Persistent Fatigue, Weakness, and Aberrant Muscle Mitochondria in Survivors of Critical COVID-19.

Objectives: Persistent skeletal muscle dysfunction in survivors of critical illness due to acute respiratory failure is common, but biological data elucidating underlying mechanisms are limited. The objective of this study was to elucidate the prevalence of skeletal muscle weakness and fatigue in survivors of critical illness due to COVID-19 and determine if cellular changes associate with persistent skeletal muscle dysfunction.

Design: A prospective observational study in two phases: 1) survivors of critical COVID-19 participating in physical outcome measures while attending an ICU Recovery Clinic at short-term follow-up and 2) a nested cohort of patients performed comprehensive muscle and physical function assessments with a muscle biopsy; data were compared with non-COVID controls.

Comparative microscopic anatomy of Schizomida - 2. The rostrosoma and the pharyngeal suction pump.

This paper tests hypotheses of independent parallel evolution of the rostrosoma among euchelicerate taxa by analyzing the microscopic anatomy and histology of the rostrosoma of Uropygi (Schizomida and Thelyphonida) and comparing it with the morphology of the snout region in other euchelicerates. The study employs analysis of multiple histological serial sections, μCT-imaging, and graphical as well as computer-based 3D reconstruction. Results of the study are that Thelyphonida and Schizomida share the same morphology of the rostrosoma.

Predictive value of microcirculation for pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation weaning test: A monocentric prospective observational study.

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is widely used for children treated for refractory respiratory failures or refractory cardiogenic shock. Its duration depends on organ functions recovery. Weaning is decided using macro-circulatory tools, but microcirculation is not well evaluated.

Construct and criterion validity of muscle ultrasonography for assessment of skeletal muscle in patients recovering from COVID-19.

The purpose was to investigate the content, construct, and criterion validity of muscle ultrasound in a mixed cohort of participants recovering from mild and critical COVID-19. A secondary analysis of a prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on data obtained from a battery of muscle and physical function assessments including a muscle biopsy and muscle ultrasonography (US). Rectus femoris (RF) muscle thickness (mT), quadricep complex (QC) mT, RF muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) using 2D freeform trace and estimated from Feret's diameter, and RF echo intensity (EI) were assessed with US.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm growth rates are not correlated to body surface area in screened men.

Background: Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in 65-year-old males reduces aneurysm related mortality. Infrarenal aortic diameter (IAD) has been shown to correlate to body surface area (BSA) which could influence diagnostic criteria for AAA. This study investigates whether AAA growth rates are also dependent on BSA, as that might have potential effects on surveillance of small AAAs.