Cryo-EM analysis of complement C3 reveals a reversible major opening of the macroglobulin ring.

The C3 protein is the central molecule within the complement system and undergoes proteolytic activation to C3b in the presence of pathogens. Pattern-independent activation of C3 also occurs via hydrolysis, resulting in C3(HO), but the structural details of C3 hydrolysis remain elusive. Here we show that the conformation of the C3(HO) analog, C3MA, is indistinguishable from C3b.

Butyrate increases cardiac output and causes vasorelaxation in a healthy porcine model.

Background: Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, has shown potential to improve left ventricular (LV) function and induce vasorelaxation in rodents. Butyrate may either be produced by the microbiome in the colon, be ingested or administered intravenously. This study aimed to evaluate effects of butyrate on cardiac output (CO) and associated hemodynamic variables in a porcine model.

Prevalence of thoracic degenerative MRI findings and association with pain and disability: a systematic review.

Objectives: To systematically review the literature on the prevalence of degenerative MRI findings in the thoracic spine and their association with pain and disability.

Materials And Methods: The Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, and CENTRAL databases were searched. Two independent reviewers screened the articles, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias (RoB) using a modified version of the Hoy tool for articles on prevalence and QUADAS-2 for articles on associations.

Virseqimprover: an integrated pipeline for viral contig error correction, extension, and annotation.

Despite the recent surge of viral metagenomic studies, it remains a significant challenge to recover complete virus genomes from metagenomic data. The majority of viral contigs generated from de novo assembly programs are highly fragmented, presenting significant challenges to downstream analysis and inference. To address this issue, we have developed Virseqimprover, a computational pipeline that can extend assembled contigs to complete or nearly complete genomes while maintaining extension quality.

Validation of a Cancer-Focused Information Seeking Experience (ISEE) Scale.

Background: Searching for health information is critical for maintaining one's health and reducing risk of disease, including cancer. However, some people are more likely to experience challenges in finding and comprehending health information; therefore, it is important to measure health information-seeking behavior. In order to add to prior research conducted with the scale, this study provides the first formal evaluation of the validity and reliability of the four-item, cancer-focused Information Seeking Experience (ISEE) scale in a cross-sectional, nationally representative health survey of U.

Phase 1b/2 study of orally administered pexidartinib in combination with radiation therapy and temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma.

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) has a median survival of <2 years. Pexidartinib (PLX3397) is a small-molecule inhibitor of CSF1R, KIT, and oncogenic FTL3, which are implicated in GBM treatment resistance. Results from glioma models indicate that combining radiation therapy (RT) and pexidartinib reduces radiation resistance.

Patterns and predictors of multiple sclerosis phenotype transition.

Currently, there are limited therapeutic options for patients with non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Therefore, real-world studies have investigated differences between patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, non-active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis and active secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Here, we explore patterns and predictors of transitioning between these phenotypes.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation of the occipital nerves as treatment for chronic cluster headache.

Background: Chronic cluster headache (CCH) is an excruciatingly painful condition that can be difficult to treat sufficiently with the available medical treatment options. The greater occipital nerves (GON) are of major interest in treating CCH, and various invasive treatment modalities, such as stimulating or blocking the nerves, have been applied. Because the terminal segment of the GON has a superficial course, the nerve is also accessible for non-invasive transcutaneous stimulation.

Genetic variation on dolutegravir pharmacokinetics and relation to safety and efficacy outcomes: a systematic review.

Background: Dolutegravir (DTG) is an antiviral agent used for the treatment of HIV, however, there is uncertainty over the influence of genetic variation on DTG exposure, and whether it has clinical implications for the efficacy or toxicity in different populations. This systematic review aims to create an overview of the impact of pharmacogenomics (PGx) on DTG exposure, efficacy, and toxicity.

Methods: Publications up to 14 November 2023 were searched and articles were selected on the following criteria: original research articles providing data on people with HIV, data on PGx and either PK or PD or both PD and PGx.

Training technical or non-technical skills: an arbitrary distinction? A scoping review.

Introduction: Medical education often aims to improve either technical skills (TS) or 'non-technical skills' (NTS) and how these skills influence adverse events and patient safety. The two skill sets are often investigated independently, and little is known about how TS and NTS influence each other. In this scoping review, we therefore aim to investigate the association between TS and NTS.

The effect of feeding order of forage and oats on metabolic and digestive responses related to gastric emptying in horses.

Feeding order of forage and concentrate might affect gastric emptying and subsequently digestion in horses. The objective of this study was to measure gastric emptying in combination with metabolic and digestive responses in the plasma and cecum, respectively, when changing the feeding order of oats (O) and hay (H) (oats first, then hay: O-H vs. hay first, then oats: H-O).

