Detailed physicochemical characterization of charged and neutral LeciPlex®: loading efficiency and in vitro activity of Voriconazole and Amphotericin B.

In the present study, Voriconazole (VCNZ) and Amphotericin B (AmpB), drugs from BCS class II and IV, respectively, were selected for loading in phospholipid vesicular system, LeciPlex® fabricated by the nanoprecipitation method. The influence of biocompatible solvent and lipid type on VCNZ and AmpB loading in cationic, anionic, and nonionic LeciPlex® was studied for particle size, size distribution, and encapsulation efficiency. Transmission electron microscopy revealed the formation of vesicular systems in the blank, VCNZ, and AmpB-loaded LeciPlex®.

Congenital Complete Heart Block Requiring Temporary Pacemaker Placement at Birth: A Case Report.

Congenital heart block (CHB) is a rare congenital cardiac disease where disruption of the atrioventricular (AV) node results in cardiac conduction abnormalities. The majority of CHB cases are associated with neonatal lupus antibodies that are associated with autoimmune destruction and fibrosis of the AV node, most commonly resulting in a congenital complete heart block (CCHB). We report the case of a 23-year-old mother who was found to have a fetus with significant bradycardia at a 21-week anatomy ultrasound.

Overcoming barriers to medical countermeasures: Strengthening global biosecurity.

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed global disparities in accessing medical countermeasures, as high-income countries prioritised their own interests while disregarding low- and middle-income countries. Despite global efforts to ensure an equitable pandemic response, these initiatives largely failed to achieve their objectives for LMICs due to systemic inequalities. This review critically examines these disparities, identifying that excessive stockpiling by HICs, fragmented international coordination, inadequate research and manufacturing capacity, restricted access to emergency research funding, intellectual property constraints, unequal participation in clinical trials, and inadequate regulatory harmonisation collectively hinder LMICs ability to respond effectively.

serotype distribution in low- and middle-income countries of South Asia: Do we need to revisit the pneumococcal vaccine strategy?

serotypes responsible for pneumococcal disease differ with respect to disease severity, invasiveness, antimicrobial susceptibility, geographies, immunization history, age groups, and with time. Although PCVs have blunted the pneumococcal disease burden, they are plagued with numerous challenges, especially the emergence of NVTs. In this review, we show that there are diverse serotypes, especially NVTs, responsible for causing pneumococcal diseases in LMICs of South Asia across different studies conducted between 2012 and 2024.

Comparison of first and third generation EGFR-TKIs for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer: A real-world study.

Background: Worldwide, lung cancer stands as a leading cause of mortality, with EGFR-mutated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for a large percentage of cases in the Indian population. Different generations of EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are available to treat EGFR-mutated NSCLC. The purpose of our research was to evaluate and compare the superiority of osimertinib over gefitinib/erlotinib in terms of clinical effectiveness and safety.

Renal and Peripheral Blood Transcriptome Signatures That Predict Treatment Response in Proliferative Lupus Nephritis-A Prospective Study.

Mechanisms contributing to non-response to treatment in lupus nephritis (LN) are unclear. We characterised the transcriptome of paired peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and renal tissues in LN before and after cyclophosphamide (CYC) treatment and identified markers that predicted treatment response. Total RNA isolated from paired PBMCs (n = 32) and renal tissues (n = 25) of 16 proliferative LN before CYC treatment, 6 months post-treatment, and during renal flare, was sequenced on Illumina Novaseq-6000 platform.

Can We Simplify Liposome Manufacturing Using a Complex DoE Approach?

Microfluidic liposome production presents a streamlined pathway for expediting the translation of liposomal formulations from the laboratory setting to clinical applications. Using this production method, resultant liposome characteristics can be tuned through the control of both the formulation parameters (including the lipids and solvents used) and production parameters (including the production speed and mixing ratio). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between not only total flow rate (TFR), the fraction of the aqueous flow rate over the organic flow rate (flow rate ratio (FRR)), and the lipid concentration, but also the solvent selection, aqueous buffer, and production temperature.

14-3-3σ restricts YY1 to the cytoplasm, promoting therapy resistance, and tumor progression in colorectal cancer.

14-3-3σ functions as an oncogene in colorectal cancer and is associated with therapy resistance. However, the mechanisms underlying these observations are not clear. The results in this report demonstrate that loss of 14-3-3σ in colorectal cancer cells leads to a decrease in tumor formation and increased sensitivity to chemotherapy.

Type I interferon gene expression signature as a marker to predict response to cyclophosphamide based treatment in proliferative lupus nephritis.

Objectives: To assess the longitudinal effect of cyclophosphamide (CYC) treatment on type-I interferon (IFN) signature in proliferative lupus nephritis (LN) and its role in predicting treatment response.

Methods: Fifty-four biopsy proven proliferative LN patients scheduled to receive high-dose (HD) or low-dose (LD) CYC were recruited and followed up for six months. At six months, patients were classified as clinical responders (CR) or non-responders (NR) to treatment, using the EULAR/EDTA criteria.

New Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome on Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

The development of new right ventricular (RV) dysfunction after cannulation to venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and its association with worse outcomes is increasingly recognized in adult patients, however, no studies have evaluated this phenomenon in pediatric patients. We report results of a single-center retrospective cohort study at a large academic children's hospital. New RV systolic dysfunction was present in 48% (12/25) of pediatric patients on VV ECMO for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Impact of formulation parameters on self-assembled liposomes (LeciPlex® III): A detailed investigation.

