Tracking Telehealth Needs for Individuals With Sickle Cell Disease Through the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

Background And Aim: Pervasive disparities characterize sickle cell disease (SCD) care, including limited access to SCD specialists. Rapid deployment of remote healthcare provision and support during the COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity to understand telehealth barriers/facilitators for SCD. We aimed to evaluate telehealth experiences and satisfaction for routine visits among adults and caregivers of children with SCD within a US regional collaborative.

Computer-aided drug design to generate a unique antibiotic family.

The World Health Organization has identified antibiotic resistance as one of the three greatest threats to human health. The need for antibiotics is a pressing matter that requires immediate attention. Here, computer-aided drug design is used to develop a structurally unique antibiotic family targeting holo-acyl carrier protein synthase (AcpS).

Alzheimer's disease as an autoimmune disorder of innate immunity endogenously modulated by tryptophan metabolites.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by neurotoxic immuno-inflammation concomitant with cytotoxic oligomerization of amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau, culminating in concurrent, interdependent immunopathic and proteopathic pathogeneses.

Methods: We performed a comprehensive series of in silico, in vitro, and in vivo studies explicitly evaluating the atomistic-molecular mechanisms of cytokine-mediated and Aβ-mediated neurotoxicities in AD.  Next, 471 new chemical entities were designed and synthesized to probe the pathways identified by these molecular mechanism studies and to provide prototypic starting points in the development of small-molecule therapeutics for AD.

Screening colonoscopies by primary care physicians: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: There is currently too few endoscopists to enact a national colorectal cancer screening program with colonoscopy. Primary care physicians could play an important role in filling this shortage by offering screening colonoscopy in their practice. The purpose of this study was to examine the safety and effectiveness of colonoscopies performed by primary care physicians.

Concentration of GPI-anchored proteins upon ER exit in yeast.

Previous biochemical work has revealed two parallel routes of exit from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, one seemingly specific for glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins. Using the coat protein II (COPII) mutant sec31-1, we visualized ER exit sites (ERES) and identified three distinct ERES populations in vivo. One contains glycosylated pro-alpha-factor, the second contains the GPI-anchored proteins Cwp2p, Ccw14p and Tos6p and the third is enriched with the hexose transporter, Hxt1p.

Statins and cancer: a meta-analysis of case-control studies.

3-HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) block the growth of malignant cells in vitro. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials failed to show reduced risk of cancers in statin users. Case-control studies, however, have the advantage of examining remote exposures.

How well are practice management curricula preparing family medicine residents?

Background: While emphasis has been placed on practice management curricula in residency, studies indicate that residents are not adequately prepared. To assess the effectiveness of current practice management skills training in residency, we examined the confidence levels of family medicine residents and recent graduates in practice management skills.

Methods: A survey was sent to family medicine residency programs within South Carolina.

Enhanced apoptosis through farnesol inhibition of phospholipase D signal transduction.

Farnesol is a catabolite of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway that preferentially causes apoptosis in tumorigenic cells. Phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidic acid (PA), and diacylglycerol (DAG) were able to prevent induction of apoptosis by farnesol. Primary alcohol inhibition of PC catabolism by phospholipase D augmented farnesol-induced apoptosis.

Prostate cancer and sexually transmitted diseases: a meta-analysis.

Background: Prostate cancer is the most common neoplasm of American men and the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths. Research suggests that infection and subsequent inflammation may be an important risk factor in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer. In this meta-analysis, we examine the current epidemiological evidence for the association between specific sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and prostate cancer.

The relationship between the National Board of Medical Examiners' prototype of the Step 2 clinical skills exam and interns' performance.

Purpose: To examine the relationship between graduates' performances on a prototype of the National Board of Medical Examiners' Step 2 CS and other undergraduate measures with their residency directors' ratings of their performances as interns.

Method: Data were collected for the 2001 and 2002 graduates from the study institution. Checklist and interpersonal scores from the prototype Step 2 CS, along with United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 and 2 scores and undergraduate grade-point average (GPA), were correlated with residency directors' ratings (average score for six competencies, quartile ranking, and isolated interpersonal communication competency score).

Clinical use of C-reactive protein for cardiovascular disease.

Recent evidence supports an association between elevation of inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein, and subsequent cardiovascular disease risk. The American Heart Association released guidelines in 2003 to help clinicians know when to use such markers. Because inflammatory markers are associated with diabetes, obesity, and hypertension, knowledge of the role of such markers is extremely important for prevention and chronic disease management.

Demonstration that mast cells, T cells, and B cells bearing the activating kit mutation D816V occur in clusters within the marrow of patients with mastocytosis.

Mastocytosis is characterized by focal heterotypic clusters of mast cells and lymphocytes in the bone marrow and by a somatically acquired activating Kit mutation, D816V. The relationship of the occurrence of this mutation to the heterotypic clusters of mast cells and lymphocytes in bone marrow is unknown. We hypothesized that these two unique features of mastocytosis were related.