Second- and third-degree kinship analysis by NGS-based SNP genotyping and evaluation of 2045-SNP performance on limited or degraded DNA.

We developed a novel next-generation sequencing-based single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping method for second- and third-degree kinship analysis, and designed 1144- and 2045-SNP panels using one (Set A) and two sets (Sets A and B) of primers. These SNP loci were analyzed in 120 Japanese individuals, and likelihood ratios (LRs) for kinship discrimination were calculated to evaluate the effect of number of SNP loci in simulated analysis. Likelihood evaluation was performed using DNA profiles from two individuals, namely, the unknown and one reference relative.

A case of repeated Kounis syndrome after anaphylactic shock: A note for disease management.

Background: Kounis syndrome (KS) is an underdiagnosed disease. The management of the disease remains elusive because of its infrequency.

Case Presentation: A 78-year-old man with anaphylactic shock was admitted to our hospital 2 h after multiple bee stings.

DNA methylation-based age estimation and quantification of the degradation levels of bisulfite-converted DNA.

DNA methylation modifications are known to influence epigenetic phenomena and have been a focus of forensic science research for some time. Degraded DNA after bisulfite treatment is widely used in DNA methylation analysis. In this study, we analyzed methylation levels at 12 CpG sites of four selected genomic regions by pyrosequencing after bisulfite treatment.

Temporal Trends in Deep Surgical Site Infections After Six Orthopaedic Procedures Over a 12-year Period Within a US-based Healthcare System.

Introduction: Centers of excellence and bundled payment models have driven perioperative optimization and surgical site infection (SSI) prevention with decolonization protocols and antibiotic prophylaxis strategies. We sought to evaluate time trends in the incidence of deep SSI and its causative organisms after six orthopaedic procedures in a US-based integrated healthcare system.

Methods: We conducted a population-level time-trend study using data from Kaiser Permanente's orthopaedic registries.

Does Aseptic Revision Risk Differ for Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients Who Have and Do not Have a Prior Primary or Revision Arthroplasty?

Background: We sought to evaluate the risk of aseptic revision in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients who have and do not have a history of primary or revision arthroplasty of a different major joint.

Methods: We conducted a matched cohort study using data from Kaiser Permanente's arthroplasty registries. Patients who underwent primary unilateral TKA (index knee) were identified (2009-2018).

The Association Between Cement Viscosity and Revision Risk After Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: Recent case series have reported early failure with the use of high-viscosity cement (HVC) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We evaluated revision risk after TKA with HVC compared with medium-viscosity cement (MVC) in a large cohort.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study using data from Kaiser Permanente's Total Joint Replacement Registry.

Light dark photon dark matter from inflation.

We discuss the possibility of producing a light dark photon dark matter through a coupling between the dark photon field and the inflaton. The dark photon with a large wavelength is efficiently produced due to the inflaton motion during inflation and becomes non-relativistic before the time of matter-radiation equality. We compute the amount of production analytically.

Lamivudine Inhibits RNA-induced Retinal Pigment Epithelium Degeneration via Anti-inflammatory and Anti-senescence Activities.

Purpose: Accumulation of the long noncoding element RNA activates the NLRP3 inflammasome and leads to retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell death, a key event in the pathogenesis of geographic atrophy during late-stage age-related macular degeneration. Lamivudine (3TC) is a nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor known to inhibit the NLRP3 inflammasome. Currently, the intracellular response of the senescence marker p16 to the long noncoding RNA is being actively studied.

Commercially Prepared Antibiotic-Loaded Bone Cement and Infection Risk Following Cemented Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: The efficacy of commercially available antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ABC) in preventing infection in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is unclear. We sought to determine the effectiveness of commercially available ABC in reducing the risk of infection following TKA, both overall and among 3 subgroups of patients with a higher risk of infection (diabetes, body mass index ≥35 kg/m, and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification ≥3), and to evaluate the association between the use of ABC and the risks of aseptic revision and revision for aseptic loosening.

Methods: The Kaiser Permanente Total Joint Replacement Registry was utilized to evaluate 87,018 primary cemented TKAs performed from 2008 to 2016.

