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X-linked dystonia parkinsonism (XDP) is a neurogenetic combined movement disorder involving both parkinsonism and dystonia. Complex, overlapping phenotypes result in difficulties in clinical rating scale assessment. We performed wearable sensor-based analyses in XDP participants to quantitatively characterize disease phenomenology as a potential clinical trial endpoint. Wearable sensor data was collected from 10 symptomatic XDP patients and 3 healthy controls during a standardized examination. Disease severity was assessed with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part 3 (MDS-UPDRS) and Burke-Fahn-Marsden dystonia scale (BFM). We collected sensor data during the performance of specific MDS-UPDRS/BFM upper- and lower-limb motor tasks, and derived data features suitable to estimate clinical scores using machine learning (ML). XDP patients were at varying stages of disease and clinical severity. ML-based algorithms estimated MDS-UPDRS scores (parkinsonism) and dystonia-specific data features with a high degree of accuracy. Gait spatio-temporal parameters had high discriminatory power in differentiating XDP patients with different MDS-UPDRS scores from controls, XDP freezing of gait, and dystonic/non-dystonic gait. These analyses suggest the feasibility of using wearable sensor data for deriving reliable clinical score estimates associated with both parkinsonian and dystonic features in a complex, combined movement disorder and the utility of motion sensors in quantifying clinical examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bond between humans and dogs is precious and has been treasured since ancient times. Dog ownership is linked to numerous health benefits, such as increased physical activity and social functioning and decreased depression and cardiovascular events. However, dogs can transmit zoonotic diseases to humans, many of which present with cutaneous findings. This review summarizes the dermatologic manifestations, transmission routes, diagnosis, and treatment of zoonotic diseases transmitted by dogs, including vector‐borne, bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections. This review emphasizes the significance of clinicians obtaining a comprehensive exposure history when patients exhibit a rash of unknown origin. Such an approach can provide valuable epidemiological clues related to diagnosing a zoonotic disease transmitted by a pet dog. Furthermore, identifying the dog as an infection source and subsequent veterinary treatment can help prevent recurrent infections in dermatologic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Slate Islands (Ontario) is one of Canada's larger impact structures at 32 km in diameter and has been linked to the Ordovician meteorite event (OME). We report zircon U–Pb dates from two suevite and two syenite samples collected from the Slate Islands. Plagioclase 40Ar/39Ar dates were also obtained from one of the samples. The plagioclase and most zircon dates record pre‐impact ages with links to known tectonic events, including those associated with the assembly of the Superior Craton at approximately 2700 Ma. However, Neoarchean zircon grains appear to be reset at 456.1 ± 6.9 Ma (±2σ) based on the lower intercept of discordia for all dated samples. The date overlaps its previously accepted age of 450 Ma and would be 2–19 million years following the parent asteroid breakup if related to the OME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) have been suggested as prognostic markers and potential therapeutic targets in several neoplasms in both human and veterinary medicine, among these is human cutaneous melanoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of human epidermal growth factor receptors HER-2 and HER-3 in canine melanomas and correlate their expression to clinicopathological parameters. HER-2 expression was observed in 48.6% of the samples and HER-3 expression in 18.9%, while the coexpression of the two receptors was detected in 13.5% of the samples. The expression of both markers was significantly correlated to the presence of ulceration in oral melanomas. A statistically significant association (p < 0.05) was observed between the expression of HER-2 and HER-3 and the presence of ulceration in oromucosal tumors. This work confirmed the expression of HER-2 and HER-3 in canine melanomas. Further studies are necessary to investigate the prognostic and therapeutic role of EGFR family receptors in canine melanomas. Canine melanoma is a malignant and aggressive neoplasm showing clinical, histological, and molecular features similar to the human counterpart. In human medicine, epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs) have already been suggested as prognostic markers and potential therapeutic targets in cutaneous melanoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of HER-2 and HER-3 in canine melanomas by immunohistochemistry and correlate their expression to the clinicopathological parameters of the examined tumors. Thirty-seven canine melanoma samples were recruited. Data regarding signalment and clinical parameters were also collected. The population was composed of 18 cutaneous, 16 oral/mucosal, and three digital/foot pad melanomas. Histopathological investigations were carried out to analyze histological type, ulceration, and mitotic count. On each sample, immunohistochemistry was performed using an anti-Melan-A or anti-Melanoma antigen, i.e., anti-HER-2 and anti-HER-3 antibodies. HER-2 and HER-3 positivity were classified using already established scoring criteria and a statistical analysis was carried out. The results highlighted that HER-2 expression was observed in 48.6% of the samples and HER-3 expression in 18.9%. The highest HER 2 score (3+) was recorded in 16.2% of the samples, while the coexpression of the two receptors was detected in 13.5% of the samples. A statistically significant association (p < 0.05) was observed between the expression of HER-2 and HER-3 and the presence of ulceration in oromucosal tumors. This work confirms the expression of HER-2 and HER-3 in canine melanomas and suggests a putative association with negative prognostic parameters. Further studies are necessary to strengthen these data by increasing the samples size and combining pathological examinations with molecular biology in the investigation of EGFR family receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite negative effects of HIV-related stigma on people with HIV, some scientific literature continues to use stigmatizing terms. Our study aimed to explore the use of HIV-related stigmatizing language in the scientific literature between 2010 and 2020 based on 2015 UNAIDS terminology guidelines. We searched for articles with the stigmatizing term “HIV/AIDS-infected” or any variations that were peer-reviewed, published between 2010 and 2020, and in English or with an English translation. Our search yielded 26,476 articles that used the stigmatizing term of interest. Frequencies on the variables of interest (journal, year, and country) were run. The use of these terms increased from 2010 to 2017 and decreased from 2018 to 2020. Most journals using the terms were HIV/AIDS specific or on infectious diseases, but the journal with the greatest frequency of use was on general science and medicine. Thirty-six percent of the articles emanated from the United States. To reduce the use of stigmatizing language in the HIV literature, action should be taken by authors, reviewers, editors,educators, and publishers should create formal policies promoting use of non-stigmatizing language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important mediator molecules of the innate defense mechanisms in a wide range of living organisms, including bacteria, mammals, and plants. Among them, peptide protease inhibitors (PPIs) from plants play a central