COVID-19 severity: A new approach to quantifying global cases and deaths.

As the COVID-19 pandemic has progressed, so too has the recognition that cases and deaths have been underreported, perhaps vastly so. Here, we present an econometric strategy to estimate the true number of COVID-19 cases and deaths for 61 and 56 countries, respectively, from 1 January 2020 to 3 November 2020. Specifically, we estimate a 'structural' model based on the SIR epidemiological model extended to incorporate underreporting.

Preoperative and intraoperative factors predictive of complications and stricture recurrence following multiple urethroplasty techniques.

Objectives: To investigate factors predictive of postoperative recurrence and complications in patients undergoing urethroplasty for stricture repair at a single center.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 108 men who underwent urethroplasty for urethral stricture disease (USD) at a single center from 2016 to 2020. Demographic data, comorbidities, stricture history including etiology and prior treatments, patient-reported symptoms, and outcomes data were collected for analysis.

A study of the longitudinal changes in multiple cerebrospinal fluid and volumetric magnetic resonance imaging biomarkers on converter and non-converter Alzheimer's disease subjects with consideration for their amyloid beta status.

Introduction: This study aims to determine whether newly introduced biomarkers Visinin-like protein-1 (VILIP-1), chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40), synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP-25), and neurogranin (NG) in cerebrospinal fluid are useful in evaluating the asymptomatic and early symptomatic stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It further aims to shed new insight into the differences between stable subjects and those who progress to AD by associating cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) regions with disease progression, more deeply exploring how such biomarkers relate to AD pathology.

Methods: We examined baseline and longitudinal changes over a 7-year span and the longitudinal interactions between CSF and MRI biomarkers for subjects from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI).

Vitamin D Modulation of Mitochondrial Oxidative Metabolism and mTOR Enforces Stress Adaptations and Anticancer Responses.

The relationship between the active form of vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, 1,25(OH)D) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), two integral signaling molecules of the cell, is poorly understood. This is striking, given that both factors are involved in cancer cell regulation and metabolism. Mitochondria (mt) dysfunction is one of the main drivers of cancer, producing more mitochondria, higher cellular energy, and ROS that can enhance oxidative stress and stress tolerance responses.

Normative data for the Brief Spanish-English Verbal Learning Test for representative and diverse Hispanics/Latinos: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL).

Introduction: Episodic learning and memory performance are crucial components of cognitive assessment. To meet the needs of a diverse Hispanic/Latino population, we aimed to provide normative data on the Brief Spanish-English Verbal Learning Test (B-SEVLT).

Methods: The target population for the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) included individuals 45+ years old from Central American, Cuban, Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican, and South American backgrounds.

Normative data for ages 18-45 for ocular motor and vestibular testing using eye tracking.

Objective: Eye tracking technology has been employed in assessing ocular motor and vestibular function following vestibular and neurologic conditions, including traumatic brain injury (TBI). Assessments include tests that provide visual and motion (rotation) stimuli while recording horizontal, vertical, and torsional eye movements. While some of these tests have shown diagnostic promise in previous studies, their use in clinical practice is limited by the lack of normative data.

Human versus chatbot: Understanding the role of emotion in health marketing communication for vaccines.

Based on the theoretical framework of agency effect, this study examined the role of affect in influencing the effects of chatbot versus human brand representatives in the context of health marketing communication about HPV vaccines. We conducted a 2 (perceived agency: chatbot vs. human) × 3 (affect elicitation: embarrassment, anger, neutral) between-subject lab experiment with 142 participants, who were randomly assigned to interact with either a perceived chatbot or a human representative.

Characterization of outcomes and practices utilized in the management of internal carotid artery injury not requiring definitive endovascular management.

Background: After internal carotid artery (ICA) injury during endoscopic skull base surgery, the majority of patients undergo ICA embolization or stenting to treat active extravasation or pseudoaneurysm development. However, management practices when embolization or stenting is not required have not been well described. The objective of this study was to determine how patients with ICA injury but no embolization, stenting, or ligation do long-term and ascertain the reconstruction methods utilized.

