Integrating Hydrogels and Biomedical Plastics via In Situ Physical Entanglements and Covalent Bonding.

Both rigid plastics and soft hydrogels find ample applications in engineering and medicine but bear their own disadvantages that limit their broader applications. Bonding these mechanically dissimilar materials may resolve these limitations, preserve their advantages, and offer new opportunities as biointerfaces. Here, a robust adhesion strategy is proposed to integrate highly entangled tough hydrogels and diverse plastics with high interfacial adhesion energy and strength.

Celiac in the twenty-first century-the change in BMI of children at diagnosis over the last two decades.

This study examined the prevalence of different BMI categories among newly diagnosed pediatric celiac disease (CD) patients in Israel from 2002 to 2018. A retrospective cross-sectional study using the database of Clalit Health Services in Israel included 5520 newly diagnosed CD children aged 2-18 between 2002 and 2018. Data on BMI, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status (SES) were collected and analyzed Of the 5520 CD patients, 57.

Anticipated facilitators and barriers for long-acting injectable antiretrovirals as HIV treatment and prevention in Vietnam: a qualitative study among healthcare workers.

Background: Long-acting injectable antiretrovirals (LAI-ARVs) for HIV prevention and treatment have been demonstrated in clinical trials to be non-inferior to daily oral medications, providing an additional option to help users overcome the challenges of daily adherence. Approval and implementation of these regimens in low- and middle-income settings have been limited.

Method: This study describes the anticipated barriers and facilitators to implementing LAI-ARVs in Vietnam to inform future roll-out.

Life cycle and morphogenetic differentiation in heteromorphic cell types of a cosmopolitan marine microalga.

Gephyrocapsa huxleyi is a prevalent, bloom-forming phytoplankton species in the oceans. It exhibits a complex haplodiplontic life cycle, featuring a diploid-calcified phase, a haploid phase and a third 'decoupled' phase produced during viral infection. Decoupled cells display a haploid-like phenotype, but are diploid.

Significant projected savings with expansion of an emergency department observation protocol for mild acute pancreatitis.

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) significantly contributes to healthcare costs, but not all patients require hospitalization. A novel, validated Emergency Department (ED) pathway for mild AP (MAP) at our tertiary care center reduced hospitalizations and resource utilization, without affecting outcomes.

Methods: A decision-analytic model was constructed using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist and methodologic recommendations by the Second Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine to predict healthcare costs based on whether an ED discharge protocol for MAP was utilized.

A scoping review of participatory approaches in child maltreatment research across Europe.

Background: Participatory approaches in child maltreatment (CM) research increasingly focus on involving children, youth, and adults as co-researchers. However, little is known about their use in Europe.

Objective: To review the European literature on participatory approaches in CM research.

Assessing and upgrading the cleanliness of the emergency department brief title: upgrading the emergency room's cleanliness.

Objective: To upgrade cleaning and disinfection of patient rooms in a crowded emergency department (ED).

Setting: Tertiary referral hospital.

Design: Prospective, 3-component, before-and-after intervention study.

Gender and geographical bias in the editorial decision-making process of biomedical journals: a case-control study.

Objectives: To assess whether the gender (primary) and geographical affiliation (post-hoc) of the first and/or last authors are associated with publication decisions after peer review.

Design: Case-control study.

Setting: Biomedical journals.

CPX-351 +/- gemtuzumab ozogamicin as induction therapy for adult patients with newly diagnosed, favourable-intermediate risk, FLT3-ITD negative, AML: A pilot study.

This pilot study evaluated CPX-351 in adults with newly diagnosed, favourable-intermediate risk, FLT3-ITD-negative AML. Twenty patients received CPX-351 for induction, with six also receiving gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO). The complete response rate was 95%, with 42% achieving flow-based minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity post-induction.

Heterozygous UBR5 variants result in a neurodevelopmental syndrome with developmental delay, autism, and intellectual disability.

E3 ubiquitin ligases have been linked to developmental diseases including autism, Angelman syndrome (UBE3A), and Johanson-Blizzard syndrome (JBS) (UBR1). Here, we report variants in the E3 ligase UBR5 in 29 individuals presenting with a neurodevelopmental syndrome that includes developmental delay, autism, intellectual disability, epilepsy, movement disorders, and/or genital anomalies. Their phenotype is distinct from JBS due to the absence of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and the presence of autism, epilepsy, and, in some probands, a movement disorder.

Impacts of long-term irrigation of municipally-treated wastewater to the soil microbial and nutrient properties.

Reusing treated wastewater (TWW) for crop irrigation has shown to provide environmental and economic benefits as well as drawbacks. This study was conducted using soils collected from a wastewater reuse facility in Tallahassee, FL, mainly to elucidate the long-term impact(s) of TWW irrigation on soil microbiome and nutrient status. Approximately 890 ha of land have been spray-irrigated with TWW since the 1980's to grow fodder crops.

Preferences in Suture Skills Instruction: Virtual Versus In-Person Instruction.

Introduction: As medical education increasingly incorporates digital methods such as video lectures, e-learning, and virtual meetings, it becomes crucial to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual classrooms in teaching surgical techniques. This study aims to assess whether live virtual classrooms can effectively convey surgical skills to medical students.

Methods: First- and second-y medical students were randomized to in-person or live-video sessions once a week, for 2 wk.

Trends in Minority Representation Among Independent Plastic Surgery Match Applicants: An Analysis of 1000 Applicants Over an 11-Year Period.

Background: Improving diversity within plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) trainees is a crucial step to reduce inequities at the provider level. Trends in minority representation among independent program match applicants are understudied. We analyzed gender, racial, and ethnic demographic trends among independent PRS match applicants.

