The Role of Serum Albumin and Secretory Phospholipase A2 in Sepsis.

Sepsis is caused by a dysregulated host response to an infection that leads to cascading cell death and eventually organ failure. In this study, the role of inflammatory response serum secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) and albumin in sepsis was investigated by determining the activities of the two proteins in serial serum samples collected on different days from patients with sepsis after enrollment in the permissive underfeeding versus standard enteral feeding protocols in an intensive care unit. Serum sPLA2 and albumin showed an inverse relationship with increasing sPLA2 activity and decreasing albumin membrane-binding activity in patients with evolving complications of sepsis.

Electrical contact property and control effects for stable T(H)-TaS/CB metal-semiconductor heterojunctions.

Metal-semiconductor heterojunctions are the basis for developing new electronic devices. Here, T(H)-TaS/CB metal-semiconductor heterostructures are constructed by different phase T- and H-TaS monolayers combined with the CB monolayer. The calculated corrected binding energies, phonon band structures, elastic constants, and molecular dynamics simulations indicated that both heterojunctions are highly stable, meaning that T(H)-TaS/CB heterojunctions possibly exist in experiments.

Design and Mechanism Study of High-Safety and Long-Life Electrolyte for High-Energy-Density Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Although nonflammable electrolytes are beneficial for battery safety, they often adversely affect the electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries due to their poor compatibility with electrodes. Herein, we design a nonflammable electrolyte consisting of cyclic carbonate and 2,2-difluoroethyl acetate (DFEA) solvents paired with several surface-film-forming additives, significantly improving the safety and cycling performance of NMC811||SiO/graphite pouch cells. The DFEA solvent exhibits not only good flame retardancy but also lower lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy, promoting the formation of a robust inorganic-rich and gradient-architecture hybrid interface between the SiO/graphite anode and electrolyte.

Inducing abundant magnetic phases and enhancing magnetic stability by edge modifications and physical regulations for NiI nanoribbons.

Recently, a magnetic semiconducting NiI monolayer was successfully fabricated. To obtain richer magneto-electronic properties and find new physics for NiI, we studied the zigzag-type NiI nanoribbon (ZNiINR) with edges modified by different concentrations of H and/or O atoms. Results show that these ribbons hold a higher energy stability, thermal stability, and magnetic stability, and the Curie temperature can be increased to 143 from 15 K for the bare-edged ribbons.

Hypocarnitinemia and its effect on seizure control in adult patients with intractable epilepsy on the modified Atkins diet.

Introduction: Previous studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the modified Atkins diet (MAD) in attenuating seizures in patients with intractable epilepsy. MAD works by achieving ketosis, which is heavily dependent on the metabolic compound, carnitine, to facilitate the transport of long-chain fatty acids across the mitochondria for beta-oxidation. The effect of carnitine on ketogenic diet therapy is not well-defined in the current literature.

Single-layer PtSe adsorbed with non-metallic atoms: geometrical, mechanical, electronic and optical properties and strain effects.

Recently, single-layer PtSe, possessing high carrier mobility and optical response, has been successfully fabricated. To further expand its application scope and find new physics, in this work, we functionalized it the adsorption of non-metallic atoms X (X = H, B, C, N, O, and F) to form hybrid systems X-PtSe, and their geometrical, mechanical, electronic, and optical properties as well as strain tuning effects were studied deeply. Calculations show that the energy stability of X-PtSe systems is significantly enhanced, and they also hold higher thermal and mechanical stability.

Surgical transversus abdominis plane block with liposomal bupivacaine at cesarean: a pilot randomized trial.

Background: Postcesarean pain control is challenging. In addition to intrathecal morphine, recent studies have shown that liposomal bupivacaine administered via conventional transversus abdominis plane block reduces postcesarean opioid use. However, whether the administration of liposomal bupivacaine via a surgical approach also reduces opioid use is unknown.

Subjective vision assessment in companion dogs using dogVLQ demonstrates age-associated visual dysfunction.

