Emotional scenes as context in emotional expression recognition: The role of emotion or valence match.

Emotion recognition is influenced by contextual information such as social category cues or background scenes. However, past studies yielded mixed findings regarding whether broad valence or specific emotion matches drive context effects and how multiple sources of contextual information may influence emotion recognition. To address these questions, participants were asked to categorize expressions on male and female faces posing happiness and anger and happiness and fear on pleasant and fearful backgrounds (Experiment 1, conducted in 2019), fearful and disgusted expressions on fear and disgust eliciting backgrounds (Experiment 2, conducted in 2022), and fearful and sad expressions on fear and sadness eliciting backgrounds (Experiment 3, conducted in 2022).

Functional outcome and risk of non-union for 5th metatarsal base fractures.

Objectives: Treatment of 5th metatarsal fractures via direct discharge from virtual fracture clinic (VFC) has become common practice in the NHS. We aim to assess the functional outcome and incidence of non-union in a series of 5th metatarsal base fractures, exposed to 1-year of follow-up.

Methods: 194 patients who sustained a fracture between the period February 2019 to April 2020 were included, referred via the VFC pathway.

Reoperation risk of periprosthetic fracture after primary total hip arthroplasty using a collared cementless or a taper-slip cemented stem.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine both the incidence of, and the reoperation rate for, postoperative periprosthetic femoral fracture (POPFF) after total hip arthroplasty (THA) with either a collared cementless (CC) femoral component or a cemented polished taper-slip (PTS) femoral component.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of a consecutive series of 11,018 THAs over a ten-year period. All POPFFs were identified using regional radiograph archiving and electronic care systems.

Changing Strategies for the Detection of Bacteria in Platelet Components in Ireland: From Primary and Secondary Culture (2010-2020) to Large Volume Delayed Sampling (2020-2023).

Bacterial contamination of platelet components (PC) poses the greatest microbial risk to recipients, as bacteria can multiply over the course of PC storage at room temperature. Between 2010 and 2020, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) screened over 170,000 buffy coat-derived pooled (BCDP) and single-donor apheresis platelets (SDAPs) with the BACT/ALERT 3D microbial detection system (Biomerieux, L'Etoile, France), using a two-step screening protocol which incorporated primary and secondary cultures. Although the protocol was successful in averting septic transfusion reactions (STRs), testing large sample volumes at later time points was reported to improve detection of bacterial contamination.

Are Patients With Morbid Obesity at Increased Risk of Pulmonary Embolism or Proximal Deep Vein Thrombosis After Lower Limb Arthroplasty? A Large-database Study.

Background: Whether increased BMI is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is controversial. Despite this, BMI > 40 kg/m 2 remains a common cutoff for lower limb arthroplasty eligibility. Current United Kingdom national guidelines list obesity as a risk factor for VTE, but these are based on evidence that has largely failed to differentiate between potentially minor (distal deep vein thrombosis [DVT]), and more harmful (pulmonary embolism [PE] and proximal DVT) diagnoses.

Is Cementless Total Knee Arthroplasty Safe in Women Over 75 Y of Age?

Background: Cementless total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is the subject of renewed interest. Previous concerns about survivorship have been addressed and there is an appeal in terms of biological fixation and surgical efficiency. However, even surgeon advocates have concerns about the risk of marked subsidence when using this technology in older patients at risk for osteoporosis.

Using tranexamic acid for an additional 24 hours postoperatively in hip and knee arthroplasty saves money: a cost analysis from the TRAC-24 randomized control trial.

Aims: Tranexamic acid (TXA) is now commonly used in major surgical operations including orthopaedics. The TRAC-24 randomized control trial (RCT) aimed to assess if an additional 24 hours of TXA postoperatively in primary total hip (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) reduced blood loss. Contrary to other orthopaedic studies to date, this trial included high-risk patients.

