GATA6 regulates WNT and BMP programs to pattern precardiac mesoderm during the earliest stages of human cardiogenesis.

Haploinsufficiency for is associated with congenital heart disease (CHD) with variable comorbidity of pancreatic or diaphragm defects, although the etiology of disease is not well understood. Here, we used cardiac directed differentiation from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) as a platform to study GATA6 function during early cardiogenesis. GATA6 loss-of-function hESCs had a profound impairment in cardiac progenitor cell (CPC) specification and cardiomyocyte (CM) generation due to early defects during the mesendoderm and lateral mesoderm patterning stages.

Caregiving Artificial Intelligence Chatbot for Older Adults and Their Preferences, Well-Being, and Social Connectivity: Mixed-Method Study.

Background: The increasing number of older adults who are living alone poses challenges for maintaining their well-being, as they often need support with daily tasks, health care services, and social connections. However, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have revolutionized health care and caregiving through their capacity to monitor health, provide medication and appointment reminders, and provide companionship to older adults. Nevertheless, the adaptability of these technologies for older adults is stymied by usability issues.

Diagnosis of Antiphospholipid Syndrome by Chemiluminescent or Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - A Comparison Study and Comprehensive Literature Review.

ObjectiveEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the established method for detecting antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) in the diagnosis of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) but is labor-intensive compared with the newer automated chemiluminescent assay (CLIA). This study aims to evaluate CLIA versus ELISA for aPL, correlate each method with clinical manifestations and perform a comprehensive literature review.MethodsPatient samples were concurrently tested by ELISA (QUANTA Lite) and CLIA (ACL AcuStar) for anti-cardiolipin antibody (aCL) and anti-β2-glycoprotein-I (aβ2GPI) IgG and IgM.

Atherectomy-assisted endovascular therapy versus open repair for atherosclerotic common femoral artery disease: The multicenter ARISTON study.

Background: Endarterectomy (open repair) represents the gold-standard for common femoral atherosclerotic disease (CFAD) treatment. However, with developments like atherectomy, endovascular therapy (endovascular revascularization) may offer an alternative option. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of endovascular versus open therapy for the CFAD.

Objective assessment of immediate iodine-based contrast media hypersensitivity reactions using skin and drug provocation testing.

BackgroundWith increasing importance of iodine-based contrast media (ICM) in radiology, a label of allergy to ICM has significant impact on patient management, and objective testing for ICM allergy can help guide subsequent administration.PurposeTo correlate skin testing with drug provocation test (DPT) outcomes and determine cross-reactivity between our institution's three available ICMs.Material and MethodsEligible patients who presented to our institution's radiology department within a 3-year period with suspected ICM allergy were referred to the allergist for evaluation with skin testing ± DPT.

The causal relationship between telomere length and cancer risk: A two-sample Mendelian randomization.

Background: Telomere length shortens with age and is associated with an increased risk of numerous chronic diseases. However, the causal direction between telomere length and cancer risk remains uncertain. This study aimed to assess the causal impact of telomere length on cancer risk using Mendelian randomization(MR) analysis.

Social antecedents of children's mindsets, motivation and achievement in math: Investigating parental beliefs and perceived teacher beliefs.

Background: As children mature, they tend to develop a fixed mindset in math, which has been identified as a contributor to declining confidence and widespread anxiety in math. Both parents and teachers can function as critical socializers in shaping children's fixed mindsets.

Aims: Given that children's beliefs are formed through interactions with socializers, we tested our hypothesis that the mindsets and expectations of parents and those of teachers perceived by students would predict the children's mindsets, motivation and achievement in math.

Challenges and Possible Strategies to Address Them in Rare Disease Drug Development: A Statistical Perspective.

Developing drugs for rare diseases presents unique challenges from a statistical perspective. These challenges may include slowly progressive diseases with unmet medical needs, poorly understood natural history, small population size, diversified phenotypes and genotypes within a disorder, and lack of appropriate surrogate endpoints to measure clinical benefits. The Real-World Evidence (RWE) Scientific Working Group of the American Statistical Association Biopharmaceutical Section has assembled a research team to assess the landscape including challenges and possible strategies to address these challenges and the role of real-world data (RWD) and RWE in rare disease drug development.

