Evaluation of Retinal Capillary Density using OCT Angiography according to Acute Ischemic Stroke Etiologies - A Matched Case -Control Study.

Purpose: To investigate retinal microvascular changes in ischemic stroke patients using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) and assess these alterations based on stroke etiology.

Methods: Case-control study conducted at Montpellier University Hospital from May 2021 to March 2022 (IRB: 202000607). Retinal vascular features were compared between strokes patients and age- and sex- matched controls.

A templex-based study of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation dynamics in idealized chaotic models.

Significant changes in a system's dynamics can be understood through modifications in the topological structure of its flow in phase space. In the Earth's climate system, such changes are often referred to as tipping points. One of the large-scale components that may pass a tipping point is the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation.

Digital Transformation of Rheumatology Care in Germany: Cross-Sectional National Survey.

Background: In recent years, health care has undergone a rapid and unprecedented digital transformation. In many fields of specialty care, such as rheumatology, this shift is driven by the growing number of patients and limited resources, leading to increased use of digital health technologies (DHTs) to maintain high-quality clinical care. Previous studies examined user acceptance of individual DHTs in rheumatology, such as telemedicine, video consultations, and mHealth.

Efficient Biochemical Method for Characterizing and Classifying Related Amyloidogenic Peptides.

Amyloidosis is a group of proteinopathies characterized by the systemic or organ-specific deposition of proteins in the form of amyloid fibers. Nearly 40 proteins play a role in these pathologies, and the structures of the associated fibers are beginning to be determined by Cryo-EM. However, the molecular events underlying the process, such as fiber nucleation and elongation, are poorly understood, which impairs developing efficient therapies.

Transforming literature screening: The emerging role of large language models in systematic reviews.

Systematic reviews (SR) synthesize evidence-based medical literature, but they involve labor-intensive manual article screening. Large language models (LLMs) can select relevant literature, but their quality and efficacy are still being determined compared to humans. We evaluated the overlap between title- and abstract-based selected articles of 18 different LLMs and human-selected articles for three SR.

Organic matter and biomarkers: Why are samples required?

The search for evidence of past prebiotic or biotic activity on Mars will be enhanced by the return of samples to Earth laboratories. While impressive analytical feats have been accomplished by in situ missions on the red planet, accessing the capabilities of Earth's global laboratories will present a step change in data acquisition. Highly diagnostic markers of past life are biomarkers, organic molecules whose architecture can be attributed to once living organisms.

What we can learn about Mars from the magnetism of returned samples.

The Red Planet is a magnetic planet. The Martian crust contains strong magnetization from a core dynamo that likely was active during the Noachian period when the surface may have been habitable. The evolution of the dynamo may have played a central role in the evolution of the early atmosphere and the planet's transition to the current cold and dry state.

Proton Accumulation Modulated Surface Potential in Proton Conducting Ceramics Revealed by Near-Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy.

Proton conducting electrochemical cells (PCECs) are efficient and clean intermediate-temperature energy conversion devices. The proton concentration across the PCECs is often nonuniform, and characterizing the distribution of proton concentration can help to locate the position of rate-limiting reactions. However, the determination of the local proton concentration under operating conditions remains challenging.

The helmeted hornbill casque is reinforced by a bundle of exceptionally thick, rod-like trabeculae.

Among hornbill birds, the critically endangered helmeted hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil) is notable for its casque (a bulbous beak protrusion) being filled with trabeculae and fronted by a very thick keratin layer. Casque function is debated but appears central to aerial jousting, where birds (typically males) collide casques at high speeds in a mid-flight display that is audible for more than 100 m. We characterized the structural relationship between the skull and casque anatomy using X-ray microtomography and quantitative trabecular network analysis to examine how the casque sustains extreme impact.

Proteomics- and metabolomics-based analysis of the regulation of germination in Norway maple and sycamore embryonic axes.

Norway maple and sycamore belong to the Acer genus and produce desiccation-tolerant and desiccation-sensitive seeds, respectively. We investigated the seed germination process at the imbibed and germinated stages using metabolomic and proteomic approaches to determine why sycamore seeds germinate earlier and are more successful at establishing seedlings than Norway maple seeds under controlled conditions. Embryonic axes and embryonic axes with protruded radicles were analyzed at the imbibed and germinated stages, respectively.

Malian field isolates provide insight into Plasmodium malariae intra-erythrocytic development and invasion.

Plasmodium malariae is the third most prevalent human malaria parasite species and contributes significantly to morbidity. Nevertheless, our comprehension of this parasite's biology remains limited, primarily due to its frequent co-infections with other species and the lack of a continuous in vitro culture system. To effectively combat and eliminate this overlooked parasite, it is imperative to acquire a better understanding of this species.

Toxoplasma gondii from Gabonese forest, Central Africa: First report of an African wild strain.

The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous and highly prevalent parasite that can theoretically infect all warm-blooded vertebrates. In humans, toxoplasmosis causes infections in both immunodeficient and immunocompetent patients, congenital toxoplasmosis, and ocular lesions. These manifestations have different degrees of severity.

