Dynamic rasterstereography improves the detection of movement delays and dynamic asymmetries in the scapulothoracic kinematic of healthy subjects.

Purpose: Assessing scapulothoracic kinematics typically involves visually observing patients during movement, which has limited inter- and intraobserver reliability. Dynamic rasterstereography (DRS) records, measures and visualizes surface structures in real time, using a curvature map to colour-code convex, concave and saddle-shaped structures on the body surface. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of DRS-assisted observation in identifying dyskinetic scapulothoracic patterns.

Examining site intervention efficacy and uncertainties with conceptual Bayesian networks: preventing offsite migration of DNAPL and contaminated groundwater.

For contaminated sites, conceptual site models (CSMs) guide the assessment and management of risks, including remediation strategies. Recent research has expanded diagrammatic CSMs with structural causal modeling to develop what are nominally called conceptual Bayesian networks (CBNs) for environmental risk assessment. These CBNs may also be useful for problems of controlling and preventing offsite contaminant migration, especially for sites containing dense nonaqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs).

How movies move us - movie preferences are linked to differences in neuronal emotion processing of fear and anger: an fMRI study.

Introduction: As a source of audio-visual stimulation, movies expose people to various emotions. Interestingly, several genres are characterized by negative emotional content. Albeit theoretical approaches exist, little is known about preferences for specific movie genres and the neuronal processing of negative emotions.

Interventions to promote health literacy among working-age populations experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage: systematic review.

Background: Experiencing financial insecurity and being underserved is often associated with low health literacy, i.e., the ability to identify, obtain, interpret and act upon health information, which may result in poor health outcomes.

Genome-wide transcriptome analysis of larvae and germinative cell cultures reveals genes involved in parasite stem cell function.

The lethal zoonosis alveolar echinococcosis is caused by tumour-like growth of the metacestode stage of the tapeworm within host organs. We previously demonstrated that metacestode proliferation is exclusively driven by somatic stem cells (germinative cells), which are the only mitotically active parasite cells that give rise to all differentiated cell types. The gene repertoire required for germinative cell maintenance and differentiation has not been characterised so far.

Machine learning OCT predictors of progression from intermediate age-related macular degeneration to geographic atrophy and vision loss.

Objective: To describe optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) features, age, gender, and systemic variables that may be used in machine/deep learning studies to identify high-risk patient subpopulations with high risk of progression to geographic atrophy (GA) and visual acuity (VA) loss in the short term.

Design: prospective, longitudinal study.

Subjects: We analyzed imaging data from patients with iAMD (N= 316) enrolled in Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Ancillary SD-OCT with adequate SD-OCT imaging for repeated measures.

US FDA best practices for initiating early feasibility studies for neurological devices in the United States.

This article describes the efforts of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Neurological and Physical Medicine Devices to facilitate early clinical testing of potentially beneficial neurological devices in the US. Over the past 5 years, the FDA has made significant advances to this aim by developing early feasibility study best practices and encouraging developers and innovators to initiate their clinical studies in the US. The FDA uses several regulatory approaches to help start neurological device clinical studies, such as early engagement with sponsors and developers, in-depth interaction during the FDA review phase of a regulatory submission, and provision of an FDA toolkit that reviewers can apply to the most challenging submissions.

Proteomic and bioinformatic profiling of neutrophils in CLL reveals functional defects that predispose to bacterial infections.

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) typically suffer from frequent and severe bacterial infections. Although it is well known that neutrophils are critical innate immune cells facilitating the early defense, the underlying phenotypical and functional changes in neutrophils during CLL remain largely elusive. Using a murine adoptive transfer model of CLL, we demonstrate aggravated bacterial burden in CLL-bearing mice upon a urinary tract infection with uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Involvement of CXCL1/CXCR2 During Microglia Activation Following Inflammation-Sensitized Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury in Neonatal Rats.

Microglia are key mediators of inflammation during perinatal brain injury. As shown experimentally after inflammation-sensitized hypoxic ischemic (HI) brain injury, microglia are activated into a pro-inflammatory status 24 h after HI involving the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. The chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1), and its cognate receptor, CXCR2, have been shown to be involved in NLRP3 activation, although their specific role during perinatal brain injury remains unclear.

A SF Derivative of Triphenylphosphine as an Electron-Poor Ligand Precursor for Rh and Ir Complexes.

The synthesis of the triarylphosphine, P(-CHSF) containing a SF group, has been achieved. The experimental and theoretical studies showed that P(-CHSF) is a weaker σ-donor when compared with other substituted triarylphosphines, which is consistent with the electron-withdrawing effect of the SF moiety. The studies also revealed a moderate air stability of the phosphine.

Chloroplast nucleoids are highly dynamic in ploidy, number, and structure during angiosperm leaf development.

Chloroplast nucleoids are large, compact nucleoprotein structures containing multiple copies of the plastid genome. Studies on structural and quantitative changes of plastid DNA (ptDNA) during leaf development are scarce and have produced controversial data. We have systematically investigated nucleoid dynamics and ptDNA quantities in the mesophyll of Arabidopsis, tobacco, sugar beet, and maize from the early post-meristematic stage until necrosis.

