Mixed-methods reproductive health knowledge, attitudes and practices survey of IDPs, returnees and host communities in Jonglei State, South Sudan.

Objectives: To understand the current state of maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) among internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees and host communities in remote counties of Jonglei state.

Design: Cross-sectional, randomly sampled, mixed-methods, population-based household study.

Setting: Ayod, Nyirol, Fangak and Pigi counties of Jonglei, South Sudan.

Long-telomeropathy is associated with tumor predisposition syndrome.

Telomeres protect chromosomal integrity, and telomere length (TL) is influenced by environmental and genetic factors. While short-telomeres are linked to rare telomeropathies, this study explored the hypothesis that a "long-telomeropathy" is associated with a cancer-predisposing syndrome. Using genomic and health data from 113,861 individuals, a trans-ancestry polygenic risk score for TL (PRS ) was developed.

Effectiveness of ozone nanobubble treatments on high biomass cyanobacterial blooms: A mesocosm experiment and field trial.

Cyanobacterial harmful algae blooms (cyanoHABs) are a global threat to water resources, and lake managers need effective strategies to suppress or control them. Algaecides may have negative environmental impacts, and their use is becoming restricted. Nanobubble ozone technology (NBOT) is an emerging water treatment option with potentially fewer negative impacts.

Decreasing the Use of Cefdinir for Pediatric Urinary Tract Infections in a Rural Health Care System: A Quasi-experimental Study.

There are several antimicrobial options for treating urinary tract infections in children. Although cefdinir is commonly used, better options exist. We developed an intervention bundle to reduce the use of cefdinir in favor of cephalexin.

Familial Renal Glucosuria and Potential Pharmacogenetic Impact on SGLT2 Inhibitors.

Background: Renal glucosuria is a rare inheritable trait caused by loss-of-function variants in the gene that encodes SGLT2 (i.e., SLC5A2).

Effects of long-term lithium therapy on kidney functioning in mood disorders: A population-based historical cohort study.

Aims: Lithium is Food and Drug Administration-approved for bipolar disorder (BD) and is also used in depressive disorders but is underutilized due to concerns about chronic kidney disease (CKD). We explored clinical and demographic profiles of patients on long-term lithium therapy (LTLT) and assessed kidney function. Our aims were to identify the predictors for CKD stage ≥3 and the impact of lithium discontinuation post-CKD diagnosis.

Risk factors for treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in a rural health system.

Purpose: Asymptomatic bacteriuria is often inappropriately treated, leading to antimicrobial-related adverse events and contributing to antimicrobial resistance. This study examined the asymptomatic bacteriuria treatment rate at a rural Wisconsin health system and the patient-specific factors that may be influencing clinicians' decisions to treat.

Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive report of patients admitted from January to May 2022 at 7 rural Wisconsin hospitals.

Mechanistic insights into the plant biostimulant activity of a novel formulation based on rice husk nanobiosilica embedded in a seed coating alginate film.

Seed coating ensures the targeted delivery of various compounds from the early stages of development to increase crop quality and yield. Silicon and alginate are known to have plant biostimulant effects. Rice husk (RH) is a significant source of biosilica.

A National Survey of Neonatologists' Perspectives on Probiotics Use in Neonatal Intensive Care Units in the U.S.A.

Most recent clinical reports from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) concluded current evidence does not support routine universal administration of probiotics to preterm infants, particularly those with birth weight <1000 grams. Despite this, the use of probiotics is increasing in US neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Collaborating with the Perinatal Neonatal Medicine of AAP, we conducted a national survey to obtain neonatologist opinion on probiotics use.

Immunotoxicity of stainless-steel nanoparticles obtained after 3D printing.

This study aims to investigate the in vitro effects of nanoparticles (NPs) produced during the selective laser melting (SLM) of 316 L stainless steel metal powder on the immune response in a human blood model. Experimental data did not reveal effect on viability of 316 L NPs for the tested doses. Functional immune assays showed a significant immunosuppressive effect of NPs.

Novel predictors of permanent pacemaker implantation following transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Background: Conduction and rhythm abnormalities requiring permanent pacemakers (PPM) are short-term complications following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and their clinical outcomes remain conflicting. Potential novel predictors of post-TAVR PPM, like QRS duration, QTc prolongation, and supraventricular arrhythmias, have been poorly studied.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of baseline nonspecific interventricular conduction delay and supraventricular arrhythmia on post-TAVR PPM requirement and determine the impact of PPM implantation on clinical outcomes.

A single-center prospective study on the efficiency of negative pressure wound therapy versus conventional wound therapy in the postoperative management of devitalized and infected wounds.

Introduction: In this study, we aim to present the benefits of using negative pressure wound therapy, particularly with respect to the speed up of recovery time of devitalized and infected post-operative wounds, cost-effectiveness of local healing, pain relief during treatment, and returning to work and resuming normal daily activities at an earlier time.

Materials And Methods: This was a prospective study performed in General Surgery Clinic, between 2016-2018. The study comprised 67 patients divided into two groups: A (29 patients who underwent negative pressure wound therapy) and B (38 patients who underwent conventional wound therapy).

Changes in Pediatric Intensive Care Admissions in Wisconsin During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: We perceived changes in the frequency of and reasons for admissions to Wisconsin pediatric intensive care units (PICU) during the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we hypothesized that the rates of total, scheduled, and respiratory viral admissions were lower during the first calendar year of the pandemic than would have been predicted by historical admission data. Such findings would reflect important changes in PICU utilization paradigms during the pandemic. There are no descriptions of PICU admission changes in a single American state during the pandemic.

Impact of Establishing Dental Access for Preventable Infectious Dental Diseases (PIDD) in Medical Settings: Case Study from Rural Wisconsin.

