Changes in the provision and utilisation of health care services for chronic health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic in rural northeast South Africa: an interrupted time series analysis.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the provision and utilisation of health care services with varying magnitude across settings due to spatial temporal variation in the burden of COVID-19 cases and the roll-out of local COVID-19 response policies. This study assesses changes in the provision and utilisation of health care services for three major chronic health conditions (HIV/AIDS, hypertension, and diabetes) over the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 pandemic periods in a rural South African sub-district of Agincourt.

Methods: Segmented interrupted time series regression models are applied to assess changes in the number of medication collection visits and new diagnoses for HIV/AIDS, hypertension, and diabetes from 1 January 2018 to 30 September 2021 covering the pre- COVID-19 period and the first three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Health behavioural change - the influence of social-ecological factors and health identity.

Health behaviour is crucial for influencing health, making it a key component in health promotion. However, changing behaviours is complex, as many factors interact to determine health behaviours. Information, awareness, and knowledge are important but not enough.

Sulfur Lone Pairs Open Avenues for π* → n Orange-to-Red TADF and OLEDs.

It is always important and fascinating to explore new organic emitters that exploit unconventional pathways to unveil their emission with unique properties, such as thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF). In this study, we report that the rarely explored sulfur lone pair (n) is a promising alternative, where the correlated π* → n emission can be used to attain strong TADF and thus practical OLEDs. The designed strategy incorporates several key concepts (Figure 1a), in which the persulfide aromatic spirocycle enhances spin-orbit coupling, thereby increasing the intersystem crossing rate.

Associations between inflammation and striatal dopamine D2-receptor availability in aging.

Background: Normal brain aging is associated with dopamine decline, which has been linked to age-related cognitive decline. Factors underlying individual differences in dopamine integrity at older ages remain, however, unclear. Here we aimed at investigating: (i) whether inflammation is associated with levels and 5-year changes of in vivo dopamine D2-receptor (DRD2) availability, (ii) if DRD2-inflammation associations differ between men and women, and (iii) whether inflammation and cerebral small-vessel disease (white-matter lesions) serve as two independent predictors of DRD2 availability.

Extracellular vesicle surface engineering with integrins (ITGAL & ITGB2) to specifically target ICAM-1-expressing endothelial cells.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are taken up by most cells, however specific or preferential cell targeting remains a hurdle. This study aims to develop an EV that targets cells involved in inflammation, specifically those expressing intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). To target these cells, we overexpress the ICAM-1 binding receptor "lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1" (LFA-1) in HEK293F cells, by sequential transfection of plasmids of the two LFA-1 subunits, ITGAL and ITGB2 (CD11a and CD18).

Participation of COX2/mPGES1/PGE2 in mouse and human endometrial stromal decidualization.

Background: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is vital for embryo implantation and decidualization. Whether COX2/mPGES1/PGE2 pathway is essential for mouse and human decidualization remains unclear.

Results: This study showed that mPGES1 was highly expressed in the mouse uterus's subluminal stromal cells at the implantation site.

Changing dynamics of bloodstream infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium in Germany, 2017-2023: a continued burden of disease approach.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat to public health, with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) being major contributors. Despite their clinical impact, comprehensive assessments of changes of the burden of bloodstream infections in terms of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) and attributable deaths over time are lacking, particularly in Germany.

Methods: We used data from the Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance system, which covered about 30% of German hospitals.

Quantifying the potential value of entomological data collection for programmatic decision-making on malaria control in sub-Saharan African settings.

Background: The availability of many tools for malaria control leads to complex decisions regarding the most cost-effective intervention package based on local epidemiology. Mosquito characteristics influence the impact of vector control, but entomological surveillance is often limited due to a lack of resources in national malaria programmes.

Methods: This study quantified the monetary value of information provided by entomological data collection for programmatic decision-making using a mathematical model of Plasmodium falciparum transmission.

NTHi killing activity is reduced in COPD patients and is associated with a differential microbiome.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease characterized by airway obstruction and inflammation. Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) lung infections are common in COPD, promoting frequent exacerbations and accelerated lung function decline. The relationship with immune responses and NTHi are poorly understood.

Acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness of internet-based cognitive behavior therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD-NET): a naturalistic pilot trial during the COVID-19 pandemic in a psychiatric outpatient department in Germany.

Background: Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is the gold-standard treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, access to CBT and specialized treatments is often limited. This pilot study describes the implementation of a guided Internet-Based CBT program (ICBT) for individuals seeking treatment for OCD in a psychiatric outpatient department in Leipzig, Germany, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reduced fetal movements and COVID-19 infection: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Fetal movements are an important indicator of fetal well-being; therefore, reduced fetal movements (RFMs) can indicate fetal compromise. RFM is associated with fetal growth restriction (FGR) and intrauterine fetal death (IUFD). Studies have implied that COVID-19 infection increases the risk of adverse fetal outcomes, such as preterm birth and IUFD.

Enhancing individual glomerular filtration rate assessment: can we trust the equation? Development and validation of machine learning models to assess the trustworthiness of estimated GFR compared to measured GFR.

Background: Creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations are widely used in clinical practice but exhibit inherent limitations. On the other side, measuring GFR is time consuming and not available in routine clinical practice. We developed and validated machine learning models to assess the trustworthiness (i.

Plasma proteomic evidence for increased β-amyloid pathology after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Previous studies have suggested that systemic viral infections may increase risks of dementia. Whether this holds true for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus infections is unknown. Determining this is important for anticipating the potential future incidence of dementia.

