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Although subjects with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at markedly increased risk for cardiovascular mortality, the relation between CKD and aortic valve calcification has not been fully elucidated. Also, few data are available on the relation of aortic valve calcification and earlier stages of CKD. We sought to assess the relation of aortic valve calcium (AVC) with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), traditional and novel cardiovascular risk factors, and markers of bone metabolism in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study. All patients who underwent aortic valve scanning in the CRIC study were included. The relation between AVC and eGFR, traditional and novel cardiovascular risk factors, and markers of calcium metabolism were analyzed using both unadjusted and adjusted regression models. A total of 1,964 CRIC participants underwent computed tomography for AVC quantification. Decreased renal function was independently associated with increased levels of AVC (eGFR 47.11, 44.17, and 39 ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively, p

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease, undiagnosed in a significant number of adults, is a public health problem. Given the systemic inflammatory response to periodontal disease, we hypothesized that periodontal disease could be associated with chronic kidney disease. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: We identified 12,947 adults 18 years or older with information for kidney function and at least one risk factor in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. PREDICTOR: The main predictor was periodontal status. Other nontraditional and traditional risk factors included socioeconomic status, health status, health behavior, biomarker levels, anthropometric assessment, and health care utilization. OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS: Chronic kidney disease was defined using the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative stages 3 and 4 with a moderate to severe decrease in kidney function (glomerular filtration rate, 15 to 59 mL/min/1.73 m(2)). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models assessed the associations between chronic kidney disease and periodontal disease and other nontraditional risk factors. RESULTS: Chronic kidney disease prevalence was 3.6%; periodontal disease prevalence was 6.0%; and edentulism prevalence was 10.5%. Adults with periodontal disease and edentulous adults were twice as likely to have chronic kidney disease (adjusted odds ratio, 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.16 to 2.21; adjusted odds ratio, 1.85; 95% confidence interval, 1.34 to 2.56, respectively) after simultaneously adjusting for other traditional and nontraditional risk factors. LIMITATIONS: Temporal association is unknown. CONCLUSIONS: Periodontal disease and its severe consequence, edentulism, were independently associated with chronic kidney disease after adjusting for other traditional and nontraditional risk factors. This model could contribute to identifying individuals at risk of chronic kidney disease and reduce its burden. Copyright © 2008 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The urinary tract is colonized by microbial communities that impact urinary health. Previous studies have suggested that the bacterial composition of the male urinary microbiota is related to STIs. This study assessed the bacterial composition of the urinary microbiome in South African MSM with and without C. trachomatis., Methods: This study used urine samples from MSM attending care at the King Edward VIII hospital and the Aurum Institute in Durban, South Africa. A total of 200 samples were tested for C. trachomatis infection using the Applied Biosystems™ TaqMan ® Assays. Urinary microbiomes of 23 samples were characterized using 16 S rRNA (V3 and V4) gene sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform., Results: Bacterial taxonomic analysis showed a high abundance of Streptococcus, Corynebacterium, and Staphylococcus in all the sequenced samples. Moreover, Prevotella and Lactobacillus were detected in urine samples of MSM. Alpha diversity metrics showed a slight increase in microbial diversity in C. trachomatis positive samples; however, this was not significant (ANOVA, P > 0.05). Principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) showed that the microbiome of C. trachomatis infected MSM was not clearly different from those uninfected. Distinct bacterial communities were not detected between positive and negative samples (PERMANOVA F 1,22 = 1.0284, R 2  = 0.047%, P = 0.385)., Conclusion: Most microbiome studies on MSM to date have focused on the gut microenvironment. Few studies, however, have provided data regarding the normal composition of the male urethral microbiomes or if these microbiomes are associated with male STIs. This study adds to the growing body of knowledge highlighting the urinary microbiome in MSM., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: Emergency department observation units (EDOUs) are used to manage common pediatric illnesses and reduce the admission rate to the hospital. Most of these patients require a short duration of observation before a determination can be made whether they need to be admitted to the hospital or safely discharged home. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of admissions from a pediatric EDOU for the top 10 diagnoses admitted to the unit. This will help standardize the disposition of such types of patients from the ED, hence improving the efficiency of the unit., Methods: We did a retrospective surveillance study of admitted patients from 0 to 18 years of age from the EDOU for the top 10 diagnoses. Descriptive data were reported using percentages and medians with interquartile ranges. Pearson χ 2 tests were used to determine significant differences ( P < 0.05) between the reason for admission and medical history., Results: In total, 520 patients were admitted from the EDOU during the study period. The median patient age was 3.39 years, with most being Hispanic and female. The top three primary diagnoses of all admitted patients were cellulitis and abscess, gastroenteritis, and bronchiolitis. Sixty-three percent of all admitted patients had secondary diagnoses. Most of these patients were admitted to the inpatient unit due to progression of the primary condition., Conclusions: The characteristics of admissions from the EDOU may help us to understand historical experience regarding diagnoses, timing, and indications of deterioration, resource utilization, and other metrics that resulted in transfers of EDOU patients to the intensive care unit/operating room/inpatient units.

