搜索结果：data

KBG syndrome is a rare autosomal developmental disorder caused by pathogenic variants of the ANKRD11 gene. This scoping review aimed to explore all current literature data regarding clinical and electroencephalographic features of patients with KBG syndrome and epilepsy. We conducted a literature review of previously published cases of patients with KBG syndrome and epilepsy in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases in English, focusing on seizure semiology and electroencephalographic features. Fifty-four studies were included in the review, including 233 patients with KBG syndrome and epilepsy. Most children with KBG syndrome and epilepsy (89.7%) had developmental delay and intellectual disability. The most common neurological symptoms were hypotonia (30.7%), sleep disturbances (20%), ataxia (18.7%), migraine (8.3%), and stereotypies (6.7%) (N = 75, available data on neurological symptoms). The median age of developing seizures was 4 years (range 1 month-51 years). Patients with KBG syndrome had most commonly generalized seizures (73.9%), although focal seizures occurred in 37.9% of cases (N = 140, available data on seizure type). Generalized tonic-clonic seizures were the most common seizure type (38.2%), followed by absences (26.6%), and focal seizures with or without preserved consciousness (21.9% and 19.1%, respectively). Interictal EEG showed focal and, less frequently, generalized discharges (24.6% vs. 15%) in the 118 patients with available EEG data. Almost 70% of patients were seizure-free after a mean follow-up of 9.9 years, while drug-resistant epilepsy was reported in 22.6% of cases. Patients with focal impaired consciousness seizures had significantly lower odds of achieving seizure freedom. Epileptic seizures in patients with KBG syndrome are usually generalized and have an onset between infancy and mid-teens. Common epileptological features in KBG syndrome comprise the good response to antiseizure medication and, in most cases, the remitting nature of epilepsy. Drug-resistant epilepsy can be observed in up to one-third of cases.

Chronic pain is increasingly recognised as a disease with substantial morbidity, yet large-scale data on chronic pain-associated mortality trends and disparities are lacking. To examine nationwide temporal trends and demographic disparities in chronic pain-associated mortality in the US from 1999 to 2023. Death certificate data from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database (1999-2023) were extracted. All deaths with chronic pain listed as a contributing cause were included (n = 67,417), reporting chronic pain (ICD-10 codes R52.1 and R52.2). Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMRs) per 1,000,000 population, standardized to the 2000 US population. Trends were analysed using Joinpoint regression and represented by annual percentage changes (APCs) with 95% confidence intervals. Among 67,417 chronic pain-associated deaths (61.5% female), AAMR increased from 1.97 per 1,000,000 in 1999 to 10,72 per 1,000,000 in 2023 (average APC, +6.3%; 95% CI5.8% to 6.8%). Increases in AAMR were noted across both sexes (females; average APC, 6.1%; males: 6.6%), age groups (&#x2265; 55 years: average APC, 6.5%; < 55 years: 4.7%), race/ethnicities (non-Hispanic White; average APC, 6.3%; non-Hispanic Black: 10.4% to 2019 then stable; Hispanic: similar acceleration), and regions (all average APCS, 5.3% to 6.3%). Females and those &#x2265; 55 years had higher AAMRS; the South had the highest burden (33.9% of deaths). These findings revealed a marked rise in chronic pain-associated mortality, disproportionately affecting females, older adults, non-Hispanic White individuals, and the South, signalling chronic pain as a public health concern. Enhanced documentation, interventions targeting comorbidities and disparity-focused policies are urgently needed to mitigate this burden.

