Emerging concepts in introducing foods for food allergy prevention.

Purpose Of Review: This review focuses on the latest information regarding the role of complementary feeding practices and food allergen introduction in the prevention of food allergies.

Recent Findings: Early introduction of food allergens for food allergy prevention is recommended by food allergy prevention guidelines and is supported by the latest randomized controlled trials. Diet diversity is recommended, supported by the latest studies from Asia.

Management of Mycosis Fungoides and Sézary Syndrome With Oral Systemic Therapies.

Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) are subtypes of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with numerous topical and systemic therapies. Early-stage MF can be managed with topical corticosteroids, mechlorethamine, and phototherapy. However, patients are often non-responsive to topical therapies, thus requiring systemic therapies.

Long-term safety and effectiveness of fenfluramine in children and adults with Dravet syndrome.

Objective: We analyzed the long-term safety and effectiveness of fenfluramine (FFA) in patients with Dravet syndrome (DS) in an open-label extension (OLE) study after participating in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or commencing FFA de novo as adults.

Methods: Patients with DS who participated in one of three RCTs or were 19 to 35 years of age and started FFA de novo were included. Key endpoints were: incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) in the safety population, and median percentage change in monthly convulsive seizure frequency (MCSF) from the RCT baseline to end of study (EOS) in the modified intent-to-treat (mITT) population.

Immunity and neuroinflammation in early stages of life and epilepsy.

The immune system is crucial for the correct brain development, and recent findings also point toward central control of immune response. As the immune system is not fully developed at birth, the early years become an important window for infections and for the development of epilepsy. Both central and even peripheral inflammation may impact brain function, promoting opening of the blood-brain/blood and cerebrospinal barriers and allowing entry of immune cells and cytokines, which in turn may affect neuron function and connections.

Evaluation of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 Palliative Care and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Palliative in assessing the quality of life in patients with advanced cancer.

Purpose Of Review: Two widely validated health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) tools, specifically designed for patients with advanced cancer, are the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 15 Palliative Care (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL) and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Palliative (FACIT-Pal-14). This systematic review aims to evaluate the use of EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL and FACIT-Pal-14 in prospective studies in patients with advanced cancer, focusing on study types, clinical settings, additional HR-QoL tools used, and completion rates.

Recent Findings: Sixty studies were included in the analysis.

Estimation and Hypothesis Testing of Strain-Specific Vaccine Efficacy With Missing Strain Types With Application to a COVID-19 Vaccine Trial.

Based on data from a randomized, controlled vaccine efficacy trial, this article develops statistical methods for assessing vaccine efficacy (VE) to prevent COVID-19 infections by a discrete set of genetic strains of SARS-CoV-2. Strain-specific VE adjusting for possibly time-varying covariates is estimated using augmented inverse probability weighting to address missing viral genotypes under a competing risks model that allows separate baseline hazards for different risk groups. Hypothesis tests are developed to assess whether the vaccine provides at least a specified level of VE against some viral genotypes and whether VE varies across genotypes.

The Case for Preregistering Quasi-Experimental Program and Policy Evaluations.

The recognition that researcher discretion coupled with unconscious biases and motivated reasoning sometimes leads to false findings ("p-hacking") led to the broad embrace of study preregistration and other open-science practices in experimental research. Paradoxically, the preregistration of quasi-experimental studies remains uncommon although such studies involve far more discretionary decisions and are the most prevalent approach to making causal claims in the social sciences. I discuss several forms of recent empirical evidence indicating that questionable research practices contribute to the comparative unreliability of quasi-experimental research and advocate for adopting the preregistration of such studies.

Comparison of the efficacy of simple and combined oral rinses with chlorhexidine digluconate against selected bacterial and yeast species: An in vitro study.

Background: Chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG) is considered the most effective and safe antimicrobial agent in dentistry. Recently, it has often been produced in the form of preparations with additional substances that may modify its effect.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of various simple and combined CHG rinses against selected bacterial and yeast strains.

Cathodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Does Not Change Implicit Associations Against Alcohol in Alcohol Use Disorder: A Preregistered Clinical Trial.

Addictive behaviour is shaped by the dynamic interaction of implicit, bottom-up and explicit, top-down cognitive processes. In alcohol use disorder (AUD), implicit alcohol-related associations have been shown to predict increased subsequent alcohol consumption and are linked to the risk of relapse. Explicit cognitive processes, exerting prefrontal top-down control, are particularly significant during the critical period following the decision to abstain.

Trifluoroacetic Acid Induced a Cyclophilin D-Dependent Cognitive Impairment in Mice.

Studies have linked inhalation anesthesia and surgery to increased cognitive impairment, particularly in the elderly. Our previous research showed that isoflurane, but not desflurane, affected cognitive function in mice by modulating cyclophilin D (CypD), a key regulator of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) and mitochondrial function. Both anesthetics metabolize into trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), which is associated with cognitive deficits.

