Incidence of soft tissue calcifications of the head and neck region on maxillofacial cone beam computed tomography.

The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and imaging characteristics of soft tissue calcifications on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). 556 CBCT image datasets were reviewed and 308 included. The following conditions were recorded: 1) Carotid artery calcifications (CAC), 2) Triticeous cartilage (TC), 3) Superior cornu of the thyroid cartilage (SCT), 4) Tonsilloliths (T) and, 5) Other including lymph nodes (0). The age and sex of patients who were excluded served as controls. 107 (34.75%) demonstrated at least one calcification. Those with calcifications were approximately 12 years older than controls (t value = 6.32, p \u3c 0.001). The incidence of calcifications in decreasing order are TC (11.4%), CAC (10.4%), T (10.4%) and, SCT (5.2%). Differential location and appearance of calcifications were described. Soft tissue calcifications were a common finding with TC, CAC and T presenting in almost equal frequency. Calcifications exhibit unique characteristics on CBCT images

The <i>agr</i> inhibitors solonamide B and analogues alter immune responses to <i>Staphylococccus aureus</i> but do not exhibit adverse effects on immune cell functions

Staphylococcus aureus infections are becoming increasingly difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance with the community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) strains such as USA300 being of particular concern. The inhibition of bacterial virulence has been proposed as an alternative approach to treat multi-drug resistant pathogens. One interesting anti-virulence target is the agr quorum-sensing system, which regulates virulence of CA-MRSA in response to agr-encoded autoinducing peptides. Agr regulation confines exotoxin production to the stationary growth phase with concomitant repression of surface-expressed adhesins. Solonamide B, a non-ribosomal depsipeptide of marine bacterial origin, was recently identified as a putative anti-virulence compound that markedly reduced expression of α-hemolysin and phenol-soluble modulins. To further strengthen solonamide anti-virulence candidacy, we report the chemical synthesis of solonamide analogues, investigation of structure-function relationships, and assessment of their potential to modulate immune cell functions. We found that structural differences between solonamide analogues confer significant differences in interference with agr, while immune cell activity and integrity is generally not affected. Furthermore, treatment of S. aureus with selected solonamides was found to only marginally influence the interaction with fibronectin and biofilm formation, thus addressing the concern that application of compounds inducing an agr-negative state may have adverse interactions with host factors in favor of host colonization

Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption (Epoc) Following Multiple Effort Sprint and Moderate Aerobic Exercise

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 30-second all-out sprint interval exercise (SIE) vs. moderate aerobic exercise (MA) on excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC). Six recreationally-trained males (age=23.3 +/- 1.4 yrs, weight=81.8 +/- 9.9 kg, height=180.8 +/- 6.3 cm) completed a sprint interval exercise session consisting of three repeated 30-second Wingate cycling tests separated by four minutes (duration similar to 11minutes) as well as a moderate aerobic exercise session consisting of 30-minute cycling at 60% heart rate reserve (HRR) in a random counterbalanced design. Baseline oxygen consumption (VO2) was determined by an average VO2 from the final five minutes of a 30-minute supine rest period prior to each trial. Following each protocol, VO2 was measured for 30 minutes or until baseline measures were reached. EPOC was determined by subtracting baseline VO2 from post-exercise VO2 measurements. Energy expenditure (kJ) was determined by multiplying kJ per liter of oxygen by the average VO2 during recovery. EPOC values were significantly higher in SIE (7.5 +/- 1.3 L) than MA (1.8 +/- 0.7 L). SIE produced a higher recovery caloric expenditure (156.9 kJ) compared to MA (41.0 kJ) and remained significantly elevated (p=.024) over resting levels during the entire recovery period (30 minutes) compared to MA (6 minutes, p=.003). The energy required to recover from three repeated maximal effort 30-second Wingate cycling tests was greater than 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise. Future studies should examine the chronic effects of maximal effort sprint training protocol on cardiovascular fitness and body composition

Comparing Psychological, Social, and Sexuality-Related Problems Reported by Bisexual and Gay Men: A Canadian Internet-Based Study

Les différences entre les hommes gais et les hommes bisexuels quant à leurs problématiques de santé méritent d\u27être mieux cernées. Dans le cadre d\u27une enquête en ligne pancanadienne, nous avons comparé des hommes bisexuels (n = 564) et gais (n = 1,109) à partir de 32 problèmes autoperçus d\u27ordre psychologique, social ou sexuel auxquels ils pouvaient avoir fait face au cours des 12 derniers mois. Les résultats indiquent que, par rapport aux hommes gais, les hommes bisexuels font face davantage aux problèmes touchant l\u27orientation ou l\u27identité sexuelle ou relatifs à certains comportements néfastes pour la santé, mais moins à plusieurs problèmes de santé mentale et à des problèmes liés aux ITS/VIH