The COVID-19 pandemic may serve as a natural experiment, with pandemic-associated changes in the epidemiology of Kawasaki disease (KD) potentially informing understanding of KD pathogenesis. To assess long-term KD incidence across 50 years and to examine pandemic-associated changes in KD epidemiology across age groups. This cohort study was a descriptive epidemiologic analysis of data from the Japanese Nationwide Survey of Kawasaki Disease conducted from 2023 to 2024, along with 50 years of historical data. Data were included from patients with KD in the current 2023-2024 survey (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;29&#x202f;841) and historical and current survey data from 1975 through 2024 (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;467&#x202f;456) for trend analysis. Annual KD incidence overall and stratified by 3 age groups: infants (<1 year), 1 to 4 years, and 5 to 9 years. The current survey registered 15&#x202f;032 and 14&#x202f;809 patients with KD in 2023 and 2024, respectively (overall, 57.3% male; median [IQR] age, 2 [1-4] years). Across the 50-year study period, despite the population under 5 years of age declining in Japan by 61.6%, KD incidence rates increased 16.1-fold. Across the COVID-19 pandemic period, patient numbers reached a nadir of 10&#x202f;333 in 2022, then rebounded to 15&#x202f;032 cases (45.5% increase) in 2023. Notably, decline and rebound patterns differed by age. Indexed incidence rates (using 2017 as a baseline of 100) demonstrated that patients 5 to 9 years of age had the largest decline (nadir of 54.2 in 2021, 45.8% below baseline) and the largest rebound (134.8 in 2024, 34.8% above baseline). In contrast, patients younger than 1 year showed the smallest decline (nadir of 73) and incidence rates did not return to baseline levels. When comparing the magnitude of rebound in KD incidence, a distinct age-dependent dose-response pattern was observed: 26.1% for infants, 38.9% for patients aged 1 year, 42.7% for patients aged 2 years, 85.8% for patients aged 3 years, 105.3% for patients aged 4 years, and 166.7% for patients aged 5 to 9 years. In this nationwide cohort study of KD in Japan, KD incidence rebounded after the relaxation of COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions, with age-dependent patterns. Nonpharmaceutical interventions (eg, mask-wearing) during the pandemic may explain the greater rebound pattern observed in older children; however, the minimal changes in infants suggest different exposure pathways to potential KD triggers. These findings support an age-stratified approach to KD pathogenesis research, distinguishing infants from older children.

Choosing between endovascular and open (bypass) surgical revascularization for chronic limb-threatening ischemia has major implications for clinical practice. To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of endovascular vs bypass surgical revascularization. This economic evaluation used individual-level data from the Best Endovascular vs Best Surgical Therapy for Patients With Chronic Limb Ischemia (BEST-CLI) trial, with the first patient enrolled August 28, 2014, and the final October 18, 2019, for a median follow-up of 2.7 years. An individual-level, continuous-time Markov model with health states based on adjudicated clinical events from BEST-CLI was developed. Rates of clinical outcomes, health utilities, and health care resource use were derived from trial data. Unit costs came from Medicare insurance claims data and the physician fee schedule. The data were analyzed between June 27, 2025, and May 28, 2026. The main outcomes were incremental cost per life-years gained, incremental quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained, incremental net monetary benefit, and cost per major events of revascularization and amputation avoided over a 5- and 10-year time horizon. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to quantify uncertainty. The cohort included 1434 patients from BEST-CLI (mean [SD] age, 67 [10] years; 1026 male [71.5%]). In the base case analysis, over a 5-year time horizon, the mean per-person direct medical costs were $118&#x202f;559 (95% credible interval [CrI], $86&#x202f;978-$157&#x202f;152) for bypass surgery and $125&#x202f;535 (95% CrI, $96&#x202f;205-$160&#x202f;357) for endovascular surgery. The mean survival per person was 3.84 years (95% CrI, 3.74-3.93 years) and 3.78 years (95% CrI, 3.61-3.94 years) for bypass and endovascular surgery, respectively. The mean QALYs per person were 2.53 (95% CrI, 2.34-2.70) for bypass surgery and 2.48 (95% CrI, 2.28-2.67) for endovascular surgery. Bypass surgery dominated endovascular surgery with respect to both costs per life-year and per QALY gained. The results over 10 years were consistent with those of the 5-year BEST-CLI follow-up. In the Monte Carlo simulation, there was a 93% chance that bypass surgery was more cost-effective than endovascular surgery. This cost-effectiveness study found that bypass surgery was more cost-effective in most probabilistic simulations; however, uncertainty remained, highlighting the need for future research to identify subgroups in whom each approach may be cost-effective.

