Photon-counting CT imaging of a patient with coiled and untreated intracranial saccular aneurysms.

We describe a novel application of photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) in neurovascular imaging by harnessing the improved spatial resolution, attenuation of electronic noise, and reduction of metal artifacts. The presented case offers the unique challenge of high-quality imaging for the assessment of treated and untreated intracranial saccular aneurysms, in the setting of metal artifacts from embolization coils. Our goal was to explore optimized reconstruction parameters for ultra-high-resolution imaging (UHR) using a dedicated, sharp neurovascular kernel (Hv72) and the highest strength of quantum iterative reconstruction (QIR-4) for detailed characterization of the vasculature.

Is lean mass quantity or quality the determinant of maximal fat oxidation capacity? The potential mediating role of cardiorespiratory fitness.

Background: Impaired fat oxidation is linked to cardiometabolic risk. Maximal fat oxidation rate (MFO) reflects metabolic flexibility and is influenced by lean mass, muscle strength, muscle quality - defined as the ratio of strength to mass - and cardiorespiratory fitness. The relationship between these factors and fat oxidation is not fully understood.

Long-term effects of adolescent versus adult nicotine self-administration on cholinergic modulation of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens core.

Adolescence is a developmental period marked by significant alterations to brain neurobiology and behavior. Adolescent nicotine use disrupts developmental trajectories and increases vulnerability to maladaptive drug-taking in adulthood. The mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system, including the nucleus accumbens core (NAc), mediates the reinforcing effects of nicotine.

Serum starvation impacts rhinovirus spread from cell to cell.

Single-cell studies of virus infection have found significant heterogeneity in virus and host gene expression as well as the kinetics of progeny particle release. However, such studies have yet to examine how the resulting virus descendants spread and infect nearby cells. We monitored reporter-gene expression from a recombinant rhinovirus in cell monolayers infected at low multiplicity of infection; we found that the second round of infection consistently exhibited a shorter delay in fluorescence signal appearance relative to the first round, indicating an acceleration in infection spread.

A comprehensive study of the ground vibrational state of the C-13 substituted methanol using high-resolution Synchrotron radiation spectra: Perturbation, forbidden, torsional fundamental overtone, excited overtones, and hot overtones transitions.

This work represents a comprehensive study of the ground vibrational state of C-13 substituted methanol using very high-resolution far-infrared (FIR) and infrared (IR) Synchrotron Radiation spectra recorded with a very high signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio in the entire region from 40to5000cm, at the Canadian Light sources. High resolution combined with a high S/N ratio allowed the recording to be done with an unprecedented resolution of about 0.0017cm.

Ultrasound-guided intraoperative liver ablation - retrospective review of indications and outcomes.

Aim: To define the indications and outcomes of intraoperative ablation of hepatic malignancies.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study comprises 27 patients (male/female: 19/8; mean age: 56 ± 13) undergoing intraoperative ablation (IOA) of liver tumours between July 2001 and August 2021 for 42 tumours, including colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) (n = 27), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)(n = 14), and ovarian cancer metastasis (n = 1). The mean tumour diameter was 2.

Evaluation of the Femoral Condyle Radius of Curvature at the Chondral Surface Shows Significant Correlation With the Anterior-Posterior Length.

Background: Accurate donor-recipient matching of the femoral condyle radius of curvature (ROC) in osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplantation may aid in minimizing articular surface incongruities. Matching linear femorotibial dimensions, such as the femoral condyle anterior-posterior length (APL), femoral condyle width (lateral-medial length, LML), femoral hemicondyle width (HCW), and tibial plateau width (TPW), can provide similar results if they correlate well with ROC. This study investigates the relationship between femorotibial dimensions and ROC at the cartilage surface using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Dose Accuracy and Reliability of a Connected Insulin Pen System.

For people with diabetes on insulin injection therapy, insulin pen dose accuracy and reliability are key features. Dose accuracy of the Tempo Pen with attached Tempo Smart Button [Module] (the system) was tested for three doses under standard atmospheric conditions. Reliability and the ability of the Module to detect, store, and transmit dose-related data were also tested.

