Use of digital image analysis to improve rigor and efficiency of physeal bone growth measurements.

In larger, translational animal models, manual measurements of longitudinal bone growth using fluorochrome labels is tedious and may be prone to less rigor due to variations in reader experience, sampling differences, and photobleaching that limits the repeatability of measurements. This study assesses the reliability of three different digital methods to assist in measurement of distance between pulsed fluorochrome labels. Forty-five tibial physes from skeletally immature New Zealand White rabbits were pulsed with fluorochrome labels and measured using Fully Manual Technique (FMT), Manual Digital Measurement (MDM), Computer Assisted Image Processing (AIP), and Fully Automated Measurement (FAM).

Tissue-specific effects of dietary protein on cellular senescence are mediated by branched-chain amino acids.

Dietary protein is a key regulator of healthy aging in both mice and humans. In mice, reducing dietary levels of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) recapitulates many of the benefits of a low protein diet; BCAA-restricted diets extend lifespan, reduce frailty, and improve metabolic health, while BCAA supplementation shortens lifespan, promotes obesity, and impairs glycemic control. Recently, high protein diets have been shown to promote cellular senescence, a hallmark of aging implicated in many age-related diseases, in the liver of mice.

Repeated tDCS at clinically-relevant field intensity can boost concurrent motor learning in rats.

Unlabelled: Electric fields used in clinical trials with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are small, with magnitudes that have yet to demonstrate measurable effects in preclinical animal models. We hypothesized that weak stimulation will nevertheless produce sizable effects, provided that it is applied concurrently with behavioral training, and repeated over multiple sessions. We tested this here in a rodent model of dexterous motor-skill learning.

Patterns of population structure and genetic variation within the Saudi Arabian population.

The Arabian Peninsula is considered the initial site of historic human migration out of Africa. The modern-day indigenous Arabians are believed to be the descendants who remained from the ancient split of the migrants into Eurasia. Here, we investigated how the population history and cultural practices such as endogamy have shaped the genetic variation of the Saudi Arabians.

Void spot assay visualization optimization for use of Void Whizzard in rats (Rattus norvegicus).

Void spot assay (VSA) noninvasively evaluates urination. VSA is often not performed in rats due to difficulty analyzing larger papers compared with mouse. This study optimizes VSA for rats by comparing post-assay visualization techniques: bright field light (BF), ultraviolet light (UV), and ninhydrin spray (N).

Permissive central tolerance plus defective peripheral checkpoints licence pathogenic memory B cells in CASPR2-antibody encephalitis.

Autoimmunity affects 10% of the population. Within this umbrella, autoantibody-mediated diseases targeting one autoantigen provide a unique opportunity to comprehensively understand the developmental pathway of disease-causing B cells and autoantibodies. While such autoreactivities are believed to be generated during germinal centre reactions, the roles of earlier immune checkpoints in autoantigen-specific B cell tolerance are poorly understood.

Revealing Elasmobranch Distributions in Turbid Coastal Waters: Insights From Environmental DNA and Particle Tracking.

Many sharks, rays and skates are highly threatened and vulnerable to overexploitation, as such reliable monitoring of elasmobranchs is key to effective management and conservation. The mobile and elusive nature of these species makes monitoring challenging, particularly in temperate waters with low visibility. Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods present an opportunity to study these species in the absence of visual identification or invasive techniques.

Poor Outcome of Rare Lactobacillus Bacteremia and Endocarditis in a Patient With Frequent Consumption of Live Culture Yogurts.

is a gram-positive bacterium commonly found in dairy products and used as a probiotic due to its resistance to acid and bile. While generally considered safe, rare cases of bacteremia and endocarditis have been reported, primarily in individuals with significant risk factors. This report discusses an elderly male with a history of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and asthma, who developed bacteremia and endocarditis after consuming large quantities of Greek yogurt.

Case of a Young Male Recruit With Chest Pain Leading to Entry-Level Separation and Career Termination.

