Single-Cell Transcriptomics of Human Tonsils Reveals Nicotine Enhances HIV-1-Induced NLRP3 Inflammasome and Mitochondrial Activation.

Background: HIV-1 infection, even with effective antiretroviral therapy (ART), is associated with chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction, contributing to long-term health complications. Nicotine use, prevalent among people with HIV (PWH), is known to exacerbate immune activation and disease progression, but the precise biological mechanisms remain to be fully understood. This study sought to uncover the synergistic effects of HIV-1 infection and nicotine on immune cell function, focusing on beneficial insights into NLRP3 inflammasome activation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial pathways.

miR-1, miR-133a, miR-29b and skeletal muscle fibrosis in chronic limb-threatening ischaemia.

Chronic limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI), the most severe manifestation of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), is associated with a poor prognosis and high amputation rates. Despite novel therapeutic approaches being investigated, no significant clinical benefits have been observed yet. Understanding the molecular pathways of skeletal muscle dysfunction in CLTI is crucial for designing successful treatments.

The impacts of tobacco and nicotine on HIV-1 infection, inflammation, and the blood-brain barrier in the central nervous system.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) remains a persistent global health crisis. Even while successfully virologically suppressed, people with HIV (PWH) experience a higher risk for inflammatory disorders such as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND). Tobacco use puts PWH at higher risk for neurocognitive symptoms resulting from HIV-associated neuroinflammation.

Assessing the breadth and multidisciplinarity of the conservation curriculum in the United Kingdom and Australia.

There have been repeated calls to train conservationists capable of transcending disciplinary boundaries. However, little empirical work has been done to document conservation teaching. We investigate the content taught in conservation higher education across the United Kingdom and Australia.

Impact of aesthetic surgery performed abroad on the Irish healthcare system.

Introduction: Aesthetic surgery tourism is a flourishing trend, and challenges often arise when patients return home with post-operative complications, necessitating follow-up care.

Methods: Between July 2021 and June 2023, we conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who presented with complications from aesthetic surgery tourism in two major teaching hospitals in Ireland.

Results: Thirty-three patients with a mean age of 41 years were identified.

Mesenchymal stromal cell transplantation ameliorates fibrosis and microRNA dysregulation in skeletal muscle ischemia.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with lower-extremity muscle wasting. Hallmark features of PAD-associated skeletal muscle pathology include loss of skeletal muscle mass, reduced strength and physical performance, increased inflammation, fibrosis, and adipocyte infiltration. At the molecular level, skeletal muscle ischemia has also been associated with gene and microRNA (miRNA) dysregulation.

Relative Contribution of Diagnostic Testing to the Diagnosis of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Hospitalized Adults in the United States.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory illness (ARI) in older adults. Optimizing diagnosis could improve understanding of RSV burden.

Methods: We enrolled adults ≥50 years of age hospitalized with ARI and adults of any age hospitalized with congestive heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations at 2 hospitals during 2 respiratory seasons (2018-2020).

Effectiveness of BNT162b2 Vaccine for Preventing COVID-19-Related Hospitalizations: A Test-Negative Case-Control Study.

It is important to understand real-world BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE), especially among racial and ethnic minority groups. We performed a test-negative case-control study to measure BNT162b2 COVID-19 VE in the prevention of COVID-19-associated acute respiratory illness (ARI) hospitalizations at two Atlanta hospitals from May 2021-January 2023 and adjusted for potential confounders by multivariate analysis. Among 5139 eligible adults with ARI, 2763 (53.

An Update on Implant-Associated Malignancies and Their Biocompatibility.

Implanted medical devices are widely used across various medical specialties for numerous applications, ranging from cardiovascular supports to orthopedic prostheses and cosmetic enhancements. However, recent observations have raised concerns about the potential of these implants to induce malignancies in the tissues surrounding them. There have been several case reports documenting the occurrence of cancers adjacent to these devices, prompting a closer examination of their safety.

Oxidative phosphorylation in HIV-1 infection: impacts on cellular metabolism and immune function.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) presents significant challenges to the immune system, predominantly characterized by CD4 T cell depletion, leading to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Antiretroviral therapy (ART) effectively suppresses the viral load in people with HIV (PWH), leading to a state of chronic infection that is associated with inflammation. This review explores the complex relationship between oxidative phosphorylation, a crucial metabolic pathway for cellular energy production, and HIV-1, emphasizing the dual impact of HIV-1 infection and the metabolic and mitochondrial effects of ART.

