Continuous Production of Influenza VLPs Using IC-BEVS and Multi-Stage Bioreactors.

The insect cell-baculovirus expression vector system (IC-BEVS) has been an asset to produce biologics for over 30 years. With the current trend in biotechnology shifting toward process intensification and integration, developing intensified processes such as continuous production is crucial to hold this platform as a suitable alternative to others. However, the implementation of continuous production has been hindered by the lytic nature of this expression system and the process-detrimental virus passage effect.

Dynamic representation of appetitive and aversive stimuli in nucleus accumbens shell D1- and D2-medium spiny neurons.

The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a key brain region for motivated behaviors, yet how distinct neuronal populations encode appetitive or aversive stimuli remains undetermined. Using microendoscopic calcium imaging in mice, we tracked NAc shell D1- or D2-medium spiny neurons' (MSNs) activity during exposure to stimuli of opposing valence and associative learning. Despite drift in individual neurons' coding, both D1- and D2-population activity was sufficient to discriminate opposing valence unconditioned stimuli, but not predictive cues.

Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on uptake and experiences of gestational diabetes mellitus screening in Ontario: A parallel convergent mixed-methods study.

Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common medical complication of pregnancy that leads to adverse outcomes for both infants and pregnant people. Early detection and treatment can mitigate these negative outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic strained healthcare and laboratory services, including GDM screening programs.

Pseudo-Sciatica Pain Due to a Biceps Femoris Muscle Tear.

Hamstring injuries (HSIs) are common among athletes, particularly in high-speed sports, and are frequently associated with prolonged recovery periods and a high recurrence rate. This study presents a 36-year-old male with sciatica-like symptoms following an acute hamstring tear during an amateur football match. The patient experienced this pain two weeks after the injury, suggesting potential sciatic nerve involvement.

Respiratory Rate Monitoring via a Fibre Bragg Grating-Embedded Respirator Mask with a Wearable Miniature Interrogator.

A respiration rate (RR) monitoring system was created by integrating a Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) optical fibre sensor into a respirator mask. The system exploits the sensitivity of an FBG to temperature to identify an individual's RR by measuring airflow temperature variation near the nostrils and mouth. To monitor the FBG response, a portable, battery-powered, wireless miniature interrogator system was developed to replace a relatively bulky benchtop interrogator used in previous studies.

How is the concept of charisma used in the academic literature about biodiversity conservation? A systematic map protocol.

Background: The extinction of species is a multifaceted phenomenon shaped by the complex interplay between biological and socio-cultural factors. Public and academic preferences for different species often play a direct or indirect role in influencing the conservation outlook of these species. The "charisma" of species and other components of biodiversity is often mentioned as an important factor in shaping human preferences, determining both the scope of scientific studies and justifications for such scope.

Trapeziometacarpal Joint Arthroplasty: Medium-Term Clinical Outcomes and Survival.

Trapeziometacarpal joint (TMC) arthroplasty (TMA) is a treatment option for failed symptomatic treatment of basal thumb arthritis. This study aimed to evaluate clinical and radiological outcomes and complications of Maïa™ prosthesis (Groupe Lépine, Genay, France) since its introduction in our institution with a minimum of three years follow-up. We performed a retrospective study of patients with TMA treated with Maïa prosthesis.

New perinatal mental health conditions diagnosed during COVID-19: a population-based, retrospective cohort study of birthing people in Ontario.

Purpose: We aimed to determine the incidence of mental health diagnoses and associated health and social risk factors among perinatal people in three different COVID-19 phases.

Methods: We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study using linked administrative datasets. We included persons with live, in-hospital births in Ontario, Canada from January 1 to March 31 in 2019, 2021, or 2022 (three phases relative to COVID-19 with different public health policy measures).

Barriers and Facilitators Affecting Access to Health Care for People With Syphilis: Protocol for a Scoping Review.

Background: Syphilis is a systemic, preventable, and curable infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Despite being treatable, syphilis continues to have a high incidence, with a resurgence observed even in countries with strong health surveillance systems. This highlights the need to understand the various strategies used globally to improve access to care for individuals with syphilis.

Generating Tooth Organoids Using Defined Bioorthogonally Cross-Linked Hydrogels.

Generating teeth requires mimicking tooth developmental processes. Biomaterials are essential to support 3D tooth organoid formation, but their properties must be finely tuned to achieve the required biomimicry for tooth development. For the first time, we used bioorthogonally cross-linked hydrogels as defined 3D matrixes for tooth developmental engineering, and we highlighted how their properties play a pivotal role in enabling 3D tooth organoid formation .

Exploring Immersive Multimodal Virtual Reality Training, Affective States, and Ecological Validity in Healthy Firefighters: Quasi-Experimental Study.

Background: Firefighters face stressful life-threatening events requiring fast decision-making. To better prepare for those situations, training is paramount, but errors in real-life training can be harmful. Virtual reality (VR) simulations provide the desired realism while enabling practice in a secure and controlled environment.

Enhancing EHR Interoperability and Security through Distributed Ledger Technology: A Review.

