Needs assessment of people living with cognitive impairment/dementia, a requirement of comprehensive psychogeriatric assessment and person-centered care. Empirical validation of the model in a community study.

Introduction: Cognitive impairment and dementia are part of a continuum that progressively leads to functional impairment and dependency. Dementia is a paradigmatic example of chronic and complex psychogeriatric diseases, requiring a comprehensive assessment. The authors underline the importance of implementing a formal assessment of needs (whether met or unmet) as an essential element of comprehensive assessment.

RET signalling in the pituitary: a double-edged sword for differentiation, apoptosis and therapeutic strategies in acromegaly.

The discovery of RET mutations in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia 2A (MEN2A) in 1993 ignited a revolution in our understanding of this versatile receptor. Since then, RET's influence has expanded to encompass diverse organs, including the pituitary gland. This review explores the multifaceted role of RET in somatotrophs, focusing on two opposing pathways: proliferation versus differentiation and apoptosis.

Incorporating technology in smoking cessation interventions: In-person vs. Video-call formats.

Introduction: The use of video calls to provide health-related interventions has grown significantly, showing positive results in a broad range of psychological interventions. Scarce research has examined video-call use in smoking cessation treatments. The purpose of this study was to compare two randomised controlled trials conducting a cognitive-behavioral intervention to quit smoking in-person versus using video calls.

Reprogramming tumor-associated macrophages with lipid nanosystems reduces PDAC tumor burden and liver metastasis.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) requires innovative therapeutic strategies to counteract its progression and metastatic potential. Since the majority of patients are diagnosed with advanced metastatic disease, treatment strategies targeting not only the primary tumor but also metastatic lesions are needed. Tumor-Associated Macrophages (TAMs) have emerged as central players, significantly influencing PDAC progression and metastasis.

Tailoring DNA Surface Interactions on Single-Layer Graphene: Comparative Analysis of Pyrene, Acridine, and Fluorenyl Methyl Linkers.

This study investigates the effect of different linkers and solvents on the immobilization of DNA probes on graphene surfaces, which are crucial for developing high-performance biosensors. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) measurements were used to characterize in situ and real-time the immobilization of ssDNA and hybridization efficiency on model graphene surfaces. The DNA probes immobilization kinetics and thermodynamics were systematically investigated for all the pairings between three bifunctional linkers─1-pyrenebutyric acid succinimidyl ester (PBSE), Fluorenylmethylsuccinimidyl carbonate (FSC), and Acridine Orange (AO) succinimidyl ester─and three organic solvents (DMF, DMSO, and 10% DMF/ethanol).

Primary Care Referral Delays in Oral Cancer Diagnosis: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: To measure the primary care interval (PCI) in the diagnostic delay of oral cancer and to assess the relation of the referring physician's specialty with disease stage at diagnosis.

Methods: We meta-analyzed reports of oral/oropharyngeal carcinomas detailing PCI start- and endpoints, i.e.

Open window mapping with extended early meets late algorithm vs. conventional mapping for accessory pathway ablation.

Background: Catheter ablation of accessory pathway is the treatment of choice for patients with symptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. Accessory pathway (AP) identification relies on point-by-point mapping, raising the need for more precise and efficient methods. High-density open window mapping (OWM) combined with the extended early meets late (EEML) algorithm, utilizing 3D electroanatomic mapping systems, is a promising alternative.

Does the use of a 3-mm extended tray during an at-home bleaching treatment increase gingival irritation? A randomized clinical trial.

Statement Of Problem: Gingival irritation is a common side effect of at-home bleaching, but how the design of the bleaching tray affects its occurrence is unclear.

Purpose: The purpose of this randomized clinical trial was to determine whether a direct relationship is present between the design of bleaching trays and the risk of gingival irritation during at-home bleaching treatments.

Material And Methods: This clinical trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.

Personalized online intervention based on a risk algorithm for the universal prevention of anxiety disorders: Design and development of the prevANS intervention.

