Tendon Transfers to Improve Grip and Pinch in Patients with Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis.

Background: Sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) is a rare and slowly progressive skeletal muscle disease that can cause hand dysfunction, which is a major source of disability. Tendon transfers have been reliably used to improve function in other neuromuscular settings. Given that sIBM patients often present with flexion impairments and mostly functioning extensors, we investigated the potential opportunity for tendon transfer surgery to improve hand dysfunction in sIBM patients.

The personal financial burden associated with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

The economic burden of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) within the US is underexplored. We hypothesized that IIMs patients experience considerable personal financial burden due to risks of multi-specialist visits, chronic long-term care, costs associated with disability, medical treatment, and overall high spending costs within the US healthcare system. We surveyed members of Myositis Support and Understanding (MSU) (response rate 4.

Optical Genome Mapping for the Molecular Diagnosis of Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy: Advancement and Challenges.

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is the second most common muscular dystrophy in adults, and it is associated with local D4Z4 chromatin relaxation, mostly via the contraction of the D4Z4 macrosatellite repeat array on chromosome 4q35. In this study, we aimed to investigate the use of Optical Genome Mapping (OGM) as a diagnostic tool for testing FSHD cases from the UK and India and to compare OGM performance with that of traditional techniques such as linear gel (LGE) and Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) Southern blotting (SB). A total of 6 confirmed and 19 suspected FSHD samples were processed with LGE and PFGE, respectively.

Tumor-Associated and Systemic Autoimmunity in Pre-Clinical Breast Cancer among Post-Menopausal Women.

Autoantibodies to tumor-associated antigens (anti-TAA) are potential biomarkers for breast cancer, but their relationship systemic autoimmunity as ascertained though antinuclear antibodies (ANA) is unknown and warrants consideration given the common occurrence of autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases among women. The relationship between anti-TAAs and ANA among women who were later diagnosed with breast cancer and others who remained cancer free in the Women's Health Initiative cohort. The study sample included 145 post-menopausal women with baseline ANA data.

Does cutting down on your food consumption lead to a net improvement in nutritional intake? A panel data approach using data from the UK Biobank.

Background: Food diets are complex and a policy targeting one item of a person's diet does not affect their nutritional intake in a solely additive or subtractive manner. Policies tackling unhealthy diets are more likely to be adopted by governments if there is robust evidence to support them. To evaluate dietary policies, it is important to understand the correlations and interdependencies between food groups, as these can lead to unintended negative consequences.

Biomagnetic chitosan-ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether/organo-nanoclay nanocomposite for azo dye removal: A statistical modeling by response surface methodology.

Herein, a quadruple biomagnetic nanocomposite of cross-linked chitosan-ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether/organo-nanoclay (MCH-EGDE/ORNC) was designed for the uptake of remazol brilliant blue R (RBBR) dye from aqueous environment. The adsorption process was systematically improved via the Box-Behnken design (BBD) to determine the influence of key uptake parameters, including MCH-EGDE/ORNC dosage, pH, and time, on the RBBR removal. The highest RBBR removal of 87.

Association of educational attainment with cancer mortality in a national cohort study of black and white adults: A mediation analysis.

Background: Low educational attainment is associated with excess cancer mortality. However, the mechanisms driving this association remain unknown.

Methods: Using data from the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study, we evaluated the associations of participant and parental/caregiver education with cancer mortality using Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics and health conditions.

Estimation of integrated price elasticities for alcohol and tobacco in the United Kingdom using the living costs and food survey 2006-2017.

Introduction: Evidence shows that price is an important policy lever in reducing consumption of alcohol and tobacco. However, there is little evidence of the cross-price effect between alcohol and tobacco.

Methods: This paper uses an econometric model which estimates participation and consumption elasticities, on data from the UK Living Costs and Food Survey 2006-2017 and extends the literature by, for the first time, estimating joint price elasticities for disaggregated alcohol and tobacco products.

Long-term outcomes of sphincter pharyngoplasty in patients with cleft palate.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term outcomes of sphincter pharyngoplasties, including speech outcomes, revision surgeries, and postoperative incidence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Design: Retrospective matched-cohort study SETTING: Two craniofacial centers in Los Angeles, CA PATIENTS: Patients (n = 166) with cleft lip and palate (CLP) or isolated cleft palate (iCP) who underwent sphincter pharyngoplasty from 1992 to 2022 were identified. An age- and diagnosis-matched control group of 67 patients with CLP/iCP without velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) was also identified.

Mapping alcohol and tobacco tax policy interventions to inform health and economic impact analyses: A United Kingdom based qualitative framework analysis.

Background: Alcohol and tobacco have different policy regimes and there is little understanding of how changes to policy on each commodity might combine to affect the same outcomes or to affect people who both drink and smoke. The aim of this study was to deepen understanding of the policy objectives of UK alcohol and tobacco tax options being considered at the time of the interviews with a set of UK policy participants in 2018, and the factors affecting the implementation and outcomes of the policy options discussed.

Methods: Ten tax policy experts were recruited from government arms-length organisations and advocacy groups in England and Scotland (4 alcohol, 4 tobacco, 2 alcohol and tobacco).

The economic value of insulin glargine 300 U/mL (Gla-300) in people ≥18 years of age with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a value-based economic model from a U.S. payer perspective.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the value and affordability of insulin glargine 300 U/mL (Gla-300) in a budget impact model from a United States (U.S.) payer perspective by leveraging recent real-world evidence (RWE) studies and incorporating the recent insulin price caps where applicable.

