Effects of Manipulated Rainfall and Intraspecific Variation Within Dominant Species on Community Assembly: Insights From a Long-Term Grassland Restoration Experiment.

Grasslands converted to agricultural land use can be reestablished by sowing seeds of native species and temporal dynamics of diversity under altered climate can inform community assembly in the context of global change. We quantified three aspects of diversity (species richness, phylogenetic diversity, and functional diversity) in restored prairie plots sown with different ecotypes of two dominant grass species and manipulated rainfall to understand the relative importance of abiotic filtering and population source of dominant species on community assembly. We also evaluated the contributions of intra- and interspecific variations in functional traits across plots sown with different ecotypes of dominant species.

Anti-inflammatory effects of phytocannabinoids and terpenes on inflamed Tregs and Th17 cells in vitro.

Aims: Phytocannabinoids and terpenes from Cannabis sativa have demonstrated limited anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in several inflammatory conditions. In the current study, we test the hypothesis that phytocannabinoids exert immunomodulatory effects in vitro by decreasing inflammatory cytokine expression and activation.

Key Methods: CD3/CD28 and lipopolysaccharide activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors (n = 6) were treated with phytocannabinoid compounds and terpenes in vitro.

Clinical utility of C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio in the management of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background And Aim: C-reactive protein (CRP)-to-albumin ratio (CAR) is a novel score with prognostic value in inflammatory conditions. This study assessed the performance of CAR as an objective marker of disease activity and prediction of subtherapeutic infliximab trough levels in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on three different patient cohorts with IBD: patients who had (i) fecal calprotectin (FC) measurements; (ii) Mayo Endoscopic Scores; and (iii) infliximab trough levels available.

A systematic review of high impact CpG sites and regions for MGMT methylation in glioblastoma [A systematic review of MGMT methylation in GBM].

Background: MGMT (O 6 -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase) promoter methylation is a commonly assessed prognostic marker in glioblastoma (GBM). Epigenetic silencing of the MGMT gene by promoter methylation is associated with greater overall and progression free survival with alkylating agent regimens. To date, there is marked heterogeneity in how MGMT promoter methylation is tested and which CpG sites are interrogated.

Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence in Northern Ireland during 2020-2021.

Background: With the spread of SARS-CoV-2 impacting upon public health directly and socioeconomically, further information was required to inform policy decisions designed to limit virus spread during the pandemic. This study sought to contribute to serosurveillance work within Northern Ireland to track SARS-CoV-2 progression and guide health strategy.

Methods: Sera/plasma samples from clinical biochemistry laboratories were analysed for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

An AI Approach to Identifying Novel Therapeutics for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that has a significant impact on quality of life and work capacity. Treatment of RA aims to control inflammation and alleviate pain; however, achieving remission with minimal toxicity is frequently not possible with the current suite of drugs. This review aims to summarise current treatment practices and highlight the urgent need for alternative pharmacogenomic approaches for novel drug discovery.

Latent diffusion augmentation enhances deep learning analysis of neuro-morphology in limbal stem cell deficiency.

Introduction: Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency (LSCD) is a blinding corneal disease characterized by the loss of function or deficiency in adult stem cells located at the junction between the cornea and the sclera (i.e., the limbus), namely the limbal stem cells (LSCs).

Quantitative analysis of promoter methylation in glioblastoma suggests nonlinear prognostic effect.

Background: Epigenetic inhibition of the () gene has emerged as a clinically relevant prognostic marker in glioblastoma (GBM). Methylation of the promoter has been shown to increase chemotherapy efficacy. While traditionally reported as a binary marker, recent methodological advancements have led to quantitative methods of measuring promoter methylation, providing clearer insight into its functional relationship with survival.

A combinatory vaccine with IMA950 plus varlilumab promotes effector memory T-cell differentiation in the peripheral blood of patients with low-grade gliomas.

