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The platelet count, mean platelet volume, and other hematological parameters were compared in blood samples anticoagulated with MgSO 4 and EDTA. A total of 15 samples were taken, and the platelet counts were observed to be significantly high in MgSO 4 -anticoagulated blood samples ranging from 53 × 10 3 to 499 × 10 3 /µL, whereas in EDTA-anticoagulated blood samples, the counts ranged from 10 × 10 3 to 353 × 10 3 /µL. This increased platelet count was also statistically significant with the P value being .005. The morphology of red blood cells and white blood cells in Leishman-stained smears from MgSO 4 -anticoagulated blood was below average. In conclusion, MgSO 4 can be used as an alternative anticoagulant only to estimate the platelet counts in EDTA-induced pseudothrombocytopenia.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a highly prevalent and debilitating disorder of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) affecting millions globally. It imposes a significant burden on healthcare systems and is a leading cause of workplace absenteeism. IBS is classified into several subtypes based on predominant presenting symptoms, including IBS with constipation (IBS-C) and IBS with diarrhea (IBS-D), with each requiring targeted approaches to treatment. Some treatments, such as psychotherapy, dietary intervention, and medications like tricyclic antidepressants, are nonspecific and recommended for managing IBS symptoms across all subtypes. In contrast, therapies like secretagogues for IBS-C and eluxadoline or rifaximin for IBS-D are subtype-specific. However, many IBS treatments carry conditional recommendations and are based on low-certainty evidence, emphasizing the need for further research to expand the available treatment options. This review compares the latest IBS management guidelines from the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA), American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG), and European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility (ESNM). Pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies, including established and emerging interventions, will be explored to provide a comprehensive guide to management.

The prevalence of concomitant deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and its impact on 30-day outcomes in Hispanic patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is unknown. We retrospectively studied a cohort of Hispanic patients admitted for acute PE to determine the relationship of concomitant DVT to clot burden on chest computer tomography (CT), right heart strain, and 30-day mortality. We identified 391 patients admitted with acute PE; 168 (42.9%) had concomitant DVTs on admission; 39 patients (9.9%) died during the 30-day follow-up: 12 patients without concomitant DVT and 27 with concomitant DVT, respectively ( p < .001). The presence of a proximal DVT independently predicted 30-day mortality even after adjusting for age, gender and admission PE severity index scores (PESI) (hazard ratio [HR] 2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4-3.0, p = .001). Proximal DVTs remained a significant predictor of 30-day mortality in patients with low and intermediate PESI scores (HR 2.5; 95% CI: 1.1-6.0, p = .035). The prevalence of concomitant DVT in Hispanic patients presenting with acute DVT is relatively lower than other ethnic groups. However, a proximal location of a DVT is of significant prognostic relevance. Hispanic patients with acute PE should routinely undergo compression doppler ultrasonography (CDUS) of the lower extremities., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between preventative dental practices and cardiometabolic health in adolescents., Method and Materials: Analysis included children aged 13 to 17 years enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2018 who completed an Oral Health Examination and Questionnaire. Deferred dental care was defined as not having a dental visit in the past year. Financial barriers to seeking dental care (vs no financial barriers) were assessed among those with deferred dental care in the past year. Primary cardiometabolic outcomes included obesity, elevated blood pressure, and hypertensive blood pressure. Secondary outcomes included dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, uric acid, glomerular hyperfiltration, and albuminuria. Regression models adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, household income, food insecurity, health insurance status, household education, and body mass index z-score examined associations using complex survey design procedures., Results: Of 2,861 adolescents, 17.6% (SE 0.9%) did not receive dental care in the past year and 20.2% (SE 1.9%) had a financial barrier to accessing dental care. In adjusted regression models, adolescents with deferred dental care had higher odds of dyslipidemia (odds ratio [OR]= 1.51, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.11, P = .020). Having a financial barrier was associated with lower odds of dyslipidemia (OR = 0.35, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.89, P = .03). Financial barriers were associated with lower non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (b = -7.95, 95% CI -14.87 to -1.05, P = .03) and higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (b = 3.06, 95% CI 0.37 to 5.75, P = .03) in adjusted models. Deferred dental care and financial barriers were not associated with any other cardiometabolic parameters., Conclusion: In this nationally representative cohort of adolescents, there was an association between lack of preventative dental care and the cardiometabolic health marker of dyslipidemia. However, financial barriers to dental care were surprisingly associated with higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and lower odds of dyslipidemia.

