Preliminary study on unlocking growth and yield potential of USDA foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) lines with NPK fertilization.

Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) is nutritionally superior to other cereals of the family Poaceae, with the potential to perform better in marginal environments. In the present context of climate change, ecologically sound and low-input foxtail millet varieties can be chosen for agricultural sustainability.

A care coordination program to support patients with hepatitis B virus at Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States.

Background: Eliminating hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a significant worldwide challenge requiring innovative approaches for vaccination, screening, disease management, and the prevention of related conditions. Programs that support patients in accessing needed clinical services can help optimize access to preventive services and treatment resources for hepatitis B.

Methods: Here, we outline a coordinator-supported program (HBV Pathway) that connects patients infected with HBV to laboratory testing, imaging, and specialty care for treatment initiation and/or liver cancer surveillance (screening of high-risk patients for liver cancer).

Use of Subclavian Extracorporeal Carbon Dioxide Removal for COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome as a Bridge to Lung Transplantation.

Severe acute hypercapnia is independently associated with increased adverse effects and intensive care unit mortality in mechanically ventilated patients. During the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) pandemic, some patients were placed on extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal support when extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support was at capacity or not offered. We present a patient with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by COVID-19 pneumonia, who was supported with Hemolung Respiratory Assist System (ALung Technologies, Inc.

Validation of US CDC National Death Index mortality data, focusing on differences in race and ethnicity.

Objectives: The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention's National Death Index (NDI) is a gold standard for mortality data, yet matching patients to the database depends on accurate and available key identifiers. Our objective was to evaluate NDI data for future healthcare research studies with mortality outcomes.

Methods: We used a Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States' Virtual Data Warehouse (KPMAS-VDW) sourced from the Social Security Administration and electronic health records on members enrolled between 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2017.

Health-care-Related Practices in Virtual Behavioral Health Treatment for Major Depression Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The abrupt shift to virtual care at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic had the potential to disrupt care practices in virtual behavioral health encounters. We examined changes over time in virtual behavioral health-care-related practices for patient encounters with diagnoses of major depression.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized electronic health record data from 3 integrated health care systems.

Impact of COVID-19 on Trends in Outpatient Clinic Utilization: A Tale of 2 Departments.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced many US health care organizations to shift from mostly in-person care to a hybrid of virtual visits (VV) and in-person visits (IPV). While there was an expected and immediate shift to virtual care (VC) early in the pandemic, little is known about trends in VC use after restrictions eased.

Methods: This is a retrospective study using data from 3 health care systems.

Body mass index in young adulthood and mid-life cardiovascular risk factors in South Asian American adults: The MASALA study.

The association of self-reported BMI at age 20, at age 40, the highest BMI within the past 3 years, and current BMI with current mid-life cardiovascular risk factors and coronary artery calcium (CAC) was evaluated among 1148 South Asian American participants (mean age 57 years) in the MASALA study. A 1 kg/m higher BMI at age 20 was associated with higher odds of hypertension (aOR 1.07, 95% CI 1.

Intussusception - A common entity but seldom diagnosed (lesson learnt from case series for family physicians).

Intussusception is one of the common causes of acute abdomen in paediatric age bracket with ileocolic type being the most prevalent. This happens when a proximal segment of bowel (intussusceptum) telescopes into the lumen of the adjacent distal segment (intussuscepiens). Here we report six cases of intussusception in which five were in paediatric age group and one was adult.

Psychological Therapies and Mind-Body Techniques in the Management of Dermatologic Diseases: A Systematic Review.

Background: There is a clear link between skin disease and psychological factors and this relationship works both ways: skin diseases can cause psychological distress and psychological issues can worsen skin disease. There are a number of therapies that approach this problem from the psychological side and may be useful, especially as adjunctive therapies in select patients.

Objective: The aim of this review was to determine the efficacy of various psychological therapies and mind-body techniques in the management of common dermatologic diseases in individuals of all ages.

Older Adults Mount Less Durable Humoral Responses to Two Doses of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine but Strong Initial Responses to a Third Dose.

Background: Third coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine doses are broadly recommended, but immunogenicity data remain limited, particularly in older adults.

Methods: We measured circulating antibodies against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein receptor-binding domain, ACE2 displacement, and virus neutralization against ancestral and omicron (BA.1) strains from prevaccine up to 1 month following the third dose, in 151 adults aged 24-98 years who received COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.

