Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy as a Tool to Detect the Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition in Prostate Cancer Cells.

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains a significant health threat, with chemoresistance and recurrence posing major challenges despite advances in treatment. The epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), a biochemical process where cells lose epithelial features and gain mesenchymal traits, is linked to chemoresistance and metastasis. Electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), a novel label-free electrokinetic technique, offers promise in detecting cell phenotype changes.

Electrical signature of heterogeneous human mesenchymal stem cells.

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have gained traction in transplantation therapy due to their immunomodulatory, paracrine, immune-evasive, and multipotent differentiation potential. The inherent heterogeneity of hMSCs poses a challenge for therapeutic treatments and necessitates the identification of robust biomarkers to ensure reproducibility in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. In this study, we utilized dielectrophoresis (DEP), a label-free electrokinetic phenomenon, to investigate the heterogeneity of hMSCs derived from bone marrow (BM) and adipose tissue (AD).

Light-Induced Dielectrophoresis for Characterizing the Electrical Behavior of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) offer a patient-derived cell source for conducting mechanistic studies of diseases or for several therapeutic applications. Understanding hMSC properties, such as their electrical behavior at various maturation stages, has become more important in recent years. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a method that can manipulate cells in a nonuniform electric field, through which information can be obtained about the electrical properties of the cells, such as the cell membrane capacitance and permittivity.

Epidemiology of interstitial lung disease in patients with metastatic breast cancer at baseline and after treatment with HER2-directed therapy: a real-world data analysis.

Purpose: Using real-world data, interstitial lung disease (ILD) prevalence before and after HER2-directed therapy was estimated. Potential ILD risk factors in patients receiving HER2-directed therapy for metastatic breast cancer (mBC) were evaluated.

Methods: Adults with HER2-directed therapy for mBC initiated between September 25, 1998, and February 22, 2020 were, included.

A locus coeruleus-dorsal CA1 dopaminergic circuit modulates memory linking.

Individual memories are often linked so that the recall of one triggers the recall of another. For example, contextual memories acquired close in time can be linked, and this is known to depend on a temporary increase in excitability that drives the overlap between dorsal CA1 (dCA1) hippocampal ensembles that encode the linked memories. Here, we show that locus coeruleus (LC) cells projecting to dCA1 have a key permissive role in contextual memory linking, without affecting contextual memory formation, and that this effect is mediated by dopamine.

Mosquito cryptochromes expressed in Drosophila confer species-specific behavioral light responses.

Cryptochrome (CRY) is a short-wavelength light-sensitive photoreceptor expressed in a subset of circadian neurons and eyes in Drosophila that regulates light-evoked circadian clock resetting. Acutely, light evokes rapid electrical excitation of the ventral lateral subset of circadian neurons and confers circadian-modulated avoidance behavioral responses to short-wavelength light. Recent work shows dramatically different avoidance versus attraction behavioral responses to short-wavelength light in day-active versus night-active mosquitoes and that these behavioral responses are attenuated by CRY protein degradation by constant light exposure in mosquitoes.

Customizable Natural Language Processing Biomarker Extraction Tool.

Purpose: Natural language processing (NLP) in pathology reports to extract biomarker information is an ongoing area of research. MetaMap is a natural language processing tool developed and funded by the National Library of Medicine to map biomedical text to the Unified Medical Language System Metathesaurus by applying specific tags to clinically relevant terms. Although results are useful without additional postprocessing, these tags lack important contextual information.

Effectiveness of Liposomal Bupivacaine Compared With Standard-of-Care Measures in Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: Effective postsurgical pain management is important for pediatric patients to improve outcomes while reducing resource use and waste. The authors examined opioid consumption and economic outcomes associated with liposomal bupivacaine (LB) or non-LB analgesia use in pediatric patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery.

Design: The authors retrospectively analyzed Premier Healthcare Database records.

Validation of a Mortality Composite Score in the Real-World Setting: Overcoming Source-Specific Disparities and Biases.

Purpose: This study tested whether a composite mortality score could overcome gaps and potential biases in individual real-world mortality data sources. Complete and accurate mortality data are necessary to calculate important outcomes in oncology, including overall survival. However, in the United States, there is not a single complete and broadly applicable mortality data source.

Randomized clinical trial of a novel donor-derived cfDNA test to detect rejection in CPV-simulated renal transplant patients.

Purpose: Five-year kidney graft loss currently stands at about 30%. We evaluate the clinical utility of a blood test measuring donor-derived cell-free DNA that detects rejection earlier and, potentially, improves diagnostic and therapeutic accuracy.

Methods: In a randomized controlled experiment, we measured the clinical practice of 175 practicing nephrologists, both with and without the use of dd-cfDNA testing.

Clinical Utility of a Blood-based Protein Assay on Diagnostic Colonoscopy Referrals for Elevated-risk Colorectal Cancer Patients in Primary Care.

Background: Colonoscopies are effective in finding early stage colorectal cancer (CRC), which when found in a timely manner, dramatically improve survival rates. A significant number of at-risk patients are still not screened. We investigated the utility of a blood-based protein assay to assess for CRC in patients with elevated risk on the quality of preventive care delivered by board-certified primary care physicians (PCPs) in the United States.

Variation in Diabetes Management: A National Assessment of Primary Care Providers.

Background: Glucose control is monitored primarily through ordering HbA1c levels, which is problematic in patients with glycemic variability. Herein, we report on the management of these patients by board-certified primary care providers (PCPs) in the United States.

