The study of disease and the translation of therapies are enhanced by the high-quality, meaningful contributions of academic dermatologists in Australia and New Zealand. Clinical academic numbers are falling throughout Australia, a point of concern for the Australian Medical Association, however, no prior studies have analyzed scholarly publications specifically within the Australasian dermatology community.
Employing bibliometric analysis, an investigation into the publications of dermatologists in Australia and New Zealand was completed in January and February 2023. All dermatologists' Scopus profiles from 2017 to 2022 were analyzed to determine their lifetime H-index, total publications, citation numbers, and field-weighted citation impact (FWCI). Z-VAD-FMK Non-parametric techniques were utilized to measure trends in output across time. Using Wilcoxon rank-sum and one-way ANOVA tests, disparities in outcomes were evaluated among subgroups categorized by gender and academic leadership positions (associate professor or professor). Z-VAD-FMK Comparing the same bibliographic variables across five years before and five years after the awarding of their fellowships, a subgroup analysis was carried out on the scholarly output of recent college graduates.
Of the 463 practicing dermatologists in Australia and New Zealand, 372, or 80%, were successfully linked to their Scopus researcher profiles. From the surveyed dermatologists, 167 were male (45% of the total), while 205 were female (55%). A further 31 (8%) individuals held academic leadership roles. Among dermatologists, a high percentage (67%) have published at least one paper in the last five years. During the period between 2017 and 2022, the median output of scholarly work was 3, and the median number of citations was 14. The median lifetime H-index was 4, while the median FWCI was 0.64. Although there was no statistically significant downward trend in yearly publications, a marked reduction in citation counts and FWCI was evident. Analysis by subgroup demonstrated that female dermatologists produced a significantly higher number of publications than male dermatologists between 2017 and 2022. Other bibliographic characteristics were similar. The academic leadership positions within this cohort showed a significant underrepresentation of women, although they constitute 55% of dermatologists, with only 32%. There was a considerable disparity in bibliographic success between associate professors and professors, with professors achieving more. Ultimately, a recent study of college graduates revealed a substantial drop in bibliometric results before and after participating in a fellowship program.
Analysis of dermatological research across Australia and New Zealand indicates a trend of lower output in the last five years. Australasian dermatologists, particularly women and recent graduates, must have research support strategies to maintain strong scholarly output and thereby ensure the best possible evidence-based patient care.
The research output of dermatologists in Australia and New Zealand shows a downward trend, as observed from our five-year analysis. Strong research output by Australasian dermatologists, especially women and recent graduates, requires focused support programs, ensuring optimal patient care grounded in evidence.
The development of ready-to-use tools has significantly enhanced accessibility to the computational analysis of bio-images using deep learning (DL) algorithms, which has made exceptional progress in recent years for non-specialists. The investigation of oogenesis mechanisms and female reproductive success has recently benefited from the creation of robust protocols for three-dimensional (3D) imaging of ovaries. While these datasets are promising for generating new quantitative data, effective 3D image analysis workflows are lacking, thus complicating their analysis. An analysis pipeline for 3D follicular content, built within Fiji, now leverages the open-source deep learning frameworks Cellpose and Noise2Void. Utilizing medaka larval and adult ovaries as a basis for development, our pipeline demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt to other ovarian types, from trout and zebrafish, to mouse ovaries. Through image enhancement, Cellpose segmentation, and subsequent label processing, these 3D images, exhibiting irregular fluorescent staining, a reduced autofluorescence signal, or a disparity in follicle sizes, were automatically and precisely quantified. For future developmental or toxicological investigations involving fish or mammals, this pipeline will prove instrumental in performing comprehensive cellular phenotyping.
