Neurophysiological assessment of cortical motor function: A direct comparison of methodologies.

Objective: Assessment of cortical function with threshold tracking transcranial magnetic stimulation (TT-TMS) has developed as a biomarker to inform disease pathophysiology, particularly in neurodegenerative disease and dementia. At present, a fully integrated testing system does not exist. To advance clinical utility, and to streamline software design to integrate with diagnostic approaches in an outpatient setting, the present series of studies assessed the effects of altering diagnostic paradigms to measure interstimulus interval (ISI) including serial ascending [T-SICIs] and parallel [T-SICIp] methodologies as measures of cortical motor function (the MagXite software).

Sex-specific alterations in the gut and lung microbiome of allergen-induced mice.

Introduction: Recent evidence has demonstrated that the microbiome is a driver of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of respiratory disease. Studies have indicated that bacterial metabolites produced in the gut and lung can impact lung inflammation and immune cell activity, affecting disease pathology. Despite asthma being a disease with marked sex differences, experimental work linking microbiomes and asthma has not considered the sex variable.

Thirdhand vaping exposures are associated with pulmonary and systemic inflammation in a mouse model.

Thirdhand smoke (THS) is the accumulation of secondhand smoke on surfaces that ages with time. THS exposure is a potential health threat to children, partners of smokers, and workers in environments with current or past smoking, and needs further investigation. In this study, we hypothesized that thirdhand Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) exposures elicit lung and systemic inflammation due to resuspended particulate matter (PM) and inorganic compounds that remain after active vaping has ceased.

Role of circular RNAs in lung cancer.

Lung cancer remains a global public health concern with significant research focus on developing better diagnosis/prognosis biomarkers and therapeutical targets. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a type of single-stranded RNA molecules that covalently closed and have ubiquitous expression. These molecules have been implicated in a variety of disease mechanisms, including lung cancer, as they exhibit oncogenic or tumor suppressor characteristics.

Lung proinflammatory microRNA and cytokine expression in a mouse model of allergic inflammation: role of sex chromosome complement and gonadal hormones.

Epigenetic alterations such as dysregulation of miRNAs have been reported to play important roles in interactions between genetic and environmental factors. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that induction of lung inflammation by inhaled allergens triggers a sex-specific miRNA regulation that is dependent on chromosome complement and hormonal milieu. We challenged the four core genotypes (FCGs) model through intranasal sensitization with a house dust mite (HDM) solution (or PBS as a control) for 5 wk.

Transcriptomics analysis of allergen-induced inflammatory gene expression in the Four-Core Genotype mouse model.

Sex differences in allergic inflammation have been reported, but the mechanisms underlying these differences remain unknown. Contributions of both sex hormones and sex-related genes to these mechanisms have been previously suggested in clinical and animal studies. Here, Four-Core Genotypes (FCG) mouse model was used to study the inflammatory response to house dust mite (HDM) challenge and identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and regulatory pathways in lung tissue.

Ovarian Fibroma Presents As Uterine Leiomyoma in a 61-Year-Old Female: A Case Study.

Uterine leiomyoma should be considered when a female patient reports symptoms of abdominal pressure and abnormal vaginal bleeding. However, the symptoms of a uterine leiomyoma are vast and overlap with other possible diseases that are difficult to distinguish even with imaging studies. This is why it is important for physicians and healthcare providers to keep an open mind and have a broad differential diagnosis.

PFAS in drinking water and serum of the people of a southeast Alaska community: A pilot study.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become a target of rigorous scientific research due to their ubiquitous nature and adverse health effects. However, there are still gaps in knowledge about their environmental fate and health implications. More attention is needed for remote locations with source exposures.

Developing Normal Turns-Amplitude Clouds for Upper and Lower Limbs.

Purpose: Turns and amplitude analysis (T&A) is a frequently used method for automatic EMG interference pattern analysis. The T&A normal values have only been developed for a limited number of muscles. Our objective was to obtain normal T&A clouds for upper and lower extremity muscles for which no normal values exist in the literature.

Microsatellite based phylogeny and bottleneck studies of Iranian indigenous goat populations.

Genetic analyses, structure, and bottlenecks were examined in six populations of Iranian indigenous goat using 13 microsatellite loci. The overall heterozygosity, polymorphism information content (PIC), and Shannon index values were 0.80, 0.

The controversy surrounding sacral insufficiency fractures: to ambulate or not to ambulate?

Sacral insufficiency fractures are an often unsuspected cause of low back pain in elderly women with osteoporosis who have sustained minimal or no trauma. Many of the references in the literature advocate bed rest initially; however, we support early mobilization, because most of these fractures are stable and require no surgical intervention. With good pain control, patients can begin progressive ambulation with assistive devices in a supervised environment and minimize the complications of immobility.

Common peroneal neuropathy secondary to squatting during childbirth.

Background: Common peroneal neuropathy occurs fairly frequently in the adult population; however, very few cases of peroneal neuropathy after prolonged squatting have been reported.

Case: A 29-year-old woman noted right foot numbness and weakness immediately after childbirth, which involved 15-30 minutes of pushing in a squatting position. Physical examination and an electrodiagnostic study confirmed a common peroneal neuropathy.