Mastoid approach for local drug delivery to the inner ear for treating hearing loss.

Hearing loss is a prevalent disability worldwide. Dexamethasone (Dex) is commonly used to treat hearing loss, administered either systemically or locally. However, targeted delivery of Dex to the inner ear remains challenging, which limits its therapeutic efficacy.

Assessing Pubic Symphysis Evolution in Guinea Pigs (Cavia procellus): Insights From Computer Tomography on Primiparous and Non-Breeding Females.

In guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), dystocia is a common occurrence. Several factors have been identified in the literature, including the ossification of the pubic symphysis following failure to breed before 9-12 months of age. The objective of this study was to investigate the ossification of pubic symphysis and its evolution during growth in two groups of females.

The role and value of counsellors in the treatment journeys of people with tuberculosis and their families: Qualitative insights from the South Fly District of Papua New Guinea.

Combined education and counselling can contribute to person-centred care for tuberculosis (TB), improving uptake, adherence, and outcomes of treatment for TB disease and TB infection. Though strongly recommended by the World Health Organization for all people diagnosed with TB, education and counselling is not widely implemented in TB programs around the world. In 2016, a pilot TB education and counselling program, delivered by trained professionals and peers, was initiated to support people on TB treatment in the South Fly District of Papua New Guinea.

Guinea pig spermatozoa adhesion to an immobilized fibronectin matrix alters their physiology and increases their survival†.

Isthmus is the region of the oviduct considered a reservoir for spermatozoa, where they are retained and released synchronously with ovulation. Integrins mediate this interaction, and it is suggested that they regulate the viability and capacitation of spermatozoa. Spermatozoa retained in the oviductal epithelial cells show specific characteristics: normal morphology, intact acrosome and plasma membrane, no DNA fragmentation, and low levels of intracellular Ca2+, and protein phosphorylation at Tyr.

Assessing the burden of submicroscopic Plasmodium infections in a pre-elimination malaria setting in sub-Saharan Africa, Guinea-Bissau.

Background: Submicroscopic Plasmodium infections can be a source of persistent malaria transmission. The aim of this study was to assess their frequency, distribution, morbidity and associated factors in a pre-elimination malaria setting in sub-Saharan Africa, Guinea-Bissau, where the Plasmodium falciparum is the predominant Plasmodium species.

Methods: Dried fingerprick whole blood samples from 601 participants in the 2017 national, household-based, cross-sectional survey to estimate malaria prevalence were subjected to DNA extraction.

Evaluating the effect of BCG vaccination for non-specific protection from infection in senior citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomised clinical trial.

Objectives: The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine may induce non-specific protection against unrelated infections. We tested the effect of BCG on the risk of infections among Danish senior citizens.

Methods: Single-blinded randomised controlled trial including 1676 volunteers >65 years.

Wealth-related inequalities in the utilisation of modern contraceptives in Papua New Guinea: evidence from the 2016-2018 Demographic and Health Survey data.

Objective: To examine the wealth-related disparities in modern contraceptives use among women in Papua New Guinea.

Design: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the 2016-2018 Papua New Guinea Demographic and Health Survey data. We included 11 618 women of reproductive age in our final analysis.

Lipopolysaccharide aggravating anaphylactoid reactions caused by traditional Chinese Medicine injections via p38/ERK/NF-κB signaling pathways.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Currently, adverse reactions limit the development of traditional Chinese medicine injections (TCMI), and severe anaphylactoid shock is one of the serious adverse reactions, which presents a significant challenge. The presence of abnormal inflammatory mediators before the administration of TCMI will most likely result in severe anaphylactoid reactions. Not only that, the lack of clinically relevant safety evaluations impedes the widespread use of TCMI, and there is an urgent need for studies to reveal the mechanisms of anaphylactoid shock caused by TCMI.

Restoring CFTR function with Orkambi decreases the severity of alcohol-induced acute pancreatitis.

Heavy alcohol intake is one of the most common causes of acute pancreatitis (AP). We have previously shown that ethanol (EtOH) decreases the expression and activity of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), which plays a key role in alcohol-induced AP development. The prescription drug, Orkambi (a combination of ivacaftor and lumacaftor) can correct impaired CFTR function and expression in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.

Tomographic and ultrasound evaluation of the thyroid gland in pet guinea pigs.

There has been increasing interest in the literature on primary thyroid diseases in guinea pigs, which are believed to be underdiagnosed. This study describes the size and characteristics of the thyroid gland on ultrasound (US) and CT examinations in the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) without evidence of thyroid pathology and examines the possible use of US as a routine examination for thyroid diseases. This prospective and anatomical study included 20 guinea pigs that underwent CT for dental pathologies and US for thyroid gland (TG) examination.

Adrenal Disease in Small Mammals.

Adrenal gland disease has been described as a rare disease in pet rabbits and rodents. Hyperadrenocorticism with excessive secretion of corticosteroids is most commonly observed in guinea pigs and hamsters, with dermatologic signs similar to those seen in dogs. Diagnosis is based on clinical signs, diagnostic imaging such as abdominal ultrasound, and determination of the blood hormone concentrations.

Parental assigned chromosomes for cultivated cacao provides insights into genetic architecture underlying resistance to vascular streak dieback.

Diseases of Theobroma cacao L. (Malvaceae) disrupt cocoa bean supply and economically impact growers. Vascular streak dieback (VSD), caused by Ceratobasidium theobromae, is a new encounter disease of cacao currently contained to southeast Asia and Melanesia.

Dried blood spot improves global access to aquaporin-4-IgG testing for neuromyelitis optica.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of dried blood spot (DBS) compared with conventional serum Aquaporin-4-IgG (AQP4-IgG) testing.

Methods: Prospective multicenter diagnostic study was conducted between April 2018 and October 2023 across medical centers in the United States, Uganda, and the Republic of Guinea. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) patients and controls collected blood on filter paper cards along with concurrent serum samples.