Heteroepitaxial Growth of α‑GaO by MOCVD on ‑, ‑, ‑, and ‑Planes of Sapphire.

GaO thin films were deposited simultaneously on (112̅0) -plane, (101̅0) -plane, (0001) -plane, and (011̅2) -plane sapphire substrates using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The different surface energy and strain conditions imposed by each sapphire plane make the choice of substrate orientation critical to the stabilization of the α-phase. β-GaO nucleation was found to be preferential over α-GaO on sapphire orientations with <11̅00> α-AlO present (c- and -planes) when grown under the same conditions.

Antimicrobial-coated endotracheal tubes: A narrative review.

Introduction: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a significant source of morbidity and mortality. We sought to assess the current evidence on antimicrobial-coated endotracheal tubes (ETT) as one potential tool to break the cycle of colonization and infection among ICU patients.

Methods: We conducted a narrative review of available studies focused on the use of antimicrobial-coated ETTs to reduce VAP.

A scoping review of emergency front of neck access (eFONA) for airway access in the setting of trauma.

Background: Emergency front of neck access (eFONA) is an emergent procedure performed in "cannot intubate, cannot ventilate" scenarios to establish a patent airway that was otherwise compromised. We sought to describe the recent literature on eFONA.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review using the PRISMA-ScR Checklist to provide comprehensive summary of the most relevant eFONA literature over topics such as civilian and military incidence and outcome, available techniques, the use of ultrasound in performing eFONA, training data, complications and contraindications, and emerging data on the procedure.

Gallium nitride multichannel devices with latch-induced sub-60-mV-per-decade subthreshold slopes for radiofrequency applications.

Aluminium gallium nitride/gallium nitride (AlGaN/GaN)-based superlattice castellated field-effect transistors are a potential basis for high-power radiofrequency amplifiers and switches in future radars. The reliability of such devices, however, is not well understood. Here we report transistor latching in multichannel GaN transistors.

Nocturnal polyuria is common in Parkinson's and is associated with orthostatic hypotension.

Background: Nocturia is the most common lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) in Parkinson's disease (PD) and impacts sleep and subsequent daytime function. Often nocturia in PD is attributed to overactive bladder, however we explored the contribution of the over-production of urine at night, nocturnal polyuria (NP), as another factor.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and severity of NP in a PD cohort with LUTS and explore associations with autonomic and other patient characteristics.

Facile generation of drug-like conformational antibodies specific for amyloid fibrils.

Antibodies that recognize insoluble antigens, such as amyloid fibrils associated with neurodegenerative disorders, are important for research, diagnostic and therapeutic applications. However, these types of antibodies are difficult to generate, typically require animal immunization and also commonly require humanization in the case of therapeutic applications. Here we report a methodology for generating high-quality, fully human, conformation-specific antibodies against amyloid fibrils using a published human nonimmune library, yeast-surface display and quantitative fluorescence-activated cell sorting.

Effects of Cytomegalovirus-Induced Neuroinflammation on Central Nervous System Development.

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is associated with long-term central nervous system sequelae, including sensorineural hearing loss and neurodevelopmental delay, but mechanisms of neuropathogenesis in the developing fetal brain are incompletely understood. Animal models biologically representative of congenital infection have been used to characterize the effects of cCMV on neurogenesis, brain development, and cochlear development. Murine models utilizing host transcriptional analyses have been helpful in understanding the inflammatory response to cCMV infection and have demonstrated a correlation between elevation of proinflammatory mediators and altered brain and cochlear morphology during development.

Transcutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation for Overactive Bladder Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease: Results from a Phase II Randomized Control Trial (STRIPE).

Background: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common Parkinson's disease (PD), causing great impact.

Objective: The goal was to undertake a phase II randomized control trial of transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) delivered by Geko device for LUTS related to overactive bladder (OAB) in PD, an easy to use of the shelf solution.

Methods: Participants were randomized to active/sham stimulation.

Myeloid lineage C3 induces reactive gliosis and neuronal stress during CNS inflammation.

Complement component C3 mediates pathology in CNS neurodegenerative diseases. Here we use scRNAseq of sorted C3-reporter positive cells from mouse brain and optic nerve to characterize C3 producing glia in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model in which peripheral immune cells infiltrate the CNS, causing reactive gliosis and neuro-axonal pathology. We find that C3 expression in the early inflammatory stage of EAE defines disease-associated glial subtypes characterized by increased expression of genes associated with mTOR activation and cell metabolism.

Early control of cochlear viral load limits cochlear inflammation and prevents virus-induced sensorineural hearing loss.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common viral infection acquired in utero and a leading cause of neurodevelopmental abnormalities, including sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). In previous studies using a murine model of HCMV induced SNHL, hearing loss was correlated with virus-induced cochlear inflammation but not cochlear viral load. However, these previous findings were determined at the time of auditory testing, a time poiont well past critical periods of auditory development.

Accelerated Metabolomic Aging and Its Association with Social Determinants of Health in Multiple Sclerosis.

Objectives: Biological age may better capture differences in disease course among people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) of identical chronological age. We investigated biological age acceleration through metabolomic age (mAge) in PwMS and its association with social determinants of health (SDoH) measured by area deprivation index (ADI).

