Increased accuracy in component positioning using an image-less robotic arm system in primary total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective study.

Background: Robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (RTKA) and navigated total knee arthroplasty (NTKA) have shown improved knee alignment and reduced radiographic outliers. Recent studies have proven that conventional mechanical alignment may not be the optimal goal for every patient. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of the planned implant positioning of a novel image-less robotic technique with an established navigated technique (NTKA).

Frequency-Dependent Reduction of Cybersickness in Virtual Reality by Transcranial Oscillatory Stimulation of the Vestibular Cortex.

Virtual reality (VR) applications are pervasive of everyday life, as in working, medical, and entertainment scenarios. There is yet no solution to cybersickness (CS), a disabling vestibular syndrome with nausea, dizziness, and general discomfort that most of VR users undergo, which results from an integration mismatch among visual, proprioceptive, and vestibular information. In a double-blind, controlled trial, we propose an innovative treatment for CS, consisting of online oscillatory imperceptible neuromodulation with transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at 10 Hz, biophysically modelled to reach the vestibular cortex bilaterally.

Expert consensus on the management of patients undergoing cataract surgery: A Delphi study.

Purpose: To define the management of patients undergoing cataract surgery.

Setting: Panel of experts on cataract surgery and members of the Italian Association of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (AICCER) participated in the Delphi study.

Design: A restricted panel of experts defined the statements concerning the topic and identified a larger panel of experts who voted the statements.

Essential Oils and Their Combination with Lactic Acid Bacteria and Bacteriocins to Improve the Safety and Shelf Life of Foods: A Review.

The use of plant extracts (e.g., essential oils and their active compounds) represents an interesting alternative to chemical additives and preservatives applied to delay the alteration and oxidation of foods during their storage.

Warming-induced phenological mismatch between trees and shrubs explains high-elevation forest expansion.

Despite the importance of species interaction in modulating the range shifts of plants, little is known about the responses of coexisting life forms to a warmer climate. Here, we combine long-term monitoring of cambial phenology in sympatric trees and shrubs at two treelines of the Tibetan Plateau, with a meta-analysis of ring-width series from 344 shrubs and 575 trees paired across 11 alpine treelines in the Northern Hemisphere. Under a spring warming of +1°C, xylem resumption advances by 2-4 days in trees, but delays by 3-8 days in shrubs.

Examining the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cervical cancer screening practices among clinicians practicing in Federally Qualified Health Centers: A mixed methods study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to reductions in cervical cancer screening and colposcopy. Therefore, in this mixed methods study we explored perceived pandemic-related practice changes to cervical cancer screenings in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs).

Methods: Between October 2021 and June 2022, we conducted a national web survey of clinicians (physicians and advanced practice providers) who performed cervical cancer screening in FQHCs in the United States during the post-acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, along with a sub-set of qualitative interviews via video conference, to examine perceived changes in cervical cancer screening practices during the pandemic.

Examining the association of clinician characteristics with perceived changes in cervical cancer screening and colposcopy practice during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed methods assessment.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic led to reductions in cervical cancer screening and colposcopy. Therefore, in this mixed method study we explored perceived pandemic-related practice changes to cervical cancer screenings and colposcopies.

Methods: In 2021, a national sample of 1251 clinicians completed surveys, including 675 clinicians who performed colposcopy; a subset (n=55) of clinicians completed qualitative interviews.

Mycelium-based biomaterials as smart devices for skin wound healing.

Recently, mycelia of and , edible fungi, have been characterized as self-growing biomaterials for tissue engineering since they are constituted of interconnected fibrous networks resembling the dermal collagen structure. This work aims to investigate the biopharmaceutical properties of and mycelia to prove their safety and effectiveness in tissue engineering as dermal substitutes. The mycelial materials were characterized using a multidisciplinary approach, including physicochemical properties (morphology, thermal behavior, surface charge, and isoelectric point).

Characterization of the Pathogenic Potential of the Beach Sand Microbiome and Assessment of Quicklime as a Remediation Tool.

Beach sand may act as a reservoir for potential human pathogens, posing a public health risk. Despite this, the microbiological monitoring of sand microbiome is rarely performed to determine beach quality. In this study, the sand microbial population of a Northern Adriatic Sea beach sand was profiled by microbiological (CFU counts) and molecular methods (WGS, microarray), showing significant presence of potential human pathogens including drug-resistant strains.

Evaluation of a Lateral Flow Immunochromatography Assay (LFIA) for Diagnosis and Surveillance of Brucellosis in French Alpine Ibex ().

France has been officially free of bovine brucellosis since 2005. Nevertheless, in 2012, as the source of two human cases, a bovine outbreak due to biovar 3 was confirmed in the French Alpine Bargy massif, due to a spillover from wild, protected Alpine ibex (). In order to reduce high prevalence in the local ibex population, successive management strategies have been implemented.

BRAF Mutations in Melanoma: Biological Aspects, Therapeutic Implications, and Circulating Biomarkers.

Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer resulting from the malignant transformation of melanocytes. Recent therapeutic approaches, including targeted therapy and immunotherapy, have improved the prognosis and outcome of melanoma patients. BRAF is one of the most frequently mutated oncogenes recognised in melanoma.

The HLA-DQ8 transgenic mouse: A model to study the immune and cytotoxic responses to wheat gliadin.

A complete understanding of celiac disease (CD) pathogenesis has been hindered to date because of the lack of adequate in vivo models. Herein, we describe two in vivo approaches in HLA-DQ8-transgenic mice to study the intrinsic cytoxicity and immune features of wheat gliadin. By adopting the first method, we explored the mucosal architecture of the small intestine following the intra-gastric administration of wheat gliadin in mice treated with indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenases.

