The relationship between cerebral blood flow and venous sinus pressure: can hyperemia induce idiopathic intracranial hypertension?

Background: It has been shown that idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in children is associated with cerebral hyperemia, which induces an increase in cerebral venous pressure. The current literature suggests venous pressure scales with blood flow in a linear fashion, however, a linear relationship would not raise the pressure high enough to induce IIH. There is, however, some evidence to suggest that this relationship could be quadratic in nature.

Assessing the impact of the 13 valent pneumococcal vaccine on childhood empyema in Australia.

Background: Empyema is a serious complication of pneumonia frequently caused by (SP). We assessed the impact of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (13vPCV) on childhood pneumonia and empyema after inclusion in the Australian National Immunisation Program.

Methods: For bacterial pneumonia and empyema hospitalisations, we ascertained incidence rates (IRs) using the National Hospital Morbidity Database International Statistical Classification of Disease discharge codes and relevant population denominators, and calculated incidence rate ratios (IRR) comparing the 13vPCV period (June 2012-May 2017) with the 7vPCV period (June 2007-May 2011).

Novel housing designs for nanofiltration and ultrafiltration gravity-driven recycled membrane-based systems.

Ultra-low pressure gravity-driven membrane (GDM) systems have the potential to be significantly less costly and complex than conventional membranes for water treatment applications. To build upon this inherent advantage, this study assesses the reuse of recycled membranes in GDM systems for producing drinking water. Two reverse osmosis spiral-wound modules were recycled into nanofiltration (NF)-like and ultrafiltration (UF)-like membranes via controlled exposure to free chlorine.

A Diverse View of Science to Catalyse Change.

Valuing diversity leads to scientific excellence, the progress of science and most importantly, it is simply the right thing to do. We can value diversity not only in words, but also in actions.

Evaluating the social and ecological effectiveness of partially protected marine areas.

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are a primary tool for the stewardship, conservation, and restoration of marine ecosystems, yet 69% of global MPAs are only partially protected (i.e., are open to some form of fishing).

Comparison of the Genital Microbiomes of Pregnant Aboriginal and Non-aboriginal Women.

The genital microbiomes of women varies with racial background. Preterm birth and early-onset neonatal sepsis are two outcomes associated with genital infections during pregnancy. The rate of preterm birth in Aboriginal Australian mothers is high, as is the rate of early-onset sepsis in their infants.

A critical realist evaluation of an integrated care project for vulnerable families in Sydney, Australia.

Background: Healthy Homes and Neighbourhoods (HHAN) Integrated Care Initiative was established to improve the care of families with complex health and social needs who reside in Sydney Local Health District. HHAN seeks to provide long-term multi-disciplinary care coordination as well as enhance capacity building and promote integrated care. The critical realist study reported here is part of the longitudinal development and evaluation of complex integrated health and social care interventions in Sydney, Australia.

Motivation for change in the health care of children with developmental disabilities: Pilot continuing professional development-quality improvement project.

Aim: People with developmental disabilities (DDs) experience significant barriers accessing and receiving optimal health care resulting in poorer health-care outcomes. Continuing professional development (CPD) represents an effective means to alter health-care staff behaviour to improve the care of people with DDs. However, given the scepticism regarding the effectiveness of certain CPD models' ability to alter learner's workplace behaviour, the current pilot study developed and determined the feasibility of a novel CPD programme aimed at improving the health care provided to children with DDs.

Transcriptome dynamics of CD4 T cells during malaria maps gradual transit from effector to memory.

The dynamics of CD4 T cell memory development remain to be examined at genome scale. In malaria-endemic regions, antimalarial chemoprevention protects long after its cessation and associates with effects on CD4 T cells. We applied single-cell RNA sequencing and computational modelling to track memory development during Plasmodium infection and treatment.

A case report of isolated right ventricular lymphocytic myocarditis.

Background: Lymphocytic myocarditis is an uncommon condition with a variety of clinical presentations. Isolated involvement of the right ventricle (RV) is very rare. We present a case of a young woman who developed right ventricular dysfunction and arrhythmias as a consequence of this condition, which appeared to be chronic at diagnosis.

Arthropoda; Crustacea; Decapoda of deep-sea volcanic habitats of the Galapagos Marine Reserve, Tropical Eastern Pacific.

Background: The deep-sea biome (> 200 m depth) is the world's last great wilderness, covering more than 65% of the earth's surface. Due to rapid technological advances, deep-sea environments are becoming more accessible to scientific research and ocean exploration around the world and, in recent years, this is also true for the Galapagos Islands. Deep-sea habitats cover the largest proportion of Galapagos Marine Reserve (GMR), yet to date, no comprehensive baseline exists on the biodiversity of the benthic fauna associated with volcanic seafloor formations within this region.

Reformulation and strengthening of return-of-service (ROS) schemes could change the narrative on global health workforce distribution and shortages in sub-Saharan Africa.

