Bacterial contamination of sterile angiographic work environments during animal studies.

Bacterial contamination of angiographic materials and fluids has been shown to occur during human angiographic procedures. Angiographic examinations and experiments must be performed under sterile conditions to avoid complications due to contamination and possible subsequent infections. However, data regarding the frequency and the clinical consequences are limited.

Target-site cefiderocol pharmacokinetics in soft tissues of healthy volunteers.

Background: Cefiderocol may potentially be used to treat skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). However, the pharmacokinetics of cefiderocol in human soft tissues have not yet been determined. The objective of the present PK study was to investigate whether target-site concentrations of cefiderocol are sufficiently high for the treatment of SSTIs.

Concentrations of ceftazidime and avibactam in bile fluid-a prospective phase IIb study.

Background: The rise in carbapenem-resistant bacteria and the limited number of effective antibiotics pose a major health-care threat. The combination of ceftazidime (CAZ) and avibactam (AVI) represents an approved treatment option for carbapenem-resistant intra-abdominal infections. However, data on the pharmacokinetic profile of AVI in the hepatobiliary compartment is lacking.

Neonatal birthweight prediction using two- and three-dimensional estimated fetal weight among borderline small fetuses.

Purpose: This study aimed (1) to determine the degree of correlation between 2D and 3D estimated fetal weight (EFW) and neonatal birth weight (BW) among borderline small fetuses and (2) to compare the accuracy and precision of 2D and 3D EFW in BW prediction.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study evaluated fetuses who had an ultrasound performed between January 2017 and September 2021 at a tertiary maternal center. All singleton pregnancies with 3D EFW within 4 weeks of delivery were included.

Predictive performance of multi-model approaches for model-informed precision dosing of piperacillin in critically ill patients.

Objectives: Piperacillin (PIP)/tazobactam is a frequently prescribed antibiotic; however, over- or underdosing may contribute to toxicity, therapeutic failure, and development of antimicrobial resistance. An external evaluation of 24 published PIP-models demonstrated that model-informed precision dosing (MIPD) can enhance target attainment. Employing various candidate models, this study aimed to assess the predictive performance of different MIPD-approaches comparing (i) a single-model approach, (ii) a model selection algorithm (MSA) and (iii) a model averaging algorithm (MAA).

Sex-Dependent T Cell Dysregulation in Mice with Diet-Induced Obesity.

Obesity is an emerging public health problem. Chronic low-grade inflammation is considered a major promotor of obesity-induced secondary diseases such as cardiovascular and fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and several cancer entities. Most preliminary studies on obesity-induced immune responses have been conducted in male rodents.

Free serum concentrations of antibiotics determined by ultrafiltration: extensive evaluation of experimental variables.

To assess the impact of experimental conditions on free serum concentrations as determined by ultrafiltration and HPLC-DAD analysis in a wide range of antibiotics. Relative centrifugation force (RCF), temperature, pH and buffer were varied and the results compared with the standard protocol (phosphate buffer pH 7.4, 37°C, 1000 × g).

Technologies to Study Genetics and Molecular Pathways.

Over the last few decades, the study of congenital heart disease (CHD) has benefited from various model systems and the development of molecular biological techniques enabling the analysis of single gene as well as global effects. In this chapter, we first describe different models including CHD patients and their families, animal models ranging from invertebrates to mammals, and various cell culture systems. Moreover, techniques to experimentally manipulate these models are discussed.

Cardiac Transcription Factors and Regulatory Networks.

Cardiac development is a fine-tuned process governed by complex transcriptional networks, in which transcription factors (TFs) interact with other regulatory layers. In this chapter, we introduce the core cardiac TFs including Gata, Hand, Nkx2, Mef2, Srf, and Tbx. These factors regulate each other's expression and can also act in a combinatorial manner on their downstream targets.

Factors Associated with Acute Telemental Health Consultations in Older Veterans.

Introduction: The United States Veterans Health Administration is a leader in the use of telemental health (TMH) to enhance access to mental healthcare amidst a nationwide shortage of mental health professionals. The Tennessee Valley Veterans Affairs (VA) Health System piloted TMH in its emergency department (ED) and urgent care clinic (UCC) in 2019, with full 24/7 availability beginning March 1, 2020. Following implementation, preliminary data demonstrated that veterans ≥65 years old were less likely to receive TMH than younger patients.

Are cisnormative surveys adequate to assess sexual well-being in trans men post-genital gender-affirming surgery?

Introduction: For transmasculine spectrum individuals, there is a lack of validated surveys to assess sexual well-being (SWB) post-genital gender-affirming surgery. Currently, either providers are designing their own SWB surveys or surveys designed for cisgender men are being used.

