Cost-Benefit Analysis of Various Management Algorithms for Suspected Choledocholithiasis.

The goal of our study is to evaluate the safest, efficient, and most cost-effective way to manage suspected choledocholithiasis. This retrospective study evaluated adult patients with suspected choledocholithiasis based on labs and imaging at a single institution between 2017 and 2022 and characterized them into 1 of 3 groups based on their management pathway: (1) ERCP-first, (2) MRCP-first, or (3) surgery-first with possible intraoperative cholangiogram pending laboratory trend. Our primary outcome was hospital length of stay.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infections in Humans.

Background: Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses have caused widespread infections in dairy cows and poultry in the United States, with sporadic human cases. We describe characteristics of human A(H5N1) cases identified from March through October 2024 in the United States.

Methods: We analyzed data from persons with laboratory-confirmed A(H5N1) virus infection using a standardized case-report form linked to laboratory results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention influenza A/H5 subtyping kit.

Discovery of VU6024578/BI02982816: An mGlu Positive Allosteric Modulator with Efficacy in Preclinical Antipsychotic and Cognition Models.

Herein, we report progress toward a metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 1 (mGlu) positive allosteric modulator (PAM) clinical candidate and the discovery of VU6024578/BI02982816. From a weak high-throughput screening hit (VU0538160, EC > 10 μM, 71% Glu), optimization efforts improved functional potency over 185-fold to deliver the selective (inactive on mGlu) and CNS penetrant (rat K = 0.99, K = 0.

Specificity of 2 peripartum blood markers for early-lactation acute uterine inflammation in pasture-fed, seasonal-calving dairy cows.

A delayed recovery of the reproductive tract from natural inflammatory processes associated with postpartum involution will compromise further reproductive function. Following a literature review, we selected serum amyloid A (SAA) and α1-acid glycoprotein (α1-AGP) to assess as potential circulating markers of acute uterine inflammation, as concentrations of these 2 acute phase proteins were reported to be elevated early postpartum in dairy cows with active uterine infection. Convenience serum samples from an induced model of uterine infection were used to measure concentrations of these markers.

Development and Validation of the PICK-UP-STRICS Score to Predict Fibrostenosis in Patients with EoE Prior to Endoscopy.

Background: Predicting fibrostenotic complications prior to endoscopy in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is challenging and esophageal strictures and narrowing are commonly missed on endoscopy.

Aim: To develop and validate a score to predict fibrostenosis in EoE patients prior to endoscopy.

Methods: We leveraged a large database of newly diagnosed EoE patients.