Planar cell polarity zebrafish models of congenital scoliosis reveal underlying defects in notochord morphogenesis.

Congenital scoliosis (CS) is a type of vertebral malformation for which the etiology remains elusive. The notochord is pivotal for vertebrae development, but its role in CS is still understudied. Here, we generated a zebrafish knockout of ptk7a, a planar cell polarity (PCP) gene that is essential for convergence and extension (C&E) of the notochord, and detected congenital scoliosis-like vertebral malformations (CVMs).

Augmented Reality in Neurosurgery: A New Paradigm for Training.

Augmented reality (AR) involves the overlay of computer-generated images onto the user's real-world visual field to modify or enhance the user's visual experience. With respect to neurosurgery, AR integrates preoperative and intraoperative imaging data to create an enriched surgical experience that has been shown to improve surgical planning, refine neuronavigation, and reduce operation time. In addition, AR has the potential to serve as a valuable training tool for neurosurgeons in a way that minimizes patient risk while facilitating comprehensive training opportunities.

Dual role of the adhesion G-protein coupled receptor ADRGE5/CD97 in glioblastoma invasion and proliferation.

CD97, an adhesion G-protein coupled receptor highly expressed in glioblastoma (GBM), consists of two noncovalently bound domains: the N-terminal fragment (NTF) and C-terminal fragment. The C-terminal fragment contains a GPCR domain that couples to Gα, while the NTF interacts with extracellular matrix components and other receptors. We investigated the effects of changing CD97 levels and its function on primary patient-derived GBM stem cells (pdGSCs) in vitro and in vivo.

Non-response bias in the analysis of the association between mental health and the urban environment: a cross-sectional study in Brussels, Belgium.

Background: This paper aims at analysing the impact of partial non-response in the association between urban environment and mental health in Brussels. The potential threats of the partial non-response are biases in survey estimates and statistics. The effect of non-response on statistical associations is often overlooked and evidence in the research literature is lacking.

Smaller panel, similar results: genomic profiling and molecularly informed therapy in pancreatic cancer.

Background: Pancreatic cancer has a dismal prognosis. One reason is resistance to cytotoxic drugs. Molecularly matched therapies might overcome this resistance but the best approach to identify those patients who may benefit is unknown.

The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway inhibits inflammation without lymphocyte relay.

The magnitude of innate inflammatory immune responses is dependent on interactions between peripheral neural and immune cells. In particular, a cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) has been identified in the spleen whereby noradrenaline (NA) released by splenic nerves binds to ß2-adrenergic receptors (β2-AR) on CD4 T cells which, in turn, release acetylcholine (ACh). The binding of ACh to α7 acetylcholine receptors (α7-AChR) expressed by splenic macrophages inhibits the production of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF).

NUTRISEP: Assessment of the nutritional status of patients with multiple sclerosis and link to fatigue.

Background: Fatigue is a common complaint in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and reduces quality of life. Several hypotheses for the pathogenesis of fatigue in MS are proposed ranging from neurological lesions to malnutrition, but none has been conclusively validated through clinical research.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to examine the correlation between fatigue and nutritional status and dietary habits in PwMS.

Environmental signals perceived by the brain abate pro-metastatic monocytes by dampening glucocorticoids receptor signaling.

While positive social-behavioral factors predict longer survival in cancer patients, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Since tumor metastasis are the major cancer mortality factor, we investigated how an enriched environment (EE) conductive to enhanced sensory, cognitive and motor stimulation impact metastatic progression in lungs following intravasation in the circulation. We find that mice housed in EE exhibited reduced number of lung metastatic foci compared to control mice housed in a standard environment (SE).

COVID-19 presentation and outcomes in patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases receiving IL6-receptor antagonists prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Objective: COVID-19 outcome may be less favourable in patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) receiving immunosuppressive therapy. We aimed to investigate whether RMD patients on anti-IL6 therapy prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection have less severe disease and better outcomes of COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective national, multicentre cohort study using data from the French RMD COVID-19 cohort.

Rhenium Carbonyl Molecular Catalysts for CO Electroreduction: Effects on Catalysis of Bipyridine Substituents Mimicking Anchorage Functions to Modify Electrodes.

