Notes

Optimization pertaining to biogenic bacterial synthesis involving gold nanoparticles by means of reply area strategy, portrayal, their particular anti-microbial, de-oxidizing, as well as catalytic prospective.
g., cognitive-behavioral strategies) and external (e.g., social support) resources made abstinence attainable for many members. A range of benefits attributed to abstinence by members suggest that abstaining from pornography could potentially be a beneficial intervention for problematic pornography use, although future prospective studies are needed to rule out possible third variable explanations for these perceived effects and to rigorously evaluate abstinence as an intervention. The present findings shed light on what the "rebooting" experience is like from members' own perspectives and provide insights into abstinence as an approach for addressing problematic pornography use.Small intestinal hemorrhage due to diverticulum is a relatively rare condition among gastrointestinal hemorrhages. We report a case of diverticular hemorrhage of the terminal ileum that was successfully treated by ultra-selective transcatheter arterial embolization using a triaxial system. A 25-year-old man was referred to our hospital due to melena. Abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography demonstrated marked extravasation of contrast medium in a diverticulum of the terminal ileum. We immediately attempted transcatheter arterial embolization after onset of hemorrhagic hypovolemic shock. Angiogram of the superior mesenteric artery revealed apparent hemorrhage at the end of the ileocolic artery. We performed embolization with 2 platinum coils using a triaxial system via the vasa recta of the terminal ileum. This procedure stopped extravasation of contrast medium. Postoperative course was uneventful, and he was discharged four days postoperatively. The triaxial system may facilitate high diagnostic ability to accurately identify target arteries of the ileal diverticular hemorrhage.Situs inversus abdominus is a congenital abnormality characterized by the mirror image positioning of the abdominal organs, making it difficult to diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. Here, we report a rare case of gastric varices in situs inversus abdominus patient. A 55-year-old man was diagnosed with F2-shaped gastric varices associated with alcoholic cirrhosis. Abdominal dynamic computed tomography showed situs inversus abdominus, and gastric varices with a gastrorenal shunt. Due to the complex anatomy, emergency interventional radiology during bleeding was extremely difficult. Therefore, after thorough consultation, we decided to treat gastric varices prophylactically by balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration. After treatment, the patient's clinical course was generally good, with no adverse events, and the gastric varices disappeared. It is important to assess anatomical positioning using three-dimensional reconstruction computed tomography images before treatment, to adequately prepare, including selecting appropriate devices (i.e., catheters and sheath). Although preventive treatment of gastric varices is controversial, in cases with anatomical complexity, preventive treatment with sufficient preparation would be recommended. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports of treatment for gastric varices in situs inversus abdominus patient. This case will serve as a reference for successful treatment in future cases.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of 1MeTIQ on fear memory and social interaction in an MK-801-induced model of schizophrenia. The results obtained after administration of 1MeTIQ were compared with those obtained with olanzapine, an antipsychotic drug.

Sprague-Dawley rats received a single injection of MK-801 to induce behavioral disorders. 1MeTIQ was given either acutely in a single dose or chronically for 7 consecutive days. Olanzapine was administered once. In groups receiving combined treatments, 1MeTIQ or olanzapine was administered 20min before MK-801 injection. Contextual fear conditioning was used to assess disturbances in fear memory (FM), and the sociability of the rats was measured in the social interaction test (SIT). Biochemical analysis was carried out to evaluate monoamine levels in selected brain structures after treatment.

Our results are focused mainly on data obtained from neurochemical studies, demonstrating that 1MeTIQ inhibited the MK-801-induced reduction in le mechanisms for inhibiting the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
Rezum® is a novel convection-based thermal therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) induced lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). This review provides an overview of its safety, efficacy, cost, and potential role in the paradigm of BPH/LUTS therapies.

Data regarding Rezum® stems primarily from one large randomized controlled trial of 197 patients with 4years of follow-up. The efficacy and safety of Rezum® is further supported by 4 additional studies including 1 prospective pilot study, 1 crossover study, and 2 retrospective studies. Durable improvements in IPSS (47-60%), QoL (38-52%), Qmax (45-72%), and PVR (11-38%) were seen without causing deterioration of sexual function. Rezum® offers a cost-effective and safe approach to treating BPH/LUTS and should be considered as a possible first-line therapy for patients with moderate to severe symptoms.
Data regarding Rezum® stems primarily from one large randomized controlled trial of 197 patients with 4 years of follow-up. The efficacy and safety of Rezum® is further supported by 4 additional studies including 1 prospective pilot study, 1 crossover study, and 2 retrospective studies. Durable improvements in IPSS (47-60%), QoL (38-52%), Qmax (45-72%), and PVR (11-38%) were seen without causing deterioration of sexual function. Rezum® offers a cost-effective and safe approach to treating BPH/LUTS and should be considered as a possible first-line therapy for patients with moderate to severe symptoms.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in December 2019, rapidly reaching global pandemic proportions. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has presented unique challenges to the rheumatology community. It is known that many individuals with rheumatic disease are at increased risk of severe disease from other infections, sparking a similar fear for COVID-19. In addition, medications routinely used in rheumatology practice are being trialled as treatments, with the potential for drug shortages for rheumatology patients.

