High Incidence Of Disease Research Articles

Oxidative Score and Microvesicle Profile Suggest Cardiovascular Risk in Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a high incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to the accumulation of uremic toxins, altered redox state, and chronic systemic inflammation. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between the redox status of patients with CKD and the phenotype of microvesicles (MVs) subtypes, and cardiovascular events. The oxidative stress level of each participant was determined using an individualized OXY-SCORE. The relationship between pro-oxidant and antioxidant parameters and the expression of membrane markers in endothelial-derived microvesicles (EMVs) and platelet-derived microvesicles (PMVs) was established. Patients with advanced CKD (ACKD) and hemodialysis (HD) had a higher OXY-SCORE than healthy subjects (HS), whereas peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients had similar scores to HS. PD patients showed elevated PMVs and CD41 expression, whereas HD patients had higher EMVs and CD31 expression. Patients with ACKD had higher tissue factor (TF) expression in the PMVs and EMVs. TF expression was correlated with xanthine oxidase (XO) activity and was negatively correlated with antioxidant parameters. Patients with cardiovascular events show elevated TF. In conclusion, microvesicles and oxidative stress may serve as markers of cardiovascular risk in CKD, with TF expression in PMVs and EMVs being potential predictive and prognostic biomarkers of CVD.

Geographic Clustering of Systemic Sclerosis in Areas of Environmental Pollution.

Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis of the skin and other organs. SSc is thought to arise in genetically predisposed individuals with occupational triggers, although further environmental etiologies still need to be identified. Limited research exists detailing which environmental factors lead to the downstream inflammatory and fibrotic symptoms experienced by SSc patients across the United States. This study describes a retrospective cohort of 179,188 individuals with an SSc or SSc related diagnosis code enrolled in the Medicare beneficiary program between the years 2014-2018. The incidence of SSc and SSc related diagnosis codes in all United States (US) zip codes with beneficiary counts greater than 11 was calculated. We conducted global and local Moran's I as well as hot spot analysis with the Getis Ord Gi Static to determine if SSc and SSc related diagnosis codes exhibited clustered or dispersed patterns across the US. We identified clusters of SSc and SSc related diagnosis code high incidence in or around Superfund sites, which are federally identified areas of environmental contamination. SSc exhibited clustered patterns in two analyzed cohorts based on global Moran's I statistics of 0.588 and 0.521. Results of local Moran's I indicated clusters of disease in Mississippi, New York, Wisconsin, and Michigan, among others. Some zip codes with high disease incidence were home to at least one Superfund site. SSc exhibits non-random, clustered distributions in a US Medicare beneficiary cohort composed of 179,188 individuals from 2014-2018.

Constraints Faced and Suggestions Made by the Cattle Rearers in Management of Milch Cattle during Transition Period

The study, conducted in 2023-24 in the Nashik district of Maharashtra, investigates the constraints faced and suggestions made by cattle rearers in management of milch cattle during transition period. The research was carried out in Sinnar tehsil of Nashik district, involving 120 cattle rearers from twelve villages, with data collected through personal interviews using a specially designed schedule. Statistical analysis revealed several significant constraints such as, high veterinary medicine costs, low milk rates, and high feed costs. Additionally, many respondents lacked sufficient information on proper management practices during the transition period. Other notable constraints included difficulties in identifying cattle diseases, high incidence of diseases during the transition period, distant veterinary hospitals and unavailability of government veterinary doctors, lack of knowledge about vaccination schedules and calf care, and inadequate veterinary services. To address these challenges, respondents suggested providing generic animal drugs in each circle, government regulation on milk adulteration and pricing of feed, medicines, and dairy equipment and on-farm demonstrations of improved management practices. Additional suggestions included linking dairy farmers with agricultural universities and institutions, strengthening agricultural extension services and imparting training.

