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Simple Summary: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has broad potential as an adjuvant therapy for various medical and surgical conditions with potential preoperative use in the preservation and/or preparation of the surgical bed. However, further studies on their effects on healthy individuals are required. This study explored the effects of HBOT on hemogram, serum biochemistry and hemostatic parameters in female dogs undergoing laparoscopic-assisted ovariohysterectomy. Thirty adult, mixed-breed, healthy female dogs were randomly separated into three groups: HBOT + SURG group (exposure to two ATAs for 45 min followed by video-assisted OVH), HBOT group (exposure to two ATAs for 45 min) and SURG group (video-assisted OVH). Blood samples were collected at T0 (at the admission), at T1, 24 h after T0 (immediately after HBOT in the HBOT + SURG and HBOT groups, and immediately before anesthetic premedication in the SURG group), and at T2, 48 h after T0 (24 h after HBOT and anesthetic premedication). Laboratory assessments included erythrocyte, leukocyte and platelet count, renal and hepatic serum biochemistry, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), buccal mucosal bleeding time (BMBT) and bloodstain area in a hygroscopic paper (BA). In conclusion, a session of HBOT at two ATAs for 45 min did not cause changes in the BMBT and BA of healthy bitches. Some modifications in leukocyte, neutrophil and lymphocyte count, as well as in alkaline phosphatase, PT and APTT were observed in the different groups considered, mostly dependent on the use of HBOT. Background: This study explored the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on hemogram, serum biochemistry and hemostatic variables in female dogs undergoing laparoscopic-assisted ovariohysterectomy (OVH). Materials: Thirty adult, mixed-breed, healthy female dogs were randomly divided into the following three groups: HBOT + SURG (exposed to two absolute atmospheres (ATAs) for 45 min followed by laparoscopic-assisted OVH), HBOT (exposed to two ATAs for 45 min) and SURG (laparoscopic-assisted OVH). Blood samples were collected at T0 (at the admission), at T1, 24 h after T0 (immediately after HBOT in the HBOT + SURG and HBOT groups, and immediately before anesthetic premedication in the SURG group), and at T2, 48 h after T0 (24 h after HBOT and anesthetic premedication). Methods: Assessments included erythrogram, leukogram, thrombogram, renal and hepatic serum biochemistry, prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), buccal mucosal bleeding time (BMBT) and bloodstain area (BA) on hygroscopic paper collected at the BMBT. Results: Both the HBOT + SURG and SURG groups presented neutrophilia (p ≤ 0.0039) at T2 and an increase of ALP at T2 (p ≤ 0.0493), the SURG group presented an increase in leukocyte count at T2 (p = 0.0238) and the HBOT + SURG group presented a reduction in lymphocyte count at T2 (p = 0.0115). In the HBOT + SURG group, there was a reduction in PT and APTT in relation to the baseline value (p ≤ 0.0412). Conclusions: A session of HBOT at two ATAs for 45 min did not cause changes in the BMBT or BA in healthy female dogs. Some blood parameters investigated (neutrophil and lymphocyte count, ALP, PT and APTT) were affected by the use of HBOT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is still one of the leading causes of death, with an estimated 19.3 million new cases every year. Our paper presents the tumor-suppressing effect of Taenia crassiceps and Mesocestoides corti on B16F10 melanoma, the intraperitoneal application of which followed the experimental infection with these tapeworms, resulting in varying degrees of effectiveness in two strains of mice. In the case of M. corti-infected ICR mice, a strong tumor growth suppression occurred, which was accompanied by a significant reduction in the formation of distant metastases in the liver and lung. Tapeworm-infected C57BL/6J mice also showed a suppression of tumor growth and, in addition, the overall survival of infected C57BL/6J mice was significantly improved. Experiments with potential cross-reaction of melanoma and tapeworm antigens with respective specific antibodies, restimulation of spleen T cells, or the direct effect of tapeworm excretory-secretory products on melanoma cells in vitro could not explain the phenomenon. However, infections with T. crassiceps and M. corti increased the number of leukocytes possibly involved in anti-tumor immunity in the peritoneal cavity of both ICR and C57BL/6J mice. This study unveils the complex interplay between tapeworm infections, immune responses, and melanoma progression, emphasizing the need for further exploration of the mechanisms driving observed tumor-suppressive effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since different quantities of white blood cells (WBCs) in solution possess an adaptive osmotic pressure of cells, the WBCs themselves and in solution have similar concentrations, resulting in them having similar dielectric properties. Therefore, a microwave sensor could have difficulty in sensing the quantity variation when WBCs are in solution. This paper presents a highly sensitive, linear permittivity-inspired microwave biosensor for WBCs, counting through the evaporation method. Such a measurement method is proposed to record measurements after the cell solution is dripped onto the chip and is completely evaporated naturally. The proposed biosensor consists of an air-bridged asymmetric differential inductor and a centrally located circular fork-finger capacitor fabricated on a GaAs substrate using integrated passive fabrication technology. It is optimized to feature a larger sensitive area and improved Q-factor, which increases the effective area of interaction between cells and the electromagnetic field and facilitates the detection of their changes in number. The sensing relies on the dielectric properties of the cells and the change in the dielectric constant for different concentrations, and the change in resonance properties, which mainly represents the frequency shift, corresponds to the macroscopic change in the concentration of the cells. The microwave biosensors are used to measure biological samples with concentrations ranging from 0.25 × 106 to 8 × 106 cells per mL in a temperature (26.00 ± 0.40 °C) and humidity (54.40 ± 3.90 RH%) environment. The measurement results show a high sensitivity of 25.06 Hz/cells·mL−1 with a highly linear response of r2 = 0.99748. In addition, a mathematical modeling of individual cells in suspension is performed to estimate the dielectric constant of individual cells and further explain the working mechanism of the proposed microwave biosensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemotherapy drug administration is a complex problem that often requires expensive clinical trials to evaluate potential regimens; one way to alleviate this burden and better inform future trials is to build reliable models for drug administration. This paper presents a mixed-integer program for combination chemotherapy (utilization of multiple drugs) optimization that incorporates various important operational constraints and, besides dose and concentration limits, controls treatment toxicity based on its effect on the count of white blood cells. To address the uncertainty of tumor heterogeneity, we also propose chance constraints that guarantee reaching an operable tumor size with a high probability in a neoadjuvant setting. We present analytical results pertinent to the accuracy of the model in representing biological processes of chemotherapy and establish its potential for clinical applications through a numerical study of breast cancer. History: Accepted by Paul Brooks, Area Editor for Applications in Biology, Medicine, & Healthcare. Funding: This work was supported by the National Science Foundation [Grants CMMI-1933369 and CMMI-1933373]. Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information (https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2022.0207) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository (https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2022.0207). The complete IJOC Software and Data Repository is available at https://informsjoc.github.io/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted on a fertile eggs of total number 200 of broiler Ross 308 from 31weeks laying flock, their weight ranged from (49.2-58.9gm). The eggs were inserted to an automatic incubator according to standard procedures (37.5 of temperature and 60% of RH). Eggs were candled and un fertilized eggs were removed at day 6 of incubation. At the same day of injection, the remaining were randomly subdivided into 3 groups at incubator each set contain 60 egg. Solutions for injection were freshly prepared at the same day of injection; ascorbic acid was dissolved at physiological saline 0.9 % then fertilized with 0.22Mm filter paper and subsequently placed in incubator 2 hours before injection. The three groups were: non-injected control group (negative control), saline group injected with 0.6 ml of physiologic al isotonic saline (0.9%), and Ascorbic acid injected group (3 mg of pure ascorbic acid with 0.6ml of physiological saline). Histological examination of Ascorbic acid group showed highlighting typical structure of hepatic tissue with intact central vein endothelial lining, highlighting obvious regular organization of muscle fibers with multinucleated light vesicular & elongated peripheral nuclei, highlighting obvious improvement along intestinal tissue structure with increasing in intestinal villi length with significant difference than control negative group as well as control positive group. Hatchability percentage noted better in ascorbic group than other groups. Also, platelet count, White blood cells count, monocyte level was better in ascorbic group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various reviews and meta‐analyses have shown the positive effects of mindfulness‐based interventions (MBIs) on the mental health of cancer patients and survivors. Some studies have also investigated the impact of MBIs on physiological markers of health in oncology, but a systematic review has not been conducted in this field. The current paper aims to fill this gap in the literature. Following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses 2020 guidelines, data were obtained from the databases of Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science in May 2022. Twenty‐five studies were included. Globally, 35 biomarkers were employed in these studies and were categorized 8 groups (cortisol; blood pressure (BP), heart rate, and respiratory rate; C‐reactive protein; telomere length and telomerase activity (TA); genetic signature; cytokines and hormones; leucocyte activation; leucocyte count and cell subpopulation analysis). In seven of these categories of biomarkers, positive effects of MBIs were observed. The most promising results were obtained for cortisol, BP, TA and pro‐inflammatory gene expression. However, the generally low number of studies per single biomarker limits the possibility to draw reliable conclusions. The present review presents a comprehensive state‐of‐the‐art for MBIs in oncology on biomarkers, confirming MBIs' potential