Genomics yields biological and phenotypic insights into bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease. Despite high heritability (60-80%), the majority of the underlying genetic determinants remain unknown. We analysed data from participants of European, East Asian, African American and Latino ancestries (n = 158,036 cases with bipolar disorder, 2.

The UW Experience: Feasibility of De Novo Letermovir for Primary Prophylaxis After Abdominal Solid Organ Transplant.

Background: Letermovir is approved for primary prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in high-risk kidney transplant recipients. However, many experts suggest the drug be reserved as a second-line agent when valganciclovir is not tolerated or fails.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the feasibility of a de novo letermovir prophylactic approach for CMV high-risk and seropositive abdominal solid organ transplant patients.

Cytomegalovirus Post-Prophylaxis Surveillance in High-Risk Kidney and Liver Recipients Prevents CMV End-Organ Disease and Ganciclovir-Resistance.

Purpose: Evaluate cytomegalovirus (CMV) post-prophylaxis surveillance in high-risk (D+/R-) kidney and liver transplant recipients.

Methods: Adult D+/R- patients were included if transplanted between 6/1/15 and 11/30/22 and divided into a pre-CMV-stewardship-era (6/1/15-5/31/18), CMV-stewardship-era (6/1/18-6/30/20), and a surveillance-era (7/1/2020-11/30/2022) then followed through 12 months. The primary objective was to evaluate CMV-related outcomes.

The Survival Benefit of Reabstinence After Harmful Alcohol Use Following Early Liver Transplant for Severe Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis: A Multicenter ACCELERATE Study.

Introduction: Early (i.e., without mandated period of abstinence) liver transplant (LT) for alcohol-associated hepatitis is the fastest-growing indication for LT in the United States and Europe.

Early Liver Transplant for Alcohol-associated Liver Disease Has Excellent Survival but Higher Rates of Harmful Alcohol Use.

Background & Aims: Early liver transplantation (LT) for alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) has increased worldwide. Short-term outcomes have been favorable, but data on longer-term outcomes are lacking.

Methods: Single-center retrospective study of primary LT recipients between 2010 and 2020, with follow-up through July 1, 2022.

Genetics of vegetarianism: A genome-wide association study.

A substantial body of evidence points to the heritability of dietary preferences. While vegetarianism has been practiced for millennia in various societies, its practitioners remain a small minority of people worldwide, and the role of genetics in choosing a vegetarian diet is not well understood. Dietary choices involve an interplay between the physiologic effects of dietary items, their metabolism, and taste perception, all of which are strongly influenced by genetics.

Real world experience with conversion from valganciclovir to letermovir for cytomegalovirus prophylaxis: Letermovir reverses leukopenia and avoids mycophenolate dose reduction.

Purpose: Valganciclovir (VGC) is the gold-standard for cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis (PPX) after solid organ transplant (SOT). Letermovir (LTV) was recently approved in high-risk kidney transplant and has reduced myelosuppressive toxicity. Conversion from VGC to LTV may be pursued in the setting of leukopenia.

Identification of gene polymorphisms as predictors of methamphetamine use disorder risk and indicators of craving scale in the Chinese Han population.

Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) has become a global problem due to the highly addictive nature of methamphetamine. Earlier research have demonstrated that PROK2 functions as a compensatory and protective response against neurotoxic stress by stimulating astrocyte reactivity. The aim of our study was to evaluate the correlation between the gene and both MUD risk susceptibility and craving scale in the Chinese Han population.

Generalized Electrical Substitution Methods and Detectors for Absolute Optical Power Measurements.

We have developed generalized methods for electrical substitution optical measurements, as well as cryogenic detectors which can be used to implement them. The new methods detailed here enable measurement of arbitrary periodic waveforms by an electrical substitution radiometer (ESR), which means that spectral and dynamic optical power can be absolutely calibrated directly by a primary standard detector. Cryogenic ESRs are not often used directly by researchers for optical calibrations due to their slow response times and cumbersome operation.

Maribavir for the Management of Cytomegalovirus in Adult Transplant Recipients: A Review of the Literature and Practical Considerations.

Objective: To review the efficacy and safety of maribavir for management of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in solid organ transplant recipients.

Data Sources: A literature search of PubMed and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (1960 to early July 2022) was performed using the following search terms: , and .

Study Selection And Data Extraction: All relevant English-language studies were reviewed and considered, with a focus on phase 3 trials.

