Prediction of visual outcomes using virtual implantation of a trifocal intraocular lens in presbyopic lens exchange patients.

Purpose: To assess the reliability of a novel virtual IOL implantation device to predict the outcomes of a trifocal IOL.

Setting: Clinical sites in Spain and Germany.

Design: Prospective multicenter study.

Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-Surface (REASON).

The Radar for Europa Assessment and Sounding: Ocean to Near-surface (REASON) is a dual-frequency ice-penetrating radar (9 and 60 MHz) onboard the Europa Clipper mission. REASON is designed to probe Europa from exosphere to subsurface ocean, contributing the third dimension to observations of this enigmatic world. The hypotheses REASON will test are that (1) the ice shell of Europa hosts liquid water, (2) the ice shell overlies an ocean and is subject to tidal flexing, and (3) the exosphere, near-surface, ice shell, and ocean participate in material exchange essential to the habitability of this moon.

Metabolomic data presents challenges for epidemiological meta-analysis: a case study of childhood body mass index from the ECHO consortium.

Introduction: Meta-analyses across diverse independent studies provide improved confidence in results. However, within the context of metabolomic epidemiology, meta-analysis investigations are complicated by differences in study design, data acquisition, and other factors that may impact reproducibility.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify maternal blood metabolites during pregnancy (> 24 gestational weeks) related to offspring body mass index (BMI) at age two years through a meta-analysis framework.

Associations of maternal plasma and umbilical cord plasma metabolomics profiles with birth anthropometric measures.

Background: The metabolomics profiles of maternal plasma during pregnancy and cord plasma at birth might influence fetal growth and birth anthropometry. The objective was to examine how maternal plasma and umbilical cord plasma metabolites are associated with newborn anthropometric measures, a known predictor of future health outcomes.

Methods: Pregnant women between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation were recruited as part of a prospective cohort study.

A-waves are associated with neuropathic pain in leprosy.

Introduction/aims: The A-wave is a late response related either to demyelination or early axonal regeneration. It may be helpful in the evaluation of some peripheral neuropathies. In leprosy, previous studies suggested that A-waves could be a neurophysiological marker of pain in patients during reactions.

Longitudinal associations of pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain with maternal urinary metabolites: an NYU CHES study.

Background/objectives: Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and pre-pregnancy obesity affect a significant portion of the US pregnant population and are linked with negative maternal and child health outcomes. The objective of this study was to explore associations of pre-pregnancy body mass index (pBMI) and GWG with longitudinally measured maternal urinary metabolites throughout pregnancy.

Subjects/methods: Among 652 participants in the New York University Children's Health and Environment Study, a longitudinal pregnancy cohort, targeted metabolomics were measured in serially collected urine samples throughout pregnancy.

Ion and Electron Momentum Distributions from Single and Double Ionization of Helium Induced by Compton Scattering.

We present the momentum distributions of the nucleus and of the electrons from double ionization of the helium atom by Compton scattering of photons with hν=40  keV. We find that the doubly charged ion momentum distribution is very close to the Compton profile of the nucleus in the ground state of the helium atom, and the momentum distribution of the singly charged ion to give a precise image of the electron Compton profile. To reproduce these results, nonrelativistic calculations require the use of highly correlated initial- and final-state wave functions.

Chemical exposures assessed via silicone wristbands and endogenous plasma metabolomics during pregnancy.

Background: Metabolomics is a promising method to investigate physiological effects of chemical exposures during pregnancy, with the potential to clarify toxicological mechanisms, suggest sensitive endpoints, and identify novel biomarkers of exposures.

Objective: Investigate the influence of chemical exposures on the maternal plasma metabolome during pregnancy.

Methods: Data were obtained from participants (n = 177) in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study, a prospective pregnancy cohort.

Two methods for assessment of choline status in a randomized crossover study with varying dietary choline intake in people: isotope dilution MS of plasma and in vivo single-voxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy of liver.

Background: Choline deficiency has numerous negative health consequences; although the preponderance of the US population consumes less than the recommended Adequate Intake (AI), clinical assessment of choline status is difficult. Further, several pathways involved in primary metabolism of choline are estrogen-sensitive and the AI for premenopausal women is lower than that for men.

Objectives: We sought to determine whether in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of liver and/or isotope-dilution MS of plasma could identify biomarkers reflective of choline intake (preregistered primary outcomes 1 and 2, secondary outcome 1).

Identification of Novel Proteins Interacting with Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin 9.

High levels of cholesterol, especially as low-density lipoprotein (LDL), are a well-known risk factor for atherosclerotic-related diseases. The key atherogenic property of LDL is its ability to form atherosclerotic plaque. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin-9 (PCSK9) is an indirect regulator of plasma LDL levels by controlling the number of LDL receptor molecules expressed at the plasma membrane, especially in the liver.

C-ceramide is a natural regulatory ligand of p53 in cellular stress response.

Ceramides are important participants of signal transduction, regulating fundamental cellular processes. Here we report the mechanism for activation of p53 tumor suppressor by C-ceramide. C-ceramide tightly binds within the p53 DNA-binding domain (K ~ 60 nM), in close vicinity to the Box V motif.

Occupational Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.

: Occupational hearing loss is preventable through a hierarchy of controls, which prioritize the use of engineering controls over administrative controls and personal protective equipment. The occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) physician plays a critical role in the prevention of occupational noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). This position statement clarifies current best practices in the diagnosis of occupational NIHL.

