Intensifying droughts render more Sahel drylands unsuitable for cultivation.

Two-fifth of the world's population will be confronted by dire land and water shortage for food production by 2050. Here we provide nuanced insights into the Sahel dryland dynamics and rationale behind its underperforming croplands amid climate extremes. We develop a gridded multi-criteria drought index for the growing season (June-October) and analyse its spatial and temporal degree of uniformity to designate the drought, climate and cultivable zones.

Low-intensity shockwave therapy improves baseline erectile function: a randomized sham-controlled crossover trial.

Background: Low-intensity shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction is emerging as a promising treatment option.

Aim: This randomized sham-controlled crossover trial assessed the efficacy of low-intensity shockwave therapy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Methods: Thirty-three participants with organic erectile dysfunction were enrolled and randomized to shockwave therapy (n = 17) or sham (n = 16).

Predictors of urinary outcomes following robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.

Introduction: Incontinence and urgency are common after prostatectomy. The University of Virginia prostatectomy functional outcomes program (PFOP) was developed to comprehensively assess and optimise continence outcomes following robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). Patients are prospectively evaluated by a Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery specialist.

Longitudinal urgency outcomes following robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.

Purpose: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a well-known adverse outcome following robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP). Although postoperative SUI has been extensively studied, little focus has been placed on understanding the natural history and impact of urgency symptoms following RALP. The UVA prostatectomy functional outcomes program (PFOP) was developed to comprehensively assess and optimize continence outcomes following RALP.

Modulation of ocular surface desiccation in a murine model by histatin-5 application.

Purpose: To determine the efficacy of Histatin-5 (Hst5) peptide treatment in ameliorating dry eye disease (DED) phenotype in an in-vivo mouse model of scopolamine and desiccating stress (SDS) dry eye.

Methods: SDS was induced in female C57BL/6 mice by subcutaneous injections of scopolamine hydrobromide and exposure to low relative humidity and forced air draft for five days. Mouse eyes were topically treated with synthetic Hst5 peptide or balanced salt solution (BSS) twice a day for four days.

A narrative review of pelvic floor muscle training in the management of incontinence following prostate treatment.

Background And Objective: Urinary incontinence following prostate treatment (IPT) is a common complication with corresponding negative impacts on quality of life. Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is a non-invasive treatment strategy to treat combat this clinical issue, and has been recognized by medical associations globally and increasingly supported by large bodies of literature. Accordingly, many studies demonstrate a significant benefit of pelvic floor muscle training to continence status and quality of life in men with incontinence following prostate treatment.

Histatin-1 Attenuates LPS-Induced Inflammatory Signaling in RAW264.7 Macrophages.

Macrophages play a critical role in the inflammatory response to environmental triggers, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Inflammatory signaling through macrophages and the innate immune system are increasingly recognized as important contributors to multiple acute and chronic disease processes. Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical that plays an important role in immune and inflammatory responses as an important intercellular messenger.

Histatin-1 is an endogenous ligand of the sigma-2 receptor.

The Sigma-2 receptor (S2R) (a.k.a TMEM97) is an important endoplasmic reticular protein involved in cancer, cholesterol processing, cell migration, and neurodegenerative diseases, including Niemann-Pick Type C.

Juvenile xanthogranuloma in Noonan syndrome.

Noonan syndrome (NS) is one of the common RASopathies. While the clinical phenotype in NS is variable, it is typically characterized by distinctive craniofacial features, cardiac defects, reduced growth, bleeding disorders, learning issues, and an increased risk of cancer. Several different genes cause NS, all of which are involved in the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (Ras/MAPK) pathway.

Are antioxidants a viable treatment option for male infertility?

Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance between ROS and antioxidants, which plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of many human diseases. There is extensive evidence highlighting the role of oxidative stress in male infertility due to elevated levels of sperm DNA fragmentation and abnormal semen parameters. The use of antioxidants is a potential therapeutic option to reduce ROS and improve semen quality.

Wound Healing Properties of Histatin-5 and Identification of a Functional Domain Required for Histatin-5-Induced Cell Migration.

Histatin peptides are endogenous anti-microbial peptides that were originally discovered in the saliva. Aside from their broad anti-microbial properties, these peptides play an important role in multiple biological systems. Different members of this family are thought to have relative specializations, with histatin-5 originally being thought to have mostly anti-fungal properties, and histatin-1 having strong wound healing properties.

Prior inhibition of AKT phosphorylation by BX795 can define a safer strategy to prevent herpes simplex virus-1 infection of the eye.

