ENGAGE-TBI: adaptation of a community-based intervention to improve social participation after brain injury.

Background: Social isolation is prevalent after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and has negative implications for health and well-being. Interventions targeting social participation show promise for reducing social isolation. We adapted a social participation intervention, ENGAGE, to meet the needs of people with TBI.

Divergent toxin alleles are suppressed by distinct mechanisms.

Toxin-antidote elements (TAs) are selfish DNA sequences that bias their transmission to the next generation. TAs typically consist of two linked genes: a toxin and an antidote. The toxin kills progeny that do not inherit the TA, while the antidote counteracts the toxin in progeny that inherit the TA.

Heart Rate from Progressive Volitional Cycling Test Is Associated with Endothelial Dysfunction Outcomes in Hypertensive Chilean Adults.

Background: A progressive volitional cycling test is useful in determining exercise prescription in populations with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. However, little is known about the association between heart rate during this test and endothelial dysfunction (EDys) parameters in hypertensive (HTN) patients.

Objective: To investigate the association between EDys markers (flow-mediated dilation [FMD], pulse wave velocity of the brachial artery [PWVba], and carotid-intima media thickness [cIMT]) and heart rate during a cycling test in HTN adults.

Heritable Cas9-induced nonhomologous recombination in .

Identification of the genetic basis of phenotypic variation within species remains challenging. In species with low recombination rates, such as , genomic regions linked to a phenotype of interest by genetic mapping studies are often large, making it difficult to identify the specific genes and DNA sequence variants that underlie phenotypic differences. Here, we introduce a method that enables researchers to induce heritable targeted recombination in with Cas9.

Cas9-induced nonhomologous recombination in .

Identification of the genetic basis of phenotypic variation within species remains challenging. In species with low recombination rates, such as , genomic regions linked to a phenotype of interest by genetic mapping studies are often large, making it difficult to identify the specific genes and DNA sequence variants that underlie phenotypic differences. Here, we introduce a method that enables researchers to induce targeted recombination in with Cas9.

Lab-on-a-Chip Platforms for Airborne Particulate Matter Applications: A Review of Current Perspectives.

Lab-on-a-Chip (LoC) devices are described as versatile, fast, accurate, and low-cost platforms for the handling, detection, characterization, and analysis of a wide range of suspended particles in water-based environments. However, for gas-based applications, particularly in atmospheric aerosols science, LoC platforms are rarely developed. This review summarizes emerging LoC devices for the classification, measurement, and identification of airborne particles, especially those known as Particulate Matter (PM), which are linked to increased morbidity and mortality levels from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Community-engaged asset mapping with Latinx immigrant families of youth with disabilities.

Asset mapping is a participatory methodology that engages community members in identifying services and settings that promote health and well-being. This study aimed to identify community assets from the perspective of Latinx immigrant families with youth with disabilities. Latinx immigrant families (n = 21) participated in the mapping, followed by a reflection session and an open forum (n = 30).

Radiological and histological findings in ancient salt mummies from the salt mine of Douzlākh, Iran.

Computed tomography studies and histological analyses were performed on the mummified remains found in the Chehrābād salt mine in northwestern Iran. The ancient salt mummies are dated to the Achaemenid (550-330 BC) and Sassanid (3rd-7th century AD) time period and died in mining incidents. The aim of the study was to describe the radiological and histological findings of several ancient Iranian salt mummies with special interest in pathological and postmortem changes.

Lung adenocarcinoma and pulmonary actinomycosis: a cautionary tale.

Background: Pulmonary actinomycosis is a rare and slowly progressive bacterial infection that is often mistaken for lung cancer. Multiple case reports caution against premature diagnosis of malignancy without proper consideration of potential infection. However, no cases in the English literature have been reported that demonstrate the possible coexistence of and lung cancer.

LI-RADS treatment response algorithm after first-line DEB-TACE: reproducibility and prognostic value at initial post-treatment CT/MRI.

Purpose: To evaluate the inter-reader reproducibility and prognostic accuracy of the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) treatment response algorithm (LR-TR) at the time of initial post-treatment evaluation following drug-eluting beads transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: This retrospective study included patients with HCC who underwent first-line DEB-TACE between January 2011 and December 2015. Six readers (three fellowship-trained radiologists and three radiology trainees) independently assessed lesion-level response in up to two treated lesions per LR-TR and modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST)-target criteria, as well as patient-level response per mRECIST-overall criteria, on the initial post-treatment CT/MRI.

Response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Among People Experiencing Homelessness in Congregant Living Settings in San Diego, California.

During April 2020-August 2020, a preemptive testing strategy combined with accessible isolation and symptom screening among people experiencing homelessness in congregant living settings in San Diego, California, contributed to a low incidence proportion of coronavirus disease 2019 (0.9%). Proactively addressing challenges specific to a vulnerable population may prove impactful.

Retinoic Acid Signaling and Development of the Respiratory System.

Retinoic acid (RA), the bioactive metabolite of vitamin A (VA), has long been recognized as a critical regulator of the development of the respiratory system. During embryogenesis, RA signaling is involved in the development of the trachea, airways, lung, and diaphragm. During postnatal life, RA continues to impact respiratory health.

CT and MRI findings in leptomeningeal melanocytosis.

Leptomeningeal melanocytosis is a rare cause of seizure in the pediatric population. Shown here is a case of this disease in a 9-year-old male who presented with seizures and minor trauma. Imaging showed progression of leptomeningeal enhancement in the setting of increased seizure activity, and biopsy confirmed the diagnosis.

