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Introduction: Patients with long bone fractures often present to the emergency department (ED) with severe pain and are typically treated with opioid and non-opioid analgesics. Historical data reveals racial disparities in analgesic administration, with White patients more likely to receive analgesics. With the diversifying US population, health equity is increasingly crucial. In this study we aimed to evaluate the early administration of opioid and non-opioid analgesia among Black and White patients with long bone and femur fractures in EDs over different time frames using a substantial database.Methods: We retrospectively extracted Information from 57 US healthcare organizations within the TriNetX database, encompassing 95 million patients. The ED records from 2003–2023 were subjected to propensity score matching for age and gender. We focused on four cohorts: two comprising Black and White patients diagnosed with long bone fractures, and another two with Black and White patients diagnosed solely with femur fractures. We examined analgesic administration rates over 20 years (2003–2023) at five-year intervals (2003–2008; 2008–2013; 2013–2018; 2018–2023), and further analyzed the rates for the most recent two-year period (2021–2023).Results: Disparities in analgesic administration significantly diminished over the study period. For patients with long bone fractures (1,095,052), the opioid administration gap narrowed from 6.3% to 1.1%, while non-opioid administration disparities reduced from 4.4% to 0.3%. Similar trends were noted for femur fractures (265,181). By 2021–2023, no significant differences in analgesic administration were observed between racial groups.Conclusion: Over the past 20 years, the gap in early administration of opioid and non-opioid analgesics for Black and White patients presenting with long bone fractures or femur fractures has been disappearing.

Adolescent anhedonia is a multidimensional construct defined as the loss of enjoyment or pleasure across multiple domains of life. Anhedonia is concurrently associated with substantial impairment and distress, and it prospectively predicts the onset, severity, and treatment of depression. Despite its demonstrated importance, a limited number of anhedonia measures are validated for adolescents. The current study assessed the psychometric properties of the Dimensional Anhedonia Rating Scale (DARS) in 400 English-speaking, 12- to 19-year-old adolescents. Overall, the DARS demonstrated good convergent and discriminant validity, but sub-optimal concurrent validity. The strengths and limitations of the DARS and its utility as a measure of adolescent anhedonia are discussed. Furthermore, future directions for the construction of measures of adolescent anhedonia are outlined.

Freedom dreaming offers a new paradigm that centers the experiences and realities of Latinx students on college and university campuses and re-imagines residence halls as liberatory spaces. Referencing the legacy of racism and the experiences that Latinx students have with microaggressions and other forms of oppression, this article highlights how specific models like Yosso's cultural wealth framework and Latinx values like familismo can be used to create liberatory spaces in residence halls. Residence life should include opportunities for staff to recognize, examine, and respond to microaggressions and work to create spaces where Latinx students can share their culture and life experiences and feel more closely connected to the larger residential community. [Discussion questions prepared by Lisa Bundrick.]

Abstract Sugar transport proteins (STPs) are high‐affinity H+‐coupled hexose symporters. Recently, the contribution of STP13 to bacterial and fungal pathogen resistance across multiple plant species has garnered significant interest. Quantitative PCR analysis of source leaves, developing embryos, and seed coats of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (common bean) revealed that PvSTP13.1 was expressed in source leaves and seed coats throughout seed development. In contrast, PvSTP13.1 transcripts were detected at exceedingly low levels in developing embryos. To characterize the transport mechanism, PvSTP13.1 was expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, and inward‐directed currents were analyzed using two‐electrode voltage clamping. PvSTP13.1 was shown to function as an H+‐coupled monosaccharide symporter exhibiting a unique high affinity for hexoses and aldopentoses at depolarized membrane potentials. Specifically, of the 31 assessed substrates, which included aldohexoses, deoxyhexoses, fructose, 3‐O‐methyl‐D‐glucose, aldopentoses, polyols, glycosides, disaccharides, trisaccharides, and glucuronic acid, PvSTP13.1 displayed the highest affinity (K0.5) for glucose (43 μM), mannose (92 μM), galactose (145 μM), fructose (224 μM), xylose (1.0 mM), and fucose (3.7 mM) at pH 5.6 at a depolarized membrane potential of −40 mV. The results presented here suggest PvSTP13.1 contributes to retrieval of hexoses from the apoplasmic space in source leaves and coats of developing seeds.

In Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), microRNA160 (miR160) regulates the expression of AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR10 (ARF10), ARF16 and ARF17 throughout development, including the development of the root system. We have previously shown that in addition to DOUBLE-STRANDED RNA BINDING1 (DRB1), DRB2 is also involved in controlling the rate of production of specific miRNA cohorts in the tissues where DRB2 is expressed in wild-type Arabidopsis plants. In this study, a miR160 overexpression transgene (MIR160B) and miR160-resistant transgene versions of ARF10 and ARF16 (mARF10 and mARF16) were introduced into wild-type Arabidopsis plants and the drb1 and drb2 single mutants to determine the degree of requirement of DRB2 to regulate the miR160 expression module as part of root development. Via this molecular modification approach, we show that in addition to DRB1, DRB2 is required to regulate the level of miR160 production from its precursor transcripts in Arabidopsis roots. Furthermore, we go on to correlate the altered abundance of miR160 or its ARF10, ARF16 and ARF17 target genes in the generated series of transformant lines with the enhanced development of the root system displayed by these plant lines. More specifically, promotion of primary root elongation likely stemmed from enhancement of miR160-directed ARF17 expression repression, while the promotion of lateral and adventitious root formation was the result of an elevated degree of miR160-directed regulation of ARF17 expression, and to a lesser degree, ARF10 and ARF16 expression. Taken together, the results presented in this study identify the requirement of the functional interplay between DRB1 and DRB2 to tightly control the rate of miR160 production, to in turn ensure the appropriate degree of miR160-directed ARF10, ARF16 and ARF17 gene expression regulation as part of normal root system development in Arabidopsis.

Valproic acid (VPA) is a common anti-epileptic drug and known neurodevelopmental toxicant. Although the exact mechanism of VPA toxicity remains unknown, recent findings show that VPA disrupts redox signaling in undifferentiated cells but has little effect on fully differentiated neurons. Redox imbalances often alter oxidative post-translational protein modifications and could affect embryogenesis if developmentally critical proteins are targeted. We hypothesize that VPA causes redox-sensitive post-translational protein modifications that are dependent upon cellular differentiation states. Undifferentiated P19 cells and P19-derived neurons were treated with VPA alone or pretreated with D3T, an inducer of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) antioxidant pathway, prior to VPA exposure. Undifferentiated cells treated with VPA alone exhibited an oxidized glutathione redox couple and increased overall protein oxidation, whereas differentiated neurons were protected from protein oxidation via increased S-glutathionylation. Pretreatment with D3T prevented the effects of VPA exposure in undifferentiated cells. Taken together, our findings support redox-sensitive post-translational protein alterations in undifferentiated cells as a mechanism of VPA-induced developmental toxicity and propose NRF2 activation as a means to preserve proper neurogenesis.

Abstract Background The unmet demand for effective malaria transmission-blocking agents targeting the transmissible stages of Plasmodium necessitates intensive discovery efforts. In this study, a bioactive bisbenzylisoquinoline (BBIQ), isoliensinine, from Cissampelos pariera (Menispermaceae) rhizomes was identified and characterized for its anti-malarial activity. Methods Malaria SYBR Green I fluorescence assay was performed to evaluate the in vitro antimalarial activity against D6, Dd2, and F32-ART5 clones, and immediate ex vivo (IEV) susceptibility for 10 freshly collected P. falciparum isolates. To determine the speed- and stage-of-action of isoliensinine, an IC50 speed assay and morphological analyses were performed using synchronized Dd2 asexuals. Gametocytocidal activity against two culture-adapted gametocyte-producing clinical isolates was determined using microscopy readouts, with possible molecular targets and their binding affinities deduced in silico. Results Isoliensinine displayed a potent in vitro gametocytocidal activity at mean IC50 gam values ranging between 0.41 and 0.69 µM for Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates. The BBIQ compound also inhibited asexual replication at mean IC50 Asexual of 2.17 µM, 2.22 µM, and 2.39 µM for D6, Dd2 and F32-ART5 respectively, targeting the late-trophozoite to schizont transition. Further characterization demonstrated a considerable immediate ex vivo potency against human clinical isolates at a geometric mean IC50 IEV = 1.433 µM (95% CI 0.917–2.242). In silico analyses postulated a probable anti-malarial mechanism of action by high binding affinities for four mitotic division protein kinases; Pfnek1, Pfmap2, Pfclk1, and Pfclk4. Additionally, isoliensinine was predicted to possess an optimal pharmacokinetics profile and drug-likeness properties. Conclusion These findings highlight considerable grounds for further exploration of isoliensinine as an amenable scaffold for malaria transmission-blocking chemistry and target validation.

