Regional Variations in the Incidence of Lichen Sclerosus in Sweden: Insights from a Nationwide Register Study (2001-2021).

: Lichen Sclerosus (LSc) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition predominantly affecting the anogenital regions, with a well-recognised potential for malignancy. This study examines the incidence, demographic characteristics, and regional distribution of LSc in Sweden over a 20-year period. The analysis is based on data from the Swedish National Patient Register (NPR), with a focus on cases diagnosed in specialist care settings.

Complexities, Benefits, Risks, and Clinical Implications of Sodium Bicarbonate Administration in Critically Ill Patients: A State-of-the-Art Review.

Sodium bicarbonate has been used in the treatment of different pathologies, such as hyperkalemia, cardiac arrest, tricyclic antidepressant toxicity, aspirin toxicity, acute acidosis, lactic acidosis, diabetic ketoacidosis, rhabdomyolysis, and adrenergic receptors' resistance to catecholamine in patients with shock. An ongoing debate about bicarbonate's efficacy and potential harm has been raised for decades because of the lack of evidence supporting its potential efficacy. Despite the guidelines' restrictions, sodium bicarbonate has been overused in clinical practice.

Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Selective JAK Inhibitors in Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease: A Retrospective, Multicentre Study.

: Data on the real-world effectiveness and safety of selective JAK inhibitors (JAKis) in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are limited. : We conducted a multicentre, retrospective study to assess clinical, biochemical, and endoscopic outcomes of selective JAKis in bio-experienced UC and CD. : A total of 246 patients (mean age: 40.

Surgical Synergy in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: Assessing Safety and Efficacy of Hydrus, iStent, and Gonioscopy-Assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy in Glaucoma Management.

: This paper will compare the outcomes-safety and efficacy-of three minimally invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGSs),the Hydrus Microstent, iStent, and Gonioscopy-Assisted Transluminal Trabeculotomy (GATT), for intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). : A literature search of Ovid Medline and Embase identified studies evaluating the Hydrus, iStent, and GATT. Data on IOP reduction, medication use, and complications were analyzed.

Daylight Photodynamic Therapy: At-Home Delivery.

This pilot study evaluated the design, usability, and practicality of the dPDT@home kit for treating actinic keratoses (AKs) on the face and scalp. The kit allowed patients to manage their treatment at home, reducing hospital visits and utilizing natural sunlight. While patients were very willing to use the kit again, further studies are required to evaluate outcomes and ascertain the need for additional improvements and support.

A Protocol Investigation Comparing Transcatheter Repair with the Standard Surgical Procedure for Secondary Mitral Regurgitation.

Secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) is characterized by a pathological process impacting the left ventricle (LV) as opposed to the mitral valve (MV). In the absence of structural alterations to the MV, the expansion of the LV or impairment of the papillary muscles (PMs) may ensue. A number of technical procedures are accessible for the purpose of determining the optimal resolution for MR.

Predicting Intensive Care Unit Admission in COVID-19-Infected Pregnant Women Using Machine Learning.

: The rapid onset of COVID-19 placed immense strain on many already overstretched healthcare systems. The unique physiological changes in pregnancy, amplified by the complex effects of COVID-19 in pregnant women, rendered prioritization of infected expectant mothers more challenging. This work aims to use state-of-the-art machine learning techniques to predict whether a COVID-19-infected pregnant woman will be admitted to ICU (Intensive Care Unit).

Potential Causal Association Between Atrial Fibrillation/Flutter and Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomisation Study.

: A few studies have reported controversial relationships between atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF/L) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). This study aimed to investigate the potential causal relationship between AF/L and POAG. : Single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with exposure to AF/L were selected as instrumental variables with significance ( < 5.

Double-J Ureteral Stenting in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Pivotal or Problematic?

: Double-J stents are urinary catheters that are frequently used in urology. They are now also used in other specialist areas such as obstetrics and gynecology. However, the use of double-J stents is not without side effects.

Screening for Alcohol Use Disorder Among Hospitalised Patients: Learning from a Retrospective Cohort Study in Secondary Care.

