Varicella in the 21st Century.

Varicella is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus and has a wide range of clinical presentations. Varicella can cause mild disease in infants born to infected persons who are immunized as a result of previous vaccination or previous clinical or subclinical infection. However, varicella can also lead to severe life-threatening disease in infants, particularly for those born to nonimmunized persons.

Neonatal Osteomyelitis.

Osteomyelitis is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition affecting the skeletal system of newborns. The condition is relatively rare in neonates but occurs at higher rates in high-risk pregnancies, in preterm infants, and with the use of invasive devices. As a result of the anatomy and immature immune system of newborns, neonates differ in presentation, diagnosis, and management of osteomyelitis compared to patients of other age groups.

The Role of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein in the Growth of Cervical Cancer Cells.

Background/aim: Recently developed vaccines for the SARS-CoV-2 virus utilize endogenous production of the virus' spike protein (SP), allowing the host to develop an immune response. As a result of the novelty of this virus and its vaccines, little is known overall about the potential effects of the SP on the pathogenesis of neoplasia, either from vaccination or from infection. This study was designed to investigate whether SARS-CoV-2 SP has any direct effect on SiHa cervical cancer cells.

Insights on Carbohydrate Binding from Profiles of Cystic Fibrosis Isolates Using Multivalent Fluorescent Glycopolymers Bearing Pendant Monosaccharides.

contributes to frequent, persistent, and, often, polymicrobial respiratory tract infections for individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). Chronic CF infections lead to bronchiectasis and a shortened lifespan. expresses numerous adhesins, including lectins known to bind the epithelial cell and mucin glycoconjugates.

ROS are universal cell-to-cell stress signals.

The interplay between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the redox state of cells is deeply rooted in the biology of almost all organisms, regulating development, growth, and responses to the environment. Recent studies revealed that the ROS levels and redox state of one cell can be transmitted, as an information 'state' or 'currency', to other cells and spread by cell-to-cell communication within an entire community of cells or an organism. Here, we discuss the different pathways that mediate cell-to-cell signaling in plants, their hierarchy, and the different mechanisms that transmit ROS/redox signaling between different cells.

ERBB2 Targeting Reveals a Significant Suppression of Tumorigenesis in Murine Endometrial Cancer with Pten Mutation.

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy. PTEN is a negative regulator of PI3K signaling and is deficient in > 50% of primary human endometrial cancer. Amplification of ERBB2 promotes tumorigenesis and pathogenesis of several human cancers.

Endocan: A biomarker for endothelial dysfunction and inflammation, linking maternal obesity and pediatric obesity in a cohort of preterm neonates.

Objectives: Numerous animal and epidemiologic studies have demonstrated a positive association between maternal obesity in pregnancy and obesity in offspring. The biologic mechanisms of this association remain under investigation. One proposed mechanism includes fetoplacental endothelial dysfunction secondary to inflammation.

Psychological safety and perceived organizational support in emergency medicine residencies.

Background: The clinical learning environment (CLE) is a key focus of the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education. It impacts knowledge acquisition and professional development. A previous single-center study evaluated the psychological safety and perceived organizational support of the CLE across different specialties.

SARS-CoV-2 infects cells lining the blood-retinal barrier and induces a hyperinflammatory immune response in the retina via systemic exposure.

SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to cause wide-ranging ocular abnormalities and vision impairment in COVID-19 patients. However, there is limited understanding of SARS-CoV-2 in ocular transmission, tropism, and associated pathologies. The presence of viral RNA in corneal/conjunctival tissue and tears, along with the evidence of viral entry receptors on the ocular surface, has led to speculation that the eye may serve as a potential route of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Bidirectional relation between dipeptidyl peptidase 4 and angiotensin II type I receptor signaling.

Cardiometabolic diseases are often associated with heightened levels of angiotensin II (Ang II), which accounts for the observed oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis. Accumulating evidence indicates a parallel upregulation of dipeptidyl dipeptidase 4 (DPP4) activity in cardiometabolic diseases, with its inhibition shown to mitigate oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis. These findings highlight an overlap between the pathophysiological mechanisms used by Ang II and DPP4.

Incidence and characterization of aerophagia in dogs using videofluoroscopic swallow studies.

Background: Aerophagia (ingestion of air), is a functional aerodigestive disorder in people. Criteria for diagnosis of aerophagia in dogs are >1/3 of bolus volume containing air or ingested air resulting in gastric distention (>1/3 of end gastric volume). Aerophagia is highlighted during eating and drinking.

Surfactant protein A promotes western diet-induced hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in mice.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) remains the most common cause of liver disease in the United States due to the increased incidence of metabolic dysfunction and obesity. Surfactant protein A (SPA) regulates macrophage function, strongly binds to lipids, and is implicated in renal and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, the role of SPA in lipid accumulation, inflammation, and hepatic fibrosis that characterize MASLD remains unknown.

Point-of-Care HbA1c in Clinical Practice: Caveats and Considerations for Optimal Use.

Hemoglobin A1c (A1C) is widely used for the diagnosis and management of diabetes. Accurate measurement of A1C is necessary for optimal clinical value. Assay standardization has markedly improved the accuracy and consistency of A1C testing.

The Chronic Effects of a Single Low-Intensity Blast Exposure on Phosphoproteome Networks and Cognitive Function Influenced by Mutant Tau Overexpression.

Blast-induced neurotrauma (BINT) is a pressing concern for veterans and civilians exposed to explosive devices. Affected personnel may have increased risk for long-term cognitive decline and developing tauopathies including Alzheimer's disease-related disorders (ADRD) or frontal-temporal dementia (FTD). The goal of this study was to identify the effect of BINT on molecular networks and their modulation by mutant tau in transgenic (Tg) mice overexpressing the human tau P301L mutation (rTg4510) linked to FTD or non-carriers.

Experimenting With the New Frontier: Artificial Intelligence-Powered Chat Bots in Hand Surgery.

Increased utilization of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven search and large language models by the lay and medical community requires us to evaluate the accuracy of AI responses to common hand surgery questions. We hypothesized that the answers to most hand surgery questions posed to an AI large language model would be correct. Using the topics covered in Green's 8 Edition as a guide, 56 hand surgery questions were compiled and posed to ChatGPT (OpenAI, San Francisco, CA).

Pacemaking in the lymphatic system.

Lymphatic collecting vessels exhibit spontaneous phasic contractions that are critical for lymph propulsion and tissue fluid homeostasis. This rhythmic activity is driven by action potentials conducted across the lymphatic muscle cell (LMC) layer to produce entrained contractions. The contraction frequency of a lymphatic collecting vessel displays exquisite mechanosensitivity, with a dynamic range from <1 to >20 contractions per minute.

Oxidative Stress, Endothelial Dysfunction, and -Acetylcysteine in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Endothelial dysfunction is closely associated with the development and progression of CVDs. Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) especially type 2 DM (T2DM) exhibit a significant endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction with substantially increased risk for CVDs.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and Fibromuscular Dysplasia: A Case Series and Genetic Links.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare cause of myocardial infarction in young women. An association of fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) with SCAD has been well established; a significant proportion of SCAD patients may have typical FMD findings in other noncoronary arteries. The current consensus recommends arterial imaging screening from head to pelvis using computed tomography angiography (CTA) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in SCAD.