Sequential Anterior Longitudinal Ligament Release With Expandable Spacers for Lordosis Correction in Anterior-to-Psoas Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Radiographic and Biomechanical Study.

Background: Anterior column realignment is an attractive minimally invasive treatment for sagittal imbalance. Expandable spacers offer controlled tensioning of the anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) during release, which could optimize correction and anterior column stability. This study investigated the biomechanical and radiographic effects of single-level anterior-to-psoas lumbar interbody fusion (ATP-LIF) with expandable spacers and sequential ALL release.

Quantitative and Rapid In Vivo Imaging of Human Lenticular Fluorescence.

Purpose: To quantitatively investigate the chemical origins of near-UV excited fluorescence in the crystalline lens, and demonstrate the potential usefulness of a rapid and noninvasive diagnostic approach for screening and monitoring of lens damage.

Methods: Anterior segment UV fluorescence imaging was applied to a population of 30 healthy adults, ages 18 to 64 years. Absolute fluorescence intensities and intensity ratios were compared across the population as a function of age.

Bone loss with aging is independent of gut microbiome in mice.

Emerging evidence suggests a significant role of gut microbiome in bone health. Aging is well recognized as a crucial factor influencing the gut microbiome. In this study, we investigated whether age-dependent microbial change contributes to age-related bone loss in CB6F1 mice.

Alcohol Misuse and Correlates with Mental Health Indicators among Firefighters.

: Stress and repetitive exposures to potentially traumatizing events are inherent to first-responder professions. Firefighters and other crisis responders are often exposed to incidents in their work environments and are at risk of developing acute or posttraumatic symptomatology, depression, and anxiety, as well as harmful patterns of alcohol consumption. Most prior research and theory suggests that many firefighters use alcohol to cope with past and current stressors, and that increased drinking accompanies ongoing exposures to stressful occupational hazards.

Validating an Evoked Potential Platform for Electrocochleography During Cochlear Implantation.

Objective: To validate electrocochleography (ECochG) between an auditory evoked potential (AEP) machine and an established cochlear implant (CI) manufacturer ECochG system.

Methods: Intraoperative validation study at a tertiary referral center. Patients included adults and children undergoing cochlear implantation.

Alzheimer's Disease-Related Analytes Amyloid-β and Tau in Perilymph: Correlation With Patient Age and Cognitive Score.

Objective: To describe the collection methods for perilymph fluid biopsy during cochlear implantation, detect levels of amyloid β 42 and 40 (Aβ and Aβ), and total tau (tTau) analytes with a high-precision assay, to compare these levels with patient age and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores, and explore potential mechanisms and relationships with otic pathology.

Study Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Mouse adaptation of human inflammatory bowel diseases microbiota enhances colonization efficiency and alters microbiome aggressiveness depending on the recipient colonic inflammatory environment.

Background: Understanding the cause vs consequence relationship of gut inflammation and microbial dysbiosis in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) requires a reproducible mouse model of human-microbiota-driven experimental colitis.

Results: Our study demonstrated that human fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) transfer efficiency is an underappreciated source of experimental variability in human microbiota-associated (HMA) mice. Pooled human IBD patient fecal microbiota engrafted germ-free (GF) mice with low amplicon sequence variant (ASV)-level transfer efficiency, resulting in high recipient-to-recipient variation of microbiota composition and colitis severity in HMA Il-10 mice.

Lactate-mediated mixotrophic co-cultivation of Clostridium drakei and recombinant Acetobacterium woodii for autotrophic production of volatile fatty acids.

Background: Acetogens, a diverse group of anaerobic autotrophic bacteria, are promising whole-cell biocatalysts that fix CO during their growth. However, because of energetic constraints, acetogens exhibit slow growth and the product spectrum is often limited to acetate. Enabling acetogens to form more valuable products such as volatile fatty acids during autotrophic growth is imperative for cementing their place in the future carbon neutral industry.

Electrocochleography-Based Tonotopic Map: II. Frequency-to-Place Mismatch Impacts Speech-Perception Outcomes in Cochlear Implant Recipients.

Objectives: Modern cochlear implants (CIs) use varying-length electrode arrays inserted at varying insertion angles within variably sized cochleae. Thus, there exists an opportunity to enhance CI performance, particularly in postlinguistic adults, by optimizing the frequency-to-place allocation for electrical stimulation, thereby minimizing the need for central adaptation and plasticity. There has been interest in applying Greenwood or Stakhovskaya et al.

