Subsequent Loss Research Articles

Factors Predicting Loss of Remission in Crohn's Disease Patients in Endoscopic Remission in the Real World: Results From TARGET-IBD.

There is limited evidence that histologic remission improves outcomes in Crohn's disease (CD). We aimed to characterize a cohort of patients with CD in endoscopic remission and explore factors associated with subsequent loss of remission (LOR). In total, 4474 patients were enrolled in TARGET-IBD, a longitudinal, observational cohort study. Patients with a normal steroid-free colonoscopy (index) were defined as "in endoscopic remission" and were followed for LOR, defined as presence of inflammation, erosion, ulceration, or stricturing on a subsequent colonoscopy or commencement of steroids. Histologic activity was dichotomized using standard of care reports for active inflammation. Unadjusted and multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of LOR in relation to independent variables. Of 658 patients with CD with steroid-free endoscopic remission, the majority were female (57%), white (83%), non-Hispanic (93%); 20% had ileal and 20% isolated colonic disease. Inflammatory (B1) disease was the most common phenotype (43%). Of these 658 patients, 257 (39%) had histologic inflammation on index colonoscopy. Histologic inflammation at index colonoscopy was associated with nearly twice the LOR risk (HR 1.96, 95% CI: 1.50-2.57) with median time to relapse of 1.20 years. Biologic use at index was associated with lower LOR risk (monotherapy, HR 0.61, 95% CI: 0.45-0.82; combination therapy, HR 0.43, 95% CI: 0.28-0.66). Active histologic inflammation despite endoscopic remission, and lack of biologic use were independently associated with risk of subsequent LOR, providing evidence that histologic remission may impart improved outcomes in patients with CD.

Safety and infectious outcomes in pediatric kidney transplant recipients after COVID-19 vaccination: A pediatric nephrology research consortium study.

Adult kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) fully vaccinated against COVID-19 have substantial morbidity and mortality related to SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with the general population. However, little is known regarding the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccination series in pediatric KTRs. A multicenter, retrospective observational study was performed across nine pediatric transplantation centers. Eligible KTRs fully vaccinated against COVID-19 were enrolled and data were collected pertaining to SARS-CoV-2 infection incidence and severity, graft outcomes and post-vaccination safety profile, as well as overall patient survival. A total of 247 patients were included in this investigation with a median age at transplantation of 11 years (IQR 5-15). SARS-CoV-2 infection was observed in 30/110 (27.27%) of fully vaccinated patients, tested post-transplant, within the defined follow-up period. Of these patients, 6/30 (18.18%) required hospitalization and 3/30 (12.12%) required reduction in immunosuppression, with no reported deaths. De novo donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) were found in 8/86 (9.30%) of DSA-tested patients with two experiencing rejection and subsequent graft loss. The overall incidence of rejection and graft loss among the total cohort was 11/247 (4.45%) and 6/247 (3.64%), respectively. A 100% patient survival was observed. Observationally, infectious outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 in fully vaccinated pediatric KTRs are excellent, with a low incidence of infection requiring hospitalization and no associated deaths. Though de novo DSAs were observed, there was minimal graft rejection and graft loss reported in the total cohort.

Menopause depression: Under recognised and poorly treated.

Menopause is a biological process experienced by all people assigned female at birth. A significant number of women experience mental ill health related to the major brain gonadal hormone shifts that occur in their midlife. There is poor understanding and management of the complex mental ill health issues, with the biological brain hormone changes receiving little formal attention. The current treatment advice is to manage this special type of mental ill health in the same way that all mental ill health is managed. This leads to poor outcomes for women and their families. Many women leave the workforce earlier than expected due to menopause-related depression and anxiety, with subsequent loss of salary and superannuation. Others describe being unable to adequately parent or maintain meaningful relationships - all ending in a poor quality of life. We are a large and diverse group of national and international clinicians, lived experience and social community advocates, all working together to innovate the current approaches available for women with menopausal mental ill health. Above all, true innovation is only possible when the woman with lived experience of menopause is front and centre of this debate.