for improving physiological health in cancer patients and survivors besides those already shown in literature on psychological well‐being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leukocyte count is routinely performed for diagnostic purposes and is rapidly emerging as a significant biomarker for a wide array of diseases. Additionally, leukocytes have demonstrated considerable promise in novel cell-based immunotherapies. However, the direct retrieval of leukocytes from whole blood is a significant challenge due to their low abundance compared to erythrocytes. Here, we introduce a microfluidic-based platform that isolates and recovers leukocytes from diluted whole blood in a single step. Our platform utilizes a novel, sheathless method to initially sediment and focus blood cells into a dense stream while flowing through a tubing before entering the microfluidic device. A hexagonal-shaped structure, patterned at the device's inlet, directs all the blood cells against the channel's outer walls. The focused cells are then separated based on their size using the deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) microfluidic technique. We evaluated various parameters that could influence leukocyte separation, including different focusing structures (assessed both computationally and experimentally), the orientation of the tubing-chip interface, the effects of blood sample hematocrit (dilution), and flow rate. Our device demonstrated the ability to isolate leukocytes from diluted blood with a separation efficiency of 100%, a recovery rate of 76%, and a purity of 80%, while maintaining a cell viability of 98%. The device operates for over 30 min at a flow rate of 2 μL min-1. Furthermore, we developed a handheld pressure controller to drive fluid flow, enhancing the operability of our platform outside of central laboratories and enabling near-patient testing. Our platform can be integrated with downstream cell-based assays and analytical methods that require high leukocyte purity (80%), ranging from cell counting to diagnostics and cell culture applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sternal pseudotumour is an important but rare entity thought to be an inflammatory, non‐neoplastic lesion that can mimic tumours. The purpose of this paper was to illustrate the imaging features of this lesion to avoid unnecessary investigations. Methods: The clinical notes and imaging features of four patients with a diagnosis of sternal pseudotumour were reviewed over a period from February 2016 to July 2019. Results: All patients were afebrile with no history of trauma. The median age at presentation was 12.5 months. The median length of symptoms prior to presentation was 3.5 days. One patient had a mildly elevated C‐reactive protein. Chest radiographs showed a pre‐sternal soft‐tissue mass, with or without osseous destruction of the subjacent sternum. Ultrasound showed a heterogeneous, hypoechoic pre‐sternal soft‐tissue mass with variable internal vascularity with extension between sternal ossification centres. CT and MRI showed an enhancing dumbbell‐shaped lesion with a pre‐sternal and retro‐sternal soft‐tissue component. The median time to complete resolution was 3 months. One patient had a biopsy that showed chronic inflammation and fibrosis. Discussion: These lesions present in young children typically with a 1‐ to 2‐week history of a focal 2‐ to 4‐cm swelling over the sternum. The aetiology is unknown but may be on the basis of a yet‐to‐be identified pathogen. Inflammatory markers and cultures are normal or mildly elevated. Important differential considerations include sternal osteomyelitis or neoplastic causes such as Ewing sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Langerhans cell histiocytosis and infantile fibrosarcoma. Conclusion: Sternal pseudotumor is a rare but important entity to be aware of to avoid unnecessary invasive biopsy or further investigations. Our suggestion is that this is a 'Don't touch' lesion that requires close short‐interval follow‐up at a surgical outpatient clinic and with ultrasound until resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quiz concerning clinical aspects and outcomes of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis (SDSE) bacteremia and extrapulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (E-NTM) infection evaluates key findings from recent studies, including the most common clinical presentations of SDSE bacteremia.

Background: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-producing tumors have been reported in various organs, and the prognosis of patients with G-CSF-producing pancreatic cancers is particularly dismal. In this report, we present a case of G-CSF-producing anaplastic carcinoma of the pancreas (ACP), characterized by early postoperative recurrence and rapid, uncontrolled growth. Case presentation: A 74-year-old man presented to our hospital with complaints of abdominal fullness and pain after eating. On admission, it was observed that the peripheral leukocyte counts and serum G-CSF levels were significantly elevated (23,770/µL and 251 pg/mL, respectively). Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed a pancreatic head tumor involving the superior mesenteric vein. Pathologically, ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration confirmed ACP. Subsequently, we performed a subtotal stomach-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy with portal vein reconstruction and partial transverse colon resection. On postoperative day (POD) 7, the leukocyte count decreased from 21,180/μL to 8490/μL; moreover, computed tomography revealed liver metastasis. Therefore, mFOLFILINOX chemotherapy was initiated on POD 30. However, the tumor exhibited rapid progression, and the patient died on POD 45. Conclusions: G-CSF-producing ACP is rare, and the prognosis of patients is extremely poor. Basic research is required to develop effective drugs against G-CSF-producing tumors, and large-scale studies using national databases are needed to develop multidisciplinary treatment methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection, especially in children and older people. However, no effective treatment is currently available. Type I interferons (IFNs) are a group of cytokines that help regulate the activity of the immune system. GB05, human IFNα1b inhalation solution, was developed under US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standard guidelines to combat RSV infection. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalation phase I trial evaluated the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of nebulized GB05. Methods: A total of 35 eligible healthy Chinese adult volunteers were enrolled in this study. In the single ascending dose (SAD) study, volunteers were randomized into 0.2, 0.6, 1.2, and 1.8 million IU of GB05 or placebo. In the multiple ascending dose (MAD) study, volunteers received 1.2 or 1.8 million IU of GB05 or placebo for four consecutive days. Safety, tolerability, immunogenicity, and plasma pharmacokinetics were assessed for all groups. Results: All adverse events were mild or moderate and resolved spontaneously. The most common adverse event was decreased white blood cell count (8.6% in SAD and 10% in MAD). No serious adverse events, deaths, or adverse events that reached the termination criteria occurred during the study. In SAD, the maximum concentration and area under the curve increased across the dose range of 1.2–1.8 million IU in a non-linear relationship. The maximum plasma concentration after GB05 nebulization (1.06 IU/ml in the 1.8 million IU group) reflected a low concentration in the blood, suggesting a better lung uptake of GB05 and reduced incidence or risks of adverse events. In MAD, a steady state was reached after continuous administrations of twice daily for 3 days. Conclusions: Overall, nebulized GB05 exhibited satisfactory safety, tolerability, and favorable pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles in healthy adult volunteers, supporting further clinical investigation in patients infected with respiratory syncytial virus. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT06277167. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to investigate the effect of supplementing chitosan, Bacillus subtilis or blends of both on broiler growth performance, immune response, biochemical variables, and intestinal ecology of broiler chickens. Two hundred and eighty day-old chicks were distributed into 4 experimental groups, including T0 (control, basal feed), T1 (basal feed + chitosan 0.1% feed), T2 (basal feed + B. subtilis 0.01% feed), and T3 (basal feed + chitosan 0.1% feed + B. subtilis 0.01% feed). Variables measurements and sample collection were conducted on day 35. The T3 did not differ from T0 and T1, but they consumed less (p=0.05) feed than T2 chickens. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was lower (p=0.05) in T1 and T3 compared to T0 and T2 groups. Leukocyte counts in T2 and T3 were higher (p=0.05) than those in T0. The T1, T2, and T3 had higher (p=0.05) lymphocyte counts than T0. The T3 had lower (p=0.05) low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels than the T0 group. The T2 had higher (p=0.05) levels of total protein and globulin than T3 and T0. Compared to T0 and T3, serum albumin levels were greater (p=0.05) in T1 and T2. The T3 had higher (p=0.05) duodenal villi height than that in the other groups. The T2 and T3 chicks had higher (p=0.05) Newcastle disease titer than T0 and T1. Compared to T2 and T3, T0 and T1 showed a worse (p=0.05) microscopic structure of jejunum. The T2 and T3 showed lower (p=0.05) lesion score in bursa of fabricius than that in the other groups. In conclusion, the blends of chitosan and B. subtilis resulted in improved FCR, higher leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, lower LDL, higher duodenal villi height, higher Newcastle disease titer, better microscopic structure of jejunum, and lower lesion score in bursa of fabricius of broiler chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and analysis of related factors associated with early death in newly diagnosed patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Methods: This retrospective study included patients who visited our hospital between January 2010 and August 2022 and were diagnosed with APL for the first time. We analyzed their clinical and laboratory characteristics and analysis of related factors associated with early death. Results: A total of 269 patients with a primary diagnosis of APL were collected. The male to female ratio was 6:5, and the median age was 42 years (range 7–80). Among patients with initial APL diagnosis, there were 34 early deaths, resulting in an early mortality rate of 13%. The median time from diagnosis to death was 8.5 days (range 3–24). Comparative analysis of the clinical characteristics between patients who died early and those who did not, using a logistic regression model, revealed that age, white blood cell count (WBC) at initial diagnosis, and prolongation time of prothrombin time (PT) were independent risk factors for early death in patients with primary APL (P < 0.05). Comparing the clinical characteristics during hospitalization between the early death group and the non-early death group, it was