New paradigms to break barriers in early cancer detection for improved prognosis and treatment outcomes.

The uncontrolled growth and spread of cancerous cells beyond their usual boundaries into surrounding tissues characterizes cancer. In developed countries, cancer is the leading cause of death, while in underdeveloped nations, it ranks second. Using existing cancer diagnostic tools has increased early detection rates, which is crucial for effective cancer treatment. In recent decades, there has been significant progress in cancer-specific survival rates owing to advances in cancer detection and treatment. The ability to accurately identify precursor lesions is a crucial aspect of effective cancer screening programs, as it enables early treatment initiation, leading to lower long-term incidence of invasive cancer and improved overall prognosis. However, these diagnostic methods have limitations, such as high costs and technical challenges, which can make accurate diagnosis of certain deep-seated tumors difficult. To achieve accurate cancer diagnosis and prognosis, it is essential to continue developing cutting-edge technologies in molecular biology and cancer imaging.

Spectrum of Disease in Hospitalized Newborns with Congenital Micrognathia: A Cohort of 3,236 Infants at North American Tertiary-Care Intensive Care Units.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the spectrum of disease and burden of care in infants with congenital micrognathia from a multicenter cohort hospitalized at tertiary care centers. STUDY DESIGN: The Children's Hospitals Neonatal Database was queried from 2010 through 2020 for infants diagnosed with micrognathia. Demographics, presence of genetic syndromes, and cleft status were summarized. Outcomes included death, length of hospitalization, neonatal surgery, and feeding and respiratory support at discharge. RESULTS: Analysis included 3,236 infants with congenital micrognathia. Cleft palate was identified in 1266 (39.1%). A genetic syndrome associated with micrognathia was diagnosed during the neonatal hospitalization in 256 (7.9%). Median (IQR) length of hospitalization was 35 (16, 63) days. Death during the hospitalization (n = 228, 6.8%) was associated with absence of cleft palate (4.4%, P < .001) and maternal Black race (11.6%, P < .001). During the neonatal hospitalization, 1289 (39.7%) underwent surgery to correct airway obstruction and 1059 (32.7%) underwent gastrostomy tube placement. At the time of discharge, 1035 (40.3%) were exclusively feeding orally. There was significant variability between centers related to length of stay and presence of a feeding tube at discharge (P < .001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Infants hospitalized with congenital micrognathia have a significant burden of disease, commonly receive surgical intervention, and most often require tube feedings at hospital discharge. We identified disparities based on race and among centers. Development of evidence-based guidelines could improve neonatal care.

Flavonoids as Potential Therapeutics Against Neurodegenerative Disorders: Unlocking the Prospects.

Neurodegeneration, the decline of nerve cells in the brain, is a common feature of neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs). Oxidative stress, a key factor in NDDs such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington's disease can lead to neuronal cell death, mitochondria impairment, excitotoxicity, and Ca2+ stress. Environmental factors compromising stress response lead to cell damage, necessitating novel therapeutics for preventing or treating brain disorders in older individuals and an aging population. Synthetic medications offer symptomatic benefits but can have adverse effects. This research explores the potential of flavonoids derived from plants in treating NDDs. Flavonoids compounds, have been studied for their potential to enter the brain and treat NDDs. These compounds have diverse biological effects and are currently being explored for their potential in the treatment of central nervous system disorders. Flavonoids have various beneficial effects, including antiviral, anti-allergic, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant properties. Their potential to alleviate symptoms of NDDs is significant.

Flavonoids and Alzheimer's disease: reviewing the evidence for neuroprotective potential.

Neurodegeneration, which manifests as several chronic and incurable diseases, is an age-related condition that affects the central nervous system (CNS) and poses a significant threat to the public's health for the elderly. Recent decades have experienced an alarming increase in the incidence of neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs), a severe public health issue due to the ongoing development of people living in modern civilizations. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading trigger of age-related dementia. Currently, there are no efficient therapeutics to delay, stop, or reverse the disease's course development. Several studies found that dietary bioactive phytochemicals, primarily flavonoids, influence the pathophysiological processes underlying AD. Flavonoids work well as a supplement to manufactured therapies for NDDs. Flavonoids are effective in complementing synthetic approaches to treat NDDs. They are biologically active phytochemicals with promising pharmacological activities, for instance, antiviral, anti-allergic, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant effects. The production of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and oxidative stress (OS) are downregulated by flavonoids, which slow the course of AD. Hence, this research turned from preclinical evidence to feasible clinical applications to develop newer therapeutics, focusing on the therapeutic potential of flavonoids against AD.

