Mechanical Wear of Degraded Articular Cartilage.

Purpose: To evaluate the mechanical wear of cartilage with different types of degradation.

Methods: Bovine osteochondral explants were treated with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) to mimic inflammatory conditions, with chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) to specifically remove glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), or with collagenase to degrade the collagen network during 5 days of culture. Viscoelastic properties of cartilage were characterized via indentation.

Global metabolomic alterations associated with endocrine-disrupting chemicals among pregnant individuals and newborns.

Background: Gestational exposure to non-persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. While many EDCs affect the endocrine system, their effects on endocrine-related metabolic pathways remain unclear. This study aims to explore the global metabolome changes associated with EDC biomarkers at delivery.

Osilodrostat improves blood pressure and glycemic control in patients with Cushing's disease: a pooled analysis of LINC 3 and LINC 4 studies.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of osilodrostat and hypercortisolism control on blood pressure (BP) and glycemic control in patients with Cushing's disease.

Methods: Pooled analysis of two Phase III osilodrostat studies (LINC 3 and LINC 4), both comprising a 48-week core phase and an optional open-label extension. Changes from baseline in systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA) were evaluated during osilodrostat treatment in patients with/without hypertension or diabetes at baseline.

High-resolution fleezers reveal duplex opening and stepwise assembly by an oligomer of the DEAD-box helicase Ded1p.

DEAD-box RNA-dependent ATPases are ubiquitous in all domains of life where they bind and remodel RNA and RNA-protein complexes. DEAD-box ATPases with helicase activity unwind RNA duplexes by local opening of helical regions without directional movement through the duplexes and some of these enzymes, including Ded1p from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, oligomerize to effectively unwind RNA duplexes. Whether and how DEAD-box helicases coordinate oligomerization and unwinding is not known and it is unclear how many base pairs are actively opened.

What's the bug?: An unusual cause of bacterial meningitis in a patient with history of transsphenoidal surgery.

Bacterial meningitis is an increasingly rare disease that carries significant morbidity and mortality. We describe the case of a 38-year-old male with a past medical history of pituitary macroadenoma with prior endonasal surgeries on prednisone therapy daily for resultant hypopituitarism and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy on lamotrigine daily who was transferred to an academic tertiary emergency department due to concern for developing pituitary apoplexy. At the outside emergency department, the patient presented complaining of sudden onset severe headache.

The importance of Ombudsman programs in supporting the transition from medicare-medicaid plans to dual special needs plans.

In this paper, we examine the critical role of Ombudsman programs in facilitating the transition from Medicare-Medicaid Plans (MMPs) to Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPS) for dual-eligible members. As states implement this federally mandated transition, Ombudsman programs serve as essential supports for the dual-eligible population who are navigating complex healthcare changes. Through analysis of Ombudsman programs in California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Michigan, we highlight how these services address beneficiary concerns, resolve access issues, and provide valuable insights to policymakers.

Determinants of dementia diagnosis in U.S. primary care in the past decade: A scoping review.

Background: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are chronically underdiagnosed in the U.S., particularly among minoritized racial and ethnic groups.

ARCH: Large-scale knowledge graph via aggregated narrative codified health records analysis.

Objective: Electronic health record (EHR) systems contain a wealth of clinical data stored as both codified data and free-text narrative notes (NLP). The complexity of EHR presents challenges in feature representation, information extraction, and uncertainty quantification. To address these challenges, we proposed an efficient Aggregated naRrative Codified Health (ARCH) records analysis to generate a large-scale knowledge graph (KG) for a comprehensive set of EHR codified and narrative features.

Association between prenatal depressive symptoms and receipt of recommended maternal and infant care postpartum.

Background: Maternal mental health can impact health care access and utilization for both the birthing parent and infant. We examined the association between prenatal depressive symptoms (episodic and chronic) and receipt of the postpartum 6-week visit and infant vaccinations in the first year postpartum.

Methods: Postpartum individuals (N = 672) who attended Expect With Me group prenatal care in Nashville, Tennessee and Detroit, Michigan completed surveys during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, as well as 6- and 12- months postpartum.

A promising future for breast cancer therapy with hydroxamic acid-based histone deacetylase inhibitors.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) play a critical role in chromatin remodelling and modulating the activity of various histone proteins. Aberrant HDAC functions has been related to the progression of breast cancer (BC), making HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) promising small-molecule therapeutics for its treatment. Hydroxamic acid (HA) is a significant pharmacophore due to its strong metal-chelating ability, HDAC inhibition properties, MMP inhibition abilities, and more.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of pathogenic GJB2 variants in the Asian population.

Objectives: Define the extent to which pathogenic GJB2 (gap junction beta-2) variants are responsible for non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL) in the Asian population.

Methods: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. CINAHL, Embase, and PubMed's MEDLINE were accessed from 1997 to 2023 using permutations of the MeSH terms: "Asian," ''Southeast Asian,'' "South Asian," "East Asian," "Southeastern Asian," and "GJB2.

A comparison of energy dispersive spectroscopy in transmission scanning electron microscopy with scanning transmission electron microscopy.

The objective of this work was to explore the capabilities of a field emission gun scanning electron microscope (FEG-SEM) equipped with a transmission scanning electron detector (TSEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to identify nanoscale chemical heterogeneities in a gas atomization reaction synthesis (GARS) steel sample. The results of this analysis were compared to the same study conducted with scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) with EDS mapping. TSEM-EDS was performed using the standard spectral analysis approach, i.

