Motivations for obtaining advance provision of medication abortion in the United States: a qualitative study.

Background: Advance provision of medication abortion, or the prescription of mifepristone and misoprostol before pregnancy occurs, is an unexplored care model aimed at expanding abortion access. We examine motivations for obtaining advance provision from the online telemedicine service, Aid Access, which supports people in the United States.

Methods: Between May and November 2023, we conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 39 people who obtained advance provision between January 2022 and April 2023.

Rete anomaly of the middle cerebral artery: case series of 13 patients from the Northeastern United States.

Background: Rete middle cerebral artery (MCA) is a rare anomaly of the intracranial circulation that mimics congenital Moyamoya disease (MMD). Similar to MMD, it is reported almost exclusively in East-Asian ethnicities. Here, we report 13 patients with rete MCA anomaly from a predominantly non-Asian background in the USA.

Bulk Condensation by an Active Interface.

We present experiments, supported by mechanically detailed simulations, establishing bulk condensation of a hard-bead fluid by a tiny population of orientable motile grains that self-assembles into a moving polarized monolayer. In a quasi-1D geometry two such layers, oppositely aligned, immobilize the condensed nonmotile component. We account for our observations through a continuum theory with a naturally nonreciprocal Cahn-Hilliard structure, whose predicted trends as a function of packing fraction are consistent with our observations.

Virtual Gene Panels Have a Superior Diagnostic Yield for Inherited Rare Diseases Relative to Static Panels.

Background: Exome- or genome-based panels-also known as slices or virtual panels-are now a popular approach that involves comprehensive genomic sequencing while restricting analysis to subsets of genes based on patients' phenotypes. This flexible strategy enables frequent gene updates based on novel disease associations as well as reflexing to analyzing other genes up to the whole exome or genome. With recent improvements addressing limitations associated with virtual panels, the advantages of this approach, relative to static custom-based panels, remain to be systematically characterized.

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte in vitro models: benchmarking progress and ongoing challenges.

Recent innovations in differentiating cardiomyocytes from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have unlocked a viable path to creating in vitro cardiac models. Currently, hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) remain immature, leading many in the field to explore approaches to enhance cell and tissue maturation. Here, we systematically analyzed 300 studies using hiPSC-CM models to determine common fabrication, maturation and assessment techniques used to evaluate cardiomyocyte functionality and maturity and compiled the data into an open-access database.

Community-based reconstruction and simulation of a full-scale model of the rat hippocampus CA1 region.

The CA1 region of the hippocampus is one of the most studied regions of the rodent brain, thought to play an important role in cognitive functions such as memory and spatial navigation. Despite a wealth of experimental data on its structure and function, it has been challenging to integrate information obtained from diverse experimental approaches. To address this challenge, we present a community-based, full-scale in silico model of the rat CA1 that integrates a broad range of experimental data, from synapse to network, including the reconstruction of its principal afferents, the Schaffer collaterals, and a model of the effects that acetylcholine has on the system.

Inertia Drives Concentration-Wave Turbulence in Swimmer Suspensions.

We discover an instability mechanism in suspensions of self-propelled particles that does not involve active stress. Instead, it is driven by a subtle interplay of inertia, swimmer motility, and concentration fluctuations, through a crucial time lag between the velocity and the concentration field. The resulting time-persistent state seen in our high-resolution numerical simulations consists of self-sustained waves of concentration and orientation, transiting from regular oscillations to wave turbulence.

Computational Model for Early-Stage Aortic Valve Calcification Shows Hemodynamic Biomarkers.

Heart disease is a leading cause of mortality, with calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) being the most prevalent subset. Being able to predict this disease in its early stages is important for monitoring patients before they need aortic valve replacement surgery. Thus, this study explored hydrodynamic, mechanical, and hemodynamic differences in healthy and very mildly calcified porcine small intestinal submucosa (PSIS) bioscaffold valves to determine any notable parameters between groups that could, possibly, be used for disease tracking purposes.

Chirality and odd mechanics in active columnar phases.

Chiral active materials display odd dynamical effects in both their elastic and viscous responses. We show that the most symmetric mesophase with 2D odd elasticity in three dimensions is chiral, polar, and columnar, with 2D translational order in the plane perpendicular to the columns and no elastic restoring force for their relative sliding. We derive its hydrodynamic equations from those of a chiral active variant of model H.

Histamine in the neocortex: Towards integrating multiscale effectors.

Histamine is a modulatory neurotransmitter, which has received relatively less attention in the central nervous system than other neurotransmitters. The functional role of histamine in the neocortex, the brain region that controls higher-order cognitive functions such as attention, learning and memory, remains largely unknown. This article focuses on the emerging roles and mechanisms of histamine release in the neocortex.

