TACO

OBJECTIVE: Nasal septum perforation (NSP) is a common condition affecting ~1.2% of the general population and is still considered challenging to treat. Therapeutic strategies range from conservative local treatments and septal button closures to over 40 different surgical approaches. This study aimed to present a novel secure approach. METHODS: We describe our novel and unique NSP closure approach using a "fascia taco," in which conchal cartilage is enveloped by temporalis fascia like a taco and splints are left in place for 6-8 weeks...

We investigated efficacy and safety of mavorixafor, an oral CXCR4 antagonist for participants with Warts, Hypogammaglobulinemia, Infections, and Myelokathexis (WHIM) syndrome, a rare immunodeficiency caused by CXCR4 gain-of-function variants. This randomized (1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial enrolled participants aged ≥12 years with WHIM syndrome and absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≤400/μL. Participants received once-daily mavorixafor or placebo for 52 weeks. Primary endpoint was time (hours) above ANC threshold ≥500/μL (TATANC; over 24 hours)...

BACKGROUND: Treating tibial non-unions efficiently presents a challenge for orthopaedic trauma surgeons. The established gold standard involves implanting autologous bone graft with adequate fixation, but the addition of biologicals according to the so-called diamond concept has become increasingly popular in the treatment of non-unions. Previous studies have indicated that polytherapy, which involves implanting mesenchymal stem cells, bioactive factors and osteoconductive scaffolds, can improve bone healing...

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...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Recent research has highlighted non-operative management (NOM) as a viable alternative for frail older adults with hip fractures in the final phase of life. This study aims to guide Dutch physicians and hospitals nationwide in a standardised implementation of shared decision-making regarding surgery or NOM in selected frail older adults with a hip fracture. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The patient population for implementation includes frail older adults aged ≥70 years with an acute proximal femoral fracture, nursing home care or a similar level of care elsewhere and at least one additional criterion (ie, malnutrition, severe mobility impairment or ASA≥4)...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the joints in children. Notably, it is known to co-occur with uveitis. Adalimumab, a monoclonal anti-TNF antibody, is effective in treating both conditions. A deeper understanding of the pharmacokinetics (PK) of adalimumab in JIA is crucial to advance in more personalized treatment approaches. The objective of this study is to evaluate the population PK profile of adalimumab in JIA and to explain causes for its variability...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Efficient abstract scoring for congress presentation is important. Given the emergence of new study methodologies, a scoring system that accommodates all study designs is warranted. We aimed to assess the equivalence of a simplified, 2-question abstract grading system with a more complex currently used system in assessing abstracts submitted for orthopedic scientific meetings in a serial randomized study. METHODS: Dutch Orthopedic Association Scientific Committee (DOASC) members were randomized to grade abstracts using either the current grading system, which includes up to 7 scoring categories, or the new grading system, which consists of only 2 questions...

Lysine dimethylation (Kme2 ) is a crucial post-translational modification (PTM) that regulates biological processes and is implicated in diseases. There is significant interest in globally identifying these methylation marks. Unfortunately, this remains challenging due to the lack of robust technologies for selectively labeling Kme2 . To address this, we present a chemical method named tertiary amine coupling by oxidation (TACO). This method selectively modifies Kme2 to aldehydes using Selectfluor and a base...

BACKGROUND: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children is an inflammatory syndrome related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 with a high risk of cardiovascular complications (vasoplegia, cardiac shock). We investigated the cardiac outcomes in multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, focusing on the identification of predictors for late cardiac function impairment. METHODS: Clinical characteristics, conventional echocardiography (left ventricle ejection fraction, fractional shortening), 4-chamber left ventricular global longitudinal strain, and cardiac MRI of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children patients (n = 48) were collected during admission, 6 weeks, 6 months, >12-≤18 months, and >18-≤24 months post-onset...

Maize tortilla is the best-recognized food product of Mexican gastronomy. Artisanal maize tortillas (AMT) are prepared with native maize varieties and a traditional process. The aims of this study were to identify sensory attributes, texture, and color in AMT that allow them to be differentiated from commercial tortillas, and to determine the chemical and mineral composition of both types of tortillas. Six landraces related to four Mexican maize races were used. Two commercial tortillas were included as references ( tortillería and supermarket)...

We examine the scattering of a partially coherent, partially polarized electromagnetic beam by a homogeneous sphere (Mie scattering). The degree of polarization and the Stokes parameters in the far zone are found to be strongly dependent on the state of coherence and polarization of the incident beam. In particular, we demonstrate the emergence of polarization singularities and show that partial spatial coherence gives rise to significant depolarization effects. In addition we explore the symmetry properties of the scattered field...

