Accuracy of the "Thumb-Palm Test" for Detection of Ascending Aortic Aneurysm.

We have noticed, in caring for thousands of patients with ascending aortic aneurysm (AscAA), that the "thumb palm test" is often positive (with the thumb crossing beyond the edge of the palm). It is not known how accurate this test may be. We conducted the thumb-palm test in 305 patients undergoing cardiac surgery with intra-operative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for a variety of disorders: ascending aneurysm in 59 (19.

T2*-weighted MRI produces viable fetal "Black-Bone" contrast with significant benefits when compared to current sequences.

Objectives: Fetal "black bone" MRI could be useful in the diagnosis of various skeletal conditions during pregnancy without exposure to ionizing radiation. Previously suggested susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) is not available in the suggested form on all scanners leading to long imaging times that are susceptible to motion artefacts. We aimed to assess if an optimized T2*-weighted GRE sequence can provide viable "black bone" contrast and compared it to other sequences in the literature.

Surveillance of adverse drug events associated with tocilizumab in hospitalized veterans with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to inform patient safety and pandemic preparedness.

We evaluated adverse drug events (ADEs) by chart review in a random national sample of 428 veterans with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who received tocilizumab (n = 173 of 428). ADEs (median time, 5 days) occurred in 51 of 173 (29%) and included hepatoxicity (n = 29) and infection (n = 13). Concomitant medication discontinuation occurred in 22% of ADE patients; mortality was 39%.

Microsecretory Adenocarcinoma of Salivary Glands: An Expanded Series of 24 Cases.

Microsecretory adenocarcinoma (MSA) is a recently described salivary gland tumor with a characteristic histologic and immunophenotypic profile and recurrent MEF2C-SS18 fusions. Because only six cases of MSA have been published, its complete clinicopathologic spectrum is unclear, and its biologic behavior has not been documented. Here, we present an updated and expanded experience of 24 MSA cases.

Effects of rainfall, temperature and photoperiod on the phenology of ephemeral resources for selected bushveld woody plant species in southern Africa.

Variability of ephemeral resources provided by woody plants is related to fluctuating environmental conditions, specifically the predominant climate variables temperature and rainfall. Photoperiod has less impact but also plays a role in the onset of resource pulses. In the seasonally affected bushveld of southern Africa, declining resources could have dire consequences to various animals that depend on these resources.

Spatial neglect treatment: The brain's spatial-motor Aiming systems.

Animal and human literature supports spatial-motor "Aiming" bias, a frontal-subcortical syndrome, as a core deficit in spatial neglect. However, spatial neglect treatment studies rarely assess Aiming errors. Two knowledge gaps result: spatial neglect rehabilitation studies fail to capture the impact on motor-exploratory aspects of functional disability.

Outcomes of acute respiratory distress syndrome in COVID-19 patients compared to the general population: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) often leads to mortality. Outcomes of patients with COVID-19-related ARDS compared to ARDS unrelated to COVID-19 is not well characterized.

Areas Covered: We performed a systematic review of PubMed, Scopus, and MedRxiv 11/1/2019 to 3/1/2021, including studies comparing outcomes in COVID-19-related ARDS (COVID-19 group) and ARDS unrelated to COVID-19 (ARDS group).

Teaching Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium using Population-Level Punnett Squares: Facilitating Calculation for Students with Math Anxiety.

Hardy-Weinberg (HW) equilibrium and its accompanying equations are widely taught in introductory biology courses, but high math anxiety and low math proficiency have been suggested as two barriers to student success. Population-level Punnett squares have been presented as a potential tool for HW equilibrium, but actual data from classrooms have not yet validated their use. We used a quasi-experimental design to test the effectiveness of Punnett squares over 2 days of instruction in an introductory biology course.

A head-to-head comparison of ribodepletion and polyA selection approaches for Caenorhabditis elegans low input RNA-sequencing libraries.

A recent and powerful technique is to obtain transcriptomes from rare cell populations, such as single neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans, by enriching dissociated cells using fluorescent sorting. However, these cell samples often have low yields of RNA that present challenges in library preparation. This can lead to PCR duplicates, noisy gene expression for lowly expressed genes, and other issues that limit endpoint analysis.

Identification of novel HLA-restricted preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma peptides to facilitate off-the-shelf tumor-associated antigen-specific T-cell therapies.

Background Aims: Preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME) is a cancer/testis antigen that is overexpressed in many human malignancies and poorly expressed or absent in healthy tissues, making it a good target for anti-cancer immunotherapy. Development of an effective off-the-shelf adoptive T-cell therapy for patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors and hematological malignancies expressing PRAME antigen requires the identification of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II PRAME antigens recognized by the tumor-associated antigen (TAA) T-cell product. The authors therefore set out to extend the repertoire of HLA-restricted PRAME peptide epitopes beyond the few already characterized.

Human papillomavirus and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in a UK population: Is there an association?

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is an evolving important risk factor for head and neck cancer (HNC), especially for individuals who do not smoke and drink alcohol. The aim of this study was to establish the prevalence of HPV infection and elucidate its association with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients in UK population.

Methods: The presence and association of HPV was investigated in HNSCC patients in this retrospective clinical study.

