COVID-19 outcomes in patients with a history of immune-mediated glomerular diseases.

Introduction: Patients with immune-mediated glomerular diseases are considered at high risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes. However, conclusive evidence for this patient population is scarce.

Methods: We created a global registry and retrospectively collected clinical data of patients with COVID-19 and a previously diagnosed immune-mediated glomerular disease to characterize specific risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes.

Oral microbiota in obstructive sleep apnea patients: a systematic review.

Purpose: Evidence suggests that patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at increased risk of suffering from periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease of the tooth-supporting tissues associated with a dysbiotic oral microbiota. This systematic review aims to explore the current literature about the composition of the oral microbiota in patients with OSA compared to those without OSA.

Methods: Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched in May 2022 to identify original articles investigating the oral microbiota composition and/or oral microbiome (any microbiological technique) of patients with OSA (adults or children) vs.

Robotic multiquadrant colorectal procedures: A single-center experience and a systematic review of the literature.

Purpose: Robotic surgery has been progressively implemented for colorectal procedures but is still limited for multiquadrant abdominal resections. The present study aims to describe our experience in robotic multiquadrant colorectal surgeries and provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature investigating the outcomes of robotic total proctocolectomy (TPC), total colectomy (TC), subtotal colectomy (STC), or completion proctectomy (CP) compared to laparoscopy.

Methods: At our institution 16 consecutive patients underwent a 2- or 3-stage totally robotic total proctocolectomy (TPC) with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis.

Difficulties in the treatment of an infant survivor with inherited surfactant protein-B deficiency in Tunisia.

A female-term neonate showed a severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) at hour 3 of life requiring her transfer to intensive care. She was intubated and started on assist-control mechanical ventilation associated with inhaled nitric oxide then high-frequency oscillation ventilation at day 12. Chest X-ray was gradually deteriorating.

A deep reinforcement learning based decision-making approach for avoiding crowd situation within the case of Covid'19 pandemic.

Individuals' flow's fluidifcation in the same way as the thinning of the population's concentration remains among major concerns within the context of the pandemic crisis situations. The recent COVID-19 pandemic crisis is a typical example of the aforementioned where on despite of the containment phases that radically isolate the population but are not applicable persistently, people have to adapt their behavior to new daily-life situations tempering Individuals' stream, avoiding tides, and watering down population's concentration. Crowd evacuation is one of the well-known research domains that can play a pertinent role to face the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Human Colonic Microbiota and Short-Term Postoperative Outcomes in Colorectal Cancer Patients: A Pilot Study.

Despite the advances in surgical techniques and perioperative care, the complication rates after colorectal cancer surgery have remained stable. Recently, it has been suggested that colon microbiota may be implicated in several pathways that can lead to impaired colonic homeostasis and, thereby, to the development of complications after colorectal surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential impact of colonic dysbiosis on postoperative course.

Long-term quality of life in necrotizing soft-tissue infection survivors: a monocentric prospective cohort study.

Background: Compared to other life-threatening infection survivors, long-term health-related quality of life (QOL) of patients surviving necrotizing soft-tissue infections (NSTI) and its determinants are little known. In this monocentric prospective cohort including NSTI survivors admitted between 2014 and 2017, QOL was assessed during a phone interview using the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD), the activity of daily living (ADL), instrumental ADL (IADL) scales and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R). The primary outcome measure was the SF-36 physical component summary (PCS).

Rituximab in Membranous Nephropathy.

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the most common cause of primary nephrotic syndrome among adults. The identification of phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) as target antigen in most patients changed the management of MN dramatically, and provided a rationale for B-cell depleting agents such as rituximab. The efficacy of rituximab in inducing remission has been investigated in several studies, including 3 randomized controlled trials, in which complete and partial remission of proteinuria was achieved in approximately two-thirds of treated patients.

Rituximab in adult minimal change disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis - What is known and what is still unknown?

Primary forms of minimal change disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis are rare podocytopathies and clinically characterized by nephrotic syndrome. Glucocorticoids are the cornerstone of the initial immunosuppressive treatment in these two entities. Especially among adults with minimal change disease or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, relapses, steroid dependence or resistance are common and necessitate re-initiation of steroids and other immunosuppressants.

