Bat genomes illuminate adaptations to viral tolerance and disease resistance.

Zoonoses are infectious diseases transmitted from animals to humans. Bats have been suggested to harbour more zoonotic viruses than any other mammalian order. Infections in bats are largely asymptomatic, indicating limited tissue-damaging inflammation and immunopathology.

Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency Targeted Testing and Augmentation Therapy: A Canadian Thoracic Society Meta-analysis and Clinical Practice Guideline.

Alpha-1-Antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency is a common hereditary disorder associated with increased risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Many individuals with severe A1AT deficiency go undiagnosed, or are diagnosed late, and fail to benefit from disease-specific counseling and modifying care. Since the 2012 Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) A1AT deficiency clinical practice guideline, new approaches to optimal diagnosis using modern genetic testing and studies of A1AT augmentation therapy have been published.

Topological Moiré Polaritons.

The combination of an in-plane honeycomb potential and of a photonic spin-orbit coupling (SOC) emulates a photonic or polaritonic analog of bilayer graphene. We show that modulating the SOC magnitude allows us to change the overall lattice periodicity, emulating any type of moiré-arranged bilayer graphene with unique all-optical access to the moiré band topology. We show that breaking the time-reversal symmetry by an effective exciton-polariton Zeeman splitting opens a large topological gap in the array of moiré flat bands.

Benzodiazepine-Free Cardiac Anesthesia for Reduction of Postoperative Delirium: A Cluster Randomized Crossover Trial.

Importance: Delirium is common after cardiac surgery and associated with adverse outcomes. Intraoperative benzodiazepines may increase postoperative delirium but restricting intraoperative benzodiazepines has not yet been evaluated in a randomized trial.

Objective: To determine whether an institutional policy of restricted intraoperative benzodiazepine administration reduced the incidence of postoperative delirium.

Prioritizing questions and topics for the development of guidelines and consensus-based recommendations supported by ILAE: A scoping review and proposal of prioritization criteria.

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) and consensus-based recommendations (CBRs) require considerable effort, collaboration, and time-all within the constraints of finite resources. Professional societies, such as the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE), must prioritize what topics and questions to address. Implementing evidence-based care remains a crucial challenge in clinical practice.

Sleep spindles and slow oscillations predict cognition and biomarkers of neurodegeneration in mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Changes in sleep physiology can predate cognitive symptoms by decades in persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD), but it remains unclear which sleep characteristics predict cognitive and neurodegenerative changes after AD onset.

Methods: Using data from a prospective cohort of mild to moderate AD (n = 60), we analyzed non-rapid eye movement sleep spindles and slow oscillations (SOs) at baseline and their associations with baseline amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau and with cognition from baseline to 3-year follow-up.

Results: Higher spindle and SO activity predicted significant changes in Aβ and tau at baseline, lower Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive Subscale (better cognitive performance) score, and higher Mini-Mental State Examination score from baseline to 36 months.

Context-specific eQTLs provide deeper insight into causal genes underlying shared genetic architecture of critically ill COVID-19 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Most genetic variants identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are suspected to be regulatory in nature, but only a small fraction colocalize with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs, variants associated with expression of a gene). Therefore, it is hypothesized but largely untested that integration of disease GWAS with context-specific eQTLs will reveal the underlying genes driving disease associations. We used colocalization and transcriptomic analyses to identify shared genetic variants and likely causal genes associated with critically ill COVID-19 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

EXPLORATORY STRUCTURAL NEUROIMAGING EXAMINATION OF IMPULSIVITY IN SEVERE ALCOHOL USE DISORDER: PERSISTENT IMPLICATION OF THE VENTRAL STRIATUM.

Background: While Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is frequently associated with impulsivity, its structural brain substrates are still poorly defined. The triadic model of addiction postulates that impulsive behavior is regulated by an amygdalo-striatal impulsive subcomponent, a prefrontal and cerebellar reflective subcomponent, and an insular regulatory subcomponent. The objective of this study was thus to examine the relationships between self-evaluated impulsivity and structural brain abnormalities in patients with severe AUD (sAUD) using the triadic model as a theoretical framework.

