Can back exosuits simultaneously increase lifting endurance and reduce musculoskeletal disorder risk?

The objectives of this case series study were to test whether an elastic back exosuit could increase a wearer's endurance when lifting heavy objects and to assess whether lifting more cancels out the exosuit's risk reduction benefits. We found that 88% of participants increased their lifting repetitions while wearing an exosuit, with endurance increases ranging from 28 to 75%. We then used these empirical data with an ergonomic assessment model based on fatigue failure principles to estimate the effects on cumulative back damage (an indicator of low back disorder risk) when an exosuit is worn and more lifts are performed.

Design, modeling, and preliminary evaluation of a simple wrist-hand stretching orthosis for neurologically impaired patients.

This work studies upper-limb impairment resulting from stroke or traumatic brain injury and presents a simple technological solution for a subset of patients: a soft, active stretching aid for at-home use. To better understand the issues associated with existing associated rehabilitation devices, customer discovery conversations were conducted with 153 people in the healthcare ecosystem (60 patients, 30 caregivers, and 63 medical providers). These patients fell into two populations: spastic (stiff, clenched hands) and flaccid (limp hands).

Identifying internal and external shoulder rotation using a kirigami-based shoulder patch.

Internal and external rotation of the shoulder is often challenging to quantify in the clinic. Existing technologies, such as motion capture, can be expensive or require significant time to setup, collect data, and process and analyze the data. Other methods may rely on surveys or analog tools, which are subject to interpretation.

Center of mass acceleration during walking: comparison between IMU and camera-based motion capture methodologies.

Placing an inertial measurement unit (IMU) at the 5th lumbar vertebra (L5) is a frequently employed method to assess the whole-body center of mass (CoM) motion during walking. However, such a fixed position approach does not account for instantaneous changes in body segment positions that change the CoM. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the congruence between CoM accelerations obtained from these two methods.

Enhancing prosthetic hand control: A synergistic multi-channel electroencephalogram.

Electromyogram (EMG) has been a fundamental approach for prosthetic hand control. However it is limited by the functionality of residual muscles and muscle fatigue. Currently, exploring temporal shifts in brain networks and accurately classifying noninvasive electroencephalogram (EEG) for prosthetic hand control remains challenging.

Criticality is Associated with Future Psychotherapy Response in Patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-A Pilot Study.

Background: Trauma-focused psychotherapy is treatment of choice for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, about half of patients do not respond. Recently, there is increased interest in brain criticality, which assesses the phase transition between order and disorder in brain activity.

Exploring trauma surgeons' views on trauma care in Nigeria: A qualitative study.

Background: In Nigeria, trauma care faces challenges due to high injury and death rates from road traffic accidents and violence. Improvements are underway, but gaps in service availability, training, and coordination persist, necessitating evidence-based interventions.

Purpose: To evaluate trauma care practices in Nigeria, focusing on practitioners' perceptions of training, resources, and care quality to inform policy and practice enhancements.

High-resolution isotopic data link settlement complexification to infant diets within the Roman Empire.

Our study explores the potential relationship between infant feeding practices and settlement complexity in the Roman Empire through high-resolution Bayesian-modeled stable isotope measurements from incremental dentine. We compiled isotopic data from permanent first molars of individuals from various Roman sites: five from Bainesse (UK), 30 from Thessaloniki (Greece), along with new carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses from four individuals from Pompeii and six from Ostia Via del Mare (AVM). Our results reveal significant inter-site variability in breastfeeding durations, ranging from 1.

Fact-checks focus on famous politicians, not partisans.

Does the fact-checking enterprise focus its attention on one party? If Republican or Democratic politicians were systematically more likely to have their statements evaluated, that would call into question both the impartiality of the fact-checking enterprise and the results of the many papers that rely on fact-checks to drive other measurements. Despite frequent claims that fact-checking organizations are biased against Republicans, there is little systematic evidence regarding political bias in this industry. We address these gaps using data on how often each member of Congress was fact-checked from 2018 to 2021.

Use of Immunoglobulin Replacement Therapy in Clinical Practice: A Review.

Immunoglobulins (Igs) are produced by B lymphocytes and play a key role in humoral immunity. Igs are classified into five isotypes (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE, and IgD). Their primary function is to recognize and bind to foreign antigens.

Cyclin Dependent Kinase 2 (CDK2) Inhibitors in Oncology Clinical Trials: A Review.

Cyclin dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) is responsible for enforcing progression through the G1-S phase transition. Mutations and alterations in the CDK2 signaling pathway are associated with various cancers, most commonly breast, ovarian, prostate, leukemia, and lymphoma. CDK2 inhibitors have shown promising preclinical and early clinical results, and this class of agents may be most effective against cancers with cyclin E overactivity.

Real-World Outcomes in Patients with Advanced Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Single Institution Experience.

Introduction: Advanced penile squamous cell carcinoma (pSCC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis and an unmet need for biomarkers. We performed a retrospective evaluation of real-world efficacy, safety outcomes, and baseline inflammatory biomarkers in patients with advanced pSCC treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients with advanced pSCC who received ICIs from 2012 to 2023 at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta, GA.

