Game changers

The scientific world is increasingly focusing on rare earth metal oxide nanomaterials due to their consequential biological prospects, navigated by breakthroughs in biomedical applications. Terbium belongs to rare earth elements (lanthanide series) and possesses remarkably strong luminescence at lower energy emission and signal transduction properties, ushering in wide applications for diagnostic measurements (i.e., bioimaging, biosensors, fluorescence imaging, etc.) in the biomedical sectors. In addition, the theranostic applications of terbium-based nanoparticles further permit the targeted delivery of drugs to the specific site of the disease...

More than half of the world's population live in cities, and they have benefitted from the ecosystem services provided by urban biodiversity. International conventions like the Convention on Biological Diversity have provided recommendations on how to engage local governments and cities in the implementation of their strategic plans. In parallel, recognizing this, cities conserve, restore and enhance biodiversity in many practical ways. A list of general strategies adopted by cities is presented. The rich and diverse experiences of eleven cities, i...

In the ever-evolving landscape of tissue engineering, medicated biotextiles have emerged as a game-changer. These remarkable textiles have garnered significant attention for their ability to craft tissue scaffolds that closely mimic the properties of natural tissues. This comprehensive review delves into the realm of medicated protein and polysaccharide-based biotextiles, exploring a diverse array of fabric materials. We unravel the intricate web of fabrication methods, ranging from weft/warp knitting to plain/stain weaving and braiding, each lending its unique touch to the world of biotextiles creation...

This narrative literature review undertakes a comprehensive examination of the burgeoning field, tracing the development of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools for depression and anxiety detection from the level of intricate algorithms to practical applications. Delivering essential mental health care services is now a significant public health priority. In recent years, AI has become a game-changer in the early identification and intervention of these pervasive mental health disorders. AI tools can potentially empower behavioral healthcare services by helping psychiatrists collect objective data on patients' progress and tasks...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Over the last few decades, there have been remarkable strides in endoscopy and radiological imaging that have advanced gastroenterology. However, the management of neurogastroenterological disorders has lagged behind, in part handicapped by the use of catheter-based manometry that is both non-physiological and uncomfortable. The advent of capsule technology has been a game changer for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. RECENT FINDINGS: Here, we discuss several capsule devices that are available or under investigation...

Acute necrotizing pancreatitis is a common gastrointestinal disease requiring hospitalization and multiple interventions resulting in higher morbidity and mortality. Development of infection in such necrotic tissue is one of the sentinel events in natural history of necrotizing pancreatitis. Infected necrosis develops in around 1/3rd of patients with necrotizing pancreatitis resulting in higher mortality. So, timely diagnosis of infected necrosis using clinical, laboratory and radiological parameters is of utmost importance...

2D semiconductors have interesting physical and chemical attributes that have led them to become one of the most intensely investigated semiconductor families in recent history. They may play a crucial role in the next technological revolution in electronics as well as optoelectronics or photonics. In this Perspective, we explore the fundamental principles and significant advancements in electronic and photonic devices comprising 2D semiconductors. We focus on strategies aimed at enhancing the performance of conventional devices and exploiting important properties of 2D semiconductors that allow fundamentally interesting device functionalities for future applications...

Agriculture plays a pivotal role in the economic development of a nation, but, growth of agriculture is affected badly by the many factors one such is plant diseases. Early stage prediction of these disease is crucial role for global health and even for game changers the farmer's life. Recently, adoption of modern technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and deep learning concepts has given the brighter light of inventing the intelligent machines to predict the plant diseases before it is deep-rooted in the farmlands...

After the study of circulating tumor cells in blood through liquid biopsy (LB), this technique has evolved to encompass the analysis of multiple materials originating from the tumor, such as nucleic acids, extracellular vesicles, tumor-educated platelets, and other metabolites. Additionally, research has extended to include the examination of samples other than blood or plasma, such as saliva, gastric juice, urine, or stool. LB techniques are diverse, intricate, and variable. They must be highly sensitive, and pre-analytical, patient, and tumor-related factors significantly influence the detection threshold, diagnostic method selection, and potential results...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Bladder cancer incidence is on the rise, and until recently, there has been little to no change in treatment regimens over the last 40 years. Hence, it is imperative to work on strategies and approaches to untangle the complexity of intra and inter-tumour heterogeneity of bladder cancer with the aim of improving patient-specific care and treatment outcomes. The focus of this review is therefore to highlight novel targets, advances, and therapy approaches for bladder cancer patients...