Associations between interpersonal and community-level violence experiences and HIV outcomes: implications for violence screening in Ryan White Clinics.

Violence experience, interpersonal and community-level, is commonly reported by people living with HIV (PLWH). Understanding the impact of the various forms of violence on HIV outcomes is critical for prioritizing violence screening and support resources in care settings. From February 2021 to December 2022, among 285 PLWH purposively sampled to attain diversity by gender, race/ethnicity, and HIV care retention status in Atlanta, Georgia, we examined interpersonal and community violence experiences and proxy measures of violence (post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression) and their associations with HIV outcomes (engagement and retention in care and HIV viral suppression) using multivariable analysis.

The effects of age, fitness, and health on the passive stiffness of the intact low back and its impact on seated work in a healthy, working, female population.

Age is associated with increased tissue stiffness and a higher risk of low back pain, particularly in older, sedentary workers who spend long periods sitting. This study explored how trunk stiffness changes with age and its relationship with posture during prolonged sitting in a sample of 37 women aged 20-65 years. Age was assessed as both Chronological Age and Fitness Age, with trunk stiffness measured using a passive trunk flexion apparatus.

Orthopaedic Sports Injuries in an Aging Population: Current Trends and Future Projections.

Background: The elderly US population is growing quickly and staying active longer. However, there is limited information on sports-related injuries in older adults.

Hypotheses: (1) National estimate and incidence of sports-related orthopaedic injuries in the US elderly population have increased over the last 10 years, (2) types and causes of sports-related injuries in the elderly have changed, and (3) elderly sports-related injuries will increase more than the number of treating physicians by 2040.

Prospective multi-centre analysis of rural trauma team development training for medical trainees and traffic law enforcement professionals in Uganda: an interrupted time series study.

Background: Research shows that trauma team formation could potentially improve effectiveness of injury care in rural settings. The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of rural trauma team training amongst medical trainees and traffic law enforcement professionals in Uganda.

Methods: Prospective multi-centre interrupted time series analysis of an interventional training based on the 4th edition of rural trauma team development course of the American College of Surgeons.

Use of flavor capsule cigarettes and their preliminary impact on smoking cessation in Mexico: an exploratory study.

Background: No study has assessed the impact of flavor capsule cigarettes (FCCs) on smoking cessation. Thus, the purpose of this exploratory study was to assess (1) the sociodemographic and smoking-related characteristics associated with using FCCs, and (2) the preliminary impact of FCCs on smoking cessation.

Methods: This study is a secondary data analysis of a single-arm study with 100 individuals living in Mexico who smoked and received a smoking cessation mHealth intervention and pharmacotherapy support.

mHealth Incentivized Adherence Plus Patient Navigation (MIAPP): protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial to improve linkage and retention on buprenorphine for hospitalized patients with methamphetamine use and opioid use disorder.

Background: Initiation of buprenorphine for treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) in acute care settings improves access and outcomes, however patients who use methamphetamine are less likely to link to ongoing treatment. We describe the intervention and design from a pilot randomized controlled trial of an intervention to increase linkage to and retention in outpatient buprenorphine services for patients with OUD and methamphetamine use who initiate buprenorphine in the hospital.

Methods: The study is a two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial (N = 40) comparing the mHealth Incentivized Adherence Plus Patient Navigation (MIAPP) intervention to treatment as usual.

Emergence and expansion of dengue in Paltas: possible implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and climatic variations.

Introduction: Dengue is one of the most widespread arboviruses in Latin America and is now affecting areas previously free of transmission. The COVID-19 pandemic and climatic variations appear to have affected the incidence of the disease, abundance of vectors and health programs related to dengue in some countries.

Objective: To analyze the epidemiology of dengue in Paltas, Ecuador (2016-2022), compare the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, examine entomological reports and discuss the possible implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and climatic variations.

From research to practice: bridging the implementation gap on the use of tranexamic acid in total knee arthroplasty.

