Automatic Final-Product Assessment of Virtual Reality Mastoidectomy Performance: A Validity and Reliability Study.

Objective: Assessment is key in modern surgical education to monitor progress and document sufficient skills. Virtual reality (VR) temporal bone simulators allow automated tracking of basic metrics such as time, volume removed, and collisions. However, adequate performance assessment further includes compound rating of the stepwise bony excavation, and exposure and preservation of soft tissue structures.

A Urine pH-Ammonium Acid/Base Score and CKD Progression.

Key Points: This study developed a urine acid/base score to assess tubular acid excretion capacity and identify early acid retention in CKD. The results show that early signs of acid retention (a low acid/base score) are associated with a higher risk for CKD progression. Future research should address if a low urine acid/base score can be improved and if this translates into clinically meaningful effects.

Mapping RANKL- and OPG-expressing cells in bone tissue: the bone surface cells as activators of osteoclastogenesis and promoters of the denosumab rebound effect.

Denosumab is a monoclonal anti-RANKL antibody that inhibits bone resorption, increases bone mass, and reduces fracture risk. Denosumab discontinuation causes an extensive wave of rebound resorption, but the cellular mechanisms remain poorly characterized. We utilized in situ hybridization (ISH) as a direct approach to identify the cells that activate osteoclastogenesis through the RANKL/OPG pathway.

Revisiting voltage-coupled H secretion in the collecting duct.

Experimental studies have shown that V-type ATPase-driven H secretion is dependent on transepithelial voltage. On this basis, the "voltage hypothesis" of urinary acidification by the collecting duct was derived. Accordingly, it has been supposed that the lumen-negative potential created by the reabsorption of Na via the epithelial Na channel (ENaC) enhances electrogenic H secretion via V-type H-ATPase.

3D-printed temporal bone models for training: Does material transparency matter?

Purpose: To investigate the impact of 3D-printed temporal bone models with two different material transparencies on trainees' mastoidectomy performance.

Methods: Eleven ORL residents performed two anatomical mastoidectomies with posterior tympanotomy on two 3D-printed models with different transparency and VR simulation training. Participants where divided into two groups based on their experience.

Exploring TNFi drug-levels and anti-drug antibodies during tapering among patients with inflammatory arthritis: secondary analyses from the randomised BIODOPT trial.

To evaluate tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) drug-levels and presence of anti-drug antibodies (ADAb) in patients with inflammatory arthritis who taper TNFi compared to TNFi continuation. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or axial spondyloarthritis on stable TNFi dose and in low disease activity ≥ 12 months were randomised (2:1) to disease activity-guided tapering or control. Blood samples at baseline, 12- and 18-months were evaluated for TNFi drug-levels and ADAb.

Memory effects in disease modelling through kernel estimates with oscillatory time history.

We design a linear chain trick algorithm for dynamical systems for which we have oscillatory time histories in the distributed time delay. We make use of this algorithmic framework to analyse memory effects in disease evolution in a population. The modelling is based on a susceptible-infected-recovered SIR-model and on a susceptible-exposed-infected-recovered SEIR-model through a kernel that dampens the activity based on the recent history of infectious individuals.

Urinary acid-base excretion deciphers high acid load from colonic bicarbonate loss in intestinal failure patients with ileocolonic anastomosis - Guidance for composition of parenteral support.

Background & Aims: Acid-base disturbances are common in short bowel (SB) patients due to increased intestinal bicarbonate loss. However, the resulting systemic acid load has not been quantified. Base excess is used to monitor metabolic acid-base disturbances but inadequately reflects the acid load.

Distributed agency in HRI-an exploratory study of a narrative robot design.

We explore an alternative approach to the design of robots that deviates from the common envisionment of having one unified agent. What if robots are depicted as an agentic ensemble where agency is distributed over different components? In the project presented here, we investigate the potential contributions of this approach to creating entertaining and joyful human-robot interaction (HRI), which also remains comprehensible to human observers. We built a service robot-which takes care of plants as a Plant-Watering Robot (PWR)-that appears as a small ship controlled by a robotic captain accompanied by kinetic elements.

Post-intervention Adherence to the New Nordic Renal Diet among patients with chronic kidney disease, stages 3 and 4.

The New Nordic Renal Diet (NNRD) is a meal pattern reduced in phosphorus, protein, and sodium for patients with moderate chronic kidney disease. The NNRD showed improvements in metabolic, and physiological outcomes after 26-weeks intervention. In the original study, participants were randomized to NNRD (n = 30), or control (habitual diet) (n = 30).

Secretin: a hormone for HCO homeostasis.

Secretin is a key hormone of the intestinal phase of digestion which activates pancreatic, bile duct and Brunner gland HCO secretion. Recently, the secretin receptor (SCTR) was also found in the basolateral membrane of the beta-intercalated cell (B-IC) of the collecting duct. Experimental addition of secretin triggers a pronounced activation of urinary HCO excretion, which is fully dependent on key functional proteins of the B-IC, namely apical pendrin and CFTR and the basolateral SCTR.

Trimethoprim inhibits renal H-K-ATPase in states of K depletion.