Objective: This study investigated the applicability of SWB surveys validated for cisgender men to transmasculine spectrum individuals post-genital gender-affirming surgery (TMSX).

Impact of Mandated Insurance Coverage of Assisted Reproductive Technology on Clinic Website Transparency.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether website transparency of service costs, accepted insurance plans, and financing options differs between reproductive endocrinology and infertility clinics located in states that do and do not mandate insurance coverage of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Six hundred forty-six clinics were identified using the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology online locator. Clinics were excluded for missing website links, duplicate entries, broken websites, or permanent closure.

Natural language processing to identify lupus nephritis phenotype in electronic health records.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by an unpredictable course of flares and remission with diverse manifestations. Lupus nephritis, one of the major disease manifestations of SLE for organ damage and mortality, is a key component of lupus classification criteria. Accurately identifying lupus nephritis in electronic health records (EHRs) would therefore benefit large cohort observational studies and clinical trials where characterization of the patient population is critical for recruitment, study design, and analysis.

The Dose-Response Relationship between Opioid Agonist Therapy and Alterations in Pain Pathways in Patients with Opioid Use Disorders: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: The administration of opioids can be followed by enduring neuroplastic changes in the peripheral and central nervous systems. This remodeling can lead to opioid-induced hyperalgesia, causing an increased sensitivity to painful stimuli. The description of opioid-induced changes in the somatosensory system has seldom been described in the setting of opioid agonist therapy in the treatment of opioid use disorders, and the few existing reports provide no guidance with respect to the effect of varied doses or substances.

Does rickets carry an increased risk of osteomyelitis and septic arthritis? An aggregated electronic health record data study.

To investigate the prevalence of osteomyelitis and septic arthritis in pediatric patients with rickets, compared to the general population. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the TriNetX analytics network, which aggregates deidentified electronic health record data from over 105 million US patients. We queried pediatric patients with rickets, based on ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification) encounter diagnoses.

Linezolid brain penetration in neurointensive care patients.

Background: Linezolid exposure in critically ill patients is associated with high inter-individual variability, potentially resulting in subtherapeutic antibiotic exposure. Linezolid exhibits good penetration into the CSF, but its penetration into cerebral interstitial fluid (ISF) is unknown.

Objectives: To determine linezolid penetration into CSF and cerebral ISF of neurointensive care patients.

A 7-Year-Old Boy with Fever and Dark Urine.

A 7-Year-Old Boy with Fever and Dark UrineA 7-year-old boy with surgically repaired tetralogy of Fallot presented for evaluation of fever and dark urine. How do you approach the evaluation, and what is the diagnosis?

Patient navigation job roles by levels of experience: Workforce Development Task Group, National Navigation Roundtable.

Cancer patient navigators work in diverse settings ranging from community-based programs to comprehensive cancer centers to improve outcomes in underserved populations by eliminating barriers to timely cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship in a culturally appropriate and competent manner. This article clarifies the roles and responsibilities of Entry, Intermediate, and Advanced level cancer patient navigators. The competencies described in this article apply to patient navigators, nurse navigators, and social work navigators.

Reduction of IFN-I responses by plasmacytoid dendritic cells in a longitudinal trans men cohort.

Type I interferons (IFN-I) are important mediators of antiviral immunity and autoimmune diseases. Female plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) exert an elevated capacity to produce IFN-I upon toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) activation compared to male pDCs, and both sex hormones and X-encoded genes have been implicated in these sex-specific differences. Using longitudinal samples from a trans men cohort receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), the impact of testosterone injections on TLR7-mediated IFN-I production by pDCs was assessed.

Comparison of artery diameters in the Aachen minipig serving as a human intracranial in vivo model.

Minipigs are used as in vivo endovascular models, particularly in stroke and aneurysm research. However, detailed knowledge of the diameters of forelimb arteries that are commonly used as surrogates for human brain-supplying arteries are lacking. This study aimed to determine the diameters of forelimb and neck arteries in Aachen minipigs and to compare those to the diameters of human cerebral brain-supplying arteries in order to assess the validity of the Aachen minipig as a human intracranial in vivo model.

Towards model-informed precision dosing of piperacillin: multicenter systematic external evaluation of pharmacokinetic models in critically ill adults with a focus on Bayesian forecasting.

Purpose: Inadequate piperacillin (PIP) exposure in intensive care unit (ICU) patients threatens therapeutic success. Model-informed precision dosing (MIPD) might be promising to individualize dosing; however, the transferability of published models to external populations is uncertain. This study aimed to externally evaluate the available PIP population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) models.