Buruli Ulcer Transmission: Environmental Pathways and Implications for Dermatologic Care.

Buruli ulcer (BU) is a necrotizing skin and soft tissue disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans that is common in hot and humid climates. Mycobacterium ulcerans is a nontuberculous mycobacterium and ubiquitous acid-fast gram-positive bacillus known to thrive in aquatic environments and water insects. The mode of transmission to humans is poorly understood and varies by geography.

Organ-specific microenvironments drive divergent T cell evolution in acute graft-versus-host disease.

Tissue-specific T cell immune responses play a critical role in maintaining organ health but can also drive immune pathology during both autoimmunity and alloimmunity. The mechanisms controlling intratissue T cell programming remain unclear. Here, we leveraged a nonhuman primate model of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to probe the biological underpinnings of tissue-specific alloimmune disease using a comprehensive systems immunology approach including multiparameter flow cytometry, population-based transcriptional profiling, and multiplexed single-cell RNA sequencing and TCR sequencing.

Early-onset sleep alterations found in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are ameliorated by orexin antagonist in mouse models.

Sleep alterations have been described in several neurodegenerative diseases yet are currently poorly characterized in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study investigates sleep macroarchitecture and related hypothalamic signaling disruptions in ALS. Using polysomnography, we found that both patients with ALS as well as asymptomatic and mutation carriers exhibited increased wakefulness and reduced non-rapid eye movement sleep.

AGER-dependent macropinocytosis drives resistance to KRAS-G12D-targeted therapy in advanced pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) driven by the mutation presents a formidable health challenge because of limited treatment options. MRTX1133 is a highly selective and first-in-class KRAS-G12D inhibitor under clinical development. Here, we report that the advanced glycosylation end product-specific receptor (AGER) plays a key role in mediating MRTX1133 resistance in PDAC cells.

Epstein-Barr virus-driven cardiolipin synthesis sustains metabolic remodeling during B cell transformation.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects nearly 90% of adults globally and is linked to over 200,000 annual cancer cases. Immunocompromised individuals from conditions such as primary immune disorders, HIV, or posttransplant immunosuppressive therapies are particularly vulnerable because of EBV's transformative capability. EBV remodels B cell metabolism to support energy, biosynthetic precursors, and redox equivalents necessary for transformation.

One-dimensional nanosonosensitizer boosted multiple branches of immune responses against MHC-deficient immune-evasive urologic tumor.

Cancer immunotherapies rely on CD8 cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTLs) in recognition and eradication of tumor cells via antigens presented on major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules. However, we observe MHC-I deficiency in human and murine urologic tumors, posing daunting challenges for successful immunotherapy. We herein report an unprecedented nanosonosensitizer of one-dimensional bamboo-like multisegmented manganese dioxide@manganese-bismuth vanadate (BMMBV) to boost multiple branches of immune responses targeting MHC-I-deficient tumors.

Early MRI Can Predict the Indication for Surgery in Brachial Plexus Birth Injury: Results of the NAPTIME Study.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has not been routinely used for infants with brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI); instead, the decision to operate is based on the trajectory of clinical recovery by 6 months of age. The aim of this study was to develop an MRI protocol that can be performed without sedation or contrast in order to identify infants who would benefit from surgery at an earlier age than the age at which that decision could be made clinically.

Methods: This prospective multicenter NAPTIME (Non-Anesthetized Plexus Technique for Infant MRI Evaluation) study included infants aged 28 to 120 days with BPBI from 3 tertiary care centers.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Orthopedic Device-Related Pressure Injuries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: As orthopedic trauma increases, the resultant use of orthopedic devices and associated pressure injuries has increased.

Objective: This study aims to systematically evaluate the incidence and risk factors for orthopedic device-related pressure injuries.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted by searching PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, ClNAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and Chinese BioMedical Literature Database from their inception until November 30, 2023.

Acellular Dermal Matrices in Reconstructive Pediatric Complex Lower Limb Trauma: An Observational Study.

Background: Contemporary research has shown that acellular dermal matrices can benefit adult lower extremity traumatic injuries; however, its use in children has not been explored.

Objective: This study aims to explore the use of acellular dermal matrices in pediatric complex lower extremity trauma.

Methods: This single-center retrospective observational cohort study of children with complex lower extremity trauma treated with Pelnac™, commercial acellular dermal matrices, was conducted at a tertiary hospital in South Africa from 2010 to 2017.

Calcination-Induced Tight Nano-Heterointerface for Highly Effective Eradication of Rib Fracture-Related Infection by Near-Infrared Irradiation.

Rib fracture-related infection is a challenging complication of thoracic trauma due to the difficulty of treating it with antibiotics alone and the need for a second operation to remove the infected fixator and sterilize the surrounding infected tissue. In this study, inspired by the photocatalytic performance of and ion release from silver-based materials, including AgPO and AgS, a hybrid AgPO-AgS heterojunction was prepared based on anion exchange and a one-step calcination process to design a nonantibiotic coating aimed at preventing and treating rib fracture-related infection with short-term 808 nm near-infrared irradiation. Calcination at 250 °C enhanced the inductive effect of the phosphate radical and led to the formation of a tight nanoheterogeneous interface between AgPO and AgS, thereby promoting interfacial electron transfer and reducing the recombination of photogenerated carriers.

The multifaceted role of the inferior colliculus in sensory prediction, reward processing, and decision-making.

The inferior colliculus (IC) has traditionally been regarded as an important relay in the auditory pathway, primarily involved in relaying auditory information from the brainstem to the thalamus. However, this study uncovers the multifaceted role of the IC in bridging auditory processing, sensory prediction, and reward prediction. Through extracellular recordings in monkeys engaged in a sound duration-based deviation detection task, we observed a 'climbing effect' in neuronal firing rates, indicative of an enhanced response over sound sequences linked to sensory prediction rather than reward anticipation.