Underlying comorbidities and active disease are associated with worse COVID-19 outcomes in patients with rheumatic disease. Tocilizumab and hydroxychloroquine have not proven to be effective treatments in the management of COVID-19. Telehealth has become an essential tool for the rheumatology community to monitor patients during the pandemic. In this article, we summarise the available COVID-19 evidence that is of relevance to the rheumatology community.tic disease, along with presenting features and clinical outcomes. We provide an overview of the treatments for COVID-19 which have significance for rheumatology. We highlight published recommendations which can guide our management of rheumatic disease populations during this pandemic. Finally, we discuss the challenges in delivering effective care virtually and present methods and tools which could be adapted for use.
Controversies exist on the relative contribution of sagittal spino-pelvic alignment on pathogenesis of lumbar disc herniation.

Spinopelvic alignment parameters, pelvic incidence, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, pelvic radius-S1 end-plate ratio and pelvic radius-S1 angle, in 52 patients with lumbar disc herniation were compared with the same measurements in 43 healthy adult volunteers.

Statistical analysis revealed significant difference in pelvic incidence and sacral slope between patients with lumbar disc herniation and normal population.

Patients with lumbar disc herniation have a more vertical sacrum compared to the normal population which may result in higher intradiscal pressure in these patients.
Patients with lumbar disc herniation have a more vertical sacrum compared to the normal population which may result in higher intradiscal pressure in these patients.Liver is the largest internal organ that serves as the key site for various metabolic activities and maintenance of homeostasis. Liver diseases are great threats to human health. The capability of liver to regain its mass after partial hepatectomy has widely been applied in treating liver diseases either by removing the damaged part of a diseased liver in a patient or transplanting a part of healthy liver into a patient. Vast efforts have been made to study the biology of liver regeneration in different liver-damage models. Regarding the sources of hepatocytes during liver regeneration, convincing evidences have demonstrated that different liver-damage models mobilized different subtype hepatocytes in contributing to liver regeneration. Under extreme hepatocyte ablation, biliary epithelial cells can undergo dedifferentiation to liver progenitor cells (LPCs) and then LPCs differentiate to produce hepatocytes. Here we will focus on summarizing the progresses made in identifying cell types contributing to producing new hepatocytes during liver regeneration in mice and zebrafish.
The role of modified radical mastectomy (MRM) in patients with de novo stage IV inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) remains controversial. We evaluated the impact of MRM on outcomes in this population.

Ninety-seven women presenting with stage IV IBC were identified in an institutional database (2007-2016) and were stratified by receipt of MRM or no surgery (non-MRM). Demographic, clinicopathologic, and treatment factors were compared. Local-regional recurrence patterns were described and survival analyses were conducted.

All patients initially received chemotherapy. Fifty-two patients (53.6%) underwent MRM; 47 received post-mastectomy radiation. Differences between the non-MRM and MRM groups included tumor receptor subtypes (hormone receptor-positive [HR+]/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive [HER2+] 4.4% vs. 19.2%; HR+/HER2-negative [HER2-] 31.1% vs. 44.2%; HR-negative [HR-]/HER2+ 24.4% vs. 15.4%; and HR-/HER2- 40.0% vs. 21.2%; p = 0.03), number of metastatic sites (3 vs. 2; p = 0.01), and clble survival benefits of MRM in de novo stage IV IBC patients.
In our retrospective study, MRM in de novo stage IV IBC patients is an independent factor associated with improved OS. Our findings strongly support the need for prospective randomized trials evaluating possible survival benefits of MRM in de novo stage IV IBC patients.
Anatomical resection of segment 8 (s8) is a challenging procedure. S8 can be subdivided into two areas ventral (s8v) and dorsal (s8d). In the last years, different approaches for performing laparoscopic resection of s8 or any of its subsegments have been described, i.e. the hilar extrafascial approach, transfissural approach for s8v, transparenchymal approach for s8d, and the intrahepatic Glissonean approach. We recently described the dorsal approach of the right hepatic vein (RHV) for anatomical segment 7 resection. This video report describes the approach to a dorsal s8 pedicle using the RHV dorsal approach.

A 50-year-old woman with a history of morbid obesity and sleep apnea was diagnosed after episodes of hematochezia sigmoid cancer and a 2-cm liver metastases in the s8d, according to vascular reconstruction (Cella Medical Solutions, Murcia, Spain). The surgical technique started with mobilization of the right liver until the root of the RHV was identified and exposed in a craniocaudal fashion and until the s8d Glissonean pedicle was identified and clamped. Indocyanine green counterstaining depicted an intersegmental plane between the s8d and segment 5 and s8v. Transection continued until the anterior fissural vein was exposed at its root, as a landmark of the medial plane.

Operative time lasted 265min. Transection was carried out using the intermittent Pringle maneuver over a period of 81min. Estimated blood loss was 252cc. There were no postoperative complications and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 2.

