Application and effectiveness of eHealth strategies for metabolic and bariatric surgery patients: A systematic review.

Objective: To date the application of eHealth strategies among adults and adolescents undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) has not been systematically reviewed. This study comprehensively examines eHealth intervention studies among MBS patients within the RE-AIM framework to assess reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance of these efforts.

Methods: A search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycNET and SCOPUS of original research relating to eHealth strategies for MBS patients published in peer-reviewed journals and revealed 38 published articles between 2011 and 2019.

Management of Ichthyosis: A Brief Review.

The ichthyoses, also termed the disorders of keratinization, are a heterogenous group of skin diseases in which a distinctive horny layer arises secondary to excessive transepidermal water loss. Although occasionally acquired, the majority of ichthyoses are inherited and can be pinpointed to characteristic genetic mutations. Management depends on disease severity and includes topical agents and lifestyle modifications with or without oral retinoids.

Strain-Dependent Effect of Capsule on Transmission and Persistence in an Infant Mouse Model of Group A Streptococcus Infection.

(group A [GAS]) is a human pathogen responsible for a wide range of diseases. Asymptomatic carriage of GAS in the human pharynx is commonplace and a potential reservoir for GAS transmission. Early studies showed that GAS transmission correlated with high bacterial burdens during the acute symptomatic phase of the disease.

BAZ2B haploinsufficiency as a cause of developmental delay, intellectual disability, and autism spectrum disorder.

The bromodomain adjacent to zinc finger 2B gene (BAZ2B) encodes a protein involved in chromatin remodeling. Loss of BAZ2B function has been postulated to cause neurodevelopmental disorders. To determine whether BAZ2B deficiency is likely to contribute to the pathogenesis of these disorders, we performed bioinformatics analyses that demonstrated a high level of functional convergence during fetal cortical development between BAZ2B and genes known to cause autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and neurodevelopmental disorder.

A framework for advancing our understanding of cancer-associated fibroblasts.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a key component of the tumour microenvironment with diverse functions, including matrix deposition and remodelling, extensive reciprocal signalling interactions with cancer cells and crosstalk with infiltrating leukocytes. As such, they are a potential target for optimizing therapeutic strategies against cancer. However, many challenges are present in ongoing attempts to modulate CAFs for therapeutic benefit.

Kommerell's Diverticulum With a Twist: A Case of Recurrent Wheeze in an 8-Year-Old Boy.

Kommerell's diverticulum is a rare, congenital aortic arch anomaly, usually associated with other vascular abnormalities. When present with a concurrent right-sided aortic arch and an aberrant subclavian artery, this triad can form a vascular ring that encompasses the trachea and esophagus. This anatomical variant is usually asymptomatic but can present with respiratory symptoms due to compression of the trachea.

Gestational diabetes and maternal obesity are associated with sex-specific changes in miRNA and target gene expression in the fetus.

Background/objectives: Pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes (GDM) or maternal obesity have been linked to the development of diabetes, obesity, and fatty liver disease later in life with sex-specific manifestations. Alterations in miRNA expression in offspring exposed to GDM and maternal obesity and effects on hepatic development are unknown. Here, we describe how exposure to maternal obesity in utero leads to sex-specific changes in miRNA and target gene expression in human fetal liver.

RNA sequencing-based transcriptome profiling of cardiac tissue implicates novel putative disease mechanisms in FLNC-associated arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy.

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) encompasses a group of inherited cardiomyopathies including arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) whose molecular disease mechanism is associated with dysregulation of the canonical WNT signalling pathway. Recent evidence indicates that ARVC and ACM caused by pathogenic variants in the FLNC gene encoding filamin C, a major cardiac structural protein, may have different molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis. We sought to identify dysregulated biological pathways in FLNC-associated ACM.

Unexpected relationships between frequency of antimicrobial resistance, disease phenotype and type in group A .

Despite universal susceptibility to β-lactams, resistance to second-line antimicrobials (e.g. erythromycin) is increasingly common among group A (GAS).