Chronic pain is a common condition that has been linked to systemic inflammation. In recent years, the system inflammation response index (SIRI) has aroused researchers' interest as a novel inflammatory biomarker. The association between SIRI and mortality in individuals with chronic pain remains unclear. To explore the association between SIRI and all-cause mortality in individuals with chronic pain, and to assess the index's potential as a tool for risk stratification in this population. A population-based prospective cohort study. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004, with mortality follow-up through December 31, 2019. Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed to evaluate the association between log10-transformed SIRI and all-cause mortality in the chronic pain population, adjusting for demographic and health-related factors. To handle missing data, multiple imputation by chained equations was performed, generating 5 imputed datasets. Nonlinear relationships were examined using restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression and piecewise models to explore potential threshold effects. The study included 1,938 patients with chronic pain, of whom 647 died during follow-up. Higher log10(SIRI) was associated with higher all-cause mortality in fully adjusted models (hazard ratio [HR] per one-unit increase, 2.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.67-3.94; P < 0.001). Compared to patients in the lowest SIRI tertile, those in the highest tertile had a higher mortality risk (HR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.11-1.90; P < 0.001). RCS analyses further suggested a nonlinear association between SIRI and mortality, with a steeper increase in risk at higher SIRI levels. The association appeared stronger among adults aged &#x2265; 52 years. Chronic pain status was self-reported using a duration-based definition (&#x2265; 3 months) and lacked detailed clinical characterization and treatment data. In adults with chronic pain, higher SIRI was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality, with a more pronounced association in older adults. SIRI may be useful for mortality risk stratification in this population.

Chronic pain is a significant global health challenge, often resistant to conventional treatments, which has led to increased interest in minimally invasive interventions such as radiofrequency (RF) techniques. Over the past 2 decades, clinicians and researchers have extensively studied and utilized RF for chronic pain management. Despite its growing clinical use, the evidence supporting the efficacy of RF remains inconsistent, with outcomes varying due to differences in study design, patient selection, and procedural techniques. To improve the understanding of the current research landscape, this study conducts a bibliometric analysis with the aim of summarizing and visualizing the evolution of, research hot spots within, and future trends in the use of RF for chronic pain treatment. The findings aim to inform directions for future research and optimize the application of RF techniques in clinical practice. This research endeavors to perform a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global research on the use of RF in chronic pain treatment, focusing on identifying major contributing countries, institutions, journals, and authors, assessing the knowledge base, tracking trends in research hot spots, and exploring emerging topics within the field. A bibliometric analysis. We searched the Web of Science (WoS) database for articles published between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2024. CiteSpace and VOSviewer were utilized to perform bibliometric analysis and visualization. After all the data were gathered, 719 documents in total were classified and subjected to a detailed analysis that employed the aforementioned tools. The annual number of publications about the use of RF in chronic pain treatment showed a continuous growth trend that reached its peak in 2020. The United States, China, and South Korea were recognized as the most productive countries. Key institutions driving advancements included Yeungnam University, the University of Wisconsin, and Harvard Medical School. Among the authors, Min Cheol Chang and Alaa Abd-Elsayed led in productivity, while Steven P. Cohen stood as the most influential co-cited author, reflecting his foundational contributions to RF clinical applications and guidelines. Among all the journals, Pain Physician and Pain Medicine published the greatest number of relevant papers. Keyword bursts included "radiofrequency ablation," "pain management," and "postherpetic neuralgia," which were hot topics and frontiers in the research field. We analyzed only publications indexed in the WoS because most indicators required for bibliometric analysis could be extracted efficiently from its Web site. This bibliometric analysis synthesizes 2 decades of global research on the use of RF for chronic pain, highlighting contributions from leading nations, institutions, journals, and authors. Keyword trends reflect a shift from foundational studies on thermal mechanisms to clinical validation and innovation in precision targeting and refractory pain subtypes. Further randomized controlled trials, interdisciplinary collaboration, and long-term outcome assessments are warranted to boost the therapeutic potential of RF for diverse chronic pain populations.

