The fungal gut microbiota in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis.

Evidence suggests that the gut microbiome may play a role in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the majority of the studies have focused on gut bacterial communities; none have examined the fungal microbiota (mycobiota) in persons with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS). We examined the gut mycobiota in persons with and without POMS through a cross-sectional examination of the gut mycobiota from 46 participants' stool samples (three groups: 18 POMS, 13 acquired monophasic demyelinating syndromes [monoADS], and 15 unaffected controls).

Relationship Between Criminal and Status Offense Behaviors, Substance Use, and HIV Risk Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Cape Town, South Africa.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between externalizing behaviors, substance use, and sexual risk among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Cape Town, South Africa, who experience social disadvantage characterized by poverty and school dropout. We analyzed baseline data from 500 AGYW in a cluster-randomized trial who had dropped out of school. Multivariate logistic regression models explored associations between self-reported criminal behaviors and other status offenses, heavy episodic drinking, polydrug use, and condomless sex.

Risk of Chondral Fracture During Implantation of Distal Femur Osteochondral Autograft Plugs: A Human Cadaveric Comparison of Four Different Donor Regions.

Introduction: Distal femoral cartilage lesions can be treated using osteochondral autograft transfer (OAT). When impacting plugs into a recipient site, the cartilage may fracture. This study aimed to analyze OAT donor regions and impaction energies to identify characteristics that lead to fracture.

Impact of therapeutic doses of prednisolone and other glucocorticoids on insulin secretion from human islets.

Introduction: Glucocorticoid-induced diabetes (GCID) is a prevalent health issue, generally attributed to insulin resistance. High doses of dexamethasone (DEX) are known to inhibit glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), but the effects of lower doses, commonly used in chronic therapy, and equipotent doses of other glucocorticoids (GCs) such as hydrocortisone (HC) and prednisone (PRED) remain underexplored. This study aimed to investigate these effects in vitro, and explore variations between patients.