Assessment of tuberculosis drug efficacy using preclinical animal models and in vitro predictive techniques.

Tuberculosis (TB) killed approximately 1.3 million people in 2022 and remains a leading cause of death from the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb); this number of deaths was surpassed only by COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation Outcomes in Pediatric Trisomy 21 Patients with Overweight or Obesity.

Objectives: To assess the impact of body mass index (BMI) on hypoglossal nerve stimulator (HNS) implantation outcomes in pediatric patients with Down syndrome (DS). We compare outcomes of HNS implantation when comparing children based on overweight or obese status.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients at a single tertiary pediatric hospital who underwent HNS implantation between 2022 and 2024.

Disposable Dosators Intended for Dry Powder Delivery to Mice.

Dry powder inhalers offer numerous advantages for delivering drugs to the lungs, including stable solid-state drug formulations, device portability, bolus metering and dosing, and a propellant-free dispersal mechanism. To develop pharmaceutical dry powder aerosol products, robust in vivo testing is essential. Typically, initial studies involve using a murine model for preliminary evaluation before conducting formal studies in larger animal species.

Preparation Strategies of the Anti-Mycobacterial Drug Bedaquiline for Intrapulmonary Routes of Administration.

() has infected one-quarter of the world's population and led to the deaths of 1.6 million individuals in 2021 according to estimates from the World Health Organization. The rise in prevalence of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant strains coupled with insufficient therapies to treat such strains has motivated the development of more effective treatments and/or delivery modalities.

Experientially based narrative instruction: A neurocognitive perspective.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a personal narrative intervention based on neurocognitive principles and experientially based learning for improving the personal narrative language abilities of a school-age child with Down's syndrome.

Method: A single-case design using contemporary statistical techniques was employed to complete this study. The participant was 8 years 8 months at the time of the study and he participated in a 14-week personal narrative intervention.

Optimization and Scale Up of Spray Dried CPZEN-45 Aerosol Powders for Inhaled Tuberculosis Treatment.

Purpose: Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the most serious diseases caused by a single organism. Multiple (MDR) and extensively (XDR) drug resistant disease poses a threat to global health and requires new drugs and/or innovative approaches to treatment. A number of drugs have been proposed as inhaled therapy for TB, frequently prepared by spray drying.

Geographic Distribution of Otolaryngology Training Programs and Potential Opportunities for Strategic Program Growth.

Objective: To characterize the geographic distribution of US otolaryngology residents based on geographical population density to determine current status and identify potential opportunities for otolaryngology residency program expansion.

Methods: The locoregional population of otolaryngology residency programs was analyzed (as defined by the US Census) and the number of resident trainees per 100,000 people in each region was calculated. Otolaryngology residency program location was determined by mailing address, and program size was determined by AAMC public data.

Exploring the Factors that Influence Ethical Spanish Use among Medical Students and Solutions for Improvement.

IssueThere is a need for greater access to Spanish language services in United States healthcare. One approach to increasing language concordant care is the use of second language skills by healthcare staff. The desire to use second language skills may have unintended consequences when individuals step beyond their language abilities and can cause more harm than do good for limited-English proficiency patients.

Cost and clinical outcomes of postoperative intensive care unit versus general floor management in head and neck free flap reconstructive surgery patients.

Purpose: To compare clinical, surgical, and cost outcomes in patients undergoing head and neck free-flap reconstructive surgery in the setting of postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) against general floor management.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of head and neck free-flap reconstructive surgery patients at a single tertiary academic medical center. Clinical data was obtained from medical records.

Microbiology, Histopathology, and Radiographic Findings in Silent Sinus Syndrome.

Background: The histopathology and microbiology associated with silent sinus syndrome (SSS) have not been well described.

Objective: This study details the histopathological and microbiological characteristics in addition to radiographic findings of SSS in comparison to those of chronic maxillary sinusitis (CRS).

Methods: 42 patients diagnosed with SSS at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Arizona were identified.

Fabrication of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanoparticles with fluorescent tracers for studies in mammalian cells.

Fluorescent nanoparticles (NPs) comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with a hydrodynamic diameter of 158 ± 2 nm were synthesized in a bottom-up approach. Concentration-dependent uptake and cytotoxicity of PET NPs in macrophages are shown. The fabrication of well-characterized NPs, derived from high-commodity polymers, will support future studies to assess effects on biological systems.