Atherosclerotic Diseases in Chronic Kidney Disease

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a high incidence of atherosclerotic diseases, such as ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral arterial disease. To prevent the incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in patients with CKD, the pathology of arteriosclerosis should be determined. Vascular calcification is a characteristic of arteriosclerosis in patients with CKD. Recent studies have reported that coronary artery calcification is associated with acute coronary syndromes. CKD is frequently associated with heart failure. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests that coronary artery calcification affects asymptomatic myocardial ischemia. Hyperphosphatemia and calciprotein particles may be involved in the pathology of vascular calcification. Controlling the progression of vascular calcification and classical atherosclerotic risk factors is important to prevent the occurrence of atherosclerotic diseases in CKD.

Description of HbA1c Levels in Patients with Fatty Liver Disease at a Private Hospital in West Jakarta (2018-2019)

Fatty liver disease is a chronic disease that is very often found in the community and is often called "silent" liver disease because there are no specific symptoms in patients. The incidence of fatty liver disease in Indonesia is quite high by 30 percent and this disease can develop into liver cirrhosis. The high incidence of fatty liver disease can be caused by various factors such as obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, unhealthy lifestyles and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance can be characterized by an increase in HbA1c levels in the blood. This study aims to determine the description of HbA1c levels in patients with fatty liver disease. This research is an observational descriptive study using a cross-sectional approach by using medical record data of fatty liver disease patients who have been on radiologic examination and doing HbA1c examination. Fatty liver disease affects more male sex groups by 55.4 percent, with the most age range at 51-60 years by 34.9 percent. Diabetes HbA1c levels (59%) are more than prediabetes (25.3%) and normal HbA1c levels (15.7%). Abnormal HbA1c levels (prediabetes and diabetes) were found to be higher in men (47 % vs 47,3%). The most accompanying diseases in patients with fatty liver disease are diabetes mellitus (51.8%), hypertension (33.7%), dyslipidemia (26.5%), dyspepsia (28.9%), and hyperuricemia (15.7%). Fatty liver disease patients were also found to have metabolic syndrome by 54.2% which was dominated by female sex by 53.3% with 91.1% having 3 components of metabolic syndrome and 8.9% having 4 components of metabolic syndrome.

Newborn Screening for Sickle Cell Disease: Results from a Pilot Study in the Portuguese Population

The Portuguese Newborn Screening Program currently includes 28 pathologies: congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis, 24 inborn errors of metabolism, sickle cell disease and spinal muscular atrophy. This pilot study for sickle cell disease newborn screening, including 188,217 samples, was performed between May 2021 and December 2023, with phase I, including 24,130 newborns, in the Lisbon and Setubal districts and phase II, including 164,087 newborns, in the whole country. DBS samples were analyzed through capillary electrophoresis. In phase I, a high birth incidence of sickle cell disease was found (1:928 NBs), resulting from the identification of 24 HbSS and 2 HbSC patients. This birth incidence decreased but remained significant when the pilot study for sickle cell disease newborn screening was expanded to a national level, with the identification of 67 sickle cell disease patients (59 HbSS and 8 HbSC), revealing a birth incidence of 1:2449 NBs. These data suggest that this condition is becoming increasingly relevant in Portugal, thus reflecting a general European trend, where sickle cell disease is already recognized as a public health problem. Therefore, it highlights the importance of its integration into the Portuguese National Newborn Screening Program panel in January 2024, thus allowing the early identification and clinical follow-up of these patients.

P1273 High Crohn's Disease incidence associated with multiple heavy metal contamination in agricultural soils: findings from the CROPS project in Northern France

