Neuroinflammatory pathways and potential therapeutic targets in neonatal post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus.

Background: Post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) is a severe complication in premature infants following intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). It is characterized by abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulation, disrupted CSF dynamics, and elevated intracranial pressure (ICP), leading to significant neurological impairments.

Objective: This review provides an overview of recent molecular insights into the pathophysiology of PHH and evaluates emerging therapeutic approaches aimed at addressing its underlying mechanisms.

Layered entrenchment maintains essentiality in the evolution of Form I Rubisco complexes.

Protein complexes composed of strictly essential subunits are abundant in nature and often arise through the gradual complexification of ancestral precursor proteins. Essentiality can arise through the accumulation of changes that are tolerated in the complex state but would be deleterious for the standalone complex components. While this theoretical framework to explain how essentiality arises has been proposed long ago, it is unclear which factors cause essentiality to persist over evolutionary timescales.

Comparison of whole-body 18F-FDG-PET/CT with 18F-FDG-PET/CT limited to skull base to upper abdomen for primary staging of lung cancer - a retrospective explorative analysis.

The gold standard for ruling out distant metastases as part of primary staging in lung cancer is whole-body F-FDG-PET/CT, but this method is resource-intensive. Recent evidence suggests that examining only the thorax and upper abdomen may be sufficient 1 2 3. If a limited F-FDG-PET/CT approach proves effective for proper staging, it could lead to quicker examinations and reduced radiation exposure.

Prognostic utility of mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin and growth differentiation factor 15 in patients undergoing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Risk prediction in patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remains an unsolved issue. In addition to classical risk scoring systems, novel circulating biomarkers like mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) and growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) may be of value in assessing risk.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing elective transfemoral TAVI were included in this prospective observational study.

A Carbon Capture and Utilization Process for the Production of Solid Carbon Materials from Atmospheric CO - Part 1: Process Performance.

The successful operation of a process that converts atmospheric CO into solid carbon products is presented as an alternative to fossil based solid carbon production. In a first step, CO is removed from the atmosphere by a direct air capture (DAC) unit. The gas is then mixed with hydrogen and enters a methanation unit.

Transport properties of canonical PIN-FORMED proteins from Arabidopsis and the role of the loop domain in auxin transport.

The phytohormone auxin is polarly transported in plants by PIN-FORMED (PIN) transporters and controls virtually all growth and developmental processes. Canonical PINs possess a long, largely disordered cytosolic loop. Auxin transport by canonical PINs is activated by loop phosphorylation by certain kinases.

Multiple Infections Caused by Probiotics at Pediatric and Adult Academic Medical Centers.

Background: Probiotics are synthetic oral supplements containing live bacterial and fungal species hypothesized to help with various gastrointestinal conditions. However, they can cause infection if the organism spreads outside of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to identify and describe patients who experienced systemic infections caused by probiotic use.

(Mal)adaptive Mentalizing in the Cognitive Hierarchy, and Its Link to Paranoia.

Unlabelled: Humans need to be on their toes when interacting with competitive others to avoid being taken advantage of. Too much caution out of context can, however, be detrimental and produce false beliefs of intended harm. Here, we offer a formal account of this phenomenon through the lens of Theory of Mind.

Transport of herbicides by PIN-FORMED auxin transporters.

Auxins are a group of phytohormones that control plant growth and development . Their crucial role in plant physiology has inspired development of potent synthetic auxins that can be used as herbicides . Phenoxyacetic acid derivatives are a widely used group of auxin herbicides in agriculture and research.

Network medicine-based epistasis detection in complex diseases: ready for quantum computing.

Most heritable diseases are polygenic. To comprehend the underlying genetic architecture, it is crucial to discover the clinically relevant epistatic interactions (EIs) between genomic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (1-3). Existing statistical computational methods for EI detection are mostly limited to pairs of SNPs due to the combinatorial explosion of higher-order EIs.

Toxic Effects of the Trap Crop on the Hatch and Viability of .

, the pale cyst nematode, is a quarantined potato pest first found in Idaho in 2006. The containment and eradication of this economically devastating pest has been the focus of control since its discovery. survives for 30+ years in soil and can cause up to 80% yield loss in susceptible potato varieties.

A change in metal cation switches selectivity of a phospholipid sensor from phosphatidic acid to phosphatidylserine.

Phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine are anionic phospholipids with emerging signalling roles in cells. Determination of how phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylserine change location and quantity in cells over time requires selective fluorescent sensors that can distinguish these two anionic phospholipids. However, the design of such synthetic sensors that can selectively bind and respond to a single phospholipid within the complex membrane milieu remains challenging.

Fluorescence-activated nuclear sorting (FANS) of nuclei from in vitro-generated syncytiotrophoblast.

Large, multinucleated cells, like syncytiotrophoblasts (STB), are not readily analyzed by standard methods used for single cells, such as single-cell RNA-sequencing and fluorescence-activated cellular sorting (FACS). Here we have demonstrated that fluorescence-activated nuclear sorting (FANS) is suitable to analyze nuclei from STB. Human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) can be differentiated into a mixed trophoblast populations comprising approximately 20 % STB by treatment with BMP4 (Bone Morphogenetic Protein-4), plus A83-01 and PD173074, inhibitors of activin and FGF2 signaling, respectively (the BAP model) in about a week.

Changes in energy expenditure and physical activity over 15 years of environmental changes: The Maycoba project.

