Syphilis-positive and false-positive trends among US blood donors, 2013-2023.

Background: US blood donors are tested for syphilis because the bacterial agent is transfusion transmissible. Here we describe trends over an 11-year period of donations positive for recent and past syphilis infections, and donations classified as syphilis false positive (FP).

Methods: Data from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2023 (11 years) were compiled for all American Red Cross blood donations to evaluate demographics/characteristics and longitudinal trends in donors testing syphilis reactive/positive.

Comparison of software-assisted and freehand methods of rotational assessment for diaphyseal tibia fractures.

Objective: Accurate rotational reduction following tibial shaft fracture fixation is absent in up to 36% of cases yet may be critical for lower extremity biomechanics. The objective of this cadaveric study was to compare the results of freehand methods of reduction with software-assisted reduction.

Methods: Four fellowship-trained orthopaedic trauma surgeons attempted rotational correction in a cadaveric model with fluoroscopic assistance (without radiographic visualization of the fracture site) using (1) their method of choice (MoC) and (2) software assistance (SA).

Multistage deep learning methods for automating radiographic sharp score prediction in rheumatoid arthritis.

The Sharp-van der Heijde score (SvH) is crucial for assessing joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through radiographic images. However, manual scoring is time-consuming and subject to variability. This study proposes a multistage deep learning model to predict the Overall Sharp Score (OSS) from hand X-ray images.

Positive affect amplifies integration within episodic memories in the laboratory and the real world.

Emotional events hold a privileged place in our memories, differing in accuracy and structure from memories for neutral experiences. Although much work has focused on the pronounced differences in memory for negative experiences, there is growing evidence that positive events may lead to more holistic, or integrated, memories. However, it is unclear whether these affect-driven changes in memory structure, which have been found in highly controlled laboratory environments, extend to real-world episodic memories.

Strengthening advanced therapy for sickle cell disease in Africa: experience from sickle cell disease centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Despite progress in healthcare services for individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD) in Africa, substantial gaps remain in advanced treatments for SCD. To help address this burden, Tanzania has established one of the largest single-centre SCD programmes in the world and developed an advanced therapy programme for SCD focused on patient engagement and advocacy, clinical activities involving exchange blood transfusion (ExBT) and haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), gene therapy (GT) preparedness, and enabling partnerships. This report describes the programme's genesis, structure and progress achieved.

Retinoic acid homeostasis and disease.

Retinoids, particularly all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), play crucial roles in various physiological processes, including development, immune response, and reproduction, by regulating gene transcription through nuclear receptors. This review explores the biosynthetic pathways, homeostatic mechanisms, and the significance of retinoid-binding proteins in maintaining ATRA levels. It highlights the intricate balance required for ATRA homeostasis, emphasizing that both excess and deficiency can lead to severe developmental and health consequences.

A Quality Improvement Initiative to Improve First-Case On-Time Starts for Elective Surgeries.

Surgical delays can lead to patient dissatisfaction and negatively affect hospital revenue. Maximizing operating room (OR) efficiencies is a high priority. A common metric for OR efficiency is first-case on-time start (FCOTS).

Intestinal Obstruction and Neurotoxicity Associated With Water Bead Ingestion.

Water beads are superabsorbent polymer balls. They were originally marketed for agricultural and decorative applications and are now sold as sensory toys. They can be harmful to children in 2 ways.

Evaluating oomycete pathogen and community responses to chemical- and Slow Sand Filtration-based water treatment strategies to enable water recycling in nursery production systems.

While recycling irrigation water can reduce water use constraints and costs in nurseries, adoption is hindered by the associated risk of recirculating and spreading waterborne pathogens. To enable regional water re-use, this study assessed oomycete re-circulation risks and recycled water treatment efficacy at organismal and community scales. In culture-based analysis of recycled pond water at two Mid-Atlantic nurseries across three years, diverse oomycetes (12+ species) were detected using culture-based analysis, with Phytopythium helicoides as the dominant species; MiSeq analysis detected eight of these species, plus 24 additional taxa.

Effects of Noise and Public Setting on Blood Pressure Readings : A Randomized Crossover Trial.

