Publications by authors named "Michael P"

Article Synopsis
  • The study examines the microbial diversity and metal accumulation in different ecological sites around Lubumbashi, a copper-rich area in Africa.
  • Four distinct sites were investigated: a residential area, an agricultural dry field, an agricultural wetland, and a remediated tailing, with the tailing showing the highest metal concentrations.
  • The findings highlight specific bacterial and fungal compositions at each site, indicating a relationship between environmental conditions and microbial communities, while the investigated plant species showed potential for metal phytoextraction despite being an excluder for copper and cobalt.
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Objective: To compare the rate of diagnosing clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) in men with elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) stratified by baseline IsoPSA Index, thus assessing IsoPSA's intermediate-term predictive ability for csPCa.

Material And Methods: Single-center retrospective review of consecutive patients (n = 1578) who underwent IsoPSA testing from November 2016-August 2022. Data dichotomized into patients with low (≤6) and high IsoPSA Indices (>6).

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Background: Deep neck space infections (DNSI) are common, potentially life-threatening presentations in otolaryngology. Treatment is often based on the severity of presenting symptoms and surgeon preference. This study aims to evaluate the presentation and predictors of complications in patients presenting with DNSI at an Australian Otolaryngology referral centre.

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The NF-κB family of transcription factors is a master regulator of cellular responses during inflammation, and its dysregulation has been linked to chronic inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease. It is therefore of vital importance to design and test new effective NF-κB inhibitors that have the potential to be utilized in clinical practice. In this study, we used a commercial transgenic HeLa cell line as an NF-κB activation reporter to test a novel quinoline molecule, Q3, as a potential inhibitor of the canonical NF-κB pathway.

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Background: Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI) has improved health and increased life expectancy in many patients with cystic fibrosis (pwCF). Family planning issues have become more important since then. Many women decide to remain on modulator therapy during pregnancy despite insufficient evidence-based recommendations for continuing ETI during pregnancy and lactation.

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Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is an angioproliferative neoplasm that affects the skin and lymph nodes. Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) triggers KS by infecting the endothelium and inducing angiogenesis through the production of vascular endothelial growth factors and cytokines. KS is characterized by purplish or hyperpigmented plaques involving the skin and mucous membranes, and visceral involvement is very rare.

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The complement system is critically involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis. In particular, complement anaphylatoxin C5a is generated in excess during sepsis, leading to cellular dysfunction. Recent studies have shown that excessive C5a impairs adrenomedullary catecholamine production release and induces apoptosis in adrenomedullary cells.

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Research in understanding the role of genetics and epigenetics in plant adaptations to environmental stressors such as metals is still in its infancy. The objective of the present study is to assess the effect of nickel on DNA methylation level and distribution in white birch ( Marshall) using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). The distribution of methylated C sites of each sample revealed that the level of methylation was much higher in CG context varying between 54% and 65%, followed by CHG (24%-31.

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The study investigates the antibiotic resistance (AR) profiles and genetic determinants in three strains of guaiacol-producing spp. isolated from orchard soil and pears. Their phenotypic characteristics, such as spore formation; resistance to different factors, including drugs or disinfectants; or production of off-flavor compounds, can affect the taste and aroma of spoiled products.

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Mounier-Kuhn syndrome, characterized by tracheal dilatation due to the loss of elastic fibers and smooth muscle cells, is a rare condition, often leading to recurrent respiratory infections from impaired mucociliary clearance.

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Salinity stress threatens global food security, requiring novel and sustainable approaches for its mitigation. Over the past decade, nanomaterials (NMs) have emerged as a promising tool to mitigate salinity stress in plants. However, their use has been questioned in terms of whether they really benefit plants or are phytotoxic.

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Introduction: Patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) are valuable tools for assessing health-related quality of life and treatment effectiveness in individuals with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Understanding the experiences of individuals with TBIs in completing PROMs is crucial for improving their utility and relevance in clinical practice.

