Mitigative role of cysteamine against unilateral renal reperfusion injury in Wistar rats.

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is unavoidable during kidney transplant and it is responsible for delayed or non-function after kidney transplantation. Cysteamine is the standard drug in the management of nephropathic cystinosis and its extra-renal complications. Thus, we designed this study to investigate its potential against renal reperfusion injury.

Production and characterization of homologous protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase (PPO) proteins: Evidence that small N-terminal amino acid changes do not impact protein function.

Transgenic soybean, cotton, and maize tolerant to protoporphyrinogen IX oxidase (PPO)-inhibiting herbicides have been developed by introduction of a bacterial-derived PPO targeted into the chloroplast. PPO is a membrane-associated protein with an intrinsic tendency for aggregation, making expression, purification, and formulation at high concentrations difficult. In this study, transgenic PPO expressed in three crops was demonstrated to exhibit up to a 13 amino acid sequence difference in the N-terminus due to differential processing of the chloroplast transit peptide (CTP).

Unplanned 30-Day Readmissions After Hospitalization for Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) continues to pose significant healthcare challenges due to its broad differential diagnosis and the often extensive yet inconclusive workup. We investigated the rates and characteristics of unplanned 30-day readmissions in adult patients hospitalized with IBS. In addition, we identified factors that predict readmission within 30 days of initial discharge.

Preventive Antibiotic Use and Complications After Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography in Patients Hospitalized for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

Background: The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy recommends prophylactic antibiotics before endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). We assessed the impact of this approach on the incidence of post-ERCP outcomes using nationwide data.

Methods: Using 2015-2021 Nationwide Inpatient Sample data and relevant ICD-10 codes, we analyzed adult hospitalizations for PSC who underwent ERCP, with and without antibiotic prophylaxis.

Into the Wild: A novel wild-derived inbred strain resource expands the genomic and phenotypic diversity of laboratory mouse models.

The laboratory mouse has served as the premier animal model system for both basic and preclinical investigations for over a century. However, laboratory mice capture only a subset of the genetic variation found in wild mouse populations, ultimately limiting the potential of classical inbred strains to uncover phenotype-associated variants and pathways. Wild mouse populations are reservoirs of genetic diversity that could facilitate the discovery of new functional and disease-associated alleles, but the scarcity of commercially available, well-characterized wild mouse strains limits their broader adoption in biomedical research.

Management of traumatic brain injury in Africa: challenges and opportunities.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health concern globally, with significant implications for morbidity, mortality, and long-term disability. While extensive research has been conducted on TBI management in high-income countries, limited attention has been given to the specific challenges and opportunities faced by healthcare systems in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This perspective study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current status of TBI management in SSA, focusing on the unique challenges and potential opportunities for improvement.

Improved Side Effect Profile of Alternate-Day Dosing of Lenalidomide.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a heterogeneous hematological condition associated with cytopenia, inadequate blood cell synthesis, and the risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Patients are divided into risk groups according to the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) to help direct therapy. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation, despite its limitations, is curative.

The origin of genetic diversity of indigenous cockfighting chickens of Pakistan by analyzing the mtDNA.

In Pakistan, the origin of the indigenous cockfighting chicken (ICC) or gamecock population is unknown. However, it is speculated that this might have been associated with domestication, an event linked to recreational, entertainment (cockfighting), religious or ornamental activities. This study aims to understand the origin and genetic diversity of the ICC population in Pakistan.

Severity of environmental degradation and the impact on quality of life in Africa.

Considering the mounting impacts of environmental degradation on the global ecosystem, this study offers an empirical contribution to the debate on whether there exists a significant nexus between environmental degradation and quality of life in Africa. Towards this end, we employ several econometric techniques to account for cross-sectional dependence, causality, and also present results based on IV-Lewbel 2SLS regression. Using a sample of African countries, the results indicate cross-sectional dependence due to spill-over effects from common factors in Africa, while the panel cointegration test affirms that environmental degradation have long-term consequences for quality of life only in sub-Saharan African region.

Identification of putative promoter elements for epsilon glutathione s-transferases genes associated with resistance to DDT in the malaria vector mosquito anopheles arabiensis.

The purpose of this study was to identify the putative regulatory elements in the promoter region of strains which differed in susceptibility to DDT and compare with those identified in its sibling . Basal expression level of Epsilon class GSTs (Glutathione S - transferases) GSTe1 gene was 0.512 - 0.

mutation screening for patients at risk of myeloid malignancy.

There is increasing recognition of the risk of developing therapy-related myeloid malignancy, including after cellular therapy. While retrospective studies have implicated pre-existing mutated hematopoietic clones as a common causative mechanism, no prospective screening to identify those patients at greatest risk is currently possible. We demonstrate that ultradeep DNA-sequencing prior to therapy may be used for discovery of mutations that are subsequently associated with malignancy.

Video Documentation as a Measure of Written Documentation Accuracy in Emergency Medical Service Field Intubations.

Introduction: Quality improvement (QI) is a major focus of all departments and fields of health care, including emergency medical services. The chaotic and rapidly evolving atmosphere in which paramedics must practice can lead to inconsistency between what is documented and the actual events. This leads to difficulty when trying to evaluate the practitioners and when implementing a QI program.

