Sex-Specific Clinical and Genetic Factors Associated With Adverse Outcomes in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Females with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy present at a more advanced stage of the disease and have a higher risk of heart failure and death. The factors behind these differences are unclear. We aimed to investigate sex-related differences in clinical and genetic factors affecting adverse outcomes in the Sarcomeric Human Cardiomyopathy Registry.

External validation of the SORG machine learning for 90-day and 1-year mortality in patients suffering from extremity metastatic disease in an European cohort of 174 patients.

Accurate survival prediction of patients with long-bone metastases is challenging, but important for optimizing treatment. The Skeletal Oncology Research Group (SORG) machine learning algorithm (MLA) has been previously developed and internally validated to predict 90-day and 1-year survival. External validation showed promise in the United States and Taiwan.

Directed Evolution of AAV9 for Efficient Gene Expression in Cardiomyocytes and .

Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors are increasingly used for preclinical and clinical cardiac gene therapy approaches. However, gene transfer to cardiomyocytes poses a challenge due to differences between AAV serotypes in terms of expression efficiency and . For example, AAV9 vectors work well in rodent heart muscle cells but not in cultivated neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes (NRVCMs), necessitating the use of AAV6 vectors for studies.

Subtilosin A production is influenced by surfactin levels in .

Although not essential for their growth, the production of secondary metabolites increases the fitness of the producing microorganisms in their natural habitat by enhancing establishment, competition, and nutrient acquisition. The Gram-positive soil-dwelling bacterium, , produces a variety of secondary metabolites. Here, we investigated the regulatory relationship between the non-ribosomal peptide surfactin and the sactipeptide bacteriocin subtilosin A.

Sex differences in atrial potential morphology.

Background: Areas of conduction disorders play an important role in both initiation and perpetuation of AF and can be recognized by specific changes in unipolar potential morphology. For example, EGM fractionation may be caused by asynchronous activation of adjacent cardiomyocytes because of structural barriers such as fibrotic strands. However, it is unknown whether there are sex differences in unipolar potential morphology.

The effectiveness of non-invasive brain stimulation in enhancing lower extremity function in children with spastic cerebral palsy: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques have emerged as a promising non-pharmacological adjunct to neurorehabilitation. Children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) exhibit altered cortical excitability, and while CP remains incurable, physiotherapy combined with other interventions is essential for managing motor dysfunction. Although some studies have examined NIBS using various stimulation parameters, there is limited evidence regarding its effects on the lower extremities and optimal administration protocols.

Optimizing predictions of environmental variables and species distributions on tidal flats by combining Sentinel-2 images and their deep-learning features with OBIA.

Tidal flat ecosystems, are under steady decline due to anthropogenic pressures including sea level rise and climate change. Monitoring and managing these coastal systems requires accurate and up-to-date mapping. Sediment characteristics and macrozoobenthos are major indicators of the environmental status of tidal flats.

Somatic mutations and DNA methylation identify a subgroup of poor prognosis within lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes.

Lower risk (LR) myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are heterogeneous hematopoietic stem and progenitor disorders caused by the accumulation of somatic mutations in various genes including epigenetic regulators that may produce convergent DNA methylation patterns driving specific gene expression profiles. The integration of genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptomic profiling has the potential to spotlight distinct LR-MDS categories on the basis of pathophysiological mechanisms. We performed a comprehensive study of somatic mutations and DNA methylation in a large and clinically well-annotated cohort of treatment-naive patients with LR-MDS at diagnosis from the EUMDS registry (ClinicalTrials.

Systematic optimization and evaluation of a Dutch sexual health intervention: Role model stories for chlamydia prevention, testing, and treatment.

Background: The rapidly evolving nature of eHealth necessitates regular optimization and subsequent evaluation. Within the Dutch sexual health intervention Sense.info, we utilized a mixed-methods cyclic evaluation process to assess and optimize the potential impact of the chlamydia page.

