Measures to control protracted large Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria, 1 January to 28 April 2019.

Lassa fever cases have increased in Nigeria since 2016 with the highest number, 633 cases, reported in 2018. From 1 January to 28 April 2019, 554 laboratory-confirmed cases including 124 deaths were reported in 21 states in Nigeria. A public health emergency was declared on 22 January by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

A comparative study of gut microbiomes in captive nocturnal strepsirrhines.

Feeding strategy and diet are increasingly recognized for their roles in governing primate gut microbiome (GMB) composition. Whereas feeding strategy reflects evolutionary adaptations to a host's environment, diet is a more proximate measure of food intake. Host phylogeny, which is intertwined with feeding strategy, is an additional, and often confounding factor that shapes GMBs across host lineages.

Effects of the microbicide ceragenin CSA-13 on and properties of Bacillus subtilis spores prepared on two very different media.

Aims: To determine how the microbicide ceragenin-13 (CSA-13) kills Bacillus subtilis spores prepared on growth or sporulation media, and these spores' properties.

Methods And Results: Spores made on Luria broth (LB) growth or double-strength Schaeffer's-glucose (2xSG) sporulation plates found that spores made on LB plates have coat defects as evidenced by their lower hypochlorite resistance, faster germination with dodecylamine and slower germination with Ca -dipicolinic acid (CaDPA) than 2xSG plate spores. CSA-13 triggered CaDPA release from spores, an early step in germination, but only well at 70°C and better with spores made on LB than on 2xSG plates.

Is treated HIV infection associated with knee cartilage degeneration and structural changes? A longitudinal study using data from the osteoarthritis initiative.

Background: Metabolic disorders presenting in HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) may increase the risk of osteoarthritis. However, structural changes of the knee in HIV infected subjects are understudied. The aim of this study is to investigate knee cartilage degeneration and knee structural changes over 8 years in subjects with and without HIV infection determined based on the use of ART.

Self-Assembly of Artificial Sweetener Aspartame Yields Amyloid-like Cytotoxic Nanostructures.

Recent reports have revealed the intrinsic propensity of single aromatic metabolites to undergo self-assembly and form nanostructures of amyloid nature. Hence, identifying whether aspartame, a universally consumed artificial sweetener, is inherently aggregation prone becomes an important area of investigation. Although the reports on aspartame-linked side effects describe a multitude of metabolic disorders, the mechanistic understanding of such destructive effects is largely mysterious.

Evaluating the Cost-Effective Use of Follow-Up Colonoscopy Based on Screening Findings and Age.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC), if not detected early, can be costly and detrimental to one's health. Colonoscopy can identify CRC early as well as prevent the disease. The benefit of screening colonoscopy has been established, but the optimal frequency of follow-up colonoscopy is unknown and may vary based on findings from colonoscopy screening and patient age.

Factors Associated with Osteoid Osteoma Recurrence after CT-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation.

Purpose: To identify clinical and imaging variables associated with symptomatic recurrence of osteoid osteomas (OOs) treated with computerized tomography (CT)-guided radiofrequency (RF) ablation.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-one patients treated with the use of CT-guided RF ablation for OO at a single institution from July 2005 to May 2018 were included in this retrospective cohort analysis. Clinical data, including patient age, sex, race, and clinical outcomes, were collected from institutional electronic health records and telephone follow-up.

Self-monitoring and reminder text messages to increase physical activity in colorectal cancer survivors (Smart Pace): a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Over 1.3 million people live with colorectal cancer in the United States. Physical activity is associated with lower risk of colorectal cancer recurrence and mortality.

Programmed Cell Death Receptor (PD-1) Ligand (PD-L1) expression in Philadelphia chromosome-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Programmed Cell Death Receptor (PD-1) and its Ligand (PD-L1) pathway inhibitor therapy has been explored in the field of oncology treatment mainly for solid tumors. In hematologic malignancies, there is limited information except for Hodgkin's lymphoma, and there is even less information regarding myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN). Therefore, we explored this by first measuring PD-1 and PD-L1 levels (percentage of positive cells) in 63 patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative MPN (Ph(-) MPN), including 16 MF (12 PMF, 2 post-PV-MF, 2 post-ET-MF), 29 ET, and 18 PV.

Weight loss regimen in obese and overweight individuals is associated with reduced cartilage degeneration: 96-month data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Purpose: To investigate change in knee cartilage composition over 96 months in overweight and obese participants with constant weight compared to those with weight loss (WL), and to assess how different WL regimens are associated with these changes.

Methods: We studied right knees of 760 participants (age 62.6 ± 9.

The association between physical activity and cardiac performance is dependent on age: the Copenhagen City Heart Study.

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that regular physical activity is associated with improved cardiac function measured by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in the general population. Within a large prospective community-based population study, cardiac function was assessed in 2221 persons by TDI. Longitudinal displacement (LD), early diastolic velocity (e'), and myocardial performance index (MPI) was obtained by TDI.

Spatial distribution and temporal progression of T2 relaxation time values in knee cartilage prior to the onset of cartilage lesions - data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI).

Purpose: To investigate compositional changes of knee cartilage at the site of newly appearing cartilage lesions and the surrounding cartilage 1-4 years prior to lesion onset using quantitative T2-measurements.

