Cloning a Chloroplast Genome in and .

Chloroplast genomes present an alternative strategy for large-scale engineering of photosynthetic eukaryotes. Prior to our work, the chloroplast genomes of (204 kb) and (140 kb) had been cloned using bacterial and yeast artificial chromosome (BAC/YAC) libraries, respectively. These methods lack design flexibility as they are reliant upon the random capture of genomic fragments during BAC/YAC library creation; additionally, both demonstrated a low efficiency (≤ 10%) for correct assembly of the genome in yeast.

Unusual presentation of medication-induced atrial fibrillation: A case report.

This case highlights that atrial fibrillation can occur as an adverse effect of tamsulosin even in younger patients at lower doses, challenging the conventional understanding that this complication primarily affects older individuals on higher doses. Clinicians should remain vigilant for this potential side effect across all patient demographics to ensure prompt identification and management.

Defining and responding to the contextual drivers for implementation of antimicrobial stewardship in 14 neonatal units in South Africa.

Background: Research on the contextual drivers of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programme interventions in neonatal units is limited.

Methods: As part of a prospective mixed-methods multidisciplinary neonatal AMS (NeoAMS) interventional study in 14 South African hospitals, we applied a three-phased process to assess implementation barriers and contextual drivers experienced by participating health professionals. The study included: (Phase one; P1) a survey of pre-intervention barriers and enablers; (P2) written feedback during the study intervention phase; and (P3) semi-structured exit interviews.

Caval vein obstruction resulting in right to left shunt and desaturation post-endocardial pacing implantation in a 3-year old: a case report.

Background: Superior caval vein obstruction is a rare complication of endocardial pacing lead implantation that can result in a right to left shunt.

Case Summary: A 3-year-old child with type 2 Brugada syndrome presented with mild cyanosis post-endocardial pacing implantation due to evolutionary right superior caval vein obstruction. This obstruction resulted in a right to left shunt across a previously unrecognized patent levo-atrial cardinal vein associated with partial anomalous pulmonary venous drainage.

The Canadian Heart Failure (CAN-HF) Registry: A Canadian Multicentre, Retrospective Study of Outpatients with Heart Failure.

Background: Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) reduces events in patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Despite this impact, underutilization of GDMT persists. This report sought to describe HF management in Canadian outpatients treated at specialized HF clinics (HFCs).

Internal migration and its association with childhood asthma in Ecuador: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Differences in asthma prevalence between urban and rural areas have been observed worldwide. Epidemiological studies in middle- and low-income countries suggest that internal migration processes may partly explain these disparities.

Objective: To investigate the association between internal migration and asthma in children living in transitional areas of Ecuador.

Making malaria control a priority: a lesson for today's malaria community.

For malaria control to be successful, experience has shown that success is more likely where all involved feel the attempt must not be allowed to fail, and that success can be the only acceptable outcome. Importantly, all those at the top must have such commitment, and, in particular, this should also include the funder, the source of finance of the attempt. That would be malaria control treated as a priority.

Brensocatib in patients with bronchiectasis: subgroup analyses from the WILLOW trial.

Introduction: Bronchiectasis is a chronic inflammatory airway disease. Brensocatib, an oral, reversible inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase 1 (DPP1), reduces pulmonary inflammation by preventing the activation of neutrophil serine proteases. In the phase II WILLOW trial, brensocatib prolonged time to first exacerbation in patients with bronchiectasis.

Surgical management of lateral epicondylitis: a scoping review of published literature.

Background: Surgical intervention for lateral epicondylitis remains a controversial topic, with its purpose being debated. Recent guidelines have concluded no benefit from surgery when compared to conservative management.

Methods: An electronic database search of Ovid Medline via PubMed, EMBASE, and the Web of Science was performed to understand the published literature further.

Current trends in shoulder arthroplasty - Are the trends backed by evidence?

Shoulder arthroplasty is the third most common joint replacement performed worldwide and remains a rapidly innovative area for improvement in patient care. This article explores the evidence surrounding current trends aiming to improve patient outcome in all forms of shoulder arthroplasty.

Addressing the overuse of hospital emergency departments in the Portuguese NHS: a new paradigm.

The escalating trend of inappropriate visits to Emergency Departments (ED) has led to significant concerns, including resource misallocation, compromised patient care, and an increased burden on healthcare workers. Portugal faces a notable challenge, reporting one of the highest ED visit rates, with an annual average of approximately 6 million ED visits from 2013 to 2023. In response, the "Call First, Save Lives" pilot project was launched by the Portuguese NHS Executive Board, in 2023, at the Local Health Unit (LHU) of Póvoa de Varzim/Vila do Conde.

Modelling neurodegeneration and inflammation in early diabetic retinopathy using 3D human retinal organoids.

Purpose: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a complication of diabetes and a primary cause of visual impairment amongst working-age individuals. DR is a degenerative condition in which hyperglycaemia results in morphological and functional changes in certain retinal cells. Existing treatments mainly address the advanced stages of the disease, which involve vascular defects or neovascularization.

