Notes

Probiotics and Covid-19.
The potential applying AZ 3146 chemical structure this sort of remarkably encouraging composite nanomaterials will likely be also in brief drawn. r margin-bottom 0.25cm; direction ltr; color #000000; line-height 115%; text-align justify; orphans 2; widows 2; background transparent p.developed font-family "Times New Roman", serif; fontOBJECTIVE To summarize measures for prevention and control of the 2019 novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) in the department of kidney transplantation. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of outpatients and inpatients in the department of kidney transplantation from January 20, 2020 to March 1, 2020, and followed up the in-home kidney transplant recipients and those waiting for kidney transplantation through the Internet platform. Our department had formulated detailed prevention and control measures, mainly including kidney transplant outpatient management, kidney transplantation ward management, management of kidney transplant surgery, dialysis management of patients waiting for kidney transplantation, personal protection of medical staff, follow-up management of discharged patients after kidney transplantation, etc. RESULTS During the epidemic period, there were no COVID-19 among 68 outpatient examined kidney transplant recipients, 32 hospitalized kidney transplant recipients, 19 patienEngineering polyketide synthase (PKS) pathways that efficiently produce new metabolites requires an understanding of substrate selectivity, flexibility, and sites of failure during chain elongation, processing and termination. Growing evidence indicates that the thioesterase (TE) domain is a significant bottleneck within engineered modular PKS systems. Accordingly, we created a series of hybrid PKS modules bearing exchanged TE domains from heterologous pathways, and challenged them in vitro with both native and non-native full-length synthetic polyketide substrates. Reactions pairing wildtype PKS modules with non-native substrates predominantly resulted in poor conversions to anticipated macrolactones. Likewise, product formation with native substrates and hybrid PKS modules bearing non-cognate TE domains was severely reduced or undetectable. In contrast, non-native substrates were accepted, processed and cyclized by most hybrid modules if the engineered PKS contained a substrate compatible TE, directly impliPatients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus are at risk for acute kidney injury (AKI). Requirements of kidney replacement therapies (KRT) may be particularly intense for kidney transplant recipients with COVID-19 who develop AKI, due to their chronic use of steroids (1) and theoretically higher viral loads (2) that may lead to a catabolic state (3). Herein, we report the case of a kidney transplant recipient with COVID-19 infection, AKI, and a high catabolic state evidenced by refractory hyperkalemia and azotemia. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.AIMS Red yeast rice (RYR), produced by inoculating Monascus strains to steamed rice, contains many kinds of physiologically bioactive compounds, among which monacolin K can be used as an antihypercholesterolemic agent. However, RYR can be polluted by the mycotoxin citrinin, which has nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic activities. To avoid the risk of citrinin contamination in Monascus fermented products, it is important to screen for Monascus strains that produce no or low citrinin. METHODS AND RESULTS Five autochthonous Monascus strains with high yield monacolin K and undetectable citrinin were obtained by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). All five strains were identified as M. ruber based on Genealogical Concordance Phylogenetic Species Recognition criteria. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed that citrinin polyketide synthase (pksCT) gene was found in these strains, but transcriptional regulator (ctnA) was not found. CONCLUSIONS Five strains are potential strains for producing high qualityOver the last century, Western societies experienced a demographic shift driven by increased lifespan and decreased fertility, resulting in the subversion of the world's demographic pyramid. In ageing societies, cardiovascular diseases are the major cause of morbidity and mortality, thus representing a major societal and economic burden. Indeed, ageing associates with the deterioration of a genetic network implicated in senescence and longevity, orchestrating deleterious cellular processes that converge in the structural and functional decline of both the myocardium and the vasculature. In this review, we revise a compendium of genes involved in these processes and delineate possible strategies to interfere with them. Dietary interventions (e.g. intermittent fasting) and sirtuin-activating compounds are among the most promising interventions shown to promote protective effects on the ageing cardiovascular system. We conclude that ageing and longevity genes modulate cardiovascular function by acting on deleterBACKGROUND Parkinson's disease (PD) etiology is not well understood. Reported inverse associations with smoking and coffee consumption prompted the investigation of alcohol consumption as a risk factor, for which evidence is