Background and Aims: To assess the association between dental caries and cardiometabolic risk in adolescents., Methods and Results: The analysis included adolescents aged 13-17 years enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2018 who completed an Oral Health Examination. Untreated caries was defined as having one or more decayed teeth. Caries experience was assessed by Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT) score. Primary cardiometabolic outcomes included elevated BP (defined as BP 120-129/<80 mmHg) and hypertensive BP (defined as BP ≥ 130/80 mmHg). Secondary cardiometabolic outcomes included obesity, dyslipidemia (defined as any abnormal lipid level), glucose intolerance (measured by HOMA-IR), and microalbuminuria (defined as urine albumin: creatinine ≥30 mg/mg). Adjusted linear and logistic models examined associations using complex survey design procedures. In the sample of 2861 adolescents, 25.6 % (1.3 %) had untreated caries. 55.4 % (1.3 %) had DMFT ≥1. In adjusted regression analyses, untreated caries status was not significantly associated with primary outcomes of elevated BP (OR = 1.04, 95 % CI 0.71, 1.52 p > 0.05), hypertensive BP (OR = 1.72, 95 % CI 0.71, 3.89 p > 0.05), nor secondary cardiometabolic outcomes. No statistically significant associations were found between DMFT score and primary outcomes of elevated BP (OR = 0.01, 95 % CI 0.34, 1.07 p > 0.05), hypertensive BP (OR = 0.91, 95 % CI 0.81, 1.08 p > 0.05), or secondary cardiometabolic outcomes., Conclusion: Although studies in other countries and in adults show associations between caries and cardiometabolic outcomes, this study did not find an association between caries and cardiometabolic markers., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest C.Sethna was on an advisory board for Travere Therapeutics., (Copyright © 2024 The Italian Diabetes Society, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Senescent cells, which accumulate in organisms over time, contribute to age-related tissue decline. Genetic ablation of senescent cells can ameliorate various age-related pathologies, including metabolic dysfunction and decreased physical fitness. While small-molecule drugs that eliminate senescent cells ('senolytics') partially replicate these phenotypes, they require continuous administration. We have developed a senolytic therapy based on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting the senescence-associated protein urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), and we previously showed these can safely eliminate senescent cells in young animals. We now show that uPAR-positive senescent cells accumulate during aging and that they can be safely targeted with senolytic CAR T cells. Treatment with anti-uPAR CAR T cells improves exercise capacity in physiological aging, and it ameliorates metabolic dysfunction (for example, improving glucose tolerance) in aged mice and in mice on a high-fat diet. Importantly, a single administration of these senolytic CAR T cells is sufficient to achieve long-term therapeutic and preventive effects., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Cytarabine is an antimetabolite used in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia which acts by inhibiting DNA synthesis and subsequently cell division. It works on rapidly dividing cells, for that reason, it affects cancer cells, bone marrow and skin cells. Cytarabine has variable cutaneous side effects, the most common one is palmar-plantar erythema which usually presents with a tingling sensation around 5-7 days after cytarabine initiation, followed by erythema and tenderness. Auricular erythema is a rare subtype involving bilateral ears which often presents as ear redness and tenderness as described in the presented case. It is unclear if the skin side effects are related to cytarabine dose or plasma concentration. Most cases of auricular erythema have a benign course and resolve spontaneously. Treatment is mainly conservative. Steroids and antihistamines can be used to speed up recovery given that the pathophysiology is thought to be immediate or due to a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to cytarabine., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Botros et al.)

