The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Epidemiology and Management Strategies of Forearm Fractures in Children-a Retrospective Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a considerable influence over the management strategies in pediatric trauma all over the world. We are making a comparative assessment of all pediatric forearm fracture presentations in a tertiary center in Romania in a pre-pandemic year 2019 (NPG) versus a pandemic year 2021 (PG).

Material And Methods: We retrospectively compared the epidemiological, the anatomopathological, and the management features of forearm fractures for the two years.

Molecular and genetic characterization of sex-linked orange coat color in the domestic cat.

The mutation in domestic cats causes variegated patches of reddish/yellow hair and is a defining signature of random X-inactivation in female tortoiseshell and calico cats. Unlike the situation for most coat color genes, there is no apparent homolog for in other mammals. We show that the is caused by a 5 kb deletion that leads to ectopic and melanocyte-specific expression of the ( ) gene.

VEGFC Overexpression in Kidney Progenitor Cells Is a Model of Renal Lymphangiectasia-Brief Report.

Background: Lymphangiogenesis is believed to be a protective response in the setting of multiple forms of kidney injury and mitigates the progression of interstitial fibrosis. To augment this protective response, promoting kidney lymphangiogenesis is being investigated as a potential treatment to slow the progression of kidney disease. As injury-related lymphangiogenesis is driven by signaling from the receptor VEGFR3 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3) in response to the cognate growth factor VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor)-C released by tubular epithelial cells, this signaling pathway is a candidate for future kidney therapeutics.

Distinct Chrna5 mutations link excessive alcohol use to types I/II vulnerability profiles and IPN GABAergic neurons.

Genome wide association and animal studies have implicated genetic variations in CHRNΑ5, encoding the α5 subunit-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α5*nAChRs), as a risk factor for developing alcohol use disorders (AUDs). To understand how α5*nAChR mutations may influence alcohol (EtOH) drinking behavior, we used a two-bottle choice procedure with intermittent access to alcohol in male and female transgenic mice expressing either the highly frequent human single nucleotide polymorphism (α5SNP/rs16969968) or a deletion of the Chrna5 gene (α5KO). AUDs-related preconsommatory traits (anxiety, sensation-seeking and impulsivity) were assessed with a battery of relevant tasks (elevated-plus maze, novel place preference and step-down inhibitory avoidance).

Comprehensive evaluation of bone health among kidney transplant recipients - A prospective, single center, observational cohort study from India.

Background: There is a paucity of studies describing trabecular bone score (TBS) and bone mineral density (BMD) in kidney transplant (KT) recipients from developing countries.

Study Setting: This prospective observational study, from a tertiary teaching hospital in India assessed clinical, biochemical parameters including bone turnover markers and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for BMD/TBS, hip structural analysis (HSA) and vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) at pre-KT, 3 months and 12 months post-KT.

Results: A total of 53 KT recipients (90.

Assessing Differential Transfusion Requirements for Children with Congenital Malformations vs. Pediatric Acute Abdomen Emergencies.

Background And Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative blood transfusions in correcting anemia for pediatric patients with congenital malformations (CMs) versus those with acute abdomen (AA) conditions. The study hypothesized that the response to transfusions might vary significantly between these groups due to the differences in the underlying pathology and clinical status.

Methods: The study included 107 pediatric patients admitted to Timisoara 'Louis Turcanu' Emergency Hospital for Children between January 2015 and May 2023, who required blood transfusions for preoperative anemia.

Zygosity Effects on Human Voice: Fundamental Frequency Analysis of Brazilian Twins' Speech.

Voice production can be influenced by interindividual variations related to genetic, physiological, behavioral, and several environmental factors. Here we examined the effect of zygosity on speaking fundamental frequency (F0) statistical descriptors. Our aims were: (1) to determine whether the genetic similarity between monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins affects F0 characteristics, and (2) to quantify the contribution of genetic factors to these characteristics.

Experimenting with Pig-based Skin Model for Burns. Testing of Mean Literature Findings.

Animal models that closely mimic human burn wound healing processes are essential for developing effective burn wound treatments. Pigs are useful animal models for studying burn wound healing. From their extensive literature review, Andrews and Cuttle (2017) reported mean temperature and exposure time values.

