Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 and glucose-regulated protein 78 kDa: Potential biomarkers affect prognosis in IDH-wildtype glioblastoma patients.

Background: The overall survival of IDH-wildtype glioblastoma patients is poor despite best available treatments. There is an urgent need for new biomarkers to inform more precise disease stratification. Previous studies have identified insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) as a potential biomarker for glioblastoma diagnosis and therapeutic targeting.

Is human bone matrix a sufficient augmentation method revising loosened pedicle screws in osteoporotic bone? - A biomechanical evaluation of primary stability.

Introduction: Despite good screw anchorage and safe screw trajectory, screw loosening occurs in several cases, especially in osteoporotic individuals. The aim of this biomechanical analysis was to evaluate the primary stability of revision screw placement in individuals with reduced bone quality. Therefore, revision via enlarged diameter screws was compared to the use of human bone matrix as augmentation to improve the bone stock and screw coverage.

Correlation between kidney function and mortality in pyogenic spondylodiscitis: the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) as new predictive parameter?

Objective: Pyogenic spondylodiscitis is a severe medical condition, often requiring surgical intervention. Numerous risk factors are known, such as obesity, neurological impairment and old age. In-hospital mortality remains high, therefore other factors may be contributing to the increased mortality.

An online implementation of a measure of spectro-temporal processing by cochlear-implant listeners.

The spectro-temporal ripple for investigating processor effectiveness (STRIPES) test is a psychophysical measure of spectro-temporal resolution in cochlear-implant (CI) listeners. It has been validated using direct-line input and loudspeaker presentation with listeners of the Advanced Bionics CI. This article investigates the suitability of an online application using wireless streaming (webSTRIPES) as a remote test.

When to remove? Evaluation of postoperative drainage volume after single-level posterior lumbar interbody fusion.

Study Design: prospective, observational.

Background: Wound drainage's indwelling duration and general use are the centre of ongoing discussion. The aim of our prospective observational study was to evaluate the total drainage volume postoperatively and its course after lumbar interbody fusion surgeries to define an ideal point in time for drainage removal.

Electrophysiological and Psychophysical Measures of Temporal Pitch Sensitivity in Normal-hearing Listeners.

To obtain combined behavioural and electrophysiological measures of pitch perception, we presented harmonic complexes, bandpass filtered to contain only high-numbered harmonics, to normal-hearing listeners. These stimuli resemble bandlimited pulse trains and convey pitch using a purely temporal code. A core set of conditions consisted of six stimuli with baseline pulse rates of 94, 188 and 280 pps, filtered into a HIGH (3365-4755 Hz) or VHIGH (7800-10,800 Hz) region, alternating with a 36% higher pulse rate.

Liquid biopsies for early diagnosis of brain tumours: mathematical biomarker modelling.

Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer in those under 40 and reduce life expectancy more than any other cancer. Blood-based liquid biopsies may aid early diagnosis, prediction and prognosis for brain tumours. It remains unclear whether known blood-based biomarkers, such as glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), have the required sensitivity and selectivity.

Biosignal-based transferable attention Bi-ConvGRU deep network for hand-gesture recognition towards online upper-limb prosthesis control.

Background And Objective: Upper-limb amputation can significantly affect a person's capabilities with a dramatic impact on their quality of life. As a biological signal, surface electromyogram (sEMG) provides a non-invasive means to measure underlying muscle activation patterns, corresponding to specific hand gestures. This project aims to develop a real-time deep learning based recognition model to automatically and reliably recognise these complex signals of a wide range of daily hand gestures from amputees and non-amputees.

Tonotopic Selectivity in Cats and Humans: Electrophysiology and Psychophysics.

We describe a scalp-recorded measure of tonotopic selectivity, the "cortical onset response" (COR) and compare the results between humans and cats. The COR results, in turn, were compared with psychophysical masked-detection thresholds obtained using similar stimuli and obtained from both species. The COR consisted of averaged responses elicited by 50-ms tone-burst probes presented at 1-s intervals against a continuous noise masker.

SARS-CoV-2 viability on sports equipment is limited, and dependent on material composition.

The control of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK has necessitated restrictions on amateur and professional sports due to the perceived infection risk to competitors, via direct person to person transmission, or possibly via the surfaces of sports equipment. The sharing of sports equipment such as tennis balls was therefore banned by some sport's governing bodies. We sought to investigate the potential of sporting equipment as transmission vectors of SARS-CoV-2.

Locking suture repair versus ligament augmentation-a biomechanical study regarding the treatment of acute lateral collateral ligament injuries of the elbow.

Background: Lateral collateral ligament (LCL) tears are frequently observed in fractures and dislocations of the elbow. Recent biomechanical evidence suggests that additional ligament augmentation may improve repair stability. The aim of this biomechanical in-vitro study was to compare the resistance of a locking suture repair of the LCL with a ligament augmentation technique.

Genetic diversity, viability and conservation value of the global captive population of the Moroccan Royal lions.

This study evaluates the diversity of the so-called 'Moroccan Royal lions' using genealogical information. Lions are no longer extant in North Africa, but the previous wild population was an important element of the now-recognised northern subspecies (Panthera leo leo) that ranged across West Africa, North Africa and the Middle East into India. The remaining captive population of 'Moroccan Royal lions' seems to be significantly endangered by the loss of diversity due to the effective population size decrease.

Suggestion of a safe zone for C1 pedicle screws depending on anatomical peculiarities.