Objective: To describe the design and development of prevANS, a personalized online intervention for the universal prevention of anxiety disorders based on a predictive risk algorithm. A user-centered approach was followed, considering the feedback of potential users and mental health professionals.

Methods: The study had three phases: (a) designing the intervention based on existing scientific literature; (b) piloting and evaluating the beta version involving potential users and health professionals; and (c) refining the intervention based on participants' suggestions.

Exploring Nanocarriers for Boosting Entacapone Bioavailability: A Journey through System Characterization and Assessment of Toxicity and Pharmacological and 2D Permeability Paybacks.

Catechol--methyltransferase inhibitors (iCOMT), such as entacapone, have been successfully employed to treat tremor-related symptoms of Parkinson's disease. However, iCOMT has been associated with a short half-life and poor oral bioavailability. Nanobased drug delivery systems have often been used to overcome this type of setbacks.

Quantitative brain [F]FDG PET beyond normal blood glucose levels.

Introduction SUV measurements from static brain [F]FDG PET acquisitions are a commonly used tool in preclinical research, providing a simple alternative for kinetic modelling, which requires complex and time-consuming dynamic acquisitions. However, SUV can be severely affected by the animal handling and preconditioning protocols, primarily by those that may induce changes in blood glucose levels (BGL). Here, we aimed at developing and investigating the feasibility of SUV-based approaches for a wide range of BGL far beyond normal values, and consequently, to develop and validate a new model to generate standardized and reproducible SUV measurements for any BGL.

Role of cfDNA and ctDNA to improve the risk stratification and the disease follow-up in patients with endometrial cancer: towards the clinical application.

Background: There has been a rise in endometrial cancer (EC) incidence leading to increased mortality. To counter this trend, improving the stratification of post-surgery recurrence risk and anticipating disease relapse and treatment resistance is essential. Liquid biopsy analyses offer a promising tool for these clinical challenges, though the best strategy for applying them in EC must be defined.

Versatile and Efficient Protein Association Through Chemically Modified Sphingomyelin Nanosystems (SNs) for Enhanced Delivery.

Proteins are biological macromolecules well known to regulate many cellular signaling mechanisms. For instance, they are very appealing for their application as therapeutic agents, presenting high specificity and activity. Nonetheless, they suffer from unfolding, instability and low bioavailability making their administration through systemic and other routes very tough.

Role of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 polymorphisms on aripiprazole and dehydroaripiprazole concentrations in patients undergoing long-acting treatment.

Aripiprazole once-monthly (AOM) exhibits an important interindividual pharmacokinetic variability with significant implications for its clinical use. CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 highly contributes to this variability, as they metabolize aripiprazole (ARI) into its active metabolite, dehydroaripiprazole (DHA) and the latter into inactive metabolites. This study aims to evaluate the effect of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 polymorphisms in combination and the presence of concomitant inducers and inhibitors of this cytochromes on ARI and DHA plasma concentrations in a real clinical setting.

Simulating Bacterial Membrane Models at the Atomistic Level: A Force Field Comparison.

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are currently an indispensable tool to understand both the dynamic and nanoscale organization of cell membrane models. A large number of quantitative parameters can be extracted from these simulations, but their reliability is determined by the quality of the employed force field and the simulation parameters. Much of the work on parametrizing and optimizing force fields for biomembrane modeling has been focused on homogeneous bilayers with a single phospholipid type.

F-FDG positron emission tomography as a marker of disease activity and treatment response in ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis.

The ability of F-FDG positron emission tomography (PET) to track disease activity and treatment response in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) or Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) remains unclear. Here, we assessed whether F-FDG uptake is a marker of disease activity and treatment response in AS or PsA, and explored the ability of F-FDG to predict treatment response. Patients with AS (n = 16) or PsA (n = 8) who were scheduled to initiate treatment with biologics were recruited.