InterCarb: A Community Effort to Improve Interlaboratory Standardization of the Carbonate Clumped Isotope Thermometer Using Carbonate Standards.

Increased use and improved methodology of carbonate clumped isotope thermometry has greatly enhanced our ability to interrogate a suite of Earth-system processes. However, interlaboratory discrepancies in quantifying carbonate clumped isotope (Δ) measurements persist, and their specific sources remain unclear. To address interlaboratory differences, we first provide consensus values from the clumped isotope community for four carbonate standards relative to heated and equilibrated gases with 1,819 individual analyses from 10 laboratories.

Catamenial haemoptysis in females with cystic fibrosis: a case series with review of management strategies.

Catamenial haemoptysis, the expectoration of blood during menses, has not been extensively reported in the cystic fibrosis (CF) literature. We describe four cases (age range: 25-34 years) of catamenial haemoptysis across four CF centres in the United States. These cases may represent thoracic endometriosis versus hormonal fluctuations in airway inflammation or infection resulting in bronchial artery bleeding.

Estimating Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial Participant Posttrial Survival Using Pooled Epidemiologic Cohort Data.

Background Intensive systolic blood pressure treatment (<120 mm Hg) in SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial) improved survival compared with standard treatment (<140 mm Hg) over a median follow-up of 3.3 years. We projected life expectancy after observed follow-up in SPRINT using SPRINT-eligible participants in the NHLBI-PCS (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Pooled Cohorts Study).

Percutaneous endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair with monitored anesthesia care decreases operative time but not pulmonary complications.

Objectives: To report our experience and compare the results of percutaneous endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (PEVAR) performed under monitored anesthesia care (MAC) to PEVAR under general anesthesia (GA).

Methods: A retrospective review of patients who underwent non-emergency endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) was completed. Patients were excluded if they had a complex repair, including fenestrated, branched, or parallel endografting.

Development of a Risk Prediction Model for Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae Infection After Liver Transplantation: A Multinational Cohort Study.

Background: Patients colonized with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are at higher risk of developing CRE infection after liver transplantation (LT), with associated high morbidity and mortality. Prediction model for CRE infection after LT among carriers could be useful to target preventive strategies.

Methods: Multinational multicenter cohort study of consecutive adult patients underwent LT and colonized with CRE before or after LT, from January 2010 to December 2017.

Stroke in patients infected by the novel coronavirus and its causal mechanisms: A narrative review.

Objective: The current study aimed to evaluate the mechanisms of stroke development during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and analyze the related characteristics, such as etiology, age group, associated comorbidities, and prognosis.

Methods: A narrative was performed using the descriptors ["novel coronavirus"] AND ["stroke"] in the PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Lilacs, and Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS) databases, including studies published between December 1, 2019, and April 28, 2020.

Results: A total of 142 articles were identified, with 89 of them in the PubMed database, 46 in Science Direct, and 7 in Google Scholar.

In Situ Estimates of Net Primary Production in the Western North Atlantic With Argo Profiling Floats.

The C incubation method for net primary production (NPP) has limited spatial/temporal resolution, while satellite approaches cannot provide direct information at depth. With chlorophyll-a and backscatter measurements from BGC-Argo floats, we quantified year-round NPP in the western North Atlantic Ocean using both the Carbon-based Productivity Model (CbPM) and Photoacclimation Productivity Model (PPM). Comparison with NPP profiles from C incubation measurements showed advantages and limitations of both models.

Impact of perioperative factors on nadir serum prostate-specific antigen levels after holmium laser enucleation of prostate.

Objective: To investigate the relationship of preoperative prostate size, urinary retention, positive urine culture, and histopathological evidence of prostatitis or incidental prostate cancer on baseline and 3-month nadir prostate-specific antigen (PSA) value after Holmium laser enucleation of prostate (HoLEP).

Patients And Methods: Data from 90 patients who underwent a HoLEP by En-bloc technique were analyzed. PSA values at baseline and at 3-month follow-up, preoperative urinary retention and urine culture status, weight of resected tissue, and histopathological evidence of prostatitis or prostate cancer were recorded.