The impact of an enhanced recovery programme on length of stay and post-discharge resource usage following hip and knee arthroplasty : a service evaluation and cost analysis.

Aims: The aim of this study is to assess the impact of a pilot enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programme on length of stay (LOS) and post-discharge resource usage via service evaluation and cost analysis.

Methods: Between May and December 2019, 100 patients requiring hip or knee arthroplasty were enrolled with the intention that each would have a preadmission discharge plan, a preoperative education class with nominated helper, a day of surgery admission and mobilization, a day one discharge, and access to a 24/7 dedicated helpline. Each was matched with a patient under the pre-existing pathway from the previous year.

Can patients with mild post-operative hyponatraemia following elective arthroplasty be discharged safely? A large-scale service evaluation suggests they can.

Background: Post-operative hyponatraemia is common following arthroplasty. Clinical hyponatraemia guidelines lack detail on when treatment is necessary, and there is a paucity of literature to guide best practice.

Methods: Data were collected within retrospective service evaluations over two time periods in a single high throughput joint unit.

Oral tranexamic acid for an additional 24 hours postoperatively versus a single preoperative intravenous dose for reducing blood loss in total knee arthroplasty: results of a randomized controlled trial (TRAC-24).

Aims: In total knee arthroplasty (TKA), blood loss continues internally after surgery is complete. Typically, the total loss over 48 postoperative hours can be around 1,300 ml, with most occurring within the first 24 hours. We hypothesize that the full potential of tranexamic acid (TXA) to decrease TKA blood loss has not yet been harnessed because it is rarely used beyond the intraoperative period, and is usually withheld from 'high-risk' patients with a history of thromboembolic, cardiovascular, or cerebrovascular disease, a patient group who would benefit greatly from a reduced blood loss.

Prevalence, risk factors, and complications associated with hyponatraemia following elective primary hip and knee arthroplasty.

Background: Hyponatraemia, defined as a serum sodium [Na] concentration below 135 mmol/L, is common following surgery. As inpatient peri-operative stays shorten, there is a need to recognise pre-operative risk factors for post-operative hyponatraemia and complications associated with a peri-operative drop in Na. This audit aimed to investigate the prevalence of, risk factors for, and complications associated with hyponatraemia following elective primary hip and knee arthroplasty.

Oral tranexamic acid for an additional 24 hours postoperatively versus a single preoperative intravenous dose for reducing blood loss in total hip arthroplasty: results of a randomized controlled trial (TRAC-24).

Aims: A typical pattern of blood loss associated with total hip arthroplasty (THA) is 200 ml intraoperatively and 1.3 l in the first 48 postoperative hours. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is most commonly given as a single preoperative dose only and is often withheld from patients with a history of thromboembolic disease as they are perceived to be "high-risk" with respect to postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Prolonged length of stay (PLOS) in a high-volume arthroplasty unit.

Introduction: The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) concept in arthroplasty surgery has led to a reduction in postoperative length of stay in recent years. Patients with prolonged length of stay (PLOS) add to the burden of a strained NHS. Our aim was to identify the main reasons.

Designing spaces to support collaborative creativity in shared virtual environments.

Shared virtual environments (SVEs) have been researched extensively within the fields of education, entertainment, work, and training, yet there has been limited research on the creative and collaborative aspects of interactivity in SVEs. The important role that creativity and collaboration play in human society raises the question of the way that virtual working spaces might be designed to support collaborative creativity in SVEs. In this paper, we outline an SVE named LeMo, which allows two people to collaboratively create a short loop of music together.

Assessment of the effect of addition of 24 hours of oral tranexamic acid post-operatively to a single intraoperative intravenous dose of tranexamic acid on calculated blood loss following primary hip and knee arthroplasty (TRAC-24): a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: While it is has been proven that tranexamic acid (TXA) reduces blood loss in primary total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA), there is little published evidence on the use of TXA beyond 3 h post-operatively. Most blood loss occurs after wound closure and the primary aim of this study is to determine if the use of oral TXA post-operatively for up to 24 h will reduce calculated blood loss at 48 h beyond an intra-operative intravenous bolus alone following primary THA and TKA. To date, most TXA studies have excluded patients with a history of thromboembolic disease.

