Publications by authors named "Hodges K"

Introduction/objective: Transcatheter therapeutics have revolutionized treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Greater understanding of corrective interventions across species can advance best practices, protocols, and outcomes while minimizing adverse events. The objective of this study was to describe characteristics and outcomes in children and dogs undergoing transcatheter PDA occlusion.

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Trypanosomatids are single-celled parasites responsible for human and animal disease. Typically, colonization of an insect host is required for transmission. Stable attachment of parasites to insect tissues their single flagellum coincides with differentiation and morphological changes.

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Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in North America. A vaccine for use in humans is not available. Here, we detail the development of two chimeric vaccine antigens, BAF and Chv2M.

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Article Synopsis
  • Orthodontic therapy, especially with fixed brackets, significantly alters the oral microbial flora, leading to an increase in the Gram-negative periodontal pathogen SN among orthodontic patients compared to non-orthodontic individuals.
  • In a study of 208 saliva samples, 36% of pediatric orthodontic patients tested positive for SN, with a notably higher prevalence (87.5%) compared to SN-negative samples.
  • Among adults, 28.6% tested positive for SN, and orthodontic patients represented 58.8% of these positive cases, suggesting that orthodontic treatment is linked to a higher risk of periodontal disease and associated health issues.
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Objective: To determine the rates of wound healing in surgically created wounds between nitric oxide releasing wound dressings and control wound dressings.

Study Design: Prospective, controlled, randomized experimental study.

Animals: Purpose-bred, adult, male Beagles (n = 6).

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Nucleoside-modified mRNA technology has revolutionized vaccine development with the success of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. We used modified mRNA technology for the design of envelopes (Env) to induce HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs). However, unlike SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies that are readily made, HIV-1 bnAb induction is disfavored by the immune system because of the rarity of bnAb B cell precursors and the cross-reactivity of bnAbs targeting certain Env epitopes with host molecules, thus requiring optimized immunogen design.

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Marine ecosystems are experiencing growing pressure from multiple threats caused by human activities, with far-reaching consequences for marine food webs. Determining the effects of multiple stressors is complex, in part, as they can affect different aspects of biological organisation (behaviour, individual traits and demographic rates). Determining the combined effects of stressors, through different biological pathways, is key to predict the consequences for the viability of populations threatened by global change.

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Objective: To evaluate the effects of darbepoetin on platelet population and reactivity in healthy cats (HCs) and azotemic cats with remnant kidney (RK) model-induced chronic kidney disease.

Animals: 12 purpose-bred domestic shorthair cats (n = 6 HCs and n = 6 RK).

Methods: In this pilot study, all cats received darbepoetin (1 µg/kg, SC) on days 0, 7, and 14.

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Introduction: In veterinary medicine there are few readily available products for platelet transfusion to patients with thrombocytopenia. Commercial tabletop platelet concentrating systems have recently become available to veterinarians, primarily directed towards uses associated with regenerative medicine. These systems could potentially be used to produce fresh concentrated platelets for use in transfusion medicine.

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  • Patients increasingly prefer bioprosthetic valves for aortic valve replacement (AVR) to avoid anticoagulation, but the impact of patient-prosthesis mismatch (PPM) on valve durability remains under-studied.
  • A study evaluated 2,100 patients who underwent surgical AVR with the Magna bioprosthesis, revealing that smaller valve sizes correlated with poorer survival but not higher rates of reintervention.
  • Overall, reintervention rates after 15 years were low, but higher initial mean gradients at implant were linked to increased late reinterventions.
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Objective: Anterior mitral anular calcification, particularly in radiation heart disease, and previous valve replacement with destroyed intervalvular fibrosa are challenging for prosthesis sizing and placement. The Commando procedure with intervalvular fibrosa reconstruction permits double-valve replacement in these challenging conditions. We referenced outcomes after Commando procedures to standard double-valve replacements.

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Background: About 75% of medullary thyroid cancers (MTCs) are sporadic with 45% to 70% being driven by a RET mutation. Selpercatinib is an approved treatment for RET-mutated (mut RET ) MTC; however, treatments are needed for wild-type RET MTC (wt RET ). Genomic alterations and transcriptomic signatures of wt RET MTC may reveal new therapeutic insights.

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Objective: The treatment for high risk or recurrent gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) is a highly toxic multi-agent chemotherapy. For patients with progressive or recurrent GTN, checkpoint inhibitors have demonstrated anti-tumor activity; however, identification of novel therapies for GTN remain an unmet need. Therefore, we sought to characterize the molecular landscape of GTN to identify potential therapeutic targets.

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Objective: During aortic valve reimplantation, cusp repair may be needed to produce a competent valve. We investigated whether the need for aortic valve cusp repair affects aortic valve reimplantation durability.

Methods: Patients with tricuspid aortic valves who underwent aortic valve reimplantation from January 2002 to January 2020 at a single center were retrospectively analyzed.

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The long-term changes of ocean surface waves associated with tropical cyclones (TCs) are poorly observed and understood. Here, we present the global trend analysis of TC waves for 1979-2022 based on the ERA5 wave reanalysis. The maximum height and the area of the TC wave footprint in the six h reanalysis have increased globally by about 3%/decade and 6%/decade, respectively.

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Objective: The study objective was to determine repair durability and survival in patients with and without connective tissue disorders undergoing concomitant aortic valve reimplantation and mitral valve repair.

Methods: From 2002 to 2019, 68 patients underwent concomitant aortic valve reimplantation and mitral valve repair, including 27 patients with Marfan syndrome (39.7%).

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Article Synopsis
  • * A study conducted from 2008 to 2022 involved 2,324 patients undergoing 2,352 multivalve reoperations, revealing that complexity and urgency of the surgery increase mortality risk.
  • * Findings suggest that elective, isolated surgeries have a low mortality rate and that understanding surgical complexity and patient health factors can guide better decision-making in surgical settings.
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Person-centered care focuses on the whole person as a unique individual whose perspective, as well as their family's perspective, is integrated into the provision of care. The purpose of this study was to describe the perspectives of patients regarding the influence of dental hygienist providers' Social Intelligence on self-care and to create a Social Intelligence Self-care Conceptual Model. An investigator-designed questionnaire was administered to patients who received care at a dental hygiene program clinic following a minimum of one 15-minute self-care education session.

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