Aproximación a la determinación social de la automedicación por antibióticos en Medellín 2012-2022

Objective: to describe the configuration of the processes of social determination that have influenced self-medication by antibiotics in the city of Medellín between the years 2012-2022. Methods: Descriptive interpretive study with an ethnographic approach from the perspective of the social determination of health. Results: structural processes such as the commodification of social security, few public health actions, and de-industrialization and subsequent loss of labor rights were identified as the main destructive processes that affect self-medication by antibiotics and that are reproduced in the private and private domains. singular respectively. The main protective process identified was family and community support. Conclusion: Self-medication by antibiotics is a practice that is determined by the social structure and the prevailing development model by maintaining barriers to health services that transcend the health system through different mechanisms. That is why the interventions that are carried out around this practice must be characterized by intersectorality and the articulation of different institutions and social actors so that they can be effective and have efficiency in the short, medium and long term.

Neuroprotective effects of apigenin on retinal ganglion cells in ischemia/reperfusion: modulating mitochondrial dynamics in in vivo and in vitro models

BackgroundRetinal ischemia/reperfusion (RIR) is implicated in various forms of optic neuropathies, yet effective treatments are lacking. RIR leads to the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and subsequent vision loss, posing detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. Apigenin (API), derived from a wide range of sources, has been reported to exert protective effects against ischemia/reperfusion injuries in various organs, such as the brain, kidney, myocardium, and liver. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of API and its underlying mechanisms on RGC degeneration induced by retinal ischemia/reperfusion (RIR).MethodsAn in vivo model was induced by anterior chamber perfusion following intravitreal injection of API one day prior to the procedure. Meanwhile, an in vitro model was established through 1% oxygen and glucose deprivation. The neuroprotective effects of API were evaluated using H&E staining, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), Fluoro-Gold retrograde labeling, and Photopic negative response (PhNR). Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was employed to observe mitochondrial crista morphology and integrity. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of API, the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, flow cytometry assay, western blot, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, JC-1 kit assay, dichlorofluorescein-diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay, as well as TMRE and Mito-tracker staining were conducted.ResultsAPI treatment protected retinal inner plexiform layer (IPL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC), and improved the function of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Additionally, API reduced RGC apoptosis and decreased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release by upregulating Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression, while downregulating Bax and cleaved caspase-3 expression. Furthermore, API increased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and decreased extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. These effects were achieved by enhancing mitochondrial function, restoring mitochondrial cristae morphology and integrity, and regulating the expression of OPA1, MFN2, and DRP1, thereby regulating mitochondrial dynamics involving fusion and fission.ConclusionAPI protects RGCs against RIR injury by modulating mitochondrial dynamics, promoting mitochondrial fusion and fission.

The use of mandibular guidance prosthesis to correct mandibular deviation following hemimandibulectomy: A case report

The most frequent cause of mandibular deviation is surgical mandibular excision for benign or malignant tumors. Mandibular deviation towards the defect side and subsequent loss of occlusion on the unresected side are the consequences of unilateral loss of mandibular continuity occurring from trauma or surgery. A marginal, segmental, hemi, subtotal

Kaposi's sarcoma herpesvirus viral FLICE inhibitory protein modulates A20 deubiquitinase activity.

KSHV viral FLICE inhibitory protein (vFLIP) is a potent activator of NF-κB signalling and an inhibitor of apoptosis and autophagy. Inhibition of vFLIP function and NF-κB signalling promotes lytic reactivation. Here we provide evidence for a novel function of vFLIP through inhibition of the deubiquitinating (DUB) activity of the negative regulator, A20. We demonstrate direct interaction of vFLIP with Itch and A20 and provide evidence for subsequent loss of A20 DUB activity. Our results provide further insight into the function of vFLIP in the regulation of NF-κB signalling.

Global Approach to Follow-Up of Celiac Disease.

Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder induced by the ingestion of gluten, affects approximately 1.4% of the population. Gluten damages the villi of the small intestine, producing symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating and a subsequent loss of nutrient absorption, causing destabilization of the nutritional status. Moreover, gluten can trigger extra intestinal symptoms, such as asthma or dermatitis, but also mental disorders such as depression or anxiety. Moreover, people suffering from celiac disease sometimes feel misunderstood by society, mainly due to the lack of knowledge about the disease and the gluten-free diet. Thus, the treatment and follow-up of patients with celiac disease should be approached from different perspectives, such as the following: (1) a clinical perspective: symptomatology and dietary adherence monitorization; (2) nutritional assessment: dietary balance achievement; (3) psychological assistance: mental disorders avoidance; and (4) social inclusion: educating society about celiac disease in order to avoid isolation of those with celiac disease. The aim of this narrative review is to gain deep insight into the different strategies that currently exist in order to work on each of these perspectives and to clarify how the complete approach of celiac disease follow-up should be undertaken so that the optimum quality of life of this collective is reached.