LncRNA NEAT1 in the pathogenesis of liver-related diseases.

Nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) is a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) that is widely expressed in a variety of mammalian cell types. Altered expression levels of the lncRNA NEAT1 have been reported in liver-related disorders including cancer, fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis, viral hepatitis, and hepatic ischemia. lncRNA NEAT1 mostly acts as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to sponge various miRNAs (miRs) to regulate different functions. In regard to hepatic cancers, the elevated expression of NEAT1 has been reported to have a relation with the proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, apoptosis, as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cells. Furthermore, NEAT1 upregulation has contributed to the pathogenesis of other liver diseases such as fibrosis. In this review, we summarize and discuss the molecular mechanisms by which NEAT1 contributes to liver-related disorders including acute liver failure, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), liver fibrosis, and liver carcinoma, providing novel insights and introducing NEAT1 as a potential therapeutic target in these diseases.

The interaction between lncRNAs and transcription factors regulating autophagy in human cancers: A comprehensive and therapeutical survey.

Autophagy, as a highly conserved cellular process, participates in cellular homeostasis by degradation and recycling of damaged organelles and proteins. Besides, autophagy has been evidenced to play a dual role through cancer initiation and progression. In the early stage, it may have a tumor-suppressive function through inducing apoptosis and removing damaged cells and organelles. However, late stages promote tumor progression by maintaining stemness features and induction of chemoresistance. Therefore, identifying and targeting molecular mechanisms involved in autophagy is a potential therapeutic strategy for human cancers. Multiple transcription factors (TFs) are involved in the regulation of autophagy by modulating the expression of autophagy-related genes (ATGs). In addition, a wide array of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), a group of regulatory ncRNAs, have been evidenced to regulate the function of these autophagy-related TFs through tumorigenesis. Subsequently, the lncRNAs/TFs/ATGs axis shows great potential as a therapeutic target for human cancers. Therefore, this review aimed to summarize new findings about the role of lncRNAs in regulating autophagy-related TFs with therapeutic perspectives.

Nucleic acid vaccines-based therapy for triple-negative breast cancer: A new paradigm in tumor immunotherapy arena.

Nucleic acid vaccines (NAVs) have the potential to be economical, safe, and efficacious. Furthermore, just the chosen antigen in the pathogen is the target of the immune responses brought on by NAVs. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treatment shows great promise for nucleic acid-based vaccines, such as DNA (as plasmids) and RNA (as messenger RNA [mRNA]). Moreover, cancer vaccines offer a compelling approach that can elicit targeted and long-lasting immune responses against tumor antigens. Bacterial plasmids that encode antigens and immunostimulatory molecules serve as the foundation for DNA vaccines. In the 1990s, plasmid DNA encoding the influenza A nucleoprotein triggered a protective and targeted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response, marking the first instance of DNA vaccine-mediated immunity. Similarly, in vitro transcribed mRNA was first successfully used in animals in 1990. At that point, mice were given an injection of the gene encoding the mRNA sequence, and the researchers saw the production of a protein. We begin this review by summarizing our existing knowledge of NAVs. Next, we addressed NAV delivery, emphasizing the need to increase efficacy in TNBC.

Emerging roles of long noncoding RNA H19 in human lung cancer.

Lung cancer holds the position of being the primary cause of cancer-related fatalities on a global scale. Furthermore, it exhibits the highest mortality rate among all types of cancer. The survival rate within a span of 5 years is less than 20%, primarily due to the fact that the disease is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, resulting in less effective treatment options compared to earlier stages. There are two main types of primary lung cancer: nonsmall-cell lung cancer, which accounts for approximately 80%-85% of all cases, and small-cell lung cancer, which is categorized based on the specific type of cells in which the cancer originates. The understanding of the biology of this disease and the identification of oncogenic driver alterations have significantly transformed the landscape of therapeutic approaches. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a crucial role in regulating various physiological and pathological processes through diverse molecular mechanisms. Among these lncRNAs, lncRNA H19, initially identified as an oncofetal transcript, has garnered significant attention due to its elevated expression in numerous tumors. Extensive research has confirmed its involvement in tumorigenesis and malignant progression by promoting cell growth, invasion, migration, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, and therapy resistance. This comprehensive review aims to provide an overview of the aberrant overexpression of lncRNA H19 and the molecular pathways through which it contributes to the advancement of lung cancer. The findings of this review highlight the potential for further investigation into the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, offering promising avenues for future research.

