Genome-wide association study of varenicline-aided smoking cessation.

Introduction: Varenicline is an α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist with the highest therapeutic efficacy of any pharmacological smoking cessation aid and a 12-month cessation rate of 26%. Genetic variation may be associated with varenicline response, but to date no genome-wide association studies of varenicline response have been published.

Methods: In this study, we investigated the genetic contribution to varenicline effectiveness using two electronic health record-derived phenotypes.

Utilising Retinal Phenotypes to Predict Cerebrovascular Disease and Detect Related Risk Factors in Multi-Ethnic Populations: A Narrative Review.

Background: Cerebrovascular diseases (CBVDs) are a major cause of mortality and disability, with significant ethnic variations suggesting specific risk factors. Early detection of these risk factors is critical, and retinal imaging offers a non-invasive method to achieve this.

Summary: Retinal phenotypes can serve as early markers for CBVDs.

Programmed intermittent epidural bolus regimen vs continuous epidural infusion: a retrospective study of motor block and obstetric outcomes using the Robson's Ten Group Classification System.

Background: Use of a programmed intermittent epidural bolus (PIEB) regimen during labour is associated with several benefits over a continuous epidural infusion (CEI), including reduced local anaesthetic consumption and reduced risk of motor block. We hypothesise that the benefits of a PIEB regimen may vary according to the Robson Ten Group Classification System (TGCS). The aim of this study was to determine if introduction of a PIEB regimen was associated with reduced incidence of motor block.

Monkeypox Virus Infections After 2 Preexposure Doses of JYNNEOS Vaccine - United States, May 2022-May 2024.

Two doses of JYNNEOS vaccine are effective in preventing many mpox cases and can reduce the severity of symptoms in infected persons. However, infections among fully vaccinated persons can occur. During May 2022-May 2024, a total of 271 mpox cases among fully vaccinated persons were reported to CDC from 27 U.

Prognostication of co-morbidity clusters on hospitalisation and mortality in advanced COPD.

Rationale: As the prevalence of multimorbidity increases, understanding the impact of isolated comorbidities in people COPD becomes increasingly challenging. A simplified model of common comorbidity patterns may improve outcome prediction and allow targeted therapy.

Objectives: To assess whether comorbidity phenotypes derived from routinely collected clinical data in people with COPD show differences in risk of hospitalisation and mortality.

Suspected Legionella Transmission from a Single Donor to Two Lung Transplant Recipients - Pennsylvania, May 2022.

In July 2022, the Pennsylvania Department of Health received two reports of laboratory-confirmed Legionnaires disease in patients who had recently received lung transplants from the same donor at a single Pennsylvania hospital. The donor's cause of death was freshwater drowning in a river, raising suspicion of potential donor-derived transmission, because Legionella bacteria naturally live in fresh water. Further investigation of patients receiving other organs from the same donor did not identify additional legionellosis cases.

G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 Selectively Enhances β-Arrestin Recruitment to the D Dopamine Receptor through Mechanisms That Are Independent of Receptor Phosphorylation.

The D2 dopamine receptor (D2R) signals through both G proteins and β-arrestins to regulate important physiological processes, such as movement, reward circuitry, emotion, and cognition. β-arrestins are believed to interact with G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) at the phosphorylated C-terminal tail or intracellular loops. GPCR kinases (GRKs) are the primary drivers of GPCR phosphorylation, and for many receptors, receptor phosphorylation is indispensable for β-arrestin recruitment.

A data-driven framework for clinical decision support applied to pneumonia management.

Despite their long history, it can still be difficult to embed clinical decision support into existing health information systems, particularly if they utilise machine learning and artificial intelligence models. Moreover, when such tools are made available to healthcare workers, it is important that the users can understand and visualise the reasons for the decision support predictions. Plausibility can be hard to achieve for complex pathways and models and perceived "black-box" functionality often leads to a lack of trust.

Genome-wide association study of thyroid-stimulating hormone highlights new genes, pathways and associations with thyroid disease.

Thyroid hormones play a critical role in regulation of multiple physiological functions and thyroid dysfunction is associated with substantial morbidity. Here, we use electronic health records to undertake a genome-wide association study of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, with a total sample size of 247,107. We identify 158 novel genetic associations, more than doubling the number of known associations with TSH, and implicate 112 putative causal genes, of which 76 are not previously implicated.

Clinical Testing Guidance for Coccidioidomycosis, Histoplasmosis, and Blastomycosis in Patients With Community-Acquired Pneumonia for Primary and Urgent Care Providers.

Coccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, and blastomycosis are underrecognized and frequently misdiagnosed fungal infections that can clinically resemble bacterial and viral community-acquired pneumonia. This guidance is intended to help outpatient clinicians test for these fungal diseases in patients with community-acquired pneumonia to reduce misdiagnoses, unnecessary antibacterial use, and poor outcomes.

Incomplete tissue product tracing during an investigation of a tissue-derived tuberculosis outbreak.

In the United States, there is currently no system to track donated human tissue products to individual recipients. This posed a challenge during an investigation of a nationwide tuberculosis outbreak that occurred when bone allograft contaminated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Lot A) was implanted into 113 patients in 18 US states, including 2 patients at 1 health care facility in Colorado. A third patient at the same facility developed spinal tuberculosis with an isolate genetically identical to the Lot A outbreak strain.

Suspected Legionella Transmission from a Single Donor to Two Lung Transplant Recipients - Pennsylvania, May 2022.

In July 2022, the Pennsylvania Department of Health received two reports of laboratory-confirmed Legionnaires disease in patients who had recently received lung transplants from the same donor at a single Pennsylvania hospital. The donor's cause of death was freshwater drowning in a river, raising suspicion of potential donor-derived transmission, because Legionella bacteria naturally live in fresh water. Further investigation of patients receiving other organs from the same donor did not identify additional legionellosis cases.

Supplemental findings of the 2021 National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey.

Background: The Department of Health and Human Services' National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey (NBCUS) has been conducted biennially since 1997. Data are used to estimate national blood collection and use. Supplemental data from the 2021 NBCUS not presented elsewhere are presented here.

Pharmacology and Therapeutic Potential of Benzothiazole Analogues for Cocaine Use Disorder.

Pharmacological targeting of the dopamine D receptor (DR)─expressed in brain regions that control cognition, attention, and decision-making─could be useful for several neuropsychiatric disorders including substance use disorders (SUDs). This study focused on the synthesis and evaluation of a novel series of benzothiazole analogues designed to target DR. We identified several compounds with high DR binding affinity ( ≤ 6.

Continued stabilization of blood collections and transfusions in the United States: Findings from the 2021 National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey.

Background: National Blood Collection and Utilization Surveys (NBCUS) have reported decreases in U.S. blood collections and transfusions since 2008.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood donation and transfusions in the United States in 2020.

Introduction: Reports have suggested the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in blood donation shortages and adverse impacts on the blood supply. Using data from the National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey (NBCUS), we quantified the pandemic's impact on red blood cell (RBC) and apheresis platelet collections and transfusions in the United States during year 2020.

Methods: The 2021 NBCUS survey instrument was modified to include certain blood collection and utilization variables for 2020.

Simulating high-fidelity emergency front-of-neck access: Training in an obstetric setting.

Introduction: In a cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate scenario (CICO), emergency front of neck access (eFONA) is the final lifesaving step in airway management to reverse hypoxia and prevent progression to brain injury, cardiac arrest and death. The Difficult Airway Society (DAS) guidelines advise the scalpel cricothyroidotomy method for eFONA. Anatomical and physiological changes in pregnancy exacerbate the already challenging obstetric airway.