observed that the daily mean of WBC during hospitalization was significantly higher in patients who died early than in those who did not (P < 0.001). Conversely, the daily mean of platelet count (PLT) was significantly lower in patients who died early compared to those who did not (P < 0.001). Furthermore, statistically significant differences were found in the mean daily infusion of PLT (P < 0.05), fibrinogen (Fib) (P < 0.05), and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) (P < 0.05) during hospitalization between patients who died early and those who did not. Specifically, the mean daily infusion of PLT and FFP was significantly higher in the early-death group than in the non-early-death group. Cerebral hemorrhage was identified as the immediate cause of death in 25 out of the 34 early-death patients (74%). The remaining causes of death included infection in 5 cases (15%), all of which were severe pulmonary infections, including 2 cases of combined differentiation syndrome, and abandonment of treatment in 4 patients (11%) at initial diagnosis. Conclusion: In patients with primary APL, age, WBC at initial diagnosis, and PT prolongation time were identified as independent risk factors for early death (P < 0.05). Laboratory findings regarding WBC and PLT during hospitalization, as well as the infusion of PLT, Fib, and FFP during hospitalization, were also statistically significant. Cerebral hemorrhage was found to be the main cause of early death in patients with primary APL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study aimed to explore clinical indicators that can predict the prognosis of children with acute fulminant myocarditis (AFM) through a retrospective analysis. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical indices of 79 children diagnosed with AFM and hospitalized from March 2013 to March 2023. Relevant demographic and clinical data, including symptoms at admission, laboratory results, and outcomes were extracted to identify factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Results: A total of 79 children with AFM were analyzed. The survival group (n = 61) had a longer median hospital stay and higher medical expenses compared to the death group (n = 18). Significant differences in the levels of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)(P < 0.001), myoglobin (MYO)(P < 0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)(P < 0.001), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)(P = 0.004), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP)(P = 0.005), arterial potential hydrogen (PH)(P < 0.001), bicarbonate (HCO3-)(P = 0.003), serum lactate (Lac)(P = 0.001), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2)(P = 0.008), and white blood cell count (WBC)(P = 0.007) were observed between the two groups. Additionally, there were significant differences in the incidences of multi-organ failure (P = 0.003) and respiratory failure (P = 0.001) between the two groups. Conclusions: Severe myocardial injury (AST > 194.00 U/L, LDH > 637.50 U/L, MYO > 265.75 µg/L, BNP > 1738.50 ng/L), acidosis (PH < 7.29, HCO3− <18.45 mmol/L, Lac > 12.30 mmol/L), hypoxia (SpO2 < 97.50%), inflammatory response (WBC > 9.69*109/L), left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF < 28.25%), multi-organ failure, and respiratory failure are significantly associated with higher mortality rates. These factors can accurately identify AFM children at an increased risk of death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided transluminal drainage has become a first-line treatment modality for symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts. Despite the increasing popularity of lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMSs), plastic stents may resolve non-necrotic fluid collections effectively with lower costs and no LAMS-specific adverse events. To date, there has been a paucity of data on the appropriate stent type in this setting. This trial aims to assess the non-inferiority of plastic stents to a LAMS for the initial EUS-guided drainage of pseudocysts. Methods: The WONDER-02 trial is a multicentre, open-label, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial, which will enrol pancreatic pseudocyst patients requiring EUS-guided treatment in 26 centres in Japan. This trial plans to enrol 80 patients who will be randomised at a 1:1 ratio to receive either plastic stents or a LAMS (40 patients per arm). In the plastic stent group, EUS-guided drainage will be performed using two 7-Fr double pigtail stents. In the LAMS group, the treatment will be performed in the same way except for LAMS use. The step-up treatment will be performed via endoscopic and/or percutaneous procedures at the trial investigator's discretion. The primary endpoint is clinical success, which is defined as a decrease in a pseudocyst size to ≤ 2 cm and an improvement in inflammatory indicators (i.e. body temperature, white blood cell count, and serum C-reactive protein). Secondary endpoints include technical success, adverse events including mortality, pseudocyst recurrence, and medical costs. Discussion: The WONDER-02 trial will investigate the efficacy and safety of plastic stents compared to a LAMS in EUS-guided treatment of symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts with a particular focus on the non-inferior efficacy of plastic stents. The findings will help establish a new treatment algorithm for this population. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06133023 registered on 9 November 2023. UMIN000052647 registered on 30 October 2023. jRCT1032230444 registered on 7 November 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2,3-dimethylquinoxaline (DMQ) is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial phytochemical. This study aims to assess its toxicological profile. In vitro studies conducted in appropriate cell cultures, included assessment of cardiotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and hepatotoxicity. An in vivo study was conducted in mice to determine acute oral toxicity (AOT), and subacute oral toxicity (SAOT). Acute dermal toxicity (ADT) was conducted in rats. All in-vitro toxicity studies of DMQ had negative results at concentrations ≤100 μM except for a non-significant reduction in the ATP in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell culture. The median lethal dose of DMQ was higher than 2000 mg/kg. All animals survived the scheduled necropsy and none showed any alteration in clinical signs. Biochemistry analysis revealed a significant difference between the satellite and control groups, showing an increase in platelet counts and white blood cell counts by 99.8% and 188.8%, respectively. Histology revealed enlargement of renal corpuscles; hyperplasia of testosterone-secreting cells; and dilatation of coronaries and capillaries. The present data suggests an acceptable safety profile of DMQ in rodents except for thrombocytosis, leukocytosis, and histological changes in high doses that need further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) and poor functional outcomes at 90 days in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: This study retrospectively collected 1988 AIS patients admitted to two hospitals in the Shenzhen area between January 2022 and March 2023. A total of 1255 patients with Fasting Blood-glucose (FBG) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C) values at admission were included in this analysis. SHR, measured by FBG/HbA1C, was evaluated as both a tri-categorical variable (Tertile 1: ≤ 0.83; Tertile 2: 0.84 -0.95; Tertile 3: ≥ 0.96). The outcome was poor functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] score 2–6) at 90 days. We performed univariate analysis, multiple equation regression analysis, stratified analysis, and interactive analysis. Results: Compared with patients in the lowest tertile of SHR, the highest tertile group had significantly lower odds of achieving poor functional outcomes (adjusted odds ratio, OR = 2.84, 95% CI: 2.02–3.99, P < 0.0001) at 90 days after adjusting for potential covariates. Similar results were observed after further adjustment for white blood cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, fasting blood glucose, stroke type, intravenous thrombolytic therapy, baseline Glasgow score, and baseline NIHSS score. Conclusion: SHR, as measured by the FBG/HbA1C, was associated with an increased odds of achieving poor functional outcomes in patients with AIS at 90 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The serum levels of presepsin correlate with parameters indicating cholestasis in sepsis; however, the probability and significance of this association remain uncertain. We aimed to ascertain whether infection, as signaled by presepsin levels, is the primary determinant of elevated biliary parameters in sepsis. Methods: A unicenter, retrospective study included 396 COVID-free emergency-admitted patients, in which presepsin level was determined. Presepsin, neutrophil count, leukocyte count, C reactive protein, and fibrinogen evaluated the septic/inflammatory state. The statistically significant factors associated with cholestasis, ALT, and AST were analyzed by Fisher's exact test and Spearman regression with Bonferroni's correction. Results: Presepsin emerged as the most likely variable correlated with all cholestasis markers: alkaline phosphatase (p = 7 × 10−8), gamma-glutamyl transferase (p = 5 × 10−10), and conjugated bilirubin (p = 4 × 10−15). Thrombocyte count, C reactive protein, age, creatinine, urea, lactate, and blood pressure, were associated with only one or two of these markers. Conclusions: In a sepsis setting, the increase in cholestasis-related parameters is associated with presepsin with a higher probability than hemodynamic, inflammatory, or coagulation-related variables. Determining this robust link between sepsis and cholestasis could eliminate unnecessary imaging procedures in critically ill patients, enabling clinicians to focus efforts on addressing the primary infectious cause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) poses a significant threat to lung cancer patients, particularly those receiving treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). We aimed to develop and validate a nomogram model for predicting the occurrence of VTE in lung cancer patients undergoing ICI therapy. Methods: The data for this retrospective cohort study was collected from cancer patients admitted to Chongqing University Cancer Hospital for ICI treatment between 2019 and 2022. The research data is divided into training and validation sets using a 7:3 ratio. Univariate and multivariate analyses were employed to identify risk factors for VTE. Based on these analyses, along with clinical expertise, a nomogram model was crafted. The model's predictive accuracy was assessed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, decision curve analysis, clinical impact curve, and other relevant metrics. Results: The initial univariate analysis pinpointed 13 potential risk factors for VTE. The subsequent stepwise multivariate regression analysis identified age, Karnofsky performance status, chemotherapy, targeted, platelet count, lactate dehydrogenase, monoamine oxidase, D‐dimer, fibrinogen, and white blood cell count as significant