Disseminated Histoplasmosis Presenting as Weight Loss and Hypercalcemia in a Renal Transplant Patient With Prior History of Subtotal Parathyroidectomy.

Hypercalcemia and weight loss in a renal transplant patient especially with history of parathyroidectomy raises concern for an underlying malignancy, fungal infections or granulomatous disease. We present a case of 45-year-old male with history of subtotal parathyroidectomy presented with severe persistent hypercalcemia, acute kidney injury (AKI) and significant weight loss. An extensive workup revealed disseminated histoplasmosis.

Quality of life, gastrointestinal symptoms, sleep problems, social support, and social functioning in adults with autism spectrum disorder.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between sleep problems, gastrointestinal symptoms, social functioning, autism traits, and social support on quality of life (QoL) in 107 adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Method: Questionnaires included the Autism Spectrum Quotient-10 (Adult), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Social Functioning Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Gastrointestinal Symptom Inventory, and World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF.

Results: GI symptoms were a common comorbidity with 86 % of participants presenting with them.

Superalkali-Alkalide Interactions and Ion Pairing in Low-Polarity Solvents.

The nature of anionic alkali metals in solution is traditionally thought to be "gaslike" and unperturbed. In contrast to this noninteracting picture, we present experimental and computational data herein that support ion pairing in alkalide solutions. Concentration dependent ionic conductivity, dielectric spectroscopy, and neutron scattering results are consistent with the presence of superalkali-alkalide ion pairs in solution, whose stability and properties have been further investigated by DFT calculations.

Resistance to Pyrrolobenzodiazepine Dimers Is Associated with SLFN11 Downregulation and Can Be Reversed through Inhibition of ATR.

Resistance to antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) has been observed in both preclinical models and clinical studies. However, mechanisms of resistance to pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD)-conjugated ADCs have not been well characterized and thus, this study was designed to investigate development of resistance to PBD dimer warheads and PBD-conjugated ADCs. We established a PBD-resistant cell line, 361-PBDr, by treating human breast cancer MDA-MB-361 cells with gradually increasing concentrations of SG3199, the PBD dimer released from the PBD drug-linker tesirine.

Successful use of immunotherapy to treat advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a multisystem inherited disorder associated with fragile skin, blister formation and poor wound healing. Patients with RDEB are at significantly increased risk of recurrent and aggressive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and because of their disease complexity, conventional therapies may not be possible. Recent advances in cancer immunotherapy have led to the successful use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in melanoma and other malignancies.

Mediating Medical Marijuana: Exploring How Veterans Discuss Their Stigmatized Substance Use on Reddit.

This paper uses SIDE theory and an information seeking lens to examine the types of information and support messages ( = 126,977 posts) veterans seek on the social networking site Reddit regarding medical marijuana use. A combination of automated text analysis strategies paired with thematic analysis produced eight themes: , and . Findings reveal that a large portion of veterans discuss how medical marijuana can be used to self-medicate for a number of issues, including PTSD, anxiety, and sleep deprivation.

A genetically stable Zika virus vaccine candidate protects mice against virus infection and vertical transmission.

Although live attenuated vaccines (LAVs) have been effective in the control of flavivirus infections, to date they have been excluded from Zika virus (ZIKV) vaccine trials due to safety concerns. We have previously reported two ZIKV mutants, each of which has a single substitution in either envelope (E) glycosylation or nonstructural (NS) 4B P36 and displays a modest reduction in mouse neurovirulence and neuroinvasiveness, respectively. Here, we generated a ZIKV mutant, ZE4B-36, which combines mutations in both E glycosylation and NS4B P36.

Intense Arm Rehabilitation Therapy Improves the Modified Rankin Scale Score: Association Between Gains in Impairment and Function.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of intensive rehabilitation on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), a measure of activities limitation commonly used in acute stroke studies, and to define the specific changes in body structure/function (motor impairment) most related to mRS gains.

Methods: Patients were enrolled >90 days poststroke. Each was evaluated before and 30 days after a 6-week course of daily rehabilitation targeting the arm.

Beyond Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Basaloid Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus.

Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma (BSCC) is a poorly differentiated variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with distinct morphologic characteristics. Yet, there are no clearly defined guidelines established for management. BSCC in the esophagus is a very rare entity, with the proportion of esophageal BSCC ranging from 0.

Efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy for COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine clinical outcomes associated with convalescent plasma therapy in COVID-19 patients. We performed a literature search on PubMed, medRxiv, Web of Science, and Scopus to identify studies published up to December 10th, 2020 that examined the efficacy of convalescent plasma treatment for COVID-19. The primary endpoints were mortality, clinical improvement, and hospital length of stay.

Coping With Governmental Restrictions: The Relationship Between Stay-at-Home Orders, Resilience, and Functional, Social, Mental, Physical, and Financial Well-Being.

The coronavirus outbreak has led to abrupt changes in people's daily lives as many state governments have restricted individuals' movements in order to slow the spread of the virus. We conducted a natural experiment in the United States of America in April 2020, in which we compare responses from states with "stay-at-home orders" (3 states) and no such orders (6 states). We surveyed 458 participants (55.