Identification of Factors Affecting the Accrual of Black Males Into Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials in the United States.

Introduction: Black males have the highest incidence and mortality rates from prostate cancer of any racial group in the United States, yet are underrepresented in prostate cancer clinical trials.

Methods: The Prostate Health Education Network surveyed its members about experiences regarding prostate cancer clinical trials and explored reasons for lack of participation. Black males residing in the United States with a diagnosis of prostate cancer were eligible to participate.

High throughput variant libraries and machine learning yield design rules for retron gene editors.

The bacterial retron reverse transcriptase system has served as an intracellular factory for single-stranded DNA in many biotechnological applications. In these technologies, a natural retron non-coding RNA (ncRNA) is modified to encode a template for the production of custom DNA sequences by reverse transcription. The efficiency of reverse transcription is a major limiting step for retron technologies, but we lack systematic knowledge of how to improve or maintain reverse transcription efficiency while changing the retron sequence for custom DNA production.

Paramedic educational programs maintain entry level competency throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic required unprecedented changes to emergency medical services (EMS) educational frameworks in the United States. It is unclear if pandemic-related changes impacted paramedic educational outcomes. We aimed to evaluate curricular and performance changes resulting from the initial COVID-19 pandemic on paramedic educational programs.

ARCHWAy: an innovative educational program advancing the public health workforce.

Background: Community health workers (CHWs) are vital yet often invisible contributors to care coordination, health equity, and public health (PH) in medically underserved areas. The Atlanta Regional Community Health Workforce Advancement (ARCHWAy) Program leverages cross-sector partners to increase the number of CHWs on integrated care teams in metro Atlanta in the United States.

Methods: The ARCHWAy Program provides an innovative educational curriculum guided by United States Department of Labor CHW competencies and cross-walked with the Georgia CHW Initiative competencies.

Serum per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) levels and health-related biomarkers in a pilot study of skiers in New England.

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), synthetic chemicals with adverse health effects, are used extensively in consumer products. Ski waxes, applied to the base of skis, contain up to 100% PFAS by mass, but exposure and health effects are poorly characterized.

Objectives: Our objectives were to quantify serum PFAS concentrations among skiers and explore associations with reported ski wax use and biomarkers of cardiometabolic, thyroid, and immune health.

Regulatory elements in (7q21.3) locus contribute to genetic control of coronal nonsyndromic craniosynostosis and bone density-related traits.

Purpose: The etiopathogenesis of coronal nonsyndromic craniosynostosis (cNCS), a congenital condition defined by premature fusion of 1 or both coronal sutures, remains largely unknown.

Methods: We conducted the largest genome-wide association study of cNCS followed by replication, fine mapping, and functional validation of the most significant region using zebrafish animal model.

Results: Genome-wide association study identified 6 independent genome-wide-significant risk alleles, 4 on chromosome 7q21.

Factors associated with newly graduated nurses' work readiness during a pandemic: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Newly graduated nurses may experience reality shock and leave the career early, if not adequately prepared. The pandemic has significantly impacted nursing education, clinical placements, working conditions and employment opportunities, leaving newly graduated nurses' work readiness unknown.

Aim: To investigate the work readiness and its associated factors of newly graduated nurses who studied and graduated during a pandemic.

An experimental census of retrons for DNA production and genome editing.

Retrons are bacterial immune systems that use reverse-transcribed DNA (RT-DNA) to detect phage infection. They are also deployed for genome editing, where they are modified so that the RT-DNA encodes an editing donor. Retrons are common in bacterial genomes, and thousands of unique retrons have been predicted bioinformatically.

Cognitive assessment of nursing home residents: Survey data on tools used and perceptions of use among social service professionals in one U.S. state.

Social service professionals routinely use screening tools to assess for cognitive decline or identify suspected dementia in nursing home residents. Published literature lacks details about the specific tools used and how professionals use and perceive them in practice. The aim of this study is to better understand cognitive screening roles performed by nursing home social service professionals and how they view their use and efficacy.

Overview of ADNI MRI.

The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Core has been operating since Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative's (ADNI) inception, providing 20 years of data including reliable, multi-platform standardized protocols, carefully curated image data, and quantitative measures provided by expert investigators. The overarching purposes of the MRI Core include: (1) optimizing and standardizing MRI acquisition methods, which have been adopted by many multicenter studies and trials worldwide and (2) providing curated images and numeric summary values from relevant MRI sequences/contrasts to the scientific community. Over time, ADNI MRI has become increasingly complex.

The Impact of Trauma-Informed Training for a Youth Residential Center on Staff Attitudes and Behavior.

