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Abstract To investigate long-term outcomes and develop a risk model for pathological multi–station N2 (pN2b) in patients who underwent upfront surgery for clinical single–station N2 (cN2a) non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). From 2006 to 2018, 547 patients who had upfront surgery for suspected cN2a NSCLC underwent analysis. A risk model for predicting pN2b metastasis was developed using preoperative clinical variables via multivariable logistic analysis. Among 547 clinical cN2a NSCLC patients, 118 (21.6%), 58 (10.6%), and 371 (67.8%) had pN0, pN1, and pN2. Among 371 pN2 NSCLC patients, 77 (20.8%), 165 (44.5%), and 129 (34.7%) had pN2a1, pN2a2, and pN2b. The 5-year overall survival rates for pN2a1 and pN2a2 were significantly higher than for pN2b (p = 0.041). Histologic type (p

Abstract Electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is a sustainable alternative to the Haber‒Bosch process for ammonia (NH3) production. However, the significant uphill energy in the multistep NRR pathway is a bottleneck for favorable serial reactions. To overcome this challenge, we designed a vanadium oxide/nitride (V2O3/VN) hybrid electrocatalyst in which V2O3 and VN coexist coherently at the heterogeneous interface. Since single‐phase V2O3 and VN exhibit different surface catalytic kinetics for NRR, the V2O3/VN hybrid electrocatalyst can provide alternating reaction pathways, selecting a lower energy pathway for each material in the serial NRR pathway. As a result, the ammonia yield of the V2O3/VN hybrid electrocatalyst was 219.6 µg h−1 cm−2, and the Faradaic efficiency was 18.9%, which is much higher than that of single‐phase VN, V2O3, and VNxOy solid solution catalysts without heterointerfaces. Density functional theory calculations confirmed that the composition of these hybrid electrocatalysts allows NRR to proceed from a multistep reduction reaction to a low‐energy reaction pathway through the migration and adsorption of intermediate species. Therefore, the design of metal oxide/nitride hybrids with coherent heterointerfaces provides a novel strategy for synthesizing highly efficient electrochemical catalysts that induce steps favorable for the efficient low‐energy progression of NRR.

This study aimed to determine the correlation of the parameters that indicate the status of the ocular surface with the prognosis of corneal opacification. Fifty dogs (96 eyes) were examined using a grid-line illuminator (non-invasive tear film break-up time (NIBUT)). Thirty dogs (54 eyes) were included in the final analysis based on the criteria. The NIBUT and tear film break-up time (TFBUT) results of the eyes included in the study were divided into three groups: Group 1 (< 5 s), Group 2 (5 to 5 s in the grid-line illumination plate NIBUT test. Among NIBUT, STT-1, and TFBUT, NIBUT was the only test that showed significant associations with the changes in COS.

Background: The optimal choice of valve substitute for aortic valve replacement (AVR) in pediatric patients remains a matter of debate. This study investigated the outcomes following AVR using mechanical prostheses in children. Methods: Forty-four patients younger than 15 years who underwent mechanical AVR from March 1990 through March 2023 were included. The outcomes of interest were death or transplantation, hemorrhagic or thromboembolic events, and reoperation after mechanical AVR. Adverse events included any death, transplant, aortic valve reoperation, and major thromboembolic or hemorrhagic event. Results: The median age and weight at AVR were 139 months and 32 kg, respectively. The median follow-up duration was 56 months. The most commonly used valve size was 21 mm (14 [31.8%]). There were 2 in-hospital deaths, 1 in-hospital transplant, and 1 late death. The overall survival rates at 1 and 10 years post-AVR were 92.9% and 90.0%, respectively. Aortic valve reoperation was required in 4 patients at a median of 70 months post-AVR. No major hemorrhagic or thromboembolic events occurred. The 5- and 10-year adverse event-free survival rates were 81.8% and 72.2%, respectively. In univariable analysis, younger age, longer cardiopulmonary bypass time, and smaller valve size were associated with adverse events. The cut-off values for age and prosthetic valve size to minimize the risk of adverse events were 71 months and 20 mm, respectively. Conclusion: Mechanical AVR could be performed safely in children. Younger age, longer cardiopulmonary bypass time and smaller valve size were associated with adverse events. Thromboembolic or hemorrhagic complications might rarely occur.