Key Clinical Message Benign fibro‐osseous neoplasm. Massive size is rarely reported. May be confused with other pathologies such as fibrous dysplasia or osteosarcoma. Aggressive nature and high recurrence pose management challenges. Treated by surgery. Abstract Ossifying fibroma is a benign fibro‐osseous neoplasm. It can affect both mandible and maxilla. Precise diagnosis can be challenging due to significant overlap of clinicopathological features with other neoplasms. Case reports with massive tumor sizes as presented in our case are uncommon. Huge tumor size can cause alarm for other pathologies such as osteosarcoma. The radiological tests should reassure the attending practitioner and histological examination confirm the diagnosis. The aim of the present report is to discuss a case of a giant ossifying fibroma in a 13‐year‐old male child. He presented with a progressive mandibular mass for 4 years. Clinical, radiological, and pathological characteristics and surgical treatment approaches are further discussed. This is one of the rare cases of massive ossifying fibroma in the English literature.

Key Clinical Message Benign mixed salivary gland tumor is comprised of epithelial and myoepithelial cells and represents up to 80% of tumors of the parotid gland. It is relatively rare in the soft palate and in other minor salivary glands. Surgery is the standard care. Abstract Salivary gland tumors are relatively rare and morphologically diverse group of lesions. Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common salivary gland tumor, accounting for approximately 80% of all major and minor salivary gland tumors. PA usually affects the parotid gland. Huge PA occurring in soft palate is extremely rare. Patients with these tumors are usually between at the age of 40 and 60 years. The tumors exhibit pleomorphic nature microscopically that may pose diagnostic challenges to pathologists as may confuse PA histopathologically with other salivary gland tumors. Surgery is the standard treatment. The purpose of writing this case study is to describe unusual case of a giant PA of the soft palate found in a 44‐year‐old male successfully managed at our facility.

Abstract An integrated approach to innovatively counter the transmission of various arthropod-borne diseases to humans would benefit from strategies that sustainably limit onward passage of infective life cycle stages of pathogens and parasites to the insect vectors and vice versa. Aiming to accelerate the impetus towards a disease-free world amid the challenges posed by climate change, discovery, mindful exploitation and integration of active natural products in design of pathogen transmission-blocking interventions is of high priority. Herein, we provide a review of natural compounds endowed with blockade potential against transmissible forms of human pathogens reported in the last 2 decades from 2000 to 2021. Finally, we propose various translational strategies that can exploit these pathogen transmission-blocking natural products into design of novel and sustainable disease control interventions. In summary, tapping these compounds will potentially aid in integrated combat mission to reduce disease transmission trends.

Aim of study: To address diversification of citrus cultivars to increase the variety and profitability of orchards to adapt them to environmental changes. Area of study: State of São Paulo, a subtropical region of southeastern Brazil. Material and methods: The study evaluated the phenological intervals, thermal sum, vegetative and productive performance, and fruit quality of the sweet orange cultivars ‘Rubi’ (R), ‘Lue Gin Gong’ (LGG) and ‘Valencia Delta Seedless’ (VDS) grafted onto 'Rangpur' lime (RL) and 'Swingle' citrumelo (SC). The field experiment was conducted over consecutive growing seasons 2018-2021. Main results: The duration of the phenological intervals was little influenced by the rootstocks. The harvest time was approximately 245 days after anthesis (DAA) for R, 402 DAA for LGG, and 407 DAA for VDS, regardless of rootstock. Scion cultivars grafted onto RL showed larger canopy volumes and greater weight, length, and diameter of fruits than those of SC trees, and the combinations with SC were more productively efficient than RL due to lower canopy volume. The R scion cultivar presented superior yield performance and fruit colouration than LGG and VDS. The physicochemical quality of the fruits showed improved results with the combinations of LGG/RL, LGG/SC, VDS/RL, and VDS/SC. Research highlights: These results may be useful when planning the diversification of scion/rootstock combinations for new orchards, identifying dual-market orange cultivars for industrial processing and natural consumption, and determining the combinations that are better adapted to undesirable climatic conditions.

