Systemically circulating 17β-estradiol enhances the neuroprotective effect of the smoking cessation drug cytisine in female parkinsonian mice.

The smoking cessation drug cytisine exerts neuroprotection in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) dopaminergic (DA) neurons of female but not male 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesioned parkinsonian mice. To address the important question of whether circulating 17β-estradiol mediates this effect, we employ two mouse models aimed at depleting systemically circulating 17β-estradiol: (i) bilateral ovariectomy (OVX), and (ii) aromatase inhibition with systemically administered letrozole. In both models, depleting systemically circulating 17β-estradiol in female 6-OHDA lesioned parkinsonian mice results in the loss of cytisine-mediated neuroprotection as measured using apomorphine-induced contralateral rotations and SNc DA neurodegeneration.

Symbolic dynamics of joint brain states during dyadic coordination.

We propose a novel approach to investigate the brain mechanisms that support coordination of behavior between individuals. Brain states in single individuals defined by the patterns of functional connectivity between brain regions are used to create joint symbolic representations of brain states in two or more individuals to investigate symbolic dynamics that are related to interactive behaviors. We apply this approach to electroencephalographic data from pairs of subjects engaged in two different modes of finger-tapping coordination tasks (synchronization and syncopation) under different interaction conditions (uncoupled, leader-follower, and mutual) to explore the neural mechanisms of multi-person motor coordination.

TXSELECT: a web-based decision support system for regional assessment of potential loads using a spatially explicit approach.

Bacterial source characterization and allocation are imperative to watershed planning and identifying best management practices. The Spatially Explicit Load Enrichment Calculation Tool (SELECT) has been extensively utilized in watershed protection plans to evaluate the potential bacteria loads and sources in impaired watersheds. However, collecting data, compiling inputs, and spatially mapping sources can be arduous, time-intensive, expensive, and iterative until potential bacteria loads are appropriately allocated to sources based on stakeholder recommendations.

Improving Sickle Cell Patient Appointment Compliance in a Hospital-based Pediatric Ophthalmology Clinic.

This quality improvement initiative aimed to reduce the no-show rate at a hospital-based tertiary sickle cell ophthalmology clinic. Missed appointments place a significant burden on the healthcare system, resulting in prolonged waiting times and underutilized clinical resources that impact the quality of care provided. Individuals with sickle cell disease commonly require multiple appointments to address the myriads of comorbidities associated with their disease.

Ameliorating Effects of β-Myrcene, a Monoterpene in Many Plants, on Thioacetamide-Induced Acute Hepatic Encephalopathy in Rats.

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a clinical syndrome that can result from acute and chronic liver disorders, such as hepatitis, liver failure caused by alcohol or drugs, autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases, cirrhosis, different types of tumors, and infections. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different doses of Beta-myrcene (β-myrcene) on the improvement of HE caused by thioacetamide (TAC) in male rats. To induce liver failure and acute damage in the studied animals, TAC was administered to rats at a dose of 100 mg/kg of body weight through an intraperitoneal (IP) injection with 24-hour intervals for seven consecutive days.

Endophytic Entomopathogenic Fungi: Their Role in Enhancing Plant Resistance, Managing Insect Pests, and Synergy with Management Routines.

The interaction between plants and microorganisms plays a major role in plant growth promotion and disease management. While most microorganisms directly influence plant health, some indirectly support growth through pest and disease suppression. Endophytic entomopathogenic fungi are diverse, easily localized, and have long-lasting effects on insect pests.

Social Contact Patterns in Rural and Urban Settings, Mozambique, 2021-2022.

Few sources have reported empirical social contact data from resource-poor settings. To address this shortfall, we recruited 1,363 participants from rural and urban areas of Mozambique during the COVID-19 pandemic, determining age, sex, and relation to the contact for each person. Participants reported a mean of 8.

Patient-Derived Xenografts of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Enable Deconvolution and Prediction of Chemotherapy Responses.

Combination chemotherapy remains essential for clinical management of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Consequently, responses to individual agents cannot be easily delineated at the single patient level, even though some patients might not require all drugs in the combination. Herein, we conduct multi-omic analyses of orthotopic TNBC patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) treated with single agent carboplatin, docetaxel, or the combination.

KAHA ligation as a platform for the rapid discovery of Protein Tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitors.

We have successfully designed and assembled a 66-member library of protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTP) inhibitor candidates using α-ketoacid-hydroxylamine (KAHA) ligation. Subsequent in situ enzymatic screening revealed a potent hit (IC = 1.67 μM) against PTP1B, which displayed 6.

Electrochemical imaging of neurotransmitter release with fast-scan voltammetric ion conductance microscopy.

Understanding the dynamic spatial and temporal release of neurotransmitters can help resolve long-standing questions related to chemical modulation of neurological circuits. Dopamine modulates function in a range of physiological processes and is key to transmission in addiction and neurological disorders. Studies at subcellular scales promise to help develop a broader understanding of dopamine release, diffusion, and receptor activation and how these processes lead to functional outcomes.

