Hyperglycemia causes differential change in macrophage population in the lacrimal gland, conjunctiva and cornea.

Background: Due to its location, the ocular surface is exposed to environmental microbes. Innate immune cells including macrophages are first line defense against infections. exposure to high glucose as well as diabetes-associated hyperglycemia has been shown to affect innate immune cell function and population.

Outcomes Using a Standardized Provincial Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome Clinical Pathway.

Background: In 2013, the British Columbia (BC) Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome Clinical Pathway (CNSCP) was developed to standardize the care of children with nephrotic syndrome (NS). In BC, children access nephrology care at BC Children's Hospital (BCCH) and multiple regional clinics.

Objective: The primary objective was to compare induction therapy and clinical outcomes between BCCH and regional clinics since implementation of the CNSCP.

PaVE 2.0: Behind the Scenes of the Papillomavirus Episteme.

The Papilloma Virus Episteme (PaVE) https://pave.niaid.nih.

Impact of Hospital Lead Extraction Volume on Management of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device-Associated Infective Endocarditis.

Background: Utilization of transvenous lead extraction/removal (TLE) for the management of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED)-associated infective endocarditis (IE) remains low.

Objective: To examine the impact of hospital TLE procedural volume on TLE utilization and outcomes for patients with CIED-associated IE.

Methods: Using the Nationwide Readmissions Database, we evaluated 21,545 admissions for patients (mean age 70, 39% female) with CIEDs hospitalized with IE at TLE centres.

Efficacy and safety of guselkumab in patients with active lupus nephritis: results from a Phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Objective: Evaluate the efficacy and safety of guselkumab, an interleukin (IL)-23 inhibitor, in a Phase 2, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of patients with active lupus nephritis (LN).

Methods: Adults (18-75 years) with active LN (Class III-IV proliferative nephritis [kidney biopsy] and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio [UPCR)] of ≥ 1 mg/mg despite standard-of-care therapy) were randomized (1:1; planned sample = 60) to receive intravenous infusions of guselkumab 400 mg or placebo at Weeks 0, 4, and 8, then subcutaneous injections (guselkumab 200 mg or placebo) at Week12 and every 4 weeks through Week48 in addition to their background therapy. The primary end point was achievement of ≥ 50% decrease in proteinuria from baseline at Week24.

Altered gut microbiome in convalescent patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) alters the gut microbiome. This study aimed to assess the association between the disease severity of COVID-19 and changes in stool microbes through a seven-month follow-up of stool collection.

Methods: We conducted a multicentre, prospective longitudinal study of 58 COVID-19 patients and 116 uninfected controls.

Androgen receptor inhibition increases MHC Class I expression and improves immune response in prostate cancer.

Tumors escape immune detection and elimination through a variety of mechanisms. Here, we used prostate cancer as a model to examine how androgen-dependent tumors undergo immune evasion through downregulation of the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHCI). We report that response to immunotherapy in late-stage prostate cancer is associated with elevated MHC expression.

Size- and shape-dependent effects of polyethylene terephthalate microplastics on the benthic crustacean Artemia franciscana.

A large amount of microplastics (MPs) in the marine environment have gradually sunk into the benthic area, and crawling organisms can be easily exposed to the MPs. This study aimed to compare the size- and shape-dependent effects of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) on Artemia franciscana, which crawls on the bottom during the juvenile stage. In this study, the juvenile stage A.

Chronic Exposure of Adult Zebrafish to Polyethylene and Polyester-based Microplastics: Metabolomic and Gut Microbiome Alterations Reflecting Dysbiosis and Resilience.

The study explored the ecotoxicological effects of chronic exposure to microplastic (MP) on adult zebrafish, focusing on environmentally relevant concentrations of polyethylene (PE) beads and polyester (PES). High-throughput untargeted metabolomics via UPLC-QToF-MS and 16S metagenomics for gut microbiota analysis were used to assess ecotoxicity in zebrafish exposed to varying concentrations of PE and PES. The VIP (Variable Importance in Projection) scores indicated PE exposure primarily impacted phospholipids, ceramides, and nucleotide-related compounds, while PES exposure led to alterations in lipid-related compounds, chitin, and amino acid derivatives.

The moderation effect of mental health services use on the relationship between exposures to adverse childhood experiences and mental health outcomes among US adolescents.

Background: The prevailing exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) among youth is associated with adolescents' mental health. However, few studies have examined whether receiving help from mental health services affects mental health outcomes among adolescents with ACEs. Therefore, this study examines the moderated effects of mental health services use on the relationship between exposures to ACEs and mental health outcomes among US adolescents.

Atypical Type 2 Lepra Reaction Masquerading as Recurrent Sweet Syndrome.

Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is an immune complex-mediated response in Mycobacterium leprae infection, presenting with fever, arthralgias, and tender cutaneous lesions. It mimics Sweet syndrome (SS) clinically and histologically but requires distinct management. A 65-year-old man with recent travel presented with fever and edematous plaques.

Patient Perceptions of East and Southeast Asian Physicians Amidst Anti-Asian Rhetoric During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: To examine the effects of anti-Asian rhetoric on how patients perceive East/Southeast Asian physicians. This study examines changes in patient satisfaction scores of East/Southeast Asian physicians in a multisite health system following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patients And Methods: We conducted a multisite retrospective study of clinicians from outpatient practices at a single health care system who received patient satisfaction scores via Press Ganey surveys starting 1 year prepandemic (January 1, 2019) through 2 years into the pandemic (December 31, 2021).

Telehealth vs face-to-face consultations in a urological oncology clinic: a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: To determine the effectiveness of telehealth, among patients reviewed for urological oncological diseases, compared with standard face-to-face (F2F) consultations with regard to patient-reported satisfaction through use of a validated questionnaire.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a single-centre randomised controlled trial in 126 patients recruited from the Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centres urological oncology clinics. Patients were randomised to either a telehealth audio-only (telephone) consultation group or a standard F2F consultation group for their next routine appointment.

Lasers, Light, and Energy-Based Devices in Plastic Surgery: A 3-Year Review of a Resident Cosmetic Clinic Experience.

Background: The increasing utilization of laser and light-based technologies in plastic surgery has heightened the need for comprehensive training programs within residency programs, allowing trainees to remain competitive in the cosmetic medicine field.

Objectives: This review intends to describe our trainees' experience with lasers in their last 2 years of training while participating in their resident cosmetic clinic.

Methods: This retrospective chart review examines laser procedures conducted from 2021 to 2023 within the Resident Cosmetic Clinic at the study institution.

Biomarkers for Short-Term Omalizumab Response in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria.

Background: Omalizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting immunoglobulin E (IgE), is approved for adults and adolescents (12 years or older) with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) that does not respond to high-dose antihistamines. In Korea, there is limited research on predictive biomarkers for omalizumab response in CSU patients.

Objective: This retrospective, single-institution study aimed to identify clinical parameters predicting omalizumab response in Korean CSU patients.

AAPM MPLA case: Betrayal versus disillusionment.

This work of fiction depicts a scenario in which a faculty member felt they were criticized unfairly and inappropriately for honesty on a faculty survey, which reflected poorly on administration. The faculty member was left struggling with how to respond to conflicting feelings and perception of misaligned goals and mission. Simultaneously, the department chair felt they were blindsided by issues that could have been addressed without the embarrassment of a poor survey.

California Stress, Trauma, and Resilience Study (CalSTARS) protocol: A multiomics-based cross-sectional investigation and randomized controlled trial to elucidate the biology of ACEs and test a precision intervention for reducing stress and enhancing resilience.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are very common and presently implicated in 9 out of 10 leading causes of death in the United States. Despite this fact, our mechanistic understanding of how ACEs impact health is limited. Moreover, interventions for reducing stress presently use a one-size-fits-all approach that involves no treatment tailoring or precision.

American Geriatrics Society position statement: Making medical treatment decisions for unrepresented older adults.

This paper is an official position statement of the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) and updates the 2017 AGS position statement, Making Medical Treatment Decisions for Unbefriended Older Adults. In this updated position statement, the term "unbefriended" is replaced by "unrepresented" as a term that is more value-neutral, more accurately describes the circumstance in which a person without medical decision-making capacity does not have recognized surrogate representation, and better aligns with increasingly preferred terminology as reflected in recent medical literature. We define unrepresented older adults as those who (1) lack decisional capacity to provide informed consent for a particular medical treatment, (2) have not executed an advance directive that addresses the medical treatment at hand and lack capacity to do so, and (3) lack representation from a surrogate decision-maker (i.

Polygenic Prediction of Recurrent Events After Early-Onset Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a complex disease caused by both lifestyle and genetic factors. This study aims to investigate the predictive value of genetic risk, in addition to traditional cardiovascular risk factors, for recurrent events following early-onset MI.

Methods: The Italian Genetic Study of Early-Onset Myocardial Infarction is a cohort study enrolling patients with MI before 45 years.

A Rare Case of Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (Wegener's Granulomatosis) Presenting With Otologic Symptoms and Facial Paralysis.

Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is an uncommon disorder that causes inflammation of the blood vessels in the nose, throat, lungs, and kidneys. We describe a 20-year-old female who presented to the emergency room with acute left facial paralysis, worsening left-sided otalgia secondary to a hyperemic tympanic membrane with middle ear granulation tissue, nasal obstruction with associated intermittent epistaxis, and cough. A high index of suspicion for GPA helped make an early diagnosis with subsequent initiation of treatment.