Twinning

BACKGROUND: Preterms are at risk of systemic infections as the barrier function of their immature skin is insufficient. The long period of hospitalization and the huge number of invasive procedures represent a risk factor for complications. Among the nosocomial infections of the skin, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We report a clinical case of cellulitis and abscess in two preterm twins caused by MRSA in a tertiary level Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

With the global geriatric population expected to reach 1.5 billion by 2050, different assistive technologies have been developed to tackle age-associated movement impairments. Lower-limb robotic exoskeletons have the potential to support frail older adults while promoting activities of daily living, but the need for crutches may be challenging for this population. Crutches aid safety and stability, but moving in an exoskeleton with them can be unnatural to human movements, and coordination can be difficult...

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy and delivery outcomes in women with Fabry disease are not well described. METHODS: Retrospective cohort-study of women with Fabry disease in Austria using a specific questionnaire and the Austrian Mother-Child Health Passport. RESULTS: Out of a total of 44 enrolled women (median age at study entry 44 years, p25: 30, p75: 51), 86.4% showed signs and symptoms of Fabry disease with an increase in pain burden during pregnancy, primarily in women with moderate pain before pregnancy...

In Germany and worldwide, the average age of the population is continuously rising. With this general increase in chronological age, the focus on biological age, meaning the actual health and fitness status, is becoming more and more important. The key question is to what extent the age-related decline in fitness is genetically predetermined or malleable by environmental factors and lifestyle.Many epigenetic studies in aging research have provided interesting insights in this nature-versus-nurture debate. In most model organisms, aging is associated with specific epigenetic changes, which can be countered by certain interventions like moderate caloric restriction or increased physical activity...

Continuous manufacturing of pharmaceuticals offers several benefits, such as increased production efficiency, enhanced product quality control, and lower environmental footprint. To fully exploit these benefits, standard operation mode (production processes with no or minimal disturbance mitigation measures) should be supported by adopting novel quality-by-control (QbC) methodologies. The paper at hand is the first part of a study focused on developing QbC algorithms for optimizing twin-screw wet granulation in the industrial manufacturing line ConsiGmaTM -25, specifically addressing granule composition...

BACKGROUND: In low- and middle-income countries twin births have a high risk of complications partly due to barriers to accessing hospital care. This study compares pregnancy outcomes, maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality of twin to singleton pregnancy in refugee and migrant clinics on the Thai Myanmar border. METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records of all singleton and twin pregnancies delivered or followed at antenatal clinics of the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit from 1986 to 2020, with a known outcome and estimated gestational age...

This study investigates the positive coupling between the sports industry and tourism, exploring the ways to promote their interconnection. Under state guidance, the integration of sports industry services is facilitated to attract sports culture and tourism fairs, leveraging regional economic development advantages to enhance the industrial market appeal. The emerging leisure consumption mode of sports tourism injects vitality into the economy, fostering the core sports service industry. The coupling of the education and tourism sectors is strategically aligned with long-term national policies...

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate associations between serum analytes used for genetic screening and obstetric complications among twin pregnancies. METHODS: This cohort included twins delivered at a tertiary care hospital from 2009 to 2017. Abnormal levels of pregnancy associated plasma protein (PAPP-A), first and second trimester human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), alpha fetoprotein (AFP), estriol, and inhibin, reported as multiples of the median (MoM), were defined as <5 %ile or >95 %ile for our cohort...

Ultrasensitive and reliable conductive hydrogels are significant in the construction of human-machine twinning systems. However, in extremely cold environments, freezing severely limits the application of hydrogel-based sensors. Herein, building on biomimetics, a zwitterionic hydrogel was elaborated for human-machine interaction employing multichemical bonding synergies and experimental signal analyses. The covalent bonds, hydrogen bonds, and electrostatic interactions construct a dense double network structure favorable for stress dispersion and hydrogen bond regeneration...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a frequent complication of pregnancy. The specific mechanisms underlying GDM have not yet been fully elucidated. Contemporary research indicates a potential association between liver enzyme irregularities and an increased risk of metabolic disorders, including diabetes. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level is recognized as a sensitive marker of liver injury. An increase in ALT levels is hypothesized to be linked to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and diabetes...

INTRODUCTION: Controversy exists regarding whether spinal implants need to be removed to treat postoperative deep wound infections (DWIs). This retrospective study aimed to determine whether the removal or retention of implants impacts the successful treatment of a DWI after spine surgery. METHODS: Postoperative spine surgery patients presenting with signs of infection who underwent irrigation and debridement (I&D) at Twin Cities Spine Surgeons at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Minnesota, USA, were studied...

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is characterized by diverse clinicopathological phenotypes. Herein we present a follow-up study of previously reported identical twin sisters with IgAN. The older sister exhibited more severe kidney histopathology and proteinuria and a lower birthweight than did her younger sister, and only the older sister experienced two childbirths. These raised concerns regarding her kidney outcomes. However, with timely multidisciplinary treatments, the older sister's kidney function remained preserved after 20 years of IgAN history...

BACKGROUND: When a person experiences maladaptive daydreaming (MD), they spend a prolonged period daydreaming with a strong sense of presence. The symptoms of MD are often excessive, interfere with functioning, and are linked to distress and comorbid mental disorders. In this paper, apparent false memory is described in the context of a woman with MD and visual impairment due to a progressive eye condition. Her vivid daydreams seemed indistinguishable from actual memories. Case Report ...

BACKGROUND: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) can negatively affect lung development, leading to increased respiratory morbidity and reduced lung function later in life. Studies regarding the impact of FGR on lung function in singletons are influenced by genetic, obstetric, and maternal factors. To overcome these confounding factors, we aim to investigate lung function in identical twins with selective FGR (sFGR). METHODS: Lung function assessments were performed in identical twins with sFGR born in our centre between March 1, 2002, and December 31, 2017, aged between 5 and 17 years...

Background: The decline in muscle strength and function with aging is well recognized, but remains poorly characterized at the molecular level. Here, we report the epigenetic relationship between genome-wide DNA methylation and handgrip strength (HGS) among Chinese monozygotic (MZ) twins. Methods: DNA methylation (DNAm) profiling was conducted in whole blood samples through Reduced Representation Bisulfite Sequencing method. Generalized estimating equation was applied to regress the DNAm of each CpG with HGS...

OBJECTIVES: Subjective health (SH) is not just an indicator of physical health, but also reflects active cognitive processing of information about one's own health and has been associated with emotional health measures, such as neuroticism and depression. Behavior genetic approaches investigate the genetic architecture of SH, i.e., genetic and environmental influences on individual differences in SH and associations with potential components such as physical, cognitive, and emotional health...

Traditional operation modes, such as running the production processes at constant process settings or within a narrow design space, do not fully exploit the advantages of continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing. Integrating Quality by Control (QbC) algorithms as a standard component of production processes can mitigate the effect of diverse process disturbances and enhance process efficiency, particularly in terms of production costs and environmental footprint. This paper explores the potential of QbC algorithms for optimizing twin-screw wet granulation in the ConsiGmaTM -25 manufacturing line, specifically addressing granule size...

OBJECTIVE: Given the increased risk of fetal acidosis in singleton neonates born to pregnant people with an elevated body mass index (BMI), our objective was to evaluate the association between pre-pregnancy/first trimester BMI and fetal acidosis among term twin pregnancies. METHODS: Retrospective study of pregnant people with twin gestation and their term infants admitted to our centre between 2014 and 2019. Using a generalized estimating equation, the association between maternal BMI and fetal acidosis was determined using odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI)...