Clinical efficacy and safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose for treatment of restless legs syndrome: a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Study Objectives: Iron therapy is associated with improvements in restless legs syndrome (RLS). This multicenter, randomized, double-blind study evaluated the effect of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) on RLS.

Methods: A total of 209 adult patients with a baseline International RLS (IRLS) score ≥ 15 were randomized (1:1) to FCM (750 mg/15 mL) or placebo on study days 0 and 5.

Combination of retagliptin and henagliflozin as add-on therapy to metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin: A multicentre, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled, phase 3 trial.

Aim: This study assessed the efficacy and safety of co-administering retagliptin and henagliflozin versus individual agents at corresponding doses in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who were inadequately controlled with metformin.

Methods: This multicentre, phase 3 trial consisted of a 24-week, randomized, double-blind, active-controlled period. Patients with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels between 7.

Retagliptin as add-on therapy to metformin in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin: A multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of retagliptin in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) inadequately controlled with metformin.

Materials And Methods: This multicentre, phase 3 trial consisted of a 16-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled period, where patients with HbA1c levels between 7.5% and 11.

Recent Status of Phase I Clinical Trials for Brain Tumors: A Regulatory Science Study of Exploratory Efficacy Endpoints.

Background: Appropriate exploratory efficacy data from Phase I trials are vital for subsequent phases. Owing to the uniqueness of brain tumors (BTs), use of different strategies to evaluate efficacy is warranted. We studied exploratory efficacy evaluation in Phase I trials involving BTs.

Cardiovascular risk factors among nurses: A global systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Nurses as the largest group of health workers have a very stressful job which can cause number of diseases specially increase cardiovascular risk factors. This study aims to investigate the overall epidemiology of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among nurses.

Method: We searched all four main databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Embase and Web of Sciences from the beginning of 2000 to March 2022 with appropriate Mesh Terms.

Vaporized D-limonene selectively mitigates the acute anxiogenic effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in healthy adults who intermittently use cannabis.

Background: Cannabis contains hundreds of chemical constituents beyond delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is believed to drive most of its acute pharmacodynamic effects. The entourage effect theory asserts that non-THC constituents can impact acute cannabis effects, but few empirical studies have systematically evaluated this theory in humans. This study assessed whether the cannabis terpenoid d-limonene mitigates the acute anxiogenic effects of THC.

Diagnostic and prognostic performance of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in acute coronary syndromes: A meta-analysis of 90 studies including 45 990 patients.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality worldwide and is likely to rise. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is consequent on inflammation. As a common and cost-effective inflammatory biomarker, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) may be beneficial in cardiovascular medicine.

MicroRNA as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in brain gliomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Brain neoplasms and central nervous system (CNS) disorders, particularly gliomas, have shown a notable increase in incidence over the last three decades, posing significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as promising biomarkers due to their regulatory role in gene expression, offering potential enhancements in glioma diagnosis and prognosis.

Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis, adhering to PRISMA guidelines, included 25 studies for diagnostic accuracy and 99 for prognostic analysis, published until August 27th, 2023.

A phase II study of efficacy and safety of the MEK inhibitor tunlametinib in patients with advanced NRAS-mutant melanoma.

Background: NRAS-mutant melanoma is an aggressive subtype with poor prognosis; however, there is no approved targeted therapy to date worldwide.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, single-arm, phase II, pivotal registrational study that evaluated the efficacy and safety of the MEK inhibitor tunlametinib in patients with unresectable, stage III/IV, NRAS-mutant melanoma (NCT05217303). The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) assessed by independent radiological review committee (IRRC) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.

Exploring Molecular Genetic Alterations and RAF Fusions in Melanoma: A Belvarafenib Expanded Access Program in Patients with RAS/RAF-Mutant Melanoma.

Background: Melanoma incidence is on the rise in East Asia, yet studies of the molecular landscape are lacking in this population. We examined patients with melanoma who underwent next-generation sequencing (NGS) at a single tertiary center in South Korea, focusing on patients harboring NRAS or RAF alterations who received belvarafenib, a pan-RAF dimer inhibitor, through the Expanded Access Program (EAP).

Patients And Methods: Data were collected from 192 patients with melanoma who underwent NGS between November 2017 and May 2023.

Design and use of an ex vivo peripheral simulating bioreactor system for pharmacokinetic analysis of a drug coated stent.

Currently, there are no ex vivo systems that can model the motion of peripheral arteries and allow for the evaluation of pharmacokinetics (PK) of endovascular devices. The objective of this study was to develop a novel peripheral simulating bioreactor system to evaluate drug pharmacokinetics of stents. We utilized 3D-printed and off-the-shelf components to construct a peripheral-simulating bioreactor system capable of mimicking the motion of peripheral arteries.

Soluble PD-L1 predicts tumor response and immune-related adverse events in patients with advanced melanoma treated with anti-PD-1 antibodies.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) bring prognostic benefits to patients with malignancies. However, there is a substantial number of patients whose lesions are not improved by ICIs. In addition, ICIs may cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which could lead to an unfavorable prognosis with fatal consequences.

