Age and Comorbidities Predict COVID-19 Outcome, Regardless of Innate Immune Response Severity: A Single Institutional Cohort Study.

Unlabelled: The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed over eight hundred thousand lives in the United States alone, with older individuals and those with comorbidities being at higher risk of severe disease and death. Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-induced hyperinflammation is one of the mechanisms underlying the high mortality, the association between age and innate immune responses in COVID-19 mortality remains unclear.

Design: Flow cytometry of fresh blood and multiplexed inflammatory chemokine measurements of sera were performed on samples collected longitudinally from our cohort.

Suppression of Fibrinolysis and Hypercoagulability, Severity of Hypoxemia, and Mortality in COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: COVID-19 causes hypercoagulability, but the association between coagulopathy and hypoxemia in critically ill patients has not been thoroughly explored. This study hypothesized that severity of coagulopathy would be associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome severity, major thrombotic events, and mortality in patients requiring intensive care unit-level care.

Methods: Viscoelastic testing by rotational thromboelastometry and coagulation factor biomarker analyses were performed in this prospective observational cohort study of critically ill COVID-19 patients from April 2020 to October 2020.

DAMPs/PAMPs induce monocytic TLR activation and tolerance in COVID-19 patients; nucleic acid binding scavengers can counteract such TLR agonists.

Millions of COVID-19 patients have succumbed to respiratory and systemic inflammation. Hyperstimulation of toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling is a key driver of immunopathology following infection by viruses. We found that severely ill COVID-19 patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) display hallmarks of such hyper-stimulation with abundant agonists of nucleic acid-sensing TLRs present in their blood and lungs.

Airway management in patients with lingual thyroid: a case report and review of the literature.

Purpose: To review the management of patients with lingual thyroid (LT) causing upper airway obstruction and to suggest a diagnostic and therapeutic workflow.

Methods: A PubMed review of published cases from January 1980 up to December 2020 of LT causing upper airway obstruction. We selected cases of confirmed LTs that presented with non-state-dependent airway obstruction.

Reducing metabolizable protein supply: Effects on milk production, blood metabolites, and health in early-lactation dairy cows.

Our objective was to evaluate the effect of metabolizable protein (MP) supply on milk production, blood metabolites, and health in dairy cows during early lactation. Three experimental diets were formulated to contain 114, 107, 101 g of MP/kg of dry matter (DM; 114MP, 107MP, and 101MP, respectively) with crude protein contents of 17.0, 16.

Pectin Influences the Absorption and Metabolism of Polyphenols from Blackcurrant and Green Tea in Rats.

Consumption of polyphenols and dietary fiber as part of a normal diet is beneficial to human health. In this study, we examined whether different amounts of dietary soluble fiber (pectin) affect the absorption and metabolism of polyphenols from blackcurrant and green tea in rats. After 28 days, the rats fed blackcurrant and green tea with pectin (4 or 8%) had significantly lower body weight gain and food intake compared to the rats fed a control diet.

Key Pathogenic Factors in Coronavirus Disease 2019-Associated Coagulopathy and Acute Lung Injury Highlighted in a Patient With Copresentation of Acute Myelocytic Leukemia: A Case Report.

The role of concurrent illness in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is unknown. Patients with leukemia may display altered thromboinflammatory responses. We report a 53-year-old man presenting with acute leukemia and COVID-19 who developed thrombotic complications and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Children's Disclosure of Sexual Abuse: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Research Exploring Barriers and Facilitators.

This study evaluates and synthesizes qualitative evidence addressing factors affecting a child's decision to disclose an experience of sexual abuse. Childhood sexual abuse is a devastating crime, with long-term negative impacts. Understanding the factors that affect a child's decision to disclose is vital.

Longitudinal Recovery and Reduced Costs After 120 Sessions of Locomotor Training for Motor Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury.

Objective: To determine the impact of long-term, body weight-supported locomotor training after chronic, incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI), and to estimate the health care costs related to lost recovery potential and preventable secondary complications that may have occurred because of visit limits imposed by insurers.

Design: Prospective observational cohort with longitudinal follow-up.

Setting: Eight outpatient rehabilitation centers that participate in the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation NeuroRecovery Network (NRN).

Patterns of pollen and nectar foraging specialization by bumblebees over multiple timescales using RFID.

The ecological success of social insects is frequently ascribed to improvements in task performance due to division of labour amongst workers. While much research has focused on improvements associated with lifetime task specialization, members of colonies can specialize on a given task over shorter time periods. Eusocial bees in particular must collect pollen and nectar rewards to survive, but most workers appear to mix collection of both rewards over their lifetimes.

Investigating the impacts of field-realistic exposure to a neonicotinoid pesticide on bumblebee foraging, homing ability and colony growth.

The ability to forage and return home is essential to the success of bees as both foragers and pollinators. Pesticide exposure may cause behavioural changes that interfere with these processes, with consequences for colony persistence and delivery of pollination services.We investigated the impact of chronic exposure (5-43 days) to field-realistic levels of a neonicotinoid insecticide (2·4 ppb thiamethoxam) on foraging ability, homing success and colony size using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology in free-flying bumblebee colonies.

Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase Regulates Tight Junction Protein Levels.

Background: Intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) plays a pivotal role in maintaining gut health and well-being. Oral supplementation with IAP in mice improves gut barrier function and prevents luminal proinflammatory factors from gaining access to the circulation. In this study, we sought to explore the relationship between IAP and tight junction protein (TJP) expression and function.

Antenatal Determinants of Long-Term Kidney Outcome in Boys with Posterior Urethral Valves.

Background: Posterior urethral valves (PUV) are the most important cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in young boys. The objective of this report was to define the antenatal determinants of long-term postnatal renal outcome in this condition.

Design: This was a retrospective cohort analysis.

Activity-based therapy for recovery of walking in chronic spinal cord injury: results from a secondary analysis to determine responsiveness to therapy.

Objective: To gain insight into who is likely to benefit from activity-based therapy (ABT), as assessed by secondary analysis of data obtained from a clinical trial.

Design: Secondary analysis of results from a randomized controlled trial with delayed treatment design.

Setting: Outpatient program in a private, nonprofit rehabilitation hospital.

Activity-based therapy for recovery of walking in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury: results from a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To examine the effects of activity-based therapy (ABT) on neurologic function, walking ability, functional independence, metabolic health, and community participation.

Design: Randomized controlled trial with delayed treatment design.

Setting: Outpatient program in a private, nonprofit rehabilitation hospital.

NeuroRecovery Network provides standardization of locomotor training for persons with incomplete spinal cord injury.

Objective: To illustrate the continuity of care afforded by a standardized locomotor training program across a multisite network setting within the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation NeuroRecovery Network (NRN).

Design: Single patient case study.

Setting: Two geographically different hospital-based outpatient facilities.

Life care planning projections for individuals with motor incomplete spinal cord injury before and after locomotor training intervention: a case series.

Background/purpose: We present a retrospective case series of 2 individuals with motor-incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) to examine differences in lifetime cost estimates before and after participation in an intensive locomotor training (LT) program. Sections of a life care plan (LCP) were used to determine the financial implications associated with equipment, home renovations, and transportation for patients who receive LT. An LCP is a viable method of quantifying outcomes following any therapeutic intervention.

Heterosexism and health care: a concept analysis.

Background: The concept of heterosexism is used in a variety of ways in healthcare literature. The lack of consensus of the term makes identifying when and how it impacts the health care of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people difficult. A lack of clarity of the concept could also hinder effectiveness of education, awareness, and research tool development efforts.

A multivariate examination of temporal changes in Berg Balance Scale items for patients with ASIA Impairment Scale C and D spinal cord injuries.

Objective: To provide a multivariate examination of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) as a first step in developing a balance tool for the SCI population.

Design: Observational cohort.

Setting: The NeuroRecovery Network (NRN), a specialized network of treatment centers providing standardized, activity-based therapy for patients with SCI.

Enhanced stimulus strength improves visual cognition in aging and Alzheimer's disease.

Deficits in visual cognition in Alzheimer's disease (AD) arise from neuropathological changes in higher-order association areas of the cortex and from defective input from lower-level visual processing areas. We investigated whether enhanced signal strength may lead to improvement of visual cognition in AD. We tested 35 individuals with probable AD, 35 age-matched elderly control (EC) and 58 young control (YC) adults on letter identification, word reading, picture naming, discrimination of unfamiliar faces, and pattern completion.

Locomotor training: is translating evidence into practice financially feasible?

Purpose: Several lines of evidence suggest that locomotor training (LT) modalities, such as body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT), improves gait in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Yet, manual BWSTT has been criticized for being cost prohibitive due to the number of staff required to perform this treatment. This study examined the financial viability of a LT program using manual BWSTT.

The skinny on weight-loss surgery: what occupational health nurses need to know.

Occupational health nurses are in a position to follow individuals undergoing bariatric surgery before and after the procedure. By fully understanding the health problems caused by obesity, occupational health nurses can effectively communicate the importance of diet and exercise.

The use of NHS accident and emergency services by commercial sea fishermen in the North East of Scotland.

Background: Commercial sea fishing is known to be a hazardous occupation, but little quantitative research has been conducted in the UK.

Objective: To describe the demography of commercial fishermen accessing NHS accident and emergency (A&E) services and profile the reasons for attendance.

Methods: Eight NHS A&E departments in North East Scotland participated in the audit.

Enhanced stimulus contrast normalizes visual processing of rapidly presented letters in Alzheimer's disease.

Deficient perception and cognition in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been attributed to slow information processing and attentional disturbance, but an additional explanation may be reduced signal strength. In 21 individuals with probable AD, 29 healthy older and 54 younger adults, we enhanced the contrast level of rapidly-flashed masked letters. The AD group reached identification criterion (80% accuracy), but required significantly higher contrast than the control groups.