Petersdahl3714
ith convergent association with indicators of adverse prenatal exposures. This study highlights the importance of mapping not only of the epigenome but also the exposome and extending the observational timeframe to well before birth.Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are routinely treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), despite many reports of increased fracture risk associated with PPI use. Notably, the skeletal properties in patients with GERD prior to PPI therapy have not been addressed. We hypothesized that PPI-naïve GERD patients have bone impairment, and that short-term treatment with PPI has minimal skeletal effects. To test this, 17 (12 men/5 women) GERD patients age 32-73 years, not previously exposed to PPI, and 17 age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled from September 2010 to December 2012. Bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine, femoral neck, total hip, and trabecular bone score (TBS) at the lumbar spine, a marker of bone microarchitecture, were measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Markers of bone turnover and calcium homeostasis, and gastric hormones were analyzed. The same parameters were measured after three months of treatment with the PPI pantoprazole. The GERD patients displayed a significantly lower TBS at baseline than controls (1.31 ± 0.11 vs. 1.43 ± 0.07, p = 0.0006). this website Total hip and femoral neck BMD were lower in patients compared to controls, however, not significantly (p = 0.09 and 0.12, respectively). CTX was non-significantly higher in GERD patients at baseline (p = 0.11). After three months, changes in BMD, TBS and CTX did not differ between the groups. In conclusion, this is the first report demonstrating compromised bone quality and inferior BMD in PPI-naïve GERD patients. Treatment with pantoprazole did not influence bone parameters, indicating that short-term use with this PPI is safe for the skeleton.The use of non-pharmacological alternatives to pharmacological interventions, e.g., nutritional therapy, to improve or maintain bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women has gained traction over the past decade, but limited data exist regarding its efficacy. The purpose of this case report was to compare changes in BMD of an osteopenic postmenopausal woman over the course of 28 months, including an abrupt change in diet. For the first 12 months, a participant assigned to the control arm of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) only took calcium and vitamin D3 supplements, but in the following 16 months after completing the RCT, she introduced and maintained daily consumption of 50 g of dried plums in addition to calcium and vitamin D3 supplements. link2 This case report provides a unique opportunity to follow the trajectory of distinct changes in bone in response to one dietary modification.
To analyze preclinical bone regeneration studies employing mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC)- derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) and highlight any commonalities in EV biomarker expression, miRNA cargo(s) or pathway activation that will aid in understanding the underlying therapeutic mechanisms.
Articles employing EVs derived from either MSCs or MSC-like osteogenic stromal cells in preclinical bone regeneration studies are included in this review.
EVs derived from a variety of MSC types were able to successfully induce bone formation in preclinical models. Many studies failed to perform in-depth EV characterization. The studies with detailed EV characterization data report very different miRNA cargos, even in EVs isolated from the same species and cell types. Few preclinical studies have analyzed the underlying mechanisms of MSC-EV therapeutic action.
There is a critical need for mechanistic preclinical studies with thorough EV characterization to determine the best therapeutic MSC-EV source for bone regeneration therapies. Issues including controlled EV delivery, large scale production, and proper storage also need to be addressed before EV-based bone regeneration therapies can be translated for clinical bone repair.
There is a critical need for mechanistic preclinical studies with thorough EV characterization to determine the best therapeutic MSC-EV source for bone regeneration therapies. Issues including controlled EV delivery, large scale production, and proper storage also need to be addressed before EV-based bone regeneration therapies can be translated for clinical bone repair.Rapidly developing approaches to acquiring and analyzing densely-sampled, single-subject fMRI data have opened new avenues for understanding the neurobiological basis of individual differences in behavior and could allow fMRI to become a more clinically useful tool. Here, we review briefly key insights from these precision functional mapping studies and a highlight significant barrier to their clinical translation. Specifically, that reliable delineation of functional brain networks in individual humans can require hours of resting-state fMRI data per-subject. We found recently that multi-echo fMRI improves the test-retest reliability of resting-state functional connectivity measurements, mitigating the need for acquiring large quantities of per -subject data. Because the benefits of multi-echo acquisitions are most pronounced in clinically important but artifact-prone brain regions, such as the subgenual cingulate and structures deep in the subcortex, this approach has the potential to increase the impact of precision functional mapping routines in both healthy and clinical populations.
This study aims to systematically grade CXRs of COVID-19 patients to find associations between CXR (chest radiographs) characteristics and clinical outcomes.
A retrospective review and grading of CXRs in 161 COVID-19 positive patients was caried out in this single centre study. CXR changes primarily constituted that of presence or absence of ground glass opacification (GGO) or consolidation and their distribution across both lung fields. We used two grading systems normal/ mild/ moderate/ severe grading and a numeric 0-8 grading system. We defined mild severity as up to 25 % lung involvement, moderate as 25-62.5 % and severe as 62.5-100% lung involvement.