Introduction: Dim light vision as assessed by proxy and clinical tools is commonly impaired in older humans and impacts quality of life. Although proxy visual assessment tools have been developed for dogs, it is unclear if they are sensitive enough to detect subtle visual dysfunction in older dogs. We sought to determine if a newly designed proxy visual function questionnaire could detect age-associated differences in visual behaviors in varying lighting conditions in dogs.

Surgical outcomes of adnexal masses classified by IOTA ultrasound simple rules.

IOTA (International Ovarian Tumor Analysis) Simple Rules classifies adnexal masses as benign, malignant, or indeterminate based on sonographic features. We seek to determine if IOTA inappropriately directed women to surgery, or more aggressive surgery, than their final diagnosis warranted. This is a retrospective study of sonographically detected adnexal masses with known clinical outcomes from two institutions (n = 528).

Barriers to surgical menopause counseling in gynecologic cancers: a quantitative and qualitative study of patients and providers.

Objective: The objective of this study is to identify factors associated with receiving surgical menopause counseling in gynecologic cancer patients, as well as patient and provider perspectives, regarding surgical menopause counseling and management.

Methods: We conducted a single-institution mixed-method study combining retrospective chart review and patient and provider surveys. Patients younger than 51 years who experienced surgical menopause after gynecologic cancer treatment from January 2017 to December 2019 were surveyed in April 2021 about experiences with menopause counseling, barriers to care, and quality of life.

Current Trends in HPV Vaccine Uptake: Wisconsin and United States, 2016-2019.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a recognized cause of cancer in both males and females. HPV vaccination prevents development of HPV-associated diseases.

Methods: Wisconsin HPV vaccination rates (2016-2019) were obtained from the Wisconsin Immunization Registry.

Impact of a Rheumatology Clinic Protocol on Tobacco Cessation Quit Line Referrals.

Objective: Smoking increases cardiopulmonary and rheumatic disease risk, yet tobacco cessation intervention is rare in rheumatology clinics. This study aimed to implement a rheumatology staff-driven protocol, Quit Connect, to increase the rate of electronic referrals (e-referrals) to free, state-run tobacco quit lines.

Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental cohort study of Quit Connect at 3 rheumatology clinics comparing tobacco quit line referrals from 4 baseline years to referrals during a 6-month intervention period.

Canine sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome: Owner perceptions on the time to vision loss, treatment outcomes, and prognosis for life.

Background: Canine sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) causes blindness for which there are no proven effective treatments. We aimed to clarify the time to vision loss, treatment response/side effects, and prognosis for life in dogs with SARDS.

Methods: An online questionnaire was administered to owners of dogs with a historical diagnosis of SARDS.

Occurrence and distribution of PAHs and microbial communities in nearshore sediments of the Knysna Estuary, South Africa.

This study investigated the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) occurrence, and their impact on the microbial community and PAH-degrading genera and genes in the Knysna Estuary of South Africa. The results reveal that the estuary exhibits low PAH levels (114.1-356.

Comparison of child self-report and parent proxy-report of symptoms: Results from a longitudinal symptom assessment study of children with advanced cancer.

Purpose: This report represents a subanalysis of data from a primary study and addresses a gap in understanding the similarities and differences of symptom reporting between children with advanced cancer and their parents. The objectives of this subanalysis were to (1) compare reports of symptom prevalence, symptom burden, and symptom frequency, severity, and distress between groups of children and adolescents and their parents, and (2) describe concordance of symptom reports within individual child-parent dyads.

Design And Methods: Forty-six children with relapsed, refractory, or progressive cancer and their parents from five pediatric cancer centers prospectively reported symptoms every 2 weeks for up to 61 weeks.

Treatment of primary sjögren's syndrome-related interstitial lung disease: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common complication of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Because there is a paucity of literature on the management of pSS-associated ILD (pSS-ILD), this retrospective cohort study assessed the efficacy of azathioprine and mycophenolate therapy in adult patients with pSS-ILD.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed using electronic health records to identify adults meeting the 2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria for pSS.

