Alcohol Use as a Predictor of Risky Sexual Behaviour among Young Adults in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between alcohol consumption and risky sexual behaviour (RSB). This study further aimed to examine whether alcohol use, gender, and employment status predicted RSB among young adults in the Cape Flats. A better understanding of these predictors could potentially lead to a more thorough comprehension of the relation between alcohol consumption and RSB among young adults within the South African context.

Comparison of Radiographic Talar Loosening Rates Between Salto-Talaris and INBONE II.

Background: Despite substantial increase in total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) nationwide, there are few studies comparing flat-cut vs chamfer-cut talar systems in TAA with regard to radiographic aseptic loosening rates of the implant.

Methods: This retrospective study included 189 Salto-Talaris TAA and 132 INBONE II primary TAA with a minimum 1-year follow-up. Patient characteristics were obtained including gender, age at surgery, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, primary diagnosis, surgical time, and the presence of diabetes.

Architecture and regulation of a GDNF-GFRα1 synaptic adhesion assembly.

Glial-cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) bound to its co-receptor GFRα1 stimulates the RET receptor tyrosine kinase, promoting neuronal survival and neuroprotection. The GDNF-GFRα1 complex also supports synaptic cell adhesion independently of RET. Here, we describe the structure of a decameric GDNF-GFRα1 assembly determined by crystallography and electron microscopy, revealing two GFRα1 pentamers bridged by five GDNF dimers.

Quantifying the variability in the assessment of reproductive hormone levels.

Objective: To quantify how representative a single measure of reproductive hormone level is of the daily hormonal profile using data from detailed hormonal sampling in the saline placebo-treated arm conducted over several hours.

Design: Retrospective analysis of data from previous interventional research studies evaluating reproductive hormones.

Setting: Clinical Research Facility at a tertiary reproductive endocrinology centre at Imperial College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Risk factors for delayed termination of pregnancy following increased nuchal translucency.

Objectives: Termination of pregnancy after increased nuchal translucency (NT) is a common occurrence. This study aimed to identify characteristics of a cohort with a NT ≥3.0 mm who underwent a pregnancy termination ≥15 weeks compared with those who terminated <15 weeks.

Incorporating Exercise Training into Cardio-Oncology Care: Current Evidence and Opportunities: State-of-the-Art Review.

Cancer treatment-induced cardiotoxicities are an ongoing concern throughout the cancer care continuum from treatment initiation to survivorship. Several "standard-of-care" primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies are available to prevent the development or further progression of cancer treatment-induced cardiotoxicities and their risk factors. Despite exercise's established benefits on the cardiovascular system, it has not been widely adopted as a nonpharmacologic cardioprotective strategy within cardio-oncology care.

A multi-institutional study from the US ROPE consortium examining factors associated with endocrine surgery exposure for general surgery residents.

Background: Prior analyses of general surgery resident case logs have indicated a decline in the number of endocrine procedures performed during residency. This study aimed to identify factors contributing to the endocrine operative experience of general surgery residents and compare those who matched in endocrine surgery fellowship with those who did not.

Methods: We analyzed the case log data of graduates from 18 general surgery residency programs in the US Resident Operative Experience Consortium over an 11-year period.

A bending model for assessing relative stiffness and strength of orthopaedic fixation constructs.

Background: The purpose of this study is to develop a simple and reproducible bending model that is compatible with a wide range of orthopaedic fixation devices and 3D printed spacers.

Methods: A robust 4-point bending model was constructed by securing sawbones blocks with different orthopaedic fixation device constructs. Stress strain curves derived from a fundamental mechanics model were used to assess the effect of bone density, type of hardware (staple vs intramedullary beam), the use of dynamic compression, orientation of staples (dorsal vs plantar), and the use of 3D printed titanium spacers.

Younger Patients Undergoing Total Ankle Arthroplasty Experience Higher Complication Rates and Worse Functional Outcomes.

Background: Although many patients with posttraumatic ankle arthritis are of a younger age, studies evaluating the impact of age on outcomes of primary total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) have revealed heterogenous results. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of age on complication rates and patient-reported outcomes after TAA.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 1,115 patients who had undergone primary TAA.

Concerns regarding health-related social media usage amongst otolaryngology patients.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine concerns of otolaryngology patients regarding health-related social media usage.

Methods: A total of 372 otolaryngology patients were asked to report their level of concern (on a scale of "not at all", "a little", "somewhat", or "highly" concerned) regarding health-related social media usage as it pertained to risk of "loss of privacy or anonymity related to your health condition", "reliability of disease/treatment information", and "reliability of physician reviews/recommendations". Demographics and social media usage patterns (on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok or other platforms) were compared to concerns about health-related social media usage.

Evaluating Failure Mechanisms for Total Talus Replacement: Contemporary Review.

Background: As total talus replacement (TTR) grows in popularity as a salvage option for talar collapse, a critical evaluation of the complications associated with this procedure is indicated.

Methods: In this review of the literature, we present a patient report and provide a review of several complications seen after TTR, including ligamentous instability, infection, and adjacent joint osteoarthritis, which we have encountered in our practice.

Results: Total talus replacement has the potential to reduce pain and preserve range of motion.

Niraparib and dostarlimab for the treatment of recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer: results of a Phase II study (MOONSTONE/GOG-3032).

Objective: This study assessed the efficacy, safety, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the treatment regimen of dostarlimab, a programmed death-1 inhibitor, combined with niraparib, a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor, in patients with BRCA wild type (BRCAwt) recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (PROC) who had previously received bevacizumab treatment.

Methods: This Phase II, open-label, single-arm, multicenter study, conducted in the USA, enrolled patients with recurrent PROC to receive niraparib and dostarlimab until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity (up to 3 years). A preplanned interim futility analysis was performed after the first 41 patients had undergone ≥1 radiographic evaluation (approximately 9 weeks from the first treatment).