Abstract Background Crohn's Disease (CD) is a chronic intestinal disease with an unclear etiology and suspected environmental risk factors. The CROPS (CROhn’s disease and Pollution of Soils) project was initiated in Northern France to investigate links between the high incidence of CD and environmental pollutants. In this context, we combined data of a population-based registry of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) with environmental sampling data to identify the environmental profile of multi-contamination associated with high incidence. Methods This ecological study was conducted at the municipal level within the coverage area of the registry in Northern France. All patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2017 were included (n=9,019). Spatial clusters of significantly high (n=4) and low (n=4) CD incidence, adjusted for age and sex, were identified based on patients' residence addresses at diagnosis. Within these clusters, environmental sampling was performed across 240 sites using a hexagonal grid to ensure 30 samples per cluster. A total of 490 parameters were analyzed: 306 in soil (including emerging pollutants such as hormones and antibiotics, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs], heavy metals, and pesticides), 152 in tap water (examining heavy metals and PAHs), and 30 in lichens (assessing heavy metals as indicators of air quality). Multi-contamination indices, such as the Mean Impregnation Ratio (MIR) and Pollution Index, were applied. Data analysis included Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) tests. Results High-incidence clusters, predominantly agricultural, had elevated heavy metal concentrations in soil (notably chromium, arsenic, zinc, and nickel), sulfadiazine in soils, high nitrate levels in water, and heavy metals in lichens. Low-incidence clusters, with greater urbanization, showed elevated PAHs in soil, heavy metals in water, and BPA in soils. Pollution profiles aligned with different land covers, with significant findings for agricultural lands (p<0.0001). A positive correlation between the relative risk and soil’s MIR for heavy metals in agricultural zones was noted (r=0.557, p=0.005). Conclusion These findings suggest a possible link between high CD incidence and heavy metal exposure in agricultural lands. Profiles of pollution were created for each cluster. Future studies should expand on pesticide and agricultural pollutant analysis to strengthen this hypothesis, and consider individual-level epidemiological approaches to further elucidate these potential environmental risk factors.

Identification and Construction of a R-loop Mediated Diagnostic Model and Associated Immune Microenvironment of COPD through Machine Learning and Single-Cell Transcriptomics.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a prevalent chronic inflammatory airway disease with high incidence and significant disease burden. R-loops, functional chromatin structure formed during transcription, are closely associated with inflammation due to its aberrant formation. However, the role of R-loop regulators (RLRs) in COPD remains unclear. Utilizing both bulk transcriptome data and single-cell RNA sequencing data, we assessed the diverse expression patterns of RLRs in the lung tissues of COPD patients. A lower R-loop score was found in patients with COPD and in neutrophils. 12 machine learning algorithms (150 combinations) identified 14 hub RLRs (CBX8, EHD4, HDLBP, KDM6B, NFAT5, NLRP3, NUP214, PAFAH1B3, PINX1, PLD1, POLB, RCC2, RNF213, and VIM) associated with COPD. A RiskScore based on 14 RLRs identified two distinct COPD subtypes. Patient groups at high risk of COPD (low R-loop scores) had a higher immune score and a significant increase in neutrophils in their immune microenvironment compared to low-risk groups. PD-0325901 and QL-X-138 represent prospective COPD treatments for high-risk (low R-loop score) and low-risk (high R-loop score) patients. Finally, RT-PCR experiments confirmed expression differences of 8 RLRs (EHD4, HDLBP, NFAT5, NLRP3, PLD1, PINX1, POLB, and VIM) in COPD mice lung tissue. R-loops significantly contribute to the development of COPD and constructing predictive models based on RLRs may provide crucial insight into personalized treatment strategies for patients with COPD.

Oxygenated subsurface drip irrigation and organic fertilizer increase the yield and quality of P. notoginseng by improving soil microenvironment

AbstractYunnan Province has the most extensive planting of Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen, comprising more than 90% of the country's area. Many traditional cultivators employ outdated water and fertilizer management practices, which lead to inefficient utilization of these resources, a higher incidence of diseases, and a decrease in both yield and quality. Therefore, this study hopes to propose a new planting scheme with irrigation and fertilizer application to improve the yield and quality of P. notoginseng. The study focused on 5‐year‐old P. notoginseng, employing three irrigation techniques: oxygenated subsurface drip irrigation (OI), micro‐sprinkler irrigation (SI), and surface drip irrigation (DI). Additionally, four fertilizer application rates were examined: low (F1: 75 kg ha−1), medium (F2: 100 kg ha−1), medium‐high (F3: 125 kg ha−1), and high (F4: 150 kg ha−1). The results showed that oxygenated subsurface drip irrigation significantly increased the soil water content in the 0–40 cm soil layer. In addition, with the increase of organic fertilizer application, the fertilizer use efficiency (PFP) showed a downward trend. Under the interaction of different irrigation methods and fertilizer application amount, OIF3 treatment significantly promoted root growth, enhancing root hydraulic conductivity, and the root‐shoot ratio led to a reduction in the incidence of root rot (5.72%), the highest yield (4649.70 kg ha−1), and the best irrigation water utilization efficiency (9.69 kg m−3), fertilizer utilization efficiency (1.55 kg kg−1) and total saponin content (12.50%). The TOPSIS model was utilized to perform an all‐encompassing assessment of P. notoginseng yield, irrigation water utilization efficiency, fertilizer utilization efficiency, and total saponin content; it was found that OIF3 treatment was optimal. This combination can create higher yield and improve the quality of P. notoginseng, which provides a new scientific planting mode and reduces the planting cost.