Outcomes of Surgical and Endovascular Treatment for Cephalic Arch Stenosis in Proximal Arteriovenous Fistula.

The cephalic arch is a significant site of stenosis in proximal arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) that contributes to access dysfunction and thrombosis. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of surgical treatment (ST) and endovascular treatment (ET) for cephalic arch stenosis (CAS). A total of 62 patients with proximal AVF who underwent CAS revision using either ST or ET were enrolled between January 2018 and March 2023. In the ET group, only the initial ET following AVF formation was considered, to mitigate bias. In the ST group, central transposition of the native AVF (transposition group) or interposition of the prosthetic graft into the proximal basilic or axillary vein (interposition group) was performed. We evaluated primary and functional patency based on these groups and calculated the number of patency loss events after CAS treatment. Of the 62 patients, 38 (61%) were male, with a mean age of 66.4 years. ST was performed in 26 (42%) patients, including transposition in 16 and interposition in 10, whereas ET was administered to 36 patients during the study period. Among the ST recipients, 42% had a history of ET for CAS. The incidence of AVF thrombosis was marginally higher in the ST group than in the ET group (39% vs. 19%, P=0.098). The primary patency rates at 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years were 87%, 87%, and 66% in the transposition group; 45%, 23%, and 11% in the interposition group; and 66%, 49%, and 17% in the ET group, respectively. Notably, the primary patency of the transposition group was significantly higher than that of the interposition (P=0.001) and ET groups (P=0.016). The frequency of patency loss events per person-year after the initial revision was 0.40, 0.52, and 1.42 in the transposition, interposition, and ET groups, respectively. Transposition exhibited the most favorable primary patency rate and the lowest number of subsequent patency loss events during follow-up despite the higher rates of AVF thrombosis and previous ET at presentation. Consequently, transposition should be actively considered in eligible patients with CAS.

Galactose-replacement unmasks the biochemical consequences of the G11778A mitochondrial DNA mutation of LHON in patient-derived fibroblasts

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a visual impairment associated with mutations of mitochondrial genes encoding elements of the electron transport chain. While much is known about the genetics of LHON, the cellular pathophysiology leading to retinal ganglion cell degeneration and subsequent vision loss is poorly understood. The impacts of the G11778A mutation of LHON on bioenergetics, redox balance and cell proliferation were examined in patient-derived fibroblasts. Replacement of glucose with galactose in the culture media reveals a deficit in the proliferation of G11778A fibroblasts, imparts a reduction in ATP biosynthesis, and a reduction in capacity to accommodate exogenous oxidative stress. While steady-state ROS levels were unaffected by the LHON mutation, cell survival was diminished in response to exogenous H2O2.

Hepatic IRE1α-XBP1 signaling promotes GDF15-mediated anorexia and body weight loss in chemotherapy.

Platinum-based chemotherapy drugs can lead to the development of anorexia, a detrimental effect on the overall health of cancer patients. However, managing chemotherapy-induced anorexia and subsequent weight loss remains challenging due to limited effective therapeutic strategies. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) has recently gained significant attention in the context of chemotherapy-induced anorexia. Here, we report that hepatic GDF15 plays a crucial role in regulating body weight in response to chemo drugs cisplatin and doxorubicin. Cisplatin and doxorubicin treatments induce hepatic Gdf15 expression and elevate circulating GDF15 levels, leading to hunger suppression and subsequent weight loss. Mechanistically, selective activation by chemotherapy of hepatic IRE1α-XBP1 pathway of the unfolded protein response (UPR) upregulates Gdf15 expression. Genetic and pharmacological inactivation of IRE1α is sufficient to ameliorate chemotherapy-induced anorexia and body weight loss. These results identify hepatic IRE1α as a molecular driver of GDF15-mediated anorexia and suggest that blocking IRE1α RNase activity offers a therapeutic strategy to alleviate the adverse anorexia effects in chemotherapy.

