Chronic Khat Usage as a Cause of Chronic Hypertensive Encephalopathy and Vascular Dementia: A Case Report.

Khat is a native plant of Eastern Africa that is widely utilized for its stimulant-like effects. It is known to have effects similar to those of amphetamine and has a comparable side effect profile, including tachycardia, hypertension, and insomnia. In this case report, we present a 45-year-old Somali gentleman with a history of more than eight years of chronic Khat use, presenting with progressive cognitive decline.

Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis Due to IgA Nephropathy in a Patient With a Large Renal Mass.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a common primary glomerulonephritis characterized by the deposition of IgA immune complexes within the glomerular mesangium. IgAN can present with a wide range of clinical manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic hematuria to severe renal disease. This case describes a 67-year-old woman with a history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obesity who presented with acute kidney injury and clinical manifestations of nephrotic syndrome.

COVID-19-Associated Encephalopathy: A Case Series Demonstrating the Rapid Deterioration of Mental Status and a Review of the Literature.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is known for its severe inflammatory response, often leading to multi-organ dysfunction. Among the less-recognized complications is COVID-19-associated encephalopathy, particularly in the elderly, where it contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality. This report explores the rapid neurocognitive decline observed in six hospitalized patients with COVID-19, with or without pre-existing neurological conditions.

Men's Attitudes Towards Participation in Organised Prostate Cancer Testing: An Abductive Thematic Analysis.

Background And Objective: Organised prostate cancer (PCa) testing (OPT) was introduced in Sweden to gain knowledge in preparation for a potential national PCa screening programme. This study aims to explore men's opinions regarding the OPT invitation letters and the attitudes influencing their decision to participate in or decline OPT.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured telephone interviews with 30 men (nine participants and 21 non-participants) from Stockholm County who received OPT invitations.

Surveillance of soil-transmitted helminths and other intestinal parasites in shelter dogs, Mississippi, USA.

In recent years, soil-transmitted helminthiases, including strongyloidiasis have become a prominent public health concern in the southeastern United States of America (USA). While there is ongoing human soil-transmitted helminths (STH) surveillance in Mississippi and Alabama, very little attention has been paid to potentially zoonotic STH from dogs in this region. We microscopically examined faecal samples collected from 252 shelter dogs in Mississippi using the formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation method.

Quantifying the accelerated diffusion and cost savings of global solar photovoltaic supply chains.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) is critical for achieving the 2030 global target of tripling renewable power capacity. Over the past two decades, the global supply chain has significantly reduced the cost of solar PV products enabling widespread adoption. However, many countries are now implementing decoupling measures to enhance supply chain security and boost local economies.

Dengue virus and Zika virus alter endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria contact sites to regulate respiration and apoptosis.

During infection, dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV), two (ortho)flaviviruses of public health concern worldwide, induce alterations of mitochondria morphology to favor viral replication, suggesting a viral co-opting of mitochondria functions. Here, we performed an extensive transmission electron microscopy-based quantitative analysis to demonstrate that both DENV and ZIKV alter endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria contact sites (ERMC). This correlated at the molecular level with an impairment of ERMC tethering protein complexes located at the surface of both organelles.

Elucidating early proton irradiation effects in metal halide perovskites via photoluminescence spectroscopy.

Metal halide perovskite (MHP) solar cells are promising aerospace power sources given their potential as inexpensive, lightweight, and resilient solar electricity generators. Herein, the intrinsic radiation tolerance of unencapsulated methylammonium lead iodide/chloride (CHNHPbICl) films was isolated. Spatially resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and confocal microscopy revealed the fundamental defect physics through optical changes as films were irradiated with 4.

MjCyc: Rediscovering the pathway-genome landscape of the first sequenced archaeon, .

The genome of () DSM 2661 was the first Archaeal genome to be sequenced in 1996. Subsequent sequence-based annotation cycles led to its first metabolic reconstruction in 2005. Leveraging new experimental results and function assignments, we have now re-annotated creating an updated resource with novel information and testable predictions in a pathway-genome database available at BioCyc.

Revealing the role of cancer-associated fibroblast senescence in prognosis and immune landscape in pancreatic cancer.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) represent a major contributor to tumor growth. Cellular senescence is a state of cell-cycle arrest characterized by a pro-inflammatory phenotype. The potential impact of CAF senescence on tumor progression and the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains to be elucidated.

Revisiting phosphoregulation of Cdc25C during M-phase induction.

Cdc25C undergoes a sudden and substantial gel mobility shift at M-phase onset, correlating with abrupt activation of both Cdc25C and Cdk1 activities. A positive feedback loop between Cdk1 and Cdc25C has been used to explain this hallmark phenomenon. Here, we demonstrate that the M-phase supershift and robust activation of Cdc25C are due to the site-comprehensive phosphorylation of its long intrinsically disordered regulatory domain without requiring Cdk1 or other major mitotic kinase activities.

Prospective Trial of a Passive Diversion Device to Reduce Blood Culture Contamination.

Background: Blood culture contaminants can lead to inappropriate antibiotic use, prolonged length of stay, and additional hospital costs. Several devices have been developed to reduce the risk of blood culture contamination by diverting a portion of the initial blood sample from the blood culture bottle. We assessed the effectiveness of 1 blood diversion device (BDD) in a prospective trial performed at the 2 separate emergency departments (EDs) of an academic medical center.

SyncGenie: A programmable event synchronization device for neuroscience research.

In neuroscience, accurately correlating brain activity with stimuli and other events requires precise synchronization between neural data and event timing. To achieve this, purpose-built synchronization devices are often used to detect events. This paper introduces SyncGenie, a programmable synchronization device designed for a range of uses in neuroscience research-primarily as a "trigger box" to align neurophysiological data with physical stimulus events, among other possibilities.

Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Binge Drinking among Adults in the United State: Analysis of the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey.

Little is known about the association of social media and belief in alcohol and cancer with binge drinking. This study aimed to perform feature selection and develop machine learning (ML) tools to predict occurrence of binge drinking among adults in the United State. A total of 5,886 adults including 1,252 who ever experienced with binge drinking were selected from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 6).

Diagnostic and prognostic performance of urine ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 across multiple acute brain injury types - A longitudinal prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) is recognized as a diagnostic and prognostic blood biomarker for traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study aimed to evaluate whether UCH-L1 concentrations measured in patients' urine post-injury could serve as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker for outcomes in various types of acute brain injuries (ABI).

Material And Methods: This pilot study included 46 ABI patients: aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (n = 22), ischemic stroke (n = 16), and traumatic brain injury (n = 8), along with three healthy controls.

A unique case of extranodal marginal zone lymphoma with synchronous pulmonary and dermatologic manifestations.

An 89-year-old male with a medical history of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy was initially admitted with acute hypoxic respiratory failure attributed to heart failure exacerbation. Aside from progressive dyspnea, a non-pruritic, non-painful rash and constitutional symptoms were reported. Initial work-up was remarkable for normocytic anemia, lymphopenia, mild hypercalcemia, and elevated inflammatory markers.

Perspectives of Midwives and Nurse Practitioners in Kentucky on Exercise Counseling During Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Healthcare professionals are in an optimal position to deliver exercise information to pregnant women, yet previous research suggests this seldom happens. Midwives and nurse practitioners, who may have more time with pregnant women, are particularly well suited for this role.

Objectives: This qualitative study examined the exercise advice and counseling provided by midwives and nurse practitioners in Kentucky, focusing on the barriers they face.

An agent-based model facilitating stakeholder engagement in management of estuaries along the Texas Gulf Coast (USA).

We describe an agent-based model purposed for social learning, which was developed by stakeholders, with the technical assistance of professional modelers, to facilitate stakeholder involvement in modeling issues related to the development of an adaptive environmental management plan for the Texas Gulf Coast (USA) estuaries. Stakeholders developed the model during six workshops that spanned a three-year period, and used the model to simulate the population dynamics (recruitment, growth, movement, and mortality) of blue crabs () in the Aransas and Copano Bays in response to various freshwater inflow and harvest scenarios. Results of scenarios representing normal, low, and high harvest levels indicated little effect on blue crab abundances, but harvests increased ≈75 % when harvest level was doubled and decreased ≈50 % harvest level was halved.

Mid-term Clinical and Radiographic Outcomes of the Actis Total Hip System: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction Implant technology for total hip arthroplasty (THA) was developed to improve hip function and patient satisfaction. Actis (DePuy Synthes, Warsaw, IN, USA) is a short fit-and-fill titanium stem, with a medial-collared and triple-taper (MCTT) geometry, that is fully coated with hydroxyapatite (HA). We evaluated the radiographic and clinical outcomes of the Actis Total Hip System during a mean follow-up of five years.

Successful Treatment of a Patient With Chronic Bronchiectasis Using an Induced Native Phage Cocktail: A Case Report.

Bronchiectasis is a well-recognized chronic respiratory disease characterized by a productive cough and multi-microbial activation syndrome (MMAS) of various respiratory infections due to what can be the permanent dilatation of the bronchi. Bronchiectasis represents an ongoing challenge to conventional antibiotic treatment as the damaged bronchial environment remains conducive to ongoing opportunistic infections and microbial mutations, leading to multi-drug resistance. Standard treatment guidelines are designed to promptly identify and address the primary infection.

Speech-Language Pathology Interventions in Pediatric Awake Brain Surgery: A Moroccan and Global Perspective.

Introduction Awake brain surgery (ABS) is a groundbreaking technique that not only enhances tumor resection but also preserves vital neurocognitive functions, particularly through advanced brain mapping. Despite its success in adults, ABS in pediatric patients remains significantly underexplored, especially concerning the role of speech-language pathology (SLP) in these procedures. This study addresses this gap by providing a thorough examination of SLP interventions in pediatric ABS across various university hospitals, including those in Morocco and internationally.

Prevalence of Osteoporosis and Osteopenia in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes at King Abdulaziz University Hospital: A Retrospective Analysis.

Introduction Osteoporosis mainly affects postmenopausal women and is characterized by decreasing bone mass and an increased risk of fracture. As populations age, it becomes more common and is frequently missed until fractures happen. Simultaneously, there is conflicting evidence about the relationship between bone health and diabetes, a chronic metabolic illness, with varying effects on the skeletal system.

A Narrative Review of the Effects of Internal Jugular Vein Compression on Brain Structure and Function During Periods of Head Impact.

Subconcussive impacts are very common in the sports world and can have many negative impacts on human function, including increased risk for cognitive decline and behavioral impairments such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The purpose of this article is to analyze the available literature on the effects of jugular vein compression applied by a cervical collar on cerebral structure and function in the setting of chronic impact exposure. This narrative review analyzed 17 articles on brain structure and function, published between 1992 and 2022.

panniculitis in a cat from northern California.

Case Summary: A 9-year-old male castrated domestic shorthair cat from northern California was evaluated for a 12-month history of dermal and subcutaneous dermatitis in the inguinal region. Histopathologic examination of a biopsy revealed severe, chronic, multifocal to coalescing pyogranulomatous dermatitis and panniculitis, accompanied by ulceration and central necrosis. Aerobic bacterial culture of lesions yielded mycobacterial growth.