Evaluation of Adenosine A2A receptor gene polymorphisms as risk factors of methamphetamine use disorder susceptibility and predictors of craving degree.

The adenosine A2A receptor (ADORA2A) is highly expressed in the central nervous system and plays vital roles in drug addiction. In this study, we aimed to explore the susceptibility of ADORA2A to methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) and the craving degree based on a two-stage association analysis. A total of 3,542 (1,216 patients with MUD and 2,326 controls) and 1,740 participants (580 patients with MUD and 1,160 controls) were recruited in discovery and replication stage, respectively.

Risk factors for high level cytomegalovirus viremia in liver transplant recipients and associated outcomes.

Purpose: To evaluate epidemiology, risk-factors, and outcomes of high-level (HL) cytomegalovirus (CMV) viremia in liver transplant recipients.

Methods: Adult patients receiving a liver transplant between 1/1/2017 and 9/30/2020 were evaluated. Viral loads at University of Wisconsin Health Clinical Laboratories were required to allow for numerical comparison.

Microwave Ablation as Bridging to Liver Transplant for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of microwave (MW) ablation as first-line locoregional therapy (LRT) for bridging patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to liver transplant.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study evaluated 88 patients who received percutaneous MW ablation for 141 tumors as first-line LRT for HCC and who were listed for liver transplantation at a single medical center between 2011 and 2019. The overall survival (OS) rate statuses after liver transplant, waitlist retention, and disease progression were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier techniques.

Cytomegalovirus antiviral stewardship in solid organ transplant recipients: A new gold standard.

Purpose: Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are essential entities that promote the appropriate use of antimicrobials, leading to improved patient outcomes and reduced resistance. Application to the immunocompromised host is a natural progression for expansion. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a common complication following solid organ transplant with significant implications on graft survival, making it an attractive ASP target.

Pyroelectric detector-based method for low uncertainty spectral irradiance and radiance responsivity calibrations in the infrared using tunable lasers.

The standard uncertainty of detector-based radiance and irradiance responsivity calibrations in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) traditionally has been limited to around 1% or higher by the poor spatial uniformity of detectors used to transfer the scale from radiant power. Pyroelectric detectors offer a solution that avoids the spatial uniformity uncertainty but also introduces additional complications due to alternating current (AC) measurement techniques. Herein, a new, to the best of our knowledge, method for low uncertainty irradiance responsivity calibrations in the SWIR is presented.

Artificial intelligence to identify harmful alcohol use after early liver transplant for alcohol-associated hepatitis.

Early liver transplantation (LT) for alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) is the fastest growing indication for LT, but prediction of harmful alcohol use post-LT remains limited. Among 10 ACCELERATE-AH centers, we examined psychosocial evaluations from consecutive LT recipients for AH from 2006 to 2017. A multidisciplinary panel used content analysis to develop a maximal list of psychosocial variables.

Development of electrical substitution Fourier transform spectrometry for absolute optical power measurements.

We have demonstrated the first continuous-scan electrical substitution Fourier transform spectrometer (ES-FTS), which serves initially as an apparatus for absolute spectral responsivity calibrations of detectors over the wavelength range from 1.5 µm to 11 µm. We present data on the realization of a spectral detector-comparator system with high accuracy, high dynamic range, high spectral resolution and fast measurement in the infrared region, which is tied directly to an absolute power scale through electrical substitution.

Psychosocial Assessment Rather Than Severity of Liver Failure Dominates Selection for Liver Transplantation in Patients With Alcohol-Related Liver Disease.

The Stanford Integrated Psychosocial Assessment for Transplant (SIPAT) is a validated interview tool to assess psychosocial well-being in candidates for solid organ transplants, with higher scores indicating greater vulnerability. We hypothesized that patients with alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) undergoing liver transplantation (LT) evaluation would have higher SIPAT scores than candidates with non-ALD, but that only patients with ALD who have low scores would be selected. We analyzed retrospectively consecutive adults undergoing LT evaluation from June 2018 to December 2019.

Recovery and outcomes of patients denied early liver transplantation for severe alcohol-associated hepatitis.

Background And Aims: Liver transplantation (LT) in alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) remains controversial, in part because spontaneous recovery (SR) can occur. There is a paucity of data on SR in patients with severe AH who undergo LT evaluation. The purpose of this study was to determine factors associated with SR and survival in patients with severe AH who undergo LT evaluation.