Oral Structural Dysphagia in Children.

Oral causes of dysphagia in infancy may involve the lips, the tongue, or the palate. Whereas ankyloglossia is commonly diagnosed in infants with dysphagia, assessment of the need for surgical intervention may be less straightforward. Tongue size (macroglossia) may be associated with dysphagia as it may cause limitation of movement of the food or milk bolus by the lips or cheeks.

Direct-to-Implant vs Tissue Expander Placement in Immediate Breast Reconstruction: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Direct-to-implant (DTI) breast reconstruction after mastectomy has gained increasing popularity. While concerns over ischemic complications related to tension on the mastectomy flap persist, newer techniques and technologies have enhanced safety of this technique.

Objectives: To compare clinical and patient-reported outcomes of DTI and 2-stage tissue expander (TE) reconstruction.

Nature's contribution to poverty alleviation, human wellbeing and the SDGs.

Millions of households globally rely on uncultivated ecosystems for their livelihoods. However, much of the understanding about the broader contribution of uncultivated ecosystems to human wellbeing is still based on a series of small-scale studies due to limited availability of large-scale datasets. We pooled together 11 comparable datasets comprising 232 settlements and 10,971 households in ten low-and middle-income countries, representing forest, savanna and coastal ecosystems to analyse how uncultivated nature contributes to multi-dimensional wellbeing and how benefits from nature are distributed between households.

Benefits and harms of cervical screening, triage and treatment strategies in women living with HIV.

To support a strategy to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reviewed its guidelines for screening and treatment of cervical pre-cancerous lesions in 2021. Women living with HIV have 6-times the risk of cervical cancer compared to women in the general population, and we harnessed a model platform ('Policy1-Cervix-HIV') to evaluate the benefits and harms of a range of screening strategies for women living with HIV in Tanzania, a country with endemic HIV. Assuming 70% coverage, we found that 3-yearly primary HPV screening without triage would reduce age-standardised cervical cancer mortality rates by 72%, with a number needed to treat (NNT) of 38.

Benefits, harms and cost-effectiveness of cervical screening, triage and treatment strategies for women in the general population.

In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a strategy to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem. To support the strategy, the WHO published updated cervical screening guidelines in 2021. To inform this update, we used an established modeling platform, Policy1-Cervix, to evaluate the impact of seven primary screening scenarios across 78 low- and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) for the general population of women.

Cortiva versus AlloDerm in Prepectoral and Partial Submuscular Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Several acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) are used for soft-tissue support in prosthetic breast reconstruction. Little high-level evidence supports the use of one ADM over another. The authors sought to compare Cortiva 1-mm Allograft Dermis with AlloDerm RTU (ready to use), the most studied ADM in the literature.

Guidelines and practice of breastfeeding in women living with HIV-Results from the European INSURE survey.

Introduction: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is integral to HIV prevention, including averting vertical transmission. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends ART and breastfeeding for all women living with HIV for at least 12 months post-partum [1, 2]. Much of the data on HIV transmission through breastfeeding comes from low-resource settings, with a paucity of data on breastfeeding-related HIV transmission in women living with HIV in other settings.

Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Pre-pandemic Among Adults Hospitalized With Congestive Heart Failure or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Older Adults.

Background: Data are limited on influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) in the prevention of influenza-related hospitalizations in older adults and those with underlying high-risk comorbidities.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, test-negative, case-control study at 2 US hospitals from October 2018-March 2020 among adults aged ≥50 years hospitalized with acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) and adults ≥18 years admitted with congestive heart failure (CHF) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations. Adults were eligible if they resided in 1 of 8 counties in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia.

Postoperative Urinary Complications in Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstructive Surgery.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the postoperative urinary complications and the optimal timing of foley catheter removal in patients who underwent free flap reconstructive surgery for head and neck pathology.

Methods: A retrospective case-control study of head and neck patients who underwent free flap reconstructive surgery at a single institution between January 2009 and December 2021 was conducted. Patient risk factors for postoperative urinary retention (POUR) were analyzed.

Free functional muscle transfer for lower extremity reconstruction.

Background: Free functional muscle transfer is a reconstructive strategy for the reconstruction of lost muscle units in the lower extremity after oncologic resection, trauma, compartment syndrome, or severe nerve injuries. Under appropriate circumstances, free functional muscle transfer may be the only suitable reconstructive option. This article reviews the underlying principles of free functional muscle transfer, its application to lower extremity reconstruction, appropriate patient selection, and surgical techniques.