Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Use in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Reports from a Romanian Center.

The introduction of anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF-α) agents, particularly infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADA), has significantly expanded the therapeutic arsenal for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). While these biologics have demonstrated substantial efficacy, they are associated with a spectrum of potential adverse events (AEs). This study aims to evaluate and document these AEs to facilitate optimal patient selection and monitoring strategies of patients undergoing these therapies.

Antistaphylococcal Triazole-Based Molecular Hybrids: Design, Synthesis and Activity.

Background: In the era of resistance, the design and search for new "small" molecules with a narrow spectrum of activity that target a protein or enzyme specific to a certain bacterium with high selectivity and minimal side effects remains an urgent problem of medicinal chemistry. In this regard, we developed and successfully implemented a strategy for the search for new hybrid molecules, namely, the not broadly known [2-(3-R-1-[1,2,4]-triazol-5-yl)phenyl]amines. They can act as "building blocks" and allow for the introduction of certain structural motifs into the desired final products in order to enhance the antistaphylococcal effect.

Rhoifolin Suppresses Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells In Vitro and In Vivo.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent malignant tumor, ranking fifth in terms of fatality with poor prognosis and a low survival rate. Rhoifolin (ROF), a flavonoid constituent, has previously been shown to suppress the proliferation of breast and pancreatic cancer cells. However, its inhibitory effect on HCC has remained unexplored.

Advancing Therapeutic Targets in IBD: Emerging Goals and Precision Medicine Approaches.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are chronic, relapsing conditions characterized by dysregulated immune responses and persistent intestinal inflammation. This review aims to examine new potential therapeutic targets in IBD starting from the STRIDE-II statements. Key targets now include clinical remission, endoscopic remission, and biomarker normalization (such as C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin).

Leveraging Single-Cell Multi-Omics to Decode Tumor Microenvironment Diversity and Therapeutic Resistance.

Recent developments in single-cell multi-omics technologies have provided the ability to identify diverse cell types and decipher key components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), leading to important advancements toward a much deeper understanding of how tumor microenvironment heterogeneity contributes to cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. These technologies are able to integrate data from molecular genomic, transcriptomic, proteomics, and metabolomics studies of cells at a single-cell resolution scale that give rise to the full cellular and molecular complexity in the TME. Understanding the complex and sometimes reciprocal relationships among cancer cells, CAFs, immune cells, and ECs has led to novel insights into their immense heterogeneity in functions, which can have important consequences on tumor behavior.

Positive Correlation Between Serum Limonene Levels and Muscle Health in a Representative Adult Population in the United States.

Monoterpenes, a class of organic compounds with the molecular formula CH, have garnered significant attention for their potential medicinal benefits. Emerging evidence suggests they may positively influence skeletal muscle function. However, the impact of monoterpene exposure on muscle strength and mass in humans remains unclear.

Utilisation of the Innovative [18F]-Labelled Radiotracer [18F]-BIBD-071 Within HR+ Breast Cancer Xenograft Mouse Models.

Aromatase plays a crucial role in the conversion of androgens to oestrogens and is often overexpressed in hormone-dependent tumours, particularly breast cancer. [18F]BIBD-071, which has excellent binding affinity for aromatase and good pharmacokinetics, has potential for the diagnosis and treatment of aromatase-related diseases. The MCF-7 cell line, which is hormone receptor-positive (HR+), was used in the assessment of the novel [18F]-labelled radiotracer [18F]BIBD-071 via positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of an HR+ breast cancer xenograft model.

In Vivo Assessment of Healing Potential of Ointments Containing Bee Products, Vegetal Extracts, and Polymers on Skin Lesions.

The present experiment aimed to formulate four ointments that included mixtures of plant extracts (, , , and ), apitherapy products (honey, propolis, and apilarnil) and natural polymers (collagen, chitosan, and the lyophilisate of egg white) in an ointment base. : In order to investigate the therapeutic properties of the ointments, experimental in vivo injury models (linear incision, circular excision, and thermal burns) were performed on laboratory animals, namely Wistar rats. The treatment was applied topically, once a day, for 21 days.

Facilitation of Tumor Stroma-Targeted Therapy: Model Difficulty and Co-Culture Organoid Method.

