Press review
The essentials of recent medical publications, unpacked by our newsroom into a clear, sourced digest, specialty by specialty.
Pharmacology and ToxicologyNanoparticles to deliver a pancreatic cancer drug
Researchers here have synthesized a prodrug, squalenoyl-chidamide, binding lipophilic squalene to the hydrophilic antitumor drug chidamide via trypsin-sensitive binding. The nanoparticles developed showed significantly higher in vitro drug release in 0.5% trypsin medium, compared with release in trypsin-free medium. In vitro cellular uptake tests revealed a two- to four-fold higher permeation of n
InfectiologyNK cell dysfunction in acute HIV infection
Here, researchers studied the timing of NK cell dysfunction during acute HIV infection, and the impact of early initiation of antiretroviral therapy. Data were collected on HIV-infected patients (all men who have sex with men, mean age 26) and HIV-uninfected participants. The proportions of adaptive NK cells increased at the time of HIV diagnosis at all Fiebig stages and were not altered by early
Endocrinology and MetabolismTriglyceride-glucose index and chest pain
The triglyceride-glucose index is a simple marker of insulin resistance, linked to cardiovascular disease. In this study, researchers evaluated the association between this index, chest pain and all-cause mortality in patients with and without chest pain. The data showed a positive correlation between the triglyceride-glucose index and chest pain, even after adjusting for potential confounding fac
Anesthesia and Intensive CareWhich induction agent for myocardial infarction patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation ?
Patients with acute myocardial infarction requiring invasive mechanical ventilation have a high mortality. In this study, researchers evaluated the association between induction agent and mortality in 5,147 patients in this setting. They compared clinical outcomes between those receiving propofol (1,386 patients) and those receiving etomidate (3,761 patients). Patients in the propofol group were m
Dermatology and VenereologyTofacitinib in vitiligo
Vitiligo is a skin depigmentation disease resulting from the destruction of melanocytes, often concomitant with autoimmune diseases such as hyperthyroidism or systemic lupus erythematosus. The efficacy of available treatments for vitiligo varies considerably. In this case study, researchers report on a patient with vitiligo and systemic lupus erythematosus. After 30 days' treatment with tofacitini
Gastroenterology and HepatologyUltra-short celiac disease
Ultra-short celiac disease is defined as villous atrophy present only in the duodenal bulb with concomitant positive celiac serology. In this first international multicenter study of this specific form of celiac disease, 137 patients were included, with a median age of 27 years, and their data compared with those of matched patients with conventional celiac disease. Patients were younger than the
DentistryAI in dentistry
The applications of artificial intelligence in dentistry are still poorly explored. In this study, the researchers evaluated, on the one hand, the efficiency and accuracy of dental students in mounting sets of full oral radiographs, with and without the aid of AI, and on the other hand, dental students' perceptions of AI in clinical teaching. An AI-based interface for mounting radiographs was desi
PediatricsGender differences in children's developmental stages
In this nationwide retrospective cross-sectional study, researchers explored sex-related differences in the development of developmental disorders, in order to assess the clinical need for distinct sex-specific scales. In total, the main cohort consisted of 839,574 children followed from birth to age 6 in around 1,000 maternal and child health facilities. The researchers assessed gender difference
Urology-nephrologyMetabolites of the tricarboxylic acid pathway in the progression of chronic renal failure
In this study, researchers evaluated the association between metabolites of the tricarboxylic acid pathway and the risk of progression to chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. Urinary lactate, pyruvate, citrate, alpha-ketoglutarate, succinate, fumarate and malate were measured by mass spectrometry. Over a median follow-up of 9.2 years, urinary lactate, fumarate and malate were a
PediatricsLong-term consequences of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
The aim of this large-scale, single-center study was to assess the long-term health outcomes of survivors of pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. A total of 228 children and adolescents were included in the study. The researchers were particularly interested in the incidence of endocrinopathies, fertility, growth, bone and metabolic status, as well as subsequent malignanci
Cardiology and Vascular MedicineText messaging for monitoring cardiovascular disease
In this update to a Cochrane review published in 2017, researchers assessed the benefits and drawbacks of cell phone text messaging to improve medication adherence in people with cardiovascular disease, compared with usual care. To the 7 studies previously included, 11 were added for a total of 8,136 participants. Participants, with a mean age of 53-64 years, suffered from a variety of cardiovascu
PsychiatryCerebral pH and lactates in neuropsychiatric disorders
Increased lactate levels have been suggested as a biomarker of metabolic changes during neuronal excitation. These changes in lactate levels can lead to a decrease in brain pH, a trend observed in patients with various neuropsychiatric disorders. Such alterations are observed in mouse models of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and autism. Here we present data collected by the International Consorti