Trachoma Impact Survey Results from 31 Woredas in Tigray Region, Ethiopia.

Purpose: Baseline surveys were conducted in Tigray region, Ethiopia, in 2013. Since then, rounds of azithromycin mass drug administration (MDA) have been delivered in-line with international guidance. The purpose of these surveys was to assess trachomatous inflammation-follicular (TF) prevalence following those treatments to enable the region to plan the next steps towards elimination of trachoma.

Improved phosphorus MRSI acquisition through compressed sensing acceleration combined with low-rank reconstruction.

Objectives: Phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (P-MRSI) is a non-invasive tool for assessing cellular high-energy metabolism in-vivo. However, its acquisition suffers from a low sensitivity, which necessitates large voxel sizes or multiple averages to achieve an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), resulting in long scan times.

Materials And Methods: To overcome these limitations, we propose an acquisition and reconstruction scheme for FID-MRSI sequences.

A stratified treatment algorithm in psychiatry: a program on stratified pharmacogenomics in severe mental illness (Psych-STRATA): concept, objectives and methodologies of a multidisciplinary project funded by Horizon Europe.

Schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar (BD) and major depression disorder (MDD) are severe psychiatric disorders that are challenging to treat, often leading to treatment resistance (TR). It is crucial to develop effective methods to identify and treat patients at risk of TR at an early stage in a personalized manner, considering their biological basis, their clinical and psychosocial characteristics. Effective translation of theoretical knowledge into clinical practice is essential for achieving this goal.

Enhanced Sampling with Suboptimal Collective Variables: Reconciling Accuracy and Convergence Speed.

We introduce an enhanced sampling algorithm to obtain converged free energy landscapes of molecular rare events, even when the collective variable (CV) used for biasing is not optimal. Our approach samples a time-dependent target distribution by combining the on-the-fly probability enhanced sampling and its exploratory variant, OPES Explore. This promotes more transitions between the relevant metastable states and accelerates the convergence speed of the free energy estimate.

Impaired renal transporter gene expression and uremic toxin excretion as aging hallmarks in cats with naturally occurring chronic kidney disease.

Aging leads to nephron senescence and chronic kidney disease (CKD). In cats, indoxyl sulfate (IxS) has been previously quantified and associated with CKD, and little is known about tubular transporters. Two cohorts of cats aged 6 to 21 years were enrolled.

Masseter muscle thickness before and after the correction of unilateral functional posterior crossbite in growing individuals: a prospective controlled clinical trial.

Objectives: To evaluate whether unilateral functional posterior crossbite in growing children creates an asymmetry in masseter muscle thickness and whether this asymmetry is normalized after crossbite correction.

Materials And Methods: Two groups of growing individuals were studied prospectively: (i) a treatment group: children with unilateral functional posterior crossbite, undergoing crossbite correction with maxillary expansion; and (ii) a control group: children without transversal malocclusions and orthodontic treatment. The thickness of the masseter muscles was measured bilaterally using ultrasonographic recordings at three time points: pre-treatment (T0); 9 months after (T1); and 30 months after posterior crossbite correction (T2); and at equivalent time points in the control group.

Sperm Functional Status: A Multiparametric Assessment of the Fertilizing Potential of Bovine Sperm.

Sperm viability is routinely assessed for the quality control of cryopreserved bovine sperm batches but is not usually conclusive regarding their fertilizing potential. In this study, we investigated the fertility predictive value of bull sperm viability in combination with DNA integrity or the functional status of viable sperm. In addition to sperm viability, we flow cytometrically assessed the percentage of sperm with high DNA fragmentation index (%DFI) and the fraction of viable sperm with low intracellular Ca content and functional mitochondria using the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay and a five-color staining panel in 791 and 733 cryopreserved batches with non-return rate (NRR) records after ≥100 first services, respectively.

European Genotyping Survey of Dyserythropoietic Anemia and Myopathy Syndrome in English Springer Spaniels.

