Three-dimensional assessment of ascending aortic stiffness, motion, and growth in ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm.

Aims: Aortic wall stiffening in ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (aTAA) is common. However, the spatial and temporal relationships between stiffness, aortic size, and growth in aTAA remain unclear.

Methods And Results: In this single-centre retrospective study, we utilized vascular deformation mapping to extract multi-directional aortic motion, aortic distensibility, and aortic growth in a multi-planar fashion from multi-phasic ECG-gated computed tomography angiograms.

Floodplain forests drive fruit-eating fish diversity at the Amazon Basin-scale.

Unlike most rivers globally, nearly all lowland Amazonian rivers have unregulated flow, supporting seasonally flooded floodplain forests. Floodplain forests harbor a unique tree species assemblage adapted to flooding and specialized fauna, including fruit-eating fish that migrate seasonally into floodplains, favoring expansive floodplain areas. Frugivorous fish are forest-dependent fauna critical to forest regeneration via seed dispersal and support commercial and artisanal fisheries.

Determination of Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (uNGAL) Reference Intervals in Healthy Adult and Pediatric Individuals Using a Particle-Enhanced Turbidimetric Immunoassay.

: The current gold standards for diagnosing acute kidney injury (AKI) are an increase in serum creatinine and a decrease in urine output, which are inadequate for rapid diagnosis. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a 25-kDa protein produced and secreted by injured kidney tubule epithelial cells, and can serve as an early urinary biomarker for AKI. ProNephro AKI (NGAL) is an immunoassay for the quantitative determination of NGAL in urine (uNGAL) that recently received FDA clearance.

Patterns of belatacept use and risk of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder in US kidney transplant recipients: An analysis of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database.

Background: Belatacept is approved for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-seropositive kidney transplant recipients and is associated with a risk of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD).

Methods: Data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network were used to examine patterns of belatacept use, describe patient characteristics, and estimate risk of PTLD in EBV-seropositive, kidney-only transplant recipients receiving belatacept- or calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based immunosuppression as part of US Food and Drug Administration-mandated safety monitoring.

Results: During the study period (June 15, 2011-June 14, 2016), 94.

Like, share, and follow!: Usage of social media by pathology residency programs in the COVID-19 era.

Objectives: Social media platforms like Facebook, X (formally Twitter), and Instagram bridge pathology programs with other health professionals, prospective students, and the public, but the extent of social media usage by residency programs remains unexplored. This study investigates the current landscape of social media utilization by pathology programs.

Methods: Using the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) Match Data from 2022, 139 anatomic and clinical pathology residency programs were analyzed and categorized into 3 prestige tiers based on Doximity ratings.

L-type Calcium Channel Blockade Worsens Glucose Tolerance and β-Cell Function in C57BL6/J Mice Exposed to Intermittent Hypoxia.

Intermittent hypoxemia (IH), a pathophysiologic consequence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), adversely affects insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, and glucose tolerance. Nifedipine, an L-type calcium channel blocker frequently used for treatment of hypertension, can also impair insulin sensitivity and secretion. However, the cumulative and interactive repercussions of IH and nifedipine on glucose homeostasis have not been previously investigated.

Environmental Exposure to Per- and Polyfluorylalkyl Substances (PFASs) and Reproductive Outcomes in the General Population: A Systematic Review of Epidemiological Studies.

This Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) systematic review synthesized effects of background levels of per- and polyfluorylalkyl substance (PFAS) levels on reproductive health outcomes in the general public: fertility, preterm birth, miscarriage, ovarian health, menstruation, menopause, sperm health, and in utero fetal growth. The inclusion criteria included original research (or primary) studies, human subjects, and investigation of outcomes of interest following non-occupational exposures. It drew from four databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Embase and Health and Environmental Research Online (HERO)) using a standardized search string for all studies published between 1 January 2017 and 13 April 2022.

L-type Calcium Channel Blockade Worsens Glucose Tolerance and β-Cell Function in C57BL6/J Mice Exposed to Intermittent Hypoxia.

