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Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy (ANE) is a condition characterized by symmetric, bilateral lesions affecting the thalamus and potentially other areas of the brain following an acute febrile illness. It manifests clinically as abrupt development of encephalopathy, or alteration in mental status that often includes development of seizures and progression to coma. Treatment strategies combine immunosuppressive therapies and supportive care with varying levels of recovery, however there are no universally accepted, data-driven, treatment algorithms for ANE. We first report a case of a previously healthy 10-year-old female with acute onset diplopia, visual hallucinations, lethargy, and seizures in the setting of subacute non-specific viral symptoms and found to have bilateral thalamic and brainstem lesions on MRI consistent with ANE. She was treated with a combination of immunomodulatory therapies and ultimately had a good outcome. Next, we present a meta-analysis of 10 articles with a total of 158 patients meeting clinical and radiographic criteria for ANE. Each article reported immunosuppressive treatments received, and associated morbidity or mortality outcome for each individual patient. Through our analysis, we confirm the effectiveness of high-dose, intravenous, methylprednisolone (HD-IV-MP) therapy implemented early in the disease course (initiation within 24 h of neurologic symptom onset). There was no significant difference between patients treated with and without intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). There was no benefit of combining IVIG with early HD-IV-MP. There is weak evidence suggesting a benefit of IL-6 inhibitor tocilizumab, especially when used in combination with early HD-IV-MP, though this analysis was limited by sample size. Finally, plasma exchange (PLEX) improved survival. We hope this meta-analysis will be useful for clinicians making treatment decisions for patients with this potentially devastating condition.

Research on m6A-associated SNPs (m6A-SNPs) has emerged recently due to their possible critical roles in many key biological processes. In this sense, several investigations have identified m6A-SNPs in different diseases. In order to gain a more complete understanding of the role that m6A-SNPs can play in breast cancer, we performed an in silico analysis to identify the m6A-SNPs associated with breast cancer and to evaluate their possible effects. For this purpose, we downloaded SNPs related to breast cancer and a list of m6A-SNPs from public databases in order to identify which ones appear in both. Subsequently, we assessed the identified m6A-SNPs in silico by expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis and differential gene expression analysis. We genotyped the m6A-SNPs found in the in silico analysis in 35 patients with breast cancer, and we carried out a gene expression analysis experimentally on those that showed differences. Our results identified 981 m6A-SNPs related to breast cancer. Four m6A-SNPs showed an eQTL effect and only three were in genes that presented an altered gene expression. When the three m6A-SNPs were evaluated in the tissue sample of our breast cancer patients, only the m6A-SNP rs76563149 located in ZNF354A gene presented differences in allele frequencies and a low gene expression in breast cancer tissues, especially in luminal B HER2+ subtype. Future investigations of these m6A-SNPs should expand the study in different ethnic groups and increase the sample sizes to test their association with breast cancer and elucidate their molecular function.

Abstract Y chromosomal short tandem repeats (Y-STRs) are used in forensic investigations as a useful complementary tool to autosomal markers. The ongoing development of new kits with an increasing number of markers makes it necessary to update populations typed in the Y-STR Haplotype Reference Database to reach at least 23 Y-STRs. A novel Y-STR multiplex panel was developed to offer a cost-efficient alternative to update Y-STR haplotypes from 12 to 23 loci. This panel includes the eleven markers, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635, Y-GATA H4, DYS576, DYS481, DYS549, DYS533, DYS570 and DYS643, as well as DYS385a/b for traceability purpose. Developmental validation of this panel was conducted following the recommendations of the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM), showing high sensitivity, tolerance to common inhibitors as well as high species specificity. It was efficient for degraded DNA samples and for detection of male mixtures. When applying it for extending the current data of the Ibiza population, both the discrimination capacity and the haplotype diversity increased from 0.5952 to 0.9048 and from 0.9808 to 0.9977, respectively. Together, the study demonstrates the suitability of this panel in forensic casework.

