Functional MRI and cognition in multiple sclerosis-Where are we now?

Multiple sclerosis-related cognitive impairment (MSrCI) affects most patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), significantly contributing to disability and socioeconomic challenges. MSrCI manifests across all disease stages, mainly impacting working memory, information processing, and attention. To date, the underlying mechanisms of MSrCI remain unclear, with its pathogenesis considered multifactorial.

Surface modification of graphene and fullerene with Sulfur (S), Selenium (Se), and Oxygen (O): DFT Simulation for enhanced zidovudine delivery in HIV treatment.

HIV is one of the most threatening health conditions with a highly increasing rate, affecting millions of people globally, and from its time of discovery until now, its potential cure cannot be explicitly defined. This challenge of having no/low effective drugs for the subjected virus has called for serious attention in the scientific world of virus disease therapeutics. Most of these drugs yields low effectiveness due to poor delivery; hence, there is a need for novel engineering methods for efficient delivery.

School Nurses' Perceived Role and Capacity to Support School Behavioral Health Programs in DC Public and Public Charter Schools.

School nurses (SNs) practicing in DC public and public charter schools were surveyed to assess their perceived role and self-reported preparation to provide behavioral health prevention, early identification, and treatment services in schools. A total of 154 SNs completed a questionnaire about their role in the delivery of behavioral health services and supports. SNs reported they are primarily involved in the identification and referral of students to other school behavioral health professionals.

The contribution of community-based conservation models to conserving large herbivore populations.

In East Africa, community-based conservation models (CBCMs) have been established to support the conservation of wildlife in fragmented landscapes like the Tarangire Ecosystem, Tanzania. To assess how different management approaches maintained large herbivore populations, we conducted line distance surveys and estimated seasonal densities of elephant, giraffe, zebra, and wildebeest in six management units, including three CBCMs, two national parks (positive controls), and one area with little conservation interventions (negative control). Using a Monte-Carlo approach to propagate uncertainties from the density estimates and trend analysis, we analyzed the resulting time series (2011-2019).

Theory guided engineering of zeolite adsorbents for acaricide residue adsorption from the environment.

Context: Zeolites have attracted attention for their potential in adsorbing environmental contaminants. However, contaminants, such as acaricides used extensively in livestock production to control ticks and mites, have received limited exploration regarding their adsorption onto zeolite surfaces. This study aimed to identify the most appropriate zeolite frameworks for the adsorption of acaricide residues, deduce the mechanism underlying the adsorption process, and evaluate the impact of surface modification on the adsorption capabilities of zeolites.

The iron group transition-metal (Fe, Ru, Os) coordination of Se-doped graphitic carbon (Se@g-CN) nanostructures for the smart therapeutic delivery of zidovudine (ZVD) as an antiretroviral drug: a theoretical calculation perspective.

This study employed density functional theory (DFT) computational techniques at the ωB97XD/def2svp level of theory to comprehensively explore the electronic behavior of Fe-group transition metal (Fe, Ru, Os) coordination of Se-doped graphitic carbon (Se@g-CN) nanosystems in the smart delivery of zidovudine (ZVD), an antiretroviral drug. The HOMO-LUMO results of the interactions show a general reduction in energy gap values across all complexes in the following order: ZVD_Se@CN < ZVD_Ru_Se@CN < ZVD_Fe_Se@CN < ZVD_Os_Se@CN. ZVD_Se@CN exhibits the smallest post-interaction band gap of 3.

Longitudinal assessment of neurocognitive function in people with relapsing multiple sclerosis initiating alemtuzumab in routine clinical practice: LEM-COG study results.

Background: Alemtuzumab is effective in reducing relapse rate and disability, but limited data exist on its effect on cognitive function in relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS). The present study assessed neurocognitive function and safety associated with alemtuzumab treatment in RMS.

Methods: This longitudinal, single-arm, prospective study included people with RMS (aged 25-55 years) who were treated with alemtuzumab in clinical practice in the United States of America and Canada.

Blood pressure-lowering medication prescribing, its adherence to guidelines and relationship with blood pressure control at a family medicine department.

Background: In many resource-constrained countries, control of blood pressure (BP) is low. Antihypertensive drug prescribing practices may influence BP control. However, adherence of prescribing to treatment guidelines may not be optimal in resource-constrained settings.

What's on the horizon for community-based conservation? Emerging threats and opportunities.