Abstract Lead‐acid batteries (LABs) are widely used as a power source in many applications due to their affordability, safety, and recyclability. However, as the demand for better electrochemical energy storage increases in various fields, there is a growing need for more advanced battery technologies. To meet this need, the application of LABs in hybrid electric vehicles and renewable energy storage has been explored, and the development of lead–carbon batteries (LCBs) has garnered significant attention as a promising solution. LCBs incorporate carbon materials in the negative electrode, successfully addressing the negative irreversible sulfation issue that plagues traditional LABs. Composite material additives and Pb–C composite electrodes have also gained popularity as effective ways to enhance negative electrode performance. This review article focuses on the role of carbon additives in the negative electrode of LCBs and discusses potential future additives that may be incorporated into the development of LCBs. Overall, this article provides insights into the potential of LCBs to offer more efficient and reliable energy storage.

IntroductionPhysical activity has significant positive effects on health. Accelerometers can be used to track daily physical activity. The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a commercially available health and fitness tracker, but its validity for tracking steps among individuals with transtibial amputation has not been examined. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the concurrent validity of the Fitbit Inspire 3 for assessing free-living daily steps in adults with transtibial amputation.MethodsParticipants (n = 79) completed a general health survey and were provided with a Fitbit Inspire 3 and activPAL 3 accelerometer to wear concurrently for seven days in their home environment. Relationships between the activPAL and Fitbit Inspire 3 were examined using Pearson's Correlation. Paired samples t-tests, mean difference, mean absolute difference, and equivalence testing were used to compared daily step counts between Fitbit Inspire 3 and activPAL 3.ResultsAverage step counts were 5,768 ± 3,750 (mean ± SD) and 4,674 ± 3,081 by the Fitbit Inspire 3 and activPAL, respectively. A high correlation (r = 0.93) but significant mean difference was found between the activPAL 3 and Fitbit Inspire 3 (p

Background/Objective: With intensifying air pollutant levels and the COVID-19 pandemic, physical inactivity of South Korean children and adolescents may be threatened. Therefore, monitoring and surveillance of physical activity (PA) and relevant indicators are important for policy making pertaining to health promotion. Report Card is a third comprehensive evaluation of PA-related behaviors among and the sources of influence for South Korean children and adolescents. Purpose: To provide the outcome of the South Korea's 2022 Report Card on PA for children and adolescents. Methods: Based on a variety of sources including national surveys collected pre- and during-COVID-19 and information collected from government webpages, 11 indicators were graded by a committee of experts informed by the best available evidence. Data from during-COVID-19 were available for Overall PA, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep and considered together in generating the overall grades. Results: Grades were assigned to behavioral indicators (Overall PA: D-; Active Transportation: B+; Sedentary Behavior: D; Sleep: F) and sources of Influence (Family and Peers: C-; School: A; Community and Environment: B-; Government: A). Organized Sport and PA, Active Play, and Physical Fitness could not be graded due to the lack of data. The results largely indicated that children and adolescents show unfavorable behavioral grades even with favorable grades observed for the sources of influence indicators. Trivial differences were observed pre- and during-pandemic for Overall PA (≥60 min of MVPA for ≥4 d/wk: 20.8% vs 19.9%) and Sleep (met age-specific recommendation: 14.1% vs 15.0%); however, a marked increase in Sedentary Behavior was observed (≤2 h/d screen time: 28.8% vs 20.1%). A stark weekday vs weekend difference was observed in sleep duration. In terms of PA related sources of influence, high accessibility to PA facilities (81.1%) and high satisfaction of neighborhood public transit (74.6%) and safety (80.7%) were well reflected in our Active Transportation grade (B+). Nonetheless, perception of green environments including outdoor air quality (44.0%), noise (39.6%) and green space (56.5%) showed lower scores, suggesting that new barriers to active lifestyles are emerging for South Korean children and adolescents. Gender differences were also observed for overall PA (≥60 min of MVPA for ≥4 d/wk: 29.1% for boys vs 11.3% for girls) and sleep (met age-specific recommendations: 17.3% for boys vs 11.4% for girls), but not for sedentary behavior (≤2 h/d screen time: 26.4% for boys and 24.9% for girls). Conclusions: Government and school policies/programs and the built environment are, in general, conducive to physically active lifestyles for South Korean children and adolescents; however, behavioural indicators received poor grades except for Active Transportation. A thorough evaluation of policies/programs at government, local, and school levels is needed to ensure that the efforts to have PA-enhancing infrastructure and systems are actually being translated into the behavior of children and adolescents in South Korea. Furthermore, improving PA surveillance, monitoring, and advocacy to ultimately establish healthy lifestyle patterns among children and adolescents is a top priority.

