Microencapsulation of and within a Novel Polysaccharide-Based Core-Shell Formulation: Improving Probiotic Viability and Mucoadhesion.

Probiotics health benefits are hampered by long-term storage, gastrointestinal transit, and lack of adequate colonization within the colon. To this end, we have designed a core-shell structure that features an acid resistant core formulation with low water activity composed of alginate, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and gellan gum (AHG) and a mucoadhesive shell made from chemically modified carboxymethyl chitosan with polyethylenimine (PEI-CMC). The structure of the core-shell microparticles was examined using scanning electron microscopy, and rheological measurements confirmed the improved ionic interactions between the core and the shell using the PEI-modified CMC.

Short-latency afferent inhibition is reduced with cold-water immersion of a limb and remains reduced after removal from the cold stimulus.

The experience of pain that is induced by extremely cold temperatures can exert a modulatory effect on motor cortex circuitry. Although it is known that immersion of a single limb in very cold water can increase corticomotor excitability it is unknown how afferent input to the cortex shapes excitatory and inhibitory processes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine motor-evoked potentials (MEP), short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI) and long-latency afferent inhibition (LAI) in response to immersion of a single hand in cold water.

Large bronchial artery-pulmonary artery fistula due to cavitating tuberculosis.

Bronchial artery-pulmonary artery fistulae are rare vascular malformations most commonly caused by infection. Our case presents a 57-year-old male who presented to the Emergency Department with a symptomatic bronchial artery-pulmonary artery fistula due to cavitating pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The diagnosis was made with multiphase CT angiography of the thorax (including pulmonary and systemic arterial phases).

Target enrichment improves culture-independent detection of and antimicrobial resistance determinants direct from clinical samples with Nanopore sequencing.

Multi-drug-resistant infection is a significant public health risk. Rapidly detecting and antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) determinants by metagenomic sequencing of urine is possible, although high levels of host DNA and overgrowth of contaminating species hamper sequencing and limit genome coverage. We performed Nanopore sequencing of nucleic acid amplification test-positive urine samples and culture-positive urethral swabs with and without probe-based target enrichment, using a custom SureSelect panel, to investigate whether selective enrichment of DNA improves detection of both species and AMR determinants.

Antagonism of 5-HT receptors attenuates self-sustained firing of human motor units.

5-HT receptors on motoneurones play a critical role in facilitating persistent inward currents (PICs). Although facilitation of PICs can enhance self-sustained firing after periods of excitation, the relationship between 5-HT receptor activity and self-sustained firing in human motor units (MUs) has not been resolved. MU activity was assessed from the tibialis anterior of 10 healthy adults (24.

Exploring provider preference and provision of abortion methods and stigma: Secondary analysis of a United Kingdom provider survey.

Introduction: Method choice is an important component of quality abortion care and qualitative research suggests that abortion stigma can influence provider preference and provision of abortion methods. This study is the first to explore the relationships between abortion providers' method preferences, their provision of medication or instrumentation abortion or both methods, and abortion stigma.

Methods: We conducted secondary analysis of a survey of United Kingdom (UK) abortion providers (N = 172) to describe and compare providers' self-reported method preferences and provision.

The plasmidome associated with Gram-negative bloodstream infections: A large-scale observational study using complete plasmid assemblies.

Plasmids carry genes conferring antimicrobial resistance and other clinically important traits, and contribute to the rapid dissemination of such genes. Previous studies using complete plasmid assemblies, which are essential for reliable inference, have been small and/or limited to plasmids carrying antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). In this study, we sequenced 1,880 complete plasmids from 738 isolates from bloodstream infections in Oxfordshire, UK.

Using co-design to develop the Adolescent Health Literacy Questionnaire for adolescents in Ireland.

Health literacy measurement studies are important for the success of health promotion efforts targeting adolescents. However, the majority of health literacy measurement tools were originally developed for adult populations and may not be reflective of health literacy in the context of adolescence. The present study sought to co-design a health literacy questionnaire and vignettes for adolescents in Ireland aged 12-18 years.

The Impact of State Voting Processes in the 2020 Election: Estimating the Effects on Voter Turnout, Voting Method, and the Spread of COVID-19.

Leading up to the 2020 general election, state election boards grew concerned that the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic might drive voters away from the polls or that crowded polling stations would spread the virus and lead to a wave of new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. In an effort to safely conduct the 2020 general election, many states changed their voting laws by implementing automatic voter registration, removing excuse requirements for absentee ballots, and expanding early voting windows. These changes, meant to encourage turnout and protect public health, were expensive to implement, politically contentious, or both.

