Duration of antiretroviral therapy impacts the degree of residual SIV infection in the gut in long-term non-progressing Chinese rhesus macaques.

The gut is a major reservoir in HIV-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and in long-term non-progressors (LTNPs). Whether ART reduces gut infection and reservoirs in LTNPs is unknown. Herein, SIV-infected LTNP Rhesus macaques were treated with short- or long-term ART, and SIV envelope gp120 sequences obtained from single genome amplification were analyzed before and after ART in peripheral blood and the intestine.

COVID's collateral damage: likelihood of measles resurgence in the United States.

Background: Lockdowns imposed throughout the US to control the COVID-19 pandemic led to a decline in all routine immunizations rates, including the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. It is feared that post-lockdown, these reduced MMR rates will lead to a resurgence of measles.

Methods: To measure the potential impact of reduced MMR vaccination rates on measles outbreak, this research examines several counterfactual scenarios in pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 era.

Belantamab in Combination with Dexamethasone in Patients with Triple-class Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

Background: Triple-class relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) has a poor prognosis. This study analyzed the clinical outcomes of Belantamab mafadotin in combination with dexamethasone (Bd) in triple-class RRMM.

Methods: We identified 35 patients with triple-class RRMM who received Bd at the University of Kansas from October 2019 to November 2021.

S-Heptazine N-ligand based luminescent coordination materials: synthesis, structural and luminescent studies of lanthanide-cyamelurate networks.

Various series of lanthanide metal-organic networks denoted Ln- (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb), were synthesized under solvothermal conditions using potassium cyamelurate (K) and lanthanide nitrate salts. All obtained materials were fully characterized, and their crystal structures were solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Four types of coordination modes were elucidated for the Ln- series with different Ln coordination geometries.

Gender disparities in multiple myeloma publications.

Gender disparities exist in academia and are disproportionately affecting females. We conducted a cross-sectional study to analyze gender disparities in multiple myeloma (MM) publications. A total of 679 publications with 8898 authorships were analyzed.

Evaluation of quaternization effect on chitosan-HAP composite for bone tissue engineering application.

This study attempts to improve the aqueous solubility of chitosan and utilizes it in the fabrication of composites with hydroxyapatite (HAP). The composites were evaluated as a curcumin delivery vehicle for bone regeneration. The chitosan was modified by quaternization, with a quaternization degree of 5 % for low quaternized chitosan (LQC) and 11 % for high quaternized chitosan (HQC).

Machine Learning Models for Enhanced Estimation of Soil Moisture Using Wideband Radar Sensor.

In this paper, machine learning models for an effective estimation of soil moisture content using a microwave short-range and wideband radar sensor are proposed. The soil moisture is measured as the volumetric water content using a short-range off-the-shelf radar sensor operating at 3-10 GHz. The radar captures the reflected signals that are post processed to determine the soil moisture which is mapped to the input features extracted from the reflected signals for the training of the machine learning models.

Management of acute hydrops with pre-Descemet's deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty.

This case report describes a 23-year-old female patient who had bilateral keratoconus and a history of right eye penetrating keratoplasty who presented with acute hydrops in the left eye which did not respond to conservative management. Pre-Descemet's deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty was performed in the acute stage for management of the impending perforation with good visual outcomes.

A cohort study of differences in trauma outcomes between females and males at four Indian Urban Trauma Centers.

Background Studies from high income countries suggest improved survival for females as compared to males following trauma. However, data regarding differences in trauma outcomes between females and males is severely lacking from low- and middle-income countries. The objective of this study was to determine the association between sex and clinical outcomes amongst Indian trauma patients using the Australia-India Trauma Systems Collaboration database.

Foldscope microscope, an inexpensive alternative tool to conventional microscopy-Applications in research and education: A review.

Microscope is a device used for the visualization of tiny objects which are not visible to the naked eye. Traditional microscopes have been crucial for the advancement of contemporary science and medicine. Recent advancements in the field of microscopy have fueled its exponential growth rate.

Outcomes of VDPACE with an immunomodulatory agent as a salvage therapy in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma with extramedullary disease.

Extramedullary disease (EMD) is an aggressive form of multiple myeloma (MM). Confirming the presence of plasma cells outside the bone marrow makes the diagnosis of EMD. There is no clear consensus on the management of EMD in MM, and this entity continues to remain an unmet need.

Neutralizing antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 in patients with plasma cell disorders who are on active treatment after two doses of mRNA vaccination.

Many patients with plasma cell disorder (PCD) on active treatment with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) require hospitalization, with an increased mortality rate over healthy adults. The FDA approved two mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2: BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273. To assess the efficacy of vaccination in patients with PCD, retrospectively, we identified all patients on active treatment.

Bioengineered 3D microfibrous-matrix modulates osteopontin release from MSCs and facilitates the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells.