PURPOSE This study aimed to examine the associations between accelerometer-measured physical activity and both cardiometabolic disease risk factors and metabolic syndrome in Korean adults. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study with age-sex matched case-control using data from the 2014-2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which was administered to South Korean adults (n=320). Individuals were categorized into quartiles based on accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Demographic and physical characteristics, waist circumference, visceral adiposity index, blood pressure, lipid profiles, and TG/HDL-C were observed. The associations between MVPA status and cardiometabolic disease risk factors as well as metabolic syndrome were determined using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS For the waist circumference, SBP, DBP, MBP, visceral adiposity, triglyceride, and a surrogate estimate of insulin resistance, the Q1 and Q2 groups had higher means compared with the Q3 and Q4 groups. HDL-C was higher in the Q3 and Q4 groups compared to the Q1 and Q2 groups. Odds ratios for cardiometabolic disease risk factors and metabolic syndrome decreased in a curvilinear manner with the increasing quartile of MVPA. CONCLUSIONS Adults with higher MVPA participation were strongly associated with cardiometabolic disease risk factors and metabolic syndrome.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to develop an object detection method for the diagnosis of dry eye disease (DED) in dogs. To this end, a methodology was designed to evaluate ocular surface video images using the YOLOv5 model, which is an object detection algorithm that has been widely used because of its simple network structure and fast detection speed. Because the cornea is a transparent organ, an illuminator plate with grid squares was used to provide grid lines, which were analyzed as the reflected straight lines of the light source representing the precorneal tear film (PTF) stability. The original video consisted of the number of 12 normal images(normal, $$n$$ n = 17) and the number of 15 abnormal images(abnormal, $$n$$ n = 17), converted to JPEG images for labeling, learning, and model validation. The labeled image data were divided into a training image data set (normal, $$n$$ n = 15,276; abnormal, $$n$$ n = 26,196) to a validation image data set (normal, $$n$$ n = 6546; abnormal, $$n$$ n = 11,228). As a result of the experiment, the mean average precision ( $$mAP$$ mAP ) achieved 0.995. This study proposes a method to effectively determine ocular surface status in dogs by using YOLOv5 and concludes that an object detection model can be used in the veterinary field.

ObjectivesAmong US firefighters, sudden cardiac arrest and psychological stress (i.e., PTSD) are the leading cause of on-duty death. Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) may influence both cardiometabolic and cognitive health. Here, we examined differences in cardiometabolic disease risk factors, cognitive function, and physical fitness in US firefighters with vs. without MetSyn.Materials and methodsOne hundred fourteen male firefighters, aged 20 to 60 years, participated in the study. US firefighters with MetSyn vs. non-MetSyn were divided by AHA/NHLBI criteria. Of them, we performed a paired-match analysis with respect to the age and BMI of firefighters with (n = 18) vs. without MetSyn (n = 18). The cardiometabolic disease risk factors included blood pressure, fasting glucose, blood lipid profiles [HDL-C, triglyceride (TG)], and surrogate markers of insulin resistance [TG/HDL-C, TG glucose index (TyG)]. The cognitive test included a psychomotor vigilance task as a measure of reaction time and a delayed-match-to-sample task (DMS) as a measure of memory, using the computer-based Psychological Experiment Building Language Version 2.0 program. The differences between MetSyn and non-MetSyn groups in US firefighters were analyzed using an independent t-test adjusted for age and BMI. In addition, Spearman correlation and stepwise multiple regression were conducted.ResultsUS firefighters with MetSyn exhibited severe insulin resistance estimated by TG/HDL-C and TyG (Cohen’s d > 0.8, all p 0.8, all p