In fragile and shock-prone settings, where political instability, economic crises, and institutional fragmentation weaken central authorities, strengthening local health governance has become critical for health system resilience. Lebanon represents an example, having faced compounded shocks including economic collapse, the COVID-19 pandemic, and armed conflict, all of which have strained an already fragmented health system. Despite increasing recognition of the importance of sub-national governance, limited empirical evidence exists on how municipal-level health governance structures function in practice under such conditions. This article evaluates the establishment and functioning of a Municipal Health Committee (MHC) as a pilot model of local health governance, analysing factors influencing good governance practices. Using participatory action research and an implementation research design, qualitative data were collected through process documentation and field observations, six critical reflective meetings, and nine key informant interviews. Data were analysed using the TAPIC framework to examine transparency, accountability, participation, integrity, and capacity in the MHC's operations. Findings indicate that the MHC enhanced inclusive participation thereby strengthening local legitimacy and trust. The committee progressively embedded transparency and evidence-informed decision-making, including efforts to generate local health data. However, compliance by formulated ideal and institutional integrity was persistently challenged by political interference, patronage networks, weak enforceability of accountability mechanisms, and financial precarity. Sustained mentorship by the research team strengthened governance practices and enhanced the MHC's ability to implement its mandate effectively. Municipal committees can strengthen equity and resilience in settings through inclusive, evidence-informed processes; however, sustainability depends on local ownership, functional autonomy from political capture, and capacity development.

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) in young adults may represent a distinct entity with sex and ancestry-related differences. Population-level data on incidence and survival remain limited. We assessed age- and stage-specific trends in early-onset LUAD and evaluated racial and sex disparities in presentation and outcomes. We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to identify patients aged 15-49 years diagnosed with LUAD. Age-adjusted incidence and stage-specific trends were assessed using joinpoint regression. Cause-specific survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier methods and multivariable Cox regression, focusing on non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander (NHAPI) females. Among 14,109 patients, 1,149 (8.1%) were NHAPI females. Incidence trends were heterogeneous across groups, with relatively stable patterns in NHAPI females and variable trends in other populations. NHAPI females more frequently presented with distant-stage disease than non-Hispanic White patients (73.6% vs. 68.0%; p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.001). Despite this, they demonstrated superior survival. Five-year cause-specific survival was higher in NHAPI females, with a median survival of 38.0 versus 24.0 months in non-Hispanic White patients (log-rank p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). In multivariable analysis, non-Hispanic White patients had increased mortality risk compared with NHAPI females (HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.12-1.41). Stage remained the strongest prognostic factor, with higher risk in regional (HR 3.51) and distant disease (HR 12.41) versus localized disease (both p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001). Young NHAPI females represent a distinct LUAD subgroup characterized by a paradox of advanced-stage presentation but improved survival. These findings highlight clinically meaningful heterogeneity and support targeted strategies for early detection and prevention.

