Safety and efficacy of filgotinib in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: final results of the DARWIN 3 long-term extension study.

Objectives: DARWIN 3 (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02065700) assessed the safety and efficacy of filgotinib in a long-term extension (LTE) of two phase II randomised controlled rheumatoid arthritis (RA) trials.

Methods: Eligible patients completing the 24-week DARWIN 1 (filgotinib plus methotrexate) and DARWIN 2 (filgotinib monotherapy) trials could enrol.

Systematic literature review on Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition (CPPD) nomenclature: condition elements and clinical states- A Gout, Hyperuricaemia and Crystal-Associated Disease Network (G-CAN) consensus project.

Objectives: The Gout, Hyperuricaemia and Crystal-Associated Disease Network (G-CAN) has developed a calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) nomenclature project. This systematic literature review constituted its first step and aimed to provide a state-of-the-art analysis of the medical literature of the last 20 years.

Methods: A systematic literature search was undertaken in the , and databases between 2000 and 2022, restricted to studies on humans and in the English language.

What's on the agenda? Examining public health communication about opioids.

The way media portray public health problems influences the public's perception of problems and related solutions. Social media allows users to engage with news and to collectively construct meaning. This paper examined news in comparison to user-generated content related to opioids to understand the role of second-level agenda-setting in public health.

Abortion and unintended pregnancy in Pakistan: new evidence for 2023 and trends over the past decade.

Background: Despite induced abortion being highly legally restricted in Pakistan, studies in 2002 and 2012 showed that many women rely on abortion when faced with an unintended pregnancy. Following the 2012 study, concerted efforts were made to improve contraceptive services and to strengthen postabortion care. The availability and use of misoprostol also expanded in the past decade.

Risk of long covid in patients with pre-existing chronic respiratory diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: An estimated 10-30% of people with COVID-19 experience debilitating long-term symptoms or long covid. Underlying health conditions associated with chronic inflammation may increase the risk of long covid.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine whether long covid risk was altered by pre-existing asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults.

Reducing outpatient wait times through telemedicine: a systematic review and quantitative analysis.

Objectives: Population ageing and the rise in chronic diseases place continual stress on healthcare systems. Scarce resources often impede equitable access to healthcare, particularly in rural areas, resulting in prolonged waiting times and heightened risks of morbidity and mortality. Telemedicine has emerged as a promising solution, offering remote and equitable care that could potentially bridge access gaps and enhance health outcomes.

Conflicts of interest in the International Agency for Research on Cancer process of identifying carcinogenic hazards to humans.

Managing conflicts of interest (COIs) in scientific decision-making is important for minimizing bias and fostering public trust in science. Proper management of COIs has added significance when scientists are making decisions that impact public policy, such as assessing substances for carcinogenicity. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) organizes expert working groups to identify putative carcinogens and determine whether or not the hazard is likely to present significant potential harm to humans.

Engineered hydrogel biomaterials facilitate lung progenitor cell differentiation from induced pluripotent stem cells.

Lung progenitor (LP) cells identified by the expression of transcription factor NK2 homeobox 1 (NKX2.1) are essential for development of all lung epithelial cell types and hold tremendous potential for pulmonary research and translational regenerative medicine applications. Here we present engineered hydrogels as a promising alternative to the naturally derived materials that are often used to differentiate human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into LP cells.

Physicians Who Provide Primary Care in US Nursing Homes: Characteristics and Care Patterns.

Objectives: To examine practice trends and characteristics of primary care physicians providing care in US nursing homes.

Design: Retrospective cohort study using Medicare Fee-for-Service claims.

Setting And Participants: Physicians who provided primary care to long-stay nursing home residents.

The Stroll Safe Randomized Controlled Trial: Program Effects on Falls Self-Efficacy.

Objective: Outdoor falls can negatively impact the health and functional abilities of community-dwelling older adults. Although there are existing evidence-based programs for falls prevention, none specifically target outdoor falls. To fill this gap in research and practice, the Stroll Safe program was developed.

Urinary Incontinence Is an Independent Risk Factor for Nursing Home Placement Among Assisted Living Residents.

Objectives: Prior studies suggested that urinary incontinence (UI) may be a risk factor for nursing home (NH) placement among older community-dwelling individuals. Our objectives were to evaluate if UI is an independent risk factor in NH placement among assisted living (AL) residents and assess the impact of UI on NH placement by race/ethnicity.

Design: This retrospective cohort study is based on the 2019-2021 Medicare enrollment and claims data.

Impact of the lung allocation system score modification by blood type on US lung transplant candidates.

