Is Preoperative Bevacizumab Associated with Increased Complications After Urgent Hip Fracture Surgery? A Retrospective Review.

Objectives: To investigate whether patients with impending or completed fracture of the proximal femur who were treated with bevacizumab in the six weeks prior to surgery are at higher risk of surgical complications than patients given bevacizumab outside of the six-week period.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed cases of hip fracture treated between 1995 and 2020 at our institution. Patients were included if they were age 18 years or older, underwent hip surgery for impending or completed fracture, and received bevacizumab preoperatively but not postoperatively.

Monitoring small-scale bioreactor studies for media development using polarized total synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (pTSFS) and synchronous light scattering (SyLS).

Biopharmaceutical process development often involves the use of small-scale bioreactors (SSBR) for optimizing media formulations and process conditions during scale up to commercial scale production. Two key process parameters (CPP) used in SSBR studies are protein titre and viable cell density (VCD). Here, we explore the efficacy of parallel polarized total synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (TSFS) and Synchronous Light Scattering (SyLS) to qualitatively monitor these CPPs and quantitatively predict titre and VCD for a large-scale cell culture media optimization SSBR study.

Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines mediate the progression of severe anemia in malaria-infected children: A prospective study.

Background: Severe Plasmodium falciparum malarial anemia is still the principal cause of death in children in underdeveloped countries. An imbalance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines is associated with malaria progression. This study evaluated circulating levels of selected inflammatory cytokines among malaria-infected children in Ghana.

Knowledge of physical activity, physical activity level and waist-to-hip ratio in adults with diabetes in a Ghanaian municipality.

Objectives: To investigate the knowledge about physical activity, physical activity levels and waist-to-hip ratio among persons living with diabetes in the Ho Municipality.

Design: Cross-sectional observation study.

Setting: The researcher collected data from two diabetes clinics in the Ho Municipality of Ghana.

Low Vision Practice and Service Provision Among Optometrists in Ghana: A Nationwide Survey.

Purpose: To characterize practice patterns of low vision services among Optometrists in Ghana.

Methods: The nationwide cross-sectional survey identified entities through the Ghana Optometrists Association (GOA) registry and utilized a semi-structured questionnaire to consolidate survey information that comprises practitioners' demographics, available services, diagnostic equipment, barriers to service provision and utilization, and interventions.

Results: 300 Optometrists were identified, with 213 surveyed (71% response rate).

The Global Impact of COVID-19: Historical Development, Molecular Characterization, Drug Discovery and Future Directions.

In December 2019, an outbreak of a respiratory disease called the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by a new coronavirus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) began in Wuhan, China. The SARS-CoV-2, an encapsulated positive-stranded RNA virus, spread worldwide with disastrous consequences for people's health, economies, and quality of life. The disease has had far-reaching impacts on society, including economic disruption, school closures, and increased stress and anxiety.

Insects as food and medicine: a sustainable solution for global health and environmental challenges.

Insects are a significant source of food for millions of people worldwide. Since ancient times, insects in medicine have been contributing to the treatment of diseases in humans and animals. Compared to conventional animal farming, the production of insects for food and feed generates significantly less greenhouse gas emissions and uses considerably less land.

Macular Pigment, Cognition, and Visual Function in Younger Healthy Adults in Ghana.

Background: Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) remains an indispensable biomarker to measure fruit and vegetable intake, with a biologically plausible correlation to vision and cognition. However, evidence in the sub-Saharan regions, including Ghana, is lacking.

Objective: This study explored dietary carotenoid intake on MPOD and its influence on cognitive and visual function in a healthy Ghanaian sample.

Exploring the role and lived experiences of people with disabilities working in the agricultural sector in northern Nigeria.

Background: It is estimated that over 75.0% of households in sub-Saharan Africa are involved in agriculture, and the majority of the poor in rural areas rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. One billion people living with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries are argued to make up the poorest of the poor, yet to our knowledge, no literature has captured the livelihood of people living with disabilities in the context of farming in Nigeria, specifically northern Nigeria where most of the households are involved in agriculture and related activities.

Transvenous laser lead extraction in patients with congenital complete heart block.

Background: Data on lead management in patients with congenital complete heart block (CCHB) with cardiac implantable electronic devices are lacking.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the natural history and outcomes in patients with CCHB with cardiac implantable electronic devices undergoing transvenous lead extraction (TLE).

Methods: Data on all attempted TLE procedures in patients with CCHB at 2 institutions between 2011 and 2021 were collected from a retrospective registry.

Alcohol use is prevalent among adults with the fontan circulation but does not correlate with liver disease.

Background: Alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of liver disease. There are limited studies on the epidemiology of alcohol use and its effects on Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD) in adulthood.

Methods: In this single-center prospective cohort study, patients were enrolled from the Fontan clinic between November 2019 and November 2020, excluding those with chronic hepatitis C or B.