Expert Consensus Methods In The Humanities: An Exploration of their Potential.

Background: Despite the significant role of consensus and dissensus in knowledge production, formal approaches to consensus are notably less common in the humanities compared to their frequent application in natural, social, and life sciences. This article therefore explores the potential of expert consensus methods in humanities-related research.

Methods: In order to do so, an interdisciplinary team of both sciences researchers experienced in consensus methods and researchers familiar with the domain of the humanities and epistemology, conducted a literary review and exchanged their expertise in multiple brainstorm sessions.

Diagnostic accuracy of 4D-MRA for the detection and localization of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas: A retrospective 10-year cohort study.

Research Question: The goal of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of spinal time-resolved contrast-enhanced MR angiography (4D-MRA) for the detection and localization of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (SDAVF) in our institution.

Material And Methods: Single center retrospective cohort study of patients with the clinical suspicion of a SDAVF. Patients were included who had undergone spinal 4D-MRA in the period January 2010-February 2021.

No correlation between thrombin generation and emicizumab levels: implications for monitoring emicizumab therapy.

Background: Emicizumab, a bispecific antibody that mimics factor (F)VIII, has significantly improved hemophilia A management. Although emicizumab levels can be measured, tools for estimating the hemostatic efficacy of emicizumab are lacking. Thrombin generation (TG) assays can distinguish bleeding phenotypes in persons with hemophilia A on FVIII prophylaxis and may also be used during emicizumab therapy.

Multidimensional 1-Year Outcomes After Intensive Care Admission for Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to uncertainty concerning potential sequelae related to a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. This landscape is currently unfolding with studies reporting sequelae on various domains (physical, cognitive, and psychosocial), although most studies focus on adults or only one domain. We sought to investigate concurrent sequelae on multiple domains 1 year after PICU admission for Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C).

A Tutorial on Analyzing Ecological Momentary Assessment Data in Psychological Research With Bayesian (Generalized) Mixed-Effects Models.

In this tutorial, we introduce the reader to analyzing ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data as applied in psychological sciences with the use of Bayesian (generalized) linear mixed-effects models. We discuss practical advantages of the Bayesian approach over frequentist methods and conceptual differences. We demonstrate how Bayesian statistics can help EMA researchers to (a) incorporate prior knowledge and beliefs in analyses, (b) fit models with a large variety of outcome distributions that reflect likely data-generating processes, (c) quantify the uncertainty of effect-size estimates, and (d) quantify the evidence for or against an informative hypothesis.

Age- and Sex-Specific Risks of Major Cardiovascular Complications and All-Cause Mortality Following Elective Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in the Netherlands: A Dutch Hospital Data Registry Study.

Background: Age and sex are well-known risk factors for cardiovascular complications and mortality following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Yet, stratified up-to-date absolute risk estimates, which are needed to optimize prevention, are lacking.

Methods: All Dutch patients who had a first primary THA and TKA for osteoarthritis between 2015 and 2021 were included.

Balancing act: optimizing blue light for melanogenesis while minimizing cellular damage in primary human skin cells.

Introduction: Recent findings show that visible light, particularly blue light, stimulates melanogenesis in human skin, though the underlying mechanisms remain debated. This study aimed to determine the cell damage threshold of non-ionizing blue light on keratinocytes while preserving their ability to stimulate melanogenesis.

Methods: Human keratinocytes (N = 3) and melanocytes (N = 3) were isolated from skin samples of varying Fitzpatrick skin phototypes and irradiated with blue light (λpeak = 457 nm) and UVA light (λpeak = 385 nm).

Exploring peripheral fluid biomarkers for early detection of Alzheimer's disease in Down syndrome: A literature review.

People with Down Syndrome (DS) are at high risk of developing Alzheimer's disease dementia (AD) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy, which is a critical factor contributing to dementia in sporadic AD. Predicting and monitoring the decline and onset of dementia is a diagnostic challenge and of essence in daily care and support for people with DS. In this literature scoping review, we first summarize the different blood-based biomarkers for AD in DS.

