Environmental justice implications of hydraulic fracturing: A spatio-temporal analysis in texas.

This study contributes to the field of environmental justice by addressing two key questions: (1) To what extent are racial and ethnic composition, socio-demographic characteristics, and housing-related factors associated with the siting of hydraulic fracturing wells in the U.S.? and (2) How have these associations evolved over time, and have demographic changes contributed to increased environmental justice concerns? Using a panel dataset from FracFocus and the American Community Survey at the census-tract level between 2011 and 2023, the findings reveal that hydraulic fracturing wells are disproportionately located near census tracts with higher percentages of Black and Hispanic populations, indicating environmental injustice towards racial minorities.

A Retrospective Chart Analysis Comparing Breast Cancer Detection Rates Between Annual Versus Biennial Mammograms.

Background: Per American Cancer Society, breast cancer is one of the most prevalent causes of cancer-related mortality in women in the United States. Different organizations vary in their recommendations regarding frequency of mammograms, with the United State Preventive Service Taskforce recommending biennial screening and other organizations like American College of Radiology promoting annual screening. The purpose of this study was to analyze institutional data to compare breast cancer detection rates among women undergoing annual vs.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 drives cystic kidney disease in the absence of mTORC1 signaling activity.

Progression of cystic kidney disease has been linked to activation of the mTORC1 signaling pathway. Yet the utility of mTORC1 inhibitors to treat patients with polycystic kidney disease remains controversial despite promising preclinical data. To define the cell intrinsic role of mTORC1 for cyst development, the mTORC1 subunit gene Raptor was selectively inactivated in kidney tubular cells lacking cilia due to simultaneous deletion of the kinesin family member gene Kif3A.

Subclinical leaflet thrombosis and anticoagulation strategy following trans-catheter aortic valve replacement: A systematic review.

Objective: Subclinical leaflet thrombosis (SLT) develops in 15% of patients undergoing trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). TAVR is a procedure in which a faulty aortic valve is replaced with a mechanical one. An aortic valve replacement can be done with open-heart surgery; this is called surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).

The effects of the interplay between vitamins, antibiotics, and gut microbiota on the pathogenesis and progression of dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Given that there is already evidence of a neural network that connects the brain and gut and that the gut microbiota actively modulates gut health, it is crucial to know which foods, supplements, and medications to use or avoid when treating any disease that causes dementia or cognitive impairment. Previous research has examined the relationships between vitamins, antibiotics, and gut microbiota and the correlations between these factors and dementia. The question arises of how these three factors interact together and if evidence suggests one element is more important than the others in the pathogenesis and development of dementia.

Parkinson's disease updates: Addressing the pathophysiology, risk factors, genetics, diagnosis, along with the medical and surgical treatment.

After only Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease. The incidence of this disease increases with age, especially for those above 70 years old. There are many risk factors that are well-established in the contribution to the development of PD, such as age, gender, ethnicity, rapid eye movement sleep disorder, high consumption of dairy products, traumatic brain injury, genetics, and pesticides/herbicides.

The importance of inquiring the ejaculation function in men with premature ejaculation who do not actively seek treatment.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of men presenting for other complaints whose ejaculatory function inquiry indicated premature ejaculation (PE).

Methods: The data of 536 PE patients, including those who presented with the complaint of PE (group 1) and those presenting with other complaints who were diagnosed with PE (group 2) as a result of ejaculatory function inquiry using estimated intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) and Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT), were retrospectively evaluated. Age, PE type, comorbidities, recommended treatments, and treatment acceptance status of all patients were recorded.

Infection with SARS-CoV-2 among children with asthma: evidence from Global Asthma Network.

Background: Clinical presentations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among children with asthma have rarely been investigated. This study aimed to assess clinical manifestations and outcome of COVID-19 among children with asthma, and whether the use of asthma medications was associated with outcomes of interest.

Methods: The Global Asthma Network (GAN) conducted a global survey among GAN centers.

Male sexual functions and behaviors in the age of COVID-19: Evaluation of mid-term effects with online cross-sectional survey study.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on sexual functions and behavior in men with heterosexual partners.

Materials And Methods: A total of 602 participants completed an online questionnaire, shared via social networks, between November 20 and December 20, 2020. Pre-pandemic sexual intercourse frequency, International Erectile Dysfunction Index (IIEF-15) score, intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT), premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT) score, and activities during sexual intercourse were compared to the ones during the pandemic.

Inferring gene expression networks with hubs using a degree weighted Lasso approach.

Motivation: Genome-scale gene networks contain regulatory genes called hubs that have many interaction partners. These genes usually play an essential role in gene regulation and cellular processes. Despite recent advancements in high-throughput technology, inferring gene networks with hub genes from high-dimensional data still remains a challenging problem.

Understanding the mTOR signaling pathway via mathematical modeling.

