Presumed bilateral acute idiopathic maculopathy in a pediatric patient.

Purpose: To describe a rare case of presumed bilateral acute idiopathic maculopathy (AIM) in a pediatric patient.

Observation: An 11-year-old male was evaluated for a "fuzzy Dorito-shaped" spot in the central vision of his right eye (OD) that started 3 days before presenting to our clinic. On examination, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was counting fingers at 5 feet OD, and 20/25 in the left eye (OS).

Coats disease presenting with vitreous hemorrhage and neovascular glaucoma.

Purpose: To describe a patient with Coats disease with an atypical presentation of neovascular glaucoma and vitreous hemorrhage.

Observations: A 15-year-old male presented with five days of pain, redness, and swelling and was found to have neovascular glaucoma in his right eye. Further evaluation revealed Coats disease stage 3AI with a subtotal exudative retinal detachment inferiorly, telangiectatic vessels, and vitreous hemorrhage.

Preliminary validation of the virtual bariatric endoscopic simulator.

Background And Aims: Obesity is a global health concern. Bariatric surgery offers reliably effective and durable weight loss and improvements of other comorbid conditions. However, the accessibility of bariatric surgery remains limited.

Filling the Gaps in an Inadequate Housing Safety Net: The Experiences of Informal Housing Providers and Implications for Their Housing Security, Health, and Well-Being.

The authors examine the experiences of informal housing providers, defined as those who provide housing and shelter to family, friends, and acquaintances in the context of a severe affordable rental housing crisis. Forty-five semistructured interviews were conducted with informal housing providers in and around New Haven, Connecticut, in 2021. The data describe the critical role informal housing providers play in addressing gaps in the housing safety net.

40S ribosomal subunits scan mRNA for the start codon by one-dimensional diffusion.

During eukaryotic translation initiation, the small (40S) ribosomal subunit is recruited to the 5' cap and subsequently scans the 5' untranslated region (5' UTR) of mRNA in search of the start codon. The molecular mechanism of mRNA scanning remains unclear. Here, using GFP reporters in cells, we show that order-of-magnitude variations in the lengths of unstructured 5' UTRs have a modest effect on protein synthesis.

Apolipoprotein-L1 G1 variant contributes to hydrocephalus but not to atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein-E knock-out mice.

Introduction: In USA, six million individuals with Sub-Saharan ancestry carry two high-risk variants, which increase the risk for kidney diseases. Whether APOL1 high-risk variants are independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases is unclear and requires further investigation.

Methods: We characterized a mouse model to investigate the role of APOL1 in dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases.

Nerve Growth Factor Signaling Tunes Axon Maintenance Protein Abundance and Kinetics of Wallerian Degeneration.

Neurotrophic factors are critical for establishing functional connectivity in the nervous system and sustaining neuronal survival through adulthood. As the first neurotrophic factor purified, nerve growth factor (NGF) is extensively studied for its prolific role in axon outgrowth, pruning, and survival. Applying NGF to diseased neuronal tissue is an exciting therapeutic option and understanding how NGF regulates local axon susceptibility to pathological degeneration is critical for exploiting its full potential.

Cryo-EM structure of the conjugation H-pilus reveals the cyclic nature of the TrhA pilin.

Conjugation, the major driver of the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes, relies on a conjugation pilus for DNA transfer. Conjugative pili, such as the F-pilus, are dynamic tubular structures, composed of a polymerized pilin, that mediate the initial donor-recipient interactions, a process known as mating pair formation (MPF). IncH are low-copy-number plasmids, traditionally considered broad host range, which are found in bacteria infecting both humans and animals.

Molecular basis for the assembly of the dynein transport machinery on microtubules.

Cytoplasmic dynein-1, a microtubule-based motor protein, requires dynactin and an adaptor to form the processive dynein-dynactin-adaptor (DDA) complex. The role of microtubules in DDA assembly has been elusive. Here, we reveal detailed structural insights into microtubule-mediated DDA assembly using cryo-electron microscopy.

Evaluating the impact of media and feed combinations on CHO cell culture performance and monoclonal antibody (trastuzumab) production.

Unlabelled: The choice of media and feeds significantly influences the performance of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) mammalian cell cultures in producing desired biologics like monoclonal antibodies (mAb). Sub-optimal nutrient feed/media composition can severely impact cell proliferation and the quality of the final mAb product. For instance, proper protein glycosylation, crucial for mAb stability, safety, and efficacy, heavily relies on cell culture conditions.

Wide field imaging biomarkers: A different perspective.

Wide field retinal imaging has emerged as a transformative technology over the last few decades, revolutionizing our ability to visualize the intricate landscape of the retina. By capturing expansive retinal areas, these techniques offer a panoramic view going beyond traditional imaging methods. In this review, we explore the significance of retinal imaging-based biomarkers to help diagnose ocular and systemic conditions.

Single-cell transcriptomics in thyroid eye disease.

Thyroid eye disease (TED) is a poorly understood autoimmune condition affecting the retroorbital tissue. Tissue inflammation, expansion, and fibrosis can potentially lead to debilitating sequelae such as vision loss, painful eye movement, proptosis, and eyelid retraction. Current treatment modalities for TED include systemic glucocorticoids, thioamides, methimazole, teprotumumab, beta-blockers, and radioactive iodine; however, it has been reported that up to 10%-20% of TED patients relapse after treatment withdrawal and 20%-30% are unresponsive to mainstay therapy for reasons that have yet to be more clearly elucidated.

