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Objective: To review the tensile strength of the different histological types of fibres in the linea alba and correlate the anatomical features of the anterior abdominal wall with the tensile strength of the linea alba to see whether the tensile strength of the linea alba might contribute to the development of midline incisional hernias. Design: Laboratory study. Setting: University hospital, Germany. Subjects: 46 cadavers in part one, and 9 freshly frozen and 38 formalin-fixed cadavers in part two. Interventions: In the first part of the study the histological examination was by binocular dissection microscopy, magnification ×10, but this was not sufficiently reproducible so in the second part we used an Olympus BX50 microscope, magnification ×20, and Optimas 5.22 picture processing software. Tensile strength was measured using a Loosenhausen ZHP 1-6 tensiometer. Main outcome measures: Correlation between anatomical features and tensile strength. Results: The method used in part one of the study failed to differentiate between the three types of fibres in the linea alba (weak, intermediate, and compact). In the second part of the study we found that the fibres were irregular, with no systematic crossing of the fibres of the aponeurosis. There was a significant correlation between the thickness and density of fibres in the linea alba and its tensile strength (r = 0.9). The thickness of fibres ranged from 21.9-38.2 µm and the density from 48% to 90%. The tensile strength ranged from 3-25 kp. Conclusion: A combination of low density and thin fibres in the linea alba could be a predisposing factor for development of midline incisional hernias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective was to compare the effect of two methods of data collection on results in a functional knee score. Two Lysholm scores were obtained for 61 patients 1 year after anterior cruciate ligament surgery at the same clinic visit. First, the patients completed a self-administered questionnaire, and second, the Lysholm score form was completed by the investigator in the course of a patient interview. A comparison of the scores revealed that the mean score was significantly lower with self-administration (self, 89.3 +/- 10.6; interviewer, 92.2 +/- 7.4) (P = 0.0035, Wilcoxon rank sum test). The assignment to one of four categories (excellent, good, fair, poor) was also significantly altered by the manner of data collection. Nineteen patients (31%) were assigned to different categories based on the mode of data collection. We believe that the major reason for a better score result with an interview was the presence of interview bias. The more the investigator is involved in the treatment of the patient, the greater the influence of this bias may be. To avoid such potential bias we suggest that a standardized self-administered questionnaire be used as the method of choice for obtaining subjective data in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Our prior research determined that USP7 exacerbates myocardial injury. Additionally, existing studies indicate a strong connection between USP7 and ferroptosis. However, the influence of USP7 on ferroptosis-mediated myocardial infarction (MI) remains unclear. Given these findings, we are particularly interested in USP7's regulatory role in ferroptosis-mediated MI and its underlying mechanisms., Methods: In this study, we established MI models and lentivirus-transfected groups to inhibit USP7 expression both in vivo and in vitro. Cardiac function was detected with Echocardiography. TTC and HE staining were employed to assess myocardial alterations. The expression of ferroptosis markers (PTGS2, ACSL4, GPX4) were analyzed by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Flow cytometry and ELISA were used for measuring Fe 2+ , lipid ROS, GSH, and GSSG levels. TEM and Prussian blue staining were used to observe mitochondrial alterations and iron deposition. RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence were conducted to analyze Keap1, Nrf2, and nuclear Nrf2 expression in vitro and in vivo., Results: In the MI model group, USP7 expression significantly increased, worsening ferroptosis-mediated MI. Conversely, in the USP7-inhibited group, activation of the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway improved ferroptosis-mediated MI outcomes. In vitro, the MI model exhibited a marked decline in cardiomyocyte viability and notable mitochondrial damage. However, these issues improved in the USP7-inhibited groups. In vivo, USP7 intensified MI and iron deposition within the MI model group, with decreased values of LVEF, LVFS, SV, LVAWd, and LVPWs, all of which showed improvement in the USP7-inhibited group, except for LVPWd and LVPWs, which showed no significant variation. Importantly, both the in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed analogous results: a reduction in Keap1 expression and an increase in both Nrf2 and nuclear Nrf2 post USP7 inhibition. Additionally, GPX4 expression decreased while PTGS2 and ACSL4 expressions increased. Notably, concentrations of Fe 2+ , lipid ROS, GSH, and GSSG significantly decreased., Conclusion: In vitro and in vivo studies