Introduction: Living donation increases the organ supply, but associated non-medical expenses can disincentivize donation. Programs aimed at increasing living donation need to better understand how financial obstacles, including lost wages, impact the decision to pursue donation. Methods/Approach: Forty-eight interviews were conducted and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Findings: Three key themes were identified that influenced decision-making: emotional attachment, temporal flexibility, and job security. These themes emerged when dividing interview participants into 3 groups: close relationship donors, broader network donors, and non-directed donors, representing donation to a family member or friend, a specific person they do not know well or at all, or a non-specified individual, respectively. Most close relationship donors wanted to donate regardless of personal financial cost, based on emotional attachment to the recipient. Wage reimbursement did not typically affect their decision-making but could reduce stress. Since non-directed donors did not donate to a specific individual, they could wait to achieve financial stability before donating, if needed. While wage reimbursement might create more proximate stability, non-directed donors had the flexibility to postpone donations until they could independently achieve financial stability. Lacking emotional attachment and temporal flexibility, broader network donors were particularly active decision-makers and most influenced by wage reimbursement. Across all groups, donors with job security were more resolute about donating. Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of lost wage reimbursement to facilitate donation and reduce stress, and policies to protect donor job security., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Introduction: The decision to become a living donor requires consideration of a complex, interactive array of factors that could be targeted for clinical, policy, and educational interventions. Our objective was to assess how financial barriers interact with motivators, other barriers, and facilitators during this process., Methods: Data were obtained from a public survey assessing motivators, barriers, and facilitators of living donation. We used multivariable logistic regression and consensus k-means clustering to assess interactions between financial concerns and other considerations in the decision-making process., Results: Among 1592 respondents, the average age was 43; 74% were female and 14% and 6% identified as Hispanic and Black, respectively. Among employed respondents (72%), 40% indicated that they would not be able to donate without lost wage reimbursement. Stronger agreement with worries about expenses and dependent care challenges was associated with not being able to donate without lost wage reimbursement (OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.0-1.3; OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.1-1.3, respectively). Four respondent clusters were identified. Cluster 1 had strong motivators and facilitators with minimal barriers. Cluster 2 had barriers related to health concerns, nervousness, and dependent care. Clusters 3 and 4 had financial barriers. Cluster 3 also had anxiety related to surgery and dependent care., Conclusions: Financial barriers interact primarily with health and dependent care concerns when considering living organ donation. Targeted interventions to reduce financial barriers and improve provider communication regarding donation-related risks are needed., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Minority race, ethnicity, and financial barriers are associated with lower rates of living donor (LD) kidney transplantation (LDKT). Financial reimbursement for LD costs may impact social determinants of health and, therefore, impact disparities in access to LDKT., Methods: Among US LDKTs, we studied associations between racial and ethnic minority status and utilization of the National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC), a means-tested reimbursement program for nonmedical LD costs. We analyzed demographic, clinical, income, and survey data from NLDAC and the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2022) to identify predictors of NLDAC utilization., Results: Among 70 069 US LDKTs, 6093 NLDAC applicants were identified (9% of US LDKTs). Racial and ethnic minorities were over-represented in NLDAC-supported LDKTs compared with non-NLDAC US LDKTs (Black donors 12% versus 9%; Black recipients 15% versus 12%; Hispanic donors 21% versus 14%; Hispanic recipients 23% versus 15%; all P < 0.001). Among preemptive transplants, use of NLDAC by donors to Hispanic recipients (11%) was nearly twice as high as that of non-Hispanic recipients (6%) (P < 0.001). At time of NLDAC application, 72% stated NLDAC "will make it possible" to donate; higher proportions of minority applicants agreed (Black 80%, White 70%, P < 0.001; Hispanic 79%, non-Hispanic 70%, P < 0.001). Racial and ethnic minority-concordant transplants were significantly more likely to use NLDAC (donor/recipient: Black/Black risk-adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.85, other/other OR 2.59, Hispanic/Hispanic OR 1.53; all P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Reduction of LD financial barriers may increase access to LDKT, particularly in racial and ethnic minority communities., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background/objectives: Bronchiolitis is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections that lead to hospitalizations in infants and young children., Methods: In this randomized controlled pilot study, we compared two separate nasal suction devices, namely the over counter device by the brand name of NoseFrida and the standard hospital device NeoSucker, in hospitalized children with bronchiolitis to assess equivalence of length of stay within a ± 5-h equivalence margin and to compare readmission rates and associated complications. Additionally, parental satisfaction for the NoseFrida device was measured with a six question (5-point Likert scale) survey., Results: There were 20 patients randomized to the NeoSucker group and 24 randomized to the NoseFrida group. The mean length of stay for the NoseFrida group was 33.5 ± 25.4 h compared to 31.0 ± 15.6 h in the NeoSucker group, which did not establish equivalence within the ±5-h equivalence margin (p = 0.352). Parents were generally satisfied with the NoseFrida. Patients treated with the two devices had similar frequencies of deep suctioning and readmission within 48 h., Conclusions: Although the mean length of stay was comparable for bronchiolitis patients treated with the NoseFrida and NeoSucker, the relatively small sample size and large amount of variability precluded demonstrating equivalence. Since this was a pilot, further studies are needed to evaluate the recommendation for the use of such devices in both the hospital setting and in the outpatient management of bronchiolitis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The biodegradation of chloroethene compounds under oxic and anoxic conditions is well established. However, the biological reactions that take place under microoxic conditions are unknown. Here, we report the biostimulated (BIOST: addition of lactate) and natural attenuated (NAT) degradation of chloroethene compounds under microoxic conditions by bacterial communities from chloroethene compounds-contaminated groundwater. The degradation of tetrachloroethene was significantly higher in NAT (15.14% on average) than in BIOST (10.13% on average) conditions at the end of the experiment (90 days). Sporomusa, Paracoccus, Sedimentibacter, Pseudomonas, and Desulfosporosinus were overrepresented in NAT and BIOST compared to the source groundwater. The NAT metagenome contains phenol hydrolase P1 oxygenase (dmpL), catechol-1,2-dioxygenase (catA), catechol-2,3-dioxygenases (dmpB, todE, and xylE) genes, which could be involved in the cometabolic degradation of chloroethene compounds; and chlorate reductase (clrA), that could be associated with partial reductive dechlorination of chloroethene compounds. Our data provide a better understanding of the bacterial communities, genes, and pathways potentially implicated in the reductive and cometabolic degradation of chloroethene compounds under microoxic conditions., (© 2023 The Authors. Biotechnology and Bioengineering published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: COVID-19 ranks as one of the largest public health threats in recent times. It is associated with huge health, economic and social consequences. Although vaccination is an effective control measure, COVID-19 vaccine uptake has been suboptimal in many low/middle income countries. Hence this study assessed the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine uptake among Nigerian households., Data and Methods: This study analyzed secondary data from the COVID-19 High-Frequency Phone Survey of Households that was collected by the National Bureau of Statistics between November 2021 and January 2022. Relevant data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools and the Multivariate Regression model., Results: Out of 2370 respondents, only 32.8% of the respondents were vaccinated against COVID-19. Respondents living in urban areas (34.4%) had a higher level of COVID-19 vaccine uptake relative to those living in rural Nigeria (30.9%). Results from the Multivariate Regression model revealed that adults aged ≥ 60 years (OR 2.20; p = 0.012), respondents with primary (OR 1.72; p = 0.032), secondary (OR 1.77; p = 0.025) and tertiary education (OR 3.03; p < 0.001), respondents with access to health insurance (OR 1.68; p = 0.004), those who obtained vaccine information from health workers (OR 3.92; p < 0.001), the government (OR 3.22; p < 0.001), and the mass media (OR 1.75; p = 0.003) were more likely to be vaccinated. Also, respondents living in North Central (OR 2.02; p < 0.001), North East (OR 1.48; p = 0.039), South West (OR 2.63; p < 0.001), and South South (OR 1.49; p = 0.031) regions had higher odds of being vaccinated., Conclusions: The study recommends increased media campaigns and advocacy for COVID-19 vaccination in the South East and North West regions. Persons with no formal education and younger persons aged 18-29 years should be targeted with COVID-19 vaccine-related information given that they were less likely to be vaccinated. Dissemination of relevant information through government sources, mass media and health workers is encouraged so as to positively influence decisions to receive COVID-19 vaccines among citizens., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Helianthus annus (sunflower) is a globally important oilseed crop whose survival is threatened by various pathogenic diseases. Agrochemical products are used to eradicate these diseases; however, due to their unfriendly environmental consequences, characterizing microorganisms for exploration as biocontrol agents are considered better alternatives against the use of synthetic chemicals. The study assessed the oil contents of 20 sunflower seed cultivars using FAMEs-chromatography and characterized the endophytic fungi and bacteria microbiome using Illumina sequencing of fungi ITS 1 and bacteria 16S (V3-V4) regions of the rRNA operon. The oil contents ranged between 41-52.8%, and 23 fatty acid components (in varied amounts) were found in all the cultivars, with linoleic (53%) and oleic (28%) acids as the most abundant. Ascomycota (fungi) and Proteobacteria (bacteria) dominated the cultivars at the phyla level, while Alternaria and Bacillus at the genus level in varying abundance. AGSUN 5102 and AGSUN 5101 (AGSUN 5270 for bacteria) had the highest fungi diversity structure, which may have been contributed by the high relative abundance of linoleic acid in the fatty acid components. Dominant fungi genera such as Alternaria , Aspergillus , Aureobasidium , Alternariaste , Cladosporium , Penicillium , and bacteria including Bacillus, Staphylococcus , and Lactobacillus are established, providing insight into the fungi and bacteria community structures from the seeds of South Africa sunflower.

The diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome relies on clinical presentation and descriptive patterns of injury on kidney biopsies, but not specific to underlying pathobiology. Consequently, there are variable rates of progression and response to therapy within diagnoses. Here, an unbiased transcriptomic-driven approach was used to identify molecular pathways which are shared by subgroups of patients with either minimal change disease (MCD) or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Kidney tissue transcriptomic profile-based clustering identified three patient subgroups with shared molecular signatures across independent, North American, European, and African cohorts. One subgroup had significantly greater disease progression (Hazard Ratio 5.2) which persisted after adjusting for diagnosis and clinical measures (Hazard Ratio 3.8). Inclusion in this subgroup was retained even when clustering was limited to those with less than 25% interstitial fibrosis. The molecular profile of this subgroup was largely consistent with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) pathway activation. Two TNF pathway urine markers were identified, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), that could be used to predict an individual's TNF pathway activation score. Kidney organoids and single-nucleus RNA-sequencing of participant kidney biopsies, validated TNF-dependent increases in pathway activation score, transcript and protein levels of TIMP-1 and MCP-1, in resident kidney cells. Thus, molecular profiling identified a subgroup of patients with either MCD or FSGS who shared kidney TNF pathway activation and poor outcomes. A clinical trial testing targeted therapies in patients selected using urinary markers of TNF pathway activation is ongoing., (Copyright © 2022 International Society of Nephrology. All rights reserved.)

