Clinical and Radiological Factors Associated with Nonoperative Management Failure for Small Bowel Obstruction: A Retrospective Study from a Resource-Limited Setting.

Background: Recognizing factors that predict non-operative management (NOM) failure for patients with small bowel obstruction (SBO) aids in limiting surgical intervention when needed. This study investigated the predictive factors for NOM failure in SBO patients in a resource-limited setting.

Material And Method: A retrospective study included 165 patients who were diagnosed with SBO and were admitted and managed at Althora General Hospital, IBB, Yemen, from April 2022 to March 2024.

Genome-wide association mapping in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) for genetic dissection of drought tolerance using DArTseq markers.

Understanding the genetic basis of drought tolerance in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is essential for developing resilient varieties. In this study, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using DArTseq markers to identify marker-trait associations (MTAs) linked to drought tolerance across 90 globally diverse safflower genotypes.

Biliary atresia susceptibility gene EFEMP1 regulates extrahepatic bile duct elastic fiber formation and mechanics.

Background & Aims: EGF-containing fibulin extracellular matrix protein 1 (EFEMP1, also called fibulin-3) is an extracellular matrix protein linked in a genome-wide association study to biliary atresia, a fibrotic disease of the neonatal extrahepatic bile duct. Fibulin-3 is deposited in most tissues and null mice have decreased elastic fibers in visceral fascia; however, fibulin-3 does not have a role in the development of large elastic fibers and its overall function in the extrahepatic bile ducts remains unclear.

Methods: We used staining and histology to define the amount and organization of key extracellular matrix components in the extrahepatic bile ducts.

β-Cell Secretory Capacity Predicts Metabolic Outcomes over 6 Years following Human Islet Transplantation.

Transplanted islet functional β-cell mass is measured by the β-cell secretory capacity derived from the acute insulin response to glucose-potentiated arginine (AIRpot), however, data are limited beyond one-year post-transplant for individuals with type 1 diabetes. We evaluated changes in β-cell secretory capacity in a single-center longitudinal analysis and examined relationships with measures of islet cell hormone metabolism and clinical measures of graft function (mixed-meal tolerance test [MMTT] C-peptide, BETA-2 score, and continuous glucose monitoring [CGM]). Eleven individuals received purified human pancreatic islets over one or two intra-portal infusions to achieve insulin-independence and were followed over a median (IQR) 6 (5-7) years.