Clinical Investigations - Science topic

Recent studies have suggested an evolving understanding of the association between vaping, specifically electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use, and the progression of atherosclerosis, a significant contributor to cardiovascular disease. Despite the prevailing perception of vaping as a safer alternative to traditional tobacco smoking, accumulating e...

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the most aggressive form of breast cancer, presents a significant mortality risk owing to its elevated potential for metastasis. The overexpression of Murine Double Minute 2 homolog (MDM2) protein, a key suppressor of tumour suppressor p53, in TNBC amplifies its growth, advancement, and invasiveness. Thus, inhi...

Citation: Lucenti, L.; Maffulli, N.; Bardazzi, T.; Pipino, G.; Pappalardo, G.; Migliorini, F. No Effect of Cigarette Smoking in the Outcome of Arthroscopic Management for Femoroacetabular Impingement: A Systematic Review. J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13, 7214. https://doi. Abstract: Background: The impact of smoking in arthroscopic surgery for femoroacetabo...

We thank Drs Mendoza and Irwin for the insightful editorial on our paper [1, 2]. Allostatic load (AL), which represents the cumulative wear and tear on multiple organs and tissues resulting from various stressors throughout life, may serve as a pivotal lever to explore the association between chronic stress and the development and progression of in...

Objective This study aims to compare the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of two cases of type I sialidosis in Chinese children with those reported in prior literature. The goal is to elucidate the clinical and genetic features of type I sialidosis. Methods Clinical investigations and genetic analyses were conducted on an 11-year-...

Background/Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM), a widespread endocrine disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, can cause nerve damage and increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Effective blood glucose management is essential, and sitagliptin (SITG), a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor, may o...

How essential is the randomised trial in cancer therapeutics? Is it conceivable that prospective randomised clinical trials in cancer medicine could, one day, safely be abandoned in favour of Phase II studies supplemented with real-world data from cancer centres, without detriment to the progress of cancer therapeutics or the welfare of cancer suff...

Recently, a deep learning algorithm (DLA) has been developed to predict the chronological age from retinal images. The Retinal Age Gap (RAG), a deviation between predicted age from retinal images (Retinal Age, RA) and chronological age, correlates with mortality and age-related diseases. This study evaluated the reliability and accuracy of RA predi...

Postpartum depression (PPD) represents a important emotional disorder emerging after childbirth, characterized by its complex etiology and challenging management. Despite extensive preclinical and clinical investigations underscoring the role of estrogen fluctuations and estrogen receptor genes in PPD, the precise mechanisms underpinning this condi...

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) represents an aggressive neuroendocrine (NE) tumor within the pulmonary region, characterized by very poor prognoses. Druggable targets for SCLC remain limited, thereby constraining treatment options available to patients. Immuno-chemotherapy has emerged as a pivotal therapeutic strategy for extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SC...

Carapa procera DC (C. procera), Trichilia monadelpha (Thonn.) J.J.de Wilde (T. monadelpha), Spathodea campanulata P.Beauv (S. campanulata) and Gymnosporia senegalensis Loes (G. senegalensis) are medicinal plants which are used folklorically in Ghana, West Africa, for the treatment and management of diseases. However, there is little scientific evid...

Objectives Flavonoid compounds exhibit remarkable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in DCM and various other diseases. However, the specific mechanisms by which Tricin, 4’,5,7-trihydroxy-3‘,5’-dimethoxyflavone, exerts its effects in the context of DCM remain to be elucidated. Methods Rat H9C2 cells were cultured and subjected to high gl...

Background Broad-scale, rapid health care change is critically needed to improve value-based, effective health care. Health care providers and systems need to address common barriers and facilitators across the evidence to implementation pathway, across diverse specialties. However, most evidence translation / implementation research evaluates sing...

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a predominant pathogen responsible for respiratory tract infections among infants, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. In recent years, significant progress has been made in innovative vaccines and therapeutic agents targeting RSV. Nevertheless, numerous challenges and bottlenecks persist in the prev...

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) represents a significant clinical challenge due to its complex pathophysiology, limited therapeutic options, and growing prevalence, particularly in aging populations. Sacubitril/valsartan, an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI), has emerged as a potential therapeutic intervention...

Background Genomic profiling of advanced solid cancer in patients with no further evidence based standard treatment options is a novel approach to identify potential experimental treatment options based on specific genomic alterations. Due to the expected short survival of these patients timely assessment of potential druggable targets is critical...