Tumors, as intricate ecosystems, comprise oncocytes and the highly dynamic tumor stroma. Tumor stroma, representing the non-cancerous and non-cellular composition of the tumor microenvironment (TME), plays a crucial role in oncogenesis and progression, through its interactions with biological, chemical, and mechanical signals. This review aims to analyze the challenges of stroma mimicry models, and highlight advanced personalized co-culture approaches for recapitulating tumor stroma using patient-derived tumor organoids (PDTOs).

Hormonal Contraception and Bone Metabolism: Emerging Evidence from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Studies on Post-Pubertal and Reproductive-Age Women.

Background/objectives: This study aims to assess the effects of combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) on bone metabolism markers. It primarily measures osteocalcin and additionally examines other bone health markers, seeking to determine their responses to estrogen-progestogen treatments.

Methods: This study involved a comprehensive evaluation of the pertinent literature and a meta-analysis explicitly conducted on data describing women of reproductive age.

The Gut Microbiota-Related Antihyperglycemic Effect of Metformin.

It is critical to sustain the diversity of the microbiota to maintain host homeostasis and health. Growing evidence indicates that changes in gut microbial biodiversity may be associated with the development of several pathologies, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Metformin is still the first-line drug for treatment of T2DM unless there are contra-indications.

Multi-Omics and Network-Based Drug Repurposing for Septic Cardiomyopathy.

Background/objectives: Septic cardiomyopathy (SCM) is a severe cardiac complication of sepsis, characterized by cardiac dysfunction with limited effective treatments. This study aimed to identify repurposable drugs for SCM by integrated multi-omics and network analyses.

Methods: We generated a mouse model of SCM induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and then obtained comprehensive metabolic and genetic data from SCM mouse hearts using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq).

Potential Interaction of Pinocembrin with Drug Transporters and Hepatic Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes.

: Pinocembrin is a promising drug candidate for treating ischemic stroke. The interaction of pinocembrin with drug transporters and drug-metabolizing enzymes is not fully revealed. The present study aims to evaluate the interaction potential of pinocembrin with cytochrome P450 (CYP450: CYP2B6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19) and drug transporters including organic anion transporters (OAT1 and OAT3), organic cation transporters (OCT1 and OCT2), multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE1 and MATE2, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP).

Therapeutic Potential of Combined 5% Lifitegrast and Tocopherol Eye Drops in Managing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Murine Dry Eye.

: This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of combined 5% lifitegrast (LF) and tocopherol (TCP) eye drops in a murine experimental dry eye (EDE) model. Female C57BL/6 were divided into seven groups: untreated controls, EDE control, EDE + 0.05% cyclosporin A (CsA), EDE + tocopherol (TCP), EDE + 5% LF, EDE + 5% LF + TCP (once daily), and EDE + 5% LF + TCP (twice daily).

Comparison of ZnS(Ag) Scintillator and Proportional Counter Tube for Alpha Detection in Thin-Layer Chromatography.

(1) : Targeted alpha therapy is an emerging field in nuclear medicine driven by two advantages: overcoming resistance in cancer-suffering patients to beta therapies and the practical application of lower activities of Pb- and Ac-labelled peptides to achieve the same doses compared to beta therapy due to the highly cytotoxic nature of alpha particles. However, quality control of the Pb/Ac-radiopharmaceuticals remains a challenge due to the low activity levels used for therapy (100 kBq/kg) and the formation of several free daughter nuclides immediately after the formulation of patient doses; (2) : The routine alpha detection on thin-layer chromatograms (TLC) of Pb- and Ac-labelled peptides using a MiniScanPRO+ scanner combined with an alpha detector head was compared with detection using an AR-2000 scanner equipped with an open proportional counter tube. Measurement time, resolution and validity were compared for both scanners; (3) : For Ac, the quality control values of the radiochemical purity (RCP) were within the acceptance criteria 2 h after TLC development, regardless of when the TLC probe was taken.

Impact in Clinical Practice of the European Medicines Agency Health Alert About the Restriction of the Use of JAK Inhibitors.

Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) have revolutionized the treatment of various inflammatory and immune disorders. Concerns about the potential increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) associated with JAKi use led to a European Medicines Agency (EMA) health alert recommending restricting the use of JAKi in high-risk populations. This study aims to determine the proportion of patients who developed any cardiovascular, ischemic, neoplastic, or thrombotic adverse event in a cohort of patients receiving, or who have received, JAKi treatment between January 2017 and September 2023.

Characterization of RAP Signal Patterns, Temporal Relationships, and Artifact Profiles Derived from Intracranial Pressure Sensors in Acute Traumatic Neural Injury.

Goal: Current methodologies for assessing cerebral compliance using pressure sensor technologies are prone to errors and issues with inter- and intra-observer consistency. RAP, a metric for measuring intracranial compensatory reserve (and therefore compliance), holds promise. It is derived using the moving correlation between intracranial pressure (ICP) and the pulse amplitude of ICP (AMP).

The Fluorescent Detection of Alkaline Phosphatase Based on Iron Nanoclusters and a Manganese Dioxide Nanosheet.

Fluorescent iron nanoclusters are emerging fluorescent nanomaterials. Herein, we synthesized hemoglobin-coated iron nanoclusters (Hb-Fe NCs) with a significant fluorescence emission peak at 615 nm and investigated the inner-filter effect of fluorescence induced by a manganese dioxide nanosheet (MnO NS). The fluorescence quenching of Hb-Fe NCs by a MnO NS can be significantly reversed by the addition of ascorbic acid.

Normative Database of Spatiotemporal Gait Metrics Across Age Groups: An Observational Case-Control Study.

Introduction: Gait analysis is a vital tool in the assessment of human movement and has been widely used in clinical settings to identify potential abnormalities in individuals. However, there is a lack of consensus on the normative values for gait metrics in large populations. The primary objective of this study is to establish a normative database of spatiotemporal gait metrics across various age groups, contributing to a broader understanding of human gait dynamics.

Identifying the Primary Kinetic Factors Influencing the Anterior-Posterior Center of Mass Displacement in Barbell Squats: A Factor Regression Analysis.

Barbell squats are commonly used in strength training, but the anterior-posterior displacement of the Center of Mass (COM) may impair joint stability and increase injury risk. This study investigates the key factors influencing COM displacement during different squat modes.; Methods: This study recruited 15 male strength training enthusiasts, who performed 60% of their one-repetition maximum (1RM) in the Front Barbell Squat (FBS), High Bar Back Squat (HBBS), and Low Bar Back Squat (LBBS).

Depression Recognition Using Daily Wearable-Derived Physiological Data.

The objective identification of depression using physiological data has emerged as a significant research focus within the field of psychiatry. The advancement of wearable physiological measurement devices has opened new avenues for the identification of individuals with depression in everyday-life contexts. Compared to other objective measurement methods, wearables offer the potential for continuous, unobtrusive monitoring, which can capture subtle physiological changes indicative of depressive states.

Using Inertial Measurement Units and Machine Learning to Classify Body Positions of Adults in a Hospital Bed.

In hospitals, timely interventions can prevent avoidable clinical deterioration. Early recognition of deterioration is vital to stopping further decline. Measuring the way patients position themselves in bed and change their positions may signal when further assessment is necessary.

Developing a Health Support System to Promote Care for the Elderly.

In light of the demographic shift towards an aging population, there is an increasing prevalence of dementia among the elderly. The negative impact on mental health is preventing individuals from taking proper care of themselves. For individuals requiring hospital care, those receiving home care, or as a precaution for a specific individual, it is advantageous to utilize monitoring equipment to track their biological parameters on an ongoing basis.

Automated Volumetric Milling Area Planning for Acoustic Neuroma Surgery via Evolutionary Multi-Objective Optimization.

Mastoidectomy is critical in acoustic neuroma surgery, where precise planning of the bone milling area is essential for surgical navigation. The complexity of representing the irregular volumetric area and the presence of high-risk structures (e.g.

Opportunities and Challenges for Clinical Practice in Detecting Depression Using EEG and Machine Learning.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, yet its diagnosis and treatment rates remain low due to its diverse and often overlapping clinical manifestations. In this context, electroencephalography (EEG) has gained attention as a potential objective tool for diagnosing depression. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of EEG in identifying MDD by analyzing 140 EEG recordings from patients diagnosed with depression and healthy volunteers.