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Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) is a standard approach for the surgical management of patients with severe degenerative disease at the L4-L5 and lumbosacral (L5-S1) levels. ALIF is performed through retroperitoneal exposure but harbors a small risk of major vascular injury. In this case, we describe an emergent endovascular repair of an external iliac vein injury that occurred during ALIF with long-term follow-up. We discuss specific strategies in the decision making and technique that led to a successful outcome in this case. Endovascular stent grafting is a potential bailout option for serious iliac vein injury.

Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transactions are now regarded as secure, dependable, and unavoidable for meeting our financial obligations. The conventional method of utilizing an ATM requires the use of a debit card. But occasionally users run out of money in their accounts or forget their cards, which makes it difficult to execute a purchase. Mobile phone use has been an unavoidable development, similar to ATM usage. By connecting these electronic devices, it has become possible to make cash withdrawals that are both quick and secure without the use of a debit card, or “card-less cash withdrawals”. For user authentication, face detection, OTP and fingerprint scanning are used. Three tiers of security are constructed by this. If all three parameters are authenticated then and then only the user is allowed to the banking transaction.

Abstract Pseudogenes arise from the decay of gene copies following either RNA-mediated duplication (processed pseudogenes) or DNA-mediated duplication (nonprocessed pseudogenes). Here, we show that long protein-coding genes tend to produce more nonprocessed pseudogenes than short genes, whereas the opposite is true for processed pseudogenes. Protein-coding genes longer than 3000 bp are 6 times more likely to produce nonprocessed pseudogenes than processed ones. Reviewers This article was reviewed by Dr. Dan Graur and Dr. Craig Nelson (nominated by Dr. J Peter Gogarten).

Abstract Background Transcribed pseudogenes are copies of protein-coding genes that have accumulated indicators of coding-sequence decay (such as frameshifts and premature stop codons), but nonetheless remain transcribed. Recent experimental evidence indicates that transcribed pseudogenes may regulate the expression of homologous genes, through antisense interference, or generation of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Here, we assessed the genomic evidence for such transcribed pseudogenes of potential functional importance, in the human genome. The most obvious indicators of such functional importance are significant evidence of conservation and selection pressure. Results A variety of pseudogene annotations from multiple sources were pooled and filtered to obtain a subset of sequences that have significant mid-sequence disablements (frameshifts and premature stop codons), and that have clear evidence of full-length mRNA transcription. We found 1750 such transcribed pseudogene annotations (TPAs) in the human genome (corresponding to ~11.5% of human pseudogene annotations). We checked for syntenic conservation of TPAs in other mammals (rhesus monkey, mouse, rat, dog and cow). About half of the human TPAs are conserved in rhesus monkey, but strikingly, very few in mouse (~3%). The TPAs conserved in rhesus monkey show evidence of selection pressure (relative to surrounding intergenic DNA) on: (i) their GC content, and (ii) their rate of nucleotide substitution. This is in spite of distributions of Ka/Ks (ratios of non-synonymous to synonymous substitution rates), congruent with a lack of protein-coding ability. Furthermore, we have identified 68 human TPAs that are syntenically conserved in at least two other mammals. Interestingly, we observe three TPA sequences conserved in dog that have intermediate character (i.e., evidence of both protein-coding ability and pseudogenicity), and discuss the implications of this. Conclusion Through evolutionary analysis, we have identified candidate sequences for functional human transcribed pseudogenes, and have pinpointed 68 strong candidates for further investigation as potentially functional transcribed pseudogenes across multiple mammal species.

Abstract Background Bordetella petrii is the only environmental species hitherto found among the otherwise host-restricted and pathogenic members of the genus Bordetella. Phylogenetically, it connects the pathogenic Bordetellae and environmental bacteria of the genera Achromobacter and Alcaligenes, which are opportunistic pathogens. B. petrii strains have been isolated from very different environmental niches, including river sediment, polluted soil, marine sponges and a grass root. Recently, clinical isolates associated with bone degenerative disease or cystic fibrosis have also been described. Results In this manuscript we present the results of the analysis of the completely annotated genome sequence of the B. petrii strain DSMZ12804. B. petrii has a mosaic genome of 5,287,950 bp harboring numerous mobile genetic elements, including seven large genomic islands. Four of them are highly related to the clc element of Pseudomonas knackmussii B13, which encodes genes involved in the degradation of aromatics. Though being an environmental isolate, the sequenced B. petrii strain also encodes proteins related to virulence factors of the pathogenic Bordetellae, including the filamentous hemagglutinin, which is a major colonization factor of B. pertussis, and the master virulence regulator BvgAS. However, it lacks all known toxins of the pathogenic Bordetellae. Conclusion The genomic analysis suggests that B. petrii represents an evolutionary link between free-living environmental bacteria and the host-restricted obligate pathogenic Bordetellae. Its remarkable metabolic versatility may enable B. petrii to thrive in very different ecological niches.

