Necrotizing Fasciitis and Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome: A Case Report.

Group A (GAS), particularly (), is a significant human pathogen responsible for infections often ranging from mild superficial conditions to severe, life-threatening diseases like necrotizing fasciitis (NF) and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). This case report details the rapid deterioration of a previously healthy 49-year-old woman who presented with localized symptoms in her left thigh, later escalating to septic shock and multi-organ failure related to GAS infection. Initial evaluations indicated significant inflammation and acute kidney injury, prompting broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment.

The Unique Challenge of Coronary Artery Disease in Adult Patients with Congenital Heart Disease.

Advances in medical and surgical interventions have resulted in a steady increase in the number of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) reaching adult age. Unfortunately, this ever-growing population faces an added challenge: an increased risk of acquiring coronary artery disease. This review provides insight into the complex interactions between coronary artery disease and CHD in adults.

Applications of genome-scale metabolic models to the study of human diseases: A systematic review.

Background And Objectives: Genome-scale metabolic networks (GEMs) represent a valuable modeling and computational tool in the broad field of systems biology. Their ability to integrate constraints and high-throughput biological data enables the study of intricate metabolic aspects and processes of different cell types and conditions. The past decade has witnessed an increasing number and variety of applications of GEMs for the study of human diseases, along with a huge effort aimed at the reconstruction, integration and analysis of a high number of organisms.

Chorio-retinal vessel density in women affected by functional hypothalamic amenorrhea: a monocentric observational cross-sectional study to evaluate the impact of hypoestrogenism on chorio-retinal vascularization.

Purpose: Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) is characterized by an estrogen deficiency which in turn can cause vascular dysfunction. The aim of this study is to evaluate any changes in the chorio-retinal circulation in patients affected by FHA. 24 patients with FHA and 24 age-matched controls underwent a gynecological evaluation and an OCT angiography (OCTA) to study chorio-retinal vascularization.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor dapagliflozin prevents ejection fraction reduction, reduces myocardial and renal NF-κB expression and systemic pro-inflammatory biomarkers in models of short-term doxorubicin cardiotoxicity.

Background: Anthracycline-mediated adverse cardiovascular events are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) exert multiple cardiometabolic benefits in patients with/without type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and heart failure with reduced and preserved ejection fraction. We hypothesized that the SGLT2i dapagliflozin administered before and during doxorubicin (DOXO) therapy could prevent cardiac dysfunction and reduce pro-inflammatory pathways in preclinical models.

Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea: gut microbiota composition and the effects of exogenous estrogen administration.

Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) is characterized by estrogen deficiency that significantly impacts metabolic, bone, cardiovascular, mental, and reproductive health. Given the importance of environmental factors such as stress and body composition, and particularly considering the importance of estrogens in regulating the gut microbiota, some changes in the intestinal microenvironment are expected when all of these factors occur simultaneously. We aimed to assess whether the gut microbiota composition is altered in FHA and to determine the potential impact of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) on the gut microbiota.

Cost-Effectiveness of Carbidopa-Levodopa Enteral Suspension for Advanced Parkinson's Disease in the United States.

Background: Carbidopa/levodopa enteral suspension (CLES) is indicated for the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease (aPD) with severe motor fluctuations.

Objective: To determine the cost, quality-adjusted life years (QALY), and cost-effectiveness of CLES compared to the standard-of-care (SoC) for aPD patients in the United States (US), using real-world data.

Methods: A published Markov model, comprising of 25 health states and a death state, (defined by a combination of the Hoehn and Yahr scale and waking time spent in OFF-time) was adapted to estimate the benefits for CLES versus oral SoC over a patient's lifetime in the US healthcare setting.

The Clinical Course of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Patients With Autoimmune Neutropenia: A Retrospective Case Series Study.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection in children with autoimmune neutropenia may be a cause for concern. In this retrospective study, none of the 24 autoimmune neutropenia cases manifested severe coronavirus disease 2019. We found a significant improvement in neutrophils and a reduction in lymphocytes at post-infection follow-up compared with the median of previous values.

Design and Experimental Validation of a 3D-Printed Embedded-Sensing Continuum Robot for Neurosurgery.

A minimally-invasive manipulator characterized by hyper-redundant kinematics and embedded sensing modules is presented in this work. The bending angles (tilt and pan) of the robot tip are controlled through tendon-driven actuation; the transmission of the actuation forces to the tip is based on a Bowden-cable solution integrating some channels for optical fibers. The viability of the real-time measurement of the feedback control variables, through optoelectronic acquisition, is evaluated for automated bending of the flexible endoscope and trajectory tracking of the tip angles.

A General Approach for the Modelling of Negative Feedback Physiological Control Systems.

Mathematical models can improve the understanding of physiological systems behaviour, which is a fundamental topic in the bioengineering field. Having a reliable model enables researchers to carry out in silico experiments, which require less time and resources compared to their in vivo and in vitro counterparts. This work's objective is to capture the characteristics that a nonlinear dynamical mathematical model should exhibit, in order to describe physiological control systems at different scales.

