Evaluation of host immune responses to Mycobacteriophage Fionnbharth by route of delivery.

For much of the last decade, tuberculosis (TB) was the leading cause of mortality due to an infectious pathogen (Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M.tb). Approximately 1.

Recommended Opioid Receptor Tool Compounds: Comparative for Receptor Selectivity Profiles and for Pharmacological Antinociceptive Profiles.

Opioid agonist ligands bind opioid receptors and stimulate downstream signaling cascades for various biological processes including pain and reward. Historically, before cloning the receptors, muscle contraction assays using isolated organ tissues were used followed by radiolabel ligand binding assays on native tissues. Upon cloning of the opioid G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), cell assays using transfected opioid receptor DNA plasmids became the standard practice including S-GTPγS functional and cAMP based assays.

The Impact of Polymerized Whey Protein on the Microstructure, Probiotic Survivability, and Sensory Properties of Hemp Extract-Infused Goat Milk Yogurt.

Goat milk yogurt infused with hemp extract (HE) is a novel dairy product; however, the unpleasant flavors from hemp terpenes and goat milk may impact its acceptance and popularity. This study aimed to investigate the effect of polymerized whey protein (PWP) on mitigating the hempy flavor of HE-infused goat milk yogurt and its impact on the physicochemical properties, microstructure, and probiotic survivability. Goat milk yogurt samples were infused with either nothing (plain flavor), HE, HE plus whey protein isolate, or HE plus PWP.

Applying to Integrated Thoracic Surgery Residency: A Survey-Based Cost Analysis.

Background: Application costs are known for other competitive surgical subspecialties but not for integrated thoracic surgery residency (I6). We sought to quantify I6 application costs, assess the value of away rotations and geographic connections, and identify characteristics of matched applicants.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the Texas Seeking Transparency in Application to Residency survey-based database for I6 applicants (2019-2022).

Review of biological variation and its applications in interpretation of equine clinical pathology results.

Biological variation in laboratory results refers to physiological fluctuations that occur around a homeostatic setpoint (HSP) for various laboratory measurands. Assessment of biological variation includes determining individual variation (CV), group variation (CV), and analytical variation (CV). Reference change value (RCV) is an objective tool for an evidence-based approach to interpret data by assessing the significance of consecutive results in an individual for the diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of disease.

Rare variants in the melanocortin 4 receptor gene (MC4R) are associated with abdominal fat and insulin resistance in youth with obesity.

Background: Rare variants in melanocortin 4 receptor gene (MC4R) result in a severe form of early-onset obesity; however, it is unclear how these variants may affect abdominal fat distribution, intrahepatic fat accumulation, and related metabolic sequelae.

Methods: Eight hundred seventy-seven youth (6-21 years) with overweight/obesity, recruited from the Yale Pediatric Obesity Clinic in New Haven, CT, underwent genetic analysis to screen for functionally damaging, rare variants (MAF < 0.01) in MC4R.

Hybrid closed-loop systems for managing blood glucose levels in type 1 diabetes: a systematic review and economic modelling.

Background: Hybrid closed-loop systems are a new class of technology to manage type 1 diabetes mellitus. The system includes a combination of real-time continuous glucose monitoring from a continuous glucose monitoring device and a control algorithm to direct insulin delivery through an insulin pump. Evidence suggests that such technologies have the potential to improve the lives of people with type 1 diabetes mellitus and their families.

Surfactant Protein A Inhibits Human Rhinovirus C Binding and Infection of Airway Epithelial Cells from Pediatric Asthma.

Rhinovirus C (RV-C) infection can trigger asthma exacerbations in children and adults, and RV-C-induced wheezing illnesses in preschool children correlate with the development of childhood asthma. Surfactant protein A (SP-A) plays a critical role in regulating pulmonary innate immunity by binding to numerous respiratory pathogens. Mature SP-A consists of multiple isoforms that form the hetero-oligomers of SP-A1 and SP-A2, organized in 18-mers.

Distinct Inflammatory Programs Underlie the Intramuscular Lipid Nanoparticle Response.

