Central expression and peripheral levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy.

Purpose: Thirty percent of epilepsy patients are drug-resistant (DR) and, in adults, temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common form of DR- epilepsy. Patients with TLE exhibit a neuroinflammatory response associated with blood-brain barrier dysfunction. In this context, the main aim of our study was to evaluate peripheral levels and central expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in TLE patients and assess their association with drug resistance and inflammatory markers.

A 13-year review of triple jump examination at the Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California.

Objectives: The triple jump examination (TJE) has been instituted at the Ostrow School of Dentistry of the University of Southern California (OSDUSC) since 2001 as an assessment tool of critical thinking skills for its learner-centered pedagogy. A 2013 study detailed the TJE's design, validity, and initial outcomes. The current study focused on its 13-year sustainability including a transition from in-person to hybrid TJE by assessing outcomes from the graduating Classes of 2014 through 2026.

Four-month real-life response to Tezepelumab in patients with multi-failure to other biologics.

To evaluate the response to Tezepelumab in real clinical practice, we performed an analysis of the clinical, functional, and inflammatory characteristics of 13 patients with severe asthma after completing four doses of Tezepelumab was performed. When comparing clinical parameters such as asthma control test (ACT), FENO value, exacerbations in the last 4 months, blood eosinophils and FEV1%, before receiving Tezepelumab and after four doses of Tezepelumab, statistically significant differences were found in ACT levels (p=0.0072), exacerbations (p=0.

Effectiveness and costs of the recruitment strategies used in the MetA-Bone trial, a randomized clinical trial to test the effects of soluble corn fiber supplementation for 1 year in children.

Background: Pediatric recruitment into clinical trials is very challenging. A recruitment plan was designed to recruit healthy children (9-14 years) in a trial testing the 1-year effect of corn soluble fiber supplementation on bone mass. We evaluated the effectiveness and costs of the recruitment strategies used in this trial.

A summary of the main themes and findings presented at the ASM Intermountain Branch meeting (2024).

The annual meeting for the Intermountain Branch was held in April 2024 on the campus of Brigham Young University. There were 127 branch members from Utah, Idaho, and Nevada who attended the meeting and were composed of undergraduate students, graduate or medical students, and faculty. This report highlights the diversity of, and the emerging trends in, the research conducted by American Society for Microbiology members in the Intermountain Branch.

Planting the Seed for Blood Pressure Control: The Role of Plant-Based Nutrition in the Management of Hypertension.

Purpose Of Review: Hypertension results in significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenditures. Fortunately, it is largely preventable and treatable by implementing dietary interventions, though these remain underutilized. Here, we aim to explore the role of healthy dietary patterns in hypertension management and describe approaches for busy clinicians to address nutrition effectively and efficiently with patients.

Cryptophthalmos: associated syndromes and genetic disorders.

Purpose: Cryptophthalmos is a rare congenital condition caused by anomalous eyelid development where the eyelid folds do not develop or fail to separate. Cryptophthalmos can be unilateral or bilateral and can occur in isolation or as part of an underlying syndrome. We aim to identify genetic syndromes associated with cryptophthalmos to facilitate genetic diagnosis.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery for Facial Merkel Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare malignant cutaneous tumor with frequent metastases. They often appear in the face where cosmetic and functional outcome is critical. Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is a controlled intervention that optimizes negative margins without sacrificing tissue.

Sebaceous Carcinoma of the Face Treated With Mohs Micrographic Surgery.

Background: Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) for sebaceous carcinoma (SC) may reduce local recurrence rates, but published case series have small cohorts and limited follow-up. Mohs micrographic surgery is particularly suitable for sensitive functional and cosmetic locations, such as the face, because it facilitates tissue conservation using complete peripheral and deep margin assessment before reconstruction. Coordinated care between Mohs and oculoplastic surgeons has not been described.

Vision Loss as a Presenting Feature of Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy: A Case Series.

Background: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an acquired, immune-mediated, and clinically heterogeneous demyelinating disease affecting the nerve roots and peripheral nerves. We report a series of 4 patients who presented with early and progressive vision loss in the context of new-onset CIDP: 3 due to papilledema and 1 due to optic neuropathy without papilledema.

Methods: This was a retrospective case series of 4 patients with vision loss as a presenting feature of CIDP evaluated at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania from January 2016 to August 2021.

Simulated Y-site compatibility of atosiban acetate with selected intravenous drugs.

Objective: The physical compatibility of atosiban and selected drugs during simulated Y-site administration was evaluated. We also searched for any compatibility predictions regarding its physicochemical properties.

Study Design: Test admixtures were prepared by mixing 5 mL of each study drug solution with 5 mL of atosiban solution in a 1:1 ratio to simulate Y-site infusion.

The effect of two anionic membranes (AMI 7001s and Neosepta AMX) on the electrodeposition of manganese from sulphate solutions.

