Newborn Screening for Sickle Cell Disease and Thalassemia.

Importance: Hemoglobin disorders are a considerable public health issue with more than 500 000 affected infants born annually worldwide. First introduced in the 1970s, newborn screening (NBS) for sickle cell disease (SCD) was included in the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) in 2006, a successful public health promotion and prevention practice that has led to improved childhood survival. Although SCD is the primary target, the screening process also detects many other hemoglobinopathies.

The association between early corticosteroid use and the risk of secondary infections in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a double-edged sword. Results from the international SCCM discovery viral infection and respiratory illness universal study (VIRUS) COVID-19 registry.

Background: Corticosteroids improve survival in hospitalized COVID-19 patients needing supplemental oxygen. However, concern exists about increased risk of secondary infections. This study investigated the impact of early corticosteroids use on these infections.

Establishing the role of shear wave elastography in differentiating corporal rigidity between vasculogenic versus non-vasculogenic erectile dysfunction patients.

Introduction: Shear wave elastography is a new modality for the evaluation of erectile dysfunction by assessing the stiffness of corpora cavernosal tissue. We evaluated the shear wave elastography values in erectile dysfunction participants and compared shear wave elastography values between vasculogenic and non-vasculogenic erectile dysfunction participants.

Methods: Overall, 40 participants with clinically diagnosed erectile dysfunction filled out an abridged five-item version of the international index of erectile dysfunction-5 questionnaire and underwent shear wave elastography as well as pharmacologically induced penile erection test after intracavernosal papaverine injection.

Cardiac treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy: consensus recommendations from the ACTION muscular dystrophy committee.

Introduction: Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a devastating neuromuscular disorder characterized by the loss of dystrophin, inevitably leading to cardiomyopathy. Despite publications on prophylaxis and treatment with cardiac medications to mitigate cardiomyopathy progression, gaps remain in the specifics of medication initiation and optimization.

Method: This document is an expert opinion statement, addressing a critical gap in cardiac care for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

The Expression of Alpha-Fetoprotein in Human Blastocoel Fluid-Conditioned Media In Vitro: A Proof of Concept Study.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is measured during pregnancy in maternal serum to screen for, and in amniotic fluid to test for, neural tube defects. This study aimed to determine whether or not AFP is expressed in blastocoel fluid-conditioned media (BFCM) at the blastocyst stage of embryonic development. For this in vitro study, BFCM was obtained from blastocyst stage embryos following standard embryology laboratory processes.

Normative convergence between global health security and universal health coverage: a qualitative analysis of international health negotiations in the wake of COVID-19.

Background: The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and WHO Thirteenth General Programme of Work underscored the importance of mitigating health emergencies while ensuring accessible and affordable health services. Central to these efforts are global health security (GHS) and universal health coverage (UHC), which act both as standalone goals and as cross-cutting approaches to health policy and practice. While GHS and UHC each operate as distinct norms, global health stakeholders increasingly advocate for advancing them synergistically to address interconnected health challenges amid limited resources.

Taking ACTION to detect myocarditis related to recombinant gene transfer therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy; Consensus recommendations for cardiac surveillance.

Background: A viral vector recombinant gene transfer therapy (GTT) has recently been approved by the FDA for males of all ages with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) without limitations regarding preexisting cardiac impairment. Acute myocarditis is a potential life-threatening short-term complication that has been reported following GTT. This immune mediated response can range from troponin elevation to rapid cardiovascular compromise and death, particularly in those with abnormal cardiac status at baseline.

Climate Sustainability through AI-Crypto Synergies and Energy Transition in the Digital Landscape to Cut 0.7 GtCOe by 2030.

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled systems and cryptocurrency mining poses significant challenges to climate sustainability due to energy-intensive operations relying on fossil-powered grids. This work investigates the strategic coupling of AI data centers and cryptocurrency mining through shared energy infrastructure including colocated renewable power installations, battery energy storage, green hydrogen infrastructure, and carbon offsetting measures to achieve cost-effective and climate-neutral operations. Employing a novel energy systems modeling framework, it explores synergistic AI-crypto operations with a detailed scenario design along with an optimization modeling framework to assess the decarbonization potential and economic implications, enabling a transformative shift in the digital landscape.

Antimicrobial Efficacy of Nanoparticle-Coated Gutta-Percha: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the use of different nanoparticles for their ability to impart antimicrobial properties to conventionally inert gutta-percha when it is coated with nanoparticles. After registering with PROSPERO (CRD42023420939), the search was conducted using the PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, CINAHL, and Google Scholar with predefined keywords. The research question was constructed on PICO as "Does gutta-percha coated with various nanoparticles provide antibacterial activity against root canal microbes compared to conventional gutta-percha points?".

Bone quality is associated with fragility fracture in patients with hemoglobinopathies.