Trachemys scripta Eggs as Part of a Potential In Vivo Model for Studying Sea Turtle Egg Fusariosis.

The fungal pathogens Fusarium keratoplasticum and Fusarium falciforme are responsible for the emerging infectious disease named sea turtle egg fusariosis (STEF). This disease affects all sea turtle species throughout the world, causing low hatching success and mass mortalities. In this study, we investigated the potential use of widely available and easy-to-handle eggs of the invasive alien red-eared slider turtle, Trachemys scripta, as part of an in vivo host model to improve our knowledge of the biological properties of the pathogens responsible of the STEF. Specifically, we performed in vivo experiments, in which T. scripta eggs were challenged with conidia of F. keratoplasticum isolated from diseased sea turtle eggs. We found that the pathogen could colonize and develop similar signs to those observed in nature and fulfill Koch's postulates. The pathogen showed high virulence properties (e.g., high disease incidence, severity, and low hatching success) and its ability to modify the pH in both the egg surface and culture media, confirming previously described fungal pathogen models. These results support the use of T. scripta as an experimental in vivo host model for studying the biological characteristics of STEF, thus providing valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the emergence of this fungal disease.

Vitamin D3 requirements and relative bioavailability for starter male White Pekin ducks fed either cholecalciferol or 25-hydroxycholecalciferol

The objectives were to investigate effects of various concentrations of dietary vitamin D3 (VD3) or 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH-D3) on growth performance, VD3 status, calcium (Ca) metabolism, and tibia mineralization of starter male White Pekin ducks, and dietary requirements and relative bioavailability of these two compounds. One-day-old male White Pekin ducks (n = 624) were assigned to 13 dietary treatments, including 6 added VD3 concentrations (100, 200, 400, 800, 1200, and 2000 IU/kg), and 2 vitamin D3 sources (VD3 and 25-OH-D3), plus a negative control (no vitamin D3 supplementation) for 21 days. Each group had 6 replicate pens of 8 birds per pen. At 21 days of age, growth performance, carcass traits, plasma 25-OH-D3 and Ca content, and tibia mineralization were examined. There was a high incidence of leg disease and mortality in ducks fed the control diet; however, those negative effects were avoided by adequate VD3 or 25-OH-D3 supplementation. Ducks in the negative control group had the lowest body weight, average daily weight gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), breast muscle percentage, plasma 25-OH-D3, plasma Ca, and tibia indices (weight, diameter, ash, density, tibia mineral, strength) (P < 0.05), with all these end points enhanced linearly or quadratically as dietary VD3 or 25-OH-D3 increased (P < 0.05). Furthermore, at 100 or 200 IU/kg, ducks fed 25-OH-D3 had greater body weight, ADG, ADFI, plasma Ca, plasma 25-OH-D3, tibia weight, tibia diameter, tibia ash than those fed VD3 (P < 0.05), indicating 25-OH-D3 was more effective in stimulating growth, Ca absorption, and tibia mineralization. For growth performance, breast muscle percentage, plasma Ca, and tibial indices of starter male Pekin ducks, the VD3 requirements were 281 to 633 IU/kg, whereas 25-OH-D3 requirements were 119 to 395 IU/kg. Based on slope ratio comparisons from multiple linear regressions of plasma 25-OH-D3, bioavailability of 25-OH-D3 was 186% relative to cholecalciferol.

