Re-evaluating the gender gap: a cross-sectional analysis of accepted American Academy of Neurology annual meeting abstracts in 2020 and 2021.

Background And Objective: Prior studies reveal that invited speaker panels, editorial boards, authors of practice guidelines, and senior authors of published articles are disproportionately male in the neurology field. We aimed to analyze a gender gap in authorship of accepted abstracts to the American Academy of Neurology annual meetings in 2020 and 2021.

Design/methods: This is a cross-sectional study evaluating the proportions of female first and senior abstract authors in 2020 and 2021.

Myeloablative autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation resets the B cell repertoire to a more naïve state in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: Myeloablative autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) was recently demonstrated to provide significant benefit over cyclophosphamide (CYC) in the treatment of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) in the Scleroderma: Cyclophosphamide or Transplantation (SCOT) trial. As dysregulation of the B cell compartment has previously been described in dcSSc, we sought to gain insight into the effects of myeloablative autologous HSCT as compared with CYC.

Methods: We sequenced the peripheral blood immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) repertoires in patients with dcSSc enrolled in the SCOT trial.

Why Do Some Patients Have Severe Sacroiliac Disease But No Syndesmophytes in Ankylosing Spondylitis? Data From a Nested Case-Control Study.

Objective: Sacroiliac (SI) joint and spinal inflammation are characteristic of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), but some patients with AS have been identified who have discordant radiographic disease. We studied an AS subgroup with long-standing disease and fused SI joints. We identified factors associated with discrepant degrees of radiographic damage between the SI joints and spine.

Needs assessment for patient-centered education and outcome metrics in robotic surgery.

Background: From clinical experience, many patients undergoing robotic assisted surgery (RAS) have a poor understanding of the technology. To ensure informed consent and appropriate expectations, a needs assessment for patient-centered education and outcome metrics in RAS is warranted. Our goal was to perform an assessment of patient understanding, comfort with robotic technology, and ability to obtain critical information from their surgeon when undergoing RAS.

Adenosine metabolized from extracellular ATP promotes type 2 immunity through triggering AAR signaling in intestinal epithelial cells.

Intestinal nematode parasites can cross the epithelial barrier, causing tissue damage and release of danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that may promote host protective type 2 immunity. We investigate whether adenosine binding to the A adenosine receptor (AAR) on intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) plays an important role. Specific blockade of IEC AAR inhibits the host protective memory response to the enteric helminth, Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri (Hpb), including disruption of granuloma development at the host-parasite interface.

Stem cell transplantation for systemic sclerosis.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by systemic inflammation, fibrosis, vascular injury, reduced quality of life, and limited treatment options. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has emerged as a potential intervention for severe SSc refractory to conventional treatment.

Objectives: To assess the benefits and harms of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for the treatment of systemic sclerosis (specifically, non-selective myeloablative HSCT versus cyclophosphamide; selective myeloablative HSCT versus cyclophosphamide; non-selective non-myeloablative HSCT versus cyclophosphamide).

Vorinostat Combined with Busulfan, Fludarabine, and Clofarabine Conditioning Regimen for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Acute Leukemia: Long-Term Study Outcomes.

Conditioning regimens play a major role in determining disease outcomes following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The use of i.v.

Learning by Exposure in the Visual System.

It is increasingly being understood that perceptual learning involves different types of plasticity. Thus, whereas the practice-based improvement in the ability to perform specific tasks is believed to rely on top-down plasticity, the capacity of sensory systems to passively adapt to the stimuli they are exposed to is believed to rely on bottom-up plasticity. However, top-down and bottom-up plasticity have never been investigated concurrently, and hence their relationship is not well understood.

ML355 Modulates Platelet Activation and Prevents ABT-737 Induced Apoptosis in Platelets.

12-lipoxigenase (12-LOX) is implicated in regulation of platelet activation processes and can be a new promising target for antiplatelet therapy. However, investigations of 12-LOX were restricted by the lack of specific and potent 12-LOX inhibitors and by controversial data concerning the role of 12-LOX metabolites in platelet functions. A novel specific 12-LOX inhibitor ML355 was shown to inhibit platelet aggregation without adverse side effects on hemostasis; however, the molecular mechanisms of its action on platelets are poorly understood.

Clenbuterol exerts antidiabetic activity through metabolic reprogramming of skeletal muscle cells.