predictors of VTE. These 10 variables were the foundation for a predictive model, illustrated by a clear and intuitive nomogram. The model's discriminative ability was demonstrated by the ROC curve, which showed an area under the curve of 0.815 (95% CI 0.772–0.858) for the training set, and 0.753 (95% CI 0.672–0.835) for the validation set. The model's accuracy was further supported by Brier scores of 0.068 and 0.080 for the training and validation sets, respectively, indicating a strong correlation with actual outcomes. Conclusion: We have successfully established and validated a nomogram model for predicting VTE risk in lung cancer patients treated with ICIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Golden buckwheat, also called Fagopyrum dibotrys (D. Don) H. Hara, is a plant of the genus Buckwheat in the buckwheat family. The aim of this study was to screen the bioactive ingredients of golden buckwheat extract and investigate the protective effect on acute lung injury (ALI). The ethyl acetate extract (EAE) was identified as the active fraction in LPS‐induced RAW264.7 cells, with gallic acid, proanthocyanidin B2, and epicatechin at 0.0563%, 0.3707%, and 0.3868%, respectively. At the same time, 20 compounds (mainly flavonoids and organic acids) were identified by UPLC‐Q‐Exactive Orbitrap‐HRMS in EAE. Furthermore, the EAE reduced lung histopathology scores in mice with ALI, decreased the dry‐to‐wet weight ratio of lung tissue, and significantly inhibited the concentrations of IL‐1β, TNFα, and IL‐6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). It also reduced the number of leukocytes, decreased the activity of MPO in lung tissue, and inhibited the levels of TLR4/NLRP3 pathway mRNA and protein in lung tissue. Our study indicated that golden buckwheat as a source of functional food prevents or treats associated lung diseases by modulating the activation of the TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tilapia is one of the most important farmed fish in the world and the most cultivated in Brazil. The increase of this farming favors the appearance of diseases, including bacterial diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the bactericidal activity of copaiba oil, Copaifera duckei, against Streptococcus agalactiae and Flavobacterium columnare and the dietary effect of copaiba oil on zootechnical performance, hematological, biochemical, immunological, and histological analysis before and after an intraperitoneal infection (body cavity) with S. agalactiae in Nile tilapia. For this, fish were randomly distributed into 15 fiber tanks in five treatments (0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.0%) and fed with a commercial diet supplemented with copaiba oil for 30 days. After this period, the fish were randomly redistributed for the experimental challenge with S. agalactiae into six treatments (T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5), the fish were anesthetized, and blood samples were collected to assess hematological, biochemical, immunological, and histological parameters. Copaiba oil showed bactericidal activity against Streptococcus spp. and Flavobacterium spp. in vitro. In addition, concentrations of 0.75 and 1.0% of copaiba oil have an anti-inflammatory effect and improve hematological and immunological parameters, increasing leukocyte numbers, albumin, and serum lytic activity. Furthermore, there is an increase in the intestinal villus length and tissue damage in groups at concentrations of 0.75 and 1.0% of copaiba oil. In conclusion, copaiba oil presented bactericidal activity against Streptococcus spp. and Flavobacterium spp. in vitro, and oral supplementation at concentrations of 0.75 and 1.0% compared to the control group enhanced non-specific immune parameters and digestibility in Nile Tilapia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Total hip (THA) or knee (TKA) arthroplasty is still a traumatic and challenging operation that induces inflammation, with a particularly high risk of acute-phase reaction. The aim of this study was to predict the likelihood of implant-associated complications during the preoperative and postoperative course. Methods: The prospective observational, non-interventional study of patients diagnosed with primary knee or hip osteoarthrosis undergoing THA or TKA during the study period was conducted. The inflammatory and malnutrition parameters were collected for each patient one day before surgery, two days after surgery, and in outpatient follow-up. Results: Of 159 patients analysed, 12 developed implant-associated complications. The albumin, prealbumin, Intensive Care Infection Score (ICIS), Nutritional Risk Index, and white blood cell counts were found to be potential predictors. Notably, preoperative albumin levels significantly differed between groups with and without complications (P-value = 0.042). Conclusion: Our study definitively shows that WBC, prealbumin, Nutritional Risk Index, ICIS as a novel marker, and significantly albumin, outperform C-reactive protein in predicting implant-associated complications in hip and knee arthroplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accurate diagnosis of enteric fever is challenging, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, due to the overlap of clinical and laboratory features with other pathogens. To better understand the difficulties in enteric fever diagnosis, we evaluated the characteristics of patients clinically diagnosed with enteric fever and the real-world performance of TUBEX TF, one of the most used tests in Indonesia. Methodology/Principal findings: Patients were recruited through the AFIRE (Etiology of Acute Febrile Illness Requiring Hospitalization) study at eight Indonesian hospitals. Blood culture was performed for all patients, and TUBEX TF was performed for suspected enteric cases. Salmonella PCR and ELISA tests were performed at a reference lab. Sensitivity and specificity of TUBEX TF and IgM and IgG anti-S. Typhi ELISA were determined. Of 301 patients clinically diagnosed with enteric fever, 50 (16.6%) were confirmed by blood culture and/or PCR. Confirmed cases were mostly school-aged children presenting with fever, anorexia, dizziness and/or abdominal pain with normal leukocyte count or leukopenia. TUBEX TF demonstrated a sensitivity of 97.6% to 70.7% and specificity of 38.3% to 67.2% at cutoffs of 4 and 6, respectively. Acute IgG demonstrated the best sensitivity and specificity, at 90.7% and 82.7%, respectively, and the best ROC characteristics. Conclusions/Significance: A substantial proportion of enteric fever was misdiagnosed at all study hospitals, likely due to the overlap of clinical characteristics and lab parameters with those of other common pathogens. The TUBEX TF rapid serological assay demonstrated suboptimal performance in our setting and tended to over-diagnose enteric fever. The role of IgG from acute specimens for identification of enteric fever cases merits additional consideration. Author summary: Enteric fever is a major health problem in Indonesia. Blood culture, the gold standard for enteric fever diagnosis, is expensive and requires several days to produce a result, leading to diagnoses being made through rapid tests such as TUBEX TF in Indonesia and other LMICs. In a real-world setting, we found that TUBEX TF over-diagnosed enteric fever by more than 50% in comparison to blood culture and PCR. Over-diagnosis may result in over-treatment and the subsequent increase of antimicrobial resistance. Given the suboptimal performance of TUBEX TF, the use of readily available clinical and laboratory data to facilitate identification of enteric fever cases has been considered. In our study, the majority of enteric fever patients were school-aged children. Although non-specific, gradually increasing fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, and cough were often present; hematologic parameters did not distinguish enteric fever from other etiologies. Interestingly, diagnostic accuracy was better by S. Typhi IgM and best by S. Typhi IgG in acute specimens. These findings may reflect the inaccuracy or subjectivity of TUBEX TF. The surprisingly excellent performance of S. Typhi IgG ELISA merits further evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that can be treated with intrathecal nusinersen, an antisense oligonucleotide. In addition to efficacy, safety is a determining factor in the success of any therapy. Here, we aim to assess the safety of nusinersen therapy in paediatric patients with SMA. Methods: Laboratory data of paediatric patients with SMA who received nusinersen between October 2019 and May 2022 were retrospectively analysed. Results: During the observation period, 46 infants and children aged 2.9 months to 13.6 years received a total of 213 nusinersen doses without safety concerns. Inflammatory markers were stable throughout the study. International normalized ratio was increased by 0.09 per injection. Urea levels were increased by 0.108 mmol/L, and cystatin C decreased by 0.029 mg/L per injection. There were no significant changes in platelet count, activated partial thrombin time, creatinine levels or liver enzyme levels during treatment. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leukocyte count remained stable, and total protein increased by 24.038 mg/L per injection. Conclusion: Our data showed that nusinersen therapy is generally safe in children with SMA. Laboratory monitoring did not identify any persistent or significantly abnormal findings. CSF protein should be monitored to gain more insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) has become the mainstay of treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) recently. This case-control study aimed to identify the pivotal role of inflammation in the prognosis of AIS patients after MT. Methods: Altogether, 70 AIS patients who underwent MT were retrospectively recruited for this study. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to demonstrate the sensitivity and specificity of the inflammatory variables for predicting prognosis. A meta-analysis was performed to pool the published results together. Stata software was used for analysis. Results: There was no differences in pre-MT inflammatory biomarkers between patients who survived and those who died, as well as patients with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0–2 and mRS ≥ 3. In contrast, post-MT C-reactive protein (CRP) levels might be a potential parameter to predict death after thrombectomy [area under the curve (AUC), 95%confidence interval (CI), 0.737, 0.587–0.887; p = 0.005; optimal cutoff value = 4.565]. Moreover, post-MT monocyte count might be an appropriate parameter to predict poor long-term prognosis after thrombectomy (AUC, 95%CI, 0.704, 0.575–0.833; p = 0.017; optimal cutoff value = 0.345). A meta-analysis revealed that the pre-MT inflammatory indices, including white blood cell count (weighted mean difference, 95%CI, 1.32, 1.01—1.63), neutrophil count (1.23, 0.95—1.51), monocyte count (0.05, 0.02—0.09), neuthrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (2.42, 1.98—2.87) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (24.65, 7.99—41.32), were higher in patients with 3-month mRS ≥ 3, and the lymphocyte count (−0.31,−0.43 to −0.18) was lower in this cohort. Conclusions: Inflammatory indices were significantly associated with the prognosis of patients undergoing MT, especially post-MT CRP and monocyte count, which can predict long-term outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Medical Biochemistry is the property of Society of Medical Biochemists of Serbia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study analysed the incidence of lower extremity amputation and its associated risk factors in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. This study systematically searched both Chinese and English databases, including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science, to identify cohort studies related to lower extremity amputation and associated risk factors in patients with diabetic foot ulcers up to October 2023. The patients were stratified based on whether they underwent lower extremity amputation, and relevant data, including basic information, patient characteristics, complications, comorbidities and pertinent laboratory test data, were extracted from the included studies. The literature quality assessment in this study utilized the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale to screen for high‐quality literature, resulting in the inclusion of 16 cohort studies, all of which were of at least moderate quality. Meta‐analysis of outcome indicators was conducted using the Stata 14.0 software. The results indicate that the overall amputation rate of lower extremities in patients with diabetic foot ulcers is 31% (0.25, 0.38). Among the 16 variables evaluated, gender (male), smoking history, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, white blood cell count, haemoglobin and albumin levels were found to be correlated with the occurrence of lower extremity amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. However, no significant correlation was observed between age, diabetes type, duration of diabetes, stroke, glycosylated haemoglobin, creatinine and total cholesterol levels and lower extremity amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. This meta‐analysis indicates that the overall amputation rate in patients with diabetic foot ulcers is 31%. Factors such as gender (male), smoking history, high BMI, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, white blood cell count, haemoglobin and albumin levels are identified as significant risk factors for lower extremity amputation in diabetic foot ulcer patients. These findings suggest that attention should be focused on these risk factors in patients with diabetic foot ulcers to reduce the risk of lower extremity amputation. Therefore, preventive and intervention measures targeting these risk factors are of significant importance in clinical practice. (Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier [CRD42024497538]). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The general practice out-of-hours (GPOOH) service is under pressure to treat more patients in less time, while reducing referrals and minimising diagnostic errors. Point-of-care (POC) testing involves rapid clinical tests that can be used to generate results during the consultation, and has the potential to facilitate managing these competing demands safely. Aim: To describe current availability of POC tests in GPOOH in Scotland, and identify barriers, enablers, benefits, and drawbacks to its use. Design & setting: Cross-sectional mixed-methods study, which surveyed opinions of clinicians working in the GPOOH service in NHS Scotland. Method: An electronic questionnaire was developed, designed, piloted, and distributed to clinicians, which had closed questions and areas for free text. Results: In total, 142 responses were received. Urine dipstick testing (99.2%), pregnancy tests (98.5%), oxygen saturation (97.7%), and blood glucose testing (93.9%), were the only POC tests commonly available in GPOOH in NHS Scotland. There was strongest support for the provision of POC tests, particularly C-reactive protein (CRP; 79.4%), strep A (76.0%), and D-dimer (75.2%). Responders felt that POC tests would improve confidence (92.3%) and safety (89.8%) surrounding clinical decision making, improve patient satisfaction (80.6%), and reduce hospital and secondary care referrals (77.5%). Barriers to POC test use were availability of the test kits and machines (94.5%), training requirements on how to use the machine (71.1%) and interpret results (56.3%), and time to do the test (62.0%). Conclusion: Few POC tests are in regular use in GPOOH in Scotland. GPOOH clinicians are supportive of using POC testing. They identified a number of benefits to its use, with very few drawbacks. Increased provision of POC testing in GPOOH in NHS Scotland should be considered urgently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Kawasaki disease is an acute immune vasculitis, which is more common in children under 5 years old. Kawasaki disease mainly affects the cardiovascular system, especially the coronary arteries. Once coronary artery damage occurs, it can significantly impact the patient’s prognosis. Therefore, in some countries and regions, Kawasaki disease has become a common acquired heart disease. Methods: First, univariate analysis was conducted on each predictive factor. Then, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator and random forest algorithms were used to screen all predictive factors, and the prediction model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curve, and Decision Curve Analysis. Results: This study, based on data from 228 Kawasaki disease patients, utilized a random forest model to identify four predictive factors: white blood cell count, creatine kinase isoenzyme MB, albumin, and neutrophil count. These factors were used to construct a prediction model, which achieved an area under the curve of 0.743. Conclusions: We developed a forest plot based on white blood cell count, creatine kinase isoenzyme MB, albumin, and neutrophil count to effectively predict the occurrence of coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Both the high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection and tobacco exposure are significantly associated with cervical neoplasm risk. Immune cells play important roles in carcinogenesis. However, it is still unclear whether immune cells have a mediating effect on the HR-HPV infection and tobacco exposure with cervical neoplasm development. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine how the increased white blood cell (WBC) count affects the relationship between HR-HPV DNA load and tobacco exposure in the development of cervical neoplasia. Methods: A hospital-based case–control study design was conducted with a total of 108 cases of Taiwanese women with ≥ cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I confirmed by biopsy, and 222 healthy Taiwanese female subjects with negative findings on a Pap smear were assigned to the control group. The study evaluated HR-HPV status and immune cell counts (WBCs, natural killer (NK) cells) and tobacco exposure by a self-construct questionnaire. Results: Both HR-HPV DNA load and tobacco exposure significantly independently increased cervical neoplasm risk (AORs: 1.28 and 1.42, respectively). Similar significant results were found for WBCs and NK cells, with respective AORs of 1.20 and 1.00. Moreover, increased WBCs (β = 0.04, 95% CI corrected: 0.01–0.07) and tobacco exposure (β = 0.02, 95% CI corrected: 0.01–0.04) mediated the relationship between the high-risk HPV DNA load and cervical neoplasm risk. Conclusions: Elevated WBC count acts as both predictor and mediator in cervical neoplasm development linked to HR-HPV DNA load. Monitoring and maintaining WBC levels within the normal range could be a preventive strategy for cervical neoplasm development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Animal & Poultry Production is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: This study evaluates the efficacy of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) in diagnosing spinal infections and developing therapeutic regimens that combine mNGS, microbiological cultures, and pathological investigations. Methods: Data were collected from 108 patients with suspected spinal infections between January 2022 and December 2023. Lesion tissues were obtained via C-arm assisted puncture or open surgery for mNGS, conventional microbiological culture, and pathological analysis. Personalized antimicrobial therapies were tailored based on these findings, with follow-up evaluations 7 days postoperatively. The sensitivity and specificity of mNGS were assessed, along with its impact on treatment and prognosis. Results: mNGS showed a significantly higher positive detection rate (61.20%) compared to conventional microbiological culture (30.80%) and PCT (28%). mNGS demonstrated greater sensitivity (79.41%) and negative predictive value (63.16%) than cultures (25% and 22.58%, respectively), with no significant difference in specificity and positive predictive value. Seven days post-surgery, a significant reduction in neutrophil percentage (NEUT%) was observed, though decreases in white blood cell count (WBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were not statistically significant. At the last follow-up, significant improved in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores were noted. Conclusion: mNGS outperforms traditional microbiological culture in pathogen detection, especially for rare and critical pathogens. Treatment protocols combining mNGS, microbiological cultures, and pathological examinations are effective and provide valuable clinical insights for treating spinal infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine parvoviral enteritis (CPE) is a common, highly contagious viral disease characterized by severe hemorrhagic gastroenteritis in dogs. Leukopenia and neutropenia in dogs with parvoviral enteritis are considered negative prognostic indicators. This study aimed to investigate the effect of filgrastim [recombinant methionyl human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (r-metHuG-CSF)] on leukocyte counts in dogs with parvoviral enteritis. The animal material consisted of thirty-seven owned dogs with parvoviral enteritis from various breeds, which were brought to the Small Animal Clinic of the Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Erciyes University. The dogs included in the study were divided into two groups. The first group received standard treatment (ST=18) and the second group received Filgrastim (ST+Filg=19) in addition to the standard treatment. For the assessment of leukocyte counts, blood samples were taken on day 0 (before starting treatment), day 3, and day 5 after treatment. It was observed that 16 out of the nineteen dogs treated with Filgrastim in addition to standard treatment (84.21%) showed improvement. In the ST+Filg group, the median WBC and neutrophil values on the 5th day after treatment were significantly higher than on the 0th day (P=0.001, P=0.006, respectively). In addition, the median WBC, lymphocyte and neutrophil values of the dogs in the ST+Filg group on the 3rd and 5th days after treatment were found to be significantly higher than the same day measurements of the ST group (P<0.001). As a result, this study determined that filgrastim (r-metHuG-CSF) contributed positively to the improvement of leukopenia in dogs with CPE, in conjunction with clinical recovery. It was concluded that filgrastim (r-metHuG-CSF) may be included in treatment protocols as one of the immunostimulant drugs to increase leukocyte counts in the treatment of dogs with parvoviral enteritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common complication among elderly patients after surgery. The Naples Prognostic Score (NPS), a novel prognostic marker based on immune-inflammatory and nutritional status, was widely used in the assessment of the prognosis of surgical patients. However, no study has evaluated the relationship between NPS and POD. The aim of this article was to investigate the association between NPS and POD and test the predictive efficacy of preoperative NPS for POD in elderly patients with gastrointestinal tumors. Materials and methods: In the present study, we retrospectively collected perioperative data of 176 patients (≥ 60 years) who underwent elective gastrointestinal tumor surgery from June 2022 to September 2023. POD was defined according to the chart-based method and the NPS was calculated for each patient. We compared all the demographics and laboratory data between POD and non-POD groups. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore risk factors of POD. Moreover, the accuracy of NPS in predicting POD was further assessed by utilizing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: 20 had POD (11.4%) in a total of 176 patients, with a median age of 71 (65–76). The outcomes by univariate analysis pointed out that age, ASA status ≥ 3, creatinine, white blood cell count, fasting blood glucose (FBG), and NPS were associated with the risk of POD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis further showed that age, ASA grade ≥ 3, FBG and NPS were independent risk factors of POD. Additionally, the ROC curves revealed that NPS allowed better prognostic capacity for POD than other variables with the largest area under the curve (AUC) of 0.798, sensitivity of 0.800 and specificity of 0.667, respectively. Conclusion: Age, ASA grade ≥ 3, and FBG were independent risk factors for POD in the elderly underwent gastrointestinal tumor surgery. Notably, the preoperative NPS was a more effective tool in predicting the incidence of POD, but prospective trials were still needed to further validate our conclusion. Trial registration: The registration information for the experiment was shown below. (date: 3rd January 2024; number: ChiCTR2400079459) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: In this work, we evaluated the need for frequent laboratory assessments in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab and nivolumab+ipilimumab during the TITAN-RCC clinical trial. We analysed how often reached criteria for dose delay or permanent discontinuation of therapy would have been missed if the frequency of laboratory testing had been reduced, in order to avoid over-sampling patients and to optimise clinical workflow and staffing. Our study showed that if the frequency of laboratory tests had been reduced, reached dose delay criteria would hardly have been missed. This would have affected up to 1% (2/207) of patients. An exception was dose delay due to the elevation of lipase blood levels which would have been missed in up to 7% (15/207) of patients. However, these patients presented with symptoms and would have been identified based thereupon. Discontinuation criteria would have only been overlooked for lipase (2% [4/207] of patients) and amylase (0.5% [1/207] of patients). Again, these patients would have been identified, since only symptomatic patients would have needed to discontinue treatment due to amylase or lipase laboratory values. In conclusion, in asymptomatic patients in our setting, laboratory analyses do not seem to be necessary before every treatment application. In clinical trials, laboratory values are assessed with high frequency. This can be stressful for patients, resource intensive, and difficult to implement, for example in office-based settings. In the prospective, multicentre phase 2 TITAN-RCC trial (NCT02917772), we investigated how many relevant changes in laboratory values would have been missed if laboratory values had been assessed less frequently. Patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (n = 207) received a response-based approach with nivolumab and nivolumab+ipilimumab boosts for non-response. We simulated that laboratory values were obtained before every second dose instead of every dose of the study drug(s). We assessed elevated leukocyte counts, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin, creatinine, amylase, lipase, and thyroid-stimulating hormone. Dose delay and discontinuation criteria were defined according to the study protocol. With the reduced frequency of laboratory analyses, dose delay criteria were rarely missed: in a maximum of <0.1% (3/4382) of assessments (1% [2/207] of patients) during nivolumab monotherapy and in a maximum of 0.2% (1/465) of assessments (1% [1/132] of patients) during nivolumab+ipilimumab boosts. An exception was lipase-related dose delay which would have been missed in 0.6% (25/4204) of assessments (7% [15/207] of patients) during nivolumab monotherapy and in 0.8% (4/480) of assessments (3% [4/134] of patients) during nivolumab+ipilimumab boosts, but would have required the presence of symptoms. Discontinuation criteria would have only been missed for amylase (<0.1% [1/3965] of assessments [0.5% (1/207) of patients] during nivolumab monotherapy, none during nivolumab+ipilimumab boosts) and lipase (0.1% [5/4204] of assessments [2% (4/207) of patients] during nivolumab monotherapy; 0.2% [1/480] of assessments [0.7% (1/134) of patients] during nivolumab+ipilimumab boosts). However, only symptomatic patients would have had to discontinue treatment due to amylase or lipase laboratory values. In conclusion, a reduced frequency of laboratory testing appears to be acceptable in asymptomatic patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab or nivolumab+ipilimumab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Numerous studies have developed or validated prediction models aimed at estimating the likelihood of amputation in diabetic foot (DF) patients. However, the quality and applicability of these models in clinical practice and future research remain uncertain. This study conducts a systematic review and assessment of the risk of bias and applicability of amputation prediction models among individuals with DF. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO CINAHL Plus, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and Weipu (VIP) from their inception to December 24, 2023. Two investigators independently screened the literature and extracted data using the checklist for critical appraisal and data extraction for systematic reviews of prediction modeling studies. The Prediction Model Risk of Bias Assessment Tool (PROBAST) checklist was employed to evaluate both the risk of bias and applicability. Results: A total of 20 studies were included in this analysis, comprising 17 development studies and three validation studies, encompassing 20 prediction models and 11 classification systems. The incidence of amputation in patients with DF ranged from 5.9 to 58.5%. Machine learning-based methods were employed in more than half of the studies. The reported area under the curve (AUC) varied from 0.560 to 0.939. Independent predictors consistently identified by multivariate models included age, gender, HbA1c, hemoglobin, white blood cell count, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, diabetes duration, and Wagner's Classification. All studies were found to exhibit a high risk of bias, primarily attributed to inadequate handling of outcome events and missing data, lack of model performance assessment, and overfitting. Conclusions: The assessment using PROBAST revealed a notable risk of bias in the existing prediction models for amputation in patients with DF. It is imperative for future studies to concentrate on enhancing the robustness of current prediction models or constructing new models with stringent methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Pericardial effusion (PE) is a prevalent form of pericardial involvement in chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aims to investigate the clinical and laboratory features associated with PE severity in patients with CKD. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we examined the medical records of patients admitted to tertiary hospitals with International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10) codes associated with CKD and PE. We included 112 CKD patients in stage 4 and 5 non-dialysis (ND) with PE for assessing the clinical and laboratory features of severity. Results: Patients were divided into two categories based on the severity of PE. Seventy-two patients had mild and 40 had moderate and severe PE. Univariate analysis of demographic and laboratory features on the date of admission demonstrated that chest pain, dyspnea, serum albumin, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) are associated with the severity of PE. The univariate analysis on the date of echocardiography showed significantly higher white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil count (percentage and absolute count), and NLR, along with significantly lower lymphocyte percentage and serum albumin among patients with moderate and severe PE. In the multivariable analysis of laboratory features, on admission hypoalbuminemia (p-value = 0.014, OR = 4.03, CI: 1.32–12.25) and NLR greater than 5.5 (p-value = 0.015, OR = 4.22, CI: 1.32–13.50) were significantly associated with moderate and severe PE. In a parallel matter, at the time of echocardiography hypoalbuminemia (p-value = 0.004, OR = 5.38, CI: 1.74–16.65) and neutrophilia (p-value = 0.005, OR = 7.94, CI: 1.89–33.44) were significantly associated with moderate and severe PE. Conclusion: Despite advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of CKD, PE is still a concerning issue in these patients. This study revealed that hypoalbuminemia, neutrophilia, and NLR greater than 5.5 could be predictive factors of moderate and severe PE in CKD patients with PE. Further prospective study with larger sample size is needed to confirm these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ganciclovir and its prodrug, valganciclovir, are first-line agents for cytomegalovirus infection prophylaxis after lung transplantation. Although valganciclovir prophylaxis is known to result in severe leukopenia as an adverse effect, dosage adjustment based on therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of ganciclovir concentration is not generally implemented in clinical practice. Case presentation: In this report, we describe the case of a female in her fifties after lung transplantation who successfully maintained valganciclovir prophylaxis under TDM with a minimal occurrence of severe leukopenia. Valganciclovir administration was initiated at a conventional dose of 450 mg/day on postoperative day 43 but was reduced to 450 mg/2 days on postoperative day 69 because of a decrease in white blood cell count and an increase in trough ganciclovir concentration. Subsequently, the