Precision medicine using molecular-target drugs in psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) presents various clinical manifestations, including skin lesions, peripheral arthritis, axial involvement, enthesitis, nail involvement, dactylitis, and uveitis. In addition, it causes a high incidence of lifestyle-related diseases and an increase in cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events. As the pathology of PsA has been clarified, molecular-targeted drugs targeting tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-17A/F, IL-17 receptor, IL-12/23(p40), IL-23p19, Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte Antigen-4 (CTLA-4), Janus kinase, and phosphodiesterase-4 have been developed and are widely used in clinical practice. PsA is clinically and molecularly heterogeneous, and it is necessary to improve various clinical symptoms with limited treatment options simultaneously; therefore, rheumatologists sometimes encounter difficult situations in clinical practice. Hence, the development of precision medicine may improve treatment outcomes. Recently, the strategic use of molecular-targeted drugs based on the stratification of patients with PsA by peripheral blood lymphocyte phenotyping and serum cytokine concentrations has been reported to possibly lead to a higher therapeutic response. A randomized controlled trial was initiated to verify the efficacy of this treatment strategy. However, to make precision medicine in PsA feasible, shifting from conventional clinical trials to clinical trials based on biomarker profiles and accumulating further data are necessary.

Tocilizumab Increases Serum Lipids but Does Not Increase Arteriosclerosis, As Measured by Intima-Media Thickness, in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objectives Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have a high incidence of arteriosclerotic disease. These are partly attributed to high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6. Tocilizumab (TCZ) is an IL-6 receptor antagonist that lowers CRP levels by directly blocking IL-6 signaling. Tocilizumab has been reported to increase serum lipid levels. However, its effect on arteriosclerosis remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effect of TCZ on arteriosclerosis in patients with RA. Methods Eighteen Japanese patients with RA who were administered TCZ were included and assessed at baseline and six and 12 months. The Disease Activity Score-28 with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR), CRP, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were measured and analyzed using high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Additionally, the effects of concurrent statin administration on any changes in IMT were evaluated. Results From baseline to six or 12 months, TCZ decreased CRP (P < 0.0005) and DAS28-ESR (P < 0.0005) significantly, whereas TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C levels increased significantly (P < 0.005). However, there was no change in the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio(P= 0.821 at six months and P= 0.168 at 12 months), and carotid IMT (P = 0.6874 at six months and P = 0.6951 at 12 months). Comparison of percentage changes in mean IMT revealed no statistical differences between the patient groups with or without statin administration (P = 0.7208 at six months, P = 0.5928 at 12 months). Conclusions According to the 12-month observation data, no significant association was detected between TCZ use and IMT changes in patients with RA, despite its effects on serum lipids. Further long-term studies are needed to confirm thatIL-6 receptor blockers have cardiovascular effects.

High risk and low incidence diseases: Stercoral colitis.

Stercoral colitis is a rare but serious diagnosis which is associated with a high rate of morbidity. This review highlights the pearls and pitfalls of stercoral colitis, including presentation, diagnosis, and emergency department (ED) management based on the available evidence. Stercoral colitis is an uncommon inflammatory condition of the distal large bowel and rectum resulting from accumulation of impacted stool and is associated with several complications including bowel ulceration, ischemia, perforation, peritonitis, and sepsis. Though most commonly present with abdominal pain and constipation, many patients present without typical symptoms requiring emergency clinicians to maintain high clinical suspicion, especially in patients at high risk for developing severe constipation. The diagnosis can be secured with cross-sectional radiography, including computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis. ED management includes fluid resuscitation, initiation of a multimodal bowel regimen, and if indicated, initiation of parenteral antibiotics and consultation with a surgical specialist. Admission to the hospital should be considered for all patients with stercoral colitis. An understanding of stercoral colitis can assist emergency clinicians in diagnosing and appropriately managing this high risk disease.