Background: Understanding the research landscape surrounding midazolam is crucial for identifying the current state of knowledge and potential areas for further investigation. Methodology: This bibliometric review utilizes various bibliometric indicators to analyze and summarize the body of research on midazolam. A comprehensive search of relevant literature databases is conducted, and the retrieved publications are subjected to data analysis. Bibliometric indicators, such as frequently researched themes, frequently occurring keywords, influential and active journals, relevant and emerging topics, and trends over time, are examined to gain insights into the research landscape. Results: The most frequently researched themes include the clinical use of midazolam in anesthesia, sedation, and critical care, as well as its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Frequently occurring keywords highlight topics such as adverse effects, drug interactions, and patient outcomes. Influential and active journals in the field are identified, indicating the key sources of research dissemination. Word cloud and trending topic analyses provide visual representations of the data, showcasing the prominent themes and emerging areas of interest. Conclusion: This bibliometric review provides a comprehensive overview of midazolam research and its trends and patterns over time. The findings demonstrate the importance of midazolam in clinical practice and research, highlighting the key areas of investigation and emerging topics. The analysis identifies knowledge gaps and potential areas for further research, contributing to the understanding of midazolam's effects, safety, and optimal use. Recommendations: Investigations into the long-term outcomes and efficacy of midazolam in different patient populations can provide valuable insights. Furthermore, interdisciplinary collaborations and knowledge exchange between researchers in anesthesia, pharmacology, and critical care can foster innovation and advance the understanding of midazolam. Finally, staying updated with emerging topics and trends in midazolam research is crucial for guiding future investigations and informing clinical practice.

This research paper presents a scientometric analysis of wedge resection research productivity. The study aims to evaluate the evolution and different types of literature on wedge resection, identify the principal countries, institutions, and sources that have contributed to publications on wedge resection, track the increase of literature on wedge resection citations each year, and determine the most frequently discussed topics in wedge resection research publications. To achieve these objectives, the study utilized a scientometric approach that involved a systematic analysis of existing research on wedge resection and productivity, with a focus on the application of scientometric methods. The results of the analysis provide a comprehensive examination of wedge resection productivity, which can be used to guide future research in the field. The study demonstrates the potential of scientometric methods in examining research output and productivity in various fields, including wedge resection. Overall, this research paper provides valuable insights into wedge resection productivity that can inform future research and decision-making in the field.

IntroductionPopulation-based HIV-free survival at 18-24 months of age among HIV-exposed infants in high prevalence settings in the era of treatment for all is largely unknown. We conducted a community-based survey to determine outcomes of HIV-exposed infants at 18-24 months in Lesotho.MethodsBetween November 2015 and December 2016, we conducted a survey among households with a child born 18-24 months prior to data collection. Catchment areas from 25 health facilities in Butha-Buthe, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek and Thaba-Tseka districts were randomly selected using probability proportional to size sampling. Consecutive households were visited and eligible consenting caregivers and children were enrolled. Rapid HIV antibody testing was performed on mothers of unknown HIV status (never tested or tested HIV-negative >3 months prior) and their children, and to children born to known HIV-positive mothers. Information on demographics, health-seeking behavior, HIV, and mortality were captured for mothers and children, including those who died. The difference in survival between subgroups was determined using the log-rank test.ResultsOf the 1,852 mothers/caregivers enrolled, 570 mothers were HIV-positive. The mother-to-child HIV transmission rate was 5.7% [95% CI: 4.0-8.0]. The mortality rate was 2.6% [95% CI: 1.6-4.2] among HIV-exposed children compared to 1.4% (95% CI: 0.9-2.3) among HIV-unexposed children. HIV-free survival was 91.8% [95% CI: 89.2-93.8] among HIV-exposed infants. Disclosure of mother's HIV status (aOR = 4.9, 95% CI: 1.3-18.2) and initiation of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis in the child (aOR = 3.9, 95% CI: 1.2-12.6) were independently associated with increased HIV-free survival while child growth problems (aOR = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.09-0.5) were independently associated with reduced HIV-free survival.ConclusionEven in the context of lifelong antiretroviral therapy among pregnant and breastfeeding women, HIV has a significant effect on survival among HIV-exposed children compared to unexposed children. Lesotho has not reached elimination of HIV transmission from mother to child.

The production and distribution of counterfeit drugs is an urgent and increasingly critical worldwide issue, especially in pandemics. The imperfect supply chain system in the pharmaceutical industry is one of the reasons for drug counterfeiting. Drugs ownership changes from manufacturers to wholesaler, distributor, and then pharmacist before it reaches the customer thus making it difficult to keep track of it. In this paper, we have compared the existing proposed architectures of blockchain and IoT based supply chain management systems. The system implemented using hyper ledger fabric ensures sharing, storing, transparency, and traceability of data in each link of the supply chain. On the other hand, Ethereum architecture utilized the features of smart contracts to manage the interactions between sender and receiver. Finally, the study mainly focuses on increasing the safety of pharmaceutical products and reducing the manual operation of the supply chain with the most efficient architecture.