Detection of paediatric skull fractures using POCUS.

A shortcut review of the literature was conducted to examine the sensitivity and specificity of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in detecting paediatric skull fractures. A total of 162 publications were screened by title and abstract, 13 studies underwent full text review, and after review of bibliographies of meta-analyses and systematic reviews, a total of 6 articles were included. Details about the author, date of publication, country of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes (skull fracture), results and study limitations were tabulated.

Machine learning-derived asthma and allergy trajectories in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Numerous studies have characterised trajectories of asthma and allergy in children using machine learning, but with different techniques and mixed findings. The present work aimed to summarise the evidence and critically appraise the methodology.

Methods: 10 databases were searched.

Safety of steroids in severe community-acquired pneumonia.

The systemic use of corticosteroids for patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP) remains controversial in clinical practice, particularly in terms of the safety profile of these drugs. This narrative review aims to analyse the available literature data concerning the safety of short-term steroid use in the treatment of sCAP, while also highlighting potential future research directions. Several trials and meta-analyses have evaluated corticosteroid therapy as an adjuvant treatment for sCAP, yielding heterogeneous results regarding its efficacy and safety.

Cell cycle progression of under-replicated cells.

Cell cycle checkpoints are the regulatory mechanisms that secure the strict order of cellular events for cell division that ensure genome integrity. It has been proposed that mitosis initiation depends on the completion of DNA replication, which must be tightly controlled to guarantee genome duplication. Contrary to these conventional hypotheses, we showed here that cells were able to enter mitosis without completion of DNA replication.

Investigating the origins of the mutational signatures in cancer.

Most of the risk factors associated with chronic and complex diseases, such as cancer, stem from exogenous and endogenous exposures experienced throughout an individual's life, collectively known as the exposome. These exposures can modify DNA, which can subsequently lead to the somatic mutations found in all normal and tumor tissues. Understanding the precise origins of specific somatic mutations has been challenging due to multitude of DNA adducts (i.

Sodium alginate-crosslinked montmorillonite nanosheets hydrogel for efficient gallium recovery.

An efficient adsorbent for Ga(III) recovery was developed by applying the geochemical principles of Ga mineralization, using Al-rich clay minerals with a natural affinity for Ga as the raw material. Sodium alginate (SA) facilitated the cross-linked assembly of montmorillonite nanosheets (MMTNS), forming a three-dimensional structured hydrogel. This was achieved through electrostatic interactions between -OH groups on the edges of MMTNS and -COO groups in SA, as well as the complexation of Ca and -COO groups.

Thermoformed, thermostable, waterproof and mechanically robust cellulose-based bioplastics enabled by dynamically reversible thia-Michael reaction.

Cellulose is a renewable biodegradable polymer derived from abundant natural resources. Substituting petroleum-based polymers with cellulose-based bioplastics is an effective way to alleviate environmental issues like resource depletion and white pollution. However, challenges such as poor thermostability, hard to thermoform and water sensitivity seriously hinder the fabrication and use of cellulose-based bioplastics.

Usefulness of differential somatic cell count for udder health monitoring: association of differential somatic cell count and somatic cell score with quarter-level milk yield and milk components.

Mastitis is the most common disease affecting dairy cattle and is associated with substantial milk loss. Somatic cell count (SCC) has been widely used as an indicator of udder inflammation (e.g.

Milk feeding and calf housing practices on British Columbia dairy farms.

Decades of research have helped inform practices on how to care for calves, but little is known about how well these practices are adopted on commercial dairy farms. The primary aim of this study was to describe rearing practices of dairy calves in British Columbia, Canada. Measures of calf growth are sometimes used to assess success in calf rearing, so a secondary aim was to describe methods used to assess calf growth on these farms.

Virus-mediated delivery of single-chain antibody targeting TDP-43 protects against neuropathology, cognitive impairment and motor deficit caused by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion.

Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion induced by permanent unilateral common carotid artery occlusion in mice was recently found to induce an age-dependent formation of insoluble cytoplasmic TDP-43 aggregates reminiscent of pathological changes found in human vascular dementia. In this model, the gradual deregulation of TDP-43 homeostasis in cortical neurons was associated with marked cognitive and motor deficits. To target the TDP-43-mediated toxicity in this model, we generated an adeno-associated virus vector encoding a single-chain antibody against TDP-43, called scFv-E6, designed for pan-neuronal transduction following intravenous administration.

HEPATOCYTE GROWTH FACTOR FOR WALKING PERFORMANCE IN PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE.

Introduction: VM202 is a plasmid encoding two isoforms of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). In preclinical studies, HGF stimulated angiogenesis and muscle regeneration. This preliminary clinical trial tested the hypothesis that VM202 injections in gastrocnemius muscle would improve walking performance in people with mild to moderate and symptomatic lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Downregulation and inhibition of TRPM2 calcium channel prevent oxidative stress-induced endothelial dysfunction in the EA.hy926 endothelial cells model - preliminary studies.

Purpose: Proper functioning of the endothelial barrier is crucial for cardiovascular system homeostasis. Oxidative stress can lead to endothelial dysfunction (ED), damaging lipids, proteins, and DNA. Reactive oxygen species also increase cytoplasmic Ca levels, activating transient receptor potential melastatin 2 (TRPM2), a membrane non-selective calcium channel.

Mechanoreceptor Piezo1 channel-Mediated Interleukin Expression in Conjunctival Epithelial Cells: Linking Mechanical Stress to Ocular Inflammation.

