Conception of novel protein-polysaccharide complex coacervation based on Hemp proteins and Kudzu starch for the microencapsulation of Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 probiotic strain.

Limosilactobacillus reuteri probiotics were encapsulated in Kudzu starch (KS) and Hemp protein (HP) complex coacervates (CC), followed by spray drying, to enhance their stability and boost their viability. The optimized conditions for CC consisted of a KS:HP ratio of 1:2 (w/w) and pH 5.0.

High throughput estimates of surface tension using steady droplet deformation in pressure-driven fluidic flows.

Advances in fluidic droplet generation both necessitate and enable accessible, high throughput methods to optimize formulations by measuring surface tension. One fluidic approach involves creating extensional flow using constrictions. Droplets deform within a constriction, and then experience extensional flow upon exiting into a wider channel.

Navigating the life stage after stroke: From Life 2.0 to stroke prevention models of care - A qualitative exploration of younger and middle-aged adult stroke patients' experiences and recommendations.

Background: Global stroke incidence has been rising among adults 65 years of age or younger. A dearth of research exists exploring and understanding younger and middle-aged adults' lifestyle-related knowledge and habits along with associated facilitators and/or barriers with the adoption, maintenance, and support needs for development of new brain health interventions, which this study sought to address.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted, followed by virtual, semi-structured focus groups.

Introductory Course in Pediatric Oncology for Registrars/Residents and Medical Officers in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Pilot Study.

A shortage of pediatric oncologists limits teaching and supervision of registrars/residents and medical officers working in pediatric oncology units. Our aim was to develop and pilot a blended, introductory course in pediatric oncology in Zimbabwe and Zambia comprising self-paced online modules and case-based discussions. The self-paced course was subsequently adopted in South Africa.

Perceived Accuracy of Spine-Related Medical Advice From ChatGPT, TikTok, and the North American Spine Society Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Background: Patients increasingly turn to large language models (LLMs) and social media platforms for medical advice. The accuracy of these sources, particularly compared to peer-reviewed clinical practice guidelines, remains poorly characterized.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated the perceived accuracy of spine-related medical advice generated by ChatGPT (ChatGPT (OpenAI, powered by GPT-4, San Francisco, CA, USA), TikTok (Los Angeles, CA, USA), and the North American Spine Society (NASS) clinical practice guidelines.

High GVHD Prevalence in Travel-Based SCT despite Young Patients and HLA Matching.

: Patients from regions without stem cell transplantation (SCT) facilities often seek treatment abroad and return home for post-transplant care. Although extensive data exist on graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and its risk factors, information on international SCT patients returning to countries that lack transplant facilities and expertise is scarce and not well documented. : We screened 149 transplant recipients and analyzed the data of 91 patients who received transplants abroad and were followed up at our center from January 2019 to December 2022.

Co-morbid seizures in frontotemporal dementia: What do they tell us?

Objectives: Comorbid seizures occur in 2-11 % of frontotemporal dementia(FTD). Despite the high risk for seizures, the risk factors, clinical characteristics, and seizure outcomes in FTD patients with comorbid seizures remain understudied.

Methods: All patients who presented to our hospital from 5/1/2011-4/30/2024 with a clinical diagnosis of FTD were included and subclassified into behavioral-variant FTD(bvFTD), sematic-variant-primary-progressive-aphasia(svPPA), or non-fluent-primary-progressive-aphasia(nfPPA).

Clinical Efficiency and Radiation Safety of Fluoroscopy-Based 2D Intraoperative Computer Navigation in Biportal Spinal Endoscopy.

Background: Endoscopic spine surgery is a minimally invasive technique that can treat spinal conditions while resulting in less pain and faster recovery than alternative techniques. However, achieving precise navigation is challenging without significant radiation exposure and increased surgical times. Fluoroscopy-based 2-dimensional navigation (2DNAV) is an emerging technology that offers real-time navigation using intraoperative fluoroscopy.

Observation of the Very Rare Σ^{+}→pμ^{+}μ^{-} Decay.

The first observation of the Σ^{+}→pμ^{+}μ^{-} decay is reported with high significance using proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5.4  fb^{-1}, collected with the LHCb detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. A yield of 237±16  Σ^{+}→pμ^{+}μ^{-} decays is obtained, where the uncertainty is statistical only.

Influential Factors for Disclosing a Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Diagnosis to Romantic Partners.

Background: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic condition characterized by multiorgan tumor predisposition. Owing to the variability, heritability, and severity of the condition, individuals with TSC may face psychosocial challenges within romantic relationships including disclosing their diagnosis to romantic partners. Despite disclosure being explored in other genetic conditions, this area has not yet been explored in the TSC community, which faces unique challenges in overall health and quality of life.

Extracellular vesicles derived from MSCs carrying dexamethasone alleviate inflammatory damage in septic mice.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition resulting from an uncontrol immune response to infection. Current treatment options remain limited and often ineffective, highlighting the need for supportive anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory strategies. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) can be a good supportive candidate because of their immunomodulatory and drug-delivery properties.

Yersinia Is Not Just the Plague: A Case Report of Yersiniosis Caused by Yersinia enterocolitica.