The management and exchange of electronic health records (EHRs) remain critical challenges in healthcare, with fragmented systems, varied standards, and security concerns hindering seamless interoperability. These challenges compromise patient care and operational efficiency. This paper proposes a novel solution to address these issues by leveraging distributed ledger technology (DLT), including blockchain, to enhance data security, integrity, and transparency in healthcare systems.

SARS-CoV-2, Tdap, and influenza vaccination during pregnancy from 2019 to 2022 in Ontario, Canada: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Background: Hesitancy about vaccination during pregnancy posed challenges to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination efforts. We aimed to examine rates of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination among Ontario residents who gave birth in early 2022, and to compare rates of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine uptake with rates of tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) and influenza vaccination during pregnancy in 2019, 2021, and 2022.

Methods: We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study to describe vaccination rates among pregnant and comparable nonpregnant populations in Ontario using linked administrative data.

Characteristics of family physicians with additional training or focused practices in caring for older adults: Population-based retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To identify FPs with additional training and focused practice activities relevant to the needs of older patients within health administrative data and to describe their medical practices and service provision in community-based primary care settings.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Ontario.

Exploring the bias: how skin color influences oxygen saturation readings via Monte Carlo simulations.

Significance: Our goal is to understand the root cause of reported oxygen saturation ( ) overestimation in heavily pigmented skin types to devise solutions toward enabling equity in pulse oximeter designs.

Aim: We aim to gain theoretical insights into the effect of skin tone on curves using a three-dimensional, four-layer tissue model representing a finger.

Approach: A finger tissue model, comprising the epidermis, dermis, two arteries, and a bone, was developed using a Monte Carlo-based approach in the MCmatlab software.

Application of Artificial Intelligence in Clinical Practice - Perception of a Multinational Group of Nephrologists.

This study investigates the perception of a multinational group of nephrologists on artificial intelligence (AI) application in clinical practice. A validated on-line survey was performed in March 2024, in 4 continents. The results revealed a prevalent familiarity with AI and machine learning (ML) terms, but traditional tools remained favored for clinical decision support.

Guideline-Based Telemedicine Assessment of Orthopedic Low-Risk Conditions by General Practitioners is Not Inferior to that of Face-to-Face Consultations with Specialists in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Trial.

There is a lack of randomized controlled trials focusing on orthopedic telemedicine (TM). The objective of this research was to compare the diagnostic accuracy and pattern of TM consultations of low-risk orthopedic patients performed by general practitioners (GPs) with those of face-to-face evaluations by orthopedists at an emergency department (ED). This randomized, single-center study was conducted between October 2021 and November 2022 on patients at an ED.

Length of Postpartum Hospital Stays During COVID-19: Findings From a Convergent Parallel Mixed-Methods Study.

Objectives: We examined the length of postpartum hospitalization for live births during the COVID-19 pandemic and explored how pandemic circumstances influenced postpartum hospital experiences.

Methods: We conducted a cross-provincial, convergent parallel mixed-methods study in Ontario (ON) and British Columbia (BC), Canada. We included birthing persons (BPs) with an in-hospital birth in ON from 1 January to 31 March 2019, 2021, and 2022 (quantitative), and BPs (≥18 years) in ON or BC from 1 May 2020 to 1 December 2021 (qualitative).

Development and initial validation of a data quality evaluation tool in obstetrics real-world data through HL7-FHIR interoperable Bayesian networks and expert rules.

Background: The increasing prevalence of electronic health records (EHRs) in healthcare systems globally has underscored the importance of data quality for clinical decision-making and research, particularly in obstetrics. High-quality data is vital for an accurate representation of patient populations and to avoid erroneous healthcare decisions. However, existing studies have highlighted significant challenges in EHR data quality, necessitating innovative tools and methodologies for effective data quality assessment and improvement.

Fabrication and assessment of a bio-inspired synthetic tracheal tissue model for tracheal tube cuff leakage testing.

Introduction: Leakage of orogastric secretions past the cuff of a tracheal tube is a contributory factor in ventilator-associated pneumonia. Current bench test methods specified in the International Standard for Anaesthetic and Respiratory Equipment (EN ISO 5361:2023) to test cuff leakage involve using a glass or plastic rigid cylinder model of the trachea. There is a need for more realistic models to inform cuff leakage.

Social determinants of health and sepsis: a case-control study.

Purpose: We aimed to identify whether social determinants of health (SDoH) are associated with the development of sepsis and assess the differences between individuals living within systematically disadvantaged neighbourhoods compared with those living outside these neighbourhoods.

Methods: We conducted a single-centre case-control study including 300 randomly selected adult patients (100 patients with sepsis and 200 patients without sepsis) admitted to the emergency department of a large academic tertiary care hospital in Hamilton, ON, Canada. We collected data on demographics and a limited set of SDoH variables, including neighbourhood household income, smoking history, social support, and history of alcohol disorder.

Adaptive Laboratory Evolution to Improve Recombinant Protein Production Using Insect Cells.

Adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) is a powerful tool for enhancing the fitness of cell lines in specific applications, including recombinant protein production. Through adaptation to nonstandard culture conditions, cells can develop specific traits that make them high producers. Despite being widely used for microorganisms and, to lesser extent, for mammalian cells, ALE has been poorly leveraged for insect cells.