Nanozyme-Based Strategies in Cancer Immunotherapy: Overcoming Resistance to Enhance Therapeutic Efficacy.

Nanozymes, which are nanomaterials that replicate the catalytic activities of natural enzymes in biological systems, have recently demonstrated considerable potential in improving cancer immunotherapy by altering the tumor microenvironment. Nanozyme-driven immune responses represent an innovative therapeutic modality with high effectiveness and minimal side effects. These nanozymes activate the immune system to specifically recognize and destroy cancer cells.

The Impact of Rosemary and Ginger Extracts on Aging and Healthspan in Drosophila.

Aging leads to a decline in physiological functions and increased risk of mortality, yet therapeutic avenues are limited. Dietary phytochemicals provide an attractive approach to counteract age-related health decline. Here, we have examined the impact of feeding extracts of rosemary and ginger, prepared via three different extraction methods, on markers of aging and healthspan in the fruit fly Drosophila.

Targeting RNA Polymerase I in Ewing Sarcoma Treatment.

Pharmacologic inhibition of RNA polymerase I activity represents a new therapeutic approach for Ewing sarcoma. This is the first time key components of the ribosome biogenesis pathway have been linked to Ewing sarcoma biology.

Beyond-classical computation in quantum simulation.

Quantum computers hold the promise of solving certain problems that lie beyond the reach of conventional computers. Establishing this capability, especially for impactful and meaningful problems, remains a central challenge. Here we show that superconducting quantum annealing processors can rapidly generate samples in close agreement with solutions of the Schrödinger equation.

KLF family members control expression of genes required for tissue macrophage identities.

Tissue-resident macrophages adopt distinct gene expression profiles and exhibit functional specialization based on their tissue of residence. Recent studies have begun to define the signals and transcription factors that induce these identities. Here we describe an unexpected and specific role for the broadly expressed transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) in the development of embryonically derived large cavity macrophages (LCMs) in the serous cavities.

Molecular Chain Interpenetration-Enabled High Interfacial Compatibility of Ionic and Electronic Conductors for Stretchable Ionic Devices.

Ionic devices find applications such as flexible electronics and biomedicines and function by exploiting hybrid circuits of mobile ions and electrons. However, the poor interfacial compatibility of hard electronic conductors with soft ionic conductors in ionic devices leads to low deformability, sensitivity, electromechanical responses, and stability. Herein, an interpenetrating interface between silicone-modified polyurethane/carbon nanotube electronic conductors and ionoelastomers in an ionic device using in situ polymerization is fabricated.

A Neuroimmune-Oncology Microphysiological Analysis Platform (NEO-MAP) for Evaluating Astrocytic Scar Formation and Microgliosis in Glioblastoma Microenvironment.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive type of brain tumor, characterized by its heterogeneity in cellular components, including reactive astrocytes and microglia. Since neuroimmune responses like astrogliosis and microgliosis gain recognition as vital factors in brain tumor progression, there is a growing need for clinically relevant models that assess the interactions between astrocytes, microglia, and GBM. Here, a NEuroimmune-Oncology Microphysiological Analysis Platform (NEO-MAP) is presented as a "new map" to observe astrocytic scar formation and microgliosis in response to GBM.

Leukemogenic Kras mutation reprograms multipotent progenitors to facilitate its spread through the hematopoietic system.

Leukemia-driving mutations are thought to arise in hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), yet the natural history of their spread is poorly understood. We genetically induced mutations within endogenous murine HSC and traced them in unmanipulated animals. In contrast to mutations associated with clonal hematopoiesis (such as Tet2 deletion), the leukemogenic KrasG12D mutation dramatically accelerated HSC contribution to all hematopoietic lineages.

On-Chip Non-Volatile Reconfigurable Phase Change Topological Photonics.

Programmable on-chip terahertz (THz) topological photonic devices are poised to address the rising need for high-capacity data systems, offering broad bandwidth, minimal loss, and reconfigurability. However, current THz topological chips rely on volatile tuning mechanisms that require continuous power to function. Here, a nonvolatile, programmable THz topological silicon chip is demonstrated that integrates a waveguide-cavity coupled system with phase-change material, GeSbTe (GST), enabling persistent and efficient functionality without constant power input.

A Museum Medicine Internship: Program Outline and Participants' Reflections of Its Impact on Their Veterinary Careers.

The Window on Animal Health at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences hosts the VetPAC Museum Medicine Internship, an undergraduate student internship program founded in collaboration with the Veterinary Professions Advising Center at North Carolina State University. It is designed to train pre-veterinary track students for wildlife and exotic animal husbandry and medicine in a unique museum clinical facility surrounded by large windows and a two-way audio system to facilitate public interaction during veterinary casework. The development of veterinary skills for interns is achieved via four competency-based stages: stage 1, veterinary assisting; stage 2, veterinary diagnostics; stage 3, medical case management and presentation; and stage 4, biosecurity and animal welfare.