Chinese consensus report on the assessment and management of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with cardiovascular disease: 2024 edition.

As cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality rates continue to rise in China, the importance of identifying and managing CVD risk factors grows. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep-related breathing disorder, affecting an estimated 936 million individuals aged 30-69 worldwide, with China leading globally with about 176 million affected. Increasing research indicates a close association between OSA and the onset and progression of various CVD, significantly affecting outcomes.

Direct multi-element analysis of biological samples in dry matrix spots by PIXE.

The dried matrix spot (DMS) method, initially developed for neonatal blood screening, has gained prevalence in various research fields for its efficiency in handling small sample volumes and its adaptability to diverse analytical techniques. This study presents the results of the first systematic investigation of direct multi-element analysis in DMS of human blood and plasma samples with Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE). Internal standard addition was used to address the issue of DMS heterogeneity and to eliminate the need for determining the sample volume equivalent, allowing a single-spot (single-punch) measurement.

Daily automated prediction of delirium risk in hospitalized patients: Model development and validation.

Background: Delirium is common in hospitalized patients and correlated with increased morbidity and mortality. Despite this, delirium is underdiagnosed, and many institutions do not have sufficient resources to consistently apply effective screening and prevention.

Objective: To develop a machine learning algorithm to identify patients at highest risk of delirium in the hospital each day in an automated fashion based on data available in the electronic medical record, reducing the barrier to large-scale delirium screening.

Third-Wave CBT Online Intervention for Older Adults Inspired by ACT Principles: An Evaluation of Feasibility and Preliminary Effectiveness in Adults Age 75 and Older.

Objectives: This study assessed the feasibility and efficacy of "Online Resilience," a three-lesson online intervention based on third-wave cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles, inspired by acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), designed for emotionally healthy adults aged 75 and older.

Methods: A randomized controlled study with 62 participants (mean age = 81) divided into Experimental and Control groups. Outcomes included resilience, well-being, mood, and sleep quality, measured pre-, post-, and at one-month follow-up.

The Role of Exercise in Steatotic Liver Diseases: An Updated Perspective.

Background: The increasing prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), parallels the rise in sedentary lifestyles. MASLD is the most common form of steatotic liver disease (SLD), which represents the umbrella beneath which the vast majority of chronic liver diseases fall, including alcohol-related liver disease and their overlap. These conditions are the leading contributors to chronic liver disease, significantly impacting global morbidity and mortality.

Long-term Changes in Pain, Depression, Function and Informal Caregiving after Major Elective Surgeries Among Seriously Ill Older Adults.

Objective: To compare differences in pain, depression, function, and informal caregiving pre-and-post major elective surgery among older adults with and without serious illness; and determine if serious illness was independently associated with increasing pain, depression, assistance in activities of daily living (ADLs) and informal caregiving post-surgery.

Background: The American College of Surgeons has endorsed the integration of palliative care (PC) into surgical care in adults with serious illness but targets for PC during surgical episodes such as pain, depression, function, and informal caregiving are understudied.

Methods: We used Health and Retirement Study-linked Medicare data (2008-2018) to identify older (≥66 y) adults with and without serious illness who had major elective surgery.

Establishing the Research Priorities of ADHD Professionals: An International Delphi Study.

Objectives: To determine ADHD research priorities from the perspective of ADHD professionals internationally.

Method: A two-stage modified Delphi design was used. In Stage 1 (qualitative), participants listed research questions relating to ADHD that they perceived to be most important ( = 132).

Systemic intravenous thrombolysis and spinal stroke: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Spinal cord infarction (SCI) is associated with poor clinical outcome. Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is a well-established treatment for cerebral ischaemic stroke. However, its efficacy in SCI is unknown.

Unconventional aspects in metal-embedded laser-induced graphene.

Laser-induced graphene (LIG) has gained significant attention, with over 170 publications in 2023 alone. This surge in popularity is due to the unique advantages LIG offers over traditional thermal methods, such as fast, solvent-free, scalable production and its ability to scribe intricate patterns on various substrates, including heat-sensitive materials like plastics. In recent developments, metal-embedded LIG (M-LIG) has expanded the potential applications of LIG, particularly in energy storage, microelectronics, and sensing.

Characterization of focused ultrasound blood-brain barrier disruption effect on inflammation as a function of treatment parameters.

The technology of focused ultrasound-mediated disruption of the blood-brain barrier (FUS-BBB opening) has now been used in over 20 Phase 1 clinical trials to validate the safety and feasibility of BBB opening for drug delivery in patients with brain tumors and neurodegenerative diseases. The primary treatment parameters, FUS intensity and microbubble dose, are chosen to balance sufficient BBB disruption to achieve drug delivery against potential acute vessel damage leading to microhemorrhage. However, other safety considerations due to second order effects caused by BBB disruption, such as inflammation and alteration of neurovascular function, are only beginning to be understood.

Acute and circadian feedforward regulation of agouti-related peptide hunger neurons.

When food is freely available, eating occurs without energy deficit. While agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons are likely involved, their activation is thought to require negative energy balance. To investigate this, we implemented long-term, continuous in vivo fiber-photometry recordings in mice.

Social, environmental, and developmental factors affect the microbiota of barn owls (Tyto alba) in a cross-fostering experiment.

Background: Species host diverse microbial communities that can impact their digestion and health, which has led to much interest in understanding the factors that influence their microbiota. We studied the developmental, environmental, and social factors that influence the microbiota of nestling barn owls (Tyto alba) through a partial cross-fostering experiment that manipulated the social and nest environment of the nestlings. We then examined the nestling microbiota before and three weeks after the exchange of nestlings between nests, along with the microbiota of the adults at the nest and nestlings in unmanipulated nests.