This is a case of a young, 20-year-old, male Navy recruit who was admitted to our healthcare facility with intermittent atypical chest pain and limiting exertional symptoms and was diagnosed with myocardial bridging (MB) as the most likely etiology of his chest after the complete cardiac workup, leading to his career limitations due to potential risks. Our patient presented with atypical chest pain and limiting exertional symptoms. Chest pain was non-radiating.

Does SARS-CoV-2 Infection Increase Risk of Neuropsychiatric and Related Conditions? Findings from Difference-in-Differences Analyses.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with increased neuropsychiatric conditions in children and youths, with evidence suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 infection may contribute additional risks beyond pandemic stressors. This study aimed to assess the full spectrum of neuropsychiatric conditions in COVID-19 positive children (ages 5-12) and youths (ages 12-20) compared to a matched COVID-19 negative cohort, accounting for factors influencing infection risk. Using EHR data from 25 institutions in the RECOVER program, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 326,074 COVID-19 positive and 887,314 negative participants matched for risk factors and stratified by age.

Structure-guided optimization of small molecules targeting the yeast casein kinase, Yck2, as a therapeutic strategy to combat Candida albicans.

is the most common cause of life-threatening fungal infection in the developed world but remains a therapeutic challenge. Protein kinases have been rewarding drug targets across diverse indications but remain untapped for antifungal development. Previously, screening kinase inhibitors against revealed a 2,3-aryl-pyrazolopyridine, GW461484A (GW), which targets casein kinase 1 (CK1) family member Yck2.

Sex and race disparities in emergency department patients with chest pain and a detectable or mildly elevated troponin.

Background: Identifying and eliminating health disparities is a public health priority. The goal of this analysis is to determine whether cardiac testing or outcome disparities exist by race or sex in patients with detectable to mildly elevated serum troponin.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of the CMR-IMPACT trial that randomized patients with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome and a detectable or mildly elevated troponin measure from 4 US hospitals to an early invasive angiography or cardiac MRI strategy.

Outcomes after revision surgery for glenoid baseplate failure in reverse shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: The purpose of this study was to report clinical outcomes in patients who underwent revision surgery for glenoid baseplate failure after index reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA).

Methods: A retrospective review was performed to identify patients from 2010 to 2020 at a single institution who sustained glenoid baseplate failure after RSA and underwent revision surgery. Exclusion criteria included periprosthetic joint infection or lack of minimum 1 year clinical and radiographic follow-up.

Brucellosis in pregnancy: a case report.

Background: spp., a gram-negative bacterium, is one of the most prevalent zoonotic illnesses worldwide and is more commonly seen in animals; however, the disease may be present in humans. Clinical manifestations of brucellosis are variable and can range from asymptomatic to severe disease.

Copy Number Variant Does Not Influence Stroke Severity in 2 C57BL/6J Mouse Models nor in Humans: An Exploratory Study.

Background: Contrary to the common belief, the most commonly used laboratory C57BL/6J mouse inbred strain presents a distinctive genetic and phenotypic variability, and for several traits, the genotype-phenotype link remains still unknown. Recently, we characterized the most important stroke survival factor such as brain collateral plasticity in 2 brain ischemia C57BL/6J mouse models (bilateral common carotid artery stenosis and middle cerebral artery occlusion) and observed a Mendelian-like fashion of inheritance of the posterior communicating artery (PcomA) patency. Interestingly, a copy number variant (CNV) spanning locus was reported to segregate in an analogous Mendelian-like pattern in the C57BL/6J colonies of the Jackson Laboratory.

Longitudinal Symptom Burden and Pharmacologic Management of Catatonia in Autism With Intellectual Disability: An Observational Study.

Catatonia is a highly morbid psychomotor and affective disorder, which can affect autistic individuals with and without intellectual disability. Catatonic symptoms are treatable with pharmacotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy, but the longitudinal effectiveness of these treatments in autistic individuals has not been described. We conducted a prospective observational cohort study of patients with autism and co-morbid catatonia who received outpatient care in a specialized outpatient clinic from July 1, 2021 to May 31, 2024.

