Development of a Drawing Application to Evaluate Hand and Wrist Function: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: We developed a custom digital drawing application to assess hand function. We conducted an initial validation study of this technique to (1) assess which drawing features are associated with hand function, (2) differentiate patients from control subjects for both dominant and nondominant hands, and (3) assess the correlation of drawing features with previously validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Methods: In this prospective study, participants were asked to draw shapes on an Apple iPad with a digital pen using a custom app.

Associations of Lipid-Lowering Drugs With Blood Pressure and Fasting Glucose: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: Observational studies have linked LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol)-lowering drugs with lower blood pressure (BP) and higher fasting glucose, but the causality remains unclear. We conducted a drug target Mendelian randomization study to assess the causal associations of genetically proxied inhibition of HMGCR (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase), PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9), and NPC1L1 (Niemann-Pick C1-Like 1) with BP and fasting glucose.

Methods: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in , , and associated with LDL-C in a genome-wide association study meta-analysis from the Global Lipid Genetics Consortium (173 082 European individuals) were used to proxy LDL-C-lowering drug targets.

Carbon dots induce endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated lipid dysregulation and embryonic developmental toxicity in zebrafish.

Carbon dots (CDs) are widely utilized due to their exceptional physical and chemical properties. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of research examining the potential toxicity of carbon dots to human health, particularly with regard to developmental toxicity. The present study demonstrated that exposure to CDs resulted in increased mortality and malformations in zebrafish embryos.

Associations between brain imaging-derived phenotypes and cognitive functions.

We aimed to evaluate the potential causal relationship between brain imaging-derived phenotypes and cognitive functions via Mendelian randomization analyses. Genetic instruments for 470 brain imaging-derived phenotypes were selected from a genome-wide association study based on the UK Biobank (n = 33,224). Statistics for cognitive functions were obtained from the genome-wide association study based on the UK Biobank.

How Does ChatGPT Use Source Information Compared With Google? A Text Network Analysis of Online Health Information.

Background: The lay public is increasingly using ChatGPT (a large language model) as a source of medical information. Traditional search engines such as Google provide several distinct responses to each search query and indicate the source for each response, but ChatGPT provides responses in paragraph form in prose without providing the sources used, which makes it difficult or impossible to ascertain whether those sources are reliable. One practical method to infer the sources used by ChatGPT is text network analysis.

Association between Plasma Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Level and Alzheimer's Disease: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

Background: High brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentrations have been found to be associated with a decreased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in observational studies, but the causality for this association remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to examine the association between genetically determined plasma BDNF levels and AD using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method.

Methods: Twenty single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with plasma BDNF concentrations were identified as genetic instruments based on a genome-wide association study with 3301 European individuals.

Complications and Unplanned Reoperation After Thumb Metacarpophalangeal Arthrodesis.

Purpose: Arthrodesis of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint of the thumb is a common procedure to treat arthritis or instability. Studies reporting hardware complications and nonunion rates after thumb MCP joint arthrodesis report on small sample sizes. We aimed to describe the hardware complication rate, the nonunion rate, and the number of thumbs that achieve union among patients undergoing thumb MCP joint arthrodesis.

Genetic analyses identify brain imaging-derived phenotypes associated with the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Brain imaging-derived phenotypes have been suggested to be associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in observational studies, but whether these associations are causal remains unclear. We aimed to assess the potential bidirectional causal associations between imaging-derived phenotypes and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using bidirectional 2-sample Mendelian randomization analyses. Summary statistics for 469 imaging-derived phenotypes (33,224 individuals) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (20,806 cases and 59,804 controls) were obtained from 2 large-scale genome-wide association studies of European ancestry.

Popliteal pseudoaneurysm in a young patient with multiple hereditary exostosis.

Multiple hereditary exostosis is an osteogenic disorder that causes outgrowths of cartilaginous bone tumors that are associated with adjacent neurovascular compressive injuries. We present the case of an adolescent male with multiple hereditary exostosis complicated by popliteal pseudoaneurysm formation who underwent excision of the osteochondroma and vein patch angioplasty repair of the artery. We highlight the rare association between this genetic disease and subsequent vascular complications and review the available literature of arterial complications of this disease.

