Religiosity, Mental Health and Substance Use among Black and Hispanic Adults during the First Six Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic in New York City.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between personal religiosity, mental health, and substance use outcomes among Black and Hispanic adults during the first six months of the COVID-19 outbreak in New York City (NYC). Phone interviews were conducted with 441 adults to obtain information on all variables. Participants self-reported race/ethnicity as Black/African American ( = 108) or Hispanic ( = 333).

Synthesis of Ester-Substituted Indolizines from 2-Propargyloxypyridines and 1,3-Dicarbonyls.

Two new complementary Au(I)-catalyzed methods for the preparation of ester-substituted indolizines from easily accessible 2-propargyloxypyridines and either acetoacetates or dimethyl malonate are reported. These reactions tolerate a wide range of functionality, allowing for diversification at three distinct positions of the product (R, R, R). For electron-poor substrates, the highest yields are observed upon reaction with acetoacetates, while neutral and electron-rich substrates give higher yields upon treatment with dimethyl malonate.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi () and Rhizobacteria () Can Improve the Clonal Propagation and Development of Teak for Commercial Plantings.

The L.f. (teak) is an important forest species with high economy value in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

Placement of a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter in a Prone Patient With COVID-19: Feasibility and Case Report.

The emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus has increased in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The use of prone positioning during COVID-19-associated ARDS has led to improved oxygenation and decreased mortality. Extended hours of proning may delay or prevent traditional approaches to central vascular access, such as jugular, subclavian, or femoral cannulation.

Work-related injuries and illnesses and their association with hour of work: Analysis of the Oregon construction industry in the US using workers' compensation accepted disabling claims, 2007-2013.

Objectives: This study aimed to characterize injuries and illnesses among construction workers in the State of Oregon in the US and examine the association between injury frequency and severity with hour of work by using Workers' Compensation (WC) accepted disabling claims data in the construction industry from 2007 to 2013.

Methods: Injury frequency, rate, medical cost, and lost work days were analyzed by year, demographics, employment, injury nature, and temporal factors including hour of work. Multiple linear regression models were used to quantify adjusted associations between hour of work and medical cost and lost work days (indicating injury severity).

An arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and a root pathogen induce different volatiles emitted by roots.

Plants are in permanent contact with various microorganisms and are always impacted by them. To better understand the first steps of a plant's recognition of soil-borne microorganisms, the early release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from roots of in response to the symbiont or the pathogenic oomycete was analysed. More than 90 compounds were released from roots as detected by an untargeted gas chromatography-mass spectrometry approach.

Medicago TERPENE SYNTHASE 10 Is Involved in Defense Against an Oomycete Root Pathogen.

In nature, plants interact with numerous beneficial or pathogenic soil-borne microorganisms. Plants have developed various defense strategies to expel pathogenic microbes, some of which function soon after pathogen infection. We used and its oomycete pathogen to elucidate early responses of the infected root.

Is there genetic variation in mycorrhization of ?

Differences in the plant's response among ecotypes or accessions are often used to identify molecular markers for the respective process. In order to analyze genetic diversity of in respect to interaction with the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus , mycorrhizal colonization was evaluated in 32 lines of the nested core collection representing the genetic diversity of the SARDI collection. All studied lines and the reference line Jemalong A17 were inoculated with and the mycorrhization rate was determined at three time points after inoculation.

SnapShot: Mechanical Forces in Development II.

The forces shaping an organism are not exclusively produced by actin/myosin II networks. In part II of this SnapShot, we present various alternative mechanisms. In addition to driving morphogenesis, cells use mechanical forces to sense and react to the specific mechanical properties of their environment.

SnapShot: Mechanical Forces in Development I.

Cell-type-specific F-actin structures and myosin motors are key generators of the forces that drive tissue morphogenesis in developing organisms. These cytoskeletal elements mediate defined cell deformation and control the arrangement of cell-cell contacts. This SnapShot presents a selection of morphogenetic processes, the analysis of which has pioneered specific types of F-actin/myosin-mediated force generation in development.

Intraarticular sprifermin (recombinant human fibroblast growth factor 18) in knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intraarticular sprifermin (recombinant human fibroblast growth factor 18) in the treatment of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, proof-of-concept trial. Intraarticular sprifermin was evaluated at doses of 10 μg, 30 μg, and 100 μg.