Jason Bacharach,1 Cathleen McCabe,2 Mitchell Jackson,3 Sanjay Rao,4 I Paul Singh,5 Sebastian Heersink,6 Nathan Radcliffe,7 Robert Weinstock,8 Dario Paggiarino,9 Keyur Patel9 1North Bay Eye Associates Petaluma, Petaluma, CA, USA; 2The Eye Associates, Bradenton, FL, USA; 3Jacksoneye Ophthalmology, Lake Villa, IL, USA; 4DeKalb Eye Consultants - Hauser-Ross Eye Institute, Sycamore, IL, USA; 5The Eye Centers of Racine & Kenosha, Racine, WI, USA; 6Eye Center South, Dothan, AL, USA; 7New York Eye Surgery Center, Bronx, NY, USA; 8The Eye Institute of West Florida, Largo, FL, USA; 9EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Watertown, MA, USACorrespondence: Jason Bacharach, North Bay Eye Associates, 104 Lynch Creek Way, Suite 15, Petaluma, CA, 94954, USA, Email jbacharach@northbayeye.comPurpose: To evaluate dexamethasone intraocular suspension 9% (intraocular DXM) in real-world clinical use to manage inflammation associated with cataract surgery.Setting: Patients who underwent cataract surgery and received intraocular DXM at 22 outpatient eye surgery centers in the US.Design: Retrospective, observational chart review.Methods: Records of all patients who received intraocular DXM from March to December 2019 at participating centers were reviewed.Main Outcome Measures: Outcomes included anterior chamber cell (ACC) grades, anterior chamber flare (ACF) grades, and visual acuity, as well as intraocular pressure (IOP) and adverse events (AEs) at postoperative days (PODs) 1, 8, 14, 30. Descriptive statistics were generated.Results: The study population included 527 patients (641 eyes), with glaucoma history in 66 patients (80 eyes). Among eyes with recorded ACC grades, the percentage with grade 0 increased from 40% at POD 1 to 89.7% at POD 30, with similar results in eyes with glaucoma history. Among eyes with recorded ACF grades, the percentage with grade 0 increased from 78.4% at POD 1 to 97.1% at POD 30. At POD 30, 96.6% eyes with recorded results achieved target acuity. Mean IOP was 18.6 mmHg at POD 1 but declined to ≤ 15.2 mmHg thereafter. Investigators reported 22 AEs in 20 patients, all reported mild or moderate, the most common: IOP increase (7 events).Conclusion: Patients undergoing cataract surgery and treated with intraocular DXM showed favorable inflammatory and visual outcomes, without unanticipated safety problems, consistent with results of previous controlled clinical trials.Keywords: cataract surgery, corticosteroids, dexamethasone, inflammation, intraocular suspension, ocular drug delivery systems

Introduction: Microbial pathogens undergo significant physiological changes during interactions with the infected host, including alterations in metabolism and cell architecture. The Cryptococcus neoformans Mar1 protein is required for the proper ordering of the fungal cell wall in response to host-relevant stresses. However, the precise mechanism by which this Cryptococcus-specific protein regulates cell wall homeostasis was not defined.Methods: Here, we use comparative transcriptomics, protein localization, and phenotypic analysis of a mar1D loss-of-function mutant strain to further define the role of C. neoformans Mar1 in stress response and antifungal resistance.Results: We demonstrate that C. neoformans Mar1 is highly enriched in mitochondria. Furthermore, a mar1Δ mutant strain is impaired in growth in the presence of select electron transport chain inhibitors, has altered ATP homeostasis, and promotes proper mitochondrial morphogenesis. Pharmacological inhibition of complex IV of the electron transport chain in wild-type cells promotes similar cell wall changes as the mar1Δ mutant strain, supporting prior associations between mitochondrial function and cell wall homeostasis. Although Mar1 is not required for general susceptibility to the azole antifungals, the mar1Δ mutant strain displays increased tolerance to fluconazole that correlates with repressed mitochondrial metabolic activity.Discussion: Together, these studies support an emerging model in which the metabolic activity of microbial cells directs cell physiological changes to allow persistence in the face of antimicrobial and host stress.

Visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis are endemic to specific regions due to the ecological preferences of phlebotomine sand flies and Leishmania spp. transmission. Sand fly entomological data in northern Kenya are scarce due to limited studies and neglect of leishmaniasis. The aim of this study was to investigate: (i) sand fly diversity and distribution; (ii) occurrence of Leishmania DNA within sand flies; and (iii) blood-meal sources of sand flies in Laisamis, northern Kenya. We conducted an entomological survey during February and March of 2021 in five areas of Laisamis sub-county using standard CDC light traps. A total of 1009 sand flies (394 male and 615 female) were morphologically identified, and representative samples verified by PCR amplification and sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. Similarly, we identified blood-meal sources and Leishmania DNA in female sand flies by PCR amplicon sequencing of the vertebrate cytochrome b (cyt b) gene and internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) of the 28S rRNA gene, respectively. Sergentomyia clydei (59.8%) was the most abundant sand fly species. Though collected mainly from one locality (Tirgamo), 14.8% of samples belonged to Phlebotomus (Artemievus) alexandri Sinton, 1928. We detected DNA of Leishmania major in 5.19% of Ph. alexandri, whereas Leishmania adleri DNA was detected in S. clydei (7.51%), Sergentomyia squamipleuris (8.00%), and Sergentomyia africanus (8.33%). Nine of 13 blood-fed sand flies had obtained blood from humans, of which 33.3% had L. major DNA. Both Ph. alexandri and S. clydei primarily fed on humans and could potentially be involved in the transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of sand fly vector populations and their potential to transmit leishmaniasis in the area.

Well-defined and accurate climatic indicators are important for evaluating heat stress in dairy cattle. This is imperative for sound management decisions for mitigating production losses. The most popular indicator for heat stress is the temperature humidity index (THI). Other heat stress indicators have been developed but remain largely unexploited. There is, therefore, possibly room to improve the THI and explore new indicators suitable for predicting production losses due to heat stress in dairy cattle. In this study, we apply the degree-day concept to develop temperature humidity index-day (THI-day). We defined the cooling THI-day as the hourly cumulative THI units above the heat stress threshold for milk production traits over the entire day. We then modeled reaction norms for cooling THI-day to analyze the effect of cumulative heat load expressed by THI-day on milk production traits. Milk performance records were from 16,216,145 monthly test-day records for the Fleckvieh breed for the period 2010 to 2019 in southern Bavaria, Germany. Individual cow records were averaged by herd and test-day resulting in 797,455 herd test-day records from 9,726 herds. Weather data for the same period were provided by the German Meteorological Service. Results indicated that cooling THI-day provided significant (p < 0.001) additional information to the conventional THI models. We found out that reaction norm models of average herd milk yield that do not account for the cumulative heat load tend to underestimate the effects of heat stress on milk production traits. Reaction norms modeled with cooling THI-day were more plausible for milk production traits that have a defined heat stress threshold including milk yield, protein yield, and milk urea.

Infection with Leishmania amazonensis and L. mexicana may lead to diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis. The cure is exceptional, especially for the strange case of this lady. Case report: The patient acquired the disease in childhood and remained with lesions for over 30 years, albeit several treatments. She worsened after a pregnancy, developing disseminated lesions. Miltefosine with amphotericin B and pentamidine resulted in remission. Lesions reappeared after one year, accompanied by intra-nasal infiltration of the disease. The nasal spraying of a single ampoule of pentavalent antimoniate resulted in the sustained disappearance of the nasal symptoms and all the cutaneous lesions. After over eight years, she remains disease-free, albeit under renal replacement therapy. The high nasal mucosal antimonial concentration may explain the long-lasting cure via new MHC class I epitope-specific CD8+ cell clones against L. amazonensis present in the nasal mucosa.

Pan-STARRS1 has carried out a set of distinct synoptic imaging sky surveysincluding the $3\pi$ Steradian Survey and the Medium Deep Survey in 5 bands($grizy_{P1}$). The mean 5$\sigma$ point source limiting sensitivities in thestacked 3$\pi$ Steradian Survey in $grizy_{P1}$ are (23.3, 23.2, 23.1, 22.3,21.4) respectively. The upper bound on the systematic uncertainty in thephotometric calibration across the sky is 7-12 millimag depending on thebandpass. The systematic uncertainty of the astrometric calibration using theGaia frame comes from a comparison of the results with Gaia: the standarddeviation of the mean and median residuals ($ \Delta ra, \Delta dec $) are(2.3, 1.7) milliarcsec, and (3.1, 4.8) milliarcsec respectively. The Pan-STARRSsystem and the design of the PS1 surveys are described and an overview of theresulting image and catalog data products and their basic characteristics aredescribed together with a summary of important results. The images, reduceddata products, and derived data products from the Pan-STARRS1 surveys areavailable to the community from the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes(MAST) at STScI.

