Sialic acids in infection and their potential use in detection and protection against pathogens.

In structural terms, the sialic acids are a large family of nine carbon sugars based around an alpha-keto acid core. They are widely spread in nature, where they are often found to be involved in molecular recognition processes, including in development, immunology, health and disease. The prominence of sialic acids in infection is a result of their exposure at the non-reducing terminus of glycans in diverse glycolipids and glycoproteins.

Radiation induces long-term muscle fibrosis and promotes a fibrotic phenotype in fibro-adipogenic progenitors.

Background: Radiation-induced muscle pathology, characterized by muscle atrophy and fibrotic tissue accumulation, is the most common debilitating late effect of therapeutic radiation exposure particularly in juvenile cancer survivors. In healthy muscle, fibro/adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) are required for muscle maintenance and regeneration, while in muscle pathology FAPs are precursors for exacerbated extracellular matrix deposition. However, the role of FAPs in radiation-induced muscle pathology has not previously been explored.

Improving Patient Experience Scores Using Simultaneous Interpretation on Family-Centered Rounds.

Objectives: Patients speaking a primary language other than English face barriers to equitable care, particularly patient-provider communications. There is no gold standard for providing inpatient medical interpretation on family-centered rounds (FCR). We aimed to implement simultaneous, in-person interpretation of FCR for Spanish-speaking families and hypothesized improved satisfaction in care.

Social distancing causally impacts the spread of SARS-CoV-2: a U.S. nationwide event study.

We assess the causal impact of social distancing on the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the U.S. using the quasi-natural experimental setting created by the spontaneous relaxation of social distancing behavior brought on by the protests that erupted across the nation following George Floyd's tragic death on May 25, 2020.

The role of L-type amino acid transporter 1 () during in vitro myogenesis.

Satellite cells are required for muscle regeneration, remodeling, and repair through their activation, proliferation, and differentiation; however, how dietary factors regulate this process remains poorly understood. The L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) transports amino acids, such as leucine, into mature myofibers, which then stimulate protein synthesis and anabolic signaling. However, whether LAT1 is expressed on myoblasts and is involved in regulating myogenesis is unknown.

Exercise Improves Cancer-free Survival and Health Span in a Model of Radiation-induced Cancer.

Introduction: Radiation therapy increases the risk of secondary malignancy and morbidity in cancer survivors. The role of obesity and exercise training in modulating this risk is not well understood. As such, we used a preclinical model of radiation-induced malignancy to investigate whether diet-induced obesity and/or endurance exercise training altered lifelong survival, cancer incidence, and morbidity.

Weight loss with exercise improves muscle architecture and progenitor cell populations compared with weight loss alone in mice with preneoplastic colorectal lesions.

Weight loss and exercise reduce colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in persons with obesity. Whether weight loss and exercise effect myofiber characteristics and muscle stem/progenitor cell populations in mice with preneoplastic colorectal lesions, a model of CRC risk, is unknown. To address this gap, male C57Bl/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) to induce obesity or a control (CON) diet prior to azoxymethane injection to induce preneoplastic colorectal lesions.

Degradable Hydrogels for the Delivery of Immune-modulatory Proteins in the Wound Environment.

Chronic wounds represent a growing clinical problem for which limited treatment strategies exist. Defects in immune cell-mediated healing play an important role in chronic wound development, presenting an attractive clinical target in the treatment of chronic wounds. However, efforts to improve healing through the application of growth factors and cytokines have been limited by the rapid degradation and diffusion of these molecules in the wound environment.

Lower extremity characteristics in recurrent clubfoot: Clinical and gait analysis findings that may influence decisions for additional surgery.

Background: Patients with recurrent clubfoot may seek intervention to address impairments that impact gait function. An understanding of these impairments and associated gait issues will provide valuable information about ongoing treatment requirements.

Research Question: The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence of impairments and associated gait deviations in children with recurrent clubfoot and to evaluate whether these findings differ depending on unilateral or bilateral presentation.

Three wound-dressing strategies to reduce surgical site infection after abdominal surgery: the Bluebelle feasibility study and pilot RCT.

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) affects up to 20% of people with a primary closed wound after surgery. Wound dressings may reduce SSI.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of a multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of dressing types or no dressing to reduce SSI in primary surgical wounds.

Transvaginal Cystolithotomy: A Novel Approach.

Objective: To describe a novel surgical option for cystolithiasis management in female patients with no urethral access and prior abdominal surgeries. We present a 51-year-old female with a history of traumatic spinal cord injury with pelvic fractures and resultant neurogenic bladder. She underwent transabdominal bladder neck closure and bladder augmentation with continent diversion 2 years prior.

The Late Effects of Radiation Therapy on Skeletal Muscle Morphology and Progenitor Cell Content are Influenced by Diet-Induced Obesity and Exercise Training in Male Mice.

Radiation exposure during muscle development induces long-term decrements to skeletal muscle health, which contribute to reduced quality of life in childhood cancer survivors. Whether the effects of radiation on skeletal muscle are influenced by relevant physiological factors, such as obesity and exercise training remains unknown. Using skeletal muscle from our previously published work examining the effects of obesity and exercise training on radiation-exposed bone marrow, we evaluated the influence of these physiological host factors on irradiated skeletal muscle morphology and cellular dynamics.