Combined mechanistic modeling and machine-learning approaches in systems biology - A systematic literature review.

Background And Objective: Mechanistic-based Model simulations (MM) are an effective approach commonly employed, for research and learning purposes, to better investigate and understand the inherent behavior of biological systems. Recent advancements in modern technologies and the large availability of omics data allowed the application of Machine Learning (ML) techniques to different research fields, including systems biology. However, the availability of information regarding the analyzed biological context, sufficient experimental data, as well as the degree of computational complexity, represent some of the issues that both MMs and ML techniques could present individually.

Mid-term follow-up after COVID-19 vaccination in adults with CHD: a prospective study.

Background: Long-term data on COVID-19 vaccine safety, immunogenicity, and acceptance in adults with CHD are lacking.

Methods: This is a prospective study including adults with CHD patients undergoing COVID-19 vaccination from January 2021 to June 2022. Data on adverse events, antispike IgG titre, previous or subsequent COVID-19 infection, booster doses, and patients' attitude towards vaccination were collected.

A Standardized Clinical Data Harmonization Pipeline for Scalable AI Application Deployment (FHIR-DHP): Validation and Usability Study.

Background: Increasing digitalization in the medical domain gives rise to large amounts of health care data, which has the potential to expand clinical knowledge and transform patient care if leveraged through artificial intelligence (AI). Yet, big data and AI oftentimes cannot unlock their full potential at scale, owing to nonstandardized data formats, lack of technical and semantic data interoperability, and limited cooperation between stakeholders in the health care system. Despite the existence of standardized data formats for the medical domain, such as Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR), their prevalence and usability for AI remain limited.

The Impact of Asymptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Positive Disease Status on Inpatient Complications Following Spine Surgery: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

In the United States, nearly 1.2 million people > 12 years old have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which is associated with postoperative complications following orthopedic procedures. Little is known about how asymptomatic HIV (AHIV) patients fare postoperatively.

Functional Movement Disorders and Deep Brain Stimulation: A Multi-Center Study.

Background: Functional movement disorders (FMD) are a commonly under-recognized diagnosis in patients with underlying neurodegenerative diseases. FMD have been observed in patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's disease (PD) and other movement disorders. The prevalence of coexisting FMD among movement disorder-related DBS patients is unknown, and it may occur more often than previously recognized.

Sperm DNA fragmentation and idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss: Results from a multicenter case-control study.

Background: Sperm DNA fragmentation was hypothesized to have a role in the pathogenesis of recurrent pregnancy loss. Unfortunately, the quality of already published evidence is low.

Objectives: To investigate the association between sperm DNA fragmentation and idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss by limiting, as much as possible, the interference of confounding factors.

Advanced echocardiographic assessment in adults with repaired aortic coarctation: myocardial work analysis provides novel insights on left ventricular mechanics.

Aim: To analyze left ventricular (LV) mechanics through advanced echocardiography, including speckle tracking analysis and myocardial work (MW) in a cohort of adults with repaired aortic coarctation (CoA).

Methods: Data on standard echocardiography, LV speckle-tracking and MW analysis were collected in CoA patients > 18 years with no significant recoartation or valvular disease and normal LV ejection fraction at the time of the exam. MW indices were calculated using the blood pressure measured in the right arm.

Long-term results of carbidopa/levodopa enteral suspension across the day in advanced Parkinson's disease: Post-hoc analyses from a large 54-week trial.

Introduction: Carbidopa/levodopa enteral suspension (CLES) previously demonstrated reduction in total daily OFF from baseline by over 4 hours in advanced Parkinson's disease patients across 54 weeks. Evidence on CLES's long-term effectiveness on patterns of motor-symptom control throughout the day remains limited.

Methods: We present post-hoc analyses of a large, open-label study of CLES monotherapy (N = 289).

Clinician vs. imaging-based subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation programming.

Introduction: We sought to explore whether electrode visualization tools (EVT) can accurately predict the selection of optimal Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) electrode contacts.

Methods: Twelve patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) undergoing STN-DBS at The Ohio State University were enrolled in a prospective analysis to evaluate the accuracy of EVT-based vs. standard DBS programming.

Safety and Efficacy of Sacubitril/Valsartan in Patients With a Failing Systemic Right Ventricle: A Prospective Single-Center Study.

Background: Sacubitril/valsartan was demonstrated to reduce hospitalization rate and mortality in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Data on the effects of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with a systemic right ventricle are still lacking.

Methods: Patients with transposition of the great arteries following Senning/Mustard procedure or congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries with impaired systemic right ventricle systolic function were prospectively included.

Comparative Effectiveness of Device-Aided Therapies on Quality of Life and Off-Time in Advanced Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Bayesian Network Meta-analysis.

Introduction: Research comparing levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG), deep brain stimulation (DBS), and continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion (CSAI) for advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) is lacking. This network meta-analysis (NMA) assessed the comparative effectiveness of LCIG, DBS, CSAI and best medical therapy (BMT) in reducing off-time and improving quality of life (QoL) in patients with advanced PD.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), observational and interventional studies from January 2003 to September 2019.