Intermittent hypoxemia (IH), a pathophysiologic consequence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), adversely affects insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, and glucose tolerance. Nifedipine, an L-type calcium channel blocker frequently used for treatment of hypertension, can also impair insulin sensitivity and secretion. However, the cumulative and interactive repercussions of IH and nifedipine on glucose homeostasis have not been previously investigated.

Validity of the E-Cigarette Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives (e-WISDM) in Exclusive E-Cigarette Users: Evidence from a Laboratory Self-Administration Study.

Introduction: Prior research suggests that the e-Cigarette Wisconsin Inventory of Smoking Dependence Motives (e-WISDM) distinguishes primary (e-PDM) and secondary dependence (e-SDM), however, there is little research on these e-WISDM dimensions and prior research comprised dual users (using cigarettes and e-cigarettes) and those using older generations of e-cigarettes.

Methods: Those exclusively using contemporary e-cigarettes (N = 164) completed the e-WISDM and a laboratory self-administration session and rated pre-use expectancies and post-use experiences.

Results: Only a 1-factor model limited to the primary scales (Automaticity, Tolerance, Craving, Loss of Control) achieved good model fit.

Antibody-mediated degradation of 4R-tau restores mitochondrial membrane polarization in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons with the 10+16 mutation.

Microtubule-associated protein tau is inextricably linked to a group of clinically diverse neurodegenerative diseases termed tauopathies. The ratio balance of the major tau splicing isoform groups (3 R- and 4 R-tau) is critical in maintaining healthy neurons. An imbalance causing excess 4 R tau is associated with diseases such as progressive supranuclear palsy and frontotemporal dementia.

Imlunestrant is an Oral, Brain-Penetrant Selective Estrogen Receptor Degrader with Potent Antitumor Activity in ESR1 Wildtype and Mutant Breast Cancer.

Targeting of the estrogen receptor (ER) by anti-estrogens is the standard-of-care for patients with ER+ HER2- advanced/metastatic breast cancer. While anti-estrogens that degrade ERα (fulvestrant) or block estrogen production (aromatase inhibitors) have improved patient outcomes, clinically important challenges remain related to drug administration, limited bioavailability, lack of brain exposure, and acquired resistance due to ESR1 mutations. These limitations indicate a need for more robust ER-targeted therapies.

Microglia regulate motor neuron plasticity via reciprocal fractalkine and adenosine signaling.

We report an important role for microglia in regulating neuroplasticity within phrenic motor neurons. Brief episodes of low oxygen (acute intermittent hypoxia; AIH) elicit a form of respiratory motor plasticity known as phrenic long-term facilitation (pLTF) that is regulated by the balance of competing serotonin vs adenosine-initiated cellular mechanisms. Serotonin arises from brainstem raphe neurons, but the source of adenosine is unknown.

Localized hepatocellular carcinoma: Is liver-directed therapy alone as efficacious as surgical resection?

Objective: Studies of the efficacy of nonsurgical methods of liver-directed therapy (percutaneous microwave or radiofrequency ablation, transarterial bland embolization, chemoembolization, and/or radioembolization) in the treatment of hepatocellular cancer lack contemporaneous comparative surgical cohorts. The role of these methods of liver-directed therapy as destination treatment in hepatocellular cancer is not well defined.

Methods: We queried our institutional registry for patients undergoing resection or liver-directed therapy alone for clinical stage I to IVa hepatocellular cancer between 2012 and 2022.

Modeling aerosol transmission spectra from n(λ) and k(λ) infrared optical constants measurements of organic liquids and solids.

The effects of light scattering and refraction play significantly different roles for aerosols than for bulk materials, making it challenging to identify aerosolized chemicals using traditional spectral methods or spectral reference libraries. Due to a potentially infinite number of particle morphologies, sizes, and compositions, constructing a database of laboratory-measured aerosol spectra is not a practical solution. Here, as an alternative approach, the measured n/k optical vectors of two example organic materials (diethyl phthalate and D-mannitol) are used in combination with particle absorption / scattering theory (Mie theory and FDTD) and the Beer-Lambert law to generate a series of synthetic infrared transmission / scattered light spectra.

Leveraging machine learning to enhance appointment adherence at a novel post-discharge care transition clinic.

