Population genetics and molecular xenomonitoring of Biomphalaria freshwater snails along the southern shoreline of Lake Malawi, Malawi.

Background: Intestinal schistosomiasis was confirmed endemic in Mangochi District, Malawi, in May of 2018 following an unexpected encounter with discreet populations of Biomphalaria spp. freshwater snails during routine malacological surveillance activities. Since then, only limited malacological surveillance of Biomphalaria has been carried out, and so the distribution of Biomphalaria populations in this area is currently unclear.

Three-tiered critical care management of acute pancreatitis.

Introduction And Aims: Acute pancreatitis (AP) can rapidly progress from a stable condition to multiple organ failure with high mortality. We aimed to describe the characteristics of AP patients requiring admission to a critical care facility and to identify predictors of disease progression.

Methods: We conducted a post-hoc analysis using prospectively collected data from AP patients admitted to the high dependency unit (HDU) and intensive care unit (ICU) at the University of Pécs, Hungary, from 2016 to 2019.

Deucravacitinib shows superior efficacy and safety in cutaneous lupus erythematosus compared to various biologics and small molecules - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Novel therapies for cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) demonstrated efficacy and safety in previous trials. However, data on the comparison of these treatments is still lacking, limiting their integration into clinical practice. Therefore, our aim is to perform a systematic review and network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of novel systemic therapies in CLE.

Standardized Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Congenital Aniridia.

Introduction: Congenital aniridia is a rare panocular disorder that is associated with varying degrees of impairment of visual acuity. The COST Action (CA18116) developed a survey (aniridia-net.eu) to assess patient-reported experiences with congenital aniridia and its impacts on vision and daily life.

Benefits and challenges of the integration of haptics-enhanced virtual reality training within dental curricula.

Background: Haptics-enhanced virtual reality (VR-haptic) simulation in dental education has evolved considerably during the past decade, representing a promising resource of simulation-based training opportunities to support conventional practice. We aim to summarize current literature on the applications of VR-haptics in learning, practicing, and teaching dental education.

Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed, focusing on research articles published between January 2010 and January 2024.

The role of the pathologist in the design and conducting of biomarker-driven clinical trials in cancer: position paper of the European Society of Pathology.

Clinical trials in oncology are important tools to identify and establish new effective drugs for cancer treatment. Since the development of the concept of precision oncology, a huge number of multi-centric biomarker-driven clinical trials have been performed and promoted by either academic institutions or pharmaceutical companies. In this scenario, the role of pathologists is essential in multiple aspects, with new challenges that should be addressed.

Concomitant virus infection increases mortality and worsens outcome of acute pancreatitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a major health threat, with a high mortality rate in severe forms. Though alcohol and bile-induced factors are the most common causes, increasing evidence suggests that viral infections such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may also trigger AP development. Our study aims to explore this association in greater detail.

Diagnostic work-up of bile duct strictures: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) Guideline.

1: ESGE recommends the combination of endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-based tissue acquisition as the preferred diagnostic approach for tissue acquisition in patients with jaundice and distal extrahepatic biliary stricture in the absence of a pancreatic mass. 2: ESGE suggests that brushing cytology should be completed along with fluoroscopy-guided biopsies, wherever technically feasible, in patients with perihilar biliary strictures. 3: ESGE suggests EUS-TA for perihilar strictures when ERCP-based modalities yield insufficient results, provided that curative resection is not feasible and/or when cross-sectional imaging has shown accessible extraluminal disease.

The Effect of Lens Properties on Visual Acuity, Aniridia Associated Keratopathy and Secondary Glaucoma in Congenital Aniridia Subjects.

Purpose: The potential risks and benefits of cataract surgery, in context of congenital aniridia (CA), are not widely understood, yet. Our purpose was to investigate the effect of lens properties on visual acuity (VA), aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK) stage and presence of glaucoma at the Homburg Aniridia Center.

Methods: CA subjects, examined at the Department of Ophthalmology of Saarland University between June 2003 and January 2022, were included.

Assessing perception of mattering in a cross-cultural university context: validity and reliability of the Italian and Hungarian versions of the University Mattering Scale (UM-S).

The present study aimed to gather evidence on the validity and reliability of the Italian and Hungarian versions of the University Mattering Scale (UM-S). This 10-item scale assesses university students' perceptions of mattering across three dimensions: Awareness, Importance, and Reliance. University students from Italy ( = 210) and Hungary ( = 191) completed a questionnaire that included the adapted UM-S, along with measures of societal mattering, social support, well-being, and academic self-efficacy.

Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast and invasive breast carcinoma of no special type: a comparison of claudin proteins' expression and its impact on survival.

Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast is characterized by clusters of cells presenting with inverted polarity. Although the apico-basal polarity is a fundamental property of the epithelium, the biological alterations leading to the inside-out pattern observed in invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) remain mostly unknown. The regulation of tight junctions in polarity formation and maintenance is acknowledged.

Combination of farnesyl-transferase inhibition with KRAS G12D targeting breaks down therapeutic resistance in pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is one of the deadliest forms of cancer with no effective therapeutic options. A KRAS mutation can be found in up to 90% of all pancreatic tumors, making it a promising therapeutic target. The introduction of new KRAS inhibitors has been a milestone in the history of KRAS mutant tumors; however, therapeutic resistance limits their efficacy.

