Activation of a cGAS-STING-mediated immune response predicts response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in early breast cancer.

Background: The DNA-damage immune-response (DDIR) signature is an immune-driven gene expression signature retrospectively validated as predicting response to anthracycline-based therapy. This feasibility study prospectively evaluates the use of this assay to predict neoadjuvant chemotherapy response in early breast cancer.

Methods: This feasibility study assessed the integration of a novel biomarker into clinical workflows.

Getting under the skin: Social isolation and biological markers in the National Health and Aging Trends Study.

Background: Social isolation is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality comparable to well-established risk factors including smoking, hypertension, and a sedentary lifestyle. The specific biological mechanisms that connect social isolation to morbidity and mortality remain unclear. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are biological markers that are upregulated during inflammation and can have long-term negative consequences for the health of individuals as they age.

Exploring change over time in community mobilization domains: results from a maternity waiting home intervention in rural Zambia.

Background: Community mobilization (CM) is recommended as a best practice intervention for low resource settings to reduce maternal mortality. Measurement of process outcomes are lacking and little is known about how CM impacts individuals or how community members perceive its function. Given the complex and recursive nature of CM interventions, research that describes the CM process at multiple levels is needed.

A preliminary survey of antibiotic residues in frozen shrimp from retail stores in the United States.

Shrimp are an important and valuable commodity for aquaculture that are widely traded internationally. Widespread antibiotic use has been documented in shrimp farming and is a common source of criticism of aquaculture products. Additionally, previous reports have found some evidence of antibiotic residues in shrimp samples obtained from retail stores in the United States, which is a concern for consumers.

Impact of COVID-19 on the practice of breast pathologists: a survey of breast pathologists in the UK and Ireland.

Aims: There is little information on the impact of COVID-19 on breast pathologists. This survey assessed the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on UK and Ireland-based breast pathologists to optimise working environments and ensure preparedness for potential future pandemics.

Methods: A 35-question survey during the first wave of COVID-19 infections in the UK including questions on workload, working practices, professional development, training, health and safety and well-being was distributed to consultant breast pathologists and responses collected anonymously.

Trace element concentrations in white leg shrimp from retail stores in the EU, UK, and USA and the ability to discern country of origin with classification models.

Shrimp are a globally traded aquaculture commodity that accounts for a large proportion of the monetary value of aquaculture. There are concerns among consumers about seafood labeling fraud and environmental sustainability. Therefore, the geographic origin of shrimp from retail stores was investigated with trace element profiling.

Skilled home healthcare clinicians' experiences in communicating with physicians: A national survey.

Background: Effective communication between skilled home healthcare (SHHC) clinicians and physicians is critical to care coordination. No studies have examined this from the point of view of SHHC clinicians at the national level. The objective is to determine in national sample issues related to how SHHC agency clinicians communicate with physicians.

Breast Reconstruction during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic posed unique challenges for breast reconstruction. Many professional organizations initially placed restrictions on breast reconstruction, leading surgeons to conceive innovative protocols for offering breast reconstruction. This study reviewed the current evidence on breast reconstruction during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide guidance for surgeons facing future crises.

A randomised controlled trial of succinylated gelatin (4%) fluid on urinary acute kidney injury biomarkers in cardiac surgical patients.

Background: Fluid resuscitation is frequently required for cardiac surgical patients admitted to the intensive care unit. The ideal fluid of choice in regard to efficacy and safety remains uncertain. Compared with crystalloid fluid, colloid fluid may result in less positive fluid balance.

Discontinuing Cancer Screening for Older Adults: a Comparison of Clinician Decision-Making for Breast, Colorectal, and Prostate Cancer Screenings.

Background: While guidelines recommend against routine screening for breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers in older adults (65+ years) with <10-year life expectancy, many of these patients continue to be screened. How clinicians consider screening cessation across multiple cancer screening types is unknown.

Objective: To compare and contrast clinicians' perspectives on discontinuing breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer screenings in older adults.

Clinical characteristics of two-hundred thirty-two dogs (2006-2018) treated for suspected anaphylaxis in Perth, Western Australia.

Objective: To describe the clinical features of dogs treated for suspected anaphylaxis in Perth, Western Australia.

Design: Single-centre observational case series with retrospective and prospective phases.

Methods: This was a two-phase study of dogs with clinical suspicion of anaphylaxis presenting to the emergency service of a university teaching hospital.

Life expectancy estimates based on comorbidities and frailty to inform preventive care.

Background: Long-term prognostication is important to inform preventive care in older adults. Existing prediction indices incorporate age and comorbidities. Frailty is another important factor in prognostication.

Exploring the relationship between production intensity and land use: A meta-analytic approach with shrimp aquaculture.

Shrimp are one of the fastest growing commodities in aquaculture and have a considerable land footprint. Here, we explored the impact of utilizing different production methods (extensive vs intensive) for expanding shrimp production on the cumulative land footprint of shrimp aquaculture. A meta-analytic approach was utilized to simultaneously estimate model coefficients to explore three relationships: production intensity and total land burden, production intensity and the proportion of land at the farm, and production intensity and the farmland burden.

The Correlation Between Altmetric Score and Traditional Bibliometrics in Orthopaedic Literature.

Background: Clinicians and medical researchers increasingly turn to nonformal online platforms to promote research. Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) is a quantitative measurement of online influence of research in real time. The objective of this study is to determine if AAS correlates with traditional bibliometrics in the orthopaedic literature.

A pragmatic assessment of proton pump inhibitors vs. histamine type 2 receptor antagonists on clinically important gastrointestinal bleeding and mortality when used for stress ulcer prophylaxis in the ICU.

Objective: Approximately 1%-5% of critically ill patients experience clinically important gastrointestinal bleeding (CIGB). This study assessed the effectiveness and safety of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) compared to histamine type 2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) for prevention of CIGB in mechanically ventilated patients.

Design: This is a retrospective, single-center, pharmacoepidemiologic study.

Cigarette, e-cigarette, and dual use during the third trimester of pregnancy in a national sample of heterosexual and sexual minority women.

Background And Objectives: Research investigating e-cigarettes/e-products and dual use with cigarettes among pregnant sexual minority individuals in the United States is lacking. This study addresses this gap using a national sample.

Methods: Two waves of national panel data (2015-2018) from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study were used.

An emergency department-based intensive care unit is associated with decreased hospital length of stay for upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Introduction: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is associated with substantial morbidity, mortality, and intensive care unit (ICU) utilization. Initial risk stratification and disposition from the Emergency Department (ED) can prove challenging due to limited data points during a short period of observation. An ED-based ICU (ED-ICU) may allow more rapid delivery of ICU-level care, though its impact on patients with UGIB is unknown.