Dyserythropoietic anemia and myopathy syndrome (DAMS) with neonatal losses was recently characterized as an autosomal recessive disorder caused by an frameshift variant in English Springer Spaniels (ESSPs). The frequency and dissemination of the mutation remained unknown. The EHBP1L1 protein is essential for muscle function, and the Rab8/10-EHBP1L1-Bin1-dynamin axis participates in nuclear polarization during the enucleation of erythroblasts.

Eco-evolutionary dynamics of adapting pathogens and host immunity.

As pathogens spread in a population of hosts, immunity is built up, and the pool of susceptible individuals are depleted. This generates selective pressure, to which many human RNA viruses, such as influenza virus or SARS-CoV-2, respond with rapid antigenic evolution and frequent emergence of immune evasive variants. However, the host's immune systems adapt, and older immune responses wane, such that escape variants only enjoy a growth advantage for a limited time.

Analyzing Parental Involvement in Youth Basketball.

Parental involvement in youth sports is increasingly relevant in scientific research since parents have gradually developed awareness regarding youngsters' sports experiences. This study aimed to (1) examine potential differences in athletes' and parents' perceptions of parental involvement practices in youth basketball, (2) verify whether these perceptions differ by sex, and (3) analyze the relationship between the different perceptions dimensions recorded. The analysis included a large sample of 423 Portuguese participants (151 youth basketball athletes and 272 parents) who completed the Parental Behaviors in Sports (PBSP) questionnaire.

Pan African Vivax and Ovale Network (PAVON) Malaria Diagnostic Competency Training: Offering Training Opportunities to Impact Malaria Elimination Strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

PAVON has developed a malaria microscopy competency training scheme to augment competency in malaria microscopy. Here, data accrued from training activities between 2020 and 2023 in Botswana are presented. Three trainings were done for 37 central and peripheral level technicians for a two-week period.

Acceptance and Completion Rates of 3-Month Isoniazid-Rifampicin (3HR) Tuberculosis Preventive Treatment (TPT) Among Contacts of Bacteriologically Confirmed TB Patients-Patients' and Healthcare Workers' Perspectives.

Providing tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) to close contacts of persons with TB is a core strategy recommended by WHO for the prevention and control of TB. Nigeria rolled out the 3-month Isoniazid-Rifampicin (3HR) shorter regimen TPT as a pilot for use among eligible adult and child contacts. This study assesses acceptance and completion rates of 3HR TPT among contacts and determines the perspectives of healthcare workers (HCWs) and contacts on acceptance and completion of 3HR TPT in Nigeria.

Exploring Mycolactone-The Unique Causative Toxin of Buruli Ulcer: Biosynthetic, Synthetic Pathways, Biomarker for Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Potential.

Mycolactone is a complex macrolide toxin produced by , the causative agent of Buruli ulcer. The aim of this paper is to review the chemistry, biosynthetic, and synthetic pathways of mycolactone A/B to help develop an understanding of the mode of action of these polyketides as well as their therapeutic potential. The synthetic work has largely been driven by the desire to afford researchers enough (≥100 mg) of the pure toxins for systematic biological studies toward understanding their very high biological activities.

Impact of Mast Cell Activation on Neurodegeneration: A Potential Role for Gut-Brain Axis and Infection.

Background: The innate immune response aims to prevent pathogens from entering the organism and/or to facilitate pathogen clearance. Innate immune cells, such as macrophages, mast cells (MCs), natural killer cells and neutrophils, bear pattern recognition receptors and are thus able to recognize common molecular patterns, such as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), the later occurring in the context of neuroinflammation. An inflammatory component in the pathology of otherwise "primary cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative" disease has recently been recognized and targeted as a means of therapeutic intervention.

Pretreatment Cranial Computed Tomography Perfusion Predicts Dynamic Cerebral Autoregulation Changes in Acute Hemispheric Stroke Patients Having Undergone Recanalizing Therapy: A Retrospective Study.

Objectives: Blood pressure (BP) management is challenging in patients with acute ischemic supratentorial stroke undergoing recanalization therapy due to the lack of established guidelines. Assessing dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) may address this need, as it is a bedside technique that evaluates the transfer function phase in the very low-frequency (VLF) range (0.02-0.