The current state of studies and clinical trials on the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSCs) for preterm birth (PTB) complications is described in this paper, an area of significant clinical interest. The worldwide rise of PTB presents a significant medical concern, and preventing complications is crucial for newborns' long-term health and longevity. Insufficient classical treatments often lead to complications in a significant number of PTB patients. Increasingly persuasive evidence from translational medicine, alongside other research, indicates that MSCs, particularly easily obtainable AFSCs, could provide treatment for complications stemming from PTB. In the prenatal MSC landscape, AFSCs stand alone, demonstrating considerable anti-inflammatory and tissue-protective capabilities, and exhibiting no tumor formation when transplanted. Moreover, since they originate from amniotic fluid, a medical byproduct, no ethical concerns arise. AFSCs are an exceptional cellular resource, ideally suited for MSC therapy in the neonate. This study investigates the potential damage to the brain, lungs, and intestines caused by PTB complications. This report details the current evidence and anticipated future implications of MSCs and AFSCs regarding these organs.
White matter pathologies' irreversibility is due to the central nervous system projection neurons' failure to spontaneously regenerate long-distance axons. Regenerating axons, in response to experimental treatments, commonly experience a stoppage in growth before they reach their synaptic targets. The research question centers on whether the interaction of regenerating axons with live oligodendrocytes, absent throughout the developmental growth of axons, contributes to the stopping of axonal elongation. To explore this hypothesis, we commenced with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and immunohistological analyses to explore whether post-injury-formed oligodendrocytes become part of the glial scar structure after optic nerve damage. With optic nerve crush as the initial intervention, we then introduced demyelination-inducing cuprizone, followed by Pten knockdown (KD) to stimulate axon regeneration. The glial scar hosted post-injury-born oligodendrocyte lineage cells, making them susceptible to the demyelination diet, which led to a decrease in their presence within the glial scar. Subsequent analysis demonstrated that the demyelination diet bolstered Pten KD's effect on stimulating axon regeneration, in addition to localized cuprizone injection's enhancement of axon regeneration. Comparative analysis of gene expression in scRNA-seq-derived normal and injured optic nerve oligodendrocyte lineage cells is facilitated by this resource.
The association between time-restricted eating (TRE) and the potential for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has received less attention in the research community. Also, it is not established whether this relationship is independent of physical exercise, dietary standards, or the quantity of food consumed. For a nationwide cross-sectional study encompassing 3813 participants, 24-hour dietary recalls were employed to capture the timing of food intake. The presence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was determined through vibration-controlled transient elastography, excluding other causes of chronic liver disease. Logistic regression procedures were employed to calculate the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. Participants with a shorter 8-hour daily eating window demonstrated a lower risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (odds ratio = 0.70, 95% confidence interval = 0.52-0.93) in comparison with those who consumed meals within a 10-hour timeframe. NAFLD prevalence demonstrated an inverse trend with both early (0500-1500) and late (1100-2100) TRE periods, showing no statistical heterogeneity (Pheterogeneity = 0.649). The odds ratios were 0.73 (95% confidence interval 0.36 to 1.47) and 0.61 (95% confidence interval 0.44 to 0.84), respectively. A stronger inverse association was found in participants with lower energy intake, corresponding to an odds ratio of 0.58 (95% CI 0.38-0.89) and a statistically significant interaction p-value of 0.0020. The connection between TRE and NAFLD is unaffected by variations in physical activity or diet quality, as evidenced by the lack of statistical interaction (Pinteraction = 0.0390 and 0.0110). TRE might be linked to a lower probability of developing NAFLD. The inverse association observed is unaffected by physical activity or dietary quality, and it is more pronounced among individuals with lower energy intake. Epidemiological research, employing validated methods for accurately measuring the usual timing of dietary consumption, is crucial in light of the potential for miscategorization of TRE based on one- or two-day recall periods in the analysis.
Analyzing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on neuro-ophthalmology practices within the United States is necessary.
Participants in the cross-sectional study.
The North American Neuro-ophthalmology Society disseminated a survey concerning the effects of COVID-19 on neuro-ophthalmic practices among its membership. The neuro-ophthalmic practice and its outlook in light of the pandemic were explored through 15 inquiries in the survey.
Our survey on neuro-ophthalmology, conducted across the United States, was answered by 28 practitioners. Z-VAD-FMK Of the survey's participants, 64% were men.
A breakdown of the group revealed eighteen percent to be male, and thirty-six percent female.