The Prototypical Oligopeptide Transporter YdgR From E. coli Exhibits a Strict Preference for β-Ala-Lys(AMCA).

Fluorescent probes are widely used in cellular imaging and disease diagnosis. Acting as substitute carriers, fluorescent probes can also be used to help transport drugs within cells. In this study, commonly used fluorophores, TAMRA (5-carboxytetramethylrhodamine), PBA (1-pyrenebutyric acid), NBD (nitrobenzoxadiazole), OG (Oregon Green), and CF (5-carboxyfluorescein) were conjugated with the dipeptide β-Ala-Lys, the peptide moiety of the well-established peptide transporter substrate β-Ala-Lys(AMCA) (AMCA: 7-amino-4-methyl-coumarin-3-acetic acid) by modifying it with respect to side-chain length and functional end groups.

Defining Excellence: The First Core Set of Quality Indicators for the European Paediatric Surgical Audit on Hirschsprung's Disease Care.

Aim: This study aimed to develop a universally applicable core set of quality indicators for Hirschsprung's disease care through a consensus-driven process, to standardise and improve care quality across Europe.

Methods: A modified Delphi method was used to achieve consensus among healthcare professionals (HPs) and patient representatives (PRs) across Europe. Participants completed three rounds of anonymous surveys, rating quality indicators for Hirschsprung's disease care.

Pharmacological blocking of microfibrillar-associated protein 4 reduces retinal neoangiogenesis and vascular leakage.

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema are leading causes of vision-loss evoked by retinal neovascularization and vascular leakage. The glycoprotein microfibrillar-associated protein 4 (MFAP4) is an integrin αβ ligand present in the extracellular matrix. Single-cell transcriptomics reveal MFAP4 expression in cell-types in close proximity to vascular endothelial cells including choroidal vascular mural cells and retinal astrocytes and Müller cells.

Upright versus recumbent lumbar spine MRI: Do findings differ systematically, and which correlates better with pain? A systematic review.

Background Context: Recumbent MRI is the most widely used image modality in people with low back pain (LBP), however, it has been proposed that upright (standing) MRI has advantages over recumbent MRI because of its ability to assess the effects of being weight-bearing. It has been suggested that this produces systematic differences in MRI parameters and differences in the correlation between MRI parameters and pain or disability in patients thus, potentially adding clinically helpful information.

Purpose: This paper aims to review and summarize the available empirical evidence for or against these two hypotheses.

Scoping review of registration of observational studies finds inadequate registration policies, increased registration, and a debate converging towards pro-registration.

Objective: We aimed to examine a) the policies of national and international clinical trial registries regarding observational studies; b) the time-trends of observational study registration; c) the published arguments for and against observational study registration.

Study Design And Setting: Scoping review of registry practices and published arguments. We searched the websites and databases of all 19 members of the World Health Organization's Registry Network to identify policies relating to observational studies and the number of observational studies registered annually from the beginning of the registries to 2022.

Abundance of non-toxic and low-level toxic Pseudo-nitzschia explains the low levels of neurotoxin domoic acid in Chinese coastal waters.

Domoic acid (DA), a well-known marine neurotoxin, is produced by toxic Pseudo-nitzschia species. However, the knowledge of DA in Chinese coastal waters remains limited, and the primary biological sources in these waters are still unknown. In this study, 200 surface phytoplankton samples were collected during summer and spring, covering the entire Chinese coastline.

Women's care satisfaction and birth experiences in a Danish urban university hospital: A comparative cross-sectional study on midwifery-led continuity of care and standard midwifery care models.

Problem: Despite solid evidence and national recommendations supporting midwife-led continuity-of-care models, Danish women's access to such programs remains limited.

Background: A public birth facility introduced a midwife-led continuity-of-care model, targeting a subset of women receiving antenatal and intrapartum care.

Aim: To compare care satisfaction during pregnancy and birth and birth experience between women receiving midwife-led continuity of care and those receiving standard midwifery care.

