Comparisons of Risk Scores for Infective Endocarditis Surgery: A Meta-Analysis.

While multiple scoring systems exist to predict mortality in cardiac surgery, their utility in infective endocarditis (IE) remains uncertain, prompting this study to compare their prognostic accuracy. We conducted a comprehensive review using Ovid Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Data were pooled using Open-Meta[Analyst] software, and calibration analysis was performed with Review Manager 5.

Variations in linear energy transfer distributions within a European proton therapy planning comparison of paediatric posterior fossa tumours.

Background And Purpose: Radiotherapy for paediatric posterior fossa tumours may cause complications in the brainstem and upper spinal cord due to high doses. With proton therapy (PT) this risk may increase due to higher relative biological effectiveness (RBE) from elevated linear energy transfer (LET). This study assesses variations in LET in the brainstem and spinal cord in proton treatment plans from European centres.

Restoring rotational symmetry of multicomponent wavefunctions with nuclear orbitals.

In this work, we present a non-orthogonal configuration interaction (NOCI) approach to address the rotational corrections in multicomponent quantum chemistry calculations where hydrogen nuclei and electrons are described with orbitals under Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) frameworks. The rotational corrections are required in systems such as diatomic (HX) and nonlinear triatomic molecules (HXY), where localized broken-symmetry nuclear orbitals have a lower energy than delocalized orbitals with the correct symmetry. By restoring rotational symmetry with the proposed NOCI approach, we demonstrate significant improvements in proton binding energy predictions at the HF level, with average rotational corrections of 0.

High consciousness-low application: sustainable development and sustainable healthcare in undergraduate physiotherapy education in Sweden.

Background: Swedish undergraduate physiotherapy education lacks comprehensive integration of sustainable development in curricula. Factors related to educators' perspectives in preparing future physiotherapists for sustainable development and sustainable healthcare may shed light on this shortcoming.

Aim: This study aims to describe Swedish physiotherapy educators' (i) consciousness of sustainable development and its inclusion in teaching and learning activities, (ii) ecological worldviews, (iii) attitudes toward sustainability and climate change in physiotherapy, (iv) perceptions of education for sustainable development and sustainable healthcare and (v) examine the relationship between ecological worldview and attitudes toward sustainability and climate change in physiotherapy.

Evolution of fast-growing piscivorous herring in the young Baltic Sea.

The circumstances under which species diversify to genetically distinct lineages is a fundamental question in biology. Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) is an extremely abundant zooplanktivorous species that is subdivided into multiple ecotypes that differ regarding spawning time and genetic adaption to local environmental conditions such as temperature, salinity, and light conditions. Here we show using whole genome analysis that multiple populations of piscivorous (fish-eating) herring have evolved sympatrically after the colonization of the brackish Baltic Sea within the last 8000 years postglaciation.

Sick leave in the prodromal phase of multiple sclerosis and its association with diagnostic delay: A short report.

The prodromal features of multiple sclerosis (MS) are non-specific and are prevalent in the general population. Several studies indicate an increased use of healthcare resources by individuals with MS in the years preceding their diagnosis, suggesting a trend of deteriorating health prior to the clinical manifestation of MS. This study aimed to capture the possible associations of sick leave with the timing of the diagnosis of MS.

Structural variant allelic heterogeneity in MECP2 duplication syndrome provides insight into clinical severity and variability of disease expression.

Background: MECP2 Duplication Syndrome, also known as X-linked intellectual developmental disorder Lubs type (MRXSL; MIM: 300260), is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by copy number gains spanning MECP2. Despite varying genomic rearrangement structures, including duplications and triplications, and a wide range of duplication sizes, no clear correlation exists between DNA rearrangement and clinical features. We had previously demonstrated that up to 38% of MRXSL families are characterized by complex genomic rearrangements (CGRs) of intermediate complexity (2 ≤ copy number variant breakpoints < 5), yet the impact of these genomic structures on regulation of gene expression and phenotypic manifestations have not been investigated.

Sickness absence and disability pension trajectories among individuals on sickness absence due to stress-related disorders. Two prospective population-based cohorts with 13-month follow-up.

Background: Stress-related disorders are common diagnoses for sickness absence (SA) and disability pension (DP) in many Western countries. Knowledge on future SA/DP trajectories among those starting such a SA spell is limited. The aims were to identify future SA/DP days trajectories among individuals starting an SA spell due to stress-related disorder and investigate socio-demographic and morbidity characteristics associated with specific trajectories.

A combination of long- and short-read genomics reveals frequent p-arm breakpoints within chromosome 21 complex genomic rearrangements.

Purpose: Although chromosome 21 is the smallest human chromosome, it is highly relevant in the pathogenicity of both cancer and congenital diseases, including Alzheimer disease and trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). In addition, cases with rare structural variants (SVs) of chromosome 21 have been reported. These events vary in size and include large chromosomal events, such as ring chromosomes and small partial aneuploidies.