Clozapine and neutrophil response in patients of African descent: A six-month, multinational, prospective, open-label clinical trial.

Introduction: Clozapine is the most effective antipsychotic for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, but it is markedly underutilized, particularly in the US Black population, partly because of concern over clozapine-associated low absolute neutrophil count (ANC). People of African descent have a lower normative ANC range than the White population, which is associated with a specific "ACKR1-null" ("Duffy null") CC genotype (SNP rs2814778) on the ACKR1 gene, termed benign ethnic neutropenia (BEN). The range of ANC variability and safety of clozapine have not been established in people with BEN or examined prospectively in people of African descent.

The study of selection signature and its applications on identification of candidate genes using whole genome sequencing data in chicken-a review.

Chicken is a major source of protein for the increasing human population and is useful for research purposes. There are almost 1,600 distinct regional breeds of chicken across the globe, among which a large body of genetic and phenotypic variations has been accumulated due to extensive natural and artificial selection. Moreover, natural selection is a crucial force for animal domestication.

A Dosimetric Comparison of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy and Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy in Patients Treated with Post-Mastectomy Radiotherapy.

Objective: Radiotherapy continues to play an important role in the management of breast cancer. This study compared the dosimetric differences between the techniques of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in breast cancer patients who had radiotherapy after mastectomy.

Materials And Methods: Forty post-mastectomy patients (19 right-sided breast and 21 left-sided breast) treated with the IMRT technique using 7-9 fields who were re-planned with VMAT using 2 coplanar arc on the Varian Vital beam linear accelerator between January, 2020 and August, 2021 were included in this study.

Taxonomic assessment of two wild house mouse subspecies using whole-genome sequencing.

The house mouse species complex (Mus musculus) is comprised of three primary subspecies. A large number of secondary subspecies have also been suggested on the basis of divergent morphology and molecular variation at limited numbers of markers. While the phylogenetic relationships among the primary M.

High prevalence of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins detected among clinical isolates from sentinel healthcare facilities in Lagos, Nigeria.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacterial pathogens is a worldwide concern that demands immediate attention. Most information on AMR originates from high-income countries and little is known about the burden in Africa, particularly Nigeria. Using four sentinel sites (General hospitals) in Lagos State, this study sought to estimate the burden of AMR.

Research Note: Association of single nucleotide polymorphism of AKT3 with egg production traits in White Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata).

Prior studies on transcriptomes of hypothalamus and ovary revealed that AKT3 is one of the candidate genes that might affect egg production in White Muscovy ducks. The role of AKT3 in the uterus during reproductive processes cannot be overemphasized. However, functional role of this gene in the tissues and on egg production traits of Muscovy ducks remains unknown.

Assessment of anxiety and depression, and coping mechanisms during COVID-19 lockdown among pregnant women.

Background: COVID-19 lockdown was associated with disruption of daily life, economy, essential health services including maternal health service, and psychological reflexes such as panic, sleep disorders, fear, anxiety, and depression.

Aim: To assess the perception of pregnant women on the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and the prevalence of common mental health disorders (CMHD) among pregnant women.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 380 pregnant women at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan; participants were enrolled using a simple random sampling technique.

Increased incidence of hematologic malignancies in SCD after HCT in adults with graft failure and mixed chimerism.

Lawal et al report on a 45-fold increase in secondary hematologic malignancy in 120 patients following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for sickle cell disease (SCD), comparable to what has been reported following gene therapy. Notably, the cohort is enriched for older patients and for haploidentical transplant recipients with mixed chimerism following HSCT. These data further support the idea that pre-existing premalignant myeloid clones undergo clonal selection in the setting of nonmyeloablative HSCT and contribute to secondary malignancy.

Long noncoding RNA ZFP36L2-AS functions as a metabolic modulator to regulate muscle development.

Skeletal muscle is the largest metabolic organ in the body, and its metabolic flexibility is essential for maintaining systemic energy homeostasis. Metabolic inflexibility in muscles is a dominant cause of various metabolic disorders, impeding muscle development. In our previous study, we found lncRNA ZFP36L2-AS (for "ZFP36L2-antisense transcript") is specifically enriched in skeletal muscle.

Selection shapes the landscape of functional variation in wild house mice.

Background: Through human-aided dispersal over the last ~ 10,000 years, house mice (Mus musculus) have recently colonized diverse habitats across the globe, promoting the emergence of new traits that confer adaptive advantages in distinct environments. Despite their status as the premier mammalian model system, the impact of this demographic and selective history on the global patterning of disease-relevant trait variation in wild mouse populations is poorly understood.

Results: Here, we leveraged 154 whole-genome sequences from diverse wild house mouse populations to survey the geographic organization of functional variation and systematically identify signals of positive selection.

Deep-ultraviolet laser ablation sampling for proteomic analysis of tissue.

Deep-ultraviolet laser ablation with a pulsed 193 nm ArF excimer laser was used to remove localized regions from tissue sections from which proteins were extracted for spatially resolved proteomic analysis by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The ability to capture intact proteins by ablation at 193 nm wavelength was verified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) of the protein standard bovine serum albumin (BSA), which showed that BSA was ablated and captured without fragmentation. A Bradford assay of the ablated and captured proteins indicated 90% efficiency for transfer of the intact protein at a laser fluence of 3 kJ/m.