Despite policies for addressing shortages and maldistribution of health professionals, sub-Saharan Africa continues to experience shortages and maldistribution of skilled health professionals. Policies such as return-of-service schemes or state-funded educational initiatives do not seem to be achieving their intended objectives, potentially due to poor design, implementation; and lack of monitoring and evaluation of the strategies. A focus by global health experts on strengthening and reformulating educational initiatives offers potential for producing, retaining and recruiting health professionals.

Decreasing Posterior Femoral Condyle Offset Improves Intraoperative Correction of Flexion Contracture in Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Multiple intraoperative strategies are described to achieve full extension in total knee arthroplasty, but only a few studies have assessed the effect of the flexion gap on intraoperative improvement in flexion contracture. The aim of this study was to determine whether posterior condylar offset, in isolation, independently affects extension at the time of total knee arthroplasty.Two hundred and seventy-eight patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty for knee osteoarthritis and flexion contracture ≥ 5 degrees between January 2008 and July 2018 were included in this study.

Study protocol for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial comparing the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of levetiracetam and zonisamide versus standard treatments for epilepsy: a comparison of standard and new antiepileptic drugs (SANAD-II).

Introduction: Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are the mainstay of epilepsy treatment. Over the past 20 years, a number of new drugs have been approved for National Health Service (NHS) use on the basis of information from short-term trials that demonstrate efficacy. These trials do not provide information about the longer term outcomes, which inform treatment policy.

Influence of Organic Acid Concentration on Wettability Alteration of Cap-Rock: Implications for CO Trapping/Storage.

Every year, millions of tons of CO are stored in CO-storage formations (deep saline aquifers) containing traces of organic acids including hexanoic acid C (HA), lauric acid C (LuA), stearic acid C (SA), and lignoceric acid C (LiA). The presence of these molecules in deep saline aquifers is well documented in the literature; however, their impact on the structural trapping capacity and thus on containment security is not yet understood. In this study, we therefore investigate as to how an increase in organic acid concentration can alter mica water wettability through an extensive set of experiments.

Mutations in the exocyst component EXOC2 cause severe defects in human brain development.

The exocyst, an octameric protein complex, is an essential component of the membrane transport machinery required for tethering and fusion of vesicles at the plasma membrane. We report pathogenic variants in an exocyst subunit, EXOC2 (Sec5). Affected individuals have severe developmental delay, dysmorphism, and brain abnormalities; variability associated with epilepsy; and poor motor skills.

Non-invasive real-time imaging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) using auto-fluorescence multispectral imaging technique: A novel tool for redox biology.

Detecting reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a critical role as redox modulators and signalling molecules in biological systems currently requires invasive methods such as ROS -specific indicators for imaging and quantification. We developed a non-invasive, real-time, label-free imaging technique for assessing the level of ROS in live cells and thawed cryopreserved tissues that is compatible with in-vivo imaging. The technique is based on autofluorescence multispectral imaging (AFMI) carried out in an adapted fluorescence microscope with an expanded number of spectral channels spanning specific excitation (365 nm-495 nm) and emission (420 nm-700 nm) wavelength ranges.

Systematic Review of Interventions to Reduce HIV Risk Among Men Who Purchase Sex in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Outcomes, Lessons Learned, and Opportunities for Future Interventions.

Along with other partners of key population groups, men who purchase sex (MWPS) contributed to around 18% of new reported HIV cases in 2018 among people aged 15-49 years worldwide. A systematic review was performed to evaluate interventions conducted to reduce HIV risk among MWPS in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A comprehensive search of studies published in Embase, Medline, Global Health, Scopus, and Cinahl was performed.

Uptake and acceptability of assisted and unassisted HIV self-testing among men who purchase sex in brothels in Indonesia: a pilot intervention study.

Background: Along with sexual partners of other high-risk groups, men who purchase sex (MWPS) represented 18% of new HIV diagnoses worldwide in 2018. They are therefore an important population for HIV prevention globally. Despite very low HIV testing coverage among MWPS in many countries, the role of HIV self-testing to increase testing coverage has not been explored.

Eye care providers' emerging roles in early detection of diabetes and management of diabetic changes to the ocular surface: a review.

US adults visit eye care providers more often than primary healthcare providers, placing these doctors in a prime position to help identify and manage patients with prediabetes and diabetes. Currently, diabetes is identified in eye clinics in an advanced stage, only after visible signs of diabetic retinopathy. Recent ophthalmic research has identified multiple subclinical and clinical changes that occur in the anterior segment of the eye with metabolic disease.

Wheat straw vinegar: A more cost-effective solution than chemical fungicides for sustainable wheat plant protection.

Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum, is a destructive and widespread wheat disease. Chemical fungicides are becoming less effective at reducing the disease severity of FHB, and there is a need to find a more effective, low-cost natural product. A by-product of the pyrolysis of wheat straw is a condensate known as wheat straw vinegar, which was hypothesized to be an effective F.