Nanostructured transition metal dichalcogenides-based colorimetric sensors: Synthesis, characterization, and emerging applications.

Nanostructured transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have garnered significant attention as prospective materials for the development of highly sensitive and versatile colorimetric sensors. This work explores the synthesis, characterization, and emerging applications of TMDC-based sensors, focusing on their unique structural aspects and inherent properties. The synthesis methods involve tailored fabrication techniques, such as chemical vapor deposition and hydrothermal processes, aimed at producing well-defined nanostructures that enhance sensor performance. Characterization techniques, including microscopy, spectroscopy, and surface analysis, are employed to elucidate the structural and chemical features of the nanostructured TMDCs. These analyses provide insights into the correlation between the material's morphology and its sensing capabilities. The colorimetric sensing mechanism relies on the modulation of optical properties in response to specific analytes, enabling rapid and visual detection. The emerging applications of TMDC-based colorimetric sensors span diverse fields, including environmental monitoring, healthcare, and industrial processes. The sensors exhibit high sensitivity, selectivity, and real-time response, making them ideal candidates for detecting various target analytes. Furthermore, their integration with complementary technologies such as microfluidics, can facilitate the development of on-site and point-of-care applications. This work highlights the interdisciplinary significance of nanostructured TMDC-based colorimetric sensors and underscores their potential contributions to addressing contemporary challenges in sensing technology.

Revolutionizing Infection Control: Harnessing MXene-Based Nanostructures for Versatile Antimicrobial Strategies and Healthcare Advancements.

The escalating global health challenge posed by infections prompts the exploration of innovative solutions utilizing MXene-based nanostructures. Societally, the need for effective antimicrobial strategies is crucial for public health, while scientifically, MXenes present promising properties for therapeutic applications, necessitating scalable production and comprehensive characterization techniques. Here we review the versatile physicochemical properties of MXene materials for combatting microbial threats and their various synthesis methods, including etching and top-down or bottom-up techniques. Crucial characterization techniques such as XRD, Raman spectroscopy, SEM/TEM, FTIR, XPS, and BET analysis provide insightful structural and functional attributes. The review highlights MXenes' diverse antimicrobial mechanisms, spanning membrane disruption and oxidative stress induction, demonstrating efficacy against bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Despite translational hurdles, MXene-based nanostructures offer broad-spectrum antimicrobial potential, with applications in drug delivery and diagnostics, presenting a promising path for advancing infection control in global healthcare.

Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles: Potential Therapeutic Applications, Challenges, and Future Prospects.

Almost all cell types naturally secret extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the extracellular space with variable metabolic cargo facilitating intracellular communication, posing immune-modulation capacity. Thus, "bacterial extracellular vesicles" (BEVs), with their great immunoregulatory, immune response stimulation and disease condition-altering potential, have gained importance in the medical and therapeutic industry. Various subtypes of BEVs were observed and reported in the literature, such as exosomes (30-150 nm), microvesicles (100-1000 nm), apoptotic bodies (1000-5000 nm), and oncosomes (1000-10,000 nm). As biological systems are complex entities, inserting BEVs requires extra high purity. Various techniques for BEV isolation have been employed alone or with other strategies, such as ultracentrifugation, precipitation, size-exclusion chromatography, affinity-based separation, ultrafiltration, and field-flow fractionation. But to date, no BEV isolation method is considered perfect as the lack of standard protocols limits their scale-up. Medical research has focused on BEVs to explore their diverse therapeutic potential. This review particularly focused on the recent advancements in the potential medical application of BEVs, current challenges, and prospects associated with their scale-up.