In some cases, the RHV dorsal approach can be used as the landmark for the s8d Glissonean pedicle, allowing anatomical resection of this particular area.
In some cases, the RHV dorsal approach can be used as the landmark for the s8d Glissonean pedicle, allowing anatomical resection of this particular area.In recent years, we are witnessing a substantially growing scientific interest in MOFs and their derived materials in the field of electrocatalysis. MOFs acting as a self-sacrificing template offer various advantages for the synthesis of carbon-rich materials, metal oxides, and metal nanostructures containing graphitic carbon-based materials benefiting from the high surface area, porous structure, and abundance of metal sites and organic functionalities. Yet, despite recent advancement in the field of MOF-derived materials, there are still several significant challenges that should be overcomed, to obtain better control and understanding on the factors determining their chemical, structural and catalytic nature. In this minireview, we will discuss recently reported advances in the development of promising methods and strategies for the construction of functional MOF-derived materials and their application as highly-active electrocatalysts for two important energy-related reactions nitrogen reduction to produce ammonia, and CO2 reduction into carbon-based fuels. Moreover, a discussion containing assessments and remarks on the possible future developments of MOF-derived materials toward efficient electrocatalysis is included.
To explore the clinical significance of digital tomographic fusion imaging in the diagnosis of avascular disease of the femoral head in adults.

Eighty-two adult patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head confirmed by MRI in the department of orthopedics of our hospital were studied retrospectively. The related signs of adult avascular necrosis of the femoral head were diagnosed by digital tomographic fusion imaging, and the detection rates of digital X-ray (DR) and digital tomosynthesis (DTS) were compared to clarify the clinical value of digital tomographic fusion imaging in the diagnosis of adult avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

DTS detected DR and 78 cases identified 55 cases. Taking the results of CT/MRI as the gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of DR and DTS in the diagnosis of ANFH were calculated. There was a significant difference in the detection rate between the two methods (P < 0.05).

The digital tomographic fusion imaging technique has the advantages of high detection rate and excellent image quality, is economical, and is worth popularizing. For those with negative X-rays, DTS diagnosis and CT or/and MRI can avoid unnecessary CT and MRI examinations, which is helpful to reduce the waste of medical resources.
The digital tomographic fusion imaging technique has the advantages of high detection rate and excellent image quality, is economical, and is worth popularizing. For those with negative X-rays, DTS diagnosis and CT or/and MRI can avoid unnecessary CT and MRI examinations, which is helpful to reduce the waste of medical resources.
To describe the presentation, features, and outcomes of patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) seen by uveitis specialists in Oklahoma.

Clinical data were collected for 26 patients (52 eyes) diagnosed with VKH and seen between 1992 and 2018. Main outcome measures included rates of visual loss, ocular complications, and remission.

There were 11 Native American (NA) patients (11/26, 42.3%) and 15 non-Natives (n-NA). NA VKH patients were significantly more likely to present at a younger age (18.6years) than n-NA VKH patients (30.1years) (p = 0.023). NA patients were less likely to have meningismus (0.00 vs. 42.9%; 0.048) or systemic symptoms (50.0% vs. 93.3%; p = 0.023) than n-NA patients, but more likely to develop cataracts (100.0% vs. 66.7%; p = 0.003). There were similar rates of macular edema, epiretinal membrane, subretinal fibrosis, and recurrent uveitis between the two groups. Oral corticosteroid use was similar between both groups (72.7% vs. 86.7%; p = 0.61).

VKH may manifest with earlier disease course in NA patients than n-NA patients, particularly regarding ocular findings. However, NA patients were less likely to have systemic symptoms than n-NA patients.
VKH may manifest with earlier disease course in NA patients than n-NA patients, particularly regarding ocular findings. However, NA patients were less likely to have systemic symptoms than n-NA patients.A new three-dimensional lanthanide metal-organic framework (Ln-MOF), [Eu4(L)4(H2O)8]·10H2O (1, H3L = biphenyl-3'-nitro-3,4',5-tricarboxylic acid), has been constructed via solvothermal technology and its framework has been detected by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction and elemental analyses. Complex 1 with typical emission of Eu3+ ion represents dramatic luminescence quenching affect for picric acid (PA) and the linear Stern-Volmer plot was surveyed in the consistence, ranging from 0.05 to 0.15 mM (Ksv = 98,074 M- 1). Its therapeutic effect of the compound on the cerebral edema caused by cerebral hemorrhage was estimated and the mechanism was explored. Possible binding interactions have been investigated by molecular docking simulations, from which the binding interactions are identified and the carboxyl oxygens are responsible for those identified interactions.HIV testing/counseling is a critical point during which non-clinical staff could intervene, discuss and/or refer clients for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). This analysis investigated the contextual factors affecting PrEP implementation within HIV testing sites. Two generalized linear mixed models were conducted to estimate PrEP implementation as a function of constructs from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Qualitative interviews were analyzed thematically. Data integration occurred via joint analysis and triangulation. Constructs from the CFIR domain Characteristics of Individuals did not predict PrEP implementation when controlling for demographic characteristics; qualitative data signaled divergent findings in PrEP knowledge. Within the CFIR domains Inner and Outer Settings, relevant priority and available resources predicted PrEP implementation; qualitative data confirmed the importance of available resources and provided insight into the impact of cosmopolitanism and leadership. Addressing the contextual factors that affect PrEP implementation may help HIV testing staff to better implement PrEP programs.We measured change in sexual practices and the incidence of C. trachomatis (CT) and N. gonorrhoeae (NG) within a prospective cohort of Kenyan MSM taking PrEP in Kenya. Over the one year of study participation, CT and NG were diagnosed in urine at baseline, 6- and 12- months. Multivariable Cox regression identified factors associated with incident infection. Sexual practices were assessed at baseline and every 3 months. We evaluated changes over time and in relation to PrEP adherence via generalized estimating equation analysis. From October 2017-January 2018, 158 participants initiated PrEP, having 10.3% baseline CT/NG prevalence (either or both). The incidence was 17.2 cases per 100 person-years (95% CI 11.7-25.5). Incident CT/NG increased with report of transactional male sex partner (adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR) = 2.46, p = 0.016, z = 2.40), regular female sex partner (aHR = 2.22, p = 0.051, z = 1.96), greater social support (highest vs. lowest quartile, aHR = 6.24, p = 0.012, z = 2.51), and CT/NG infection prior to enrollment (aHR = 2.90, p = 0.002, z = 3.03). Multiple sex partners, condomless sex, and transactional sex decreased over time and were not associated with PrEP adherence. Urethral CT/NG incidence remained high and there was no evidence of PrEP-related behavioral change. There is need for ongoing etiologic testing, improved understanding of risk from female sex partners, and development of more effective risk reduction interventions.
Arthrofibrosis remains one of the leading causes for revision in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Similar in nature to arthrofibrosis, hypertrophic scars and keloid formation are a result of excessive collagen formation. There is paucity in the literature on whether there is an association between keloid formation and the development of arthrofibrosis following TKA. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to utilize a large nationwide database to identify and compare the rates of postoperative complications related to arthrofibrosis after primary TKA in patients with history of hypertrophic scar and keloid disorders versus those without.

