Investigation of cardiac substructure automatic segmentation methods on synthetically generated 4D cone-beam CT images.

Background: STereotactic Arrhythmia Radioablation (STAR) is a novel noninvasive method for treating arrythmias in which external beam radiation is directed towards subregions of the heart. Challenges for accurate STAR targeting include small target volumes and relatively large patient motion, which can lead to radiation related patient toxicities. 4D Cone-beam CT (CBCT) images are used for stereotactic lung treatments to account for respiration-related patient motion.

In vivo evolution of env in SHIV-AD8-infected rhesus macaques after AAV-vectored delivery of eCD4-Ig.

eCD4-immunoglobulin (Ig) is an HIV entry inhibitor that mimics the engagement of both CD4 and CCR5 with the HIV envelope (Env) protein, a property that imbues it with remarkable potency and breadth. However, env is exceptionally genetically malleable and can evolve to escape a wide variety of entry inhibitors. Here we document the evolution of partial eCD4-Ig resistance in SHIV-AD8-infected rhesus macaques (RMs) treated with adeno-associated virus vectors encoding eCD4-Ig.

Mobile device-based 3D scanning is superior to scoliometer in assessment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Purpose: Screening for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) currently relies on clinical evaluations by trained practitioners, most commonly using a scoliometer. Modern structured light 3D scanning can generate high-quality 3D representations of surface anatomy using a mobile device. We hypothesized that a mobile-based 3D scanning system would provide accurate deformity assessments compared to a scoliometer.

Inhibitors of malaria parasite cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases block asexual blood-stage development and mosquito transmission.

Cyclic nucleotide-dependent phosphodiesterases (PDEs) play essential roles in regulating the malaria parasite life cycle, suggesting that they may be promising antimalarial drug targets. PDE inhibitors are used safely to treat a range of noninfectious human disorders. Here, we report three subseries of fast-acting and potent PDEβ inhibitors that block asexual blood-stage parasite development and that are also active against human clinical isolates.

The early transition to cold-induced browning in mouse subcutaneous white adipose tissue (scWAT) involves proteins related to nerve remodeling, cytoskeleton, mitochondria, and immune cells.

White adipose tissue (WAT) is a dynamic organ capable of remodelling in response to metabolic state. For example, in response to stimuli such as cold exposure, WAT can develop inducible brown adipocytes ('browning') capable of non-shivering thermogenesis, through concurrent changes to mitochondrial content and function. This is aided by increased neurite outgrowth and angiogenesis across the tissue, providing the needed neurovascular supply for uncoupling protein 1 activation.

Maternal Age and Inadequate Prenatal Care in West Virginia: A Project WATCH Study.

Introduction: Adequate prenatal care (PNC) is essential to the overall health of mother and infant. Teen age and advanced maternal age (AMA) are known risk factors for poor birth outcomes. However, less is known about whether these age groups are associated with inadequate PNC.

Neuroscience: Setting the neurobiological occasions for hierarchical learning and inference.

Hierarchical associations help animals navigate the environment by using contextual and latent states to guide learning and behavior. Chemogenetic inactivation in an occasion setting task reveals that orbitofrontal cortex is essential for implementing a hierarchical task structure, yet both orbitofrontal cortex and dorsal hippocampus are required for new learning based on the established task structure.

Submentalizing: Clarifying how domain general processes explain spontaneous perspective-taking.

Demonstrations of spontaneous perspective-taking are thought to provide some of the best evidence to date for "implicit mentalizing"-the ability to track simple mental states in a fast and efficient manner. However, this evidence has been challenged by a "submentalizing" account proposing that these findings are merely attention-orienting effects. The present research aimed to clarify the cognitive processes responsible by measuring spontaneous perspective-taking while controlling for attention orienting.

"If We Don't Beat It, How Long Will It Take?" Worries and Concerns of Children with Advanced Cancer and Their Parents.

Navigating pediatric advanced cancer is challenging for children and parents, resulting in increased risk for psychological distress. While research has explored parent worries/concerns, few studies have included children's perspectives. To explore worries/concerns in children with advanced cancer and their parents.

Does Discussing Patient-reported Outcome Measures Increase Pain Self-efficacy at an Orthopaedic Visit? A Prospective, Sequential, Comparative Series.

