Seizure outcomes after resection of temporal encephalocele in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Temporal encephaloceles (TEs) are seen in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE); yet they are also common incidental findings. Variability in institutional pre-surgical epilepsy practices and interpretation of epileptogenic network localization contributes to bias in existing epilepsy cohorts with TE, and therefore the relevance of TE in DRE remains controversial. We sought to estimate effect sizes and sample sizes necessary to demonstrate clinically relevant improvements in seizure outcome with different surgical approaches.

Continuous Near-Bed Movements of Microplastics in Open Channel Flows: Statistical Analysis.

The ubiquitous distribution of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments is linked to their transport in rivers and streams. However, the specific mechanism of bedload microplastic (MP) transport, notably their stochastic behaviors, remains an underexplored area. To investigate this, particle tracking velocimetry was employed to examine the continuous near-bed movements of four types of MPs under nine setups with different experimental conditions in a laboratory flume, with an emphasis on their streamwise transport.

Prolonged Preservation of up to 24h at 10°C does not Impact Outcomes after Lung Transplantation.

Objective: To determine the impact of prolonged storage of donor lungs at 10°C of up to 24h on outcome after lung transplantation.

Background: An increasing body of evidence suggests 10°C as the optimal storage temperature for donor lungs. A recent study showed that cold ischemic times can be safely expanded to >12h when lungs are stored at 10°C.

Enhancing Droplet Spreading on a Hydrophobic Plant Surface by Surfactant/Cellulose Nanocrystal Complexes.

A surfactant is an efficient and common additive used to enhance the spreading of droplets on hydrophobic surfaces. However, a high surfactant concentration is required to achieve the desired performance, resulting in environmental pollution and increased costs. Additionally, the pesticide loading capacity of surfactants at low concentrations (below their critical micelle concentrations) is a concern.

High maternal pre-pregnancy BMI is associated with increased offspring peer-relationship problems at 5 years.

Background: Peer relationships are an important aspect of child development that are often overlooked. Maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) may influence peer relationships through intrauterine mechanisms affecting fetal neurodevelopment or through postnatal mechanisms including social discrimination of the obese mother/child. This study aimed to determine the relationship between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and child peer-relationship problems around 5 years old, including preterm and term-born children.

Beyond Stocks and Surges: The Demographic Impact of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population in the United States.

Stock estimates of the US unauthorized foreign-born population are routinely published, but less is known about this population's dynamics. Using a series of residual estimates based on 2000 Census and 2001-2022 American Community Survey (ACS), I estimate the components of change for the unauthorized immigrant population from 2000 to 2022 by region and country of origin. Further, I develop and present novel measures of expected duration in unauthorized status and demographic impact of unauthorized entries (i.

Infinite Mixture Chaining: An Efficiency-Based Framework for the Dynamic Construction of Word Meaning.

The lexicon is an evolving symbolic system that expresses an unbounded set of emerging meanings with a limited vocabulary. As a result, words often extend to new meanings. Decades of research have suggested that word meaning extension is non-arbitrary, and recent work formalizes this process as cognitive models of semantic chaining whereby emerging meanings link to existing ones that are semantically close.

Usefulness of polymerase chain reaction tests in Chagas disease studies.

The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test is a highly sensitive, specific, and rapid diagnostic tool for Chagas disease. Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan flagellate and is endemic to the Americas. While conventional serological methods are still used in the diagnosis of Chagas disease, they are being gradually replaced by molecular methods like PCR.

Immunomodulatory properties of extracellular vesicles containing the Spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.

Extracellular vesicles released by the protozoan parasite display immunomodulatory properties towards mammalian immune cells. In this study, we have evaluated the potential of extracellular vesicles derived from the non-pathogenic protozoan towards the development of a vaccine adjuvant. As a proof of concept, we expressed in a codon-optimized SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein fused to the secreted acid phosphatase signal peptide in the N-terminal and to a 6×-His stretch in the C-terminal.

Valvular Heart Disease-Related Mortality Between Middle- and High-Income Countries During 2000 to 2019.

Background: Valvular heart disease (VHD) management has evolved rapidly in recent decades, but disparities in health care access persist among countries with varying socioeconomic backgrounds.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate global mortality trends from VHD and assess the difference between middle- and high-income countries.

Methods: We obtained mortality data from the World Health Organization Mortality Database for VHD and its subgroups (rheumatic valvular disease [RVD], infective endocarditis [IE], aortic stenosis [AS], and mitral regurgitation [MR]) from 2000 to 2019.

Global Disparities in Outcomes of Pregnant Individuals With Rheumatic Heart Disease: A Scoping Review.

Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains as 1 of the major contributors to indirect pregnancy-related mortality and morbidity worldwide and disproportionately affects marginalized populations.

Objectives: In this scoping review, the authors sought to explore the socioeconomic, cultural, and health care access-related causes of global disparities in outcomes of pregnancy among individuals with RHD.

