Systemic Inflammatory Diseases in Children With Sickle Cell Disease: A French Multicenter Observational Study on Diagnostic and Therapeutic Issues.

Background: Systemic inflammatory diseases (SIDs) have been reported in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), but clinical data in children are scarce.

Objectives: To identify clinical and laboratory features at diagnosis of SID in children with SCD and to describe their evolution.

Methods: Data from children with SCD and SIDs were retrospectively collected in a French multicenter study from 1991 to 2018.

The prohibitin ligand IN44 decreases Porphyromonas gingivalis mediated inflammation.

Background: Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease causing destruction of periodontal tissues. Controlling inflammation is crucial for periodontitis treatment. Prohibitins (PHBs) are emerging targets in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Commissioning a clinical proton pencil beam scanning beamline for pre-clinical ultra-high dose rate irradiations on a cyclotron-based system.

Background: This manuscript describes modifications to a pencil beam scanning (PBS) proton gantry that enables ultra-high dose rates (UHDR) irradiation, including treatment planning and validation.

Methods: Beamline modifications consisted of opening the energy slits and setting the degrader to pass-through mode to maximize the dose rate. A range shifter was inserted upstream from the isocenter to enlarge the spot size and make it rotationally symmetric.

Simulation design - peer-to-peer training as preparation for full-scale scenarios.

Objectives: Design of simulation training can have important implications for learning outcomes. This paper describes a pilot simulation training program for baccalaureate nursing students that includes intensive preparations, peer-to-peer skills training (P2P), prior to full-scale scenario training.

Methods: A quality improvement analysis of a large scale experimental, mixed methods study.

Gentrification drives patterns of alpha and beta diversity in cities.

While there is increasing recognition that social processes in cities like gentrification have ecological consequences, we lack nuanced understanding of the ways gentrification affects urban biodiversity. We analyzed a large camera trap dataset of mammals (>500 g) to evaluate how gentrification impacts species richness and community composition across 23 US cities. After controlling for the negative effect of impervious cover, gentrified parts of cities had the highest mammal species richness.

An evaluation of the German version of the Sensory Perception Quotient from an expert by experience perspective.

Sensory processing is often altered in individuals with autism; thus, it is essential to develop reliable measurement tools to assess sensory perception. The Sensory Perception Quotient (SPQ) quantifies basic sensory sensitivities in adults via self-report. Adopting an expert by experience perspective, this study aimed to evaluate a German translation of the SPQ for its use in clinical and research applications, especially for autistic adults.

Preclinical Ultra-High Dose Rate (FLASH) Proton Radiation Therapy System for Small Animal Studies.

Purpose: Animal studies with ultrahigh dose-rate radiation therapy (FLASH, >40 Gy/s) preferentially spare normal tissues without sacrificing antitumor efficacy compared with conventional dose-rate radiation therapy (CONV). At the University of Washington, we developed a cyclotron-generated preclinical scattered proton beam with FLASH dose rates. We present the technical details of our FLASH radiation system and preliminary biologic results from whole pelvis radiation.

Interacting with autistic virtual characters: intrapersonal synchrony of nonverbal behavior affects participants' perception.

Temporal coordination of communicative behavior is not only located between but also within interaction partners (e.g., gaze and gestures).

Occurrence and evolutionary conservation analysis of α-helical cationic amphiphilic segments in the human proteome.

The existence of encrypted fragments with antimicrobial activity in human proteins has been thoroughly demonstrated in the literature. Recently, algorithms for the large-scale identification of these segments in whole proteomes were developed, and the pervasiveness of this phenomenon was stated. These algorithms typically mine encrypted cationic and amphiphilic segments of proteins, which, when synthesized as individual polypeptide sequences, exert antimicrobial activity by membrane disruption.

Differentiated, rather than shared, strategies for time-coordinated action in social and non-social domains in autistic individuals.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition with a highly heterogeneous adult phenotype that includes social and non-social behavioral characteristics. The link between the characteristics assignable to the different domains remains unresolved. One possibility is that social and non-social behaviors in autism are modulated by a common underlying deficit.

Improved lateral penumbra for proton ocular treatments on a general-purpose spot scanning beamline.

Purpose: An ocular applicator that fits a commercial proton snout with an upstream range shifter to allow for treatments with sharp lateral penumbra is described.

Materials And Methods: The validation of the ocular applicator consisted of a comparison of range, depth doses (Bragg peaks and spread out Bragg peaks), point doses, and 2-D lateral profiles. Measurements were made for three field sizes, 1.

Release of immunomodulatory peptides at bacterial membrane interfaces as a novel strategy to fight microorganisms.

Cationic and amphiphilic peptides can be used as homing devices to accumulate conjugated antibiotics to bacteria-enriched sites and promote efficient microbial killing. However, just as important as tackling bacterial infections, is the modulation of the immune response in this complex microenvironment. In the present report, we designed a peptide chimaera called Chim2, formed by a membrane-active module, an enzyme hydrolysis site and a formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) agonist.

Intrapersonal synchrony analysis reveals a weaker temporal coherence between gaze and gestures in adults with autism spectrum disorder.

The temporal encoding of nonverbal signals within individuals, referred to as intrapersonal synchrony (IaPS), is an implicit process and essential feature of human communication. Based on existing evidence, IaPS is thought to be a marker of nonverbal behavior characteristics in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), but there is a lack of empirical evidence. The aim of this study was to quantify IaPS in adults during an experimentally controlled real-life interaction task.