Adjuvant Novel Nanocarrier-Based Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer has the lowest survival rate due to its late-stage diagnosis, poor prognosis, and intra-tumoral heterogeneity. These factors decrease the effectiveness of treatment. They release chemokines and cytokines from the tumor microenvironment (TME). To improve the effectiveness of treatment, researchers emphasize personalized adjuvant therapies along with conventional ones. Targeted chemotherapeutic drug delivery systems and specific pathway-blocking agents using nanocarriers are a few of them. This study explored the nanocarrier roles and strategies to improve the treatment profile's effectiveness by striving for TME. A biofunctionalized nanocarrier stimulates biosystem interaction, cellular uptake, immune system escape, and vascular changes for penetration into the TME. Inorganic metal compounds scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) through their photothermal effect. Stroma, hypoxia, pH, and immunity-modulating agents conjugated or modified nanocarriers co-administered with pathway-blocking or condition-modulating agents can regulate extracellular matrix (ECM), Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF),Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk receptors (TAM) regulation, regulatory T-cell (Treg) inhibition, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) inhibition. Again, biomimetic conjugation or the surface modification of nanocarriers using ligands can enhance active targeting efficacy by bypassing the TME. A carrier system with biofunctionalized inorganic metal compounds and organic compound complex-loaded drugs is convenient for NSCLC-targeted therapy.

Stealth Nanocarriers in Cancer Therapy: a Comprehensive Review of Design, Functionality, and Clinical Applications.

Nanotechnology has significantly transformed cancer treatment by introducing innovative methods for delivering drugs effectively. This literature review provided an in-depth analysis of the role of nanocarriers in cancer therapy, with a particular focus on the critical concept of the 'stealth effect.' The stealth effect refers to the ability of nanocarriers to evade the immune system and overcome physiological barriers. The review investigated the design and composition of various nanocarriers, such as liposomes, micelles, and inorganic nanoparticles, highlighting the importance of surface modifications and functionalization. The complex interaction between the immune system, opsonization, phagocytosis, and the protein corona was examined to understand the stealth effect. The review carefully evaluated strategies to enhance the stealth effect, including surface coating with polymers, biomimetic camouflage, and targeting ligands. The in vivo behavior of stealth nanocarriers and their impact on pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and toxicity were also systematically examined. Additionally, the review presented clinical applications, case studies of approved nanocarrier-based cancer therapies, and emerging formulations in clinical trials. Future directions and obstacles in the field, such as advancements in nanocarrier engineering, personalized nanomedicine, regulatory considerations, and ethical implications, were discussed in detail. The review concluded by summarizing key findings and emphasizing the transformative potential of stealth nanocarriers in revolutionizing cancer therapy. This review enhanced the comprehension of nanocarrier-based cancer therapies and their potential impact by providing insights into advanced studies, clinical applications, and regulatory considerations.

Cardiovascular disease and thrombosis: Intersections with the immune system, inflammation, and the coagulation system.

The coagulation and immune system, both essential physiological systems in the human body, are intricately interconnected and play a critical role in determining the overall health of patients. These systems collaborate via various shared regulatory pathways, such as the Tissue Factor (TF) Pathway. Immunological cells that express TF and generate pro-inflammatory cytokines have the ability to affect coagulation. Conversely, coagulation factors and processes have a reciprocal effect on immunological responses by stimulating immune cells and regulating their functions. These interconnected pathways play a role in both preserving well-being and contributing to a range of pathological disorders. The close relationship between blood clotting and inflammation in the development of vascular disease has become a central focus of clinical study. This research specifically examines the crucial elements of this interaction within the contexts of cardiovascular disease and acute coronary syndrome. Tissue factor, the primary trigger of the extrinsic coagulation pathway, has a crucial function by inducing a proinflammatory reaction through the activation of coagulation factors. This, in turn, initiates coagulation and subsequent cellular signalling pathways. Protease-activated receptors establish the molecular connection between coagulation and inflammation by interacting with activated clotting factors II, X, and VII. Thrombosis, a condition characterised by the formation of blood clots, is the most dreaded consequence of cardiovascular disorders and a leading cause of death globally. Consequently, it poses a significant challenge to healthcare systems. Antithrombotic treatments efficiently target platelets and the coagulation cascade, but they come with the inherent danger of causing bleeding. Furthermore, antithrombotics are unable to fully eliminate thrombotic events, highlighting a treatment deficiency caused by a third mechanism that has not yet been sufficiently addressed, namely inflammation. Understanding these connections may aid in the development of novel approaches to mitigate the harmful mutual exacerbation of inflammation and coagulation. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interaction among these systems is crucial for the management of diseases and the creation of efficacious remedies. Through the examination of these prevalent regulatory systems, we can discover novel therapeutic approaches that specifically target these complex illnesses. This paper provides a thorough examination of the reciprocal relationship between the coagulation and immune systems, emphasising its importance in maintaining health and understanding disease processes. This review examines the interplay between inflammation and thrombosis and its role in the development of thrombotic disorders.

