Retrospective analysis of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada's recurrence within a case series of nineteen patients followed between 2003 and 2018 in an academic center.

Purpose: To define a timeframe of recurrences according to the clinical presentation of inflammation and the course of the disease. This could influence final visual acuity and avoid ocular complication such as cataract, glaucoma, choroidal neovascularization, subretinal fibrosis or fundus depigmentation.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective study of nineteen patients affected by Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease followed between 2003 and 2018.

Quartic Regularity.

In this paper, we propose new linearly convergent second-order methods for minimizing convex quartic polynomials. This framework is applied for designing optimization schemes, which can solve general convex problems satisfying a new condition of quartic regularity. It assumes positive definiteness and boundedness of the fourth derivative of the objective function.

Increasing Internal and External Validity Through a Multimethod Evaluation With Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and Process Tracing: The Case of Training Transfer Effectiveness in Flemish SMEs.

This paper presents a methodological advancement by integrating Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and Process Tracing (PT) in the evaluation of training transfer effectiveness in Flemish SMEs. This multimethod approach leverages the strengths of both QCA and PT to enhance internal and external validity, offering a robust framework for capturing the conditions and causal mechanisms underlying policy interventions. By sequentially applying QCA to identify necessary and sufficient conditions and PT to unpack the causal processes, the study provides a comprehensive analysis that addresses both "what works" and "how it works.

Prophylactic hydrocortisone and the risk of sepsis in neonates born extremely preterm.

Unlabelled: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a serious complication of extreme prematurity and has few treatment options. The postnatal use of steroids to prevent BPD remains controversial, but prophylactic low-dose hydrocortisone (HC) has been shown to improve survival without BPD. However, an increased risk of late-onset sepsis (LOS) was also reported in extremely preterm neonates exposed to prophylactic HC treatment.

Peripheral arteriovenous malformations: Diagnosis and future prospects.

Peripheral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare, high-flow vascular anomalies caused by errors in vasculogenesis or angiogenesis, frequently driven by mutations in the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway. These lesions exhibit progressive behavior, leading to diverse clinical presentations ranging from localized pain, swelling and important bleeding to severe systemic complications such as high-output cardiac failure. AVMs pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to their heterogeneous nature and high recurrence rates.

Vitamin D, anemia, and fibroblast growth factor 23: Ethnic disparities in Algerian chronic kidney disease patients.

This study investigates ethnic differences in vitamin D levels and bone-related biomarkers among Algerian CKD patients, focusing on the interactions between vitamin D, anemia, and FGF23. A multicenter, cross-sectional study involved 284 CKD patients in stages 3 and 4, with a mean age of 54±1.17 years.

Ageing Signatures and Disturbed Muscle Regeneration in Muscle Proteome of Inclusion Body Myositis.

Background: Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is the most common acquired myopathy in adults over the age of 50 years, characterised by inflammatory and degenerative features that lead to progressive muscle weakness and physical disability for lack of effective therapies. The complex interplay between inflammatory and degenerative processes, occurring seemingly simultaneously, presents a challenge to systematically dissect disease pathology and discover novel therapeutic targets.

Methods: To identify proteomic IBM disease signatures and upstream regulators of disease processes in an unbiased manner, we performed high-resolution iTRAQ-labelled mass spectrometry on whole muscle lysates of 28 IBM patients and 28 control individuals.

Molecular Characterization of a Rare ESBL E. coli Strain Causing a Necrotizing Enterocolitis Outbreak in Preterm Infants.

Background: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a severe comorbidity of prematurity, is usually sporadic, but occasional outbreaks suggest an infectious cause. Escherichia coli, the most frequent Gram-negative pathogen in preterm infants, historically displays a low inhospital transmissibility.

Aim: To report the management of an NEC outbreak in a Belgian neonatal intensive care unit and the molecular characterization of a rare, highly virulent/resistant E.

Environmental, neuropsychological, and physiological factors in urban outdoor thermal comfort assessments: a systematic review.

Excessive heat and thermal discomfort are growing threats for urban dwellers, severely affecting health and well-being. The complex interplay of urban structures, microclimates, and the diverse psychophysiological responses of individuals contribute to the complexity of Outdoor Thermal Comfort (OTC) studies. Prior literature has proposed various environmental and psychophysiological (i.

Genetic aspects of vascular malformations.

Vascular anomalies are a heterogenous group of diseases that include vascular tumours and vascular malformations. Over the past two decades, significant progress has been made in elucidating the genetic basis of these anomalies, leading to improved classification, management and genetic counselling. Major signalling pathways, such as RAS/MAPK/ERK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and G protein-coupled receptor pathways, have been identified as central to the pathogenesis of vascular anomalies.

[Use of cardiovascular registries in regulatory pathways: perspectives from the EU-MDR Cardiovascular Collaboratory].

