Application of Orofacial Muscle Strength Measurement to Screen for Penetration/Aspiration Risk in Older Adults With Sarcopenia: A Diagnostic Accuracy Study.

Background: Early identification of penetration/aspiration (P/A) risk in older adults with sarcopenia is crucial to prevent complications and maintain quality of life.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of orofacial muscle strength measurements for predicting the risk of P/A in older adults with sarcopenia.

Methods: In this observational and prospective study, we collated consecutive data from community-dwelling older adults diagnosed with sarcopenia at a musculoskeletal disorder clinic.

Junctional Role of Anionic Domain of Mussel Foot Protein Type 4 in Underwater Mussel Adhesion.

Mussel byssi form a robust underwater adhesive system, anchoring to various surfaces in harsh marine environments. Central to byssus is foot protein type 4 (fp-4), a junction protein connecting collagenous threads to proteinaceous plaque. This study investigated an anionic plaque-binding domain of fp-4 (fp-4a) and its interactions with cationic foot proteins (fp-1, fp-5, and fp-151 as model substitutes for fp-2) and metal ions (Ca, Fe, and V).

Canine Stem Cell-derived Exosomes for Lung Inflammation: Efficacy of Intratracheal Intravenous Administration in an Acute Lung Injury Mouse Model.

Background/aim: Acute lung injury (ALI) is an important pathological process in acute respiratory distress syndrome; however, feasible and effective treatment strategies for ALI are limited. Recent studies have suggested that stem cell-derived exosomes can ameliorate ALI; however, there remains no consensus on the protocols used, including the route of administration. This study aimed to identify the appropriate route of administration of canine stem cell-derived exosomes (cSC-Exos) in ALI.

Non-operative treatment in advanced atraumatic osteonecrosis of the humeral head in patients under 50 years old: an observational study.

The humeral head is the second most common anatomical site of osteonecrosis after the femoral head. Studies have reported satisfactory clinical outcomes after shoulder arthroplasty to treat osteonecrosis of the humeral head (ONHH). However, there are concerns regarding implant longevity in relatively young patients.

Medium-Sized Rotator Cuff Tears Repaired With Transosseous-Equivalent Technique Plus Bone Marrow Stimulation Yielded Similar Short-Term Outcomes Regardless of Whether Complete or Incomplete Footprint Coverage Was Achieved.

Purpose: To compare clinical outcomes and retear rates of medium-sized rotator cuff tears repaired with incomplete footprint coverage using the transosseous-equivalent technique versus those with complete footprint coverage plus bone marrow stimulation.

Methods: The retrospective study, conducted from March 2019 to December 2021, included consecutive patients with medium-sized (1-3 cm) posterosuperior rotator cuff tears repaired using the transosseous-equivalent technique and bone marrow stimulation, with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the degree of footprint coverage achieved: group C (complete coverage) and group I (incomplete coverage).

Single-cell RNA sequencing uncovers heterogenous immune cell responses upon exposure to food additive (E171) titanium dioxide.

The prospective use of food additive titanium dioxide (E171 TiO) in a variety of fields (food, pharmaceutics, and cosmetics) prompts proper cellular cytotoxicity and transcriptomic assessment. Interestingly, smaller-sized E171 TiO can translocate in bloodstream and induce a diverse immunological response by activating the immune system, which can be either pro-inflammatory or immune-suppressive. Nevertheless, their cellular or immunologic responses in a heterogeneous population of the immune system following exposure of food additive E171 TiO is yet to be elucidated.

Calcium-atom-modified boron phosphide (BP) biphenylene as an efficient hydrogen storage material.

Porous nanosheets have attracted significant attention as viable options for energy storage materials because of their exceptionally large specific surface areas. A recent study (, 2024, , 33-39) has demonstrated that Li/Na-metalized inorganic BP-biphenylene (b-BP) and graphenylene (g-BP) analogues possess suitable functionalities for hydrogen (H) storage. Herein, we evaluate the H storage performance of alkaline earth metal (AEM = Be, Mg, Ca)-decorated b-BP and g-BP structures based on first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Spatiotemporal characterization of water diffusion anomalies in saline solutions using machine learning force field.

Understanding water behavior in salt solutions remains a notable challenge in computational chemistry. Conventional force fields have shown limitations in accurately representing water's properties across different salt types (chaotropes and kosmotropes) and concentrations, demonstrating the need for better methods. Machine learning force field applications in computational chemistry, especially through deep potential molecular dynamics (DPMD), offer a promising alternative that closely aligns with the accuracy of first-principles methods.

Effects of multi directional chin tuck against resistance exercise on tongue pressure and thickness and suprahyoid muscle activity.

The chin tuck against resistance (CTAR) exercise is a therapeutic method developed to activate and strengthen the oropharyngeal muscles related to swallowing in patients experiencing post-stroke dysphagia. However, existing CTAR exercises could be improved by considering the complex characteristics of the suprahyoid muscles. To investigate the efficacy of multidirectional (md-) CTAR on tongue pressure and suprahyoid muscle activity in older adults.

Preliminary clinical evaluation of the treatment efficacy of a temperature-adjustable cryotherapy device for chronic, recurrent blepharitis in dogs.

Objective: To preliminarily evaluate the treatment efficacy of a temperature-adjustable cryotherapy device for chronic, recurrent blepharitis in dogs.

