MicroRNA-668 alleviates renal fibrosis through PPARα/PGC-1α pathway.

Background: The involvement of microRNA-668 (miR-668) in the onset and progression of renal fibrosis remains unclear. To this end, we aimed to explore the relevant mechanism of miR-668 in renal fibrosis.

Methods: C57BL/6 J male mice were randomly divided into sham-operated, unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), and UUO-fenofibrate groups.

Comparison of different puncture needles used for endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy of Gastrointestinal subepithelial lesions (≤ 2 cm) with respect to the adequacy of specimen collection: study protocol for a multicenter randomized prospective trial.

Background: Gastrointestinal subepithelial lesions (SELs) range from benign to malignant. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) is used widely for pathological diagnosis of SELs. Early diagnosis and treatment are important because all Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) have some degree of malignant potential.

Identifying the facilitators of Iran's alcoholic beverage black market and presenting solutions for harm reduction: a qualitative document analysis.

Background: Despite Iran's prohibition politics regarding alcoholic beverages consumption, marketing, and trading, there is a flourishing black market. Often, alcohol producers on this black market do not adhere alcohol production standards, resulting in a lot of deaths and significant consequences each year. Accordingly, this study was carried out to identify facilitators for the growth of the black market for alcoholic beverages in Iran and provide solutions for harm reduction.

Genotypic diversity and virulence factors of Klebsiella pneumoniae in a North Indian tertiary care hospital.

Klebsiella pneumoniae, a pathogen of concern worldwide can be classified as classical K. pneumoniae (cKp) and Hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (HvKp).

Nursing students' perception of the clinical learning environment and its impact on academic adjustment: a cross-sectional descriptive study.

Background: Academic adjustment significantly influences the progress of nursing students. Understanding clinical education environments can profoundly affect students' academic adjustment. This study aims to determine nursing students' perception of the clinical learning environment and its relationship to academic adjustment.

Bias in machine learning applications to address non-communicable diseases at a population-level: a scoping review.

Background: Machine learning (ML) is increasingly used in population and public health to support epidemiological studies, surveillance, and evaluation. Our objective was to conduct a scoping review to identify studies that use ML in population health, with a focus on its use in non-communicable diseases (NCDs). We also examine potential algorithmic biases in model design, training, and implementation, as well as efforts to mitigate these biases.

Comorbidities, drug-resistance and length of hospital stay among tuberculosis inpatients in Northeastern China: a retrospective observational study from 2013 to 2021.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health issue. Drug-resistant TB and comorbidities exacerbate its burden, influencing treatment outcomes and healthcare utilization. Despite the growing prevalence of TB comorbidities, research often focuses on single comorbidities rather than comorbidity patterns.

A systematic review of the comparative effects of sound and music interventions for intensive care unit patients' outcomes.

Background: Despite syntheses of evidence showing efficacy of music intervention for improving psychological and physiological outcomes in critically ill patients, interventions that include nonmusic sounds have not been addressed in reviews of evidence. It is unclear if nonmusic sounds in the intensive care unit (ICU) can confer benefits similar to those of music.

Objective: The aim of this study was to summarise and contrast available evidence on the effect of music and nonmusic sound interventions for the physiological and psychological outcomes of ICU patients based on the results of randomised controlled trials.

Effect of a minimum floor price law for tobacco products on tobacco sales in Oakland, California, USA: a synthetic difference-in-differences analysis.

Background: In May 2020, Oakland became the most populous city in California to implement a minimum floor price law (MFPL), requiring tobacco retailers to sell cigarettes and cigars at $8 or more per pack/package. Policy enforcement began in August 2020.

Methods: We estimated changes in cigarette and cigar prices and unit sales for Oakland versus a matched comparator during the first 20 months following MFPL implementation using a synthetic difference-in-differences approach.

Mainstreaming control interventions for neglected tropical diseases into the health system: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: The WHO neglected tropical diseases (NTD) roadmap (2021-2030) proposed a shift in approach to addressing NTDs through accountability for impact, implementing integration across NTDs, mainstreaming in national health systems and ensuring country ownership. However, a major challenge has been the dearth of evidence on how to implement this shift in a resource-limited setting. The objective of this scoping review is to understand the extent and type of evidence on the mainstreaming or integration of programmes and/or interventions against NTDs into the national health system.

Associations of socio-demographic, anthropometric and behavioural factors with phase angle in older adults: a cross-sectional study in Taiwan.

Objective: Phase angle (PhA) is a prognostic factor for predicting and monitoring geriatric syndromes. However, multiple factors associated with increased PhA values as an outcome remain unclear in the older population. This study aimed to examine the association of socio-demographic, anthropometric and behavioural factors with PhA among older Taiwanese adults.

Strategic interventions and a novel model for the integration of community pharmacy and primary care in Spain: qualitative insights.

Objectives: To explore the opinions and perceptions of key stakeholders on the integration between community pharmacy and primary care, within the Valencian Autonomous Community. Specific objectives include identifying strategic interventions to facilitate this integration. Additionally, the manuscript discusses the formulation of a novel model for the integration of community pharmacy and primary care.

How does organisational culture facilitate uptake of home dialysis? An ethnographic study of kidney centres in England.