Abstract PO2-11-06: Anti-Müllerian hormone in Young women with breast CAncer to predict permanent loss of ovarian function after chemotherapy and anti-HER2 therapy (AMYCA): a biomarker analysis of the BETH and KAITLIN trials

Abstract Background: The ability to predict and identify ovarian function loss accurately after anticancer treatment is important for appropriate oncofertility counseling and to aid in therapy decision making for young women with early breast cancer (eBC). Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has been proposed as both a pre- and post-treatment predictor of subsequent permanent loss of ovarian function. The present biomarker analysis conducted within two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in a large and well-characterized patient population with HER2+ eBC receiving homogeneous treatment aimed to assess AMH use, alone and in combination with other hormonal biomarkers, for predicting loss of ovarian function at 36 months from randomization, i.e. approximately 2 years after end of therapy. Methods: BETH (NCT00625898) and KAITLIN (NCT01966471) were RCTs investigating adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) plus anti-HER2 therapy in high-risk HER2+ eBC patients. For the purpose of the present analysis, only samples of patients receiving currently adopted treatments were used, i.e. cohort 1A (6 cycles of docetaxel/carboplatin+trastuzumab (T)) and cohort 2A (3 cycles of docetaxel plus T followed by 3 cycles of anthracycline- and cyclophosphamide-based CT) of BETH trial, and arm 1 (3-4 cycles of anthracycline- and cyclophosphamide-based CT followed by 3-4 cycles of taxane plus T plus pertuzumab (P)) of KAITLIN trial. Women selected for this analysis were ≤45 years with known premenopausal status, available serum samples at baseline (pre-treatment) and/or end of therapy and 36 months (± 6 months) from randomization (i.e. min of 2 samples in all cases). Selected samples were centrally tested measuring AMH, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol (E2) using Roche Elecsys assays. Permanent ovarian loss was defined as FSH >25 IU/L and E2 < 110 pmol/L at 36 months. Results: Of 194 included patients, 62 were from BETH and 132 from KAITLIN. 139 (71.6%) received both taxane and anthracycline- and cyclophosphamide-based CT and 55 (28.4%) taxane only. Pertuzumab was used in addition to trastuzumab in 132 (68.0%) patients. AMH values declined from baseline median 8.44 pmol/L to undetectable levels in many women at end of therapy (median 0.08 pmol/L), with partial recovery at 36 months (median 0.14 pmol/L). Ovarian loss at 3 years was observed in 56 women with AMH available at baseline (29.5%) and in 52 women with AMH available at end of therapy (29.7%). For prediction of ovarian loss, in ROC analysis, AMH measured at baseline showed AUC 0.784 (internally validated using bootstrap: 0.783). While age influenced risk of ovarian loss, addition to AMH only slightly improved AUC to 0.800 (internal validation: 0.795) while addition of baseline FSH and E2 did not improve prediction. AMH measured at the end of therapy showed AUC 0.741 (internal validation: 0.742), which increased slightly to 0.785(internal validation: 0.781) with addition of age but without improved prediction with the addition of FSH and E2. The combination of AMH at baseline and end of therapy increased prediction slightly to 0.808 (internal validation 0.806) and with addition of age added to 0.820 (internal validation: 0.806). Conclusions: These results support the use of pretreatment measurement of AMH in predicting loss of ovarian function in women withHER2+ eBC aged ≤45 receiving CT and anti-HER2 therapy. Measurement of AMH at end of treatment was comparably valuable to pretreatment and added slightly to the value of pretreatment sampling. Inclusion of ovarian function assessment by measuring AMH before commencing treatment can inform subsequent risk of ovarian function loss with value for fertility preservation counselling and treatment decisions. Further validation is required in larger cohorts. Citation Format: Matteo Lambertini, Deirdre Allegranza, Ruediger Laubender, Nadia Harbeck, Sandra Swain, Charles Geyer, Dennis Slamon, Gabriella Bobba, Chiara Lambertini, Sanne Lysbet De Haas, Eleonora Restuccia, Ines Vaz Luis, David Cameron, Ian Krop, Eric Winer, Richard Anderson. Anti-Müllerian hormone in Young women with breast CAncer to predict permanent loss of ovarian function after chemotherapy and anti-HER2 therapy (AMYCA): a biomarker analysis of the BETH and KAITLIN trials [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO2-11-06.

Adenosine A2A Receptor Blockade Provides More Effective Benefits at the Onset Rather than after Overt Neurodegeneration in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease.

Adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) antagonists are the leading nondopaminergic therapy to manage Parkinson's disease (PD) since they afford both motor benefits and neuroprotection. PD begins with a synaptic dysfunction and damage in the striatum evolving to an overt neuronal damage of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. We tested if A2AR antagonists are equally effective in controlling these two degenerative processes. We used a slow intracerebroventricular infusion of the toxin MPP+ in male rats for 15 days, which caused an initial loss of synaptic markers in the striatum within 10 days, followed by a neuronal loss in the substantia nigra within 30 days. Interestingly, the initial loss of striatal nerve terminals involved a loss of both dopaminergic and glutamatergic synaptic markers, while GABAergic markers were preserved. The daily administration of the A2AR antagonist SCH58261 (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) in the first 10 days after MPP+ infusion markedly attenuated both the initial loss of striatal synaptic markers and the subsequent loss of nigra dopaminergic neurons. Strikingly, the administration of SCH58261 (0.1 mg/kg, i.p. for 10 days) starting 20 days after MPP+ infusion was less efficacious to attenuate the loss of nigra dopaminergic neurons. This prominent A2AR-mediated control of synaptotoxicity was directly confirmed by showing that the MPTP-induced dysfunction (MTT assay) and damage (lactate dehydrogenase release assay) of striatal synaptosomes were prevented by 50 nM SCH58261. This suggests that A2AR antagonists may be more effective to counteract the onset rather than the evolution of PD pathology.

Bowel Resection Margins in Crohn's Disease: Do They Matter?

AbstractMany patients with Crohn's disease (CD) will ultimately require surgical intervention for refractory disease despite recognizing that surgery does not cure CD. The initial operation, primarily for ileocolic disease, is focused on resecting the offending pathology and ideally providing a reduced likelihood for subsequent operations and additional bowel loss through surgical techniques. The appropriate margin, macro- vs. microscopic, lays in balance to provide an adequate resection that minimizes bowel loss, compared to an extensive resection which ensures a thorough resection but inherently includes the loss of normal bowel in attempts to reduce recurrent symptomatic disease. Ensuring the appropriately timed operation, performed in optimal conditions, with apt mesenteric resections and an ideal anastomotic configuration are all only part of the equation, as bowel margins play an important role in limiting surgical recurrence and maintaining bowel length. A grossly normal margin assessed by the lack of serositis and the mesenteric “pinch test” can result in an appropriate margin without sacrificing normal bowel in this group of patients who are at risk of further bowel loss from CD recurrence.

Oxidation of Molybdenum-Based Single-Metallic/bimetallic Carbide MXenes in Aqueous Suspensions: Mechanistic Insights.

Molybdenum carbide MXenes have garnered considerable attention in electronics, energy storage, and catalysis. However, they are prone to oxidative degradation, but the associated mechanisms have not been systematically explored. Therefore, the oxidation mechanisms of Mo-based single-metallic/bimetallic carbide MXenes including Mo2CTx, Mo2TiC2Tx, and Mo2Ti2C3Tx in aqueous suspensions were investigated for the first time in this study. Similar to Ti3C2Tx MXene, Mo-based MXenes were found to undergo oxidative degradation in their aqueous dispersions, leading to the disruption of their crystal structure and subsequent loss of optical and electronic properties. Notably, the Mo2CTx MXene deviated from this typical oxidation behavior as it produced an amorphous product with Mo ions instead of highly crystalline Mo-oxides during oxidation. Similarly, the Mo2TiC2Tx and Mo2Ti2C3Tx MXenes did not yield crystalline Mo-oxides; instead, they produced highly crystalline anatase TiO2 and a Mo-ion-containing amorphous product simultaneously. Furthermore, high-temperature annealing of the oxidized Mo2CTx MXene powder at 800 °C transformed the amorphous Mo-containing product into highly crystalline MoO2 crystals. These findings highlight the unconventional oxidation behavior of Mo-based MXenes, which suggests that the formation of crystalline Mo-based oxides requires a higher activation energy during oxidation than that of TiO2. The unique oxidative pathway reported herein can help elucidate the oxidation mechanisms of Mo-based MXene dispersions and their products. The insights from this study can pave the way for fundamental studies in academia as well as broaden the applications of Mo-based MXenes in various industries.

Biomechanical Characterization of Retinal Pigment Epitheliums Derived from hPSCs Using Atomic Force Microscopy