Soil erosion is a serious challenge for sustainable crop production. Alfisols in Nigeria are easily prone to soil degradations which have significantly reduced soil productivity, crop yield and increased cost of production. The use of soil conservation measures are vital interventions for sustainable crop production against the effects of erosion. The impacts of soil conservation on erodibility of an Alfisol was investigated in a tropical alfisol in Southwestern Nigeria. The study utilized four-soil conservation measures - Irvingia wombulu , Irvingia garbonensis , paddock and Cynodon plectostachyus was established on 20.4 ha land for 25 years, and replicated thrice based on land area. Empirical soil erodibility factor using Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) erodibility factor models was determined. Analysis of variance analysis was done using R statistics to ascertain response patterns of the soil conservation measures to erodibility. Correlation was conducted for the conformity and relationship between erodibility models and soil properties. I. garbonensis soil conservation measure gave the least erodibility factor ( K  = 0.07), among paddock ( K  = 0.09), I. wombulu ( K  = 0.11) and C. plectostachyus with the highest erodibility factor ( K  = 0.17), indicating that I. garbonensis has the highest potential for soil conservation. Soil conservation measures significantly ( p  ≤ 0.05) influenced soil properties. Wischmeier and Mannering's USLE erodibility and WEPP's rill and inter-rill erodibility were not significantly ( p  ≥ 0.05) different across the soil conservation measures. Elswaify and Dangler's USLE erodibility correlated best with Wischmeier and Mannering USLE erodibility ( r  = 1.00) and WEPP's rill ( r  = 0.8) and inter-rill ( r  = 0.8) erodibility. Sand, silt, organic carbon, available phosphorus and aggregate stability significantly ( p  ≤ 0.05) correlated with USLE erodibility factor. Elswaify and Dangler USLE erodibility gave higher precision in erodibility determination of the soils. I. garbonensis was more efficient in reducing soil erosion, indicating that it is the best soil conservation measure for sustainable agriculture in alfisols in the tropics., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, the burden of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with CKD in Africa is not well characterized. We determined the prevalence of selected cardiovascular risk factors, and association with CKD in the Human Heredity for Health in Africa Kidney Disease Research Network study., Methods: We recruited patients with and without CKD in Ghana and Nigeria. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate of <60 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 and/or albuminuria as albumin-to-creatinine ratio <3.0 mg/mmol (<30 mg/g) for ≥3 months. We assessed self-reported (physician-diagnosis and/or use of medication) hypertension, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol; and self-reported smoking as cardiovascular risk factors. Association between the risk factors and CKD was determined by multivariate logistic regression., Results: We enrolled 8396 participants (cases with CKD, 3956), with 56% females. The mean age (45.5 ± 15.1 years) did not differ between patients and control group. The prevalence of hypertension (59%), diabetes (20%), and elevated cholesterol (9.9%), was higher in CKD patients than in the control participants ( P  < 0.001). Prevalence of risk factors was higher in Ghana than in Nigeria. Hypertension (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.69 [1.43-2.01, P  < 0.001]), elevated cholesterol (aOR = 2.0 [1.39-2.86, P  < 0.001]), age >50 years, and body mass index (BMI) <18.5 kg/m 2 were independently associated with CKD. The association of diabetes and smoking with CKD was modified by other risk factors., Conclusion: Cardiovascular risk factors are prevalent in middle-aged adult patients with CKD in Ghana and Nigeria, with higher proportions in Ghana than in Nigeria. Hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and underweight were independently associated with CKD., (© 2022 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the International Society of Nephrology.)

Reconstructed ACL cannot completely restore its functions due to absence of physiologically viable environment for optimal biomaterial-cell interaction. Currently available procedures only mechanically attach grafts to bone without any biological integration. How the ACL cells perform this biological attachment is not fully understood partly due to the absence of appropriate environment to test cell behavior both in vitro and in vivo . Availability of biomimetic models would enable the scientists to better explore the behavior of cells at health and during tissue healing. In this study, it is hypothesized that the collagen fibril diameter distribution in rat ACL changes from a bimodal distribution in the healthy ACL to a unimodal distribution after injury, and that this change can be mimicked in synthetic nanofiber-based constructs. This hypothesis was tested by first creating an injured rat ACL model by applying a mechanical tensile force to the healthy ACL tissue until rupture. Secondly, the collagen fibril diameter distributions of healthy and injured ACL tissue were determined, and polycaprolactone (PCL) constructs were created to mimic the distributions of collagen fibrils in healthy and injured tissues. Findings reveal that the fiber diameter distribution of aligned bimodal PCL constructs were similar to that of the collagen fibrils in native ACL tissue. This study is significant because suggested bimodal and unimodal fibrous model constructs, respectively, represent a healthy and injured tissue environment and the behavior of ACL cells cultured on these constructs may provide significant input on ACL regeneration mechanism., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Adeoye, Mukasheva, Smatov, Khumyrzakh, Kadyr, Shulgau and Erisken.)

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is considered the strongest independent predictor of cardiovascular disease and events among CKD patients. We reported the echocardiographic left ventricular geometry in CKD patients compared to non-CKD hypertensive and apparently healthy controls in Ibadan., Materials and Methods: A total of 683 participants in the CRECKID STUDY comprising 220(32.2%) CKD patients, 281(41.1%) non-CKD hypertensive patients and 182(26.6%) healthy controls were included in this analysis. Basic demographic and clinical information with echocardiographic parameters were obtained., Results: Study participants in the non-CKD hypertensive group were on average older than the CKD and the healthy controls (56.2±13.1 vs 47.2±14.6, and 46.8±13.3 years, respectively; p<0.01). Compared with other groups, greater proportions of participants with CKD were men (40.5% vs.38.1% and 21.3%; p<0.0001). The left atrial and left ventricular dimensions were significantly higher in CKD compared with others. LVH was significantly more prevalent among CKD patients (68.2%) compared to hypertensive (43.9%) and normotensive (19.5%) group (p<0.01). The participants with CKD had a greater proportion of abnormal LV geometry with concentric LVH predominating (p<0.0001). Having LVH was associated with lower mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (40.6±37.71 vs 67±37.38, p<0.0001)., Conclusion: In our study, patients with CKD had the highest prevalence of abnormal LV geometry and functions. A unit decrease in eGFR was associated with increased left ventricular mass. Early detection and prompt management of abnormal LV geometry may help in reducing adverse cardiovascular outcome in patients with CKD., Competing Interests: The Authors declare that no competing interest exists., (Copyright © 2022 by West African Journal of Medicine.)