Excessive alcohol consumption is among the leading causes of hospitalisation in high-income countries and contributes to over 200 medical conditions. We aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of alcohol use disorder (AUD), describe the distribution of AUD in ICD-10 discharge diagnosis groups and ascertain any relationship between them in secondary care. The study group was a retrospective cohort of adult patients admitted to Nottingham University Hospital (NUH) between 4 April 2009 and 31 March 2020.

The Diagnostic Accuracy of an Electrocardiogram in Pulmonary Hypertension and the Role of "R V1, V2 + S I, aVL - S V1".

: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) can cause characteristic electrocardiographic (ECG) changes due to right ventricular hypertrophy and/or strain. The aims of the present study were to explore the diagnostic accuracy of ECG parameters for the diagnosis of PH, applying the recently adjusted mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) threshold of >20 mmHg, and to determine the role of "R V1, V2 + S I, aVL - S V1". : Between July 2012 and November 2023, 100 patients without PH, with pulmonary arterial hypertension, or with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension were retrospectively enrolled.

Abstracts of the 16th European Congress of Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology .

PAG aims to foster a collaborative environment that bridges knowledge from various disciplines to ensure the highest quality of care for children and adolescents with gynaecological issues. The European Association of PAG and HellenicPAG, like all National PAG Societies, support research and education to advance new insights, improve health outcomes, enhance quality of life, and protect future fertility. Additionally, PAG promotes international cooperation by proposing guidelines for good clinical practice in terms of prevention, diagnosis, procedures, and treatment.

How Close Are We to Patient-Side Troponin Testing?

Laboratory-based high-sensitivity cardiac troponin testing has been the pillar for emergency stratification of suspected acute coronary syndrome for well over a decade. Point-of-care troponin assays achieving the requisite analytical sensitivity have recently been developed and could accelerate such assessment. This review summarises the latest assays and describes their potential diverse clinical utility in the emergency department, community healthcare, pre-hospital, and other hospital settings.

Genetic Risk of Ankylosing Spondylitis and Second-Line Therapy Need in Crohn's Disease: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Crohn's disease (CD) and Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) are chronic conditions with overlapping inflammatory pathways. This research investigates the genetic association between AS and the requirement for more aggressive therapeutic interventions in CD, suggesting a likelihood of increased severity in CD progression among individuals diagnosed with AS. This study utilized two-sample Mendelian randomization (TSMR) to analyze GWAS datasets for AS and CD requiring second-line treatment.

Transoral Robotic Surgery for Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A Systematic Literature Review of Current Practices.

Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for tongue base reduction (TBR) and/or epiglottic surgery is an effective treatment option for selected patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). This systematic review aims to provide an up-to-date overview of current practices and challenges associated with TORS for OSA. PubMed and Embase databases were searched up to December 2022 following PRISMA guidelines.

International Nephrology Masterclass in Chronic Kidney Disease: Rationale, Summary, and Future Perspectives.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive condition that affects more than 10% of the population worldwide, accounting for more than 843 million (M) individuals. The prevalence of CKD (844 M patients) is higher than that of diabetes mellitus (422 M patients), cancer (42 M patients), and HIV (37 M patients), but people are often less aware of it. Global expert groups predict reductions in the nephrology workforce in the next decade, with a declining interest in nephrology careers.

Transforming Agricultural and Sulfur Waste into Fertilizer: Assessing the Short-Term Effects on Microbial Biodiversity via a Metagenomic Approach.

Fungi and soil bacteria are vital for organic matter decomposition and biogeochemical cycles, but excessive synthetic fertilizer use contributes to soil degradation and loss of biodiversity. Despite this, about 97% of soil microorganisms are unculturable, making them difficult to study. Metagenomics offers a solution, enabling the direct extraction of DNA from soil to uncover microbial diversity and functions.

Groundwater-Driven Evolution of Prebiotic Alkaline Lake Environments.

