Frontal Plane Knee Kinematics and Kinetics During Gait in Children and Youth with Achondroplasia-Correspondence with Static X-Ray Images and Relevance to Symptoms.

: Frontal knee malalignments are hallmarks of Achondroplasia (ACH), along with disproportional short stature. Typically, X-rays are used to assess them, but 3D gait analysis (3DGA) may additionally be used to evaluate dynamic knee function. The research questions were as follows: (1) What is the relationship between X-rays and 3DGA in ACH? (2) Do children with ACH have abnormal frontal knee kinematics and kinetics? (3) Are there aspects of 3DGA that relate to knee symptoms? : A total of 62 knees of 31 children with ACH (age: 11.

Patient-Reported Outcomes in Children Undergoing the Modified Green Procedure for Treating Sprengel's Deformity: Results from a Multicentric Study.

Sprengel's Deformity (SD) is a rare condition of the shoulder girdle, appearing as the principal congenital anomaly of the shoulder in paediatric patients. The aim of this study is to document the combined experience of two paediatric orthopaedic departments in managing SD using the modified Green Procedure, with a specific emphasis on the clinical and functional outcomes reported by patients; Methods: from June 2010 to February 2023, 42 shoulders in 40 paediatric patients were surgically treated for SD at two paediatric orthopaedic departments. All patients were treated using the modified Green Procedure with or without clavicle osteotomy.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Competency and Educational Needs: Results of an AI Survey of Members of the European Society of Pediatric Endoscopic Surgeons (ESPES).

: Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are set to revolutionize healthcare, particularly in fields like endoscopic surgery that heavily rely on digital imaging. However, to effectively integrate these technologies and drive future innovations, pediatric surgeons need specialized AI/ML skills. This survey evaluated the current level of readiness and educational needs regarding AI/ML among members of the European Society of Pediatric Endoscopic Surgeons (ESPES).

The Importance of Dose Escalation in the Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension with Treprostinil.

: Treprostinil, which is administered via continuous subcutaneous or intravenous infusion, is a medication applied in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The dose of treprostinil is adjusted on an individual basis for each patient. A number of factors determine how well patients respond to treatment.

Normothermic Crystalloid Polarizing Cardioplegia Improves Systolic and Diastolic Function in a Porcine Model of Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

Previously, we showed that blood-based polarizing cardioplegia exerted beneficial cardioprotection during hypothermic ischemia; however, these positive effects of blood-based polarizing cardioplegia were reduced during normothermic ischemia compared to blood-based hyperkalemic (depolarizing) cardioplegia. This study compares crystalloid polarizing cardioplegia to crystalloid depolarizing cardioplegia in a normothermic porcine model of cardiopulmonary bypass; Methods: Twelve pigs were randomized to receive either normothermic polarizing ( = 7) or depolarizing ( = 5) crystalloid cardioplegia. After the initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass, normothermic arrest (34 °C, 60 min) was followed by 60 min of on-pump and 90 min of off-pump reperfusion.

A Retrospective Study in Trans Individuals Undergoing Gender Affirming Testosterone Treatment: Can Changes in Prolactin Counteract the Negative Effects on the Lipid Profile?

Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is known to influence the lipid profiles of trans men and transmasculine individuals. Recent data show that moderate prolactin (PRL) elevations might exert beneficial metabolic effects ("HomeoFIT-PRL model"). The aim of this study is to investigate changes in PRL levels and possible associations between PRL and lipid profiles in this population after a year of GAHT.

Association of Circulating Neprilysin with BMI, Cardiovascular Health, and Kidney Function in High-Risk Pregnancies: A Pilot Study.

Background/objectives: Inadequate cardiovascular adaptation during pregnancy impairs endothelial function and vascular resistance, contributing to complications such as pre-eclampsia (PE) and gestational hypertension (GH). Neprilysin (NEP), a protease involved in vascular regulation, has been linked to PE, but its role in endothelial function and vascular adaptation remains unclear. This pilot study investigates the associations between soluble neprilysin (sNEP) and markers of vascular and renal function in high-risk pregnancies without PE.

Disease-Associated Dopamine Receptor D2 Variants Exhibit Functional Consequences Depending on Different Heterotrimeric G-Protein Subunit Combinations.

Dopamine receptors (DRs) are G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) found in the central nervous system (CNS). DRs are essential for mediating various downstream signaling cascades and play a critical role in regulating the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway, which is involved in motor control. Recently, mutations in DRD2 (WT), p.

Biological Aging and Venous Thromboembolism: A Review of Telomeres and Beyond.

Although venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the third most common cardiovascular disease, and the risk of VTE increases sharply with advancing age, approximately 40% of VTE cases are currently classified as unprovoked, highlighting the importance of risk factor research. While chronological aging is associated with the risk of VTE, the association with biological aging remains unclear. Biological aging is highly complex, influenced by several dysregulated cellular and biochemical mechanisms.

Strategic Responses to Employee Well-Being Issues in VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) Conditions: Expanding the JD-R (Job Demands-Resources) Model with Job Crafting.

Current work environments, driven by globalization, demographic changes, and digitalization, demand substantial adaptation, which leads to decreased employee well-being. While occupational psychology research has identified supportive mechanisms, it often lacks a deepened understanding of how interventions function. This study aims to analyze the impacts of VUCA contexts and leadership behavior on job crafting, focusing on white-collar workers.