Objective: The proportion of people having home dialysis for kidney disease varies considerably by treating centre, socioeconomic deprivation levels in the area and to some extent ethnicity. This study aimed to gain in-depth insights into cultural and organisational factors contributing to this variation in uptake.

Design: This is the first ethnographic study of kidney centre culture to focus on home dialysis uptake.

Inequalities in ownership and availability of home-based vaccination records in 82 low- and middle-income countries.

Introduction: Home-based records (HBRs) are widely used for recording health information including child immunisations. We studied levels and inequalities in HBR ownership in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) using data from national surveys conducted since 2010.

Methods: We used data from national household surveys (Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS)) from 82 LMICs.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of proactive home visits compared with site-based community health worker care on antenatal care outcomes in Mali: a cluster-randomised trial.

Introduction: Despite recommendations from the WHO, antenatal care (ANC) coverage remains low in many low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Community health workers (CHWs) can play an important role in expanding ANC coverage through pregnancy identification, provision of health education, screening for complications, delivery of therapeutic care and referral to higher levels of care. However, despite the success of CHW programmes in various countries, WHO has called for additional research to develop evidence-based models that optimise CHW service delivery and that can be replicated across geographies.

Development and evaluation of a quality improvement educational video on joint contractures for care home staff.

Background: Contractures are a debilitating problem for individuals living in long-term care settings. However, there is a lack of education and training among the care staff regarding the identification of risk factors related to contractures and the preventive strategies that can decrease their development or progression. Addressing this knowledge gap has the potential to improve the quality of care provided to residents in care homes.

Changing the culture: increasing captured intraoperative anaesthesia-related safety events through targeted interventions.

Background: There is an under-reporting of anaesthesia-related safety events. Incident-capturing systems (ICSs) are essential for patient safety monitoring, identifying risks and ongoing opportunities for improvement. After a literature review and assessment of our current ICSs, we concluded that our institution lacked a reliable anaesthesia-specific ICS system, leading to under-reporting of anaesthesia-related safety events.

Hyponatremia incidence after subarachnoid hemorrhage and association with outcomes: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Hyponatremia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is common, however the incidence, and association with vasospasm, morbidity, and mortality, has yet to be defined. We aimed to identify incidence of hyponatremia after aSAH, and quantify its association with measurable outcomes.

Methods: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted (PROSPERO ID CRD42022363472).

TIMP-2 Promotes Wound Healing by Suppressing Matrix Metalloproteinases and Inflammatory Cytokines in Corneal Epithelial Cells.

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) modulate extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling for maintaining homeostasis and promoting cell migration and proliferation. Pathological conditions can alter TIMP homeostasis and aggravate disease progression. The roles of TIMPs have been studied in tissue-related disorders; however, their contributions to tissue repair during corneal injury are undefined.

A vaccine combining ORF132 and ORF25 expressed by Saccharomyces cerevisiae induces protective immunity in Carassius auratus gibelio against CyHV-2.

CyHV-2 is the pathogen of herpesvirus haematopoietic necrosis (HVHN), resulting in significant economic losses in crucian carp. Although multiple oral vaccines have been developed to prevent CyHV-2, they have not achieved ideal protective effects. To improve the protective effect of oral vaccine, a combination vaccine was conducted by mixing recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae displaying ORF132 or ORF25 on the cell surface in a 1:1 ratio.

Machine learning-based prediction of compost maturity and identification of key parameters during manure composting.

Evaluating compost maturity, e.g. via manual seed germination index (GI) measurement, is both time-consuming and costly during composting.

Temperature effects on nitrogen removal and NO emissions in anammox reactors.

Mainstream anammox faces challenges in adapting to non-optimal temperatures and managing greenhouse gas emissions. This study investigates nitrogen removal and NO emissions in attached-growth anammox reactors subjected to rapid temperature shifts (15 - 55 °C). Temperature reductions to 15 - 25 °C had minimal impact on the anammox bacterial populations, with nitrogen removal rates of 0.

Prognostic impact of tumor cell nuclear size assessed by artificial intelligence in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Tumor cell nuclear size (NS) indicates malignant potential in breast cancer; however, its clinical significance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is unknown. Artificial intelligence (AI) can quantitatively evaluate histopathological findings. The aim was to measure NS in ESCC using AI and elucidate its clinical significance.

IUPHAR Themed Review: The Gut Microbiome in Schizophrenia.

Gut microbial dysbiosis or altered gut microbial consortium, in schizophrenia suggests a pathogenic role through the gut-brain axis, influencing neuroinflammatory and neurotransmitter pathways critical to psychotic, affective, and cognitive symptoms. Paradoxically, conventional psychotropic interventions may exacerbate this dysbiosis, with antipsychotics, particularly olanzapine, demonstrating profound effects on microbial architecture through disruption of bacterial phyla ratios, diminished taxonomic diversity, and attenuated short-chain fatty acid synthesis. To address these challenges, novel therapeutic strategies targeting the gut microbiome, encompassing probiotic supplementation, prebiotic compounds, faecal microbiota transplantation, and rationalised co-pharmacotherapy, show promise in attenuating antipsychotic-induced metabolic disruptions while enhancing therapeutic efficacy.