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), a multifunctional cell monolayer located at the back of the eye, plays a crucial role in the survival and homeostasis of photoreceptors. Dysfunction or death of RPE cells leads to retinal degeneration and subsequent vision loss, such as in Age-related macular degeneration and some forms of Retinitis Pigmentosa. Therefore, regenerative medicine that aims to replace RPE cells by new cells obtained from the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells, is the focus of intensive research. However, despite their critical interest in therapy, there is a lack of biomechanical RPE surface description. Such biomechanical properties are tightly related to their functions. Herein, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to analyze both the structural and mechanical properties of RPEs obtained from four cell lines and at different stages of epithelial formation. To characterize epitheliums, we used apical markers in immunofluorescence and showed the increase of transepithelial resistance, as well as the ability to secrete cytokines with an apico-basal polarity. Then, we used AFM to scan the apical surface of living or fixed RPE cells. We show that RPE monolayers underwent softening of apical cell center as well as stiffening of cell borders over epithelial formation. We also observed apical protrusions that depend on actin network, suggesting the formation of microvilli at the surface of RPE epitheliums. These RPE cell characteristics are essential for their functions into the retina and AFM studies may improve the characterization of the RPE epithelium suitable for cell therapy.Graphical

An effective method for preparing histological sections of blow fly intra-puparial stages for minimum PMI estimations

Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are generally early colonisers of fresh cadavers, enabling the estimation of a minimum post-mortem interval (minPMI) based on an accurate aging of the oldest immature stages associated with a cadaver. In blow flies, the pupal stage and the subsequent development of the adult take place inside a protective case, the puparium, formed from the hardened and darkened cuticle of the third instar larva. Because the puparium is an opaque structure that shows virtually no external changes, qualitative analyses of the internal tissues can be very informative for determining reliable age-specific morphological markers. Those analyses can be performed using either non-invasive but expensive and not widely accessible techniques, or traditional histological methods, which are invasive as they require the serial sectioning of the sample. Histological methods are often readily available for forensic researchers and practitioners; however, the histological study of blow fly intra-puparial stages has traditionally been hampered by the poor paraffin infiltration of tissues due to the abundance of fat bodies, resulting in usually fragmented sections and the subsequent loss of relevant information. We present here an effective method for the preparation of histological sections of blow fly intra-puparial stages, maximising the paraffin infiltration while enabling the production of clean and entire sections that allow for the use of reliable age-specific morphological markers, thus improving the accuracy of minPMI estimations when access to more costly techniques is not feasible.

Bat species assemblage predicts coronavirus prevalence

Anthropogenic disturbances and the subsequent loss of biodiversity are altering species abundances and communities. Since species vary in their pathogen competence, spatio-temporal changes in host assemblages may lead to changes in disease dynamics. We explore how longitudinal changes in bat species assemblages affect the disease dynamics of coronaviruses (CoVs) in more than 2300 cave-dwelling bats captured over two years from five caves in Ghana. This reveals uneven CoV infection patterns between closely related species, with the alpha-CoV 229E-like and SARS-related beta-CoV 2b emerging as multi-host pathogens. Prevalence and infection likelihood for both phylogenetically distinct CoVs is influenced by the abundance of competent species and naïve subadults. Broadly, bat species vary in CoV competence, and highly competent species are more common in less diverse communities, leading to increased CoV prevalence in less diverse bat assemblages. In line with the One Health framework, our work supports the notion that biodiversity conservation may be the most proactive measure to prevent the spread of pathogens with zoonotic potential.

The Historical Evolvement of Movement and Exercise Training in Patients with Severe Burns and Their Potential Effects on Grafts, Scars, and Function.

Exercise training for burn patients has become a major part of rehabilitation programs within the last decades. One of the main reasons for prolonged and long-term increased morbidity and mortality in this population is a persistent catabolic state with subsequent loss of lean body mass (LBM). A combination of resistance and aerobic exercises as well as stretching has shown to improve physical function by enhancing cardiopulmonary fitness, LBM, and strength and thus leading to ameliorated long-term outcomes of patients recovering from burns. In this literature review, we show an outline of the implementation of exercise training over the last decades into standardized care for patients with burns.

Implant Guide X - An Extraoral Guide for Optimal Implant Placement in Orthodontics

Orthodontic mini-screws provide absolute skeletal anchorage and can be placed in various sites according to needs. The advantage of these implants is their ease of insertion and removal, as well as the ability to immediately withstand forces. Placing mini-screws too close to the root surface can result in insufficient bone remodeling due to occlusal forces transmitted through the teeth to the implant, leading to implant failure. The conventional method of placing interradicular implants often led to incorrect positioning, causing perforation of the dental root and subsequent loss of vitality, osteosclerosis, and dentoalveolar ankylosis. To address these issues, numerous intra-oral implant placement guides have been developed. In our study, we developed a prototype of an extra-oral detachable metal mesh grid that can be attached to the parallelogram x-ray positioner (RIN XCP). This prototype promises increased accuracy and utility in implant placement.