Prevalence of Haemophilus influenzae in the nasopharynx of children from regions with varying incidence of invasive H. influenzae serotype a disease: Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN) study

ABSTRACT Haemophilus influenzae serotype a (Hia) has recently emerged as an important cause of invasive disease in the North American Arctic and Sub-Arctic regions, mainly affecting young Indigenous children. In this study, we addressed the question of whether the prevalence of Hia and all H. influenzae in the nasopharynx differed between paediatric populations from regions with high versus low incidence of invasive Hia disease. Nasopharyngeal specimens from children with acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) collected for routine diagnostic detection of respiratory viruses were analysed with molecular-genetic methods to identify and serotype H. influenzae. In Nunavut, a region with a high incidence of invasive Hia disease, all H. influenzae and particularly Hia were found in the nasopharynx of 60.6% and 3.0% children. In Southern Ontario (Hamilton region), where Hia invasive disease is rare, the frequencies of all H. influenzae and Hia detection were 38.5% and 0.6%, respectively. In both cohorts, non-typeable H. influenzae was prevalent (57.0% and 37.9%, respectively). Considering that Hia is an important cause of severe invasive disease in Nunavut children, 3% prevalence of Hia among children with ARTI can reflect continuing circulation of the pathogen in the Northern communities that may result in invasive disease outbreaks.

The shortage of medicines as a violation of the human right to health

It is unquestionable that during the last decades the importance of Human Rights has been reaffirmed, as prerogatives responsible for recognizing and protecting the dignity of human beings; Notwithstanding the above, in the case of Mexico there are multiple cases of complaints filed due to constant violations thereof. In this sense, the objective of this investigation is to demonstrate the violation of the human right to health, through the shortage of medicines. The approach used was quantitative, the deductive method, with a descriptive scope of the study and as data collection and analysis techniques, a closed survey was applied and the data obtained was graphed. The results show a high incidence of chronic diseases among those surveyed, exacerbated by the low availability of essential medicines, which is why it is essential to implement policies that ensure the adequate and timely supply of medicines to users of the state health system and, consequently, respect for this fundamental human right.

A systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the impact of exercise interventions on heart rate variability in hemodialysis patients

Patients with chronic kidney disease have a high incidence of cardiovascular diseases, and autonomic dysfunction has a determinant role in the relevant declines. Physical exercise influences heart rate variability and cardiac autonomic modulation. Thus, our objective was to systematically review, with a meta-analysis, the correlation between physical exercise interventions and alterations in cardiac autonomic modulation in hemodialysis patients. A customized research strategy was used across four databases. The search yielded 392 studies, with eight randomized clinical trials included (396 participants), indicating that the investigated indices favor the intervention group by increasing autonomic activity. The exercise training probably increases the standard deviation of all NN intervals (20.71 ms CI 95% [9.55, 31.87], p < 0.001, I²=95%) compared to the control group and showing an moderate certainty, was the most commonly used index (seven studies). Mean RR (35.57 ms CI 95% [14.56, 56.57], p = 0.91, I²=0%), the root mean square sum of squares of differences between NN intervals (10.55 ms CI 95% [6.75, 14.34], p = 0.37, I²=4%), and LF/HF (0.28 ms (n.u) [0.11, 0.44], p = 0.18, I²=39%) were also in favor of the training group. However, based on the GRADE analysis we are uncertain whether Mean RR can increase after an exercise intervention, as well RMSSD and LF/HF may increase slightly, we obtained low certainty of this evidence. The exact magnitude of the impact of physical training on the alteration of cardiac autonomic modulation in this patient population has yet to be conclusively defined.

Nonsurgical Treatment and Prevention of Osgood Schlatter Disease

Teenagers are starting to participate in sports in greater numbers due to the recent expansion in the sports business and the spectacular holding of the Olympics in Paris. However, sports injuries during the sports process are also an unavoidable problem, such as tibial tuberosity osteochondritis (OSD), which is a high-incidence disease among adolescent athletes and is troubling many teenagers. The youth population represents the future of a country. Therefore, it is crucial to help them avoid OSD as much as possible and recover from it as soon as possible. This article briefly describes the diagnostic methods and risk factors of OSD, including clinical manifestations and analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of different diagnostic methods such as X-ray, ultrasound, and MRI. The focus is on non-surgical treatment and prevention of OSD, with a particular emphasis on physical therapy (including strength training (core stability training, and lower limb strength training), activity adjustment, stretching, and rehabilitation massage, as well as wearing orthopedic devices) and medication therapy.