Extensive thoracic aortic disease involving the ascending aorta, the aortic arch, and the descending thoracic aorta may require multiple surgical and interventional managements, which impose a burden in terms of cumulative surgical trauma and the risk of interval mortality. Herein, we describe a single-stage arch and descending thoracic aorta replacement via sternotomy in a patient with multiple comorbidities presenting with an extensive thoracic aortic aneurysm.

OBJECTIVES We examined whether pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) is predictive of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes over time. METHODS In total, 2,570 adults without prediabetes/diabetes from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study were followed up over 15 years. PAT volume was measured by computed tomography scans, and the new onset of prediabetes/diabetes was examined 5 years, 10 years, and 15 years after the PAT measurements. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to examine the association between the tertile of PAT and incident prediabetes/diabetes up to 15 years later. The predictive ability of PAT (vs. waist circumference [WC], body mass index [BMI], waist-to-height ratio [WHtR]) for prediabetes/diabetes was examined by comparing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS The highest tertile of PAT was associated with a 1.56 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 2.34) higher rate of diabetes than the lowest tertile; however, no association was found between the highest tertile of PAT and prediabetes in the fully adjusted models, including additional adjustment for BMI or WC. In the fully adjusted models, the AUCs of WC, BMI, WHtR, and PAT for predicting diabetes were not significantly different, whereas the AUC of WC for predicting prediabetes was higher than that of PAT. CONCLUSIONS PAT may be a significant predictor of hyperglycemia, but this association might depend on the effect of BMI or WC. Additional work is warranted to examine whether novel adiposity indicators can suggest advanced and optimal information to supplement the established diagnosis for prediabetes/diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a multifaceted metabolic disorder associated with distinctive pathophysiological disturbances. One of the pathophysiological risk factors observed in T2D is dysregulation of the incretin hormones, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Both hormones stimulate insulin secretion by acting postprandially on pancreatic β-cell receptors. Oral glucose administration stimulates increased insulin secretion in comparison with isoglycemic intravenous glucose administration, a phenomenon known as the incretin effect. While the evidence for incretin defects in individuals with T2D is growing, the etiology behind this attenuated incretin effect in T2D is not clearly understood. Given their central role in T2D pathophysiology, incretins are promising targets for T2D therapeutics. The present review synthesizes the recent attempts to explain the biological importance of incretin hormones and explore potential pharmacological approaches that target the incretins.

Background : The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)-glucose response curves (GRCs; incessant increase, monophasic, and biphasic) reflect insulin sensitivity and β-cell function, being worse in the former and superior in the latter. Here, we examined if the OGTT-GRC pattern is worse in obese antibody (glutamic acid decarboxylase 65-kDa [GAD65] and insulinoma-associated protein-2 [IA-2])-positive (Ab+) vs. -negative (Ab-) youth clinically diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (CDX-T2D). Methods : Forty-seven obese youth, 15 Ab+ and 32 Ab-, were divided into three OGTT-GRC groups: incessant increase, monophasic, and biphasic. The prevalence of OGTT-GRC, clamp-measured insulin sensitivity, and β-cell function was compared. Results : Incessant increase OGTT-GRC is the most frequent curve type and is three-fold higher in Ab+ vs. Ab- youth CDX-T2D. In Ab+ youth, there was up to 40% lower second-phase insulin secretion in the incessant increase group vs. the other two groups combined (monophasic and biphasic). In Ab- youth, while first- and second-phase insulin secretion was significantly lower in the incessant increase vs. the other two groups combined, overall β-cell function was less impaired than in Ab+ youth. In neither Ab- or Ab+ youth was OGTT-GRC related to hepatic or peripheral insulin sensitivity. Conclusion : Severe insulin deficiency, a characteristic of type 1 diabetes, seems to be related to higher prevalence of incessant increase in Ab+ vs. Ab- obese youth.

