Evaluating the specificity of flavivirus proteases in Aedes aegypti cells for dengue virus 2-derived cleavage sites.

Flaviviruses are a diverse group of RNA viruses known for their significant impact on human health worldwide. We generated a series of reporters that included cleavage sequences from the dengue virus type 2 polyprotein and co-transfected with plasmids encoding various flavivirus proteases into Aedes aegypti cells, followed by fluorescent imaging and western blot analysis for the determination of proteolytic cleavage. Recombinant flavivirus NS2B3 proteases from medically significant and insect-specific flaviviruses were able to process reporters encoding cleavage sequences from the dengue virus type 2 polyprotein in vitro including proteases from dengue virus types 1-4, Zika virus, yellow fever virus, Aedes flavivirus, and cell-fusing agent virus.

The Impact of Early Exposure to Microsurgery Training on Undergraduates: A Pilot Course.

Introduction: This case study aimed to investigate a disparity in the medical education pipeline by investigating the impact of fundamental microsurgical training on interest and desire to pursue a career in medicine. This research introduces a method to attract undergraduate students from various backgrounds to the field of microsurgery through a hands-on microsurgical training course.

Methods: Microsurgical training took place 6 hours a week for 6 weeks.

Unmatched. What's Next? Is a Preliminary Year of Residency or Research Fellowship Better for Reapplicants to Plastic Surgery?

Background: Plastic and reconstructive surgery is one of the most competitive residency programs, and given the increased number of applicants for a relatively fixed number of positions, successfully matching is a challenge. Match rates have declined since 2018, with a match rate of ~55% in 2022. Two common options before reapplying are a preliminary year of residency (preliminary year) or a research fellowship.

Can Electrical Stimulation Prevent Recurrence of Keloid Scars? A Scoping Review.

Keloids represent a symptomatic, aberrant healing process that is difficult to treat with high recurrence rates spanning from 55% to 100% if treated excision without adjuvant therapy. Electrical stimulation (ES) has demonstrated findings that suggest it could reduce the recurrence rate of keloids after resection. Therefore, the aim of this study is to conduct a scoping review to investigate ES as an adjuvant therapy for decreasing keloid recurrence after excision.