ObjectiveThis study examines the prevalence and predictors of mental health issues, specifically anxiety, depression, and stress, among Ukrainians during the military conflict with Russia.MethodA cross-sectional correlational study was conducted six months after the beginning of the conflict. Sociodemographic factors, traumatic experiences, anxiety, depression, and stress were assessed. The study included 706 participants, both men and women, from different age groups and living in various regions of Ukraine. The data were collected from August till October 2022.ResultsThe study found that a large portion of the Ukrainian population shows increased levels of anxiety, depression, and stress due to the war. Women were found to be more vulnerable to mental health issues than men, and younger people were found to be more resilient. Worsened financial and employment statuses predicted increased anxiety. Ukrainians who fled the conflict to other countries exhibited higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. Direct exposure to trauma predicted increased anxiety and depression, while war-related exposure to “other stressful events” predicted increased acute stress levels.ConclusionThe findings of this study highlight the importance of addressing the mental health needs of Ukrainians affected by the ongoing conflict. Interventions and support should be tailored to address the specific needs of different groups, particularly women, younger individuals, and those with worsened financial and employment statuses.

Reading and analyzing data from sensors are crucial in many areas of life. IoT concepts and related issues are becoming more and more popular, but before we can process data and draw conclusions, we need to think about how to design an application. The most popular solutions today are microservices and monolithic architecture. In addition to this choice, there is also the question of the technology in which you will work. There are more and more of them on the market and in each of them it is practically possible to achieve similar results, but the difference lies in how quickly it will be possible and whether the approach invented will turn out to be the most optimal. Making the right decisions at the beginning of application development can determine its path to success or failure. The main goal of this article was to compare technologies used in applications based on microservice architecture. The preparation of a book lending system, whose server part was implemented in three different versions, each using a different type of technology, helped to achieve this goal. The compared solutions were: Spring Boot, Micronaut and Quarkus. The reason for this research was to investigate projects using sensor networks, ranging from telemedicine applications to extensive sensor networks collecting scientific data, or working in an environment with limited resources, e.g., with BLE or WIFI transmitters, where it is critical to supply energy to these transmitters. Therefore, the issue of efficiency and hence energy savings may be a key issue depending on the selected programming technology.

Istraživanje je sprovedeno sa ciljem da se utvrdi nivo profesionalnog stresa na uzorku od 220 zdravstvenih radnika koji su pohađali akreditovan kurs „Dobra komunikacija sa pacijentima“ koji je tokom 2018. i 2019. godine održan u Novom Sadu, Kragujevcu, Nišu i Beogradu. Preko 70% ispitanih zdravstvenih radnika je iz primarnog nivoa zdravstvene zaštite (domovi zdravlja i manje ambulante pri većim domovima zdravlja). Po završetku кursa, uz popunjavanje evaluacije i testova znanja učesnici su zamoljeni da anonimno popune i skalu profesionalnog stresa sa ciljem da se proceni nivo profesionalnog stresa. Rezultati su pokazali da je nivo profesionalnog stresa za ceo ispitani uzorak umeren (M = 64.40; SD = 12.43). Jedina dobijena značajna razlika je prema polu, odnosno pokazalo se da žene zdravstveni radnici imaju viši nivo stresa u poređenju sa muškarcima. Očekivane pretpostavke koje su se odnosile na postojanje razlika u nivou profesionalnog stresa u odnosu na bračno stanje, godine starosti, radni staž i radno mesto nisu dobijene. Sagledavanje nivoa stresa zdravstvenih radnika je od značaja za organizovanje tematskih edukacija, kurseva i preventivnog rada sa ciljem da se na vreme prepoznaju i spreče štetni uticaji profesionalnog stresa na fizičko i mentalno zdravlje medicinskog osoblja.

