Low clinical activity score, 'progressive' thyroid eye disease: presentations of 1439 patients from a tertiary centre in Hong Kong.

Background: To report the presenting clinical, serological and treatment profiles of 1439 patients with thyroid eye disease (TED) from a tertiary centre in Hong Kong.

Study Populations: Consecutive patients with TED presented to the Thyroid Eye Clinic (TEC), the Chinese University of Hong Kong between 2014 and 2023.

Methods: Prospective cohort and masked review of medical records and orbital images.

Maternal obesity alters histone modifications mediated by the interaction between Ezh2 and Ampk, impairing neural differentiation in the developing embryonic brain cortex.

Neurodevelopmental disorders have complex origins that manifest early during embryonic growth and are associated with intricate gene regulation dynamics. A perturbed metabolic environment such as hyperglycemia or dyslipidemia, particularly due to maternal obesity, poses a threat to the optimal development of the embryonic central nervous system. Accumulating evidence suggests that these metabolic irregularities during pregnancy may alter neurogenesis pathways, thereby predisposing the developing fetus to neurodevelopmental disorders.

Awareness and Knowledge About Preconception Healthcare: A Cross-Sectional Study of Early Years UAE Medical Students.

Preconception health is critical for improving maternal and child health. The main objective of the study was to explore medical students' health habits, quality of life, and knowledge of preconception healthcare. We conducted a cross-sectional study between 15 March 2023 and 31 May 2024 among medical students at United Arab Emirates University.

Attachment to Meat and Willingness Towards Cultured Alternatives Among Consumers: A Cross-Sectional Study in the UAE.

: The escalating global demand for meat, as a sequela of population growth, has led to unsustainable livestock production, resulting in a host of environmental and food security concerns. Various strategies have been explored to mitigate these issues, including the introduction of a novel food product, cultured meat. Cultured meat is not yet commercially available, yet public perceptions are already taking shape.

The Emerging Role of Oyster Mushrooms as a Functional Food for Complementary Cancer Therapy.

The importance of functional food's role in human nutrition as well as in the prevention of diseases, especially the treatment of chronic diseases like cancer, is an innovative field of research. Based on the studies regarding the antioxidant potential of oyster mushroom extract, it is evident that it has anticancer properties. The current article reviews the health benefits of edible oyster-mushroom-derived bioactive compounds, and how they specifically activate or regulate the immune system by affecting the maturation, differentiation, and proliferation of immune cells, thereby inhibiting cancer cell metastasis and growth.

Unveiling the Mineral and Sugar Richness of Moroccan Honeys: A Study of Botanical Origins and Quality Indicators.

This study comprehensively analyzes the mineral and heavy metal profiles of seven honey types, focusing on the contents of potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), with particular emphasis on honey produced in eastern Morocco. Multifloral honey was found to have the highest total mineral content (661 mg/kg), while rosemary honey had the lowest (201.31 mg/kg), revealing the strong influence of floral and botanical origin.

The evolving role of nursing informatics in the era of artificial intelligence.

Aim: This narrative review explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into nursing informatics and examines its impact on nursing practice, healthcare delivery, education, and policy.

Background: Nursing informatics, which merges nursing science with information management and communication technologies, is crucial in modern healthcare. The emergence of AI presents opportunities to improve diagnostics, treatment, and healthcare resource management.

Effect of acute kidney injury care bundle on kidney outcomes in cardiac patients receiving critical care: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Cardiac surgery is a major contributor to acute kidney injury (AKI); approximately 22% of patients who undergo cardiac surgery develop AKI, and among them, 2% will require renal replacement therapy (RRT). AKI is also associated with heightened risks of mortality and morbidity, longer intensive care stays, and increased treatment costs. Due to the challenges of treating AKI, prevention through the use of care bundles is suggested as an effective approach.

Voices of Nanomedicine: Blueprint Guidelines for Collaboration in Addressing Global Unmet Medical Needs.

