Articles

Currently, newer strategies are being implemented regarding WATCHMAN placement in the community hospital, such as same-day discharge (SDD). The safety of this protocol needs to be further assessed. The study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of SDD versus non-SDD in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who underwent WATCHMAN placement by comparing baseline demographics and post-procedure outcomes.

Mycobacterial inorganic pyrophosphatase (Mt-PPa) plays an essential role in Mycobacterium tuberculosis survival both in vitro and in vivo. This enzyme family hydrolyzes inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) to release inorganic phosphate (Pi), thereby preventing pyrophosphate toxicity. The M. tuberculosis gene Rv3628 encodes a type I inorganic pyrophosphatase that exhibits metal-ion-dependent catalytic activity.

Insects conform large numbers of parasites and pathogens in diverse habitats. Cuticular structures on their body surfaces and secreted membranes in their digestive tracts are the first defensive barriers to prevent entry of invading organisms. Across the extended range of genera and species, insects acquired common first front defensive mechanisms. 

Metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors are a family of G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are widely distributed in the brain and are critical for the modulation of synaptic transmission and plasticity. Emerging evidence shows that mGlu receptors themselves are subject to a dynamic posttranslational modification involving protein ubiquitination. 

Methamphetamine-induced psychosis (MIP) usually resolves within days to weeks after stopping drug use. However, some vulnerable individuals may experience prolonged symptoms. We present the case of a woman who developed long-lasting psychotic symptoms following minimal methamphetamine exposure, shedding light on risk factors and the importance of holistic care.

The purpose of this study is to perform an analysis of 51 community health needs assessments (CHNAs) qualitatively and quantitatively (mixed methods) for evidence of the presence or lack of the identification of syndemics, which is defined as two or more physiological conditions, exacerbated by a cultural factor that gives rise to a health problem. This research uses a book chapter titled, Suicide as Syndemic—physiological effects of high altitude and physiological and behavioral manifestations of mental illness, exacerbated by the Cowboy Culture as a referent.

Defining profound intellectual disability remains a major clinical and conceptual challenge. Traditional approaches have sought criteria such as an estimated IQ below 20 or developmental-age equivalence under 24 or 36 months. However, these criteria are of limited utility when cognitive impairment is combined with severe motor, sensory, and health-related disabilities.

This paper examines the consequence of the prevalence of disability on eligible rural households’ voluntary enrolment decisions in Ethiopia's community-based health insurance scheme in Ethiopia. It uses data from the Ethiopian Socio-Economic Survey and estimates the multivariate probit model.

For decades, psychopharmacology has focused on chemical modulation rather than biological repair. Emerging evidence across cellular, molecular, and systems neuroscience suggests that the adult brain retains dormant capacities for renewal that can be pharmacologically reactivated. Regenerative pharmacology reframes treatment as a process of biological reactivation, reawakening latent plasticity to rebuild damaged circuits rather than merely stabilizing neurotransmission.

Intellectual disability (ID) is a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in intellectual and adaptive functioning. Comprehensive cognitive and adaptive behavior assessments are essential for investigating its underlying causes. While environmental factors contribute, particularly in mild cases, genetic etiologies predominate in moderate to severe forms, accounting for over 50% of these cases. This review explores the complex genomic architecture of ID, including chromosomal abnormalities, monogenic disorders, de novo mutations, polygenic inheritance, and epigenetic dysregulation.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has revolutionized the management of refractory hematologic malignancies such as leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, offering unprecedented remission rates. Yet, complications arising from infections remain a major challenge, particularly in the early post-infusion period and during prolonged immune suppression. This editorial synthesizes recent evidence (2021–2025) on infection epidemiology, risk factors, and stewardship strategies in CAR T-cell recipients.

Will SARS-CoV-2 continue to evolve in such a way that the risk of long COVID may one day become negligible? Theoretically, it's possible, but based on what we've seen so far, it's quite doubtful.
Long COVID is a debilitating and persistent illness that affects people in multiple and dynamic ways. It occurs after a SARS-CoV-2 infection and manifests as a continuous, relapsing-remitting, or progressive disease state affecting one or more organ systems. It can occur after an asymptomatic, mild, or severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is a rare form of single-organ vasculitis, as classified by the 2012 Chapel Hill Consensus Conference. It affects small- and medium-sized vessels within the brain and spinal cord, arises independently of systemic disease, manifests with heterogeneous clinical features, and remains without definitive diagnostic biomarkers.

To evaluate therapeutic innovations for chronic joint diseases (gout and osteoarthritis [OA]) in China, focusing on mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy, and AI-enhanced health-care models, and to propose a multidisciplinary framework optimizing disease management while addressing health-care disparities.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting approximately 30% of individuals with psoriasis, while myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder caused by antibodies targeting acetylcholine receptors, leading to progressive muscle weakness. Although autoimmune diseases often coexist, concurrent presentation of PsA and MG is exceedingly rare and poorly documented. 

Treatment burden significantly impacts patient adherence and quality of life when it comes to chronic conditions requiring frequent medical interventions. Intravitreal injections are administered to over 20 million patients globally annually, yet the associated treatment burden remains poorly quantified in Irish healthcare settings. This study aimed to assess treatment burden and identify key predictors among patients receiving intravitreal injections for retinal conditions at a tertiary eye center in Ireland.

Chromosome dynamics—including segregation fidelity, nuclear architecture, micronuclei formation, and chromothripsis—plays a central role in cancer evolution, intra-tumoral heterogeneity, and therapy resistance. Defective mitosis and subsequent chromosomal mis-segregation rapidly generate aneuploidy and structural rearrangements, accelerating tumor adaptation under selective pressures.

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness in diabetic patients, and its onset and progression are influenced by inflammation. This article provides an overview of local inflammatory biomarker research in diabetic retinopathy, covering serum, aqueous humor, vitreous inflammatory factors, and retinal inflammation markers. Through a systematic review and analysis, we found that inflammatory biomarkers play a crucial role in the prediction, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetic retinopathy, as well as in understanding its pathological mechanisms and improving clinical diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. 

To evaluate the real-world safety and effectiveness of risankizumab in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), using clinical outcomes and faecal calprotectin (FCP) as markers of response. A retrospective observational study was conducted at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of IBD who were initiated on risankizumab were included. Clinical outcomes, FCP levels, and treatment tolerability were assessed. As FCP values were non-normally distributed (Shapiro–Wilk p < 0.05), the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare pre-and post-treatment values.

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a 16-week at-home high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Eight individuals (3 females) with chronic SCI below the sixth thoracic vertebrae participated in a 16-week at-home HIIT program using an arm ergometer. Participants completed baseline graded exercise tests to determine target heart rate zones.