Carriers of a single cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator pathogenic variant and COVID-19 in pregnancy: A retrospective cohort study.

COVID-19 outcomes are worse in non-pregnant patients that are cystic fibrosis carriers; however, no studies have examined COVID-19 outcomes in pregnant patients that are cystic fibrosis carriers. We evaluated the cystic fibrosis carrier status of pregnant patients with COVID-19 in three geographical regions in the United States and compared outcomes between non-carriers and carriers. Out of 2430 pregnant patients with COVID-19, 229 had a cystic fibrosis screen.

Convection enhanced delivery of Rhenium (Re) Obisbemeda (RNL) in recurrent glioma: a multicenter, single arm, phase 1 clinical trial.

Rhenium (Re) Obisbemeda (RNL), chelated-Re encapsulated in nanoliposomes and delivered to brain tumors via convection enhanced delivery (CED), was evaluated in a Phase 1 dose escalation trial (NCT01906385). The primary objective was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Secondary objectives included safety and tolerability, dose distribution, the overall response rate (ORR), disease-specific progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

Photopolymer Resins from Sulfenyl Chloride Commodity Chemicals for Plastic Optics, Photopatterning and 3D-Printing.

The development of a low-cost photopolymer resin to fabricate optical glass of high refractive index for plastic optics is reported. This new free radically polymerizable photopolymer resin, termed, disulfide methacrylate resin (DSMR) is synthesized by the direct addition of allyl methacrylate to a commodity sulfur petrochemical, sulfur monochloride (SCl). The rapid rates of free radical photopolymerization confer significant advantages in preparing high-quality, bulk optical glass.

The lungs of the finch: three-dimensional pulmonary anatomy of the zebra finch ().

The avian respiratory system has been an area of biological interest for centuries, with zebra finches () emerging in recent decades as a primary avian model organism popularized across numerous disciplines. The pulmonary system of birds is unique in that air moves unidirectionally through the gas-exchanging lung, and previous works have suggested anatomical constraints within the bronchial network that may be coupled to the inspiratory valving mechanism in Aves. We used µCT-based segmented models to visualize and describe the morphology of the zebra finch lower respiratory system and to examine intra- and interspecific differences of the bronchial tree with the phylogenetically and ecologically different African grey parrot ().

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia outcomes: navigating center-to-center variability in level 4 NICUs in the Children's Hospitals Neonatal Consortium.

Background: This study examined inter-center variation (ICV) in inpatient outcomes for infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), aiming to contribute to quality metrics and clinical benchmarks in neonatal care.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed CDH cases from the Children's Hospitals Neonatal Consortium (CHNC) database (2010-2022), focusing on infants without prior surgical repair or discharge. Our outcomes of interest included inpatient survival, survival without ECMO, and hospital length of stay (LOS).

Golden hour management of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: 15 year experience at a high-volume center.

Objective: To review the evolution of golden hour management and outcomes for infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

Study Design: Retrospective single center cohort study of infants with CDH born 2008-2023 at a quaternary children's hospital. Infants were grouped into 3 epochs: 2008-2013, 2014-2018, and 2019-2023.

Mitochondrial Neurogastrointestinal Encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) Phenotype Associated With Unique Compound Heterozygous Variants: Case Presentation and Review of the Literature.

We report a teenage patient with a delayed diagnosis of compound heterozygous pathogenic variants [( c. 1943 C>G, p.P648R) and ( c.

Chronic β3 adrenergic agonist treatment improves neurovascular coupling responses, attenuates blood-brain barrier leakage and neuroinflammation, and enhances cognition in aged mice.

Microvascular endothelial dysfunction, characterized by impaired neurovascular coupling, reduced glucose uptake, blood-brain barrier disruption, and microvascular rarefaction, plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of age-related vascular cognitive impairment (VCI). Emerging evidence points to non-cell autonomous mechanisms mediated by adverse circulating milieu (an increased ratio of pro-geronic to anti-geronic circulating factors) in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction leading to impaired cerebral blood flow and cognitive decline in the aging population. In particular, age-related adipose dysfunction contributes, at least in part, to an unfavorable systemic milieu characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia, and altered adipokine profile, which together contribute to microvascular endothelial dysfunction.

A novel artificial intelligence framework to quantify the impact of clinical compared with nonclinical influences on postoperative length of stay.

Background: The relative proportion of clinical compared with nonclinical influences on length of stay after colectomy has never been measured. We developed a novel machine-learning framework that quantifies the proportion of length of stay after colectomy attributable to clinical factors and infers the overall impact of nonclinical influences.

Study Design: Patients who underwent partial colectomy, total colectomy, or low anterior resection included in American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement were analyzed.

2024 White paper on recent issues in bioanalysis: Impact of LDT in US and IVDR in EU; AI/ML for High Parameter Flow Cytometry; The rise of Olink Technology; CDx for AAV Gene Therapies; Integrative Bioanalysis by Multiple Platforms; Super Sensitive ADA/NAb LBA ( - Recommendations on Advanced Strategies for Biomarkers, IVD/CDx Assays (BAV), Cell Based Assays (CBA), and Ligand-Binding Assays (LBA) - Regulatory Agencies' Input on Biomarkers, IVD/CDx, and Biomarker Assay Validation).

The 18th Workshop on Recent Issues in Bioanalysis (18th WRIB) took place in San Antonio, TX, USA on May 6-10, 2024. Over 1100 professionals representing pharma/biotech companies, CROs, and multiple regulatory agencies convened to actively discuss the most current topics of interest in bioanalysis. The 18th WRIB included 3 Main Workshops and 7 Specialized Workshops that together spanned 1 week to allow an exhaustive and thorough coverage of all major issues in bioanalysis of biomarkers, immunogenicity, gene therapy, cell therapy and vaccines.

