SK609, a novel dopamine D3 receptor agonist and norepinephrine transporter blocker with putative pro-cognitive actions, does not induce psychostimulant-like increases in risky choice during probabilistic discounting.

Rationale: Psychostimulants, such as amphetamine (AMPH) and methylphenidate (MPH), non-selectively elevate extracellular concentrations of the catecholamine neurotransmitters, dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE), and are common pharmacological strategies used to improve prefrontal cortex (PFC)-dependent cognitive dysfunction. However, this approach can be problematic given AMPH has been shown to increase preference for risky choices in a rodent assay of risk/reward decision making. SK609 is a novel NE reuptake blocker that selectively activates DA D3 receptors without affinity for the DA transporter.

A massively parallel reporter assay library to screen short synthetic promoters in mammalian cells.

Cellular responses to stimuli underpin discoveries in drug development, synthetic biology, and general life sciences. We introduce a library comprising 6144 synthetic promoters, each shorter than 250 bp, designed as transcriptional readouts of cellular stimulus responses in massively parallel reporter assay format. This library facilitates precise detection and amplification of transcriptional activity from our promoters, enabling the systematic development of tunable reporters with dynamic ranges of 50-100 fold.

Open-chest cardiac ultrasound-mediated imaging with a vacuum coupler.

Background: A fundamental obstacle for the preclinical development of ultrasound-(US) mediated cardiac imaging remains cardiac motion, which limits interframe correlation during extended acquisition periods.

Purpose: To address this need, we present the design and implementation of a 3D-printed vacuum coupler that stabilizes a US transducer on the epicardial surface of the heart for feasibility assessment and development of advanced, cardiac, US-mediated imaging approaches.

Methods: The vacuum coupler was 3D printed with biocompatible resins and secured with a standard intraoperative suction aspirator.

An Insight into Perfusion Anisotropy within Solid Murine Lung Cancer Tumors.

Blood vessels are essential for maintaining tumor growth, progression, and metastasis, yet the tumor vasculature is under a constant state of remodeling. Since the tumor vasculature is an attractive therapeutic target, there is a need to predict the dynamic changes in intratumoral fluid pressure and velocity that occur across the tumor microenvironment (TME). The goal of this study was to obtain insight into perfusion anisotropy within lung tumors.

Physicians' perspectives on COVID-19 vaccinations for children: a qualitative exploration in Ontario, Canada.

Objectives: Parents' decisions to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 are complex and often informed by discussions with primary care physicians. However, little is known about physicians' perspectives on COVID-19 vaccinations for children or their experiences counselling parents in their decision-making. We explored physicians' experiences providing COVID-19 vaccination recommendations to parents and their reflections on the contextual factors that shaped these experiences.

Socioeconomic risk and the longitudinal child lifetime prevalence of child protection involvement.

Background: North American studies find that geographic indicators of disadvantage, such as concentrated poverty, significantly increase the risk of child protection involvement. Despite having one of the most extensive family support systems and progressive income redistribution policies in North America, the Canadian province of Québec still faces geographic variations in socioeconomic conditions that remain a major risk factor for child protection involvement.

Objective: This study asks how child protection involvement is distributed across socioeconomically distinct geographic areas of the province.

species bacteremia in association with adult psychosis.

Introduction: The potential role of pathogens, particularly vector-transmitted infectious agents, as a cause of psychosis has not been intensively investigated. We have reported a potential link between spp. bacteremia and neuropsychiatric symptoms, including pediatric acute onset neuropsychiatric syndrome and schizophrenia.

Comparing an In-Person and Online Continuing Education Intervention to Improve Professional Decision-Making: A Mixed Methods Study.

This paper compares two iterations (in-person and online) of a multi-stage continuing education program for improving high-risk decision-making among mental health workers. The mixed-methods study analyzed the following: (1) physiological and psychological arousal during simulated patient interviews; (2) physiological and psychological arousal recorded during real-time decision-making over four months; and (3) thoughts on the process and outcomes of the intervention raised in reflective interviews. Quantitatively, there were no statistical differences in stress measures between in-person and online simulated interviews or decision-making logs, suggesting they were effective in eliciting reactions commonly found in challenging clinical situations.