Hypothermic Protection in Neocortex Is Topographic and Laminar, Seizure Unmitigating, and Partially Rescues Neurons Depleted of RNA Splicing Protein Rbfox3/NeuN in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Male Piglets.

The effects of hypothermia on neonatal encephalopathy may vary topographically and cytopathologically in the neocortex with manifestations potentially influenced by seizures that alter the severity, distribution, and type of neuropathology. We developed a neonatal piglet survival model of hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephalopathy and hypothermia (HT) with continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) for seizures. Neonatal male piglets received HI-normothermia (NT), HI-HT, sham-NT, or sham-HT treatments.

Minimal scarring in a premature neonate.

Background: Scar formation and management is one of the major issues in plastic surgery. Scars are a chronic burden to patients, their families, and the wider healthcare system and while non-surgical and surgical options have been shown to reduce scarring and its impact, there are currently no therapeutic options to completely heal scars or to avoid scarring. Early gestation animals have been reported to heal skin wounds without scarring.

Evaluating the Biomechanical Integrity of Various Constructs Utilized for First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Arthrodesis: A Systematic Review.

The first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint is a frequently loaded joint, handling loads up to 90% of bodyweight. First MTP arthrodesis is a frequently performed procedure designed to improve pain in patients with degenerative MTP joint disease. There are a wide variety of fixation constructs for this procedure without consensus on the most effective method.

Retinal mid-peripheral capillary free zones are enlarged in cognitively unimpaired older adults at high risk for Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Compared to standard neuro-diagnostic techniques, retinal biomarkers provide a probable low-cost and non-invasive alternative for early Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk screening. We have previously quantified the periarteriole and perivenule capillary free zones (mid-peripheral CFZs) in cognitively unimpaired (CU) young and older adults as novel metrics of retinal tissue oxygenation. There is a breakdown of the inner retinal blood barrier, pericyte loss, and capillary non-perfusion or dropout in AD leading to potential enlargement of the mid-peripheral CFZs.

Practice makes imperfect: stronger implicit interference with practice in individuals at high risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.

Early screening to determine patient risk of developing Alzheimer's will allow better interventions and planning but necessitates accessible methods such as behavioral biomarkers. Previously, we showed that cognitively healthy older individuals whose cerebrospinal fluid amyloid/tau ratio indicates high risk of cognitive decline experienced implicit interference during a high-effort task, signaling early changes in attention. To further investigate attention's effect on implicit interference, we analyzed two experiments completed sequentially by the same high- and low-risk individuals.

Proximal Molecular Probe Transfer (PROMPT), a new approach for identifying sites of protein/nucleic acid interaction in cells by correlated light and electron microscopy.

The binding and interaction of proteins with nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA constitutes a fundamental biochemical and biophysical process in all living organisms. Identifying and visualizing such temporal interactions in cells is key to understanding their function. To image sites of these events in cells across scales, we developed a method, named PROMPT for PROximal Molecular Probe Transfer, which is applicable to both light and correlative electron microscopy.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Lung Cancer Screening.

Recent advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) hold substantial promise to address some of the current challenges in lung cancer screening and improve health equity. This article reviews the status and future directions of AI/ML tools in the lung cancer screening workflow, focusing on determining screening eligibility, radiation dose reduction and image denoising for low-dose chest computed tomography (CT), lung nodule detection, lung nodule classification, and determining optimal screening intervals. AI/ML tools can assess for chronic diseases on CT, which creates opportunities to improve population health through opportunistic screening.

Agreement Between Self-reports and Urine Toxicology Measures of Illicit Methamphetamine and Cocaine Use During Early Pregnancy.

Objective: This study aimed to assess agreement between self-report and urine toxicology measures assessing use of 2 illicit simulants (methamphetamine and cocaine) during early pregnancy.

Methods: This cross-sectional study of 203,053 pregnancies from 169,709 individuals receiving prenatal care at Kaiser Permanente Northern California between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2019, assessed agreement ( κ , sensitivity, and specificity) between self-reported frequency and urine toxicology measures of methamphetamine and cocaine early in pregnancy.

Results: Prenatal use of the illicit stimulants was rare according to toxicology (n = 244 [0.

Patient perspectives on recall period and response options in patient-reported outcome measures for chronic rhinosinusitis symptomatology: An international multi-centered study.

Background: Existing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) use a variety of recall periods and response scales to assess CRS symptom burden. Global perspectives of CRS patients regarding optimal recall periods and response scales for CRS PROMs are unknown.

Methods: This was a multi-center, cross-sectional study recruiting 461 CRS patients from sites across the United States, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, and Austria.

Charcot Neuroarthropathy of the Foot and Ankle in the Acute Setting: An Illustrative Case Report and Targeted Review.

Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) is a rare but serious sequela of diabetes and other diseases that cause peripheral neuropathy. It is most commonly characterized by degeneration of the foot and/or ankle joints leading to progressive deformity and altered weight-bearing. If left untreated, the deformities of CN lead to ulceration, infection, amputation, and even death.

Engineered transcription-associated Cas9 targeting in eukaryotic cells.

DNA targeting Class 2 CRISPR-Cas effector nucleases, including the well-studied Cas9 proteins, evolved protospacer-adjacent motif (PAM) and guide RNA interactions that sequentially license their binding and cleavage activities at protospacer target sites. Both interactions are nucleic acid sequence specific but function constitutively; thus, they provide intrinsic spatial control over DNA targeting activities but naturally lack temporal control. Here we show that engineered Cas9 fusion proteins which bind to nascent RNAs near a protospacer can facilitate spatiotemporal coupling between transcription and DNA targeting at that protospacer: Transcription-associated Cas9 Targeting (TraCT).