Effect of Dentifrice Ingredients on Volume and Vitality of a Simulated Periodontal Multispecies Biofilm.

The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the effect of different toothpaste ingredients on biofilm volume and vitality in an established non-contact biofilm removal model. A multi-species biofilm comprising , , and was grown on protein-coated titanium disks. Six disks per group were exposed to 4 seconds non-contact brushing using a sonic toothbrush.

Effects of Rinsing with Povidone-Iodine during Step II Periodontal Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Antiseptics have been suggested to enhance the outcomes of non-surgical periodontal treatment (NSPT). Among these, povidone-iodine (PVP-iodine) was reported to significantly reduce periodontal pocket depths (PPDs). The aim of this study was to systematically re-assess the existing literature regarding the potential benefit of using PVP-iodine in step II periodontal therapy.

Racial Disparity in Social Work Professional Licensure Exam Pass Rates: Examining Institutional Characteristics and State Licensure Policy as Predictors.

Purpose: The Association of Social Work Boards (2022a) released a report evidencing test-taker demographics as the strongest predictor of professional licensure exam pass-rates. The purpose of this study was to examine statistical predictors of social work professional licensure exam pass rate disparities between first-time Black/African American and White test-takers.

Materials And Methods: The study addressed the following research question: To what extent do institutional and state licensure characteristics predict race-based disparities in social work licensure exam pass rates? To answer this question, the authors built a data set in an Excel spreadsheet comprised of institutional and state licensure variables using publicly available and reliable sources.

Individual Patient Comorbidities and Effect on Cochlear Implant Performance.

Objective: To examine the association between preoperative comorbidities and cochlear implant speech outcomes.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

The 2nd Alarm Project: Bridging Social Work and Public Health to Improve Mental Wellness in the Fire Service.

Firefighters are trained to respond to a wide range of emergencies, and over the course of responding to emergencies, are exposed to a variety of potentially traumatic events. Repeated exposure to traumatic events may adversely impact firefighters' mental health. Combined with stigma surrounding help-seeking, lack of systematic resources and referral programs, and other barriers to care, firefighters do not routinely receive a continuum of trauma informed, assessment and treatment services from trained professionals.

Mouse Adaptation of Human Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Microbiota Enhances Colonization Efficiency and Alters Microbiome Aggressiveness Depending on Recipient Colonic Inflammatory Environment.

Understanding the cause vs consequence relationship of gut inflammation and microbial dysbiosis in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) requires a reproducible mouse model of human-microbiota-driven experimental colitis. Our study demonstrated that human fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) transfer efficiency is an underappreciated source of experimental variability in human microbiota associated (HMA) mice. Pooled human IBD patient fecal microbiota engrafted germ-free (GF) mice with low amplicon sequence variant (ASV)-level transfer efficiency, resulting in high recipient-to-recipient variation of microbiota composition and colitis severity in HMA mice.

Randomized Trial of Augmented Pelvic Fixation in Patients Undergoing Thoracolumbar Fusion for Adult Spine Deformity: Initial Results from a Multicenter Randomized Trial.

Background: The optimal configuration for spinopelvic fixation during multilevel spine fusion surgery for adult spine deformity remains unclear. Postoperative sacroiliac (SI) joint pain, S2AI screw loosening and implant breakage could be related to continued motion of the SI joint with use of only a single point of fixation across the SI joint.

Methods: Prospective, international, multicenter randomized controlled trial of 222 patients with adult spine deformity scheduled for multilevel (4 or more levels) spine fusion surgery with pelvic fixation.

3D bioprinting of microorganisms: principles and applications.

In recent years, the ability to create intricate, live tissues and organs has been made possible thanks to three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting. Although tissue engineering has received a lot of attention, there is growing interest in the use of 3D bioprinting for microorganisms. Microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and algae, are essential to many industrial bioprocesses, such as bioremediation as well as the manufacture of chemicals, biomaterials, and pharmaceuticals.

Visualization and Experimental Characterization of Wrapping Layer Using Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence.

Droplets on nanotextured oil-impregnated surfaces have high mobility due to record-low contact angle hysteresis (∼1-3°), attributed to the absence of solid-liquid contact. Past studies have utilized the ultralow droplet adhesion on these surfaces to improve condensation, reduce hydrodynamic drag, and inhibit biofouling. Despite their promising utility, oil-impregnated surfaces are not fully embraced by industry because of the concern for lubricant depletion, the source of which has not been adequately studied.