Functional outcomes and complications after treatment of distal radius fracture in patients sixty years and over: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Aim: This network meta-analysis aims to compare functional outcomes and complications between conservative treatment and surgery for distal radius fractures in patients aged 60 years and over.

Methods: We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of conservative treatment and surgery for distal radius fractures in patients aged 60 years and over. Primary outcomes included grip strength and overall complications.

Association Between Human Blood Metabolome and the Risk of Psychiatric Disorders.

Background And Hypothesis: To identify promising drug targets for psychiatric disorders, we applied Mendelian randomization (MR) design to systematically screen blood metabolome for potential mediators of psychiatric disorders and further predict target-mediated side effects.

Study Design: We selected 92 unique blood metabolites from 3 metabolome genome-wide association studies (GWASs) with totally 147 827 participants. Summary statistics for bipolar disorder (BIP), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia (SCZ), panic disorder (PD), autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), and anorexia nervosa (AN) originated from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, involving 1 143 340 participants.

Demystifying the long noncoding RNA landscape of small EVs derived from human mesenchymal stromal cells.

Introduction: The regenerative capacity of mesenchymal stromal cells or medicinal signaling cells (MSCs) is largely mediated by their secreted small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), and the therapeutic efficacy of sEVs can be enhanced by licensing approaches (e.g., cytokines, hypoxia, chemicals, and genetic modification).

The Efficacy of Naïve versus Modified Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Improving Muscle Function in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Systematic Review.

As one of the most common genetic conditions, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal disease caused by a recessive mutation resulting in muscle weakness in both voluntary and involuntary muscles and, eventually, in death because of cardiovascular failure. Currently, there is no pharmacologically curative treatment of DMD, but there is evidence supporting that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a novel solution for treating DMD. This systematic review focused on elucidating the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs on the DMD in vivo model.

Mild gestational thrombocytopenia in primiparous women, does it affect risk of early postpartum hemorrhage? A retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: To assess whether women with mild gestational thrombocytopenia have a higher risk of postpartum hemorrhage.

Methods: A retrospective computerized database. Primiparous women that delivered at our center (2005-2019) were included; we excluded women with possible etiologies for thrombocytopenia such as systemic lupus or coagulation disorders, and hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.

A unique sonographic presentation of prenatal volvulus associated with malrotation.

This is a unique case of prenatal diagnosis of bowel malrotation suspected by an abnormal course of the duodenum. Early detection of volvulus was enabled, leading to timely intervention and a favorable outcome.

Outcomes of attempted vaginal births after previous recurrent operative vaginal deliveries: An individual cumulative risk analysis.

Background: Data about the risk of recurrence of vacuum extraction (VE) in multiple consecutive deliveries are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the pattern and individual cumulative risk of recurrence of VE in consecutive term deliveries.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study based on a validated electronic database at a single center between 2005 and 2019.

The Crosstalk between Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Macrophages in Bone Regeneration: A Systematic Review.

Bone regeneration is a complex and well-coordinated process that involves crosstalk between immune cells and resident cells in the injury site. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is a promising strategy to enhance bone regeneration. Growing evidence suggests that macrophages have a significant impact on osteogenesis during bone regeneration.

Metabolomic Profiles of Shift Workers and Day Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to characterize the metabolomic profiles of shift workers and day workers and to discover the effect of shift work on workers' metabolic health.

Methods: A total of 824 participants aged 25 to 55 years were recruited, and 485 (275 shift workers and 210 day workers) completed the study. The mean age of the shift workers was 37.

A new prenatal sonographic sign of epidermolysis bullosa.

We report on the prenatal sonographic appearance of epidermolysis bullosa (EB). The third viable pregnancy of a consanguineous couple was found at 23 weeks to have dysplastic external ears and nose. The neonate was born at 33 weeks and was found to have junctional EB with pyloric atresia.

Duration of first vaginal birth following cesarean: Is stage of labor at previous cesarean a factor?

Objective: Parturients in second delivery undergoing vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) are divided to those who had their cesarean delivery (CD) while in labor as opposed to those who had an elective CD. We aimed to study if the stage of labor that was present during the primary CD is associated with the duration of subsequent spontaneous VBAC.

Methods: A retrospective study (2006-2014).