Perkinsbender1356
Hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings have been widely used to improve biocompatibility of metal alloys. This paper discusses the effect of hydroxyapatite (HA) and HA/alumina coated NiTi on their corrosion and dissolution behavior in Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS) and Ringer's lactate solutions. The HA was synthesized from biogenic method and used as initial powder in High-Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) spray technique for the deposition of two coating types, fully HA and HA + 15 wt.% alumina composite coating. The as-synthesized HA had irregular porous structure with relatively low Ca/P ratio of 1.52. Tafel polarization curves obtained from electrochemical test had showed that both coatings increased the corrosion resistance of the NiTi substrates significantly. FOXM1 inhibitor The ICP-MS analysis results that indicated a low nickel dissolved in both solutions after immersion in 21 days had supported these findings. The nickel levels in the solutions from all samples, either bared substrate or coated samples, in fact below the maximum limit for allergies of the human body. Immersion testing showed the stability of HA and HA/alumina layers as a barrier which maintains its morphology in PBS solution but slightly changed in Ringers.Abetalipoproteinemia (ABL) is a rare recessive condition caused by biallelic loss-of-function mutations in the MTTP gene encoding the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein large subunit. ABL is characterized by absence of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins and deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins leading to multisystem involvement of which neurological complications are the most serious. We present 3 siblings with ABL who were born to non-consanguineous parents of Filipino and Chinese background. Identical twin boys with long-standing failure to thrive and malabsorption were diagnosed at age 2 years. ABL therapy with vitamins and a specialized diet was initiated, replacing total parenteral nutrition at age 3 years. Their younger sister was diagnosed from a blood sample taken at birth; treatment was instituted shortly thereafter. We observed in the twins reversal and in their sister prevention of ABL systemic features following early implementation of fat restriction and high doses of oral fat-soluble vitamins. A targeted sequencing panel found that each affected sibling is homozygous for a novel MTTP intron 13 -2A>G splice acceptor site mutation, predicted to abolish splicing of intron 13. This variant brings to more than 60 the number of reported pathogenic mutations, which are summarized in this article. The twin boys and their sister are now doing well at 11 and 4 years of age, respectively. This experience underscores the importance of early initiation of targeted specialized dietary and fat-soluble vitamin replacements in ABL.Lung imaging and autopsy reports among COVID-19 patients show elevated lung scarring (fibrosis). Early data from COVID-19 patients as well as previous studies from severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle East respiratory syndrome, and other respiratory disorders show that the extent of lung fibrosis is associated with a higher mortality, prolonged ventilator dependence, and poorer long-term health prognosis. Current treatments to halt or reverse lung fibrosis are limited; thus, the rapid development of effective antifibrotic therapies is a major global medical need that will continue far beyond the current COVID-19 pandemic. Reproducible fibrosis screening assays with high signal-to-noise ratios and disease-relevant readouts such as extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition (the hallmark of fibrosis) are integral to any antifibrotic therapeutic development. Therefore, we have established an automated high-throughput and high-content primary screening assay measuring transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ)-induced ECM deposition from primary human lung fibroblasts in a 384-well format. This assay combines longitudinal live cell imaging with multiparametric high-content analysis of ECM deposition. Using this assay, we have screened a library of 2743 small molecules representing approved drugs and late-stage clinical candidates. Confirmed hits were subsequently profiled through a suite of secondary lung fibroblast phenotypic screening assays quantifying cell differentiation, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. In silico target prediction and pathway network analysis were applied to the confirmed hits. We anticipate this suite of assays and data analysis tools will aid the identification of new treatments to mitigate against lung fibrosis associated with COVID-19 and other fibrotic diseases.
Trigger finger is a common hand complaint of the general population. Limited literature exists implicating a low-estrogen state in patients on aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy for breast cancer who develop trigger finger. The authors' objective was to determine the incidence and treatment outcomes of this population.
A single-center retrospective chart review was conducted on patients with a diagnosis of breast cancer on AI who developed trigger finger from 2010 to 2019. The total population of patients during this time served as our population, and patients with breast cancer not on AI with trigger finger served as our control. Primary outcomes included total number of injections and need for surgery. Secondary outcomes included risk factors for surgery. χ
analysis and logistical regression model determined the significance of primary and secondary outcomes, respectively.
