Explore the vast range of titles available.

► The 32-year safety profile of M–M–R™II is described using data from postmarketing surveillance. ► Of ∼575 million doses distributed, 17,536 AEs were voluntarily reported (30.5 AEs/1×106 doses). ► This review provides evidence that the vaccine is safe and well-tolerated. M–M–R™II (measles, mumps, and rubella virus vaccine live; Merck, Sharp, & Dohme Corp.) is indicated for simultaneous vaccination against measles, mumps, and rubella in individuals ≥12 months of age. Before the vaccine era, these viruses infected most exposed individuals, with subsequent morbidity and mortality. One of the greatest achievements of public health has been to eliminate these 3 diseases in large geographic areas. The safety profile of M–M–R™II is described using data from routine global postmarketing surveillance. Postmarketing surveillance has limitations (including incomplete reporting of case data), but allows collection of real-world information on large numbers of individuals, who may have concurrent medical problems excluding them from clinical trials. It can also identify rare adverse experiences (AEs). Over its 32-year history, ∼575 million doses of M–M–R™II have been distributed worldwide, with 17,536 AEs voluntarily reported for an overall rate of 30.5 AEs/1,000,000 doses distributed. This review provides evidence that the vaccine is safe and well-tolerated.

Highlights * The 32-year safety profile of M-M-R(TM)II is described using data from postmarketing surveillance. * Of ~575 million doses distributed, 17,536 AEs were voluntarily reported (30.5 AEs/1x106doses). * This review provides evidence that the vaccine is safe and well-tolerated.

Aim/Purpose: This paper describes a technologies education model for introducing Simulation Learning and Extended Reality (XR) solution creation skills and knowledge to students at the tertiary education level, which is broadly applicable to higher education-based contexts of teaching and learning. Background: This work is made possible via the model’s focus on advancing knowledge and understanding of a range of digital resources, and the processes and production skills to teach and produce playable educational digital content, including classroom practice and applications. Methodology: Through practice-based learning and technology as an enabler, to inform the development of this model, we proposed a mixed-mode project-based approach of study within a transdisciplinary course for Higher Education students from the first year through to the post-graduate level. Contribution: An argument is also presented for the utility of this model for upskilling Pre-service Teachers’ (PSTs) pedagogical content knowledge in Technologies, which is especially relevant to the Australian curriculum context and will be broadly applicable to various educative and non-Australian settings. Findings: Supported by practice-based research, work samples and digital projects of Simulation Learning and XR developed by the authors are demonstrated to ground the discussion in examples; the discussion that is based around some of the challenges and the technical considerations, and the scope of teaching digital solutions creation is provided. Recommendations for Practitioners: We provide a flexible technologies teaching and learning model for determining content for inclusion in a course designed to provide introductory Simulation Learning and XR solution creation skills and knowledge. Recommendation for Researchers: The goal was to provide key criteria and an outline that can be adapted by academic researchers and learning designers in various higher education-based contexts of teaching and inclusive learning design focused on XR. Impact on Society: We explore how educators work with entities in various settings and contexts with different priorities, and how we recognise expertise beyond the institutional interests, beyond discipline, and explore ‘what is possible’ through digital technologies for social good and inclusivity. Future Research: The next step for this research is to investigate and explore how XR and Simulation Learning could be utilised to accelerate student learning in STEM and HASS disciplines, to promote knowledge retention and a higher level of technology-enhanced learning engagement.

Cell viability(%) = (A570 of treated cells / (ProQuest: ... denotes formula omitted.) Direct Contact method The hydrogel sample (0.250mg/ml) was directly added onto the cells seed with V79 cells with 1 x105 cells per well in a 24-well plate. [...]the cell morphology was inspected by inverted compound microscope (Olympus CK 30) with camera. A dose dependent cell viability assay using Alamar Blue® (indirect method) on fibroblast cell revealed that cell viability decreased with increased hydrogel amount but not significantly (P< 0.05). [...]the cell viability was higher than 87.43% even when the hydrogel concentration was 4mg/ml (Figure 1).

THE NAME OF THE ROSE Umberto Eco Remember the first book that took precedence over everything else? I've always read while walking, but with The Name of the Rose I...

A single ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation of the colonic mucosa at the distal colon and rectum. The mainstay therapy involves anti-inflammatory immunosuppression based on the disease location and severity. The disadvantages of using systemic corticosteroids for UC treatment is the amplified risk of malignancies and infections. Therefore, topical treatments are safer as they have fewer systemic side effects due to less systemic exposure. In this context, pH sensitive and enzymatically triggered hydrogel of pectin (PC) and polyacrylamide (PAM) has been developed to facilitate colon-targeted delivery of budesonide (BUD) for the treatment of UC. The hydrogels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), swelling ratio, and drug release. FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed the grafting as well loading of BUD in hydrogel. XRD showed the amorphous nature of hydrogel and increment in crystallinity after drug loading. On the other hand, SEM showed that the hydrogels exhibited a highly porous morphology, which is suitable for drug loading and also demonstrated a pH-responsive swelling behaviour, with decreased swelling in acidic media. The in-vitro release of BUD from the hydrogel exhibited a sustained release behaviour with non-ficken diffusion mechanism. The model that fitted best for BUD released was the Higuchi kinetic model. It was concluded that enzyme/pH dual-sensitive hydrogels are an effective colon-targeted delivery system for UC.