Exploring the relationship between environmental drivers and the manifestation of fibropapillomatosis in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in eastern Brazil.

Fibropapillomatosis (FP) is a disease characterized by epithelial tumors that can impede life-sustaining activities of sea turtles, especially green turtles (Chelonia mydas). FP is caused by a herpesvirus, but environmental factors are also thought to play a role in triggering FP tumor growth. In this study, we evaluate the epidemiology of FP tumors in green turtles along the coast of Espírito Santo, Brazil, a region where juvenile green turtles are known to aggregate with high FP prevalence.

PCL preservation or sacrifice does not influence clinical outcomes and survivorship at mid-term follow-up of a J-curve CR total knee replacement with a medial congruent liner and a functional coronal alignment.

Background: In recent years, increasing interest has arisen for medial pivoting TKA implants, designed to mimic the physiological knee kinematics, maximizing the contact area on the medial compartment of the knee, increasing anterior-posterior stability, and contributing to a ball-in-socket effect that allows the posterior cruciate sacrifice without a post-CAM mechanism. The medial congruent liner works with a J-curve cruciate-retaining (CR) femur without a real ball-in-socket design. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes and survival of these implants, with or without PCL sparing, at a medium follow-up.

Persistent 18F-FDG Brain PET Fronto-Temporal Hypometabolism and Cognitive Symptoms Two Years after SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Case Report.

At least 10% of patients experience persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection, a condition referred to as post-acute COVID-19, post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), long COVID, long-haul COVID, long-term effects of COVID, post-COVID-19 and chronic COVID. In this report, we describe a case of persistent cognitive deficits developed after SARS-CoV-2 infection in a 40-year-old woman with a family history of early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) since her father was diagnosed with EOAD at the age of 50. We describe the clinical picture and workup, with special emphasis on the alterations of brain glucose metabolism evidenced by 18-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), which could be considered a useful marker of the presence and persistence of cognitive deficits.

A stabilized linear finite element method for anisotropic poroelastodynamics with application to cardiac perfusion.

We propose a variational multiscale method stabilization of a linear finite element method for nonlinear poroelasticity. Our approach is suitable for the implicit time integration of poroelastic formulations in which the solid skeleton is anisotropic and incompressible. A detailed numerical methodology is presented for a monolithic formulation that includes both structural dynamics and Darcy flow.

Accelerating effects of growing-season warming on tree seasonal activities are progressively disappearing.

The phenological changes induced by climate warming have profound effects on water, energy, and carbon cycling in forest ecosystems. In addition to pre-season warming, growing-season warming may drive tree phenology by altering photosynthetic carbon uptake. It has been reported that the effect of pre-season warming on tree phenology is decreasing.

Toxic Species Affect ArfGAP-1 Function.

Compelling evidence indicates that defects in nucleocytoplasmic transport contribute to the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In particular, hexanucleotide (G4C2) repeat expansions in , the most common cause of genetic ALS, have a widespread impact on the transport machinery that regulates the nucleocytoplasmic distribution of proteins and RNAs. We previously reported that the expression of G4C2 hexanucleotide repeats in cultured human and mouse cells caused a marked accumulation of poly(A) mRNAs in the cell nuclei.

Antibacterial efficiency over time and barrier properties of wood coatings with colloidal silver.

This work aims to represent a standard application for understanding the extent of the antibacterial efficacy of coatings with different amounts of colloidal silver on wooden surfaces over time. The key variable that was intended to be evaluated in this study was the "time efficiency," with concerns about the possible efficacy in the durability of the surfaces. By highlighting the "expiry date" of the agents, as in the case with other products, the study aimed to confirm the validity of the simulation tests conducted in the laboratory with degradation tests.

The role of forests in the EU climate policy: are we on the right track?

Background: The European Union (EU) has committed to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. This requires a rapid reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and ensuring that any remaining emissions are balanced through CO removals. Forests play a crucial role in this plan: they are currently the main option for removing CO from the atmosphere and additionally, wood use can store carbon durably and help reduce fossil emissions.

Melatonin improves oxidative state and lactate metabolism in rodent Sertoli cells.

Antioxidant actions of melatonin and its impact on testicular function and fertility have already been described. Considering that Sertoli cells contribute to provide structural support and nutrition to germ cells, we evaluated the effect of melatonin on oxidative state and lactate metabolism in the immature murine TM4 cell line and in immature hamster Sertoli cells. A prooxidant stimulus applied to rodent Sertoli cells expressing MT1/MT2 receptors, increased lipid peroxidation whereas decreased antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase 1, catalase, peroxiredoxin 1) expression and catalase activity.

Drug-Repurposing Strategy for Dimethyl Fumarate.

In the area of drug discovery, repurposing strategies represent an approach to discover new uses of approved drugs besides their original indications. We used this approach to investigate the effects of dimethyl fumarate (DMF), a drug approved for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and psoriasis treatment, on early injury associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR). We used an in vivo streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat model.

Frequency-dependent tuning of the human vestibular "sixth sense" by transcranial oscillatory currents.

Objective: The vestibular cortex is a multisensory associative region that, in neuroimaging investigations, is activated by slow-frequency (1-2 Hz) galvanic stimulation of peripheral receptors. We aimed to directly activate the vestibular cortex with biophysically modeled transcranial oscillatory current stimulation (tACS) in the same frequency range.

Methods: Thirty healthy subjects and one rare patient with chronic bilateral vestibular deafferentation underwent, in a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, to tACS at slow (1 or 2 Hz) or higher (10 Hz) frequency and sham stimulations, over the Parieto-Insular Vestibular Cortex (PIVC), while standing on a stabilometric platform.