Behavior of compounds leached from tire tread particles under simulated sunlight exposure.

Tire tread particles are microplastics (< 5 mm) and leach organic chemicals into aquatic environments. It is important to understand the behavior of tire wear compounds in sunlight-exposed waters in terms of their persistence, removal, and transformation. Therefore, we conducted photolysis experiments with leachates from laboratory-generated tire tread particles (TTP) over 72 h in a solar simulator to evaluate the behavior of leached compounds and fluorescent components over time.

Effectiveness of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation vs heart rate variability biofeedback interventions for chronic pain conditions: A systematic review.

Objectives: Autonomic regulation has been identified as a potential regulator of pain via vagal nerve mediation, assessed through heart rate variability (HRV). Non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation (nVNS) and heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) have been proposed to modulate pain. A limited number of studies compare nVNS and HRVB in persons with chronic pain conditions.

Multimodal Assessment Battery and Heart Rate Variability Enhance Clinical Utility of Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test.

Context: The Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test (BCTT) for exercise intolerance following concussion may highlight underlying autonomic dysfunction. Autonomic function at rest and with exertion may be predictive of neurocognitive performance for individuals with sports-related concussion. The purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility and utility of combining multimodal assessments with heart rate variability (HRV) measures during the BCTT for individuals with a remote history of concussion.

Behavioral and molecular effects of micro and nanoplastics across three plastic types in fish: weathered microfibers induce a similar response to nanosized particles.

Micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) are ubiquitous in the environment and have been detected in most ecosystems, including remote regions. The class of contaminants under the MNP umbrella is quite broad and encompasses variable polymer types, shapes, and sizes. Fibers are the most frequently detected in the environment, followed by fragments, but still represent only a small fraction of laboratory studies.

The Ineffectiveness of Osimertinib in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-Mutated Stage IV Lung Adenocarcinoma With Bone Metastasis: A Case Report.

This case report examines the effectiveness of osimertinib in a 64-year-old non-smoking female diagnosed with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma and an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 mutation, focusing on the treatment's impact on bone metastasis. Despite initial responsiveness to osimertinib, the patient's bone lesions remained largely unresponsive, prompting a comprehensive exploration of alternative treatments and clinical trials. This report highlights the patient's clinical journey, from diagnosis through various treatment phases, culminating in palliative care, and underscores the need for further research into targeted treatments for bone metastasis in lung cancer.

Center of Pressure Velocity and Dynamic Postural Control Strategies Vary During Y-Balance and Star Excursion Balance Testing.

Background: Dynamic postural control (DPC) describes an individual's ability to maintain balance within their base of support in both anticipatory and reactive balance situations and has been measured using center of pressure (COP) velocity. Common standardized DPC assessments for active adults include the modified Star Excursion Balance Test (MSEBT) and the Y-Balance Test (YBT).

Hypothesis/purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore DPC during performance of the MSEBT, the YBT, and a modified version of the YBT, the MYBT.

The impact of intensive blood pressure management in the post-thrombolysis setting: a real-world observational study.

Aim: Systolic blood pressure (SBP) >180mmHg following stroke thrombolysis has been associated with increased bleeding and poorer outcome. Aiming for the guideline SBP of <180mmHg often leads to SBP overshoot, as treatment is only triggered if this threshold is passed. We tested whether a lower target would result in fewer high SBP protocol violations.

Short-Term Benefits from Manual Therapy as an Adjunct Treatment for Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness Symptoms: A Preliminary Prospective Case Series.

Persistent dizziness and balance deficits are common, often with unknown etiology. Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (3PD) is a relatively new diagnosis with symptoms that may include dizziness, unsteadiness, or non-vertiginous dizziness and be persistent the majority of time over a minimum of 90 days. The purpose of this case series was to investigate short-term outcomes of reducing dizziness symptoms using a manual therapy intervention focused on restoring mobility in the fascia using a pragmatically applied biomechanical approach, the Fascial Manipulation method (FM), in patients with 3PD.

Assessing Brain Processing Deficits Using Neuropsychological and Vision-Specific Tests for Concussion.

Introduction: Since verbal memory and visual processing transpire within analogous cerebral regions, this study assessed (i) if a visual function can predict verbal memory performance. It also hypothesized whether neurocognitive (e.g.

Size- and Shape-Dependent Interactions of Lipid-Coated Silver Nanoparticles: An Improved Mechanistic Understanding through Model Cell Membranes and Toxicity.

The widespread use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in various applications and industries has brought to light the need for understanding the complex relationship between the physicochemical properties (shape, size, charge, and surface chemistry) of AgNPs that affect their ability to enter cells and cause toxicity. To evaluate their toxicological outcomes, this study systematically analyzed a series of homogeneous hybrid lipid-coated AgNPs spanning sizes from 5 to 100 nm with diverse shapes (spheres, triangles, and cubes). The hybrid lipid membrane comprises hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine (HPC), sodium oleate (SOA), and hexanethiol (HT), which shield the AgNP surface from surface oxidation and toxic Ag ion release to minimize its contribution to toxicity.

Impacts of Differentially Shaped Silver Nanoparticles with Increasingly Complex Hydrophobic Thiol Surface Coatings in Small-Scale Laboratory Microcosms.

We investigated the impacts of spherical and triangular-plate-shaped lipid-coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) designed to prevent surface oxidation and silver ion (Ag) dissolution in a small-scale microcosm to examine the role of shape and surface functionalization on biological interactions. Exposures were conducted in microcosms consisting of algae, bacteria, crustaceans, and fish embryos. Each microcosm was exposed to one of five surface chemistries within each shape profile (at 0, 0.

