A Photo-Caged Cross-Linker for Identifying Protein-Protein Interactions.

Cross-linking mass spectrometry (XL-MS) has seen significant improvements which have enhanced its utility for studying protein-protein interactions (PPIs), primarily due to the emergence of novel crosslinkers and the development of streamlined analysis workflows. Nevertheless, poor membrane permeability and side reactions with water limit the extent of productive intracellular crosslinking events that can be achieved with current crosslinkers. To address these problems, we have synthesized a novel crosslinker with o-nitrobenzyl-based photoresponsive groups.

Does a single dose of testosterone increase willingness to compete, confidence, and risk-taking in men? Evidence from two randomised placebo-controlled experiments.

The sex steroid hormone testosterone regulates aggression and display of dominance in non-human animals. According to the Challenge Hypothesis, these effects arise from context-sensitive testosterone increases that facilitate inter-male competitions over resources, status, and mates. A growing body of literature documents similar testosterone effects on behaviors related to competition and risk-taking in humans, though the findings have been mixed.

Categorizing Care Delays and Their Impact on Hospital Length of Stay.

Background And Objective: Unnecessary care delays of hospitalized patients increase the risk of hospital-related complications and drive up health care costs. While health systems focus on reducing the length of stay of hospitalized patients, not many studies looked at specific causes of the care delays that prolong length of stay. In this study, we sought to systematically identify and categorize the various care delays that contribute to prolonged length of stay on a hospital medicine service.

Postoperative protocols for older adults undergoing emergency surgery: a scoping review.

Background: As the population of older adults expands, it is becoming increasingly crucial to develop perioperative protocols to meet their physiologic, functional, and cognitive demands after emergency surgery. We sought to identify protocols that improve the disposition, length of stay, and overall health outcomes of older adults undergoing emergency intracavitary, noncardiac surgery.

Methods: Embase, Cochrane, and MEDLINE databases were searched, and results were deduplicated and uploaded to Covidence.

Frontal midline theta transcranial alternating current stimulation enhances early consolidation of episodic memory.

Evidence implicating theta rhythms in declarative memory encoding and retrieval, together with the notion that both retrieval and consolidation involve memory reinstatement or replay, suggests that post-learning theta rhythm modulation can promote early consolidation of newly formed memories. Building on earlier work employing theta neurofeedback, we examined whether theta-frequency transcranial alternating stimulation (tACS) can engender effective consolidation of newly formed episodic memories, compared with beta frequency stimulation or sham control conditions. We compared midline frontal and posterior parietal theta stimulation montages and examined whether benefits to memory of theta upregulation are attributable to consolidation rather than to retrieval processes by using a washout period to eliminate tACS after-effects between stimulation and memory assessment.

The Association of Intra-Abdominal Adhesions with Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter-Related Complications.

Background: This study investigated the association of intra-abdominal adhesions with the risk of peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter complications.

Methods: Individuals undergoing laparoscopic PD catheter insertion were prospectively enrolled from eight centers in Canada and the United States. Patients were grouped based on the presence of adhesions observed during catheter insertion.

Quantifying single-cell diacylglycerol signaling kinetics after uncaging.

Studying the role of molecularly distinct lipid species in cell signaling remains challenging due to a scarcity of methods for performing quantitative lipid biochemistry in living cells. We have recently used lipid uncaging to quantify lipid-protein affinities and rates of lipid trans-bilayer movement and turnover in the diacylglycerol signaling pathway. This approach is based on acquiring live-cell dose-response curves requiring light dose titrations and experimental determination of uncaging photoreaction efficiency.

Influence of different adhesion strategies on glass fiber post retention.

Background: Failures in glass fiber post (GFP) retention may be associated with low adhesion achieved in root dentin.

Material And Methods: 55 single-rooted premolars were endodontically treated and distributed according to different adhesion strategies (n=11): G1: RelyX ARC (3M ESPE; etch-rinse strategy); G2: Relyx Ultimate (3M ESPE; etch-rinse strategy); G3: AllCem (FGM; etch-rinse strategy); G4: Relyx Ultimate (3M ESPE; self-etching strategy); G5: RelyX U200 (3M ESPE; self-adhesive strategy). For Bonding Strength (BS) analysis, the roots were sectioned in slices (1.

The Road to Quantitative Lipid Biochemistry in Living Cells.