Toward a biological definition of neuronal and glial synucleinopathies.

Cerebral accumulation of alpha-synuclein (αSyn) aggregates is the hallmark event in a group of neurodegenerative diseases-collectively called synucleinopathies-which include Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy. Currently, these are diagnosed by their clinical symptoms and definitively confirmed postmortem by the presence of αSyn deposits in the brain. Here, we summarize the drawbacks of the current clinical definition of synucleinopathies and outline the rationale for moving toward an earlier, biology-anchored definition of these disorders, with or without the presence of clinical symptoms.

Pediatric obesity and the risk of multiple sclerosis: a nationwide prospective cohort study.

Background: Emerging evidence implies a link between high pediatric body mass index (BMI) and an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS). However, previous research suggests this association is only present for adolescent obesity and not childhood obesity. The present study aimed to assess the association between pediatric obesity and risk of developing MS, and to investigate if degree of obesity and age at obesity treatment initiation affects the risk.

Zika virus modulates human fibroblasts to enhance transmission success in a controlled lab-setting.

Transmission of Zika virus (ZIKV) has been reported in 92 countries and the geographical spread of invasive virus-borne vectors has increased in recent years. Arboviruses naturally survive between vertebrate hosts and arthropod vectors. Transmission success requires the mosquito to feed on viraemic hosts.

Diffusion Smart-seq3 of breast cancer spheroids to explore spatial tumor biology and test evolutionary principles of tumor heterogeneity.

Combining 3D cultures such as tumor spheroids and organoids with spatial omics holds great potential for tissue biology and cancer research. Yet, this potential is presently limited by technical and financial challenges of spatial omics methods and 3D cultures. To address this, we combine dye diffusion, the Smart-seq3xpress protocol for deep single-cell gene expression profiling, and dedicated probabilistic inference methods into diffusion Smart-seq3 (Smart-seq3D), to reveal the transcriptome of single cells along with their position along the core-periphery axis of spheroids.

The crosstalk between SND1 and PDCD4 is associated with chemoresistance of non-small cell lung carcinoma cells.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is highly resistant to chemo- or radiation therapy, which poses a huge challenge for treatment of advanced NSCLC. Previously, we demonstrated the oncogenic role of Tudor Staphylococcal nuclease (TSN, also known as Staphylococcal nuclease domain-containing protein 1, SND1), in regulating chemoresistance in NSCLC cells.

Computer Simulations of the Temperature Dependence of Enzyme Reactions.

In this review we discuss the development of methodology for calculating the temperature dependence and thermodynamic activation parameters for chemical reactions in solution and in enzymes, from computer simulations. We outline how this is done by combining the empirical valence bond method with molecular dynamics free energy simulations. In favorable cases it turns out that such simulations can even capture temperature optima for the catalytic rate.

The relationship between AutoNRT thresholds and subjective programming levels revisited.

Objectives: The aim of this study wasto systemically examine the relationship between AutoNRT thresholds and subjective programming levels by controlling for individual subject variation, and further, to propose an alternative way to calculate the AutoNRT threshold profile for programming purposes.

Methods: The study was a prospective observational study. AutoNRT thresholds, T- and C-levels were recorded at six and twelve months after activation.

Analysis of correlations between health-related quality of life and clinical measures after arthroscopic lysis and lavage of the temporomandibular joint.

How well patient perceived outcome reflects clinical measurements after arthroscopic lysis and lavage of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to detect any correlation between patient reported outcome measures (PROM) and clinical follow-up measurements. Patients with internal derangement of the TMJ treated with arthroscopic lysis and lavage 2014-2019 were consented for review of medical records and a follow-up PROM-questionnaire.

Human genetic variants in SLC39A8 impact uptake and steady-state metal levels within the cell.

The human () gene encodes a plasma membrane protein SLC39A8 (ZIP8) that mediates the specific uptake of the metals Cd, Mn, Zn, Fe, Co, and Se Pathogenic variants within are associated with congenital disorder of glycosylation type 2 (CDG type II) or Leigh-like syndrome. However, numerous mutations of uncertain significance are also linked to different conditions or benign traits. Our study characterized 21 variants and measured their impact on protein localization and intracellular levels of Cd, Zn, and Mn We identified four variants that disrupt protein expression, five variants with high retention in the endoplasmic reticulum, and 12 variants with localization to the plasma membrane.

A Phase I/IIa Clinical Trial to Evaluate Safety and Adrenal Uptake of Para-Chloro-2-[F]Fluoroethyletomidate in Healthy Volunteers and Patients with Primary Aldosteronism.

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a common, potentially reversible, cause of hypertension. Distinguishing unilateral from bilateral PA is critical when deciding who should be offered surgery (unilateral adrenalectomy). Recent studies have shown that PET/CT with [C]metomidate can accurately identify unilateral PA, with localization of the causative aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA).

MIRD Pamphlet No. 32: A MIRD Recovery Coefficient Model for Resolution Characterization and Shape-Specific Partial-Volume Correction.

Accurate quantification in emission tomography is essential for internal radiopharmaceutical therapy dosimetry. Mean activity concentration measurements in objects with diameters less than 10 times the full width at half maximum of the imaging system's spatial resolution are significantly affected (>10%) by the partial-volume effect. This study develops a framework for PET and SPECT spatial resolution characterization and proposes 2 MIRD recovery coefficient models-a geometric mean approximation (RECOVER-GM) and an empirical model (RECOVER-EM)-that provide shape-specific partial-volume correction (PVC).