Altered brain connectivity in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) revealed using resting-state fMRI.

The circumstances surrounding SUDEP suggest autonomic or respiratory collapse, implying central failure of regulation or recovery. Characterisation of the communication among brain areas mediating such processes may shed light on mechanisms and noninvasively indicate risk. We used rs-fMRI to examine network properties among brain structures in people with epilepsy who suffered SUDEP (n = 8) over an 8-year follow-up period, compared with matched high- and low-risk subjects (n = 16/group) who did not suffer SUDEP during that period, and a group of healthy controls (n = 16).

Skin, Hair and Nail Supplements: An Evidence-Based Approach.

Dermatology supplements, often marketed as “skin, hair, and nail” supplements, are becoming increasingly popular. However, many consumers lack an understanding of the science of dietary supplements or the specifics of the supplement industry. While certain supplements at the right dose in the right population may prove beneficial, the evidence is sparse for many supplements.

Intraocular Metastasis in Unilateral Multifocal Uveal Melanoma Without Melanocytosis or Germline BAP1 Mutations.

Importance: There has been speculation on the pathogenesis of unilateral multifocal uveal melanoma, but there remains no convincing explanation. Genetic analysis suggests that unilateral multifocal uveal melanoma may represent intraocular metastasis with increased risk of systemic metastasis.

Objective: To evaluate the pathogenesis of unilateral multifocal uveal melanoma.

Povidone-iodine Irrigation for Pediatric Perforated Appendicitis May Be Protective: A Bayesian Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: A randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the hypothesis that povidone-iodine (PVI) irrigation versus no irrigation (NI) reduces postoperative intra-abdominal abscess (IAA) in children with perforated appendicitis.

Methods: A 100 patient pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted. Consecutive patients with acute perforated appendicitis were randomized (1:1) to PVI or NI from April 2016 to March 2017 and followed for 1 year.

Quantitative HLA-class-II/factor VIII (FVIII) peptidomic variation in dendritic cells correlates with the immunogenic potential of therapeutic FVIII proteins in hemophilia A.

Background: Plasma-derived (pd) or recombinant (r) therapeutic factor VIII proteins (FVIIIs) are infused to arrest/prevent bleeding in patients with hemophilia A (PWHA). However, FVIIIs are neutralized if anti-FVIII-antibodies (inhibitors) develop. Accumulating evidence suggests that pdFVIIIs with von Willebrand factor (VWF) are less immunogenic than rFVIIIs and that distinct rFVIIIs are differentially immunogenic.

An Update on Minimally Invasive Surgery for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Techniques, Risks, and Efficacy.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms in the elderly male population, has conventionally treated by transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). During recent years, newer minimally invasive therapies (MITs) have entered the playing field and challenged TURP with their convenience, lack of sexual side effects, and overall safety. The present paper provides an update on the more heavily studied and most recent MITs, analyzing their mechanism of action, tolerability, and efficacy in clinical practice.

Cohort Effects in Progression Rate on Cognitive and Functional Measures in an Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Cohort.

Background: Accurate prediction of Alzheimer's disease (AD) cognitive and functional outcomes in clinical research requires consistent underlying rates of change over time.

Objective: To examine cohort effects in AD progression rate over five years of follow-up using a clinical database of probable AD patients.

Methods: Baseline characteristics of three cohorts enrolled from 1995-1999, 2000-2004, and 2005-2009 were compared using ANOVA and chi-square tests.

Genome-wide meta-analysis of SNP and antihypertensive medication interactions on left ventricular traits in African Americans.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy affects up to 43% of African Americans (AAs). Antihypertensive treatment reduces LV mass (LVM). However, interindividual variation in LV traits in response to antihypertensive treatments exists.

Combined LDL and VLDL Electronegativity Correlates with Coronary Heart Disease Risk in Asymptomatic Individuals.

The most electronegative constituents of human plasma LDL (i.e., L5) and VLDL (i.