Sequence variants in HECTD1 result in a variable neurodevelopmental disorder.

Dysregulation of genes encoding the homologous to E6AP C-terminus (HECT) E3 ubiquitin ligases has been linked to cancer and structural birth defects. One member of this family, the HECT-domain-containing protein 1 (HECTD1), mediates developmental pathways, including cell signaling, gene expression, and embryogenesis. Through GeneMatcher, we identified 14 unrelated individuals with 15 different variants in HECTD1 (10 missense, 3 frameshift, 1 nonsense, and 1 splicing variant) with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and epilepsy.

Green synthesis of a fluorescence optical probe for Fe based on Barberry derived carbon quantum dots: Deep insight on interaction from experimental and theoretical approach.

A green facile method was developed to synthesize the carbon quantum dots from barberry, a native plant, as a new carbon source. The synthesis strategy is a simple one-step hydrothermal process without requiring hazardous chemical reagents. The spherical structure of b-CDs with an average particle size of 3.

Sensitive fluorescent detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA using an enzymatic-based method.

Rapid, quantitative, and sensitive detection of viral oligonucleotides can help to diagnose the infection before symptoms occur, monitor disease progression, and identify viral subtypes. A one-pot, simple, rapid hairpin-mediated nicking enzymatic signal amplification (HNESA) method was previously developed for nucleic acids detection. In the present work, this method was applied for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by designing an assistant probe (AP) that contains the complementary sequence for the target, the sequence of hybridization with the loop region of the molecular beacon (MB), and the recognition site of the nicking endonuclease Nt.

Shifting surface plasmon resonance wavelength to the far-ultraviolet region with aluminum-based sensors.

A novel aluminum (Al)-based surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor operating in the far-ultraviolet (FUV, <200 nm) region has been developed. By utilizing a thinner Al film compared to previously reported deep-ultraviolet (DUV, <300 nm) SPR sensors, the SPR wavelength was effectively maintained within the FUV region across various liquids. In the presence of resonant molecules, the SPR wavelength shift was notably enhanced.

Nutrition therapy for critically ill patients - Five key problems.

Background & Aims: A pragmatic trial and its secondary analyses have demonstrated that nutritional care not only reduces complications but also significantly improves survival in medical patients at risk of malnutrition. In contrast, for critically ill patients comparable evidence is scarce. Consequently, many propositions for refining the research agenda and study design in the field of critical care nutrition have already been made.

Analysis of serum natalizumab concentrations obtained during routine clinical care in patients with multiple sclerosis: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Natalizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody administered at a fixed dose of 300 mg intravenously or subcutaneously every 4-6 weeks to treat relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. In this prospective cross-sectional study, natalizumab serum concentrations obtained during routine healthcare were measured, and the relationships between different routes of administration, sampling times, body characteristics, changes in blood count, and presence of anti-natalizumab antibodies were evaluated.

Methods: Ninety-two patients were included in this study.

Design, synthesis, and antiviral activity of fragmented-lapatinib aminoquinazoline analogs towards SARS-CoV-2 inhibition.

The severe impact of COVID-19 on global health and economies highlights the critical need for innovative treatments. Recently, lapatinib, a drug initially used for breast cancer, has been identified as a potential inhibitor of the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2, meriting further investigation. Utilizing rational design strategies and guided by MD simulations, we developed novel aminoquinazoline analogs based on fragmented lapatinib's structure.

Mesophilic anaerobic digestion of mixed sludge in CSTR and AnMBR systems: A perspective on microplastics fate.

Most microplastics (MPs) end up in the biosolids produced in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and can pose contamination risks when the biosolids are applied to agriculture. This study evaluated the impact of mesophilic anaerobic digestion on the fate of MPs in WWTP sludge. For this, two laboratory-scale anaerobic digesters were operated in parallel, consisting of a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) and a membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) equipped with an ultrafiltration membrane to decouple the hydraulic and sludge retention times.