High-Performance Fluorine-Lean Thin Aromatic Hydrocarbon Membranes Based on Polyvinylidene Fluoride for Hydrogen Fuel Cells.

The impeding ban on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) prompted researchers to focus on hydrocarbon-based materials as constituents of next-generation proton exchange membranes (PEMs) for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs). Here, we report on the fuel cell performance and durability of fluorine-lean PEMs prepared by the post-sulfonation of co-grafted α-methylstyrene (AMS) and 2-methylene glutaronitrile (MGN) monomers into preirradiated 12 µm polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) base film. The membranes were subjected to two distinctly different accelerated stress test (AST) protocols performed at open-circuit voltage (OCV): the US Department of Energy-similar chemical AST (90 °C, 30% relative humidity (RH), H/air, 1 bar), developed originally for perfluoroalkylsulfonic acid (PFSA) membranes, and the high relative humidity AST (80 °C, 100% RH, H/O, 2.

Impact of Endocrine Disruptors on the Genitourinary Tract.

Over the last decades, the human species has seen an increase in the incidence of pathologies linked to the genitourinary tract. Observations in animals have allowed us to link these increases, at least in part, to changes in the environment and, in particular, to an increasing presence of endocrine disruptors. These can be physical agents, such as light or heat; natural products, such as phytoestrogens; or chemicals produced by humans.

The Effect of Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors in the Prevention and Treatment of Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOIs) may help prevent stroke. However, heterogeneity can be found in the conclusions of different studies. The relevant evidence was summarized in this systematic review and meta-analysis to further clarify the role of XOIs in the prevention and treatment of stroke, with a focus on evaluating the effects of XOIs in primary and secondary prevention of stroke, acute stroke treatment, and reduction of post-stroke complications.

The Introduction of a New Mobile Driving Unit for a Ventricular Assist Device in a Pediatric Patient (EXCOR Active).

Pediatric patients supported by extracorporeal ventricular assist devices traditionally require long-term stationary inpatient settings. Limited mobility and permanent hospitalization significantly reduce their quality of life. Berlin Heart address this with their novel mobile driving unit, EXCOR Active.

Epicardial Fat Volume Assessed by MRI in Adolescents: Associations with Obesity and Cardiovascular Risk Factors.

: In adults, epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is associated with metabolic syndrome (MS) and coronary artery disease. EAT thickness is increased in obese youth, but total EAT volume and its correlation with cardiovascular risk factors have not been studied. : To determine EAT volume in adolescents and its association with obesity and cardiovascular risk factors.

Exercise, Sports, and Cardiac Rehabilitation Recommendations in Patients with Aortic Aneurysms and Post-Aortic Repair: A Review of the Literature.

Introduction: Balancing the well-documented benefits of regular exercise, particularly its positive impact on cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension, with the potential risks for patients with aortic aneurysms presents a significant challenge. This narrative review aims to summarize the current evidence and guidelines to assist clinicians in making informed exercise and sports recommendations for patients with aortic aneurysms or post-aortic repair.

Methods: Nine clinical trials on the effect of exercise on abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) were identified, including one study on cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in AAA patients.

Accuracy and Reliability of Grip Strength Measurements: A Comparative Device Analysis.

Grip strength is widely used as a surrogate parameter for functional status. The current gold standard, the JAMAR Hydraulic Dynamometer (JAMAR Hydraulic), presents challenges for individuals with painful finger joints or low grip strength. Therefore, the objective of this observational study was to assess comparability across the JAMAR Smart, the Martin Vigorimeter and the gold standard.

Toward Closing the Loop in Image-to-Image Conversion in Radiotherapy: A Quality Control Tool to Predict Synthetic Computed Tomography Hounsfield Unit Accuracy.

In recent years, synthetic Computed Tomography (CT) images generated from Magnetic Resonance (MR) or Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) acquisitions have been shown to be comparable to real CT images in terms of dose computation for radiotherapy simulation. However, until now, there has been no independent strategy to assess the quality of each synthetic image in the absence of ground truth. In this work, we propose a Deep Learning (DL)-based framework to predict the accuracy of synthetic CT in terms of Mean Absolute Error (MAE) without the need for a ground truth (GT).