Fluoride-induced testicular and ovarian toxicity: evidence from animal studies.

Fluoride (F), as a natural element found in a wide range of sources such as water and certain foods, has been proven to be beneficial in preventing dental caries, but concerns have been raised regarding its potential deleterious effects on overall health. Sodium fluoride (NaF), another form of F, has the ability to accumulate in reproductive organs and interfere with hormonal regulation and oxidative stress pathways, contributing to reproductive toxicity. While the exact mechanisms of F-induced reproductive toxicity are not fully understood, this review aims to elucidate the mechanisms involved in testicular and ovarian injury.

Molecular and Proteomic Analyses of Effects of Cadmium Exposure on the Silk Glands of .

Cadmium (Cd) is a pervasive heavy metal pollutant released into the environment through industrial activities such as mining, smelting, and agricultural runoff. This study aimed to investigate the molecular and metabolic impacts of Cd exposure on the silk glands of , a species renowned for producing silk with exceptional mechanical properties. Cd accumulation in spider bodies and silk glands was significantly higher in the low- and high-Cd groups compared to controls, with a dose- and time-dependent increase.

Genetic and Epigenetic Insights into Pregnancy-Related Complications.

Placental dysfunction is a leading cause of numerous pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia, preterm birth, fetal growth restrictions, placental abruption, and late spontaneous abortion [...

Squamous Cell Bladder Cancer: A Rare Histological Variant with a Demand for Modern Cancer Therapeutics.

Bladder cancer is among the most common form of cancer worldwide and is predicted to increase in incidence and mortality over the next decade. Squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder is a rare histological variant typically associated with schistosomiasis, also known as bilharzia, a parasitic infection caused by flatworms called schistosomes or blood flukes, and is generally seen in underdeveloped nations. However, squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder still represents nearly 5% of bladder cancer diagnoses in the western world.

Body Composition in Preterm Infants: Current Insights and Emerging Perspectives.

In recent years, significant advancements in respiratory and nutritional care have markedly improved the survival rates of preterm infants and enhanced long-term health outcomes. Despite these improvements, emerging research highlights the lasting impacts of early growth patterns on an individual's health trajectory. Adults born prematurely face a higher incidence of health issues related to their early birth.

Athletes' Perceived Team Climate, Social Support, and Optimistic Thoughts During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In the Spring of 2020, Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) was officially declared a global pandemic, which prompted an unprecedented number of changes to societal functioning. Amongst those who experienced significant life alterations were collegiate athletes within the United States (US). The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between US athletes' perceptions of their team motivational climate, perceived support from coaches and teammates, and their optimistic thoughts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Literature Review and Content Analysis of Bullying Assessments: Are We Measuring What We Intend to?

The initial phase in any initiative aimed at preventing bullying involves evaluating the present prevalence to pinpoint students who might be more susceptible to involvement in the bullying dynamic. Assessment serves as a guide for shaping future decisions regarding intervention. The purpose of this study was to identify and evaluate current assessment tools to determine the extent to which the bullying dynamic is currently measured.

Food Security and Cardio-Metabolic Risk in Individuals with Metabolic Syndrome.

This study assessed the association of food security with potential cardio-metabolic risk factors among persons with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Data were derived from the baseline data of a randomized controlled lifestyle intervention trial for individuals with MetS. Household food security, fruit and vegetable intake, perceived food environment, and perceived stress were collected using validated questionnaires.

Visualizing Parcel-Level Lead Risk Using an Exterior Housing-Based Index.

Pediatric lead poisoning remains a persistent public health problem. Children in the US spend the preponderance of their time at home; thus, housing is an important social determinant of health. Improving health outcomes derived from housing-based sources involves differentiating the risks posed by the existing housing stock.

Optimization of Polyphenol Extraction from Purple Corn Pericarp Using Glycerol/Lactic Acid-Based Deep Eutectic Solvent in Combination with Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction.

Purple corn pericarp, a processing waste stream, is an extremely rich source of phytochemicals. Optimal polyphenol extraction parameters were identified using response surface methodology (RSM) by combining a deep eutectic solvent (DES) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method. After DES characterization, Plackett-Burman design was used to screen five explanatory variables, namely, time, Temp (temperature), water, Amp (amplitude), and S/L (solid-to-liquid ratio).

Detection of Amblyomma maculatum and Rickettsia parkeri in prairies of Central Missouri.

The destruction and decline of prairie habitats due to landscape repurposing have profoundly impacted the diversity of plant, animal, and insect life. In the Central United States, the reconstruction of prairie habitats from farmland is a widely applied strategy to raise diversity and recreate a healthy, complex ecosystem. In Central Missouri, we examine the consequences of reconstruction efforts on the prevalence of zoonotic diseases and their associated pathogens by performing tick-flagging at two prairie sites.

Optimizing laboratory medication safety monitoring in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis to advance value-based care.

Introduction/objectives: Most children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) are treated with medications that require safety monitoring labs. Recommended testing includes a creatinine level. However, 87.

The efficiency of venturi versus peristaltic based phacoemulsification in femtosecond laser cataract surgery: Venturi vs peristaltic based phacoemulsification for cataract.