Objective: This study applies predictive analytics to identify patients at risk of missing appointments at a novel post-discharge clinic (PDC) in a large academic health system. Recognizing the critical role of appointment adherence in the success of new clinical ventures, this research aims to inform future targeted interventions to increase appointment adherence.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed electronic health records (EHRs) capturing a wide array of demographic, socio-economic, and clinical variables from 2168 patients with scheduled appointments at the PDC from September 2022 to August 2023.

Toxicity of microplastic fibers containing azobenzene disperse dyes to human lung epithelial cells cultured at an air-liquid interface.

There is growing concern surrounding the human health effects following inhalation exposure to microplastic fibers (MPFs). MPFs can harbor chemical additives, such as azobenzene disperse dyes (ADDs), that may contribute to their toxicity. The goal of this study was to determine the acute biological effects of dyed polyethylene terephthalate MPFs to fully differentiated normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells cultured at an air-liquid interface.

Causal Mediation Analysis of Factors Influencing Physical Activity and Community Access Among People With Mild-to-Moderate Parkinson Disease.

Objective: To examine how known causal factors (exercise self-efficacy, balance, walking capacity) affect outcomes (moderate-intensity physical activity, community access) in people with Parkinson disease (PD): through a direct pathway, indirectly through potential mediators (nonmotor impairments), or through combined direct and mediated paths.

Design: Causal mediation analyses using baseline and three-month data from pooled treatment groups in a randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Data were collected at 2 university clinical research centers.

Exploring the Experiences of Visiting Veterinary Service Providers in Indigenous Communities in Canada: Proposing Strategies to Support Pre-Clinical Preparation.

Many Indigenous communities in Canada lack access to veterinary services due to geography, affordability, and acceptability. These barriers negatively affect the health of animals, communities, and human-animal relationships. Canadian veterinary colleges offer veterinary services to Indigenous communities through fourth-year veterinary student rotations.

Tobacco Quitline Retreatment Interventions Among Adults With Socioeconomic Disadvantage: A Factorial Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: A single round of standard tobacco quitline treatment may not be sufficient to sustain abstinence, particularly among people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage. Adaptive retreatment may help more individuals with socioeconomic disadvantage achieve abstinence and reduce disparities in smoking cessation outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate 4 evidence-based strategies for adults with limited education, no insurance, or Medicaid eligibility who continued smoking after quitline treatment.

A Comparison Of Mosquito Species Assemblages Sampled With Three Commonly Used Traps And A Novel Design.

In nuisance or vector mosquito management, effective sampling is a stepping stone to efficient use of resources, targeted control efforts, and successful reduction of disease transmission. Experimental evidence indicates that there are species biases for certain traps, which in turn implies that the traps used will influence the species make-up of samples collected. A comparative study between 3 CO2-baited light traps and 2 hay-infusion baited gravid traps-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) light trap, American BioPhysics Company (ABC) light trap, Reiter-Cummings (RC) gravid trap, and a convertible gravid/light trap with a novel design-was conducted to test for species specificity of each trap type.

Supporting Positive Learning Experiences for Veterinary Students on Rotations in Remote Indigenous Communities in Canada.

Many health care programs in medicine, nursing, social work, and physiotherapy include practicum rotations near the end of students' studies. Increasingly, veterinary education programs also offer community-based rotations in underserved or remote communities. While these opportunities in veterinary medicine provide many learning benefits, they can also be stressful if the students do not feel adequately supported.

Paper 3: a systematic review of definitions for "racial health equity" and related terms within health-related articles.

Objectives: To systematically evaluate definitions of "racial health equity" (RHE) and related terms within health-related academic literature.

Study Design And Setting: We systematically evaluated definitions of RHE and related terms within health-related academic articles. Articles published in English were included, and no date restrictions were imposed.

Racial Residential Segregation and Mental Health During Pregnancy.

Importance: Research suggests the social, physical, and socioeconomic contexts of residing in segregated neighborhoods may negatively affect mental health.

Objective: To assess the association between racial residential segregation and prenatal mental health among Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White individuals.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), an integrated health care delivery system.