ASSESSMENT OF OPHTHALMIC DIAGNOSTIC PARAMETERS, CONJUNCTIVAL FLORA, AND PHARMACOLOGIC DILATION OF A LARGE POPULATION OF JUVENILE AMERICAN ALLIGATORS ().

American alligators () are an important apex predator of semiaquatic habitats of the southern United States. Commercial alligator farming has grown in the last several decades, leading to a need to understand the health conditions that affect this species to ensure appropriate management and welfare. The aims of this study were 1) to establish and describe normative data including results of common ophthalmic diagnostic tests and conjunctival flora, 2) document ocular pathology in this population, and 3) assess the effect of topical rocuronium bromide and 10% phenylephrine for facilitating pharmacologic mydriasis.

Deep-Red and Near-Infrared Compact Cyanine Dyes for Sensitive NAD(P)H Sensing in Live Cells and Kidney Disease Tissues.

Cyanine dyes constructed for NAD(P)H near-infrared sensing utilize extended π-conjugation but often exhibit delayed fluorescence responses to NAD(P)H due to reduced positive charge density in 3-quinolinium acceptors. This study introduces deep-red and near-infrared compact cyanine dyes represented by probes and for mitochondrial NAD(P)H detection in live cells. Probes and feature a unique structural design with a double bond connection linking 3-quinolinium to strategically positioned 1-methylquinolinium acceptor units at 2- and 4-positions, correspondingly.

Comparative analysis of meningeal transcriptomes in birds: Potential pathways of resilience to repeated impacts.

The meninges and associated vasculature (MAV) play a crucial role in maintaining cerebral integrity and homeostasis. Recent advances in transcriptomic analysis have illuminated the significance of the MAV in understanding the complex physiological interactions at the interface between the skull and the brain after exposure to mechanical stress. To investigate how physiological responses may confer resilience against repetitive mechanical stress, we performed the first transcriptomic analysis of avian MAV tissues using the Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) and Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) as the comparison species.

Understanding activity and physiology at scale: The Apple Heart & Movement Study.

Physical activity or structured exercise is beneficial in a wide range of circumstances. Nevertheless, individual-level data on differential responses to various types of activity are not yet sufficient in scale, duration or level of annotation to understand the mechanisms of discrete outcomes nor to support personalized recommendations. The Apple Heart & Movement Study was designed to passively collect the dense physiologic data accessible on Apple Watch and iPhone from a large real-world cohort distributed across the US in order to address these knowledge gaps.

Dynamic insights into mitochondrial function: Monitoring viscosity and SO levels in living cells.

Mitochondria, central organelles pivotal for eukaryotic cell function, extend their influence beyond ATP production, encompassing roles in apoptosis, calcium signaling, and biosynthesis. Recent studies spotlight two emerging determinants of mitochondrial functionality: intramitochondrial viscosity and sulfur dioxide (SO) levels. While optimal mitochondrial viscosity governs molecular diffusion and vital processes like oxidative phosphorylation, aberrations are linked with neurodegenerative conditions, diabetes, and cancer.

Disparities in awareness and treatment among women with hypertension: Insights from the American Heart Association Research Goes Red Registry.

Hypertension is an important modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and affects nearly one-third of women in the U.S. Prior research has demonstrated declining rates of blood pressure (BP) control nationally among women, and there are significant racial and ethnic disparities in both hypertension prevalence and outcomes among U.

Case report: Management and long-term ophthalmic sequelae of monogenean ocular infestation in cownose rays ().

Monogenean ectoparasitic flatworm infestations, particularly in closely confined populations, can result in severe epizootic disease that is often devastating and occasionally fatal. This case series describes a population of cownose rays () ( = 52) housed in an aquarium touch-tank exhibit that presented with severe ocular disease due to infestation with monogeneans, presumably of the Capsilidae family. The most severely affected individuals ( = 9), including several cases with bilaterally ruptured corneas, underwent serial examinations prior to and following treatment with praziquantel, systemic antibiotics, and corticosteroids.