Developments in mRNA/lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology have advanced the fields of vaccinology and gene therapy, raising questions about immunogenicity. While some mRNA/LNPs generate an adjuvant-like environment in muscle tissue, other mRNA/LNPs are distinct in their capacity for multiple rounds of therapeutic delivery. We evaluate the adjuvancy of components of mRNA/LNPs by phenotyping cellular infiltrate at injection sites, tracking uptake by immune cells, and assessing the inflammatory state.

Delivery of Oral Health Services at Medical Visits through 3 Medical Dental Integration Models.

Introduction: The Rocky Mountain Network of Oral Health is 1 of 3 regional projects funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (2019 to 2024) focusing on caries prevention through medical-dental integration (MDI) in community health centers (CHCs). MDI models included provision of preventive oral health services (POHS) at medical visits by the medical team (model 1), by integrated dental hygienists (DHs; model 2), or a hybrid of these models (model 3). The overarching aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of these models on 3 objectives: (1) ≥50% receive POHS, (2) ≥75% with high caries risk receives dental referral, and (3) ≥30% of parents/caregivers set an oral health goal for the child.

Internet use and health literacy among pediatric chronic kidney disease patients and their caregivers.

Background: Management of pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD) is complex for affected youth and their families. Treatment requires a high level of family engagement to successfully manage medical appointments, inpatient hospital stays, and daily medication regimens. Health literacy has been identified as a possible contributor to health inequities and unsuccessful chronic disease management.

Online Lifestyle Medicine Continuing Medical Education (CME) Course Completion Predicts Increases in Clinician Knowledge, Confidence, and Practice of Lifestyle Medicine.

Despite growing evidence linking lifestyle changes to disease reversal, lifestyle medicine (LM) is not widely practiced. Lack of clinician training and knowledge is cited as a barrier to LM adoption. This study measures changes in LM knowledge, attitudes, confidence, and practice behaviors following completion of a 5.

Association between social determinants of health and select neurosurgical procedures in the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry.

Objective: Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a lifelong condition requiring complex multidisciplinary management. Using the National Spina Bifida Patient Registry (NSBPR), the authors tested the association between sociodemographic variables and odds of undergoing neurosurgical procedures.

Methods: The authors extracted sociodemographic, clinical, and neurosurgical procedure data on participants with MMC aged ≥ 1 year who visited an NSBPR clinic between 2009 and 2020.

Paradigmatic perspectives of research on the self-regulated learning of non-Western learners in health professions education: a scoping review protocol.

Objective: The objective of this review will be to explore the paradigmatic perspectives of research on self-regulated learning in non-Western learners in health professions education.

Introduction: Studies show that there are significant cultural differences in self-regulated learning. However, a predominantly positivistic research paradigm, attempting to fit cross-cultural populations into pre-defined Western conceptualizations of self-regulated learning, has led to the disregard of these differences.

Comparison of the reinforcing, antinociceptive, and respiratory depressant effects of prototypical and G-protein biased mu-opioid receptor agonists in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats.

Rationale: G-protein biased mu-opioid receptor (MOR) agonists have been reported to exhibit superior therapeutic windows compared to prototypical MOR agonists when relating antinociception to respiratory depression. However, there is relatively little research on the abuse potential of G-protein biased MOR agonists in relation to other behavioral endpoints.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to quantitatively compare the reinforcing, antinociceptive, and respiratory-depressant effects of the prototypical MOR agonists, fentanyl and oxycodone, to the G-protein biased MOR agonists, SR14968 and SR17018, in male and female rats.

Impact of regression modeling on the assessment and harmonization of a point-of-care analyzer and commercial laboratory analyzer for feline plasma biochemistry testing.

Background: Regression describes the relationship of results from two analyzers, and the generated equation can be used to harmonize results. Point-of-care (POC) analyzers cannot be calibrated by the end user, so regression offers an opportunity for calculated harmonization. Harmonization (uniformity) of laboratory results facilitates the use of common reference intervals and medical decision thresholds.

Lifestyle Medicine in Medical Education: Maximizing Impact.