Patient records from 2010 to the second quarter of 2016 were queried from an administrative claims database, comparing rates of arthrofibrosis, manipulation under anesthesia (MUA), lysis of adhesions (LOA), and revision TKA in patients with chart diagnosis of keloids versus those without in patients who underwent primary TKA. Data analysis was performed using R starace, prior surgery, range of motion, and postoperative recovery are needed to confirm the association of keloid diagnosis and arthrofibrosis following primary TKA demonstrated in this study.

Level III retrospective comparative study.
Level III retrospective comparative study.As intensity and physical demands continue to rise in sport competition, faster and better recovery becomes essential. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of HRV biofeedback (HRVB) while recovering from a submaximal aerobic exercise. Ten physically-active graduate students participated in the study, which was conducted in four sessions exercise with free-breathing recovery, first resonance frequency (RF) detection, second RF detection, and exercise applying HRVB during recovery. Measurements included time spent running and recovering, HRV parameters, and recovery/exertion perceptions. The results indicate that using HRVB during recovery improves cardiac variability (RRmean, SDNN, RMSSD and LF; p  less then  0.01). HRVB also lowers recovery time (p  less then  0.05) and seems to be improving the perception of recovery (p = 0.087). Moreover, time spent exercising (p  less then  0.01) and perceived physical exertion (p  less then  0.05) were higher when applying HRVB. The improvement in the psychophysiological adaptation after intensive aerobic exercise provided by the HRVB is a valuable benefit, not only for competition-driven athletes, but also for the general population.There are unexplained geographical variations in the incidence of kidney cancer with the high rates reported in Baltic countries, as well as eastern and central Europe. Having access to a large and well-annotated collection of "tumor/non-tumor" pairs of kidney cancer patients from the Czech Republic, Romania, Serbia, UK, and Russia, we aimed to analyze the morphology of non-neoplastic renal tissue in nephrectomy specimens. By applying digital pathology, we performed a microscopic examination of 1012 frozen non-neoplastic kidney tissues from patients with renal cell carcinoma. Four components of renal parenchyma were evaluated and scored for the intensity of interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, tubular atrophy, glomerulosclerosis, and arterial wall thickening, globally called chronic renal parenchymal changes. Moderate or severe changes were observed in 54 (5.3%) of patients with predominance of occurrence in Romania (OR = 2.67, CI 1.07-6.67) and Serbia (OR = 4.37, CI 1.20-15.96) in reference to those from Russia. Further adjustment for comorbidities, tumor characteristics, and stage did not change risk estimates. In multinomial regression model, relative probability of non-glomerular changes was 5.22 times higher for Romania and Serbia compared to Russia. Our findings show that the frequency of chronic renal parenchymal changes, with the predominance of chronic interstitial nephritis pattern, in kidney cancer patients varies by country, significantly more frequent in countries located in central and southeastern Europe where the incidence of kidney cancer has been reported to be moderate to high. The observed association between these pathological features and living in certain geographic areas requires a larger population-based study to confirm this association on a large scale.This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the peak skin dose (PSD) associated with radiation skin injury and the fluoroscopic pulse rate or target vessel during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures. We consecutively included 213 patients who underwent PCI procedures. The fluoroscopic time (FT), total number of cine frames, reference air kerma (RAK), and PSD were compared between the two types of fluoroscopic pulse rates (10 and 7.5 pulses/s) and among target vessels. The total number of X-ray tube angulations for each target vessel was also investigated. The median FT was 21.5 min in the 10 pulses/s group and 19.4 min in the 7.5 pulses/s group (p = 0.068, Wilcoxon rank sum test). The median PSD in the 10 pulses/s group was 749 mGy, which was significantly higher than that in the 7.5 pulses/s group (549 mGy) (p  less then  0.001). The median RAK in the right coronary artery (RCA) was equivalent to that in the left anterior descending artery. However, among the target vessels, the median PSD tended to be the highest in the RCA. There was a difference in the X-ray tube angulation used depending on the target vessel. PCI in the RCA used the left anterior oblique angle more frequently than PCI in the other vessels and tended to use only one angulation. The calculated PSD was related to the target vessel of the PCI procedure, and it was also closely related to the X-ray tube angulation.Caffeine is a popular ergogenic aid due to its primary physiological effects that occur through antagonism of adenosine receptors in the central nervous system. This leads to a cascade of physiological reactions which increases focus and volition, and reduces perception of effort and pain, contributing to improved exercise performance. Substantial variability in the physiological and performance response to acute caffeine consumption is apparent, and a growing number of studies are implicating a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the CYP1A2 gene, responsible for caffeine metabolism, as a key factor that influences the acute responses to caffeine ingestion. However, existing literature regarding the influence of this polymorphism on the ergogenic effects of caffeine is controversial. Fast caffeine metabolisers (AA homozygotes) appear most likely to benefit from caffeine supplementation, although over half of studies showed no differences in the responses to caffeine between CYP1A2 genotypes, while others even showed either a possible advantage or disadvantage for C-allele carriers. Contrasting data are limited by weak study designs and small samples sizes, which did not allow separation of C-allele carriers into their sub-groups (AC and CC), and insufficient mechanistic evidence to elucidate findings. Mixed results prevent practical recommendations based upon genotype while genetic testing for CYP1A2 is also currently unwarranted. More mechanistic and applied research is required to elucidate how the CYP1A2 polymorphism might alter caffeine's ergogenic effect and the magnitude thereof, and whether CYP1A2 genotyping prior to caffeine supplementation is necessary.
Bariatric surgery is a life-changing treatment, but knowledge of its influence on changes in relationship satisfaction (RS) is still limited. The present study examines whether a patient's RS changes after having bariatric surgery, in response to the surgery-induced weight loss. The predictive value of further variables such as age and sex are also investigated.