Trends for the Surgical Management of Rectal Prolapse in the Elderly: A Contemporary Analysis of the National Quality Improvement Program.

Background: Traditionally, the management of rectal prolapse in the elderly involved a perineal approach to repair. However, management paradigms have evolved, and the use of the transabdominal approach may be as safe as the perineal approach in elderly patients.

Objective: To provide a contemporary analysis of early postoperative outcomes and trends in the surgical management of rectal prolapse.

Labeling of Pathogenic Tau Using Photo-Affinity Chemical Probes.

Tau aggregation plays a crucial role in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Developing specific techniques that can isolate pathogenic tau from brain tissue is important for understanding tauopathies and advancing targeted therapies. Here, we develop photoaffinity small molecular probes and a novel method for tissue labeling and investigate their activity in interacting with tau in cells and AD patient brains.

Trends and Outcomes Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients With Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: Insights From National Database.

Background: Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are associated with an increased cardiovascular risk including acute coronary syndrome. However, there is a lack of comprehensive data regarding the rate of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), as well as the in-hospital characteristics and outcomes for MPN patients.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the temporal trends and outcomes of PCI among patients with MPN.

Efficacy and safety of early antibiotic de-escalation in febrile neutropenia for patients with hematologic malignancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a serious complication in patients with hematologic malignancies following treatments such as chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. It is typically managed with broad-spectrum antibiotics (BSA), but the optimal duration of BSA therapy remains controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of early antibiotic de-escalation in patients with hematologic malignancies with FN before hematopoietic recovery, compared to those who continued BSA until hematopoietic recovery.

Establishing a Threshold of Impairment to Define Preoperative Coronal Malalignment in Adult Spinal Deformity Patients.

Study Design: Single-center retrospective analysis.

Objective: To establish an empirically derived threshold to define both coronal and sagittal malalignment (CM & SM) based on preoperative patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

Summary Of Background Data: Currently, no radiographic alignment threshold defines preoperative CM in adult spinal deformity (ASD) patients based on disability.

Advancing the Study of Maternal Prenatal Stress Phenotypes and Infant Temperament Outcomes.

Exposure to the in utero environment provides offspring risk or protection with respect to postpartum development and health across the lifespan. We used latent profile analysis (LPA), considering self-report and physiological indicators to assess the influence of maternal prenatal stress/distress on infant temperament. We predicted that participants who reported greater prenatal stress/distress would have infants with less optimal temperament characteristics (e.

Mirikizumab Improves Quality of Life and Work Productivity in Patients with Moderately to Severely Active Crohn's Disease: Results from the Phase 3 VIVID-1 study.

Objectives: Mirikizumab demonstrated significant efficacy compared to placebo in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) in the phase 3 VIVID-1 study. Here, we report the impact of mirikizumab versus placebo on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and work productivity in VIVID-1.

Methods: VIVID-1 patients randomized to receive mirikizumab (N=579) or placebo (N=199) were included.

Endovascular Aneurysmal Repair With the INCRAFT Stent Graft System for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Combined Korean Multi-Center and Single-Center Registry Analysis.

Introduction: The INCRAFT™ Stent Graft System is a trimodular, bifurcated, ultra-low-profile endovascular device designed for endovascular aneurysm repair in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Materials And Methods: The study population comprised a prospective multi-center cohort (n = 85) and a single-center retrospective cohort (n = 61) of Korean AAA patients treated with INCRAFT. Postprocedural follow-up involved computed tomography (CT) imaging at 1 and 12 months post-procedure to monitor aneurysm dimensions and detect any endoleak.

Clinical and Genetic Risk Factors Predict Atrial Fibrillation on the Basis of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Clinical and genetic predispositions are significant in predicting atrial fibrillation (AF); however, their role in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the impact of clinical and genetic risk factors on the development of AF in patients with and without HCM.