Escherichia coli Nissle Improves Short-Chain Fatty Acid Absorption and Barrier Function in a Mouse Model for Chronic Inflammatory Diarrhea.

Defects in SLC26A3, the major colonic Cl-/HCO3- exchanger, result in chloride-rich diarrhea, a reduction in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, and a high incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in humans and in mice. Slc26a3-/- mice are, therefore, an interesting animal model for spontaneous but mild colonic inflammation and for testing strategies to reverse or prevent the inflammation. This study investigates the effect of Escherichia coli Nissle (EcN) application on the microbiome, SCFA production, barrier integrity, and mucosal inflammation in slc26a3-/- mice. In vivo fluid absorption and bicarbonate secretion were assessed in the gut of slc26a3+/+ and slc26a3-/- mice before and during luminal perfusion with 100mM sodium acetate. Age-matched slc26a3+/+ and slc26a3-/- mice were intragastrically gavaged twice daily with 2 × 108 CFU/100 µL of EcN for 21 days. Body weight and stool water content were assessed daily, and stool and tissues were collected for further analysis. Addition of sodium acetate to the lumen of the proximal colon significantly increased fluid absorption and luminal alkalinization in the slc26a3-/- mice. Gavage with EcN resulted in a significant increase in SCFA levels and the expression of SCFA transporters in the slc26a3-/- cecum, the predominant habitat of EcN in mice. This was accompanied by an increase in mucus-producing goblet cells and a decrease in the expression of inflammatory markers as well as host defense antimicrobial peptides. EcN did not improve the overall diversity of the luminal microbiome but resulted in a significant increase in SCFA producers Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae in the slc26a3-/- feces. These findings suggest that EcN is able to proliferate in the inflamed cecum, resulting in increased microbial SCFA production, decreased inflammation, and improved gut barrier properties. In sufficient dosage, probiotics may thus be an effective anti-inflammatory strategy in the diseased gut.

Perception of resource-limited livestock farmers on adaptation management strategies in drought-prone rural areas in Eastern Cape province, South Africa

Livestock farming is a crucial source of income and livelihood. However, its sustainability is being adversely affected by the unpredictable climatic changes. It would be valuable to comprehend how livestock farmers perceive climate change (CC) and the adaptation strategies. This study evaluated farmers’ views of climate change impact, adaptation measures, and the obstacles to these measures. A cross-sectional and multi-stage sampling method was employed. Data collected from 300 randomly chosen farmers were analysed using descriptive statistics and the Garrett ranking technique. Most of the respondents were male (71.67%) and between the ages of 21-60 (62%). Most respondents were married (67%) and had a form of education. Increased disease occurrence, decreased livestock production rate, increased poor vegetation, increased water scarcity, and ambient temperature were perceived by the respondents to have been impacted ‘to a great extent’ by 45%, 38%, 53%, 36% and 42%, respectively. Perceived and rated as ‘to a great extent’ by the respondents on climate change impact were ‘increased distance covered by livestock for water and pasture (29%), decreased growth rate (28%), and increased ambient temperature (30%)’. Based on descending mean rank, the farmers’ most favoured strategies for adapting to climate change included reducing their livestock numbers (58.98), collecting and storing water (55.66) and planning for supplementary feeding (55.35). The income management strategies under CC include off-farm employment (55.48), borrowing from self-help groups (54.48), and friends and relatives (50.72), in that order. The top barriers to CC, in descending order of mean rank, by the farmers include a high incidence of pests and diseases (61.47%), non-availability of improved forage seed (52.06), lack of appropriate water harvesting facilities (51.84), smaller/ fragmented land holding for forage (51.56) and scarcity of farm labour (47.75). The livestock farmers’ perception of climate change impacts indicated that most of the factors examined were rated as significant. Most respondents are aware of climate change (CC) and its repercussions on livestock productivity. Key words: Livestock productivity, management strategies, policies, sustainability, climate change, productivity, perception, farmers