Community-based conservation can support livelihoods and biodiversity, while reinforcing local and Indigenous values, cultures, and institutions. Its delivery can help address cross-cutting global challenges, such as climate change, conservation, poverty, and food security. Therefore, understanding trends in community-based conservation is pertinent to setting and implementing global goals.

Eculizumab-related drug reaction in a patient with neuromyelitis optica.

Eculizumab is approved for treatment of antibody positive neuromyelitis optica, myasthenia gravis, and hematologic disorders like paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Drug rash has not yet been reported as a side effect of eculizumab. We report a case of a cutaneous drug reaction soon after introduction of eculizumab therapy in a patient with refractory neuromyelitis optica.

Genome Tectonics: Linking Dynamic Genome Organization with Cellular Nutrients.

Background: Our daily intake of food provides nutrients for the maintenance of health, growth, and development. The field of nutrigenomics aims to link dietary intake/nutrients to changes in epigenetic status and gene expression.

Summary: Although the relationship between our diet and our genes in under intense investigation, there is still a significant aspect of our genome that has received little attention with regard to this.

An Impedance Sensor for Pathologically Relevant Detection of In-Stent Restenosis In Vitro.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the biggest cause of death globally. CVD is caused by atherosclerosis which is the accumulation of fatty deposits, often within the fine arteries of the heart or brain. These blockages reduce blood flow and lead to oxygen starvation (ischemia) which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

South Texas orbital fracture protocol for emergency department evaluation of orbital fractures.

Purpose: Facial trauma and orbital fractures are common reasons for ophthalmology consultation in the emergency department (ED). The purpose of this study is to assess intervention rates and evaluate the acuity of ophthalmology consultation for orbital fractures in the ED.

Basic Procedures: A retrospective chart review of orbital fractures was conducted over a 23-month period.

The Biological Basis for Surface-dependent Regulation of Osteogenesis and Implant Osseointegration.

Bone marrow stromal cells are regulated by the chemical and physical features of a biomaterial surface. When grown on titanium (Ti) and Ti alloy surfaces, such as titanium-aluminum-vanadium, with specific topographies that mimic the microscale, mesoscale, and nanoscale features of an osteoclast resorption pit, they undergo a rapid change in cell shape to assume a columnar morphology typical of a secretory osteoblast. These cells exhibit markers associated with an osteoblast phenotype, including osteocalcin and osteopontin, and they secrete factors associated with osteogenesis, including bone morphogenetic protein 2, vascular endothelial growth factor, and neurotrophic semaphorins.

Chronic Lymphocytic Inflammation with Pontine Perivascular Enhancement Responsive to Steroids May Extend above and below Pons and Is Associated with Other Autoimmune Diseases.

Many autoimmune diseases can affect the central nervous system, and their varying clinical presentations often confound a straightforward diagnosis. In this report, we describe a unique presentation of CLIPPERS syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first case to demonstrate significant supratentorial involvement with symmetric and non-confluent lesions in the medial orbitofrontal cortex; additionally, this is the second case to describe an association between diagnoses of hypothyroidism and CLIPPERS.

Development of a Tool to Assess Inference-Making and Reasoning in Biology.

Making inferences and reasoning with new scientific information is critical for successful performance in biology coursework. Thus, identifying students who are weak in these skills could allow the early provision of additional support and course placement recommendations to help students develop their reasoning abilities, leading to better performance and less attrition within biology courses. Researchers across universities partnered to develop a measure to assess students' inference-making abilities in biology.

Anti-hypertensive medication access and affordability and their association with blood pressure control at a teaching hospital in Ghana.

Introduction: many hypertensive patients require two or more anti-hypertensive drugs, but in low- and middle-income countries there may be challenges with medication access or affordability. The objective of this study was to determine accessibility and affordability of anti-hypertensive medicines and their association with blood pressure (BP) control among hypertensive patients attending the Korle-Bu teaching hospital (KBTH) polyclinic.

Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted among 310 systematically sampled hypertensive patients attending the KBTH Polyclinic in Ghana.

Canadian policy changes for alcohol-based hand rubs during the COVID-19 pandemic and unintended risks.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to major changes in public policies to address supply chain disruption and escalated the price of consumer disinfectant products. To address market demands on alcohol-based hand rubs and disinfectants, Health Canada implemented major changes to the regulations regarding composition, handling, transportation, and packaging to insure product availability. Furthermore, accelerated licensing of ingredients and packaging did not meet standard medical quality guidelines yet were authorized for manufacturing and packaging of alcohol-based hand rubs and disinfectants.