High mortality among elderly with surgical treated femoral fracture in comparison to other surgical treated lower extremity fractures. A population-based register study from the Danish National Patient Registry.

Background: Proximal femoral fractures has been associated with high mortality risk, while little is known about more distal lower extremity fractures. The aim was to report 30- and 365-days mortality in surgically treated lower extremity fractures in individuals above 65 years.

Materials And Methods: We extracted data from the Danish National Patient Register on all surgically treated lower extremity fracture in the period 1998-2017.

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Are Inhibitors of the Intestinal Proton-Coupled Amino Acid Transporter (PAT1): Ibuprofen and Diclofenac Are Non-Translocated Inhibitors.

: The proton-coupled amino acid transporter (PAT1) is an intestinal absorptive solute carrier responsible for the oral bioavailability of some GABA-mimetic drug substances such as vigabatrin and gaboxadol. In the present work, we investigate if non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug substances (NSAIDs) interact with substrate transport via human (h)PAT1. : The transport of substrates via hPAT1 was investigated in Caco-2 cells using radiolabeled substrate uptake and in oocytes injected with , measuring induced currents using the two-electrode voltage clamp technique.

Food Is Medicine: Diet Assessment Tools in Adult Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research.

Background: Diet significantly impacts the onset and progression of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and diet offers unique opportunities for treatment and preventative purposes. However, despite growing interest, no diet has been conclusively associated with improved long-term clinical and endoscopic outcomes in IBD, and evidence-based dietary guidelines for IBD remain scarce. This narrative review critically examines dietary assessment methods tailored to the unique needs of IBD, highlighting opportunities for precision and inclusivity.

Preventive Effects of Botulinum Neurotoxin Long-Term Therapy: Comparison of the 'Experienced' Benefits and 'Suspected' Worsening Across Disease Entities.

Repetitive intramuscular injections of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) have become the treatment of choice for a variety of disease entities. But with the onset of BoNT therapy, the natural course of a disease is obscured. Nevertheless, the present study tries to analyze patients' "suspected" course of disease severity under the assumption that no BoNT therapy had been performed and compares that with the "experienced" improvement during BoNT treatment.

Radiocobalt-Labeling of a Polypyridylamine Chelate Conjugated to GE11 for EGFR-Targeted Theranostics.

The overexpression of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in certain types of prostate cancers and glioblastoma makes it a promising target for targeted radioligand therapy. In this context, pairing an EGFR-targeting peptide with the emerging theranostic pair comprising the Auger electron emitter cobalt-58m (Co) and the Positron Emission Tomography-isotope cobalt-55 (Co) would be of great interest for creating novel radiopharmaceuticals for prostate cancer and glioblastoma theranostics. In this study, GE11 (YHWYGYTPQNVI) was investigated for its EGFR-targeting potential when conjugated using click chemistry to N1-((triazol-4-yl)methyl)-N1,N2,N2-tris(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine (TZTPEN).

Dysbiosis-NK Cell Crosstalk in Pancreatic Cancer: Toward a Unified Biomarker Signature for Improved Clinical Outcomes.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer with poor prognosis, primarily due to its immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), which contributes to treatment resistance. Recent research shows that the microbiome, including microbial communities in the oral cavity, gut, bile duct, and intratumoral environments, plays a key role in PDAC development, with microbial imbalances (dysbiosis) promoting inflammation, cancer progression, therapy resistance, and treatment side effects. Microbial metabolites can also affect immune cells, especially natural killer (NK) cells, which are vital for tumor surveillance, therapy response and treatment-related side effects.

Advancing Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treatment by Targeting the Innate Immune System and Precision Drug Delivery.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, involves chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Current immune-modulating therapies are insufficient for 30-50% of patients or cause significant side effects, emphasizing the need for new treatments. Targeting the innate immune system and enhancing drug delivery to inflamed gut regions are promising strategies.

DNA Methylation in Pituitary Adenomas: A Scoping Review.