Generation of a Purified iPSC-Derived Smooth Muscle-like Population for Cell Sheet Engineering.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide a potential source for the derivation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs); however, current approaches are limited by the production of heterogeneous cell types and a paucity of tools or markers for tracking and purifying candidate SMCs. Here, we develop murine and human iPSC lines carrying fluorochrome reporters (Acta2 and ACTA2, respectively) that identify Acta2/ACTA2 cells as they emerge in vitro in real time during iPSC-directed differentiation. We find that Acta2 and ACTA2 cells can be sorted to purity and are enriched in markers characteristic of an immature or synthetic SMC.

Third-order nonlinear optical properties of a multi-layer AlO/ZnO for nonlinear optical waveguides.

This is a report of a study of the nonlinear optical properties of samples based on multiple AlO/ZnO bilayers fabricated by atomic layer deposition (ALD) in silica. The multi-layer configuration for samples consists of alternated layers of constant thickness of AlO (Δx) and ZnO (Δy) nanolaminates with a total thickness of ∼ 500 nm. The physical properties of the samples were characterized by means of TEM, spectrophotometry and variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry.

MRI texture analysis for differentiation of malignant and benign hepatocellular tumors in the non-cirrhotic liver.

Purpose: To find potentially diagnostic texture analysis (TA) features and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of two-dimensional (2D) magnetic resonance (MR) TA for differentiation between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and benign hepatocellular tumors in the non-cirrhotic liver in an exploratory MR-study.

Materials And Methods: 108 non-cirrhotic patients (62 female; 41.5 ± 18.

Nutritional status and cytokine concentration during chemotherapy in Mexican children: A longitudinal analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether the nutritional status of children with cancer is influenced by variations in cytokine concentrations observed during chemotherapy. We also evaluated whether this relationship could be modified by nutritional status at diagnosis and type of cancer.

Methods: Mexican children with lymphoma or solid tumors were evaluated at diagnosis and at 2- and 6-mo follow-up visits.

[Anthropometric characteristics and functional fitness of Chilean community-dwelling older adults].

Introduction: Anthropometry and functional fitness (FF) are fundamental aspects for functional independence conservation of older adults (OA). However, little has been investigated in chilean OA.

Objective: To analyze anthropometric and FF characteristics of non-disabled OA.

Usefulness of nuclear whole-body bone scanning for diagnosis of leprosy.

Leprosy, or Hansen's disease, is rare in the United States. Given its rarity, as well as the pathognomonic dermatologic findings, there are few cases in which nuclear medicine imaging plays a role in the diagnostic workup. We present a 39-year-old man who presented with chronic abdominal pain, skin ulcers, and hypercalcemia who underwent computed tomography of the chest and a whole-body bone scan to evaluate for possible underlying neoplasm due to his profound hypercalcemia.

Computed tomography perfusion imaging for monitoring transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: To prospectively monitor changes in tumor perfusion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in response to doxorubicin-eluted bead based transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) using perfusion-CT (P-CT).

Methods And Materials: 24 patients (54-79 years) undergoing P-CT before and shortly after DEB-TACE of HCC were prospectively included in this dual-center study. Two readers determined arterial-liver-perfusion (ALP, mL/min/100mL), portal-venous-perfusion (PLP, mL/min/100mL) and the hepatic-perfusion-index (HPI, %) by placing matched regions-of-interests within each HCC before and after DEB-TACE.

Predictive Value of Age- and Sex-Specific Nomograms of Global Plaque Burden on Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography for Major Cardiac Events.

Background: Age-adjusted coronary artery disease (CAD) burden identified on coronary computed tomography angiography predicts major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) risk; however, it seldom contributes to clinical decision making because of a lack of nomographic data. We aimed to develop clinically pragmatic age- and sex-specific nomograms of CAD burden using coronary computed tomography angiography and to validate their prognostic use.

Methods And Results: Patients prospectively enrolled in phase I of the CONFIRM registry (Coronary CT Angiography Evaluation for Clinical Outcomes) were included (derivation cohort: n=21,132; 46% female) to develop CAD nomograms based on age-sex percentiles of segment involvement score (SIS) at each year of life (40-79 years).

CT Perfusion for Early Response Evaluation of Radiofrequency Ablation of Focal Liver Lesions: First Experience.

Purpose: To investigate the value of perfusion CT (P-CT) for early assessment of treatment response in patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of focal liver lesions.

Methods And Materials: 20 consecutive patients (14 men; mean age 64 ± 14) undergoing P-CT within 24 h after RFA of liver metastases (n = 10) or HCC (n = 10) were retrospectively included. Two readers determined arterial liver perfusion (ALP, mL/min/100 mL), portal liver perfusion (PLP, mL/min/100 mL), and hepatic perfusion index (HPI, %) in all post-RFA lesions by placing a volume of interest in the necrotic central (CZ), the transition (TZ), and the surrounding parenchymal (PZ) zone.

Long-Term Prognostic Utility of Coronary CT Angiography in Stable Patients With Diabetes Mellitus.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to determine the long-term prognostic value of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) compared with nondiabetic subjects.

Background: The long-term prognostic value of coronary CTA in patients with DM is not well established.

Methods: Patients enrolled in the CONFIRM (Coronary CT Angiography Evaluation for Clinical Outcomes: An International Multicenter) registry with 5-year follow-up data were identified.

Vitamin A-retinoid signaling in pulmonary development and disease.

Retinoic acid (RA), the active form of vitamin A, regulates key developmental processes in multiple organs. In the developing lung, RA is crucial for normal growth and differentiation of airways. Disruption in RA signaling or vitamin A deficiency (VAD) has been linked to aberrant development of the lung including alterations in the airway smooth muscle (SM) differentiation, development, and function.