The application of environmental health assessment strategies to detect Streptococcus pyogenes in Kimberley school classrooms.

Background: Children spend almost one-third of their waking hours at school. Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A) is a common childhood bacterial infection that can progress to causing serious disease. We aimed to detect Strep A in classrooms by using environmental settle plates and swabbing of high-touch surfaces in two remote schools in the Kimberley, Western Australia.

Emerging contaminants in polluted waters: Harnessing Biochar's potential for effective treatment.

Biochar is a carbon-rich, sponge-like material with intricate functionalities, making it suitable for various environmental remediation applications, including water treatment, soil amendment and, additives in construction materials, anaerobic digesters, and electrodes, among others. Its easy adaptability and low cost make it particularly attractive. This review highlights a range of biochar and surface-modified biochar exhibiting high uptake and degradation efficiencies for a broad spectrum of contaminants, including humic acid, disinfection by-products (DBPs), radioactive materials, dyes, heavy metals, antibiotics, microplastics, pathogens, Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and cytotoxins.

A pathway-based genetic score for inflammation: An indicator of vulnerability to phthalate-induced adverse neurodevelopment outcomes.

Introduction: Phthalates, chemical additives used to enhance plastic products' flexibility, are easily released into the environment, and can harm the brain development through various mechanisms including inflammation. Genetic variation influencing an individual's susceptibility to inflammation may play a role in the effects of phthalate exposure on neurodevelopment however there is no summary measure developed for genetic susceptibility to inflammation.

Methods: We developed a genetic pathway function score for inflammation (gPFS), based on the transcriptional activity of the inflammatory response pathway in the brain and other tissues.

Predicting Type 2 Diabetes and Testosterone Effects in high-risk Australian men: Development and external validation of a 2 year risk model.

Objective: We have shown that men aged 50 years+ at high risk of type 2 diabetes treated with testosterone together with a lifestyle program reduced the risk of type 2 diabetes at two years by 40% compared to a lifestyle program alone. To develop a personalized approach to treatment, we aimed to explore a prognostic model for incident type 2 diabetes at two years and investigate biomarkers predictive of the testosterone effect.

Design: Model development in 783 men with impaired glucose tolerance but not type 2 diabetes from T4DM; a multicenter, 2-year trial of Testosterone vs placebo.

Outcomes following functionally aligned total knee arthroplasty in severe varus deformity.

Introduction: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in severe varus deformity still remains a challenge. Alternative alignment TKA aims to improve outcomes and satisfaction. The purpose of this study is to report on the outcomes of a functionally aligned TKA in severe varus deformity.

How Does Blood-Flow Restriction Alter Forehand Drive Performance and Muscle Recruitment in Tennis Players?

Purpose: To examine the acute effects of forehand drive (FD) preconditioning with or without blood-flow restriction (BFR) on subsequent forehand performance and muscle recruitment in tennis.

Methods: On separate visits, 12 well-trained tennis players participated in 4 randomized trials. Each visit included pretests (maximal muscle-activation capacity or FD performance), a preconditioning phase, and posttests after 5 minutes of rest (ie, similar to pretests).

Novel Drop-Sampler for Simultaneous Collection of Stereo-Video, Environmental DNA and Oceanographic Data.

There is an increasing interest in environmental DNA (eDNA) as a method to survey marine biota, enhancing traditional survey methods, and a need to ground truth eDNA-based interpretations with visual surveys to understand biases in both the eDNA and visual datasets. We designed and tested a rapidly deployable, robust method pairing water sampling for eDNA collection and stereo-video imagery, comparing inferred fish assemblages with interspersed baited remote underwater video (stereo-BRUV) samples. The system is capable of rapidly collecting simultaneous wide-field stereo-video imagery, oceanographic measurements and multiple water samples across a range of habitats and depths (up to 600 m).

Semi-supervised contour-driven broad learning system for autonomous segmentation of concealed prohibited baggage items.

With the exponential rise in global air traffic, ensuring swift passenger processing while countering potential security threats has become a paramount concern for aviation security. Although X-ray baggage monitoring is now standard, manual screening has several limitations, including the propensity for errors, and raises concerns about passenger privacy. To address these drawbacks, researchers have leveraged recent advances in deep learning to design threat-segmentation frameworks.

The cost of recovering Australia's threatened species.

Accounting for the cost of repairing the degradation of Earth's biosphere is critical to guide conservation and sustainable development decisions. Yet the costs of repairing nature through the recovery of a continental suite of threatened species across their range have never been calculated. We estimated the cost of in situ recovery of nationally listed terrestrial and freshwater threatened species (n = 1,657) across the megadiverse continent of Australia by combining the spatially explicit costs of all strategies required to address species-specific threats.

Brain Hypertrophy in Patients With Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy With Hippocampal Sclerosis and Its Clinical Correlates.

Background And Objectives: Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE) is generally associated with focal brain atrophy, but little knowledge exists on possible disease-related hypertrophy of brain structures. We hypothesized that repeated seizures or adaptive plasticity may lead to focal brain hypertrophy and aimed to investigate associated clinical correlates.

Methods: In this cohort study, we included patients with mTLE undergoing detailed epilepsy evaluations and matched healthy volunteers (HVs) from 2 tertiary centers (discovery and validation cohorts).

A Multi-Center Study of Ossiculoplasty Hearing Outcomes and a Grading Scale of Ear Environment Risk.

Objective: To determine which ear environment risk factors impact ossiculoplasty hearing outcomes and to generate a statistically-valid grading system for ossiculoplasty outcome reporting.

Study Type: Retrospective case series.

Methods: A multi-institutional database was generated from cases performed between 2011 and 2019.

Prediction of lacosamide concentrations to support dose optimization during pregnancy.

