Ozone-based advanced oxidation processes in water treatment: recent advances, challenges, and perspective.

Water pollution, driven by a variety of enduring contaminants, poses considerable threats to ecosystems, human health, and biodiversity, highlighting the urgent need for innovative and sustainable treatment approaches. Ozone-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have demonstrated significant efficacy in breaking down stubborn pollutants, such as organic micropollutants and pathogens, that are not easily addressed by traditional treatment techniques. This review offers an in-depth analysis of ozonation mechanisms, covering both the direct oxidation by ozone and the indirect reactions facilitated by hydroxyl radicals, emphasizing their effectiveness and adaptability across various wastewater matrices.

Self-Directed Violence Among Black Young Adults with Negative Police Experiences.

The current study assessed associations between negative experiences with police and self-directed violence (SDV) among a United States (US) sample of Black young adults ages 18-29 reporting lifetime police stops. Data come from the "INtervening on Self-Harm and Policing to Increase Racial Equity" (INSPIRE) survey (N = 672) and were collected between December 2023 and March 2024. This high-risk sample exhibited elevated rates of self-harm ideation or NSSI (27.

Compensatory Swallowing Strategies Recommended in Oncology Practice: Practice Patterns and Relationship to Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity (DIGEST) Grades.

Compensatory swallow strategies are recommended to improve swallow safety and efficiency; however, there is limited evidence on use in specific populations or their relationship to swallow study results. We sought to describe/explore strategy recommendations in an oncology practice and their relationship to Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity (DIGEST) grades as a marker of clinical utility of the tool. This is a sub-study of a STARI-guided retrospective implementation evaluation at a single comprehensive cancer center.

FORCE platform overcomes barriers of oligonucleotide delivery to muscle and corrects myotonic dystrophy features in preclinical models.

Background: We developed the FORCE platform to overcome limitations of oligonucleotide delivery to muscle and enable their applicability to neuromuscular disorders. The platform consists of an antigen-binding fragment, highly specific for the human transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), conjugated to an oligonucleotide via a cleavable valine-citrulline linker. Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a neuromuscular disorder caused by expanded CUG triplets in the DMPK RNA, which sequester splicing proteins in the nucleus, lead to spliceopathy, and drive disease progression.

Evolving Paradigms in the Treatment of Oligometastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Multiple randomized trials have suggested that the addition of comprehensive metastasis-directed therapy to best systemic therapy improves disease control and survival among patients with oligometastatic disease, even for histologies with a high propensity for rapid spread. Here, we review the growing literature supporting the oligometastatic paradigm in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. We summarize key details from nascent institutional series and reflect on the recently reported phase II randomized EXTEND trial.

A pathway from fragmentation to interoperability through standards-based enterprise architecture to enhance patient safety.

Creating an ontology is the essential step in natural language processing (NLP). To improve patient safety in this era of generative AI, it is crucial to develop a standards-driven, ontology-based architecture for patient safety that can seamlessly integrate with health systems, thereby facilitating effective detection and monitoring potentially preventable harms in healthcare. This visionary, whole-system approach to patient safety addresses a significant gap in establishing resilient safety systems within the healthcare sector.

A multifactorial, evidence-based analysis of pathophysiology in Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS).

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States has been studying a fascinating and unique constellation of neuro-ophthalmic findings collectively known as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-Ocular Syndrome (SANS). SANS is unique to the space environment of microgravity and produces novel physiological and pathological findings that have no direct terrestrial equivalent. The neuro-ophthalmic phenomenon is a major physiologic barrier to future planetary spaceflight.

Electro-driven direct lithium extraction from geothermal brines to generate battery-grade lithium hydroxide.

As Li-ion batteries are increasingly being deployed in electric vehicles and grid-level energy storage, the demand for Li is growing rapidly. Extracting lithium from alternative aqueous sources such as geothermal brines plays an important role in meeting this demand. Electrochemical intercalation emerges as a promising Li extraction technology due to its ability to offer high selectivity for Li and its avoidance of harsh chemical regenerants.

Particulate matter 2.5 (PM) - associated cognitive impairment and morbidity in humans and animal models: a systematic review.

Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 µm (PM) is one of the criteria air pollutants that (1) serve as an essential carrier of airborne toxicants arising from combustion-related events including emissions from industries, automobiles, and wildfires and (2) play an important role in transient to long-lasting cognitive dysfunction as well as several other neurological disorders. A systematic review was conducted to address differences in study design and various biochemical and molecular markers employed to elucidate neurological disorders in PM -exposed humans and animal models.

The Human Urinary Microbiome and Its Potential Role in Urinary Tract Infections.

After identifying a urinary microbiota, new insights have emerged into how urinary tract infections (UTIs) develop and recur in women. This review explores factors influencing the urinary microbiome, and its role in UTI susceptibility and recurrence. Age, menopausal status, estrogen, and prior UTIs can impact the urinary microbiome significantly, with estrogen promoting predominance of beneficial Lactobacillus species in women.

Lipid Management in US Commercial and Medicare Enrollees with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: Treatment Patterns and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Control.

Lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) is the cornerstone for secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), yet many patients exhibit low adherence to therapy and fail to achieve low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goals. This retrospective cohort study used 2 nationally representative administrative closed claims databases (PharMetrics® Plus and Medicare Fee-for-Service [FFS] Research Identifiable Files) to identify commercial (C) and Medicare (M) enrollees with ASCVD between 2014-2019. Patients were stratified by exposure to statin therapy, ezetimibe and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 monoclonal antibodies (PCSK9i mAb) regimens.