Longitudinal (one-year) change in cartilage thickness in knees with early knee osteoarthritis: A within-person between-knee comparison.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that cartilage displays significant longitudinal thickening in the external subregions of the central medial (ecMF) and lateral (ecLF) femur in knees with early radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) compared with contralateral knees without ROA, and to explore differences in change in other subregions and in radiographic joint space width (JSW). Methods: 50 participants (50% women; age 61.1±9.

Ultrasensitive microfluidic solid-phase ELISA using an actuatable microwell-patterned PDMS chip.

Quantitative detection of low abundance proteins is of significant interest for biological and clinical applications. Here we report an integrated microfluidic solid-phase ELISA platform for rapid and ultrasensitive detection of proteins with a wide dynamic range. Compared to the existing microfluidic devices that perform affinity capture and enzyme-based optical detection in a constant channel volume, the key novelty of our design is two-fold.

Relationship between knee pain and the presence, location, size and phenotype of femorotibial denuded areas of subchondral bone as visualized by MRI.

Objective: Conflicting associations between imaging biomarkers and pain in knee osteoarthritis (OA) have been reported. A relation between pain and denuded areas of subchondral bone (dABs) has been suggested and this study explores this relationship further by relating the presence, phenotype, location and size of dABs to different measures of knee pain.

Methods: 633 right knees from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) (250 men, age 61.

Can acute dermal systemic toxicity tests be replaced with oral tests? A comparison of route-specific systemic toxicity and hazard classifications under the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).

Acute systemic toxicity data (LD50 values) and hazard classifications derived in the rat following oral administration and dermal application have been analysed to examine whether or not orally-derived hazard classification or LD50 values can be used to determine dermal hazard classification. Comparing the oral and dermal classifications for 335 substances derived from oral and dermal LD50 values respectively revealed 17% concordance, and indicated that 7% of substances would be classified less severely while 76% would be classified more severely if oral classifications were applied directly to the dermal route. In contrast, applying the oral LD50 values within the dermal classification criteria to determine the dermal classification reduced the concordance to 15% and the relative 'under-classification' to 1%, but increased the relative 'over-classification' to 84%.

Frequency and spatial distribution of cartilage thickness change in knee osteoarthritis and its relation to clinical and radiographic covariates - data from the osteoarthritis initiative.

Objective: Estimate the frequency and spatial location of rapid femorotibial cartilage thinning or thickening in knees with, or at risk of, osteoarthritis (OA) and examine their association with clinical and radiographic covariates.

Design: Knee cartilage thickness change over 12 months was measured using magnetic resonance imaging in the right knee of 757 Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) participants that had radiographic findings of osteophytes or joint space narrowing (JSN). Thickness changes in individual knees were classified as having rapid thinning or thickening or no detectable OA-related change when compared to asymptomatic OAI Control cohort knees.

Femorotibial Cartilage Thickness Change Distributions for Subjects without Signs, Symptoms, or Risk Factors of Knee Osteoarthritis.

Objective: To describe the distribution of longitudinal femorotibial cartilage thickness annualized rate of change (ΔThCtAB) from quasi-population-based studies, and to construct a reference distribution for men and women without signs, symptoms, or risk factors of knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Segmented baseline and 1-year follow-up MRI from 43 men and 69 women of the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) asymptomatic control cohort without risk factors and also baseline and 2-year follow-up data from 77 asymptomatic women of the Pfizer A9001140 study were included. The mean, standard deviation (SD), and correlation of ΔThCtAB in medial and lateral femorotibial subregions were estimated; distributions were tested for normality and for differences between cohorts and gender.

Hand joint space narrowing and osteophytes are associated with magnetic resonance imaging-defined knee cartilage thickness and radiographic knee osteoarthritis: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Objective: To evaluate whether features of radiographic hand osteoarthritis (OA) are associated with quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-defined knee cartilage thickness, radiographic knee OA, and 1-year structural progression.

Methods: A total of 765 participants in Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI; 455 women, mean age 62.5 yrs, SD 9.

