Glutamine metabolism is essential for coronavirus replication in host cells and in mice.

Understanding the fundamental biochemical and metabolic requirements for the replication of coronaviruses within infected cells is of notable interest for the development of broad-based therapeutic strategies, given the likelihood of the emergence of new pandemic-potential virus species, as well as future variants of SARS-CoV-2. Here we demonstrate members of the glutaminase family of enzymes (GLS and GLS2), which catalyze the hydrolysis of glutamine to glutamate (i.e.

Impact of geriatric assessment and Geriatric 8-based targeted interventions on quality of life in older adults with cancer.

Introduction: Both Geriatric-8 (G8) and geriatric assessment (GA) assess frailty and facilitate providing appropriate interventions as recommended by the International Society for Geriatric Oncology. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of G8 and GA-based interventions on the quality of life (QOL) of older adults with cancer.

Materials And Methods: This is a prospective study of patients with cancer aged ≥70 y.

Postoperative outcomes and trends in computer-navigated and robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty.

Introduction: As the volume of technology-assisted total hip arthroplasty (THA) increases, there is a need to characterise the outcomes of robotic-assisted (RA) and computer-navigated (CN) THA. The goal of this study was to assess outcomes and opioid consumption following CN-THA and RA-THA compared to conventionally-instrumented (CON) THA.

Methods: The Premier Database was queried for all patients who underwent primary, elective THA from 2015-2020.

Impact of Body Mass Index on Opioid Prescriptions Following Lumbar Spine Surgery.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between BMI and postoperative opioid use within two years following lumbar spine surgery using a national database.

Methods: TriNetX, a national network of de-identified patient records, was retrospectively queried from 2003 to 2021 using ICD-10, CPT, and VA codes. Propensity-score matching analysis was performed based on demographics, comorbidities, anxiety disorders, and mood disorders.

Educational interventions to reduce depression and anxiety in older adults with cancer in the community: a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of randomised controlled trials.

Background: Older adults make up half of those with cancer and are prone to mood disorders, such as depression and severe anxiety, resulting in negative repercussions on their health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL). Educational interventions have been shown to reduce adverse psychological outcomes. We examined the effect of educational interventions on the severity of psychological outcomes in older adults with cancer (OAC) in the community.

Patient Navigation in Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review.

Purpose Of Review: Patient navigation promotes access to timely treatment of chronic diseases by eliminating barriers to care. Patient navigation programs have been well-established in improving screening rates and diagnostic resolution. This systematic review aimed to characterize the multifaceted role of patient navigators within the realm of cancer treatment.

Intravenous tranexamic acid reduces complications following surgical treatment of pathologic fractures of the lower extremity.

Background And Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the postoperative complications associated with administering intravenous (IV) tranexamic acid (TXA) in patients undergoing surgical fixation for neoplastic pathologic fractures of the lower extremities.

Methods: Patients ≥18 years old who underwent surgical intervention for neoplastic pathologic lower extremity fractures from 2015 to 2021 were identified using the Premier Healthcare Database. This cohort was divided by TXA receipt on the index surgery day.

Characteristics of Very Young Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Contemporary Assessment.

Background: This study aims to compare indications, patient characteristics, hospital factors, and complication rates between total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients aged 30 years or younger and those older than 30 years using a large national database.

Methods: The Premier Healthcare Database was utilized to identify primary THA patients from 2015 to 2021 who were aged ≤30 or >30 years. Patient demographics, hospital factors, and primary indications were compared for each cohort.

Association of depression with all-cause and cancer-specific mortality in older adults with cancer: Systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression.

Introduction: The incidence and mortality of cancer is increasing worldwide with studies reporting that cumulative risk of cancer rises as age increases. Against the backdrop of the increasing prevalence of cancer amongst older patients, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis examining the depression-mortality relationship in older adults with cancer (OAC).

Materials And Methods: This PRISMA-adherent systematic review involved a systematic search of PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, and PsycINFO for prospective and retrospective cohort studies comparing the risk of all-cause and cancer-related mortality among OAC with depression.

The Influence of Hospital Type, Insurance Type, and Patient Income on 30-Day Complication and Readmission Rates Following Lumbar Spine Fusion.