Purpose: Mechanical stress on the ocular surface, such as from eye-rubbing, has been reported to lead to inflammation and various ocular conditions. We hypothesized that the mechanosensitive Piezo1 channel in the conjunctival epithelium contributes to the inflammatory response at the ocular surface after receiving mechanical stimuli.

Methods: Human conjunctival epithelial cells (HConjECs) were treated with Yoda1, a Piezo1-specific agonist, and various allergens to measure cytokine expression levels using qRT-PCR.

Analysis of selected nutrients and contaminants in fish oil supplements for dogs.

Fish oil supplements for dogs are used therapeutically for various clinical conditions. However, products may be variable in quality, potency, and stability. The objective of this study was to analyze eleven canine fish oil supplements from two time points (2010 and 2021) for the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) arochlors, minerals, and vitamins A and D, and to compare their compositions to label claims.

Fish models to explore epigenetic determinants of hypoxia-tolerance.

The occurrence of environmental hypoxia in freshwater and marine aquatic systems has increased over the last century and is predicted to further increase with climate change. As members of the largest extant vertebrate group, freshwater fishes, and to a much lesser extent marine fishes, are vulnerable to increased occurrence of hypoxia. This is important as fishes render important ecosystem services and have important cultural and economic roles.

An early precursor CD8 T cell that adapts to acute or chronic viral infection.

This study examines the origin and differentiation of stem-like CD8+ T cells that are essential for sustained T cell immunity in chronic viral infections and cancer and also play a key role in PD-1 directed immunotherapy. These PD-1+ TCF-1+ TOX+ stem-like CD8+ T cells, also referred to as precursors of exhausted T cells, have a distinct program that allows them to adapt to chronic antigen stimulation. Using the mouse model of chronic LCMV infection we found that virus specific stem-like CD8+ T cells are generated early (day 5) during chronic infection suggesting that this crucial fate commitment occurs irrespective of infection outcome.

Crypt density and recruited enhancers underlie intestinal tumour initiation.

Oncogenic mutations that drive colorectal cancer can be present in healthy intestines for long periods without overt consequence. Mutation of Adenomatous polyposis coli (Apc), the most common initiating event in conventional adenomas, activates Wnt signalling, hence conferring fitness on mutant intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Apc mutations may occur in ISCs that arose by routine self-renewal or by dedifferentiation of their progeny.

Clinical outcomes of stage IIA/IIB seminoma treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy: should regional therapy be considered the preferred treatment approach?

Purpose: The optimal management of patients with de novo clinical stage IIA/B (CSIIA/B) or relapsed CSIIA/B (Rel-CSIIA/B) seminoma remains debated due to a lack of randomized evidence. Herein, we sought to evaluate outcomes following radiotherapy and chemotherapy in this setting.

Materials And Methods: A prospectively maintained single-institutional database was retrospectively queried for patients diagnosed between 1995-2016 with de novo or Rel-CSIIA/B.

Predicted Mortality and Cardiology Follow-Up Following Heart Failure Hospitalizations Among Veterans Health Administration Patients.

Background: Guidelines recommend timely follow-up with a cardiology specialist for patients hospitalized with heart failure (HF), but it is unknown whether the timeliness of specialty cardiovascular care post-discharge correlates with clinical risk.

Objective: Assess the association between estimated mortality risk and post-HF hospitalization cardiology follow-up.

Methods: In a cohort of Veterans hospitalized with HF in acute care VA hospitals between 1/1/2018 and 9/15/2022, we estimated the association of mortality risk at discharge with post-discharge cardiology encounters via logistic regression.

Novel high-content and open-source image analysis tools for profiling mitochondrial morphology in neurological cell models.

Mitochondria undergo dynamic morphological changes depending on cellular cues, stress, genetic factors, or disease. The structural complexity and disease-relevance of mitochondria have stimulated efforts to generate image analysis tools for describing mitochondrial morphology for therapeutic development. Using high-content analysis, we measured multiple morphological parameters and employed unbiased feature clustering to identify the most robust pair of texture metrics that described mitochondrial state.

Characterizing the urobiome and associated metabolic profiles during acute rejection in renal transplant patients: A pilot study.

Characteristic alterations in the urinary microbiome, or urobiome, are associated with renal transplant pathology. To date, there has been no direct study of the urobiome during acute allograft rejection. The goal of this study was to determine if unique urobiome alterations are present during acute rejection in renal transplant recipients.

Early Results of an Infant Model of Orthotopic Cardiac Xenotransplantation.

Objective: Genetically engineered porcine hearts may have an application for infants in need of a bridge to cardiac allotransplantation. The current animal model that resulted in 2 human applications has been validated in adult non-human primates only. We sought to create an infant animal model of life sustaining cardiac xenotransplantation to understand limitations specific to this age group.

Targeting N-Myc in neuroblastoma with selective Aurora kinase A degraders.

The N-Myc transcription factor, encoded by MYCN, is a mechanistically validated, yet challenging, target for neuroblastoma (NB) therapy development. In normal neuronal progenitors, N-Myc undergoes rapid degradation, while, in MYCN-amplified NB cells, Aurora kinase A (Aurora-A) binds to and stabilizes N-Myc, resulting in elevated protein levels. Here, we demonstrate that targeted protein degradation of Aurora-A decreases N-Myc levels.