valganciclovir dose adjustment was switched from label-indicated renal function-guided dosing to TDM-based dosing, targeting a trough level of 300–800 ng/mL. This target range was determined through deliberations with infectious disease specialists and pharmacists based on previously reported data. The TDM-based dose adjustment successfully prevented cytomegalovirus reactivation without causing significant adverse effects. Valganciclovir prophylaxis was completed on postoperative day 256, and the patient was transferred to another hospital for rehabilitation. Conclusions: The findings of the present case suggest that TDM-based dosing could be helpful for clinicians in optimizing the prophylactic administration of valganciclovir in patients undergoing lung transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of traditional synthesized calcium D-pantothenate (D-PA) is accompanied with chemical pollution, therefore, the eco-friendly bio-fermentation technology has received widespread attention. In order to verify the safety of a novel D-PA product produced by genetically engineered bacteria (Escherichia coli K12), the authors of the current study investigated the influence of adding D-PA to the diet on growth performance and health status of broiler chickens. A total of 192 day-old healthy Arbor Acres broiler chickens with similar weight (43.21 ± 0.12 g) were randomly divided into 4 treatments with 6 replicates and 8 broiler chickens in each replicate (male and female in half). The Escherichia coli K12 was genetically engineered for the production of D-PA. The control group was fed with the basal diet containing 20 mg/kg synthesized D-PA (CT group). The treatments were supplemented with 20 (TCaP1 group, recommended dose group), 100 (TCaP5 group, 5-fold-dose group), and 200 (TCaP10 group, 10-fold-dose group) mg/kg bio-based D-PA product, respectively. The experiment lasted for 42 days and the growth performance and health status of broiler chickens were determined. The results indicated that the addition of 5- and 10-fold doses of bio-based D-PA could increase the average daily weight gain during 22-42 days of age and decrease the feed conversion rate during 22-42 and 1-42 days of age of broilers. There were some differences in white blood cell count, intermediate cell absolute value (MID) count, absolute granulocyte count, absolute lymphocyte count, granulocyte percentage, mean corpuscular volume, red blood cell distribution width-standard deviation, mean platelet volume and serum phosphorus and total bilirubin in different groups, compared with the CT group. Histological observations of the liver, spleen, pancreas, and small intestines showed that the tissue structures of various organs of the broiler chickens fed with the bio-based D-PA were clear, and no abnormal changes such as inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrous tissue hyperplasia were observed in all groups. In summary, dietary supplementation of bio-based D-PA was safe within the 10-fold-dose (200mg/kg) to broiler chickens during 1-42 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major global health concern, male infertility affects 8–12% of couples globally. Leukocytospermia is a complicated illness that is distinguished from other reasons causing male infertility by having high white blood cell counts in semen. The complex mechanisms behind leukocytospermia's effects on sperm function and fertility are examined in this review. Leukocytospermia induces oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that impair DNA integrity, mitochondrial function, cytoplasmic extrusion, and sperm quality overall. Leukocytospermia is exacerbated by non-infectious factors, such as substance abuse and varicocele, even though genital tract infections are a common cause. The usefulness and dependability of diagnostic techniques range from immunochemistry to direct counting. Although there is still disagreement on the most effective course of action, clinical-care techniques, such as antioxidant supplementation and antibiotic therapy, attempt to address underlying causes and reduce ROS-induced damage. Prospectively, the combination of artificial intelligence with the latest developments in artificial reproductive technologies presents opportunities for more precise diagnosis and customized treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of the article was too investigate and compare the feasibility, safety, and early postoperative recovery associated with laparoscopic partial splenectomy (LPS) and open partial splenectomy (OPS) in patients with benign splenic tumours and traumatic splenic rupture. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 110 patients undergoing splenic resection at our hospital between March 2019 and May 2022. Among them, 35 patients underwent OPS, 25 underwent LPS for traumatic splenic rupture, while 50 patients with benign splenic tumours underwent either OPS (n = 20) or LPS (n = 30). Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were collected and compared. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software. Results: There was no significant difference in the general data between the 2 groups of patients with benign splenic tumours and those with splenic trauma. Among patients with traumatic splenic rupture, the OPS group had a shorter operation time (p < 0.05). Regardless of whether they had traumatic splenic rupture or benign splenic tumours, the LPS group required less postoperative analgesia and had a shorter defecation recovery time (p < 0.05). Additionally, the LPS group displayed lower white blood cell count, white blood cell/lymphocyte ratio (WLR), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), calcitonin (PCT), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) than the OPS group on the first and third days post-surgery (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In comparison to OPS, LPS presents significant advantages, including minimal surgical trauma, a reduced early postoperative inflammatory response, milder wound pain, and a faster recovery of gastrointestinal function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research aimed to assay the role of dietary supplementation of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (LDB) and Asparagus officinalis L. (AR) root in a single form or combination (as synbiotics) on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, gut lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and multi-biomarkers against crowding stress in rainbow trout. During a 60-day feeding trial, rainbow trout (initial weight, 35.48 ± 0.34 g) were subjected to seven experimental diets including CG (control group without LDB and/or AR inclusion), LDB7 (1 × 107 CFU/g CG), LDB9 (1 × 109 CFU/g CG), AR5 (5 g/kg CG), AR10 (10 g/kg CG), LDB7 + AR5 (1 × 107 CFU/g CG + 5 g/kg CG), and LDB9 + AR10 (1 × 109 CFU/g CG + 10 g/kg CG). After 60 days, all supplemented diets with LDB and/or AR significantly improved growth performance, feed utilization, and digestive protease enzyme. Moreover, these feed additives could mitigate the stress-related effects on serum immune responses, hematocrit percentage (%), hemoglobin value, white blood cell and neutrophil counts, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities, malondialdehyde content, and cortisol and glucose value, as well as alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase levels (P < 0.05). The highest red blood cell count was obtained in the fish of the LDB7 + AR5 group at both experimental times (before and after stress). Dietary supplementation of synbiotics markedly improved amylase and lipase activities and total bacterial count (TBC) (P < 0.05). Serum catalase activity was significantly improved in response to diets supplemented with LDB7, AR5, and synbiotics at both times (P < 0.05). After stress, monocyte count in fish fed with dietary supplementation of LDB and/or AR except for the LDB7 group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Although all dietary supplements of LDB and/or AR exhibited beneficial effects on most tested parameters, synbiotic diets, especially LDB7 + AR5, provided higher efficiency on metabolic processes and microbial function. Furthermore, they strongly alleviated the negative effects of crowding stress on immune, hematological, antioxidant, and serum biochemical markers. Therefore, dietary AR5 + LDB7 is recommended for high-stocking density rainbow trout rearing systems and aquaculture operations such as fish transportation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bioactive compounds of Artemisia annua have been used as feed supplements due to their pharmacological activities. The present study examined the effect of short-term feeding with a supplemented diet on the growth, feed efficiency, intestinal morphology, stress, immune system, and antioxidant biomarkers of juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to evaluate the efficacy of using an alcoholic extract of A. annua (ae-Aa) as an additive in fish feed. Juvenile fish (200 fish, 30.43 ± 0.54 g) were distributed in 10 tanks (400 L, 20 fish/tank) corresponding to two treatments, each with five replicates. The fish were fed either a control diet (37% protein, 11% lipid: ae-Aa free) or an equivalent diet containing 0.5% ae-Aa to satiation for 15 days. Subsequently, blood, liver, and intestine samples were obtained from 10 fish per treatment group (2 fish per tank). Dietary supplementation with ae-Aa affected the leukocyte count (27.9 vs. 19.7 × 103 µL−1, ae-Aa group vs. control group), leukocyte respiratory activity (0.3 vs. 0.2 DO), and serum lysozyme concentration (28.1 vs. 22.4 ng dL−1) but not blood cells or the oxygen-carrying capacity. Treatment with ae-Aa reduced the plasma cortisol level (11.0 vs. 15.1 µL−1) but did not affect the levels of either glucose or chloride. Dietary ae-Aa influenced hepatic catalase (453.2 vs. 255.7 µmol H2O2 mg pt−1 min−1), glutathione-S-transferase (406.9 vs. 279.8 nmol mg pt−1 min−1), glutathione (4.5 vs. 2.9 nmol mg pt−1), and superoxide dismutase activity (22.4 vs. 20.1 U mg pt−1) and thus affected the antioxidant capacity, as reflected by reductions in lipid peroxidation (21.3 vs. 34.4 nmol mg pt−1) and DNA damage (26.7 vs. 32.2 µg DNA mg pt−1). Dietary ae-Aa increased the intestinal villus area and improved growth (body mass, 24.2 vs. 20.7 g; body length, 2.0 vs. 1.6 cm). Based on the above-described results, the administration of dietary ae-Aa, even for a short period, may have beneficial effects on immunity and oxidant defences and enhance the growth rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to investigate the effect of turmeric powder (Curcuma langa) and black pepper (Piper nigrum) on growth parameters, blood, immunity, and the relative expression of immune-related genes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Rainbow trout (n = 450, average weight 24.95 ± 0.70 g) were fed with four levels (0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1% of diet) of three combined levels of turmeric (C) and black pepper (P) plants (30% C + 70% P, 50% P + 50% C, 70% C + 30% P) in 10 experimental treatments each with three repetitions for 60 days. Growth, hematological and serum biochemical parameters, liver enzymes, serum immune parameters, and the expression