Background: Pain self-efficacy, or the ability to carry out desired activities in the presence of pain, can affect a patient's ability to function before and after orthopaedic surgery. Previous studies suggest that shared decision-making practices such as discussing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) can activate patients and improve their pain self-efficacy. However, the ability of PROMs to influence pain self-efficacy in patients who have undergone orthopaedic surgery has yet to be investigated.

Normative trajectories of extra-axial cerebrospinal fluid during childhood and adolescence defined in a clinically-acquired MRI dataset.

Background: Extra-axial cerebrospinal fluid (eaCSF) refers to the CSF in the subarachnoid spaces that surrounds the brain parenchyma. Benign enlargement of the subarachnoid space (BESS), a condition marked by increased eaCSF thickness, has been associated with macrocephaly and may be associated with subdural collections. However, diagnosis of BESS is complicated by the lack of age-specific normative data which hinders rigorous investigation of its clinical associations.

DSD-related attitudes and beliefs held by pediatric endocrinologists and urologists: Insights from the North American disorders/differences of sex development (DSD) clinician survey.

Background: Disorders/Differences of Sex Development (DSD) encompass congenital conditions with atypical development of chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sex. Due to the rarity and complexity of these conditions, strong evidence for clinical practices is scarce, leading to controversies in management.

Objective: This study, part of a broader project, examines changes over time in the attitudes and beliefs of DSD healthcare providers, focusing on factors contributing to patients' life satisfaction and the influence of medical specialty, gender, and age.

Motivation and Use of Telehealth Among People with Depression in the United States.

Introduction: The global mental health crisis, compounded by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, underscores the urgent need for accessible mental health care solutions. Telehealth services have emerged as a promising technology to address barriers to access mental health services. However, population-based studies examining telehealth utilization among individuals with depression are limited.

Development and validation of a short version of the quality of life-DSD questionnaire for parents of young children with conditions affecting sex development.

Background: There is a paucity of information on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes in parents and children with conditions affecting sex development. The objective of this study was to develop short forms of HRQoL questionnaires which consist of a 63-item and 25-item parent self-report (PSR) and parent proxy-report (PPR), respectively, optimizing use in routine clinical settings.

Methods: Short questionnaires were developed following exploratory factor analysis using raw data from 132 parents.

Preoperative and Postoperative Therapeutic Anticoagulation in Orthopaedic Surgery Increases the Risk of Bleeding: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Patients requiring postoperative therapeutic anticoagulation may have increased risk of bleeding complications, infection, and poor wound healing. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing bleeding complication rates among orthopaedic surgery patients receiving perioperative therapeutic anticoagulation.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed in concordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta Analysis 2020 guidelines.

Data-driven rapid 4D cone-beam CT reconstruction for new generation linacs.

Newer generation linear accelerators (Linacs) allow 20 s cone-beam CT (CBCT) acquisition which reduces radiation therapy treatment time. However, the current clinical application of these rapid scans is only 3DCBCT. In this paper we propose a novel data-driven rapid 4DCBCT reconstruction method for new generation linacs.

Effectiveness of an experimental subunit ovine respiratory vaccine in reducing pneumonia in lambs.

Background: Pneumonia is the largest cause of mortality in Canadian lambs. Currently there are no licensed ovine vaccines in Canada to reduce economic losses from this production-limiting disease.

Objective Animals And Procedure: The effectiveness of an experimental subunit leukotoxin A (LtxA) and transferrin binding protein B (TbpB) vaccine was evaluated in lambs for reduction of clinical disease in an experimental challenge study and in a controlled randomized field trial in a large commercial sheep operation.

Defining Success in the Delivery of Fertility-Related Care for Patients with Differences of Sex Development.

Introduction: Individuals with differences of sex development (DSD) experience complex, often competing, medical and psychosocial challenges surrounding fertility. The study aimed to characterize how "success" in fertility-related care is conceptualized and attained among individuals with a DSD, their parents or caregivers, healthcare providers, and other stakeholders.

Methods: As part of a larger study, DSD stakeholders (n = 110) participated in semi-structured interviews covering the clinical care of patients with DSD.