Cardiovascular diseases have been associated with cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). Impaired Ca 2+ and Na + /K + -ATPase activities have also been linked to hemolytic and cardiovascular disorders. This study investigated the effect of rutin on Cd and/or Pb-induced cardiac and erythrocyte disorders in male rats. Twenty-five (25) male Wistar rats were treated as (n=5): Control, Pb (60 mg/kg, p.o), Cd (5 mg/kg, p.o), Pb + Cd, Rutin + Pb + Cd (50 mg/kg Rt, 60 mg/kg Pb, 5 mg/kg Cd, p.o). Plasma electrolyte and Ca 2+ - and Na + /K + -ATPase activities in the erythrocyte and heart of the rats were assayed. There was an increased and decreased activity of cardiac and erythrocyte Na + /K + -ATPase in Pb- (172%) and Cd- (33.7%) treated groups, respectively. However, rutin increased erythrocyte Na + /K + -ATPase activity in Cd + Pb when compared with Cd and Cd + Pb groups. Erythrocyte Ca 2+ -ATPase activity was decreased in the Pb (68%), Cd (68%) and Cd + Pb (55.3%) groups. Cardiac Na + /K + -ATPase activity was not altered in Pb and Cd groups while it decreased in Cd + Pb. Rutin increased the activity of the pump in Cd +Pb-treated rats compared to the Cd+Pb group. Therefore, rutin reversed cadmium- and lead-induced impaired cardiac and erythrocyte membrane Ca 2+ - and Na + /K + -ATPase activities. Graphical Abstract Dotted lines-decrease activity, curved lines-increased activity (created with BioRender.com )., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

A regression analysis was conducted to assess the link between resilience, supervisor support, family and friend support, psychological empowerment, and facilitating conditions with work engagement using the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) 26. This data was obtained from a cross-sectional survey of 259 knowledge workers in Malaysia. Specifically, this article provides data about the participants' demographic characteristics and the descriptive data of participants' responses. Further, the mean, standard deviation, reliability of the measured constructs, and regression analysis model summary are provided. This dataset offers suggestions to the top management in deducing ways to increase employees' work engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships, which have, or could be perceived to have, influenced the work reported in this article., (© 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

We demonstrate a multi-photon excitation (MPE) scheme for luminescence thermometry using ScVO 4 :Bi 3+ . MPE is performed using a 37 fs Ti:sapphire laser pulse centered at 800 nm. Log-log plots of the phosphorescence intensity versus excitation power show that the 800 nm MPE of ScVO 4 :Bi 3+ involves a 2- and 3-photon absorption process in comparison with a single-photon excitation (SPE) process at 266 and 400 nm. Spectroscopic investigation shows that with the 800 nm MPE and 266 nm SPE schemes, the emission spectra of ScVO 4 :Bi 3+ are similarly characterized by emissions of the VO 4 3- groups and Bi 3+ . MPE is advantageous to suppress fluorescence that interferes with the phosphorescence signal. We demonstrate this aspect for a ScVO 4 :Bi 3+ coating applied on an alumina substrate. The luminescence lifetime is calibrated with temperature in the range of 294-334 K; the MPE scheme has an equally impressive temperature sensitivity (3.4-1.7%/K) and precision (0.2-0.7 K) compared with the SPE schemes. The MPE scheme can be applied to a variety of phosphors and is valuable for precise temperature measurements, even in applications where isolating interfering background emissions is challenging.

