Remote monitoring of patients with COPD disease using a tablet system: a randomised crossover study of quality-of-life measurements.

Background: Remote patient monitoring (RPM) has been evaluated in COPD, but with varying results. We aimed to evaluate whether a tablet system that monitors disease-related parameters in patients with COPD could influence physical and mental health-related quality of life, compared with usual care (UC).

Methods: 70 patients with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) group D COPD (61% women, aged 71±8 years, forced expiratory volume in 1 s % predicted 41±13%, COPD Assessment Test (CAT) 19±7 points) were recruited at the COPD centre in Gothenburg, Sweden, and randomised to a tablet-based RPM system or UC for a 26-week period, after which they crossed over to the alternative management for another 26 weeks.

Self-assembly of defined core-shell ellipsoidal particles at liquid interfaces.

Hypothesis: Ellipsoidal particles confined at liquid interfaces exhibit complex self-assembly due to quadrupolar capillary interactions, favouring either tip-to-tip or side-to-side configurations. However, predicting and controlling which structure forms remains challenging. We hypothesize that introducing a polymer-based soft shell around the particles will modulate these capillary interactions, providing a means to tune the preferred self-assembly configuration based on particle geometry and shell properties.

Sevuparin strongly reduces hepcidin expression in cells, mice, and healthy human volunteers.

Hepcidin is an essential regulator of systemic iron availability mediating both iron uptake from the diet and its release from body stores. Abnormally high hepcidin levels resulting from inflammation in chronic diseases cause iron restriction with the onset of anemia. Restoring physiological levels of hepcidin could contribute to ameliorating anemia in these patients.

Cardiovascular Response and Locomotor Demands of Elite Basketball Referees During International Tournament: A Within- and Between-Referee Analysis.

There is little knowledge about within- and between-referee variation (WBRV) in cardiovascular responses (CVR) and locomotor game demands (LMD). Thus, the primary aim of this study was to assess the WBRV of CVR and LMD in male basketball referees during elite international games in preparation [e.g.

A transcriptome atlas of zygotic and somatic embryogenesis in Norway spruce.

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a powerful model system for studying embryo development and an important method for scaling up availability of elite and climate-adapted genetic material of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst). However, there are several steps during the development of the somatic embryo (Sem) that are suboptimal compared to zygotic embryo (Zem) development.

Development and Pilot Study of myfood24 West Africa-An Online Tool for Dietary Assessment in Nigeria.

Background And Objective: Tools to accurately and efficiently measure dietary intake in Nigeria are lacking. We aimed to develop and assess the usability of a new online dietary assessment tool for Nigeria-myfood24 West Africa.

Methods: We developed the myfood24 West Africa database using data from existing food composition tables, packaged foods labels and research articles.

Striving for Stability in Patients with COPD: A New Way Forward?

This article summarises key themes from a symposium held during the recent European Respiratory Society congress, which took place in Vienna, Austria, 7-11 September 2024. The symposium was sponsored by GSK and entitled 'Striving for disease stability in COPD: Giving patients more of their best days'. During the session, the speakers (MeiLan Han, Lowie Vanfleteren and Dave Singh) highlighted the specific challenges of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), such as its unpredictable and unstable nature, with additional insights provided from patients with COPD in the form of video interviews.

The Role of Small-Bowel Capsule Endoscopy in the Diagnostic Algorithm of Complicated Perianal Disease.

Introduction: Complicated perianal disease (cPD) may be the sole presentation of Crohn's disease (CD). The role of small-bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) in the diagnostic algorithm of cPD is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the role of SBCE as a diagnostic tool, in patients with cPD, after a negative standard workup for CD.

Zfp697 is an RNA-binding protein that regulates skeletal muscle inflammation and remodeling.

Skeletal muscle atrophy is a morbidity and mortality risk factor that happens with disuse, chronic disease, and aging. The tissue remodeling that happens during recovery from atrophy or injury involves changes in different cell types such as muscle fibers, and satellite and immune cells. Here, we show that the previously uncharacterized gene and protein Zfp697 is a damage-induced regulator of muscle remodeling.

Spatial distribution of active compounds in stratum corneum-partitioning between corneocytes and lipid matrix.