The Bruck inhaler: An ether inhaler misattributed to Ludwig Bruck, an Australian medical publisher and supplier of medical equipment.

The acquisition of an early ether inhaler stimulated research into several inhalers classified as Bruck inhalers. Ludwig Hermann Bruck was a German migrant who arrived in Australia in 1873. He became a medical publisher, importer of medical instruments, and made unique contributions to early Australian medical publishing, most significantly as the first publisher of .

Priority musculoskeletal health research questions for people with generalized joint hypermobility: an international Delphi study.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the top 10 international research priorities for musculoskeletal health of people with generalized joint hypermobility.

Methods: A 3-round Delphi method utilizing an online survey was implemented. Three participant stakeholder groups were eligible for inclusion: (1) people with lived experience of joint hypermobility or their carers, (2) healthcare professionals, and (3) researchers with experience working with individuals with hypermobility.

Digital detector PET/CT increases Centiloid measures of amyloid in Alzheimer's disease: A head-to-head comparison of cameras.

Background: The introduction of therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease has led to increased interest in precisely quantifying amyloid-β (Aβ) burden for diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and further clinical research. Recent positron emission tomography (PET) hardware innovations including digital detectors have led to superior resolution and sensitivity, improving quantitative accuracy. However, the effect of PET scanner on Centiloid remains relatively unexplored and is assumed to be minimized by harmonizing PET resolutions.

Characterisation of riverine mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) community structure in southern Australia and the impact of a major flood based on analysis of a 20-year dataset.

We investigated the mosquito community along 315 km of the Murray River, where we identified three assemblages (upper, middle, and lower river) that exhibited different patterns of species richness and diversity over 20 years. In the lower reaches (i.e.

Classifying Unstructured Text in Electronic Health Records for Mental Health Prediction Models: Large Language Model Evaluation Study.

Background: Prediction models have demonstrated a range of applications across medicine, including using electronic health record (EHR) data to identify hospital readmission and mortality risk. Large language models (LLMs) can transform unstructured EHR text into structured features, which can then be integrated into statistical prediction models, ensuring that the results are both clinically meaningful and interpretable.

Objective: This study aims to compare the classification decisions made by clinical experts with those generated by a state-of-the-art LLM, using terms extracted from a large EHR data set of individuals with mental health disorders seen in emergency departments (EDs).

Sex-specific effects on the heart from combined exposure to simulated galactic cosmic radiation and hindlimb unloading.

Future long duration space missions will expose astronauts to higher doses of galactic cosmic radiation (GCR) than those experienced on the international space station. Recent studies have demonstrated astronauts may be at risk for cardiovascular complications due to increased radiation exposure and fluid shift from microgravity. However, there is a lack of direct evidence on how the cardiovascular system is affected by GCR and microgravity since no astronauts have been exposed to exploratory mission relevant GCR doses.

Recruitment Challenges and Strategies in a Technology-Based Intervention for Dementia Caregivers: Descriptive Study.

Background: Researchers have encountered challenges in recruiting unpaid caregivers of people living with Alzheimer disease and related dementias for intervention studies. However, little is known about the reasons for nonparticipation in in-home smart health interventions in community-based settings.

Objective: This study aimed to (1) assess recruitment rates in a smart health technology intervention for caregivers of people living with Alzheimer disease and related dementias and reasons for nonparticipation among them and (2) discuss lessons learned from recruitment challenges and strategies to improve recruitment.

Insights From Diverse Perspectives on Social Media Messages to Inform Young Adults With Cancer About Clinical Trials: Focus Group Study.

Background: Low rates of adolescent and young adult (YA; aged 15-39 y) clinical trial enrollment (CTE), particularly among underserved groups, have resulted in a lack of standardized cancer treatments and follow-up guidelines for this group that may limit improvement in cancer treatments and survival outcomes for YAs.

Objective: To understand and address unique barriers to CTE, we conducted focus groups to learn about informational, financial, and psychosocial needs of YAs surrounding CTE and identify strategies to address these barriers.

Methods: We conducted 5 focus groups in 2023 among a diverse sample of YA patients from across the United States.