Restoration of Bile Duct Injury of Donor Livers During Ex Situ Normothermic Machine Perfusion

BACKGROUND: End-ischemic ex situ normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) enables assessment of donor livers prior to transplantation. The objective of this study was to provide support for bile composition as a marker of biliary viability and to investigate whether bile ducts of high-risk human donor livers already undergo repair during NMP.METHODS: Forty-two livers that were initially declined for transplantation were included in our NMP clinical trial. After NMP, livers were either secondary declined (n = 17) or accepted for transplantation (n = 25) based on the chemical composition of bile and perfusate samples. Bile duct biopsies were taken before and after NMP and assessed using an established histological injury severity scoring system and a comprehensive immunohistochemical assessment focusing on peribiliary glands (PBGs), vascular damage, and regeneration.RESULTS: Bile ducts of livers that were transplanted after viability testing during NMP showed better preservation of PBGs, (micro)vasculature, and increased cholangiocyte proliferation, compared with declined livers. Biliary bicarbonate, glucose, and pH were confirmed as accurate biomarkers of bile duct vitality. In addition, we found evidence of PBG-based progenitor cell differentiation toward mature cholangiocytes during NMP.CONCLUSIONS: Favorable bile chemistry during NMP correlates well with better-preserved biliary microvasculature and PBGs, with a preserved capacity for biliary regeneration. During NMP, biliary tree progenitor cells start to differentiate toward mature cholangiocytes, facilitating restoration of the ischemically damaged surface epithelium.</p

Influence of Gender and Muscle Architecture Asymmetry on Jump and Sprint Performance

Muscle architecture is a determinant for sprinting speed and jumping power, which may be related to anaerobic sports performance. In the present investigation, the relationships between peak (PVJP) and mean (MVJP) vertical jump power, 30m maximal sprinting speed (30M), and muscle architecture were examined in 28 college-aged, recreationally-active men (n = 14; 24.3 +/- 2.2y; 89.1 +/- 9.3kg; 1.80 +/- 0.07 m) and women (n = 14; 21.5 +/- 1.7y; 65.2 +/- 12.4kg; 1.63 +/- 0.08 m). Ultrasound measures of muscle thickness (MT), pennation angle (PNG), cross-sectional area (CSA), and echo intensity (ECHO) were collected from the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL) of both legs; fascicle length (FL) was estimated from MT and PNG. Men possessed lower ECHO, greater muscle size (MT & CSA), were faster, and were more powerful (PVJP & MVJP) than women. Stepwise regression indicated that muscle size and quality influenced speed and power in men. In women, vastus lateralis asymmetry negatively affected PVJP (MT: r = -0.73; FL: r = -0.60) and MVJP (MT: r = -0.76; FL: r = -0.64), while asymmetrical ECHO (VL) and FL (RF) positively influenced MVJP (r = 0.55) and 30M (r = 0.57), respectively. Thigh muscle architecture appears to influence jumping power and sprinting speed, though the effect may vary by gender in recreationally-active adults. Appropriate assessment of these ultrasound variables in men and women prior to training may provide a more specific exercise prescription

Structural neuroimaging in preclinical dementia: From microstructural deficits and grey matter atrophy to macroscale connectomic changes.

The last decade has witnessed a proliferation of neuroimaging studies characterising brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), where both widespread atrophy and 'signature' brain regions have been implicated. In parallel, a prolonged latency period has been established in AD, with abnormal cerebral changes beginning many years before symptom onset. This raises the possibility of early therapeutic intervention, even before symptoms, when treatments could have the greatest effect on disease-course modification. Two important prerequisites of this endeavour are (1) accurate characterisation or risk stratification and (2) monitoring of progression using neuroimaging outcomes as a surrogate biomarker in those without symptoms but who will develop AD, here referred to as preclinical AD. Structural neuroimaging modalities have been used to identify brain changes related to risk factors for AD, such as familial genetic mutations, risk genes (for example apolipoprotein epsilon-4 allele), and/or family history. In this review, we summarise structural imaging findings in preclinical AD. Overall, the literature suggests early vulnerability in characteristic regions, such as the medial temporal lobe structures and the precuneus, as well as white matter tracts in the fornix, cingulum and corpus callosum. We conclude that while structural markers are promising, more research and validation studies are needed before future secondary prevention trials can adopt structural imaging biomarkers as either stratification or surrogate biomarkers.This study was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR, RG64473), Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre and Biomedical Research Unit in Dementia, and the Alzheimer's Society. Elijah Mak was in the receipt of the Gates Cambridge studentship