Association of daily sitting time and leisure-time physical activity with body fat among U.S.adults

Background:Prolonged sitting and reduced physical activity lead to low energy expenditures.However,little is known about the joint impact of daily sitting time and physical activity on body fat distribution.We investigated the independent and joint associations of daily sitting time and physical activity with body fat among adults.Methods:This was a cross-sectional analysis of U.S.nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey2011-2018 among adults aged 20 years or older.Daily sitting time and leisure-time physical activity(LTPA)were self-reported using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire.Body fat(total and trunk fat percentage)was determined via dual X-ray absorptiometry.Results:Among 10,808 adults,about 54.6%spent 6 h/day or more sitting;more than one-half reported no LTPA(inactive)or less than 150 min/week LTPA(insufficiently active)with only 43.3%reported 150 min/week or more LTPA(active)in the past week.After fully adjusting for sociodemographic data,lifestyle behaviors,and chronic conditions,prolonged sitting time and low levels of LTPA were associated with higher total and trunk fat percentages in both sexes.When stratifying by LTPA,the association between daily sitting time and body fat appeared to be stronger in those who were inactive/insuufficiently active.In the joint analyses,inactive/insuufficiently active adults who reported sitting more than 8 h/day had the highest total(female:3.99%(95%confidence interval(95%CI):3.09%-4.88%);male:3.79%(95%CI:2.75%-4.82%))and trunk body fat percentages(female:4.21%(95%CI:3.09%-5.32%);male:4.07%(95%CI:2.95%-5.19%))when compared with those who were active and sitting less than 4 h/day.Conclusion:Prolonged daily sitting time was associated with increased body fat among U.S.adults.The higher body fat associated with 6 h/day sitting may not be offset by achieving recommended levels of physical activity.

Acoustical properties of a 3D printed honeycomb structure filled with nanofillers:Experimental analysis and optimization for emerging applications

The novelty of this research lies in the successful fabrication of a 3D-printed honeycomb structure filled with nanofillers for acoustic properties,utilizing an impedance tube setup in accordance with ASTM standard E 1050-12.The Creality Ender-3,a 3D printer,was used for printing the honeycomb structures,and polylactic acid(PLA)material was employed for their construction.The organic,inorganic,and polymeric compounds within the composites were identified using fourier transformation infrared(FTIR)spectroscopy.The structure and homogeneity of the samples were examined using a field emission scanning electron microscope(FESEM).To determine the sound absorption coefficient of the 3D printed honeycomb structure,numerous samples were systematically developed using central composite design(CCD)and analysed using response surface methodology(RSM).The RSM mathematical model was established to predict the optimum values of each factor and noise reduction coefficient(NRC).The optimum values for an NRC of 0.377 were found to be 1.116 wt% carbon black,1.025 wt% aluminium powder,and 3.151 mm distance between parallel edges.Overall,the results demonstrate that a 3Dprinted honeycomb structure filled with nanofillers is an excellent material that can be utilized in various fields,including defence and aviation,where lightweight and acoustic properties are of great importance.

Biomarker bust:meta-analyses reveal unreliability of neuronal extracellular vesicles for diagnosing parkinsonian disorders

A range of neurodegenerative disorders,collectively termed parkinsonian disorders,present with a complex array of both motor and non-motor symptoms.Included in this group are Parkinson’s disease(PD),dementia with Lewy bodies(DLB),multiple system atrophy(MSA),corticobasal syndrome(CBS),and progressive supranuclear palsy(PSP).These disorders are differentiated neuropathologically by their dominant protein pathologies involvingα-synuclein(α-syn)and/or tau,the types of brain cells affected,such as neurons,oligodendroglia,and astrocytes,and the specific brain regions involved(Tolosa et al.,2021).

Efficacy and safety of low-dose tetracycline,amoxicillin quadruple therapy in Helicobacter pylori infection:A retrospective single center study

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)eradication rates have declined with the rise of antibiotic-resistant strains in recent years.Although highly effective with a low prevalence of resistance,standard dose tetracycline is associated with frequent adverse events.The efficacy and safety of low-dose tetracycline as part of tetra-cycline and amoxicillin-containing bismuth quadruple therapy are not well described.AIM To compare the efficacy and safety of low-dose compared to standard dose tetracycline with combined amoxicillin-containing bismuth quadruple therapy in patients with H.pylori infection.METHODS Consecutive patients with H.pylori infection receiving tetracycline,amoxicillin,proton pump inhibitor,and bismuth for 14 days at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital(1/2022-6/2023)were evaluated.The low-dose tetracycline group received tetracycline 500 mg twice daily(bid)while the standard dose group received 750 mg bid or 500 mg three times daily(tid).Primary endpoints were H.pylori eradication rate and treatment-related adverse events.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-associated encephalitis: A review of clinicopathologic hallmarks and multimodal imaging manifestations

