Spatiotemporal dynamics of ecosystem services in response to climate variability in Maze National Park and its environs, southwestern Ethiopia.

Climate variability is one of the major factors affecting the supply of ecosystem services and the well-being of people who rely on them. Despite the substantial effects of climate variability on ecosystem goods and services, empirical researches on these effects are generally lacking. Thus, this study examines the spatiotemporal impacts of climate variability on selected ecosystem services in Maze National Park and its surroundings, in southwestern Ethiopia.

Impacts of Land use Land cover dynamics on Ecosystem services in maze national park and its environs, southwestern Ethiopia.

This study investigated the impacts of LULC changes on selected ecosystem services in Maze National Park (MzNP) and its environs in southwestern Ethiopia. Landsat images from 1985, 2005, and 2020 were used to examine land use land cover (LULC) changes. Images were classified using the Random Forest (RF) classifier, and their accuracy was computed in QGIS.

Radial Hemostasis Is Facilitated With a Potassium Ferrate Hemostatic Patch: The STAT2 Trial.

Objectives: The aim of this trial was to test whether the potassium ferrate hemostatic patch (PFHP) as an adjunct to the TR Band (TRB) facilitated an early deflation protocol.

Background: Shorter TRB compression times may reduce the rate of radial artery occlusion (RAO) and reduce observation time after transradial access.

Methods: A total of 443 patients were randomized to the TRB or PFHP + TRB, with complete TRB deflation attempted 60 minutes postprocedure.

Investigating Nursing Leadership in Intensive Care Units of Hospitals of Northern Greece and Its Relationship to the Working Environment.

Introduction: The relationship between leadership and the work environment has been studied by many authors at the organization level, but not specifically in intensive care units (ICUs). The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between the work environment and nursing leadership in intensive care units.

Methodology: This is a correlation study.

Application of the Pluripotent Stem Cells and Genomics in Cardiovascular Research-What We Have Learnt and Not Learnt until Now.

Personalized regenerative medicine and biomedical research have been galvanized and revolutionized by human pluripotent stem cells in combination with recent advances in genomics, artificial intelligence, and genome engineering. More recently, we have witnessed the unprecedented breakthrough life-saving translation of mRNA-based vaccines for COVID-19 to contain the global pandemic and the investment in billions of US dollars in space exploration projects and the blooming space-tourism industry fueled by the latest reusable space vessels. Now, it is time to examine where the translation of pluripotent stem cell research stands currently, which has been touted for more than the last two decades to cure and treat millions of patients with severe debilitating degenerative diseases and tissue injuries.

Identification of novel therapeutic targets for contrast induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI): alpha blockers as a therapeutic strategy for CI-AKI.

Iodinated contrast is used for imaging and invasive procedures and it can cause contrast induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI), which is the third leading hospital-acquired health problem. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of α-adrenergic receptor-1b (Adra1b) inhibition by using terazosin on change in kidney function, gene, and protein expression in C57BL/6J male mice, 6-8 weeks with chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD was induced by surgical nephrectomy.

Adventitial delivery of nanoparticles encapsulated with 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D attenuates restenosis in a murine angioplasty model.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of stenotic arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) is performed to maintain optimal function and patency. The one-year patency rate is 60% because of venous neointimal hyperplasia (VNH) and venous stenosis (VS) formation. Immediate early response gene X-1 (Iex-1) also known as Ier3 increases in response to wall shear stress (WSS), and can cause VNH/VS formation in murine AVF.

1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D Encapsulated in Nanoparticles Prevents Venous Neointimal Hyperplasia and Stenosis in Porcine Arteriovenous Fistulas.

Background: Few therapies prevent venous neointimal hyperplasia (VNH) and venous stenosis (VS) formation in arteriovenous fistulas (AVF). Expression of the immediate early response gene X-1 (), also known as is associated with VNH and stenosis in murine AVFs. The study aimed to determine if local release of long-acting inhibitor 1α,25(OH)D from poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles embedded in a thermosensitive Pluronic F127 hydrogel (1,25 NP) could affect VNH/VS formation in a large animal model.

Periadventitial Delivery of Simvastatin-Loaded Microparticles Attenuate Venous Neointimal Hyperplasia Associated With Arteriovenous Fistula.

Background Venous neointimal hyperplasia and venous stenosis (VS) formation can result in a decrease in arteriovenous fistula (AVF) patency in patients with end-stage renal disease. There are limited therapies that prevent VNH/VS. Systemic delivery of simvastatin has been shown to reduce VNH/VS but local delivery may help decrease the side effects associated with statin use.

