Mechanisms of Homoarginine: Looking Beyond Clinical Outcomes.

Purpose: Homoarginine (hArg) is an arginine metabolite that has been known for years, but its physiological role in the body remains poorly understood. For instance, it is well known that high hArg concentrations in the blood are protective against several disease states, yet the mechanisms behind these health benefits are unclear. This review compiles what is known about hArg, namely its synthetic pathways, its role in different diseases and conditions, and its proposed mechanisms of action in humans and experimental animals.

To Seclude or Not to Seclude? Using Grounded Theory to Develop a Model of the Seclusion Decision-Making Process Used by Mental Health Nurses in Forensic Services.

Seclusion is a restrictive intervention used in forensic mental health care to manage service user risk of harm. It has been associated with harmful effects for service users and consensus is that its use needs to be reduced. Research has identified that factors related to nursing staff influence the use of seclusion.

ICD-11 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD in a sample of prison staff: A latent profile approach.

Although empirical support for the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (11th ed.; ICD-11) distinction between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD) is growing, research into the ICD-11 CPTSD model in prison staff is lacking. This study used latent profile analysis (LPA) to (a) determine if there are distinct groups of trauma-exposed prison governors (i.

Therapeutic impacts of recalling and processing positive autobiographical memories on posttrauma health: An open-label study.

The processing of positive memories technique (PPMT) entails detailed narration and processing of specific positive autobiographical memories (AM) and has shown promise in improving posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. We examined whether participants receiving PPMT reported decreases in PTSD and depressive symptom severity, negative affect levels/reactivity, posttrauma cognitions, and positive emotion dysregulation, as well as increases in positive affect levels/reactivity and the number of retrieved positive AMs across four PPMT sessions. Individuals (N = 70) recruited from the community completed surveys at baseline (pre-PPMT), each PPMT session, and after completing all four PPMT sessions.

Structure-Based Optimization of Pyridone α-Ketoamides as Inhibitors of the SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease.

The main protease M is a clinically validated target to treat infections by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Among the first reported M inhibitors was the peptidomimetic α-ketoamide , whose cocrystal structure with M paved the way for multiple lead-finding studies. We established structure-activity relationships for the series by modifying residues at the P1', P3, and P4 sites.

Tuning electronic and optical properties of 2D polymeric C by stacking two layers.

Benefiting from improved stability due to interlayer van der Waals interactions, few-layer fullerene networks are experimentally more accessible compared to monolayer polymeric C. However, there is a lack of systematic theoretical studies on the material properties of few-layer C networks. Here, we compare the structural, electronic and optical properties of bilayer and monolayer fullerene networks.

The role of an inpatient aphasia-friendly choir for people with post-stroke communication impairment from the perspective of the multidisciplinary team: An exploratory study.

Background: There is a growing body of evidence showing the value of community singing-based rehabilitation on psychosocial well-being and communication for people with post-stroke communication impairment (PSCI). However, there has been little consideration of the potential value an inpatient aphasia-friendly choir may have through the perspective of the stroke multidisciplinary team (MDT).

Aims: To explore the experiences and views of the MDT on the role an established inpatient aphasia-friendly choir, at a stroke rehabilitation centre in South Wales, UK, may play in the rehabilitation of people with PSCI.

Paranoia and unusual sensory experiences in Parkinson's disease.

Objectives: There has been limited exploration into the nature and development of psychotic experiences (PEs) in Parkinson's disease (PD). We aimed to comprehensively assess the frequency, severity, and associated distress of paranoia and unusual sensory experiences (USEs) in PD, and to assess what variables are significantly associated with these experiences, focussing on psychological processes central to understanding PEs in non-PD groups.

Method: A questionnaire battery was completed by 369 individuals with PD with a mean age of 66 years and mean time since diagnosis of 5 years.

Predictions of adolescents' responses to the Youth Self-Report from parental attachment interviews collected during pregnancy: a 17-year longitudinal study.

This study investigated the influence of parents' Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) responses prior to the birth of a first child, on self-reported mental health symptoms of the first-born child in mid-adolescence. The sample comprised 51 first-born children aged 16 years, their mothers and fathers from a low-risk community urban sample, White, British and 70% middle class. AMothers' responses to the AAI were the strongest predictor of their adolescent children's self-reported mental health symptoms.