Greater rates of cartilage loss in painful knees than in pain-free knees after adjustment for radiographic disease stage: data from the osteoarthritis initiative.

Objective: To investigate whether rates of cartilage loss differ in knees with frequent baseline pain versus those without pain, after adjustment for radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) stage.

Methods: One knee in each of 718 Osteoarthritis Initiative participants was examined: 310 with calculated Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) grade 2, 299 with calculated K/L grade 3, and 109 with calculated K/L grade 4. Twelve-month change in (subregional) cartilage thickness was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging.

MRI-based extended ordered values more efficiently differentiate cartilage loss in knees with and without joint space narrowing than region-specific approaches using MRI or radiography--data from the OA initiative.

Objective: The sensitivity to change of quantitative analysis of cartilage in knee osteoarthritis using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is compromised by the spatial heterogeneity of cartilage loss. We explore whether extended (medial-lateral) "ordered values" (OVs) are superior to conventional approaches of analyzing subregional cartilage thickness loss and to radiography, in differentiating rates of progression in knees with and without joint space narrowing (JSN).

Methods: 607 Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) participants (308 without and 299 with baseline JSN at baseline) were studied over 12 months.

Rates of change and sensitivity to change in cartilage morphology in healthy knees and in knees with mild, moderate, and end-stage radiographic osteoarthritis: results from 831 participants from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Objective: To study the longitudinal rate of (and sensitivity to) change of knee cartilage thickness across defined stages of radiographic osteoarthritis (OA), specifically healthy knees and knees with end-stage radiographic OA.

Methods: One knee of 831 Osteoarthritis Initiative participants was examined: 112 healthy knees, without radiographic OA or risk factors for knee OA, and 719 radiographic OA knees (310 calculated Kellgren/Lawrence [K/L] grade 2, 300 calculated K/L grade 3, and 109 calculated K/L grade 4). Subregional change in thickness was assessed after segmentation of weight-bearing femorotibial cartilage at baseline and 1 year from coronal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Femorotibial subchondral bone area and regional cartilage thickness: a cross-sectional description in healthy reference cases and various radiographic stages of osteoarthritis in 1,003 knees from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Objective: To identify structural differences in total subchondral bone area (tAB) and cartilage thickness between healthy reference knees and knees with radiographic osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Baseline magnetic resonance images from 1 knee of 1,003 Osteoarthritis Initiative participants were studied: 112 healthy reference knees without radiographic OA, symptoms, or risk factors; 70 preradiographic OA knees (calculated Kellgren/Lawrence [K/L] grade 0/1); and 821 radiographic OA knees (calculated K/L grade ≥2). Means and standard (Z) scores (SD unit differences compared with normal subjects) of the tAB and regional cartilage thickness were assessed in the weight-bearing femorotibial joint and compared between groups.

Presence, location, type and size of denuded areas of subchondral bone in the knee as a function of radiographic stage of OA - data from the OA initiative.

Objective: To assess the presence, location, type and size of denuded areas of subchondral bone (dAB) in the femorotibial joint, measured quantitatively with 3T MRI, in a large subset of OAI participants.

Methods: One knee of 633 subjects (250 men, 383 women, aged 61.7+/-9.

Sensitivity to change of cartilage morphometry using coronal FLASH, sagittal DESS, and coronal MPR DESS protocols--comparative data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI).

Objective: The Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) is targeted at identifying sensitive biomarkers and risk factors of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) onset and progression. Quantitative cartilage imaging in the OAI relies on validated fast low angle shot (FLASH) sequences that suffer from relatively long acquisition times, and on a near-isotropic double echo steady-state (DESS) sequence. We therefore directly compared the sensitivity to cartilage thickness changes and the correlation of these protocols longitudinally.

Diclofenac sodium gel in patients with primary hand osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: To measure the efficacy and safety of diclofenac sodium gel in patients with primary hand osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, men and women aged > or = 40 years diagnosed with primary OA in the dominant hand were randomly assigned to self-apply topical 1% diclofenac sodium gel (Voltaren Gel) (n = 198) or vehicle (n = 187) to both hands 4 times daily for 8 weeks. Primary outcome measures included OA pain intensity (100-mm visual analog scale), total Australian/Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN) score, and global rating of disease activity at 4 and 6 weeks.