Esophageal cancer remains a formidable challenge in oncology, characterized by its poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Recent investigations have unveiled the potential of repurposing existing drugs for cancer treatment. Notably, etomidate, an anesthetic agent traditionally used for inducing general anesthesia, has emerged as a promisin...

Hypoxic‐ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a neurologic condition that is caused by insufficient oxygen and blood flow to a newborn infant’s brain. Although therapeutic hypothermia can reduce the degree of brain injury in some infants with HIE, many infants with HIE will have significant lifelong disabilities despite receiving this treatment. Several...

Background In the tumor microenvironment (TME), the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) signaling axes are complementary, nonredundant immunosuppressive signaling pathways. Studies have revealed that active TGF-β is mainly released from the glycoprotein A repetitions pre...

Enamel Development Defects (EDD) are some of the dilemmas that can be found in a daily clinical routine. EDD are disorders of dental enamel (lack of mineral formation) that impacts the tooth's shape, structure, and appearance. Also, most of the time it presents dentin hypersensitivity. These issues have encouraged scientists all over the globe to d...

Understanding the interrelationship between the gut microbiota and host physiology, although still in its relative infancy, has taken important steps forward over the past decade. In the context of brain disorders including those characterized by neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative changes there have been important advances. However, initially...

Questions and recommendations from the prior version of these guidelines without change Target population Adult patients (older than 18 years of age) with newly diagnosed World Health Organization (WHO) Grade II gliomas (Oligodendroglioma, astrocytoma, mixed oligoastrocytoma). Question Is there a role for chemotherapy as adjuvant therapy of choice...

The uncontrolled emergence of multidrug-resistant mycobacterial strains presents as the primary determinant of the present crisis in antimycobacterial therapeutics and underscores tuberculosis (TB) as a daunting global health concern. There is an urgent requirement for drug development for the treatment of TB. Numerous novel molecules are presently...

Background Activation of endothelial cells and platelets in atherothrombosis is characterized by upregulation of P-selectin. As a consequence, P-selectin represents a potential target for molecular imaging to identify thrombosis at an early stage. Fucoidan is a polysaccharide ligand extracted from brown algae with nanomolar affinity for P-selectin....

Background Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most prevalent type of hair loss. Traditionally, treatment for AGA has primarily involved the topical application of minoxidil in conjunction with oral finasteride or spironolactone. Recently, platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) has emerged as a significant focus of research in hair loss treatment. However, many...

Virtual evaluation of medical therapy through human‐based modelling and simulation can accelerate and augment clinical investigations. Treatment of the most common cardiac arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation (AF), requires novel approaches. This study prospectively evaluates and mechanistically explains three novel pharmacological therapies for AF thro...

Background Anti‐freeze Glycoproteins (AFGPs) were described to preserve biological materials and protect them from different stresses. Aims The effects of a synthetic anti‐freeze glycoprotein‐based compound, TFC‐1326, on human skin quality and its biological actions were studied. Methods The effects of various concentrations of TFC‐1326 on the bi...

Port-wine stains (PWS) are congenital vascular malformations characterized by capillary malformations that persist and often darken over time. Traditional treatment methods, including laser therapy, have shown varying degrees of effectiveness and can be associated with significant side effects. Hematoporphyrin Monomethyl Ether-Photodynamic Therapy...

Purpose of Review This review examines the role of different viral infections in epileptogenesis, with a focus on Herpesviruses such as Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and Epstein Barr Virus (EBV), Flaviviruses, Picornaviruses, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Influenzavirus and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Recent F...

Background/Objectives: Emerging data support evidence of the essential role of glucagon for lipid metabolism. However, data on the role of dietary fat intake for glucagon secretion is limited. This analysis investigated whether altering nutritional fat intake affects glucagon levels in healthy subjects. Methods: A total of 92 twins (age: 31 ± 14 ye...

Substance use disorders (SUDs), including cocaine use disorder (CUD), have significant negative health risks and impose a substantial social burden, yet effective treatments are limited. Pregnenolone, a neuroactive steroid precursor, has been shown to reduce alcohol craving and normalize stress biology in individuals with CUD, but its clinical util...

