Composition of the neutralising antibody response predicts risk of BK virus DNAaemia in recipients of kidney transplants.

Background: BK polyomavirus (BKV) DNAaemia occurs in 10% of recipients of kidney transplants, contributing to premature allograft failure. Evidence suggests disease is donor derived. Hypothetically, recipient infection with a different BKV serotype increases risk due to poorer immunological control.

A Novel Metric "Exercise Cardiac Load" Proposed to Track and Predict the Deterioration of the Autonomic Nervous System in Division I Football Athletes.

Current metrics like baseline heart rate (HR) and HR recovery fail in predicting overtraining (OT), a syndrome manifesting from a deteriorating autonomic nervous system (ANS). Preventing OT requires tracking the influence of internal physiological loads induced by exercise training programs on the ANS. Therefore, this study evaluated the predictability of a novel, exercise cardiac load metric on the deterioration of the ANS.

Recovery of the autonomic nervous system following football training among division I collegiate football athletes: The influence of intensity and time.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is profoundly affected by high intensity exercise. However, evidence is less clear on ANS recovery and function following prolonged bouts of high intensity exercise, especially in non-endurance athletes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationships between duration and intensity of acute exercise training sessions and ANS recovery and function in Division I football athletes.

Causal deep learning reveals the comparative effectiveness of antihyperglycemic treatments in poorly controlled diabetes.

Type-2 diabetes is associated with severe health outcomes, the effects of which are responsible for approximately 1/4 of the total healthcare spending in the United States (US). Current treatment guidelines endorse a massive number of potential anti-hyperglycemic treatment options in various combinations. Strategies for optimizing treatment selection are lacking.

Heart Rate Variability as a Possible Predictive Marker for Acute Inflammatory Response in COVID-19 Patients.

Introduction: Increases in C-reactive protein (CRP) are used to track the inflammatory process of COVID-19 and are associated with disease state progression. Decreases in heart rate variability (HRV) correlate with worsening of disease states. This observational study tracks changes in HRV relative to changes in CRP in COVID-19 patients.

BK virus: Current understanding of pathogenicity and clinical disease in transplantation.

BK polyomavirus (BKV) is an important cause of graft loss in renal transplant recipients that continues to pose a significant challenge to clinicians due to its frequently unpredictable onset, persistence, and the lack of effective antiviral agents or prevention strategies. This review covers our current understanding of epidemiology, viral transmission and disease progression, and treatment and prevention strategies that have been used to manage this disease.

Effect of Self-Reported Distress Thermometer Score on the Maximal Handgrip and Pinch Strength Measurements in Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: Muscle weakness is a risk factor for mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Muscle strength measurements are routinely used as a screening tool but depend on patient cooperation and motivation. We wished to determine whether measuring maximal voluntary muscle strength was affected by patient self-reported distress.

All-in-one dual-aptasensor capable of rapidly quantifying carcinoembryonic antigen.

Using a dual DNA aptamer (CEA aptamer linked to hemin aptamer), capable of rapidly capturing carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and hemin, an all-in-one dual-aptasensor with 1,1'-oxalyldiimidazole (ODI) chemiluminescence detection was developed for the early diagnosis of human cancer. CEA and hemin competitively bound with the dual DNA aptamer while the mixture in a detection cell was incubated for 30min at room temperature. When Amplex Red and HO were added in the detection cell after the incubation, the yield of resorufin formed from the reaction Amplex Red and HO depended on the concentration of HRP-mimicking G-quardruplex DNAzyme formed from the binding interaction between hemin and the dual DNA aptamer.

p63 is an alternative p53 repressor in melanoma that confers chemoresistance and a poor prognosis.

The role of apoptosis in melanoma pathogenesis and chemoresistance is poorly characterized. Mutations in TP53 occur infrequently, yet the TP53 apoptotic pathway is often abrogated. This may result from alterations in TP53 family members, including the TP53 homologue TP63.

EZ-IO in the ED: an observational, prospective study comparing flow rates with proximal and distal tibia intraosseous access in adults.

Introduction: Intraosseous (IO) access is an important alternative to conventional intravenous access when intravenous access is difficult.

Methods: A nonrandomized, prospective, observational study comparing flow rates with distal and proximal tibia IO access in adults using the EZ-IO-powered drill device. The proximal tibia was the first site of insertion, and a second IO was inserted in the distal tibia if clinically indicated.

Regulation of mitochondrial structure and function by the F1Fo-ATPase inhibitor protein, IF1.

When mitochondrial respiration is compromised, the F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase reverses and consumes ATP, serving to maintain the mitochondrial membrane potential (Delta psi(m)). This process is mitigated by IF(1). As little is known of the cell biology of IF(1), we have investigated the functional consequences of varying IF(1) expression.

Modest promoter methylation of E-cadherin gene in sporadic colorectal cancers: a quantitative analysis.

Although E-cadherin expression is frequently reduced in colorectal cancers (CRCs), this does not appear to be due to gene mutation or allele loss. We investigated the hypothesis that promoter methylation could be responsible for suppression of E-cadherin expression in 142 pairs of sporadic CRCs and respective normal mucosae. E-cadherin expression was examined by Western blot.

Prevalence of mental disorders and torture among Bhutanese refugees in Nepal: a systemic review and its policy implications.

The mass expulsion and exile of Bhutanese de facto refugees to displaced camps in Nepal represents one of the world's most neglected humanitarian crises. We aimed to summarize the impact of the long-term displacement on refugee mental illness using systematic review techniques, a methodology seldom used in the humanitarian field. In order to examine the impact among the population and the association between tortured refugees over non-tortured refugees, we searched 11 electronic databases from inception to 12 May 2006.

Lesotho embarks on universal HIV testing.

On 1 December 2005, this past World AIDS Day, Lesotho embarked on the "Know Your Status" initiative to provide country-wide voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for HIV/AIDS. In a country of two million people with a 29 percent HIV infection rate, the universal testing initiative may help prevent a humanitarian and economic crisis capable of destroying the country. However, the initiative raises human rights concerns.

Divergent beliefs about psoriasis are associated with increased psychological distress.

The psychological adjustment of patients with psoriasis has been studied extensively. By comparison, no research has focused on their partners. We examined illness representations of psoriasis held by patients and their partners, and investigated whether divergent beliefs were associated with psychological distress.

Renin-angiotensin system gene polymorphisms: its impact on IgAN and its progression to end-stage renal failure among Chinese in Singapore.

Background: Gene polymorphisms in angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensinogen (AGT) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (ATR) had been associated with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and its progression. Several studies on Caucasian and Japanese had reported contradicting results. We determined these polymorphisms in 118 Chinese patients with IgAN and 94 healthy Chinese to assess their clinical impact.

The clinical predictors of sleepiness correlated with the multiple sleep latency test in an Asian Singapore population.

Study Objectives: To explore the clinical predictors of sleepiness as objectively determined by the Multiple Sleep Latency Test with the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, age, body mass index, and overnight polysomnographic parameters at a tertiary referral center Sleep Disorders Unit.

Design: Retrospective, consecutive case series review.

Setting: A multidisciplinary sleep disorders unit in Singapore General Hospital, a tertiary-care university-affiliated hospital.