Oral cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), has posed a grave challenge to global health due to its high incidence, metastasis, and mortality rates. Despite numerous studies and favorable improvements in the therapeutic strategies over the past few decades, the prognosis of this disease remains dismal. Moreover, several drawbacks are associated with the conventional treatment; including permanent disfigurement and physical impairment that are attributed to surgical intervention, and systemic toxicity that results from aggressive radio- or chemotherapies, which impacts patients’ prognosis and post-treatment quality of life. The highly vascularized, non-keratinized oral mucosa appears as a potential route for cytotoxic drug administration in treating oral cancer. It acts as a non-invasive portal for drug entry targeting the local oral lesions of the early stages of cancer and the systemic metastasis sites of advanced cancer. The absorption of the poorly aqueous-soluble anti-cancer drugs can be enhanced due to the increased permeability of the ulcerous mucosa lining in the disease state and by bypassing the hepatic first-pass metabolism. However, some challenges in oral transmucosal drug delivery include the drugs’ taste, the limited surface area of the membrane lining the oral cavity, and flushing and enzymatic degradation by saliva. Therefore, mucoadhesive nanocarriers have emerged as promising platforms for controlled, targeted drug delivery in the oral cavity. The surface functionalization of nanocarriers with various moieties allows for drug targeting, bioavailability enhancement, and biodistribution at the site of action, while the mucoadhesive feature prolongs the drug’s residence time for preferential accumulation to optimize the therapeutic effect and reduce systemic toxicity. This review has been focused to highlight the potential of various nanocarriers (e.g., nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, nanocapsules, and liposomes) in conferring targeting, solubility and bioavailability enhancement of actives and mucoadhesive properties as novel tumor-targeted drug delivery approaches in oral cancer treatment.

Cancer is associated with a comprehensive burden that significantly affects patient’s quality of life. Even though patients’ disease condition is improving following conventional therapies, researchers are studying alternative tools that can penetrate solid tumours to deliver the therapeutics due to issues of developing resistance by the cancer cells. Treating cancer is not the only the goal in cancer therapy; it also includes protecting non-cancerous cells from the toxic effects of anti-cancer agents. Thus, various advanced techniques, such as cell-based drug delivery, bacteria-mediated therapy, and nanoparticles, are devised for site-specific delivery of drugs. One of the novel methods that can be targeted to deliver anti-cancer agents is by utilising genetically modified non-pathogenic bacterial species. This is due to the ability of bacterial species to multiply selectively or non-selectively on tumour cells, resulting in biofilms that leads to disruption of metastasis process. In preclinical studies, this technology has shown significant results in terms of efficacy, and some are currently under investigation. Therefore, researchers have conducted studies on bacteria transporting the anti-cancer drug to targeted tumours. Alternatively, bacterial ghosts and bacterial spores are utilised to deliver anti-cancer drugs. Although in vivo studies of bacteria-mediated cancer therapy have shown successful outcome, further research on bacteria, specifically their targeting mechanism, is required to establish a complete clinical approach in cancer treatment. This review has focused on the up-to-date understanding of bacteria as a therapeutic carrier in the treatment of cancer as an emerging field.

This study evaluated the effect of solubilized and dispersed bacterial cellulose (BC) on the physicochemical characteristics and drug release profile of hydrogels synthesized using biopolymers. Superabsorbent hydrogels were synthesized by graft polymerization of acrylamide on BC solubilized in an NaOH/urea solvent system and on dispersed BC by using N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide as a crosslinker under microwave irradiation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis of the resulting hydrogels confirmed the grafting, and an X-ray diffraction pattern showed a decrease in the crystallinity of BC after the grafting process. The hydrogels exhibited pH and ionic responsive swelling behavior, with hydrogels prepared using solubilized BC (SH) having higher swelling ratios. Furthermore, compared to the hydrogels synthesized using dispersed BC, the hydrogels synthesized using solubilized BC showed higher porosity, drug loading efficiency, and release. These results suggest the superiority of the hydrogels prepared using solubilized BC and that they should be explored further for oral drug delivery.

Thyroid gland dysfunction (TGD) has been increasingly recognized as a potential comorbidity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study was designed to determine the prevalence of TGD in COPD patients. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the guidelines of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). To comprehensively identify relevant studies, a systematic search was conducted in major electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHIL). The search was limited to English-language studies published after 31 December 2000. To determine the prevalence of TGD and assess the impacts, we compared forced vital capacity (FVC) (%), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (%), partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) (mmHg), and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) (mmHg) between patients with and without TGD. A total of nine articles were included in this meta-analysis. The sample size of included studies ranged from 50 to 309. The pooled prevalence of TGD in patients with COPD was 45% (95% CI: 25% to 65%). The most common form of TGD was hypothyroidism. The study identified a lack of significant associations between TGD and COPD severity or various characteristics, highlighting the need for future prospective multi-center research, particularly with larger sample sizes to determine the clinical factors and biomarkers affecting the development of thyroid dysfunction in this population.