We examine the action of a circular polarizer on an incident beam that is spatially partially coherent and partially polarized. It is found that the beam's coherence area can be significantly increased or decreased by the polarizer. Furthermore, an expression for the transmission efficiency is derived.

Water-in-water (W/W) emulsions, also called aqueous two-phase systems, are formed by mixing two incompatible polymers in water that phase separate into two distinct phases. They can be stabilized by addition of colloidal particles. Droplets of the dispersed phase can be used to compartmentalize ingredients and induce localized reactions. By mixing more types of incompatible polymers, emulsions containing droplets of different phases can be formed that can potentially capture different ingredients. Here the interaction between dispersed droplets of different types was studied by gently mixing a W/W emulsion containing droplets rich in dextran (DEX) dispersed in a continuous phase rich in polyethylene oxide with an emulsion containing droplets rich in fish gelatin (GEL) dispersed in the same continuous medium...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Transfusion safety may be becoming dependent on the financial resources made available for transfusion structures and may vary between high-income countries (HIC) and low-to-middle-income countries (LMIC). To assess whether there is a difference in the reported TR between these two groups of countries, we examined TR reported in Tunis the capital of Tunisia, a LMIC, and compared their frequency with reported TR in HIC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of TR were collected from transfusion incident report (TIR) forms declared by healthcare facilities in Tunis between 2015 and 2019...

BACKGROUND: Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines provide robust protection against SARS-CoV-2 in healthy individuals. However, immunity after vaccination of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) treated with ocrelizumab (OCR), a B cell-depleting anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, is not yet fully understood. METHODS: In this study, deep immune profiling techniques were employed to investigate the immune response induced by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in untreated patients with MS (n=21), OCR-treated patients with MS (n=57) and healthy individuals (n=30)...

BACKGROUND: Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare, heritable connective tissue disorder associated with a variety of symptoms, that affect individuals' quality of life (QoL) and can be associated with increased healthcare resource use. While some aspects of OI are well studied, others remain poorly understood. Therefore, the IMPACT survey aimed to elucidate the humanistic, clinical and economic burden of OI on individuals with OI, their families, caregivers and wider society. METHODS: We developed an international mixed methods online survey in eight languages (fielded July-September 2021), aimed at adults (aged ≥ 18 years) or adolescents (aged ≥ 12-17 years) with OI, caregivers (with or without OI) of individuals with OI and other close relatives...

Sitosterolemia is a rare autosomal-recessive genetic disorder in which patients develop hypercholesterolemia, and may exhibit abnormal hematologic and/or liver test results. In this disease, dysfunction of either ABCG5 or ABCG8 results in intestinal hyperabsorption of all sterols, including cholesterol and more specifically plant sterols or xenosterols, as well as in the impaired ability to excrete xenosterols into the bile. It remains unknown how and why some patients develop hematologic abnormalities. Only a few unrelated patients with hematologic abnormalities at the time of diagnosis have been reported...

OBJECTIVES: To validate the childhood lupus low disease activity state (cLLDAS) definition in cSLE by describing differences in time to reach first adult LLDAS (aLLDAS) versus cLLDAS. Secondly, to analyse positive and negative predictors for maintaining cLLDAS for at least 50% of follow-up time (cLLDAS-50) and for the occurrence of damage. METHODS: Prospective longitudinal data from a cSLE cohort were analysed. Used definitions were: aLLDAS according to Franklyn, cLLDAS by cSLE treat-to-target (T2T) Task Force, disease activity score by SLEDAI -2 K and damage by SLICC damage index...

BACKGROUND: The importance of CD11b/CD18 expression in neutrophil effector functions is well known. Beyond KINDLIN3 and TALIN1, which are involved in the induction of the high-affinity binding CD11b/CD18 conformation, the signaling pathways that orchestrate this response remain incompletely understood. METHOD: We performed an unbiased screening method for protein selection by biotin identification (BioID) and investigated the KINDLIN3 interactome...

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid factors (RFs) are autoantibodies that target the Fc region of IgG, and are found in patients with rheumatic diseases as well as in the healthy population. Many studies suggest that an immune trigger may (transiently) elicit RF responses. However, discrepancies between different studies make it difficult to determine if and to which degree RF reactivity can be triggered by vaccination or infection. OBJECTIVE: We quantitatively explored longitudinal RF responses after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and infection in a well-defined, large cohort using a dual ELISA method that differentiates between true RF reactivity and background IgM reactivity...