Equity Analysis of a Reproductive Health Association: a Case Study.

Purpose: To demonstrate the process and results of an equity analysis of a reproductive health association.

Description: A series of quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews were conducted with employees of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts (PPLM), assessing different aspects of equity. Amaka Consulting and Evaluation Services, LLC, an external consulting agency, analyzed the results and provided recommendations for improvements.

Higher expression of mir-31-5p is associated with reduced risk of head and neck keloid recurrence following surgical resection.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate mir-31-5p as a prognostic biomarker of keloid disease (KD) recurrence using a retrospective, treatment naïve, surgical cohort of head and neck KD cases from Henry Ford Health.

Methods: Using a tissue microarray, mir-31-5p expression was measured with miRNAscope, and mir-31-5p cell positivity was determined with QuPath. Logistic regression was used to test the association between mir-31-5p positive cells and KD recurrence at 1 year.

Clearing a path for light through non-Hermitian media.

The performance of all active photonic devices today is greatly limited by loss. Here, we show that one can engineer a low loss path in a metal-clad lossy multi-mode waveguide while simultaneously achieving high-performance active photonic devices. We leverage non-Hermitian systems operating beyond the exceptional point to enable the redistribution of losses in a multi-mode photonic waveguide.

Dysregulation of protein degradation and alteration of secretome in α-synuclein-exposed astrocytes: implications for dopaminergic neuronal dysfunction.

Background: A key factor in the propagation of α-synuclein pathology is the compromised protein quality control system. Variations in membrane association and astrocytic uptake between different α-synuclein forms suggest differences in exocytosis or membrane cleavage, potentially impacting the secretome's influence on dopaminergic neurons. We aimed to understand differences in protein degradation mechanisms of astrocytes for both wild-type (WT) and mutant forms of α-synuclein, specifically during periods of reduced degradation efficiency.

UK medical cannabis registry: A clinical outcome analysis of medical cannabis therapy in chronic pain patients with and without co-morbid sleep impairment.

Introduction: Chronic pain (CP) affects 35.0%-51.3% of the UK population, with 67%-88% reporting sleep disturbances.