Vancomycin AUC-Dosing Initiative at a Regional Antibiotic Stewardship Collaborative.

Background: Antibiotic stewardship programs (ASPs) are multidisciplinary teams that optimize anti-infective use across health systems. The Veterans Health Administration mandates all facilities to implement ASPs and requires the development of ASP collaboratives in its regional Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISNs).

Observations: The Veterans Affairs Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8) serves > 1.

"Nip and Tuck": Training the Next Generation of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.

The demand for aesthetic surgery continues to increase, and it is therefore essential to ensure that the next generation of plastic surgeons are adequately trained. We propose a safe method in aesthetic training in abdominoplasty and facelift, utilizing free deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap and parotidectomy for training aesthetic procedures. The trainees' focus differed between the 2 procedures.

GrB-Fc-KS49, an anti-EMP2 granzyme B fusion protein therapeutic alters immune cell infiltration and suppresses breast cancer growth.

Background: Granzyme B (GrB) is a key effector molecule, delivered by cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells during immune surveillance to induce cell death. Fusion proteins and immunoconjugates represent an innovative therapeutic approach to specifically deliver a deadly payload to target cells. Epithelial membrane protein-2 (EMP2) is highly expressed in invasive breast cancer (BC), including triple-negative BC (TNBC), and represents an attractive therapeutic target.

Applying Results of Extended Genotyping to Management of Positive Cervicovaginal Human Papillomavirus Test Results: Enduring Guidelines.

Objective: The Enduring Consensus Cervical Cancer Screening and Management Guidelines Committee developed recommendations for the use of extended genotyping results in cervical cancer prevention programs.

Methods: Risks of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 or worse were calculated using data obtained with the Onclarity HPV Assay from large cohorts. Management recommendations were based on clinical action thresholds developed for the 2019 American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology Risk-Based Management Consensus Guidelines.

Elucidating the structure and function of a membrane-active plant protein domain using in silico mutagenesis.

The Solanum tuberosum (common potato) plant specific insert (StPSI) is an antimicrobial protein domain that exhibits membrane-disrupting and membrane-fusing activity upon dimerization at acidic pH, activity proposed to involve electrostatic attraction and membrane anchoring mediated by specific positively-charged and conserved tryptophan residues, respectively. This study is the first to employ an in silico mutagenesis approach to clarify the structure-function relationship of a plant specific insert (PSI), where ten rationally-mutated StPSI variants were investigated using all-atom and coarse-grained molecular dynamics. The tryptophan (W) residue at position 18 (W18) of wild-type StPSI was predicted to confer structural flexibility to the dimer and mediate a partial separation of the assembled monomers upon bilayer contact, while residues including W77 and the lysine (K) residue at position 83 (K83) were predicted to stabilize secondary structure and influence association with the model membrane.

User Experiences of and Preferences for Self-Guided Digital Interventions for the Treatment of Mild to Moderate Eating Disorders: Systematic Review and Metasynthesis.

Background: Digital interventions typically involve using smartphones or PCs to access online or downloadable self-help and may offer a more accessible and convenient option than face-to-face interventions for some people with mild to moderate eating disorders. They have been shown to substantially reduce eating disorder symptoms, but treatment dropout rates are higher than for face-to-face interventions. We need to understand user experiences and preferences for digital interventions to support the design and development of user-centered digital interventions that are engaging and meet users' needs.

Computer-Aided High Tibial Osteotomy-A Comparative Study of Commonly Used 3D Printing Technology and Navigation Application.

Background: High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a surgical procedure for treating certain knee conditions. Proper execution of HTO can preserve joint function and delay or avoid the need for total knee replacement. This study compared different 3D printing techniques (fused deposition modeling, selective laser sintering, and direct metal laser sintering) and a navigation system for their suitability in assisting HTO surgeries.

Associations of Obesity with Post-Treatment Risks of Cervical Precancer and Cancer.

Background: Individuals with obesity have an increased risk of cervical cancer, in part related to challenges associated with cervical sampling and visualization that result in missed detection of cervical precancers. The influence of obesity on the effectiveness of excisional treatment of detected cervical precancers and post-treatment disease risk is unknown.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate post-treatment risks of cervical precancer and cancer by body mass index (BMI).

Disparities among Different Countries in Access for Diagnosis and Treatment of Pediatric Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

Objective: Timely diagnosis and management of pediatric sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is essential for best outcomes. This study evaluated the differences of health access among cochlear implant (CI) centers of countries with different health care systems.

Study Design: Retrospective.

Automatic B-lines: a tool for minimizing time to diuretic administration in pulmonary edema patients in the emergency department of a developing country.

Background: Effective management of pulmonary edema in the emergency department (ED) is crucial given its significant global impact on health. This study aimed to investigate the hypothesis: "Does the utilization of Automatic B-lines via ultrasonography in patients with pulmonary edema facilitate faster diuretic administration in a developing country?"

Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary academic center in Thailand. Patients with pulmonary edema admitted to the ED between January 2023 and June 2024 were enrolled.

Long-Term Surgical Outcomes of Intermediate Cleft Rhinoplasty.

Background: The risk/benefit ratio of operating on the cleft nasal deformity in the period of mixed dentition remains debated. This study characterizes our 18-year experience with intermediate cleft rhinoplasties to add data and nuance to the discussion.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent intermediate cleft rhinoplasty from 2006 to 2023.

The Impact of Global Warming on the Rise in Heat-Related Illnesses in Emergency Medical Services.