inconclusive. OBJECTIVE To assess the associations between alcohol consumption and PD risk. METHODS Within NeuroEPIC4PD, a prospective European population-based cohort, 694 incident PD cases were ascertained from 209,998 PD-free participants. Average alcohol consumption at different time points was self-reported at recruitment. Cox regression hazard ratios were estimated for alcohol consumption and PD occurrence. RESULTS No associations between baseline or lifetime total alcohol consumption and PD risk were observed. Men with moderate lifetime consumption (5-29.9 g/day) were at ~50% higher risk compared with light consumption (0.1-4.9 g/day), but no linear exposure-response trend was observed. Analyses by beverage type also revealed no associations with PD. CONCLUSION Our data reinforce pBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to assess efficacy and safety of a new patterned theta burst stimulation algorithm of DBS with the aim of expanding the therapeutic window and clinical benefit in PD. METHODS In this single-center, randomized, double-blind, clinical short-term trial, unilateral conventional subthalamic DBS was compared with unilateral patterned stimulation algorithms with intraburst high- or low-frequency theta burst stimulation in 17 PD patients. RESULTS There were no serious adverse events with theta burst stimulation. During monopolar review, conventional subthalamic DBS and high-frequency theta burst stimulation were comparable, but low-frequency theta burst stimulation differed by requiring higher stimulation amplitudes for symptom reduction, but a larger therapeutic window. High- and low-frequency theta burst stimulation with adapted stimulation amplitude were effective in PD symptom reduction with differential effects on akinesia and tremor, depending on the thetaThe aim of this study was to examine whether the process of initial colonization and the formation of mature biofilm structure of foodborne bacterial pathogens Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhimurium can be impeded by active essential oil components β-caryophyllene, cinnamaldehyde and eugenol at their individual and combined effects. Among the essential oil components tested, cinnamaldehyde and eugenol at their individual effect showed > 50% degradation in biofilm biomass against preformed (matured) biofilms of both the studied bacteria whereas β-caryophyllene failed to do so. In combination, cinnamaldehyde/eugenol blend showed synergistic antibiofilm efficacy against preformed biofilms of both the studied bacteria Listeria monocytogenes (FICI 0.24) and Salmonella typhimurium (FICI 0.40) whereas other tested combinations showed additive antibiofilm efficacy with FICI ranged from 2.02 to 2.35. Essential oil components alone and in combination also showed much higher inhibition effect on biofilm formaOBJECTIVE To describe the body composition of dogs with or without cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional. ANIMALS Adult dogs in which CCL disease was diagnosed (n = 30) and adult dogs without clinical signs of orthopedic disease (n = 30). METHODS Body weight, body condition score, and muscle condition score (MCS) were recorded. Body composition of the whole body and pelvic limbs were assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Body condition score, whole body, and pelvic limb body composition measurements were compared by using general linear mixed-model analysis of variance. Muscle condition score between groups was assessed by using a Mann-Whitney U test, while paired data were analyzed by using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS Body fat percentage (P  less then  .0001) was higher in affected dogs (38.78% ± 1.40) than in control dogs (27.49% ± 1.24). Affected dogs had lower MCS (1.90 ± 0.13, P  less then  .0001) compared with control dogs (2.77 ± 0.08). The affected pelvParkinson's disease is a progressive and debilitating disorder that has so far eluded attempts to develop disease-modifying treatment. Both epidemiological and genetic studies support a role of neuroinflammation in the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. Postmortem studies and experimental analyses suggest the involvement of both innate and adaptive immunity in the degenerative process. There is also some circumstantial evidence for effects of immune therapies on the disease. In the present article, we review 10 unanswered questions related to neuroinflammatory processes in Parkinson's disease with the goal of stimulating research in the field and accelerating the clinical development of neuroprotective therapies based on anti-inflammatory strategies. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.OBJECTIVE To assess and compare the salivary characteristics and oral health and to evaluate the impact of asthma and its medication on dental caries among adolescents with and without asthma. METHODS A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 50 asthmatic and 50 nonasthmatic adolescents aged 12-15 years in Bangalore City. Data were acquired using a structured questionnaire. Salivary samples were collected to determine the flow rate, pH, buffering capacity, and Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacilli counts. Oral health assessment was performed using WHO 2013 proforma. Inferential statistics such as chi-square, student's t-test, spearman's correlation, multinomial logistic. and stepwise linear regression were applied with P less then .05 considered as significant. RESULTS Asthmatic participants had significantly higher mean number of teeth with dental caries, gingival bleeding, and dental erosion than nonasthmatics (P less then .05). The prevalence of fluorosis, traumatic dental injuries, and oChondroitin sulfate is extracted from animal cartilaginous tissues and is commercialized as active principle against osteoarthritis. Its biological activity depends on its purity grade and could be altered by the presence of other glycosaminoglycans like keratan sulfate, that could be contemporarily extracted from animal tissues or like hyaluronic acid that, instead, is added on purpose in food supplements. Although numerous methods are reported in literature for quality control analyses of chondroitin sulfate, few of them are able to detect other glycosaminoglycans. In this paper, for the first time, a new high performance capillary electrophoresis method was set up to quantify the chondroitin sulfate, the eventual keratan sulfate and hyaluronic acid, as intact chains 5 chondroitin sulfate standards and 13 animal origin samples or food supplements from six different suppliers were analysed. The new method was able to determine keratan sulfate similarly to a previously reported high performance anion-exchangeBACKGROUND Factor X deficiency (known as; Stuart-Prower factor deficiency or F10 deficiency) is a rare inherited bleeding disorder. It affects one per 1 million individuals worldwide. Patients with inherited bleeding disorder reported difficulty in accessing primary dental care either due to their medical diseases or their related barriers. AIM This article aims to identify barriers to oral health as perceived by the patient with factor X deficiency who had been refused treatment by three dentists. A further aim is to provide dentists with the knowledge required to manage patients diagnosed with factor X deficiency. METHODS AND CASE REPORT A 30-year-old male with the inherited, severe factor X deficiency ( less then 1%) was asked to complete a survey which includes 22 semistructured, validated questions to assess his perceived barriers to dental services. Dental examination revealed that the patient required having nonsurgical periodontal therapy under local anesthesia. The treatment plan was discussed with tChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic and devastating condition characterized by poor airflow and breath. Smoking and other environmental factors-caused inflammations triggered excessive autophagy of normal lung epithelial cells, eventually leading to impaired lung functions. Previous studies showed that ghrelin exhibited beneficial effects on COPD patients. However, the mechanisms underlying this impact remained largely unknown. In this study, in vitro and in vivo models of COPD-associated inflammation were established, and we found that inflammation and autophagy were abonormally activated through nuclear factor kappa b (NF-κB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) signaling pathways. Interestingly, ghrelin could inhibit the excessive inflammation pathways and autophagy induced by particle-matter (PM) and/or cigarette extract (CSE) in bronchial epithelial cells. Furthermore, NF-κB and AP-1 signaling were both inhibited while lung functions were significantly improved. Taken together, identificaBACKGROUND The high incidence of septic transfusion reactions (STRs) led to testing being mandated by AABB from 2004. This was implemented by primary culture of single-donor apheresis platelets (APs) from 2004 and prestorage pooled platelets (PSPPs) from 2007. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS Platelet (PLT) aliquots were cultured at issue and transfusion reactions evaluated at our hospital. Bacterial contamination and STR rates (shown as rates per million transfusions in Results) were evaluated before and after introduction of primary culture by blood centers that used a microbial detection system (BacT/ALERT, bioMerieux) or enhanced bacterial detection system (eBDS, Haemonetics). RESULTS A total of 28,457 PLTs were cultured during pre-primary culture periods (44.7% APs; 55.3% at-issue pooled PLTs [AIPPs]) and 97,595 during post-primary culture periods (79.3% APs; 20.7% PSPPs). Forty-three contaminated units were identified in preculture and 34 in postculture periods (rates, 1511 vs. 348; p  less then  0.0001). ContaminaOBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine comprehensive metabolic changes of caffeine in the serum of patients with parkinsonian disorders including Parkinson's disease (PD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and multiple system atrophy (MSA) and to compare this with healthy control serum. METHODS Serum levels of caffeine and its 11 downstream metabolites from independent double cohorts consisting of PD (n = 111, 160), PSP (n = 30, 19), MSA (n = 23, 17), and healthy controls (n = 43, 31) were examined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The association of each metabolite with clinical parameters and medication was investigated. Mutations in caffeine-associated genes were investigated by direct sequencing. RESULTS A