Methods: Fifty-seven cartilage plates with newly appearing cartilage lesions from 45 knees (cases) and 52 plates from 26 control knees from the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) cohort (controls) were evaluated. Using MRI T2-mapping, composition of local (the site of future lesions) and surrounding cartilage (remainder of the cartilage plate) was assessed 1-4 years prior to lesion onset.

Late-onset megaconial myopathy in mice lacking group I Paks.

Background: Group I Paks are serine/threonine kinases that function as major effectors of the small GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42, and they regulate cytoskeletal dynamics, cell polarity, and transcription. We previously demonstrated that Pak1 and Pak2 function redundantly to promote skeletal myoblast differentiation during postnatal development and regeneration in mice. However, the roles of Pak1 and Pak2 in adult muscle homeostasis are unknown.

Engaging limited English proficient and ethnically diverse low-income women in health research: A randomized trial of a patient navigator intervention.

Objective: Evaluate a community-based navigator intervention to increase breast cancer patients' and survivors' access to information about health research participation opportunities.

Methods: In the context of a Community Based Participatory Research collaboration, we conducted a prospective randomized controlled trial of the Health Research Engagement Intervention with pre- and post-intervention surveys (n = 133). The primary outcome was health research information-seeking behavior.

Central osteophytes develop in cartilage with abnormal structure and composition: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative cohort.

Objective: To investigate the natural history of central osteophytes (COs) by analyzing the structure and matrix composition of CO-associated cartilage using 3-T MRI at and 1-3 years before the onset of COs.

Materials And Methods: Baseline, 4- and 6-year knee MRIs of 400 participants in the Osteoarthritis Initiative were screened for the appearance of new COs. Twenty-eight subjects developed 31 COs.

Two-stage thermophilic anaerobic co-digestion of corn stover and cattle manure to enhance biomethane production.

Two-stage thermophilic anaerobic co-digestion of cattle manure and corn stover was conducted to increase biomethane production. The first stage pre-digestion of corn stover was studied based on the following treatment variables: corn stover to liquid fraction of digestate (CS:LFD) ratio (1:7, 1:10, 1:13, 1:14), digestion temperature (55 °C, 60 °C) and digestion time (3, 7, 14 days). The reduction in lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose (LCH) was between 3.

Longitudinal changes in subchondral bone structure as assessed with MRI are associated with functional outcome after high tibial osteotomy.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of high tibial osteotomy (HTO) on subchondral bone structure assessed with magnetic resonance (MR)-based trabecular bone imaging and the correlations of these effects with functional outcome and clinical symptoms.

Methods: Patients with varus malalignment (6.2±2.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy treatment and discontinuation in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase in the United States: a clinical practice perspective.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy discontinuation practice in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia chronic phase (CML-CP) was assessed in real-world practice prior to the release of recommendations on discontinuation. Data were collected from US oncologists/hematologists (through web-based physician survey and patient chart review) on TKI therapy discontinuation practice including monitoring, adequate response for discontinuation, relapse, and symptoms following discontinuation. From the physician survey, 34% of oncologists/hematologists attempted discontinuation, with two-thirds doing so outside of a trial.

Introduction of an MR-based semi-quantitative score for assessing partial meniscectomy and relation to knee joint degenerative disease: data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative.

Objectives: To develop an MR-based semi-quantitative meniscus scoring technique for postoperative assessment of the degree of meniscal resection, to test its reproducibility, and to study the relationship between the amount of resection and degenerative disease burden.

Methods: We studied the right knee of 135 participants from the Osteoarthritis Initiative that underwent meniscal surgery an average of 14 years previously. The amount of meniscal resection was assessed on baseline 3.

Socioeconomic inequalities in access to skilled birth attendance among urban and rural women in low-income and middle-income countries.

Introduction: Rapid urbanisation is one of the greatest challenges for Sustainable Development Goals. We compared socioeconomic inequalities in urban and rural women's access to skilled birth attendance (SBA) and to assess whether the poorest urban women have an advantage over the poorest rural women.

Methods: The latest available surveys (DemographicHealth Survey, Multiple Indicators Cluster Surveys) of 88 countries since 2010 were analysed.

Giant epidermal cyst of the arm: a rare presentation.

A giant epidermal cyst is a benign soft tissue mass commonly involving the trunk, hand and face. The authors report a rare presentation of a 69-year-old man who presented with a painful, slow-growing left arm mass for 30 years duration. Examination revealed a large, mobile, soft tissue mass of the lateral aspect of the left arm.

Benefit-Risk Assessment of Blinatumomab in the Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Blinatumomab is the first-and-only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved cluster of differentiation (CD) 19-directed CD3 bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) immunotherapy. It is currently FDA approved for the treatment of adults and children with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) and Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph-) relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and B-cell precursor ALL with minimal residual disease. Similarly, initial marketing authorization for blinatumomab in the European Union was granted for the treatment of adults with Ph- R/R B-cell precursor ALL.

Effective communication in the era of precision medicine: A pilot intervention with low health literacy patients to improve genetic counseling communication.

Effective communication, where all parties share a common understanding, is necessary to realize the promise of Genomic Medicine. It is especially salient given the imperative to increase the participation of diverse populations in genomics research and to expand the reach of clinical genomics. We have previously shown that cancer genetic counseling is suboptimal for patients with limited health literacy.