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-associated encephalitis(NMDARE)is a rare immune-mediated neuroinflammatory condition characterized by the rapid onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms and autonomic dysfunction.The mechanism of pathogenesis remains incompletely understood,but is thought to be related to antibodies targeting the GluN1 subunit of the NMDA receptor with resultant downstream dysregulation of dopaminergic pathways.Young adults are most frequently affected;the median age at diagnosis is 21 years.There is a strong female predilection with a female sex predominance of 4:1.NMDARE often develops as a paraneoplastic process and is most commonly associated with ovarian teratoma.However,NMDARE has also been described in patients with small cell lung cancer,clear cell renal carcinoma,and other benign and malignant neoplasms.Diagnosis is based on correlation of the clinical presentation,electro-encephalography,laboratory studies,and imaging.Computed tomography,positron emission tomography,and magnetic resonance imaging are essential to identify an underlying tumor,exclude clinicopathologic mimics,and predict the likelihood of long-term functional impairment.Nuclear imaging may be of value for prognostication and to assess the response to therapy.Treatment may involve high-dose corticosteroids,intravenous immunoglobulin,and plasma exchange.Herein,we review the hallmark clinicopathologic features and imaging findings of this rare but potentially devastating condition and summarize diagnostic criteria,treatment regimens,and proposed pathogenetic mechanisms.

Country-based modelling of COVID-19 case fatality rate:A multiple regression analysis

BACKGROUND The spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 outbreak worldwide has caused concern regarding the mortality rate caused by the infection.The determinants of mortality on a global scale cannot be fully understood due to lack of information.AIM To identify key factors that may explain the variability in case lethality across countries.METHODS We identified 21 Potential risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)case fatality rate for all the countries with available data.We examined univariate relationships of each variable with case fatality rate(CFR),and all independent variables to identify candidate variables for our final multiple model.Multiple regression analysis technique was used to assess the strength of relationship.RESULTS The mean of COVID-19 mortality was 1.52±1.72%.There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between health expenditure,and number of computed tomography scanners per 1 million with CFR,and significant direct correlation was found between literacy,and air pollution with CFR.This final model can predict approximately 97%of the changes in CFR.CONCLUSION The current study recommends some new predictors explaining affect mortality rate.Thus,it could help decision-makers develop health policies to fight COVID-19.

Role of molecular imaging in prognosis,diagnosis,and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers:An update on new therapeutic methods

One of the leading causes of cancer-related death is gastrointestinal cancer,which has a significant morbidity and mortality rate.Although preoperative risk assessment is essential for directing patient care,its biological behavior cannot be accurately predicted by conventional imaging investigations.Potential pathophysiological information in anatomical imaging that cannot be visually identified can now be converted into high-dimensional quantitative image features thanks to the developing discipline of molecular imaging.In order to enable molecular tissue profile in vivo,molecular imaging has most recently been utilized to phenotype the expression of single receptors and targets of biological therapy.It is expected that molecular imaging will become increasingly important in the near future,driven by the expanding range of biological therapies for cancer.With this live molecular fingerprinting,molecular imaging can be utilized to drive expression-tailored customized therapy.The technical aspects of molecular imaging are first briefly discussed in this review,followed by an examination of the most recent research on the diagnosis,prognosis,and potential future clinical methods of molecular imaging for GI tract malignancies.