of TNF-α and IL-8 genes were evaluated at the end of the period. Based on the results, the highest values of final weight, average daily growth, specific growth rate, and the lowest food conversion coefficient were reported at the 1% level with the 70% C + 30% P combination. Significant changes were also observed in red and white blood cell counts, hemoglobin, hematocrit, total protein, globulin, lysozyme activity, total immunoglobulin, and complement activity at the 1% level with 70% C + 30% P combination. The TNFα gene relative expression decreased significantly in all nutritional treatments with the two combined plants compared to the control. The IL8 gene expression increased significantly in fish fed with the 1% combination of the two plants (70% P + 30% C) compared to the other treatments. Based on the findings, the optimal values of the growth, blood, and immunity parameters mainly at the 1% diet level in the treatments fed with the C and P combination can result from the positive effect of these compounds on the growth performance and immunogenesis in rainbow trout fingerling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hematological alterations of bovine reticular abscess are reported in literature, but the detailed biochemical alterations and long-term outcome of bovine reticular abscess have not been reported so far and are not available in the standard textbooks. This study aims to describe clinical features, hemato-biochemical alterations, management, productive and reproductive performance, long term follow-up of reticular abscess in bovines. This prospective study was conducted on 12 bovines diagnosed with reticular abscess. All the animals were subjected to hematological and biochemical evaluation along with a healthy control group. The diseased animals were subjected to radiography, ultrasonography, and surgical treatment. The clinical findings were chronic anorexia, dehydration, persistent or recurrent tympany, scanty feces, mushy rumen, tachypnea, gradual reduction in milk yield, distended rumen, and increased fecal particle size with undigested particles in feces. Although the presence of penetrating reticular foreign bodies seemed to be the major cause, the role of non-metallic foreign bodies cannot be ruled out. Ultrasonography was more reliable than radiography in the diagnosis of reticular abscess. The majority of the reticular abscesses were single and were located cranio-ventrally. White blood cell and neutrophil counts were significantly (p < 0.05) higher while lymphocyte count was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the control values. The hematology findings can be used for tentative diagnosis of reticular abscess in bovines. Total bilirubin, aspartate aminotrasferase, total protein, globulin, fibrinogen, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine glucose, cholesterol, and lactate were significantly (p < 0.05) higher, and albumin, albumin-globulin ratio, fibrinogen ratio, potassium, chloride, and calcium were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the corresponding control values. Rumen chloride concentration was higher than the reference range. Peritoneal fluid analysis in four cases revealed septic peritonitis. Reticular abscess can lead to vagal indigestion, usually posterior functional stenosis. The conservative treatment was unsuccessful. The long-time survival rate in surgically treated animals was 66.7% and in the majority of animals, there was no effect on fetal survival or milk yield in current and subsequent lactation. Reticular abscess was primarily associated with foreign bodies in the reticulum and causes significant biochemical changes. Ultrasonography was more reliable than radiography in the diagnosis of reticular abscess. Surgical drainage into the reticular lumen usually results in a successful surgical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a promising antibiotic alternative to overcome drug-resistant bacteria by inserting into the membrane of bacteria, resulting in cell lysis. However, therapeutic applications of AMPs have been hindered by their ability to lyse eukaryotic cells. GF-17 is a truncated peptide of LL-37, which has perfect amphipathicity and a higher hydrophobicity, resulting in higher haemolytic activity. However, there is no significant difference in the cytotoxicity against human lung epithelial cells between the GF-17 and LL-37 groups, indicating that there are significant differences in the sensitivity of different human cells to GF-17. In this study, LL-37 and GF-17 were administered to mouse lungs via intranasal inoculation. Blood routine examination results showed that LL-37 did not affect the red blood cells, platelet, white blood cells and neutrophil counts, but GF-17 decreased the white blood cells and neutrophil counts with the increasing concentration of peptides. GF-17-treated mice suffer a body weight loss of about 2.3 g on average in 24 h, indicating that GF-17 is highly toxic to mice. The total cell counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from GF-17-treated mice were 4.66-fold that in the untreated group, suggesting that GF-17 treatment leads to inflammation in the lungs of mice. Similarly, the histological results showed the infiltration of neutrophils in the lungs of GF-17-treated mice. The results suggest that the administration of GF-17 in the lungs of mice does not affect the red blood cells and platelet counts in the blood but promotes neutrophil infiltration in the lungs, leading to an inflammatory response. Therefore, we established a mouse acute lung injury model to preliminarily evaluate the in vivo toxicity of AMPs. For AMPs with a clinical application value, systematic research is still needed to evaluate their acute and long-term toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the first involved joints and associated factors in Turkish patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients and methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 300 newly diagnosed and disease-modifying antirheumatic drug-naïve RA patients (240 females, 60 males; mean age: 54±1.2 years; range, 18 to 82 years). Baseline demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were evaluated between January 2022 and December 2022. The patients were divided into four groups according to autoantibody profile: antibody-negative patients (Group 1; both RF and anti-CCP were negative in this group of patients), RF-positive patients (Group 2), anti-CCP-positive patients (Group 3), and patients with dual seropositivity with RF and anti- CCP (Group 4). The patients were also divided into two groups according to the size of the first affected joint: patients with SJI at diagnosis and patients without SJI involvement at diagnosis. Results: Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody positivity rates were 40.3% and 35.6%, respectively. The mean lag time to diagnosis was 25±36 months. At the disease onset, 20% of patients did not have small joint involvement (SJI). Seronegative patients tended to be female (p=0.001), had longer lag time (p=0.001), and had lower levels of C-reactive protein (p=0.025), white blood count (p=0.005), and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (p=0.001) compared to the dual seropositive group. Patients presenting with SJI had a younger age (p=0.002), tended to be female (p=0.001), and had lower RF (p=0.034) and anti-CCP (p=0.031) positivity. Only age (p=0.005) and dual seronegativity (RF and anti-CCP; p=0.035) were the independent predictors of SJI in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The decreasing age and seronegative status were defined as independent risk factors of SJI at the onset of RA. Population-based, prospective studies are needed for earlier diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) enteritis is a condition in which MRSA grows abnormally in the intestine after administration of antimicrobial agents, resulting in enteritis. Patients with MRSA detected in stool culture tests are often diagnosed with MSRA enteritis. However, uncertainty remains in the diagnostic criteria; therefore, we conducted epidemiological studies to define these cases. Patients and Methods: Patients who tested positive for MRSA by stool culture using selective media 48 h after admission to Kochi Medical School Hospital between April 1, 2012, and December 31, 2022, and did not meet the exclusion criteria were included. We defined MRSA enteritis (Group A) as cases that were responsive to treatment with vancomycin hydrochloride powder, had a Bristol Stool Scale of ≥ 5, and a stool frequency of at least three times per day; all others were MRSA carriers (Group B). Multivariate analysis was performed to risk factors associated with MRSA enteritis. Results: Groups A and B included 18 (25.4%) and 53 (74.6%) patients, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a white blood cell count of > 10000/μL (odds ratio [OR], 5.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12– 26.9), MRSA count of ≥ 2+ in stool cultures (OR, 8.91; 95% CI, 1.79– 44.3), and meropenem administration within 1 month of stool specimen submission (OR, 7.47; 95% CI, 1.66– 33.6) were risk factors of MRSA enteritis. Conclusion: The case definitions reviewed for MRSA enteritis may be useful as diagnostic criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in feline medicine is currently unavailable, while in canine medicine it has been rediscovered due to the introduction of an automated ESR device. Our aims were to (1) define the reference interval (RI) of the ESR in healthy cats, (2) evaluate the ESR values between healthy and ill cats, (3) evaluate relationships between the ESR and some inflammatory markers, and (4) assess ESR changes in different durations of illness (acute, chronic, or acute-on-chronic). A prospective multicentric cohort study on 200 client-owned cats: 57 healthy cats and 143 ill cats for the other aims. Healthy cats were blood donors, or young cats underwent desexing procedures. Ill cats with full clinical medical records, hematobiochemical profiles, and diagnostic procedures to reach a final diagnosis were included. The ESR was performed with MINI-PET using the same K3-EDTA tubes used for CBC, with no additional sample required. The total leukocyte count (WBC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), fibrinogen, serum amyloid A, and albumin/globulin ratio (A/G) were concurrently measured. Based on the clinical presentation and the final diagnosis, cats were classified as having the following: acute, chronic, and acute-on-chronic conditions. The RI of the ESR ranged between 1 and 23 mm/h. Ill cats showed a significantly higher ESR (median 29 mm/h; range 12–46 mm/h) than healthy cats (median 10 mm/h; range 1–12 mm/h; p < 0.0001). The ESR was positively correlated only with fibrinogen (p < 0.001 ; r = 0.43). Cats with acute-on-chronic diseases had the highest ESR (median 47 mm/h; range 35–56 mm/h) compared with acute (median 16 mm/h; range 14–42 mm/h; p = 0.003) and chronic cats (median 14 mm/h; range 10–31 mm/h; p < 0.0001). Although further studies are needed, the ESR could be a useful ancillary inflammatory marker in cats, specifically in cats with acute diseases, with or without an underlying chronic condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]