"This takes a toll on me too"-a qualitative interview study on experiences of informal caregivers to patients who have had aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Purpose: To describe life as an informal caregiver to someone affected by an aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) in the first year after the event.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive study in which informal caregivers ( = 16) to patients treated for aSAH were interviewed one year after the event. An interview guide was used and an inductive, conventional content analysis was applied.

Spatiotemporal Retention of Structural Color and Induced Stiffening in Crosslinked Hydroxypropyl Cellulose Beads.

Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) is known for its ability to form cholesteric liquid crystalline phases displaying vivid structural colors. However, these vibrant colors tend to fade over time when the material dries. This issue is a major bottleneck to finding practical applications for these materials.

Sex-related differences in outcomes and prognosis of severe calcific mitral stenosis due to mitral annular calcification: A propensity-score matched cohort study.

Background: The prevalence of severe calcific mitral stenosis (MS) is higher in female patients. The aim of the study was to assess the sex-related differences in clinical characteristics and prognosis in patients with severe calcific MS.

Methods: Among 7154 adult patients with MS due to mitral annular calcification who underwent echocardiography between October 2010 and August 2020, 287 patients with severe MS were retrospectively analyzed.

Older adults' reasons for applying to a nursing home - a document analysis.

Background: Ageing in place is the social norm in Sweden, yet older adults apply for a nursing home on a daily basis which suggests that ageing in place needs further study as it is not suitable for everyone. Aim: to study descriptions of older adults' reasons for applying to a nursing home in documents of granted nursing home decisions.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and sixty decisions were analyzed through document analysis with a deductive content analysis using the Canadian Model of Occupational Performance-Engagement (CMOP-E) as a framework.

Multi-omics analysis detail a submicroscopic inv(15)(q14q15) generating fusion transcripts and MEIS2 and NUSAP1 haploinsufficiency.

Inversions are balanced structural variants that often remain undetected in genetic diagnostics. We present a female proband with a de novo Chromosome 15 paracentric inversion, disrupting MEIS2 and NUSAP1. The inversion was detected by short-read genome sequencing and confirmed with adaptive long-read sequencing.

Experimental and theoretical examination and development of methods to calculate required pull force in wire drawing.

Wire drawing is one of the oldest and most common cold metal forming processes. Wire is drawn through a single die or a set of conical dies to make it longer and stronger. In the drawing die there are three geometrical parameters that affect the drawing force: die diameter, die angle and bearing length.

Identification of biallelic POLA2 variants in two families with an autosomal recessive telomere biology disorder.

POLA2 encodes the accessory subunit of DNA polymerase α (polα)/primase, which is crucial for telomere C-strand fill-in. Incomplete fill-in of the C-rich telomeric strand after DNA replication has been proposed as a mechanism for Coats plus syndrome, a phenotype within the broader spectrum of telomere biology disorders (TBD). Coats plus syndrome has so far been associated with pathogenic variants in POT1, CTC1, and STN1.

Formation of Sodium Chloride on the Surface of Sulfate-Rich Gobi Desert Salt in Response to Water Adsorption.

Dust storms in arid regions transport desert salts and dust, affecting geochemical processes, atmospheric chemistry, climate, and human health. This study examines how the gas-salt interface composition of desert salt changes with varying relative humidity (RH), using ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS), near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Ion chromatography analysis of desert salt indicates it is predominantly composed of sulfate, sodium, and magnesium ions, with traces of calcium, chloride, nitrate, and potassium ions.

The genome sequence of the white-tailed eagle, (Linnaeus, 1758).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female (the white-tailed eagle; Chordata; Aves; Accipitriformes; Accipitridae). The genome sequence has a total length of 1,320.30 megabases.

A charter to improve care for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: To develop evidenced recommendations to allow the global systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) advocacy community to effectively advocate for change and improve care for patients with SLE.

Methods: A Global Working Group consisting of representatives from patient advocacy groups, professional organisations, and the SLE healthcare community defined key areas of unmet need in patients with SLE. Targeted principles for each area of unmet need guided a literature review to investigate the current global situation, pre-existing advocacy efforts, and best practices from other therapy areas.

Do anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery patients have higher risk of myocardial ischaemia and adverse cardiac events during aortic and mitral valve replacements?

Objectives: We assessed the effect of anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery on the risk of early and late postoperative events after aortic or mitral valve replacement in adults.

Methods: Between 2005 and 2022, 29,579 adults underwent surgical aortic or mitral valve replacement at Cleveland Clinic. Among these, 29 had an unrepaired coronary artery rising anomalously from the aorta that was not intervened upon during valve surgery, 19 (65%) an anomalous circumflex, and 9 (31%) an anomalous right.

Lignin microparticle coatings for enhanced wet resistance in lignocellulosic materials.

The widespread use of synthetic plastics in packaging materials poses significant environmental challenges, prompting the search for biobased, biodegradable, and non-toxic alternatives. This study focuses on improving high-yield pulps (HYPs) as sustainable materials for packaging. Enhancing wet strength and barrier properties of papers from bleached chemi-thermomechanical pulps (BCTMPs) is crucial for their application in water- and air- resistant wrappers.