Methods: We performed a literature search of all studies published between January 1, 1990, and January 1, 2022, that investigated causes for disparate outcomes in pregnant individuals with RHD.

Systemic Sirolimus Therapy Is Associated With Reduced Intervention Frequency in Pulmonary Vein Stenosis.

Background: Early clinical outcomes data for adjunctive systemic sirolimus therapy (SST) for moderate to severe pediatric pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) are promising but limited.

Objectives: The authors aimed to characterize a cohort of patients treated with SST to determine if SST was associated with a reduction in frequency of PVS interventions.

Methods: Medical records of 45 patients with PVS treated with SST for ≥1 month from 2015 to 2022 were retrospectively reviewed.

Promotion of Cardiovascular Health in Africa: The Alliance for Medical Research in Africa (AMedRA) Expert Panel.

This proposed scientific statement is focused on providing new insights regarding challenges and opportunities for cardiovascular health (CVH) promotion in Africa. The statement includes an overview of the current state of CVH in Africa, with a particular interest in the cardiometabolic risk factors and their evaluation through metrics. The statement also explains the main principles of primordial prevention, its relevance in reducing noncommunicable disease and the different strategies that have been effective worldwide.

Metal Mobilization from Thawing Permafrost Is an Emergent Risk to Water Resources.

Metals are ubiquitous in Earth's Critical Zone and play key roles in ecosystem function, human health, and water security. They are essential nutrients at low concentrations, yet some metals are toxic at a high dose. Permafrost thaw substantially alters all the physical and chemical processes governing metal mobility, including water movement and solute transport and (bio)geochemical interactions involving water, organic matter, minerals, and microbes.

Gravity-Driven Membrane Filtration with Passive Hydraulic Fouling Control for Drinking Water Treatment: Demonstration of Long-Term Performance at Full Scale.

The present study evaluated the performance of a full-scale gravity-driven membrane filtration system with passive hydraulic fouling control (PGDMF) for drinking water treatment in a small community over a 3-year period. The PGDMF system consistently met the design flow and regulated water quality/performance parameters (i.e.

Safety and Efficacy of Metformin for Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension. A U.S-Based Real-World Data Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study.

Introduction: Managing idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is challenging due to limited treatment options. This study evaluates metformin as a potential therapy for IIH, examining its impact on disease outcomes and safety.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using the TriNetX database, covering data from 2009 to August 2024.

Role of neck dissections in the management of carotid body tumors.

Objective: Carotid body tumors (CBTs) are rare neoplasms of the paraganglia at the carotid bifurcation. While typically benign, CBTs occasionally exhibit malignancy, metastasizing to nearby lymph nodes. Histopathologic analysis alone is insufficient to confirm malignancy, requiring metastases to non-neuroendocrine tissue for a definitive diagnosis.

Mapping the 3D genome architecture.

The spatial organization of the genome plays a critical role in regulating gene expression, cellular differentiation, and genome stability. This review provides an in-depth examination of the methodologies, computational tools, and frameworks developed to map the three-dimensional (3D) architecture of the genome, focusing on both ligation-based and ligation-free techniques. We also explore the limitations of these methods, including biases introduced by restriction enzyme digestion and ligation inefficiencies, and compare them to more recent ligation-free approaches such as Genome Architecture Mapping (GAM) and Split-Pool Recognition of Interactions by Tag Extension (SPRITE).

Fibromyalgia syndrome-a bodily distress disorder/somatic symptom disorder?

Introduction: The debate addressing the classification of chronic widespread pain as a physical disorder (fibromyalgia syndrome) [FMS] or a somatoform disorder according to psychiatric classification systems has continued for decades.

Objectives: The review aims to line out the new perspectives introduced by the 11th version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD 11) of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Methods: Critical review of the classification criteria of fibromyalgia syndrome and bodily distress disorder in ICD 11.

Inattention, academic underachievement, and depressive symptoms: uncovering environmental and genetic pathways from middle to late childhood.

Introduction: School underachievement has been shown to mediate the association between inattention and depressive symptoms in middle childhood. However, is it not clear whether these sequential associations are underpinned by genetic and environmental pathways, and the extent to which associated disruptive behaviors, such as hyperactivity/impulsivity, and peer relation difficulties partly account for these associations.

Methods: The present study used a longitudinal study of twins assessed from Kindergarten to Grade 6 to address these questions using multivariate biometric modeling.

Barriers to timely identification of bipolar disorder in youth: a multidimensional perspective.

Bipolar disorder (BD) in youth often goes unrecognized and therefore untreated. However, little is known about pathways to treatment of youth with BD and factors that influence the time taken for each stage of these pathways. In this article, we use the conceptual framework by Scott and colleagues called the Model of Pathways to Treatment as a foundation to explore the components of delay in the diagnosis and treatment of youth with BD.