Assessing Surgical Competency Among Fellows in Vitreoretinal Surgery: A Survey of Fellowship Program Directors and Fellows.

Purpose: We surveyed vitreoretinal (VR) fellowship program directors (PDs) to elucidate how they assess surgical competency among VR fellows. In addition, we also surveyed fellowship program graduates for the years 2022 and 2023 regarding assessment metrics and tools used during VR fellowship training.

Design: Web-based, cross-sectional descriptive study.

Endocrinologists' Acceptability and Implementation of Hemoglobin A1c Targets among Adults with Type 1 Diabetes.

Aims: Attainment of the A1C target of ≤7.0% is consistently low among those living with type 1 diabetes (T1D). We evaluated endocrinologists' acceptability and implementation of A1C targets.

Persistent pollutant exposure impacts metabolomic profiles in polar bears and ringed seals from the High Arctic and Hudson Bay, Canada.

Metabolomics measures low molecular weight endogenous metabolites and changes linked to contaminant exposure in biota. Few studies have explored the relationship between metabolomics and contaminants in Arctic wildlife. We analyzed 239 endogenous metabolites and ∼150 persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including total mercury (THg), in the liver of polar bears and their ringed seal prey harvested from low Canadian Arctic (western Hudson Bay; WHB) and high Arctic (HA) locations during 2015-2016.

Differences in Sensorimotor Integration, Cervical Sensorimotor Control, and Cognitive-Motor Dual Tasking Costs in Chronic Non-Specific Neck Pain Patients with High vs. Low Catastrophizing Tendencies Compared to Healthy Controls.

Chronic non-specific neck pain (CNSNP) is a common condition and its relationship to the pain catastrophizing construct in terms of sensorimotor functions and dual task performance is not fully understood. We aimed to investigate the differences in sensorimotor integration, cervical sensorimotor control, and cognitive-motor dual tasking abilities between CNSNP patients (> 3 months) with high versus low catastrophizing tendencies and healthy controls. Ninety participants were recruited, 30 asymptomatic controls, and 60 patients with CNSNP; 30 scoring high (> 75 percentile) and 30 scoring low (< 25th percentile) on the pain catastrophizing scale (PCS).

Outcomes after medical treatment for primary aldosteronism: an international consensus and analysis of treatment response in an international cohort.

Background: Primary aldosteronism can be treated medically but there is no standardised method to evaluate treatment outcomes. We aimed to develop criteria for assessing the outcomes of targeted medical treatment of primary aldosteronism, analyse outcomes across an international cohort, and identify factors associated with a complete treatment response.

Methods: An international panel of 31 primary aldosteronism experts used the Delphi method to reach consensus on the definition of complete, partial, or absent biochemical and clinical outcomes of medical treatment of primary aldosteronism.

Estimating the epidemiological and economic impact of providing nutritional care for tuberculosis-affected households across India: a modelling study.

Background: Approximately 20% of global tuberculosis incidence is attributable to undernutrition, increasing to more than a third in India. Targeting nutritional interventions to tuberculosis-affected households is a policy priority, but understanding of epidemiological and economic impacts is limited. We aimed to estimate the population-level epidemiological and economic effect of such an intervention.

Discovery of a DNA methylation profile in individuals with Sifrim-Hitz-Weiss syndrome.

Pathogenic heterozygous variants in CHD4 cause Sifrim-Hitz-Weiss syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with brain anomalies, heart defects, macrocephaly, hypogonadism, and additional features with variable expressivity. Most individuals have non-recurrent missense variants, complicating variant interpretation. A few were reported with truncating variants, and their role in disease is unclear.

Selective activation of FZD2 and FZD7 reveals non-redundant function during mesoderm differentiation.

During gastrulation, Wnt-β-catenin signaling dictates lineage bifurcation generating different mesoderm cell types. However, the specific role of Wnt receptors in mesoderm specification remains elusive. Using selective Frizzled (FZD) and LRP5/6 antibody-based agonists, we examined FZD receptors' function during directed mesoderm differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs).

mTor limits autophagy to facilitate cell volume expansion and rapid wound repair in Drosophila embryos.

Embryonic wounds repair rapidly, with no inflammation or scarring. Embryonic wound healing is driven by collective cell movements facilitated by the increase in the volume of the cells adjacent to the wound. The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTor) complex 1 (TORC1) is associated with cell growth.

First-in-human trial of atrial fibrillation ablation using real time tissue optical assessment to predict pulsed field lesion durability.

Background: Loss of bipolar electrograms immediately after pulsed field ablation (PFA) makes lesion durability assessment challenging.

Objective: The aim of this trial (NCT06700226) was to evaluate a novel ablation system that can optically predict lesion durability by detecting structural changes in the tissue during ablation.

Methods: Patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation underwent pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using PFA (AblaView®, MedLumics).

A scoping review of studies reporting biosecurity practices in small and backyard farms raising livestock or poultry in developed countries, 2000-2022.

Over the past two decades, there have been growing concerns around small and backyard farms in developed countries due to the potential risk they pose in introducing and spreading infectious disease agents. Ensuring high levels of biosecurity on these farms, through the maintenance of practices that prevent the introduction and transmission of disease agents, is essential in mitigating this risk. The aim of this study was to investigate, through a scoping review, the practices considered in articles reporting biosecurity in small and backyard farms raising livestock or poultry in developed countries, and how their implementation was examined.

Investigating macro marine litter and beach cleanliness along Southern Vietnam beaches.