Spirituality is associated with psychological hardiness in U.S. army soldiers and civilians.

As the Army continues to adapt to evolving mission demands and global threats, those who execute the mission - both soldiers and Department of the Army (DA) civilians - must also adapt to changing occupational demands and requirements. Occupational stress within the military community is a threat to health and wellbeing that impacts not only individual soldiers and civilian personnel, but also units, families, and the broader military community. Hardiness is an operational requirement for military success, spirituality might be a means to positively impact soldier and DA Civilian hardiness.

Cord blood for autologous transfusion in infants with congenital anomalies: Volumes, sterility, and stability during storage.

Background: Neonates with congenital anomalies frequently require perioperative allogeneic red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. Whole cord blood for autologous transfusion to neonates may provide an alternative RBC source, but whether sufficient volumes can be collected after delayed cord clamping to reduce allogeneic RBC requirements is unknown.

Study Design And Methods: Inclusion criteria were mothers delivering a viable infant >34 weeks' gestation.

Functional differences between rodent and human PD-1 linked to evolutionary divergence.

Mechanistic understanding of the inhibitory immunoreceptor PD-1 is largely based on mouse models, but human and mouse PD-1 share only 59.6% amino acid identity. Here, we found that human PD-1 is more inhibitory than mouse PD-1, owing to stronger interactions with the ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2 and more efficient recruitment of the effector phosphatase Shp2.

Characterizing the antibody response to amustaline/glutathione pathogen-reduced red blood cells.

Background: The clinical significance of natural and treatment-emergent antibodies specific for amustaline/glutathione pathogen-reduced red blood cells (PRRBCs) is not known.

Study Design And Methods: A Phase 3, randomized clinical trial of PRRBCs (ReCePI) compared PRRBCs with conventional RBCs in cardiac or thoracic-aorta surgery. Subjects transfused during and for 7 days after surgery were screened for PRRBC-specific antibodies at baseline, 28 and 75 days post-surgery.

Blocking Feedback Immunosuppression of Antigen Presentation in Brain Tumor During Oncolytic Virotherapy with oHSV-mshPKR.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most frequent malignant brain tumor. We recently discovered that oncolytic herpes simplex virus engineered to disable tumor-intrinsic protein kinase R (PKR) signaling (oHSV-shPKR) could increase oHSV oncolysis and antitumor immune response. However, in this study, we show that disabling tumor-intrinsic PKR signaling can also induce the activation of the indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) signaling pathway.

Systematic review of long-acting injectable antipsychotic medications approved from 2008 to october 2024 and agents in phase 3.

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review is to provide a detailed summary of the long-acting injectable antipsychotic medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between 2008 to October 2024. We aim to provide an overview of the mechanism of action, indications for both labeled and off-label uses, evidence for efficacy, dosing, and the adverse effects of each drug.

Methods: Studies published from 2008 to October 1, 2024, were identified from the PubMed database, using the keywords: 'long-acting injectables' OR 'LAI*'AND 'psychopharm*" OR 'schizophrenia' The authors conducted a focused analysis independently and reached a consensus on the recently approved long-acting injectable antipsychotic medications to be included in this systematic review.

Stigma and discrimination faced by adolescents living with HIV and experiencing depression in Malawi.

Background: In Malawi, approximately 25% of adolescents living with HIV (ALWH) also suffer from depression. Not only is HIV stigma a major contributor to depression but it also adversely impacts HIV care engagement. ALWH can experience HIV stigma as stereotyping, social exclusion, low social support, and abuse, and these experiences are associated with poor mental health.

Behavior and biomechanics: flapping frequency during tandem and solo flights of cliff swallows.

Aerodynamic models of bird flight, assuming power minimization, predict a quadratic relationship (i.e. U-shaped curve) between flapping frequency and airspeed.

Echocardiographic Changes in Infants with Severe Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia After Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion (FETO).

Fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) induces lung growth and may improve survival in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) but the effect on post-natal right (RV) and left (LV) ventricular size and cardiac function is unknown. Quantitative measures of heart size and function including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion Z-score (TAPSEZ), RV fractional area change (RVFAC), RV global longitudinal and free wall strain (RVGLS, RVFWS), RV/LV ratio, LV eccentricity index (LVEI), and LV M-mode diastolic and systolic Z-scores (LVIDDZ, LVIDSZ) were compared between FETO and control patients on first post-natal echocardiogram, prior to and post CDH repair, and on last available echocardiogram using non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum test in a single-center, retrospective cohort study. Linear regression models evaluated change over time, adjusting for clustering and interaction of echocardiogram parameters with time.

Evolutionary integration of forelimb and hindlimb proportions within the bat wing membrane inhibits ecological adaptation.

Bats and birds are defined by their convergent evolution of flight, hypothesized to require the modular decoupling of wing and leg evolution. Although a wealth of evidence supports this interpretation in birds, there has been no systematic attempt to identify modular organization in the bat limb skeleton. Here we present a phylogenetically representative and ecologically diverse collection of limb skeletal measurements from 111 extant bat species.

Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients With Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Who Die After Repair.

Background: Quantitative echocardiographic (echo) measures of ventricular function predict mortality in pediatric pulmonary hypertension (PH), but studies in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH)-related PH are limited. Few studies report quantitative echo data beyond the first week of life in CDH non-survivors.

Methods: A single-center retrospective, cross-sectional, cohort study included CDH patients born between January 2013 and April 2022 who survived to surgical repair but died during the neonatal hospitalization.