Respiratory Mechanics, Respiratory Muscle Strength, Control of Ventilation and Gas Exchange in Patients with Autoimmune Liver Disease

Objectives: To assess respiratory elastance and resistive properties in patients with autoimmune liver disorders using the passive relaxation expiration technique and compare findings to a group of patients with non-autoimmune liver disease and control subjects. These findings were then related to control of ventilation and gas exchange. A secondary objective was to assess respiratory muscle strength and gas exchange and their relation to respiratory mechanics. Methods: Measurements included respiratory elastance and resistance using the passive relaxation method. Pulmonary function, gas exchange and control of ventilation were assessed using standard methods. Results: a) Compared to control subjects, Ers in patients with liver disease was on average 50% greater than in controls;b) mean respiratory resistance, expressed as the respiratory constants, K1 and K2 in the Rohrer relationship, Pao/V’ = K1 + K2V’, was not different from control resistance;c) mean maximal inspiratory and maximal expiratory pressures averaged 36% and 55% of their respective control values;d) inspiratory occlusion pressure in 0.1 sec (P0.1) was increased and negatively associated with FVC;and e) increases in P0.1, mean inspiratory flow (Vt/Ti) and presence of respiratory alkalosis confirmed the increase in ventilatory drive. Despite inspiratory muscle weakness in patients, P0.1/Pimax averaged 5-fold higher than in control subjects. Conclusions: Despite inspiratory muscle weakness and a V’E similar to that in normal subjects, central drive is increased in patients with chronic liver disease. The increase in ventilatory drive is related to smaller lung volumes and weakly associated with increase in respiratory elastance. Findings confirm that P0.1 is a reliable measure of central drive and is an approach that can be used in the evaluation of control of ventilation in patients with chronic liver disease.

Characterization of sugar diversity in floral and extra-floral nectar from the Coastal Coral Tree(Erythrina caffra Thunb.)in Southern California

The Coastal Coral Tree (Erythrina caffra Thunb.) produces floral nectar (FN) that serves to attract pollinating insects, but also secretes nectar from extra-floral (EFN) glands that serves to attract predatory insects, such as ants. While studies on myrmecophytes (i.e. specialized plants that attract and interact with ants) have primarily focused on interspecific evaluations of EFN chemistry, the Coastal Coral tree offers an opportunity to contrast intraspecific nectar chemistry with differing evolutionary and ecological functions. We hypothesized that the richness of (molecular) sugar species, relative concentrations, and diversity of sugars in FN and foliar EFN would diverge due to differences in the ecological role of the two types of nectar. High performance liquid chromatography with refractive index detection was used to identify the richness of sugar species (based on retention time), measure the relative concentrations, and evaluate the diversity of sugars in FN and foliar EFN secretions. We detected sugar species unique to each gland type and reported significant differences in the relative concentration of one sugar species common to both gland types. While the mean diversity index of sugars was similar for both gland types, the diversity of foliar EFN sugars was significantly more variable than that of FN sugars. The composition of FN showed little variation, and was reflective of its fundamental role in plant reproduction. Foliar EFN, however, demonstrated the variability expected of a context-dependent myrmecophyte that interacts with a facultative ant species assemblage across a mosaic of abiotic and biotic conditions.

Spatial-temporal characterization of the San Andreas Fault by fault-zone trapped waves at seismic experiment site,Parkfield,California

In this article,we review our previous research for spatial and temporal characterizations of the San Andreas Fault(SAF)at Parkfield,using the fault-zone trapped wave(FZTW)since the middle 1980s.Parkfield,California has been taken as a scientific seismic experimental site in the USA since the 1970s,and the SAF is the target fault to investigate earthquake physics and forecasting.More than ten types of field experiments(including seismic,geophysical,geochemical,geodetic and so on)have been carried out at this experimental site since then.In the fall of 2003,a pair of scientific wells were drilled at the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth(SAFOD)site;the main-hole(MH)passed a~200-m-wide low-velocity zone(LVZ)with highly fractured rocks of the SAF at a depth of~3.2 km below the wellhead on the ground level(Hickman et al.,2005;Zoback,2007;Lockner et al.,2011).Borehole seismographs were installed in the SAFOD MH in 2004,which were located within the LVZ of the fault at~3-km depth to probe the internal structure and physical properties of the SAF.On September 282004,a M6 earthquake occurred~15 km southeast of the town of Parkfield.The data recorded in the field experiments before and after the 2004 M6 earthquake provided a unique opportunity to monitor the co-mainshock damage and post-seismic heal of the SAF associated with this strong earthquake.This retrospective review of the results from a sequence of our previous experiments at the Parkfield SAF,California,will be valuable for other researchers who are carrying out seismic experiments at the active faults to develop the community seismic wave velocity models,the fault models and the earthquake forecasting models in global seismogenic regions.