Modern forms of integration processes, along with a number of opportunities to obtain synergistic effects by regions, impose additional threats and risks. In particular, such risks include deterioration of trading conditions in partner countries, depreciation of assets, unidirectional reaction to “shocks”. The need to monitor and prevent such specific risks and threats requires an appropriate transformation of economic security systems (RESS) of the regions (macroregions). The development of a model basis is one of the ways to increase the RESS functioning efficiency. The basis would allow to analyze dynamic effects of the “shocks” influence; to identify the system components, which at certain stages contribute to an increase in the overall level of economic safety, or, on the contrary, create additional threats. The authors propose a methodical approach to the formation of such a model basis, which is based on the application of principal components method, canonical correlations method, the method of development level, vector autoregressive technologies, vector models of error correction. The proposed methodical approach is implemented on the data of macroregions’ financial security indicators, as one of the dominant components of economic security. The obtained results allowed to reveal the interrelations between the structural components of safety, taking into account long-term relationships, short-term effects and the speed of return to the equilibrium trajectory after the impact of external “shocks” (threats). The developed models of dynamically stable systems have shown that in modern conditions there is a high probability of short-term local crises formation, since the reaction at the time of the “shock” impact often has the character of “explosive” oscillations. The study of dynamically unstable systems models has made it possible to determine the points of bifurcation, the dominant threats, the elimination of which would stabilize the situation. Security subsystems, which are the most sensitive to the impact of external “shocks” and the priority channels for the transmission of external stresses / infections were identified. The developed complex of models can be considered as an element of the RESS forecasting and analytical mechanism model basis.

BackgroundThe role of platelets for mediating closure of the ductus arteriosus in human preterm infants is controversial. Especially, the effect of low platelet counts on pharmacological treatment failure is still unclear.MethodsIn this retrospective study of 471 preterm infants [0.6). However, ROC curve analysis did not reveal a specific platelet cutoff-value that could predict PDA treatment failure. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that lower platelet counts, a lower BW, and preeclampsia were independently associated with COXI treatment failure.ConclusionWe provide further evidence for an association between low platelet counts during pharmacological therapy for symptomatic PDA and treatment failure, while platelet counts before initiation of therapy did not affect treatment outcome.

Since the beginning of his writing career, John Updike has been considered by many as one of the most prominent American authors of our time and his language and subject matter have attracted many readers world wide. Notwithstanding, it appears that the Slovenes have failed to notice his literary merits as there has never been a real critical response to him or his work and as only a few works have been rendered into Slovene. One of the reasons which could account for the scarcity of translations and critical material is Updike's employment of extratextual information which is specific to the American milieu and thus to the Slovene society. Thiarticle offers an overview of the translations and critical material on Updike in Slovenia and highlights Updike's references to the USA on the examples taken from the translations of Rabbit, Run and Rabbit Redux.

Background: In human blood, mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are abundant T cells that recognize antigens presented on non-polymorphic major histocompatibility complex-related 1 (MR1) molecules. The MAIT cells are activated by mycobacteria, and prior human studies indicate that blood frequencies of MAIT cells, defined by cell surface markers, decline during tuberculosis (TB) disease, consistent with redistribution to the lungs., Methods: We tested whether frequencies of blood MAIT cells were altered in patients with TB disease relative to healthy Mycobacterium tuberculosis-exposed controls from Peru and South Africa. We quantified their frequencies using MR1 tetramers loaded with 5-(2-oxopropylideneamino)-6-D-ribitylaminouracil., Results: Unlike findings from prior studies, frequencies of blood MAIT cells were similar among patients with TB disease and latent and uninfected controls. In both cohorts, frequencies of MAIT cells defined by MR1-tetramer staining and coexpression of CD161 and the T-cell receptor alpha variable gene TRAV1-2 were strongly correlated. Disease severity captured by body mass index or TB disease transcriptional signatures did not correlate with MAIT cell frequencies in patients with TB., Conclusions: Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-related 1-restrictied MAIT cells are detected at similar levels with tetramers or surface markers. Unlike MHC-restricted T cells, blood frequencies of MAIT cells are poor correlates of TB disease but may play a role in pathophysiology., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The hallmark function of αβ T cell antigen receptors (TCRs) involves the highly specific co-recognition of a major histocompatibility complex molecule and its carried peptide. However, the molecular basis of the interactions of TCRs with the lipid antigen-presenting molecule CD1c is unknown. We identified frequent staining of human T cells with CD1c tetramers across numerous subjects. Whereas TCRs typically show high specificity for antigen, both tetramer binding and autoreactivity occurred with CD1c in complex with numerous, chemically diverse self lipids. Such extreme polyspecificity was attributable to binding of the TCR over the closed surface of CD1c, with the TCR covering the portal where lipids normally protrude. The TCR essentially failed to contact lipids because they were fully seated within CD1c. These data demonstrate the sequestration of lipids within CD1c as a mechanism of autoreactivity and point to small lipid size as a determinant of autoreactive T cell responses.