Aim: Environmental pollutants such as plastic-component substances (phthalates and bisphenol A) that coexist in natural ecosystems have been linked to an increase in the occurrence of human health hazards, particularly cardiovascular health. This study was designed to investigate single and combined cardio-toxic effects of dibutyl phthalate and bisphenol-A and the possible interventional role of rutin., Materials and Methods: Forty-two rats were randomized into 7 groups of 6 animals each and were treated as follows for 28 days: Control (0.1% DMSO), Bisphenol-A (BPA, 25 mg/kg, p.o), Dibutyl phthalate (DBP, 25 mg/kg, p.o), BPA + Rutin (25 mg/kg, Rt 50 mg/kg), DBP + Rt (25 mg/kg, Rt 50 mg/kg), BPA + DBP, BPA + DBP + Rt. Cardiac lipid peroxidation, antioxidants and inflammatory markers activities were measured., Key Findings: The result showed that BPA reduced the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, DBP and DBP+ BPA reduced the catalase (CAT) activity, DBP reduced glutathione (GSH) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) while malondialdehyde (MDA) increased in DBP + BPA group. Also, DBP increased tissue C-reactive protein (CRP); DBP, DBP + BPA increased tissue nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB); DBP + BPA increased plasma CRP; BPA increased plasma NF-κB. However, rutin efficiently reduced MDA level, CRP and NF-κB; increasing SOD, GSH and Nrf2 levels in DBP and BPA exposed rats., Significance: These results revealed that bisphenol and dibutyl phthalate exposure caused oxidative stress and inflammation in the heart through Nrf2/NF-κB signaling pathway while oral administration of rutin prevents these effects via upregulation of Nrf2 and suppression of NF-κB signaling pathway., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Over the years, Casagrande plasticity chart is mainly used to classify fine grain soils. However, the use of the plasticity chart has been questioned recently and this has led to the development of a new plasticity chart. Polidori in 2007 and 2009, respectively, developed the new plasticity and activity charts using the Atterberg's limits of pure clays (montmorillonite and kaolinite clay minerals) and their mixture with fine silica sand in different proportions. The applicability of Polidori's charts was evaluated using some residual lateritic soils from Nigeria. On the Casagrande's plasticity chart, the lateritic soils mostly plot above the A-line in the zone designated as clay and classified as either CL or CH. However, on the Polidori's plasticity chart, the lateritic soils classified as CL or CH, whereas on Casagrande's plasticity chart they are classified as ML or MH and vice versa. The classifications obtained from Polidori's plasticity chart are predominantly in agreement with the main soil fractions or component of the soils. This is different from the classification obtained from Casagrande's plasticity chart where lateritic soils with lower clay fractions than their silt/sand fractions are classified as clayey soils. Polidori's activity chart shows that lateritic soils that lie in the same plastic zone may show different behavior due to the different properties of the clay minerals in the soils. In cases where the lateritic soils lie in the zone that is not corresponding to their clay contents on the Polidori's plasticity chart, we presume that other factors apart from those stated by Polidori might also be responsible. Although the use of Polidori's plasticity chart gives a fair classification of the lateritic soils, nevertheless the peculiarity of residual soils such as the in situ structure that influenced the properties of the soils and properties developed due to weathering effects must be taken into consideration as well., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Background: Urinary retention is a condition in which impaired emptying of the bladder results in postvoid residual urine. It can be acute or chronic urinary retention. There have been only scattered case studies that have described urinary retention resulting from methamphetamine use. This case report is aimed at raising awareness about methamphetamine abuse as an important factor in the aetiological considerations when evaluating cases of urinary retention among healthy younger age groups., Case Presentation: We report a patient who had acute urinary retention after brief amphetamine use. A 26-year-old Nigerian man presented at the emergency room on account of an inability to pass urine and lower abdominal pain. Before this incident, the patient reported a recent ingestion of amphetamine to achieve weight reduction and a fit body. A week after use, he started to experience difficulty passing out urine hence necessitating a visit to the emergency department. After a brief assessment, physical examination revealed a man in painful distress with mild suprapubic fullness. He had a successful passage of a urethral catheter for continuous bladder drainage with dramatic improvement in his symptoms. He was subsequently discontinued on methamphetamine use and referred to a urologist for further evaluation., Conclusion: Most cases of urinary retention are diagnosed clinically and are rarely missed. But because urinary retention is associated with a wide range of aetiological factors, clinicians need to be aware of the effects of certain drugs in the aetiology of urinary retention. In the management of a case of urinary retention in the younger age group, clinicians should enquire about a history of drug use, the drug of particular interest being methamphetamine, and also employ the use of urodynamic studies in the evaluation of such cases.

Objective: Traditional medicines have been widely used to prevent and treat diseases for thousands of years. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of ginger feed on cardiac biomarker in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial toxicity., Materials and Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were grouped into six groups of five: Control; ISO-induced toxicity; ginger fed; ginger fed before; ginger fed+ ISO simultaneously and ginger fed after. Freshly prepared solution of ISO was injected through intraperitoneal route at a dosage of 20 mg/kg, while the control received distilled water. Blood was collected via cardiac puncture after two weeks of administration, the serum was used to evaluate biomarkers., Results: The CK-MB and CK of ginger-fed groups were significantly lower compared to ISO group- 8.2±0.5 U/L and 39.36±5.28 U/L respectively, P <0.05. The CK-MB and CK levels of all ginger-fed groups showed no significant difference compared to the control- 2.2±0.3 U/L and 17. 07±3.4.90 U/L, respectively p>0.05, except ginger fed after group where they were significantly higher compared to the control. The mean value of LDH in all ginger-fed groups was lower than the ISO group (67.17±0.88 U/L; p<0.05), but significantly higher (p<0.05) than the control (26.45±2.52 U/L). The mean value of ALT in all ginger fed groups was lower than the ISO group (83.11±4.88U/L; p≤0.05)., Conclusion: Ginger feed hindered toxic effects of isoproterenol.

This study examined changes in soil properties under different types of agricultural land-use. This was done with a view to extending knowledge on the nature of soil properties under long-term land-use practices. The study investigated six types of land-use: paddock, continuously cropped, secondary forest, teak, oil palm, and cacao plantations. Soil strength and saturated hydraulic conductivity were determined in-situ at two soil depths (0-15 and 15-30 cm) across the land-use types. Soil samples were collected to determine particle size distribution, bulk density, aggregate stability, pH, organic carbon, cation exchange capacity, total nitrogen, and available phosphorus. The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance and Duncan's multiple range test was used to separate significant means at p ≤ 0.05. The results showed that land-use types such as forest, cacao and continuously cropped had higher saturated hydraulic conductivity, while soil bulk density was highest under continuously cropped land-use type (1.55 g cm -3 ). The soil aggregates of forest, teak, and oil palm land-use types were more stable, but soil under oil palm land-use had the highest soil strength (5.65 kg m -2 ). Soil pH across the land-use types was slightly acidic to strongly acidic, while soil organic carbon was least in continuously cropped land (3.87 g kg -1 ). The total nitrogen content of soil across the land-use types was high, but the available phosphorus was low. Paddock, cacao, and continuously cropped land-use types had higher cation exchange capacity. The results implied that continuous cultivation led to depletion in soil physical and chemical properties, whereas, afforestation and cultivation of tree crops conserved soil properties better. Therefore, the establishment of tree crop plantations and conservative soil management practices such as manuring, mulching, liming, and conservation tillage were suggested to prevent agricultural lands from degradation in areas with soils under similar conditions., (© 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

We employ dual-probe one-dimensional (1D) femtosecond (fs)/picosecond (ps) hybrid rotational coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (HRCARS) to investigate simultaneous temperature, pressure, and O 2 / N 2 measurements for gas-phase diagnostics. The dual-probe HRCARS technique allows for simultaneous measurements from the time and frequency-domain. A novel approach for measuring pressure, which offers high accuracy (<1 % ) and precision (0.42%), is presented. The technique is first demonstrated in a chamber for a range of pressures (1-1.5 bar). This technique shows an impressive capability of resolving 1D pressure gradients arising from a N 2 jet impinging on a surface, both in laminar and turbulent conditions. The technique is shown to be capable of resolving single-shot pressure gradients (0.04 bar/mm) originating from kinetic energy conversion to pressure and resolves characteristic O 2 / N 2 structures from laminar and turbulent mixing.