Pediatric Mandibular Central Giant Cell Granuloma: Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy to Minimize Surgical Resection.

Central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) is a relatively uncommon benign bony lesion accounting for approximately 7% of all non-neoplastic lesions of the jaw. The clinical behavior of CGCG can vary from a slow-growing, painless lesion to fast-growing and locally destructive. When such a lesion involves the mandible, this can be quite debilitating for the patient, inhibiting oral intake and requiring an extensive resection and bone graft reconstruction.

Recruitment and Networking With Social Media for the Otolaryngology Match in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

COVID-19 has created new challenges and opportunities regarding the way in which programs and applicants will interact in the 2020-2021 otolaryngology residency match cycle. Social media and other virtual platforms offer a flexible and efficient medium for applicants and programs to gain information, communicate, and align interests. In this commentary, we explore ways in which social media may facilitate recruitment and networking in the virtual otolaryngology match.

Utility of Tracheostomy in Patients With COVID-19 and Other Special Considerations.

Introduction: Patients who become severely ill from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have a high likelihood of needing prolonged intubation, making tracheostomy a likely consideration. The infectious nature of COVID-19 poses an additional risk of transmission to healthcare workers that should be taken into consideration.

Methods: We explore current literature and recommendations for tracheostomy in patients with COVID-19 and look back at previous data from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 1 (SARS-CoV-1), the virus responsible for the SARS outbreak of 2003.

Improving phosphorus removal in a surface flow wetland and land application system by geochemical augmentation with alum.

Constructed surface flow (SF) wetlands are commonly used for phosphorus (P) removal. Geochemistry of wetlands provides explicit mechanisms for permanent P-sequestration in sediments. This study had two goals: (1) Find P removal performance and rate at the highest alum doses that do not produce floc in an SF wetland; and (2) Determine potential improvements to P removal performance with low alum doses in a 140-ha land application system downstream from the wetland.

An evaluation of the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of OccuPro's functional capacity evaluation.

Background: OccuPro's functional capacity evaluation (FCE) is used for assessing the client's readiness to return to work and three separate intra-rater and inter-rater reliability studies are explored here.

Objective: Three separate studies were conducted on injured and un-injured adults to evaluate the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the OccuPro FCE (upper extremity and material handling subtests). All three studies are summarized in this publication.

Pull the Andon Rope on Working Memory Capacity Interventions Until We Know More.

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to discuss the current state of interventions for improving working memory (WM) capacity language and academic skills and to provide suggestions for speech-language pathologists working with students who have WM capacity limitations.

Method: Meta-analyses, systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and nonrandomized comparison studies investigating the role of WM interventions for improving WM capacity language and academic skills are reviewed. Strategies for improving WM are discussed.

Resveratrol inhibits plasma membrane Ca-ATPase inducing an increase in cytoplasmic calcium.

Plasma membrane Ca-ATPase (PMCA) plays a vital role in maintaining cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca] ). Given that many diseases have modified PMCA expression and activity, PMCA is an important potential target for therapeutic treatment. This study demonstrates that the non-toxic, naturally-occurring polyphenol resveratrol (RES) induces increases in [Ca] via PMCA inhibition in primary dermal fibroblasts and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

Dental pathology in conventionally fed and pasture managed dairy cattle.

Healthy teeth are important in the first stages of digestion for dairy cattle, yet little is known about bovine dental disease. This study aimed to investigate dental pathology of dairy cattle in two parts. First dairy cattle cadaver heads (n=11) were examined at the time of culling.

Evaluation of the Efficacy, Potential for Vector Transmission, and Duration of Immunity of MP-12, an Attenuated Rift Valley Fever Virus Vaccine Candidate, in Sheep.

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) causes serious disease in ruminants and humans in Africa. In North America, there are susceptible ruminant hosts and competent mosquito vectors, yet there are no fully licensed animal vaccines for this arthropod-borne virus, should it be introduced. Studies in sheep and cattle have found the attenuated strain of RVFV, MP-12, to be both safe and efficacious based on early testing, and a 2-year conditional license for use in U.