Parallel with the current pediatric obesity epidemic, the escalating rates of youthonset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have become a major public health burden. Although lifestyle modification can be the first-line prevention for T2DM in youths, there is a lack of evidence to establish optimal specific exercise strategies for obese youths at high risk for T2DM. The purpose of this narrative review is to summarize the potential impact of exercise on 2 key pathophysiological risk factors for T2DM, insulin sensitivity and β-cell function, among obese youths. The studies cited are grouped by use of metabolic tests, i.e., direct and indirect measures of insulin sensitivity and β-cell function. In general, there are an increasing number of studies that demonstrate positive effects of aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and the 2 combined on insulin sensitivity. However, a lack of evidence exists for the effect of any exercise modality on β-cell functional improvement. We also suggest a future direction for research into exercise medical prevention of youth-onset T2DM. These suggestions focus on the effects of exercise modalities on emerging biomarkers of T2DM risk.

Autologous lamellar corneal grafts were performed on four dogs with two deep corneal ulcers and two corneal perforations to achieve better visual and aesthetic outcomes. The donor corneal graft was harvested from the relatively normal corneal region of the affected eye and used to cover the corneal defect. At the two-year follow-up examination, ultrasound biomicroscopy was performed to confirm the thickness and endothelial continuity of the transplanted grafts and donor site of the cornea. The evaluations revealed that the dogs had healed without incident and that their vision had been maintained. Furthermore, the owners were satisfied with the aesthetic outcomes in all cases. Our findings show that autologous lamellar corneal grafts are useful and effective in treating canine corneal ulcers and perforations.

A 7-month-old Cardigan Welsh Corgi was presented with rapid cataract formation. Slit lamp biomicroscopy revealed mature cataract in the left eye. Ultrasonography revealed a microphakic lens and the presence of a cord-like structure extending from the posterior lens to the optic disc. On the basis of ophthalmological examinations, a diagnosis of cataract secondary to persistent hyperplastic tunica vasculosa lentis and persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous was made. Routine phacoemulsifi cation with a capsular tension ring and intraocular lens implantation were performed. Although a blood-fi lled vasculature with focal hemorrhage was observed during surgery, we did not fenestrate the posterior capsule or cut the hyaloid artery. We only polished the posterior capsule carefully for 2 min. At 22 days after surgery, Doppler ultrasonography did not detect blood fl ow within the cord-like structure, and the implanted intraocular lens appeared clear without fi brin formation or posterior capsule opacifi cation. The fi ndings from this case suggest that routine cataract surgery is an optimal surgical treatment for persistent hyperplastic tunica vasculosa lentis and persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous. To the best of our knowledge, this is the fi rst case report of phacoemulsifi cation with intraocular lens implantation for persistent hyperplastic tunica vasculosa lentis and persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous in a Welsh Corgi.