A quantitative microplasticity-based approach to rationalize the poor strengthening response of polycrystalline Mg alloys

This work aims to understand the inefficiency of nanoprecipitates to strengthen a weakly textured,polycrystalline Mg-Gd-Y-Zr alloy.An experimental micromechanical approach consisting on micropillar compression combined with analytical electron microscopy is put in place to analyze the effect of nanoprecipitation on soft and hard basal slip and twinning in individual grains with different orientations.This study shows that,in grains that are favorably oriented for basal slip(“soft”basal slip),aging leads to extreme localization due to the ability of basal dislocations to shear the nanoparticles,resulting overall in the softening of basal systems.Additionally,in grains in which the c-axis is almost perpendicular to the compression axis,prismatic slip dominates deformation in the solid solution state and nanoprecipitation favors twinning due to the concomitant lattice solute depletion.Finally,in grains oriented with their c-axis making an angle of about 5-7°with respect to the compression axis,which deform mainly by“hard”basal slip,precipitation leads to the strengthening of basal systems in the absence of obvious localization.This work reveals that the poor hardening response of the polycrystalline alloy is related to the capability of basal dislocations to shear the nanoparticles,in the absence of Orowan looping events,and to the associated basal slip localization.

The Evolving Structure of Multi-Hospital Systems in the US: Focus on California

Objectives: Hospital consolidation and the growth of multi-hospital systems are generating media headlines in the US. While there is a growing literature on the role of multi-hospital systems in the US health care system, it is still quite limited. This study helps fill the gap by documenting and describing the structure and evolution of multi-hospital systems in California over a recent 18-year period. Methods: Descriptive analysis of a hospital level longitudinal database covering the period 2002-2019 in California. Results: The total number of hospitals declined by 40 hospitals, from 445 to 405, over the study period and the total number of multi-hospital systems increased substantially from 14 systems in 2002 to 30 systems in 2019. As a result, the number and proportion of all California hospitals that were part of a multi-hospital system grew—from 177 in 2002 to 238 in 2019. By 2019, 59% of all hospitals were part of systems (compared to 40% in 2002). The size distribution of multi-hospital systems in California changed substantially over time. In the early period, larger systems dominated the system landscape. Now, half of all systems have 5 or fewer hospitals compared to 29% in 2002, while the percentage of systems with 25 or more members has declined from 25% to just 7%. Interestingly, the clinical service mix of hospital systems has changed substantially. In 2002, all 14 systems were largely acute care focused. By 2019, less than half of systems had acute care as their only and primary focus. Conclusions: Combined, these findings provide insight into the development, evolution and growing role of hospitals systems in our health care system and identify new areas for further research.

Investigation of the Severity of Modular Construction Adoption Barriers with Large-Scale Group Decision Making in an Organization from Internal and External Stakeholder Perspectives

Modular construction as an innovativemethod aids the construction industry in transforming to off-site construction production with high efficiency and environmental friendliness.Despite the obvious advantages,the uptake of modular construction is not booming as expected.However,previous studies have investigated and summarized the barriers to the adoption ofmodular construction.In this research,a Large-ScaleGroupDecisionMaking(LSGDM)-based analysis is first made of the severity of barriers to modular construction adoption from the perspective of construction stakeholders.In addition,the Technology-Organization-Environment(TOE)framework is utilized to identify the barriers based on three contexts(technology,organization,and environment).The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution(TOPSIS)and LSGDM models are both implemented for the first time to analyze the severity of the barriers to modular adoption based on questionnaire results from internal and external stakeholders in an organization.Finally,in this research,in-depth insights into the severity of barriers are gained,providing a reference for construction organizations to manage modular adoption.

Assessment of typhoon storm surge disaster scale based on expansion model

The South China Sea suffers strongly from the typhoon storm surge disasters in China,and its northern coastal areas are facing severe risks.Therefore,it is necessary and urgent to establish an assessment system for rating typhoon storm surge disaster.We constructed an effective and reliable rating assessment system for typhoon storm surge disaster based on the theories of over-threshold,distribution function family,and composite extreme value.The over-threshold sample was used as the basis of data analysis,the composite extreme value expansion model was used to derive the design water increment,and then the disaster level was delineated based on the return period level.The results of the extreme value model comparison show that the Weibull-Pareto distribution is more suitable than the classical extreme value distribution for fitting the over-threshold samples.The results of the return period projection are relatively stable based on different analysis samples.Taking the 10 typhoon storm surges as examples,they caused landfall in the Guangdong area in the past 10 years.The results of the assessment ranking indicate that the risk levels based on the return period levels obtained from different distributions are generally consistent.When classifying low-risk areas,the classification criteria of the State Oceanic Administration,China(SOA,2012)are more conservative.In the high-risk areas,the results of the assessment ranking based on return period are more consistent with those of the SOA.

