A novel genetic variant associated with progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3: A case series.

Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3 (PFIC-3) is a rare disorder characterized by chronic cholestasis usually progressing to end-stage liver disease (ESLD) within the first two decades of life. PFIC-3 is caused by pathogenic genetic variants of the ATP-binding cassette 4 (ABCB4) gene with variable inheritance; the most common is autosomal recessive. We present two cases of PFIC-3 with genetic testing confirming a novel genetic variant in ABCB4 with homozygous genotype c.

Supplementation of Acacia dealbata versus Acacia mearnsii leaf-meal has potential to maintain growth performance of lambs grazing low-quality communal rangelands in South Africa.

Supplementing livestock grazing communal rangelands with leaf-meals from Acacia trees, which are currently considered as problematic invasive alien plants globally, may be a sustainable way of exploiting their desirable nutritional and anthelmintic properties. The current study evaluated worm burdens and growth performance of lambs grazing low-quality communal rangelands supplemented with leaf-meals prepared from the invasive alien plant species; Acacia mearnsii or A. dealbata.

Wilder rangelands as a natural climate opportunity: Linking climate action to biodiversity conservation and social transformation.

Rangelands face threats from climate and land-use change, including inappropriate climate change mitigation initiatives such as tree planting in grassy ecosystems. The marginalization and impoverishment of rangeland communities and their indigenous knowledge systems, and the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services, are additional major challenges. To address these issues, we propose the wilder rangelands integrated framework, co-developed by South African and European scientists from diverse disciplines, as an opportunity to address the climate, livelihood, and biodiversity challenges in the world's rangelands.

Mycorrhizal mycelium as a global carbon pool.

For more than 400 million years, mycorrhizal fungi and plants have formed partnerships that are crucial to the emergence and functioning of global ecosystems. The importance of these symbiotic fungi for plant nutrition is well established. However, the role of mycorrhizal fungi in transporting carbon into soil systems on a global scale remains under-explored.

Perturbations during Gait: A Systematic Review of Methodologies and Outcomes.

Background: Despite extensive literature regarding laboratory-based balance perturbations, there is no up-to-date systematic review of methods. This systematic review aimed to assess current perturbation methods and outcome variables used to report participant biomechanical responses during walking.

Methods: Web of Science, CINAHL, and PubMed online databases were searched, for records from 2015, the last search was on 30th of May 2022.

Influence of Pre-operative HbA1c on Bariatric Surgery Outcomes-the Sunderland (UK) Experience.

Purpose: UK guidelines recommend an HbA1c < 8.5% prior to elective surgery. Optimisation of pre-operative glycaemic control can be often difficult.

Fire and herbivory drive fungal and bacterial communities through distinct above- and belowground mechanisms.

Fire and herbivory are important natural disturbances in grassy biomes. Both drivers are likely to influence belowground microbial communities but no studies have unravelled the long-term impact of both fire and herbivory on bacterial and fungal communities. We hypothesized that soil bacterial communities change through disturbance-induced shifts in soil properties (e.

Mapping soil organic carbon stocks and trends with satellite-driven high resolution maps over South Africa.

Estimation and monitoring of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks is important for maintaining soil productivity and meeting climate change mitigation targets. Current global SOC maps do not provide enough detail for landscape-scale decision making, and do not allow for tracking carbon sequestration or loss over time. Using an optical satellite-driven machine learning workflow, we mapped SOC stocks (topsoil; 0 to 30 cm) under natural vegetation (86% of land area) over South Africa at 30 m spatial resolution between 1984 and 2019.

The influence of alexithymia on memory for emotional faces and realistic social interactions.

High levels of alexithymia are typically associated with impaired memory for emotional, but not neutral words. We conducted two experimental studies to establish if this effect generalises to non-verbal socially relevant stimuli. Thirty-nine female undergraduates (Study 1) viewed faces with different expressions (neutral, angry, happy or sad) and 38 female students (Study 2) viewed videos of realistic social interactions (featuring anger, happiness, sadness or neutral affect).

Results of a referral-based weight management program targeted toward children aged 2 to 6 years with obesity or severe obesity.

Background: Relatively little is known about weight management programs targeted toward young children with obesity. Using data from the Early Lifestyles Intervention program, we report outcomes from a referral-based, multi-disciplinary weight management program targeted toward children aged 2 to 6 years with obesity or severe obesity.

Methods: Data from 55 children (4.

The Use of Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) to Investigate Differences Between Low vs High Academically Performing Medical Students.

Objectives: This study examines differences in the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI) 10-subscale scores between low and high academically performing medical students relative to internal and external examinations.