Obesity can increase the risk of complex metabolic diseases, including insulin resistance. Moreover, obesity can be caused by environmental and genetic factors. However, the epigenetic mechanisms of obesity are not well defined. Therefore, the identification of novel epigenetic biomarkers of obesity allows for a more complete understanding of the disease and its underlying insulin resistance. The aim of our study was to identify DNA methylation changes in whole-blood that were strongly associated with obesity and insulin resistance. Whole-blood was obtained from lean (n = 10; BMI = 23.6 ± 0.7 kg/m2) and obese (n = 10; BMI = 34.4 ± 1.3 kg/m2) participants in combination with euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamps to assess insulin sensitivity. We performed reduced representation bisulfite sequencing on genomic DNA isolated from the blood. We identified 49 differentially methylated cytosines (DMCs; q < 0.05) that were altered in obese compared with lean participants. We identified 2 sites (Chr.21:46,957,981 and Chr.21:46,957,915) in the 5’ untranslated region of solute carrier family 19 member 1 (SLC19A1) with decreased methylation in obese participants (lean 0.73 ± 0.11 vs. obese 0.09 ± 0.05; lean 0.68 ± 0.10 vs. obese 0.09 ± 0.05, respectively). These 2 DMCs identified by obesity were also significantly predicted by insulin sensitivity (r = 0.68, P = 0.003; r = 0.66; P = 0.004). In addition, we performed a differentially methylated region (DMR) analysis and demonstrated a decrease in methylation of Chr.21:46,957,915–46,958,001 in SLC19A1 of −34.9% (70.4% lean vs. 35.5% obese). The decrease in whole-blood SLC19A1 methylation in our obese participants was similar to the change observed in skeletal muscle (Chr.21:46,957,981, lean 0.70 ± 0.09 vs. obese 0.31 ± 0.11 and Chr.21:46,957,915, lean 0.72 ± 0.11 vs. obese 0.31 ± 0.13). Pyrosequencing analysis further demonstrated a decrease in methylation at Chr.21:46,957,915 in both whole-blood (lean 0.71 ± 0.10 vs. obese 0.18 ± 0.06) and skeletal muscle (lean 0.71 ± 0.10 vs. obese 0.30 ± 0.11). Our findings demonstrate a new potential epigenetic biomarker, SLC19A1, for obesity and its underlying insulin resistance.

The goal of auricular cartilage harvest is to obtain a sufficient amount for reconstruction and to minimize the change in ear shape. The cartilage can be harvested by a posterior or anterior approach, and each method has advantages and disadvantages. The posterior approach presents the advantage of scar concealment, but there are limits to the amount of cymba cartilage that may be harvested. In contrast, the anterior approach may cause a noticeable scar. However, as cartilage is collected, the anterior approach provides a view that facilitates the preservation ear structure. In addition, it is possible to obtain a greater amount of cartilage. From January 2014 to December 2015, we harvested auricular cartilage graft material in 17 patients. To prevent the development of trapdoor scars or linear scar contracture, short incisions were made on the superior border of the cymba and cavum. Two small and narrow incisions were made, resulting in suboptimal exposure of the surgical site, which heightens the potential for damaging the cartilage when using existing tools. To minimize this, the authors used a newly invented ball-type elevator. All patients recovered without complications after surgery and reported satisfaction with the shape of the ear.

Various cosmetics having a single function are increasingly being used, but cosmetics having multifunctional activities remain limited. We aimed to develop a multifunctional cosmetic cream having antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, anti-aging and antimicrobial activities. Antimicrobial activities were performed by disc-diffusion method. Cell toxicity and cell proliferations were evaluated in a 96-well plate with different cell lines such as HaCaT, RAW264.7, CCD-986Sk, B16F1, and B16F10. Mushroom tyrosinase inhibition, elastase inhibition, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities were evaluated and IC50 was calculated. Mesoporous silica particle was synthesized using Pluronic P123 and tetraethyl ortho-silicate (TEOS). Facial pictures were captured by VISIA-CR (Facial Imaging System for Clinical Research). Roughness of image was analysed by PRIMOS software and brightness of image was analyzed by Chromameter CR-400. The crude product of strain T65 inhibited the different human pathogenic bacteria such as Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The IC50 of T65 crude product for mushroom tyrosinase, elastase, and DPPH radical scavenging activities were 58.73, 14.68, and 6.31 µg/mL, respectively. T65 crude product proliferated collagen type I in CCD-986Sk cell up to 145.91% ± 9.11% (mean ± SD; mean of 24, 48, and 72 h) at 250 pg/mL. Synthesized mesoporous particles (SBA-15) confirmed the sustainable performance by control-release for three days. Formulated functional cosmetic cream containing T65 embedded SBA-15, significantly decreased the skin roughness by 4.670% and increased the skin brightness by 0.472% after application of 4 weeks. T65 crude product inhibited both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. Synthesized mesoporous particle, SBA-15, confirmed the physiologically active substance was released in sustainable release condition. T65 crude product showed impeccable antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-aging, and whitening activities with non-cytotoxic effects to different cell lines related to the human skin.