total of 9 metabolites detected in more than 50% of participants in both cohorts were decreased in 3 parkinsonian disorders compared with healthy controls without any significant association with age at sampling, sex, or disease severity (Hoehn and Yahr stage and Unified PaOBJECTIVE Accurate diagnosis is particularly challenging in Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple system atrophy (MSAp), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). We compare the utility of 3 promising biomarkers to differentiate disease state and explain disease severity in parkinsonism the Automated Imaging Differentiation in Parkinsonism (AID-P), the Magnetic Resonance Parkinsonism Index (MRPI), and plasma-based neurofilament light chain protein (NfL). METHODS For each biomarker, the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curves were quantified for PD versus MSAp/PSP and MSAp versus PSP and statistically compared. Unique combinations of variables were also assessed. Furthermore, each measures association with disease severity was determined using stepwise multiple regression. RESULTS For PD versus MSAp/PSP, AID-P (AUC, 0.900) measures had higher AUC compared with NfL (AUC, 0.747) and MRPI (AUC, 0.669), P  less then  0.05. For MSAp versus PSP, AID-P (AUC, 0.889), and MRPI (AUC, 0.824) mBACKGROUND Parkinson's disease is characterized by a high burden of gastrointestinal comorbidities, especially constipation and reduced colonic transit time, and by gut microbiota alterations. The diverse metabolites produced by the microbiota are broadly relevant to host health. How microbiota composition and metabolism relate to gastrointestinal function in Parkinson's disease is largely unknown. The objectives of the current study were to assesses associations between microbiota composition, stool consistency, constipation, and systemic microbial metabolites in Parkinson's disease to better understand how intestinal microbes contribute to gastrointestinal disturbances commonly observed in patients. METHODS Three hundred participants (197 Parkinson's patients and 103 controls) were recruited for this cross-sectional cohort study. Participants supplied fecal samples for microbiota sequencing (n = 300) and serum for untargeted metabolomics (n = 125). Data were collected on motor and nonmotor Parkinson's symptDuring the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, health care professionals are at the forefront of managing the highly infectious corona virus. As the most common route of transmission is via aerosols and droplet inhalation, it is critical for health care workers to have the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) including gowns, masks, and goggles. Surgical masks are not effective in preventing the influenza and SARS, so they are unlikely to be able to resist contaminated aerosols form entering the respiratory system. Therefore, it is vital to use respirators which have been proven to offer better protection against droplets, aerosols and fluid penetration and which form a tight seal around the mouth and nose. Various types of respirators are used in healthcare settings, such as half-mask filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) and powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs). The most commonly used FFR is the N95 disposable respirator, which is tight fitting and has a 95% or above particle filtering efficiency for a BACKGROUND Adoptive NK cell infusion is a promising immunotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. The aim of this study was to test the activity of clinical-grade membrane-bound IL-21/4-1BBL-expanded NK cell products against AML in vivo. METHODS Fresh peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were incubated with equal numbers of irradiated membrane-bound IL-21/4-1BBL-expressing K562 cells for 2-3 weeks to induce clinical-grade NK cell expansion. RESULTS Expansion for 2 and 3 weeks produced ∼4 and 8 × 109 NK cells from 2 × 107 PBMC. The production of CD107a and TNF-α in NK cell products in response to AML cell lines and primary blasts was higher than that observed in resting NK cells. The 2-week expanded NK cell products were xenografted into immunodeficient mice with leukemia and were persistently found in the bone marrow, spleen, liver, lung and peripheral blood for at least 13 days; furthermore, these expanded products reduced the AML burden in vivo. Compared with matched AML patients with persiA 46-year-old Pakistani woman was referred to dermatology with a 2-year history of a recurrent daily (2-4) urticarial rash, throat tightness after ingestion of certain foods and intermittent eczema affecting her legs. Previous skin prick tests by immunology to common foods were unremarkable. She had subclinical hypothyroidism and was on no relevant medications. On examination there was mild eczema on the lower legs that responded to topical steroids. Dermographism was not present. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.The most common drivers of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are oncogenic activating mutations in KIT (75%) or PDGFRA (10%) [1]; 5% of GISTs are succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-deficient, secondary to either SDHx mutations or SDHC promoter hypermethylation [2]. Rare GISTs have alternate drivers, including BRAF, RAS, or NF1 mutations, or NTRK3 or FGFR1 fusions. Here we report the first case of GIST with an ALK gene rearrangement. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT) mostly affects sick neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) with predisposing or underlying conditions. The clinical presentation is nonspecific which often leads to a delayed or missed diagnosis. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use in the NICU is rapidly increasing. One of the main uses of neonatologist-performed POCUS is cranial ultrasound which permits diagnosis and monitoring of neurological disease at the bedside. We present the case of a neonate with a complex clinical situation where cranial POCUS permitted a prompt diagnosis and treatment of severe CSVT by imaging the transverse sinuses through the mastoid fontanelle. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Highly concentrated sugar solutions are known to be effective anti-microbial agents. However, it is unknown whether this effect is solely the result of the collective osmotic effect imparted by a mixture of sugars or whether the type of carbohydrate used also has an individual chemical effect on bacterial responses, i.e., inhibition/growth. In view of this, in this work, the anti-microbial properties of four sugars, namely glucose, fructose, sucrose and maltose against three common food pathogens; Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica, were investigated using a turbidimentric approach. The results obtained indicate that the type of sugar used has a significant effect on the extent of bacterial inhibition which is not solely dependent on the water activity of the individual sugar solution. In addition, while it was shown that high sugar concentrations inhibit bacterial growth, very low concentrations show the opposite effect, i.e. they stimulate bacterial growth, indicating that thereWe consider the central problem of polarizable and leaky-dielectric uncharged spherical particle freely suspended in an unbounded non-symmetric binary electrolyte, which is forced by an ambient time-harmonic uniform electric field. Under the assumption of a 'weak field', we employ the linearized standard electro-kinetic model of binary electrolytes to account for such anion/cation asymmetry. A simplified generalized asymmetric dipole-term approximation, valid for a dielectric/conducting microsphere, is analytically derived for an arbitrary Debye scale and for any mismatch between ion diffusivities and valances. A two-peak unified dispersion spectrum covering all range of practical frequencies (KHz to MHz), is found for the case of a rotating electric field (ROT). The angular velocity of a free polarized particle is composed of DEP contribution, resulting from the electrical torque (dipole term) as well as from the induced electroosmotic (ICEO) flow field. The two effects usually act in opposite directions. UnGenetically pure CMS line (A-line) is essential to generate pure hybrid in order to harness the yield heterosis in rice. Conventionally, seed purity testing is carried by grow-out test (GOT), which has many limitations. Seed purity assessments based on molecular markers, reduces the time required for analysis significantly. However, it is very tedious since at least 200-400 seeds/seedlings are needed to be analyzed individually. An assay based on bulked-seed and molecular markers will be an ideal system. Keeping these points in view, in the present study, a co-dominant mitochondrial marker was used to test the purity of bulked parental line (A-line) seed utilising capillary electrophoresis system in a Genetic analyser. The results indicate that this method is very simple, accurate and can be used to test purity of large number of samples rapidly in a cost effective way compared to GOT and conventional molecular marker analysis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is proteIn emergency department (ED) cases with clinically suspected diverticulitis, diagnostic imaging is often needed for diagnostic confirmation, to exclude complications, and to direct patient management. Patients typically undergo a CT scan in the ED; however, in a subset of cases with suspected diverticulitis, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) may provide sufficient data to confirm the diagnosis and ascertain a safe plan for outpatient management.We review the main sonographic features of diverticulitis and discuss the diagnostic accuracy and potential benefits of a POCUS First model. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Sex determination and sex chromosomes have been extensively studied due to their importance in evolutionary biology. Species of dioecious plants, which may have sex chromosomes, offer us unique insights into the history of this phenomenon across the Tree of Life. Here, we present Sex-chrom a database on plant sex chromosomes (www.sexchrom.csic.es), which aims to provide an easily accessible and organized information source for scientists and a general audience interested in this field. Basic data such as complete taxonomic classification of the species, chromosome number, genome size (2C), ploidy level, sex determination mechanism, presence of homomorphic or heteromorphic sex chromosomes and their corresponding sources are easily available for 178 species of 84 genera and 65 families. Besides, the database contains specific sections for ten selected model systems in plant sex chromosome research such as Silene latifolia and Rumex acetosa. In these sections, more detailed information is also available, includiWater exchange between bulk water and water-ion complexes will be at equilibrium when the charge density of the complex surface equals the charge density of bulk water, producing a constant radius water-ion complex. This complex will migrate in an electric field at a velocity proportional to the complex radius. CE velocity is the sum of the complex charge-dependent velocity and the buffer electro-osmotic flow. Simultaneous use of both a base (1.07 mM imidazole) and an acid (1.5 mM MOPS) buffer negates EOF at pH 7.4. Electric fields below 300 V/cm (potassium, calcium) and 400 V/cm (magnesium), yield migration velocities with no dehydration of the water-ion complexes. The number of waters per complex increase with the ion charge density K+ 1.90, Ca++ 5.90, Mg++ 6.59 waters/ion. The charge densities of the complexes are similar K+ 1.24, Ca++ 1.43, Mg++ 1.21 e/nm2 , for an average bulk water charge density of 1.29 ± 0.11 (SD) e/nm2. The addition of 0.1% Triton increases the number of waters for Mg++ to 25.33 and OBJECTIVES SLE is characterized by two pathogenic key signatures, type I IFN and B-cell abnormalities. How these signatures are interrelated is not known. Type I-II IFN trigger activation of Janus kinase (JAK) - signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT). JAK-STAT inhibition is an attractive therapeutic possibility for SLE. We assess STAT1 and STAT3 expression and phosphorylation at baseline and after IFN type I and II stimulation in B-cell subpopulations of SLE patients compared with other autoimmune diseases and healthy controls (HD) and related it to disease activity. METHODS Expression of STAT1, pSTAT1, STAT3 and pSTAT3 in B and T cells of 21 HD, 10 rheumatoid arthritis (RA), seven primary Sjögren's (pSS) and 22 SLE patients was analysed by flow cytometry. STAT1 and STAT3 expression and phosphorylation in PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) of SLE patients and HD after IFNα and IFNγ incubation were further investigated. RESULTS SLE patients showed substantially higher STAT1 but not pSTBACKGROUND Optimal postoperative pain control is critical after spinal fusion surgery. There remains significant variability in the use of postoperative intravenous opioid patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and few data evaluating its utility compared with nurse-controlled analgesia (NCA) among patients with lumbar fusion. OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy of postoperative PCA compared with NCA to improve opiate prescription practices. METHODS A retrospective review from a single institution was conducted in consecutive patients treated with posterior lumbar spinal fusion for degenerative pathology. Patients were divided into cohorts on the basis of postoperative treatment with PCA or NCA. Postoperative pain scores, length of stay, and total opioid consumption data were collected. Patients were stratified according to preoperative opioid consumption as opioid naive (0 morphine milligram equivalents [MME] daily), low consumption (1-60 MME), high consumption (61-90 MME), or very high consumption (>90 MME). BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE Retraction injury can result in significant complications during intracranial operations. Alternative surgical techniques to minimize retraction pressure and duration of retraction can minimize the risk of retraction injury. We describe the use of a cottonoid "slider," which is a simple, cost-effective modification of a commonly used cottonoid, in multiple applications. CLINICAL PRESENTATION The cottonoid sliders are constructed preoperatively by overlaying an adhesive plastic incision drape on one side of a dry cottonoid patty and trimming the edges to fit the form of the cottonoid. Intraoperatively, the sliders can slide across the parenchymal surface atraumatically and are used for gentle retraction to expose desired areas. In addition, suction may be placed on the slider to clear fluid from the operative view. The plastic side of the slider prevents adherence to the parenchymal surface. Retractorless surgical techniques have been developed to minimize risk of retractor associatedOBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to analyse the incidence, prevalence, mortality and cause of death data of adult SLE patients and matched controls in a full-populational, nationwide, retrospective study. METHODS This non-interventional study was based on database research of the National Health Insurance Fund of Hungary. A total of 7888 patients were included in the analyses, within which two subgroups of incident patients were created the 'All incident SLE patients' group consisted of all incident SLE patients (4503 patients), while the 'Treated SLE patients' group contained those who received relevant therapy in the first 6 months after diagnosis (2582 patients). RESULTS The median age of the SLE population was found to be 46.5 years (women 85%). The incidence rate was 4.86 and 2.78 per 100 000 inhabitants in the 'All