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension - Neurological symptoms, diagnosis, and outcome.

Background: Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is a rare secondary headache disorder caused by spinal leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. Specialized treatment of SIH consists of epidural blood patches (EBPs), fibrin patching, endovascular sealing, and surgery. The aim of this paper was to characterize SIH patients identified at a tertiary headache center.

The implications of removing race from interpretation of pulmonary function among persons with or without HIV.

Background: Studies suggest that the use of race-specific pulmonary function reference equations may obscure racial inequities in respiratory health. Whether removing race from the interpretation of pulmonary function would influence analyses of HIV and pulmonary function is unknown.

Setting: Pulmonary function measurements from 1,067 men (591 with HIV) in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) and 1,661 women (1,175 with HIV) in the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) were analyzed.

Pyrethroid exposure biomarker 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) binds to transthyretin and is positively associated with free T3 in pregnant women.

Pyrethroids constitute a large group of insecticides widely used in agriculture, indoor environments, and in vector control. Structurally, pyrethroids resemble thyroid hormones, and have been suggested to be thyroid hormone disruptors based on experimental studies. During pregnancy, even minor disturbances in maternal levels can affect fetal brain development.

Patient-reported outcome measures in orthopaedics.

Introduction: The Patient Activity Treatment Outcome Scale (PATOS) is a novel patient-reported outcome measure (PROM). This study explored patients' and orthopaedic surgeons' experiences with PATOS as part of a PROM battery. It aimed to investigate its influence on patient involvement and healthcare decisions about knee or hip osteoarthritis patients scheduled for knee/hip arthroplasty.

The DESSH Clinic: A New Multidisciplinary Clinic to Address the Complex Needs of Individuals with a Rare Genetic Disorder.

DeSanto-Shinawi (DESSH) syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant condition caused by pathogenic variants in the WAC gene. DESSH syndrome was first identified in 2015 in six patients, but has since been diagnosed in more than 200 individuals worldwide. Patients exhibit a variable degree of developmental delay (DD), intellectual disability (ID), hypotonia, gastrointestinal and eye abnormalities, epilepsy, behavioral difficulties, and recognizable facial features.

Broadly inhibitory antibodies to severe malaria virulence proteins.

Malaria pathology is driven by the accumulation of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes in microvessels. This process is mediated by the polymorphic erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) adhesion proteins of the parasite. A subset of PfEMP1 variants that bind to human endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) through their CIDRα1 domains is responsible for severe malaria pathogenesis.

Overuse of analgesics can affect the fertility biomarker Anti-Müllerian Hormone in females. A translational study.

Background: Medication overuse headache is a prevalent secondary headache due to the overuse of analgesics, mainly over-the-counter analgesics. Over-the-counter analgesics have been associated with disrupted male endocrinology, while the effects on female endocrinology remain nearly unknown. The aim was to understand the effect of long-term analgesic exposure in females with medication overuse headache on Anti-Müllerian hormone, a surrogate measure of female fertility.

Randomized comparison of rapid versus oximetry guided deflation of the transradial-band after coronary angiography or angioplasty.

Background: Transradial access is recommended for coronary angiography and angioplasty, and is associated with fewer complications when compared to femoral access. Nevertheless, there is a risk of hematoma and radial artery occlusion (RAO), and substantial time may elapse until hemostasis is achieved.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate if an oximetry-guided deflation technique compared to a traditional rapid deflation technique was associated with earlier removal of the transradial band (TR-band) and lower rates of RAO following radial coronary intervention.

Contraception in Adolescents.

The adolescent care provider has a unique opportunity to provide young patients with appropriate counseling about sexual health and prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. To provide high-quality sexual and reproductive health care for the adolescent, providers must be familiar with the breadth of contraceptive options and their characteristics. The purpose of this review is to discuss recent developments in contraception and to review commonly used contraceptive methods as they apply to adolescents.

Coronary CT angiography instead of invasive angiography before TAVI: Feasibility and outcomes.

Aims: Concomitant coronary artery disease (CAD) is frequent in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) candidates. Despite societal recommendations of performing invasive coronary angiography (ICA) for coronary assessment in the pre-TAVI diagnostic workup, the prognostic value of ICA and beneficial effect of revascularization in these patients remains unclear. We aimed to determine feasibility and outcomes following a strategy of cardiac CT + coronary CT angiography (cCTA) rather than cardiac CT + ICA before TAVI.

Exploring the metaverse in the education of healthcare students: A scoping review.

Objective: to map the literature on the incorporation of the metaverse in the education of undergraduate healthcare students.

Method: scoping review following the recommendations of the JBI and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), performed on Web of Science, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) via PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) and ProQuest.

Results: a total of 23 records were included, published between 2020 and 2023, and developed in 10 countries.