role in their defense mechanisms by directly attacking pathogens or by modulating the plant's defense response. The growing prevalence of microbial resistance to currently available antibiotics has intensified the interest concerning these molecules as novel antimicrobial agents. In this scenario, PPIs isolated from a variety of plants have shown potential in inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria, protozoans, and fungal strains, either by interfering with essential biochemical or physiological processes or by altering the permeability of biological membranes of invading organisms. Moreover, these molecules are active inhibitors of a range of proteases, including aspartic, serine, and cysteine types, with some showing particular efficacy as trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitors. In this review, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the potential of plant-derived PPIs as novel antimicrobial molecules, highlighting their broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy, specificity, and minimal toxicity. These natural compounds exhibit diverse mechanisms of action and often multifunctionality, positioning them as promising molecular scaffolds for developing new therapeutic antibacterial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary adrenal angiosarcomas are exceedingly rare with a rapidly progressive clinical course and a poor outcome. Establishing the diagnosis can be challenging, and it is complicated by the fact that there are no characteristic clinical or imaging features that are pathognomonic for angiosarcoma. Histologically, they can overlap with other more commonly encountered adrenal tumors. Herein, we present an otherwise healthy 41-year-old woman diagnosed with a primary adrenal epithelioid angiosarcoma. We aim to expand the knowledge of the sparse literature existing on primary adrenal angiosarcomas to help better understand the diagnostic features, clinical behavior, and management of these rare tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Handedness, a complex human aspect that reflects the functional lateralization of the hemispheres, also interacts with the immune system. This study aimed to expand the knowledge of the lateralization of hand, foot, and eye activities in patients with immune-mediated (IM) or other (noIM) neurological diseases and to clarify the properties of the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory (EHI) in an Italian population. Three hundred thirty-four patients with IM or noIM diseases affecting the brain or spine and peripheral nervous system were interviewed about stressful events preceding the disease, subjective handedness, and familiarity for left-handedness or ambidexterity. The patients and 40 healthy subjects underwent EHI examination. In the whole group of participants, 24 items of the EHI were classified into five factors (Hand Transitive, Hand Refined, Hand Median, Foot, Eye), demonstrating good reliability and validity. Chronological age had a significant influence on hand and foot EHI factors and the laterality quotient (LQ), particularly on writing and painting. In the patient groups, EHI factors and the LQ were also predicted by age of disease onset, duration of disease, and family history of left-handedness or ambidexterity. No differences were found between patients and healthy subjects, but pencil use scored significantly lower in patients with IM diseases than in those with noIM brain diseases. These results demonstrate that the lateralization of hand and foot activities is not a fixed human aspect, but that it can change throughout life, especially for abstract and symbolic activities. Chronic neurological diseases can cause changes in handedness. This may explain why, unlike systemic immunological diseases, IM neurological diseases are not closely associated with left-handedness. In these patients, the long version of the EHI is appropriate for determining the lateralization of body activities to contextualize the neurological picture; therefore, these findings extend the Italian normative data sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of an empirical research on the topic of personal data awareness, conducted through a survey of a representative sample of the Italian population. Considering five self-perceived levels of digital competence, we investigate the perception of digital footprints people leave online, how they act when apps and platforms demand to share personal data, and whether they are concerned about privacy issues. We discuss these topics and the research data in the light of theoretical frameworks regarding the emerging forms of new digital inequalities, which are broadening to include the awareness gaps, among different users, about how apps and online platforms collect and use personal data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractFluctuations in direct sunlight intensities (or sunflecks) are experienced in urban forest parklands. A novel application of an electronic sun journal (ESJ) was developed providing accessible, objective detection and analysis of sunflecks sampled at 50 Hz while walking through urban parkland forests in Toowoomba (27.57°S 151.95°E), Australia. A total of 654 sunflecks were detected during 12 walks. Sunfleck durations (SFD) ranged from 0.02 s to 102.5 s, with a median of 0.10 s and interquartile range of 0.04-0.28 s. The sunfleck intervals (SFI) ranged from 0.02 s to 115 s, with a median of 0.16 s and interquartile range of 0.06-0.62 s. Of the 10,983 sunfleck clusters, approximately 90% included two or four sunflecks per second, with the highest frequency cluster reaching eight. The distribution of the sunfleck clusters changed with different sun angles and azimuth as the sunlight passed through different parts of urban parklands. The developed method with the ESJ may be employed in the evaluation of sunfleck durations, intervals and clusters at eye level in other urban forest environments, adding to the developing interest as greenspaces play an increasing role in urban studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maternal pertussis vaccination during the third trimester of pregnancy was implemented in 2015 in Spain, reaching a national coverage of 84% in 2019. In this ecological study, we investigated whether there was a change in the disease severity for pertussis in infants upon introduction of prenatal pertussis vaccination. We performed a time-trend analysis of infant pertussis hospitalizations during 2005–2019 in Spain using national register data. Annual hospitalization rates per 100,000 population and the mean length of hospitalization were calculated for infants < 3 months of age (target group benefiting from the prenatal vaccination) and a reference group aged 3–11 months. We compared overall rates and annual percent changes of the above variables in both groups for the time period before (2005–2014) and after vaccination introduction (2015–2019), using segmented Poisson regression. During the pre-vaccination period, infants aged 0–2 months had a 5-times higher rate of pertussis hospitalization and spent on average 50 % longer in hospital than the reference group. After the maternal vaccination introduction, the hospitalization rate decreased more rapidly in infants aged 0–2 months than in infants aged 3–11 months: annual reduction of 34 % (95 % CI: 31–38) versus 26 % (95 % CI: 21–31) in the hospitalization rate and 13 % (95 % CI: 11–15) versus 6 % (95 % CI: 2–9) in the mean hospital stay, respectively. In 2019, the mean hospital stay for pertussis was about 4.5 days in both groups. Maternal pertussis vaccination in Spain led to a reduction in disease severity in the target group as compared to older infants, highlighting the need for increased efforts on educating healthcare professionals on the importance of maternal vaccinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anticoagulation of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and cancer is challenging because of their high risk for stroke and bleeding. Little is known of the variations of oral anticoagulant (OAC) prescribing in patients with AF with and without cancer. Methods: Patients with first‐time AF during 2009–2019 from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink were included. Cancer diagnosis was defined as a history of breast, prostate, colorectal, lung, or hematological cancer. Competing‐risk analysis was used to assess the risk of OAC prescribing in patients with AF and cancer adjusted for clinical and sociodemographic factors. Results: Of 177,065 patients with AF, 11.7% had cancer. Compared to patients without cancer, patients with cancer were less likely to receive OAC: prostate cancer (subhazard ratio [SHR], 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91–0.99), breast cancer (SHR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.89–0.98), colorectal cancer (SHR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.88–0.99), hematological cancer (SHR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.65–0.75), and lung cancer (SHR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.38–0.50). The cumulative incidence function (CIF) of OAC prescribing was lowest for patients with lung cancer and hematological cancer compared with patients without cancer. The difference between the CIF of OAC prescribing in patients with and without cancer becomes narrower in the most deprived areas. Elderly patients (aged ≥85 years) overall had the lowest CIF of OAC prescribing regardless of cancer status. Conclusions: In patients with AF, underprescribing of OAC is independently associated with certain cancer types. Patients with hematological and lung cancer are the least likely to receive anticoagulation therapy compared with patients without cancer. Underprescribing of OAC in cancer is linked to old age. Further studies of patients with AF and cancer are warranted to assess the net clinical benefit of anticoagulation in certain cancer types. There is an independent association between cancer and underprescribing of oral anticoagulants (OACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation, which may be driven by the risk of bleeding in certain types of cancer. Underprescribing of OACs was more common in patients with a history of lung cancer and hematological malignancies. Overall, underprescribing of OACs seems to be more common in elderly patients aged ≥85 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Affiliation is both an antecedent and a consequence of emotional mimicry (i.e. imitating a counterpart’s emotional expression). Thus, interacting with a disliked partner can decrease emotional mimicry, which in turn can further decrease liking. This perpetuating circle has not been investigated in the context of mental health stigma yet. The present study tested the influence of the label “schizophrenia” on liking, interpersonal closeness, and emotional mimicry. In an online experiment (n = 201), participants recruited from the general population saw several videos of actors displaying emotional expressions. Actors were described with one of four labels: “schizophrenia”, “healthy”, “diabetes”, and a negative adjective (e.g. “hot-tempered”). Emotional mimicry was measured using OpenFace 2.2. Liking and interpersonal closeness were assessed with questionnaires. Overall, compared to other labels, participants reported less liking and interpersonal closeness to the actor with the schizophrenia label. However, no effect on emotional mimicry was found. The decreased liking of the schizophrenia actors was explained by a lack of knowledge about schizophrenia and the explicit stigma of schizophrenia. Our study contributes to the literature by highlighting the need to reduce the stigma of schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common cause of respiratory tract infections. Usually associated with infants and children, an increasing amount of evidence suggests that RSV can cause substantial morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals, including recipients of bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The present systematic review was therefore designed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines to collect available evidence about RSV infections in BMT recipients. Three medical databases (PubMed, Embase, and MedRxiv) were therefore searched for eligible observational studies published up to 30 September 2023 and collected cases were pooled in a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistics. Reporting bias was assessed by means of funnel plots and regression analysis. Overall, 30 studies were retrieved, including 20,067 BMT cases and 821 RSV infection episodes. Of them, 351 were lower respiratory tract infections, and a total of 78 RSV-related deaths were collected. A pooled attack rate of 5.40% (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 3.81 to 7.60) was identified, with a corresponding incidence rate of 14.77 cases per 1000 person-years (95%CI 9.43 to 20.11), and a case fatality ratio (CFR) of 7.28% (95%CI 4.94 to 10.60). Attack rates were higher in adults (8.49%, 95%CI 5.16 to 13.67) than in children (4.79%, 95%CI 3.05 to 7.45), with similar CFR (5.99%, 95%CI 2.31 to 14.63 vs. 5.85%, 95%CI 3.35 to 10.02). By assuming RSV attack rates as a reference group, influenza (RR 0.518; 95%CI 0.446 to 0.601), adenovirus (RR 0.679, 95%CI 0.553 to 0.830), and human metapneumovirus (RR 0.536, 95%CI 0.438 to 0.655) were associated with a substantially reduced risk for developing corresponding respiratory infection. Despite the heterogeneous settings and the uneven proportion of adult and pediatric cases, our study has identified high attack rates and a substantial CFR of RSV in recipients of BMT, stressing the importance of specifically tailored preventive strategies and the need for effective treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast localization plays a key role in early breast cancer (BC) surgery. The current gold standard is wire-guided localization (WGL), despite the known disadvantages. The patients often experience anxiety and discomfort due the metallic wire placed in the breast, and surgeons are compelled to perform the surgery on the same day as the radiological release of the wire to prevent migrations or breakages. Various wireless systems have been proposed as alternative to WGL. LOCalizerTM offers the advantage of providing the exact distance from the marker called Tag. The combined technique using LOCalizerTM and US allows for determining the distance from the BC margin, a critical surgical goal for oncological radicality. Methods: Patients referred for breast surgery to two Italian hospitals were enrolled and divided into two groups: Group A, including patients undergoing a combined approach, and group B, including patients treated with conventional WGL. Results: The combined approach with LOCalizerTM and US was associated with better outcomes in terms of oncological radicality, cosmetic results, and patients' satisfaction. Conclusions: In the current study, LOCalizerTM associated with US could be considered an excellent approach for localizing non-palpable BC. Further larger comparative studies are needed to address this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use a new gyrokinetic threshold model to predict a bifurcation in tokamak pedestal width-height scalings that depends strongly on plasma shaping and aspect-ratio. The bifurcation arises from the first and second stability properties of kinetic-ballooning-modes that yields wide and narrow pedestal branches, expanding the space of accessible pedestal widths and heights. The wide branch offers potential for edge-localized-mode-free pedestals with high core pressure. For negative