Stem cell-derived exosomes in bone healing: focusing on their role in angiogenesis.

Fractures in bone, a tissue critical in protecting other organs, affect patients' quality of life and have a heavy economic burden on societies. Based on regenerative medicine and bone tissue engineering approaches, stem cells have become a promising and attractive strategy for repairing bone fractures via differentiation into bone-forming cells and production of favorable mediators. Recent evidence suggests that stem cell-derived exosomes could mediate the therapeutic effects of their counterpart cells and provide a cell-free therapeutic strategy in bone repair. Since bone is a highly vascularized tissue, coupling angiogenesis and osteogenesis is critical in bone fracture healing; thus, developing therapeutic strategies to promote angiogenesis will facilitate bone regeneration and healing. To this end, stem cell-derived exosomes with angiogenic potency have been developed to improve fracture healing. This review summarizes the effects of stem cell-derived exosomes on the repair of bone tissue, focusing on the angiogenesis process.

An overview of the role of Niemann-pick C1 (NPC1) in viral infections and inhibition of viral infections through NPC1 inhibitor.

Viruses communicate with their hosts through interactions with proteins, lipids, and carbohydrate moieties on the plasma membrane (PM), often resulting in viral absorption via receptor-mediated endocytosis. Many viruses cannot multiply unless the host's cholesterol level remains steady. The large endo/lysosomal membrane protein (MP) Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1), which is involved in cellular cholesterol transport, is a crucial intracellular receptor for viral infection. NPC1 is a ubiquitous housekeeping protein essential for the controlled cholesterol efflux from lysosomes. Its human absence results in Niemann-Pick type C disease, a deadly lysosomal storage disorder. NPC1 is a crucial viral receptor and an essential host component for filovirus entrance, infection, and pathogenesis. For filovirus entrance, NPC1's cellular function is unnecessary. Furthermore, blocking NPC1 limits the entry and replication of the African swine fever virus by disrupting cholesterol homeostasis. Cell entrance of quasi-enveloped variants of hepatitis A virus and hepatitis E virus has also been linked to NPC1. By controlling cholesterol levels, NPC1 is also necessary for the effective release of reovirus cores into the cytoplasm. Drugs that limit NPC1's activity are effective against several viruses, including SARS-CoV and Type I Feline Coronavirus (F-CoV). These findings reveal NPC1 as a potential therapeutic target for treating viral illnesses and demonstrate its significance for several viral infections. This article provides a synopsis of NPC1's function in viral infections and a review of NPC1 inhibitors that may be used to counteract viral infections. Video Abstract.

Quantum leap in the light of molecular elucidation of garlic genome.

Garlic, a popular vegetable cum condiment is known widely for its health benefits, pharmacological properties and in curing several pathological conditions. This compelling horticultural bulb crop is propagated asexually from individual bulbils or cloves. It is an obligate apomict that lost its fertility and blooming potential long ago and probable reason for evolution from fertility to sterility to greater contiguity of human selection to asexual propagules as they are used in culinary as and when required. The crop is likely to be sterile owing to nutritional competition between topsets, pollen degeneration, chromosomal deletion, irregular chromosomal pairing and abnormal meiosis during gametogenesis and thus curbing genetic variation is needed utmost for its improvement. With asexual reproduction, molecular studies are challenging due to its expected and complex genome. Alongside classical molecular markers like RAPDs, AFLPs, SRAPs, SSRs, and isozymes; recent high-throughput genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) approaches like DArTseq has allowed characterization, mapping, whole-genome profiling, DNA fingerprinting among others in garlic. However, in recent years, biotechnological tools, genetic transformation via biolistic or Agrobacterium tumefaciens, polyploidization or chromosomal doubling have emerged as a potent breeding tool in enabling the improvement of vegetatively propagated plants such as garlic. In recent times biological responses of garlic and its compounds have been studied using epigenomics, proteomics and transcriptomics by researchers in preclinical studies instigating the biological effects of garlic and such gene expression revealed many early mechanistic events which may clinically underlie important health benefits pertaining to garlic intake. This review thus encompasses efforts achieved till present date towards elucidation of garlic genome with regard to molecular, biotechnological analysis and gene expression in terms of in vitro and in vivo studies.