Plastic contamination is a major issue for marine ecosystems, with macro-litter posing a growing threat globally. This study assesses macro-marine litter on Vung Tau beaches, Southern Vietnam, providing baseline data for marine litter pollution and identifying critical action plans for plastic control. Survey results showed litter density ranging from 0.

Evaluating sources of mercury in Canada's Mackenzie River.

Arctic rivers may be the largest net sources of mercury (Hg) to the Arctic Ocean, yet riverine sources of Hg remain poorly characterized compared to atmospheric processes. This article reviews the current state of knowledge on Hg inputs to the Mackenzie River and Valley in Northern Canada from six point and non-point sources. Point sources include the locations of mines, fossil fuel extraction facilities, and retrogressive permafrost thaw slumps.

Dual controls of vapour pressure deficit and soil moisture on photosynthesis in a restored temperate bog.

Despite only covering ~3 % of the land mass, peatlands store more carbon (C) per unit area than any other ecosystem. This is due to the discrepancy between C fixed by the plants (Gross primary productivity (GPP)) and decomposition. However, this C is vulnerable to frequent, severe droughts and changes in the peatland microclimate.

Biological testing unification for hemodialysis membranes evaluation: A step towards standardization.

Current hemodialysis treatments can cause adverse effects, many of which are linked to the membranes used in the process. These issues are being addressed through new materials and technologies, making it urgent to establish minimum guidelines for evaluating such membranes. This review proposes standardizing the biological tests and variables to evaluate the performance of new membranes, aiming to replicate hemodialysis conditions closely.

Nano-fibrous biopolymers as building blocks for gel networks: Interactions, characterization, and applications.

Biopolymers derived from natural resources are highly abundant, biodegradable, and biocompatible, making them promising candidates to replace non-renewable fossil fuels and mitigate environmental and health impacts. Nano-fibrous biopolymers possessing advantages of biopolymers entangle with each other through inter-/intra-molecular interactions, serving as ideal building blocks for gel construction. These biopolymer nanofibers often synergize with other nano-building blocks to enhance gels with desirable functions and eco-friendliness across various applications in biomedical, environmental, and energy sectors.

Split tendon transfer of the posterior tibialis for spastic equinovarus foot deformity: Does tendon routing impact post-operative ankle kinematics?

Background: Split tendon transfer of the posterior tibialis (SPOTT) is a surgical procedure in which the split posterior tibialis tendon is transferred posterior to the fibula (PO) with insertion on the peroneus brevis tendon to rebalance the forces across the hindfoot. Routing of the split tendon through the interosseous membrane (IO) is a variation with the potential benefit of augmenting ankle dorsiflexion in swing.

Research Question: Does IO routing improve ankle dorsiflexion in swing and/or varus in stance compared to PO routing?

Methods: A retrospective chart review was completed to identify forty-two patients who underwent a SPOTT procedure for equinovarus foot deformity.

Concurrent validity of skin-based motion capture systems in measuring dynamic lumbar intervertebral angles.

Spine kinematics are commonly measured by external sensors such as motion capture and accelerometers. However, these skin-based measures cannot directly capture intervertebral motion of the lumbar spine. To date, research in this area has focused on the estimation of intervertebral kinematics using static trials but no study has analyzed agreement throughout the dynamic range of motion.

Duck Tembusu virus induced mitophagy in vacuolate spermatogenic cells is mediated by PINK1-Parkin pathway.

As a significant emerging and re-emerging pathogen in China, the widely spread of Duck Tembusu virus (DTMUV) caused enormous economic losses to poultry industry. On account of DTMUV diseases' main symptoms on haemorrhagic oophoritis, intensive attentions were focused on female reproductive organ. Nevertheless, the DTMUV infection of sperm and testis manifested that testis was an important vector for vertical transmission of DTMUV.

Synthesis and functional screening of novel inhibitors targeting the HDAC6 zinc finger ubiquitin-binding domain.

Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is a promising target for treating neurodegenerative disorders, several cancer types and viral infections. Unique among HDACs, the HDAC6 isoform possesses a zinc finger ubiquitin-binding domain (UBD) crucial for managing misfolded protein aggregates and facilitating viral infection. HDAC6 binds aggregated polyubiquitinated proteins through its UBD, mediating their transport to the aggresome and subsequent removal via autophagy.

Quality of warfarin management following transfer from an anticoagulation clinic to primary care.

Background: Advances in alternative oral anticoagulants has reduced use and clinician comfort with warfarin. Our specialty anticoagulation clinic (AC) operates at maximum capacity and must transfer patients to accept new referrals.

Objectives: To compare time within therapeutic range (TTR) during 6 months of AC care versus following transfer to primary care for a minimum of 6 months and to a maximum of 24 months.

Detection of epileptogenic zones in people with epilepsy using optimized EEG-fMRI.

Purpose: Concurrent electroencephalography (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have been used to assist in the presurgical localization of seizure foci in people with epilepsy. Our study aimed to examine the clinical feasibility of an optimized concurrent EEG-fMRI protocol.

Methods: The optimized protocol employed a fast-fMRI sequence (sampling rate = 10 Hz) with a spare arrangement, which allowed a time window of 1.

Sudden Vision Loss: A Diagnostic Approach.

Vision loss affects more than 7 million Americans and impacts quality of life, independence, social functioning, and overall health. Common and dangerous conditions causing sudden vision loss include acute angle-closure glaucoma, retinal detachment, retinal artery occlusion, giant cell arteritis, and optic neuritis. Acute angle-closure glaucoma features ocular pain, headache, and nausea; treatment includes pilocarpine eye drops, oral or intravenous acetazolamide, and intravenous mannitol.