incident SLE patients' and 'Treated SLE patients' groups, respectively. The standardized mortality ratio was 1.63 and 2.09 in the 'All incident SLE patients' and 'Treated SLE patienAIMS Haemodynamic determinants of blood pressure (BP) include cardiac output (CO), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and arterial stiffness. We investigated the heritability of these phenotypes, their association with BP-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and the causal association between BP and arterial stiffness. METHODS AND RESULTS We assessed BP, central BP components, and haemodynamic properties (during a single visit) including CO, SVR, and pulse wave velocity (PWV, measure of arterial stiffness) in 3531 (1934 monozygotic, 1586 dizygotic) female TwinsUK participants. Heritability was estimated using structural equation modelling. Association with 984 BP-associated SNP was examined using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and generalized estimating equation regression. One and two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to estimate the causal direction between BP and arterial stiffness including data on 436 419 UK Biobank participants. We found high heritability BACKGROUND The trigeminocerebellar artery (TCA) is a variant branch of the basilar artery supplying the trigeminal nerve root and cerebellar hemisphere, which may contribute to trigeminal neuralgia (TGN). Despite its unique anatomic description, information regarding the preoperative diagnosis and surgical management of TCA is lacking. OBJECTIVE To evaluate our preoperative diagnosis of TCA using 3-dimensional (3D) images and surgical management of TGN cases with TCA involvement. METHODS We reviewed our 15 patients with TCA involvement (3.3%) among 460 consecutive patients undergoing microvascular decompression for TGN. In this study, all patients were examined using 3D images using GammaPlan (Elekta, Stockholm, Sweden). TCAs were divided into 2 groups based on surgical findings encircling type and intraneural type. Biographical data, radiological findings, and operative video recordings were reviewed retrospectively. Surgical outcomes and follow-up were assessed and compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS TCABACKGROUND Coil embolization of ruptured bifurcation aneurysms is challenging and often necessitates adjunctive stenting, which requires antiplatelet therapy in the setting of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The Woven EndoBridge (WEB; Terumo) device is an alternative self-expanding 3D mesh that does not require antiplatelet agents. However, its use has been mostly reserved for unruptured aneurysms. OBJECTIVE To assess the safety and feasibility of ruptured aneurysm treatment with the WEB. METHODS Retrospective analysis of 9 SAH patients with 11 aneurysms that were treated with the WEB device at 2 institutions after FDA approval. RESULTS Hunt and Hess grades were III and IV in 4 (44%) each and V in 1 (11%). All patients were treated within 24 h of hospitalization, and a single WEB was used in all but one aneurysm. Aneurysms treated were 3 basilar tip, 2 anterior communicating artery, 2 posterior inferior cerebellarartery, 1 middle cerebral artery, 1 carotid-ophthalmic artery, 1 posterior communicating artery, aOBJECTIVES To describe the implementation and use of a computerized decision support system (CDSS) for antibiotic prescription in primary care in France (Antibioclic). The CDSS targets 37 infectious diseases and has been freely available on a website since 2011. METHODS Description and implementation of the architecture of a CDSS for antibiotic prescription in general practice. Analysis of the queries made between 2012 and 2018 on the CDSS by GPs. Analysis of two cross-sectional studies of users in 2014 and 2019. RESULTS The number of queries increased from a median of 796/day [IQR, 578-989] in 2012 to 11 125/day [5592-12 505] in 2018. Unique users increased from 414/day [245-494] in 2012 to 5365/day [2891-5769] in 2018. Time taken to make a query was 2 min [1.9-2.1]. Among 3 542 347 queries in 2018, 78% were for adults. Six situations accounted for ≥50% of queries cystitis; acute otitis media; acute sinusitis; community-acquired pneumonia; sore throat; and pyelonephritis. Queries concerned pathologies for whOBJECTIVES This study examines the impact of a previously validated disability spectrum that accounts for compensatory strategies on depressive symptoms in older adults. METHODS This study was a secondary data analysis of 2011 through 2018 surveys from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (N=7,609). The disability spectrum was categorized using a five-level hierarchical scheme fully able, successful accommodation, reduced activity, difficulty, and assistance for 12 mobility, self-care, and household activities. The individual fixed-effects panel model was used to examine the impact of this disability spectrum on depressive symptoms. RESULTS Depressive symptoms rose progressively with each successive category on the disability spectrum in descriptive analyses. In fixed-effects models, moving from "fully able" to "successful accommodation" was not associated with significant changes in depressive symptoms; this result held for all self-care and mobility activities. Moving from "fully able" to "reduced actBACKGROUND The "kickstand rod technique" has been recently described for achieving and maintaining coronal correction in adult spinal deformity (ASD). Kickstand rods span scoliotic lumbar spine from the thoracolumbar junction proximally to a "kickstand iliac screw" distally. Using the iliac wing as a base, kickstand distraction produces powerful corrective forces. Limited literature exists for this technique, and its associated outcomes and complications are unknown. OBJECTIVE To assess alignment changes, early outcomes, and complications associated with kickstand rod distraction for ASD. METHODS Consecutive ASD patients treated with kickstand distraction at our institution were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS The cohort comprised 19 patients (mean age 67 yr; 79% women; 63% prior fusion) with mean follow-up 21 wk (range 2-72 wk). All patients had posterior-only approach surgery with tri-iliac fixation (third iliac screw for the kickstand) for mean fusion length 12 levels. Three-column osteotomy and lumbar tAcute ischaemic stroke disturbs healthy brain organization, prompting subsequent plasticity and reorganization to compensate for the loss of specialized neural tissue and function. Static resting state functional MRI studies have already furthered our understanding of cerebral reorganization by estimating stroke-induced changes in network connectivity aggregated over the duration of several minutes. In this study, we used dynamic resting state functional MRI analyses to increase temporal resolution to seconds and explore transient configurations of motor network connectivity in acute stroke. To this end, we collected resting state functional MRI data of 31 patients with acute ischaemic stroke and 17 age-matched healthy control subjects. Stroke patients presented with moderate to severe hand motor deficits. By estimating dynamic functional connectivity within a sliding window framework, we identified three distinct connectivity configurations of motor-related networks. Motor networks were organized into three Autophagosome biogenesis involves de novo formation of a membrane that elongates to sequester cytoplasmic cargo and closes to form a double-membrane vesicle (an autophagosome). This process has remained enigmatic since its initial discovery >50 yr ago, but our understanding of the mechanisms involved in autophagosome biogenesis has increased substantially during the last 20 yr. Several key questions do remain open, however, including, What determines the site of autophagosome nucleation? What is the origin and lipid composition of the autophagosome membrane? How is cargo sequestration regulated under nonselective and selective types of autophagy? This review provides key insight into the core molecular mechanisms underlying autophagosome biogenesis, with a specific emphasis on membrane modeling events, and highlights recent conceptual advances in the field. © 2020 Melia et al.BACKGROUND Both stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) and subdural strip electrodes (SSE) are used for intracranial electroencephalographic recordings in the invasive investigation of patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. OBJECTIVE To compare SEEG and SSE with respect to feasibility, complications, and outcome in this single-center study. METHODS Patient characteristics, periprocedural parameters, complications, and outcome were acquired from a pro- and retrospectively managed databank to compare SEEG and SSE cases. RESULTS A total of 500 intracranial electroencephalographic monitoring cases in 450 patients were analyzed (145 SEEG and 355 SSE). Both groups were of similar age, gender distribution, and duration of epilepsy. Implantation of each SEEG electrode took 13.9 ± 7.6 min (20 ± 12 min for each SSE; P less then .01). Radiation exposure to the patient was 4.3 ± 7.7 s to a dose area product of 14.6 ± 27.9 rad*cm2 for SEEG and 9.4 ± 8.9 s with 21 ± 22.4 rad*cm2 for SSE (P less then .01). There was no difBACKGROUND Surgery for peripheral nerve sheath tumors aims to preserve functional fascicles achieving gross-total resection. Increasing the visualization of anatomic details helps to identify the different layers and the tumor-nerve interface. The traditional microscope can present some limitations in this type of surgery, such as its physical obstruction. OBJECTIVE To present a proof-of-concept study about exoscope-guided surgery for schwannomas of the lower limbs, to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the 4K, high-quality, 3-dimensional (3D) imaging. METHODS We analyzed 2 consecutive surgical cases of suspected schwannomas of the lower limbs using the ORBEYE™ exoscope (Olympus). A standard operative microscope was also available in the operating room. All procedures were performed with neurophysiological monitoring, to identify functioning nerves and to localize the tumor capsule safest entry point. The cases are reported according to the PROCESS guidelines. RESULTS In both cases, we achieved a gross total resection of the schwannomas; the exoscope provided an excellent view of the anatomic details at tumor-nerve interface, as visible in intraoperative images and in the 3D-4K video supporting these findings.
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