Using Patient-Reported Outcomes to Measure Symptoms in Children With Advanced Cancer.

Background: Children with advanced cancer experience symptoms despite access to quality care. Symptom research has previously relied upon retrospective designs and parent proxy rather than prospective measurement with self-report.

Objective: This study evaluated the feasibility of electronic data collection in children with advanced cancer using self-report of symptom frequency, severity, and distress.

Electronic Symptom Assessment in Children and Adolescents With Advanced Cancer Undergoing Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Effective symptom assessment and management for children with advanced cancer undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is critical to minimize suffering. The purpose of this subanalysis was to compare feasibility of electronic data collection data and symptom prevalence, frequency, severity, and distress from children with advanced cancer undergoing HSCT with a non-HSCT cohort. An abbreviated Pediatric Quality of Life and Evaluation of Symptoms Technology Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale was electronically administered every 2 weeks to children with advanced cancer.

Plant-mediated synthesis of dual-functional Eggshell/Ag nanocomposites towards catalysis and antibacterial applications.

Advances in nanotechnology provide plenty of exciting solutions to environmental issues affecting air, soil as well as water. To solve the water pollution problem caused by organics and microorganisms, development of a simple, environment-friendly, and cheap method for the synthesis of nanomaterials is of paramount importance. Herein, we prepared a novel nanocomposite (named Eggshell/Ag) using waste eggshell as a support and Cacumen platycladi extract as reducing and stabilizing agents in aqueous solutions at room temperature.

Aging-Related and Gender Specific Albumin Misfolding in Alzheimer's Disease.

Aging-related protein misfolding and aggregation may play critical roles in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. In the brain, extracellular aggregated amyloid-β (Aβ) is closely related to the death of neurons in individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Albumin-Aβ binding is important in preventing Aβ fibril aggregation.

Long-term Outcomes and Survival in Moderate-severe Portopulmonary Hypertension After Liver Transplant.

Background: Portopulmonary hypertension is present in an estimated 5.3% to 8.5% of liver transplant candidates.

Small-Group, Community-Member Intervention for Urinary and Bowel Incontinence: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Mind Over Matter: Healthy Bowels, Healthy Bladder, a small-group intervention, on urinary and bowel incontinence symptoms among older women with incontinence.

Methods: In this individually randomized group treatment trial, women aged 50 years and older with urinary, bowel incontinence, or both, were randomly allocated at baseline to participate in Mind Over Matter: Healthy Bowels, Healthy Bladder immediately (treatment group) or after final data collection (waitlist control group). The primary outcome was urinary incontinence (UI) improvement on the Patient Global Impression of Improvement at 4 months.

Human-induced changes in sediment properties and amplified endmember differences: Possible geological time markers in the future.

Many rivers are facing human-induced system regime shifts that have great environmental, ecological and social implications, necessitating an increasing need to quantify the human influence on sediment properties and their impacts on the source-to-sink system of marginal seas. The Huanghe and Changjiang Rivers have experienced a dramatic reduction in sediment flux in recent decades, typifying the human influence on sediment properties of global large rivers. Sediment samples from the two rivers were analyzed to obtain grain size, magnetic and geochemical data.

Clear liquid diet before bowel preparation predicts successful chromoendoscopy in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background And Aims: Chromoendoscopy (CE) has been shown to generate both a superior diagnostic yield and dysplasia detection rate than conventional white-light endoscopy and requires a high-quality bowel preparation. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of the ability to perform CE in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: We performed an observational study of patients with IBD undergoing colorectal cancer surveillance examinations with CE.

Quantitative chest computerized tomography and FEV equally identify pulmonary exacerbation risk in children with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Chest computerized tomography (CT) scores are associated with the frequency of future pulmonary exacerbations in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, cut-off values to identify children with mild lung disease with different risks for frequent future pulmonary exacerbations have not been identified.

Methods: Chest CT scans were assessed using the Brody score for participants of the Pulmozyme Early Intervention Trial (PEIT) and Wisconsin Randomized Clinical Trial of CF Newborn Screening (WI RCT).