Prolonged Opioid Use After Primary Total Knee and Total Hip Arthroplasty: Prospective Evaluation of Risk Factors and Psychological Profile for Depression, Pain Catastrophizing, and Aberrant Drug-Related Behavior.

Background: Forty percent of patients continue to use opioids at 3 months after joint arthroplasty. We sought to identify clinical and psychological risk factors associated with prolonged opioid use.

Methods: In this prospective study, psychological profile data were collected preoperatively.

n-3 Fatty Acid and Its Metabolite 18-HEPE Ameliorate Retinal Neuronal Cell Dysfunction by Enhancing Müller BDNF in Diabetic Retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a widespread vision-threatening disease, and neuroretinal abnormality should be considered as an important problem. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has recently been considered as a possible treatment to prevent DR-induced neuroretinal damage, but how BDNF is upregulated in DR remains unclear. We found an increase in hydrogen peroxide (HO) in the vitreous of patients with DR.

Association of Type and Frequency of Postsurgery Care with Revision Surgery after Total Joint Replacement.

Context: Postmarket surveillance is limited in the ability to detect medical device problems. Electronic health records can provide real-time information that might help with device surveillance. Specifically, the frequency of postsurgery care might indicate early problems and determine high-risk patients requiring more active surveillance.

Tough Double-Network Gels and Elastomers from the Nonprestretched First Network.

Double-network (DN) gels and elastomers, which consist of two (or more) rubbery polymer networks with contrasting physical properties, have received significant attention as they are extremely tough soft materials. The first network of tough DN materials should be more brittle and weaker than the second network. In this paper, we re-examined the structural requirements of the covalently cross-linked first network of tough DN materials and established a nonprestretching strategy.

Preoperative Risk Factors for Opioid Utilization After Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Background: Opioid prescriptions following orthopaedic procedures may contribute to the opioid epidemic in the United States. Risk factors for greater and prolonged opioid utilization following total hip arthroplasty have yet to be fully elucidated. We sought to determine the prevalence of preoperative and postoperative opioid utilization in a cohort of patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty and to identify preoperative risk factors for prolonged utilization of opioids following total hip arthroplasty.

In Vitro Epiretinal Membrane Model and Antibody Permeability: Relationship With Anti-VEGF Resistance in Diabetic Macular Edema.

Purpose: Diabetic macular edema (DME) is characterized by an accumulation of fluid in the macula due to diabetic retinopathy. Currently, anti-VEGF drugs are the standard treatment worldwide for DME. This study aimed to assess whether the existence of epiretinal membrane (ERM) affects anti-VEGF efficacy, due to reduced permeability of the antibody through the ERM.

Biological Characteristics of Subsilicone Oil Fluid and Differences With Other Ocular Humors.

Purpose: Subsilicone oil fluid (SOF) in eyes with silicone oil (SO) endotamponade possibly has a role in complications (e.g., vision loss); thus, we aimed to examine inflammatory cytokine and electrolyte levels and retinal glial cell viability in SOF.

An international comparison of THA patients, implants, techniques, and survivorship in Sweden, Australia, and the United States.

Background and purpose - International comparisons of total hip arthroplasty (THA) practices and outcomes provide an opportunity to enhance the quality of care worldwide. We compared THA patients, implants, techniques, and survivorship in Sweden, Australia, and the United States. Patients and methods - Primary THAs due to osteoarthritis were identified using Swedish (n = 159,695), Australian (n = 279,693), and US registries (n = 69,641) (2003-2015).

Mechanoresponsive self-growing hydrogels inspired by muscle training.

Living tissues, such as muscle, autonomously grow and remodel themselves to adapt to their surrounding mechanical environment through metabolic processes. By contrast, typical synthetic materials cannot grow and reconstruct their structures once formed. We propose a strategy for developing "self-growing" polymeric materials that respond to repetitive mechanical stress through an effective mechanochemical transduction.

Silicone oil-associated retinal light exposure under a surgical microscope.

Purpose: Based on the hypothesis that silicone oil (SO) with a higher refractive index than water induces unexpected vignetting effects during surgeries, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the volume of SO and light intensity using a surgical microscope.

Methods: Using a light-sensitive paper and model eye filled with varying volumes (0%, 50%, 62.5%, 75%, 87.