The "" under this Perspective underline the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships across several disciplines, such as medical science and technology, medicine, bioengineering, and computational approaches, in bridging the gap between research, manufacturing, and clinical applications. Effective communication is key to bridging team gaps, enhancing trust, and resolving conflicts, thereby fostering teamwork and individual growth toward shared goals. Drawing from the success of the COVID-19 vaccine development, we advocate the application of similar collaborative models in other complex health areas such as nanomedicine and biomedical engineering.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding urinary tract infections among women in the United Arab Emirates.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs), which are infections of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra, are a worldwide public health concern. As compared to men, women are more prone to UTIs. There have been several studies that explore the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of women regarding UTIs in different countries, but no such study has been conducted in the UAE; therefore, we conducted this study in the UAE setting.

Advancing drug delivery research: sustainable strategies for innovation and translation.

Sustainable systems are designed to promote lasting viability and resilience while reducing negative effects on the environment, society, and economy. Like many others, the drug delivery field is facing the challenges of the global environmental crisis. Despite its rapid growth and significant funding, there has been a noticeable slowdown in the rate of advancement, impacting the economy, society, and environment.

Discovery of Potent, Highly Selective, and Orally Bioavailable MTA Cooperative PRMT5 Inhibitors with Robust Antitumor Activity.

Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), which catalyzes the symmetric dimethylation of arginine residues on target proteins, plays a critical role in gene expression regulation, RNA processing, and signal transduction. Aberrant PRMT5 activity has been implicated in cancers and other diseases, making it a potential therapeutic target. Here, we report the discovery of a methylthioadenosine (MTA) cooperative PRMT5 inhibitor.

Hemizygous Moesin (MSN) Gene Deletion in an Adult With Chronic Neutropenia.

X-linked moesin-associated immunodeficiency (X-MAID) is a recently identified combined immunodeficiency caused by a mutation in the moesin () gene. It is characterized by cytopenias, hypogammaglobulinemia, poor immune response to vaccine antigens, and increased susceptibility to early-life infections. We report a patient with adult-onset neutropenia, lymphopenia, inadequate response to the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23), and recurrent bacterial infections associated with a hemizygous deletion.

Pharmacological Vitamin C-induced high HO generation mediates apoptotic cell death by caspase 3/7 activation in breast cancer tumor spheroids.

Background: Pharmacological vitamin C (Vit-C), or high-dose Vit-C has recently gained attention as a potential cancer therapeutic. However, the anticancer activity of Vit-C has not been investigated in realistic 3D models of human cancers, especially with respect to breast cancer (BC), and its potential benefits remain under debate. Herein, we investigate the activity and mechanism of action of pharmacological Vit-C on two BC tumor spheroids.

A foundation model of transcription across human cell types.

Transcriptional regulation, which involves a complex interplay between regulatory sequences and proteins, directs all biological processes. Computational models of transcription lack generalizability to accurately extrapolate to unseen cell types and conditions. Here we introduce GET (general expression transformer), an interpretable foundation model designed to uncover regulatory grammars across 213 human fetal and adult cell types.

Biopsy location and tumor-associated macrophages in predicting malignant glioma recurrence using an in-silico model.

Predicting the biological behavior and time to recurrence (TTR) of high-grade diffuse gliomas (HGG) after maximum safe neurosurgical resection and combined radiation and chemotherapy plays a pivotal role in planning clinical follow-up, selecting potentially necessary second-line treatment and improving the quality of life for patients diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. The current standard-of-care (SoC) for HGG includes follow-up neuroradiological imaging to detect recurrence as early as possible and relies on several clinical, neuropathological, and radiological prognostic factors, which have limited accuracy in predicting TTR. In this study, using an in-silico analysis, we aim to improve predictive power for TTR by considering the role of (i) prognostically relevant information available through diagnostics used in the current SoC, (ii) advanced image-based information not currently part of the standard diagnostic workup, such as tumor-normal tissue interface (edge) features and quantitative data specific to biopsy positions within the tumor, and (iii) information on tumor-associated macrophages.