Pomegranate peel extract is an effective agent against MDR bacteria.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are one of the major public health threats facing humanity. Infections with MDR strains are difficult or impossible to treat with standard antibiotics leading to severe illnesses and even deaths. The spread of MDR bacteria has necessitated the search for alternative approaches that tackle MDR pathogens. Natural plants can be utilized as alternative therapeutic agents against the rise of MDR bacteria. In this study, we aimed to assess the antimicrobial activity of pomegranate peel extracts (PPE) against MDR clinical isolates. A total of 9 clinical isolates (8 MDR and 1 non-MDR clinical isolates) were collected and examined for their susceptibility to PPE. Using the zone of inhibition assay, 4 isolates (S. aureus, three MRSA isolates, Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), and Acinetobacter baumannii) were sensitive to PPE. In Broth assay, 4 mg/ml PPE significantly reduced the growth (S. aureus, three MRSA isolates, Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), and Acinetobacter baumannii), while 40 mg/ml PPE either significantly reduced or completely inhibited the growth of the isolates. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of PPE against S. aureus and MRSA-88 was 10 mg/ml. This study showed the potential of PPE as an alternative compound for treating infections caused by PPE-sensitive MDR bacteria.

Association of serum leptin and resistin levels among obese Saudi patients with acute myocardial infarction in Asir region.

In the current scenario, the importance of cardiac biomarkers in diagnosing, assessing, and managing people with cardiovascular discomfort is required. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between serum leptin and resistin levels among obese people with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with varying body mass index (BMI). The cardio and diabetic biomarkers among the 77 Saudi patients with hypoxia who lived in the Asir region were analyzed in the study. The patients were categorized into three groups, namely, group 1 (control), group 2 (AMI with normal BMI), and group 3 (AMI with varying BMI). Our results showed a positive correlation between serum glucose, HbA1C, triglycerides, Troponin-I (cTnI), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), leptin, and resistin in patients with AMI. We also observed significantly lower HbA1C, cholesterol, and insulin values in groups 2 and 3. A statistical difference between the groups with and without AMI and between the genders was noticed. BMI with leptin showed a positive connection in group 3 but no association was observed for groups 1 and 2. A stronger relationship between BMI and leptin levels in men in Group 3 than in women was observed. In all three groups, resistin levels did not correlate with BMI. Thus, circulating leptin concentrations do not significant impact AMI compared to participants with and without AMI. However, resistin levels were considerably higher in obese individuals with AMI. Therefore, we suggest that resistin can be used as a pro-inflammatory marker to detect AMI disorder with varying BMI and as a prognostic marker associated with AMI.

Current Patterns of Probiotic Use in U.S. Neonatal Intensive Care Units: A Multi-Institution Survey.

OBJECTIVE: Probiotic supplementation is associated with health benefits in preterm infants. The 2021 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) statement on probiotic use advised caution, citing heterogeneity and absence of federal regulation. We assessed the impact of the AAP statement and current institution-wide patterns of probiotic use across neonatal intensive care units (NICU) across the United States. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional web-based institutional survey using REDCap was emailed to 430 Children's Hospital Neonatal Consortium (CHNC) and Pediatrix Medical Group institutions. The survey captured data on probiotic formulations, supplementation, initiation and cessation criteria, reasons for discontinuation, interest in initiating, and AAP statement's impact. RESULTS: Ninety-five (22.1%) hospitals, including 42/46 (91%) CHNC and 53/384 (14%) Pediatrix institutions, completed the survey. Thirty-seven (39%) currently use probiotics. Fourteen different probiotic formulations were reported. The common criteria for initiation were birth weight <1,500 g and gestational age <32 weeks. Parental consent or assent was obtained at only 30% of institutions. Five hospitals (11%) with prior probiotic use discontinued solely due to the AAP statement. Overall, 23 (24%) of hospitals indicated that the AAP statement significantly influenced their decision regarding probiotic use. Nineteen of 51 nonusers (37%) are considering initiation. CONCLUSION: Probiotic use in preterm infants is likely increasing in NICUs across the United States, but significant variability exists. The 2021 AAP statement had variable impact on NICUs' decision regarding probiotic use. The growing interest in adopting probiotics and the significant interhospital variability highlight the need for better regulation and consensus guidelines to ensure standardized use. KEY POINTS: · Probiotic use in preterm infants is likely increasing in U.S. NICUs, but clinical variability exists.. · The AAP statement on probiotic use in preterm infants had a modest impact on current practices.. · There's a need for better product regulation and consensus guidelines to ensure standardized use..