Accumulation of Lithium in the Hippocampus of Patients With Bipolar Disorder: A Lithium-7 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study at 7 Tesla.

Background: Lithium (Li) is a first-line treatment for bipolar disorder (BD). To study its cerebral distribution and association with plasma concentrations, we used Li magnetic resonance imaging at 7T in euthymic patients with BD treated with Li carbonate for at least 2 years.

Methods: Three-dimensional Li magnetic resonance imaging scans (N = 21) were acquired with an ultra-short echo-time sequence using a non-Cartesian k-space sampling scheme.

Intermittent urethral obstruction secondary to caudal sliding of a pelvic bladder in 3 dogs.

Three Yorkshire terrier dogs (2 males and 1 female) were presented for investigation of chronic dysuria and stranguria. Physical examination was unremarkable except for a poorly filled bladder. Biological tests, urinalysis, ultrasound, and routine radiography detected no significant abnormality, except for intermittent displacement of the bladder in the pelvis.

Soluble MICA and anti-MICA Antibodies as Biomarkers of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Disease.

The MHC class I chain-related molecule A (MICA) is a ligand for the activating natural killer (NK) cell receptor NKG2D. A part from its genetic diversity, MICA is characterized by the presence of membrane-bound and soluble isoform (sMICA) and by the propensity to elicit antibody-mediated allogeneicity (MICA Abs). Altogether such properties are important in the cancer setting.

Follow-Up and Management of Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Adults with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia: Review and Experience of Our Reference Centers.

Chronic rhinosinusitis is the foremost manifestation in adult patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). We present a retrospective series of 41 adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of PCD followed in our reference centers. As part of the diagnostic work up in our centers, sinus computed tomography scans (CTs) are systematically performed.

Mechanical and microstructural changes of skeletal muscle following immobilization and/or stroke.

Patient management following a stroke currently represents a medical challenge. The presented study investigates the effect of immobilization on skeletal muscles in short positions after a stroke. A rat model was implemented in order to compare four situations within 14 days including control group, immobilization of one forelimb without stroke, stroke without immobilization and stroke with immobilization of the paretic forelimb.

The Impact of 3'UTR Polymorphisms in Breast Cancer in a Tunisian Population.

Human leukocyte antigens G and E (HLA-G and HLA-E) are nonclassical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules. These molecules play an important role in immune surveillance by inhibiting natural killer and cytotoxic T cells responsible for immune escape. The expression of HLA-G and HLA-E has been associated with several diseases including tumor.

HLA genetics in bipolar disorder.

Objective: Bipolar Disorder (BD) is characterized by deregulated adaptive immune processes. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) implicate the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region in BD. The present study investigates the potential influence of variations in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) on BD risk and/or clinical presentations.

Social cognition in autism is associated with the neurodevelopment of the posterior superior temporal sulcus.

Objective: The posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) plays a critical role in the 'social brain'. Its neurodevelopment and relationship with the social impairment in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are not well understood. We explored the relationship between social cognition and the neurodevelopment of the pSTS in ASD.

Solute hydrogen and hydride phase implications on the plasticity of zirconium and titanium alloys: a review and some recent advances.

In this contribution, we propose a review of the possible implications of hydrogen on mechanical behaviour of Zr and Ti alloys with emphasis on the mechanisms of plasticity and strain hardening. Recent advances on the impact of oxygen and hydrogen on the activation volume show that oxygen content hinders creep but hydrogen partially screens this effect. Both aspects are discussed in terms of a locking-unlocking model of the screw dislocation mobility in prismatic slip.

Investigating hyperventilation syndrome in patients suffering from empty nose syndrome.

Objectives/hypothesis: Patients with empty nose syndrome (ENS) following turbinate surgery often complain about breathing difficulties. We set out to determine if dyspnea in patients with ENS was associated with hyperventilation syndrome (HVS). We hypothesized that lower airway symptoms in ENS could be explained by HVS.

Kinematic Effects of Cervical Laminoplasty for Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy on the Occipitoatlantoaxial Junction.

Study Design: A retrospective evaluation of sagittal angular motion from cervical spinal flexion to extension.

Objective: To evaluate the kinematic effects of cervical laminoplasty for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) on the occipitoatlantoaxial junction.

Summary Of Background Data: The kinematic effects of cervical laminoplasty for CSM on the occipitoatlantoaxial junction remain controversial.