Heterogenization of molecular catalysts on (photo)electrode surfaces is required to design devices performing processes enabling to store renewable energy in chemical bonds. Among the various strategies to immobilize molecular catalysts, direct chemical bonding to conductive surfaces presents some advantages because of the robustness of the linkage. When the catalyst is, as it is often the case, a transition metal complex, the anchoring group has to be connected to the complex through the ligands, and an important question is thus raised on the influence of this function on the redox and on the catalytic properties of the complex.

Is self-image, in reference to the gravitational vertical, altered in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis? A multicenter, single-blind, case-control study.

Purpose: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is associated with perturbation of orthostatic postural control. In humans, orthostatic postural control is organized around the gravitational vertical (GV). Perception of the GV involves a bottom-up process (central integration of multisensorial information) and a top-down process that uses cognitive mechanisms relying on body image.

A new murine Rpl5 (uL18) mutation provides a unique model of variably penetrant Diamond-Blackfan anemia.

Ribosome dysfunction is implicated in multiple abnormal developmental and disease states in humans. Heterozygous germline mutations in genes encoding ribosomal proteins are found in most individuals with Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA), whereas somatic mutations have been implicated in a variety of cancers and other disorders. Ribosomal protein-deficient animal models show variable phenotypes and penetrance, similar to human patients with DBA.

Foam Silica Films Synthesized by Calcium Chloride-Assisted Emulsification.

The development of porous films with an accessible high specific surface area is important for designing new adsorbents, sensors, or catalyst supports. Here, we describe a simple method to prepare a silica foam coating using a calcium chloride-assisted evaporation-induced emulsification method. An alcoholic silica sol containing calcium chloride and a poly(ethylene oxide)-based polymer is deposited on a substrate by dipping.

Association between urban environment and mental health in Brussels, Belgium.

Background: Mental health disorders appear as a growing problem in urban areas. While common mental health disorders are generally linked to demographic and socioeconomic factors, little is known about the interaction with the urban environment. With growing urbanization, more and more people are exposed to environmental stressors potentially contributing to increased stress and impairing mental health.

Exploring how the urban neighborhood environment influences mental well-being using walking interviews.

Mental well-being in cities is being challenged worldwide and a more detailed understanding of how urban environments influence mental well-being is needed. This qualitative study explores neighborhood factors and their interactions in relation to mental well-being. Individual semi-structured walking interviews were conducted with 28 adults living in the Brussels-Capital Region.

Secukinumab and ustekinumab treatment in psoriatic arthritis: results of a direct comparison.

Objectives: To evaluate the characteristics of patients (pts) with PsA treated by ustekinumab (UST) or secukinumab (SEK) and to compare real-world persistence of UST and SEK in PsA.

Methods: In this retrospective, national, multicentre cohort study, pts with PsA (CASPAR criteria or diagnosis confirmed by the rheumatologist) initiating UST or SEK with a follow-up ≥6 months were included from January 2011 to April 2019. The persistence between SEK and UST was assessed after considering the potential confounding factors by using pre-specified propensity-score methods.

Low back pain in patients with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and the prevalence in a French multiple sclerosis population.

Purpose: The prevalence and management of back pain in MS patients was assessed by a systematic review, and the results of a survey on the characteristics of low back pain in a sample of French MS patients are reported.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. The outcomes of interest included the prevalence of back pain, severity of pain and impact on daily activities.

Actual Persistence of Abatacept in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results of the French-Ric Network.

Objectives: Data on abatacept (ABA) persistence in routine practice are limited. We aimed to study ABA persistence rates at 12 months, according to the date of initiation, and to analyze the factors associated with persistence at 12 months.

Methods: We performed an observational, ambispective, multi-center study from January 2008 to July 2016, based on the French-RIC Network.

Urban environment and mental health: the NAMED project, protocol for a mixed-method study.

Introduction: Mental health issues appear as a growing problem in modern societies and tend to be more frequent in big cities. Where increased evidence exists for positive links between nature and mental health, associations between urban environment characteristics and mental health are still not well understood. These associations are highly complex and require an interdisciplinary and integrated research approach to cover the broad range of mitigating factors.