CXCL12-targeted immunomodulatory gene therapy reduces radiation-induced fibrosis in healthy tissues.

Radiation-induced fibrosis (RIF) is a progressive pathology deleteriously impacting cancer survivorship. CXCL12 is an immune-stromal signal implicated in fibrosis and innate response. We hypothesised that modulation of CXCL12 would phenotypically mitigate RIF.

Links Between Food Assistance Program Participation and Mental Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Food insecurity is a mechanism through which the mental health impacts of systemic social inequities multiply across the lifespan. Federally administered food assistance programs improve food security, but their impact on mental health is less clear. We conducted a systematic review of all studies that reported an association between food assistance participation and mental health (N = 34), and a multilevel meta-analysis among studies that met inclusion criteria and reported sufficient statistical results (n = 21; k = 44).

Diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnoea in adults.

Obstructive sleep apnoea is the most common form of sleep-disordered breathing. It is characterised by recurrent occlusion of the airway during sleep. Ensuing apnoeas terminate in arousal from sleep and lead to non-restorative sleep, excessive daytime sleepiness and adverse cardiovascular and neurocognitive effects.

A survey on autonomous environmental monitoring approaches: towards unifying active sensing and reinforcement learning.

The environmental pollution caused by various sources has escalated the climate crisis making the need to establish reliable, intelligent, and persistent environmental monitoring solutions more crucial than ever. Mobile sensing systems are a popular platform due to their cost-effectiveness and adaptability. However, in practice, operation environments demand highly intelligent and robust systems that can cope with an environment's changing dynamics.

Modelling bronchial epithelial-fibroblast cross-talk in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) using a human-derived in vitro air liquid interface (ALI) culture.

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating form of respiratory disease with a life expectancy of 3-4 years. Inflammation, epithelial injury and myofibroblast proliferation have been implicated in disease initiation and, recently, epithelial-fibroblastic crosstalk has been identified as a central driver. However, the ability to interrogate this crosstalk is limited due to the absence of in vitro models that mimic physiological conditions.

Beyond Counting Sheep: Exploring the Link between Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Sleep Health.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition with reproductive, metabolic, and psychological sequelae that affects 8 to 13% of reproductive-aged women and 3 to 11% of adolescent girls. Sleep is often compromised in women with PCOS due to increased rates of sleep problems, with the most established problem being obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is highly prevalent in reproductive-aged adult women with PCOS, but not so in adolescence.

Durable responses to ATR inhibition with ceralasertib in tumors with genomic defects and high inflammation.

BACKGROUNDPhase 1 study of ATRinhibition alone or with radiation therapy (PATRIOT) was a first-in-human phase I study of the oral ATR (ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related) inhibitor ceralasertib (AZD6738) in advanced solid tumors.METHODSThe primary objective was safety. Secondary objectives included assessment of antitumor responses and pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) studies.

High School Student and Caregiver Preferred Communication Method Regarding School Meals: A Qualitative Approach.

Background: This study examined student and caregiver preference for school communication and explored the feasibility and acceptability of a digital tool to assist with communication about school meal program between schools and families.

Methods: The study used qualitative methodology through youth focus groups and caregiver semi-structured phone interviews. The study was conducted in 4 high schools in a large, urban city.

Validation of a single-use and reusable home sleep apnea test based on peripheral arterial tonometry compared to laboratory polysomnography for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea.

Study Objectives: The objective of this study was to independently validate a disposable and a reusable home sleep apnea test (HSAT) recording on peripheral arterial tonometry, compared to laboratory polysomnography (PSG), for the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: 115 participants undergoing PSG for suspected OSA were recruited and fitted with the two study devices (NightOwl, Ectosense, Belgium). After exclusions were applied and device failures were removed, data from 100 participants were analyzed.

Barriers and Facilitators to High School Meal Program Participation: A Qualitative Study of Students and Their Caregivers.

Background: The school food environment is a critically important area to target the health of millions of students, especially those experiencing food insecurity. However, both students and caregivers have noted significant barriers to participation in the school meal program, including taste, lunchroom experience, and limited availability of fresh, healthy foods. There is a lack of qualitative research which considers both caregiver and adolescent perspectives, particularly among youth of color.

Examining the impact of multilevel upper airway surgery on the obstructive sleep apnoea endotypes and their utility in predicting surgical outcomes.

Background And Objective: Upper airway surgery for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is an alternative treatment for patients who are intolerant of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). However, upper airway surgery has variable treatment efficacy with no reliable predictors of response. While we now know that there are several endotypes contributing to OSA (i.

OX40 and 4-1BB delineate distinct immune profiles in sarcoma.

Systemic relapse after radiotherapy and surgery is the major cause of disease-related mortality in sarcoma patients. Combining radiotherapy and immunotherapy is under investigation as a means to improve response rates. However, the immune contexture of sarcoma is understudied.

Fit-Tested N95 Masks Combined With Portable High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filtration Can Protect Against High Aerosolized Viral Loads Over Prolonged Periods at Close Range.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk from aerosol transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The aims of this study were to (1) quantify the protection provided by masks (surgical, fit-testFAILED N95, fit-testPASSED N95) and personal protective equipment (PPE), and (2) determine if a portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter can enhance the benefit of PPE.

Methods: Virus aerosol exposure experiments using bacteriophage PhiX174 were performed.

Pulmonary actinomycosis and polymicrobial empyema in a patient with ABPA and bronchocoele.

We present a 43-year-old woman, with a history of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and a chronic bronchocoele, who was admitted to hospital with an infection of the bronchocoele, progressing to a pulmonary abscess and polymicrobial empyema, following dental extraction and regular probiotic ingestion. Interval chest imaging following this procedure demonstrated worsening right upper lobe opacities and a right-sided pleural effusion. Bronchoscopies identified copious mucoid secretions and an infected bronchocoele with a right upper lobe airways impaction.

Body position during laboratory and home polysomnography compared to habitual sleeping position at home.

Study Objectives: Supine-predominant obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent. The proportion of time spent in the supine position may be overrepresented during polysomnography, which would impact on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and have important clinical implications. We aimed to investigate the difference in body position during laboratory or home polysomnography compared to habitual sleep and estimate its effect on OSA severity.

Point of emission air filtration enhances protection of healthcare workers against skin contamination with virus aerosol.

Editorial

Measuring the foveal avascular zone in diabetes: A study using optical coherence tomography angiography.

Aims/introduction: Diabetes is a global issue that currently affects 425 million people worldwide. One observable microvascular complication of this condition is a change in the foveal avascular zone (FAZ). In this study, we used optical coherence tomography angiography to investigate the effect of diabetes on the FAZ.

Sleep as a Major Determinant for Mental Health Outcomes in Elite Australian Football League (AFL) Athletes.

Purpose: The link between mental health and sleep is well documented in the general population, with the majority of mental health disorders involving some type of sleep disturbance. There is, however, limited research investigating this relationship in elite athlete populations. The aim of this study was to identify whether sleep and mental health outcomes are associated in elite athletes and, if so, what measures of sleep were the most predictive of mental health outcomes.

A pilot study of a school lunchroom intervention in a predominantly Latinx sample.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess the feasibility of an environmental school lunchroom intervention ('Smarter Lunchrooms') and test initial efficacy within a predominantly Latinx population.

Design: We collected baseline and intervention lunchroom food consumption and waste data in a pre-post, single group design. Meal consumption data was analyzed using Nutrition Data System for Research software to obtain estimates of nutritional content.