Formative research to adapt a cardiac rehabilitation program to breast cancer survivors: the heart health after cancer treatment (HEART-ACT) study.

Background: Breast cancer survivors are disproportionately at risk for cardiovascular disease; exercise-based interventions may improve cardiovascular health. The objective of this formative research is to better understand the needs of patients and barriers to participation in an adapted cardiac rehabilitation program for diverse breast cancer survivors in an urban safety net setting.

Methods: We recruited 30 participants (10 English-speaking, 10 Spanish-speaking, and 10 Cantonese-speaking) who had received treatment with curative intent for breast cancer from an urban safety net hospital between November 9, 2021, to August 30, 2022.

Association of Patient Portal Messaging with Survival Among Radiation Oncology Patients.

Purpose: The shift to electronic health records has led to both patient portal messaging and large amounts of digital, real-world data for research. The objective of this study was to examine the association between portal messaging and survival among radiation oncology patients, using real-world data.

Methods And Materials: This retrospective cohort study included patients at least 21 years old and seen by radiation oncology providers between January 14, 2014, and April 23, 2023, at the University of California, San Francisco.

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Prescription Stimulant Use in Adults: A Systematic Review.

Nonmedical prescription stimulant use (NPSU) is an ongoing public health crisis in the United States. There exists, however, a dearth of research investigating specific childhood risk factors that may contribute to this illicit use. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may be a significant risk factor to address in the prevention and treatment of NPSU, as research has provided evidence for increased substance use, potentially including prescription stimulant misuse, among individuals who have experienced trauma.

Factors associated with anxiety during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States: An analysis of the COVID-19 Citizen Science study.

COVID-19 increased the prevalence of clinically significant anxiety in the United States. To investigate contributing factors we analyzed anxiety, reported online via monthly Generalized Anxiety Disorders-7 (GAD-7) surveys between April 2020 and May 2022, in association with self-reported worry about the health effects of COVID-19, economic difficulty, personal COVID-19 experience, and subjective social status. 333,292 anxiety surveys from 50,172 participants (82% non-Hispanic white; 73% female; median age 55, IQR 42-66) showed high levels of anxiety, especially early in the pandemic.

Teaching at the intersection of science and society: An activity on healthcare disparities.

Understanding the relationship between science and society is an objective of science education and is included as a core competency in the AAAS guidelines for biology education. However, traditional undergraduate biology instruction emphasizes scientific practice and generally avoids potentially controversial issues at the intersection of biology and society. By including these topics in biology coursework, instructors can challenge damaging ideologies and systemic inequalities that have influenced science, such as biological essentialism and health disparities.

An updated meta-analysis of the interrater reliability of supervisory performance ratings.

Given the centrality of the job performance construct to organizational researchers, it is critical to understand the reliability of the most common way it is operationalized in the literature. To this end, we conducted an updated meta-analysis on the interrater reliability of supervisory ratings of job performance ( = 132 independent samples) using a new meta-analytic procedure (i.e.

Development of text messages for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease in persons with HIV.

Objective: Persons with HIV (PWH) have increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite this increased risk, perceived cardiovascular risk among PWH is low, and interventions that are known to be beneficial in the general population, such as statins, have low uptake in this population. We sought to develop a bank of text messages about (1) the association between HIV and CVD and (2) advice on reducing cardiovascular risk.

Association of nirmatrelvir for acute SARS-CoV-2 infection with subsequent Long COVID symptoms in an observational cohort study.

Oral nirmatrelvir/ritonavir is approved as treatment for acute COVID-19, but the effect of treatment during acute infection on risk of Long COVID is unknown. We hypothesized that nirmatrelvir treatment during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection reduces risk of developing Long COVID and rebound after treatment is associated with Long COVID. We conducted an observational cohort study within the Covid Citizen Science (CCS) study, an online cohort study with over 100 000 participants.