Adaptive Shooting Disciplines: A Scoping Review of the Literature with Bibliometric Analysis.

Para-archery and para-shooting, two very popular adaptive shooting disciplines that have earned their place as major official events in the Paralympic Games, share some similarities, as well as distinctive features in terms of rules, physiological requirements, and equipment used. The International Paralympic Committee has a clear responsibility to ensure that all sports within its jurisdiction, including adaptive shooting, can achieve excellence in their respective fields. To achieve this, the conduct of well-designed studies and rigorous research is essential.

Blocking EGR1/TGF-β1 and CD44s/STAT3 Crosstalk Inhibits Peritoneal Metastasis of Gastric Cancer.

Peritoneal metastasis (PM) continues to limit the clinical efficacy of gastric cancer (GC). Early growth response 1 (EGR1) plays an important role in tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis and invasion. However, the role of EGR1 derived from the tumor microenvironment in reshaping the phenotypes of GC cells and its specific molecular mechanisms in increasing the potential for PM are still unclear.

Induction of stearoyl-CoA desaturase confers cell density-dependent ferroptosis resistance in melanoma.

Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death that is induced by inhibiting glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), which eliminates lipid peroxidation. Ferroptosis induction is influenced by the cell environment. However, the cellular states altering ferroptosis susceptibility remain largely unknown.

Results of clinical effectiveness of conventional versus Mirasol-treated Apheresis Platelets in Patients with Hypoproliferative Thrombocytopenia (MiPLATE) trial.

Background: The Mirasol® Pathogen Reduction Technology System was developed to reduce transfusion-transmitted diseases in platelet (PLT) products.

Study Design And Methods: MiPLATE trial was a prospective, multicenter, controlled, randomized, non-inferiority (NI) study of the clinical effectiveness of conventional versus Mirasol-treated Apheresis PLTs in participants with hypoproliferative thrombocytopenia. The novel primary endpoint was days of ≥Grade 2 bleeding with an NI margin of 1.

Understanding community-dwelling older adults' preferences for home- and community-based services: A conjoint analysis.

Background: Older adults' preference for home- and community-based service programs has been highlighted as an essential but usually ignored ingredient in current care models. Disentangling how preferences contribute to older adults' decision-making could facilitate finding optimal ways to deliver home- and community-based services in times of increasing scarcity.

Objective: To identify Chinese community-dwelling older adults' preference structure for home- and community-based services and thus to optimize service provision.

ZIF-8 Nanoparticle: A Valuable Tool for Improving Gene Delivery in Sperm-Mediated Gene Transfer.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous materials with unique characteristics that make them well-suited for drug delivery and gene therapy applications. Among the MOFs, zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) has emerged as a promising candidate for delivering exogenous DNA into cells. However, the potential of ZIF-8 as a vector for sperm-mediated gene transfer (SMGT) has not yet been thoroughly explored.

A New Method to Evaluate Lower Esophageal Distension Capacity in Eosinophilic Esophagitis by Using Functional Lumen Imaging Probe (EndoFLIP™).

Endoluminal functional lumen impedance planimetry (EndoFLIP) has become the gold standard to evaluate esophageal distensibility, although the study itself and its analysis present challenges. We propose here a new method to assess lower esophageal distension capacity that overcomes several limitations of prior approaches, including incomplete and corrupted EndoFLIP recordings. Esophageal distension capacity was evaluated with a 16-channel EndoFLIP in 10 controls and 14 patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).

Immunogenicity, safety and consistency of seven lots of an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in healthy children and adolescents: a randomized, double-blind, controlled, phase IV clinical trial.

Background: CoronaVac has been authorized worldwide for preventing coronavirus disease 2019. Information on the safety, immunogenicity and consistency of different lots and workshops of CoronaVac is presented here.

Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, phase IV clinical trial in healthy children and adolescents aged 3-17 years, we aimed to assess the lot-to-lot and workshop-to-workshop consistency, as well as immunogenicity and safety of seven lots of commercial-scale CoronaVac from three workshops.

Effect of COVID-19 on the prevalence of bystanders performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The importance of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) during out-of-hospital cardiac arrests is especially important in the context of coronavirus disease 2029 (COVID-19) because it can significantly influence survival outcomes. The objective of this meta-analysis was to examine the primary outcomes of bystander CPR during the pandemic and pre-pandemic periods.

Methods: A search was conducted in the PubMed Central, Scopus, and EMBASE databases, as well as the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials database, up to December 10, 2023.

Predictive factors for esophageal stenosis in patients receiving prophylactic steroid therapy after endoscopic submucosal dissection for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Methods to prevent esophageal stenosis (ES) after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) have received increasing attention. Although steroid administration is a prophylactic treatment, the risk factors for ES during prophylactic steroid therapy remain unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the risk factors for refractory ES in patients administered prophylactic steroids after ESD for ESCC.