Background: Previous studies indicate there may be psychological consequences of being unable to serve as a living donor, but these have not been explored in a large national cohort of low-income individuals who initiated living donor evaluation in US transplant centers., Methods: Using data from 6574 National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC) participants (November 1, 2007-December 31, 2018), we utilized a cross-sectional study design to evaluate short-term depressive symptoms and satisfaction with life in living donors and non-donors (those who were declined or withdrew from evaluation) using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and the PHQ-8, with and without risk adjustment using linear regression., Results: National Living Donor Assistance Center participants originated from 207 US transplant centers. 52% of NLDAC participants responded to the survey (n = 3423; donors = 2848 (58.6% of all donors), non-donors = 575 (33.5% of all non-donors); n centers  = 201)). Respondents were significantly older, more likely to be female, white, non-Hispanic, married, more educated, more full-time employed, and more likely to be unrelated to the recipient vs non-respondents (all, P < .001). Among survey respondents, donors were significantly younger, more likely to be non-Hispanic, employed, and related to the recipient compared to non-donors (all, P < .05). Higher PHQ-8 scores were correlated with lower SWL scores (r = -.32, P < .001). Both groups displayed high SWLS (donors vs non-donors: 27.1 vs 26.3, P = .002). Both groups had low levels of depressive symptoms overall, but donors had more symptoms than non-donors (3.5 vs 2.4, P < .001). After risk adjustment, non-donors had significantly less depressive symptoms by PHQ-8 (28% lower, P < .001), but had lower life satisfaction (1.2 points lower, P < .001)., Conclusions: Donors and non-donors have high global levels of overall life satisfaction and low levels of depressive symptoms at 8 weeks after donation or denial. While small effect sizes were observed between groups in these outcomes, being a non-donor was an independent risk factor for lower life satisfaction, which warrants further evaluation., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Living organ donors face direct costs when donating an organ, including transportation, lodging, meals, and lost wages. For those most in need, the National Living Donor Assistance Center (NLDAC) provides reimbursement to defray travel and subsistence costs associated with living donor evaluation, surgery, and follow-up. While this program currently supports 9% of all US living donors, there is tremendous variability in its utilization across US transplant centers, which may limit patient access to living donor transplantation. Based on feedback from the transplant community, NLDAC convened a Best Practices Workshop on August 2, 2018, in Arlington, VA, to identify strategies to optimize transplant program utilization of this valuable resource. Attendees included team members from transplant centers that are high NLDAC users; the NLDAC program team; and Advisory Group members. After a robust review of NLDAC data and engagement in group discussions, the workgroup identified concrete best practices for administrative and transplant center leadership involvement; for individuals filing NLDAC applications at transplant centers; and to improve patient education about potential financial barriers to living organ donation. Multiple opportunities were identified for intervention to increase transplant programs' NLDAC utilization and reduce financial burdens inhibiting expansion of living donor transplantation in the United States., (© 2019 The American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons.)

Eukarya have been discovered in the deep subsurface at several locations in South Africa, but how organisms reach the subsurface remains unknown. We studied river-subsurface fissure water systems and identified Eukarya from a river that are genetically identical for 18S rDNA. To further confirm that these are identical species one metazoan species recovered from the overlying river interbred successfully with specimen recovered from an underlying mine at -1.4 km. In situ seismic simulation experiments were carried out and show seismic activity to be a major force increasing the hydraulic conductivity in faults allowing organisms to create ecosystems in the deep subsurface. As seismic activity is a non-selective force we recovered specimen of algae and Insecta that defy any obvious other explanation at a depth of -3.4 km. Our results show there is a steady flow of surface organisms to the deep subsurface where some survive and adapt and others perish. As seismic activity is also present on other planets and moons in our solar system the mechanism elucidated here may be relevant for future search and selection of landing sites in planetary exploration.

Background: Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are a common reason for presentation to the emergency department (ED) and account for 3% of ED visits. Patients with a diagnosis of cellulitis requiring intravenous (IV) antibiotics have traditionally been admitted to the hospital. In our institution, these patients are placed in the ED Observation Unit (EDOU) for IV antibiotics., Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine if 3 doses of IV antibiotics are adequate to document clinical improvement in children with uncomplicated SSTI., Methods: A prospective cohort study of children aged 3 months to 18 years with uncomplicated SSTI admitted (2009-2013) to the EDOU at a children's hospital for IV antibiotics was conducted., Results: One hundred six patients (mean age, 68 months) were enrolled; 57% were boys, 53% of patients had cellulitis only and 47% had cellulitis with drained abscesses. There was a significant decrease in pain scores and size of cellulitis from arrival to discharge (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Eighty-three percent of patients were discharged after 3 to 4 doses of antibiotics, and 17% were admitted. The location of the wound, presence of systemic symptoms, and prior use of oral antibiotics did not predict admission in our study., Conclusions: The EDOU is a reasonable alternative to inpatient admission in the management of patients with uncomplicated SSTI requiring IV antibiotics.