Video-Based, Patient-Focused Opioid Education in the Perioperative Period Increases Self-Perceived Opioid-Related Knowledge: A Pilot Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a video-based, patient-focused opioid education tool delivered in the perioperative period would decrease acute and chronic post-operative opioid prescription dispensations and increase self-rated knowledge about opioids.

Methods: We enrolled 110 patients with no reported opioid use in the previous 30 days, undergoing ambulatory surgery for breast, orthopedic, gynecologic, or other outpatient procedures for which opioids would be prescribed. Patients were randomized to receive either post-operative opioid education by the surgical team (control arm) or pre-operative education via a novel 5-minute video plus post-operative education by the surgical team (intervention arm).

Assessment of corn starch as substitute for agarose in DNA gel electrophoresis.

Objective: The use of agarose in nucleic acid electrophoresis is the gold standard. However, agarose is very expensive and not readily available in resource limited developing countries like Ghana. Hence, finding a more affordable and readily available alternative to agarose will be a major boost to molecular research in developing countries.

Development of a rapid polarized total synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (pTSFS) method for protein quantification in a model bioreactor broth.

Protein quantification during bioprocess monitoring is essential for biopharmaceutical manufacturing and is complicated by the complex chemical composition of the bioreactor broth. Here we present the early-stage development and optimization of a polarized total synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (pTSFS) method for protein quantification in a hydrolysate-protein model (mimics clarified bioreactor broth samples) using a standard benchtop laboratory fluorometer. We used UV transmitting polarizers to provide wider range pTSFS spectra for screening of the four different TSFS spectra generated by the measurement: parallel (||), perpendicular (⊥), unpolarized (T) intensity spectra and anisotropy maps.

Organosulfur Compounds Enable Uniform Lithium Plating and Long-Term Battery Cycling Stability.

Lithium metal represents an ultimate anode material of lithium batteries for its high energy density. However, its large negative redox potential and reactive nature can trigger electrolyte decomposition and dendrite formation, causing unstable cycling and short circuit of batteries. Herein, we engineer a resilient solid electrolyte interphase on the Li anode by compositing the battery separator with organosulfur compounds and inorganic salts from garlic.

Community advisory boards: Experiences and common practices of clinical and translational science award programs.

Community advisory boards (CABs) are a valuable strategy for engaging and partnering with communities in research. Eighty-nine percent of Clinical and Translational Science Awardees (CTSA) responding to a 2011 survey reported having a CAB. CTSAs' experiences with CABs are valuable for informing future practice.

Clinical impact of intraoperative hyperlactatemia during craniotomy.

Object: Patients often develop markedly elevated serum lactate levels during craniotomy although the reason for this is not entirely understood. Elevated lactate levels have been associated with poor outcomes in critically ill septic shock patients, as well as patients undergoing abdominal and cardiac surgeries. We investigated whether elevated lactate in craniotomy patients is associated with neurologic complications (new neurological deficits) as well as systemic complications.

Flame-Retardant Bilayer Separator with Multifaceted van der Waals Interaction for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Safety issues induced by a flammable organic electrolyte challenge the practical applications of high-specific energy lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Here, we develop a robust bilayer separator by incorporating MoO and Al-doped LiLaZrTaO (LLZTO). The bilayer separator is highly flame-resistive and manages to endure intense fire.

A Highly Stable Separator from an Instantly Reformed Gel with Direct Post-Solidation for Long-Cycle High-Rate Lithium-Ion Batteries.

An efficient, scalable, and cost-effective approach was developed to synthesize a hierarchically constructed polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) separator from an instantly reformed solution. With partially dissolved PVDF-HFP as separator skeleton, the incorporation of warm PVDF-HFP solution in acetone led to a cross-linked structure before N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) was added to solidify the hierarchical inner-bound structure of fresh PVDF-HFP. Owing to its hierarchical microporous structure, the separator exhibited remarkable wettability with a small contact angle of 18° and an electrolyte uptake of 114.

Developing and Piloting a Community Scientist Academy to Engage Communities and Patients in Research.

Introduction: Effective translational research requires engagement and collaboration between communities, researchers, and practitioners. We describe a community scientist academy (CSA) developed at the suggestion of our CTSA's community advisory board to engage and capacitate community members by 1) increasing community members' and patients' understanding about the research process and 2) increasing their access to opportunities to influence and participate in research. A joint CTSA/community planning committee developed this 8-hour workshop including sessions on: 1) research definitions and processes; 2) study design; 3) study implementation; and 4) ways to get involved in research.

An examination of eating disorder education and experience in a 1-month adolescent medicine rotation: what is sufficient to foster adequate self-efficacy?

Objective Medical students and professionals report receiving limited education/training related to treating eating disorders. Because medical professionals are the point of initial contact for these patients and are involved necessarily in their treatment, sufficient knowledge on identification and intervention are imperative. This research set out to examine the impact of the eating disorder education and experience offered through a 1-month Adolescent Medicine rotation at a medical university on medical student/resident self-efficacy.