A large-scale study of respiratory virus infection over 2 years using the Luminex xTAGRVP assay.

Traditional methods of detecting and identifying respiratory viruses like cell culture and immunofluorescence are labor intensive, often slow, and are dependent on specimen viability. As a result, there has been a shift in laboratory practices from these methods to molecular-based techniques such as polymerase chain reaction, which can be faster, more sensitive, and less labor intensive than traditional methods. The Food and Drug Administration approved version of the Luminex xTAG respiratory viral panel (RVP) assay detects 12 respiratory viruses simultaneously.

Development of a department of defense regional viral respiratory surveillance program.

A continuous viral respiratory surveillance program was established throughout the U.S. Department of Defense beneficiary population living in Europe with a few specimens coming from the Middle East.

Age limits and transition of health care in pediatric emergency medicine.

Objective: To describe the practice reported by pediatric emergency department (PED) medical directors regarding age limits and transition of health care in their emergency departments and institutions.

Methods: A 28-question survey was sent by e-mail to 116 PED medical directors. Descriptive statistics were used to report results; chi tests were used for comparing categorical data.

Headache and altitude decompression sickness: joint pain or neurological pain?

Introduction: Exposure to reduced ambient pressure may result in decompression sickness (DCS). Headache is among the DCS symptoms encountered and is usually regarded as neurological DCS, which is traditionally classified as serious DCS. Since cranial sutures may be considered joints, it is possible that some headaches are actually joint pain and when associated with decompression sickness need not be neurological DCS.

Visceral leishmaniasis in a soldier returning from Operation Enduring Freedom.

This report presents a case of visceral leishmaniasis in a soldier returning from Operation Enduring Freedom. During the United States' last major military conflict, Operation Desert Storm, the diagnosis of multiple cases of visceral leishmaniasis led to policy changes, including a temporary ban on troop blood donation. This case demonstrates the applicability of recently developed Leishmania polymerase chain reaction and serological assays when conventional methods of diagnosis, such as tissue microscopy and culture, fail.

Do the intervertebral disc cells respond to different levels of hydrostatic pressure?

Objective: To test the hypothesis that hydrostatic pressure directly affects the synthesis of collagen and proteoglycan by intervertebral disc cells.

Design: By the use of pressure vessels, hydrostatic pressure was applied to intervertebral disc cells cultured in alginate.

Background: The influence of compression (both hydrostatic and axial) on chondrocyte metabolism was examined in a number of earlier studies.

Case from the aerospace medicine residents' teaching file. Stingray injury.

A case report is presented of an aviator with a stingray injury. The complicated diagnosis, treatment, delayed healing, and aeromedical disposition of this injury are discussed.

Lack of telomerase RNA gene hTERC expression in alternative lengthening of telomeres cells is associated with methylation of the hTERC promoter.

The immortal phenotype of most human cancers is attributable to telomerase expression. However, a number of immortal cell lines and tumors achieve telomere maintenance in the absence of telomerase via alternative mechanisms known as ALT (alternative lengthening of telomeres). Here we show that the promoter of the telomerase RNA gene (hTERC) is methylated in three of five ALT cell lines and is associated with a total absence of hTERC expression in the three lines.

Mapping of the gene for the human telomerase reverse transcriptase, hTERT, to chromosome 5p15.33 by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Telomerase, the enzyme that maintains the ends of chromosomes, is absent from the majority of somatic cells but is present and active in most tumours. The gene for the reverse transcriptase component of telomerase (hTERT) has recently been identified. A cDNA clone of this gene was used as a probe to identify three genomic bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones, one of which was used as a probe to map hTERT by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to chromosome 5p15.