Comparative analysis of global urban land surface phenology between the MODIS and VIIRS products and extraction methods.

The reliability of land surface phenology (LSP) derived from satellite remote sensing is crucial for obtaining accurate estimates of the phenological response of vegetation to future climate change in urban ecosystems. Differences in phenological definition and extraction methodology using remote sensing can generate systemic errors in estimating the phenological temperature sensitivity to predict the biological response of vegetation. Here, we evaluated the start of the season (SOS), the end of the season (EOS), and the growing season length (GSL) between the Terra and Aqua combined Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Land Cover Dynamics (MCD12Q2) and the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership NASA Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Land Cover Dynamics (VNP22Q2) over 1470 urban clusters worldwide.

Risk quantification based Adaptive Cruise control and its application in approaching behavior at signalized intersections.

Traffic signals, while reducing conflicts within intersections, often lead to stop-and-go behaviors in approaching vehicles, negatively impacting traffic flow in terms of safety, efficiency, and fuel consumption. Aimed at minimizing the traffic oscillations caused by traffic signals through Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) and meeting real-time operational needs, this paper proposes a Risk-Based Adaptive Cruise Control (RACC). RACC designs the constraints of approaching a signalized intersection as expected risks, enabling compliance with all constraints while being adaptable to basic road scenarios.

Utilizing Preoperative Rectus Sheath Blocks to Decrease Opioid Administration During Pediatric Umbilical Hernia Repair.

Introduction: Regional anesthetic blocks are an adjunct to decrease pediatric opioid utilization and improve perioperative pain control. We compared opioid use in patients who underwent umbilical hernia repair (UHR) with or without preoperative bilateral rectus sheath block (BRSB).

Methods: We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study evaluating opioid use in patients <18 years who underwent an UHR.

Pediatric ECMO Outcomes in Children With Severe Infections: Does Infectious Source Matter?

Background: Although Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) utilization in pediatric patients with cardiopulmonary failure due to infection improves mortality, it is unclear whether the infectious etiology impacts outcomes. The aim of this study is to compare ECMO outcomes in children with sepsis and severe acute lung injury secondary to infections based on culture data.

Methods: A retrospective review was done of patients aged <18 with severe infections whose management included ECMO from 2013 to 2022 at a quaternary children's hospital.

The naples prognostic score as a new predictor for heart failure: A cross-sectional study.

Background: The Naples prognostic score (NPS), a novel nutritional and inflammatory index, holds great promise for predicting the prognosis of heart failure (HF), but research on its association with HF outcomes is limited.

Objective: To analyze the relationship between the NPS and the incidence rate and long-term prognosis of HF.

Methods: Participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data were allocated into three groups (group 0 (the NPS=0), group 1-2 (the NPS=1-2), and group 3-4 (the NPS=3-4)) based on the NPS level.

Synthesis of expert opinions on fluid management in severe sepsis: A contextual review of human albumin and crystalloids.

Background: Sepsis is a critical condition associated with high mortality rates that necessitates effective fluid resuscitation. Crystalloids are widely utilized; however, human albumin solutions have been attributed potential oncotic and anti-inflammatory benefits. Given the ongoing debate and the absence of definitive empirical evidence, expert opinions provide valuable insights into the contextual and practical aspects of fluid management.

Assessing the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions against COVID-19 on 64 notifiable infectious diseases in Australia: A Bayesian Structural Time Series model.

Background: Several studies have examined the effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in Australia and globally. However, to our knowledge none have sufficiently explored their impact on other infectious diseases with robust time series model. In this study, we aimed to use Bayesian Structural Time Series model (BSTS) to systematically assess the impact of NPIs on 64 National Notifiable Infectious Diseases (NNIDs) by conducting a comprehensive and comparative analysis across eight disease categories within each Australian state and territory, as well as nationally.

Pulmonary rehabilitation under supervision of health-professional at institute versus conventional exercise-based pulmonary rehabilitation at home in COPD patients: A longitudinal cohort study.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pulmonary rehabilitation under the supervision of health professionals at the institute versus conventional exercise-based pulmonary rehabilitation at home in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients.

