N-Acetyl-leucine in progressive CACNA1A ataxia: A case series.

Background: CACNA1A-related disorders are rare and progressive; to date, there is no approved treatment. Trials with N-acetyl-leucine (NAL) demonstrated efficacy in disorders featuring ataxia, cognitive impairment, and epilepsy. Accordingly, we hypothesized that NAL may be effective in CACNA1A-associated disorders.

Bioavailability of EPA and DHA in humans - A comprehensive review.

The bioavailability of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids is a critical yet often overlooked factor influencing their efficacy. This review evaluates the bioavailability of EPA/DHA from acute (single-dose) and chronic human studies, focusing on (a) chemical forms such as triacylglycerols (TAG, natural and re-esterified, rTAG), free fatty acids (FFA), and phospholipids (PL) from sources like fish, krill, and microalgae, and (b) delivery methods like microencapsulation and emulsification. Bioavailability for isolated chemically forms followed the order: FFA > PL > rTAG > unmodified TAG > ethyl esters (EE).

Impact of parity and salivary hormonal levels on motivation toward infant emotions.

Infant faces have been shown to be particularly motivating stimuli for women. No studies, however, have compared mothers and nonmothers in whether parity modulates approach motivation toward emotional infant faces. We studied 54 Finnish first-time mothers and 42 nonmothers in a pay-per-view key-press task where the participants were shown 20 infant faces with smiling and crying expressions.

Metabolic Profiles of Encapsulated Chondrocytes Exposed to Short-Term Simulated Microgravity.

The mechanism by which chondrocytes respond to reduced mechanical loading environments and the subsequent risk of developing osteoarthritis remains unclear. This is of particular concern for astronauts. In space the reduced joint loading forces during prolonged microgravity (10 g) exposure could lead to osteoarthritis (OA), compromising quality of life post-spaceflight.

Dietary selective effects manifest in the human gut microbiota from species composition to strain genetic makeup.

Diet significantly influences the human gut microbiota, a key player in health. We analyzed shotgun metagenomic sequencing data from healthy individuals with long-term dietary patterns-vegan, flexitarian, or omnivore-and included detailed dietary surveys and blood biomarkers. Dietary patterns notably affected the bacterial community composition by altering the relative abundances of certain species but had a minimal impact on microbial functional repertoires.

User preference and patient benefits of a novel energy storing and return foot: A randomized, cross-over clinical trial.

Background: Energy storing and return (ESAR) prosthetic feet often provide high energy return at the cost of increased foot height, compromised appearance, and reduced flexibility. An ESAR foot, Ottobock Evanto, with a novel compact design has been introduced (novel foot).

Objective: To characterize user preference and benefits of a novel foot compared with the subject's previously worn (everyday foot) and comparator foot, Össur Pro-Flex XC.

Sustained Clinical Benefit of Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease Using Gamma Oscillations: A Case Report.

Background: Adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) dynamically adjusts stimulation parameters according to patient needs. We recently showed that chronic aDBS utilizing invasive neural signals for feedback control is superior to conventional DBS (cDBS) during normal daily life in a 2-month trial. The stability of aDBS over longer periods remains unclear.

Selective autophagy impedes KSHV entry after recruiting the membrane damage sensor galectin-8 to virus-containing endosomes.

Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is an oncogenic γ-herpesvirus. Autophagy during KSHV entry has remained unexplored. We show that LC3 lipidation as a hallmark of autophagy is induced shortly after KSHV entry.

Identification of Biochemical Determinants for Diagnosis and Prediction of Severity in 5q Spinal Muscular Atrophy Using H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Metabolic Profiling in Patient-Derived Biofluids.

This study explores the potential of H-NMR spectroscopy-based metabolic profiling in various biofluids as a diagnostic and predictive modality to assess disease severity in individuals with 5q spinal muscular atrophy. A total of 213 biosamples (urine, plasma, and CSF) from 153 treatment-naïve patients with SMA across five German centers were analyzed using H-NMR spectroscopy. Prediction models were developed using machine learning algorithms which enabled the patients with SMA to be grouped according to disease severity.

Enhancement of Family-Centred Care Is Associated with a Reduction in Postmenstrual Age at Discharge in Preterm Infants.

Background/objectives: Long hospitalisation has been recognized as an independent risk factor for poor neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm infants. Systematic training and early inclusion of parents in their preterm infant's care is a strategy to shorten the length of hospital stay. We implemented an enhanced stepwise family-centred care program and assessed its effects on postmenstrual age (PMA) at discharge and parental satisfaction.

Latent Profiles of Drinking Motives Among Trauma-Exposed Combat Veterans and Civilians: A Comparative Investigation.

Trauma exposure and drinking motives (e.g., social, enhancement, coping) are both associated with increased alcohol use and related problems.

