Deadliness of Traumatic Subdural Hematomas in the First Quarter of the Year: A Measurement by the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP).

Background Traumatic acute subdural hematoma (ASDH) is a surgical emergency and has been associated with high morbidity and mortality. However, it is not known whether mortality from ASDH occurs more frequently in a particular season. Methodology We queried the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) from 2016 to 2019.

Aerosol delivery and spatiotemporal tissue distribution of hydroxychloroquine in rat lung.

Inhalation enables the delivery of drugs directly to the lung, increasing the retention for prolonged exposure and maximizing the therapeutic index. However, the differential regional lung exposure kinetics and systemic pharmacokinetics are not fully known, and their estimation is critical for pulmonary drug delivery. The study evaluates the pharmacokinetics of hydroxychloroquine in different regions of the respiratory tract for multiple routes of administration.

Precision-activated T-cell engagers targeting HER2 or EGFR and CD3 mitigate on-target, off-tumor toxicity for immunotherapy in solid tumors.

To enhance the therapeutic index of T-cell engagers (TCEs), we engineered masked, precision-activated TCEs (XPAT proteins), targeting a tumor antigen (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)) and CD3. Unstructured XTEN polypeptide masks flank the N and C termini of the TCE and are designed to be released by proteases in the tumor microenvironment. In vitro, unmasked HER2-XPAT (uTCE) demonstrates potent cytotoxicity, with XTEN polypeptide masking providing up to 4-log-fold protection.

Pharmacists' Satisfaction with Work and Working Conditions in New Zealand-An Updated Survey and a Comparison to Canada.

Background: As roles have evolved over time, changes in workplace environments have created higher patient expectations creating stressful conditions for pharmacists.

Aim: To evaluate pharmacists' perceptions of their working conditions, work dissatisfaction, and psychological distress; determine their predictors in New Zealand (NZ); and compare results with Canadian studies and historic NZ data.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was distributed to registered pharmacists in NZ.

Lived experience of dietary change among Chinese colorectal cancer survivors in Hong Kong: A qualitative study.

Objectives: This is a qualitative study which aims to understand the lived experience of dietary changes among Chinese survivors of colorectal cancer who participated in a dietary intervention.

Setting: The surgical and oncological departments of four public hospitals in Hong Kong.

Participants: Fifty-five Chinese colorectal cancer survivors who were aged 18 years or above and had received potentially curative treatment in the surgical and oncological departments in Hong Kong were examined.

Sterile Leukocytosis Predicts Hemorrhagic Transformation in Arterial Ischemic Stroke: A National Inpatient Sample Study.

Objective: Hemorrhage transformation (HT) is a known complication of arterial ischemic stroke (AIS). In addition, it is known that the increase of proinflammatory immune cells in the brain tissue after AIS predict worse outcomes. However, it is not clear whether inflammation due to preceding or post-stroke infections affect outcomes and moreover, if systemic inflammatory markers could be useful as a clinical prediction tool for HT post-stroke.

White matter hyperintensities and cognition across different Alzheimer's biomarker profiles.

Background/objectives: To examine the association between white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and cognitive domains such as memory and executive function (EF) across different clinical and biomarker categories of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative.

Medical Malpractice and Trigeminal Neuralgia: An Analysis of 49 Cases.

Purpose: Our study fills the vacancy of litigation research related to trigeminal neuralgia management, giving health care providers the information needed to understand the potential litigious outcomes that follow treatment methods.

Methods: We queried the Westlaw database to identify litigation cases related to trigeminal neuralgia management. Key variables extracted included medical complaints, trial outcomes, and demographics.

Medical malpractice and meningiomas: an analysis of 47 cases.

Objective: Among medical practices, surgical fields, including neurosurgery, are at a high risk for medical malpractice litigation. With meningiomas contributing to 10% of the total neurosurgery litigation cases, the aim of this study was to identify demographic characteristics, reasons for litigation, and surgical complications commonly reported in these cases. This analysis serves to increase neurosurgeons' awareness of factors associated with medical malpractice litigation.

Urban Trees and Human Health: A Scoping Review.

The urban forest is a green infrastructure system that delivers multiple environmental, economic, social and health services, and functions in cities. Environmental benefits of urban trees are well understood, but no review to date has examined how urban trees affect human health. This review provides a comprehensive summary of existing literature on the health impacts of urban trees that can inform future research, policy, and nature-based public health interventions.

Effects of dietary and physical activity interventions on generic and cancer-specific health-related quality of life, anxiety, and depression in colorectal cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To assess the effects of dietary and physical activity (PA) interventions on generic and cancer-specific quality of life (QoL), anxiety, and depression levels among adult Chinese colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors.

Methods: Two-hundred twenty-three adult CRC survivors within 1 year of completion of primary cancer treatment were randomized to receive dietary, PA or combined intervention, or usual care for a 12 monthduration, under a 2 (diet vs usual care) × 2 (PA vs usual care) factorial design. Generic and cancer-specific QoL was assessed using a Chinese version 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Colorectal (FACT-C) scale, respectively.

Wnt5a induces ROR1 to recruit cortactin to promote breast-cancer migration and metastasis.

ROR1 is a conserved oncoembryonic surface protein expressed in breast cancer. Here we report that ROR1 associates with cortactin in primary breast-cancer cells or in MCF7 transfected to express ROR1. Wnt5a also induced ROR1-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of cortactin (Y421), which recruited ARHGEF1 to activate RhoA and promote breast-cancer-cell migration; such effects could be inhibited by cirmtuzumab, a humanized mAb specific for ROR1.

Mucopenetration and biocompatibility of polydopamine surfaces for delivery in an Ex Vivo porcine bladder.

