EPISeg: Automated segmentation of the spinal cord on echo planar images using open-access multi-center data.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the spinal cord is relevant for studying sensation, movement, and autonomic function. Preprocessing of spinal cord fMRI data involves segmentation of the spinal cord on gradient-echo echo planar imaging (EPI) images. Current automated segmentation methods do not work well on these data, due to the low spatial resolution, susceptibility artifacts causing distortions and signal drop-out, ghosting, and motion-related artifacts.

High patient acceptance of immediately sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) as part of a one-stop see-and-treat pathway within an innovative NHS cataract unit.

Background: Constituting ~0.5% of all NHS cataract operations, national provision of immediately sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS) is limited. Combining offering ISBCS within a novel one-stop see-and-treat (S&T) cataract pathway would offer patients the opportunity for two cataract operations in a single hospital visit.

Right Thoracoscopic, Robot-Assisted Resection of an Apical Mediastinal C7 Schwannoma.

Spinal schwannomas are benign, slow-growing tumors originating from Schwann cells, constituting 25 to 30% of primary spinal neoplasms and most frequently arise from sensory nerve roots in the cervical or thoracic spine. 1 2 3 Although generally nonaggressive, their growth can result in significant neurological deficits due to compression of surrounding structures such as the spinal cord or nerve roots. 4 5 Patients commonly present with localized pain, muscle weakness, and sensory disturbances.

Short- and long-term alterations of hematopoietic cell lineages in rats with congenital iron deficiency.

Data support that fetal iron delivery is prioritized to hemoglobin in erythrocytes (RBC). Iron deficiency (ID) during pregnancy can cause congenital ID, i.e.

Skeletal muscle inosine monophosphate formation preserves ΔG during incremental step contractions in vivo.

The cause and consequences of inosine monophosphate (IMP) formation when adenosine triphosphate (ATP) declines during muscular contractions in vivo are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of IMP formation in the maintenance of the Gibbs free energy for ATP hydrolysis (ΔG) during dynamic contractions of increasing workload and the implications of ATP loss in vivo. Eight males (median 27.

MuscleMap: An Open-Source, Community-Supported Consortium for Whole-Body Quantitative MRI of Muscle.

Disorders affecting the neurological and musculoskeletal systems represent international health priorities. A significant impediment to progress in trials of new therapies is the absence of responsive, objective, and valid outcome measures sensitive to early disease changes. A key finding in individuals with neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders is the compositional changes to muscles, evinced by the expression of fatty infiltrates.

Real-Time Analysis of Lipid Droplet Morpho-Chemical Dynamics in Living Human Hepatocytes via Phase-Guided Raman Sampling.

Lipid droplets (LDs) are highly dynamic organelles, undertaking many important functions such as maintaining lipid metabolism and cellular homeostasis. Traditional methods to analyze LD dynamics focus on morphological changes, while chemical dynamics cannot be easily probed with traditional analytical chemistry techniques. To overcome this challenge, we show here how our phase-guided Raman sampling method, where high-resolution phase microscopy images direct a Raman sampling beam, can perform label-free, multimodal characterization of LD dynamics in living cells at both the single-cell and single-LD levels with submicron accuracy and high temporal resolution.

Data-Driven Screening and Discovery of Metal-Organic Frameworks as C Adsorbents from over 900 Experimental Isotherms.

The separation of ethylene from ethane accounts for almost 100 million tons of CO emissions annually and 0.3% of global primary energy usage. Replacing current cryogenic distillation units with adsorption separation units, especially for the minor component of ethane, would enable significant efficiency gains.

Development of inattention and executive dysfunction in youth with spina bifida: condition severity variables as predictors.

Youth with spina bifida (SB) are at increased risk for inattention and executive dysfunction challenges. This study aimed to characterize the development of inattention and executive dysfunction in SB and examine the relationship between condition severity (i.e.

Artificial Intelligence in Spine and Paraspinal Muscle Analysis.

Disorders affecting the neurological and musculoskeletal systems represent international health burdens. A significant impediment to progress with interventional trials is the absence of responsive, objective, and valid outcome measures sensitive to early disease or disorder change. A key finding in individuals with spinal disorders is compositional changes to the paraspinal muscle and soft tissue (e.