Leptin levels are associated with coronary artery calcification in patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Background: Convergent data suggest that advanced prostate cancer and coronary heart disease (CHD) share biological vulnerabilities that may be linked to adiposity. Here we explore whether leptin, as a marker and mediator of adiposity, could link prostate cancer to CHD.

Methods: Patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) enrolled in a phase II trial (NCT02703623) studying androgen deprivation therapy, abiraterone, prednisone, and apalutamide were eligible if they had plasma and a chest CT scan available.

Cannabis use patterns among people with HIV before and after legalization.

Background: Cannabis use is highly prevalent and detrimental among people with HIV (PWH). Legislative changes in several states altered the legality and accessibility of cannabis. We examined pre-post legislative changes in current, daily, and severe use in PWH in clinical care.

ACE2-independent sarbecovirus cell entry can be supported by TMPRSS2-related enzymes and can reduce sensitivity to antibody-mediated neutralization.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, demonstrated that zoonotic transmission of animal sarbecoviruses threatens human health but the determinants of transmission are incompletely understood. Here, we show that most spike (S) proteins of horseshoe bat and Malayan pangolin sarbecoviruses employ ACE2 for entry, with human and raccoon dog ACE2 exhibiting broad receptor activity. The insertion of a multibasic cleavage site into the S proteins increased entry into human lung cells driven by most S proteins tested, suggesting that acquisition of a multibasic cleavage site might increase infectivity of diverse animal sarbecoviruses for the human respiratory tract.

ChatGPT and Google Provide Mostly Excellent or Satisfactory Responses to the Most Frequently Asked Patient Questions Related to Rotator Cuff Repair.

Purpose: To assess the differences in frequently asked questions (FAQs) and responses related to rotator cuff surgery between Google and ChatGPT.

Methods: Both Google and ChatGPT (version 3.5) were queried for the top 10 FAQs using the search term "rotator cuff repair.

Associations of SGLT2i with Cardiorenal Outcomes Among Diabetics with Prostate Cancer on Hormone Therapy.

Purpose: Studies have reported associations between prostate cancer, type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and cardiovascular disease in the context of treatment with hormone therapy (HT). This study aimed to assess the role of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors (SGLT2i) in preventing adverse cardiovascular and renal outcomes in diabetics with prostate cancer.

Methods: Patients ≥ 18 years of age with T2DM and prostate cancer who received HT between August 1, 2013, and August 31, 2021, were identified using the TriNetX research network.

Validation of a prognostic blood-based sphingolipid panel for men with localized prostate cancer followed on active surveillance.

Background: We previously reported that increases in circulating sphingolipids are associated with elevated risk of biopsy Gleason grade group (GG) upgrading in men on Active Surveillance (AS) for prostate cancer. Here, we aimed to validate these findings and establish a blood-based sphingolipid biomarker panel for identifying men on AS who are at high-risk of biopsy GG upgrading.

Methods: Men diagnosed with low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer in one of two AS cohorts (CANARY PASS and MDACC) were followed for GG upgrading after diagnostic and confirmatory biopsy.

On the analysis of functional PET (fPET)-FDG: baseline mischaracterization can introduce artifactual metabolic (de)activations.

Functional Positron Emission Tomography (fPET) with (bolus plus) constant infusion of [F]-fluorodeoxyglucose FDG), known as fPET-FDG, is a recently introduced technique in human neuroimaging, enabling the detection of dynamic glucose metabolism changes within a single scan. However, the statistical analysis of fPET-FDG data remains challenging because its signal and noise characteristics differ from both classic bolus-administration FDG PET and from functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), which together compose the primary sources of inspiration for analytical methods used by fPET-FDG researchers. In this study, we present an investigate of how inaccuracies in modeling baseline FDG uptake can introduce artifactual patterns to detrended TAC residuals, potentially introducing spurious (de)activations to general linear model (GLM) analyses.

Replicative co-infections with human immunodeficiency virus 1 and 2 as well as hepatitis B and C virus in Ghanaian individuals.

Background: The study assessed replicative human immunodeficiency virus-(HIV-) infection and replicative co-infections as well as molecular determinants of reduced susceptibility towards anti-retroviral therapy in a Ghanaian population of known HIV patients and a control group.

Methods: Real-time PCRs for HIV-1, HIV-2, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) were run with serum samples from known Ghanaian HIV-patients (n = 975) and control individuals (n = 105). For 108 individuals, HIV-sequence analysis was performed.

Severity and Number of Substances Used are Independently Associated with Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Over Time among People with HIV in the Current Treatment Era.

Substance use is associated with decreased antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among people with HIV (PWH). Adherence plays a significant role in mediating the negative effects of substance use on HIV suppression and is a principal modifiable patient-level factor in improving HIV suppression and reducing ART drug resistance. Understanding substance use and ART adherence, particularly with rapidly changing substance use epidemiology and ART regimens, is vital to improving HIV care.