Prognostic Value of Baseline Serum Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Severe Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

Severe clinical manifestations of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) are associated with the dysregulation of immune response following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, we analyzed the levels of 10 selected cytokines at admission to estimate disease severity and to predict the length of hospitalization. In remission samples, these mediators were followed after intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment before discharge.

Non-Invasive Strategies for Remineralization and Hypersensitivity Management in Molar-Incisor Hypomineralization-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is an enamel defect affecting molars and incisors, often leading to hypersensitivity, enamel breakdown, and increased caries risk. Non-invasive treatments, such as casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) and fluoride varnish, show potential in remineralizing affected enamel and reducing sensitivity, but their efficacy is still debated. This study systematically reviews and analyzes the effectiveness of CPP-ACP and other non-invasive agents in improving remineralization and reducing hypersensitivity in MIH-affected teeth.

Endothelial Protection and Improved Micro- and Macrocirculation with Hemoadsorption in Critically Ill Patients.

A dysregulated immune response is associated with an excessive release of cytokines that can lead to systemic vasoplegia and vasoplegic shock with the development of multiorgan failure that is associated with an increased risk of dying. Under physiological circumstances, the endothelium and the glycocalyx are responsible for maintaining vascular tone, capillary permeability, and hemostasis, and controlling inflammation. In hyperinflammation, the endothelium and glycocalyx become damaged due to the excessive production of certain toxic proteins, along with an overwhelming release of cytokines.

Refractive Outcomes After Cataract Surgery-The Impact of Preoperative Visual Acuity, the Intraocular Lens Model, and the Surgeon's Experience: An Empirical Analysis of Hungarian and Kosovan Patients.

Phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation comprise a standard procedure for cataract treatment. However, minimal refractive error remains a determinant of postoperative results. Our study aimed to evaluate the refractive outcomes and the impact of the surgeon's experience and the IOL model on Kosovan and Hungarian patients after cataract surgery.

The Role of the Vaginal and Endometrial Microbiomes in Infertility and Their Impact on Pregnancy Outcomes in Light of Recent Literature.

The Human Microbiome Project (HMP), initiated in 2007, aimed to gather comprehensive knowledge to create a genetic and metabolic map of human-associated microorganisms and their contribution to physiological states and predisposition to certain diseases. Research has revealed that the human microbiome is highly diverse and exhibits significant interpersonal variability; consequently, its exact impact on health remains unclear. With the development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, the broad spectrum of microbial communities has been better characterized.

The Complex Connection Between Myocardial Dysfunction and Cancer Beyond Cardiotoxicity: Shared Risk Factors and Common Molecular Pathways.

Cardiovascular diseases and cancer represent the largest disease burden worldwide. Previously, these two conditions were considered independent, except in terms of cardiotoxicity, which links cancer treatment to subsequent cardiovascular issues. However, recent studies suggest that there are further connections between cancer and heart disease beyond cardiotoxicity.

Development of Novel Imipridones with Alkyne- and Triazole-Linked Warheads on the Tricyclic Skeleton, Showing Superior Ability to Eradicate PANC-1 and Fadu Cells Compared to ONC201.

Our ongoing research focuses on the development of new imipridone derivatives. We aim to design compounds that can completely and selectively eradicate cancer cells after relatively short treatment. We have synthetized systematically designed novel hybrids and evaluated their antiproliferative activity against PANC-1 and Fadu cell lines.

Extracellular Vesicles: Biology and Therapeutic Applications.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are phospholipid-bilayer-limited particles in the extracellular space, without self-replicating capabilities [...

Understanding the Preclinical Efficacy of Antibody-Drug Conjugates.

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) represent a therapeutic modality that guides chemotherapies to tumoral cells by using antibodies against tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). The antibody and the chemotherapy or payload are attached by a chemical structure called the linker. The strategy for the development of this type of drug was based on several rational pillars, including the use of a very potent payload and the use of specific antibodies acting only on antigens expressed on tumoral cells.

Safety and Efficacy Analysis of Targeted and Immune Combination Therapy in Advanced Melanoma-A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

The combinations of BRAF inhibitor-based targeted therapies with immune checkpoint inhibitors currently represent less common therapeutic approaches in advanced melanoma. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of currently available melanoma treatments by conducting a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Four databases were systematically searched for randomized clinical studies that included patients with advanced/metastatic melanoma receiving chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, BRAF/MEK inhibitor therapy, or combinations thereof.

Comparison of Orthogonal Determination Methods of Acid/Base Constants with Meta-Analysis.

The accurate determination of acid/base constants (proton dissociation constants-p, or equivalently protonation constants-log) is essential for the physicochemical characterization of new molecules, especially in drug design and development, as these parameters thoroughly influence the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drug action. While pH/potentiometric titration remains the gold standard method for determining acid/base constants, spectroscopic techniques-particularly nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (as NMR/pH titrations)-have emerged as powerful alternatives for specific challenges in analytical chemistry, providing also information on the structure and site of protonation. In this study, we performed a comprehensive meta-analysis of protonation constants reported in the literature, measured using both potentiometry and NMR titrations.

Effects of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Microplastic Particles on Gut Microbiota Composition and Health Status in Rabbit Livestock.

The widespread use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and its entry into humans and livestock is of serious concern. In our study, we investigated the impact of PVC treatments on physiological, pathological, hormonal, and microbiota changes in female rabbits. Trend-like alterations in weight were observed in the spleen, liver, and kidney in both low (P1) and high dose (P2) PVC treatment groups.