Purpose: Children with behavioral issues in residential care settings have high rates of trauma, with a range of trauma experiences such as abuse and neglect, issues with attachment, and multiple disruptions in placements. Staff in these settings should have an understanding of trauma, its impact, and how to engage in trauma-informed practice.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to examine whether a trauma-informed training, developed specifically based on the identified needs of a residential group care facility, had an impact on future staff attitudes and behaviors.

Continuous multiplexed phage genome editing using recombitrons.

Bacteriophage genome editing can enhance the efficacy of phages to eliminate pathogenic bacteria in patients and in the environment. However, current methods for editing phage genomes require laborious screening, counterselection or in vitro construction of modified genomes. Here, we present a scalable approach that uses modified bacterial retrons called recombitrons to generate recombineering donor DNA paired with single-stranded binding and annealing proteins for integration into phage genomes.

Utility of placental biomarkers and fetoplacental Dopplers in predicting likely placental pathology in early and late fetal growth restriction - A prospective study.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between placental abnormalities, placental biomarkers, and fetoplacental Dopplers in a cohort of pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction (FGR). We also ascertained the risk of perinatal mortality, severe neurological morbidity, and severe non-neurological morbidity by type of placental abnormality.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study.

Shared decision-making in maternity care in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Shared decision-making (SDM) in maternity care involves women actively in decisions, thereby reducing decisional conflicts and enhancing satisfaction with care.

Aim: To investigate SDM and the factors associated with it, and its correlation with respect in maternity care in Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A comprehensive, nationwide online questionnaire-based study was conducted between January to May 2023, involving women aged 18 years and above who were either pregnant or had experienced pregnancy/childbirth in the past 12 months.

"I will take part in the revolution with our people": a qualitative study of healthcare workers' experiences of violence and resistance after the 2021 Myanmar coup d'etat.

Background: In Myanmar, ongoing conflict since the 2021 military coup d'etat has been characterized by targeted violence against health workers (HWs), particularly those participating in the pro-democracy movement. Existing knowledge about the challenges faced by health workers in Myanmar is scant, including their perspectives on mitigating their suffering and the broader impact on community health. This knowledge gap prompted our study to assess the extent of the violence, its impact on the workers and the community, and identify resource priorities.

The Impact of Fellowship Affiliation on Urogynecology Training in Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency.

Objective: To compare characteristics of Urogynecology training and number of "Incontinence and Pelvic Floor" cases logged between Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) residencies affiliated and those not affiliated with Urogynecology fellowships.

Design: A retrospective descriptive analysis was performed of OB/GYN residency programs, their Urogynecology training, and association with Urogynecology fellowship programs during the 2023 to 2024 academic year. Program websites for Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited OB/GYN residency programs were reviewed to determine availability, timing, and length of Urogynecology training.

The informatics of ADNI.

The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) has revolutionized the landscape of Alzheimer's research through its Informatics Core, which has facilitated unprecedented data standardization and sharing. Over 20 years, ADNI established a robust informatics framework, enabling the validation of biomarkers and supporting global research efforts. The Informatics Core, centered at the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging (LONI), provides a comprehensive data hub that ensures data quality, accessibility, and security, fostering over 5600 publications and significant scientific advancements.

The Relationship between Placental Shear Wave Elastography and Fetal Weight-A Prospective Study.

: The utility of shear wave elastography (SWE) as an adjunct to ultrasound biometry and Doppler velocimetry for the examination of placental dysfunction and suboptimal fetal growth is unclear. To date, limited data exist correlating the mechanical properties of placentae with fetal growth. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between placental shear wave velocity (SWV) and ultrasound estimated fetal weight (EFW), and to ascertain if placental SWV is a suitable proxy measure of placental function in the surveillance of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) pregnancies.

Factors Influencing Kidney Transplantation Experiences for Patients From Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Disparities in aspects of chronic kidney disease progression and management exist for patients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, including with treatment and outcomes for kidney transplantation.

Objective: This study aimed to explore factors that impact kidney transplant outcomes from the perspective of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) from CALD backgrounds and their family caregivers.

Methods: A descriptive qualitative design was utilised.

Peripheral intravascular lithotripsy to facilitate transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement - Defining optimal treatable peripheral arterial disease burden.

Background: Transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TF-TAVR) has proven superior to alternative access. However, some patients evaluated for TF-TAVR are unfit secondary to peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Peripheral intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) can facilitate femoral access.

Emerging Medical Technologies and Their Use in Bionic Repair and Human Augmentation.

As both the proportion of older people and the length of life increases globally, a rise in age-related degenerative diseases, disability, and prolonged dependency is projected. However, more sophisticated biomedical materials, as well as an improved understanding of human disease, is forecast to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of conditions ranging from osteoarthritis to Alzheimer's disease as well as impact disease prevention. Another, albeit quieter, revolution is also taking place within society: human augmentation.