The microbiota-derived bile acid taurodeoxycholic acid improves hepatic cholesterol levels in mice with cancer cachexia.

Alterations in bile acid profile and pathways contribute to hepatic inflammation in cancer cachexia, a syndrome worsening the prognosis of cancer patients. As the gut microbiota impinges on host metabolism through bile acids, the current study aimed to explore the functional contribution of gut microbial dysbiosis to bile acid dysmetabolism and associated disorders in cancer cachexia. Using three mouse models of cancer cachexia (the C26, MC38 and HCT116 models), we evidenced a reduction in the hepatic levels of several secondary bile acids, mainly taurodeoxycholic (TDCA).

Striking Cardioprotective Effects of an Adiponectin Receptor Agonist in an Aged Mouse Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Adiponectin (ApN) is a hormone with potent effects on various tissues. We previously demonstrated its ability to counteract Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a severe muscle disorder. However, its therapeutic use is limited.

Metabolite profiling of Artemisia afra and Artemisia annua extracts reveals divergent effects on Plasmodium falciparum.

Background: Artemisia spp. have been used for millennia in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including malaria. Extracts of Artemisia afra and A.

Nd: YAP Laser in the Elimination of Endodontic Nickel-Titanium Files Fractured in Rooted Canals (Part 1: Teeth With Minimal Root Curvature).

Background Fracture of nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) instruments in root canals is commonly associated with compromised outcomes in endodontic treatment. There is no single, universally accepted approach for managing this complication. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of an Nd: YAP laser-assisted protocol in removing fractured Ni-Ti files in teeth with minimal root curvature (less than 15 degrees).

Designing for medication adherence in inflammatory bowel disease: multi-disciplinary approaches for self-administrable biotherapeutics.

Biotherapeutics are among the therapeutics that have revolutionized standard inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treatment, which was previously limited to mesalamine, 5-aminosalicylic acid, corticosteroids, and classical immunosuppressants. Self-administrable biotherapeutics for IBD would enable home-based treatment and reduce the burden on medical infrastructure. Self-administration is made possible through subcutaneous injectable, oral, and rectal dosage forms.

Past, present and future of injury prevalence in high-income countries: insights and projections up to 2030 from the Global Burden of Disease Study.

Background: Injury prevalence is a metric which can be used to understand healthcare utilisation and prioritise injuries based on the magnitude of the injury rate. Given the ageing population in high-income countries and subsequently ageing of the injured population, the probability of long-term or permanent consequences of injuries is also likely to increase. By understanding past trends and exploiting patterns of prevalence injury rates (PIRs), future PIRs can be predicted.

Confusing my viewpoint with his: Altered self-other distinction performance in antisocial personality disorder.

Deficits of social cognition are regularly but inconsistently reported among individuals with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Because of the multifaceted nature of social cognition, deficits might be only observed when assessing specific facets of social cognition and under sufficiently demanding conditions. This study examined self-other distinction performance, a key facet lying at the core of the attachment-based model of mentalizing (Fonagy & Luyten, 2009).

Influential Factors in the Treatment of Infections at a Tertiary Hospital in Vietnam.

As an opportunistic pathogen, is often associated with severe respiratory infections. A study conducted in an ICU of a tertiary hospital in Vietnam, where infection management is relatively good, yielded only 18 clinical isolates of over 6 months. Though the number is small, treating infections is highly complicated.

Assessment of Craniofacial Growth Pattern Relative to Respiratory Mandibular Movement and Sleep Characteristics: A Pilot Study.

Objectives:  The primary objective was to evaluate the influence of sagittal skeletal pattern on mandibular movement (MM) during sleep in growing orthodontic populations. The secondary objective was to compare MM according to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) status.

Materials And Methods:  This cross-sectional study included subjects between 6 and 17 years old, presenting with class I, II, and III skeletal patterns and no previous history of orthodontic treatment.

Human ovarian tissue xenotransplantation: advancements, challenges, and future perspectives.

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation has emerged as a promising fertility preservation technique for individuals facing premature ovarian insufficiency due to various medical conditions or treatments. Xenotransplantation, involving the transplantation of ovarian tissue into animal hosts, has played a pivotal role in refining ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation techniques and addressing key challenges. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of ovarian tissue xenotransplantation research, focusing on its applications in investigating ovarian biology, optimizing ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation protocols, and assessing safety concerns.

Mechanochemical Deracemization: A Sustainable Approach to Enantiopurity.

We introduce mechanochemical deracemization (MCDR) as a novel strategy for obtaining enantiopure compounds. This study demonstrates the successful transposition of six archetypical deracemization reactions from a solvent-based to a solvent-minimized ball milling environment. The scope includes a ketone, isoindolinones, imines, an ester, and an inorganic compound, all of which deracemized successfully.

Informal caregiving and mental health: results from the Belgian health interview survey 2013 and 2018.

