In B-cell malignancies, the overexpression of MYC is associated with poor prognosis, but its mechanism underlying resistance to immunochemotherapy remains less clear. In further investigations of this issue, we show here that the pharmacological inhibition of MYC in various lymphoma and multiple myeloma cell lines, as well as patient-derived primary tumor cells, enhances their susceptibility to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity induced by conventional antibodies targeting CD20 (rituximab) and CD38 (daratumumab), as well as T cell-mediated cytotoxicity induced by the CD19-targeting bispecific T-cell engager blinatumomab. This was associated with upregulation of the target antigen only for rituximab, suggesting additional escape mechanisms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSocioeconomic status (SES) tends to influence an individual's access to health care. It is commonly assumed that a poorer SES is associated with a weaker physical health status, especially in disadvantaged populations such as people with cerebral palsy (CP). However, to our knowledge, no study has looked at this assumption.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIt is crucial to address two pressing global issues, energy shortage and environmental pollution, when producing building insulation materials. Using waste and natural fiber groups can be part of the solution. The insulation material was produced using pumpkin fiber, chicken fiber, cotton waste, vermiculite, and epoxy as binders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARinf), including SARS-CoV-2, in unvaccinated student rugby players during phases from complete lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic to returning to competition is unknown. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of ARinf (including SARS-CoV-2) during non-contact and contact phases during the COVID-19 pandemic to evaluate risk mitigation strategies. In this retrospective cohort study, 319 top tier rugby players from 17 universities completed an online questionnaire.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To describe the rate and type of netball injuries sustained during women's university-level tournament matches in South Africa.
Design: Descriptive epidemiological study.
Setting: Three editions of the women's Varsity Netball tournament (2021-23).
Objective: To describe the epidemiology of injuries and illnesses sustained during the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, organised in a closed-loop environment to adhere with COVID-19 restrictions.
Methods: Injuries and illnesses from all teams were recorded on a daily basis by team medical staff on a web-based form and by local organising committee medical (polyclinic) facilities and venue medical support. Duplicates recorded on both systems were removed.
Objectives: To examine healthcare professionals (HCPs) attitudes, beliefs and preparedness towards the management of Para athlete mental health during the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games.
Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted. National Paralympic Committee's HCPs (n=857) working at the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games were invited to respond to an anonymous online survey regarding the management of Para athlete mental health in their team.
Purpose: To determine if post-exercise heart rate variability, in the form of logged transformed root mean square of successive differences of the R-R intervals (LnRMSSD) can be measured reliably during the recovery from a submaximal cycle test and what the relationship of LnRMSSD is with training status of the cyclists.
Methods: Fourteen male cyclists participated in the reliability part for the study, which included performing six Lamberts Submaximal Cycle Test (LSCT), during which recovery LnRMSSD was measured over 30 s (LnRMSSD), 60 s LnRMSSD)and 90 s LnRMSSD). In addition, fifty male and twenty female cyclists completed a peak power output (PPO) test (including VO) and 40 km time trial (40 km TT) before which they performed the LSCT as a standardized warm-up.
Patients with high-grade B-cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 rearrangements (HGBL-MYC/BCL2) respond poorly to immunochemotherapy compared with patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (DLBCL NOS) without a MYC rearrangement. This suggests a negative impact of lymphoma-intrinsic MYC on the immune system. To investigate this, we compared circulating T cells and natural killer (NK) cells of patients with HGBL-MYC/BCL2 (n = 66), patients with DLBCL NOS (n = 53), and age-matched healthy donors (HDs; n = 16) by flow cytometry and performed proliferation, cytokine production, and cytotoxicity assays.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: This case study aimed to describe potential changes in neuromuscular activation and synergies after an 8-day cross-country mountain-bike stage race.
Methods: A peak power output test was performed 5 days before the race. Two days before the start and after 7 days of racing, the athlete performed a power-based Lamberts Submaximal Cycling Test, including surface electromyography, and completed a Daily Analysis of Life Demands of Athletes questionnaire.
Objective: To explore the prevalence of symptoms of mental health conditions and burnout of healthcare professionals (HCPs) working during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games.
Methods: In this cross-sectional, observational study, HCPs working during the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Paralympic Games were asked to complete an online, anonymous survey, which included demographic questions and questions regarding mental health symptoms including depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item depression scale) and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale) as well as burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey: depersonalisation, emotional exhaustion, personal accomplishment). Correlation coefficients (r) were calculated between demographic characteristics and mental health symptoms.
Purpose: The investigators aimed to understand the unmet needs of adults with cerebral palsy (CP) living in urban South Africa and to ascertain similarities or differences to typically developing (TD) adults in the same community.
Materials And Methods: Participants were interviewed with an adapted version of the Southampton Needs Assessment Questionnaire (SNAQ). Non-parametric statistical analysis was utilised for quantitative data and qualitative data were analysed using free coding to identify themes.