A Rare But Fatal Toxicity: Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Related Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is characterized by thrombotic microangiopathy resulting from decreased activation of the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13). TTP can cause organ damage and is often fatal if the appropriate treatment is not started immediately. Although primary immune TTP is the most common form of TTP, secondary immune etiologies, including complications from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), have also been reported.

Durable Remission After Targeted Therapy in Mutant Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Case Report.

BRAF mutation leads to constitutive activation of the MAPK pathway and is associated with the immune-activating molecular subtype of colorectal cancer. Targeted therapy for mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) has significantly improved outcomes for these patients when combined with anti-epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapy. However, most patients ultimately develop disease progression.

Expert Clinical Management of Inflammatory Immune-Related Arthritis in Patients with Cancer Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors.

Introduction: Treatment guidelines for immune-related inflammatory arthritis (irAE-IA) in patients with cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are vague with respect to the use of specific agents. Patients are usually referred to rheumatologists for treatment. We conducted a survey of expert rheumatologists to determine current practices.

Oncology Clinical Trials Targeting Members of the Cadherin Superfamily: A Review.

The cadherin superfamily of proteins is critical for cell-cell interactions and demonstrates tissue-specific expression profiles. In cancers, disruption of cell-cell adhesion is frequently associated with oncogenesis and metastasis. As such, these proteins have been the targets of multiple attempts to develop novel therapeutics in malignancy.

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery for a deaf patient: Communication strategies.

Purpose: To report a successful method of communication with deaf patients during topical anesthetic refractive surgery.

Observations: Nonverbal ways of communicating with deaf patients during cataract surgery have been reported. Here, we present a report of LASIK surgery for a deaf patient with topical anesthesia using similar communication methods.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease associated optic neuropathy in an adolescent.

Purpose: We present a case of Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease (KFD) associated with bilateral optic neuropathy progressing to vision loss.

Observations: A 17-year-old male was referred for bilateral optic nerve pallor. Eight years prior, he was diagnosed with KFD after workup for lymphadenopathy and treated with prednisolone acutely followed by long-term Plaquenil.

Targeting menin for precision therapy in high-risk acute myeloid leukemia.

Objective: This mini-review provides an overview of the current evidence for Revumenib, a first-in-class menin inhibitor, in treating AML with KMT2A rearrangements or NPM1 mutations. This therapy represents a promising advancement by selectively disrupting leukemogenic pathways.

Summary: The clinical promise of Revumenib in genetically defined AML highlights its potential role in shaping the future treatment landscape.

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation producing low evoked force elicits the repeated bout effect on muscle damage markers of the elbow flexors.

This study examined the repeated bout effect (RBE) on muscle damage markers following two bouts of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in untrained individuals. Following familiarization, participants received 45 consecutive NMES to the biceps brachii at an intensity that produced low evoked force for the elbow flexors. Muscle damage markers (maximal voluntary isometric contraction [MVIC], elbow range of motion [ROM], muscle soreness via visual analogue scale [VAS] scores, pressure pain threshold [PPT], and muscle thickness) were measured before (PRE), after (POST), 1 day after (24 POST), and 2 days after (48 POST) NMES.

Self-reported exertional heat illness and risk factors among collegiate marching band artists.

Marching band (MB) artists are often part of the general student population and not required to complete a pre-participation health screening to identify predisposing medical conditions or risks for injury/illness. Anecdotally, exertional heat illnesses (EHI) are a concern for MB artists. As more athletic trainers provide MB healthcare, research is needed on EHI occurrence and MB associated EHI risk factors.

Defecation after magnesium supplementation enhances cognitive performance in triathletes.

Constipation is correlated with diminished cognitive function, revealing a possible rectum-brain connection. In this counter-balanced crossover trial, 13 elite triathletes underwent a Stroop test to assess cognitive function and executive control. The Stroop test was conducted both with and without magnesium oxide intake, with a 1-week washout period between sessions.

An integrative review of the effects of high-intensity interval training on the autonomic nervous system.

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has gained prominence as a time-efficient and effective exercise modality to improve cardiovascular (CV) fitness, metabolic health, and physical performance. Therefore, our aim was to synthesize current clinical research on the effects of HIIT on the Autonomic Nervous System. We conducted the search for studies in the Directory of Open Access Journals, Embase, Virtual Health Library, Pubmed, and Scielo databases, in January of 2024.

Personal light treatment devices: a countermeasure to improve sleep, fatigue, and circadian misalignment in an operational setting.

Carefully timed light exposure is a promising countermeasure to overcome the negative sleep and circadian implications of shift work. However, many lighting interventions are static and applied at the group level (e.g.

The lack of thematic continuity in dreams with scene and plot discontinuities.

A central tenet of Freudian dream theory holds that there is thematic coherence within all dreams, even those containing scene and plot discontinuities. While other models support varying degrees of dream coherence, none address the question of how, or even whether, coherence can be identified in dreams with such discontinuities. Here, we objectively test the ability of judges to evaluate the coherence of individual dream narratives.