John A Hovanesian,1,2 Kelly K Nichols,3 Mitchell Jackson,4 James Katz,5 Arthur Chan,6 Mrudula B Glassberg,6 Brigitte Sloesen,7 Caroline Korves,8 Catherine Nguyen,9 Annie Syntosi7 1Harvard Eye Associates, Laguna Hills, CA, USA; 2UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA; 3School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA; 4Jacksoneye, Lake Villa, IL, USA; 5The Midwest Center for Sight, Des Plaines, IL, USA; 6Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, NJ, USA; 7Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland; 8Analysis Group, Inc., Boston, MA, USA; 9Analysis Group, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, USACorrespondence: Annie SyntosiRetina Global Patient Access, Novartis Campus, Lichtstrasse 35, Basel, 4056, SwitzerlandTel +41 763785855Email annie.syntosi@novartis.comPurpose: This study evaluated real-world treatment of dry eye disease (DED) with lifitegrast.Patients and Methods: Ophthalmologists and optometrists treating patients with DED were invited to participate through a healthcare provider (HCP)-based panel. HCPs completed a provider survey and contributed data toward a chart review for up to five qualifying patients with DED who initiated lifitegrast ophthalmic solution (index date) between 01/01/2017 (US) or 01/01/2018 (Canada) and 06/30/2019. Patient demographics, treatments, clinical characteristics, and outcomes (ie, severity, signs, symptoms) were collected for the 6-month pre-index period and up to 12-months post-index.Results: For this study, 517 HCPs contributed 600 patient charts. Among 554 and 281 patients with follow-up at 6 and 12-months post-index, 512 (92.4%) and 238 (84.7%) patients had ongoing lifitegrast treatment, respectively. Other DED-related treatments were less frequently used post-index with lifitegrast vs pre-index: over-the-counter artificial tear use (45.2% vs 75.5%), topical corticosteroids (3.8% vs 18.8%), any cyclosporine (3.0% vs 20.5%). At 3-months (n=571) and 12-months (n=320) post-index vs pre-index, fewer patients had eye dryness (47 [8.2%] and 16 [5.0%] vs 525 [87.5%]), blurred vision (28 [4.9%] and 11 [3.4%] vs 346 [57.7%]), ocular burning/stinging (25 [4.4%] and 8 [2.5%] vs 336 [56.0%]), depression (8 [1.4%] and 9 [2.8%] vs 55 [9.2%]), fatigue (4 [0.7%] and 1 [0.3%] vs 82 [13.7%]), and headache (1 [0.2%] and 0 vs 19 [3.2%]). At 3 and 12-months post-index vs pre-index, average corneal staining score was numerically lower (2.7 and 2.0 vs 6.5), and average Schirmer score (10.6 and 10 vs 6.3) and tear film break-up time (7.3 and 8.0 vs 4.8) higher.Conclusion: The majority of patients had ongoing lifitegrast treatment 6-months post-index with reduction in overall treatment burden. Improvement in DED signs and symptoms, including QoL impacts, was evident at 3 months and up to 12 months after lifitegrast initiation.Keywords: symptoms, signs, severity, QoL

Abstract Objectives We and others have shown that Aspilia pluriseta is associated with various biological activities. However, there is a lack of information on its cytotoxicity. This has created an information gap about the safety of A. pluriseta extracts. As an extension to our recent publication on the antimicrobial activity and the phytochemical characterization of A. pluriseta root extracts, here we report on cytotoxicity of tested solvent fractions. We evaluated the potential cytotoxicity of these root extract fractions on Vero cell lines by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results We show that all solvent extract fractions (except methanolic solvent fractions) had cytotoxic concentration values that killed 50% of the Vero cells (CC50) greater than 20 µg/mL and selectivity index (SI) greater than 1.0. Taken together, we demonstrate that, A. pluriseta extract fractions’ earlier reported bioactivities are within the acceptable cytotoxicity and selective index limits. This finding scientifically validates the potential use of A. pluriseta in the discovery of safe therapeutics agents.

Grit is a trait that describes the drive to succeed above and beyond natural intelligence. While grit has been associated with positive academic outcomes, few researchers have investigated the predictors of grit, such as parenting. We examined the influence of parenting on grit and academic success in 226 college students. Results indicated that overparenting and parental acceptance and involvement were significantly related to grit and grit was found to have a significant predictive relationship with academic success. Further, grit mediated the relationship between overparenting and academic success.