Traditional cell biological techniques are not readily suitable for studying lipid signaling events because genetic perturbations are much slower than the interconversion of lipids in complex metabolic networks. For this reason, novel chemical biological approaches have been developed. One approach is to chemically modify a lipid with a so-called "caging group" that renders it inactive, but this cage can be removed photochemically inside cells to release the bioactive molecule.

Satisfaction and attrition in Canadian surgical training program leadership: a survey of program directors.

Background: Surgical program directors (PDs) play an integral role in the well-being and success of postgraduate trainees. Although studies about medical specialties have documented factors contributing to PD burnout, early attrition rates and contributory factors among surgical PDs have not yet been described. We aimed to evaluate Canadian surgical PD satisfaction, stressors in the role and areas institutions could target to improve PD support.

Caged lipid probes for controlling lipid levels on subcellular scales.

Lipids exert their cellular functions in individual organelles, in some cases on the scale of even smaller, specialized membrane domains. Thus, the experimental capacity to precisely manipulate lipid levels at the subcellular level is crucial for studying lipid-related processes in cell biology. Photo-caged lipid probes which partition into specific cellular membranes prior to photoactivation have emerged as key tools for localized and selective perturbation of lipid concentration in living cells.

Hedgehog signaling can enhance glycolytic ATP production in the Drosophila wing disc.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and utilization is critically important for animal development. How these processes are regulated in space and time during tissue growth remains largely unclear. We used a FRET-based sensor to dynamically monitor ATP levels across a growing tissue, using the Drosophila larval wing disc.

Water-soluble contrast in the management of adhesive small-bowel obstruction: a Canadian centre's experience with guideline development and implementation.

Background: Orally administered water-soluble contrast (WSC) can track resolution of small-bowel obstruction (SBO), but no universal pathway for its use exists. We developed and implemented an evidence-based guideline for the use of WSC in the management of adhesive SBO, to be implemented across hospitals affiliated with the University of Toronto.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and created a clinical practice guideline for WSC use in the management of adhesive SBO.

Lead poisoning in children: emergency department recognition and management.

Millions of children continue to be at risk for lead exposure despite a dramatic decline over the past 4 decades, and hundreds present annually to emergency departments with lead poisoning. These patients can be challenging to identify due to their nonspecific presentation and frequent lack of known exposure. This issue will prepare the emergency clinician to identify and care for the lead-poisoned patient, focusing on: (1) identifying key historical features, signs, and symptoms at presentation; (2) the medical management of lead poisoning; and (3) formulation of a safe discharge plan.

Point-of-Care Ultrasonography for Ankle Injuries in Children.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine whether point-of-care ultrasound (US) can decrease x-rays in children with ankle injuries. Secondary objectives were to determine the test performance characteristics for ankle US, analyze diagnostic errors, and compare US with the Ottawa Ankle Rules (OAR).

Methods: This was a prospective study of children younger than 21 years presenting to an emergency department with an ankle injury requiring x-rays.

Ingroup Bias in Healthcare Contexts: Israeli-Jewish Perceptions of Arab and Jewish Doctors.

The influence of group membership on perceptions of outgroup members has been extensively studied in various contexts. This research has indicated a strong tendency for ingroup bias - preferring the ingroup over the outgroup. We seek to further expand on the growing literature regarding the effects of group membership within healthcare contexts.

Malignant Bowel Obstruction Management Over Time: Are We Doing Anything New? A Current Narrative Review.

Introduction: Malignant bowel obstruction from peritoneal carcinomatosis affects a significant proportion of luminal gastrointestinal and ovarian oncology patients, and portends poor long-term survival. The management approach for these patients includes a range of medical therapies and surgical options; however, how to select an optimal treatment strategy remains enigmatic. The goal of this narrative review was to summarize the latest evidence around multimodal malignant bowel obstruction treatment and to establish if and where progress has been made.

Quality of Colon Cancer Care in Patients Undergoing Emergency Surgery.

Thirty percent of colon cancer diagnoses occur following emergency presentations, often with bowel obstruction or perforation requiring urgent surgery. We sought to compare cancer care quality between patients receiving emergency versus elective surgery. We conducted an institutional retrospective matched (46 elective:23 emergency; = 69) case control study.

Long-term outcomes of resection for locoregional recurrence of colon cancer: A retrospective descriptive cohort study.

Introduction: Resection for isolated distant recurrence of colon cancer is well accepted. Resection for locoregionally recurrent colon cancer (LRCC) is not well studied. We evaluated the long-term outcomes of curative-intent resection for LRCC.