Life Expectancy Trends Among Integrated Health Care System Enrollees, 2014-2017.

Introduction: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported downward trends in life expectancy and racial/ethnic differences between 2014 and 2017.

Objective: To determine the life expectancy of the Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States (KPMAS) insured population as compared to the CDC National Vital Statistics data from 2014 to 2017. We also aimed to highlight the utilization of membership data to inform population statistical estimates such as life expectancy.

Assessment of Phenotypic Diversity in the USDA Collection of Quinoa Links Genotypic Adaptation to Germplasm Origin.

Quinoa's germplasm evaluation is the first step towards determining its suitability under new environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to introduce suitable germplasm to the lowland areas of the Faisalabad Plain that could then be used to introduce quinoa more effectively to that region. A set of 117 quinoa genotypes belonging to the USDA quinoa collection was evaluated for 11 phenotypic quantitative traits (grain yield (Y), its biological and numerical components plus phenological variables) in a RCBD during two consecutive growing seasons at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan under mid-autumn sowings.

Humoral immune responses to COVID-19 vaccination in people living with HIV receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy.

Humoral responses to COVID-19 vaccines in people living with HIV (PLWH) remain incompletely characterized. We measured circulating antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD), ACE2 displacement and viral neutralization activities one month following the first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses, and again 3 months following the second dose, in 100 adult PLWH and 152 controls. All PLWH were receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy, with median CD4+ T-cell counts of 710 (IQR 525-935) cells/mm, though nadir CD4+ T-cell counts ranged as low as <10 cells/mm.

Impact of varying levels of soil salinity on emergence, growth and biochemical attributes of four Moringa oleifera landraces.

Salinity in soil and water is one of the environmental factors that severely hinder the crop growth and production particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of salinity levels (1.5 dS m-1, 3.

Older Adults Mount Less Durable Humoral Responses to a Two-dose COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Regimen, but Strong Initial Responses to a Third Dose.

Background: Third COVID-19 vaccine doses are broadly recommended, but immunogenicity data remain limited, particularly in older adults.

Methods: We measured circulating antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain, ACE2 displacement, and virus neutralization against ancestral and Omicron (BA.1) strains from pre-vaccine up to one month following the third dose, in 151 adults aged 24-98 years who received COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.

Reduced Magnitude and Durability of Humoral Immune Responses to COVID-19 mRNA Vaccines Among Older Adults.

Background: The magnitude and durability of immune responses to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccines remain incompletely characterized in the elderly.

Methods: Anti-spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) antibodies, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) competition, and virus neutralizing activities were assessed in plasma from 151 health care workers and older adults (range, 24-98 years of age) 1 month following the first vaccine dose, and 1 and 3 months following the second dose.

Results: Older adults exhibited significantly weaker responses than younger health care workers for all humoral measures evaluated and at all time points tested, except for ACE2 competition activity after 1 vaccine dose.

A Comprehensive Coordinator Supported Hepatitis C Virus Testing and Linkage to Treatment Program at Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States.

Since 2020, the US Preventive Services Taskforce has recommended expanding hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening to include ages 18-79, in addition to baby boomers (born 1945-1965) and those at-risk for hepatitis C virus. This retrospective cohort analysis compared patients (18 years and above) tested for HCV through usual care versus a coordinator-supported program (HCV pathway) during 2015-2018 within Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States (KPMAS). In total, 131,176 patients were tested through the HCV pathway and 128,311 through usual care (non-standardized testing).

Humoral immune responses to COVID-19 vaccination in people living with HIV receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy.

Humoral responses to COVID-19 vaccines in people living with HIV (PLWH) remain incompletely understood. We measured circulating antibodies against the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, ACE2 displacement and live viral neutralization activities one month following the first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses in 100 adult PLWH and 152 controls. All PLWH were receiving suppressive antiretroviral therapy, with median CD4+ T-cell counts of 710 (IQR 525-935) cells/mm .

Percutaneous Thrombus Removal in COVID-19-Infected Patient with Pulmonary Embolism.

We present a case describing the use of the AngioVac system (AngioDynamics, Inc.) and SENTINEL™ cerebral protection system (SCPS; Boston Scientific) in a patient with COVID-19 who initially presented with a large deep-vein thrombosis of the left lower extremity, complicated by a pulmonary embolism. Although he initially improved with systemic alteplase, he later developed a second large clot diagnosed in transit in the right atrium.