Impact of caesarean scar defects on the success of assisted human reproduction: the NICHE-ART prospective French cohort study protocol.

Background: The global increase in caesarean sections (CS), currently at 21.1% of all deliveries, has led to a rise in uterine scar defects, or 'niches', at the hysterotomy site. These niches, detectable in 13%-84% of cases via transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) and 42%-84% through sonohysterography (SHG), may contribute to gynaecological complications, including abnormal uterine bleeding, chronic pain and secondary infertility.

Clues to revising the conventional diagnostic algorithm for endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a complex gynecologic disorder characterized primarily by symptoms of pelvic pain, infertility, and altered quality of life. National and international guidelines highlight the diagnostic difficulties and lack of conclusive diagnostic tools for endometriosis. Furthermore, guidelines are becoming questionable at an increasingly rapid rate as new diagnostic techniques emerge.

Advancing research on femicide prevention: A mixed methods approach.

Femicide, the killing of women, girls, and infants, is a pervasive problem affecting all global societies. Policy and research are impeded by inaccurate and missing prevalence data, gaps in understanding of femicide, especially for hard-to-reach marginalized populations, and conflicting perceptions between jurisdictions. Leveraging on a combined socio-ecologic model and Public Health approach, the paper spans the methods of a computed tomography-based injury study, an in-depth media-analysis, a legislation evaluation study, and a data barriers' study.

Extracellular host DNA contributes to pathogenic biofilm formation during periodontitis.

Introduction: Periodontal diseases are known to be associated with polymicrobial biofilms and inflammasome activation. A deeper understanding of the subgingival cytological (micro) landscape, the role of extracellular DNA (eDNA) during periodontitis, and contribution of the host immune eDNA to inflammasome persistence, may improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlaying severe forms of periodontitis.

Methods: In this work, subgingival biolfilms developing on biologically neutral polyethylene terephthalate films placed in gingival cavities of patients with chronic periodontitis were investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM).

Depression and Anxiety in Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Relation to the Use of Digital Technologies: Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Background: Adolescents are susceptible to mental illness and have experienced substantial disruption owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The digital environment is increasingly important in the context of a pandemic when in-person social connection is restricted.

Objective: This study aims to estimate whether depression and anxiety had worsened compared with the prepandemic period and examine potential associations with sociodemographic characteristics and behavioral factors, particularly digital behaviors.

Validation of a Salivary miRNA Signature of Endometriosis - Interim Data.

BACKGROUND: The discovery of a saliva-based micro–ribonucleic acid (miRNA) signature for endometriosis in 2022 opened up new perspectives for early and noninvasive diagnosis of the disease. The 109-miRNA saliva signature is the product of miRNA biomarkers and artificial intelligence (AI) modeling. We designed a multicenter study to provide external validation of its diagnostic accuracy.

Salivary androgens in adolescence and their value as a marker of puberty: results from the SCAMP cohort.

Context: Salivary androgens represent non-invasive biomarkers of puberty that may have utility in clinical and population studies.

Objective: To understand normal age-related variation in salivary sex steroids and demonstrate their correlation to pubertal development in young adolescents.

Design, Setting And Participants: School-based cohort study of 1495 adolescents at two time points for collecting saliva samples approximately 2 years apart.

Educating Women About Pelvic Floor Disorders During Pregnancy From the First to the "Fourth Trimester": A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Pregnancy and childbirth are risk factors for developing pelvic floor disorders (PFDs), and this continues postpartum ("fourth trimester"). Knowledge of PFDs among women of childbearing age is lacking and presents an opportunity for education.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the increase in knowledge of PFDs in patients who received written handouts versus interactive workshops as measured by the Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire (PIKQ).

Bioinformatics characterization of BcsA-like orphan proteins suggest they form a novel family of pseudomonad cyclic-β-glucan synthases.

Bacteria produce a variety of polysaccharides with functional roles in cell surface coating, surface and host interactions, and biofilms. We have identified an 'Orphan' bacterial cellulose synthase catalytic subunit (BcsA)-like protein found in four model pseudomonads, P. aeruginosa PA01, P.

Investigating quorum-quenching marine bacilli as potential biocontrol agents for protection of shrimps against Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS).

Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) has been a major problem for shrimp aquaculture in Southeast Asia due to its epizootic prevalence within the region since the first reported case in 2009. This study explores the application of halophilic marine bacilli isolated from coral mucus and their quorum-quenching abilities as potential biocontrol agents in aquaculture systems to combat the causative agent of EMS, Vibrio parahaemolyticus. N-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL)-degrading (AiiA) activity was first screened by PCR then confirmed by bio-reporter assay, and a combination of 16S rDNA sequence analysis and quantitative phenotype assays including biofilm-formation and temperature-growth responses were used to demonstrate diversity amongst these quorum-quenching isolates.

Insecticides for Mosquito Control: Improving and Validating Methods to Strengthen the Evidence Base.

Efforts to eliminate vector-borne diseases, for example malaria which caused an estimated 619,000 deaths in 2021 [...

eDNA, Amyloid Fibers and Membrane Vesicles Identified in SBW25 Biofilms.

SBW25 is a model soil- and plant-associated bacterium capable of forming a variety of air-liquid interface biofilms in experimental microcosms and on plant surfaces. Previous investigations have shown that cellulose is the primary structural matrix component in the robust and well-attached Wrinkly Spreader biofilm, as well as in the fragile Viscous Mass biofilm. Here, we demonstrate that both biofilms include extracellular DNA (eDNA) which can be visualized using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), quantified by absorbance measurements, and degraded by DNase I treatment.

