Impact of hyper- and hypothermia on cellular and whole-body physiology.

The incidence of heat-related illnesses and heatstroke continues to rise amidst global warming. Hyperthermia triggers inflammation, coagulation, and progressive multiorgan dysfunction, and, at levels above 40 °C, can even lead to cell death. Blood cells, particularly granulocytes and platelets, are highly sensitive to heat, which promotes proinflammatory and procoagulant changes.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a major cause of thromboinflammation and inflammatory cell death in critical illnesses.

Background: Mitochondria generate the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) necessary for eukaryotic cells, serving as their primary energy suppliers, and contribute to host defense by producing reactive oxygen species. In many critical illnesses, including sepsis, major trauma, and heatstroke, the vicious cycle between activated coagulation and inflammation results in tissue hypoxia-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, and impaired mitochondrial function contributes to thromboinflammation and cell death.

Methods: A computer-based online search was performed using the PubMed and Web of Science databases for published articles concerning sepsis, trauma, critical illnesses, cell death, mitochondria, inflammation, coagulopathy, and organ dysfunction.

Indoor Air Quality in Multi-Family Housing: Drivers and Interventions.

Purpose Of Review: Indoor air pollution is likely to be elevated in multi-family housing and to contribute to health disparities, but limited studies to date have systematically considered the empirical evidence for exposure differentials between multi-family and single-family housing. Our goal is to separately examine the drivers of residential indoor air pollution, including outdoor air pollution, ventilation and filtration, indoor sources, and occupant activity patterns, using secondhand smoke as a case study to examine the behavioral dimensions of indoor environmental interventions.

Recent Findings: Within studies published from 2018 to 2023, multi-family homes have higher average outdoor air pollution than single-family homes given their more frequent presence in urban and near-roadway settings.

Autophagy related 7 (ATG7) regulates food intake and liver health during asparaginase exposure.

Amino acid starvation by the chemotherapy agent asparaginase is a potent activator of the integrated stress response (ISR) in liver and can upregulate autophagy in some cell types. We hypothesized that autophagy related 7 (ATG7), a protein that is essential for autophagy and an ISR target gene, was necessary during exposure to asparaginase to maintain liver health. We knocked down Atg7 systemically (Atg7) or in hepatocytes only (ls-Atg7KO) in mice before exposure to pegylated asparaginase for 5 d.

Supportive but biased: perceptual neural intergroup bias is sensitive to minor reservations about supporting outgroup immigration.

While decreasing negative attitudes against outgroups are often reported by individuals themselves, biased behaviour prevails. This gap between words and actions may stem from unobtrusive mental processes that could be uncovered by using neuroimaging in addition to self-reports. In this study we investigated whether adding neuroimaging to a traditional intergroup bias measure could detect intersubject differences in intergroup bias processes in a societal context where opposing discrimination is normative.

Evaluating the Accuracy of Relative Value Unit and Operative Time Changes in Breast Reconstruction.

Background: As part of the 2021 changes to breast reconstruction CPT codes, the Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) recommended adjustments to work RVUs (wRVUs) based on newly surveyed intraoperative times. Our objective was to gauge the accuracy of operative time and wRVU adjustments using national data as a benchmark.

Methods: We queried the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database for operative times from 2005-2021 for reevaluated CPT codes.

Effectiveness of AZD7442 (Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab) for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Against COVID-19 Hospitalization in Israel During the Omicron Sub-Variant Time Period.

Introduction: The effectiveness of AZD7442 (tixagevimab/cilgavimab) against COVID-19 hospitalizations was determined at 3 and 6 months among immunocompromised individuals in Israel during different variant circulations.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using data from Clalit Health Services in Israel. Immunocompromised individuals eligible to receive AZD7442 300 mg between 15 February and 11 December 2022 were identified.

Legal framework and IVF outcomes: a comparative analysis of fresh and frozen embryo transfers in Switzerland.

Research Question: To what extent do legislative measures impact standard reproductive outcome parameters?

Design: Retrospective cohort study using data from the Swiss national IVF registry analysing the outcomes of 13,908 women undergoing embryo transfers resulting from their first lifetime oocyte retrieval before (2014-2016) or after (2020-2022) revision of the legislation, allowing extended culture for 12 zygotes. Live birth rates (LBR) and cumulative LBR (cLBR) were compared in fresh and frozen embryo transfer strategies in both periods. Adjusted multivariable mixed model analyses were performed to determine OR and incidence rate ratios (IRR).

Sources of HIV information and women's HIV knowledge in Southwest Sumba Indonesia: a cross-sectional study with mediation analysis.

Background: Despite multiple years of government HIV educational efforts, the growing trend of new cases among women in Indonesia runs parallel with their seemingly overall lack of comprehensive knowledge about HIV. A major prevention challenge for the Indonesian government lies in delivering HIV prevention education across the world's largest archipelago. This study investigates comprehensive HIV knowledge among reproductive-age women in Southwest Sumba, Indonesia, and the sources through which they report having learned about HIV along with potential mediators of the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and HIV knowledge.

Lower Commercial Rates for Breast Surgical Procedures are Associated with Socioeconomic Disadvantage: A Transparency in Coverage Analysis.

Background: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented the Transparency in Coverage Rule in 2022, which requires payers to disclose commercial rates for the first time in the history of the US healthcare system. The purpose of this study was to characterize payer-disclosed commercial facility rates and examine the relationship with county-level social disadvantage for common breast surgical procedures.