The lung continuous distribution system was modified on September 27, 2023, with the goal of increasing transplant access for blood-type-O candidates after an error was discovered in the simulation used to support the development of the initial allocation policy. This retrospective observational study compares national waitlist outcomes (transplant rate, waitlist mortality) under continuous distribution before (3/10/23-9/26/23; premodification) and after (9/27/23-4/14/24; postmodification) the blood-type score modification. We fit adjusted Poisson regression models of the transplant rate and mortality rate.

Systems Thinking in the Prevention, Control, and Elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases 2 (NTDs).

It is estimated that more than one billion people are affected by Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). Whilst there are existing treatments to reduce morbidity, a major challenge is creating robust programs that are both country led and leverage the existing health systems. Using a systems thinking approach is a critical component for integrating NTD services, as it takes into account all aspects of what might otherwise be considered fragmented systems to create a more efficient system.

Malatya apricot gum: A source of natural gum and its physicochemical, functional and antioxidant properties.

Gums are commonly used in the food industry for their functional properties. However, the growing demand for sustainable and alternative sources has drawn attention to the need for identifying and characterizing non-conventional gum sources with comparable or enhanced features. This study aimed to investigate the exudate gum from apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca) in Malatya as a potential alternative.

Understanding the sorption of paraben on plastics using molecular dynamics simulations.

In a previous publication, we determined the kinetics and equilibrium for the sorption of propylparaben to polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In this work, we extend that study to investigate the sorption of methylparaben and propylparaben on tubing surfaces made of PVC and fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) using molecular dynamics simulations. The simulations suggest the mechanism of sorption to be adsorption.

Estrogen-related receptor gamma is a regulator of mitochondrial, autophagy, and immediate-early gene programs in spiny projection neurons: Relevance for transcriptional changes in Huntington disease.

Mitochondrial dysfunction, transcriptional dysregulation, and protein aggregation are hallmarks of multiple neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington's disease (HD). Strategies are needed to counteract these processes to restore neuronal health and function in HD. Recent evidence indicates that the transcription factor estrogen-related receptor gamma (ERRγ/Esrrg) is required for normal expression of mitochondrial, synaptic, and autophagy genes in neurons.

Prostaglandin E and Akt promote stemness in Apc mutant Dclk1+ cells to give rise to colitis-associated cancer.

Background And Aims: Loss of the tumor suppressor gene Apc in Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells results in aberrant Wnt signaling and colonic tumorigenesis. In the setting of injury, however, we and others have also shown that non-stem cells can also give rise to colonic tumors. The mechanism by which inflammation leads to cellular plasticity and cancer, however, remains largely unknown.

Interferon-γ signaling in eosinophilic esophagitis affects epithelial barrier function and programmed cell death.

Background & Aims: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic esophageal inflammatory disorder characterized by eosinophil-rich mucosal inflammation and tissue remodeling. Prior research has revealed the upregulation of interferon (IFN) response signature genes (ISGs) in biopsy tissue from EoE patients, but the specific cell types that contribute to this IFN response and the effect of interferons on the esophageal epithelium remain incompletely understood. Here, we use scRNA-seq to examine the expression of IFN and ISGs during EoE and explore how IFN-α and IFN-γ treatments affect epithelial function.

An Update on Animal Models of Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease.

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is a significant global health concern and a leading cause of liver disease-related deaths. However, the treatment options are limited due to the lack of animal models that accurately replicate ALD pathogenesis. An ideal ALD animal model should have pathological characteristics similar to those of human ALD, with a clear pathological process and ease of drug intervention.

Outcomes of Patients Treated with Double-Wide Scallop vs Fenestrations for Celiac Artery Incorporation During Repair of Complex Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

Objectives: Celiac artery (CA) incorporation during FB-EVAR for complex abdominal aortic aneurysms (cAAA) is typically performed with fenestrations. Double-wide scallops (DWS) can be used when appropriate. We aimed to assess outcomes of patients treated with DWS for the CA during FB-EVAR for cAAA.

Rice intake among infants and toddlers from the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study 2016.

Background: The Food and Drug Administration's Closer to Zero Action Plan aims to reduce toxic element exposure from foods infants and toddlers eat. Rice has been identified as a source of inorganic arsenic in the diets of infants and toddlers.

Objective: Evaluate consumption of rice and rice-containing foods from the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) 2016.

Cluster Analysis of HCC Prognosis Using Preoperative AFP and DCP Levels: A Multi-Institutional Study.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, characterized by high recurrence rates post-curative resection. Tumor markers des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are crucial for HCC diagnosis and prognosis, yet their roles in the modern era of HCC epidemiology require reevaluation.

Methods: This multi-institutional retrospective study analyzed 1,515 patients who underwent hepatectomy for primary HCC.