Pituitary adenomas are a diverse group of neoplasms with variable clinical behavior. Despite advances in genetic analysis, understanding the role of epigenetic modifications, particularly DNA methylation, remains an area under investigation. This scoping review aimed to update and synthesize the current body of literature on DNA methylation in pituitary adenomas, focusing on methodological advancements and clinical correlations.

Targeting Triple NK Cell Suppression Mechanisms: A Comprehensive Review of Biomarkers in Pancreatic Cancer Therapy.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer with poor outcomes due to frequent recurrence, metastasis, and resistance to treatment. A major contributor to this resistance is the tumor's ability to suppress natural killer (NK) cells, which are key players in the immune system's fight against cancer. In PDAC, the tumor microenvironment (TME) creates conditions that impair NK cell function, including reduced proliferation, weakened cytotoxicity, and limited tumor infiltration.

Impact of Soft Drink Intake on Bone Development and Risk of Fractures in a Danish Cohort of Schoolchildren.

Background And Aims: Soft drink consumption is suspected to negatively impact bone health in children, but longitudinal evidence is limited. This study assessed the association between soft drink intake and bone health outcomes in Danish schoolchildren aged 7.7-12 years, within a physical activity intervention framework.

Association of Low-Attenuation Plaque with Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Patients with Suspected Coronary Artery Disease.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in plaque composition and burden between normal glycemic status (NGS) and dysglycemia expressed as impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: Clinically indicated coronary computed tomography angiography was used to evaluate patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). An oral glucose tolerance test was performed to assess glycemic status.

Outdoor Exercise for People with Rheumatic Disease-Study Protocol and Baseline Characteristics of the OUTdoor Physical ACtivity Cohort (OUTPAC).

The OUTPAC cohort study evaluates the setup and implementation of a nationwide Danish initiative focused on the impact of structured outdoor physical activity (PA) on individuals with rheumatic diseases. This prospective cohort study includes more than 1600 participants, predominantly women (92%), with an average age of 65 years (range: 28-93). The cohort primarily consists of individuals with osteoarthritis (72%), rheumatoid arthritis (18%) and nonspecific lower back pain (13%).

Diagnostic Accuracy of Shear Wave Elastography in Predicting Malignant Origins of Pleural Effusions in Emergency Departments.

: Ultrasound is a valuable diagnostic tool in the diagnostic work-up of dyspnea and can identify even small pleural effusions. The incorporation of shear wave elastography (SWE) represents a possible tool in stratifying pleural effusions by the risk of underlying malignancy. No previous studies on ultrasound with the incorporation of SWE have been conducted in an emergency department (ED), where such stratification might have a clinical impact by hastening referrals for the diagnostic work-up of underlying malignancy.

Telehealth-facilitated palliative care enables more people to die at home: An analysis of clinical outcomes and service activity data.

Background: Telehealth-facilitated models of palliative care are a patient-focused way to deliver specialist care in or closer to home for people with a life-limiting illness. Telehealth can increase access to palliative care and support people experiencing symptoms of advanced disease in their own home, reducing the discomfort of travel. This retrospective cohort study examines the activity and outcomes of a regional telehealth-facilitated palliative care service to (i) describe which patients are most likely to use telehealth; and (ii) explore possible impacts of telehealth on patient outcomes including place of death, timely access to care, responsiveness to urgent needs and pain management.

Non-invasive fundoscopy as a tool to estimate intracranial pressure: a large animal model.

Purpose: Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is in most studies considered essential in avoiding secondary brain injury in patients with intracranial pathologies. Invasive monitoring of ICP is accurate but is unavailable in many clinical and prehospital settings. Non-invasive modalities have historically been difficult to implement clinically.

A quasi-experimental study of general practices' referral to mammography in the post-trials treatment era.

Background: Improvements in breast cancer therapy since the randomized controlled trials of mammography screening might have reduced the screening benefit. Most observational studies of mammography effectiveness would be confounded by these improvements and other factors. Using a design resistant to this confounding, we evaluated whether mammography in asymptomatic women reduces breast cancer mortality during the treatment era succeeding the trials.