The Role of Multimodality Imaging in Multiple Valvular Heart Diseases. A Clinical Consensus Statement of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) of the ESC.

With this document, the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI) provides an Expert Consensus on the role of multi-modality imaging (MMI) in the management of patients with multiple valvular heart disease (MVD). Emphasis is given to the use of MMI to unravel the diagnostic challenges that characterize these patients and to improve risk stratification. Complementing the last European Society of Cardiology and European Association of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery guidelines on valvular heart disease, this Expert Consensus document also outlines how MMI assessment should form an integral part of the multi-disciplinary heart team discussion for patients with MVD to help with complex decision-making regarding the choice and timing of treatment.

Advancing stroke rehabilitation: the role of wearable technology according to research experts.

Background: Advancements in wearable technology have created new opportunities to monitor stroke survivors' behaviors in daily activities. Research insights are needed to guide its adoption in clinical practice, address current gaps, and shape the future of stroke rehabilitation. This project aims to: (1) Understand stroke rehabilitation researchers' perspectives on the opportunities, challenges, and clinical relevance of wearable technology for stroke rehabilitation, and (2) Identify necessary next steps to integrate wearable technology in research and clinical practice.

Natural Causes of Sports- and Recreation-Related Deaths in the General Population: A 14-Year Review in Québec, Canada.

Background: This study analyzed trends in the frequencies and rates of natural deaths associated with sport and recreation activities in Québec, Canada, from January 2006 to December 2019, and investigated their etiology and characteristics.

Methods: This descriptive retrospective study utilized data from coroner reports, as well as autopsy and police reports. Activity-specific incidence rates were calculated using participation data from the (ÉBARS) and Canadian census population data.

[The role of volatile organic compounds in plant-insect communication].

Insects and flowering plants are the most abundant and diverse multicellular organisms on Earth, accounting for 75% of known species. Their evolution has been largely interdependent since the so-called Angiosperm Terrestrial Revolution (100-50 Mya), when the explosion of plant diversity stimulated the evolution of pollinating and herbivorous insects. Plant-insect interactions rely heavily on chemical communication via volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Near-Field Mixing in a Coaxial Dual Swirled Injector.

Improving mixing between two coaxial swirled jets is a subject of interest for the development of next generations of fuel injectors. This is particularly crucial for hydrogen injectors, where the separate introduction of fuel and oxidizer is preferred to mitigate the risk of flashback. Raman scattering is used to measure the mean compositions and to examine how mixing between fuel and air streams evolves along the axial direction in the near-field of the injector outlet.

Negative gas adsorption transitions and pressure amplification phenomena in porous frameworks.

Nanoporous solids offer a wide range of functionalities for industrial, environmental, and energy applications. However, only a limited number of porous materials are responsive, the nanopore dynamically alters its size and shape in response to external stimuli such as temperature, pressure, light or the presence of specific molecular stimuli adsorbed inside the voids deforming the framework. Adsorption-induced structural deformation of porous solids can result in unique counterintuitive phenomena.

A branching model for intergenerational telomere length dynamics.

We build and study an individual based model of the telomere length's evolution in a population across multiple generations. This model is a continuous time typed branching process, where the type of an individual includes its gamete mean telomere length and its age. We study its Malthusian's behaviour and provide numerical simulations to understand the influence of biologically relevant parameters.

Development and validation of a high-performance liquid chromatography method with fluorescence detection for the quantification of the resistance protein P-gp in cancer cells.

A method using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) was developed and validated to quantify the innovative tool LightSpot®-FL-1, a selective permeability-glycoprotein (P-gp)-targeted fluorescent conjugate used to measure P-gp expression in cell samples. Quantifying P-gp is a major challenge in oncology as its overexpression in many cancer cells results in Multidrug Resistance (MDR) associated with chemotherapy failure. To develop the method reported herein, both sample preparation and analysis parameters were investigated.

Combined Effects of Spirulina Liquid Extract and Endurance Training on Aerobic Performance and Muscle Metabolism Adaptation in Wistar Rats.