The Future Face of Surgery-Demographics of Students Interested in Surgery at an Academic Medical Center.

Background: The demographics of medical schools reveal a growing trend towards greater gender and underrepresented in medicine (UIM) representation among students, yet surgical residency lags behind. This study explores the demographics of first-year medical students (M1s) and their initial career interests.

Methods: A panel of faculty physicians and fourth-year medical students in surgical and nonsurgical specialties was held for M1s during orientation week.

Langerhans Cells Directly Interact with Resident T Cells in the Human Epidermis.

Adult human skin contains nearly twice as many T cells as the peripheral blood, which include tissue-resident memory T cells. However, the precise mechanisms maintaining tissue-resident memory T cells in the healthy skin remain unclear. Using normal human skin samples, we find that Langerhans cells (LCs) contact T cells in the epidermis of the elderly.

Uncommon presentation of a chronic recurrent symptomatic encapsulated calcified postoperative paraspinal lumbar hematoma: A case report.

Paraspinal hematomas are common complications following spine surgery. In general, these hematomas are asymptomatic and resolve without issue. Unfortunately, there is a paucity of literature that describes the recurrence of these hematomas in a chronic setting.

The skin allergy risk assessment-integrated chemical environment (SARA-ICE) defined approach to derive points of departure for skin sensitization.

Mechanistically based non-animal methods for assessing skin sensitization hazard have been developed, but are not considered sufficient, individually, to conclusively define the skin sensitization potential or potency of a chemical. This resulted in the development of defined approaches (DAs), as documented in OECD TG 497, for combining information sources in a prescriptive manner to provide a determination of risk or potency. However, there are currently no DAs within OECD TG 497 that can derive a point of departure (POD) for risk assessment.

Fit for purpose testing and independent GMP validation of the monocyte activation test.

The present study describes the "fit for purpose" testing and the independent product-specific GMP validation of the monocyte activation test (MAT) to detect pyrogenic and pro-inflammatory contaminants, MAT Method A, Quantitative Test (European Pharmacopoeia, Ph. Eur. chapter 2.

Electrospinning based biomaterials for biomimetic fabrication, bioactive protein delivery and wound regenerative repair.

Electrospinning is a remarkably straightforward and adaptable technique that can be employed to process an array of synthetic and natural materials, resulting in the production of nanoscale fibers. It has emerged as a novel technique for biomedical applications and has gained increasing popularity in the research community in recent times. In the context of tissue repair and tissue engineering, there is a growing tendency toward the integration of biomimetic scaffolds and bioactive macromolecules, particularly proteins and growth factors.

Molecular Characterization of Bovine in Equine Sarcoids in Egypt.

Bovine papillomaviruses (BPVs) commonly cause sarcoids in equines worldwide. Equine sarcoids (ESs) reduce the working ability of draft animals and produce untoward cosmetic changes in racing and dancing equine. In this study, nine horses and 16 donkeys with sarcoids were presented to Zagazig University Veterinary Clinic, Zagazig, Egypt.

Decompressive Craniectomy and Hinged Craniotomy for Traumatic Brain Injury: Experience in Two Centers in a Middle-Income Country.

Objective: The goal of a decompressive craniectomy (DC) or a hinge craniotomy (HC), is to treat intracranial hypertension and reduce mortality. Traditionally, the decompression procedure has been performed with cranial bone removal. However, decompression and repositioning the cranial bone, named HC, has been presented as an alternative for certain cases.

Comparison of Outcomes of Hinge Craniotomy Versus Decompressive Craniectomy in Patients With Malignant Intracranial Hypertension: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Study.

Objective: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to compare the short-, mid-, and long-term outcomes in patients with malignant intracranial hypertension undergoing either decompressive craniectomy (DC) or hinge craniotomy (HC).

Methods: In this prospective RCT, 38 patients diagnosed with malignant intracranial hypertension due to ischemic infarction, traumatic brain injury, or non-lesional spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage, who required cranial decompression, were randomly allocated to the DC and HC groups.

Results: The need for reoperation, particularly cranioplasty, in the DC group was significantly different from that in the HC group.

Efficacy of Additional Surgical Decompression on Functional Outcome in Pyogenic Spinal Epidural Abscess With No Neurological Deficit.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of additional surgical decompression with antibiotics to treat pyogenic spinal epidural abscess (SEA) with no neurological deficits.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients diagnosed with spontaneous pyogenic SEA in the thoracolumbosacral area who presented with sciatica and no motor deficits in the lower extremities. The treatment took place in a single tertiary hospital.

Clinical Problem Solving: Two Patients With Gait Instability and Difficulty With Hand Coordination.

Subacute-to-chronic gait instability has a broad differential diagnosis. The neurological exam can help elucidate the localization and suggest an underlying etiology of the symptomatology, which can lead to a more focused diagnostic approach. Two patients are described - 1 with a month of worsening difficulty with ambulation that evolved to bilateral hand discoordination and another with 18 months of progressive difficulty with ambulation that also then progressed to involve her bilateral hands.