Purpose: To evaluate the prophylactic antiviral efficacy, corneal tolerance and toxicity of topically dosed BX795, a non-nucleoside small-molecule inhibitor of herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1).

Methods: Prophylactic treatment with BX795 was performed both in-vitro on human corneal epithelial cells and in-vivo on mice prior to HSV-1 challenge. Viral burden was evaluated using a standard plaque assay.

Presence of Histatin-1 in Human Tears and Association with Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye Diagnosis: A Preliminary Study.

The aims of this study were to determine if histatin-1 (H1) is present in normal human tears and whether tear levels of H1 varied between normal patients and those with aqueous deficient dry eye disease (ADDE). Patient samples were obtained from 11 normal patients and 11 severe ADDE patients. Relevant patient characteristics, including age, sex, and dry eye disease (DED) diagnostic parameters were collected.

Strategies for Regenerating the Lacrimal Gland.

Purpose Of Review: Aqueous deficient dry eye disease, a significant cause of morbidity worldwide, is due to dysfunction of the main and accessory lacrimal glands. Recent advances in efforts to regenerate lacrimal gland are reviewed.

Recent Findings: Several strategies are being explored: culture models of human and non-human lacrimal gland epithelial and myoepithelial cells, isolation and characterization of adult precursor cells within lacrimal glands, directed differentiation of stem cells to lacrimal gland cells, and organogenesis and engraftment techniques.

Testing for Noonan syndrome after increased nuchal translucency.

Objective: The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of Noonan syndrome (NS) in a cohort of fetuses that presented with increased nuchal translucency (NT) thickness in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Methods: This is a retrospective chart review.

Inclusion Criteria: (1) first trimester NT measurement ≥3 mm, (2) normal karyotype by either a CVS or an amniocentesis procedure, and (3) prenatal molecular genetic testing for NS completed.

Effects of histatin-1 peptide on human corneal epithelial cells.

Purpose: Ocular surface and corneal epithelial wounds are common and potentially debilitating problems. Ideal treatments for these injuries would promote epithelial healing without inflammation, infection and scarring. In addition the best treatments would be cost-efficient, effective, non-toxic and easily applied.

Human Lacrimal Gland Gene Expression.

Background: The study of human lacrimal gland biology and development is limited. Lacrimal gland tissue is damaged or poorly functional in a number of disease states including dry eye disease. Development of cell based therapies for lacrimal gland diseases requires a better understanding of the gene expression and signaling pathways in lacrimal gland.

Evaluation of Accessory Lacrimal Gland in Muller's Muscle Conjunctival Resection Specimens for Precursor Cell Markers and Biological Markers of Dry Eye Disease.

Purpose: The accessory lacrimal glands (ALGs) are an understudied component of the tear functional unit, even though they are important in the development of dry eye syndrome (DES). To advance our understanding of aging changes, regenerative potential, and histologic correlates to human characteristics, we investigated human ALG tissue from surgical samples to determine the presence or absence of progenitor cell markers and lacrimal epithelial markers and to correlate marker expression to relevant patient characteristics.

Materials And Methods: ALG tissues obtained from Muller's muscle conjunctival resection (MMCR) specimens were created using tissue microarrays (TMAs).

Histatin-1 Expression in Human Lacrimal Epithelium.

Background: Study of human lacrimal cell biology is limited by poor access to tissue samples, heterogeneous cell composition of tissue and a lack of established lacrimal epithelial markers. In order to further our understanding of lacrimal cell biology, we sought to find a better marker for human lacrimal epithelial cells, compared to what has been reported in the literature.

Methods: We utilized human Muller's muscle conjunctival resection (MMCR) specimens containing accessory lacrimal gland (ALG) and cadaveric main lacrimal gland (MLG) as sources of lacrimal tissue.

Recognizable syndromes in the newborn period.

Making the diagnosis of genetic syndromes in the neonatal period can be challenging, as limited information concerning growth and development is available. The pattern of dysmorphic features and malformations is, therefore, correspondingly more important in syndrome recognition. The authors provide specific examples of the differences in the presentation for selected syndromes between the newborn period and later childhood.

Novel de novo heterozygous loss-of-function variants in MED13L and further delineation of the MED13L haploinsufficiency syndrome.

MED13L haploinsufficiency has recently been described as responsible for syndromic intellectual disability. We planned a search for causative gene variants in seven subjects with intellectual disability and overlapping dysmorphic facial features such as bulbous nasal tip, short mouth and straight eyebrows. We found two de novo frameshift variants in MED13L, consisting in single-nucleotide deletion (c.