Background: Physical activity, such as running, protects against cardiovascular disease and obesity but can induce oxidative stress. Athletes often consume antioxidants to counteract the overproduction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species during exercise. , particularly its phycocyanin content, activates the Nrf2 pathway, stimulating antioxidant responses.

Comparative Structural and Biophysical Investigation of Toxin I (LyeTx I) and Its Analog LyeTx I-b.

This study investigates the structural and biophysical properties of the wild-type antimicrobial peptide LyeTx I, isolated from the venom of the spider , and its analog LyeTx I-b, designed to enhance antibacterial activity, selectivity, and membrane interactions by the acetylation and increased amphipathicty. : To understand the mechanisms behind these enhanced properties, comparative analyses of the structural, topological, biophysical, and thermodynamic aspects of the interactions between each peptide and phospholipid bilayers were evaluated. Both peptides were isotopically labeled with H-Ala and N-Leu to facilitate structural studies via NMR spectroscopy.

Dual Roles of Reducing Systems in Protein Persulfidation and Depersulfidation.

The oxidative modification of specific cysteine residues to persulfides is thought to be the main way by which hydrogen sulfide (HS) exerts its biological and signaling functions. Therefore, protein persulfidation represents an important thiol-switching mechanism as other reversible redox post-translational modifications. Considering their reductase activity but also their connections with proteins that generate HS and its related molecules, the glutaredoxin (GRX) and thioredoxin (TRX)-reducing systems have potential dual roles in both protein persulfidation and depersulfidation.

Sexual dimorphism of the humerus bones in a French sample: comparison of several statistical models including machine learning models.

Sex estimation is an important part of skeletal analysis and forensic identification. Traditionally pelvic traits are utilized for accurate sex estimation. However, the long bones, especially humerus, have been proved to be as effective for determine the sex of the individual.

Anatomical Total Shoulder Arthroplasty with Keeled glenoids in Patients under 60 years at 10 years minimum: which risk factors of failure are still valid at long term follow-up?

Aim: To assess the long-term (>10 years) outcomes in anatomical total shoulder arthroplasty (aTSA) and implant survival in patient under 60 years and identify risk factors for complications and revision.

Methods: This was a retrospective, multicenter study conducted from 1993 to 2008. Over 104 aTSA, 87 in 82 patients (55 years, 36 to 60yo) were included at a mean follow-up of 14±4 years (10 to 25y).

Visible-Light Photo-Iniferter Polymerization of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers for Direct Integration with Nanotransducers.

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) have gained prominence as synthetic receptors, combining simplicity of synthesis with robust molecular recognition akin to antibodies and enzymes. One of their main application areas is chemical sensing. However, direct integration of MIPs with nanostructured transducers, crucial for enhancing sensing capabilities and broadening MIPs sensing applications, remains limited.

Communicating scientific evidence: drugs for Alzheimer's disease as a case study.

This paper reviews the scientific evidence on new anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies for treating Alzheimer's disease as a case study for improving scientific evidence communication. We introduce five guidelines condensed from the biomedical evidence literature but adapted to the short format of science communication in e.g.

Effects of noradrenaline and phenylephrine on cerebral oxygen saturation during cardiopulmonary bypass in cardiac surgery.

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in cardiac surgery is associated with a high risk of postoperative neurological complications. Perioperative use of vasopressors is common to counteract arterial hypotension in this setting. However, use of α-agonist vasopressors has been associated with cerebral desaturations.

Effects of various modes of forward and backward cycling on neuro-biomechanical outcomes in individuals after stroke and healthy controls.

Background: Stationary cycling is recommended for post-stroke rehabilitation. This study assessed neuro-biomechanical outcomes of forward and backward cycling in three different modes: free-pedalling, constant speed (30 RPM) and constant resistance (5 or 10 Nm) in healthy controls and individuals after stroke.

Methods: Ten individuals after stroke and 10 healthy controls performed 60s cycling trials in different directions and modes on a semi-recumbent bike prototype.