Purpose: To compare the efficiency of peristaltic vs venturi vacuum platforms when applied to the femtosecond treated cataract.

Setting: Outpatient Eye Center, Mercy Health System, Springfield, MO, USA.

Design: This is a prospective randomized controlled trial of 111 patients with moderate nuclear sclerosis scheduled for bilateral routine laser cataract surgery (clinicaltrials.

Prenatal Lipopolysaccharide Stimulation Modulates Gastrointestinal Immunity and Oxidative Status in Weaned Pigs.

Gastrointestinal immunity and antioxidant defenses may be bolstered in young animals through prenatal immune system stimulation (PIS), but this is largely uninvestigated in swine. This study tested the hypothesis that PIS could regulate offspring's gastrointestinal immune response and oxidative stress profile. To this end, a PIS model was utilized in sows, delivering low-dose LPS during the final third of gestation to target the developing immune system.

Low-Concentration Hypochlorous Acid Drinking Water Alleviates Broiler Gut Microbial Load While Preserving Overall Growth Performance.

Hypochlorous acid has been attempted as an additive to animal drinking water in practical animal farming processes for water microbial quality control. Despite its potential, there is still a knowledge gap concerning the effects of hypochlorous acid on both poultry growth performance and gut microbial load. To address this gap, an animal study was conducted using flow cytometry to quantify the age-related microbial load in broiler manure and gut contents.

Peptide Antigen Modifications Influence the On-Target and Off-Target Antibody Response for an Influenza Subunit Vaccine.

Background/objectives: Peptide amphiphile micelles (PAMs) are an exciting nanotechnology currently being studied for a variety of biomedical applications, especially for drug delivery. Specifically, PAMs can enhance in vivo trafficking, cell-targeting, and cell interactions/internalization. However, modifying peptides, as is commonly performed to induce micellization, can influence their bioactivity.

Fast Hadamard-Encoded 7T Spectroscopic Imaging of Human Brain.

: The increased SNR available at 7T combined with fast readout trajectories enables accelerated spectroscopic imaging acquisitions for clinical applications. In this report, we evaluate the performance of a Hadamard slice encoding strategy with a 2D rosette trajectory for multi-slice fast spectroscopic imaging at 7T. : Moderate-TE (~40 ms) spin echo and J-refocused polarization transfer sequences were acquired with simultaneous Hadamard multi-slice excitations and rosette in-plane encoding.

Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase II (CPT2) Deficiency in a Patient With Recurrent Rhabdomyolysis: A Case Report.

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT2) deficiency is a rare genetic disorder that prevents the body from using long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) for energy. We report a case of a 40-year-old male with a recent episode of rhabdomyolysis triggered by an illness. His liver function tests (LFTs) and creatine kinase (CK) levels were markedly elevated.

Biocompatible EDOT-Pyrrole Conjugated Conductive Polymer Coating for Augmenting Cell Attachment, Activity, and Differentiation.

Developing scaffolds supporting functional cell attachment and tissue growth is critical in basic cell research, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine approaches. Though poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and its derivatives are attractive for hydrogels and scaffold fabrication, they often require bioactive modifications due to their bioinert nature. In this work, biomimetic synthesized conductive polypyrrole-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) copolymer doped with poly(styrenesulfonate) (PPy-PEDOT:PSS) was used as a biocompatible coating for poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel to support neuronal and muscle cells' attachment, activity, and differentiation.

Lower electronic health record adoption and interoperability in rural versus urban physician participants: a cross-sectional analysis from the CMS quality payment program.

Background: The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 introduced the Meaningful Use program to incentivize the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) in the U.S. This study investigates the disparities in EHR adoption and interoperability between rural and urban physicians in the context of federal programs like the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 and the 21st Century Cures Act.

Semaglutide in obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and type 2 diabetes across baseline HbA levels (STEP-HFpEF DM): a prespecified analysis of heart failure and metabolic outcomes from a randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: About half of patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) have type 2 diabetes. In the STEP-HFpEF DM trial of adults with obesity-related HFpEF and type 2 diabetes, subcutaneous once weekly semaglutide 2·4 mg conferred improvements in heart failure-related symptoms and physical limitations, bodyweight, and other heart failure outcomes. We aimed to determine whether these effects of semaglutide differ according to baseline HbA.

Evolution of sleep disordered breathing in infants with achondroplasia.

Purpose: Children with achondroplasia (ACH) are at risk for sudden death in infancy due to sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and foramen magnum stenosis (FMS). Sleep studies and neuroimaging are performed in infants with ACH, but interpretation of infant studies is challenging. We sought to describe baseline data on polysomnography (PSG) indices in infants with achondroplasia as well as effects of age and surgery on these parameters.

Achieving reliable patient reported outcomes collection to measure health care improvement in a learning health network: lessons from pediatric rheumatology care and outcomes improvement network.

Introduction: Data from the Pediatric Rheumatology Care and Outcomes Improvement Network (PR-COIN) registry suggests that reliable collection of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) varies across sites. The objective of this study was to better understand the practices of collecting PROs at PR-COIN sites.

Methods: A REDCap survey was sent to the lead representative for each PR-COIN site.