Alkaline lakes are thought to have facilitated prebiotic synthesis reactions on the early Earth because their modern analogs accumulate vital chemical feedstocks such as phosphate through the evaporation of dilute groundwaters. Yet, the conditions required for some building block synthesis reactions are distinct from others, and these conditions are generally incompatible with those permissible for nascent cellular function. However, because current scenarios for prebiotic synthesis have not taken account of the physical processes that drive the chemical evolution of alkaline lakes, the potential for the co-occurrence of both prebiotic synthesis and the origins and early evolution of life in prebiotic alkaline lake environments remains poorly constrained.

Toxicity of Macroalgae Extracts to Larvae of the Northern House Mosquito.

The continuous use of synthetic insecticides to suppress mosquito larvae has detrimental impacts on the environment and human health. Finding novel and target-specific bio-insecticides has become crucial. Here, the larvicidal and genotoxic activities of different extracts from and toward larvae were investigated.

Mechanistic Insights into the Adenosine A1 Receptor's Positive Allosteric Modulation for Non-Opioid Analgesics.

The adenosine A1 receptor (AR) is a promising target for pain treatment. However, the development of therapeutic agonists is hampered by adverse effects, mainly including sedation, bradycardia, hypotension, or respiratory depression. Recently discovered molecules able to overcome this impediment are the positive allosteric modulator MIPS521 and the A1R-selective agonist BnOCPA, which are both potent and powerful analgesics with fewer side effects.

Mixed T-Cell Chimerism Following Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Non-Malignant Disorders Is Common, Facilitates Anti-Viral Immunity, and Is Not Associated with Graft Failure in Pediatric Patients.

Myeloid chimerism better reflects donor stem cell engraftment than whole-blood chimerism in assessing graft function following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT). We describe our experience with 130 patients aged younger than 18 years, treated with allogeneic HCT using bone marrow or PBSC from HLA-matched donors for non-malignant diseases, whose pre-transplant conditioning therapy included alemtuzumab and who were monitored with lineage-specific chimerism after transplant. At 6 years post-transplant, overall survival (OS) was 91.

Pervasiveness of Microprotein Function Amongst Small Open Reading Frames (SMORFS).

Small Open Reading Frames (smORFs) of less than 100 codons remain mostly uncharacterised. About a thousand smORFs per genome encode peptides and microproteins about 70-80 aa long, often containing recognisable protein structures and markers of translation, and these are referred to as short Coding Sequences (sCDSs). The characterisation of individual sCDSs has provided examples of smORFs' function and conservation, but we cannot infer the functionality of all other metazoan smORFs from these.

α-Synuclein Deletion Impairs Platelet Function: A Role for SNARE Complex Assembly.

Granule secretion is an essential platelet function that contributes not only to haemostasis but also to wound healing, inflammation, and atherosclerosis. Granule secretion from platelets is facilitated, at least in part, by Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-Sensitive Factor (NSF) Attachment Protein Receptor (SNARE) complex-mediated granule fusion. Although α-synuclein is a protein known to modulate the assembly of the SNARE complex in other cells, its role in platelet function remains poorly understood.

The Zebrafish Retina and the Evolution of the Onecut-Mediated Pathway in Cell Type Differentiation.

() genes play an important role in the proper formation of retinal cells in vertebrates, in particular horizontal, retinal ganglion and amacrine cells. However, it is not fully known how the unique and combined action of multiple gene copies leads to the induction and differentiation of specific retinal cell types. To gain new insights on how genes influence retina formation, we have examined the developmental role of , and genes during eye formation in the non-mammalian vertebrate zebrafish .

Current Insights into the Radiobiology of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy and the Potential for Further Improving Biological Effectiveness.

Photon (X-ray) radiotherapy is the most common treatment used in cancer therapy. However, the exposure of normal tissues and organs at risk to ionising radiation often results in a significant incidence of low-grade adverse side effects, whilst high-grade toxicities also occur at concerningly high rates. As an alternative, boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) aims to create densely ionising helium and lithium ions directly within cancer cells, thus sparing the surrounding normal cells and tissues but also leading to significantly more effective tumour control than X-rays.