The Role of the Professional Supervisor in the Audiometric Testing Component of Hearing Conservation Programs.

: ACOEM believes that the functions of a professional supervisor in hearing conservation programs are part of the "core practice" of occupational medicine. This guidance emphasizes the role occupational medicine clinicians play in the supervision of audiometric surveillance conducted under the auspices of hearing conservation programs and reviews the regulatory and scientific basis and pertinent practices involved in this supervisory role.

Muscarinic type-1 receptors contribute to I in human atrial cardiomyocytes and are upregulated in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation.

Background: Basal and acetylcholine-gated inward-rectifier K-currents (I and I, respectively) are altered in atrial fibrillation (AF). G-protein-coupled muscarinic (M) receptors type-2 are considered the predominant receptors activating I. Although a role for G-coupled non-M-receptor subtypes has been suggested, the precise regulation of I by multiple M-receptor subtypes in the human atrium is unknown.

Ultrasonographic imaging of abomasal milk clotting and abomasal diameter in healthy and diarrheic calves.

In case of diarrhea calves are treated with oral rehydration solutions (ORS), which are known to increase abomasal pH and inhibit milk clotting in vitro. Nevertheless, recent studies have shown that ORS with HCO3(-) ≤ 62 mmol/L do not interfere with abomasal milk clotting in healthy calves. However, in diarrheic calves, feeding ORS and milk simultaneously may disturb abomasal curd formation and exacerbate diarrhea due to faster abomasal passage of ingesta.

Managing the Risk of Occupational Allergy in the Enzyme Detergent Industry.

Enzyme proteins have potential to cause occupational allergy/asthma. Consequently, as users of enzymes in formulated products, detergents manufacturers have implemented a number of control measures to ensure that the hazard does not translate into health effects in the workforce. To that end, trade associations have developed best practice guidelines which emphasize occupational hygiene and medical monitoring as part of an effective risk management strategy.

Behavioral Attention: A Longitudinal Study of Whether and How It Influences the Development of Word Reading and Reading Comprehension among At-Risk Readers.

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which teacher ratings of behavioral attention predicted responsiveness to word reading instruction in first grade and third-grade reading comprehension performance. Participants were 110 first grade students identified as at-risk for reading difficulties who received 20 weeks of intensive reading intervention in combination with classroom reading instruction. Path analysis indicated that teacher ratings of student attention significantly predicted students' word reading growth in first grade even when they were competed against other relevant predictors (phonological awareness, nonword reading, sight word efficiency, vocabulary, listening comprehension, hyperactivity, nonverbal reasoning, and short term memory).

Crystal structure of a PCP/Sfp complex reveals the structural basis for carrier protein posttranslational modification.

Phosphopantetheine transferases represent a class of enzymes found throughout all forms of life. From a structural point of view, they are subdivided into three groups, with transferases from group II being the most widespread. They are required for the posttranslational modification of carrier proteins involved in diverse metabolic pathways.

Dietary influences on the hydration and acid-base status of experimentally dehydrated dairy calves.

The incorporation of oral rehydration solutions (ORS) into 'milk meals' is potentially an effective, time-saving method of treating diarrhoeic calves. Although milk-based ORS are effective in improving the hydration and acid-base status of healthy calves, this effect remains to be confirmed in dehydrated/diarrhoeic animals. In this study, six experimentally-dehydrated calves were fed with either milk replacer (MR) or an ORS prepared in either water (WORS) or MR (MORS).

Molecular crowding drives active Pin1 into nonspecific complexes with endogenous proteins prior to substrate recognition.

Proteins and nucleic acids maintain the crowded interior of a living cell and can reach concentrations in the order of 200-400 g/L which affects the physicochemical parameters of the environment, such as viscosity and hydrodynamic as well as nonspecific strong repulsive and weak attractive interactions. Dynamics, structure, and activity of macromolecules were demonstrated to be affected by these parameters. However, it remains controversially debated, which of these factors are the dominant cause for the observed alterations in vivo.

Experimentally induced hyperchloremic and DL-lactic acidosis in calves: an attempt to study the effects of oral rehydration on acid-base status.

Many diarrheic calves suffer from metabolic acidosis, which is commonly treated by oral rehydration therapy. Oral rehydration solutions can be prepared in water, milk, or milk replacer. Therefore, the aim of the study was to verify dietary effects of water- or milk replacer-based oral rehydration solutions on parameters of acid-base balance in calves with experimentally induced hyperchloremic and dl-lactate acidosis.

Influence of ¹H chemical shift assignments of the interface residues on structure determinations of homodimeric proteins.

Homodimeric proteins pose a difficulty for NMR structure determination because the degeneracy of the chemical shifts in the two identical monomers implies an ambiguity in all assignments of distance restraints. For homodimeric proteins, residues involved in the interface between two monomers provide essential intermolecular NOEs. The structure determination of homodimeric proteins hence relies strongly on chemical shift assignments of these interface residues.

[Comparison of two access portals of an employee assistance program at an insurance corporation targeted to reduce stress levels of employees].

Support programmes for stress reduction were offered independently in two departments (650 employees in total) of an insurance group. Both departments, referred to as comparison group 1 and 2 (CG1 and CG2), offered an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) featuring individual consultations. The employees were addressed through different channels of communication, such as staff meetings, superiors and email.