Associations of sociodemographic, clinical factors and HLA-B alleles with enthesitis and peripheral arthritis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: Factors associated with peripheral arthritis and enthesitis, especially Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis, were examined in a longitudinal cohort of 1075 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (also known as radiographic axial spondyloarthritis).

Methods: Patients were derived from the Prospective Study of Outcomes in Ankylosing Spondylitis cohort. Disease activity and functional indices, as well as physical examination and medications used, were measured at every study visit.

Quantile regression based method for characterizing risk-specific behavioral patterns in relation to longitudinal left-censored biomarker data collected from heterogeneous populations.

There are many studies aimed at promoting positive lifestyle behaviors to reduce lifetime risk of cancer and related diseases. However, assessing these modifiable behaviors through statistical modeling is challenging because of the multidimensionality of interrelated measurements that may dramatically differ between at-risk individuals. Taking into account this heterogeneity while considering the multidimensionality of behavior changes is fundamental to tailoring interventions to their needs.

Edutech-Based Formative Assessment and Teaching Competencies in Nursing Education.

Background: The integration of education and technology (Edutech) has become significant in education.

Purpose: To explore the current state of formative assessment in nursing education and factors influencing technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) competencies.

Methods: A total of 216 novice nurse educators with <5 years of teaching experience in South Korea were surveyed online.

The Role of Intraoperative Positive Tissue Sample Location in Predicting Septic Failure After One-Stage Septic Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Background: The practice of collecting various intraoperative tissue samples from diverse periarticular sites is essential for accurately identifying the responsible microorganism, making it the gold standard in the procedure for managing periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). We hypothesized that the location of positive intraoperative cultures differs significantly between patients who underwent septic revision following a one-stage exchange for hip PJI and those who did not.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case-control study at our tertiary arthroplasty center, analyzing data from January 2009 to September 2017.

Exploring residents' and fellows' confidence in sexually transmitted infection management and confidential care for adolescents.

Background In the United States, many residents and fellows lack confidence in their ability to confidentially counsel adolescents regarding sexual health topics. Little is known about how personal and professional experiences may affect medical residents' and fellows' confidence in counselling adolescents about sexual health services. Methods We invited 361 residents and fellows (trainees) from paediatric, obstetrics and gynaecology, as well as family medicine programs at an academic medical centre in Texas to complete a survey about confidence in counselling about sexual health services.

Tailoring of Selective Chemo-Responsiveness in Liquid Crystals via Organic Ionic Plastic Crystals.

Liquid crystals (LCs) are widely used as promising stimuli-responsive materials due to their unique combination of liquid and crystalline properties, providing the capability to sense even molecular-scale events and amplify them into macroscopic optical outputs. However, encoding a high level of selectivity to a specific intermolecular event remains a key challenge, leading to prior studies regarding chemically functionalized LC interfaces. Herein, we propose an integrative strategy to significantly advance the design of chemo-responsive LCs through a deep fundamental understanding on the orientational coupling of LCs with new functional molecules, organic ionic plastic crystals (OIs), presented at LC interfaces.

Identification of Key Amino Acids in the A Domains of Polymyxin Synthetase Responsible for 2,4-Diaminobutyric Acid Adenylation in NBRC3020 Strain.

Developing novel nonribosomal peptides (NRPs) requires a comprehensive understanding of the enzymes involved in their biosynthesis, particularly the substrate amino acid recognition mechanisms in the adenylation (A) domain. This study focused on the A domain responsible for adenylating l-2,4-diaminobutyric acid (l-Dab) within the synthetase of polymyxin, an NRP produced by NBRC3020. To date, investigations into recombinant proteins that selectively adenylate l-Dab─exploring substrate specificity and enzymatic activity parameters─have been limited to reports on A domains found in enzymes synthesizing l-Dab homopolymers (pldA from USE31 and pddA from NBRC15115), which remain exceedingly rare.

Isotopic characteristics of antifouling paints and fractionation of Cu and Zn isotopes during dissolution by seawater and their adsorption to marine sediments.

The elemental and isotopic (δCu and δZn) characteristics of 34 AFP samples from 5 paint manufacturers, the isotopic fractionation during the dissolution of AFPs by seawater, and the subsequent adsorption of isotopes onto coastal fine-grained sediments were investigated to identify potential indicators (metal ratios and isotopes). The δCu and δZn values for 34 AFPs could be divided into 2 groups regardless of the type of paint or manufacturer. Dissolution by seawater induced substantial fractionation but δCu and δZn approached the bulk AFP values when the leached fraction increased.