Education Research: Evaluation of curriculum to teach resilience skills to neurology residents.

Objective: To evaluate feasibility and acceptability of a health professional resilience skills training program with neurology residents.

Methods: The curriculum consists of five 1-hour-long modules that included the following skills: reflective narrative practices, emotion regulation, communication with highly distressed individuals, boundary management, and the identification of depression and trauma. Using a web-based survey tool, we administered the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and Abbreviated Maslach Burnout Inventory (aMBI) at baseline, in addition to a pre- and post-survey assessing change in beliefs and self-efficacy, as well as satisfaction with the intervention.

Feasibility of same day discharge after robotic assisted pelvic floor reconstruction.

Introduction: Robotic surgical procedures have become more common in female pelvic reconstruction. Purported benefits of robotic assisted pelvic floor reconstruction (RAPFR) procedures include shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, lower blood loss, and decreased postoperative pain. Following RAPFR procedures, the current accepted practice is discharge after a one-night hospitalization.

Improving the utility of clinical phenotyping in interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome: from UPOINT to INPUT.

Introduction: The phenotyping system UPOINT has proven effective in classifying patients with Urologic Pelvic Pain Syndromes in a clinically meaningful way and to guide therapy. While highly successful in men with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), UPOINT is more limited in patients with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) since by definition all patients have the urinary and organ specific phenotype. Furthermore, AUA guidelines recommend a sequential tiered approach to therapy rather than the multimodal UPOINT scheme.

International Continence Society best practice statement for use of sacral neuromodulation.

Aims: Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is an accepted therapy for a variety of conditions. However, despite over 20 years of experience, it remains a specialized procedure with a number of subtleties. Here we present the recommendations issued from the International Continence Society (ICS) SNM Consensus Panel.

Mechanism of Action of the Transobturator Sling for Post-Radical Prostatectomy Incontinence: A Multi-institutional Prospective Study Using Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Objective: To compare the length of the membranous (functional) urethra in male patients who underwent the male transobturator sling (TOS) for postradical prostatectomy urinary incontinence (PPI). The TOS is in established use for treatment of PPI; however, the precise mechanism of action is unknown.

Materials And Methods: This is a prospective case-controlled study on men undergoing male TOS surgery from 2008 to 2014.

Adaptation and Evaluation of Military Resilience Skills Training for Pediatric Residents.

Background: An evidence-based trauma-informed resilience skills training program developed for deployed military personnel was adapted and pilot-tested with pediatric residents. We anticipated high satisfaction ratings and changes in knowledge, beliefs, and self-efficacy related to coping with stress and trauma.

Methods: The intervention included 6 skill-based modules covering emotion regulation, communication with angry patients and parents, reflective narrative, inspirational goal setting, problem-solving, and developing a self-care toolbox.

Comparative profiling of well-defined copper reagents and precursors for the trifluoromethylation of aryl iodides.

A number of copper reagents were compared for their effectiveness in trifluoromethylating 4-iodobiphenyl, 4-iodotoluene, and 2-iodotoluene. Yields over time were plotted in order to refine our understanding of each reagent performance, identify any bottlenecks, and provide more insight into the rates of the reactions. Interestingly, differences in reactivity were observed when a well-defined [LCuCF] complex was employed directly or generated in situ from precursors by published reports.

Removal of Sacral Nerve Stimulation Devices for Magnetic Resonance Imaging: What Happens Next?

Introduction: Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) devices (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) are not approved to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of sites other than the head. When MRIs are required, devices are often removed prior to imaging. We reviewed the prevalence of device removal for MRI at a large academic institution and the subsequent clinical course of these patients.

Trends in urodynamic testing prior to midurethral sling placement-What was the value of the VALUE trial?

Background: Many urologists use urodynamic testing (UDS) to assist clinical decision-making. The VALUE study, a multi-institutional, randomized controlled trial published in 2012, demonstrated that UDS prior to midurethral sling placement for uncomplicated stress urinary incontinence (SUI) did not change management. We sought to determine whether use of UDS for evaluation of SUI diminished thereafter.

Poor Utility of Gonadal Shielding for Pediatric Pelvic Radiographs.

Plain pelvic radiographs are commonly used for a variety of pediatric orthopedic disorders. Lead shielding is typically placed over the gonads to minimize radiation exposure to these sensitive tissues. However, misplaced shielding can sabotage efforts to protect patients from excessive radiation exposure either by not covering radiosensitive tissues or by obscuring anatomic areas of interest, prompting repeat radiographic examinations.

Unique Case of Disseminated Plague With Multifocal Osteomyelitis.

Plague is a disease caused by Yersinia pestis. Septicemic and pneumonic plague have a high mortality rate if untreated. Here we describe the challenges of accurately diagnosing a nonfatal pediatric case of septicemic plague with involvement of multiple organs; to our knowledge, the first documented case of multifocal plague osteomyelitis.