Probing human proteins for short encrypted antimicrobial peptides reveals Hs10, a peptide with selective activity for gram-negative bacteria.

Background: Some cationic and amphiphilic α-helical segments of proteins adsorb to prokaryotic membranes when synthesized as individual polypeptide sequences, resulting in broad and potent antimicrobial activity. However, amphiphilicity, a determinant physicochemical property for peptide-membrane interactions, can also be observed in some β-sheets.

Methods: The software Kamal was used to scan the human reference proteome for short (7-11 amino acid residues) cationic and amphiphilic protein segments with the characteristic periodicity of β-sheets.

Figure-Disembedding Is Inferior in Non-autistic Compared to Autistic Individuals but Can Be Improved by Training.

Background: Figure-disembedding is one of the most discussed visuo-cognitive functions, in which individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have been reported to outperform non-autistic individuals. A local processing bias has been assumed to underlie such superior performance patterns. The aim of the current study is to investigate whether processing preferences can be modified by procedural priming.

Autism traits outweigh alexithymia traits in the explanation of mentalising performance in adults with autism but not in adults with rejected autism diagnosis.

Background: Pronounced alexithymia traits have been found in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and recent research has been carving out the impact alexithymia traits might have on mentalising deficits associated with ASD.

Method: In this cross-sectional study, a large representative referral population for diagnostic examination for possible ASD (n = 400) was screened for clinical alexithymia with a German version of the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test (RME). In contrast to previous attempts to carve out the impact of alexithymia traits on mentalising deficits though, we employed dominance analysis to account for the correlation between predictors.

Synchronized high-speed scintillation imaging of proton beams, generated by a gantry-mounted synchrocyclotron, on a pulse-by-pulse basis.

Background: With the emergence of more complex and novel proton delivery techniques, there is a need for quality assurance tools with high spatiotemporal resolution to conveniently measure the spatial and temporal properties of the beam. In this context, scintillation-based dosimeters, if synchronized with the radiation beam and corrected for ionization quenching, are appealing.

Purpose: To develop a synchronized high-speed scintillation imaging system for characterization and verification of the proton therapy beams on a pulse-by-pulse basis.

Directive clinique n 426 : Troubles hypertensifs de la grossesse : Diagnostic, prédiction, prévention et prise en charge.

Objectif: La présente directive a été élaborée par des fournisseurs de soins de maternité en obstétrique et en médecine interne. Elle aborde le diagnostic, l'évaluation et la prise en charge des troubles hypertensifs de la grossesse, la prédiction et la prévention de la prééclampsie ainsi que les soins post-partum des femmes avec antécédent de trouble hypertensif de la grossesse.

Population Cible: Femmes enceintes.

Guideline No. 426: Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy: Diagnosis, Prediction, Prevention, and Management.

Objective: This guideline was developed by maternity care providers from obstetrics and internal medicine. It reviews the diagnosis, evaluation, and management of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs), the prediction and prevention of preeclampsia, and the postpartum care of women with a previous HDP.

Target Population: Pregnant women.

Outcome and complication rate of nasal planectomy reconstructed with direct mucocutaneous apposition.

Nasal planectomy is recommended in cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal planum in dogs and can be curative if excision is complete. Due to the noticeable alteration in appearance inherent in nasal planectomy, several techniques are described for reconstruction. The goal of this study is to report the complication rate and owner satisfaction following nasal planectomy with repair by direct mucocutaneous apposition compared to other reported reconstruction techniques meant to be more cosmetic.

Treatment of ocular tumors through a novel applicator on a conventional proton pencil beam scanning beamline.

Treatment of ocular tumors on dedicated scattering-based proton therapy systems is standard afforded due to sharp lateral and distal penumbras. However, most newer proton therapy centers provide pencil beam scanning treatments. In this paper, we present a pencil beam scanning (PBS)-based ocular treatment solution.

Characterization of the first two toxins isolated from the venom of the ancient scorpion (Borelli, 1901).

Background: Almost all characterized toxins are from subgenera and , there are only a few data about toxins produced by , an ancient group in genus.

Methods: crude venom was fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography, the major fractions were tested in a frog sciatic nerve single sucrose-gap technique. Two fractions (Tm1 and Tm2) were isolated, partially sequenced by MALDI-TOF/MS and electrophysiological assayed on HEK293 Nav 1.

Novel disintegrin-like peptides derived from an amphibian skin cDNA sequence of Hypsiboas punctatus.

Disintegrins comprise a family of small proteins that bind to and alter the physiological function of integrins, especially integrins that mediate platelet aggregation in blood. Here, we report a lysine-glycine-aspartic acid (KGD) disintegrin-like motif present in a 15-amino acid residue peptide identified in a cDNA library of the amphibian Hypsiboas punctatus skin. The original peptide sequence was used as a template from which five new analogs were designed, chemically synthesized by solid phase, and tested for disintegrin activity and tridimensional structural studies using NMR spectroscopy.

Simulation training and professional self-confidence: A large-scale study of third year nursing students.

Background: While hands-on training is a prerequisite for successful education of nursing students, constraints on clinical training availability and quality have increased focus on effects of in-school simulation training. However, existing research has produced inconsistent conclusions and the literature lacks high-powered evidence from controlled trials.

Objectives: To test effects of a simulation scheme on student professional self-confidence in technical and non-technical skills, as well as to investigate effects on knowledge acquisition and interaction with clinical training.