Educational outcomes of digital serious games in nursing education: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Advancements in digital technologies and the coronavirus disease pandemic have rapidly shifted educational practices towards engaging digital methods, such as serious games, significantly influencing healthcare education. Digital serious games enhance nursing education by effectively overcoming limitations such as limited training time and inadequate resources, thereby improving knowledge and skills. Few high-quality systematic reviews and meta-analyses were focused exclusively on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of digital serious games to determine their effects in nursing education.

Assessing the reliability of automated cell count analysis of synovial fluid in the setting of revision total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: The diagnostic challenges of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) for orthopedic surgeons are significant. Prior research has indicated that patients with adverse reactions, dislocations, and aseptic loosening exhibit a heightened count of white blood cells (WBC) in their synovial fluid, along with an increased polymorphonuclear cell percentage (PMN%). The prevalence of false-positive results raises concerns about the reliability of these tools in distinguishing aseptic failure from PJI.

Switchable radiative cooling and solar heating for sustainable thermal management.

Radiative thermal management technologies that utilize thermal radiation from nano/microstructure for cooling and heating have gained significant attention in sustainable energy research. Passive radiative cooling and solar heating operate continuously, which may lead to additional heating or cooling energy consumption due to undesired cooling or heating during cold nighttime/winters or hot daytime/summers. To overcome the limitation, recent studies have focused on developing radiative thermal management technologies that can toggle radiative cooling on and off or possess switchable dual cooling and heating modes to realize sustainable and efficient thermal management.

Awareness, use, motivations and methods of accessing genetic testing in 2022 in the United States.

Introduction: Awareness, access, and use of clinical and direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic tests has increased in recent years with documented disparities in these services. We provide updated data on test awareness and use, and report novel data on motivations and methods for accessing genetic tests.

Methods: Nationally representative data from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 6) were used to assess awareness and use of ancestry, personal trait, specific disease, and carrier testing by sociodemographic characteristics, examine reasons for undergoing tests, and methods of accessing them.

Mid-term Results of 1-stage Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty for Periprosthetic Joint Infection With a Sinus Tract.

Background: Patients presenting with a sinus tract over total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are challenging cases of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). A 2-stage revision TKA has long been considered the gold standard for the management of PJI. At our institution, approximately 85% of patients with PJI, including patients with a sinus tract, undergo 1-stage revision TKA.

Predictors of Facial Synkinesis Severity.

Background: There is a lack of studies exploring factors influencing synkinesis severity. This study aims to identify factors that may contribute to variations in severity of facial synkinesis.

Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of facial synkinesis presenting between 2009 and 2024 were reviewed.

Exploratory Evaluation of Personalized Ultrafractionated Stereotactic Adaptive Radiation Therapy (PULSAR) With Central Nervous System-Active Drugs in Brain Metastases Treatment.

Purpose: Brain metastases (BMs) affect an increasing number of cancer patients and are typically managed with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). Our institution advocates the use of Personalized Ultrafractionated Stereotactic Adaptive Radiation Therapy (PULSAR), where radiation is delivered in high-dose pulses at extended intervals allowing for treatment adaptation and easy concurrent systemic therapy integration. We explore the integration of PULSAR with central nervous system (CNS)-active drugs (CNS-aDs).

Recent Advances and Prospects of Nucleic Acid Therapeutics for Anti-Cancer Therapy.

Nucleic acid therapeutics are promising alternatives to conventional anti-cancer therapy, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. While conventional therapies have limitations, such as high side effects, low specificity, and drug resistance, nucleic acid therapeutics work at the gene level to eliminate the cause of the disease. Nucleic acid therapeutics treat diseases in various forms and using different mechanisms, including plasmid DNA (pDNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA), anti-microRNA (anti-miR), microRNA mimics (miRNA mimic), messenger RNA (mRNA), aptamer, catalytic nucleic acid (CNA), and CRISPR cas9 guide RNA (gRNA).

Impact of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Modulators on Maternal Outcomes During and After Pregnancy.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators are available to the majority of people with CF in the United States; little is known about pregnancy outcomes with modulator use. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the impact of CFTR modulators on maternal outcomes.

Research Question: Does pregnancy differentially affect outcomes in female individuals with CF with and without CFTR modulator exposure?

Study Design And Methods: Data on pregnancies from 2010 to 2021 were collected from 11 US adult CF centers.

Protective effect of recombinant interleukin-10 on newborn rat lungs exposed to short-term sublethal hyperoxia.

Background: Lung injury imposed by hyperoxia is the main cause of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in newborns. These injuries are generated from the early stage of hyperoxia through the main biologic effects of cell death and inflammatory response. Interleukin (IL)-10 is a potent anti-inflammatory cytokine that may have the inhibitory effects on these biologic actions induced by hyperoxia.