Experiential Learning to Enhance Global Health Collaboration and Student Opportunity.

Students often seek opportunities to enrich their classroom learning. Providing students the chance to engage in research studies or global health projects allows for experiential enrichment. However, the impact on partners and partner sites, financial implications, and equity of student opportunity, as well as the logistical burden potentially placed on multiple parties, all need to be considered.

Suitability of large language models for extraction of high-quality chemical reaction dataset from patent literature.

With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), it is now possible to design diverse and novel molecules from previously unexplored chemical space. However, a challenge for chemists is the synthesis of such molecules. Recently, there have been attempts to develop AI models for retrosynthesis prediction, which rely on the availability of a high-quality training dataset.

Gray zone Bethesda category III - Atypia of undetermined significance lesions of the thyroid: Potential diagnostic issues and image morphometry as a useful adjunct to cytomorphology.

Objective: Atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) is an indeterminate category which presents a significant challenge for pathologists and clinicians. The management options are dependent on the rate of malignancy for a given populace.

Material And Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 61 cases of the AUS Bethesda category III with grouping into neoplastic and non-neoplastic according to the histopathology data and clinical follow-up.

Development of a Scoring Model to Predict Severe Dengue in Children at Admission in the Emergency Care: An Observational Study.

Objective: Dengue has emerged as the most widely spread mosquito-borne disease, hyperendemic in India. Although severe dengue occurs only in a small proportion of cases, delays in the recognition and management can result in significant morbidity and mortality. Risk stratification of children in the emergency care and identifying those at risk for worsening during hospital stay facilitates optimum utilization of health care resources.

Furthering Lifestyle Medicine Through the Donald A. Pegg Student Leadership Award: Reflections From 2023 Awardees.

The Donald A. Pegg Leadership Award, established in 2016 by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), recognizes emerging leaders in Lifestyle Medicine by awarding key seed funding to support Lifestyle Medicine Interest Groups (LMIGs) and conference support to attend the ACLM's annual conference. Through its generous support of students and LMIGs, the Pegg Award has been instrumental in catalyzing transformations in medical education, promoting awareness and integration of key Lifestyle Medicine principles into curricula.

Production of a novel cellulase by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens OKB3 isolated from soil: Purification and characterization.

Microbial cellulases have become significant biocatalysts because of their complex composition and extensive industrial applications. This study aimed to isolate an efficient cellulase-producing strain, followed by molecular identification, enzyme purification, and characterization. Among 110 isolates, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens OKB3 was selected for its significant cellulase production, with optimal activity at pH 5.

An improved framework for mapping and assessment of dynamics in cropping pattern and crop calendar from NDVI time series across a heterogeneous agro-climatic region.

The absence of spatial and temporal cropping information in semi-arid regions poses a significant challenge in assessing the dynamics of agricultural systems at river basin scales. Satellite remote sensing provides qualitative and quantitative information to derive vegetation dynamics over extensive areas of inherent complexities due to limitations in the availability of field data and the diverse nature of agricultural cropping practices. Utilizing phenological information derived from MODIS Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time series data from 2003-2004 to 2021-2022, this study derives major crop types, and cropping calendar (sowing, maturity, and harvest dates) for each season and year at 250-m resolution.

Implementing a multisite shared haemodialysis care programme.

Adults receiving centre-based haemodialysis (HD) have low levels of patient activation which are associated with poorer outcomes. Shared haemodialysis care (SHC) describes an intervention whereby individuals are supported to undertake elements of their treatment to improve their activation levels and promote better self-care. This project aimed to increase the proportion of those performing SHC in seven HD centres within the Oxford Kidney Unit's catchment area.

Non-Feeding Transmission Modes of the Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus by the Whitefly Do Not Contribute to Reoccurring Leaf Curl Outbreaks in Tomato.

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) causes significant yield loss in tomato production in the southeastern United States and elsewhere. TYLCV is transmitted by the whitefly cryptic species in a persistent, circulative, and non-propagative manner. Unexpectedly, transovarial and sexual transmission of TYLCV has been reported for one strain from Israel.

Thoracic spinal anaesthesia - An effective alternative to general anaesthesia in breast surgeries: A randomised, non-blinded study.

Background And Aims: General anaesthesia (GA) is the preferred modality for breast surgeries; however, neuraxial anaesthesia can be performed in cases where GA poses a significant risk. We hypothesise that neuraxial blockade is a safe and effective alternative to GA in short-duration breast surgeries.

Methods: This randomised study included 30 patients of the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status I and II, who were scheduled for elective breast surgeries of a duration of less than 90 min.

Patient Experience and Attitudes Toward Electronic Intake and Patient-Reported Outcomes Within an Outpatient Whole Health Center.

The use of electronic intake forms within the electronic health record (EHR) is an emerging method for routinely collecting patient-reported outcomes (PRO). However, few studies have evaluated experiences/perspectives toward electronic forms among outpatients receiving care within Integrative Health and Medicine (IHM) clinics. The study purpose was to understand patients' perspectives of electronic intake and PRO forms in the outpatient IHM setting.