Methanol extract of Cola nitida (MECN) was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities using rats and mice. Inflammatory activity of MECN was assessed by carrageenan-induced paw oedema while analgesic activity was evaluated by acetic acid -induced writhing and formalin paw lick test. Histological analyses of the paws were also carried out. There was evaluation of the mechanism(s) of action of MECN using naloxone, a blocker of opioid receptors; atropine, blocker of muscarinic receptors; and propranolol, blocker of beta adrenergic receptors. Findings from the study revealed that MECN has both anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. These properties were found to be dose dependent with 200 mg/kg of MECN discovered to be the most potent dose. 200 mg/kg was able to cause statistically significant reduction in paw size (p < 0.001) when compared with the carrageenan group. Histological analysis revealed that rats treated with 200 mg/kg of MECN showed no inflammatory cells in the left paw compared to other groups treated with carrageenan. In the formalin test, the number of paw licking was significantly reduced by MECN at 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg in both neurogenic and inflammatory pain responses (p < 0.001) even as 200 mg/kg showed the highest percentage inhibition of 98.17% while 100 mg/kg of aspirin showed percentage inhibition of 93.66%. In acetic acid-induced writhing test, 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg of MECN produced significant inhibition of writhes when compared with control as highest inhibition is observed in mice that received 200 mg/kg which is similar to aspirin. Administration of propranolol and naloxone was unable to reverse the analgesic function of MECN. However, atropine administration blocked the analgesic function of MECN. This shows that MECN exhibits its analgesic property through cholinergic pathway and not opioid and adrenergic pathways. Phytochemical screening revealed that MECN contains flavonoids, steroids, saponins, tannins, anthraquinines, terpenoids, and alkanoids. These phytochemical contents may thus be responsible for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Background: Radiating neck pain is one of the major symptoms of cervical radiculopathy (CR)., Objective: This study compared the effects of cervical traction (CT) and transverse oscillatory pressure (TOP) in management of CR., Methods: Seventy-five participants with unilateral radiating neck pain were randomly allocated into three groups, 25 (14 males, 11 females) for CT, 25 (15 males and 10 females) for TOP and 25 (11 males and 14 females) control (Cnt) group. All participants received massage, cryotherapy and active exercises three times in a week for six weeks. CT was administered to CT group, TOP to TOP group while the third group served as control. Pain intensity (PI) and neck functional disability (NFD) were assessed pretreatment, 3rd and 6th week of intervention. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics., Results: There was a significant reduction in PI and NFD between pretreatment and 6th week in all the groups ( p < 0 . 05 ). The effect size of PI ( F = 7 . 533 , p < 0 . 001 ) and disability index ( F = 37 . 888 , p < 0 . 001 ) in CT group were significantly lower than that of TOP group at 3rd week. PI of TOP was significantly ( p < 0 . 05 ) lower than that of CT and Cnt groups at the 6th week., Conclusion: TOP reduces the PI and disability of patients with CR faster compared to CT.

The study examined the effect of pulsed therapeutic ultrasound in management of patients with incessant pain at lower region of the back (PWIPLB) in comparison with kneading massage (KM). Fifty PWIPLB recruited purposively were randomly assigned into ultrasound group (USG) and KM group (KMG) equally. Subjects received back extension exercises as baseline treatment. USG received pulse ultrasound (PUS) while KMG was treated using KM. The treatments were administered 2 times weekly for a 6-week period. Severity of pain (SP) and inability of patient (IoP) were evaluated at baseline, 3rd week and 6th week of treatment. Values of the variables obtained were classified and the implications were summarised. A significant change was observed in precompared with posttreatment SP ( F =32.6, P =0.000) and IoP ( F =2.5, P <0.021) in USG. A significant change was observed in precompared with posttreatment IoP ( F =4.1, P <0.05) but not in SP ( F =2.9, P <0.086). In the 6th week, there was a significant reduction of SP in the USG relative to SP in the KMG ( F =11.98, P =0.000), and there was improvement significantly in the IoP in the KMG relative to that in the USG ( F =2.58, P =0.05). PUS may be better than KM in management of SP but KM is better than PUS in IoP with PWCPLB., Competing Interests: CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Background and Objectives: Avoiding nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is important for safe CKD care. This study examined nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use patterns and their association with other analgesic use in CKD., Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: The Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study is an observational cohort study that enrolled 3939 adults ages 21-74 years old with CKD between 2003 and 2008 using age-based eGFR inclusion criteria. Annual visits between June of 2003 and December of 2011 were organized into 15,917 visit-pairs (with an antecedent and subsequent visit) for 3872 participants with medication information. Demographics, kidney function, and clinical factors were ascertained along with report of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug or other analgesic use in the prior 30 days., Results: In our study, 24% of participants reported nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use at baseline or at least one follow-up study visit. Having a 10 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 higher eGFR level at an antecedent visit was associated with higher odds of starting nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at a subsequent visit (odds ratio, 1.44; 95% confidence interval, 1.34 to 1.56). Seeing a nephrologist at the antecedent visit was associated with lower odds of starting or staying on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at a subsequent visit (odds ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.56 to 0.87 and odds ratio, 0.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.46 to 0.81, respectively). Starting and stopping nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were both associated with higher odds of increasing the number of other analgesics (odds ratio, 1.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.25 to 1.85 and odds ratio, 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.39 to 2.28, respectively) and higher odds of increasing the number of opioid analgesics specifically (odds ratio, 1.92; 95% confidence interval, 1.48 to 2.48 and odds ratio, 1.46; 95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 2.03, respectively)., Conclusions: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use is common among patients with CKD but less so among those with worse kidney function or those who see a nephrologist. Initiation or discontinuation of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is often associated with supplementation with or replacement by, respectively, other analgesics, including opioids, which introduces possible drug-related problems when taking these alternative analgesics., (Copyright © 2017 by the American Society of Nephrology.)