Experimental murine arteriovenous fistula model to study restenosis after transluminal angioplasty.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is a very common interventional treatment for treating stenosis in arteriovenous fistula (AVF) used for hemodialysis vascular access. Restenosis occurs after PTA, resulting in vascular lumen loss and a decrease in blood flow. Experimental animal models have been developed to study the pathogenesis of stenosis, but there is no restenosis model after PTA of stenotic AVF in mice.

Differences in Transforming Growth Factor-β1/BMP7 Signaling and Venous Fibrosis Contribute to Female Sex Differences in Arteriovenous Fistulas.

Background Women have decreased hemodialysis arteriovenous fistula (AVF) maturation and patency rates. We determined the mechanisms responsible for the sex-specific differences in AVF maturation and stenosis formation by performing whole transcriptome RNA sequencing with differential gene expression and pathway analysis, histopathological changes, and in vitro cell culture experiments from male and female smooth muscle cells. Methods and Results Mice with chronic kidney disease and AVF were used.

Therapeutic Effect of Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation in Reducing Restenosis in a Murine Angioplasty Model.

Background: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is the first line of treatment for stenosis in the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) created to provide access for hemodialysis, but resenosis still occurs. Transplants of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) to the adventitia could reduce pro-inflammatory gene expression, possibly restoring patency in a murine model of PTA for venous stenosis.

Methods: Partial nephrectomy of male C57BL/6J mice induced CKD.

Increased fibrotic signaling in a murine model for intra-arterial contrast-induced acute kidney injury.

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is a vexing problem, and more than 70 million patients undergo studies using iodinated contrast. The molecular mechanisms responsible for CI-AKI are poorly understood. The goal of the present article was to determine the role of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (SMAD)3 and associated collagen expression in a murine model of intra-arterial CI-AKI.

Effect of sex differences in treatment response to angioplasty in a murine arteriovenous fistula model.

Failure to mature and venous neointimal hyperplasia formation are the two major causes of hemodialysis arteriovenous fistula (AVF) vascular access failure. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is the firstline treatment for both of these conditions, but, clinically, women have decreased patency rates compared with men. The hypothesis to be tested in the present study was that female mice after PTA of venous areas of higher intimal thickening have increased gene expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and TGF-β receptor 1 (TGFβ-R1) accompanied with histological changes of fibrosis compared with male mice.

Effectiveness of Transmitted Drug Resistance Testing Before Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV-Positive Individuals.

Background: For people living with HIV, major guidelines in high-income countries recommend testing for transmitted drug resistance (TDR) to guide the choice of first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, individuals who fail a first-line regimen can now be switched to one of several effective regimens. Therefore, the virological and clinical benefit of TDR testing needs to be evaluated.

PAR1 contribution in acute electrophysiological properties of oral anticoagulants in rabbit pulmonary vein sleeve preparations.

Whether oral anticoagulants, vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), and nonvitamin K oral anticoagulant (NOACs) frequently prescribed to atrial fibrillation (AF) patients, do themselves have a pro- or anti-arrhythmic effect have never been addressed. Transmembrane action potentials were recorded in an acute rabbit model of superfused pulmonary veins (PVs) sleeves preparations using standard microelectrode technique. Fluindione 10 μm (n = 6) increased the AP (action potential) duration (APD), induced a significantly V depression (from 95 ± 14 to 53 ± 5 V/s, P < 0.

Effect of immediate initiation of antiretroviral treatment on the risk of acquired HIV drug resistance.

Objective: We estimated and compared the risk of clinically identified acquired drug resistance under immediate initiation [the currently recommended antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation strategy], initiation with CD4 cell count less than 500 cells/μl and initiation with CD4 cell count less than 350 cells/μl.

Design: Cohort study based on routinely collected data from the HIV-CAUSAL collaboration.

Methods: For each individual, baseline was the earliest time when all eligibility criteria (ART-naive, AIDS free, and others) were met after 1999.

Sanitary and phytosanitary measures and food safety: challenges and opportunities for developing countries.

Because of fast-growing demand, export markets can absorb high value added products and offer high returns; for many developing countries export market development is thus a key requirement for rural income generation and rural growth. Although developing countries face increasingly strict sanitary and phytosanitary standards in their export markets, they can maintain and improve market access--and improve domestic food safety and agricultural productivity--by adopting a strategic approach to food safety, agricultural health and trade. High-income countries should increase development flows to help developing countries build the capacity to plan and execute the necessary strategies.

Structural characterization of the maltose acceptor-products synthesized by Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1299 dextransucrase.

The glucooligosaccharides (GOS), produced by Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1299 dextransucrase through an acceptor reaction with maltose and sucrose, were purified by reverse phase chromatography. Logarithmic plots of retention time vs. dp of the GOS gave three parallel lines suggesting the existence of at least three families of homologous molecules.