Materials And Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of 2023 pricing data for 14 ablative and reconstructive breast procedures from Turquoise Health.

Near-infrared imaging retinal diagnostic applications-a review.

Objective: Near-infrared reflectance (NIR) is a commonly performed noncontact and rapid imaging technique. This paper reviews the clinical applications of NIR for diagnosing and monitoring retinal diseases.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across the Pubmed database.

Health System Purchasing Professionals' Approaches to Considering Equity in Procurement.

Background: Continuing data on racial bias in pulse oximeters and artificial intelligence has sparked calls for health systems to drive innovation against racial bias in healthcare device and artificial intelligence markets by incorporating equity concerns explicitly into purchasing decisions.

Research Question: How do healthcare purchasing professionals integrate equity concerns into purchasing decision-making?

Study Design And Methods: Between 8/2023-3/2024, we conducted semi-structured interviews via videoconferencing with healthcare purchasing professionals about purchasing processes for pulse oximeters and other devices-and whether and where equity concerns arise in decision-making. An abductive approach was used to analyze perspectives on how equity and disparity concerns are currently integrated into healthcare purchasing decision-making.

Return to Swimming After Shoulder Arthroplasty.

Background: Swimming is one of the most common sporting activities in the United States, and often popular among shoulder arthroplasty patients. While return to sport has become a popular topic recently, the literature focused on swimming is limited. The purpose of this study is to report the rate of return to swim after primary shoulder arthroplasty and evaluate changes in performance after surgery.

Stigma, depression, and quality of life among people with pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed through active and passive case finding in Nepal: a prospective cohort study.

Background: The psychosocial consequences of tuberculosis (TB) are key barriers to ending TB globally. We evaluated and compared stigma, depression, and quality of life (QoL) among people with TB diagnosed through active (ACF) and passive (PCF) case-finding in Nepal.

Methods: We prospectively recruited adults with TB diagnosed through ACF and PCF in four districts of Nepal between August 2018 and April 2019.

Nanoscale Ferroelectric Programming of van der Waals Heterostructures.

We demonstrate an approach to creating nanoscale potentials in van der Waals layers integrated with a buried programmable ferroelectric layer. Using ultra-low-voltage electron beam lithography (ULV-EBL), we can program the ferroelectric polarization in AlBN (AlBN) thin films, generating structures with sizes as small as 35 nm. We demonstrate the ferroelectric field effect with a graphene/vdW stack on AlBN by creating a p-n junction.

CHARTING THE EVOLUTION AND TRANSFORMATIVE IMPACT OF THE PACIFIC SYMPOSIUM ON BIOCOMPUTING THROUGH A 30-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF COLLABORATIVE NETWORKS AND THEMES USING MODERN COMPUTATIONAL TOOLS.

Founded nearly 30 years ago, the Pacific Symposium on Biocomputing (PSB) has continually promoted collaborative research in computational biology, annually highlighting emergent themes that reflect the expanding interdisciplinary nature of the field. This study aimed to explore the collaborative and thematic dynamics at PSB using topic modeling and network analysis methods. We identified 14 central topics that have characterized the discourse at PSB over the past three decades.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation and cirrhotic coagulopathy: overlap and differences. The current state of knowledge. Communication from the SSC of the ISTH.

Patients with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) have decreasing plasma levels of coagulation factors and platelet counts with increased levels of D-dimer. Standard laboratory tests are used clinically to diagnose DIC and quantify the severity of the disease. In patients with cirrhosis, liver-derived plasma coagulation factor levels are reduced due to decreased hepatic synthesis, further exacerbated by extravascular redistribution of these proteins, causing prolongation of routine diagnostic coagulation tests.

A protocol for targeted B-lymphocyte depletion for the treatment of IgG4-related disease.

Objectives: To determine the clinical outcomes of patients with immunoglobulin 4-related disease (IgG4-RD) treated with a defined B cell depletion protocol using rituximab.

Methods: Patients were included if they had (1) an IgG4-RD diagnosis at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust between February 2017 and October 2022, and (2) >9 months of follow-up data available following the first rituximab dose. The rituximab protocol targeted B cell depletion to < 10 cells/microliter for a maintenance period of two years.

Incorporating the concept of overtransfusion into hemovigilance monitoring: An expert-based definition and criteria from the International HIT-OVER Forum.

Background: Liberal or overtransfusion (OT) may be regarded as "inappropriate," but it is not reported as a transfusion-related adverse event. A definition of OT is lacking. OT may include overdosing of components, giving the incorrect component, or unnecessary administration without evidence of need for transfusion.

The precise location of "Midshaft" clavicle fractures: Scrimmaging from the 42 yard-line.

Background: The realities of midshaft clavicle fracture distribution have not been described accurately. Consequently, a topographical depiction of midshaft clavicle fractures may help design implants that are more anatomically concordant with the fractured clavicle, leading to better outcomes and fewer complications.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study.

Troubleshooting heparin resistance.

The term heparin resistance is likely best defined as the failure of an appropriate dose of unfractionated heparin (UFH) to achieve a predetermined level of anticoagulation. Unfortunately, and despite many prior reports, there is no established consensus as to what either the appropriate dose or the predetermined level should be. Traditionally, assays used to monitor anticoagulation with UFH have been clot based, including the activated partial thromboplastin time, used for patients on the ward or intensive care unit, and the activated clotting time, used for patients undergoing vascular interventions and cardiopulmonary bypass.