Evaluation of dentists' clinical practices and antibiotic use in managing endodontic emergencies in Karachi, Pakistan: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Endodontic emergencies, often presented as acute pain or swelling, constitute a substantial challenge in dental practice. While effective management emphasizes prompt intervention, antibiotics are typically indicated only when systemic signs and symptoms are present. There is limited research exists on evaluating the knowledge and clinical approach of dental practitioners in managing endodontic emergencies from our region of the world.

Leveraging human microbiomes for disease prediction and treatment.

The human microbiome consists of diverse microorganisms that inhabit various body sites. As these microbes are increasingly recognized as key determinants of health, there is significant interest in leveraging individual microbiome profiles for early disease detection, prevention, and drug efficacy prediction. However, the complexity of microbiome data, coupled with conflicting study outcomes, has hindered its integration into clinical practice.

Updates on the Pathogenesis of Canine and Feline Atopic Dermatitis: Part 1, History, Breed Prevalence, Genetics, Allergens, and the Environment.

Canine atopic dermatitis (cAD) and feline atopic skin syndrome are inflammatory and pruritic skin diseases with both environmental and genetic factors. Genetic factors may include barrier defects and a predisposition to mount T helper 2 lymphocyte immune response when allergens are encountered. These diseases have repeatable patterns of skin and ear inflammation and commonly lead to Staphylococcal and Malassezia skin and ear infections.

Updates on the Pathogenesis of Canine Atopic Dermatitis and Feline Atopic Skin Syndrome: Part 2, the Skin Barrier, the Microbiome, and Immune System Dysfunction.

Alterations in the lipid layer and intercellular corneocyte connections can lead to increased allergen penetration through the skin surface. A normal cutaneous microbiome keeps the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus pseudintermedius levels low, but allergic inflammation leads to decreased diversity and increase in S pseudintermedius. Keratinocytes sound the initial allergen alarm via cytokine signaling and promote T-helper 2 (Th-2) inflammation.

Harvey Cushing: France Military Hospital Surgical Unit Head and World War I United States Army Medical Corps Commissioner.

Background: This historical account reviews the course and lasting impact of Dr. Harvey Cushing (1869-1939) in neurosurgery.

Methods: The writing of this project was sparked by the discovery of original scientific and bibliographical information about Cushing.

Neoadjuvant and adjuvant osimertinib in stage IA-IIIA, EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NORA).

Introduction: Treatment with adjuvant osimertinib for three years is the standard-of-care for resected stage IB-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutations. The role of neoadjuvant osimertinib in the perioperative setting is yet to be elucidated in the NeoADAURA study (NCT04351555).

Methods: This is a single center, pilot study of patients with clinical stage IA-IIIA NSCLC (AJCC 8th edition) harboring an activating EGFR mutation (Exon 19 deletion, L858R) (NCT04816838).

The Impact of Sleep and Exercise on Brain Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Chronic sleep deprivation and lack of physical exercise may have detrimental effects on overall health, particularly in terms of brain health, with significant implications for cognitive function and well-being. This review explores the impact of chronic sleep deprivation and physical exercise on brain atrophy in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Drawing insights from 40 selected studies, the review synthesizes evidence on these lifestyle factors' correlations with neurodegenerative changes.

Exploring the neurotoxic effects of microbial metabolites: A potential link between p-Cresol and autism spectrum disorders?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a complex etiology, including genetic and environmental factors. A growing body of evidence (preclinical and clinical studies) implicates a potential role of gut microbiome dysregulation in ASD pathophysiology. This review focuses on the microbial metabolite p-Cresol, produced by certain gut bacteria such as Clostridium, and its potential role in ASD.

Amperometric determination of NADH and dehydrogenase enzymes at a redox-active nanocomposite.

Aminated carbon nanotubes, CNT, were covalently modified with glutardialdehyde (GDI) and the redox dye Azure to form a new electrode material CNT-GDI-Azure (CGA). The nanocomposite of CGA and polysaccharide chitosan was used for the anodic determination of NADH. Compared to conventional carbon and metal electrodes, the CGA electrode drastically lowered the overpotential for NADH oxidation (by > 0.

Exposure therapy consortium: Outcomes of the proof-of-principle study.

Background: This paper reports on the outcomes of a proof-of-principle study for the Exposure Therapy Consortium, a global network of researchers and clinicians who work to improve the effectiveness and uptake of exposure therapy. The study aimed to test the feasibility of the consortium's big-team science approach and test the hypothesis that adding post-exposure processing focused on enhancing threat reappraisal would enhance the efficacy of a one-session large-group interoceptive exposure therapy protocol for reducing anxiety sensitivity.

Methods: The study involved a multi-site cluster-randomized controlled trial comparing exposure with post-processing (ENHANCED), exposure without post-processing (STANDARD), and a stress management intervention (CONTROL) in students with elevated anxiety sensitivity.

The global impact of scoliosis on tracheal abnormalities and ventilation needs in pediatric patients with tracheostomy tubes.

Purpose: To describe the effects of scoliosis severity on the trachea in patients with a tracheostomy tube.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients 21 years and younger with a tracheostomy and scoliosis between 2001 and 2019 was conducted at a single tertiary pediatric hospital. Patients with spine curvature from C6 - T3 (tracheal limits) were divided into two groups based on curvatures that were either greater than or equal to 30° (Group A) or less than 30° (Group B).

Ossification patterns of the C1 (atlas) and C2 (axis) vertebrae children.

Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to assess ossification patterns and synchondrosis fusion timelines of the C1 and C2 vertebrae in pediatric age group, to help differentiate injuries from normal variations and serve as a guide when evaluating incompletely fused synchondrosis.

Materials And Methods: The study analyzed 432 CT examinations of children aged 0-72 months, conducted at a single institution between January 2010 and January 2018. The focus was assessment of the visibility and fusion of the three ossification centers and three synchondroses of the atlas, and six ossification centers and four synchondroses of the axis, based on age.

Updates on the MR safety guidelines - Essentials for radiologists.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a sophisticated diagnostic tool that utilizes the magnetic properties of biological tissue to generate detailed images of internal structures without the use of ionizing radiation. Despite its benefits in providing high-contrast images of soft tissues, the strong magnetic fields used in MRI present a unique safety challenge. Increasing MRI-related accidents and the prevalence of patients with metallic implants in recent years underscore the critical need for stringent MR safety protocols.

Longitudinal determinants of thriving in Puerto Rican climate crisis migrants on the U.S. mainland: A structural equation model.

Climate-related disasters pose significant risks to mental health and well-being globally. Individuals from disaster-prone regions, such as Puerto Rico, are at even greater risk. The devastating effects of recurrent hurricanes, compounded with pre-existing structural disparities (e.

Defining the needle in a haystack: A compendium of genomic, pathologic, and clinical characteristics of rare pulmonary tumors.

A major paradigm shift in the diagnosis, management, and survival outcomes of early and advanced non-small cell lung cancer has transpired over the past few decades in thoracic oncology with the incorporation of molecular testing, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, neoadjuvant, and adjuvant approaches. However, transformation in the management and survival outcomes of rare lung tumors is lacking. Given the scarcity of these tumor types, randomized trials are rarely performed, and treatment is extrapolated from case series, tumor-agnostic trials, or cancers with similar histology.

Substance Use Disorders Among Human Trafficking Victims: Evidence from the 2019 to 2021 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample.

Background: Human trafficking (HT) survivors are at risk for substance use disorder (SUD), although assessing the SUD epidemiology of HT survivors is difficult. This study used data from the 2019 to 2021 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample to estimate the prevalence of SUD for HT survivors utilizing emergency departments (ED) in the United States of America (US).

Methods: We included visits for patients aged 12-64 years with any International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes documenting HT as a cause of morbidity ( 1,688,  141) or history of HT ( 2,524,  218).

Sex-specific astrocyte regulation of spinal motor circuits by Nkx6.1.

Astrocytes exhibit diverse cellular and molecular properties across the central nervous system (CNS). Recent studies identified region-specific transcription factors (TF) that oversee these diverse properties; how sex differences intersect with region-specific transcriptional programs to regulate astrocyte function is unknown. Here, we show that the TF Nkx6.

An Exploratory Analysis of Child Characteristics Predicting Clinical Outcomes in Parent-Led Cognitive Behavioral Teletherapy for Anxiety in Autistic Children.

Parent-led cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an efficient, promising form of therapy that may be well suited for autistic youth with anxiety disorders. A recent clinical trial found that parent-led CBT - in which parents led their child through a guided CBT workbook with varying degrees of therapist support - was efficacious for reducing anxiety and associated functional impairment. While such findings demonstrate promise for future intervention development and dissemination efforts with this population, more work is needed to elucidate clinical factors that impact response to treatment as well as drop-out.

Cetyltrimethylammonium Chloride (CTAC) and Its Formulated Mouthwash Reduce the Infectivity of Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans in Mono and Dual State.

Early childhood caries (ECC), a severe form of dental caries, is exacerbated by the synergistic interaction between Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans, leading to greater disease severity than their individual effects. This underscores the need for more targeted and potent therapeutic alternatives. Given the promising anti-infective properties of quaternary ammonium surfactants (QAS), this study explores the microbicidal properties of one such QAS, cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), against both individual- and dual-species cultures of S.

The Utility of Interferon-γ Release Assays in the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Patients With Cancer.

Background: Patients with cancer are at elevated risk for tuberculosis (TB) reactivation. Diagnosis of latent TB infection and TB disease remains challenging in this patient population despite the advent of interferon-γ release assays (IGRA).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of all patients with cancer who had IGRA testing (QuantiFERON-TB [QFT-TB] or T-SPOT.

Improved Control of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Tumor and Metastasis with a pH-Sensitive Hyaluronic Acid Nanocarrier for Doxorubicin Delivery.

Polymer based nanoformulations offer substantial prospects for efficacious chemotherapy delivery. Here, we developed a pH-responsive polymeric nanoparticle based on acidosis-triggered breakdown of boronic ester linkers. A biocompatible hyaluronic acid (HA) matrix served as a substrate for carrying a doxorubicin (DOX) prodrug which also possesses natural affinity for CD44 cells.

Community health promotion and disaster recovery: a PhotoVoice project in Comerío, Puerto Rico.

Background: PhotoVoice - a series of workshops involving participatory photography and narrative-building - was employed in the rural town of Comerío, Puerto Rico (PR) to describe disaster recovery in a rural setting and foster policy dialogue.

Methods: Using PhotoVoice workshops and ethnographic observations, the project describes how women affiliated with a local community-based organization described the priorities for disaster recovery in visual images and narratives. We draw analytically upon theories of intersectionality and coloniality to describe socio-structural and community factors that shape community health in the context of ongoing disasters.