Peripheral GGO in lower +/- mid zones of the lungs is the most common finding. Mid zone and perihilar GGO is associated with increased mortality. We additionally show that CXRs have a higher severity score in the non-survivor group and a CXR graded as severe has a relative risk ratio for mortality of 3.28. link3 Finally, we describe the change in CXR severity with length of symptoms, finding 42.3 % of CXR were normal in the first 2 days of symptoms and 0% at 13 days.
Using a systematic approach to reviewing and grading CXRs in Covid-19 positive patients we clearly demonstrate that grading, location of airspace abnormalities and rate of CXR changes are related to clinical outcome.
Using a systematic approach to reviewing and grading CXRs in Covid-19 positive patients we clearly demonstrate that grading, location of airspace abnormalities and rate of CXR changes are related to clinical outcome.
The early detection of cognitive function decline is crucial to help manage or slow the progression of symptoms. The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and revised Hasegawa's Dementia Scale (HDS-R) are widely used in screening for cognitive impairment. The purpose of this study was to explore common predictors of the two different cognitive testing systems using MR-based brain morphometry.
This retrospective study included 200 subjects with clinical suspicion of cognitive impairment who underwent 3D T1-weighted MRI at our institution between February 2019 and August 2020. Variables related to the volume of deep gray matter and 70 cortical thicknesses were obtained from the MR images using voxel-based specific regional analysis system for Alzheimer's disease (VSRAD) and FreeSurfer software. The correlation between each variable including age and MMSE/HDS-R scores was evaluated using uni- and multi-variate logistic regression analyses.
In univariate analysis, parameters include hippocampal volume and bilateral entorhinal cortex (ERC) thickness showed moderate correlation coefficients with both MMSE and HDS-R scores. Multivariate analysis demonstrated the right ERC thickness was the common parameter which significantly correlates with both MMSE and HDS-R scores (p < 0.05).
Right ERC thickness appears to offer a useful predictive biomarker for both MMSE and HDS-R scores.
Right ERC thickness appears to offer a useful predictive biomarker for both MMSE and HDS-R scores.Scaphoid fractures are the most prevalent type of carpal bone fractures. High-spatial-resolution sonography detects direct signs of scaphoid fractures such as scaphoid cortical disruption; nevertheless, indirect signs such as radiocarpal effusion and scapho-trapezium-trapezoid effusion can also be visible. The diagnosis is performed when both direct and indirect signs of scaphoid fracture are presented. The presence of indirect signs alone is not enough to complete the diagnosis, for which more advanced imaging modalities are usually required. Here, we review the anatomy of the scaphoid, the clinical manifestations of scaphoid fractures, as well as ultrasonographic findings and differential diagnosis.
Patients with transfusion dependent anemia are at risk of complications from iron overload. Quantitative T2* magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the best non-invasive method to assess iron deposition in the liver and heart and to guide chelation therapy.
To investigate the image quality and inter-observer variations in T2* measurements of the myocardium and the liver, and to obtain the lower limit of cardiac and hepatic quantitative T2* values in patients without suspicion of iron overload.
Thirty-eight patients referred for cardiac MRI were prospectively included in the study. Three patients were referred with, and 35 without suspicion of iron overload. Quantitative T2* parametric maps were obtained on a 1.5 T MRI system in the cardiac short axis and liver axial view. Two readers independently assessed the image quality and the representative and the lowest T2* value in the myocardium and the liver.
The normal range of representative T2* values in the myocardium and liver was 24-45 ms and 14-37 ms, respectively. None of the 35 participants (0 %, 95 % confidence interval 0-11 %) in the normal reference group demonstrated representative T2* values below previously reported lower limits in the myocardium (20 ms) or the liver (8 ms). Focal myocardial areas with T2* values near the lower normal range, 19-20 ms, were seen in two patients. The readers generally reported good image quality.
T2* imaging for assessing iron overload can be performed in a non-dedicated center with sufficient image quality.
T2* imaging for assessing iron overload can be performed in a non-dedicated center with sufficient image quality.Background. Prelacteal feeding is defined as administration of any substances other than breast milk to newborn babies during the first 3 days after birth. Despite its negative health outcomes, it is commonly practiced in developing countries. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the prevalence of pre-lacteal feeding practices and associated factors among mothers of children aged less than 2 years of age in Kersa district, Eastern Ethiopia. Method. A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 465 mothers having children aged less than 2 years in Kersa district. A multistage sampling technique was used to select study participants. Binary logistic regression analysis was fitted to identify factors associated with prelacteal feeding practices. Variables with a P-value less then .05 were identified as statistically significant factors. Results. The prevalence of pre-lacteal feeding in Kersa district was 46.4% (95% CI; 42.0%, 51.5%). Initiating breastfeeding after 1 hour of delivery (AOR = 10.