triangularity, low-aspect-ratio configurations are predicted to give steeper pedestals than conventional-aspect-ratio. Both wide and narrow branches have been attained in tokamak experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionsAcademic assistance professionals work with college students to address barriers to academic success, although few assessment tools exist. This feasibility study examined the results of implementing a computerized tool for academic assistance professionals to help students. The Measure of Obstacles to Succeeding Academically in College (MOSAIC) is a 31-item risk assessment tool used to characterize academic barriers. It utilizes a tailored computer algorithm on a mobile device to match students with resources to address academic barriers.The MOSAIC was customized and administered at seven universities around the United States. Student responses were analyzed in Microsoft Excel. Academic assistance professionals were asked about implementation in unstructured interviews.Stress and study skill concerns were the most reported barriers. The MOSAIC was well received, especially among students experiencing academic difficulties, but integration into routine workflow was an obstacle to sustained implementation.The MOSAIC holds promise in addressing issues impeding academic success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart rate variability (HRV) is an indicator of autonomic nervous system activity, and high levels of stress and/or depressive symptoms may reduce HRV. Here, we assessed whether (a) parental stress affected HRV in mothers during the perinatal period and whether this is mediated by bonding and (b) whether antenatal maternal mental states, specifically repetitive negative thinking, depressive symptoms, and pregnancy-related anxiety, have an impact on infant HRV, and lastly, we investigated (c) the relationship between maternal HRV and infant HRV. Data are from the Northern Babies Longitudinal Study (NorBaby). In 111 parent–infant pairs, cardiac data were collected 6 months after birth. In the antenatal period, we used the Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire—Revised, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire; in the postnatal period, we used the Parenting Stress Index and the Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale. Higher levels of perceived parenting stress but not depressive symptoms were associated with lower HRV in mothers (τ = −0.146), and this relationship was not mediated by maternal bonding. Antenatal maternal mental states were not associated with infant HRV. There was no significant correlation between maternal HRV and infant HRV. Our observational data suggest that perceived stress reduces cardiac flexibility. Future studies should measure HRV and parenting stress repeatedly during the perinatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) outside of its main body is characterized by tidal branches resulting from its interactions mainly with the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Characterizing the stellar populations in these tidal components helps to understand the dynamical history of this galaxy and of the Magellanic system in general. We provide full phase-space vector information for Southern Bridge clusters. We performed a photometric and spectroscopic analysis of twelve SMC clusters, doubling the number of SMC clusters with full phase-space vector information known to date. We reclassify the sample considering 3D distances and 3D velocities. We found that some of the clusters classified as Southern Bridge objects according to the projected 2D classification actually belong to the Main Body and Counter-Bridge in the background. The comparison of the kinematics of the genuine foreground Bridge clusters with those previously analysed in the same way reveals that Southern Bridge clusters are moving towards the LMC and share the kinematics of the Northern Bridge. Adding to our sample clusters from the literature with CaT metallicity determinations we compare the age–metallicity relation of the Southern Bridge with the one of the Northern Bridge. We reinforce the idea that both regions do not seem to have experienced the same chemical enrichment history and that there is a clear absence of clusters in the Northern Bridge older than 3 Gyr and more metal poor than −1.1, which would not seem to be due to a selection effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast angiosarcoma is a rare malignancy, accounting for less than 1% of all soft tissue cancers. It comprises primitive and secondary subtypes, such as radiogenic breast angiosarcoma (RAS). Despite multimodal treatment, angiosarcomas represent an incurable disease for many patients and a significant cause of deterioration in their quality of life. Surgery is a cornerstone in management, but high recurrence rates are reported. Electrochemotherapy (ECT) is a practicable locoregional treatment for patients with advanced angiosarcoma as part of a multimodal therapeutic strategy. The palliative benefits of ECT include optimal patient compliance, good local hemostasis control, and positive local responses. Since only 22 cases are described in the literature, we reported a rare case of RAS treated with ECT after a multidisciplinary approach, including Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). A literature review on the feasibility of ECT in RAS management was also performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We provide the first prospective longitudinal multicenter experience on Upadacitinib efficacy and safety profile in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) in a real-life context, focusing on clinimetric and ultrasonographic (US) data. Methods: RA patients referred to three Italian tertiary Centers who started Upadacitinib were enrolled as per ACR/EULAR classification criteria and prospectively reviewed. The primary aim of this study was to assess changes in clinimetric and ultrasonographic scores through time (at baseline, after 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months from the beginning of the therapy). Secondary aims were to: (i) estimate the impact of biologic lines of treatment and concomitant therapies on response to therapy; (ii) explore changes in laboratory parameters; and (iii) find potential predictive factors associated with response to therapy. Results: Seventy-one patients (49 Females and 22 Males) were included. Clinimetric scores, including the Disease Activity Score (DAS28-CRP) and Simplified Clinical Disease Activity Index (SDAI), and US findings (synovial hypertrophy and power Doppler) significantly improved (p = 0.029, p = 0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). Regression analysis revealed a significant association between the concomitant csDMARDs therapy at baseline and the lack of improvement in synovial hypertrophy [OR −4.824, p = 0.010] as well as with DAS28-CRP [OR −0.690, p = 0.045], whereas the presence of increased ESR or CRP at baseline was able to predict a significant improvement in SDAI [OR 8.481, p = 0.003]. No adverse events, such as deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or herpes zoster virus infection, were reported during this study observation. Conclusion: Our real-life experience confirms the efficacy of Upadacitinib in terms of clinical and ultrasonographic improvement, as well as displaying a good safety profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Methods Results Conclusions Cell models have shown great promise as tools for research, potentially providing intriguing alternatives to animal models. However, the original tissue characteristics must be maintained in culture, a fact that is often assumed, but seldom assessed. We aimed to follow the retention of the original tissue identities of cleft lip‐derived skin and mucosa keratinocytes in vitro.Cleft lip‐derived