Objective: For surgical treatment of instable upper cervical injuries, the Harms technique using lateral mass screws provides rigid fixation and favourable clinical outcomes. The use of the posterior arch of C1 as a "pedicle" allows for screw anchorage, giving improved biomechanical stability. Therefore, the aim of this study was to introduce a bilateral safe zone for C1 pedicle screws, regarding screw angulation and pedicle height.

Glioma Stem-Like Cells and Metabolism: Potential for Novel Therapeutic Strategies.

Glioma stem-like cells (GSCs) were first described as a population which may in part be resistant to traditional chemotherapeutic therapies and responsible for tumour regrowth. Knowledge of the underlying metabolic complexity governing GSC growth and function may point to potential differences between GSCs and the tumour bulk which could be harnessed clinically. There is an increasing interest in the direct/indirect targeting or reprogramming of GSC metabolism as a potential novel therapeutic approach in the adjuvant or recurrent setting to help overcome resistance which may be mediated by GSCs.

The role of the brachialis muscle in elbow stability with collateral ligament injury: A biomechanical investigation.

Background: The brachialis muscle lies in close anatomic relation to the anterior capsule of the elbow joint. The contribution of the brachialis muscle to elbow stability has not yet been fully investigated. Therefore, the aim of this biomechanical in-vitro study was to analyze its influence on joint stability.

The Potential for Transmission of Coronaviruses via Sports Equipment; A Cricket Case Study.

A review of literature on the role of fomites in transmission of coronaviruses informed the development of a framework which was used to qualitatively analyse a cricket case study, where equipment is shared and passed around, and identify potential mitigation strategies. A range of pathways were identified that might in theory allow coronavirus transmission from an infected person to a non-infected person via communal or personal equipment fomites or both. Eighteen percent of potential fomite based interactions were found to be non-essential to play including all contact with another persons equipment.

Scoliosis and Prognosis-a systematic review regarding patient-specific and radiological predictive factors for curve progression.

Introduction: Idiopathic scoliosis, defined as a > 10° curvature of the spine in the frontal plane, is one of the most common spinal deformities. Age, initial curve magnitude and other parameters define whether a scoliotic deformity will progress or not. Still, their interactions and amounts of individual contribution are not fully elaborated and were the aim of this systematic review.

The role of the transversal ligament on the atlantoaxial complex - Bending forces at C1/2 flexion limits in the elderly.

Introduction: Biomechanical functionality as well as trauma mechanisms of the atlantoaxial complex are still an issue of controversy. The transverse atlantal ligament is the strongest stabilizator. The present study aimed to analyze the bending forces of the transverse atlantal ligament and of the base of the odontoid in elderly specimens.

Primary stability of fixation methods for periprosthetic fractures of the humerus: a biomechanical investigation.

Background: The incidence of periprosthetic fractures of the proximal humerus is gradually increasing, following an increase in reverse shoulder arthroplasties in recent years. Locking plate fixation and revision arthroplasty are both valuable treatment methods. However, the primary stability of fixation methods for periprosthetic fractures has not been investigated in detail.

The Potential for Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Sport: A Cricket Case Study.

A review of risk factors affecting airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 was synthesised into an 'easy-to-apply' visual framework. Using this framework, video footage from two cricket matches were visually analysed, one pre-COVID-19 pandemic and one 'COVID-19 aware' game in early 2020. The number of opportunities for one participant to be exposed to biological secretions belonging to another participant was recorded as an exposure, as was the estimated severity of exposure as defined from literature.

Using Interleaved Stimulation to Measure the Size and Selectivity of the Sustained Phase-Locked Neural Response to Cochlear Implant Stimulation.

We measured the sustained neural response to electrical stimulation by a cochlear implant (CI). To do so, we interleaved two stimuli with frequencies F1 and F2 Hz and recorded a neural distortion response (NDR) at F2-F1 Hz. We show that, because any one time point contains only the F1 or F2 stimulus, the instantaneous nonlinearities typical of electrical artefact should not produce distortion at this frequency.

Elite Players' Perceptions of Football Playing Surfaces: A Qualitative Study.

: The decision by the International Football Association Board in 2004 to approve the use of artificial surfaces in elite football (soccer) competitions remains controversial amongst many players, managers and coaching staff. The aim of this study was to conduct a comprehensive assessment of players' opinions to better understand the influence of playing surfaces on the game of football and identify factors that may contribute to differences of opinion. : Qualitative data were collected from 103 elite footballers and 21 coaching staff during a series of interviews and focus groups.

Preclinical Testing of Nalfurafine as an Opioid-sparing Adjuvant that Potentiates Analgesia by the Mu Opioid Receptor-targeting Agonist Morphine.

Mu opioid receptor (MOR)-targeting analgesics are efficacious pain treatments, but notorious for their abuse potential. In preclinical animal models, coadministration of traditional kappa opioid receptor (KOR)-targeting agonists with MOR-targeting analgesics can decrease reward and potentiate analgesia. However, traditional KOR-targeting agonists are well known for inducing antitherapeutic side effects (psychotomimesis, depression, anxiety, dysphoria).

Relationships between technique and bat speed, post-impact ball speed, and carry distance during a range hitting task in cricket.

The ability of a batsman to clear the boundary is a major contributor to success in modern cricket. The aim of this study was to identify technique parameters characterising those batsmen able to generate greater bat speeds, ball launch speeds, and carry distances during a range hitting task in cricket. Kinematic data were collected for 20 batsmen ranging from international to club standard, and a series of ball launch, bat-ball impact, and technique parameters were calculated for each trial.