Background Robot-assisted transabdominal preperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (rTAPP) has been established with various robotic platforms. The Dexter robotic system is an open platform consisting of a sterile surgeon’s console, two robotic instrument arms, and one robotic endoscope arm. This study aimed to confirm the perioperative and early postop...

Objective Brief exposure to intermittent hypoxia has been shown to potentially induce protective effects in the body. Animal studies suggest that intermittent hypoxia could increase cerebral blood flow and confer resistance to subsequent hypoxic–ischemic injury, yet clinical investigations are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a m...

Background Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an aggressive malignancy with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Platelet-Derived Growth Factor CC (PDGF-CC) has been implicated in the progression of various tumors, but its specific role in CCA is not well understood. This study aims to investigate the expression and function of PDGF-CC in CCA and...

Despite significant progress in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), relapsed/refractory patients urgently require more effective therapies. We here describe the discovery, mechanism of action, and preclinical anti‐MM activity of engineered toxin body MT‐0169, a next‐generation immunotoxin comprising a CD38‐specific antibody fragment linked to a...

Background Osteosarcoma is the most prevalent among primary bone malignancies, and its standard intervention involves neoadjuvant chemotherapy - surgical adjuvant chemotherapy (MAP regimen) with adriamycin, cisplatin, and high-dose methotrexate. Early-stage osteosarcoma can be effectively treated with surgical resection along with chemotherapy or r...

Objective This study evaluated the influence of tooth shade, resin-based luting agent shade values, and ceramic thickness on the optical properties of CLVs. Materials and methods The study involved 16 participants who received 95 CLVs. CIE L*, a*, b* color coordinates were assessed with a clinical spectrophotometer. Variables considered were: luti...

Objective To explore the cost-effectiveness of midomafetamine-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) compared to placebo with therapy (PT) in US healthcare settings. Methods A health state-transition model was used to analyze the cost-effectiveness of MDMA-AT for treating patients with chronic PTSD of moderate or higher severity. Both treatment arms consisted...

Focusing on article and citation count, this study examined 110 academic journals whose papers on COVID-19 were indexed in PubMed from 2020 to 2023. To analyze these journals' characteristics, this study introduced the concepts of paper ratio, citation ratio, and citation impact. Journals with similar trends in paper and citation count were positio...

The development of DNA damage response (DDR)-directed therapies is a major area of clinical investigation, yet to date Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors remain the only approved therapy in this space. Major challenges to DDR-targeted therapies in the post-PARPi era are the context dependency of DDR alterations and the presence of pre-e...

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful and debilitating disease which has no cure and there are no treatments which can predictably stop/reverse its progression. Treating this disease is particularly difficult since the articular cartilage lacks intrinsic repair capacity even though mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are present in the joint environment and h...

Background Different bar construction techniques will affect the bar passive fitness, which may induce stresses or strain on the implant and/or tightening screw and sequentially may affect the biting force and patient satisfaction. Aim of the study This clinical investigation assessed patient satisfaction and maximum biting force (MBF) using three...

Introduction Africa’s older population is increasing and this, necessitates the development of interventions to promote healthy ageing. Nutrition is a key determinant of healthy ageing and local contextual evidence is needed to inform nutritional intervention development in Africa. There are already reviews on nutritional status and food insecurity...

Platelet concentrates are biomaterials with significant potential in tissue regeneration, functioning as scaffolds with greater leukocyte inclusion and a flexible fibrin mesh. However these concentrates have different preparation methods and biological properties. The objective of this clinical investigation was to evaluate the effects of utilizing...

Background: Sensorineural hearing impairment (SNHI) is a common disorder with a significant genetic component. Genetic testing for SNHI often involves next-generation sequencing (NGS), but SNHI-related pathogenic STRC variants cannot be directly addressed by conventional NGS due to the complex genomic scenario derived from large genomic rearrangeme...

Introduction Black pepper (Piper nigrum) is a rich source of natural and bioactive components such as N-trans-feruloyltyramine (NFT). In this paper, we discuss the results of the subchronic toxicity and mutagenicity studies conducted to understand the potential for adverse effects if any, of Black Pepper Extract Preparation (BPE). Methods To evalu...

This meta-analysis aimed at investigating the therapeutic effects of probiotics against the symptoms of depression in children and adolescents as well as to identify the potential confounders. Following PRISMA guidelines, major databases were searched for randomized controlled trials focusing on effects of probiotics against the symptoms of depress...