Background: Guidelines emphasize quiet settings for blood pressure (BP) measurement.

Objective: To determine the effect of noise and public environment on BP readings.

Design: Randomized crossover trial of adults in Baltimore, Maryland.

Transient Ischemic Attack in Women: Real-World Hospitalization Incidence, Outcomes, and Risk of Hemorrhage and Stroke.

Background: Sex-specific differences in stroke risk factors, clinical presentation, and outcomes are well documented. However, little is known about real-world differences in transient ischemic attack (TIA) hospitalizations and outcomes between men and women.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of the 2016 to 2021 Nationwide Readmissions Database in the United States.

Case-area targeted interventions and free chlorine residual in household drinking water: An observational cohort study during a cholera outbreak in Northeast Nigeria.

Background: Cholera outbreaks are surging worldwide. Growing research supports case-area targeted interventions (CATIs), whereby teams provide a package of interventions to case and neighboring households, as an effective strategy in cholera outbreak control, particularly in humanitarian settings. While research exists on individual CATI interventions, research gaps exist on outcomes of integrated interventions during CATI responses.

SiO-Mediated Hydrothermal Synthesis of Spiroffite-Type CoTeO.

The hydrothermal synthesis of novel materials typically relies on both knowledge of the redox activities of all cations present in the reaction solution and a small toolset of so-called mineralizers to tune the solution's overall chemical potential. Upon the use of a less conventional mineralizer species, SiO, we show the stabilization of spiroffite-type CoTeO under less forceful hydrothermal conditions than those in previous reports. When synthesized in the presence of both SiO and each respective alkali carbonate as a secondary mineralizer, silicon substitution in place of tellurium in the host structure becomes apparent, and the corresponding disorder introduced gives rise to enhanced low-temperature ferromagnetism.

Burden and attributable risk factors of non-communicable diseases and subtypes in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis for the global burden of disease study 2021.

Background: Understanding based on up-to-date data on the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is limited, especially regarding how subtypes contribute to the overall NCD burden and the attributable risk factors across locations and subtypes. We aimed to report the global, regional, and national burden of NCDs, subtypes, and attributable risk factors in 2021, and trends from 1990 to 2021 by age, sex, and socio-demographic index (SDI).

Materials And Methods: We used data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 to estimate the prevalence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for NCDs and subtypes, along with attributable risk factors.

Predicting Individual Pain Sensitivity Using a Novel Cortical Biomarker Signature.

Importance: Biomarkers would greatly assist decision-making in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of chronic pain.

Objective: To undertake analytical validation of a sensorimotor cortical biomarker signature for pain consisting of 2 measures: sensorimotor peak alpha frequency (PAF) and corticomotor excitability (CME).

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study at a single center (Neuroscience Research Australia) recruited participants from November 2020 to October 2022 through notices placed online and at universities across Australia.

Role of Glial Cells and Receptors in Schizophrenia Pathogenesis.

The specific pathogeneses of schizophrenia (SCZ) remain an enigma despite extensive research that has implicated both genetic and environmental factors. Recent revelations that dysregulated immune system caused by glial cell overactivation result in neuroinflammation, a key player in neurodegenerative as well as neuropsychiatric disorders including SCZ are providing novel clues on potential therapeutic interventions. Here, we review the roles of glial cells (Dr.

Anxiety and Depression Affect Sleep Quality: A Preliminary Investigation in Crowdsourced Samples of Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults.

We aimed to compare sleep problems in autistic and non-autistic adults with co-occurring depression and anxiety. The primary research question was whether autism status influences sleep quality, after accounting for the effects of depression and anxiety. We hypothesized that autistic adults would report higher levels of depression, anxiety, and sleep problems compared to non-autistic adults, after controlling for these covariates.

rsfMRI-based brain entropy is negatively correlated with gray matter volume and surface area.

The brain entropy (BEN) reflects the randomness of brain activity and is inversely related to its temporal coherence. In recent years, BEN has been found to be associated with a number of neurocognitive, biological, and sociodemographic variables such as fluid intelligence, age, sex, and education. However, evidence regarding the potential relationship between BEN and brain structure is still lacking.