Azithromycin possesses biofilm-inhibitory activity and potentiates non-bactericidal colistin methanesulfonate (CMS) and polymyxin B against Klebsiella pneumonia.

Novel antibiotic combinations may act synergistically to inhibit the growth of multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens but predicting which combination will be successful is difficult, and standard antimicrobial susceptibility testing may not identify important physiological differences between planktonic free-swimming and biofilm-protected surface-attached sessile cells. Using a nominally macrolide-resistant model Klebsiella pneumoniae strain (ATCC 10031) we demonstrate the effectiveness of several macrolides in inhibiting biofilm growth in multi-well plates, and the ability of azithromycin (AZM) to improve the effectiveness of the antibacterial last-agent-of-choice for K. pneumoniae infections, colistin methanesulfonate (CMS), against biofilms.

Reviewing the WHO Tube Bioassay Methodology: Accurate Method Reporting and Numbers of Mosquitoes Are Key to Producing Robust Results.

Accurately monitoring insecticide resistance in target mosquito populations is important for combating malaria and other vector-borne diseases, and robust methods are key. The "WHO susceptibility bioassay" has been available from the World Health Organization for 60+ years: mosquitoes of known physiological status are exposed to a discriminating concentration of insecticide. Several changes to the test procedures have been made historically, which may seem minor but could impact bioassay results.

Impact of mobile phones and wireless devices use on children and adolescents' mental health: a systematic review.

Growing use of mobiles phones (MP) and other wireless devices (WD) has raised concerns about their possible effects on children and adolescents' wellbeing. Understanding whether these technologies affect children and adolescents' mental health in positive or detrimental ways has become more urgent following further increase in use since the COVID-19 outbreak. To review the empirical evidence on associations between use of MP/WD and mental health in children and adolescents.

Strain Characterisation for Measuring Bioefficacy of ITNs Treated with Two Active Ingredients (Dual-AI ITNs): Developing a Robust Protocol by Building Consensus.

Durability monitoring of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) containing a pyrethroid in combination with a second active ingredient (AI) must be adapted so that the insecticidal bioefficacy of each AI can be monitored independently. An effective way to do this is to measure rapid knock down of a pyrethroid-susceptible strain of mosquitoes to assess the bioefficacy of the pyrethroid component and to use a pyrethroid-resistant strain to measure the bioefficacy of the second ingredient. To allow robust comparison of results across tests within and between test facilities, and over time, protocols for bioefficacy testing must include either characterisation of the resistant strain, standardisation of the mosquitoes used for bioassays, or a combination of the two.

A Randomized Trial of Social Media Versus Search Engine Advertising to Increase Awareness of Treatments for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence.

Importance: Outreach based on user characteristics through social media advertising is significantly more effective than outreach based on user interests with search engine advertising for female stress urinary incontinence.

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the effectiveness of 2 online outreach platforms to engage women at risk of stress urinary incontinence with a high-quality patient education website.

Study Design: A geographic randomized trial was performed comparing online advertising on Facebook, a social media site, versus Google Ads, a search engine, to direct viewers to VoicesForPFD.

Risk clustering and psychopathology from a multi-center cohort of Indian children, adolescents, and young adults.

Developmental adversities early in life are associated with later psychopathology. Clustering may be a useful approach to group multiple diverse risks together and study their relation with psychopathology. To generate risk clusters of children, adolescents, and young adults, based on adverse environmental exposure and developmental characteristics, and to examine the association of risk clusters with manifest psychopathology.

"Things Are Happening That I Don't Understand": A Narrative Exploration of the Chaos of Living with Pelvic Floor Disorders.

Pelvic floor disorders (PFDs), including fecal and urinary incontinence as well as pelvic organ prolapse, are common medical issues faced by one-third of all women across the lifespan. Despite this prevalence, many women are unaware of them, have highly stigmatized perceptions of them, and thus do not actively seek support or treatment for them. Given that PFDs can drastically impact quality of life to the point of social isolation and depression, this study examines chaos and desire as both lived and storied constructs that ultimately influence whether and how women with PFDs assert control over their social and corporeal disruption.

Developing Consensus Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to Evaluate New Types of Insecticide-Treated Nets.

In response to growing concerns over the sustained effectiveness of pyrethroid-only based control tools, new products are being developed and evaluated. Some examples of these are dual-active ingredient (AI) insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) which contain secondary insecticides, or synergist ITNs which contain insecticide synergist, both in combination with a pyrethroid. These net types are often termed 'next-generation' insecticide-treated nets.

eDNA Inactivation and Biofilm Inhibition by the PolymericBiocide Polyhexamethylene Guanidine Hydrochloride (PHMG-Cl).

The choice of effective biocides used for routine hospital practice should consider the role of disinfectants in the maintenance and development of local resistome and how they might affect antibiotic resistance gene transfer within the hospital microbial population. Currently, there is little understanding of how different biocides contribute to eDNA release that may contribute to gene transfer and subsequent environmental retention. Here, we investigated how different biocides affect the release of eDNA from mature biofilms of two opportunistic model strains ATCC 27853 (PA) and ATCC 25923 (SA) and contribute to the hospital resistome in the form of surface and water contaminants and dust particles.