Islet Autoantibody Screening Throughout Australia Using In-Home Blood Spot Sampling: 2-Year Outcomes of Type1Screen.

Objective: Type1Screen offers islet autoantibody testing to Australians with a family history of type 1 diabetes (T1D) with the dual aims of preventing diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and enabling use of disease-modifying therapy. We describe screening and monitoring outcomes 2 years after implementing in-home capillary blood spot sampling.

Research Design And Methods: Data from 2,064 participants who registered between July 2022 and June 2024 were analyzed: 1,507 and 557 chose blood spot and venipuncture screening respectively.

Scrub typhus association with autoimmune biomarkers and clinical implications.

Background: Scrub typhus, a disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, triggers systemic vasculitis and is prevalent in Eastern and Southern Asia. This study aimed to uncover the relationship between scrub typhus and autoimmune responses, focusing on antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) and the implications of elevated ANA titers during infection.

Method: Data from a total of 139 patients diagnosed with scrub typhus and 30 healthy controls were retrospectively analyzed through serum samples to assess the levels of ANAs and related autoantibodies.

The landscape of family medicine in India - A cross-sectional survey study.

Family medicine was recognized as a distinct specialty in India in the early 1980s, but it is at an early stage of implementation. There are few training programs, and little is known about family physicians' training, perceptions, and current practices. This paper describes the findings from the first national survey of family medicine in India.

Inotodiol induces hepatocellular carcinoma apoptosis by activation of MAPK/ERK pathway.

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) has a high mortality and morbidity rate and seriously jeopardizes human life. Chemicals and chemotherapeutic agents have been experiencing problems such as side effects and drug resistance in the treatment of HCC, which cannot meet the needs of clinical treatment. Therefore, finding novel low-toxicity and high-efficiency anti-hepatocellular carcinoma drugs and exploring their mechanisms of action have become the current problems to be solved in the treatment of HCC.

European ILD registry algorithm for self-assessment in interstitial lung diseases (eurILDreg ASA-ILD).

Background And Aims: Predicting progression and prognosis in Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILD), especially Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Progressive Pulmonary Fibrosis (PPF), remains a challenge. Integrating patient-centered measurements is essential for earlier and safer detection of disease progression. Home monitoring through e-health technologies, such as spirometry and oximetry connected to smartphone applications, holds promise for early detection of ILD progression or acute exacerbations, enabling timely therapeutic interventions.

Characterization of language abilities and semantic networks in very preterm children at school-age.

It has been widely assessed that very preterm children (<32 weeks gestational age) present language and memory impairments compared with full-term children. However, differences in their underlying semantic memory structure have not been studied yet. Nevertheless, the way concepts are learned and organized across development relates to children's capacities in retrieving and using information later.

Sphingolipid metabolism orchestrates establishment of the hair follicle stem cell compartment.

Sphingolipids serve as building blocks of membranes to ensure subcellular compartmentalization and facilitate intercellular communication. How cell type-specific lipid compositions are achieved and what is their functional significance in tissue morphogenesis and maintenance has remained unclear. Here, we identify a stem cell-specific role for ceramide synthase 4 (CerS4) in orchestrating fate decisions in skin epidermis.

Effects of intrathecal administration of sodium nitroprusside and nicardipine on cerebral pial microcirculation, cortical tissue oxygenation, and electrocortical activity in the early post-resuscitation period in a porcine cardiac arrest model.

Recent studies suggested intrathecal vasodilator administration as a therapy to mitigate post-ischemic cerebral hypoperfusion following cardiac arrest. We examined the effects of two commonly used intrathecal vasodilators, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and nicardipine, on cerebral pial microcirculation, cortical tissue oxygen tension (PctO2), and electrocortical activity in the early post-resuscitation period using a porcine model of cardiac arrest. Thirty pigs were resuscitated after 14 min of untreated cardiac arrest.

Development and implementation of an electronic health record system for use in humanitarian emergencies, disaster response, and conflict zones.

Humanitarian medical response to natural and human-made disasters can be complicated by high clinician, staff, and patient turnover. While electronic medical records are being scaled up globally, their use remains limited in humanitarian response settings. The Fast Electronic Medical Record (fEMR) system is an open-source electronic health record system specifically designed for use in resource-limited settings and humanitarian crises.

The impact of anticoagulant-related bleeding on quality of life: Development of a novel measure based on perspectives from older adults.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) and atrial fibrillation (AF) disproportionately affect older adults, who are at increased risk of bleeding from treatment with anticoagulant therapy. The impact of bleeding on older adults' quality of life (QoL) is poorly understood due to the lack of a validated measure of their experience. This study's purpose is to describe the first evidence-based steps in developing a new condition-specific patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for the effect of anticoagulant-related bleeding on older adults' QoL.

Decreased SynMuv B gene activity in response to viral infection leads to activation of the antiviral RNAi pathway in C. elegans.

RNA interference (RNAi) mediates antiviral defense in many eukaryotes. Caenorhabditis elegans mutants that disable RNAi are more sensitive to viral infection. Many mutants that enhance RNAi have also been identified; these mutations may reveal genes that are normally down-regulated in antiviral defense.

Relationships between multivitamins, blood biochemistry markers, and BMC and BMD based on RF: A cross-sectional and population-based study of NHANES, 2017-2018.

Background: Previous studies have separately suggested a possible association between the vitamin exposure, blood biochemical indicators, and bone density. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between vitamin exposure serum concentrations, blood biochemical indicator serum concentrations, and BMC and BMD using the NHANES 2017-2018 nutrient survey data. This population-based cross-sectional study aimed to explore these associations.