Climate Change and Mental Health: An Interactive Educational Session.

Introduction: Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity, with direct and indirect impacts on mental health, yet health impacts of climate change remain notably absent from most medical school curricula. We describe a timely interactive educational session on climate change and mental health that was implemented and studied on a medical student clinical psychiatry rotation.

Methods: We developed a 1-hour introductory session on the mental health impacts of climate change and potential solutions.

Interactive effects between water temperature, microparticle compositions, and fiber types on the marine keystone species Americamysis bahia.

Recently, there has been an increasing emphasis on examining the ecotoxicological effects of anthropogenic microparticles (MPs), especially microplastic particles, and related issues. Nevertheless, a notable deficiency exists in our understanding of the consequences on marine organisms, specifically in relation to microfibers and the combined influence of MPs and temperature. In this investigation, mysid shrimp (Americamysis bahia), an important species and prey item in estuarine and marine food webs, were subjected to four separate experimental trials involving fibers (cotton, nylon, polyester, hemp; 3 particles/ml; approximately 200 μm in length) or fragments (low-density Polyethylene: LDPE, polylactic acid: PLA, and their leachates; 5, 50, 200, 500 particles/ml; 1-20 μm).

Predictors of Success in the National Physical Therapy Examination for Hispanic Doctor of Physical Therapy Students.

Introduction: Hispanic/Latino students often underachieve in higher education programs in the health professions and have shown lower first-time pass rates on the National Physical Therapy Examination than their White peers. A plausible explanation for this difference is the lack of English proficiency. The purpose of this study was to determine predictive academic variables for passing licensure examination on the first attempt for Hispanic/Latino Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students.

Combining Static and Dynamic Myofascial Dry Cupping Therapy to Improve Local and Regional Symptoms in Individuals with Low Back Pain: A Case Series.

Introduction: Chronic low back pain is a common musculoskeletal healthcare presentation with an expense of over $100 billion annually. The clinical effect of myofascial cupping on pain and function is not clear, especially when different cupping techniques are combined. The purpose of this case series was to explore changes in pain and function following local static and distal dynamic myofascial dry cupping treatments in patients with chronic low back pain.

Perianal Mucinous Adenocarcinoma Found Incidentally From Perianal Mass.

Anal mucinous adenocarcinomas are very rare and usually arise from anal fistulas. We report a case of a 73-year-old man with a past medical history of hypertension admitted to our facility for evaluation of bleeding from a large, tender, left gluteal perianal mass. The patient reported the mass had been growing for over six years.

A Novel Approach for Identifying Nanoplastics by Assessing Deformation Behavior with Scanning Electron Microscopy.

As plastic production continues to increase globally, plastic waste accumulates and degrades into smaller plastic particles. Through chemical and biological processes, nanoscale plastic particles (nanoplastics) are formed and are expected to exist in quantities of several orders of magnitude greater than those found for microplastics. Due to their small size and low mass, nanoplastics remain challenging to detect in the environment using most standard analytical methods.

Access to COVID-19 testing by individuals with housing insecurity during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States: a scoping review.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic focused attention on healthcare disparities and inequities faced by individuals within marginalized and structurally disadvantaged groups in the United States. These individuals bore the heaviest burden across this pandemic as they faced increased risk of infection and difficulty in accessing testing and medical care. Individuals experiencing housing insecurity are a particularly vulnerable population given the additional barriers they face.

National Trends in Voiding Cystourethrograms During Hospitalization for Young Infants With Urinary Tract Infections.

Objectives: The American Academy of Pediatrics published a guideline in 2011 recommending against the routine use of voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) in infants aged 2 to 24 months with first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI); however, the rates of VCUG for infants aged <2 months are unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the trend in VCUG performance during index hospitalization among infants aged 0 to 2 months with UTI.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included infants aged birth to 2 months hospitalized with a UTI from 2008 to 2019 across 38 institutions in the Pediatric Health Information System.

Novice Inter-Rater Reliability on the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) After a 4-Hour Training Session.

Background: The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) is a whole-body movement classification system that identifies non-optimal movement performance requiring further assessment. There needs to be more evidence specifying the training time required to obtain SFMA reliability for entry-level health care practitioners.

Purpose: The primary intent of this study was to determine SFMA inter-rater reliability between two third-year physical therapy students following an in-person three-hour training and one-hour follow-up training with a certified SFMA physical therapist.

Incarcerated native orthotopic kidney through an inguinal hernia: a case report and literature review.

This is a case report of a 66-year-old male with an incarcerated inguinal hernia that contained native orthotopic kidney causing obstructive uropathy. The patient presented to the hospital due to intractable right groin pain, and CT imaging showed herniation of the right kidney in the right inguinal hernia with the upper pole squeezed in the inguinal canal. The patient underwent surgery to reduce the hernia contents and hernia repair with mesh.

RADx-UP Testing Core: Access to COVID-19 Diagnostics in Community-Engaged Research with Underserved Populations.

Research on the COVID-19 pandemic revealed a disproportionate burden of COVID-19 infection and death among underserved populations and exposed low rates of SARS-CoV-2 testing in these communities. A landmark National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding initiative, the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics-Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) program, was developed to address the research gap in understanding the adoption of COVID-19 testing in underserved populations. This program is the single largest investment in health disparities and community-engaged research in the history of the NIH.