Anticancer effects of NSC‑631570 (Ukrain) in head and neck cancer cells: In vitro analysis of growth, invasion, angiogenesis and gene expression.

NSC‑631570 (Ukrain) is an aqueous extract of Chelidonium majus, a herbaceous perennial plant, one of two species in the genus Chelidonium, which has been demonstrated to selectively kill tumor cells without affecting non‑malignant cells. In the present study, the components of NSC‑631570 were examined by combined liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (LC‑MS) and the effects of NSC‑631570 on HNSCC cell lines, as well as primary cells, were analyzed with respect to growth, apoptosis, invasion, angiogenesis and gene expression. LC‑MS identified chelerythrine and allocryptopine as the major alkaloids of the extract.

Smart antimicrobial efficacy employing pH-sensitive ZnO-doped diamond-like carbon coatings.

One of the main challenges in endoprosthesis surgeries are implant-associated infections and aseptic-loosenings, caused by wear debris. To combat these problems, the requirements to surfaces of endoprostheses are wear-resistance, low cytotoxicity and antimicrobial efficacy. We here present antimicrobial coatings with a smart, adaptive release of metal ions in case of infection, based on ZnO-nanoparticles embedded in diamond-like carbon (DLC).

Are Simple Magnetic Resonance Imaging Biomarkers Predictive of Neurodevelopmental Outcome at Two Years in Very Preterm Infants?

Background: Preterm infants are at increased risk of neurodevelopmental impairment due to the vulnerability of the immature brain. Early risk stratification is necessary for predicting outcome in the period of highest neuroplasticity. Several biomarkers in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at term equivalent age (TEA) have therefore been suggested.

Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials of Exercise Interventions Using Digital Activity Trackers in Patients With Cancer.

Exercise can ameliorate cancer- and treatment-related toxicities, but poor adherence to exercise regimens is a barrier. Exercise interventions using digital activity trackers (E-DATs) may improve exercise adherence, but data are limited for patients with cancer. We conducted a systematic review examining the feasibility of E-DATs in cancer survivors and effects on activity level, body composition, objective fitness outcomes, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), self-reported symptoms, and biomarkers.

Predicting mortality and adverse events in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer treated with palliative gemcitabine-based chemotherapy in a multicentre phase III randomized clinical trial: the APC-SAKK risk scores.

Background: The prognosis of advanced pancreatic cancer (APC) is poor and differs considerably among patients. Therefore, it is clinically relevant to identify patients with APC who are more likely to benefit from palliative chemotherapy with reduced risk of toxicity. To date, there is no prognostic score universally recommended to help clinicians in planning the therapeutic management.

Field Studies Measuring the Aerosolization of Endotoxin During the Land Application of Class B Biosolids.

Endotoxins are a component of Gram-negative bacteria cell walls and are known to be present in biosolids. Endotoxins have been shown to be potent stimulators of the innate immune response causing airway irritation and shortness of breath. Class B biosolids are routinely applied to agricultural lands to enhance soil properties and can be used as an alternative to chemical fertilizers.

Design and Reporting Characteristics of Clinical Trials of Select Chronic and Recurrent Pediatric Pain Conditions: An Analgesic, Anesthetic, and Addiction Clinical Trial Translations, Innovations, Opportunities, and Networks Systematic Review.

Fewer randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are conducted for chronic or recurrent pain in pediatric populations compared with adult populations; thus, data to support treatment efficacy in children are limited. This article evaluates the design features and reporting practices of RCTs for chronic and recurrent pain that are likely unique to, or particularly important in, a pediatric population to promote improvements in the evidence base for pediatric pain treatments. Areas covered include outcome measure selection and reporting and reporting of adverse events and challenges to recruitment and retention.

Effect of chelidonine on growth, invasion, angiogenesis and gene expression in head and neck cancer cell lines.

The greater celandine '' and its main alkaloid chelidonine have previously been shown to exert high cytotoxicity against cancer cells. Furthermore, chelidonine is proposed to possess pro-apoptotic and anti-metastatic properties. Within the present study, the effects chelidonine on several HNSCC cell lines, as well as primary cells, were analyzed with respect to growth, migration, angiogenesis and apoptosis.

Search for cytotoxic compounds against ovarian cancer cells: Synthesis, characterization and assessment of the activity of new camphor carboxylate and camphor carboxamide silver complexes.

Five silver camphor complexes of formulae [Ag(L)(L')] (1,3,5) or [Ag(L)(L')] (2,4) were synthesized from silver nitrate and the suitable camphor carboxylate (L) or camphor carboxamides (L, L). The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis and spectroscopic techniques (NMR, FTIR, XPS). Computational calculations support coordination of the carboxylate group to silver, in the case of complex 2 and combined mixed keto/carboxylate in the case of complex 1.