Quantum Dot-Based FRET Nanosensors for Talin-Membrane Assembly and Mechanosensing.

Understanding the mechanisms of assembly and disassembly of macromolecular structures in cells relies on solving biomolecular interactions. However, those interactions often remain unclear because tools to track molecular dynamics are not sufficiently resolved in time or space. In this study, we present a straightforward method for resolving inter- and intra-molecular interactions in cell adhesive machinery, using quantum dot (QD) based Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) nanosensors.

Centrifugal technique of plasma exchange and low-dose steroid to treat very severe alcoholic hepatitis patients: A retrospective analysis.

Background: Low-volume plasma exchange (PLEX) and low-dose steroid improve survival in severe alcoholic hepatitis. We aimed to compare one-year survival of very severe alcoholic hepatitis (VSAH) patients treated with centrifugal PLEX (cPLEX), membrane PLEX (mPLEX) or standard medical treatment (SMT).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed survival in consecutive VSAH patients treated at our department from November 2017 to September 2021.

Urgent support mechanism: saving millions of COVID-19 vaccines from expiry in Africa.

Delivering COVID-19 vaccines with 4-6 weeks shelf life remains one of Africa's most pressing challenges. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) leadership recognised that COVID-19 vaccines donated to many African countries were at risk of expiry considering the short shelf life on delivery in the Member States and slow vaccine uptake rates. Thus, a streamlined rapid response system, the urgent support mechanism, was developed to assist countries accelerate COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

Fibroblast growth factor 23 is pumping iron: C-terminal-fibroblast growth factor 23 cleaved peptide and its function in iron metabolism.

Purpose Of Review: Iron deficiency regulates the production of the bone-derived phosphaturic hormone fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) but also its cleavage, to generate both intact (iFGF23) and C-terminal (Cter)-FGF23 peptides. Novel studies demonstrate that independently of the phosphaturic effects of iFGF23, Cter-FGF23 peptides play an important role in the regulation of systemic iron homeostasis. This review describes the complex interplay between iron metabolism and FGF23 biology.

Profile, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Kidney Transplant Recipients with Normal Pretransplant Genitourinary Tract: A Single-Center Experience.

Introduction: There is a paucity of studies on asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) among kidney transplant recipients (KTR) in developing countries. This study assessed the clinical profile, risk factors, outcomes, and impact of treatment of ASB in KTRs with a normal genitourinary tract.

Methods: Consecutive KTRs from 2009 to 2018 with no clinical or radiological evidence of obstructive uropathy were included.

Impact of Sonic Hedgehog-dependent sphenoid bone defect on craniofacial growth.

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to evaluate how an apparently minor anomaly of the sphenoid bone, observed in a haploinsufficient mouse model for Sonic Hedgehog (Shh), affects the growth of the adult craniofacial region. This study aims to provide valuable information to orthodontists when making decisions regarding individuals carrying SHH mutation.

Materials And Methods: The skulls of embryonic, juvenile and adult mice of two genotypes (Shh heterozygous and wild type) were examined and measured using landmark-based linear dimensions.

Monofractality in the Solar Wind at Electron Scales: Insights from Kinetic Alfvén Waves Turbulence.

The breakdown of scale invariance in turbulent flows, known as multifractal scaling, is considered a cornerstone of turbulence. In solar wind turbulence, a monofractal behavior can be observed at electron scales, in contrast to larger scales where multifractality always prevails. Why scale invariance appears at electron scales is a challenging theoretical puzzle with important implications for understanding solar wind heating and acceleration.

Single-Centre Experience With Low-Volume Plasma Exchange and Low-Dose Steroid to Treat Patients With Idiosyncratic Drug-Induced Acute Liver Failure.

Background: Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (iDILI) causing acute liver failure (ALF) carries high short-term mortality and patients who meet King's College criteria for liver transplantation have 1-month survival of 34% without liver transplantation (PMID: 20949552). We present our experience with low-volume plasma exchange (PLEX-LV, 50% of estimated plasma volume exchanged per session) and low-dose steroid to treat iDILI ALF.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed data of patients with iDILI (diagnosed as per RUCAM score), treated with PLEX-LV and low-dose steroid (prednisolone: 10 mg OD, with rapid taper) in our department from 2016 to 2022.