Objective: We aimed to quantify and predict lacosamide exposure during pregnancy by developing a pregnancy physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model, allowing the prediction of potential dose increases to support maintaining a patient's preconception lacosamide concentrations.

Methods: Models for nonpregnant adults and pregnant female patients were constructed using physiochemical and pharmacological parameters identified from literature review. Evaluation of plasma concentration data from human males was digitized from the literature.

Deduced Conservation Strategy of the Macaques in China from their Evolutionary Development.

Understanding how climate, ecological and environmental changes, and anthropogenic activities have driven animals' development and predicting their prospective distribution profiles are essential to making a tangible conservation strategy. Macaques () distributed in China provide an ideal research model for such an effort. We reconstruct their geographic distribution profiles from the last inter-glaciation (LIG, 120,000-140,000 years BP), the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, 22,000 years BP), and the present (1970-2000), based on which we deduce their distribution perspective in the 2050s.

Isolated Right Ventricular Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Clinical Findings and Histopathology of an Atypical Presentation.

Cardiac metastases are a rare site for metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We describe an atypical presentation of an isolated right ventricular metastasis of HCC following successful treatment with no evidence of primary disease recurrence. The case presented as gradually worsening hypertension and erythrocytosis in the setting of normal surveillance scans and alpha-fetoprotein levels.

Respiratory syncytial virus pulmonary infections in adults - disease burden and prevention.

Purpose Of Review: We highlight the evolving understanding of the burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in older adults and recent data on the three new vaccines.

Recent Findings: As well as a greater recognition of the amount of RSV infection in adults, and especially over 60 years of age, there has been a significant amount of study detailing the postacute burden including excess cardiovascular disease and loss of physical and cognitive functioning. Three new RSV vaccines now have published data for two seasons, and while direct comparison is not possible due to differences in the timing, methodology and populations studies, all show good efficacy with no serious side effects of concern.

Upadacitinib induction is effective and safe in ulcerative colitis patients including those with prior exposure to tofacitinib: a multicenter real-world cohort study.

Background/aims: Upadacitinib is a novel selective Janus kinase inhibitor approved for use in ulcerative colitis. Clinical trials had rigorous criteria and excluded many patient subgroups. Given limited real-world effectiveness data, we examined outcomes of patients treated with upadacitinib for ulcerative colitis in a real-world population.

Prevalence of dementia among Indigenous populations of countries with a very high Human Development Index: a systematic review.

Dementia is a health priority for Indigenous peoples. Here, we reviewed studies on the prevalence of dementia or cognitive impairment among Indigenous populations from countries with a very high Human Development Index (≥0·8). Quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute risk-of-bias tool and CONSolIDated critERia for strengthening the reporting of health research involving Indigenous peoples (CONSIDER), with oversight provided by an Indigenous Advisory Board.

International workshop: what is needed to ensure outcome measures for Rett syndrome are fit-for-purpose for clinical trials? June 7, 2023, Nashville, USA.

Introduction: The clinical, research and advocacy communities for Rett syndrome are striving to achieve clinical trial readiness, including having fit-for-purpose clinical outcome assessments. This study aimed to (1) describe psychometric properties of clinical outcome assessment for Rett syndrome and (2) identify what is needed to ensure that fit-for-purpose clinical outcome assessments are available for clinical trials.

Methods: Clinical outcome assessments for the top 10 priority domains identified in the Voice of the Patient Report for Rett syndrome were compiled and available psychometric data were extracted.

Associations between endogenous sex hormones and multisite chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Background: Sex-differences in pain perception have been documented; however, the role of sex hormones in chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated whether sex hormones and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) are associated with CMP.

Methods: We utilised data from the UK Biobank (n=357 424; females: 51.

Spiritual care in palliative medicine: interactive, virtual workshop for specialists.

Background: Spiritual pain and distress are commonly unrecognised among patients receiving palliative care, yet engaging with a person's spirituality can allow healing to occur even amid suffering. Palliative care clinicians lack training in assessing and managing spiritual distress among patients.

Objectives: Development of a virtually delivered spirituality workshop to improve clinicians' understanding of their own spirituality and confidence in addressing the spiritual dimension of patients' experience.

Developmental Mismatch Across Brain Modalities in Young Children.

Brain development during the preschool period is complex and extensive and underlies ongoing behavioral and cognitive maturation. Increasing understanding of typical brain maturation during this time is critical to early identification of atypical development and could inform treatments and interventions. Previous studies have suggested mismatches between brain structural and functional development in later childhood and adolescence.

Tuning the nanostructure and tribological properties of a non-ionic deep eutectic solvent with water addition.

Hypothesis: The addition of water to a non-ionic N-oxide deep eutectic solvent(DES) composed of phenylacetic acid (PhAA) and N-dodecylmorpholine-N-oxide(MO-12) in a 1:1 M ratio(PhAA/MO-12) will promote interfacial nanostructure formation due to increased proton transfer and solvophobic interactions, leading to reduced friction.

Experiments: The interfacial structure and friction of PhAA/MO-12 with water content up to 41.9 wt% were investigated at mica surfaces.

Measuring the Burden of Epilepsy Hospitalizations in CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder.

Background: Information on the hospital service use among individuals with CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder, an ultrarare developmental epileptic encephalopathy, is limited, evidence of which could assist with service planning. Therefore, using baseline and longitudinal data on 379 genetically verified individuals in the International CDKL5 Disorder Database, we aimed to investigate rates of seizure-related and other hospitalizations and associated length of stay in this cohort.

Methods: Outcome variables were lifetime count of family-reported hospitalizations and average length of stay both for seizure- (management and/or investigative) and non-seizure-related causes.