Surfactin accelerates pellicle biofilm development.

Surfactin is a biosurfactant produced by many strains with a wide variety of functions from lowering surface tension to allowing motility of bacterial swarms, acting as a signaling molecule, and even exhibiting antimicrobial activities. However, the impact of surfactin during biofilm formation has been debated with variable findings between studies depending on the experimental conditions. B.

Systematic characterization of faecal sludge from various sources for its use as a solid fuel.

Faecal sludge (FS) is not extensively evaluated for its potential as a solid fuel mainly due to the general conception of its "highly variable characteristics" in relation to the wide range of on-site sanitation systems. An extensive and systematic FS characterization was therefore conducted on twenty-four samples collected directly from pit latrines, ventilated improved pit latrines (VIPs) and urine-diverting dehydrating toilets (UDDTs) at two depths to understand the impact on properties relevant for combustion. The higher heating value (HHV) for these samples lies between 13 to 22 MJ/kg DM (dry matter).

Integrating Text Structure Instruction in Science Education: A Design-Based Study.

Integrated science-and-literacy programs have proven to positively affect both language proficiency and science knowledge. Because making connections is important in both text comprehension and understanding the disciplinary core ideas taught in science, it seems worthwhile to explore the potential of integrating text structure instruction in science education. Therefore, we conducted a design-based research (DBR) in collaboration with teachers in the upper levels of primary education in the Netherlands.

Dynamic association of antimicrobial resistance in urinary isolates of and between primary care and hospital settings in the Netherlands (2008-2020): a population-based study.

Background: It is unclear whether changes in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in primary care influence AMR in hospital settings. Therefore, we investigated the dynamic association of AMR between primary care and hospitals.

Methods: We studied resistance percentages of and isolates to co-amoxiclav, ciprofloxacin, fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin and trimethoprim submitted by primary care, hospital outpatient and hospital inpatient settings to the Dutch National AMR surveillance network (ISIS-AR) from 2008 to 2020.

Proximity-enhanced cysteine-histidine crosslinking for elucidating intrinsically disordered and other protein complexes.

Disordered proteins and domains are ubiquitous throughout the proteome of human cell types, yet the biomolecular sciences lack effective tool compounds and chemical strategies to study this class of proteins. In this context, we introduce a novel covalent tool compound approach that combines proximity-enhanced crosslinking with histidine trapping. Utilizing a maleimide-cyclohexenone crosslinker for efficient cysteine-histidine crosslinking, we elucidated the mechanism of this dual-reactive tool compound class.

Definition of a European pre-vasectomy scoring system to identify patients at risk of vasectomy regret.

Introduction: Vasectomy is a widely used, safe, effective method of permanent contraception and contributes to healthy sexuality.

Aims: We have conducted a 3-step observational clinical study to develop a vasectomy regret risk score and guide patients and clinicians when discussing a vasectomy.

Methods: A 3-step approach has been followed.

Towards high atom economy in whole-cell redox biocatalysis: up-scaling light-driven cyanobacterial ene-reductions in a flat panel photobioreactor.

Light-driven biotransformations in recombinant cyanobacteria benefit from the atom-efficient regeneration of reaction equivalents like NADPH from water and light by oxygenic photosynthesis. The self-shading of photosynthetic cells throughout the reaction volume, along with the need for extended light paths, limits adequate light supply and significantly restricts the potential for upscaling. Here, we present a flat panel photobioreactor (1 cm optical path length) as a scalable system to provide efficient illumination at high cell densities.

Single-cell sequencing of human Langerhans cells identifies altered gene expression profiles in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by dysregulated T cell immunity and skin microbiome dysbiosis with predominance of Staphylococcus aureus, which is associated with exacerbating AD skin inflammation. Specific glycosylation patterns of S. aureus cell wall structures amplify skin inflammation through interaction with Langerhans cells (LCs).