Large-scale screening identifies enzyme combinations that remove grown oral biofilm.

Bacteria in the oral cavity are responsible for the development of dental diseases such as caries and periodontitis, but it is becoming increasingly clear that the oral microbiome also benefits human health. Many oral care products on the market are antimicrobial, killing a large part of the oral microbiome but without removing the disease-causing biofilm. Instead, non-biocidal matrix-degrading enzymes may be used to selectively remove biofilm without harming the overall microbiome.

Concordance of Acid-Fast Stain Result and Histopathologic vs Clinical Diagnosis of Leprosy: A Three-year Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Government Hospital and Sanitarium in the Philippines.

Objectives: In the Philippines, there has been a lack of information on the concordance between classifications of Hansen's disease or leprosy clinically, histopathologically, and with AFS results. The study ultimately aimed to determine the concordance between the clinical diagnosis, histopathological results, and AFS results of patients with leprosy seen at the Dr. Jose N.

Deleterious coding variation associated with autism is consistent across populations, as exemplified by admixed Latin American populations.

Unlabelled: The past decade has seen remarkable progress in identifying genes that, when impacted by deleterious coding variation, confer high risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability, and other developmental disorders. However, most underlying gene discovery efforts have focused on individuals of European ancestry, limiting insights into genetic risks across diverse populations. To help address this, the Genomics of Autism in Latin American Ancestries Consortium (GALA) was formed, presenting here the largest sequencing study of ASD in Latin American individuals (n>15,000).

Aging and injury drive neuronal senescence in the dorsal root ganglia.

Aging negatively impacts central nervous system function; however, the cellular impact of aging in the peripheral nervous system remains poorly understood. Aged individuals are more likely to experience increased pain and slower recovery after trauma. Such injury can damage vulnerable peripheral axons of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons resulting in somatosensory dysfunction.

Soil Microbiome Inoculation for Resilient and Multifunctional New Forests in Post-Agricultural Landscapes.

Afforestation is increasingly recognized as a critical strategy to restore ecosystems and enhance biodiversity on post-agricultural landscapes. However, agricultural legacies, such as altered soil structure, nutrient imbalances, and depleted microbial diversity, can slow down forest establishment or cause ecosystems to deviate from expected successional trajectories. In this opinion paper, we explore the potential of soil inoculations as a tool to overcome these challenges by introducing beneficial microbial communities that can accelerate ecosystem recovery and forest development.

MitoStores: stress-induced aggregation of mitochondrial proteins.

Most mitochondrial proteins are synthesized in the cytosol and post-translationally imported into mitochondria. If the rate of protein synthesis exceeds the capacity of the mitochondrial import machinery, precursor proteins can transiently accumulate in the cytosol. The cytosolic accumulation of mitochondrial precursors jeopardizes cellular protein homeostasis (proteostasis) and can be the cause of diseases.

Red blood cell urate levels are linked to hemolysis in vitro and post-transfusion as a function of donor sex, population and genetic polymorphisms in SLC2A9 and ABCG2.

Background: Storage of packed red blood cells (RBCs) for transfusion leads to biochemical and morphological changes, increasing hemolysis risk. Urate levels in blood bags at donation contribute to the molecular heterogeneity and hemolytic propensity of stored RBCs. However, studies to date have been underpowered to investigate at scale the contribution of donor demographics and genetics to the heterogeneity in urate levels across donations.

Framing a Global Pandemic: Journalism Cultures and Media Coverage of COVID-19 in China, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Using a computational approach, this study analyzes and compares news coverage of the novel coronavirus in six major newspapers (i.e. , , , , , and ) from four countries (i.

Butyrate increases cardiac output and causes vasorelaxation in a healthy porcine model.

Background: Butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, has shown potential to improve left ventricular (LV) function and induce vasorelaxation in rodents. Butyrate may either be produced by the microbiome in the colon, be ingested or administered intravenously. This study aimed to evaluate effects of butyrate on cardiac output (CO) and associated hemodynamic variables in a porcine model.

Virtual Human Retina: Simulating Neural Signalling, Degeneration, and Responses to Electrical Stimulation.

Introduction: Current brain-based visual prostheses pose significant challenges impeding adoption such as the necessarily complex surgeries and occurrence of more substantial side effects due to the sensitivity of the brain. This has led to much effort toward vision restoration being focused on the more approachable part of the brain - the retina. Here we introduce a novel, parameterized simulation platform that enables study of human retinal degeneration and optimization of stimulation strategies.

Occupational exposure to diesel engine exhaust and first-time acute myocardial infarction - a nationwide register-based cohort study 1976- 2018.

Aims: Exposure to air pollution including diesel engine exhaust (DEE) is associated with increased risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Few studies have investigated the risk of AMI according to occupational exposure to DEE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between occupational exposure to DEE and the risk of first-time AMI.

The incidence of radiologically verified community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalisation in adults living in southern Sweden, 2016-2018: a population-based study.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) was one of the most common causes of death in the European Union in 2017. Severity and mortality of CAP increase with age and an aging European population will require increased planning for prevention, control, and management of CAP. The purpose of this study was to provide an updated population-based estimate of the incidence of CAP requiring hospitalization in Northern Europe.

Evaluation of extracts from used Xpert MTB/RIF cartridges for detection of resistance to second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Ethiopia.