There is growing consensus that under physiological conditions, collecting duct H secretion is independent of epithelial Na channel (ENaC) activity. We have recently shown that the direct ENaC inhibitor benzamil acutely impairs H excretion by blocking renal H-K-ATPase. However, the question remains whether inhibition of ENaC per se causes alterations in renal H excretion.

Associations of bolus insulin injection frequency and smart pen engagement with glycaemic control in people living with type 1 diabetes.

Aim: To evaluate whether both bolus insulin injection frequency and smart pen engagement were associated with changes in glycaemic control, using real-world data from adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Materials And Methods: Adults using a smart pen (NovoPen 6) to administer bolus insulin (fast-acting insulin aspart or insulin aspart) alongside continuous glucose monitoring were eligible for inclusion. Smart pen engagement was characterized by number of days with pen data uploads over the previous 14 days.

Health effects of the New Nordic Renal Diet in patients with stage 3 and 4 chronic kidney disease, compared with habitual diet: a randomized trial.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads to an accumulation of waste products and causes adverse cardiometabolic effects.

Objectives: We investigated the health effects of the New Nordic Renal Diet (NNRD), a novel meal pattern reduced in phosphorus, protein, and sodium.

Methods: A 26-wk randomized trial compared the NNRD with a habitual diet.

3-D-Printed Models for Temporal Bone Training: A Validity Study.

Objective: 3-D printing offers convenient and low-cost mastoidectomy training; nonetheless, training benefits using 3-D-printed temporal bones remain largely unexplored. In this study, we have collected validity evidence for a low-cost, 3-D-printed temporal bone for mastoidectomy training and established a credible pass/fail score for performance on the model.

Study Design: A prospective educational study gathering validity evidence using Messick's validity framework.

An Occlusive Hydrocolloid-Based Patch Is Effective, Feasible, and Safe As a Treatment of Irritant Contact Dermatitis Due to Diabetes Devices in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes.

Irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) occurs frequently with the use of diabetes devices, but no guidelines for treatment exist. Since subsequent devices need intact skin for intended use, quick healing is crucial. Normal wound healing is expected to be 7-10 days.

3D-printing a cost-effective model for mastoidectomy training.

Background: 3D-printed temporal bone models can potentially provide a cost-effective alternative to cadaver surgery that can be manufactured locally at the training department. The objective of this study was to create a cost-effective 3D-printed model suitable for mastoidectomy training using entry level and commercially available print technologies, enabling individuals, without prior experience on 3D-printing, to manufacture their own models for basic temporal bone training.

Methods: Expert technical professionals and an experienced otosurgeon identified the best material for replicating the temporal bone and created a cost-effective printing routine for the model using entry-level print technologies.

Public perceptions and expectations: Disentangling the hope and hype of organoid research.

Organoid technologies are rapidly advancing and hold great potential and hope for disease modeling and clinical translational research. Still, they raise a number of complex, ethical questions regarding their current and future use. Patient and public involvement is important in building public trust and helping to secure responsible conduct and valued innovations; nevertheless, research into patient and public perspectives on organoid technologies remains scarce.

Learning Curves in Directed Self-Regulated Virtual Reality Training of Mastoidectomy and the Role of Repetition and Motivation.

Background: Mastoidectomy is a complex procedure which can be trained on human cadaveric temporal bones or simulation models. The number of repetitions offered in most training curricula is considerably less than what is normally required for motor skills acquisition in crafts or sports. Directed, self-regulated virtual reality simulation training may provide unlimited repetitions but the effect on learning of extended but unsupervised training is unknown.

Potassium Activates mTORC2-dependent SGK1 Phosphorylation to Stimulate Epithelial Sodium Channel: Role in Rapid Renal Responses to Dietary Potassium.

Significance Statement: Rapid renal responses to ingested potassium are essential to prevent hyperkalemia and also play a central role in blood pressure regulation. Although local extracellular K + concentration in kidney tissue is increasingly recognized as an important regulator of K + secretion, the underlying mechanisms that are relevant in vivo remain controversial. To assess the role of the signaling kinase mTOR complex-2 (mTORC2), the authors compared the effects of K + administered by gavage in wild-type mice and knockout mice with kidney tubule-specific inactivation of mTORC2.

Cellular voids in the pathogenesis of otosclerosis.

Background: Otosclerosis is a common ear disease that causes fixation of the stapes and conductive hearing impairment. However, the pathogenesis of otosclerosis is still unknown. Otosclerosis could be associated with the unique bony environment found in the otic capsule.

WNK1 is a chloride-stimulated scaffold that regulates mTORC2 activity and ion transport.

Mammalian (or mechanistic) target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2) is a kinase complex that targets predominantly Akt family proteins, SGK1 and protein kinase C (PKC), and has well-characterized roles in mediating hormone and growth factor effects on a wide array of cellular processes. Recent evidence suggests that mTORC2 is also directly stimulated in renal tubule cells by increased extracellular K+ concentration, leading to activation of the Na+ channel, ENaC, and increasing the electrical driving force for K+ secretion. We identify here a signaling mechanism for this local effect of K+.