Background: Due to a globally ageing population, the demand for informal caregivers is increasing. This study investigates the socio-demographic profile of informal caregivers in Belgium and assesses the relationship between informal care (intensity and care recipients) and mental health, considering potential moderators like education, age, and gender.

Methods: Using population-based data from the 2013 and 2018 waves of the Belgian Health Interview Survey (N = 14,661), we conducted multivariate (multinomial/ordinal) logistic and linear regression analyses to examine the socio-demographic profile of informal caregivers and their psychological distress, measured through the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12).

Examining Arginase-1 Trimerization Uncovers a Promising Allosteric Site for Inhibition.

Arginase-1 (ARG-1) is a promising target for cancer immunotherapy, but the small size and the highly polar nature of its catalytic site present significant challenges for inhibitor development. An alternative strategy to induce enzyme inhibition by targeting protein oligomerization has been developed recently, offering several advantages such as increased selectivity, promotion of protein degradation, and potential substoichiometric inhibition. In this study, we demonstrated that only trimeric ARG-1 is active, which was confirmed by producing monomeric arginase-1.

Probing SARS-CoV-2 membrane binding peptide via single-molecule AFM-based force spectroscopy.

The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein's membrane-binding domain bridges the viral and host cell membrane, a critical step in triggering membrane fusion. Here, we investigate how the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interacts with host cell membranes, focusing on a membrane-binding peptide (MBP) located near the TMPRSS2 cleavage site. Through in vitro and computational studies, we examine both primed (TMPRSS2-cleaved) and unprimed versions of the MBP, as well as the influence of its conserved disulfide bridge on membrane binding.

Enhanced Insulin Production From Porcine Islets: More Insulin, Less Islets.

Clinical pancreatic islet xenotransplantation will most probably rely on genetically modified pigs as donors. Several lines of transgenic pigs carrying one and more often, multiple modifications already exist. The vast majority of these modifications aim to mitigate the host immune response by suppressing major xeno-antigens, or expressing immunomodulatory molecules that act locally at the graft site.

Equity in healthcare financing: A review of evidence.

This review summarises empirical studies on the progressivity and redistributive effects of healthcare financing mechanisms. The evidence varies significantly across countries and financing sources. Tax-based systems exhibit high progressivity, as direct taxes contribute to a favourable redistribution toward low-income households, often offsetting the regressive nature of indirect taxes.

Behavioral Determinants of Older Adults' and Caregivers' Willingness to Deprescribe: A Systematic Review.

Background: Deprescribing is a strategy to optimize medication use and to prevent medication harm. Despite the fact that behavioral theories have been shown to be useful in explaining health behaviors, the literature on deprescribing relies almost exclusively on attitudes as an explanatory factor for deprescribing behavior. This study systematically reviews the literature that made explicit use of the constructs included in health behavior theories (HBTs) to explain older adults' and informal caregivers' deprescribing behavior and outcomes.

MicroRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers in diabetes male infertility: a systematic review.

This study conducts an in-depth review of the correlation between testis tissue changes and circulating microRNAs (miRNA) in diabetes-induced male reproductive complications, drawing upon both animal and clinical studies. The original articles published in English that specifically investigate miRNAs linked to male infertility in humans or animals with either type I or ΙΙ diabetes mellitus were included. The relevant articles were gathered from the PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and ScienceDirect databases.

Availability and occurrence of coelenterazine in a Swedish fjord to maintain Amphiura filiformis bioluminescence.

The bioluminescent European brittle star Amphiura filiformis produces blue light at the arm-spine level thanks to a biochemical reaction involving coelenterazine as substrate and a Renilla-like luciferase as an enzyme. This echinoderm light production depends on a trophic acquisition of the coelenterazine substrate. Without an exogenous supply of coelenterazine, this species loses its luminous capabilities.

Hellish Buttocks: The Dark Side of AQUAfilling.

To highlight the potential complications associated with AQUAfilling injections, emphasizing the importance of early detection and proper management.

Population pharmacokinetics and dosing simulations of temocillin in liver transplanted paediatric patients: a prospective, open-label, non-randomized study.

Objectives: Temocillin is a β-lactam antibiotic used for preventing or treating bacterial infections in liver-transplanted children. We characterized its pharmacokinetics in plasma and ascitic fluid and proposed dosing regimens that maximize achievement of effective drug exposures in this patient group.

Methods: Patients aged 6-36 months received 25 mg/kg/12h (n=14) or 25 mg/kg/8h (n=23).

Pulmonary and systemic effects of inhaled crystalline silica in the HOCl-induced mouse model of systemic sclerosis: An experimental model of Erasmus syndrome.

Occupational exposure to crystalline silica is etiologically linked to an increased incidence of systemic sclerosis (SSc), also called Erasmus syndrome. The underlying mechanisms of silica-related SSc are still poorly understood. We demonstrated that early and repeated silica exposure contribute to the severity of SSc symptoms in the hypochloric acid (HOCl)-induced SSc mouse model.