Assessing Lung Ventilation and Bronchodilator Response in Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with F MRI.

Background Pulmonary function tests are central to diagnosis and monitoring of respiratory diseases but do not provide information on regional lung function heterogeneity. Fluorine 19 (F) MRI of inhaled perfluoropropane permits quantitative and spatially localized assessment of pulmonary ventilation properties without tracer gas hyperpolarization. Purpose To assess regional lung ventilation properties using F MRI of inhaled perfluoropropane in participants with asthma, participants with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and healthy participants, including quantitative evaluation of bronchodilator response in participants with respiratory disease.

Neuropathological features of cerebrovascular diseases.

Optimal blood flow through a patent cerebral circulation is critical for supply of oxygen and nutrients for brain function. The integrity of vascular elements within arterial vessels of any calibre can be compromised by various disease processes. Pathological changes in the walls of veins and the venous system may also alter the dynamics of cerebral perfusion.

Can We Prevent Recurrent UTIs Without Antibiotics, in Both Those Who Do and Do Not Use Catheters? ICI-RS 2024.

Aims: Urinary tract infections are one of the most common reasons for antibiotic prescription. The widespread use of antibiotic treatments contributes to the global health problem of antimicrobial resistance development. To slow down the progression of antimicrobial resistance, it is essential that we explore nonantibiotic preventive treatments for this common condition.

Combined Application of Hyaluronidase and Collagenase for Late-Onset Edema in Periocular Area After Hyaluronic Acid Volume Repositioning: A Six-Case Retrospective Review.

Background And Objective: Although generally low-risk, hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal fillers can lead to late-onset edema, particularly in the periocular region. This condition typically manifests three to four months post-injection and requires specialized management, usually with hyaluronidase. However, increased use of hyaluronidase has resulted in instances of post-hyaluronidase syndrome, leading to unaesthetic outcomes.

Influence of renal function on blood pressure control and outcome in thrombolyzed patients after acute ischemic stroke: analysis of the ENCHANTED trial.

Background: The effect of renal impairment in patients who receive intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is unclear. We aimed to determine the associations of renal impairment and clinical outcomes and any modification of the effect of intensive versus guideline-recommended blood pressure (BP) control in the BP arm of the International Enhanced Control of Hypertension and Thrombolysis Stroke Study (ENCHANTED).

Methods: We conducted a analysis of the ENCHANTED BP arm, which involved 2,196 thrombolyzed AIS patients.

Characterising the metabolic functionality of the preterm neonatal gut microbiome prior to the onset of necrotising enterocolitis: a pilot study.

Background: Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating bowel disease that primarily occurs in infants born prematurely and is associated with abnormal gut microbiome development. While gut microbiome compositions associated with NEC have been well studied, there is a lack of experimental work investigating microbiota functions and their associations with disease onset. The aim of this pilot study was to characterise the metabolic functionality of the preterm gut microbiome prior to the onset of NEC compared with healthy controls.

Distinguishing Transient From Persistent Brain Structural Changes in Pediatric Patients With Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis.

Background And Objectives: Pediatric patients with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) are at risk of impaired brain growth, with long-term neuropsychiatric consequences. We previously reported transient expansions of cerebral ventricle volume (VV) in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, which subsequently normalized. In this study, we investigated changes in VV in ADEM in relation to other brain structures and clinical outcomes.

Behavior-change lifestyle interventions for the treatment of obesity in children and adolescents: A scoping review.

Behavior-change lifestyle interventions are fundamental in children and adolescent obesity management. This scoping review discusses optimal behavior-change lifestyle interventions in the treatment of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. A literature search on diet, physical activity, and behavioral intervention for obesity treatment in children and adolescents aged 0-19 years was conducted in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE (OVID), EMBASE, and ClinicalTrials.

Blood-Based Biomarkers for Identifying Disease Activity in AQP4-IgG-Positive Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder.

Importance: The temporal dynamics of serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP) and serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) as biomarkers of disease activity for neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) remain underexplored.

Objective: To determine optimal timing for assessing sGFAP and sNfL, establish cutoff values differentiating between attacks and remissions in NMOSD, and evaluate these findings across independent cohorts.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective, longitudinal, multicenter cohort study was conducted among patients with aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-IgG)-positive NMOSD.

Hyperreflective material evolution patterns during long term anti-VEGF therapy in neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

This retrospective, real-life cohort was analyzed to detect the frequency of different HRM evolution patterns and their correlation with MNV types, morphological and functional changes in exudative nAMD under long-term anti-VEGF therapy. We evaluated optical coherence tomography (OCT) volume scans in 143 eyes of 94 nAMD patients (start of anti-VEGF therapy 2009-2018, therapy until the last visit) and recorded the VA at all visits. HRM evolution patterns were differentiated: pattern 1 = no HRM, pattern 2 = subretinal HRM resolved during follow-up, pattern 3 = persistent subretinal HRM with new HRM-boundary remodeling [BR], pattern 4 = persistent subretinal HRM without HRM-BR.

Maternal probiotic exposure enhances CD8 T cell protective neonatal immunity and modulates offspring metabolome to control influenza virus infection.

Maternal gut microbiota composition contributes to the status of the neonatal immune system and could influence the early life higher susceptibility to viral respiratory infections. Using a novel protocol of murine maternal probiotic supplementation, we report that perinatal exposure to () or () increases the influenza A/PR8 virus (IAV) clearance in neonates. Following either supplementation, type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1) were amplified in the lymph nodes leading to an enhanced IAV antigen-experienced IFN-γ producing effector CD8 T cells in neonates and IAV-specific resident memory CD8 T cells in adulthood.

