Endurance Exercise Promotes Episodes of Myocardial Injury in Individuals with a Pathogenic Desmoplakin (DSP) Variant.

Background: Desmoplakin (DSP) variants are associated with left-predominant or biventricular arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Exercise promotes penetrance and sustained ventricular arrhythmias (VA) in right-sided arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, but its effect is unknown in DSP variant carriers.

Objectives: To assess whether exercise is associated with clinical outcomes among individuals with a pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) DSP variant.

A study protocol for a multi-country cluster randomized controlled trial of the impact of a multi-component One Health strategy to eliminate Opisthorchis viverrini and soil transmitted helminths in the Lower Mekong Basin.

Background: Opisthorchis viverrini (OV) and soil-transmitted helminths (STH) are two of the most common helminths contributing to the Neglected Tropical Disease (NTDs) burden in the Lower Mekong Basin. Although mass drug administration is the cornerstone of control programs to reduce morbidity caused by these infections, this approach has limitations in preventing re-infections. Elimination requires additional measures such as reservoir host treatment, improved hygiene and health education to reinforce MDA's impact.

Moving towards an equitable future: Rethinking the use of race in pediatric densitometry.

Current guidelines from the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD) recommend considering race, sex, and age in calculating pediatric bone density z-scores by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). However, as patient populations become increasingly diverse, the application of these guidelines presents significant challenges, potentially leading to racial bias and systemic inequities in care. In response to growing calls for a reevaluation of race's role in clinical decision-making, we aimed to assess the readiness of front-line providers of DXA services to address these challenges.

Pediatric subspecialty workforce: what is needed to secure its vitality and survival?

The pediatric subspecialty workforce is challenged by shortages and geographic maldistribution of subspecialists. We invited leaders in pediatrics to discuss how the field's vitality and survival can be secured. These leaders presented their own opinions and not the opinion of the society or organization that they are presenting.

Associations of ethnicity, skin tone, and genome-wide sequencing with bone mineral density in adolescents.

Background: Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry reference data designate Black and non-Black categories, as higher BMD has been documented among Black youth. We examined associations of race, skin tone, and genetic factors with bone mineral density (BMD).

Methods: 557 adolescents were followed longitudinally.

excretory/secretory products: an untapped library of tolerogenic immunotherapeutics against food allergy.

Food allergy (FA) is considered the 'second wave' of the allergy epidemic in developed countries after asthma and allergic rhinitis with a steadily growing burden of 40%. The absence of early childhood pathogen stimulation embodied by the hygiene hypothesis is one explanation, and in particular, the eradication of parasitic helminths could be at play. Infections with parasites spp.

Primary Amenorrhea and Premature Ovarian Insufficiency.

This review focuses on primary amenorrhea and primary/premature ovarian insufficiency due to hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. Following a thoughtful, thorough evaluation, a diagnosis can usually be discerned. Pubertal induction and ongoing estrogen replacement therapy are often necessary.

Strongyloidiasis.

Strongyloidiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused primarily by the roundworm Strongyloides stercoralis. Strongyloidiasis is most prevalent in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. Although cases have been documented worldwide, global prevalence is largely unknown due to limited surveillance.

Ovarian Insufficiency and Fertility Preservation During and After Childhood Cancer Treatment.

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is one of many potential long-term consequences of childhood cancer treatment in females. Causes of POI in this patient population can include chemotherapy, especially alkylating agents, and radiation therapy. Rarely, ovarian tumors lead to ovarian dysfunction.

Current and upcoming point-of-care diagnostics for schistosomiasis.

Point-of-care (POC) diagnostics are simple and effective portable tools that can be used for fast mapping of helminthic diseases and monitoring control programs. Most POC tests (POCTs) available for schistosomiasis diagnosis are lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs). The emergence of simple and rapid DNA isolation methods, along with isothermal nucleic acid amplification strategies - for example, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) - and recent clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based diagnostic methods facilitate the development of molecular-based POC diagnostics for schistosomiasis.

Impact of ovarian insufficiency on bone health in childhood cancer survivors: Two cases.

Purpose: To investigate the skeletal phenotype of adolescent girls with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).

Methods: Data are presented from two adolescent girls who participated in a clinical research protocol to evaluate axial bone mineral density (BMD) (via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, DXA) and appendicular bone density, microarchitecture, and strength (via high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography, HRpQCT). Anthropometric data were also obtained, and pubertal staging was performed by a clinician.

- a global digital women's health initiative for evaluation and management of secondary amenorrhea: case report and literature review.

There is a need to close the gap between knowledge and action in health care. Effective care requires a convenient and reliable distribution process. As global internet and mobile communication increase capacity, innovative approaches to digital health education platforms and care delivery are feasible.

Comparative assessment of the SjSAP4-incorporated gold immunochromatographic assay for the diagnosis of human schistosomiasis japonica.

Background: Schistosomiasis, a disease caused by parasites of the genus , remains a global public health threat. This study aimed to validate the diagnostic performance of a recently developed gold immunochromatographic assay (GICA) for the detection of infection in a rural endemic area of the Philippines.

Methods: Human clinical samples were collected from 412 subjects living in Laoang and Palapag municipalities, Northern Samar, the Philippines.

Development of CRISPR/Cas13a-based assays for the diagnosis of Schistosomiasis.

Background: Schistosomiasis is a disease that significantly impacts human health in the developing world. Effective diagnostics are urgently needed for improved control of this disease. CRISPR-based technology has rapidly accelerated the development of a revolutionary and powerful diagnostics platform, resulting in the advancement of a class of ultrasensitive, specific, cost-effective and portable diagnostics, typified by applications in COVID-19/cancer diagnosis.

Cumulus cell co-culture in media drops does not improve rescue in vitro maturation of vitrified-warmed immature oocytes.

Objective: To assess whether co-culture with vitrified-warmed cumulus cells (CCs) in media drops improves rescue in vitro maturation (IVM) of previously vitrified immature oocytes. Previous studies have shown improved rescue IVM of fresh immature oocytes when cocultured with CCs in a three-dimensional matrix. However, the scheduling and workload of embryologists would benefit from a simpler IVM approach, particularly in the setting of time-sensitive oncofertility oocyte cryopreservation (OC) cases.

Development and assessment of a novel gold immunochromatographic assay for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis japonica.

Background: The neglected zoonosis, schistosomiasis japonica, remains a major public health problem in the Philippines. The current study aims to develop a novel gold immunochromatographic assay (GICA) and evaluate its performance in the detection of infection.

Methods: A GICA strip incorporating a saposin protein, SjSAP4 was developed.