The effect of two different anionic membranes on manganese deposition was studied in a two-compartment electrochemical reactor with a titanium cathode and a dimensionally stable RuO|Ti anode. Chronopotentiometry, ICP-OES, SEM, XRD and elemental mapping were used to understand the changes in concentration and characteristics of the metallic deposition at different current densities with the anionic membranes AMI 7001s and Neosepta AMX. The results demonstrate that AMI reduces more manganese than AMX below -100 A m, generating more metallic deposition but also more low-solubility manganous by-products, whereas both membranes exhibited similar behaviours above -100 A m reaching the maximum current efficiency (63%) at -200 A m.

Cavernous sinus thrombosis with bilateral orbital vein involvement and diffuse ischemic retinopathy.

A 53-year-old man with a 3-day history of periorbital swelling and vision loss in the left eye was found to have septic cavernous sinus thrombosis with bilateral orbital vein involvement causing congestive orbitopathy. He was treated with an emergent canthotomy and cantholysis, intraocular pressure-lowering drops, antibiotics, anticoagulation, and serial examinations. Optical coherence tomography ultimately revealed diffuse ischemic destruction of both layers of the retina, which suggested occlusion of the ophthalmic artery or the short posterior ciliary arteries and central retinal artery without intracavernous internal carotid artery involvement.

Clinical differentiation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The aim of the present study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including medical and surgical treatments, in several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.IBD is recognized as a global health problem because its incidence and prevalence have increased significantly over the last few years.This multicenter retrospective cohort study included 4714 patients with IBD diagnosed from 9 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean: Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Dataset of propylene carbonate based liquid electrolyte mixtures for sodium-ion cells.

In this manuscript, we present rheology, ionic conductivity, density, chromatography, and life cycle analysis data on the PC+X electrolyte system with and without LiClO. In particular, the data are presented in contact with Na surfaces. In this case, photographic images of electrolyte-sodium mixtures are also shown.

Latin American consensus on the quality indicators for comprehensive care clinics for patients with inflammatory bowel disease: PANCCO-GETECCU.

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and incurable entity. The aim of the Pan American Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (PANCCO) is to create awareness of IBD, with special emphasis on Latin America, and the primary objective of the Spanish Working Group on Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (GETECCU, the Spanish acronym) is to obtain the accreditation of the clinical and therapeutic criteria for the diagnosis and treatment of IBD.

Aim: To carry out a consensus for evaluating the approval criteria that a Comprehensive Care Clinic for Latin American IBD patients must meet, to be considered a center of excellence.

Temporal lobe epilepsy: Evaluation of central and systemic immune-inflammatory features associated with drug resistance.

Neuroinflammation is probably one of the factors involved in drug resistance in people with epilepsy. Finding peripheral markers reflecting the intensity of neuroinflammation could be of great help to decide for which patients anti-inflammatory treatment might be an option. In this context, peripheral cytokines levels and lymphocyte phenotypes were assessed by ELISA and flow cytometry in 3 groups of subjects: drug resistant patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (DR-TLE), non DR-TLE patients and healthy controls.

Infraspinatus atrophy due to Bennett lesion causing suprascapular nerve palsy.

We report the case of a 19-year-old professional volleyball player who presented with right shoulder pain exacerbated during sports activity. On physical examination, infraspinatus atrophy was evident. As the clinical setting suggested suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome, shoulder MR and later CT were performed.

A picture is worth a thousand words: exploring the roles of caregivers and the home environment of ventricular assist device patients.

Aims: Caregivers of persons living with ventricular assist devices (VADs) are integrally involved in both medical and non-medical care. We sought to understand tasks caregivers perform after surgical recovery, ways the home is adapted for those tasks, and presence of home safety hazards.

Methods And Results: We conducted semi-structured interviews with persons living with a VAD and their caregivers.

Hypotony Without Globe Rupture During Orbital Fracture Repair.

A 29-year-old male presented to the emergency department with an orbital fracture. He denied ocular symptoms and CT showed bilateral fracture of nasal bones, left medial orbital wall, and left orbital floor, with herniation of orbital fat and minimal retrobulbar hematoma. Pre-operative ophthalmic exam was unremarkable.

The polar Ras-like GTPase MglA activates type IV pilus via SgmX to enable twitching motility in .

Type IV pili (Tfp) are highly conserved macromolecular structures that fulfill diverse cellular functions, such as adhesion to host cells, the import of extracellular DNA, kin recognition, and cell motility (twitching). Outstandingly, twitching motility enables a poorly understood process by which highly coordinated groups of hundreds of cells move in cooperative manner, providing a basis for multicellular behaviors, such as biofilm formation. In the social bacteria , we know that twitching motility is under the dependence of the small GTPase MglA, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive.

Development of an Outcome Measure of Observable Signs of Health and Well-Being in Infants With Orofacial Clefts.

Objective: To develop an outcomes instrument that assesses observations that can be reliably reported by caregivers and can be used to assess health of infants with a cleft lip or cleft lip and cleft palate (CL±P) and impacts of treatments.

Design: Cross-sectional, mixed methods study.

Setting: Caregivers and health-care providers were recruited from 3 academic craniofacial centers and national advertisements.