Methods: mAge was calculated for three cohorts: 323 PwMS and 66 healthy controls (HCs); 101 HCs and 71 DMT-naïve PwMS; and 64 HCs and 67 pediatric-onset MS/clinically isolated syndrome patients, using an aging clock derived from 11,977 healthy adults.

Real-world clinical experience with serum MOG and AQP4 antibody testing by live versus fixed cell-based assay.

Objective: To assess the real-world performance of a live (LCBA) versus a fixed (FCBA) cell-based assay for the detection of serum antibodies directed against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-IgG) and aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG).

Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients evaluated at a single tertiary academic referral center, with serum testing performed clinically for AQP4-IgG and/or MOG-IgG by FCBA and LCBA on the same day. Additionally, frozen banked sera from the same day for patients tested only by one assay were retrieved and tested by the other assay.

NLRX1 limits inflammatory neurodegeneration in the anterior visual pathway.

Chronic innate immune activation in the central nervous system (CNS) significantly contributes to neurodegeneration in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Using multiple experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) models, we discovered that NLRX1 protects neurons in the anterior visual pathway from inflammatory neurodegeneration. We quantified retinal ganglion cell (RGC) density and optic nerve axonal degeneration, gliosis, and T-cell infiltration in Nlrx1 and wild-type (WT) EAE mice and found increased RGC loss and axonal injury in Nlrx1 mice compared to WT mice in both active immunization EAE and spontaneous opticospinal encephalomyelitis (OSE) models.

The protein kinase C modulator bryostatin-1 therapeutically targets microglia to attenuate neuroinflammation and promote remyelination.

In multiple sclerosis (MS), microglia and macrophages within the central nervous system (CNS) play an important role in determining the balance among demyelination, neurodegeneration, and myelin repair. Phagocytic and regenerative functions of these CNS innate immune cells support remyelination, whereas chronic and maladaptive inflammatory activation promotes lesion expansion and disability, particularly in the progressive forms of MS. No currently approved drugs convincingly target microglia and macrophages within the CNS, contributing to the lack of therapies aimed at promoting remyelination and slowing disease progression for individuals with MS.

Utilization and Outcomes of Epidural Anesthesia Versus Regional Anesthesia for Thoracic Surgery: An ACS-NSQIP Analysis.

Objectives: To determine the use of epidural anesthesia compared with regional anesthesia as an adjunct to general anesthesia in thoracic surgery over time, and compare length of stay, overall morbidity, serious morbidity, and mortality between epidural and regional anesthesia when utilized as adjuncts to general anesthesia in thoracic surgery.

Design: Retrospective data analysis from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project data registry, years 2014 to 2022.

Setting: Over 800 U.

Spatial transcriptomics of meningeal inflammation reveals inflammatory gene signatures in adjacent brain parenchyma.

While modern high efficacy disease modifying therapies have revolutionized the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, they are less effective at controlling progressive forms of the disease. Meningeal inflammation is a recognized risk factor for cortical gray matter pathology which can result in disabling symptoms such as cognitive impairment and depression, but the mechanisms linking meningeal inflammation and gray matter pathology remain unclear. Here, we performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided spatial transcriptomics in a mouse model of autoimmune meningeal inflammation to characterize the transcriptional signature in areas of meningeal inflammation and the underlying brain parenchyma.

Bile acid metabolites predict multiple sclerosis progression and supplementation is safe in progressive disease.

Background: Bile acid metabolism is altered in multiple sclerosis (MS) and tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) supplementation ameliorated disease in mouse models of MS.

Methods: Global metabolomics was performed in an observational cohort of people with MS, followed by pathway analysis to examine relationships between baseline metabolite levels and subsequent brain and retinal atrophy. A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was completed in people with progressive MS (PMS), randomized to receive either TUDCA (2 g/day) or placebo for 16 weeks.

TET2 promotes tumor antigen presentation and T cell IFN-γ, which is enhanced by vitamin C.

Immune evasion by tumors is promoted by low T cell infiltration, ineffective T cell activity directed against the tumor, and reduced tumor antigen presentation. The TET2 DNA dioxygenase gene is frequently mutated in hematopoietic malignancies and loss of TET enzymatic activity is found in a variety of solid tumors. We showed previously that vitamin C (VC), a cofactor of TET2, enhances tumor-associated T cell recruitment and checkpoint inhibitor therapy responses in a TET2-dependent manner.

Quadruple Disruption of Superior Shoulder Suspensory Complex With Proximal Humerus Open Fracture-Dislocation: A Case Report.

Case: A 34-year-old man was a restrained passenger involved in a high-speed rollover motor vehicle crash. The patient sustained a type 5 AC joint separation, severely comminuted intra-articular glenoid fracture with extension to the coracoid process base, displaced open scapular body fracture, a posterior shoulder dislocation of the glenohumeral joint, and a 2-part proximal humerus fracture.

Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report describing this injury pattern involving the superior shoulder suspensory complex with an associated open proximal humerus fracture-dislocation.

Enhancing recruitment of individuals living with frailty, multimorbidity and cognitive impairment to Parkinson's research: experiences from the PRIME-UK cross-sectional study.

Background And Objectives: People with parkinsonism who are older, living in a care home, with frailty, multimorbidity or impaired capacity to consent are under-represented in research, limiting its generalisability. We aimed to evaluate more inclusive recruitment strategies.

Methods: From one UK centre, we invited people with parkinsonism to participate in a cross-sectional study.