keratinocytes were isolated from discarded tissue along the cleft margins during cheiloplasty. Cell identities were assessed by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real‐time PCR for tissue‐specific markers and compared with native lip tissue. Moreover, keratinocytes were regularly analyzed for the retention of the original tissue characteristics by the aforementioned methods as well as by differentiation assays.The various anatomical zones of the human lip could be distinguished using a panel of differentiation and functional‐based markers. Using these markers, retention of the original tissue identities could be followed and confirmed in the corresponding primary keratinocytes in culture.Our findings promote patient‐derived cells retaining their original identities as astonishing and clinically relevant in vitro tools. Such cells allow a better molecular understanding of various lip‐associated pathologies as well as their modeling in vitro, including but not restricted to orofacial clefts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant defensins are a large family of small cationic proteins with diverse functions and mechanisms of action, most of which assert antifungal activity against a broad spectrum of fungi. The partial mechanism of action has been resolved for a small number of members of plant defensins, and studies have revealed that many act by more than one mechanism. The plant defensin Ppdef1 has a unique sequence and long loop 5 with fungicidal activity against a range of human fungal pathogens, but little is known about its mechanism of action. We screened the S. cerevisiae non-essential gene deletion library and identified the involvement of the mitochondria in the mechanism of action of Ppdef1. Further analysis revealed that the hyperpolarisation of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) activates ROS production, vacuolar fusion and cell death and is an important step in the mechanism of action of Ppdef1, and it is likely that a similar mechanism acts in Trichophyton rubrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Scaffold (SCA) functionalization with aptamers (APT) provides adsorption of specific bioactive molecules on biomaterial surfaces. The aim of this study was to observe if SCA enriched with anti-fibronectin APT can favor coagulum (PhC) and osteoblasts (OSB) differentiation. Methods: 20 μg of APT was functionalized on SCA by simple adsorption. For PhC formation, SCAs were inserted into rat calvaria defects for 17 h. Following proper transportation (buffer solution PB), OSBs (UMR-106 lineage) were seeded over PhC + SCAs with and without APT. Cells and PhC morphology, PhC cell population, protein labeling and gene expression were observed in different time points. Results: The APT induced higher alkaline phosphatase and bone sialoprotein immunolabeling in OSB. Mesenchymal stem cells, leukocytes and lymphocytes cells were detected more in the APT group than when scaffolds were not functionalized. Additionally, an enriched and dense fibrin network and different cell types were observed, with more OSB and white blood cells in PhC formed on SCA with APT. The gene expression showed higher transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-b1) detection in SCA with APT. Conclusions: The SCA functionalization with fibronectin aptamers may alter key morphological and functional features of blood clot formation, and provides a selective expression of proteins related to osteo differentiation. Additionally, aptamers increase TGF-b1 gene expression, which is highly associated with improvements in regenerative therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoclonal T-cell lymphocytosis has been reported in patients with concomitant autoimmune diseases, viral infections, or immunodeficiencies. Referred to as T-cell large granular lymphocytic leukemia (T-LGLL), most cases cannot identify the triggering cause. Only small case series have been reported in the literature, and no treatment consensus exists. T-cell lymphocytosis may also appear after the transplant of hematopoietic stem cells or solid organs. Rare cases have been reported in patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) for hematological diseases (including multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma). Here, we describe the singular case of a patient who underwent ASCT for Hodgkin’s lymphoma and displayed the onset of T-LGLL with an uncommonly high number of lymphocytes in peripheral blood and their subsequent spontaneous remission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schwannomas are solitary neurogenic tumors originating from the myelin-producing cells of the neural sheath. Hypoglossal nerve schwannomas are exceedingly rare, particularly those extracranially originating and mimicking a submandibular salivary gland tumor. Methods: We report the case of a 31-year-old female who presented to our ENT department with a painless swelling in her left submandibular region that has persisted for approximately five months. Discussion: Due to the rarity of these tumors and their unique nature, a comprehensive diagnostic workup is imperative for accurate diagnosis. Surgical excision remains the gold standard treatment. Conclusions: Extracranial hypoglossal nerve schwannomas represent a rare clinical entity requiring a thorough diagnostic process for precise identification. The preferred treatment strategy for managing hypoglossal gland schwannomas involves complete tumor excision while preserving the facial nerve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although illegal, sexual harassment is endemic in US schools, with students perceiving that school officials ignore complaints of harassment. Research findings have linked school climate tolerant of sexual harassment to peer sexual harassment (PSH) and school outcomes, yet there is a need to better understand these relationships. This cross‐sectional study examined whether there was an indirect effect of school climate tolerant of sexual harassment on disengagement from school, individually and serially, through experiences of PSH victimization and feeling safe at school in a sample of 171 predominantly Black and White girls (14–19 years old) attending high school in the wider Memphis, Tennessee area. The findings supported that a climate tolerant of sexual harassment was indirectly related to school disengagement through PSH and feeling less safe. These findings add to the literature by demonstrating that a climate tolerant of sexual harassment, PSH victimization, and perceptions about personal safety are associated with harm to students' academic outcomes in the form of school and academic disengagement. Further, the current findings suggest that a national agenda for school safety needs to consider school climate tolerant of sexual harassment in order to be effective in responding to sexual harassment and supporting student engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Approximately 25% of individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) experience a chronic form of the disorder, referred to as severe and enduring anorexia nervosa (SE‐AN). Although the classification of SE‐AN remains preliminary, there have been increasing calls for a harm reduction‐based, collaborative treatment model for these patients. To provide such care for patients with SE‐AN, it is critical to listen to and learn from their lived experiences. Method: Patients (N = 17) admitted to an inpatient eating disorders program who met initial criteria for SE‐AN completed semi‐structured interviews about the course of their illness and prior treatment episodes. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Data were analyzed using an inductive, reflexive approach to thematic analysis that examined common themes within and across interviews. Results: Three themes were identified focused on (1) the all‐encompassing nature of SE‐AN, (2) treatment experiences, and (3) living with chronic illness. Within these themes, there were subthemes. Overall, individuals noted clear insight about their condition, both negative and positive experiences with previous treatment, and hope for better quality of life despite their illness. Discussion: Individuals with SE‐AN describe their illness as a chronic condition and hope for a harm reduction‐based treatment. Future work, including the lived experiences of individuals with SE‐AN, is important to build our understanding of the classification and clinical characteristics of SE‐AN and to develop treatment approaches that may best serve these individuals. Public Significance: Many people with anorexia nervosa do not achieve a full recovery despite repeated treatment episodes throughout their lifespan. Understanding the lived experiences of individuals with SE‐AN may help to inform future treatment development efforts that could improve eating disorder and quality of life outcomes for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In August 2021, only 47.6% of all eligible residents in South Carolina (SC) had received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with only 41% having completed their vaccination series. Additionally, only 27% of all Hispanics in SC had completed their vaccination series compared to 34.1% of non-Hispanics. Vaccine hesitancy is a complex phenomenon that is context and vaccine-specific. Focusing on unvaccinated Hispanics living in rural areas of SC, this study aimed to identify barriers to vaccination and provide an educational intervention designed to address vaccine hesitancy. Methods: A complex mixed-methods evaluation design was used to conduct this study. First, in-person vaccine educational sessions were implemented, along with a pre-post-test survey, to assess changes in knowledge, attitudes, motivations, barriers, and intentions to receive COVID-19 vaccination. Second, in-person follow-up focus groups were held with the same participants to gather in-depth insight about participants' knowledge and attitudes about the COVID-19 vaccination. Third, an online follow-up survey was conducted to assess the effect of the training and discussion session on COVID-19 vaccination. Study outcomes were assessed among the 17 individuals who participated in the educational sessions and focus group discussions. Results: Findings revealed that for unvaccinated Hispanics living in South Carolina; vaccine hesitancy was primarily driven by: 1) misinformation and information coming from unverified sources and 2) negative perceptions of the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines. Specifically, participants were fearful that the vaccine development was rushed and that the vaccines might contain questionable ingredients that could cause strong side effects or even death. Participants were also concerned that vaccination might cause them to get sick and be hospitalized, which would have financial implications since they could not afford healthcare or take time off work. Conclusions: Program implementation and mass communication campaigns should focus on COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness, including side effects, what to expect after being vaccinated, and how to look for information from reputable sources. The educational session implemented proved to be effective and helped reduce vaccine hesitancy since most participants (80%) self-reported receiving a COVID-19 vaccine after program participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 29 September 2022 the Juno spacecraft flew within 354 km of Europa's surface while several instruments probed the moon's surroundings. During the close flyby, radio occultations were performed by collecting single‐frequency Doppler measurements. These investigations are essential to the study of Europa's ionosphere and represent the first repeat sampling of any set of conditions since the Galileo era. Ingress measurements resulted in a marginal detection with a peak ionospheric density of 4,000 ± 3,700 cm−3 (3σ) at 22 km altitude. A more significant detection emerged on egress, with a peak density of 6,000 ± 3,000 cm−3 (3σ) at 320 km altitude. Comparison with Galileo measurements reveals a consistent picture of Europa's ionosphere, and confirms its dependence on illumination conditions and position within Jupiter's magnetosphere. However, the overall lower densities measured by Juno suggest a dependence on time of observation, with implications for the structure of the neutral atmosphere. Plain Language Summary: On 29 September 2022, NASA's Juno spacecraft flew very close to Jupiter's moon Europa. During the encounter, a radio occultation experiment was performed, where radio signals are exchanged between the spacecraft and ground stations as the former sets behind or rises from the moon as seen from the Earth. The scope of this experiment was studying the ionosphere of Europa, a layer of electrons and ions surrounding the moon. The Juno measurements confirmed the presence of the layer, with a structure similar to the one observed by the Galileo mission in the late 1990s. Key Points: Europa's ionosphere was detected from Juno's X‐band Doppler data via NASA's Deep Space Network during a close encounter in 2022Peak densities were 4,000 ± 3,700 cm−3 (3σ) at 22 km altitude during ingress and 6,000 ± 3,000 cm−3 (3σ) at 320 km during egressThe Juno ionospheric profiles are consistent with Galileo measurements, and show a dependence on solar zenith and magnetospheric ram angles [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the potential correlation between morphological and functional parameters describing the rarefaction and dysfunction of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), located in the macula, in multiple sclerosis eyes with a history of optic neuritis (MS-ON). A total of 19 MS-ON eyes from 19 MS patients (mean age: 44.16 ± 4.66 years; 11 females and 8 males), with a mean disease duration of 10.06 ± 6.12 years and full recovery of visual acuity, and 30 age-similar (mean age: 45.09 ± 5.08 years) healthy eyes were submitted for ophthalmological evaluation using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and multifocal photopic negative response (mfPhNR) to study the structural and functional features of localized RGCs. Both GCL+ thickness (via SS-OCT) and response amplitude density (RAD) (via mfPhNR) measurements were obtained from annular regions and ETDRS sectors. Morphological and electrophysiological data from the control and MS groups were compared by using an ANOVA test. GCL+ values were correlated with the corresponding RADs derived from almost superimposable areas using Pearson's tests (p < 0.01). In MS-ON eyes, the mean values of macular GCL+-T and mfPhNR RAD detected in all rings and ETDRS sectors were significantly reduced (p < 0.01) when compared with control ones. In addition, when plotting the GCL+-T and mfPhNR RAD individual data from MS-ON eyes, we found statistically significant linear correlations (p < 0.01) when considering responses from both rings and sectors. In conclusion, in MS-ON eyes, a topographical correlation between structural and functional impairment of macular RGCs occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Onychomycosis, or fungal nail infection, causes not only pain and discomfort but can also have psychological and social consequences for the patient. Treatment of onychomycosis is complicated by the location of the infection under the nail plate, meaning that antifungal molecules must either penetrate the nail or be applied systemically. Currently, available treatments are limited by their poor nail penetration for topical products or their potential toxicity for systemic products. Plant defensins with potent antifungal activity have the potential to be safe and