Background Context: Several studies have shown that factors such as insurance type and patient income are associated with different readmission rates following certain orthopaedic procedures. The literature, however, remains sparse with regard to these demographic characteristics and their associations to perioperative lumbar spine fusion outcomes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the associations between hospital type, insurance type, and patient median income to both 30-day complication and readmission rates following lumbar spine fusion.

Inhibiting Glutamine Metabolism Blocks Coronavirus Replication in Mammalian Cells.

Unlabelled: Developing therapeutic strategies against COVID-19 has gained widespread interest given the likelihood that new viral variants will continue to emerge. Here we describe one potential therapeutic strategy which involves targeting members of the glutaminase family of mitochondrial metabolic enzymes (GLS and GLS2), which catalyze the first step in glutamine metabolism, the hydrolysis of glutamine to glutamate. We show three examples where GLS expression increases during coronavirus infection of host cells, and another in which GLS2 is upregulated.

FoG-Finder: Real-time Freezing of Gait Detection and Treatment.

Freezing of gait is a serious symptom of Parkinson's disease that increases the risk of injury through falling, and reduces quality of life. Current clinical freezing of gait treatments fail to adequately address the fall risk posed by freezing of gait symptoms, and current real-time treatment systems have high false positive rates. To address this problem, we designed a closed-loop, non-intrusive, and real-time freezing of gait detection and treatment system, FoG-Finder, that automatically detects and treats freezing of gait.

Medicare Advantage in Soft Tissue Sarcoma May Be Associated with Worse Patient Outcomes.

Medicare Advantage healthcare plans may present undue impediments that result in disparities in patient outcomes. This study aims to compare the outcomes of patients who underwent STS resection based on enrollment in either traditional Medicare (TM) or Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. The Premier Healthcare Database was utilized to identify all patients ≥65 years old who underwent surgery for resection of a lower-extremity STS from 2015 to 2021.

Generation of LexA enhancer-trap lines in Drosophila by an international scholastic network.

Conditional gene regulation in Drosophila through binary expression systems like the LexA-LexAop system provides a superb tool for investigating gene and tissue function. To increase the availability of defined LexA enhancer trap insertions, we present molecular, genetic, and tissue expression studies of 301 novel Stan-X LexA enhancer traps derived from mobilization of the index SX4 line. This includes insertions into distinct loci on the X, II, and III chromosomes that were not previously associated with enhancer traps or targeted LexA constructs, an insertion into ptc, and seventeen insertions into natural transposons.

Prevalence of primary malignant tumours, rates of pathological fracture, and mortality in the setting of metastatic bone disease.

Aims: The modern prevalence of primary tumours causing metastatic bone disease is ill-defined in the oncological literature. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify the prevalence of primary tumours in the setting of metastatic bone disease, as well as reported rates of pathological fracture, postoperative complications, 90-day mortality, and 360-day mortality for each primary tumour subtype.

Methods: The Premier Healthcare Database was queried to identify all patients who were diagnosed with metastatic bone disease from January 2015 to December 2020.

Feasibility of a Geriatric Oncology Longitudinal End to End (GOLDEN) Program in a Tertiary Cancer Center in Singapore.

Introduction: In the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), 2 pilot programs providing (i) surgical prehabilitation before cancer surgery and (ii) geriatric oncology support for older adults planned for chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy were merged to form the Geriatric Oncology Longitudinal End to eNd (GOLDEN) program in 2019 to support patients from the time of their cancer diagnosis, through their treatment process, to cancer survivorship.

Methods And Materials: Older adults aged ≥65 years were enrolled in either surgical prehabilitation, the geriatric medical oncology (GO) arm, or both. All patients undergo a geriatric assessment.

Depression and anxiety in older adults with cancer: Systematic review and meta-summary of risk, protective and exacerbating factors.

Objective: To systematically evaluate the risk factors of depression and anxiety in older adults with cancer.

Method: This PRISMA-adherent systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42022372747) involved a systematic database search for prospective and retrospective cohort studies.

Results: We included 33 cohort studies with 31 evaluating depression and seven evaluating anxiety.