The osteopontin (OPN) released from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) undergoing lineage differentiation can negatively influence the expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in coculture systems developed for expanding HSCs. Therefore, minimizing the amount of OPN in the coculture system is important for the successful ex vivo expansion of HSCs. Toward this goal, a bioengineered three dimensional (3D) microfibrous-matrix that can maintain MSCs in less OPN-releasing conditions has been developed, and its influence on the expansion of HSCs has been studied.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of probiotic potential and safety assessment of Bacillus coagulans SKB LAB-19 (MCC 0554) in humans and animal healthcare.

Bacillus coagulans is Gram positive, spore forming and high lactic acid producing bacteria; however, probiotic and safety assessment of the isolated strain need to be investigated for commercial applications. Current study aimed to screen SKB LAB-19 for potential probiotic characteristics viz. enzyme production, antimicrobial properties, pH/bile salt tolerance, temperature stability, antidiarrheal activity in Swiss albino mice and Wistar rats; and acute oral toxicity in mice.

Selenium: a potent regulator of ferroptosis and biomass production.

Emerging evidence supports the notion that selenium (Se) plays a beneficial role in plant development for modern crop production and is considered an essential micronutrient and the predominant source of plants. However, the essential role of selenium in plant metabolism remains unclear. When used in moderate concentrations, selenium promotes plant physiological processes such as enhancing plant growth, increasing antioxidant capacity, reducing reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation and offering stress resistance by preventing ferroptosis cell death.

Comparison of Accuracy of Dentaport ZX, Rootor and E-Pex Pro Electronic Apex Locators in Two Simulated Clinical Conditions: An Study.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy in measuring the working length (WL) using Dentaport ZX, Rootor, and a newly introduced budget friendly electronic apex locator (EAL), E-Pex Pro in two commonly simulated clinical conditions (in the presence of irrigant and blood).

Materials And Methodology: Eighty-eight single-rooted premolars were randomly assigned to two groups according to simulated clinical conditions: Group 1: Presence of irrigant (5% NaOCl) and Group 2: Presence of blood. WL was determined with all three EAL and was then compared with actual length (AL) of the tooth, which was measured using Vision Inspection System.

Ultrasound-assisted nanoemulsion of Trachyspermum ammi essential oil and its constituent thymol on toxicity and biochemical aspect of Aedes aegypti.

Aedes aegypti is the main vector of yellow fever, chikungunya, Zika, and dengue worldwide and is managed by using chemical insecticides. Though effective, their indiscriminate use brings in associated problems on safety to non-target and the environment. This supports the use of plant-based essential oil (EO) formulations as they are safe to use with limited effect on non-target organisms.

Determination of Buckling Behavior of Web-Stiffened Cold-Formed Steel Built-Up Column under Axial Compression.

The practice of utilizing cold-drawn steel for structural and non-structural elements has expanded nowadays due to it being lighter in weight, economic section, desirable in fabrication, and its preferred post-buckling behavior over hot rolled sections. The cold-drawn steel section back to the back-lipped channel section has a wide application as a structural member. The fasteners are provided at regular intervals for the long-span structure to prevent individual failures.

mm-Wave Radar-Based Vital Signs Monitoring and Arrhythmia Detection Using Machine Learning.

A non-contact, non-invasive monitoring system to measure and estimate the heart and breathing rate of humans using a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) mm-wave radar at 77 GHz is presented. A novel diagnostic system is proposed which extracts heartbeat phase signals from the FMCW radar (reconstructed using Fourier series analysis) to test a three-layer artificial neural network model to predict the presence of arrhythmia in individuals. The effect of person orientation, distance of measurement and movement was analyzed with respect to a reference device based on statistical measures that include number of outliers, mean, mean squared error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE), median absolute error (medAE), skewness, standard deviation (SD) and R-squared values.

The effect of transactional analysis training on emotional intelligence in health professions students.

Background: Emotional intelligence (EI) is considered to present a significant predictor of work performance whereas Transactional analysis (TA) is the relational perspective in communication in managing emotions. We evaluated the effect of psycho-educational training in EI and TA (TEITA) on EI among health professions undergraduates, with post-training, and at 1-month follow-up.

Methods: A total of 34 participants participated in the study where 17 participants were in the TEITA group and another 17 were in the control group.

Interactions between HIV protease inhibitor ritonavir and human DNA repair enzyme ALKBH2: a molecular dynamics simulation study.

The human DNA repair enzyme AlkB homologue-2 (ALKBH2) repairs methyl adducts from genomic DNA. Overexpression of ALKBH2 has been implicated in both tumorigenesis and chemotherapy resistance in some cancers, including glioblastoma and renal cancer rendering it a potential therapeutic target and a diagnostic marker. However, no inhibitor is available against these important DNA repair proteins.