Contact heat evoked potentials reveal distinct patterns of spinal cord impairment in degenerative cervical myelopathy beyond MRI lesions.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging may suggest spinal cord compression and structural lesions in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) but cannot reveal functional impairments in spinal pathways. We aimed to assess the value of contact heat evoked potentials (CHEPs) in addition to MRI and hypothesized that abnormal CHEPs may be evident in DCM independent of MR-lesions and are related to dynamic mechanical cord stress.

Methods: Individuals with DCM underwent neurologic examination including segmental sensory (pinprick, light touch) and motor testing.

An online driving decision aid for older drivers reduces ambivalence and regret about driving decisions: Randomized trial.

Background: Decisions about driving cessation can be stressful for older adults. We tested effects of a driving decision aid (DDA) on psychosocial outcomes among older drivers during two-year follow-up.

Methods: Multisite randomized controlled trial of licensed drivers ages ≥70 with at least one diagnosis associated with increased likelihood of driving cessation, without significant cognitive impairment.

Military spouse and key stakeholder perspectives of effective messaging for US service members on secure storage of personal firearms: a qualitative study.

Background: Secure firearm storage is a proposed method for reducing intentional and unintentional firearm injury and death among US military service members. However, little is known about suggested key messengers and optimal message content to promote secure firearm storage practices among at-risk US service members. This qualitative study focused on military spouse and stakeholder perspectives concerning key messengers and message content for the delivery of effective messaging around promoting secure firearm storage practices among US service members.

The Effect of the "Safety in Dementia" Online Tool to Assist Decision Making for Caregivers of Persons With Dementia and Access to Firearms : A Randomized Trial.

Background: Caregivers face challenges (including competing desires to prevent injury, respect autonomy, and avoid conflict) when addressing firearm access by community-dwelling persons with Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD).

Objective: To test the effect of the online Safety in Dementia (SiD) decision aid on caregivers' decision making about firearm access for people with ADRD.

Design: Prospective 2-group randomized trial with longitudinal follow-up.

Underpowered studies in muscle metabolism research: Determinants and considerations.

Biomedical research frequently employs null hypothesis testing to determine whether an observed difference in a sample is likely to exist in the broader population. Null hypothesis testing generally assumes that differences between groups or interventions are non-existent, unless proven otherwise. Because biomedical studies with human subjects are often limited by financial and logistical resources, they tend to have low statistical power, i.

Whether and how to store firearms in the home: Qualitative insights from care partner experiences in the Safety in Dementia Trial.

Background: Most people with dementia (PWD) in the United States live in community settings supported by family and/or unpaid care partners. Firearms access is one of many decisions care partners navigate alongside PWD in efforts to prevent injuries and deaths. Conversations about firearms access are socially challenging, although specific challenges to be overcome have not been described.

Predicting standardized uptake value of brown adipose tissue from CT scans using convolutional neural networks.

The standard method for identifying active Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT) is [F]-Fluorodeoxyglucose ([F]-FDG) PET/CT imaging, which is costly and exposes patients to radiation, making it impractical for population studies. These issues can be addressed with computational methods that predict [F]-FDG uptake by BAT from CT; earlier population studies pave the way for developing such methods by showing some correlation between the Hounsfield Unit (HU) of BAT in CT and the corresponding [F]-FDG uptake in PET. In this study, we propose training convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to predict [F]-FDG uptake by BAT from unenhanced CT scans in the restricted regions that are likely to contain BAT.

DDB2 expression lights the way for precision radiotherapy response in PDAC cells, with or without olaparib.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest cancers. Therapeutic options for PDAC are primarily restricted to surgery in the early stages of the disease or chemotherapy in advanced disease. Only a subset of patients with germline defects in BRCA1/2 genes can potentially benefit from personalized therapy, with the PARP inhibitor olaparib serving as a maintenance treatment for metastatic disease.

A multi-state evaluation of extreme risk protection orders: a research protocol.

Background: Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) are civil court orders that prohibit firearm purchase and possession when someone is behaving dangerously and is at risk of harming themselves and/or others. As of June 2024, ERPOs are available in 21 states and the District of Columbia to prevent firearm violence. This paper describes the design and protocol of a six-state study of ERPO use.

Exploratory qualitative study of firearm storage practices among surgeons in the USA: contexts and motivations.

Background: A US survey of surgeons found that 32% store firearms unlocked and loaded. This study explored conditions and contexts impacting personal firearm storage methods among surgeons.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with English-speaking fellows of the American College of Surgeons who treated patients injured by firearms and who owned or lived in homes with firearms.

Acceptability and feasibility of video-based firearm safety education in a Colorado emergency department for caregivers of adolescents in firearm-owning households.

Background: Easy firearm access increases injury risk among adolescents. We evaluated the acceptability and feasibility of improving knowledge of a 3 min safe firearm storage education video in the paediatric emergency department.

Methods: We conducted a single-centre block trial in a large paediatric emergency department (August 2020-2022).

Implementation of Extreme Risk Protection Orders in Colorado from 2020 to 2022: Firearm relinquishment and return and petitioner characteristics.

Introduction: Firearm injury remains a public health problem, with nearly 50,000 firearm-related deaths in the US in 2021. Extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) are civil restraining orders that intend to reduce firearm deaths by temporarily removing firearms from individuals who are threatening violence to themselves or others. We described ERPO use by petitioner type and implementation including firearm removal.

"You just have to be careful how you do it": A qualitative study of the Healthwise decision aid for older drivers.

Objective: Decisions about driving retirement are difficult for older adults, their families, and health care providers. A large randomized trial found that an existing online Healthwise decision aid decreased decision conflict and increased knowledge about driving decisions. This study sought to discover how, when, and where the tool might be most effective for older drivers, their family members, and their health care providers.

Diabetes mellitus and hard braking events in older adult drivers.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) can impair driving safety due to hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and diabetic eye diseases. However, few studies have examined the association between DM and driving safety in older adults based on naturalistic driving data.

Methods: Data for this study came from a multisite naturalistic driving study of drivers aged 65-79 years at baseline.