Chromatin regulator HELLS mediates SSB repair and responses to DNA alkylation damage.

The SNF2 family chromatin remodeler HELLS has emerged as an important regulator of cell proliferation, genome stability, and several cancer pathways. Significant upregulation of HELLS has been reported in 33 human cancer types. While HELLS has been implicated in DNA damage response, its function in DNA repair is poorly understood.

De novo generation of colorectal patient educational materials using large language models: Prompt engineering key to improved readability.

Background: Improving patient education has been shown to improve clinical outcomes and reduce disparities, though such efforts can be labor intensive. Large language models may serve as an accessible method to improve patient educational material. The aim of this study was to compare readability between existing educational materials and those generated by large language models.

Addressing Low Health Literacy in Surgical Populations.

Health literacy is defined as the ability to obtain, engage, understand, and act upon health information to make decisions about health care. Health literacy is a key determinant of health outcomes and disparities including those in surgery. Over one-third of surgical patients suffer from low health literacy, with disproportionately higher rates among older, rural, and black patients.

Characterising the activity, lifestyle behaviours and health outcomes of UK university students: an observational cohort study with a focus on gender and ethnicity.

Background: Health-related outcomes and behaviours in university students are known to be poor relative to the general population. The substantial contextual shifts related to the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with increased numbers of students from minoritised ethnicity backgrounds and presenting as trans and gender diverse (TGD), means that up-to-date information is unavailable. The primary aim of this study was therefore to characterise the current movement, dietary and lifestyle behaviours, mental health, and Body Mass Index (BMI) of UK university students and assess differences between genders and ethnic groups.

Characterization of the Ocular Phenotype in a Col4a3 Knockout Mouse Model of Alport Syndrome.

Purpose: Alport syndrome (AS) is a genetic condition caused by a dysfunctional collagen (IV) α3α4α5 heterotrimer, leading to basement membrane instability and, ultimately, abnormalities in the kidney, inner ear, and eyes. This study aimed to characterize ocular pathology of AS by focusing on inflammatory and fibrotic markers.

Methods: Col4a3tm1Dec knockout (KO) mice eyes were evaluated for the localization of collagen (IV) α3 and collagen (IV) α4, then stained for transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), TGF-β2, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and β-catenin.

Health Disparities and Anal Cancer.

Health disparities are preventable differences in health outcomes that are experienced by disadvantaged patient populations. Disparities in prevention, incidence, treatment, and mortality exist among patients with anal cancer. Factors contributing to these disparities are found at the patient, provider, health system, and public policy levels.

Identifying CNS infections in transplantation and immunomodulatory therapy.

Opportunistic central nervous system (CNS) infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromized patients, including those undergoing transplantation and receiving immunomodulatory therapy. Particularly in these individuals, the clinical presentation of these infections may have atypical patterns, emphasizing the need to consider various diagnostic possibilities, including noninfectious conditions. Quick and accurate identification, along with prompt treatment, is crucial for improving patient outcomes.

A Phase 2 Sensitivity and Selectivity Study of High-Dose 5-Aminolevulinic Acid in Adult Patients Undergoing Resection of a Newly Diagnosed or Recurrent Glioblastoma.

Background And Objectives: The utility of oral 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)/protoporphyrin fluorescence for the resection of high-grade gliomas is well documented, but the problem of false-negative observations remains. This study compares high-grade glioma visualization with low/standard dose 5-ALA (<30 mg/kg) to high-dose 5-ALA (>40 mg/kg) to see if by using this higher dose, it is possible to reduce the rate of false-negative observations without increasing the rate of false-positive (FP) observations and therefore increase the sensitivity.

Methods: This is a prospective study of consecutive patients with radiological evidence of presumed high-grade glioma.

Socioecological Determinants of Health and the Quality of Colonoscopy in Rural Alabama.

Background: Rural patients experience a higher incidence of and mortality from colorectal cancer. Ensuring high-quality screening is essential to address these disparities.

Objective: To investigate whether socioecological determinants of health are associated with colonoscopy quality in rural Alabama.

Magnetic resonance imaging findings in dogs with steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis in the UK and their clinical significance: 53 cases (2013-2021).

Objectives: To describe the MRI findings in a UK referral population of dogs with steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis and to determine if they were associated with any specific clinical features or outcomes.

Materials And Methods: We performed a multi-centre retrospective case series of dogs diagnosed with steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis in the UK that underwent MRI. Blinded consensus review of the MRI studies was performed and the findings described.

PKR activation-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in HIV-transgenic mice with nephropathy.

HIV disease remains prevalent in the USA and chronic kidney disease remains a major cause of morbidity in HIV-1-positive patients. Host double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-activated protein kinase (PKR) is a sensor for viral dsRNA, including HIV-1. We show that PKR inhibition by compound C16 ameliorates the HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) kidney phenotype in the Tg26 transgenic mouse model, with reversal of mitochondrial dysfunction.

Novel Characterization of Socioecological Determinants of Health in Rural Alabama.

Introduction: Socioecological determinants of health (SEDOHs) influence disparities in surgical outcomes. However, SEDOHs are challenging to measure, limiting our ability to address disparities. Using a validated survey (SEDOH-88), we assessed SEDOHs in three rural communities in Alabama.