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system causes pronounced metabolic changes that are mediated by multiple adrenergic receptor subtypes. Systemic treatment with βadrenergic receptor agonists results in multiple beneficial metabolic effects, including improved glucose homeostasis. To elucidate the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms, we chronically treated wild-type mice and several newly developed mutant mouse strains with clenbuterol, a selective β-adrenergic receptor agonist.

High diagnostic performance of independent alpha-synuclein seed amplification assays for detection of early Parkinson's disease.

Alpha-synuclein seed amplification assays (αSyn-SAAs) are promising diagnostic tools for Parkinson's disease (PD) and related synucleinopathies. They enable detection of seeding-competent alpha-synuclein aggregates in living patients and have shown high diagnostic accuracy in several PD and other synucleinopathy patient cohorts. However, there has been confusion about αSyn-SAAs for their methodology, nomenclature, and relative accuracies when performed by various laboratories.

High resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta procedural volume is associated with improved outcomes: An analysis of the AORTA registry.

Background: The use of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) is controversial. We hypothesize that REBOA outcomes are improved in centers with high REBOA utilization.

Methods: We examined the Aortic Occlusion in Resuscitation for Trauma and Acute Care Surgery registry over a 5-year period (2014-2018).

Adaptive selection of a prion strain conformer corresponding to established North American CWD during propagation of novel emergent Norwegian strains in mice expressing elk or deer prion protein.

Prions are infectious proteins causing fatal, transmissible neurodegenerative diseases of animals and humans. Replication involves template-directed refolding of host encoded prion protein, PrPC, by its infectious conformation, PrPSc. Following its discovery in captive Colorado deer in 1967, uncontrollable contagious transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) led to an expanded geographic range in increasing numbers of free-ranging and captive North American (NA) cervids.

Short stem hip arthroplasty via the minimally invasive direct anterior approach.

Objective: Tissue-sparing, minimally invasive hip arthroplasty via the direct anterior approach (DAA) using a partially neck-preserving, calcar-guided short stem.

Indications: Primary and secondary osteoarthritis of the hip due to developmental dysplasia, femoroacetabular impingement, femoral head necrosis or trauma sequelae.

Contraindications: Severe osteoporosis, active infection, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) > III, large metaphyseal bone defects, severe metaphyseal deformities, Dorr type C femur.

Rational Design of Novel Therapies for Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration.

Background: This review highlights the recent scientific advances that have enabled rational design of novel clinical trials for pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN), a rare autosomal recessive neurogenetic disorder associated with progressive neurodegenerative changes and functional impairment. PKAN is caused by genetic variants in the PANK2 gene that result in dysfunction in pantothenate kinase 2 (PANK2) enzyme activity, with consequent disruption of coenzyme A (CoA) synthesis, and subsequent accumulation of brain iron. The clinical phenotype is varied and may include dystonia, rigidity, bradykinesia, postural instability, spasticity, loss of ambulation and ability to communicate, feeding difficulties, psychiatric issues, and cognitive and visual impairment.

Emotional imagination of negative situations: Functional neuroimaging in anorexia and bulimia.

Aim: The present study aims to extend the knowledge of the neural correlates of emotion processing in first episode subjects affected by anorexia nervosa (AN) or bulimia nervosa (BN). We applied an emotional distress paradigm targeting negative emotions thought to be relevant for interpersonal difficulties and therapeutic resistance mechanisms.

Methods: The current study applied to 44 female participants with newly diagnosed AN or BN and 20 matched controls a neuroimaging paradigm eliciting affective responses.

Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Diagnostic Challenges: Understanding the Clinical Phenotype of the Puerto Rican Founder Mutation.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare, heterogeneous ciliopathy resulting in chronic oto-sino-pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, newborn respiratory distress, and laterality defects. PCD diagnosis can be achieved by following diagnostic algorithms that include electron microscopy, genetics, and ancillary testing. Genetic mutations in more than 45 genes, including , can lead to PCD.

Mitochondrial transplant to replenish damaged mitochondria: A novel therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases?

Neurodegenerative diseases are currently some of the most debilitating and incurable illness, including highly prevalent disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Despite impressive advances in understanding the molecular basis of neurodegenerative diseases, several clinical trials have failed in identifying drugs that successfully delay or stop disease progression. New targets are likely necessary to successfully combat these devastating diseases.

Macrophage-derived netrin-1 drives adrenergic nerve-associated lung fibrosis.

Fibrosis is a macrophage-driven process of uncontrolled extracellular matrix accumulation. Neuronal guidance proteins such as netrin-1 promote inflammatory scarring. We found that macrophage-derived netrin-1 stimulates fibrosis through its neuronal guidance functions.