Concomitant with the global obesity epidemic, fertility has declined in Western countries with birth rates falling below replacement levels. A higher body mass index (BMI) among women is associated with reduced fertility, but associations with body size earlier in life are underexplored. To investigate whether trajectories of childhood BMI are associated with timing of first childbirth and infertility in women. This prospective, population-based cohort study used linked national register and school health examination data of women aged 18 to 45 years who were born in Copenhagen, Denmark, between 1950 and 1989. Participants were followed up for reproductive outcomes from January 1, 1977 to December 31, 2022. Analytic work was conducted from May to October 2025. Measured height and weight data used to calculate childhood BMI trajectories from ages 6 to 15 years. Registration of childbirth and hospital-based diagnoses of infertility identified in the Medical Birth Register, the Danish Infertility Cohort, the National Patient Register, and the In Vitro Fertilization Register. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were estimated using Cox regression models. This study included 60&#x202f;864 women in the childbirth analysis, of whom 47&#x202f;669 (78.3%) gave birth (median [IQR] age, 27.2 [23.7-30.9] years); 58&#x202f;148 were included in the primary infertility analysis, of whom 5381 (9.3%) were diagnosed with primary infertility (median [IQR] age, 31.3 [27.9-35.1] years); and 63&#x202f;066 were included in the any infertility analysis, of whom 6961 (11.0%) were diagnosed with any infertility (median [IQR] age, 31.9 [28.4-35.7] years). Women with an obesity trajectory in childhood had a lower hazard of giving birth than those with an average trajectory, and this hazard decreased with increasing age (ages 25-29 years: HR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.72-0.86]; ages 35-45 years: HR, 0.56 [95% CI, 0.46-0.67]). Similarly, women with an overweight trajectory during childhood had a lower hazard of giving birth, which decreased with increasing age. No associations were observed between the childhood BMI trajectories and primary or any infertility. In this cohort study of Danish women, associations with childbirth decreased from mid- to late-reproductive ages, when the window of fertility narrows. These findings suggest that childhood body size is associated with timing of childbirth, highlighting the importance of addressing women's reproductive health early in the life course.

Epigenetic aging clocks based on DNA methylation patterns across the genome have emerged as a potential biomarker for risk of age-related diseases, like Alzheimer's disease (AD), and environmental and social stressors. However, methylation clocks have not been comprehensively validated in genetically diverse individuals. Here, we evaluate a set of first-, second-, and third-generation methylation clocks in 621 AD patients and matched controls from African American, Hispanic, and White cohorts. The clocks are less accurate at predicting age in genetically admixed cohorts compared to the White cohort, especially for those with substantial African ancestry. This decreased accuracy holds in >2500 individuals of European and African ancestry from three additional datasets. The clocks also fail to consistently identify age acceleration in admixed AD cases compared to controls. To explore potential causes for the lack of generalization of the clocks, we intersected clock CpGs with methylation, germline genetic variants, and methylation QTL (meQTL) data from global populations. We find differential methylation between African and European ancestry individuals is common for clock CpGs. Genetic variants rarely disrupt clock CpGs between populations, but a substantial fraction of clock CpGs have meQTL with significantly higher frequencies in African genetic ancestries. Our results demonstrate that methylation clocks often fail to predict age and AD risk when applied across populations and suggest avenues for improving their portability by considering differences in genetic and epigenetic patterns across human populations.

To investigate how dental clinicians worldwide manage primary molars with irreversible pulpitis and pulp necrosis and to identify factors associated with variability in the use of coronal pulpotomy, non-vital pulp therapy (NVPT), and extraction. An online questionnaire was distributed via international and regional paediatric dentistry associations to dental clinicians who treat children. Standardised clinical scenarios were developed for irreversibly inflamed and necrotic primary molars. Participants selected their most likely treatment. Demographic data and reasons for not performing coronal pulpotomy or NVPT were collected. Data were analysed using multivariable Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) logistic regression to evaluate treatment choices and modified Poisson regression to calculate paired risk ratios (&#x3b1;&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.05). A total of 374 clinicians responded, the majority of whom were paediatric dentists (82.9%). For irreversible pulpitis, 62% preferred coronal pulpotomy, with no significant demographic influence. Management of necrotic primary molars was heterogeneous: 54% chose pulpectomy, 39% extraction and 7% lesion sterilisation and tissue repair, with extraction increasing as case complexity rose. University-based clinicians, paediatric dentists, and those with postgraduate degrees, as well as those trained in Asia, Africa, and the Americas, were more likely to perform NVPT than those in private practice or trained in Europe. Management of irreversibly inflamed and necrotic primary molars varies worldwide, with decisions for necrotic teeth shaped by clinicians' training, practice setting, and geographical region rather than by a coherent evidence base. Both tooth&#x2011;preserving options and extraction are used, but their selection varies widely and is influenced by evidence gaps, level of training, and resource availability.