Primary Antibody Deficiencies: Curation Of Gene-Disease Relationships Using A ClinGen Validation Framework.

Background: The Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen) is an international collaborative effort between scientists and clinicians, diagnostic and research laboratories as well as the patient community. Using a standardized framework, ClinGen has established guidelines to classify gene-disease relationships as Definitive, Strong, Moderate, and Limited based on available scientific and clinical evidence. When the genetic and functional evidence for a gene-disease relationship has conflicting interpretations or contradictory evidence, they can be Disputed or Refuted.

The Role of Hospital Performance on Race and Ethnicity Outcome Disparities for US Non-Traumatic Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests.

Background: Factors contributing to worse outcomes for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) from minoritized communities are poorly understood. We sought to evaluate the impact of receiving hospital performance on OHCA outcome disparities.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of non-traumatic OHCAs from the National Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival from 2013-2022 that survived hospital admission.

Disordered regions of condensate-promoting proteins have distinct molecular signatures associated with cellular function.

Disordered regions of proteins play crucial roles in cellular functions through diverse mechanisms. Some disordered regions function by promoting the formation of biomolecular condensates through dynamic multivalent interactions. While many have assumed that interactions among these condensate-promoting disorder regions are non-specific, recent studies have shown that distinct sequence compositions and patterning lead to specific condensate compositions associated with cellular function.

Dynamic Data-Driven Management of Atrial Fibrillation With Implantable Cardiac Monitors: The MONITOR AF Study.

Background: Implantable cardiac monitors (ICMs) provide valuable insights into managing atrial fibrillation (AF). Data suggest that ICMs increase AF detection, but their impact on management is still uncertain.

Objectives: To evaluate and compare the impact of ICMs on the clinical management of AF.

An expanded phylogenomic analysis of Heterolobosea reveals the deep relationships, non-canonical genetic codes, and cryptic flagellate stages in the group.

The phylum Heterolobosea Page and Blanton, 1985 is a group of eukaryotes that contains heterotrophic flagellates, amoebae, and amoeboflagellates, including the infamous brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri. In this study, we investigate the deep evolutionary history of Heterolobosea by generating and analyzing transcriptome data from 16 diverse isolates and combine this with previously published data in a comprehensive phylogenomic analysis. This dataset has representation of all but one of the major lineages classified here as orders.

Survivorship and Outcomes of Hip Arthroplasty for Elective Care Versus Fracture in Patients Who Have Solid Organ Transplant: Lung Transplant Patients Do Worse.

Background: With continued improvement in patient outcomes following solid organ transplant (SOT), more SOT recipients may benefit from hip arthroplasty. This study sought to compare the perioperative complications and survivorship of SOT recipients undergoing hip arthroplasty for elective care versus for fracture.

Methods: A single-institution retrospective review yielded 95 hip arthroplasty procedures (80 patients) performed between August 2016 and May 2023 with a mean follow-up of 35 months.

Symbiosis and horizontal gene transfer promote herbivory in the megadiverse leaf beetles.

Beetles that feed on the nutritionally depauperate and recalcitrant tissues provided by the leaves, stems, and roots of living plants comprise one-quarter of herbivorous insect species. Among the key adaptations for herbivory are plant cell wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) that break down the fastidious polymers in the cell wall and grant access to the nutritious cell content. While largely absent from the non-herbivorous ancestors of beetles, such PCWDEs were occasionally acquired via horizontal gene transfer (HGT) or by the uptake of digestive symbionts.

Fine-tuning of gene expression through the Mettl3-Mettl14-Dnmt1 axis controls ESC differentiation.

The marking of DNA, histones, and RNA is central to gene expression regulation in development and disease. Recent evidence links N6-methyladenosine (mA), installed on RNA by the METTL3-METTL14 methyltransferase complex, to histone modifications, but the link between mA and DNA methylation remains scarcely explored. This study shows that METTL3-METTL14 recruits the DNA methyltransferase DNMT1 to chromatin for gene-body methylation.

Longitudinal impact of impulsivity and sensation-seeking on vaping initiation: The moderating role of peer vaping.

Limited research indicates impulsivity and sensation-seeking are associated with electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use in young adulthood, however, no study has examined the moderating effect of peer ENDS use on these associations. We examined the impacts of impulsivity and sensation-seeking on ENDS use initiation and determined if peer ENDS use moderates these associations. Participants were 2,590 ENDS naïve (i.

New insights into gold nanoparticles in virology: A review of their applications in the prevention, detection, and treatment of viral infections.

Viral infections have led to the deaths of millions worldwide and come with significant economic and social burdens. Emerging viral infections, as witnessed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), can profoundly affect all aspects of human life, highlighting the imperative need to develop diagnostic, therapeutic, and effective control strategies in response. Numerous studies highlight the diverse applications of nanoparticles in diagnosing, controlling, preventing, and treating viral infections.

Presentation, management and outcomes of ruptured intracranial aneurysms in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Approximately two percent of the world's population are affected by intracranial aneurysms (IAs). This study aimed to evaluate literature regarding presentation, treatment and outcomes of ruptured IAs in Africa.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature using PubMed/MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Adverse outcomes in monochorionic twins with amniotic fluid abnormalities without TTTS: A Case-Control study.

Objective: Monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twins with amniotic fluid abnormalities that do not meet criteria for twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) concern physicians and families. This study aimed to describe the natural history of amniotic fluid abnormalities.

Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, TTTS screening ultrasounds and clinical records throughout all MCDA twin gestations were reviewed between 2018 and 2022 at a tertiary fetal care center.