Virtual screening: hope, hype, and the fine line in between.

Introduction: Technological advancements in virtual screening (VS) have rapidly accelerated its application in drug discovery, as reflected by the exponential growth in VS-related publications. However, a significant gap remains between the volume of computational predictions and their experimental validation. This discrepancy has led to a rise in the number of unverified 'claimed' hits which impedes the drug discovery efforts.

Assembly and Annotation of the Tetraploid Salsola tragus (Russian thistle) Genome.

This report presents two phased chromosome-scale genome assemblies of allotetraploid Salsola tragus (2n=4x=36) and fills the current genomics resource gap for this species. Flow cytometry estimated 1C genome size was 1.319 Gbp.

Dietary Interventions, Supplements, and Plant-Derived Compounds for Adjunct Vitiligo Management: A Review of the Literature.

Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune pigmentation disorder shaped by a complex interplay of genetic predispositions and environmental triggers. While conventional therapies-phototherapy, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants-can be effective, their benefits are often partial and temporary, with recurrence common once treatment stops. As such, there is increasing interest in exploring complementary approaches that may offer a more sustainable impact.

Dysregulation of Mitochondrial Homeostasis in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Mitochondria dysfunction plays a central role in the development of vascular diseases as oxidative stress promotes alterations in mitochondrial morphology and function that contribute to disease progression. Redox imbalances can affect normal cellular processes including mitochondrial biogenesis, electrochemical equilibrium, and the regulation of mitochondrial DNA. In this review, we will discuss these imbalances and, in particular, the potential role of mitochondrial fusion, fission, biogenesis, and mitophagy in the context of vascular diseases and how the dysregulation of normal function might contribute to disease progression.

Early Autonomic Dysfunction in Traumatic Brain Injury: An Article Review on the Impact on Multiple Organ Dysfunction.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex condition and a leading cause of injury-related disability and death, with significant impacts on patient outcomes. Extracranial organ involvement plays a critical role in the outcome of patients following TBI. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and challenges in diagnosing patients with autonomic dysfunction after TBI.

Comparison of Functional Outcomes of Superficial Palmar Branch of Radial Artery (SPBRA) and Free Venous Flap (FVF) Techniques for Finger Tissue Defects.

: This study aimed to compare two surgical techniques-the free flap of the superficial palmar branch of the radial artery (SPBRA) and the free venous flap (FVF)-to evaluate their efficacy and aesthetic outcomes in repairing finger tissue defects. The goal was to determine which procedure offers faster healing curves and better overall patient outcomes, ultimately improving the quality of life for individuals undergoing these surgeries. : A retrospective study was conducted using the clinical database of Sanliurfa Mehmet Akif Inan Education and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, from 1 January 2019 to 1 January 2022.

Structural Modifications Reveal Dual Functions of the C-4 Carbonyl Group in the Fatty Acid Chain of Ipomoeassin F.

Ipomoeassin F (Ipom-F) is a plant-derived macrocyclic resin glycoside that potently inhibits cancer cell growth through blockage of Sec61-mediated protein translocation at the endoplasmic reticulum. Recently, detailed structural information on how Ipom-F binds to Sec61α was obtained using Cryo-EM, which discovered that polar interactions between asparagine-300 (N300) in Sec61α and four oxygens in Ipom-F are crucial. One of the four oxygens is from the carbonyl group at C-4 of the fatty acid chain.

Stereoelectronic Effect of Protecting Groups on the Stability of Galactosyl Donor Intermediates.

Using methods of DFT, we investigated the effect of electron withdrawing and electron donating groups on the relative stability of tentative glycosyl donor reaction intermediates. The calculation shows that by changing the stereoelectronic properties of the protecting group, we can influence the stability of the dioxolenium type of intermediates by up to 10 kcal mol, and that by increasing nucleophillicity of the 4--Bz group, the dioxolenium intermediate becomes more stable than a triflate-donor pair. We exploited this mechanism to design galactosyl donors with custom protecting groups on O2 and O4, and investigated the outcome of the reaction with cyclohexanol.

First-Principles Study of the Heterostructure, ZnSb Bilayer/h-BN Monolayer for Thermoelectric Applications.

ZnSb is widely recognized as a promising thermoelectric material in its bulk form, and a ZnSb bilayer was recently synthesized from the bulk. In this study, we designed a vertical van der Waals heterostructure consisting of a ZnSb bilayer and an h-BN monolayer to investigate its electronic, elastic, transport, and thermoelectric properties. Based on density functional theory, the results show that the formation of this heterostructure significantly enhances electron mobility and reduces the bandgap compared to the ZnSb bilayer, thereby increasing its power factor.

Evaluation of the Sterile Insect Technique for the Control of the Melon Fly () Under Laboratory and Semi-Field Conditions in Sri Lanka.

The melon fly, , poses a severe threat to the country's agricultural productivity, particularly in the cultivation of cucurbitaceous crops. This study was conducted to determine the ideal irradiation dose to be used to set up a Sterile Insect Technique (SIT)-based strategy to control outbreaks in Sri Lanka. A colony was established and maintained under standard laboratory conditions.