Background: Central nervous system (CNS) WHO grade 2 low-grade glioma (LGG) patients are at high risk for recurrence and with unfavorable long-term prognosis due to the treatment resistance and malignant transformation to high-grade glioma. Considering the relatively intact systemic immunity and slow-growing nature, immunotherapy may offer an effective treatment option for LGG patients.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized pilot study to evaluate the safety and immunological response of the multipeptide IMA950 vaccine with agonistic anti-CD27 antibody, varlilumab, in CNS WHO grade 2 LGG patients.

Dissociation and Subsequent Stable Malrotation of Femoral Stem Within Sleeve After Sivash-Range of Motion Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Case Report.

Case: A 78 year-old man fell 6 months after Sivash-range of motion (S-ROM) total hip arthroplasty (THA), after which he developed hip pain and external rotation deformity. Imaging showed stem malrotation in relative retroversion. Revision THA was delayed because of medical issues, occurring 1.

Cannabidiol as an Adjunct to Botulinum Toxin in Blepharospasm - A Randomized Pilot Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of low dose cannabidiol (CBD; Epidiolex) as adjunctive therapy for idiopathic adult-onset blepharospasm (BPS), as well as develop a novel objective assessment methodology to gauge response.

Methods: Prospective, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled crossover design of 6 months duration of 12 patients with BPS undergoing routine maximal botulinum toxin (BTX) therapy and experiencing breakthrough symptoms. Participants received their standard BTX every 3 months and were randomized to group A = CBD daily in cycle 1, followed by placebo in cycle 2 or group B = placebo followed by CBD.

Healthcare Market-Level and Hospital-Level Disparities in Access to and Utilization of High-Quality Hip and Knee Replacement Hospitals Among Medicare Beneficiaries.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine whether healthcare markets with higher social vulnerability have lower access to high-quality hip and knee replacement hospitals and whether hospitals that serve a higher percentage of low-income patients are less likely to be designated as high-quality.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used 2021 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services outcome measures and 2022 Joint Commission (JC) process-of-care measures to identify hospitals performing high-quality hip and knee replacement. A total of 2,682 hospitals and 304 healthcare markets were included.

Assessing approaches to learning with nonparametric multidimensional scaling.

This article reports on a trace-based assessment of approaches to learning used by middle school aged children who interacted with NASA Mars Mission science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) games in , an online game environment with 8 million registered young learners. The learning objectives of two games included awareness and knowledge of NASA missions, developing knowledge and skills of measurement and scaling, applying measurement for planetary comparisons in the solar system. Trace data from 1361 interactions were analysed with nonparametric multidimensional scaling methods, which permitted visual examination and statistical validation, and provided an example and proof of concept for the multidimensional scaling approach to analysis of time-based behavioural data from a game or simulation.

CD169+ Monocyte and Regulatory T Cell Subsets Are Associated with Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is influenced by activation of circulating and synovial immune cells. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and monocytes are key cells that drive inflammation in RA. This study investigated if a relationship exists between disease activity in RA and circulating Treg and monocyte numbers and phenotypes.

Identifying pre-existing conditions and multimorbidity patterns associated with in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19.

We investigated the association between a wide range of comorbidities and COVID-19 in-hospital mortality and assessed the influence of multi morbidity on the risk of COVID-19-related death using a large, regional cohort of 6036 hospitalized patients. This retrospective cohort study was conducted using Patient Administration System Admissions and Discharges data. The International Classification of Diseases 10th edition (ICD-10) diagnosis codes were used to identify common comorbidities and the outcome measure.

Pharmacist-Driven Therapeutic Infliximab Monitoring at the Point of Care Using Rapidly Assessed Drug Levels in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Therapeutic monitoring of infliximab is limited by the time lag between drug-level measurement and dose adjustment, along with the cost of dose escalation. Strategies for dose reduction in stable patients on maintenance infliximab at supratherapeutic levels are uncertain. This study determined the feasibility of a pharmacist-driven strategy for immediate dose adjustment using a sliding scale at the point of care in stable patients with inflammatory bowel disease on maintenance therapy.

Operative Techniques to Reduce Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Complications in Morbidly Obese Patients.

Obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) >30, is associated with an increased likelihood of osteoarthritis and need for total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Unfortunately, the morbidly obese population has a higher risk of postoperative complications. For some surgeons, patient selection criteria for TJA includes BMI<40.