Uncertainty analysis for the calculation of marine environmental design parameters in the South China Sea

The calculation results of marine environmental design parameters obtained from different data sampling methods,model distributions,and parameter estimation methods often vary greatly.To better analyze the uncertainties in the calculation of marine environmental design parameters,a general model uncertainty assessment method is necessary.We proposed a new multivariate model uncertainty assessment method for the calculation of marine environmental design parameters.The method divides the overall model uncertainty into two categories:aleatory uncertainty and epistemic uncertainty.The aleatory uncertainty of the model is obtained by analyzing the influence of the number and the dispersion degree of samples on the information entropy of the model.The epistemic uncertainty of the model is calculated using the information entropy of the model itself and the prediction error.The advantages of this method are that it does not require many-year-observation data for the marine environmental elements,and the method can be used to analyze any specific factors that cause model uncertainty.Results show that by applying the method to the South China Sea,the aleatory uncertainty of the model increases with the number of samples and then stabilizes.A positive correlation was revealed between the dispersion of the samples and the aleatory uncertainty of the model.Both the distribution of the model and the parameter estimation results of the model have significant effects on the epistemic uncertainty of the model.When the goodness-of-fit of the model is relatively close,the best model can be selected according to the criterion of the lowest overall uncertainty of the models,which can both ensure a better model fit and avoid too much uncertainty in the model calculation results.The presented multivariate model uncertainty assessment method provides a criterion to measure the advantages and disadvantages of the marine environmental design parameter calculation model from the aspect of uncertainty,which is of great significance to analyze the uncertainties in the calculation of marine environmental design parameters and improve the accuracy of the calculation results.

Some Implications of the Gessel Identity

We generalize the congruences of Friedmann-Tamarkine (1909), Lehmer (1938), and Ernvall-Metsänkyla (1991) on the sums of powers of integers weighted by powers of the Fermat quotients to the next Fermat quotient power, namely to the third power of the Fermat quotient. Using this result and the Gessel identity (2005) combined with our past work (2021), we are able to relate residues of some truncated convolutions of Bernoulli numbers with some Ernvall-Metsänkyla residues to residues of some full convolutions of the same kind. We also establish some congruences concerning other related weighted sums of powers of integers when these sums are weighted by some analogs of the Teichmüller characters.

Clinical outcomes of cemented distal femur replacements with allpolyethylene tibial components for oncologic indications

BACKGROUND Endoprosthetic distal femoral replacement(DFR)is a well-established salvage procedure following resection of malignant tumors within the distal femur.Use of an all-polyethylene tibial(APT)component is cost-effective and avoids failure due to locking-mechanism issues and backside wear,but limits modularity and the option for late liner exchange.Due to a paucity of literature we sought to answer three questions:(1)What are the most common modes of implant failure for patients undergoing cemented DFR with APT for oncologic indications?(2)What is the survivorship,rate of all-cause reoperation,and rate of revision for aseptic loosening of these implants?And(3)Is there a difference in implant survivorship or patient demographics between cemented DFRs with APT performed as a primary reconstruction vs those performed as a revision procedure?AIM To assess outcomes of cemented DFRs with APT components used for oncologic indications.METHODS After Institutional Review Board approval,a retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent DFR between December 2000 to September 2020 was performed using a single-institutional database.Inclusion criteria consisted of all patients who underwent DFR with a GMRS®(Global Modular Replacement System,Stryker,Kalamazoo,MI,United States)cemented distal femoral endoprosthesis and APT component for an oncologic indication.Patients undergoing DFR for non-oncologic indications and patients with metal-backed tibial components were excluded.Implant failure was recorded using Henderson's classification and survivorship was reported using a competing risks analysis.RESULTS 55 DFRs(55 patients)with an average age of 50.9±20.7 years and average body mass index of 29.7±8.3 kg/m2 were followed for 38.8±54.9 mo(range 0.2-208.4).Of these,60.0%were female and 52.7%were white.The majority of DFRs with APT in this cohort were indicated for oncologic diagnoses of osteogenic sarcoma(n=22,40.0%),giant cell tumor(n=9,16.4%),and metastatic carcinoma(n=8,14.6%).DFR with APT implantation was performed as a primary procedure in 29 patients(52.7%)and a revision procedure in 26 patients(47.3%).Overall,twenty patients(36.4%)experienced a postoperative complication requiring reoperation.The primary modes of implant failure included Henderson Type 1(soft tissue failure,n=6,10.9%),Type 2(aseptic loosening,n=5,9.1%),and Type 4(infection,n=6,10.9%).There were no significant differences in patient demographics or rates of postoperative complications between the primary procedure and revision procedure subgroups.In total,12 patients(21.8%)required a revision while 20 patients(36.4%)required a reoperation,resulting in three-year cumulative incidences of 24.0%(95%CI 9.9%-41.4%)and 47.2%(95%CI 27.5%-64.5%),respectively.CONCLUSION This study demonstrates modest short-term survivorship following cemented DFR with APT components for oncologic indications.Soft tissue failure and endoprosthetic infection were the most common postoperative complications in our cohort.