Background: Early and accurate diagnosis of drug resistance, including resistance to second-line anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs, is crucial for the effective control and management of pre-extensively drug-resistant TB (pre-XDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB). The Xpert MTB/XDR assay is the WHO recommended method for detecting resistance to isoniazid and second-line anti-TB drugs when rifampicin resistance is detected. Currently, the Xpert MTB/XDR assay is not yet implemented in Ethiopia, thus the MTBDRsl assay continues to be used.

Repeat Procedures After Pulsed Field Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: MANIFEST-REDO Study.

Background: Initial clinical studies of pulsed field ablation (PFA) to treat atrial fibrillation (AF) indicated a >90% durability rate of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). However, these studies were largely conducted in single centers and involved a limited number of operators. The electrophysiological findings and outcomes in patients undergoing repeat ablation after an initial PF ablation for AF are incompletely understood.

Outcome comparison of rotational ankle fractures: Supination external rotation versus pronation external rotation.

Background: Ankle fractures are among the most common types of fractures in the orthopaedic field, and the Lauge-Hansen classification is commonly used to categorize rotational ankle fractures. This study evaluated and compared the clinical and radiological outcomes of surgically treated supination external rotation (SER) and pronation external rotation (PER) injuries of grades III or IV.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed and enrolled 104 patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation for SER or PER injuries classified as Grades III or IV between January 2016 and December 2021, all performed at a single center.

[The 6th Year of the Study of Human Medicine is Mainly Orientated to Practice: a Pilot Study with a Digital Logbook].

Digital learning resources are in increasing demand, especially in the light of the planned reform of the medical licensing regulations for 2028. In a pilot project, we digitised and evaluated a logbook for students in their practical year (PJ).The aim of this study is to evaluate the digital and non-digital PJ logbooks.

Longitudinal Analysis of Cardiovascular Risk Factors Among Older Adults Participating in a Park-Based Fitness Program.

Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, particularly among older adults. We examined changes in cardiovascular risk factors among older adults in a community-based fitness program in Miami-Dade County, FL. We used repeated measures linear mixed models to examine participants' cardiovascular risk factor changes over 28 months.

Distinct myeloid-derived suppressor cell populations in human glioblastoma.

The role of glioma-associated myeloid cells in tumor growth and immune evasion remains poorly understood. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of immune and tumor cells from 33 gliomas, identifying two distinct myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) populations in isocitrate dehydrogenase-wild-type (IDT-WT) glioblastoma: an early progenitor MDSC (E-MDSC) population with up-regulation of metabolic and hypoxia pathways and a monocytic MDSC (M-MDSC) population. Spatial transcriptomics demonstrated that E-MDSCs geographically colocalize with metabolic stem-like tumor cells in the pseudopalisading region.

The Impact of Storage Conditions on Stool Smellprints as Assessed by an Electronic Nose.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating disease of the neonatal gastrointestinal tract. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), odoriferous compounds released as a byproduct of bacterial metabolism, can be used as a proxy for gut health. We hypothesized that patients with NEC would have different microbial profiles and elicit different VOC signatures as assessed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) or an electronic nose compared to controls.

Target site mutations and metabolic detoxification of insecticides in continental populations of Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus (Hemiptera: Cimicidae).

In recent decades, the common and the tropical bed bugs have experienced a resurgence in many parts of the world. The evolution of insecticide resistance in bed bug populations is considered a significant factor contributing to this resurgence. We analyzed samples of Cimex lectularius L.

A policy framework for leveraging generative AI to address enduring challenges in clinical trials.

Can artificial intelligence improve clinical trial design? Despite their importance in medicine, over 40% of trials involve flawed protocols. We introduce and propose the development of application-specific language models (ASLMs) for clinical trial design across three phases: ASLM development by regulatory agencies, customization by Health Technology Assessment bodies, and deployment to stakeholders. This strategy could enhance trial efficiency, inclusivity, and safety, leading to more representative, cost-effective clinical trials.

Preliminary Effectiveness of a Telehealth-Delivered Exercise Program in Older Adults Living With and Beyond Cancer: Retrospective Study.

Background: Exercise can attenuate the deleterious combined effects of cancer treatment and aging among older adults with cancer, yet exercise participation is low. Telehealth exercise may improve exercise engagement by decreasing time and transportation barriers; however, the utility of telehealth exercise among older adults with cancer is not well established.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of a one-on-one, supervised telehealth exercise program on physical function, muscular endurance, balance, and flexibility among older adults with cancer.

Nitrogen doping turns carbonaceous materials into fast-reacting catalysts for reductive dechlorination.

Nitrogen (N) doping of biomass prior pyrolysis has been identified as an effective approach for enhancing biochar catalytic reactivity. However, high-temperature pyrolysis of N-rich biomass may produce N-devoid biochars with high reactivity, calling for attention to the true causes of the reactivity increases and the role of nitrogen. In this study, N-doped wheat straw biochar (N-BC) materials were produced using urea as N dopant and different pyrolysis conditions, and their catalytic reactivity assessed for the reduction of trichloroethylene (TCE) by green rust (GR), a layered Fe(II)Fe(III) hydroxide.

Trans-ancestry genome-wide study of depression identifies 697 associations implicating cell types and pharmacotherapies.

In a genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis of 688,808 individuals with major depression (MD) and 4,364,225 controls from 29 countries across diverse and admixed ancestries, we identify 697 associations at 635 loci, 293 of which are novel. Using fine-mapping and functional tools, we find 308 high-confidence gene associations and enrichment of postsynaptic density and receptor clustering. A neural cell-type enrichment analysis utilizing single-cell data implicates excitatory, inhibitory, and medium spiny neurons and the involvement of amygdala neurons in both mouse and human single-cell analyses.