Purpose: Global warming is one of the critical problems affecting health, society, and the economy. High temperatures are linked to an increase in heat-related illnesses, which have significantly impacted the public health system, particularly emergency medical services (EMS). Analyzing the pattern of heat-related illness cases in EMS can improve resource utilization and preparedness within the public health system.

Mindful Eating and Diet Quality Among US Adults With Lower Incomes.

Background: Mindful eating, a practice that encourages attention to sensations and awareness during the eating experience, has shown effectiveness in inducing positive behavioral changes. Mindful eating practices have been examined in relation to energy intake (i.e.

Markerless tracking of tumor and tissues: A motion model approach.

Background: Respiratory motion management is essential in order to achieve high-precision radiotherapy. Markerless motion tracking of tumor can provide a non-invasive way to manage respiratory motion, thereby enhancing treatment accuracy. However, the low contrast in real-time x-ray images for image guidance limits the application of markerless tracking.

Vertical inhibition of p110α/AKT and N-cadherin enhances treatment efficacy in PIK3CA-aberrated ovarian cancer cells.

Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha [PIK3CA, encoding PI3Kalpha (also known as p110α)] is one of the most commonly aberrated genes in human cancers. In serous ovarian cancer, PIK3CA amplification is highly frequent but PIK3CA point mutation is rare. However, whether PIK3CA amplification and PIK3CA driver mutations have the same functional impact in the disease is unclear.

Long Noncoding RNAs Expressed in Mouse Pituitary Development and Mature Hormone-Producing Cells.

Mammalian genomes contain thousands of genes for long noncoding RNA (lncRNAs), some of which have been shown to affect protein coding gene expression through diverse mechanisms. The lncRNA transcripts are longer than 200 nucleotides and are often capped, spliced, and polyadenylated, but not translated into protein. Nuclear lncRNAs can modify chromatin structure and transcription in trans or cis by interacting with the DNA, forming R-loops, and recruiting regulatory proteins.

Supramolecular assemblies of amphiphilic donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts as macroscopic soft scaffolds.

In the design of photoharvesting and photoresponsive supramolecular systems in aqueous medium, the fabrication of amphiphilic photoswitches enables a noninvasive functional response through photoirradiation. Although most aqueous supramolecular assemblies are driven by high-energy and biodamaging UV light, we have previously reported a design of amphiphilic donor-acceptor Stenhouse adducts (DASAs) controlled by white light. Herein, we present a series of DASA amphiphiles (DAs) with minor structural modifications on the alkyl linker chain length connecting the DASA motif with the hydrophilic moiety.

Insights into the Clinical, Biological and Therapeutic Impact of Copy Number Alteration in Cancer.

Copy number alterations (CNAs), resulting from the gain or loss of genetic material from as little as 50 base pairs or as big as entire chromosome(s), have been associated with many congenital diseases, de novo syndromes and cancer. It is established that CNAs disturb the dosage of genomic regions including enhancers/promoters, long non-coding RNA and gene(s) among others, ultimately leading to an altered balance of key cellular functions. In cancer, CNAs have been associated with almost all steps of the disease: predisposition, initiation, development, maintenance, response to treatment, resistance, and relapse.

The risk and benefit profiles of US-eligible lung cancer screening attendees vs nonattendees.

Background: The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommend lung cancer screening for individuals aged 50-80 years with at least 20 pack-years and no more than 15 quit-years, but uptake is low. The risk and benefit profiles of screening attendees are unknown; consequently, the impact and lost opportunity of ongoing lung cancer screening in the United States remains unclear.

Methods: We estimated lung cancer death risk (using the Lung Cancer Death Risk Assessment Tool) and life gained from screening (using the Life Years Gained From Screening-Computed Tomography model) for individuals aged 50-79 years who ever-smoked in the US representative 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Coherent Control of a Few-Channel Hole Type Gatemon Qubit.

Gatemon qubits are the electrically tunable cousins of superconducting transmon qubits. In this work, we demonstrate the full coherent control of a gatemon qubit based on hole carriers in a Ge/Si core/shell nanowire, with the longest coherence times in group IV material gatemons to date. The key to these results is a high-quality Josephson junction obtained using a straightforward and reproducible annealing technique.

Knockout mice with pituitary malformations help identify human cases of hypopituitarism.

Background: Congenital hypopituitarism (CH) and its associated syndromes, septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) and holoprosencephaly (HPE), are midline defects that cause significant morbidity for affected people. Variants in 67 genes are associated with CH, but a vast majority of CH cases lack a genetic diagnosis. Whole exome and whole genome sequencing of CH patients identifies sequence variants in genes known to cause CH, and in new candidate genes, but many of these are variants of uncertain significance (VUS).

Murine bone-derived mesenchymal stem cells undergo molecular changes after a single passage in culture.

The rarity of the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) population poses a significant challenge for MSC research. Therefore, these cells are often expanded in vitro, prior to use. However, long-term culture has been shown to alter primary MSC properties.

Aqueous Supramolecular Transformations of Motor Bola-Amphiphiles at Multiple Length-Scale.

Molecular motor amphiphiles have already been widely attempted for dynamic nanosystems across multiple length-scale for developments of small functional materials, including controlling macroscopic foam properties, amplifying motion as artificial molecular muscles, and serving as extracellular matrix mimicking cell scaffolds. However, limiting examples of bola-type molecular motor amphiphiles are considered for constructing macroscopic biomaterials. Herein, this work presents the designed two second generation molecular motor amphiphiles, motor bola-amphiphiles (MBAs).