Introduction: Canine bacterial keratitis is a corneal infection that causes various symptoms, including visual impairment, and necessitates eye removal in severe cases. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a pathogen that causes significant bacterial keratitis in canine patients. Moreover, multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MDRSP) has been reported in both humans and animals. Regarding treatment failure against multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogens with classic antibiotics, antimicrobial compounds derived from probiotics have been suggested as an alternative approach. Methods: Ligilactobacillus animalis SWLA-1 strain and its cell-free supernatant (CFS) have previously demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against various MDR pathogenic bacteria. Based on this finding, we evaluated the antistaphylococcal activity of CFS derived from Ligilactobacillus animalis SWLA-1 against MDRSP in a newly established ex vivo canine corneal infection model using fresh canine corneoscleral rims. Additionally, an in vitro cytotoxicity test using human keratocytes was performed. Results and Discussion: CFS significantly inhibited the growth of MDRSP in the novel ex vivo model and did not exhibit any significant toxicity against keratocytes in vitro. Based on these results, the antimicrobial compounds in CFS show potential as a novel approach for MDR staphylococcal keratitis treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient and accurate methods to estimate insulin sensitivity (SI) and b-cell function (BCF) are of great importance for studying the pathogenesis and treatment effectiveness of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Existing methods range in sensitivity, input data, and technical requirements. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) are preferred because they are simpler and more physiological than intravenous methods. However, current analytical methods for OGTT-derived SI and BCF also range in complexity; the oral minimal models require mathematical expertise for deconvolution and fitting differential equations, and simple algebraic surrogate indices (e.g., Matsuda index, insulinogenic index) may produce unphysiological values. We developed a new insulin secretion and sensitivity (ISS) model for clinical research that provides precise and accurate estimates of SI and BCF from a standard OGTT, focusing on effectiveness, ease of implementation, and pragmatism. This model was developed by fitting a pair of differential equations to glucose and insulin without need of deconvolution or C-peptide data. This model is derived from a published model for longitudinal simulation of T2D progression that represents glucose-insulin homeostasis, including postchallenge suppression of hepatic glucose production and first- and second-phase insulin secretion. The ISS model was evaluated in three diverse cohorts across the lifespan. The new model had a strong correlation with gold-standard estimates from intravenous glucose tolerance tests and insulin clamps. The ISS model has broad applicability among diverse populations because it balances performance, fidelity, and complexity to provide a reliable phenotype of T2D risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Physical activity has significant positive effects on health. Accelerometers can be used to track daily physical activity. The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a commercially available health and fitness tracker, but its validity for tracking steps among individuals with transtibial amputation has not been examined. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the concurrent validity of the Fitbit Inspire 3 for assessing free-living daily steps in adults with transtibial amputation. Methods: Participants (n = 79) completed a general health survey and were provided with a Fitbit Inspire 3 and activPAL 3 accelerometer to wear concurrently for seven days in their home environment. Relationships between the activPAL and Fitbit Inspire 3 were examined using Pearson's Correlation. Paired samples t-tests, mean difference, mean absolute difference, and equivalence testing were used to compared daily step counts between Fitbit Inspire 3 and activPAL 3. Results: Average step counts were 5,768 ± 3,750 (mean ± SD) and 4,674 ± 3,081 by the Fitbit Inspire 3 and activPAL, respectively. A high correlation (r = 0.93) but significant mean difference was found between the activPAL 3 and Fitbit Inspire 3 (p < 0.001). The mean absolute difference between the devices was 1,347 ± 1,184 steps. On average, the Fitbit Inspire 3 counted 1,094 ± 1,423 more daily steps than the activPAL 3. Equivalency could not be claimed between the devices. Discussion: The Fitbit Inspire 3 counted more steps compared to the activPAL. Because of the significant mean differences and the large mean absolute difference between the devices, the activPAL 3 and Fitbit Inspire 3 are not interchangeable for estimating physical activity in individuals with transtibial amputation. However, due to the high correlation, the devices will produce similar classification rankings based on step counts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]