Methods: Sixteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of individuals with TBIs.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Mitigating inflammation from the foreign body response (FBR) is crucial for improving implantable medical devices, but current anti-inflammatory strategies can inhibit necessary healing processes.
  • - Previous research showed that the NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor MCC950 reduced fibrosis around implants without harming tissue healing, but it failed safety trials, leading to the search for safer NLRP3 inhibitors.
  • - Dapansutrile (OLT1177) shows potential as a safer NLRP3 inhibitor, demonstrating beneficial effects on cells involved in FBR and reducing fibrosis while promoting blood vessel growth in a study, making it a promising candidate for future research in improving implant integration.
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Background: Bempedoic Acid (BA) is a novel drug that has a potential to serve as an alternative to statins to decrease lipid levels and improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes, particularly for statin-intolerant individuals. However, insufficient statistical power has limited our understanding of the efficacy and safety of BA. This meta-analysis utilizes the latest data to improve our knowledge of BA's effects on lipids and CVD with increased statistical power.

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Isolated spontaneous superior mesenteric artery (SMA) dissection is relatively rare. Often found incidentally on cross-sectional imaging, often managed non-operatively. We present a patient who presented with chest pain and was found to have a SMA dissection.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study reviewed 89 female patients with non-metastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by radical cystectomy between 2012 and 2023, focusing on the impact of clinical staging changes on surgical eligibility.* -
  • Out of the 75 patients with pre- and post-NAC imaging, 8% were clinically upstaged, meaning their disease progressed such that they were no longer eligible for a vaginal-sparing surgical approach.* -
  • The findings suggest that while upstaging occurred infrequently, interim imaging assessments during NAC could help identify patients who aren’t responding to treatment, potentially preserving their eligibility for less invasive surgical options.*
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Article Synopsis
  • Pathologic re-review of TURBT specimens at a tertiary care center was evaluated to understand its impact on disease risk stratification for bladder cancer patients.
  • Out of 173 patients whose specimens were re-reviewed, changes in grade, clinical stage, and risk stratification were observed, particularly in those with less advanced (
  • The study found that re-review by a GU pathologist affected more than 20% of patients' risk assessments, highlighting its importance in potentially altering patient management strategies.
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Digital technologies are changing how anatomy is taught tremendously. However, little is known about the effective integration of multimodal digital resources when concurrently provided in an anatomy course. To address this question, an array of digital anatomy resources including Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) anatomy resources were concurrently trialed by a total of 326 undergraduate and postgraduate students across three undergraduate (systemic anatomy, neuroanatomy, and regional anatomy) and one postgraduate anatomy (applied musculoskeletal anatomy) curricula in 2022.

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A 46-year-old diabetic woman with unilateral renal fungus ball was successfully treated with antifungal therapy, endoscopic extraction and ureteral stent placement. The patient was initially treated for a right staghorn calculus, thereafter developed urinary symptoms. Imaging revealed distal left ureter filling defects and a previous stent at the ureteropelvic junction.

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A new virus known as snakehead rhabdovirus (SHRV-In) was discovered in South India in striped snakehead (Channa striata) that had hemorrhagic patches and cutaneous ulcerations. The virus is the most potentially harmful pathogen of snakehead because it could cause 100% mortality within 5 days. The goal of the current investigation was to evaluate the infectivity of rhabdovirus in freshwater fishes and to analyze the immune response in snakehead fish after challenge with SHRV-In.

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Page kidney is a pathologic and rare occurrence caused by a compression of renal parenchyma leading to hypertension. When infiltrated or engulfed by extrinsic matter, the subcapsular region surrounding the renal tissue may cause blanket compression, leading to the activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system secondary to renal hypoperfusion. While most cases of Page kidney are secondary to blunt trauma to the costovertebral angle, herein we present a case of Page kidney due to renal parenchymal core needle biopsy.

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(Lib.) de Bary, an economically devastating soilborne fungal pathogen known to cause disease across a wide range of plants, produces long-term inoculum called sclerotia that can germinate either carpogenically by ascospores infecting aboveground plant parts or myceliogenically to infect stem base and roots. Typically, for research purposes, diseases are initiated by direct contact methods, using mycelium agar plugs wrapped around the stem or sclerotia placed directly beneath root mass.

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