Hepatitis Delta Virus Reporting Requirements in the United States and Territories: A Systematic Review.

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a rare coinfection with hepatitis B virus. Currently, HDV is not a nationally notifiable disease in the United States. Only 55% of states and territories require HDV reporting, and most lack defined case definitions.

The role of fetal hemoglobin in the artificial placenta: A premature ovine model.

Introduction: A radical paradigm shift in the treatment of premature infants failing conventional treatment is to recreate fetal physiology using an extracorporeal Artificial Placenta (AP). The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of changing fetal hemoglobin percent (HbF%) on physiology and circuit function during AP support in an ovine model.

Methods: Extremely premature lambs ( = 5) were delivered by cesarean section at 117-121 d estimated gestational age (EGA) (term = 145d), weighing 2.

Growing Awareness: Limited Testing and Screening Bias for Hepatitis Delta Virus in Utah 2000-2021.

Background: This study assessed the epidemiology of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) within the University of Utah UHealth health care system (2000-2021).

Methods: Analysis of HDV/HBV testing, diagnostic codes, liver enzymes, and comorbidities was performed.

Results: Among the 1962 HBV patients, only 22.

A novel conjugative transposon carrying an autonomously amplified plasmid.

Tetracyclines serve as broad-spectrum antibiotics to treat bacterial infections. The discovery of new tetracycline resistance genes has led to new questions about the underlying mechanisms of resistance, gene transfer, and their relevance to human health. We tracked changes in the abundance of a 55-kbp conjugative transposon (CTn214) carrying a tetracycline resistance gene, within a metagenome-assembled genome derived from shotgun sequencing of microbial DNA extracted from the ileal pouch of a patient with ulcerative colitis.

Examining the role of child welfare worker characteristics and the substantiation decision.

Background: The role of child welfare workers is twofold, to promote the safety of children and youth and to address their wellbeing. This provincially legislated mandate requires child welfare workers to make decisions across the child welfare service continuum. After a report of child maltreatment is investigated, workers are required to assess the veracity of the allegation through the substantiation decision and to determine whether the child has been victimized, which may impact on families' future involvement with services.

Twenty-five years of child welfare data in Ontario, Canada: Examining the response of child welfare to reports of children's exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV).

Background: Increases in child welfare investigations involving children's exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) in Ontario are likely the result of three factors: 1) changes to legislation, policy, and assessment instruments; 2) increased awareness of the risks of exposure to IPV for children, and 3) referrals from professionals (e.g., police).

A Pumpless Pediatric Artificial Lung Maintains Function for 72 h Without Systemic Anticoagulation Using the Nitric Oxide Surface Anticoagulation System.

Background: Children with end-stage lung disease are commonly managed with extracorporeal life support (ECLS) as a bridge to lung transplantation. A pumpless artificial lung (MLung) is a portable alternative to ECLS and it allows for ambulation. Both ECLS and pumpless artificial lungs require systemic anticoagulation which is associated with hemorrhagic complications.

Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination in young children.

Objective: To examine factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination (time to vaccination and vaccination status) among healthy young children participating in primary healthcare.

Methods: A cohort study was conducted between November 2021 and September 2022 through the TARGet Kids! primary care research network in Toronto, Canada. Sociodemographic information, child and parent health characteristics, parental vaccine beliefs and child COVID-19 vaccine uptake were collected through parent-reported questionnaires.

Child Welfare Investigations of Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence Referred by Medical Professionals in Ontario: A Uniquely Vulnerable Population?

Victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) and their children may be at an increased risk for negative health outcomes and may present to healthcare settings. The objective of the current study is to examine the profile of medical-referred child welfare investigations of exposure to IPV in Ontario, Canada. Data from the Ontario Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect 2018 were used.

Neuropsychiatric Lyme Disease and Vagus Nerve Stimulation.

Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne disease in the United States, is caused by infection with the spirochete . While most patients with acute Lyme disease recover completely if treated with antibiotics shortly after the onset of infection, approximately 10-30% experience post-treatment symptoms and 5-10% have residual symptoms with functional impairment (post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome or PTLDS). These patients typically experience pain, cognitive problems, and/or fatigue.