Methods: We measured provider practice in a representative sample of 156 PCPs.

Establishing Clinical Utility for Diagnostic Tests Using a Randomized Controlled, Virtual Patient Trial Design.

Demonstrating clinical utility for diagnostic tests and securing coverage and reimbursement requires high quality and, ideally, randomized controlled trial (RCT) data. Traditional RCTs are often too costly, slow, and cumbersome for diagnostic firms. Alternative data options are needed.

Variation in Assessing Renal Allograft Rejection: A National Assessment of Nephrology Practice.

Background: The clinical utility of early detection and treatment of allograft rejection is well-established. Despite frequent testing called for by standard of care protocols, the five-year kidney allograft survival rate is estimated to be as low as 71%. Herein, we report on posttransplant care provided to kidney allograft recipients by board-certified nephrologists in the United States.

Standardising practice in cardiology: reducing clinical variation and cost at Ochsner Health System.

Objective: Low quality and unwarranted clinical variation harm patients and increase unnecessary costs. Effective approaches to improve clinical and economic value have been difficult. The Ochsner Health System looked to improve clinical care quality and reduce unnecessary costs in cardiology using active measurement and customised feedback.

Standardising hospitalist practice in sepsis and COPD care.

Background: Hospitalist medicine was predicated on the belief that providers dedicated to inpatient care would deliver higher quality and more cost-effective care to acutely hospitalised patients. The literature shows mixed results and has identified care variation as a culprit for suboptimal quality and cost outcomes. Using a scientifically validated engagement and measurement approach such as Clinical Performance and Value (CPV), simulated patient vignettes may provide the impetus to change provider behaviour, improve system cohesion, and improve quality and cost efficiency for hospitalists.

A Quality Collaboration in Heart Failure and Pneumonia Inpatient Care at Novant Health: Standardizing Hospitalist Practices to Improve Patient Care and System Performance.

Background: Heart failure and pneumonia are among the most measured and expensive conditions to treat in the United States across all payer types and are top of mind for value-driven hospital organizations and payers seeking to not only improve the quality of care for patients but also reduce unnecessary spending. Care standardization potentially leads to better patient outcomes and reduced excess costs but is a difficult objective to achieve.

Methods: A pre-post analysis of clinical practice, patient outcomes, and cost was designed to determine if serial measurement and feedback using simulated patients improves patient care quality and reduces costs for two common conditions cared for by hospitalists: pneumonia and heart failure.

Clinical Utility of Definitive Drug⁻Drug Interaction Testing in Primary Care.

Drug⁻drug interactions (DDIs) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. New tools are needed to improve identification and treatment of DDIs. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to assess the clinical utility of a new test to identify DDIs and improve their management.

Drug-Drug Interaction Assessment and Identification in the Primary Care Setting.

Background: Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are ubiquitous, harmful and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. With an aging population, growth in polypharmacy, widespread use of supplements, and the rising opioid abuse epidemic, primary care physicians (PCPs) are increasingly challenged with identifying and preventing DDIs. We set out to evaluate current clinical practices related to identifying and treating DDIs and to determine if opportunities to increase prevention of DDIs and their adverse events could be identified.

Primary care variability in patients at higher risk for colorectal cancer: evaluation of screening and preventive care practices.

Objective: Sub-optimal colorectal cancer (CRC) evaluations have been attributed to both physician and patient factors. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate physician practice variation in patients with a higher risk of CRC. We wanted to identify the physician characteristics and the types of patients that were associated with missed screening opportunities; we also explored whether screening for CRC served as a proxy for better preventive care practices.

Maryland's All-Payer Health Care System: A Light at the End of a Tunnel.

The state of Maryland, in collaboration with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, developed the first all-payer system model in the Unites States in 1971 and 35 years later in response to financial pressures undertook to modernize this program. The focus of the modernized program was to improve overall per-capita expenditure, quality of care, and the outcome of Marylanders' health. The financial status of Maryland hospitals was declining because of the rate setting of the Health Services Cost Review Commission while hospital admission rates and spending were increasing.

Clinical utility of a blood-based protein assay to increase screening of elevated-risk patients for colorectal cancer in the primary care setting.

Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening is effective in finding early stage CRC and dramatically improves survival rates. Despite this, the number of eligible patients who do not obtain CRC screening is unacceptably high.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal, randomized controlled trial investigating the utility of a blood-based protein assay on the quality of care delivered by practicing PCPs in the United States.

Secukinumab improves patient-reported psoriasis symptoms of itching, pain, and scaling: results of two phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials.

Background: Secukinumab is a human interleukin-17A antagonist indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. The objective of this analysis was to measure the treatment response on psoriasis-related itching, pain, and scaling via the Psoriasis Symptom Diary (PSD)(©).

Methods: ERASURE (n = 738) and FIXTURE (n = 1306) were double-blind, multicenter phase 3 studies in adults randomized to secukinumab (300, 150 mg, n = 1144) or placebo (n = 574) (administered at Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4, followed by dosing every 4 weeks) or a biologic active control (FIXTURE only).

Psychometric validation of the Psoriasis Symptom Diary using Phase III study data from patients with chronic plaque psoriasis.

Objectives: This analysis aimed to confirm the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Psoriasis Symptom Diary (PSD) using data from two Phase III studies in patients with moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis.

Methods: Data from two randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, multicenter Phase III studies (n = 820) assessing the efficacy and safety of secukinumab were used. The PSD (24-h recall; 0-10 numeric rating scale) was electronically administered each evening.