A total of 145 participants scheduled for bariatric surgery were recruited between September 2015 and June 2018. RS was assessed with a reliable and valid short form of a standardized self-report measure, which was completed before, 6 months and 12 months after surgery.

Loss of excess weight at 6 and 12months post-surgery was 49% and 66.3%, respectively. The repeated measures ANOVA for the factor "PFB-K" revealed a statistically significant effect, with F (2, 288) = 7.40, p = .001, and η2 = .05, and for the factor "BMI" with F (2, 288) = 505.99, p < .001, and η2 = .78. The highest mean RS score was observed 6months post-surgery. Sex showed a statistical trend of influence on RS F (1, 143) = 3.24, p = .074, and η2 = .022. At all three measurement points, men showed higher mean RS scores than women.

Bariatric surgery leads to significant weight loss and indicates an increase in RS. While a correlation with the amount of weight lost remains unclear, a trend was seen towards higher RS in subjects with higher weight loss. Men in particular reported higher RS.
Bariatric surgery leads to significant weight loss and indicates an increase in RS. While a correlation with the amount of weight lost remains unclear, a trend was seen towards higher RS in subjects with higher weight loss. Men in particular reported higher RS.
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a severe and recurrent allergic conjunctivitis, the mechanism of which is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the role of oncostatin M (OSM) in the pathogenesis of VKC, with a focus on tissue remodeling.

Clinical and experimental.

The OSM concentrations in tear fluid samples obtained from VKC patients and healthy controls were measured using ELISA, and the expression of OSM mRNA and protein in giant papillae resected from VKC patients was investigated using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. In cultured human conjunctival epithelial cells (HconEpiCs), expression of OSM receptor β (OSMRβ) was detected using immunocytochemical and FACS analyses. Finally, we investigated whether recombinant OSM activated STAT1 and STAT3 to induce the expression of various genes related to tissue remodeling in HconEpiCs, by using Western blot analysis, microarray analysis, and RT-PCR.

The OSM concentration was higher in the tear fluid of VKC patients than in that of the healthy controls, and strong expression of OSM mRNA was found in the giant papillae. We also detected T cells expressing OSM in the giant papillae. In addition, HconEpiCs showed surface expression of OSMRβ. Recombinant human OSM strongly activated both STAT1 and STAT3 in HconEpiCs and induced various tissue remodeling-related genes, including MMP-1, MMP-3, IL-24, IL-20, serpinB3, S100A7, tenascin C, and SOCS3.

Our results suggest that OSM is one of the key molecules involved in remodeling of giant papillae in VKC.
Our results suggest that OSM is one of the key molecules involved in remodeling of giant papillae in VKC.
There are limited genes known to cause primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD)-associated asthenozoospermia. In the present study, we aimed to expand the spectrum of mutations in PCD and to provide new information for genetic counseling diagnoses and the treatment of male infertility in PCD.

One sterile patient with typical situs inversus was recruited to our center, and semen sample was collected. We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) on the patient to identify the pathogenic mutations associated with PCD and used transmission electron microscopy to investigate spermatozoal ultrastructure. In addition, western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were used to confirm the untoward impact of the variant on the expression of LRRC6, as well as on the dynein arm proteins in the patient's spermatozoa.

