Geographic origin and evolution of dengue virus serotypes 1 and 3 circulating in Africa.

Despite the increasing burden of dengue in Kenya and Africa, the introduction and expansion of the virus in the region remain poorly understood. The objective of this study is to examine the genetic diversity and evolutionary histories of dengue virus (DENV) serotypes 1 and 3 in Kenya and contextualize their circulation within circulation dynamics in the broader African region. Viral RNA was extracted from samples collected from a cohort of febrile patients recruited at clinical sites in Kenya from 2013 to 2022.

The topography of nullomer-emerging mutations and their relevance to human disease.

Nullomers are short DNA sequences (11-18 base pairs) that are absent from a genome; however, they can emerge due to mutations. Here, we characterize all possible putative human nullomer-emerging single base pair mutations, population variants and disease-causing mutations. We find that the primary determinants of nullomer emergence in the human genome are the presence of CpG dinucleotides and methylated cytosines.

Achilles tendon morphology adaptations in chronic post-stroke hemiparesis: a comparative analysis with neurologically intact controls.

Introduction: In individuals with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis, slow walking speed is a significant concern related to inadequate propulsion of the paretic limb. However, an overlooked factor is this population's altered morphology of the Achilles tendon, which may compromise the propulsive forces by the paretic limb. This study aimed to explore changes in Achilles tendon morphology, including gross thickness and intra-tendinous collagen fiber bundle organization, following stroke-induced brain lesions.

Novel p.Arg534del Mutation and MTHFR C667T Polymorphism in Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) With Autism Spectrum Phenotype: A Case Report.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) presents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability, developmental delay, seizures, hypotonia during infancy, joint laxity, behavioral issues, and characteristic facial features. The predominant mechanism is due to CGG trinucleotide repeat expansion of more than 200 repeats in the 5'UTR (untranslated region) of (Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1) causing promoter methylation and transcriptional silencing. However, not all patients presenting with the characteristic phenotype and point/frameshift mutations with deletions in have been described in the literature.

Same-Day Access for Head and Neck Cancer: Effect on Patient Outcome and Quality-Related Benchmarks.

Delays in cancer treatment are detrimental across nearly every disease site in oncology including head and neck cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of same-day access for patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer referred for radiation therapy consultation. From March 2021 to March 2023, a total of 50 consecutive patients who completed curative treatment were matched to a control subject who did not use the same-day initiative based on age, gender, histology, performance status, primary tumor site, stage, p16 status, treatment, and smoking history.

Shifting Paradigms: A Deep Dive Into Public Perceptions of Gender-affirming Surgery.

Background: Given the growing demand for gender-affirming surgery (GAS) in recent years, it is essential to explore the public perceptions of GAS. Understanding the public's opinions and attitudes toward GAS will provide valuable insights for shaping educational initiatives to enhance public knowledge and awareness.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used the Prolific Academic platform to distribute an online survey among adult participants residing in the United States in August 2023.

Vibrational and Electronic Spectroscopy of 2-Cyanoindene Cations.

2-Cyanoindene is one of the few specific aromatic or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) molecules positively identified in Taurus molecular cloud-1 (TMC-1), a cold, dense molecular cloud that is considered the nearest star-forming region to Earth. We report cryogenic mid-infrared (550-3200 cm) and visible (16,500-20,000 cm, over the ← electronic transition) spectra of 2-cyanoindene radical cations (2CNI), measured using messenger tagging (He and Ne) photodissociation spectroscopy. The infrared spectra reveal the prominence of anharmonic couplings, particularly over the fingerprint region.

Single-Crystal Elasticity of α-Hydroquinone-An Analogue for Organic Planetary Materials.

In this study, we measured the single-crystal elasticity of α-hydroquinone at ambient conditions using Brillouin spectroscopy to assess the feasibility of this technique for studying the mechanical properties of organic ices in the outer solar system. In this study, α-hydroquinone serves as an ambient temperature analogue for low-temperature organic ices on Titan and other solar system bodies. We found that a satisfactory Brillouin spectrum can be obtained in less than 5 min of experimental time with negligible damage to the sample.

VHA Support for Home Health Agency Staff and Patients During Natural Disasters.

Background: Home health agencies (HHAs) provide vital community-based services for older adults. Under-resourced HHAs that are disconnected from broader community emergency planning efforts may struggle to maintain services during emergencies. As climate-related disasters become more prevalent, HHA services are increasingly at risk, and policymakers have focused on the services they provide to older adults.

Burnt Plastic (Pyroplastic) from the M/V Ship Fire and Plastic Spill Contain Compounds That Activate Endocrine and Metabolism-Related Human and Fish Transcription Factors.

In May 2021, the M/V ship fire disaster led to the largest maritime spill of resin pellets (nurdles) and burnt plastic (pyroplastic). Field samples collected from beaches in Sri Lanka nearest to the ship comprised nurdles and pieces of pyroplastic. Three years later, the toxicity of the spilled material remains unresolved.

Recurrent Hypoglycemia in a Patient with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Nonislet cell tumor hypoglycemia (NICTH) is a rare but serious complication of malignancy. Various causes of this type of hypoglycemia include excessive tumor burden resulting in destruction of the liver or adrenal glands, production of autoantibodies against insulin and tumoral production of incompletely processed IGF-2.