Methods: Patients of COPD received pulmonary rehabilitation under the supervision of a professional at the institute (PI cohort, n = 115) or self-driven traditional Chinese methods-based pulmonary rehabilitation at home (CE cohort, n = 127) or did not receive any type of pulmonary rehabilitation (ME cohort, n = 155). All patients received inhaled pharmacological treatment for COPD.

Prevalence of dry eye in Brazil: Home survey reveals differences in urban and rural regions.

Purpose: A random home visit search investigated the prevalence and predictors of Dry Eye (DE) symptoms in Brazil.

Methods: Through home visits to 420 urban and 180 rural residences in the countryside of Southeast Brazil, the Dry Eye Disease Short Questionnaire (DEDSQ) was applied to volunteers 40 years and older. The predictive value of the DEDSQ and the risk factors were investigated.

Pathology of peritonitis in cattle.

Although peritonitis is highly prevalent in cattle, there have been only limited studies on the pathology of this condition. We describe the gross and histological aspects of primary and secondary peritonitis in cattle based on necropsy reports of 46 cases. Twenty-six were female (26/46; 56.

Cost-effectiveness of robotic compared with laparoscopic rectal resection. Results from the Spanish prospective national trial ROBOCOSTES.

Objective: The costs related to robotic surgery are known to be greater than those associated with laparoscopy. However, the potential for better outcomes of the former could lead to a cost-effectiveness advantage. The aim of this study is therefore to highlight the difference in cost-effectiveness between robotic and laparoscopic rectal resection.

Distribution and correlates of long-acting injectable antipsychotic use among community mental health center patients.

Although long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) are an important pharmaceutical option in the management of schizophrenia and related disorders, little is known about patient characteristics related to LAI use in real-world outpatient settings. We analyzed electronic medical records from 41,401 patients who received psychiatric services from one of 16 regional mental health centers operated by the South Carolina Department of Mental Health in 2022. We compared the use of first- and second-generation LAIs and oral antipsychotics by sociodemographic (age, gender, race/ethnicity, zip code, payment source) and clinical characteristics (psychiatric diagnoses, service use).

Immigrant experiences of harm in sexual and reproductive healthcare in Spain.

The medical encounter represents a site where patients may be harmed, with intersecting vulnerabilities shaping the risk and nature of this harm. Sexual and reproductive healthcare is an important site for exploring this dynamic. Questions concerning how immigrant women experience sexual and reproductive healthcare abound, with researchers and practitioners calling for greater attention to a population whose experiences are underrepresented in existing literature.

Bloodstream infection in a neonatal intensive care unit: Epidemiology, Antifungal susceptibility and new drug delivered strategies.

Bloodstream infection in neonates is a complicated disease and presents a major challenge both in diagnosis and in therapeutic intervention. The focus of the present study was to investigate the incidence, the species distribution and the risk factors associated with mortality of bloodstream infections in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and evaluating the antifungal susceptibility of traditional antifungal drugs and three nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems based on nanoparticles. A total of 458 patients were evaluated, and 9.

On-site recurrence risk after parenchymal R1 liver resection for colorectal metastases.

Background: Histologic microscopic positive resection margin is a debated prognostic factor in patients resected for colorectal liver metastases. This study aimed to assess whether patients with R1 resection experience recurrence at the site of the resection (on-site recurrence) and to identify predictive factors for recurrence profiles in patients with R1 margins after resection of colorectal liver metastases.

Methods: All surgical colorectal liver metastasis resection cases with R1 parenchymal margin from September 2014 to March 2020 in our center were retrospectively included.

Coloured overlays improve reading speed and reading experience in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome.

High prevalences of visual dysfunction and reading-related symptoms have been found in patients with rehabilitation needs after COVID-19 infection. The purpose of this study was to study the effects of coloured overlays on reading speed and reading experience. Twenty-nine patients (45.