Methods: The LASSI instrument was administered to 180 medical students from three classes (2016, 2017, and 2018). To measure the strength of association between LASSI 10-subscale scores and performance on overall biomedical sciences and the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1, Pearson product-moment correlation analyses were performed.

The influence of workplace discrimination and vigilance on job satisfaction with people who stutter.

Purpose The purpose of the present study is to examine the association between workplace discrimination, vigilance, and job satisfaction in people who stutter and compare this with people who do not stutter. Method Seventy-two people who stutter (PWS) and 92 people who do not stutter (PWNS) participated in an online survey. Participants completed a survey assessing 6 different areas: (a) background information, (b) job satisfaction, (c) everyday discrimination, and (d) heightened vigilance.

Utilizing Medical Students as Internal Assets to Enhance Gross Anatomy Laboratory Learning.

Identification of cadaveric structures during anatomy summative practical examinations is a challenge for first-year medical students. To assist in cultivating this skill, we offered 12 formative laboratory activities (anatomy boot camps [ABCs]) that approximated the summative practical examination format using reciprocal and near-peer teaching. Students assisted in crafting the formative practical examination, then engaged in a self-review by scoring their individual answer sheets.

Surgical anatomy of the ovine sural nerve for facial nerve regeneration and reconstruction research.

The lack of a clinically relevant animal models for research in facial nerve reconstruction is challenging. In this study, we investigated the surgical anatomy of the ovine sural nerve as a potential candidate for facial nerve reconstruction, and performed its histological quantitative analysis in comparison to the buccal branch (BB) of the facial nerve using cadaver and anesthetized sheep. The ovine sural nerve descended to the lower leg along the short saphenous vein.

Club Cell Protein, CC10, Attenuates Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Induced by Smoke Inhalation.

Objectives: To evaluate the dose effects of Recombinant human Club cell 10-kDa protein (rhCC10) on lung function in a well-characterized ovine model of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by smoke inhalation injury (SII); specifically, the potential of rhCC10 protein to control the inflammatory response and protect pulmonary tissue and function following SII.

Design: Randomized, controlled, prospective, and large animal translational studies.

Setting: University large animal intensive care unit.

Drivers of woody plant encroachment over Africa.

While global deforestation induced by human land use has been quantified, the drivers and extent of simultaneous woody plant encroachment (WPE) into open areas are only regionally known. WPE has important consequences for ecosystem functioning, global carbon balances and human economies. Here we report, using high-resolution satellite imagery, that woody vegetation cover over sub-Saharan Africa increased by 8% over the past three decades and that a diversity of drivers, other than CO, were able to explain 78% of the spatial variation in this trend.

Diffuse Chorangiomatosis as a Cause of Cardiomegaly, Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia and Thrombocytopenia in a Newborn.

Introduction: The hallmark of diffuse chorangiomatosis is capillary dysvasculogenesis, diffusely involving the placenta. It can cause massive placental enlargement and may have adverse fetal effects.

Case Report: A 32 weeks gestation male infant was born via cesarean section and had a placenta weighing 900 g.

Xanthine oxidase contributes to sustained airway epithelial oxidative stress after scald burn.

Respiratory tract infections and pneumonia are major causes of morbidity and mortality in burn victims, however, limited studies have examined the effects of burn injury on airway epithelium. The current study examines the effect of scald burn injury on rat tracheal epithelium at 5 days after injury and tests the hypothesis that treatment with febuxostat (FBX), an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase (XO), can be protective of cell homeostasis. Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into uninjured (sham), injured (control) and injured and FBX treated groups, n = 8.

Outcomes of Congenital Zika Disease Depend on Timing of Infection and Maternal-Fetal Interferon Action.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy in humans results in intrauterine growth restriction, spontaneous abortion, and microcephaly. Here, we found that fetus-derived type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling can enhance anti-ZIKV responses and provide clinical benefits to the fetus. Because IFN-λ shares signaling cascades and antiviral functions with IFN-I, we investigated the in vivo effects of IFN-λ in ZIKV-infected pregnant mice.

Herpesviradae infections in severely burned children.

Objective: Burn-related immunosuppression can promote human herpesviridae infections. However, the effect of these infections on morbidity and mortality after pediatric burn injuries is unclear.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed pediatric patients with burns ≥10% of the total body surface area (TBSA) who were admitted between 2010 and 2015.

Prevention of venous thromboembolism amongst patients in an acute tertiary referral teaching public hospital: a best practice implementation project.

Background: Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are known collectively as venous thromboembolism (VTE). These conditions are possible complications in hospitalized patients that can extend hospital stay, result in unplanned readmission, and are associated with long-term disability and death. Despite strong evidence, many patients do not receive optimal thromboprophylaxis.