Objectives: Objective of this case report is to explore pathogenic mechanisms for hypoglycemia in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and evidence-based treatment options.

Outcomes and predictors of unplanned intensive care unit admission for pediatric trauma patients.

Background: Unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) admission (UIA) is associated with increased morbidity in adult trauma patients, however, is not well studied in pediatric trauma patients (PTPs). We sought to identify predictors of UIA, hypothesizing PTPs with UIA have increased odds of mortality.

Methods: The 2017-2019 Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) database was queried for PTPs ≤16-years-old admitted to non-ICU level of care.

Effective semi-fed-batch saccharification with high lignocellulose loading using co-culture of and strain A9.

Maximizing saccharification efficiency of lignocellulose and minimizing the production costs associated with enzyme requirements are crucial for sustainable biofuel production. This study presents a novel semi-fed-batch saccharification method that uses a co-culture of and strain A9 to efficiently break down high solid-loading lignocellulosic biomass without the need for any external enzymes. This method optimizes saccharification efficiency and enhances glucose production from alkaline-treated rice straw, a representative lignocellulosic biomass.

Interfacial Properties of Gold and Cobalt Oxyhydroxide in Plasmon-Mediated Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Water electrolysis is a green method of storing electrical energy in the chemical bonds of high-energy hydrogen gas (H). However, the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) requires a significant kinetic overpotential, limiting the electrolysis rate. Recently, plasmonic gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) have been introduced to improve charge transfer at the interface between the OER electrocatalysts and the electrolyte under light illumination.

Artificial intelligence models assisting physicians in quantifying pancreatic necrosis in acute pancreatitis.

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by inflammation of the pancreas, which can lead to complications such as pancreatic necrosis. The modified computed tomography severity index (MCTSI) is a widely used tool for assessing the severity of AP, particularly the extent of pancreatic necrosis. The accurate and timely assessment of the necrosis volume is crucial in guiding treatment decisions and improving patient outcomes.

Association of neighborhood-level socioeconomic disadvantage and Life's Essential 8 in early pregnancy.

We examined whether neighborhood-level socioeconomic disadvantage per the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) was associated with maternal cardiovascular health (CVH) in early pregnancy per the American Heart Association Life's Essential 8 (LE8). This is a cross-sectional analysis from the prospective Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study-Monitoring Mothers-to-Be Heart Health Study (nuMoM2b-HHS) cohort. The exposure was the ADI in tertiles (T) from least (T1) to most (T3) socioeconomic disadvantage.

Diabetes disparities in diabetes health care access and outcomes during the Covid-19 Pandemic in the United States.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of COVID-19 on hospitalization and consequent diabetes-related complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with diabetes. Interrupted time series analysis (ITS) was used to analyze the monthly trends in diabetes-related hospitalization rates, including short- and long-term complications, 1-year before and after onset of COVID-19.

Alcohol consumption and allergic diseases: Mendelian randomization evidence from China.

Background: The prevalence of allergic diseases in China has risen significantly over the past decades, affecting the quality of life for approximately 40% of the population.

Objectives: This study aimed to integrate survey and genomic data to explore the potential causal relationship between alcohol consumption and allergic diseases.

Method: In collaboration with a leading genetic testing company in China, we collected data on 3,041 participants via an online survey between December 2018 and October 2019.

Meeting report - Alpine desmosome disease meeting 2024: advances and emerging topics in desmosomes and related diseases.

Desmosomes are adhesive cell contacts abundant in tissues exposed to mechanical strain, such as the stratified and simple epithelia of the epidermis and mucous membranes, as well as the myocardium. Besides their role in mechanical cell cohesion, desmosomes also modulate pathways important for tissue differentiation, wound healing and immune responses. Dysfunctional desmosomes, resulting from pathogenic variants in genes encoding desmosomal components, autoantibodies targeting desmosomal adhesion molecules or inflammation, cause the life-threatening diseases arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy and pemphigus and contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Using NMR Spectroscopy to Evaluate Metal-Ligand Bond Covalency for the f Elements.

ConspectusUnderstanding f element-ligand covalency is at the center of efforts to design new separations schemes for spent nuclear fuel, and is therefore of signficant fundamental and practical importance. Considerable effort has been invested into quantifying covalency in f element-ligand bonding. Over the past decade, numerous studies have employed a variety of techniques to study covalency, including XANES, EPR, and optical spectroscopies, as well as X-ray crystallography.

Inference of the demographic histories and selective effects of human gut commensal microbiota over the course of human history.

Despite the importance of gut commensal microbiota to human health, there is little knowledge about their evolutionary histories, including their demographic histories and distributions of fitness effects (DFE) of mutations. Here, we infer the demographic histories and DFEs for amino-acid changing mutations of 39 of the most prevalent and abundant commensal gut microbial species found in Westernized individuals over timescales exceeding human generations. Some species display contractions in population size and others expansions, with several of these events coinciding with several key historical moments in human history.

Dynamic mechanisms for membrane skeleton transitions.

The plasma membrane and the underlying skeleton form a protective barrier for eukaryotic cells. The molecular players forming this complex composite material constantly rearrange under mechanical stress. One of those molecules, spectrin, is ubiquitous in the membrane skeleton and linked by short actin filaments.