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a central regulatory pathway that integrates a variety of environmental cues to control cellular growth and homeostasis by intricate molecular feedbacks. In spite of extensive knowledge about its components, the molecular understanding of how these function together in space and time remains poor and there is a need for Systems Biology approaches to perform systematic analyses. In this work, we review the recent progress how the combined efforts of mathematical models and quantitative experiments shed new light on our understanding of the mTOR signaling pathway.

Graph reconstruction using covariance-based methods.

Methods based on correlation and partial correlation are today employed in the reconstruction of a statistical interaction graph from high-throughput omics data. These dedicated methods work well even for the case when the number of variables exceeds the number of samples. In this study, we investigate how the graphs extracted from covariance and concentration matrix estimates are related by using Neumann series and transitive closure and through discussing concrete small examples.

The Effects of Hydrophilic Polyethylene Glycol-Based Adhesion Barrier Use to Prevent Intra-abdominal Adhesions in Intra-abdominal Sepsis Model.

Postoperative adhesion formation is still an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Hydrophilic polyethylene glycol-based adhesion barrier (SprayGel™, Confluent Surgical, Inc., Waltham, MA) is reported to prevent adhesion formation after gynecologic surgery.

Replication vesicles are load- and choke-points in the hepatitis C virus lifecycle.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection develops into chronicity in 80% of all patients, characterized by persistent low-level replication. To understand how the virus establishes its tightly controlled intracellular RNA replication cycle, we developed the first detailed mathematical model of the initial dynamic phase of the intracellular HCV RNA replication. We therefore quantitatively measured viral RNA and protein translation upon synchronous delivery of viral genomes to host cells, and thoroughly validated the model using additional, independent experiments.

What necessitates the conversion to open cholecystectomy? A retrospective analysis of 5164 consecutive laparoscopic operations.

Objective: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) has become the gold standard for the surgical treatment of gallbladder disease, but conversion to open cholecystectomy is still inevitable in certain cases. Knowledge of the rate and impact of the underlying reasons for conversion could help surgeons during preoperative assessment and improve the informed consent of patients. We decided to review the rate and causes of conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy.

The effects of polypropylene mesh on femoral artery and femoral vein in mesh repair.

Purpose: Since the first description, the use of polypropylene mesh in hernia repair has gained wide acceptance. The aim of this study was to assess whether polypropylene mesh implantation has any effects on femoral blood vessels.

Methods: A 0.

Upper gastrointestinal abnormalities and Helicobacter pylori in Behçet's disease.

Background: There are few published clinical trials concerning upper gastrointestinal (GI) involvement in Behçet's disease (BD), and most have been performed on patients with upper GI tract symptoms.

Aim: We sought to determine whether routine endoscopy is indicated in asymptomatic patients with BD and whether Helicobacter pylori plays a role in the pathogenesis of BD.

Methods: Forty consecutive patients with BD and 40 age- and gender-matched controls with tinea pedis were studied.

Intussusception in adult and pediatric patients: two different entities.

Purpose: Intussusception is one of the most common abdominal emergencies in pediatrics, but adult intussusception is an uncommon entity and most surgeons have only limited experience in treating this disease. The purpose of this study was to highlight the differences between pediatric and adult intussusception.

Methods: The records of 40 patients during 14 years were reviewed retrospectively.

[Modified surgical treatment of rectal atresia with rectovaginal fistula].

In our clinics in 1992-2002 89 girls with anorectal developmental anomaly underwent modified perineal proctoplasty. In 65 (73.3%) patients the rectal atresia with vestibular fistula was revealed, in 17 (19%)--vaginal fistula, 7 (7.

[Operative treatment of fecal incontinence in coccyx agenesis in children after surgical correction of Hirschsprung's disease].

The coccygeal agenesis is one of causes of the external anal sphincter functional insufficiency after performing operations for Hirschsprung's disease in children. The frequency of its diagnosis had constituted 6.2%, in 14.

[The effect of the autotransfusion of UV-irradiated blood on liver function in patients with ulcerative pyloric stenosis].

The parameters of proteinogram were studied in 182 patients. It was shown that autotransfusions of UV-irradiated blood was an effective measure for the correction of the disturbed protein metabolism.

[The efficacy of organ-preserving operations on the spleen in portal hypertension in children].

Under analysis are results of treatment of 38 children with liver cirrhosis. Operations were performed in 25 patients, in 13 children decompensating shunts were put between the vessels of the splenic and left renal veins. Based on the assessment of the clinical effect the authors made a conclusion that in children with portal hypertension and symptoms of hypersplenism the creation of a spleno-renal anastomosis with the retained spleen is an effective measure and considerably reduced risk of postoperative complications.

[Immune shifts in patients with thyrotoxicosis under the effect of the autotransfusion of UV-irradiated blood].

The authors have carried on an investigation of humoral immunity in 64 patients with thyrotoxicosis of different degrees. It was found that patients with different degrees of thyrotoxicosis had an elevated level of immunoglobulins and that autotransfusion of UV irradiated blood considerably normalized the content of immunoglobulins in blood serum, especially in patients with mild and mean degrees of thyrotoxicosis.