We identified a homozygous nonsense variant c.749G>A (p.W250*) of LRRC6 in the PCD patient. This variant severely impaired LRRC6 expression and further led to negative effects on dynein arm protein expressi with PCD.
Does IDEF mapping help monitor the technical process of IUI and explore the potential improvements which might contribute to increased pregnancy and live birth rates?

Retrospective analysis of 1729 homologous IUI cycles of couples attending a fertility clinic in a university hospital setting. Standardized conventional semen parameters were analyzed and the semen samples prepared via discontinuous density gradient centrifugation.

There was no significant association between sperm concentration, motility and morphology (analysis phase), and pregnancy outcome. Only female and male ages were significantly associated with the pregnancy outcome. There was a significant difference in the odds on clinical pregnancies and live births when analysis was ≤ 21min initiated, and < 107min between sample production and IUI, adjusted for male and female age.

Adjusting for the couple's age, we could show that time intervals between semen production and analysis and IUI when kept low significantly influenced clinical pregnancies and live births.
Adjusting for the couple's age, we could show that time intervals between semen production and analysis and IUI when kept low significantly influenced clinical pregnancies and live births.
Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGLs) are neuroendocrine tumors with diverse clinical presentations. PPGLs can be sporadic but often are associated with various syndromes, which can have variable clinical presentations. A thorough workup is therefore critical for staging, treatment, and follow-up. Imaging is an essential part of the workup and diagnosis of PPGLs.

Improvements in cross-sectional imaging with radionuclides have increased specificity and sensitivity for identifying and treating PPGLs. Furthermore, a variety of targets on PPGLs has allowed for optimal imaging with radionuclides that can be used for staging and treatment. Currently, radionuclides are being evaluated for staging and treatment of PPGLs. Developing novel radionuclides that can identify disease sites and target them simultaneously provides a potential for improving survival and outcomes in patients with PPGLs. Given the clinical diversity among PPGLs, expanding the therapeutic arsenal against locally advanced or metastatic PPGLs can allow clinicians to evaluate and treat PPGLs thoroughly.
Improvements in cross-sectional imaging with radionuclides have increased specificity and sensitivity for identifying and treating PPGLs. Furthermore, a variety of targets on PPGLs has allowed for optimal imaging with radionuclides that can be used for staging and treatment. Currently, radionuclides are being evaluated for staging and treatment of PPGLs. Developing novel radionuclides that can identify disease sites and target them simultaneously provides a potential for improving survival and outcomes in patients with PPGLs. Given the clinical diversity among PPGLs, expanding the therapeutic arsenal against locally advanced or metastatic PPGLs can allow clinicians to evaluate and treat PPGLs thoroughly.Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is successfully treated with BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors, but a significant percentage of patients develop resistance. Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) has been shown to constitutively associate with BCR-ABL1, and IRS1-specific silencing leads to antineoplastic effects in CML cell lines. Here, we characterized the efficacy of NT157, a pharmacological inhibitor of IGF1R-IRS1/2, in CML cells and observed significantly reduced cell viability and proliferation, accompanied by induction of apoptosis. In human K562 cells and in murine Ba/F3 cells, engineered to express either wild-type BCR-ABL1 or the imatinib-resistant BCR-ABL1T315I mutant, NT157 inhibited BCR-ABL1, IGF1R, IRS1/2, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and STAT3/5 signaling, increased CDKN1A, FOS and JUN tumor suppressor gene expression, and reduced MYC and BCL2 oncogenes. NT157 significantly reduced colony formation of human primary CML cells with minimal effect on normal hematopoietic cells. Exposure of primary CML cells harboring BCR-ABL1T315I to NT157 resulted in increased apoptosis, reduced cell proliferation and decreased phospho-CRKL levels. In conclusion, NT157 has antineoplastic effects on BCR-ABL1 leukemogenesis, independent of T315I mutational status.The COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than 38 million people world-wide by person to person transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Therapeutic and preventative strategies for SARS-CoV-2 remains a significant challenge. Within the past several months, effective treatment options have emerged and now include repurposed antivirals, corticosteroids and virus-specific antibodies. The latter has included convalescence plasma and monoclonal antibodies. Complete viral eradication will be achieved through an effective, safe and preventative vaccine. To now provide a comprehensive summary for each of the pharmacotherapeutics and preventative strategies being offered or soon to be developed for SARS-CoV-2.
Salicylic acid and iron-oxide nanoparticles alleviated salt toxicity and improved plant growth by stimulating the activities of H
-ATPase and H
-PPase and preventing nutrient imbalance. Two factorial experiments were undertaken in a greenhouse during 2018 and 2019, to evaluate the impacts of SA (1mM) and nano-Fe
O
(3mM) sprays at 7 leaves and flowering stages on vacuolar H
-pumps, growth and essential oil of salt-subjected (0, 4, 8 and 12 dS m
NaCl) ajowan plants. Measurements of plant traits were started at about 12days after the last foliar spray and continued up to maturity. The H
-ATPase and H
-PPase activities and root ATP content were enhanced under low salinity, but higher salinities reduced these parameters. Rising salinity enhanced Na uptake and translocation, endogenous SA and DPPH activity, while reduced K
/Na
ratio and nutrients uptake, leading to a reduction in plant biomass. Treatment with SA, nano-Fe
O
and their combination improved H
-pumps activities and ATP content in rootcreasing H+-pumps activities reduced sodium uptake and translocation and enhanced nutrients uptake. Foliar treatments, especially SA + nano-Fe2O3 augmented endogenous SA, DPPH activity, and plant growth in salt-stressed plants. Essential oil contents of vegetative and inflorescence organs under severe salinity and seeds under moderate and severe salinities were enhanced. Maximum essential oil was obtained from seeds of SA + nano-Fe2O3-treated plants, which was strongly correlated with endogenous SA and DPPH. Nevertheless, the SA + nano-Fe2O3 was the best treatment for diminishing salt toxicity and improving ajowan plant growth and essential oil production.
Only a few large-scale studies have examined the care gap in Japan. The aim of this study was to investigate the persistence of and adherence to osteoporosis pharmacotherapy in Japan.