Aims: To outline key factors that contribute to oral health issues of refugees and asylum seekers and provide management strategies for dental providers to teach desensitization and fear reduction for this special population., Methods and Results: We researched published literature in the PubMed database and incorporated lessons gained from treating refugee and asylee patients at a Vulnerable Populations Clinic (VPC) at an urban academic dental school. Refugees and asylees are at high risk for oral conditions due to a tendency to not seek routine dental treatment, psychological stressors, and various systemic factors. Oral health providers can teach patients desensitization and fear reduction by working to gain patients' trust by having effective communication and prioritizing comfort in the dental operatory. Providers should also utilize translation, psychological, and/or multicultural support services during their management of care., Conclusion: By having a stronger understanding of the key causes of oral health issues among refugees and asylees in the United States, dental providers can better approach managing care for this vulnerable patient population. The concepts of teaching desensitization and fear reduction utilized for this special population can be applied to managing care for the wider special needs patient community., (© 2022 Special Care Dentistry Association and Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Senescent cells accumulate in organisms over time because of tissue damage and impaired immune surveillance and contribute to age-related tissue decline 1,2 . In agreement, genetic ablation studies reveal that elimination of senescent cells from aged tissues can ameliorate various age-related pathologies, including metabolic dysfunction and decreased physical fitness 3-7 . While small-molecule drugs capable of eliminating senescent cells (known as 'senolytics') partially replicate these phenotypes, many have undefined mechanisms of action and all require continuous administration to be effective. As an alternative approach, we have developed a cell-based senolytic therapy based on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting uPAR, a cell-surface protein upregulated on senescent cells, and previously showed these can safely and efficiently eliminate senescent cells in young animals and reverse liver fibrosis 8 . We now show that uPAR-positive senescent cells accumulate during physiological aging and that they can be safely targeted with senolytic CAR T cells. Treatment with anti uPAR CAR T cells ameliorates metabolic dysfunction by improving glucose tolerance and exercise capacity in physiological aging as well as in a model of metabolic syndrome. Importantly, a single administration of a low dose of these senolytic CAR T cells is sufficient to achieve long-term therapeutic and preventive effects., Competing Interests: Competing Interests C.A., J.F., M.S. and S.W.L. are listed as the inventors of several patent applications (62/800,188; 63/174,277; 63/209,941; 63/209,940; 63/209,915; 63/209,924; 17/426,728; 3,128,368; 20748891.7; 2020216486) related to senolytic CAR T cells. C.A., M.S. and S.W.L. are advisors for Fate Therapeutics. S.W.L. also has provided consultancy for and had equity in Oric Pharmaceuticals, Blueprint Medicines, Mirimus Inc, Senecea Therapeutics, Faeth Therapeutics, and PMV Pharmaceuticals. D.A.T. is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board and receives stock options from Leap Therapeutics, Dunad Therapeutics, Cygnal Therapeutics and Mestag Therapeutics outside the submitted work. D.A.T. is scientific co-founder of Mestag Therapeutics. D.A.T. has received research grant support from Fibrogen, Mestag, and ONO Therapeutics. D.A.T. receives grant funding from the Lustgarten Foundation, the NIH, and the Thompson Foundation. None of this work is related to the publication. No other disclosures were reported. R.L.L. is on the supervisory board of Qiagen and is a scientific advisor to Imago, Mission Bio, Zentalis, Ajax, Auron, Prelude, C4 Therapeutics and Isoplexis. R.L.L. receives research support from Ajax, Zentalis and Abbvie and has consulted for Incyte, Janssen and Astra Zeneca and has received honoraria from Astra Zeneca for invited lectures. L.W.J owns stock in Pacyclex, Inc., and Illuminosonics, Inc. M.S. holds other unrelated patents on CAR technologies. S.W.L is an advisor for and has equity in the following biotechnology companies: ORIC Pharmaceuticals, Faeth Therapeutics, Blueprint Medicines, Geras Bio, Mirimus Inc., PMV Pharmaceuticals and Constellation Pharmaceuticals.