Dietary selenium intake among Ethiopian children in areas known for selenium spatial variability.

Introduction: There is spatial variability of selenium (Se) in soil and crops in Ethiopia. We assessed the Se content of food items, breast milk, and urine among infants in Ethiopia from two areas with contrasting Se concentrations in soils.

Methods: Dietary Se intakes among children (6-23 months) were evaluated using a weighed food record on two non-consecutive days.

Strengthening Integrated Approaches for Family Planning and Menstrual Health.

FP and menstrual health integration has the potential to improve individuals' health and well-being. The authors describe potential ways to integrate FP and menstrual health, outlining steps that stakeholders can take in designing integrated approaches.

Bayesian-frequentist hybrid inference framework for single cell RNA-seq analyses.

Background: Single cell RNA sequencing technology (scRNA-seq) has been proven useful in understanding cell-specific disease mechanisms. However, identifying genes of interest remains a key challenge. Pseudo-bulk methods that pool scRNA-seq counts in the same biological replicates have been commonly used to identify differentially expressed genes.

Characteristics, healthcare utilization, and outcomes of patients with HER2-low breast cancer.

Purpose: Treatment for HER2-low [defined as ImmunoHistoChemistry (IHC) 1 + or 2 + and negative/normal in Situ Hybridization (ISH)] breast cancer patients is rapidly evolving, yet we lack critical information about the HER2-low population.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of women aged 18 years or older diagnosed with breast cancer between 2010 and 2016 in North Carolina. Analyses were conducted for the overall cohort and a stage IV sub-cohort.

Patient Preference Trade-offs for Next-Generation Kidney Replacement Therapies.

Background: Next-generation implantable and wearable KRTs may revolutionize the lives of patients undergoing dialysis by providing more frequent and/or prolonged therapy along with greater mobility compared with in-center hemodialysis. Medical device innovators would benefit from patient input to inform product design and development. Our objective was to determine key risk/benefit considerations for patients with kidney failure and test how these trade-offs could drive patient treatment choices.

Development of Fibro-PeN, a clinical prediction model for moderate-to-severe fibrosis in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background And Aims: Liver fibrosis is common in children with NAFLD and is an important determinant of outcomes. High-performing noninvasive models to assess fibrosis in children are needed. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of existing pediatric and adult fibrosis prediction models and to develop a clinical prediction rule for identifying moderate-to-severe fibrosis in children with NAFLD.

Readiness of emergency departments for pediatric patients and pediatric mortality: a systematic review.

Background: Most children who need emergency care visit general emergency departments and urgent care centres; the weighted pediatric readiness score (WPRS) is currently used to evaluate emergency departments' readiness for pediatric patients. The aim of this study was to determine whether a higher WPRS was associated with decreased mortality and improved health care outcomes and utilization.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of cohort and cross-sectional studies on emergency departments that care for children (age ≤ 21 yr).

Adsorption of methyl orange on low-cost adsorbent natural materials and modified natural materials: a review.

Recently a large number of extensive studies have amassed that describe the removal of dyes from water and wastewater using natural adsorbents and modified materials. Methyl orange dye is found in wastewater streams from various industries that include textiles, plastics, printing and paper among other sources. This article reviews methyl orange adsorption onto natural and modified materials.

Entorhinal cortical delta oscillations drive memory consolidation.

Long-term memories are formed by creating stable memory representations via memory consolidation, which mainly occurs during sleep following the encoding of labile memories in the hippocampus during waking. The entorhinal cortex (EC) has intricate connections with the hippocampus, but its role in memory consolidation is largely unknown. Using cell-type- and input-specific in vivo neural activity recordings, here we show that the temporoammonic pathway neurons in the EC, which directly innervate the output area of the hippocampus, exhibit potent oscillatory activities during anesthesia and sleep.

A modified triple tibial osteotomy for management of canine cranial cruciate ligament disease: retrospective assessment of 309 procedures (2017-2020).

Case History: Medical records from a single referral hospital (Animal Referral Hospital, Sinnamon Park, Australia) of dogs treated with modified triple tibial osteotomy (TTO) for management of cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) disease from June 2017 to June 2020 were reviewed. Modifications to the originally described TTO procedure included a modified wedge angle calculation and performing the tibial osteotomies without the use of pre-drilled guide holes.

Clinical Findings: A total of 253 dogs met the inclusion criteria.

The biosynthesis, degradation, and function of cell wall β-xylosylated xyloglucan mirrors that of arabinoxyloglucan.

Xyloglucan is an abundant polysaccharide in many primary cell walls and in the human diet. Decoration of its α-xylosyl sidechains with further sugars is critical for plant growth, even though the sugars themselves vary considerably between species. Plants in the Ericales order - prevalent in human diets - exhibit β1,2-linked xylosyl decorations.

Expanding the Range of Bioorthogonal Tags for Multiplex Stimulated Raman Scattering Microscopy.

Multiplex optical detection in live cells is challenging due to overlapping signals and poor signal-to-noise associated with some chemical reporters. To address this, the application of spectral phasor analysis to stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy for unmixing three bioorthogonal Raman probes within cells is reported. Triplex detection of a metallacarborane using the B-H stretch at 2480-2650 cm , together with a bis-alkyne and deuterated fatty acid can be achieved within the cell-silent region of the Raman spectrum.