effective treatments for fungal infections in humans. The cystine-stabilized structure of plant defensins makes them stable to the extremes of pH and temperature as well as digestion by proteases. Here, we describe a novel plant defensin, Ppdef1, as a peptide for the treatment of fungal nail infections. Ppdef1 has potent, fungicidal activity against a range of human fungal pathogens, including Candida spp., Cryptococcus spp., dermatophytes, and non-dermatophytic moulds. In particular, Ppdef1 has excellent activity against dermatophytes that infect skin and nails, including the major etiological agent of onychomycosis Trichophyton rubrum. Ppdef1 also penetrates human nails rapidly and efficiently, making it an excellent candidate for a novel topical treatment of onychomycosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Estrogens regulate disparate female physiological processes, thus ensuring reproduction. Altered estrogen levels and signaling have been associated with increased risks of pregnancy failure and complications, including hypertensive disorders and low birthweight babies. However, the role of estrogens in the periconceptional period and early pregnancy is still understudied. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE This review aims to summarize the current evidence on the role of maternal estrogens during the periconceptional period and the first trimester of pregnancies conceived naturally and following ART. Detailed molecular mechanisms and related clinical impacts are extensively described. SEARCH METHODS Data for this narrative review were independently identified by seven researchers on Pubmed and Embase databases. The following keywords were selected: 'estrogens' OR 'estrogen level(s)' OR 'serum estradiol' OR 'estradiol/estrogen concentration', AND 'early pregnancy' OR 'first trimester of pregnancy' OR 'preconceptional period' OR 'ART' OR 'In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)' OR 'Embryo Transfer' OR 'Frozen Embryo Transfer' OR 'oocyte donation' OR 'egg donation' OR 'miscarriage' OR 'pregnancy outcome' OR 'endometrium'. OUTCOMES During the periconceptional period (defined here as the critical time window starting 1 month before conception), estrogens play a crucial role in endometrial receptivity, through the activation of paracrine/autocrine signaling. A derailed estrogenic milieu within this period seems to be detrimental both in natural and ART-conceived pregnancies. Low estrogen levels are associated with non-conception cycles in natural pregnancies. On the other hand, excessive supraphysiologic estrogen concentrations at time of the LH peak correlate with lower live birth rates and higher risks of pregnancy complications. In early pregnancy, estrogen plays a massive role in placentation mainly by modulating angiogenic factor expression—and in the development of an immune-tolerant uterine micro-environment by remodeling the function of uterine natural killer and T-helper cells. Lower estrogen levels are thought to trigger abnormal placentation in naturally conceived pregnancies, whereas an estrogen excess seems to worsen pregnancy development and outcomes. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Most current evidence available endorses a relation between periconceptional and first trimester estrogen levels and pregnancy outcomes, further depicting an optimal concentration range to optimize pregnancy success. However, how estrogens co-operate with other factors in order to maintain a fine balance between local tolerance towards the developing fetus and immune responses to pathogens remains elusive. Further studies are highly warranted, also aiming to identify the determinants of estrogen response and biomarkers for personalized estrogen administration regimens in ART. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spread worldwide through droplets, the Virus Sars-Cov-19 has caused a global health emergency alarm. In order to limit its spread, the use of masks has become part of the daily life of the entire population, however, little is known about its constant use and the changes generated in the oral cavity. This work aims to investigate correlations between the continuous use of masks covering the nose and mouth for 3 h and changes in the ecological factors of the oral cavity. Methods: 34 volunteers were divided into 2 groups: wear only the filtering facepiece code 2 (FFP2) mask (Group A) and wear the FFP2 mask covered by a surgical mask (Group B). Measurement of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), saliva rehydration and consistency test, collection of basal saliva and saliva stimulated with paraffin gum and mucosal swab were collected and analyzed at two times: before using the mask(s) (T0) and 3 h after continuous use of the mask(s) (T1). Results: The results indicated a significant difference between the groups, in which the basal saliva volume and pH and the peaks of VOCs increased for group B between T0 and T1. The rehydration time decreased and the volume and pH of the stimulated saliva increased, but with no significant difference between the groups. Furthermore, group B showed a significant decrease in Candida albicans Colony Forming Units (CFUs) and Total Bacterial Count (TBC) between T0 and T1. Conclusion: It is concluded that the prolonged use of the FFP2 mask covered by a surgical mask can generate oral alterations in the user. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many women living with HIV (WLWH) experience pain. Alcohol use with the intent to treat pain could lead to hazardous drinking and difficulty in reducing drinking. Naltrexone acts on opioid receptors important for pain regulation and is an approved treatment for alcohol use disorder. In this secondary analysis of a randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled naltrexone clinical trial, the goals were to (1) compare alcohol reduction between women who drank to treat pain and those who did not and (2) examine differences in alcohol reduction by both drinking intention and treatment arm. Methods: Women living with HIV (N = 194, mean age 48.3 years, 83% non‐Hispanic Black, 11% Hispanic) with hazardous drinking (>7 drinks/week) were randomized to receive daily treatment with naltrexone 50 mg or placebo for 4 months. Study visits occurred at baseline and 2, 4, and 7 months (posttreatment). The number of drinks/week was measured using the Timeline Follow Back. Use of alcohol to treat pain was self‐reported. Participants were categorized as using alcohol to treat pain or not and in the naltrexone or placebo group. Chi‐square, t‐test, MANOVA, and sequential mixed effects models were used to determine group differences in demographic factors, mean/drinks per week, and percent change in mean drinks/week at baseline and each follow‐up visit. Results: There was a consistent decrease in drinking throughout the study. There was not a significant difference in mean drinks/week at any point in the study between women who used alcohol to treat pain and those who did not. When considering treatment arm, at 2 months only those who did not use alcohol to treat pain in the naltrexone group had a significantly lower mean drinks/week than the other groups (p = 0.007); all groups had similar decreases in drinking from 4 months onward. Conclusion: In the naltrexone group, WLWH who drank to treat pain reduced their alcohol consumption more slowly than WLWH who did not drink to treat pain. Replication of these findings would suggest that alcohol treatment guidelines should address pain as a factor in drinking outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The positive Grassmannian |$Gr^{\geq 0}_{k,n}$| is a cell complex consisting of all points in the real Grassmannian whose Plücker coordinates are non-negative. In this paper we consider the image of the positive Grassmannian and its positroid cells under two different maps: the moment map |$\mu $| onto the hypersimplex [ 31 ] and the amplituhedron map |$\tilde{Z}$| onto the amplituhedron [ 6 ]. For either map, we define a positroid dissection to be a collection of images of positroid cells that are disjoint and cover a dense subset of the image. Positroid dissections of the hypersimplex are of interest because they include many matroid subdivisions; meanwhile, positroid dissections of the amplituhedron can be used to calculate the amplituhedron's 'volume', which in turn computes scattering amplitudes in |$\mathcal{N}=4$| super Yang-Mills. We define a map we call T-duality from cells of |$Gr^{\geq 0}_{k+1,n}$| to cells of |$Gr^{\geq 0}_{k,n}$| and conjecture that it induces a bijection from positroid dissections of the hypersimplex |$\Delta _{k+1,n}$| to positroid dissections of the amplituhedron |$\mathcal{A}_{n,k,2}$|⁠ ; we prove this conjecture for the (infinite) class of BCFW dissections. We note that T-duality is particularly striking because the hypersimplex is an |$(n-1)$| -dimensional polytope while the amplituhedron |$\mathcal{A}_{n,k,2}$| is a |$2k$| -dimensional non-polytopal subset of the Grassmannian |$Gr_{k,k+2}$|⁠. Moreover, we prove that the positive tropical Grassmannian is the secondary fan for the regular positroid subdivisions of the hypersimplex, and prove that a matroid polytope is a positroid polytope if and only if all 2D faces are positroid polytopes. Finally, toward the goal of generalizing T-duality for higher |$m$|⁠ , we define the momentum amplituhedron for any even |$m$|⁠. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this editorial, Anthea Sutton and Veronica Parisi reflect on ChatGPT, how it may contribute to systematic searching, and provide their overview of some recent training they attended on ChatGPT, AI and systematic literature reviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a systematic investigation of the structure and dynamic properties of model soft–hard colloidal mixtures. Results of a coarse-grained theoretical model are contrasted with rheological data, where the soft and hard colloids are mimicked by large star polymers with high functionality as the soft component and smaller stars with ultrahigh functionality as the hard one. Previous work by us revealed the recovery of the ergodicity of glassy soft star solutions and subsequent arrested phase separation and re-entrant solid transition upon progressive addition of small hard depletants. Here, we use different components to show that a small variation in softness has a significant impact on the state diagram of such mixtures. In particular, we establish that rendering the soft component more penetrable and modifying the size ratio bring about a remarkable shift in both the phase separation region and the glass-melting line so that the region of restored ergodicity can be notably enhanced and extended to much higher star polymer concentrations than for pure systems. We further rationalize our findings by analyzing the features of the depletion interaction induced by the smaller component that result from the interplay between the size ratio and the softness of the large component. These results demonstrate the great sensitivity of the phase behavior of entropic mixtures to small changes in the molecular architecture of the soft stars and point to the importance of accounting for details of the internal microstructure of soft colloidal particles for tailoring the flow properties of soft composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this report was to present a case of a refractory full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) complicated with recurrent retinal detachment (RD) previously treated with an autologous platelet-rich plasma (aPRP) plug. A 65-year-old male patient presented to our department with a FTMH, RD, and a giant retinal break. Preoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 1.40 logMAR (20/500). A 25-G pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) was performed, with peripheral retinal-breaks laser barrage, peeling of the internal limiting membrane, and silicon oil injection. One month later, spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) showed the persistence of the FTMH with a diameter of 712 μm. Therefore, the patient underwent silicon oil removal and aPRP injection with good anatomical outcome and improvement of BCVA to 0.6 log-MAR (20/80). Two months later a recurrence of macula-off RD was detected, but SD-OCT showed that the aPRP plug was still in place and kept the two margins of the macular hole together. The patient underwent a further PPV with silicon oil injection and subsequent silicon oil removal with no postoperative complications. Two months later, the retina remained attached, SD-OCT confirmed FTMH closure and BCVA was 0.52 logMAR (20/63). In conclusion, this case report aims to underline the remarkable efficacy of aPRP in promoting FTMH closure, which was maintained despite subsequent recurrence of macula-off RD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Writing about the history and politics of epidemics and pandemics requires stepping into a historiography that is expansive, transnational, and slotted into specific historical periods. This essay considers the main debates in this expansive historiography and highlights the strengths and limitations of dominant historiographical approaches to the study of epidemics and pandemics. This essay also interrogates the framing of three thematic periods, or categories, commonly identified by historians and social scientists in analyses of epidemics and pandemics: categories of "colonial health," "international health," and "global health." As this essay underscores, scholarship often analyzes epidemics and pandemics through overlapping and complex historical temporalities involving colonization, decolonization, and globalization. However, this approach is often constrained by the limitations of existing archives and the overwhelming focus of published scholarship on dominant institutions, scientific and political figures, and specific disease outbreaks that are commonly associated with categories of "colonial health," "international health," and "global health" from the late nineteenth to the present. As a result, scholarship may include linear narratives that flatten or generalize the legacies of epidemics and pandemics. The links between pathogens and pathologies are not linear, however, and colonial structures of power, disease tropes, and surveillance doctrines often persist across time and space. This essay ultimately seeks to challenge and complicate these dominant framings and categories from within. This approach highlights the connectedness—and complex continuities and discontinuities—in the political, economic, social, and scientific perceptions of and approaches to epidemic and pandemic risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, following the introduction of new therapies, the life expectancy of patients with cystic fibrosis has increased significantly, exceeding the 50-year age threshold. This has also resulted in a change in demographics so that today, nearly 60 percent of patients with cystic fibrosis are adults. Thus, the adult population is burdened not only with the clinical features characteristic of the disease but also with the pathological conditions typical of aging (from hypertension to heart disease). This change in cystic fibrosis highlights the importance of a transition process from pediatric to adult medicine, in the same way as with other chronic diseases. Therefore, the objective of this review article will be to focus on the peculiarities of the transitional population and the creation of a transitional care model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with blinatumomab DAEs experience CRS, ICANS, and MRD-negative response as frequently as non-DAE patients. HT