On May 26, 2021, the European Medical Device Regulation (EU-MDR) entered into effect resulting in a major shift in the requirements for assessment of medical devices in Europe. The EU-MDR Cardiovascular Collaboratory (EU-MCVC) was founded to contribute to the development of faster, more efficient, and more effective pathways for innovation of cardiac medical devices. A registry is an organized system that collects uniform data and evaluates specified outcomes in a population defined by a disease, condition, or exposure.

Whole-genome sequencing of soil- and foodborne Bacillus cereus sensu lato indicates no clear association between their virulence repertoire, genomic diversity and food matrix.

Bacillus cereus sensu lato is frequently involved in foodborne toxico-infections and is found in various foodstuff. It is unclear whether certain strains have a higher affinity for specific food matrices, which can be of interest for risk assessment. This study reports the characterization by whole-genome sequencing of 169 B.

Activation of intestinal endogenous retroviruses by alcohol exacerbates liver disease.

Alcohol-associated liver disease represents a significant global health challenge, with gut microbial dysbiosis and bacterial translocation playing a critical role in its pathogenesis. Patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis had increased fecal abundance of mammalian viruses, including retroviruses. This study investigated the role of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) in the development of alcohol-associated liver disease.

Effect of Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Electroencephalogram Synchronization: A Longitudinal Study Using a Clinical-Research Response Scale.

Objectives: No reliable biomarkers exist for predicting and assessing vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) response. While VNS induces acute electroencephalography (EEG) desynchronization after implantation, longitudinal evaluations of EEG synchronization changes are lacking. This study constitutes the first prospective investigation evaluating EEG synchronization before and after VNS device implantation and correlating it with the clinical response to VNS.

Bacteria-microalgae interactions from an evolutionary perspective and their biotechnological significance.

Interactions between bacteria and microalgae have been studied in natural environments and in industrial consortia. As results of co-evolution for millions of years in nature, they have developed complex symbiotic relationships, including mutualism, commensalism and parasitism, the nature of which is decided by mechanisms of the interaction. There are two main types of molecular interactions between microalgae and bacteria: exchange of nutrients and release of signalling molecules.

CVOT summit report 2024: new cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic outcomes.

The 10th Cardiovascular Outcome Trial (CVOT) Summit: Congress on Cardiovascular, Kidney, and Metabolic Outcomes was held virtually on December 5-6, 2024. This year, discussions about cardiovascular (CV) and kidney outcome trials centered on the recent findings from studies involving empagliflozin (EMPACT-MI), semaglutide (STEP-HFpEF-DM and FLOW), tirzepatide (SURMOUNT-OSA and SUMMIT), and finerenone (FINEARTS-HF). These studies represent significant advances in reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and improving metabolic outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Temperature as a Key Modulator: Investigating Phosphorylation Patterns of p.Asn666 Variants and Their Role in Downstream Signaling.

Four different amino acid substitutions have been reported at the p.Asn666 position in platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR): p.Asn666Lys, p.

From one generation to the next: perception of frequency of family memory transmission.

Family serves as a crucial context for intergenerational memory transmission. From an early age, younger generations hear stories from older family members, fostering a sense of belonging, identity, and a deeper understanding of the world. However, the frequency of this intergenerational exchange in daily life remains underexplored.

Can humanoid robots be used as a cognitive offloading tool?

Cognitive load occurs when the demands of a task surpass the available processing capacity, straining mental resources and potentially impairing performance efficiency, such as increasing the number of errors in a task. Owing to its ubiquity in real-world scenarios, the existence of offloading strategies to reduce cognitive load is not new to experts and nonexperts, and many of these strategies involve technology (e.g.

Preoperative MRI, audiovisual speech perception, and mood are associated with cochlear implant outcomes in adults with postlingual deafness.

Acquired severe to profound hearing loss is an increasingly challenging problem of our aging population. Cochlear implantation (CI) is the gold standard treatment for this advanced form of sensory deprivation. Despite the overall satisfactory results of CI, a substantial number of patients show unsatisfactory outcomes.

Vitamin D and Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps: A Narrative Review and Perspectives.

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a subtype of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) characterized by bilateral nasal polyps, primarily affecting adults. It is often associated with hyposmia and asthma and driven by persistent Th2 inflammation, particularly in Caucasian patients. The disease is recurrent and significantly impacts quality of life, yet its pathophysiology remains poorly understood.

Estimating endurance training intensity prescription from the 6-minute stepper test in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - a multicenter cross-sectional study with external validation.

Background: Home-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) can enhance accessibility to PR, but no at-home field exercise test has been validated for individualized endurance training prescriptions.

Research Question: What is the accuracy of the six-minute stepper test (6MST) in estimating endurance training intensity as determined during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)?

Study Design And Method: This multicenter ( = 3) cross-sectional study included individuals with COPD. Participants performed CPET and two 6MSTs to evaluate the 6MST's ability to estimate endurance training intensity based on CPET-derived heart rate at the first ventilatory threshold (HRvt), the corresponding power output (Pvt), and peak power output (Ppeak).