Understanding trends in osteoporosis drug prescribing: implications for reducing futile biomedical research.

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a significant geriatric condition, considering its impact on fracture-related morbidity and mortality, particularly among older women. The interplay of clinical evidence, diagnostic tools availability, and broader societal attitudes toward aging and treatment efficacy affect medical attitude and prescribing behaviors. Using the example of osteoporosis in France and England, the study aims to unravel the intricacies of medical decision-making in geriatric care, offering insights into the evolving landscape of healthcare policy and practice, which in turn can help reduce futile biomedical research.

Users´ perspectives and preferences on using wearables in epilepsy: A critical review.

Seizure detection devices (SDDs) offer promising technological advancements in epilepsy management, providing real-time seizure monitoring and alerts for patients and caregivers. This critical review explores user perspectives and experiences with SDDs to better understand factors influencing their adoption and sustained use. An electronic literature search identified 34 relevant studies addressing common themes such as usability, motivation, comfort, accuracy, barriers, and the financial burden of these devices.

Improving Parent and Therapist Experiences of Codelivering Intensive Upper Limb Interventions for Children With Hemiplegia: A Qualitative Study Using the Theoretical Domains Framework.

Background: Partnership working between parents and therapists is a key component of family-centred care (FCC). Such partnerships in paediatric intervention delivery can help achieve required levels of dosage, intensity and embed interventions in the child's everyday activities. This study explores the experience and views of parents and therapists codelivering an intensive upper limb intervention programme for children with hemiplegia, to find ways to enhance successful partnership working.

Population-Based Analysis of the Risk of Mycobacterial Infections Associated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

In this population-based study, we examined the risk of nontuberculous mycobacterial disease associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors among people with cancer. Using a nested case-control design, we identified 184 cases and 714 matched controls; there was no significant association on conditional logistic regression (adjusted odds ratio, 0.51 [95% confidence interval, .

Long-term colorectal cancer incidence in a post-endoscopic screening cohort, accounting for surveillance, by baseline polyp group, anatomic subsite, and sex.

Objectives: Colonoscopy surveillance is often performed in post-polypectomy cohorts, likely altering colorectal cancer (CRC) outcomes, but this is often not addressed in CRC incidence analyses. We examined CRC incidence post-endoscopic screening, accounting for surveillance.

Methods: We examined UK Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Screening Trial participants who had no, low-risk, or high-risk (≥10 mm, ≥3 adenomas, adenomas with villous features/high-grade dysplasia) distal polyps at screening.

Survival of Patients with Solid Tumours and Sepsis Admitted to Intensive Care in a Tertiary Oncology Centre: A Retrospective Analysis.

Introduction: Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Patients with cancer are at risk of developing sepsis and requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. We aimed to assess survival of patients with a solid tumour admitted to ICU as an emergency with sepsis, and to identify predictors of 90-day survival at admission.

WildPose: A long-range 3D wildlife motion capture system.

Understanding and monitoring wildlife behavior is crucial in ecology and biomechanics, yet challenging due to the limitations of current methods. To address this issue, we introduce WildPose, a novel long-range motion capture system specifically tailored for free-ranging wildlife observation. This system combines an electronically controllable zoom-lens camera with a LiDAR to capture both 2D videos and 3D point cloud data, thereby allowing researchers to observe high-fidelity animal morphometrics, behavior and interactions in a completely remote manner.

Physiology of bridging stent grafts after fenestrated/branched endovascular aortic repair: Where translational science meets the clinical profile.

Fenestrated/branched endovascular aortic repair emerges as the primary therapeutic modality for intricate aortic pathologies encompassing the paravisceral and thoracoabdominal segments, where bridging stent grafts (BSGs) play a vital role in linking the primary aortic endograft with target vessels. Bridging stent grafts can be categorized mainly into self-expanding stent grafts (SESGs) and balloon-expandable stent grafts (BESGs). Physiological factors significantly influence post-complex endovascular aortic repair BSG behaviour, impacting clinical outcomes of SESGs and BESGs in different but overlapping ways.

Perioperative and periprocedural management of GLP-1 receptor-based agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors: narrative review and the STOP-GAP and STOP DKA-2 algorithms.

The GLP-1 receptor-based agonists (GLP-1RAs) and SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are major 21 century breakthroughs in diabetes and obesity medicine but there are important safety considerations regarding the perioperative and periprocedural management of individuals who are treated with these agents. GLP-1RAs have been linked to an increased risk of retained gastric contents and pulmonary aspiration while SGLT2i can be associated with diabetic ketoacidosis. This manuscript provides a narrative review of the available evidence for perioperative and periprocedural risks in people prescribed GLP-1RAs and SGLT2i.

Cdc42 is crucial for the early regulation of hepatic stellate cell activation.

The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) from a quiescent state is a cause of liver fibrosis and a therapeutic target. HSCs are resident mesenchymal cells located in the space of Disse, exhibiting specialized morphological characteristics such as a stellate shape, large lipid droplets, and direct adhesions to hepatocytes via microprojections called HSC spines. Morphological alterations in HSCs play a crucial role in initiating their activation.