Methods And Results: This retrospective analysis involved data from the UK Biobank cohort.

Correlating Left Atrial Enlargement and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy on ECG With Echocardiography and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Background: ECGs are a primary assessment of cardiac structure and function. Alignment of their findings with cardiac imaging is not well defined. This study investigates the correlation of left atrial enlargement and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) found on ECG with transthoracic echocardiogram and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) findings.

Persistent Beta-Blocker Therapy Reduces Long-Term Mortality in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke With Elevated Heart Rates.

Background: Elevated heart rate in patients with acute ischemic stroke is associated with increased risk of mortality. Beta-blocker therapy is well known to reduce heart rate.

Methods And Results: This study was a post hoc analysis of patients with acute ischemic stroke with maximum heart rates ≥100 bpm.

Proteinuria Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in the Young Population.

Background: Proteinuria is a risk factor for cardiovascular events, but its prognostic value for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in young individuals remains unproven. We aimed to evaluate whether proteinuria in young people is associated with an increased risk of SCA.

Methods And Results: Individuals aged between 20 and 39 years who underwent health screening between 2009 and 2012 in South Korea were included (n=6 891 400).

Optomechanical Properties of Swine Skin Tissue Treated With a Nontoxic Optical Clearing Agent.

This study evaluated the optomechanical and structural properties of individual macroscopic layers in swine skin tissues treated with a nontoxic optical clearing agent. The clearing agent was prepared by dissolving 2,2'-thiodiethanol in a phosphate-buffered solution and applied for up to 6 days. Prolonged clearing increased both the total and unscattered transmittance.

Effects of Complex I Inhibition on the Architecture of Neural Rosettes Differentiated from Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Orchestrated changes in cell arrangements and cell-to-cell contacts are susceptible to cellular stressors during central nervous system development. Effects of mitochondrial complex I inhibition on cell-to-cell contacts have been studied in vascular and intestinal structures; however, its effects on developing neuronal cells are largely unknown. We investigated the effects of the classical mitochondrial stressor and complex I inhibitor, rotenone, on the architecture of neural rosettes-radially organized neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs)-differentiated from human-induced pluripotent stem cells.

The Psychobiological Toll of Chronic Conflict: Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms, Emotion Dysregulation, and Physiology in a Conflict-Exposed Community in South Sudan.

Background: Mass conflict and related displacement in South Sudan has created a significant mental health need, however extant research on the impact of conflict is limited among South Sudanese people and has predominantly relied on Western-developed self report measures.

Method: A total of 195 South Sudanese adults who work in both civil society and government leadership positions participated in a psychophysiological assessment of heart rate variability (HRV) and self-reported PTSD and emotion dysregulation symptoms to participation in the Trauma-Informed Community Empowerment (TICE) Framework, developed and implemented by the Global Trauma Project (GTP). We utilized measures of heart rate variability to determine parasympathetic activity, which may be associated with difficulties responding to stressors as well as long-term physical health morbidity and mortality.

Profiling hippocampal neuronal populations reveals unique gene expression mosaics reflective of connectivity-based degeneration in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit neurological deficits throughout life including the development of in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and cognitive impairment. At the cellular level, dysregulation in neuronal gene expression is observed in postmortem human brain and mouse models of DS/AD. To date, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of hippocampal neuronal gene expression including the characterization of discrete circuit-based connectivity in DS remains a major knowledge gap.

CPAP Titration Pressure in Split-Night, Full-Night, and Home Auto-Titration: A Prospective Comparative Analysis of Patients With Moderate to Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Purpose: This prospective study aimed to compare titration pressures obtained using three methods-full-night titration (FN-T), split-night titration (SN-T), and home auto-titration (HA-T)- in patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Additionally, factors contributing to pressure differences relative to FN-T were investigated.

Methods: SN-T was performed on 74 patients suspected of having OSA.