Which individual components of a colorectal surgery enhanced recovery program are associated with improved surgical outcomes?

Background: Enhanced recovery programs improve surgical outcomes. However, the association of adherence to individual components and outcomes in a comprehensive enhanced recovery program remains unclear.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of all elective colorectal surgery patients at our institution from 2019 to 2022 (n = 1,175).

Tackling bisexual erasure: An explorative comparison of bisexual, gay and straight cisgender men's body image.

Previous body image research often grouped both gay and bisexual men into a single category: sexual minoritised men, limiting our understanding of how sexual identity influences body image. However, there is strong reason to believe that bisexual and gay men experience distinct body image concerns. Here, we explored motivations to alter one's leanness and muscularity, as well as (dis)satisfaction with body fat, muscularity, height and penis size, and functionality appreciation across gay, bisexual, and straight cisgender men.

Preoperative Education is Associated with Adherence to Downstream Components and Outcomes in a Colorectal Surgery Enhanced Recovery Program.

Objective: This study evaluated the association between preoperative education and adherence to downstream components of enhanced recovery programs (ERPs) and surgical outcomes among patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.

Background: ERPs improve outcomes for surgical patients. While preoperative education is an essential component of ERPs, its relationship with other components is unclear.

Providers' and survivors' perspectives on the availability and accessibility of surgery in gastrointestinal cancer care.

Background: Surgery is essential for gastrointestinal (GI) cancer treatment. Many patients lack access to surgical care that optimizes outcomes. Scarce availability and/or low accessibility of appropriate resources may be the reason for this, especially in economically disadvantaged areas.

Reducing no-show visits and disparities in access: The impact of telemedicine.

Background: No-show visits have serious consequences for patients, providers, and healthcare systems as they lead to delays in care, increased costs, and reduced access to services. Telemedicine has emerged as a promising alternative to in-person visits by reducing travel barriers, but risks exacerbating the digital divide. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of telemedicine (video and phone) at a tertiary care academic center on no-show visits compared to in-person visits.

NAD activates renal metabolism and protects from chronic kidney disease in a model of Alport syndrome.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with renal metabolic disturbances, including impaired fatty acid oxidation (FAO). Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD ) is a small molecule that participates in hundreds of metabolism-related reactions. NAD levels are decreased in CKD, and NAD supplementation is protective.

"[He] can be supportive, but at times I feel he is ashamed of me": Understanding the relationship between parental support and quality of life amongst trans and gender diverse youth in the UK.

Background: Trans and gender diverse (TGD) youth often report poor relations with their parents and perceive these to be core to the mental health difficulties they experience. One aspect of psychological wellbeing that has not been well explored in relation to parental support is Quality of Life (QoL).

Aim: To test the association between perceived parental support and QoL and, understand from the young person's perspective how parental support contributes to QoL.

Development of a comprehensive survey to assess key socioecological determinants of health.

Background: Although disparities in surgical outcomes are well-documented, our understanding of how socioecological factors drive these disparities remains limited. Comprehensive and efficient assessment tools are needed. This study's objective was to develop and assess the acceptability and feasibility of a comprehensive tool evaluating socioecological determinants of health in patients requiring colorectal surgery.

An Integrated Ecological Niche Modelling Framework for Risk Mapping of Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus Exposure in African Buffalo () in the Greater Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem.

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious viral disease of small ruminants that threatens livelihoods and food security in developing countries and, in some cases, wild ungulate species conservation. The Greater Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem (GSME) encompasses one of the major wildlife populations of PPR virus (PPRV)-susceptible species left on earth, although no clinical disease has been reported so far. This study aimed to gain further knowledge about PPRV circulation in the GSME by identifying which factors predict PPRV seropositivity in African buffalo ().

Image-localized biopsy mapping of brain tumor heterogeneity: A single-center study protocol.

Brain cancers pose a novel set of difficulties due to the limited accessibility of human brain tumor tissue. For this reason, clinical decision-making relies heavily on MR imaging interpretation, yet the mapping between MRI features and underlying biology remains ambiguous. Standard (clinical) tissue sampling fails to capture the full heterogeneity of the disease.

Understanding the Impact of Enhanced Recovery Programs on Social Vulnerability, Race, and Colorectal Surgery Outcomes.

Background: Increasing social vulnerability, measured by the Social Vulnerability Index, has been associated with worse surgical outcomes. However, less is known about the impact of social vulnerability on patients who underwent colorectal surgery under enhanced recovery programs.

Objective: We hypothesized that increasing social vulnerability is associated with worse outcomes before enhanced recovery implementation, but that after implementation, disparities in outcomes would be reduced.

Modelling flock heterogeneity in the transmission of peste des petits ruminants virus and its impact on the effectiveness of vaccination for eradication.

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an acute infectious disease of small ruminants targeted for global eradication by 2030. The Global Strategy for Control and Eradication (GSCE) recommends mass vaccination targeting 70% coverage of small ruminant populations in PPR-endemic regions. These small ruminant populations are diverse with heterogeneous mixing patterns that may influence PPR virus (PPRV) transmission dynamics.