Background: Low bone mass, defined as a bone mineral density (BMD) Z-score ≤-2.0, is common in adults with thalassemia (Thal) and sickle cell disease (SCD), though disease-specific artifacts may contribute to inaccuracies in BMD assessment. Trabecular bone score (TBS), an indicator of bone quality, is not susceptible to these challenges and may improve fracture risk prediction.

Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency Targeted Testing and Augmentation Therapy: A Canadian Thoracic Society Meta-analysis and Clinical Practice Guideline.

Alpha-1-Antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency is a common hereditary disorder associated with increased risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Many individuals with severe A1AT deficiency go undiagnosed, or are diagnosed late, and fail to benefit from disease-specific counseling and modifying care. Since the 2012 Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) A1AT deficiency clinical practice guideline, new approaches to optimal diagnosis using modern genetic testing and studies of A1AT augmentation therapy have been published.

Validation of SCAI Shock Staging in Critically Ill Medical Intensive Care Unit Patients With Sepsis and Septic Shock.

Purpose: This study evaluated the predictive value of SCAI shock staging for mortality in patients with sepsis and septic shock admitted to the medical ICU.

Materials And Methods: This is a single-center historical cohort study. We analyzed data for adults (≥18-year-old) admitted to the medical ICU at Mayo Clinic St.

Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia After Cardiac Arrest and Prevention Strategies: A Narrative Review.

: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) poses a significant threat to the clinical outcomes and hospital stays of mechanically ventilated patients, particularly those recovering from cardiac arrest. Given the already elevated mortality rates in cardiac arrest cases, the addition of VAP further diminishes the chances of survival. Consequently, a paramount focus on VAP prevention becomes imperative.

Informing ICU Digital Twins: Dynamic Assessment of Cardiorespiratory Failure Trajectories in Patients with Sepsis.

Understanding clinical trajectories of sepsis patients is crucial for prognostication, resource planning, and to inform digital twin models of critical illness. This study aims to identify common clinical trajectories based on dynamic assessment of cardiorespiratory support using a validated electronic health record data that covers retrospective cohort of 19,177 patients with sepsis admitted to ICUs of Mayo Clinic Hospitals over eight-year period. Patient trajectories were modeled from ICU admission up to 14 days using an unsupervised machine learning two-stage clustering method based on cardiorespiratory support in ICU and hospital discharge status.

Variations in ciliary beat frequency based on chronic rhinosinusitis endotype and phenotype.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is traditionally classified into CRS with or without nasal polyps and, more recently, into eosinophilic and noneosinophilic endotypes. Limited research exists on the relationship between CRS subtypes and mucociliary function. This study compares ciliary beat frequency (CBF) across CRS subtypes.

Supramolecular Preorganization of Amine-functionalized Diacetylene Monomers in their Crystals Allows their Topochemical Polymerization to Polydiacetylenes Capable of CO Capture.

We designed and synthesized three diacetylene monomers M1-M3 having two NH groups. As anticipated, the NH groups aided the preorganization of these monomers by N-H…N hydrogen bonding. In the crystals of monomer M1 and M2, the intermolecular N-H…N hydrogen bonding preorganized the diyne units in an orientation suitable for their topochemical polymerization, but in the case of monomer M3, the distance was slightly larger than that recommended for the topochemical reaction.

Stabilisation/Solidification of the Zn-Contaminated Loess Silt in View of the Mechanical Properties.

The effectiveness of the stabilisation/solidification process depends upon a number of factors, the most significant of which are the type of binder, contaminants, and soil undergoing treatment. In accordance with the principles of sustainable construction, alternatives to cement are sought after, with the objective of achieving the lowest environmental impact while maintaining a high level of strength and effective binding of the contaminant. In the study of the stabilisation/solidification of zinc-contaminated loess, incinerated sewage sludge fly ash with reactive magnesia was selected as the binder, and the UCS of the mixtures and microstructure was verified after 28 days of treatment.

Virtual Impressions: An Examination of OBGYN Programs' Online Presence in the Match Process: OBGYN Residency Program Websites and Social Media.

Background: The COVID pandemic led to the transition of residency applications to a virtual format and the expansion of residency programs' virtual presence.

Objective: The objective is to understand what information Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency interviewees prioritize and how influential program websites and social media platforms are.

Study Design: Electronic surveys were sent to fourth-year medical students and OBGYN residents and were available for 6 weeks in spring 2023.

Bundle compliance patterns in septic shock and their association with patient outcomes: an unsupervised cluster analysis.

Adhering to bundle-based care recommendations within stringent time constraints presents a profound challenge. Elements within these bundles hold varying degrees of significance. We aimed to evaluate the Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) hour-one bundle compliance patterns and their association with patient outcomes.

Nickel-oxide embedded laser-induced graphene for high-performance supercapacitors.

This study explores the fabrication of nickel-oxide-embedded laser-induced graphene and its application in high-performance supercapacitors. Supercapacitors are critical for various applications due to their high power density and long cycle life. Nevertheless, they suffer from lower energy density compared to batteries.