The molecular structure of leaf starch from three cereal crops.

Plants produce storage and transient starches in seeds and in leaves, respectively. Understanding molecular fine structure and synthesis of transient starch can help improve plant quality (e.g.

Cost-effectiveness of toripalimab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer in China: a societal perspective.

Background: To investigate the cost-effectiveness of toripalimab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients from a societal perspective.

Methods: A partitioned-survival model estimated the costs and cost-effectiveness of toripalimab plus chemotherapy versus standard chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC over 20 years. Clinical data were derived from the CHOICE-01 trial, and cost and utility inputs were gathered from Yaozh.

Disseminated enterovirus infection treated with intravenous immunoglobulin in a patient on maintenance ocrelizumab for multiple sclerosis.

We present a case of a woman in her 40s with disseminated enterovirus infection in the setting of maintenance therapy with ocrelizumab for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. The patient originally presented with fever, bilateral lower limb swelling and hypoalbuminaemia. She subsequently developed a productive cough and diarrhoea, and a viral respiratory multiplex panel detected rhino/enterovirus.

Rigid maxillomandibular fixation using a novel technique involving unbonded polymethylmethacrylate canine tooth moulds and interarch wiring for maxillomandibular trauma in three cats.

Mandibular and maxillary fractures are common in small animals and present significant challenges for repair due to the intricate anatomical features involved. This retrospective case series describes a technique for achieving rigid open mouth maxillomandibular fixation using interarch wiring while maintaining correct alignment between the upper and lower teeth with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) moulds of the canine teeth for treating maxillomandibular fractures in cats. The study includes a description of the postoperative outcomes and complications encountered.

Children's views on outdoor advertising of unhealthy food and beverages near schools.

Children are often exposed to unhealthy outdoor food advertisements during the school commute. This exposure can have negative public health consequences given childhood weight gain has been linked to the marketing of energy-dense and nutrient-poor foods. This study aimed to explore schoolchildren's lived experiences and attitudes towards outdoor advertising surrounding their schools.

Reduced CAR T expansion post infusion is associated with poor survival in patients with large B cell lymphoma after two or more therapies.

CD19 directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is now standard of care for relapsed/refractory large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Despite good overall response rates, many patients still experience disease progression and therefore it is important to predict those at risk of relapse following CAR T-cell therapy. We performed a prospective study using a flow cytometric assay at a single treatment centre to assess early CAR T-cell expansion in vivo 6 - 9 days after CAR-T cell infusion.

Early Life Nutrition and its Effects on the Developing Heifer: Growth, nutritive intakes, and metabolism.

We aimed to assess the effects of preweaning nutrition and postweaning growth rates on the metabolic characteristics of replacement dairy heifers until 20 mo of age. At birth heifers, were allocated to one of 4 treatment groups which were a combination of preweaning (high or low preweaning nutritional treatment), and postweaning treatments (high or low postweaning growth rate). In the preweaning phase (birth until weaning at 10 weeks of age) heifers were subject to either a High (8 L/day) or Low (4 L/day) milk feeding strategy, then at weaning either a high or low postweaning growth rate.

Lack of correlation between school reopening and trends in adult COVID-19 hospitalisations and death rates during the Delta and early Omicron periods: an ecological analysis of five countries.

Objectives: In this ecological study, we describe SARS-CoV-2 case incidence for school age and adult populations, COVID-19 hospitalisation and death rates during Delta and the early Omicron periods, before and after schools reopened in five countries.

Methods: Data were extracted from government websites. Cases and COVID-19 hospitalisation and death incidence rates were calculated during the Delta and early Omicron periods in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland and the United Kingdom, for two weeks preceding and six weeks after schools reopened.

Risk factors associated with postpartum anxiety in Australia, Europe, and North America: A systematic review and narrative synthesis.

Background: Reducing the prevalence and consequences of anxiety following childbirth (postpartum anxiety) is a strategic priority in the UK and many similar nations; a comprehensive review of risk factors can support the development of interventions and guide further research.

Methods: This registered systematic review was guided by 'Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses' (PRISMA) and analysed using 'Synthesis Without Meta-analysis' (SWiM) to answer the question; 'What factors have been reported to increase the risk of maternal postpartum anxiety (PPA) in Australia, Europe, and North America?'. MEDLINE and PsycINFO were searched for relevant research from Australia, Europe, and North America, published up to July 2021.

The effects of paced breathing on psychological distress vulnerability and heart rate variability in adults sustaining traumatic injury.

Background: Traumatic physical injuries can lead to psychological distress and increased risk of psychiatric disorders, often reflected in dysregulated autonomic responses measurable through heart rate variability (HRV). Slow-paced breathing has shown potential in enhancing HRV, but its effectiveness in injured survivors remains unexplored. This study investigates the effect of slow-paced breathing on HRV among injured survivors compared to non-injured individuals and explores the influence of psychological distress and spontaneous respiratory rate on this effect.

Enhanced oral absorption and biodistribution to submandibular salivary glands of D-limonene in Sprague Dawley rats via a liquid-lipid formulation approach.

Decreased saliva production due to salivary gland damage can result in difficulty speaking and swallowing, significantly reducing quality of life for head and neck cancer patients receiving radiotherapy. It is therefore imperative that treatment options are available to mitigate the effects of these debilitating side effects. D-limonene, a naturally occurring terpene, has shown protective effects on saliva production during radiotherapy treatment of mice, however the lipophilic nature of the molecule has necessitated a high oral dose to facilitate sufficient absorption.