A cluster randomized controlled trial of a community-based initiative to reduce stunting in rural Indonesia.

We evaluate the impacts of a $120 million project in Indonesia conducted between 2014 and 2018 that sought to reduce stunting through a combination of (1) community-driven development grants targeted at health and education outcomes, (2) training for health providers on infant and young child feeding and growth monitoring and (3) training for sanitarians on a local variation of community-led total sanitation. This cluster randomized controlled trial involved 95 treatment and 95 control subdistricts across South Sumatra, West Kalimantan, and Central Kalimantan provinces. Overall, we find no significant impacts on stunting, the study's primary outcome measure (0.

Optimizing Surgical Wound Care in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Importance: Obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) accounts for at least half of all open abdominal surgeries performed. Rates of surgical wound complications after open procedures in OB/GYN range from 5% to 35%. Therefore, optimizing management of surgical wound complications has the potential to significantly reduce cost and morbidity.

Associations between tobacco and cannabis use and anxiety and depression among adults in the United States: Findings from the COVID-19 citizen science study.

Background: Little is known about whether people who use both tobacco and cannabis (co-use) are more or less likely to have mental health disorders than single substance users or non-users. We aimed to examine associations between use of tobacco and/or cannabis with anxiety and depression.

Methods: We analyzed data from the COVID-19 Citizen Science Study, a digital cohort study, collected via online surveys during 2020-2022 from a convenience sample of 53,843 US adults (≥ 18 years old) nationwide.

Prescription Stimulant Misuse Among Nursing Students: A Systematic Review.

Nonmedical prescription stimulants are used to reduce symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity in children and adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity/disorder. They are Schedule II controlled substances because of their high potential for dependence, and individuals who misuse them without a valid prescription are subject to criminal charges. Stimulant medications are also associated with common side effects (e.

Longitudinal Examination of Sexual Risk Behavior in College Students With and Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

The present study sought to identify differences in the rates and predictors of risky sexual behavior among college students with and without attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Current ADHD diagnosis, medication status among those with ADHD, executive functioning, substance use, comorbid anxiety, comorbid depression, and gender were identified as potential predictors of increased risky sexual behavior. Multiple group latent growth curve modeling was used to estimate trajectories of risky sexual behavior across four years of college among college students with ADHD (n = 99, n = 105) and a comparison group (n = 217) recruited from colleges throughout the eastern United States (M age = 18.

Cardiovascular health among persons with HIV without existing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Objectives: We sought to characterize atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk and metrics of cardiovascular health in persons with HIV (PWH) eligible for primary prevention of ASCVD.

Design: A cross-sectional study of PWH 40 years and older without documented ASCVD who received care at three HIV clinics in San Francisco from 2019 to 2022.

Methods: We used ICD-10 codes and electronic health record data to assess ASCVD risk and cardiovascular health, as defined by the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 (LE8) metrics for nicotine exposure, BMI, lipids, glucose, and blood pressure (BP).

Perioperative Blood Transfusions and Anastomotic Leak After Colorectal Surgery for Cancer in an Australian Hospital.

Purpose: Peri-operative blood transfusion has been identified as a risk factor for anastomotic leak in recent studies, but little is known about which patients are at risk for blood transfusion. This study aims to assess the relationship between blood transfusion and anastomotic leak and factors predisposing to leak in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Brisbane, Australia, between 2010 and 2019.

Generation of LexA enhancer-trap lines in Drosophila by an international scholastic network.

Conditional gene regulation in Drosophila through binary expression systems like the LexA-LexAop system provides a superb tool for investigating gene and tissue function. To increase the availability of defined LexA enhancer trap insertions, we present molecular, genetic, and tissue expression studies of 301 novel Stan-X LexA enhancer traps derived from mobilization of the index SX4 line. This includes insertions into distinct loci on the X, II, and III chromosomes that were not previously associated with enhancer traps or targeted LexA constructs, an insertion into ptc, and seventeen insertions into natural transposons.