Oocyte matched follicular fluid oxidant, antioxidant status, and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels were assessed to reveal a possible effect of local-intrafollicular levels of these markers on the individual oocyte with its quality, ability to achieve fertilization, further embryo development, and pregnancy. A cross-sectional study of infertile women with diminished ovarian reserve undergoing antagonist protocol in vitro fertilization (IVF); in the form of ICSI, and fresh single embryo transfer were included. When follicular fluid was collected, each ovarian follicle was aspirated independently, and each follicular fluid was collected into a separate test tube to match it with a single cumulus-oocyte complex obtained from the same follicle.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To describe the incidence and burden of illness at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, which was organised with strict COVID-19 countermeasures.
Methods: Daily illnesses were recorded via the web-based injury and illness surveillance system (teams with their own medical staff; n=81), and local polyclinic services (teams without their own medical staff; n=81). Illness proportion, incidence and burden were reported for all illnesses and in subgroups by sex, age, competition period, sports and physiological system.
Objective: To describe the epidemiology of injuries at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, including injuries sustained in the new sports of badminton and taekwondo.
Methods: Injury data were obtained daily via the established web-based injury and illness surveillance system (WEB-IISS; 81 countries, 3836 athletes) and local organising committee medical facilities (81 countries, 567 athletes). Univariate unadjusted incidences (injuries per 1000 athlete days with 95% CIs), injury proportion (IP, %) and injury burden (days lost per 1000 athlete days) are reported.
Purpose: Describing the epidemiological profile of patients with acute clavicle shaft fractures in a developing country public state hospital where mainly low- to middle-income patients are treated.
Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of all clavicle shaft fractures between 2008 and 2018 (10 years) based on Picture Archiving and Communication System at the second largest public hospital in South Africa.
Results: One thousand and three patients, 729 male and 274 female, were included in the epidemiological review.
Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is claimed to effect the sexual desire, and recently, blood flow in the clitoral artery (CA) was measured by Doppler ultrasound (USG) examination and the level of sexual desire was objectively demonstrated by determining the pulsatility index (PI). In the present study, it was aimed to quantitatively determine the sexual desire levels in women with PCOS using Doppler USG and to compare the data with healthy women.
Material And Methods: The study included 71 patients diagnosed with PCOS and 78 healthy women who applied to our tertiary hospital gynecology clinics and for control purposes.
Objective: To review risk factors associated with acute respiratory illness (ARill) in athletes, including non-infectious ARill and suspected or confirmed acute respiratory infections (ARinf).
Design: Systematic review.
Data Sources: Electronic databases: PubMed-Medline, EbscoHost and Web of Science.
Objective: To determine the incidence of acute respiratory illness (ARill) in athletes and by method of diagnosis, anatomical classification, ages, levels of performance and seasons.
Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Data Sources: Electronic databases: PubMed-Medline, EbscoHost and Web of Science.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess relationship between CGG repeat lengths and ovarian reserve and response to controlled ovarian stimulation (COH).
Material And Methods: This prospective cohort study was carried out on patients (n = 49) who were admitted to the in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinic of the Zeynep Kamil Women's and Children's Diseases Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences. Women under 40 years of age with premature ovarian insufficiency underwent genetic analysis to determine CGG repeat lengths.
Research in high income countries shows that people with cerebral palsy (CP) are less physically active than typically developing (TD) peers, but less is known regarding physical activity (PA) in those with CP in low-to-middle income countries. The aim of this study was to determine daily step count and levels of PA in adolescents and adults with CP living in urban South Africa, compared to TD peers, and to determine associations with sex, Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level, body mass index and socio-economic status. This case-control study included 26 adolescents and 22 adults with CP (GMFCS Level I-V) and matched TD peers (25 and 30, respectively).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Determine if spinal curvatures, deformities, as well as level of disability (due to back pain) changes with aging in adults with bilateral spastic cerebral palsy after receiving orthopedic interval surgery approach treatment in childhood.
Design: Consecutive case-series SETTING: Urban South Africa PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-seven ambulatory adults with cerebral palsy MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Spinal curvatures (scoliosis, thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis) and deformities (spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis) were determined with X-rays, while the level of disability was assessed with the Oswestry Disability Index.
Results: The prevalence of spinal abnormalities were: 30% scoliosis (mild: <30°), 0% thoracic hyperkyphosis, 15% lumbar hyperlordosis, 0%; spondylolysis, and 0% spondylolisthesis.
Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a disease with dismal treatment outcomes. Response to neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT) varies greatly. Although the underlying mechanisms of CRT resistance are not identified, accumulating evidence indicates an important role for local antitumor immunity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Insight into the day-to-day challenges faced by adults living with Cerebral Palsy (CP) in low-to-middle income countries (LMICs) will enable support towards healthy aging in this population.
Objectives: To determine changes in level of pain, functional mobility and accomplishment as well as satisfaction in daily life of ambulant adults with CP living in a LMIC over a six-year period, compared to typically developed (TD) adults. In addition, to determine associations with individual characteristics.