The present study investigated the feasibility of fabricating self-assembled liposomes, LeciPlex®, a phospholipid-based vesicular nanocarrier using cationic, anionic, and nonionic stabilizers. The phospholipid investigated was soy phosphatidylcholine and the nano-precipitation method based on solvent diffusion was applied as the fabrication technique of liposomes in this study. The effects of various formulation variables, such as lipid and stabilizer concentration, total solid concentration, and solvent type on the self-assembly of vesicles were studied for physical characterization including particle size analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, viscosity, optical transmittance, transmission electron microscopy, and small angle neutron scattering.

Impact of Surgical Timing (Primary, Delayed, or Second Look) on Surgical Morbidity and Outcomes in Malignant Germ Cell Tumor of the Ovary in Children.

Background: Malignant ovarian germ cell tumors (MOGCT) are rare in children. Surgery with or without chemotherapy is the primary treatment approach. This study aimed to analyze the impact of primary and delayed surgery on surgical morbidity and outcomes.

Prophylactic early low-dose hydrocortisone and survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia among extremely preterm infants born at 22-27 weeks' gestation.

Objective: To compare survival without BPD among extremely preterm infants (EPI) who received prophylactic early low-dose hydrocortisone (PEH) with those who did not (non-PEH).

Study Design: This single-center retrospective study compared risk-adjusted rates of survival without BPD, BPD, bowel perforation, and late-onset sepsis among infants (22-27 weeks' gestation at birth) who received PEH (n = 82) and who did not (n = 205).

Results: Infants in the PEH group were of lower gestational age, lower birthweight, and higher day-1 risk of death/BPD.

Prenatal Diagnosis of a Ductal-Dependent Branch Pulmonary Artery: Extra Vessels in the 3-Vessel and Trachea View.

Obtaining a three-vessel (3V) and three-vessel and trachea (3VT) view from the fetal upper mediastinum is now considered to be part of standard imaging protocol for routine obstetric cardiac screening examinations. We report two fetal cases of an anomalous pulmonary artery origin, utilizing the standard 3V and 3VT views. Further imaging led to a rare diagnosis of bilateral ductus arteriosus with discontinuous branch pulmonary arteries in the absence of any other congenital heart defect.

Comparison of the immunogenicity and safety of Euvichol-Plus with Shanchol in healthy Indian adults and children: an open-label, randomised, multicentre, non-inferiority, parallel-group, phase 3 trial.

Background: Considering the cholera menace in India and to seek licensure of the oral cholera vaccine (OCV), Euvichol-Plus, we conducted a clinical trial to compare the immunogenicity and safety of Euvichol-Plus with Shanchol in healthy Indian adults and children.

Methods: This phase 3, open-label, multicentre, randomised, non-inferiority, parallel-group, comparative study was conducted at seven sites across India involving 416 healthy adults (aged ≥18-60 years) and children (aged ≥1 to <18 years). Healthy individuals who agreed to participate through a voluntary written informed consent form along with oral or written assent (for children aged 7-18 years) were included.

Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Analysis of Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen Dual Therapy for Patent Ductus Arteriosus Closure in Preterm Neonates at Less Than 29 Weeks of Gestation.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a blood vessel that critically supports fetal circulation. The ductus naturally closes within a few days after birth. However, it can stay open in premature neonates for an extended period of time, which is associated with increased mortality and various co-morbidities.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition status correlated with ultrastructural features, and TP53 mutation in patient-derived oral cancer cell lines.

Background: Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is a highly prevalent cancer in the Indian subcontinent. The major cause of mortality in OSCC patients is metastasis. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marks an important step in the metastatic process.

A quality improvement initiative to reduce the time to initial maternal visit in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Objective: We aimed to reduce the time interval between an infant's admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and first maternal interaction.

Methods: We identified three key drivers: 1. Collaboration with Labor and Delivery, 2.

Impact of Social Media on Applicant Perspectives of Ophthalmology Residency Programs.

 This article evaluates the relevance of social media to ophthalmology residency applicants in the setting of virtual interviews, the types of information sought by applicants, and the impact of rebranding of an institutional and departmental social media account.  Cross-sectional survey.  Ophthalmology residency applicants from the 2020 to 2021 cycle.

Three-Dimensional Echocardiography Derived Printing: A Review of Workflow, Current, and Future Applications.

Purpose Of Review: While most of the work pertaining to 3D printing in cardiology has been based on 3D CT and MRI datasets, due to the recent advents in 3D printing and 3D echocardiography, 3D printing from echocardiography has now become feasible. In this review, we discuss the workflow, applications, limitations, and potential future directions of 3D echocardiography-based 3D printing.

Recent Findings: 3D printing using 3D echocardiographic datasets has been successfully deployed in the field of cardiovascular medicine in the twenty-first century.

Appropriateness of cardiovascular computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in patients with conotruncal defects.

Background: To promote the rational use of cardiovascular imaging in patients with congenital heart disease, the American College of Cardiology developed Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC), but its clinical application and pre-release benchmarks have not been evaluated. We aimed to evaluate the appropriateness of indications for cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and cardiovascular computed tomography (CCT) in patients with conotruncal defects and to identify factors associated with maybe or rarely appropriate (M/R) indications.

Methods: Twelve centers each contributed a median of 147 studies performed prior to AUC publication (01/2020) on patients with conotruncal defects.