Variations in threshold values for border zone and dense scar produce significant changes in scar parameters obtained by ADAS-3D.

Background: ADAS-3D software elaborates cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) images to obtain a quantitative evaluation of dense scar and border zone (BZ), including BZ channels, which can be useful for ventricular tachycardia ablation and risk stratification. However, most prior reports with ADAS-3D used flexible thresholds (60% ± 5% and 40% ± 5% of maximum pixel signal intensity) to define dense scar and BZ. The impact of such variations of the threshold values on the measurements obtained with ADAS-3D is unknown.

Customized-individually-made origin® implants in total knee arthroplasty allow a reliable solution for accurate reproduction of planned implant positioning.

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy and reproducibility of a patient-specific, customized individually made (CIM) total knee replacement (TKR) using the ORIGIN® prosthesis.

Methods: This was a prospective study conducted at a University Hospital from January 15, 2019, to April 30, 2021. The study included patients planned for an ORIGIN® CIM TKR procedure.

Valosin containing protein (VCP): initiator, modifier, and potential drug target for neurodegenerative diseases.

The AAA ATPase valosin containing protein (VCP) is essential for cell and organ homeostasis, especially in cells of the nervous system. As part of a large network, VCP collaborates with many cofactors to ensure proteostasis under normal, stress, and disease conditions. A large number of mutations have revealed the importance of VCP for human health.

Evaluation of the Performance Characteristics of a New POC Multiplex PCR Assay for the Diagnosis of Viral and Bacterial Neuromeningeal Infections.

Point-of-care syndromic PCR (POC SPCR) assays are useful tools for the rapid detection of the most common causative agents of community-acquired infections responsible for meningitis and encephalitis infections. We evaluated the performance characteristics of the new QIAstat-Dx Meningitis/Encephalitis panel (QS) compared to the laboratory reference methods and the POC SPCR Biofire FilmArray Meningitis Encephalitis Panel (FA). Viral (Enterovirus, Parechovirus, HSV-1, HSV-2, HHV-6, VZV) and bacterial ( K1, , , encapsulated , , , , ) pathogens were suspended at low concentrations and tested with the POC SPCR systems.

Assessing the Elasticity of Child Cortical Bone.

A better understanding of the mechanical behaviour of child bone is essential to improve the diagnosis of pediatric bone disorders that may influence bone development. Even though the process of bone growth is well described, there are still lacks of knowledge on intrinsic material properties of child bone and particularly on child bone considered as "non-pathological". Geometry, material properties, microstructure and biochemical components are associated with child bone fragility and remain difficult to assess for two main reasons: the scarcity of the bone samples and their small dimensions.

Efficacy and safety of mexiletine in non-dystrophic myotonias: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study.

The MYOMEX study was a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study aimed to compare the effects of mexiletine vs. placebo in patients with myotonia congenita (MC) and paramyotonia congenita (PC). The primary endpoint was the self-reported score of stiffness severity on a 100 mm visual analogic scale (VAS).

Both microbiological surveillance and audit of procedures improve reprocessing of flexible bronchoscopes and patient safety.

Background: Microbiological surveillance of bronchoscopes and automatic endoscope reprocessors (AERs)/washer disinfectors as a quality control measure is controversial. Experts also are divided on the infection risks associated with bronchoscopic procedures.

Objective: We evaluated the impact of routine microbiological surveillance and audits of cleaning/disinfection practices on contamination rates of reprocessed bronchoscopes.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis transcriptomics reveals immunological effects of low-dose interleukin-2.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal neurodegenerative disease causing upper and lower motor neuron loss and currently no effective disease-modifying treatment is available. A pathological feature of this disease is neuroinflammation, a mechanism which involves both CNS-resident and peripheral immune system cells. Regulatory T-cells are immune-suppressive agents known to be dramatically and progressively decreased in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Priming with intranasal lactobacilli prevents Pseudomonas aeruginosa acute pneumonia in mice.

Background: Increasing resistance to antibiotics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa leads to therapeutic deadlock and alternative therapies are needed. We aimed to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus clinical isolates in vivo, through intranasal administration on a murine model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia.

Results: We screened in vitro 50 pulmonary clinical isolates of Lactobacillus for their ability to decrease the synthesis of two QS dependent-virulence factors (elastase and pyocyanin) produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1.

Rapid multiplex PCR assays in patients with respiratory viral infections: is semi-quantitative data useful? A pilot study.

Viral respiratory rapid multiplex PCR assays FilmArray® (FA) and ePlex® (eP) provide qualitative results which may not reflect clinical relevance. In a pilot study, we report retrospectively whether the semi-quantitative PCR assay R-GENE® would have facilitated clinical interpretation. Forty-four patients were hospitalized for various respiratory manifestations; all of them have benefited from a respiratory sample during acute symptoms.

Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair in Supine Position.

Considering shoulder arthroscopy, lateral decubitus and beach chair are the 2 main employed positionings of the patient. Each include advantages and disadvantages. In our center, we perform all shoulder arthroscopy with the patient in supine position.

Prolonged 59-day course of COVID-19: The case of a SARS-CoV-2 shedding persistency in a healthcare provider.

For health professionals, repeated SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection through PCR combined with properly validated serologic assays for the presence of anti-IgM and anti-IgG antibodies should be mandatory.

Automated Categorization of Parkinsonian Syndromes Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Clinical Setting.

Background: Machine learning algorithms using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data can accurately discriminate parkinsonian syndromes. Validation in patients recruited in routine clinical practice is missing.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of a machine learning algorithm trained on a research cohort and tested on an independent clinical replication cohort for the categorization of parkinsonian syndromes.

Religiosity and depressive symptoms among older adults in Colombia.

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between depressive symptoms and religiosity among older adults in Colombia. Data are drawn from the SABE (Salud, Bienestar y Envejecimiento) Colombia Study, a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2015 involving 19,004 community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older living in urban and rural areas of Colombia. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Geriatric Depression scale (GDS; range 0-15), examined both as a continuous and categorical variable.

Sputum versus nasopharyngeal samples for the molecular diagnosis of respiratory viral infection in cystic fibrosis: A pilot study.

Viruses are important agents in lung function deterioration in Cystic Fibrosis (CF). To date, no standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been established to determine which sampling method is the most effective for an optimal virological diagnosis of respiratory viral infections in CF. Here we investigated the performances of two sampling sites, sputum samples versus nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs, for thirty participants from three CF centres presenting an acute respiratory infection.

Repeated 5-day cycles of low dose aldesleukin in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (IMODALS): A phase 2a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Low-dose interleukin-2 (ld-IL-2) enhances regulatory T-cell (Treg) function in auto-inflammatory conditions. Neuroinflammation being a pathogenic feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), we evaluated the pharmacodynamics and safety of ld-IL-2 in ALS subjects.

Methods: We performed a single centre, parallel three-arm, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Evaluation of posaconazole antifungal prophylaxis in reducing the incidence of invasive aspergillosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Purpose Of The Study: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is the most prevalent invasive fungal disease (IFD) in neutropenic patients. Environment is the main source of Aspergillus spores aerosolization especially during building construction. International guidelines recommend mechanical protection during hospital building works; otherwise the use of antifungal prophylaxis is not clearly indicated.

Religiosity and self-rated health among older adults in Colombia.

Objective: To identify the relationship between religiosity and self-rated health among older adults in Colombia.

Methods: Data are drawn from the SABE (Salud, Bienestar y Envejecimiento) Colombia Study, a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2015 involving 18,871 community-dwelling adults aged 60 years and older living in urban and rural areas of Colombia. Religiosity was assessed by self-rated religiosity (how religious are you: not at all, somewhat or very).

Hepatitis C subtype distribution in chronically infected patients with mild liver fibrosis in France: the GEMHEP study.

Treatment options for Hepatitis C infection have greatly improved with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) combinations achieving high cure rates. Nevertheless, the cost of this treatment is still high and access to treatment in many countries has been preferentially reserved for patients with more severe fibrosis (F3 and F4). In this French nationwide study, we investigated the epidemiological characteristics and genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in treatment-naive patients with METAVIR fibrosis stages between F0 and F2 in order to identify patient profiles that became eligible for unrestricted treatment in a second period.

Genome-wide survey of copy number variants finds MAPT duplications in progressive supranuclear palsy.

Background: Progressive supranuclear palsy is a neurodegenerative tauopathy manifesting clinically as a progressive akinetic-rigid syndrome. In this study, we sought to identify genetic variants influencing PSP susceptibility through a genome-wide association analysis of a cohort of well-characterized patients who had participated in the Neuroprotection and Natural History in Parkinson Plus Syndromes and Blood Brain Barrier in Parkinson Plus Syndromes studies.

Methods: We genotyped single-nucleotide polymorphisms in 283 PSP cases from the United Kingdom, Germany, and France and compared these with genotypes from 4472 controls.

Acoustical characterisation and monitoring of microbubble clouds.

Argon microbubbles will exist in the primary sodium of the next generation of sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFR). Due to its opacity, acoustic methods will be used for the in-service inspection in these reactors, but the presence of such bubbles will greatly affect ultrasonic wave propagation. Moreover, these bubbles can lead to the formation of gas pockets in the reactor and impact cavitation and boiling phenomena.