Validation of an improved reference freeze-dried direct agglutination test for detecting leishmaniasis in the canine reservoir.

Proper identification and management of post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) and canine leishmaniasis (CanL) cases are among the prerequisites to the effective control of visceral leishmaniasis worldwide. Unlike PKDL, CanL still awaits effective improvement because of its cryptic nature, absence of parasites in lesions or lymph nodes and not complete sensitivity of some diagnostic tools in use. Because of the need for certain skills and equipment, both the liquid direct agglutination test and freeze-dried direct agglutination test (FD-DAT) versions are, in comparison with the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), practical and feasible diagnostic alternatives.

Effect of statins and antihyperglycemics on chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a retrospective cohort study with a 12-year follow-up.

Background: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) represents a significant worldwide health challenge, with far-reaching implications for both patients and healthcare systems. This study aimed to identify the incidence of CKD at stages 3-5, analyzed the impact of statin and other antihyperglycemic interventions, on the CKD progression in individuals with T2DM.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study based on data derived from electronic medical records (EMR) of UAE populations with diabetes mellitus, registered at outpatient clinics at Tawam Hospital in Al Ain, UAE, between January 2011 and December 2021.

Comparative efficacy of uterine artery embolization versus laparoscopic myomectomy in treating uterine fibroids: a propensity score matched analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to comparatively analyze the therapeutic effects of uterine artery embolization (UAE) and laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) on uterine fibroids to determine which treatment method is more beneficial for patients.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 396 patients who underwent UAE (n = 153) or LM (n = 243) treatment from April 2010 to September 2019. After 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM), a comparative analysis was conducted on surgical trauma magnitude, postoperative recovery time, improvement in associated symptoms and quality of life, surgical adverse events, recurrence rates, and further interventions.

Oral Health Care: A Systematic Review of Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential for preventing and managing oral health problems. This systematic review aimed to identify and assess clinical practice guidelines on oral hygiene, focusing on quality and key areas. A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane, and organizational websites.

Highly Fluorescent Bio-Synthesized Carbon Quantum Dots for Latent Fingerprint Detection.

This study introduces an innovative approach to high-resolution latent fingerprint detection using carbon quantum dots (CQDs) biosynthesized from spent coffee grounds, enhanced with nitrogen doping. Conventional fingerprinting methods frequently use hazardous chemicals and are costly, highlighting the need for eco-friendly, affordable alternatives that preserve detection quality. The biosynthesized nitrogen-doped CQDs exhibit strong photoluminescence and high stability, offering a sustainable, effective alternative for fingerprint imaging.

Subcortical Maternal Complex in Female Infertility: A Transition from Animal Models to Human Studies.

Female infertility is a significant healthcare burden that is frequently encountered among couples globally. While environmental factors, comorbidities, and lifestyle determine reproductive health, certain genetic variants in key reproductive genes can potentially cause unsuccessful pregnancies. Such crucial proteins have been identified within the subcortical maternal complex (SCMC) and play an integral role in the early stages of embryogenesis before embryo implantation.

Histopathological effects of hypervitaminosis-D and the protective role of fetuin-A in renal, hepatic, and cardiac tissues in a murine model.

Hypervitaminosis D leads to toxic effects, including hypercalcemia, which can cause severe damage to various organs. Fetuin-A, a glycoprotein with anti-inflammatory properties, may protect tissues from such damage. This study explores the role of Fetuin-A in mitigating hypervitaminosis D-induced damage in renal, hepatic, and cardiac tissues.

Towards large-scale quantum optimization solvers with few qubits.

Quantum computers hold the promise of more efficient combinatorial optimization solvers, which could be game-changing for a broad range of applications. However, a bottleneck for materializing such advantages is that, in order to challenge classical algorithms in practice, mainstream approaches require a number of qubits prohibitively large for near-term hardware. Here we introduce a variational solver for MaxCut problems over binary variables using only n qubits, with tunable k > 1.