Design and realization of lung organoid cultures for COVID-19 applications

Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,has spread globally and threatens public health.Advanced in vitro models that recapitulate the architecture and functioning of specific tissues and organs are in high demand for COVID-19-related pathology studies and drug screening.Since three-dimensional in vitro cultures,such as self-assembled and engineered organoid cultures,surpass conventional two-dimensional cultures and animal models with respect to increased cellular complexity,an environment more relevant to humans,and reduced cost,they are promising platforms for understanding viral pathogenesis and developing new therapeutics.This review highlights the recent advances in self-assembled and engineered organoid technologies that are used for COVID-19 studies.The challenges and future perspectives are also discussed.

Evidence of bisphosphonate-conjugated sitafloxacin eradication of established methicillin-resistant S.aureus infection with osseointegration in murine models of implant-associated osteomyelitis

Eradication of MRSA osteomyelitis requires elimination of distinct biofilms.To overcome this,we developed bisphosphonateconjugated sitafloxacin(BCS,BV600072)and hydroxybisphosphonate-conjugate sitafloxacin(HBCS,BV63072),which achieve“target-and-release”drug delivery proximal to the bone infection and have prophylactic efficacy against MRSA static biofilm in vitro and in vivo.Here we evaluated their therapeutic efficacy in a murine 1-stage exchange femoral plate model with bioluminescent MRSA(USA300LAC::lux).Osteomyelitis was confirmed by CFU on the explants and longitudinal bioluminescent imaging(BLI)after debridement and implant exchange surgery on day 7,and mice were randomized into seven groups:1)Baseline(harvested at day7,no treatment);2)HPBP(bisphosphonate control for BCS)+vancomycin;3)HPHBP(hydroxybisphosphonate control for HBCS)+vancomycin;4)vancomycin;5)sitafloxacin;6)BCS+vancomycin;and 7)HBCS+vancomycin.BLI confirmed infection persisted in all groups except for mice treated with BCS or HBCS+vancomycin.Radiology revealed catastrophic femur fractures in all groups except mice treated with BCS or HBCS+vancomycin,which also displayed decreases in peri-implant bone loss,osteoclast numbers,and biofilm.To confirm this,we assessed the efficacy of vancomycin,sitafloxacin,and HBCS monotherapy in a transtibial implant model.The results showed complete lack of vancomycin efficacy while all mice treated with HBCS had evidence of infection control,and some had evidence of osseous integrated septic implants,suggestive of biofilm eradication.Taken together these studies demonstrate that HBCS adjuvant with standard of care debridement and vancomycin therapy has the potential to eradicate MRSA osteomyelitis.

Exploring Long COVID: Healthcare Utilization Up to 360 Days after a COVID-19 Diagnosis—Results from Analysis of a Very Large US National Sample

The topic of the long-term effects of COVID-19, so-called “long-COVID”, has gained increased attention. The US federal government announced plans to develop an interagency national research action plan to uncover more insights into the long-term effects of COVID-19. This study contributes to our understanding of the long-term effects of COVID-19 by quantifying patterns of healthcare utilization up to 360 days after an initial COVID-19 diagnosis occurring during the beginning of the pandemic (March-August 2020) in a very large nationally representative population of insured adults. We quantify actual COVID-19-related utilization (as opposed to reported symptoms) by accessing claims data to calculate average medical visits per patient per month by type of encounter (e.g. inpatient stay, physician visit). In contrast to many recent reports in the media, our results show that COVID-19-related utilization declines substantially after the first-month post-diagnosis and continues to decline throughout the study period to very low levels.