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious infection characterized by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). Safe and effective vaccines are game-changers in the global vision of marking an end to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, vaccine hesitancy due to perceived stigma and misinformation is a grave cause of concern. OBJECTIVES: To assess pre-university students' self-expressed stigma regarding COVID-19 vaccination and its association with their knowledge...

Neuropathic pain is a chronic debilitating condition caused by nerve injury or a variety of diseases. At the core of neuropathic pain lies the aberrant neuronal excitability in the peripheral and/or central nervous system (PNS and CNS). Enhanced connexin expression and abnormal activation of connexin-assembled gap junctional channels are prominent in neuropathic pain along with reactive gliosis, contributing to neuronal hypersensitivity and hyperexcitability. In this review, we delve into the current understanding of how connexin expression and function contribute to the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of neuropathic pain and argue for connexins as potential therapeutic targets for neuropathic pain management...

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Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has emerged as a game changer in the field of orthopaedic diagnostics, notably in the detection and management of infections associated with prosthetic joints and implants. This paper conducts an exhaustive examination of the pivotal role, outcomes, and prospective future uses of NGS in diagnosing orthopaedic infections. In comparison to conventional culture-based methods, NGS offers a marked improvement in sensitivity thereby facilitating prompt and comprehensive identification of pathogens...

CRISPR and gene editing technologies have emerged as transformative tools in medicine, offering unprecedented precision in targeting genetic disorders and revolutionizing drug development. This review explores the multifaceted impact of CRISPR across various medical domains, from hereditary diseases to infectious diseases and cancer. The potential of CRISPR in personalized medicine, therapeutic innovation, and pandemic prevention is highlighted, along with its role in reshaping traditional drug development processes...

Metabolic reaction rates (fluxes) play a crucial role in comprehending cellular phenotypes and are essential in areas such as metabolic engineering, biotechnology, and biomedical research. The state-of-the-art technique for estimating fluxes is metabolic flux analysis using isotopic labelling (13 C-MFA), which uses a dataset-model combination to determine the fluxes. Bayesian statistical methods are gaining popularity in the field of life sciences, but the use of 13 C-MFA is still dominated by conventional best-fit approaches...

SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential enrichment) processes aim on the evolution of high-affinity aptamers as binding entities in diagnostics and biosensing. Aptamers can represent game-changers as constituents of diagnostic assays for the management of instantly occurring infectious diseases or other health threats. Without in-process quality control measures SELEX suffers from low overall success rates. We present a quantitative PCR method for fast and easy quantification of aptamers bound to their targets...

Vaccination is one of the most recognised strategies in public health for preventing the spread of epidemics, and the availability of a vaccine is often expected by health actors to be a 'game-changer'. However, the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) vaccine in Senegal was not the magic bullet that the international community expected. A very low vaccination coverage rate (less than 10% by April 2023) was observed in this country, once considered a model in West Africa for its epidemic response. Beyond the population's alleged hesitancy to be vaccinated, was a lack of preparedness to blame? Previous analyses show that outbreak preparation limited to standard interventions is not sufficient in the face of the social, cultural, and political configurations of each epidemic context and that uncertainty limits response capacity...

Combination therapies in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), which include the addition of an androgen receptor signaling inhibitor and/or docetaxel to androgen deprivation therapy, have been a game changer in the management of this disease stage. However, these therapies come with their fair share of toxicities and side effects. The goal of this observational study is to report drug-related adverse events (AEs), which are correlated with systemic combination therapies for mHSPC. Determining the optimal treatment option requires large cohorts to estimate the tolerability and AEs of these combination therapies in "real-life" patients with mHSPC, as provided in this study...

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, particularly in the field of dermatology, has experienced significant progress through the creation of advanced tools such as the Large Language and Vision Assistant (LLaVA). This comprehensive review examines whether LLaVA represents a significant breakthrough or merely a passing trend in dermatological practice. By incorporating both language and visual analysis capabilities, LLaVA aims to support enhanced diagnostic accuracy, patient engagement, and customized treatment planning, as evidenced by current research and case studies...