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CONTEXT: The enterohepatic circulation of bile acids depends on intestinal absorption by bile acid transporters and activation of bile acid receptors, which stimulates secretion of hormones regulating glucose and lipid metabolism and appetite. Distribution of bile acid transporters and receptors in the human gut and their potential involvement in type 2 diabetes (T2D) pathophysiology remain unknown. OBJECTIVE: We explored the expression of genes involved in bile acid metabolism throughout the intestines of patients with T2D and matched healthy controls...

Cellulose-based nanocomposites are highly appealing for the development of next-generation sustainable functional materials. Although many advances have been made in this direction, the true potential of fibrillar nanocomposites has yet to be realized because available fabrication approaches are inadequate for achieving precise structural control at the sub-micrometer scale. Here a spray-assisted alignment methodology of cellulose nanofibrils is combined with the layer-by-layer assembly into an additive manufacturing process in which the alignment direction of each cellulose layer is rationally selected to achieve thin films with a helicoidal arrangement of the nanofibrils...

AIMS: This study aims to assess the dynamics of in-school adolescents' mental health problems in Harari regional state, eastern Ethiopia for a year. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using multistage sampling technique, we conducted a year-long longitudinal study at three public high schools between March 2020 and 2021. Three hundred fifty-eight in-school adolescents were chosen by systematic random sampling for the baseline assessment, and 328 completed the follow-up assessment...

INTRODUCTION: Congenital syphilis (CS) has severe adverse outcomes, including abortion and death. Diagnosis of CS in asymptomatic newborns remains difficult. This study aims to evaluate an in-house polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood samples (BS) to identify T. pallidum DNA in newborns. METHODOLOGY: We performed an exploratory cross-sectional study that included newborns exposed to syphilis during pregnancy (SEG) and non-exposed (SNEG) newborns, between 2019 and 2020...

BACKGROUND: About 287,000 mothers lost their lives due to pregnancy and delivery in 2020 worldwide. Birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) is an approach used to utilize the timely use of skilled maternal and neonatal services. Preparing mothers for childbirth and against its dangers has great importance in reducing maternal mortality. Little is known about BPCR and influencing factors in Hargeisa town, Somaliland. OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of BPCR and its associated factors among recently delivered women in Hargeisa...

INTRODUCTION: Infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major issue in public health. The prevalence of HBV in Chad is 12.4%, all age groups considered. Here, we aimed to determine the prevalence of HBV and its associated factors among university students in N'Djamena, the country's capital. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of students at either the University of N'djamena or Emi Koussi University was conducted from 3 to 23 July 2021. All participating students provided signed, informed consent and were included in the study consecutively...

Case report. Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the jaw is a potentially devastating consequence of head and neck irradiation. The progression of ORN can lead to loss of bone, teeth, soft tissue necrosis, pathologic fracture, and oro-cutaneous fistula. Reconstructive surgery has mostly been reserved for late-stage disease where segmental resections are frequently necessary. Evidence is emerging to support earlier treatment in the form of debridement in combination with soft tissue free flaps for intermediate-stage ORN...

Lumbar medial branch radiofrequency neurotomy (RFN), a common treatment for chronic low back pain due to facet joint osteoarthritis (FJOA), may amplify paraspinal muscle atrophy due to denervation. This study aimed to investigate the asymmetry of paraspinal muscle morphology change in patients undergoing unilateral lumbar medial branch RFN. Data from patients who underwent RFN between March 2016 and October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. Lumbar foramina stenosis (LFS), FJOA, and fatty infiltration (FI) functional cross-sectional area (fCSA) of the paraspinal muscles were assessed on preinterventional and minimum 2-year postinterventional MRI...

IMPORTANCE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a common health condition that predisposes individuals to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and disproportionately affects Black and other racially and ethnically minoritized people. Concurrently, Black individuals also report more exposure to racial discrimination compared with White individuals; however, the role of discrimination in the development of MetS over time and associated mediators in these pathways remain underexplored. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between racial discrimination and MetS in rural Black individuals transitioning from late adolescence into early adulthood and to identify potential mediating pathways...

PURPOSE: The poor visual outcomes associated with fungal keratitis (FK) underscore a need to identify fungal pathways that can serve as novel antifungal targets. In this report, we investigated whether hypoxia develops in the FK cornea and, by extension, if fungal hypoxia adaptation is essential for virulence in this setting. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were inoculated with Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium solani var. petroliphilum via topical overlay or intrastromal injection...