Animals Studied: Five dogs (eight eyes) of different breeds with blepharitis, which was unresponsive to systemic steroids.

Procedures: The dogs were subjected to ophthalmic examination, including Schirmer tear test-1 (STT-1), tear film break-up time (TFBUT) test, and slit-lamp biomicroscope examination.

Advanced Bearing-Fault Diagnosis and Classification Using Mel-Scalograms and FOX-Optimized ANN.

Accurate and reliable bearing-fault diagnosis is important for ensuring the efficiency and safety of industrial machinery. This paper presents a novel method for bearing-fault diagnosis using Mel-transformed scalograms obtained from vibrational signals (VS). The signals are windowed and pass through a Mel filter bank, converting them into a Mel spectrum.

Arthroscopic Partial Repair of Large to Massive Rotator Cuff Tears Shows Clinical Outcomes and Survivorship at Minimum 10-Year Follow-Up Comparable to Those of Arthroscopic Complete Repair.

Purpose: To compare the survival rate (revision surgery) and clinical and radiologic outcomes of arthroscopic partial versus complete repair for large to massive rotator cuff tears over a minimum 10-year follow-up period.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent arthroscopic partial or complete repair of large to massive rotator cuff tears between 2008 and 2013, with minimum 10-year follow-up. Functional outcomes were measured using the visual analog scale pain score, Subjective Shoulder Value, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score, University of California, Los Angeles shoulder score, and passive range of motion preoperatively and at the last follow-up.

Zr-MOF composites with zipped and unzipped carbon nanotubes for high-performance electrochemical supercapacitors.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have gained considerable interest as crystalline porous materials with notable characteristics, such as high surface area and excellent electrochemical performance, particularly in supercapacitor applications. The combination of MOFs with various nanocarbon materials further enhances their performance. This study investigated the combination of zirconium-based MOFs (Zr-MOFs) with graphene oxide nanoribbons (GONRs), zipped carbon nanotubes, and functionalized carbon nanotubes (FCNTs) to fabricate composites with elevated electrical conductivity, adjustable surface area, chemical robustness, mechanical strength, and customizable attributes for specific applications.

Development of a Highly Enantioselective Catalytic Di-π-methane Rearrangement.

The di-π-methane (DPM) rearrangement is an important organic photorearrangement that converts 1,4-diene-containing compounds to vinyl cyclopropanes, often resulting in extensive, synthetically valuable restructuring of the substrate's carbon framework. We investigated the influence of Lewis and Brønsted acids on the DPM rearrangement of dibenzobarrelenes. These studies have culminated in the identification of a dual chiral Brønsted acid-iridium photosensitizer system that enables the first highly enantioselective catalytic all-carbon DPM rearrangement.

Enantioselective [2π + 2σ] Photocycloaddition Enabled by Brønsted Acid Catalyzed Chromophore Activation.

Bicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes have emerged as valuable scaffolds for the design of new pharmaceutical and agrochemical active ingredients.

Predicting the Reparability of Rotator Cuff Tears: Machine Learning and Comparison With Previous Scoring Systems.

Background: Repair of rotator cuff tear is not always feasible, depending on the severity. Although several studies have investigated factors related to reparability and various methods to predict it, inconsistent scoring methods and a lack of validation have hindered the utility of these methods.

Purpose: To develop machine learning models to predict the reparability of rotator cuff tears, compare them with previous scoring systems, and provide an accessible online model.

Serum Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein Can Predict Cross-Sectional Vasculitis Activity by Reflecting Renal Involvement in Patients with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is a type III intermediate filament protein primarily produced by cells in the central nervous system (CNS) and other major organs such as the kidneys. This study investigated whether serum GFAP could be used to estimate cross-sectional vasculitis activity presented via the Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS) in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). This study included 74 patients with AAV.

Serum Soluble Receptors for Advanced Glycation End-Products May Predict Mortality in Microscopic Polyangiitis and Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether the serum extracellular newly identified receptor for advanced glycation end products binding protein (EN-RAGE) and the soluble form of RAGE (sRAGE) measured at diagnosis are associated with all-cause mortality in patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA).

Materials And Methods: Serum EN-RAGE and sRAGE were measured in 75 immunosuppressive drug-naïve MPA and GPA patients using an immunoassay, with their clinical and laboratory data reviewed. The optimal cut-off point of EN-RAGE and sRAGE was calculated by finding the threshold with the maximum sum of sensitivity and specificity.

Serum Wnt3A levels are significantly associated with cross-sectional vasculitis activity and end-stage kidney disease during follow-up of patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis.

Objectives: In this study, we investigated whether serum Wnt3A levels at diagnosis reflected cross-sectional activity and predicted poor outcomes during follow-up in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methods: This study included 80 patients who were newly diagnosed with AAV at a tertiary hospital. At diagnosis, whole blood was obtained from patients and sera was immediately isolated and stored at -80℃.

Humeral stem alignment of curved short stem in reverse shoulder arthroplasty: varus/valgus alignment is not a determinant for clinical outcomes.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the influence of curved short stem alignment within the proximal humerus on the clinical outcomes of reverse shoulder arthroplasty. We hypothesized that the varus/valgus alignment would yield clinical outcomes comparable to those of a neutral alignment.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 167 patients who underwent reverse shoulder arthroplasty using the Aequalis Ascend Flex implant between January 2017 and December 2021.