Intraspecific Morphometric Variation in a New Species of Thélohan 1892 (Cnidaria) from the South Atlantic Ocean: An Ecomorphological Study Using Geometric Morphometrics.

A new species of (Ceratomyxidae, Myxosporea) was found infecting the gall bladder of the Argentine croaker Berg 1895 (Sciaenidae, Perciformes) from the Argentine sea. Using an integrative taxonomic approach that combines morphological, bioecological, and molecular analyses, we provide evidence that clearly differentiates this species from known taxa and formally describe as a new species. This study is the first to apply landmark-based geometric morphometrics (GM) in myxozoan research, providing a detailed analysis of conspecific morphometric variation of ceratomyxid myxospores, examining their natural variation within and among different ceratomyxids infecting the gall bladder of .

Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Immunosenescence: Modulation Through Interventions and Lifestyle Changes.

Immunosenescence, the age-related decline in immune function, is a complex biological process with profound implications for health and longevity. This phenomenon, characterized by alterations in both innate and adaptive immunity, increases susceptibility to infections, reduces vaccine efficacy, and contributes to the development of age-related diseases. At the cellular level, immunosenescence manifests as decreased production of naive T and B cells, accumulation of memory and senescent cells, thymic involution, and dysregulated cytokine production.

Effect of High-Pressure Processing on Color, Texture and Volatile Profile During Sardine Refrigeration.

Extending sardine shelf life while maintaining their quality is challenging even with non-thermal technologies like high-pressure processing (HPP). This study examines the effects of HPP at 400 and 600 MPa for holding times of 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 min on fresh sardines during 14 days of cold storage.

From Traditional Typing to Genomic Precision: Whole-Genome Sequencing of Isolated from Refrigerated Foods in Chile.

Ready-to-eat (RTE) foods are the most common sources of transmission. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) enhances the investigation of foodborne outbreaks by enabling the tracking of pathogen sources and the prediction of genetic traits related to virulence, stress, and antimicrobial resistance, which benefit food safety management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of WGS in the typing of 16 strains isolated from refrigerated foods in Chile, highlighting its advantages in pathogen identification and the improvement of epidemiological surveillance and food safety.

Fit for the Future: An Assessment of the Sustainability Parameters of Liquid Dairy Product Packaging in the DACH Region and the Implications of Upcoming Regulatory Changes.

The European Union aims for climate neutrality by 2050 and has proposed the Packaging and Packing Waste Regulation (PPWR) to promote a circular economy, focusing on reducing packaging waste. In this context, a comprehensive sustainability assessment for liquid dairy product packaging, including beverage cartons, bottles and to-go cups, in the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) was conducted. The aim was to consider various ecological aspects of environmental impacts and circularity.

Parental perception of treatment options for mucopolysaccharidosis: a survey to bridge the gap for personalized medicine.

Background: Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) are a group of lysosomal storage diseases with substantial unmet medical needs-for both patients and caregivers. Approved therapies are limited, and the perception of investigative ones remains enigmatic.

Method: Using an innovative survey concept based on the discrete choice experiment method (DEC) with neuronopathic and non-neuronopathic patient scenarios, we aimed to evaluate how parents of children with MPS perceive different approved and innovative therapies.

Evidence of genetic determination of annual movement strategies in medium-sized raptors.

Most species of migrating birds use a combination of innate vector-based orientation programs and social information to facilitate accurate navigation during their life. A number of various interspecies hybridisations have been reported in birds. The traits of parents are expressed in hybrids in typical ways which are either intermediate, combined or heterotic.

In-situ probing of the Fischer-Tropsch reaction on Co single crystal surfaces up to 1 bar.

The surface chemistry of the Fischer-Tropsch catalytic reaction over Co has still several unknows. Here, we report an in-situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study of Co and Co( ), and in-situ high energy surface X-ray diffraction of Co during the Fischer-Tropsch reaction at 0.15 bar - 1 bar and 406 K - 548 K in a H/CO gas mixture.

The TLR7/9 adaptors TASL and TASL2 mediate IRF5-dependent antiviral responses and autoimmunity in mouse.

Endosomal nucleic acid sensing by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) is central to antimicrobial immunity and several autoimmune conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The innate immune adaptor TASL mediates, via the interaction with SLC15A4, the activation of IRF5 downstream of human TLR7, TLR8 and TLR9, but the pathophysiological functions of this axis remain unexplored. Here we show that SLC15A4 deficiency results in a selective block of TLR7/9-induced IRF5 activation, while loss of TASL leads to a strong but incomplete impairment, which depends on the cell type and TLR engaged.

Diagnostic Value of Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor-Targeted PET Imaging in Oncology: A Systematic Review.

Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), overexpressed in various cancers, is a promising target for positron emission tomography (PET). This systematic review investigated the diagnostic value of GRPR-targeted PET imaging in oncology. A systematic search was conducted on major medical databases until May 23, 2024.

Patient-reported outcomes in sarcopenia: An ICFSR task force report.

The International Conference on Frailty and Sarcopenia Research (ICFSR) Task Force convened in March 2024 to address patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) in the field of sarcopenia. PROMs are crucial to enhance healthcare services at both individual and societal levels. PROMs complement objective outcome measures by capturing insights that patients are best suited to judge.