Retrospective Analysis of Acute Kidney Injury in COVID-19 Infection: A Single-Center Study From Kerala.

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has resulted in significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. While primarily a respiratory illness, COVID-19 can lead to multi-organ involvement, including acute kidney injury (AKI). This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of AKI in COVID-19 patients.

Do all sedatives promote biological sleep electroencephalogram patterns? A machine learning framework to identify biological sleep promoting sedatives using electroencephalogram.

Background: Sedatives are commonly used to promote sleep in intensive care unit patients. However, it is not clear whether sedation-induced states are similar to the biological sleep. We explored if sedative-induced states resemble biological sleep using multichannel electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings.

Correction: Landscape of Targeted Anti-Cancer Drug Synergies in Melanoma Identifies a Novel BRAF-VEGFR/PDGFR Combination Treatment.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Correlation Between ECT Quality Measures and Likelihood to Transition From Acute to Continuation and Maintenance ECT.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between 3 ECT quality measures (seizure duration, Postictal Suppression Index [PSI], and heart rate response) and therapeutic compliance as indicated by transitioning from acute to continuation to maintenance phases of ECT.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of patients who received ECT between July 2016 and July 2019. ECT quality measures were lagged by 1 ECT session to examine the effect of the prior session's quality measure on progressing to a higher ECT phase at the subsequent ECT session.

MITOCHONDRIAL ANTIVIRAL PATHWAYS CONTROL ANTI-HIV RESPONSES AND ISCHEMIC STROKE OUTCOMES VIA THE RIG-1 SIGNALING AND INNATE IMMUNITY MECHANISMS.

Occludin (ocln) is one of the main regulatory cells of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Ocln silencing resulted in alterations of the gene expression signatures of a variety of genes of the innate immunity system, including IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) and the antiviral retinoic acid-inducible gene-1 (RIG-1) signaling pathway, which functions as a regulator of the cytoplasmic sensors upstream of the mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS). Indeed, we observed dysfunctional mitochondrial bioenergetics, dynamics, and autophagy in our system.

IFIH1 loss of function predisposes to inflammatory and SARS-CoV-2-related infectious diseases.

The IFIH1 gene, encoding melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5), is an indispensable innate immune regulator involved in the early detection of viral infections. Previous studies described MDA5 dysregulation in weakened immunological responses, and increased susceptibility to microbial infections and autoimmune disorders. Monoallelic gain-of-function of the IFIH1 gene has been associated with multisystem disorders, namely Aicardi-Goutieres and Singleton-Merten syndromes, while biallelic loss causes immunodeficiency.

Defect turbulence in a dense suspension of polar, active swimmers.

We study the effects of inertia in dense suspensions of polar swimmers. The hydrodynamic velocity field and the polar order parameter field describe the dynamics of the suspension. We show that a dimensionless parameter R (ratio of the swimmer self-advection speed to the active stress invasion speed [Phys.

Role of Mesohepatectomy for Pediatric Centrally Located Liver Tumors.

Background: Mesohepatectomy (MH) or central hepatectomy (CH) is a recognized surgical technique for centrally located pediatric liver tumors. This technique of liver resection avoids extended liver resections and thereby helps in the preservation of liver parenchyma. In this article, we aim to analyze our experience and outcome with this technique of liver resection.

Data-driven multiscale computational models of cortical and subcortical regions.

Data-driven computational models of neurons, synapses, microcircuits, and mesocircuits have become essential tools in modern brain research. The goal of these multiscale models is to integrate and synthesize information from different levels of brain organization, from cellular properties, dendritic excitability, and synaptic dynamics to microcircuits, mesocircuits, and ultimately behavior. This article surveys recent advances in the genesis of data-driven computational models of mammalian neural networks in cortical and subcortical areas.

Recommendations for Method Development and Validation of qPCR and dPCR Assays in Support of Cell and Gene Therapy Drug Development.

The emerging use of qPCR and dPCR in regulated bioanalysis and absence of regulatory guidance on assay validations for these platforms has resulted in discussions on lack of harmonization on assay design and appropriate acceptance criteria for these assays. Both qPCR and dPCR are extensively used to answer bioanalytical questions for novel modalities such as cell and gene therapies. Following cross-industry conversations on the lack of information and guidelines for these assays, an American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists working group was formed to address these gaps by bringing together 37 industry experts from 24 organizations to discuss best practices to gain a better understanding in the industry and facilitate filings to health authorities.