Creativity is widely considered a skill essential to succeeding in the modern world. Numerous creativity training programs have been developed, and several meta-analyses have attempted to summarize the effectiveness of these programs and identify the features influencing their impact. Unfortunately, previous meta-analyses share a number of limitations, most notably overlooking the potentially strong impact of publication bias and the influence of study quality on effect sizes. We undertook a meta-analysis of 169 creativity training studies across 5 decades (844 effect sizes, the largest meta-analysis of creativity training to date), including a substantial number of unpublished studies (48 studies; 262 effect sizes)...

PURPOSE: This study has been focused on assessing the Open Science scenario of cancer research during the period 2011-2021, in terms of the derived scientific publications and raw data dissemination. METHODS: A cancer search equation was executed in the Science Citation Index-Expanded, collecting the papers signed by at least one Spanish institution. The same search strategy was performed in the Data Citation Index to describe dataset diffusion. RESULTS: 50,822 papers were recovered, 71% of which belong to first and second quartile journals...

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PURPOSE: To analyze if, after implementation of an evidence-based local multidisciplinary protocol for acute cholecystitis (AC), an intermediate surgical audit could improve early cholecystectomy (EC) rate and other therapeutic indicators. METHODS: Longitudinal cohort study at a tertiary center. The local protocol, promoted, created, and periodically revised by the Acute Care Surgery Unit (ACSu) was updated and approved on March 2019. A specific registry was prospectively fulfilled with demographics, comorbidity, type of presentation, diagnostic items, therapeutic decision, and clinical course, considering both non-operative management (NOM) or cholecystectomy, early and delayed (EC and DC)...

Neonatal screening for SMA has allowed the identification of infants who may present with early clinical signs. Our aim was to establish whether the presence and the severity of early clinical signs have an effect on the development of motor milestones. Infants identified through newborn screening were prospectively assessed using a structured neonatal neurological examination and an additional module developed for the assessment of floppy infants. As part of the follow-up, all infants were assessed using the HINE-2 to establish developmental milestones...

OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate an artificial intelligence (AI) system for measuring and detecting signs of carpal instability on conventional radiographs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two case-control datasets of hand and wrist radiographs were retrospectively acquired at three hospitals (hospitals A, B, and C). Dataset 1 (2178 radiographs from 1993 patients, hospitals A and B, 2018-2019) was used for developing an AI system for measuring scapholunate (SL) joint distances, SL and capitolunate (CL) angles, and carpal arc interruptions...

BACKGROUND: Total marrow (lymphoid) irradiation (TMI/TMLI) is a radiotherapy treatment used to selectively target the bone marrow and lymph nodes in conditioning regimens for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. A complex field geometry is needed to cover the large planning target volume (PTV) of TMI/TMLI with volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT). Five isocenters and ten overlapping fields are needed for the upper body, while, for patients with large anatomical conformation, two specific isocenters are placed on the arms...

BACKGROUND: In our earthquake-prone country, it is crucial to gather data from regional hospitals following earthquakes. This information is essential for preparing for future disasters and enhancing healthcare services for those affected by earthquakes. This study aimed to evaluate the Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS) and the Shock Index, Pediatric Age-Adjusted (SIPA), in children affected by earthquakes, to provide clinicians with insights into the severity of trauma and hemodynamic stability...

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify predictors for the recurrence of spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) after epidural blood patch (EBP). BACKGROUND: Epidural blood patch is the main treatment option for SIH; however, the characteristics of patients who experience relapse after successful EBP treatment for SIH remain understudied. METHODS: In this exploratory, retrospective, case-control study, we included 19 patients with SIH recurrence after EBP and 36 age- and sex-matched patients without recurrence from a single tertiary medical institution...

Chemokine receptors are relevant targets for a multitude of immunological diseases, but drug attrition for these receptors is remarkably high. While many drug discovery programs have been pursued, most prospective drugs failed in the follow-up studies due to clinical inefficacy, and hence there is a clear need for alternative approaches. Allosteric modulators of receptor function represent an excellent opportunity for novel drugs, as they modulate receptor activation in a controlled manner and display increased selectivity, and their pharmacological profile can be insurmountable...