The rates of continuation (persistence) of and adherence to osteoporosis pharmacotherapy were investigated using medical insurance data, issued from July 2013 to December 2018, from the medical care system for elderly individuals in Hokkaido, Japan.

The study included 7918 male and 52,585 female patients. Persistence rates were 62.1% in the first year and 45.3% in the second year. There were 33,096 patients who discontinued medication; 8296 patients resumed medication during the observation period of 730days. The median time to the discontinuation of medication for all the patients was 702days. The 2-year medication possession ratio (MPR) was 63.8%; 30,989 patients (51.2%) had an MPR ≥ 80% and 20,788 (34.4%) had an MPR < 50%. Both the persistence and adherence were better in females than in males and worsened with increasing age. Comparisons of fracture history showed that persistence and MPR were higher in the no hip or vertebral fracture group, followed by hip fracture, vertebral fracture, and hip and vertebral fracture groups. Meanwhile, more patients in the hip fracture group had an MPR ≥ 80%.

Persistence of and adherence to osteoporotic pharmacotherapy are not very high in Japan. To bridge the care gap following osteoporosis pharmacotherapy, improvements are required for males, the elderly, and those with a history of vertebral fracture.
Persistence of and adherence to osteoporotic pharmacotherapy are not very high in Japan. To bridge the care gap following osteoporosis pharmacotherapy, improvements are required for males, the elderly, and those with a history of vertebral fracture.Cancer is regarded as a disease that redefines an individual's life and relationships. The medicalization and reclamation of the individual's sense of body, self, and social life have been long examined by psychiatry and anthropology alike. We argue that creating comics is a form of artistic narrative that affirms and proclaims the existence of a past and future possibilities for individuals diagnosed with cancer. Despite the interconnections among lived experience and meaning making, little attention has been paid to the potential therapeutic effects of comics creation. Individuals diagnosed with cancer were recruited for ten weekly comics making workshops. Data include qualitative interviews and workshop observations. Six women who were diagnosed with cancer consented to participate. Meaning making themes included (1) slowing down to process their experiences, (2) expressing frustration with medical encounters, and (3) reflecting on traumatic relationships. The process of redefining their cancer experience connects the sufferer's individual and social context. We find that the physical act of 'making' comics works to create meaning and an embodied expression of meaning. Creating comics, for our participants, offered multiple entry points and perspectives for redefining their stories that provided new insights and paths to explore their medical traumas and reanimating their bodies.Suicide is the second leading cause of death in adolescents and suicide rates in this population have increased in recent years. A critical step in preventing suicide is improving the accuracy of suicide risk assessment. Measurement of suicidal cognitions typically emphasizes assessment of verbal thoughts about suicide. Recent research suggests, however, that suicidal mental imagery, or mentally imagining suicide-related content, may be even more strongly associated with suicidal behavior. No research has evaluated suicidal mental imagery in adolescents, however. The present study evaluated suicidal mental imagery and suicidal verbal thoughts in a sample of adolescents (N = 159) admitted to an adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit. Of those adolescents who reported suicidal cognitions, 63.73% reported suicidal mental imagery. Adolescents who reported suicidal mental imagery had 2.40 greater odds of having made a suicide attempt, after accounting for history of suicidal verbal thoughts and relevant covariates. Findings suggest that suicidal mental imagery should be directly assessed when evaluating suicide risk, and that treatments may be optimized by targeting both suicidal verbal thoughts and suicidal mental imagery.A vast array of family processes is linked to child mental development, among which (1) low parental acceptance and (2) high family conflict are known as transdiagnostic risk factors for child internalizing and externalizing psychopathology. In contrast to most prior research adopting cross-sectional or lagged designs, the current study applied fine-grained multilevel modeling to elucidate the complex relationships among parental acceptance, family conflict, and child psychopathology, considering the nesting structure of children within families and longitudinal changes within children. We focused on preadolescents from the two-wave Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (N = 4,953; aged 9-12) and accounted for parental psychopathology and sex differences. Our findings suggest that consistent between-family and between-child differences in parental acceptance play a transdiagnostic role for both child internalizing and externalizing psychopathology, whereas family conflict is only significantly associated with externalizing psychopathology. Additionally, short-term within-family and within-child improvements in parental acceptance and family conflict across one year were associated with decreased externalizing, but not internalizing, psychopathology. These findings support the potential importance and feasibility of targeting these family process factors for child externalizing problems outside of an intensive treatment setting. We further discussed how such findings serve as a foundation for future research on family processes and child internalizing problems. The varying results across different grouping levels highlight the importance of decomposing within- from between-family/child effects in future studies on family processes and child psychopathology.The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) plays a central role in the regulation of affiliative bonds and anxiety. However, the degree to which its levels are synchronized between interaction partners has not yet been assessed. Physiological synchrony assessed using other peripheral measures (e.g., heart rate, etc.) has been tied to positive outcomes for the individual and the dyad. The present study examined OT synchrony in