Transforaminal epidural steroid injections (TFESIs) are a commonly used intervention for the management of lumbar radicular pain. While anatomical predictors of pain conditions like nerve compression severity, are well-known, the role of patient-specific metabolic factors has received comparatively less attention. Meanwhile, magnesium (Mg), a natural N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, plays a major role in pain modulation and the prevention of central sensitization. To investigate the association between pre-procedural serum magnesium levels and the clinical success of TFESIs. A retrospective observational cohort study. A tertiary referral center, Istanbul, T&#xfc;rkiye. Data from 121 patients undergoing single-level TFESIs were analyzed. The severity of each patient's radiological nerve root compression was graded using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based criteria. With the use of an evidence-based cutoff value of 0.85 mmol/L to identify subclinical deficiency, the patients were categorized into groups labeled Low-Mg (< 0.85 mmol/L, n = 29) and Normal-Mg (&#x2265; 0.85 mmol/L, n = 92). Clinical progress was tracked using the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at baseline, one month, and 3 months. Treatment success was defined as &#x2265; 50% pain relief and &#x2265; 40% functional improvement. Despite comparable radiological nerve compression grades, patients in the low-Mg group reported significantly higher baseline pain intensity than did those in the normal-Mg group (9.65 vs. 8.15, P < 0.001). Post-procedural outcomes were significantly better in patients with normal Mg levels. Success rates differed significantly between the groups: 71.7% vs. 20.7% at one month (P < 0.001), and 66.3% vs. 34.5% at 3 months (P = 0.002). Correlation analysis suggested a possible threshold effect, with outcomes deteriorating below the defined Mg cutoff rather than following a linear dose-response relationship. Limitations include the study's retrospective design, the lack of dietary intake data, and the reliance on serum rather than ionized Mg measurements. Low serum Mg levels (< 0.85 mmol/L) are associated with higher baseline pain intensity and a poor therapeutic response to TFESIs. Screening patients for their Mg levels represents a simple and potentially modifiable factor that may help improve injection outcomes, warranting consideration for supplementation in borderline cases.

Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) is a well-established neuromodulation therapy with decades of clinical use, a substantial body of clinically validated, peer-reviewed evidence, and endorsement in multiple evidence-based professional guidelines, including by the US Department of Defense. Despite this maturity, many commercial payers continue to deny coverage by categorizing PNS as "investigational" or "experimental," often conflating it with fundamentally different, indirect electrical stimulation modalities. This misclassification is increasingly misaligned with current science, clinical practice, and health-economic data, and has become a primary barrier to patient access to medically necessary care for refractory chronic pain. Given this extensive evidence base, it is no longer appropriate or ethical for payors to deny patients access to such an impactful treatment that clinicians and patients rely upon for managing refractory chronic pain.The present position statement - peripheral nerve stimulation is medically necessary and clinically validated, is developed by consensus of multidisciplinary experts with deep expertise in the field of neuromodulation, chronic pain, and peripheral nerve stimulation. This position statement provides background and rationale showing the justification for the statement supported by literature research and clinical evidence.