Objective: This work aimed to parse out the role of changing environments on body composition, total energy expenditure, and physical activity in the Mexican Pima, a population experiencing rapid industrialization.

Methods: Using doubly labeled water, we compared energy expenditure and physical activity in a longitudinal cohort of Mexican Pima (n = 26; female: 12) in 1995 and 2010. Body mass and composition were assessed by bioimpedance analysis.

Association of initial assessment variables and mortality in severe pediatric traumatic brain injury.

Background: Predictive scales have been used to prognosticate long-term outcomes of traumatic brain injury (TBI), but gaps remain in predicting mortality using initial trauma resuscitation data. We sought to evaluate the association of clinical variables collected during the initial resuscitation of intubated pediatric severe patients with TBI with in-hospital mortality.

Methods: Intubated pediatric trauma patients <18 years with severe TBI (Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score ≤8) from January 2011 to December 2020 were included.

PLASMA DYNAMICS OF NEUTROPHIL EXTRACELLULAR TRAPS AND CELL-FREE DNA IN SEPTIC AND NONSEPTIC VASOPLEGIC SHOCK: A PROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE OBSERVATIONAL COHORT STUDY.

Background: The association between neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and the requirement for vasopressor and inotropic support in vasoplegic shock is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the dynamics of plasma levels of NETs and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) up to 48 h after the admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) for management of vasoplegic shock of infectious (SEPSIS) or noninfectious (following cardiac surgery, CARDIAC) origin. Methods: This is a prospective, observational study of NETs and cfDNA plasma levels at 0H (admission) and then at 12H, 24H, and 48H in SEPSIS and CARDIAC patients.

A scoping review of bacterial resistance among inpatients amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention operations worldwide, raising concerns for an acceleration of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Therefore, we aimed to define the scope of peer reviewed research comparing AMR in inpatient bacterial clinical cultures before and after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review and searched PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science through 15 June 2023.

Evaluation of Gram Stain-Guided Antibiotic Therapy for Methicillin-Resistant Pneumonia in Intensive Care Unit Patients.

Despite high negative predictive values (NPVs) seen with methicillin-resistant (MRSA) nares polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, utilization of both respiratory sample Gram stain and MRSA nares PCR in patients with pneumonia may contribute to overuse of laboratory resources. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if a Gram stain demonstrating no Gram-positive organisms from a respiratory sample is sufficient to allow for de-escalation of vancomycin therapy. This single center study retrospectively identified intensive care unit (ICU) patients started on vancomycin for presumed pneumonia at University of Wisconsin (UW) Health in Madison, WI between August 2022 and March 2023.

SARS-CoV-2 and its ORF3a, E and M viroporins activate inflammasome in human macrophages and induce of IL-1α in pulmonary epithelial and endothelial cells.

Inflammasome assembly is a potent mechanism responsible for the host protection against pathogens, including viruses. When compromised, it can allow viral replication, while when disrupted, it can perpetuate pathological responses by IL-1 signaling and pyroptotic cell death. SARS-CoV-2 infection was shown to activate inflammasome in the lungs of COVID-19 patients, however, potential mechanisms responsible for this response are not fully elucidated.

In praise of folly: flexible goals and human cognition.

Humans often pursue idiosyncratic goals that appear remote from functional ends, including information gain. We suggest that this is valuable because goals (even prima facie foolish or unachievable ones) contain structured information that scaffolds thinking and planning. By evaluating hypotheses and plans with respect to their goals, humans can discover new ideas that go beyond prior knowledge and observable evidence.

The role of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and Galectin-3 as predictive biomarkers for all-cause mortality in patients undergoing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Currently available risk scores fail to accurately predict morbidity and mortality in patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis who undergo transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). In this context, biomarkers like matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and Galectin-3 (Gal-3) may provide additional prognostic information.

Methods: Patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing consecutive, elective, transfemoral TAVI were included.

The impact of frailty and rapid response team activation on patients admitted to the intensive care unit: A case-control matched, observational, single-centre cohort study.

Background: Frailty is a multi-dimensional syndrome associated with mortality and adverse outcomes in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Further investigation is warranted to explore the interplay among factors such as frailty, clinical deterioration triggering a medical emergency team (MET) review, and outcomes following admission to the ICU.

Methods: Single-centre, retrospective observational case-control study of adult patients (>18 years) admitted to a medical-surgical ICU with (cases) or without (controls) a preceding MET review between 4 h and 14 days prior.

Finding value in novel antibiotics: How can infectious diseases adopt incremental cost-effectiveness to improve new antibiotic utilization?

Research and development of innovative antimicrobials is paramount to addressing the antimicrobial resistance threat. Although antimicrobial discovery and development has increased, difficulties have emerged in the pharmaceutical industry after market approval. In this minireview, we summarize clinical trial data on recently approved antibiotics, calculate incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) values, and explore ways to adapt ICER calculations to the limitations of antimicrobial clinical trial design.

Soil-specific outcomes in the OECD 216 Nitrogen Transformation Test.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 216 test guideline investigates the impact of agrochemicals on soil nitrogen transformation. After an evaluation of 465 OECD 216 studies, we describe two distinct yet contrasting outcomes in control nontreated samples that are possible in this testing framework, which we term the "rise" (consistent increases in nitrate concentrations throughout the test period) and "dip" (initial decline in nitrate concentration between Days 0-7, followed by a net-generation of nitrate across Days 7-28) responses. We raise significant concerns that control data from standardized, internationally recognized test guidelines can demonstrate such dissimilar patterns.