Background: The use of intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA), an antifibrinolytic agent, has been shown to effectively reduce total blood loss and transfusion rates in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The aim of this paper is to evaluate the implementation lag and clinical uptake of the use of TXA for primary TKA after publication of two landmark studies. Additionally, it assessed the efficacy of TXA use in TKA in reducing post-operative blood transfusions and hospital length of stay (LOS).

TAD-SIE: sample size estimation for clinical randomized controlled trials using a Trend-Adaptive Design with a Synthetic-Intervention-Based Estimator.

Background: Phase-3 clinical trials provide the highest level of evidence on drug safety and effectiveness needed for market approval by implementing large randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, 30-40% of these trials fail mainly because such studies have inadequate sample sizes, stemming from the inability to obtain accurate initial estimates of average treatment effect parameters.

Methods: To remove this obstacle from the drug development cycle, we present a new algorithm called Trend-Adaptive Design with a Synthetic-Intervention-Based Estimator (TAD-SIE) that powers a parallel-group trial, a standard RCT design, by leveraging a state-of-the-art hypothesis testing strategy and a novel trend-adaptive design (TAD).

Gardnerella vaginalis-binding IgA in the urethra of sexually experienced males.

Background: Genital inflammation increases HIV susceptibility and is associated with the density of pro-inflammatory anaerobes in the vagina and coronal sulcus. The penile urethra is a critical site of HIV acquisition, although correlates of urethral HIV acquisition are largely unknown. While Streptococcus mitis is a consistent component of the urethral flora, the presence of Gardnerella vaginalis has been linked with prior penile-vaginal sex and urethral inflammation.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the Brief Parenting Questionnaire.

Background: There is a paucity of brief self-report parenting measures validated for use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We developed the Brief Parenting Questionnaire (BPQ), a 24-item self-report measure for use with parents of children ages 3-12.

Objective: We describe the development and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the BPQ, which was designed to include two subscales: warm and responsive parenting (WRP) and harsh parenting (HP).

λ-cyhalothrin induced sex-specific inflammation, glia activation and GABAergic interneuron disruption in the hippocampus of rats.

Background: Glia mediated neuroinflammation and degeneration of inhibitory GABAergic interneurons are some of the hall marks of pyrethroid neurotoxicity. Here we investigated the sex specific responses of inflammatory cytokines, microglia, astrocyte and parvalbumin positive inhibitory GABAergic interneurons to λ-cyhalothrin (LCT) exposures in rats.

Methods: Equal numbers of male and female rats were given oral corn oil, 2 mg/kg.

Ulinastatin treatment mitigates glycocalyx degradation and associated with lower postoperative delirium risk in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a multicentre observational study.

Background: Ulinastatin (UTI), recognized for its anti-inflammatory properties, holds promise for patients undergoing cardiac surgery. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between intraoperative UTI administration and the incidence of delirium following cardiac surgery.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on a retrospective cohort of 6,522 adult cardiac surgery patients to evaluate the relationship between UTI treatment and the incident of postoperative delirium (POD) in patients ongoing cardiac surgery.

Molecular and cellular characteristics of cerebrovascular cell types and their contribution to neurodegenerative diseases.

Many diseases and disorders of the nervous system suffer from a lack of adequate therapeutics to halt or slow disease progression, and to this day, no cure exists for any of the fatal neurodegenerative diseases. In part this is due to the incredible diversity of cell types that comprise the brain, knowledge gaps in understanding basic mechanisms of disease, as well as a lack of reliable strategies for delivering new therapeutic modalities to affected areas. With the advent of single cell genomics, it is now possible to interrogate the molecular characteristics of diverse cell populations and their alterations in diseased states.

Enhancing immunotherapy efficacy with synergistic low-dose radiation in metastatic melanoma: current insights and prospects.

Recent advances in oncology research have highlighted the promising synergy between low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT) and immunotherapies, with growing evidence highlighting the unique benefits of the combination. LDRT has emerged as a potent tool for stimulating the immune system, triggering systemic antitumor effects by remodeling the tumor microenvironment. Notably, LDRT demonstrates remarkable efficacy even in challenging metastatic sites such as the liver (uveal) and brain (cutaneous), particularly in advanced melanoma stages.