Yersinia enterocolitica is a Gram-negative bacterium that typically causes self-limiting gastrointestinal infections but can sometimes lead to systemic complications, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. This report describes a rare case of a 60-year-old farmer who developed enteric bacteremia, renal impairment, and pulmonary manifestations, likely due to the consumption of undercooked pork. Despite lacking common predisposing factors, the patient presented with a sore throat, joint pain, abdominal discomfort, and a characteristic erythematous rash.

Green finance and environmental decentralization drive OECD low carbon transitions.

Carbon neutrality and sustainable development goals have become globally imperative, as evidenced by the Paris Agreement, and the Nationally Determined Contributions mechanism. At the recently ended COP28 climate summit, the majority of the participating countries encountered these challenges through financial commitments to attain their objectives of carbon neutrality for sustainable development. Green finance and environmental decentralization play key roles in realizing these targets.

Evidence for B^{-}→D^{**0}τ^{-}ν_{τ}[over ¯] Decays.

The first evidence for the decay B^{-}→D^{**0}τ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{τ} is obtained using proton-proton collision data collected by the LHCb experiment, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9  fb^{-1}, at centre-of-mass energies of 7, 8, and 13 TeV. Here, the D^{**0} meson represents any of the three excited charm mesons D_{1}(2420)^{0}, D_{2}^{*}(2460)^{0}, and D_{1}^{'}(2400)^{0}. The B^{-}→D^{**0}τ^{-}ν[over ¯]_{τ} signal is measured with a significance of 3.

Real-World Outcomes of Infections Following Tisagenlecleucel in Patients with B-Cell ALL: A CIBMTR Analysis.

Tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) is a CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for relapsed/refractory precursor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (R/R B-ALL). We report infectious complications through 100 days (D100) following tisa-cel therapy in 471 pediatric and young adults (median age 13.8 years) with R/R B-ALL reported from September 2017 to June 2022.

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for high-grade B-cell lymphoma NOS.

CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is a pivotal part of the treatment algorithm for large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) in the second- and third-line settings based on numerous clinical trials. However, these studies included very few patients with a diagnosis of high-grade B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (HGBCL-NOS) and it is unclear if outcomes are similar to those observed with more common LBCL histologies. Using the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) registry, we identified 111 HGBCL-NOS patients who received CAR-T therapy.

Drug Development in Abu Dhabi: Advancing Innovation Through Government Support and a Thriving Ecosystem.

Drug development is a complex, high-risk, and resource-intensive process, with global challenges such as high costs, regulatory hurdles, and low clinical trial success rates. These obstacles are especially acute for biotech startups and companies in emerging markets, where access to infrastructure, patient populations, and capital can be limited. This Perspective advocates for Abu Dhabi's emerging life sciences ecosystem as a potential framework for other regions seeking to accelerate pharmaceutical innovation.

Successful Autologous Blood Patch Pleurodesis in a Case of a Refractory Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax.

Autologous blood patch pleurodesis (ABPP) is a novel therapeutic option for persistent/refractory pneumothorax (PTX) in patients who fail to respond to the initial thoracostomy procedure. Previous evidence from the literature suggests its successful implementation in secondary spontaneous PTX. We present our experience with autologous blood pleurodesis being used successfully in a primary spontaneous PTX.

Multicomponent intervention for controlling hypertension in the adult rural population of Pakistan: a protocol for a hybrid type III implementation-effectiveness cluster randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Though prior trials have shown the effectiveness of community-based hypertension detection and care delivery models, their adoption and translation to practice has been slow. In this study, we will develop and test strategies for the implementation and scale-up of a proven multicomponent hypertension intervention (MCHI) in Pakistan that comprises health education, blood pressure (BP) monitoring and referrals by lady health workers (LHWs) and hypertension management by physicians in primary care settings.

Methods And Analysis: In this 24-month hybrid type III implementation-effectiveness cluster-randomised controlled trial, we will recruit 3000 adult hypertensive patients from two rural districts of Pakistan.

An Atypical Case of Sjögren's Syndrome: A Surprise Diagnosis.

Distal renal tubular acidosis (RTA) presenting as hypokalemia, metabolic acidosis, and hypokalemic periodic paralysis is a common manifestation of tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) in Sjögren's syndrome. Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic, progressive, systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands, which results in sicca syndrome, i.e.

Factors Associated with Response to SGLT-2 Inhibitors and GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Veterans with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) and GLP1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) are recommended as the first line therapy for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and heart failure (HF). Despite their established efficacy, there is limited evidence available to predict which subset of patients will respond favorably to them. We conducted this study to identify baseline characteristics to predict the response to therapy with SGLT-2i and GLP-1 RA.

Ruxolitinib in Patients With Corticosteroid-Refractory or Corticosteroid-Dependent Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease: 3-Year Final Analysis of the Phase III REACH3 Study.

In REACH3 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03112603), ruxolitinib was investigated versus best available therapy (BAT) for 3 years in patients with steroid-refractory/dependent chronic graft-versus-host-disease (SR/D-cGVHD). Patients received ruxolitinib (10 mg twice daily) or BAT for 24 weeks; thereafter (weeks 24-156), patients continued randomized treatment, entered long-term survival follow-up, or crossed over from BAT to ruxolitinib.