Effectiveness of Bivalent mRNA Vaccines in Preventing Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection-Increasing Community Access to Testing Program, United States, January-September 2023.

Background: On September 2, 2022, bivalent COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, were recommended to address reduced effectiveness of COVID-19 monovalent vaccines during SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant predominance.

Methods: Using national pharmacy-based SARS-CoV-2 testing program data from January 15 to September 11, 2023, this test-negative, case-control design study assessed bivalent COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) against symptomatic infection.

Results: VE against symptomatic infection of a bivalent dose between 2 weeks and 1 month after bivalent vaccination ranged from 46% (95% CI: 38%-52%) for those aged ≥ 65 years to 61% (95% CI 41%-75%) for those aged 12-17 years.

Unusual paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins in Cayuga Lake, New York.

Cyanobacteria blooms were detected in 2017 and 2018 in Cayuga Lake, New York, with paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins (PSPTs) the primary toxin detected. Analysis of these samples by HPLC with chemical oxidation, receptor binding assay, ELISA, and LC-MS/MS confirmed the presence of PSPTs but each method gave highly unusual results based on the theory establishing each method. The structures of the toxins could not be identified and may be 'unusual' or unelucidated PSPTs.

Adverse Events Associated With Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background & Aims: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-related adverse events (AEs) are associated with morbidity, mortality, and health care expenditure. We aimed to assess incidences and comparisons of ERCP AEs.

Methods: We included studies performed after 2000 reporting on ERCP AEs from database inception through March 12, 2024.

Incidence, Predictors, and Outcomes of Clinically Significant Post-Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Bleeding: A Contemporary Multicenter Study.

Introduction: Clinically significant post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) bleeding (CSPEB) is common. Contemporary estimates of risk are lacking. We aimed to identify risk factors of and outcomes after CSPEB.

Tertiary-Amine-Functional Poly(arylene ether)s for Acid-Gas Separations.

Competitive sorption enables the emergent phenomenon of enhanced CO-based selectivities for gas separation membranes when using microporous polymers with primary amines. However, strong secondary forces in these polymers through hydrogen bonding results in low solvent solubility, precluding standard solution processing approaches to form these polymers into membrane films. Herein, we circumvent these manufacturing constraints while maintaining competitive-sorption enhancements by synthesizing eight representative microporous poly(arylene ether)s (PAEs) with tertiary amines.

Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPs) in Adolescents With ADHD and Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS): A Pilot Open Trial.

Very few studies have investigated intervention approaches that may be efficacious for youth with ADHD and co-occurring cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS) symptoms. This study examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a mindfulness-based intervention for adolescents with ADHD and co-occurring CDS symptoms. Fourteen adolescents ages 13 to 17 years (35.

Patterns of cortical thickness alterations in degenerative cervical myelopathy: associations with dexterity and gait dysfunctions.

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) can lead to significant brain structural reorganization. The association between the cortical changes and specific motor symptoms in DCM has yet to be fully elucidated. We investigated the associations between cortical thickness changes with neurological symptoms, such as dexterity and gait abnormalities, in patients with DCM in a case-control study.

Tract-specific magnetization transfer ratio provides insights into the severity of degenerative cervical myelopathy.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Objectives: This study's goal is to report whether Magnetization Transfer Ratio (MTR) can evaluate the severity of white matter (WM) injury in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).

Setting: Laureate Institute of Brain Research, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, USA.

Effects of older age on contraction-induced intramyocellular acidosis and inorganic phosphate accumulation in vivo: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Although it is clear that the bioenergetic basis of skeletal muscle fatigue (transient decrease in peak torque or power in response to contraction) involves intramyocellular acidosis (decreased pH) and accumulation of inorganic phosphate (Pi) in response to the increased energy demand of contractions, the effects of old age on the build-up of these metabolites has not been evaluated systematically. The purpose of this study was to compare pH and [Pi] in young (18-45 yr) and older (55+ yr) human skeletal muscle in vivo at the end of standardized contraction protocols. Full study details were prospectively registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022348972).