Multifunctional dietary approach reduces intestinal inflammation in relation with changes in gut microbiota composition in subjects at cardiometabolic risk: the SINFONI project.

The development of cardiometabolic (CM) diseases is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, partly linked to alterations of the gut microbiota (GM) and reduced intestinal integrity. The SINFONI project investigates a multifunctional (MF) nutritional strategy's impact combining different bioactive compounds on inflammation, GM modulation and CM profile. In this randomized crossover-controlled study, 30 subjects at CM-risk consumed MF cereal-products, enriched with polyphenols, fibers, slowly-digestible starch, omega-3 fatty acids or Control cereal-products (without bioactive compounds) for 2 months.

Desmoid tumour: a rare cause of congenital unilateral calf enlargement mimicking calf hypertrophy.

Desmoid tumours, also known as aggressive fibromatosis, are rare tumours derived from mesenchymal stem cells, accounting for only 0.03 % of all tumours. While 85-90 % of cases are sporadic, desmoid tumours can occasionally be associated with Gardner syndrome (or Familial Adenomatous Polyposis), which is linked to variants in the tumour suppressor gene, APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) gene on chromosome 5.

Single-cell RNA seq-derived signatures define response patterns to atezolizumab + bevacizumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: The combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab (atezo+bev) is the current standard of care for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), providing a median overall survival (OS) of 19.2 months. Here, we aim to uncover the underlying cellular processes driving clinical benefit versus resistance to atezo+bev.

Breast cancer patients with a pre-existing mental illness are less likely to receive guideline-recommended cancer treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, with early detection and advanced treatments contributing to declining mortality rates. However, managing comorbid conditions, particularly mental illness, presents significant challenges for cancer treatment. This study systematically reviews and meta-analyses the impact of having a pre-existing mental illness on breast cancer treatment utilisation, focusing on specific treatments and comparing different mental illnesses.

An expert consensus statement on biomarkers of ageing for use in intervention studies.

Biomarkers of ageing serve as important outcome measures in longevity-promoting interventions. However, there is limited consensus on which specific biomarkers are most appropriate for human intervention studies. This work aimed to address this need by establishing an expert consensus on biomarkers of ageing for use in intervention studies via the Delphi method.

Visual quality of life in NMOSD and MOGAD: profiles, dynamics and associations with ageing and vision.

Objective: In this multicentric study, we were interested in the vision-related quality of life and its association with visual impairment in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) in comparison to multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthy controls.

Methods: We analysed extracted data from the German NEMOS registry including National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ) scores, high and low contrast visual acuity (HCVA, LCVA), visually evoked potentials (VEP) and the scores for the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and other neurological tests which assessed their disease-related impairment. The mean follow-up time of our patients was 1.

Clinical and cost-effectiveness of first contact physiotherapy for musculoskeletal disorders in primary care: the FRONTIER, mixed method realist evaluation.

Background: First-contact physiotherapists assess and diagnose patients with musculoskeletal disorders, determining the best course of management without prior general practitioner consultation.

Objectives: The primary aim was to determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of first-contact physiotherapists compared with general practitioner-led models of care.

Design: Mixed-method realist evaluation of effectiveness and costs, comprising three main phases: A United Kingdom-wide survey of first contact physiotherapists.

Association between caffeine intake and fat free mass index: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Caffeine, identified as a central nervous system stimulant in foods, beverages (coffee, tea, chocolate), and medications, has been focused on its ergogenic properties, enhancing physical performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the caffeine intake (from coffee) and fat-free mass index (FFMI).

Materials And Methods: We carried out a cohort study that included 3,466 women and 3,145 men aged ≥20 years who were intaking caffeine.

Large, protracted, multispecies and multiclonal spread of VIM-type Metallo-ß-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacterales in an Italian Hospital.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, particularly those producing carbapenemases (CPE), pose a major threat to human health, being listed among critical-priority resistant pathogens by the World Health Organization.

Aim: In this study we report on a large nosocomial spread of CPE of different species producing VIM-type carbapenemases, and on the infection prevention and control measures thata were adopted to contrast the spread.

Methods: Conventional culture and molecular methods were used for detection and identification of VIM-positive CPE (VIM-CPE) causing infections or colonizing patients or present in environmental specimens.

Randomized trial investigating the utility of a liver tissue transcriptional biomarker in identifying adult liver transplant recipients not requiring maintenance immunosuppression.

The maintenance of stable allograft status in the absence of immunosuppression, known as operational tolerance, can be achieved in a small proportion of liver transplant recipients, but we lack reliable tools to predict its spontaneous development. We conducted a prospective, multi-center, biomarker-strategy design, immunosuppression withdrawal clinical trial to determine the utility of a predictive biomarker of operational tolerance. The biomarker test, originally identified in a patient cohort with high operational tolerance prevalence, consisted of a 5-gene transcriptional signature measured in liver tissue collected before initiating immunosuppression weaning.

Neurofilament Light Chain as a Discriminator of Disease Activity Status in MOG Antibody-Associated Disease.

Background And Objectives: In patients with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody-associated disease (MOGAD), acute disease activity is generally identified through medical history, neurologic examination, and imaging. However, these may be insufficient for detecting disease activity in specific conditions. This study aimed to investigate the dynamics of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) and serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP) after clinical attacks and to assess their utility in discriminating attacks from remission in patients with MOGAD.