Primates exhibit diverse social structures, yet how proximity reflects social relationships may depend on the spatial threshold applied. This study examined within-group social relationships in red-tailed monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius) in Mahale Mountains National Park, Tanzania, by comparing two proximity thresholds, 5&#xa0;m and 1&#xa0;m. Proximity data were collected from one group over 122 days and used to construct separate proximity networks for each threshold. In the 5-m network, the adult male occupied the most central position and was approached more frequently by other group members than he approached them. In contrast, in the 1-m network, the adult male was peripheral, whereas females were relatively more central, with especially strong ties concentrated in specific dyads. These results indicate that different proximity thresholds reveal different aspects of within-group social organization within the same group. In this one-male group, broader spatial associations were centered on the resident male, whereas closer-range associations were more female-centered and selective. By showing that the apparent social structure of the same group varies with the spatial threshold used to define proximity, this study provides a new perspective on social organization in arboreal primates forming one-male groups.

Modern delineation of the Fusarium species using genetic data faces challenges no less complex than those previously encountered, when species descriptions were based exclusively on morphological characteristics. In present study, the taxonomic status of five fungal strains belonging to the F. incarnatum-equiseti species complex, which is a highly heterogeneous group of Fusarium, was clarified. The strains were isolated from wild and cultivated grasses and maintained in the fungal collections for 13-18 years under the epithet F.&#xa0;semitectum (syn. F. incarnatum). More precise identification of these strains as F. weifangense was achieved by combining phylogenetic analysis of fragments of the translation elongation factor 1&#x3b1; gene, the gene encoding RNA polymerase subunit II analyses, and calmodulin gene with morphological description and pathogenicity evaluation. The results of a comparative analysis of the phenotypic characteristics of the strains with those previously reported for this species, which are largely inconsistent. That differences in morphological description may be due to internal polymorphism of taxon, as well as differences in methodological approaches used by different research groups. The analyzed strains caused weak necrosis of wheat leaves inoculated under laboratory conditions, which indicates that F. weifangense is a non-pathogenic fungus. However, the previously demonstrated ability of the F. weifangense strains to produce zearalenone and diacetoxyscirpenol makes it necessary to clarify area and adaptive properties of this fungus.

Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) are a common and debilitating complication of osteoporosis, causing severe pain and immobility in the elderly population. Percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) is a minimally invasive procedure used to stabilize these fractures and provide pain relief, but its efficacy remains a topic of debate. We conducted a retrospective case series, recording data from 54 sets of VCFs followed by PKP in 46 individuals, to evaluate changes in pain levels measured on a subjective Visual Analog Scale. Secondary outcomes included the presence of follow-up procedures and changes in analgesics used, emphasizing a focus on functional outcomes. The average reduction in pain was 4.3/10 points (P < 0.001), further supported by a significant decline in analgesic strength used (P = 0.014). These findings support the role of PKP in addressing both pain and recovery from acute VCFs.

Opioid use disorder is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and heightened relapse vulnerability following abstinence, a phenomenon known as incubation of craving. Although preclinical data suggest similar behavioral expression of opioid use between sexes, conclusive evidence on sex differences in craving and relapse across abstinence periods remains lacking. Here, we investigated the effects of abstinence from oxycodone self-administration on neurotransmission in the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) to nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh) pathway in male and female rats. Using optogenetics and ex vivo electrophysiology, we assessed synaptic strength, glutamate release probability, and intrinsic excitability of NAcSh medium spiny neurons (MSNs) following 1 (acute) or 14 (prolonged) days of forced abstinence. No sex differences were observed in oxycodone self-administration or somatic withdrawal. However, females exhibited greater cue-induced relapse after prolonged but not acute abstinence. Prolonged abstinence produced comparable increases in PVT-NAcSh synaptic strength and presynaptic glutamate release probability in both sexes, while inhibitory transmission and MSN excitability were largely unaltered. The dissociation between comparable circuit-level plasticity and sex-specific relapse vulnerability suggests that PVT-NAcSh strengthening represents a shared neuroadaptation to oxycodone abstinence, while mechanisms driving heightened relapse in females likely involve additional circuit elements that remain to be identified.