Objective: The frequency of Preventable Infectious Dental Disease (PIDD) visits in medical centers was examined pre and post establishment of expanded dental access and adoption of an integrated medical-dental care delivery model.

Methods: A retrospective observational study of patient attributes and frequency of unscheduled PIDD visits between January 1, 1990 and February 29, 2020. Chi-squared tests compared (a) the number of PIDD visits (pre/post dental center establishment), (b) age at first diagnosis, (c) gender, (d) race, (e) primary insurance at the time of PIDD visits and (f) healthcare setting where visit occurred.

Dental manifestations in adult hypophosphatasia and their correlation with biomarkers.

Hypophosphatasia (HPP) is a genetic condition with broad clinical manifestations caused by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) deficiency. Adults with HPP exhibit a wide spectrum of signs and symptoms. Dental manifestations including premature tooth loss are common.

Organobeidellites for Removal of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs from Aqueous Solutions.

Diclofenac (DC) and ibuprofen (IBU) are widely prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the consumption of which has rapidly increased in recent years. The biodegradability of pharmaceuticals is negligible and their removal efficiency by wastewater treatment is very low. Therefore, the beidelitte (BEI) as unique nanomaterial was modified by the following different surfactants: cetylpyridinium (CP), benzalkonium (BA) and tetradecyltrimethylammonium (TD) bromides.

Magnetically Modified Biosorbent for Rapid Beryllium Elimination from the Aqueous Environment.

Although both beryllium and its compounds display high toxicity, little attention has been focused on the removal of beryllium from wastewaters. In this research, magnetically modified biochar obtained from poor-quality wheat with two distinct FeO contents was studied as a sorbent for the elimination of beryllium from an aqueous solution. The determined elimination efficiency was higher than 80% in both prepared composites, and the presence of FeO did not affect the sorption properties.

Influence of TEMPO oxidation on the properties of ethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate grafted cellulose sponges.

In this study, cellulose nanofibers (CNF) obtained via high-pressure microfluidization were 2,6,6-tetra-methylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) oxidized (TOCNF) in order to facilitate the grafting of ethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate (EGA). FTIR and XPS analyses revealed a more efficient grafting of EGA oligomers on the surface of TOCNF as compared to the original CNF. As a result, a consistent covering of the TOCNF fibers with EGA oligomers, an increased hydrophobicity and a reduction in porosity were noticed for TOCNF-EGA.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy is safe in appropriately resourced rural hospitals.

Background: Research shows improved safety and treatment outcomes for patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy at high-volume centers. Regionalization of pancreaticoduodenectomy to high-volume urban centers can result in unintended negative consequences for rural patients and communities. This report examines outcomes after pancreaticoduodenectomy performed at a rural hospital and compares them with national standards.

Preparation of highly wettable coatings on Ti-6Al-4V ELI alloy for traumatological implants using micro-arc oxidation in an alkaline electrolyte.

Pulsed micro-arc oxidation (MAO) in a strongly alkaline electrolyte (pH > 13), consisting of NaSiO⋅9HO and NaOH, was used to form a thin porous oxide coating consisting of two layers differing in chemical and phase composition. The unique procedure, combining MAO and removal of the outer layer by blasting, enables to prepare a coating suitable for application in temporary traumatological implants. A bilayer formed in an alkaline electrolyte environment during the application of MAO enables the formation of a wear-resistant layer with silicon incorporated in the oxide phase.

Effect of Styrene-Diene Block Copolymers and Glass Bubbles on the Post-Consumer Recycled Polypropylene Properties.

The recycled polypropylene (rPP) materials that meet technical requirements such as reducing the dimensions and improving the tensile, elongation, impact strength, thermal stability, as well as melt processing, are required for the manufacturing industry. In this paper, we studied the mechanical and thermal properties of post-consumer rPP by adding both synthesized thermoplastic elastomers, and glass bubbles (GB) by a melt allowing process. Styrene-butadiene (SBS) and styrene-isoprene (SIS) block-copolymers that had a styrene content of 30 wt% were synthesized by anionic sequential polymerization.

Comprehensive characterization of silica-modified silicon rubbers.

In this study a commercially liquid silicone rubber was filled with fumed silica particles in different concentrations and evaluated for medical applications. The thermal, morphological and mechanical properties of silicone/silica composite samples were studied before and after aging, flexural tests and immersion in saline environment. Understanding the effect of silica content, aging conditions and thickness (from 0.

Oligotrophic wetland sediments susceptible to shifts in microbiomes and mercury cycling with dissolved organic matter addition.

Recent advances have allowed for greater investigation into microbial regulation of mercury toxicity in the environment. In wetlands in particular, dissolved organic matter (DOM) may influence methylmercury (MeHg) production both through chemical interactions and through substrate effects on microbiomes. We conducted microcosm experiments in two disparate wetland environments (oligotrophic unvegetated and high-C vegetated sediments) to examine the impacts of plant leachate and inorganic mercury loadings (20 mg/L HgCl) on microbiomes and MeHg production in the St.

Block Copolymer Elastomer with Graphite Filler: Effect of Processing Conditions and Silane Coupling Agent on the Composite Properties.

The control of morphology and interface in poly(styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene) (SEBS) composites with graphitic fillers is extremely important for the design of piezoresistive sensors for body motion or flexible temperature sensors. The effects of a high amount of graphite (G) and silane coupling agent on the morphology and properties of SEBS composites with anisotropic mechanical properties are reported. The physical and chemical bonding of silane to both G and SEBS surface was proved by EDX and TGA results; this improved interface influenced both the thermal and mechanical properties of the composite.