The relationship between lifestyle behaviors and common chronic conditions is well established. Lifestyle medicine (LM) interventions to modify health behaviors can dramatically improve the health of individuals and populations. There is an urgent need to meaningfully integrate LM into medical curricula horizontally across the medical domains and vertically in each year of school and training.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Regarding Medical Cannabis Among Patients and Providers in Florida's Long-Term Care Facilities.

Objectives: Medical cannabis (MC) has been found effective in treating multiple symptoms commonly experienced by older adults; however, residents in long-term care (LTC) often lack access to MC products. This study seeks to identify patterns and barriers to recommending MC to patients and to explore the knowledge and attitudes toward MC use among patients and providers.

Methods: The quantitative portion of this study employed a survey to assess the knowledge of, attitudes toward, and barriers to MC among 126 providers in Florida LTC.

DISTINCT PATTERNS OF ENDOTHELIAL CELL ACTIVATION PRODUCED BY EXTRACELLULAR HISTONES AND BACTERIAL LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE.

Objective : Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) sense and respond to both trauma factors (histone proteins) and sepsis signals (bacterial lipopolysaccharide, LPS) with elevations in calcium (Ca 2+ ), but it is not clear if the patterns of activation are similar or different. We hypothesized that within seconds of exposure, histones but not LPS would produce a large EC Ca 2+ response. We also hypothesized that histones would produce different spatio-temporal patterns of Ca 2+ events in veins than in arteries.

Mycoplasma genitalium retrospective audit of Northern Territory isolates from 2022.

The Northern Territory (NT) has the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in Australia; however, the local prevalence of () has not been previously determined. This study was designed to review detection, to determine the regional NT prevalence and macrolide resistance rates. In our study the NT background prevalence of is 13%, with the highest detection rates occurring in central Australia and in correctional facility inmates.

Dopamine Pathway and Parkinson's Risk Variants Are Associated with Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesia.

Background: Levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) is a common adverse effect of levodopa, one of the main therapeutics used to treat the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). Previous evidence suggests a connection between LID and a disruption of the dopaminergic system as well as genes implicated in PD, including GBA1 and LRRK2.

Objectives: Our goal was to investigate the effects of genetic variants on risk and time to LID.

Transcription factor 4 is a key mediator of oncogenesis in neuroblastoma by promoting MYC activity.

Super-enhancer-associated transcription factor networks define cell identity in neuroblastoma (NB). Dysregulation of these transcription factors contributes to the initiation and maintenance of NB by enforcing early developmental identity states. We report that the class I basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor 4 (TCF4; also known as E2-2) is a critical NB dependency gene that significantly contributes to these identity states through heterodimerization with cell-identity-specific bHLH transcription factors.

Altered epidemiological patterns of Respiratory Syncytial Virus and influenza detections in a tropical Australian setting 2020 to 2023.

Background: We describe the recent temporal patterns of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza virus detections in the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia, between 2020 and 2023.

Methods: This retrospective analysis of patients presenting with respiratory diseases utilised a multiplex viral nucleic acid detection assay for RSV, influenza and SARS Cov2 (COVID-19) to determine the relative frequency of non-COVID-19 respiratory viral detections by age and month during the study period.

Results: During this period of the NT COVID-19 epidemic, disruption of the usual annual wet season RSV outbreak patterns occurred, and the yearly influenza peak was absent for two annual cycles.

Characterization of mycobacteriophage Adephagia cytotoxic proteins.

Mycobacterium phage Adephagia is a cluster K phage that infects Mycobacterium smegmatis and some strains of Mycobacterium pathogens. Adephagia has a siphoviral virion morphology and is temperate. Its genome is 59,646 bp long and codes for one tRNA gene and 94 predicted protein-coding genes; most genes not associated with virion structure and assembly are functionally ill-defined.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of pediatric integrated primary care for the prevention and treatment of physical and behavioral health conditions.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of behavioral health interventions delivered within pediatric integrated primary care models on clinical outcomes.

Methods: We searched Medline, EMBASE, CENTRAL, PsycINFO, and SCOPUS for studies published from January 1, 1998, to September 20, 2023. We included studies that evaluated onsite behavioral health integration in pediatric primary care using a comparator condition (usual, enhanced usual care, or waitlist).