In all, 192 patients of a population size of 664 751 met our study group criteria. The study group showed a higher incidence of trigger finger (5.1% vs 1.3%;
< .001) compared with our population. Patients treated with AI for breast cancer had both higher incidence of trigger finger (5.1% vs 1.5%,
< .001) and injections (77.1% vs 66.5%,
< .001) compared with patients not on AI therapy. Independent risk factors requiring surgical treatment were found in patients with diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 3.54;
= .01) and in patients with concomitant radiation therapy (OR, 3.17;
= .02).
This study demonstrates for the first time the incidence, treatment outcomes, and surgical risk factors of trigger finger in patients on AI therapy for breast cancer.
This study demonstrates for the first time the incidence, treatment outcomes, and surgical risk factors of trigger finger in patients on AI therapy for breast cancer.
Shared genetic mechanisms have been hypothesized to explain the comorbidity between ADHD and asthma. To evaluate their genetic overlap, we relied on data from the 1982 Pelotas birth cohort to test the association between polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for ADHD (ADHD-PRSs) and asthma, and PRSs for asthma (asthma-PRSs) and ADHD.
We analyzed data collected at birth, 2, 22, and 30 years from 3,574 individuals.
Subjects with ADHD had increased risk of having asthma (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.01-3.66). The association was stronger for females. Our results showed no evidence of association between ADHD-PRSs and asthma or asthma-PRSs and ADHD. However, an exploratory analysis suggested that adult ADHD might be genetically associated with asthma.
Our results do not support a shared genetic background between both conditions. Findings should be viewed in light of important limitations, particularly the sample size and the self-reported asthma diagnosis. Studies in larger datasets are required to better explore the genetic overlap between adult ADHD and asthma.
Our results do not support a shared genetic background between both conditions. Findings should be viewed in light of important limitations, particularly the sample size and the self-reported asthma diagnosis. Studies in larger datasets are required to better explore the genetic overlap between adult ADHD and asthma.Health worker density and distribution is critical for a strong health system and therefore has been listed among 1 of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets. The present study aims to model the number of persons per physician, nurse, and midwives in Turkey until 2030 and to make estimates for better reproductive health outcomes. We used time series of people per physician, nurse, and midwife between the years 1928 and 2018. Estimates were obtained via the Box-Jenkins and Brown Exponential Smoothing Methods. The results of this study showed that both designed models provide a high diagnostic value to predict the number of person per doctor, nurse, and midwives. The goodness of fit criteria for both models was statistically significant. The results predict a slight decrease in the number of people per physician, a more significant decrease in the number of people per nurse, but no decrease in the number of people per midwives until 2030. We argue that there will not be much progress in reproductive health indicators if the health workforce progresses with the same trend in the coming years. We recommend decision-makers to re-consider the health workforce planning, especially in terms of the number of the person per nurses, for better reproductive health outcomes.
To determine how changing and informing a user of the false alarm (FA) rate of an automated target recognition (ATR) system affects the user's trust in and reliance on the system and their performance during an underwater mine detection task.
ATR systems are designed to operate using a high sensitivity and a liberal decision criterion to reduce the risk of the ATR system missing a target. A high number of FAs in general may lead to a decrease in operator trust and reliance.
Participants viewed sonar images and were asked to identify mines in the images. They performed the task without ATR and with ATR at a lower and higher FA rate. The participants were split into two groups-one informed and one uninformed of the changed FA rate. Trust and/or confidence in detecting mines was measured after each block.
When not informed of the FA rate, the FA rate had a significant effect on the participants' response bias. Participants had greater trust in the system and a more consistent response bias when informed of the FA rate. Sensitivity and confidence were not influenced by disclosure of the FA rate but were significantly worse for the high FA rate condition compared with performance without the ATR.
Informing a user of the FA rate of automation may positively influence the level of trust in and reliance on the aid.
Informing a user of the FA rate of automation may positively influence the level of trust in and reliance on the aid.
To investigate the effect of one's sex and pedaling intensity on upper body muscle activation patterns during typing while cycling.
Females are at a higher risk for computer work-related musculoskeletal disorders, and mobile workstations have been suggested to induce healthier muscular patterns compared with sitting. However, the neuromuscular characteristics of performing computer work in a cycling workstation have not been investigated.
Twenty-two participants (10 females) completed a 60-min computer typing task while pedaling on a cycle ergometer at two different intensities (25%, 4% heart rate reserve). Surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded from seven muscles of the upper body. Effects of time, sex, and intensity were assessed for muscle activation (RMS), activation variability (CV), and normalized mutual information (NMI) via generalized estimating equations.
With time, neck/shoulder CV increased in males during higher pedaling intensity, whereas in females it decreased during lower intensity.
