Upper gastrointestinal symptoms and Gulf War Illness in a clinical cohort of US veterans: a retrospective, cross-sectional study.

Objective: Approximately 30% of the 700 000 US Gulf War Veterans (GWVs) report symptoms collectively termed Gulf War Illness (GWI), a multisymptom illness of uncertain pathophysiology. Prior studies in GWI focus on overlap with irritable bowel syndrome. This study examines the associations between upper gastrointestinal (UGI) symptoms, GWI and specialty GI care.

Evaluation of thymidine kinase 1 and folate receptor alpha as potential biomarkers in prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is a widespread malignancy with high mortality rates. Therapeutic success depends on clinical biomarkers for early detection and progression of the disease. The study aimed to assess the potential role of Thymidine Kinase one (TK1) and folate receptor alpha (FORα) in prostate cancer.

Patient preferences for simplified hepatitis C testing modalities among people at risk of hepatitis C infection in Australia: the SELECT study.

Background: Understanding patient preferences for hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing is essential to improve uptake and support elimination efforts. Despite innovative testing modalities, limited research examines how preferences influence testing choices. This study compared the uptake of HCV testing modalities when participants were given a choice.

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Gulf War Veterans in Relation to Deployment Exposures.

Many 1990-1991 Gulf War Veterans (GWVs) were exposed to toxicants and environmental hazards during deployment, including oil well fire smoke, chemical/biological agents, pyridostigmine bromide (PB) pills, and pesticides. Multiple constituents of smoke are associated with increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD), and other toxic exposures have been associated with autonomic and lipid dysfunction. We used data from the Gulf War Era Cohort and Biorepository Study of veterans deployed to Gulf War in 1990-1991 (n = 942).

Unraveling the genetics of gulf war illness in diverse participants enrolled in the million veteran program.

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a multi-symptom chronic condition that affects Veterans who served in the 1990-1991 Gulf War (GW). To generate novel information about GWI pathogenesis, we used genome-wide data available from 33 523 Veterans of diverse ancestral backgrounds who served during the 1990-1991 Gulf War era (34% deployed). Polygenic score (PGS) analysis showed GWI pleiotropy for several traits with the strongest evidence for type-2 diabetes (T2D), anxiety, and depression.

"But if you don't know what my needs are, you can't help me": Health seeking experiences of older Black and Latinx cancer survivors.

Background: More research on minoritized individuals' health-seeking experiences is necessary to address disparities in cancer survivorship. To fill this critical gap in the literature, this study explored the health-seeking experiences of older Black and Latinx populations in the United States (U.S.

Genetic mutations in Cryptococcus neoformans pyrimidine salvage pathway enzymes contribute to reduced susceptibility against 5-fluorocytosine.

Cryptococcal meningitis is a high-mortality infection. Adding 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to its treatment improves outcomes, but resistance to 5-FC presents a significant challenge. We conducted whole-genome sequencing on seven C.

Nomenclature for human and animal fungal pathogens and diseases: a proposal for standardized terminology.

Medically important pathogenic fungi invade vertebrate tissue and are considered primary when part of their nature life cycle is associated with an animal host and are usually able to infect immunocompetent hosts. Opportunistic fungal pathogens complete their life cycle in environmental habitats or occur as commensals within or on the vertebrate body, but under certain conditions can thrive upon infecting humans. The extent of host damage in opportunistic infections largely depends on the portal and modality of entry as well as on the host's immune and metabolic status.

Association of deployment characteristics and exposures with persistent ill health among 1990-1991 Gulf War veterans in the VA Million Veteran Program.

Background: Veterans of the 1990-1991 Gulf War have experienced excess health problems, most prominently the multisymptom condition Gulf War illness (GWI). The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Cooperative Studies Program #2006 "Genomics of Gulf War Illness in Veterans" project was established to address important questions concerning pathobiological and genetic aspects of GWI. The current study evaluated patterns of chronic ill health/GWI in the VA Million Veteran Program (MVP) Gulf War veteran cohort in relation to wartime exposures and key features of deployment, 27-30 years after Gulf War service.

Evaluation of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) combined with quantitative PCR: cutting-edge methods for rapid diagnosis of non-invasive fungal rhinosinusitis.

Purpose: Fungal rhinosinusitis is a significant and growing health concern in arid regions, with an increasing incidence over recent decades. Without timely and appropriate management, it can lead to severe complications, including potential intracranial spread. This study aims to establish efficient and rapid diagnostics for non-invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (FRS), addressing the challenge of its difficult-to-culture diagnosis.

A Scoping Review of Social Determinants of Health and Pain Outcomes in Sickle Cell Disease.

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary blood disorder with chronic pain that affects over 100,000 people in the United States. Previous research suggests a complex interaction between SCD pain outcomes and social determinants of health (SDOH).

Objective: To explore the impact of SDOH on pain outcomes in SCD.