Open-label, phase Ia study of STING agonist BI 1703880 plus ezabenlimab for patients with advanced solid tumors.

BI 1703880, a novel STimulator of INterferon Genes (STING) agonist, has demonstrated preclinical antitumor activity. As STING activation can upregulate programmed death ligand 1 and human leukocyte antigen in tumor cells, a combination of BI 1703880 and an anti-programmed cell death protein 1-antibody, such as ezabenlimab, may improve efficacy. This first-in-human phase Ia study (NCT05471856) is evaluating BI 1703880 plus ezabenlimab in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Olaparib as treatment for platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer by BRCA mutation and homologous recombination deficiency: Phase 2 LIGHT study final overall survival analysis.

Background: LIGHT (oLaparib In HRD-Grouped Tumor types; NCT02983799) prospectively evaluated olaparib treatment in patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer (PSROC) assigned to cohorts by known BRCA mutation (BRCAm) and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) status: germline BRCAm (gBRCAm), somatic BRCAm (sBRCAm), HRD-positive non-BRCAm, and HRD-negative. At the primary analysis, olaparib treatment demonstrated activity across all cohorts, with greatest efficacy in terms of objective response rate and progression-free survival observed in the g/sBRCAm cohorts. The authors report final overall survival (OS).

Examining perioperative factors in latex-allergic reactions.

Despite the implementation of latex-free gloves, the issue of natural rubber latex hypersensitivity persists within medical practice, posing challenges for both patients and health care professionals. A comprehensive understanding of the demographic groups susceptible to this condition is essential, along with the establishment of robust perioperative assessment and management protocols aimed at minimising complications and enhancing safety. This article endeavours to delve into the intricacies of perioperative management concerning latex hypersensitivity among patients, while also elucidating its ramifications for health care practitioners.

Age-Trajectories of Higher-Order Diffusion Properties of Major Brain Metabolites in Cerebral and Cerebellar Gray Matter Using In Vivo Diffusion-Weighted MR Spectroscopy at 3T.

Healthy brain aging involves changes in both brain structure and function, including alterations in cellular composition and microstructure across brain regions. Unlike diffusion-weighted MRI (dMRI), diffusion-weighted MR spectroscopy (dMRS) can assess cell-type specific microstructural changes, providing indirect information on both cell composition and microstructure through the quantification and interpretation of metabolites' diffusion properties. This work investigates age-related changes in the higher-order diffusion properties of total N-Acetyl-aspartate (neuronal biomarker), total choline (glial biomarker), and total creatine (both neuronal and glial biomarker) beyond the classical apparent diffusion coefficient in cerebral and cerebellar gray matter of healthy human brain.

Development and Validation of a Novel Model to Discriminate Idiosyncratic Drug-Induced Liver Injury and Autoimmune Hepatitis.

Background And Aim: Discriminating between idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is critical yet challenging. We aim to develop and validate a machine learning (ML)-based model to aid in this differentiation.

Methods: This multicenter cohort study utilised a development set from Beijing Friendship Hospital, with retrospective and prospective validation sets from 10 tertiary hospitals across various regions of China spanning January 2009 to May 2023.

Studying Kurdishness in Turkey: A review of existing research.

Knowledge production on marginalized identities is frequently shaped by epistemic violence, which limits both the scope and methodologies of research. One example of this is the case of Kurdish identity in Turkey, where we find that methodological and epistemic problems are evident particularly in social psychological research. To summarize social psychological studies on Kurdishness, Kurdish identity and conflict in Turkey we've conducted a systematic review that includes a total of 63 studies on topics related to Kurdishness.

Exploring the Interface Between Planetary Boundaries and Palaeoecology.

The concepts of planetary boundaries are influential in the sustainability literature and assist in delineating the 'safe operating spaces' beyond which critical Earth system processes could collapse. Moving away from our current trajectory towards 'hothouse Earth' will require knowledge of how Earth systems have varied throughout the Holocene, and whether and how far we have deviated from past ranges of variability. Such information can inform decisions about where change could be resisted, accepted or where adaptation is inevitable.