Chromosome-level echidna genome illuminates evolution of multiple sex chromosome system in monotremes.

Background: A thorough analysis of genome evolution is fundamental for biodiversity understanding. The iconic monotremes (platypus and echidna) feature extraordinary biology. However, they also exhibit rearrangements in several chromosomes, especially in the sex chromosome chain.

GLITTRE-ADL TESTS IN THREE LAPS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE FIVE LAPS TEST.

Background: The Glittre-ADL test is a comprehensive test to evaluate functional capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Aim: The primary aim was to validate the Glittre-ADL test with and without the backpack performed in three laps as an alternative of five laps in people with COPD.

Methods: Forty-eight participants with mild to severe COPD (mean±SD age: 71±7 years; FEV: 46 ± 17 %predicted) were recruited and performed two six-minute walk tests (visit 1); two Glittre-ADL tests with backpack (visit 2), and the Glittre-ADL test with and without the backpack, in random order (visit 3).

Case Series of Right-Hemisphere Nonfluent Variant of Primary Progressive Aphasia.

Background And Purpose: Nonfluent variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive deterioration of language functions that typically appears with atrophy predominating in the left peri-insular region (left-nfvPPA) on imaging. While both left-dominant and right-dominant presentations have been reported in semantic variant primary progressive aphasia, the other language presentation of frontotemporal dementia, no case series of nfvPPA with predominantly right-sided atrophy of the peri-insular region (right-nfvPPA) have been reported previously. This study explored whether such entities exist and what their clinical features might be.

Region of Birth Differences in Medication Adherence Among Patients with Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack.

Background And Purpose: Cultural and language barriers may affect quality of care, such as adherence to medications. We examined whether adherence to prevention medications within the year after stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) differed by region of birth.

Methods: An observational study of adults with stroke/TIA admitted to hospitals in the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry (Queensland, Victoria; 2012-2016; n=45 hospitals), with linked administrative data.

Haemobilia in a patient on oral anticoagulation: A surgical case report.

Introduction: Haemobilia causing obstructive jaundice is a rare complication with most occurrences reported post instrumentation e.g. endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), percutaneous transhepatic cholangioagraphy (PTC) and, trans-cystic duct exploration or due to hepatic tree pseudoaneurysms.

Socioeconomic inequality in the outcomes of a psychological intervention for depression for South Africans with a co-occurring chronic disease: A decomposition analysis.

Task-shared psychological interventions are effective for reducing the severity of depression symptoms, but differences in treatment outcome by socioeconomic status is uncertain. This study examines socioeconomic inequalities (SEI) in depression outcomes among people with HIV and/or diabetes who participated in a cluster randomised controlled trial in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The trial took place at 24 primary care clinics randomised to deliver a task-shared psychological intervention or treatment as usual (TAU).

Effects of lifestyle interventions on the prevention of type 2 diabetes and reversion to normoglycemia by prediabetes phenotype: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: To explore the effects of lifestyle interventions on the prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and reversion to normoglycemia by prediabetes phenotype.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effects of lifestyle interventions in adults with prediabetes for a minimum duration of one year. Two reviewers independently screened articles, extracted data, and performed quality assessment.

COVID-19 and chronic pain: Implications and lessons learned.

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted people with chronic pain, affecting their access to pain management services and the social fabric of society. Here we review evidence indicating that during and since the pandemic (1) the overall prevalence and burden of chronic pain has increased, (2) social threats such as social isolation, abuse and neglect, and disparities in access to pain management, have increased, and these changes are associated with worsening pain and pain-related health outcomes, and (3) there has been a surge in research into telehealth interventions for chronic pain, with promising results. We conclude with a discussion of lessons that may guide future research and care for people with chronic pain in a post-COVID world.

Isolation and characterisation of a heparosan capsular polysaccharide and a core oligosaccharide from Moraxella lincolnii strain CCUG 52988.

Moraxella lincolnii is a Gram-negative bacterium that resides in the upper respiratory tract (URT) of humans and may have a role as a member of a protective microbial community. Structural characterisation studies of its outer membrane glycan structures are very limited. We report here the isolation and structural characterisation (NMR, GLC-MS) of a capsular polysaccharide (CPS) and an oligosaccharide (OS) (lipooligosaccharide (LOS)-derived) isolated from strain CCUG 52988.

Factors influencing women's and men's place of birth decisions in rural Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea: A qualitative descriptive study.

Background: Evidence shows that birthing with a skilled birth provider improves maternal and neonatal health outcomes. However, whilst most women in the Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea seek skilled health care during pregnancy in a health facility, more than half give birth at home or in the village without a skilled birth provider.

Aim: To explore the factors influencing women's and men's decisions about place of birth in rural Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea.

Insights from a publicly funded homebirth program.

Background: There are high levels of consumer demand for homebirth in Australia, however access is limited due to a wide range of factors, including associated costs of a private midwife and the limited number of publicly funded homebirth models. Homebirth with a qualified midwife, networked into a health system, is a safe option for women with a low-risk pregnancy. This paper has two aims.

The impacts of alien species on river bioassessment.

The extent of alien taxa impacts on river ecosystem health is unclear, but their frequency continues to rise. We investigated 1) the prevalence of including alien taxa in common bioindicators used in river bioassessment, 2) the effect of alien taxa on the richness and abundance of natives, and 3) whether including alien taxa in bioassessment tools increased their sensitivity to river degradation. In the 17 countries analyzed fish represented the greatest number of alien species (1726), followed by macrophytes (925), macroinvertebrates (556), and diatoms (7).