PRDM9 drives the location and rapid evolution of recombination hotspots in salmonid fish.

In many eukaryotes, meiotic recombination occurs preferentially at discrete sites, called recombination hotspots. In various lineages, recombination hotspots are located in regions with promoter-like features and are evolutionarily stable. Conversely, in some mammals, hotspots are driven by PRDM9 that targets recombination away from promoters.

Learning predictive signatures of HLA type from T-cell repertoires.

T cells recognize a wide range of pathogens using surface receptors that interact directly with peptides presented on major histocompatibility complexes (MHC) encoded by the HLA loci in humans. Understanding the association between T cell receptors (TCR) and HLA alleles is an important step towards predicting TCR-antigen specificity from sequences. Here we analyze the TCR alpha and beta repertoires of large cohorts of HLA-typed donors to systematically infer such associations, by looking for overrepresentation of TCRs in individuals with a common allele.

Respiratory muscle endurance training among patients with chronic diseases: A systematic review of available evidence.

This systematic review summarizes the available evidence on respiratory muscle endurance training involving voluntary isocapnic hyperpnoea among patients with chronic diseases. It includes both randomized and non-randomized controlled trials implementing this exercise training modality performed either alone or in combination with other interventions. It was conducted using the following databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), Embase, CINAHL, CENTRAL, Cochrane and ReeDOC.

Quality of care offered by health care retail markets for medication abortion self-management: Findings from states in Nigeria and India.

Dispensing of misoprostol and mifepristone by pharmacies and chemist shops for self-management of medication abortion (MA) fills a crucial gap in settings where abortion care by trained health professionals is not readily available. This promising service delivery pathway, endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), is hindered by concerns of poor-quality care. Simulated clients collected data on MA pill dispensing practices from 92 pharmacies and chemist shops in three Nigerian states and 127 pharmacies in an Indian state that we have anonymized.

Association of socio-demographic characteristics, comorbidities, lifestyle habits, and saliva parameters with dental caries in adults with obesity.

Objective: To describe the oral health status of patients with obesity and to explore the socio-demographic characteristics, comorbidities, lifestyle habits (tobacco, alcohol, sweet/acidic diet), and saliva parameters most associated with the dental caries experience.  Material and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 204 patients' data with obesity attending a therapeutic education programme. Caries experience (number of decayed, missing, and filled teeth [DMFT]), periodontal status, oral hygiene, occlusal tooth wear, masticatory inefficiency, and saliva parameters were recorded.

Aminoglycoside tolerance in engages translational reprogramming associated with queuosine tRNA modification.

Tgt is the enzyme modifying the guanine (G) in tRNAs with GUN anticodon to queuosine (Q). is required for optimal growth of in the presence of sub-lethal aminoglycoside concentrations. We further explored here the role of the Q34 in the efficiency of codon decoding upon tobramycin exposure.

Small upconversion-ruthenium nanohybrids for cancer theranostics.

Photoresponsive drug delivery systems have great potential for improved cancer therapy. However, most of the currently available drug-delivery nanosystems are relatively large and require light excitation with low tissue penetration. Here, we designed a near infrared responsive drug delivery system by loading [Ru(terpyridine)(dipyridophenazine)(HO)] (Ru(tpy)DPPZ) in azobenzene-modified mesoporous silica coated NaGdF:Nd/Yb/Tm upconversion nanoparticles (azo-mSiO-UCNPs).

Association of radiation-induced normal tissue toxicity with a high genetic risk for rheumatoid arthritis.

Purpose: Overlapping genes are involved with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and DNA repair pathways. Therefore, we hypothesised that patients with a high polygenic risk score (PRS) for RA will have an increased risk of radiotherapy (RT) toxicity given the involvement of DNA repair.

Methods: Primary analysis was performed on 1494 prostate cancer, 483 lung cancer and 1820 breast cancer patients assessed for development of RT toxicity in the REQUITE study.

Aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of thalassemia-associated osteoporosis of the adult.

Aim: This review aims to overview factors contributing to TAO development and addresses the targeted diagnostic work-up and treatment management in adult thalassemic patients.

Results: Osteoporosis management in Thalassemia is challenging because several factors contributing to its pathogenesis should be considered and controlled starting from child- hood. A multidisciplinary approach is crucial.

Effects of thermopriming and bacteria-mediated heat-stress acclimation strategies on seed yield and quality criteria in Brassica napus cv Aviso and Camelina sativa cv Calena.

The effects of intense heat during the reproductive phase of two Brassica species-B. napus and C. sativa-could be alleviated by a prior gradual increase exposure and/or PGPR inoculation.

Recurrences and rechallenges of suspected drugs in epidermal necrolysis patients.

Background: Epidermal necrolysis (EN) is a rare and severe condition, characterized by a diffuse skin and mucosal detachment and mainly induced by drugs. Literature is scarce regarding the rate of recurrences and culprit drug re-exposure.

Objectives: To assess the rate of EN recurrences as well as high notoriety drugs re-exposures in patients with EN.