Trends in Mortality Due to Cardiovascular Diseases Among Patients With Parkinson's Disease in the United States: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Parkinson disease (PD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) present significant health burdens, particularly among older adults. Patients with PD have an elevated risk of CVD-related mortality. Analyzing mortality trends in this population may help guide focused interventions.

Robust, Fluorine-Free Superhydrophobic Films on Glass via Epoxysilane Pretreatment.

Durable and fluorine-free superhydrophobic films were fabricated by a simple two-step process involving the pretreatment of glass substrates with an epoxysilane, which acted as an adhesive. The next step involved the aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition of a simple mixture of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and SiO nanoparticles (NPs). Various parameters were studied, such as deposition time as well as PDMS and SiO loadings.

Peptide design to control protein-protein interactions.

Targeting of protein-protein interactions has become of huge interest in every aspect of medicinal and biological sciences. The control of protein interactions selectively offers the opportunity to control biological processes while limiting off target effects. This interest has massively increased with the development of cryo-EM and protein structure prediction with tools such as RosettaFold and AlphaFold.

Theoretical investigation of the AΠ-XΣ, BΣ-XΣ, CΣ-XΣ, and EΠ-XΣ transitions of the CO molecule.

The spectrum of carbon monoxide is important for astrophysical media, such as planetary atmospheres, interstellar space, exoplanetary and stellar atmospheres; it also important in plasma physics, laser physics and combustion. Interpreting its spectral signature requires a deep and thorough understanding of its absorption and emission properties. A new accurate spectroscopic model for the ground and electronically-excited states of the CO molecule computed at the aug-cc-pV5Z CASSCF/MRCI+Q level is reported.

Evolution and spread of subsp. in the São Paulo, Brazil, citrus belt inferred from 758 novel genomes.

The São Paulo state citrus belt in Brazil is a major citrus production region. Since at least 1957, citrus plantations in this region have been affected by citrus canker, an economically damaging disease caused by subsp. ().

Value attributes of advanced therapy medicinal products: a documentary analysis of comments received from stakeholders during reimbursement decisions to England's national institute of health and care excellence.

Objectives: Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) are transformative healthcare interventions, however, there has been limited research exploring their value. The objective of this study was to conduct a thematic analysis as part of a documentary analysis to identify value attributes of ATMPs.

Methods: As part of the NICE assessment processes in England, stakeholders are invited to provide comments on the technology.

GENA-LM: a family of open-source foundational DNA language models for long sequences.

Recent advancements in genomics, propelled by artificial intelligence, have unlocked unprecedented capabilities in interpreting genomic sequences, mitigating the need for exhaustive experimental analysis of complex, intertwined molecular processes inherent in DNA function. A significant challenge, however, resides in accurately decoding genomic sequences, which inherently involves comprehending rich contextual information dispersed across thousands of nucleotides. To address this need, we introduce GENA language model (GENA-LM), a suite of transformer-based foundational DNA language models capable of handling input lengths up to 36 000 base pairs.

Number of Previous Strokes and the Association With Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: Longitudinal Data From the GLORIA-AF Registry.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who suffered a previous stroke are at increased risk of recurrent thromboembolic events and other major outcomes. The impact of the number of stroke episodes on the natural history of patients with AF is still unclear.

Methods And Results: Using data from the international, multicenter, and prospective GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation) Registry Phase III, we categorized patients with a recent diagnosis of non-valvular AF according to the number of previous strokes (either 0, 1, or ≥2 episodes).

Dual test gas pulmonary diffusing capacity in patients with idiopathic scoliosis 40 years after diagnosis.

There is limited knowledge on diffusing capacity in scoliosis patients. It remains to be determined if impaired pulmonary diffusing capacity is mostly influenced by reduced alveolar-capillary membrane diffusing capacity (D), reduced pulmonary capillary blood volume (V) or both. This study aims to report findings from dual test gas pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide and nitric oxide (D) with quantification of pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide corrected for haemoglobin with a five s breath-hold (D) and nitric oxide with a five s breath-hold (D), D and V.