the context of child anxiety and maternal depression by examining mother-child dyads. Mothers and their children with anxiety disorders participated in a behavioral interaction task. Changes in OT levels and mother-child OT synchrony before and after the interaction, as well as their moderation by maternal depression, were assessed. Ninety-eight youth with anxiety disorders (ages 10 to 17) and their mothers underwent psychiatric evaluation, and mothers rated their own depressive symptoms and their children's behavior problems. Salivary OT was assayed from mother and child before and after the task. Behavioral coding showed that interactions were characterized by high behavioral synchrony between mothers and their children, and both individuals displayed higher levels of positive vs. negative affect during the interactions. Mothers and their children also showed decreases in OT levels after the interaction. As hypothesized, OT synchrony increased following the task, but only dyads in which mothers showed high levels of depressive symptoms showed this increase. As hypothesized, lower levels of OT-synchrony were associated with higher levels of child internalizing symptoms. The findings suggest that positive interactions may be beneficial for youth with anxiety disorders with mothers with depression.The Preschool Feelings Checklist (PFC) is a 16-item parent report measure of depressive symptoms in young children. However, data on its reliability and validity are limited. We examined the internal consistency and convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity of the PFC in an unselected community sample of 490 3-year old children. Child psychopathology was assessed using semi-structured diagnostic interviews conducted with a parent at ages 3 and 6 (the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment) and with the child and a parent at ages 9, 12, and 15 (the Kiddie Schedule for the Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia, Present and Lifetime Version). The PFC exhibited good internal consistency. It was concurrently associated with depression, as well as a wide range of other psychiatric disorders and functional impairment. Similarly, the PFC at 3 years independently predicted depression and a range of other disorders and global functioning in subsequent assessments later in childhood and in adolescence. Finally, the PFC outperformed the longer Child Behavior Checklist in predicting diagnoses and functioning. Results support the concurrent and predictive validity of the PFC in preschoolers. However, it also exhibited concurrent and predictive associations with a number of other disorders, suggesting that it indexes a broad transdiagnostic liability for psychopathology and impairment.Dysraphic entities like diastematomyelia are not uncommon. However, the co-existence of split cord malformation with two pathologically different lesions on the same hemicord is extremely rare. We report a case of a young child who presented with an unusual combination of diastematomyelia, intramedullary lipoma, and dermoid cyst.The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly influenced public health and contributed to global economic divergences of unprecedented dimensions. Due to the high prevalence and mortality rates, it is then expected that the consequence and public health challenges will last for long periods. The rapid global spread of COVID-19 and lack of enough data regarding the virus pathogenicity multiplies the complexity and forced governments to react quickly against this pandemic. Stem cells represent a small fraction of cells located in different tissues. These cells play a critical role in the regeneration and restoration of injured sites. Because of their specific niche and a limited number of stem cells, the key question is whether there are different anti-viral mechanisms against viral infection notably COVID-19. Here, we aimed to highlight the intrinsic antiviral resistance in different stem cells against viral infection. These data could help us to understand the possible viral infections in different stem cells and the activation of specific molecular mechanisms upon viral entrance.In addition to a number of scientific and medical questions about SARS-CoV-2 infection that still need to be answered, there is also the question of how this highly virulent virus and COVID-19 disease affect gametogenesis in humans. Even more important is the question of whether the virus can also enter and infect oocytes and possibly alter them in an unknown way, which could also affect the development and status of the human embryo. The answers to these questions are still poorly known, so we reviewed the human oocyte transcriptome and proteome obtained in our previous studies and found that human oocytes from the in vitro fertilization program expressed both the ACE2 and BSG genes and the corresponding ACE2 and BSG proteins. This means that human oocytes possess the molecular 'machinery' to facilitate SARS-CoV-2 entrance and infection. According to various studies, especially in animal models, different viruses can infect oocytes, so infection of the oocyte with SARS-Cov-2 cannot be completely ruled out. A hypothetical model of human oocyte infection with this virus has been proposed.We report the case of an HIV-1-infected patient, treated with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody for a B-cell lymphoma previously treated by autologous stem cell transplant. He suffered from chronic COVID19 and we monitored by plasma SARS-CoV-2 RNA by highly sensitive droplet-based digital PCR technology (ddPCR). Under tocilizumab therapy and despite a first clinical improvement biologically associated with decreasing inflammatory markers, a slight increase of SARS-CoV-2 RNAaemia quantified by ddPCR was highlighted, confirming the absence of viral efficacy of this treatment and predicting the subsequent observed deterioration. As expected, his complete recovery, finally achieved after COVID-19 convalescent plasmatherapy, strictly paralleled plasma SARS-CoV-2 RNA clearance. With these results, we confirmed the interest of SARS-CoV-2 RNAaemia monitoring by ddPCR in COVID-19 patients, particularly during treatment, and firstly showed that this new and specific biomarker could be helpful to select eligible patient for anti-IL6 receptors therapy considering the variable levels of efficacy recently observed with such therapy.
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