Many bacterial toxins exert their cytotoxic effects by enzymatically inactivating one or more cytosolic targets in host cells. To reach their intracellular targets, these toxins possess functional domains or subdomains that interact with and exploit various host factors and biological processes. Despite great progress in identifying many of the key host factors involved in the uptake of toxins, significant knowledge gaps remain as to how partially characterized and newly discovered microbial toxins exploit host factors or processes to intoxicate target cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Maternal autoimmune systemic connective tissue diseases (CTDs) and their related antibodies have been associated with adverse fetal outcomes, including complete heart block. In this study, we assessed the association between maternal CTD or vasculitis and neonatal electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters.
Methods: Our study population was drawn from the Copenhagen Baby Heart Study (CBHS), a prospective, population-based cohort study open to all neonates born in the Copenhagen area.
Background: Back pain is increasingly common, leading to more spine surgeries. While most people experience pain relief and improved function after surgery, many continue to suffer from chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP) with limited functional improvement. CPSP is often treated with opioids, raising concerns about misuse, poor functional outcomes, and broader public health impacts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChronic pain can be complicated by problematic opioid use, which may decrease engagement in care and HIV medication adherence. Pain-related anxiety and catastrophic thinking augment pain severity and interference while driving increased substance use. The acceptability and effect of a music-based smartphone application on negative affect and catastrophic thinking were evaluated in a mixed-methods study among persons living with HIV (PWH) with problematic opioid use and chronic pain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Cancer-related pain is prevalent among people with advanced cancer. To improve accessibility and engagement with pain-cognitive behavioral therapy (pain-CBT), we developed and tested a serious game hosted within a mobile health intervention that delivers pain-CBT and pharmacologic support. The game focuses on teaching and practicing cognitive restructuring (CR), a central pain-CBT intervention component.
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