have found that inhibition of USP7 attenuates iron deposition and suppresses oxidative stress, resulting in amelioration of ferroptosis-induced MI., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have declared that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Study Question: Is it possible to establish a new in-vitro activation (IVA) protocol for infertility treatment?, Summary Answer: A new IVA procedure is an efficient and easily performed approach for infertility treatment of patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR)., What Is Known Already: IVA of primordial follicles with or without stimulators has been developed to treat patients with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) successfully. However, the efficiency of the procedure is still very low. There is a requirement to optimize the protocol with increased efficiency for clinical application., Study Design, Size, Duration: Newborn mouse ovaries were used to establish a new 1-h IVA protocol with the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) stimulator phosphatidic acid (PA, 200 µM) and the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) stimulator 740Y-P (250 µg/ml); a prospective observational cohort study in POI patients was performed on 15 POI patients and 3 poor ovarian response (POR) patients in three different centers of reproductive medicine in China., Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: One-third of ovarian cortex was removed and processed into bigger strips (1 × 1 cm2, 1-2 mm thickness). Strips were then sutured back after treatment. The new approach only requires one laparoscopic surgery., Main Results and the Role of Chance: Follicular activation and development increased in cultured mouse and human ovarian tissues after 1 h of stimulator treatment. Compared with tiny ovarian cortex pieces (1 × 1 mm2), large ovarian strips (1 × 1 cm2) showed the lowest apoptotic signals after incubation. We applied the orthotropic transplantation procedure with large strips in the clinic, and 9 of 15 POI patients showed at least one-wave follicular growth during the monitoring period. One patient was reported with one healthy delivery after natural conception and another patient with a healthy singleton delivery after IVF. All the contacted patients (n = 13) responded with no side effects on their health 2-4 years after IVA procedure., Limitations, Reasons for Caution: Further clinical trials with a large number of well-defined patients are required to compare different IVA protocols. A long-term follow-up system should be set up to monitor patient's health in the future cohort study., Wider Implications of the Findings: By using stimulators, the findings in the study provide a more efficient IVA protocol for the treatment of patients with DOR. It requires only one laparoscopic surgery and thus minimizes patients' discomfort and costs. This strategy could be useful for patients diagnosed with POI and desire pregnancy as soon as possible after the operation., Study Funding/competing Interest(s): This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2018YFC1003703 and 2018YFC1004203); the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81871221); Co-construction of Provincial Department (201601006). The authors have no conflict of interest to disclose., Trial Registration Number: ChiCTR2000030872., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: While the primary goal of trauma care continues to be the preservation of life, interest has begun to focus on disability and quality of life of those who survive. Numerous instruments have been developed to measure personal well-being, impairment, or subjective life-satisfaction. But there is no consensus regarding which instruments are most appropriate to use in multiply injured patients, and comparison of results are difficult., Objective: The objective of this multinational conference was to arrive at a consensus regarding the measurement of quality of life in survivors of multiple trauma. Specifically we sought to identify the best time intervals for measurement and a minimum set of instruments., Method: The group reviewed instruments currently in use for quality of life measurement in multiply injured patients. A structured discussion covered the following topics: definition of the population, the concept of quality of life, the importance of different domains of quality of life at different time points, the type of measures and their validity, consistency, and practicability, the mode of administration, subject burden, and availability of population norms., Results: The group suggested three time points, after 3, 12 and 24 months, for the assessment of quality of life after multiple injury. The Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) was suggested as an overall global outcome measure including death and vegetative state. The EuroQol was proposed to permit economic analysis, and the SF-36 as a validated global quality of life measure., Conclusion: While most selected measures are psychometrically sound, many have had limited use in the setting of multiple injuries. Researchers and clinicians may use these suggestions as a source of information when developing a measurement strategy.