledge and use were assessed in 185 patients with SUD in three addiction services (Padova, Belluno, Feltre) in the Veneto region with an ad-hoc designed survey. Two thirds of the samples reported knowing NPS and one third reported using them.

Inhibitory Effects of Astaxanthin on CML-HSA-Induced Inflammatory and RANKL-Induced Osteoclastogenic Gene Expression in RAW 264.7 Cells.

Objective: Elevated levels of serum -carboxymethyllysine (CML), a well-known advanced glycation end-product (AGE), were observed in patients with inflammation or osteoporosis. Astaxanthin was reported to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In the present study, we investigated the effects of commercially available dietary supplement AstaReal ACT (ASR) capsule content as astaxanthin on CML-HSA-induced inflammatory and receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa-Β ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenic gene expression.

Comparative 16S Metabarcoding of Nile Tilapia Gut Microbiota from the Northern Lakes of Egypt.

Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, is the principal fish bred in Egypt. A pilot study was designed to analyze the bacterial composition of the Nile tilapia fish guts from two saltwater lakes in Northern Egypt. Fish samples were obtained from two Delta lakes: Manzala (ML) and Borollus (BL).

Non-polar metabolites of green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) potentiate the antidiabetic activity of mesenchymal stem cells in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats.

Green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are consumed as pods or mature seeds (common beans). The pods were extracted with 95% ethanol and processed to prepare non-polar and polar fractions.

Current and novel biomarkers of thrombotic risk in COVID-19: a Consensus Statement from the International COVID-19 Thrombosis Biomarkers Colloquium.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) predisposes patients to thrombotic and thromboembolic events, owing to excessive inflammation, endothelial cell activation and injury, platelet activation and hypercoagulability. Patients with COVID-19 have a prothrombotic or thrombophilic state, with elevations in the levels of several biomarkers of thrombosis, which are associated with disease severity and prognosis. Although some biomarkers of COVID-19-associated coagulopathy, including high levels of fibrinogen and D-dimer, were recognized early during the pandemic, many new biomarkers of thrombotic risk in COVID-19 have emerged.

An evaluation for the medium-term storage and viability of root cortex tissues stained with blue ink in the assessment of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

Sheaffer blue ink is an effective method to stain arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in a variety of plant species. It has, however, received criticism for its potential rapid degradation and short-term viability. The long and medium term storage and viability of stained samples has not, to date, been described for this particular staining method.

The efficacy of nanocubosomal systems in ameliorating submandibular salivary gland alterations in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus is a challenging health problem. Salivary gland dysfunction is one of its complications. Current treatments possess numerous adverse effects.

Comparing Acute, High Dietary Protein and Carbohydrate Intake on Transcriptional Biomarkers, Fuel Utilisation and Exercise Performance in Trained Male Runners.

Manipulating dietary macronutrient intake may modulate adaptive responses to exercise, and improve endurance performance. However, there is controversy as to the impact of short-term dietary modification on athletic performance. In a parallel-groups, repeated measures study, 16 trained endurance runners (maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O): 64.