Crystal structure of Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor: Entomotoxic effect of native and encapsulated protein targeting gut trypsin of Herbst.

Trypsin inhibitors are known to act against insect pests by inhibiting proteases of the digestive tract. In this study, we report structural and functional characterization of ∼ 19 kDa Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor (ApKTI) protein with potential bio-insecticidal applications. Crystal structure of ApKTI protein has been refined to 1.

Venous thromboembolism during neoadjuvant chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.

Objective: To determine the incidence of venous thromboembolism in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy in UK gynecological cancer centers. Secondary outcomes included incidence and timing of venous thromboembolism since cancer presentation, impact on cancer treatment, and mortality.

Methods: All UK gynecological cancer centers were invited to participate in this multi-center retrospective audit through the British Gynecological Cancer Society.

Description of new micro-colonial fungi species , cultured from biological soil crusts.

Black yeasts and relatives comprise Micro-Colonial Fungi (MCFs) which are slow-growing stress-tolerant micro-eukaryotes that specialize in extreme environments. MCFs are paraphyletic and found in the Orders () and (). We have isolated and described three new MCFs species from desert biological soil crusts (BSCs) collected from two arid land regions: Joshua Tree National Park (Mojave Desert) and UC Natural Reserve at Boyd Deep Canyon (confluence of Mojave and Sonoran Deserts).

Practices in Pediatric Cosmetic Dermatologic Procedures: A National Survey.

Background: Adult populations have traditionally been the primary recipients of cosmetic treatments, but a growing trend shows an increase in such procedures among pediatric patients.

Objective: The objective of the authors' study was to investigate types of procedures currently being performed by pediatric and cosmetic dermatologists and factors that may influence their choice of treatments in a pediatric population.

Methods: The authors conducted an anonymous online survey targeting healthcare practitioners who frequently use lasers for pediatric cutaneous conditions.

Suppression of inflammation in ulcerative colitis rats by avocado and pomegranate.

Background: Pomegranate seed oil (PSO) and avocado seed oil (ASO) are natural polyphenols with established anti-inflammatory activity.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic efficacy of PSO and ASO in experimental ulcerative colitis (UC) with reference to sulfasalazine (SLZ).

Methods: Eighty male albino rats were divided equally into 8 groups; Normal, PSO, ASO, SLZ, UC-control, (UC + PSO), (UC + ASO) and (UC + SLZ) groups.

Continuous infusion versus bolus injection of loop diuretics for acute heart failure.

Background: Acute heart failure (AHF) is new onset of, or a sudden worsening of, chronic heart failure characterised by congestion in about 95% of cases or end-organ hypoperfusion in 5% of cases. Treatment often requires urgent escalation of diuretic therapy, mainly through hospitalisation. This Cochrane review evaluated the efficacy of intravenous loop diuretics strategies in treating AHF in individuals with New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification III or IV and fluid overload.

A mixed methods analysis of existing assessment and evaluation tools (AETs) for mental health applications.

Introduction: Mental health Applications (MH Apps) can potentially improve access to high-quality mental health care. However, the recent rapid expansion of MH Apps has created growing concern regarding their safety and effectiveness, leading to the development of AETs (Assessment and Evaluation Tools) to help guide users. This article provides a critical, mixed methods analysis of existing AETs for MH Apps by reviewing the criteria used to evaluate MH Apps and assessing their effectiveness as evaluation tools.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Veterans With Gulf War Illness Evaluated at VA's War-Related Illness and Injury Study Center.

Introduction: Excess rates of Gulf War illness (GWI) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), two chronic multisymptom illnesses, have long been documented among nearly 700,000 veterans who served in the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War. We sought to report the prevalence, characteristics, and association of GWI and IBS decades after the war in a clinical cohort of deployed Gulf War veterans (GWVs) who were evaluated at the Department of Veterans Affairs' War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC) for unexplained chronic symptoms.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed data gathered from clinical intake questionnaires of deployed GWVs who were evaluated at WRIISC clinics between 2008 and 2020.

Critical role of the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in radiotherapy (RT)-resistance of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer: Is there a way to defeat this resistance?

Radiotherapy (RT) is a frequently used treatment for cervical cancer, effectively decreasing the likelihood of the disease returning in the same area and extending the lifespan of individuals with cervical cancer. Nevertheless, the primary reason for treatment failure in cancer patients is the cancer cells' resistance to radiation therapy (RT). Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are a subset of RNA molecules that do not code for proteins and are longer than 200 nucleotides.

Aflatoxin profiles of Aspergillus flavus isolates in Sudanese fungal rhinosinusitis.

Aspergillus flavus is a commonly encountered pathogen responsible for fungal rhinosinusitis (FRS) in arid regions. The species is known to produce aflatoxins, posing a significant risk to human health. This study aimed to investigate the aflatoxin profiles of A.