Chest CT at X-Ray Dose Using a Noise-Mitigating Weighted Projection: The Thoracic Tomogram. Diagnostic Performance for Pneumonia Detection in Hemato-Oncology Patients.

Purpose: To compare the diagnostic performance of a thick-slab reconstruction obtained from an ultra-low-dose CT (termed thoracic tomogram) with standard-of-care low-dose CT (SOC-CT) for rapid interpretation and detection of pneumonia in hemato-oncology patients.

Methods: Hemato-oncology patients with a working diagnosis of pneumonia underwent an SOC-CT followed by an ultra-low-dose CT, from which the thoracic tomogram (TT) was reconstructed. Three radiologists evaluated the TT and SOC-CT in the following categories: (I) infectious/inflammatory opacities, (II) small airways infectious/inflammatory changes, (III) atelectasis, (IV) pleural effusions, and (V) interstitial abnormalities.

Short-latency afferent inhibition is reduced in people with multiple sclerosis during fatiguing muscle contractions.

Understanding how inhibitory pathways influence motor cortical activity during fatiguing contractions may provide valuable insight into mechanisms associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) muscle activation. Short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI) reflects inhibitory interactions between the somatosensory cortex and the motor cortex, and although SAI is typically reduced with MS, it is unknown how SAI is regulated during exercise-induced fatigue. The current study examined how SAI modulates motor evoked potentials (MEPs) during fatiguing contractions.

Online Forums as a Tool for Broader Inclusion of Voices on Health Care Communication Experiences and Serious Illness Care: Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Existing health care research, including serious illness research, often underrepresents individuals from historically marginalized communities. Capturing the nuanced perspectives of individuals around their health care communication experiences is difficult. New research strategies are needed that increase engagement of individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Excitatory drive to spinal motoneurones is necessary for serotonin to modulate motoneurone excitability via 5-HT receptors in humans.

Serotonin modulates corticospinal excitability, motoneurone firing rates and contractile strength via 5-HT receptors. However, the effects of these receptors on cortical and motoneurone excitability during voluntary contractions have not been explored in humans. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate how 5-HT antagonism affects corticospinal and motoneuronal excitability with and without descending drive to motoneurones.

Serotonergic and noradrenergic contributions to motor cortical and spinal motoneuronal excitability in humans.

Animal models indicate that motor behaviour is shaped by monoamine neuromodulators released diffusely throughout the brain and spinal cord. As an alternative to conducting a single study to explore the effects of neuromodulators on the human motor system, we have identified and collated human experiments investigating motor effects of well-characterised drugs that act on serotonergic and noradrenergic networks. In doing so, we present strong neuropharmacology evidence that human motor pathways are affected by neuromodulators across both healthy and clinical populations, insight that cannot be determined from a single reductionist experiment.

Voluntary muscle activation in people with multiple sclerosis is reduced across a wide range of forces following maximal effort-fatiguing contractions.

Although multiple sclerosis (MS) is frequently associated with motor impairment, little is known about how muscle activation is affected with MS. The aim of this study was to use transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and motor nerve stimulation to investigate voluntary muscle activation in people with MS across a range of contraction forces. Ten people with MS (39 ± 7 yr) and 10 healthy controls (40 ± 5 yr) performed elbow flexions at target contraction forces of 25%, 50%, 75%, 90%, and 100% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) while electromyography (EMG) of the biceps brachii was recorded.

Integration of Genomic Sequencing Drives Therapeutic Targeting of PDGFRA in T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoblastic Lymphoma.

Purpose: Patients with relapsed or refractory T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) or lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) have limited therapeutic options. Clinical use of genomic profiling provides an opportunity to identify targetable alterations to inform therapy.

Experimental Design: We describe a cohort of 14 pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory T-ALL enrolled on the Leukemia Precision-based Therapy (LEAP) Consortium trial (NCT02670525) and a patient with T-LBL, discovering alterations in platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α (PDGFRA) in 3 of these patients.

The severity of acute hypoxaemia determines distinct changes in intracortical and spinal neural circuits.

The purpose of this study was to examine how two common methods of continuous hypoxaemia impact the activity of intracortical circuits responsible for inhibition and facilitation of motor output, and spinal excitability. Ten participants were exposed to 2 h of hypoxaemia at 0.13 fraction of inspired oxygen ( clamping protocol) and 80% of peripheral capillary oxygen saturation ( clamping protocol) using a simulating altitude device on two visits separated by a week.