Publications by authors named "J Wesson Ashford"
Article Synopsis
- The opioid crisis has evolved into a global issue affecting various socioeconomic and cultural areas, with traditional treatment methods proving insufficient.
- A narrative review was conducted using multiple databases to explore the complex factors contributing to this epidemic, acknowledging the potential for bias in article selection.
- Despite some progress with Opioid Substitution Therapy, U.S. overdose deaths remain alarmingly high and are projected to increase; the authors suggest a need for a new treatment approach that targets brain neurotransmitter systems for better management.
We introduce a phylogeny-aware framework for predicting linear B-cell epitope (LBCE)-containing regions within proteins. Our approach leverages evolutionary information by using a taxonomic scaffold to build models trained on hierarchically structured data. The resulting models present performance equivalent or superior to generalist methods, despite using simpler features and a fraction of the data volume required by current state-of-the-art predictors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe comment on the importance of the novel tablet-based screening tool for cognitive decline recently studied in Nigeria by Ogbuagu et al. TabCAT-BHA was administered on an iPad in urban and rural settings and was found to be a sensitive and culturally appropriate tool for assessing cognitive function and impairment. With accuracy, portability, speed, and ease of use, this study shows that such tests, computerized or online, have the potential to improve the screening of cognitive decline in diverse countries such as Nigeria, to facilitate early treatment and improved care and quality of life.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The aim of this study was to describe fatigue, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and brain tumor-associated symptoms after surgical resection and during proton radiotherapy, using latent class analysis (LCA), and to determine if there is class membership change among pediatric patients with craniopharyngioma.
Methods: For all patients ( = 92), demographic and disease-related/clinical variables were attained, and patient reported outcomes were collected prior to proton therapy, at week three, and at the completion of proton therapy. The mean scores for fatigue, HRQOL, and brain tumor symptoms were compared over time and profiles were identified.
Article Synopsis
- Diagnosing Alzheimer's disease is tough for doctors, which can lead to delays in getting the right care for patients.
- Blood tests that check for signs of Alzheimer's could help doctors find the disease earlier and treat it better, but there are still some big challenges to overcome.
- A special group of leaders in Alzheimer's research is working on solutions, like creating better guidelines, training healthcare workers, and making sure patients understand their test results.