Urine voiding and the presence of a mucus layer on the apical surface of the urothelium are two major challenges towards an effective intravesical drug delivery for bladder malignancies. Improved bioavailability to the underlying bladder tissue could be achieved with delivery vectors that diffuse efficiently through the bladder mucus. Pegylation of delivery vectors remains the existing "gold standard" to enhance mucosal delivery despite known poor cell uptake and reported PEG sensitivity.

Inhibition of chemotherapy resistant breast cancer stem cells by a ROR1 specific antibody.

Breast cancers enduring treatment with chemotherapy may be enriched for cancer stem cells or tumor-initiating cells, which have an enhanced capacity for self-renewal, tumor initiation, and/or metastasis. Breast cancer cells that express the type I tyrosine kinaselike orphan receptor ROR1 also may have such features. Here we find that the expression of ROR1 increased in breast cancer cells following treatment with chemotherapy, which also enhanced expression of genes induced by the activation of Rho-GTPases, Hippo-YAP/TAZ, or B lymphoma Mo-MLV insertion region 1 homolog (BMI1).

Dietary and Physical Activity Interventions for Colorectal Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

There has been evidence on the protective effects of diets high in fiber and low in red and processed meat (RPM), and physical activity (PA) against colorectal cancer (CRC) development, but that against CRC recurrence has been limited. This study evaluated the efficacy of a behavioral program comprising dietary and PA interventions in improving Chinese CRC survivors' lifestyle. A 2 × 2 factorial randomized controlled trial of 223 CRC patients (82 females, mean age 65), randomly assigned to receive dietary, PA or both interventions, or usual care for 12 months, and assessed every 6 months for 24 months.

Refractive error magnitude and variability: Relation to age.

Purpose: To investigate mean ocular refraction (MOR) and astigmatism, over the human age range and compare severity of refractive error to earlier studies from clinical populations having large age ranges.

Methods: For this descriptive study patient age, refractive error and history of surgery affecting refraction were abstracted from the Waterloo Eye Study database (WatES). Average MOR, standard deviation of MOR and astigmatism were assessed in relation to age.

Pathological α-synuclein transmission initiated by binding lymphocyte-activation gene 3.

Emerging evidence indicates that the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) may be due to cell-to-cell transmission of misfolded preformed fibrils (PFF) of α-synuclein (α-syn). The mechanism by which α-syn PFF spreads from neuron to neuron is not known. Here, we show that LAG3 (lymphocyte-activation gene 3) binds α-syn PFF with high affinity (dissociation constant = 77 nanomolar), whereas the α-syn monomer exhibited minimal binding.

The evaluation of three treatments for plantar callus: a three-armed randomised, comparative trial using biophysical outcome measures.

Background: Callus is one of the most common foot skin complaints experienced by people of all ages. These painful and unsightly lesions often result in disability. The 'gold standard' of treatment is scalpel debridement by a trained specialist; however, people also seek over-the-counter remedies.

The effect of topical anti blister products on the risk of friction blister formation on the foot.

Introduction: Foot blisters are a common injury, which can impact on activity and lead to infection. Increased skin surface hydration has been identified as a risk factor for blister formation, indicating that a reduction in hydration could reduce the risk of blister.

Method: Thirty healthy adults were randomised into 3 groups, each receiving a preventative foot blister treatment (2Toms(®) Blister Shield(®); Flexitol(®) Blistop and Boots Anti-Perspirant Foot Spray).

Functionally Active HIV-Specific T Cells that Target Gag and Nef Can Be Expanded from Virus-Naïve Donors and Target a Range of Viral Epitopes: Implications for a Cure Strategy after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can potentially cure human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by eliminating infected recipient cells, particularly in the context of technologies that may confer HIV resistance to these stem cells. But, to date, the Berlin patient remains the only case of HIV cure despite multiple attempts to eradicate infection with HSCT. One approach to improve this is to administer virus-specific T cells, a strategy that has proven success in preventing other infections after transplantation.

Characterising the biophysical properties of normal and hyperkeratotic foot skin.

Background: Plantar foot skin exhibits unique biophysical properties that are distinct from skin on other areas of the body. This paper characterises, using non-invasive methods, the biophysical properties of foot skin in healthy and pathological states including xerosis, heel fissures, calluses and corns.

Methods: Ninety three people participated.

The reliability of non-invasive biophysical outcome measures for evaluating normal and hyperkeratotic foot skin.

Background: Hyperkeratosis of foot skin is a common skin problem affecting people of different ages. The clinical presentation of this condition can range from dry flaky skin, which can lead to fissures, to hard callused skin which is often painful and debilitating. The purpose of this study was to test the reliability of certain non-invasive skin measurement devices on foot skin in normal and hyperkeratotic states, with a view to confirming their use as quantitative outcome measures in future clinical trials.

CMV-specific T cells generated from naïve T cells recognize atypical epitopes and may be protective in vivo.

Adoptive transfer of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific T cells derived from adult seropositive donors can effectively restore antiviral immunity after transplantation. However, CMV-seronegative donors lack CMV-specific memory T cells, which restricts the availability of virus-specific T cells for immunoprophylaxis. We demonstrate the feasibility of deriving CMV-specific T cells from naïve cells for T cell therapy.

Expanded cytotoxic T-cell lymphocytes target the latent HIV reservoir.

Enhanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific immunity may be required for HIV eradication. Administration of autologous, ex vivo expanded, virus-specific, cytotoxic T-lymphocytes derived from HIV-infected patients on suppressive antiretroviral therapy (HXTCs) are a powerful tool for proof-of-concept studies. Broadly specific, polyclonal HXTCs resulting from ex vivo expansion demonstrated improved control of autologous reservoir virus compared to bulk CD8(+) T cells in viral inhibition assays.