Background Postpartum urinary incontinence (UI) is a serious condition that significantly affects the quality of life. Several studies have demonstrated that it is associated with pelvic floor dysfunction. This study aimed to develop and validate a UI risk prediction model to identify primiparas with singleton pregnancies at high risk. Methods A m...

Background Acute respiratory failure is a dreaded complication of interstitial lung disease (ILD) and is the most significant reason for mortality in most forms of ILDs. Knowledge of outcome predictors that can be assessed early after intensive care unit (ICU) admission would help guide the use of specific treatments. The present study attempts to...

Erythropoietin (EPO), traditionally known for its role in hematopoiesis, has garnered increasing attention for its neuroprotective properties, particularly in ocular disorders. This literature review explores the diverse roles of EPO in ocular health and its potential therapeutic applications. EPO’s involvement in ocular organogenesis and maintenan...

Background Natural killer (NK) cells offer unique therapeutic potential given their antigen-independent cytotoxicity. NK cell dysfunction in hypoxic tumor microenvironments remains a barrier for NK cell therapies against solid tumors. Through single-cell RNA sequencing of primary head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, we identified CD103⁺CD49a⁺ NK...

Background CD40 is a pivotal target in cancer immunotherapy, central to dendritic cell activation and subsequent T cell priming against tumor antigens. MP0317, a bispecific DARPin (designed ankyrin repeat protein), selectively activates CD40 within the tumor microenvironment (TME) by engaging fibroblast activation protein (FAP) on cancer-associated...

Background Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting precise surface antigens are pivotal to advancing targeted cancer therapies. Here, we analyzed transcriptomic data from sarcoma samples to identify novel cell surface protein candidates for designing new and highly specific ADCs with potential minimal side effects. Methods We processed 826 FFPE...

Background Current therapies for solid tumors face limited effectiveness, primarily because of the cold tumor microenvironment (TME), which promotes immune evasion and hampers the body’s natural anti-tumor response. In response to these challenges, we are developing the Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) agonist 8803 (IMGS-203), a synthetic cyc...

Background Neoantigens are tumor-specific non-synonymous mutations in proteins that are processed and presented in major histocompatibility complex molecules, driving anti-tumor T-cell responses.¹ mRNA-4157 is a novel mRNA-based individualized neoantigen therapy that encodes up to 34 neoantigens mediating specific anti-tumor T-cell activation.² In...

Background Checkpoint inhibitor (CPI)-based therapies have transformed cancer treatment; however, not all patients respond robustly, necessitating alternative approaches to enhance the anti-tumor immune response. CD3 T cell-engaging bispecific antibodies have also demonstrated potent anti-tumor efficacy via direct killing, but cell surface proteins...

Background Current 2nd or 3rd generation CAR-Ts are unable to detect low levels of antigens presented on liquid or solid tumors. We have leveraged IDR (intrinsically disordered region) that causes signaling condensation to engineer IDR-CAR-T cells with increased signaling in the synapse, cytotoxicity and high antigen sensitivity compared to 3rd gen...

Background Despite the recent success of immunotherapies against cancer, not all patients benefit from treatment. Biomarkers capable of predicting therapeutic response may improve patient selection and increase the number of patients that benefit from treatment. Siglec-15 is a novel immunosuppressive protein expressed on tumor associated macrophage...

Background Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is used to differentiate asthma inflammatory phenotypes and guide its management. However, data on FeNO reference values in a representative adult population is limited. Objective To derive reference values and determinants of FeNO in a representative adult population. Methods The West Sweden Asthma...

Gastric cancer (GC) ranks among the leading causes of cancer‐related mortality globally. Often, its initial stages manifest subtly, and the infrequency of routine screenings contributes to late diagnoses in many cases. Systemic treatments for GC include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, among which immunotherapy is the first‐line s...

Purpose This case report aims to describe a rare case of asymptomatic retained metallic intraocular foreign body (IOFB) in the retina with reduced full-field electroretinography (ff-ERG) in a Chinese woman. Methods This is a clinical investigation of a patient who unexpectedly presented with a metallic IOFB at the superior-temporal region of the l...

Background: Pterygium is characterized by the overgrowth of fibroblasts and the remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), driven by MMPs. The review outlines the pathophysiology of pterygium, emphasizing the role of MMP-3 in cell motility, proteolysis, and angiogenesis. The recurrence rate of pterygium following surgical excision remains a sign...