The interaction of active substances with molecular structures in stratum corneum (SC) is crucial for the efficacy and safety of cosmetic formulations and topical drugs. However, the molecular architecture of SC is highly complex and methods to unambiguously localize exogenous molecules within SC are lacking. Consequently, little is known about the distribution of actives within SC, and proposed penetration mechanisms through SC are typically limited to simple diffusion via a tortuous (lipid only) or transverse (across corneocytes and lipid matrix) pathway.

Preclinical development of a stabilized RH5 virus-like particle vaccine that induces improved antimalarial antibodies.

Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte-binding protein homolog 5 (RH5) is a leading blood-stage malaria vaccine antigen target, currently in a phase 2b clinical trial as a full-length soluble protein/adjuvant vaccine candidate called RH5.1/Matrix-M. We identify that disordered regions of the full-length RH5 molecule induce non-growth inhibitory antibodies in human vaccinees and that a re-engineered and stabilized immunogen (including just the alpha-helical core of RH5) induces a qualitatively superior growth inhibitory antibody response in rats vaccinated with this protein formulated in Matrix-M adjuvant.

Development of an improved blood-stage malaria vaccine targeting the essential RH5-CyRPA-RIPR invasion complex.

Reticulocyte-binding protein homologue 5 (RH5), a leading blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum malaria vaccine target, interacts with cysteine-rich protective antigen (CyRPA) and RH5-interacting protein (RIPR) to form an essential heterotrimeric "RCR-complex". We investigate whether RCR-complex vaccination can improve upon RH5 alone. Using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) we show that parasite growth-inhibitory epitopes on each antigen are surface-exposed on the RCR-complex and that mAb pairs targeting different antigens can function additively or synergistically.

Real-World Treatment Patterns and Survival Outcomes for Patients with Non-Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer in Sweden: A Nationwide Registry Analysis from the I-O Optimise Initiative.

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with ~40-50% of patients diagnosed with non-metastatic disease (stages IA-IIIC). The treatment landscape is evolving rapidly as immunotherapies and targeted therapy are introduced in the non-metastatic setting, creating a need to assess patient outcomes prior to their introduction. This real-world study using Swedish National Lung Cancer Registry data examined outcomes (overall survival (OS) and time to next treatment or death (TTNTD)) and treatment patterns for adults diagnosed with non-metastatic NSCLC.

Association of serum uric acid with women's ovarian reserve: observational study and Mendelian randomization analyses.

Objective: To investigate the association between serum uric acid and women's ovarian reserve.

Design: Retrospective observational study and Mendelian randomization study.

Setting: University-affiliated in vitro fertilization center.

Regurgitant volume to LA volume ratio in patients with secondary MR: the COAPT trial.

Aims: The conceptual framework of proportionate vs. disproportionate mitral regurgitation (MR) translates poorly to individual patients with heart failure (HF) and secondary MR. A novel index, the ratio of MR severity to left atrial volume (LAV), may identify patients with 'disproportionate' MR and a higher risk of events.

Pharmacological induction of translational readthrough of nonsense mutations in the retinoblastoma (RB1) gene.

The retinoblastoma protein (Rb) is encoded by the RB1 tumor suppressor gene. Inactivation of RB1 by inherited or somatic mutation occurs in retinoblastoma and various other types of tumors. A significant fraction (25.

Outcome prediction by myocardial external efficiency from C-acetate positron emission tomography in cardiac amyloidosis.

Aims: This study aimed to study the prognostic value of myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO ) and myocardial external efficiency (MEE) from C-acetate positron emission tomography (PET) in cardiac amyloidosis (CA) patients.

Methods And Results: Forty-eight CA patients, both transthyretin (ATTR) and immunoglobulin light chain (AL) amyloidosis, and 20 controls were included. All subjects were examined with C-acetate PET and echocardiography.

Global Effect of Modifiable Risk Factors on Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality.

Background: Five modifiable risk factors are associated with cardiovascular disease and death from any cause. Studies using individual-level data to evaluate the regional and sex-specific prevalence of the risk factors and their effect on these outcomes are lacking.

Methods: We pooled and harmonized individual-level data from 112 cohort studies conducted in 34 countries and 8 geographic regions participating in the Global Cardiovascular Risk Consortium.