Engaging with young professionals in transfusion medicine: Insights from a needs assessment survey targeting an international cohort.

Background And Objectives: Professionals who work or study in transfusion medicine under 40 years of age are considered young professionals (YPs) by the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT). While the ISBT provides opportunities for YPs, their needs have to be assessed to customize initiatives in a way that could potentially improve their engagement. This survey aimed to assess the needs of YPs in transfusion medicine and understand their perspectives on future ISBT initiatives.

Co-creation of a qualitative fertility research study to understand waiting time experiences through patient engagement.

Background: Infertility affects an estimated 8 to 12% of the global population and approximately one in six heterosexual couples in Canada. To access fertility services in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, individuals with an infertility diagnosis wait for extended periods, and this waiting period has been associated with psychological distress. However, this experience of waiting has not been well studied, and several gaps in fertility research exist.

Preclinical evaluation and automated synthesis of [Zr]ZrDFOSquaramide-girentuximab for diagnostic imaging of carbonic anhydrase IX positive tumours.

Background: Carbonic Anhydrase IX (CAIX) is a zinc metalloenzyme that is over-expressed in many cancers making it a valid target for targeted diagnostic imaging with Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The monoclonal antibody girentuximab binds to CAIX and when radiolabelled with positron-emitting zirconium-89 can be used for diagnostic PET imaging of CAIX positive tumours.

Results: Reaction of desferrioxamine squaramide ethyl ester with girentuximab allowed isolation of a conjugate with desferrioxamine squaramide (DFOSq) covalently attached to girentuximab through stable vinylogous amide linkages to give DFOSq-girentuximab.

Lead Level ≥5 µg/dL and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Preterm Infants at Five Years of Age.

Introduction: Prior studies have not examined blood lead levels (BLL) in the preterm population relative to their developmental and behavioral outcomes.

Methods: Neonatal demographic and clinical characteristics and results on scales of intelligence, development, and behavior were compared between children born ≤32 weeks gestation (n=354) with detected lead levels in childhood of ≥5 µg/dL (n=37, 10%) and <5 µg/dL (n=317, 90%).

Results: The 10% rate of BLL ≥5 µg/dL for this cohort was higher than rates previously reported for the general population, and was associated with low SES.

An international core outcome set for primary progressive aphasia (COS-PPA): Consensus-based recommendations for communication interventions across research and clinical settings.

Introduction: Interventions to treat speech-language difficulties in primary progressive aphasia (PPA) often use word accuracy as a highly comparable outcome. However, there are more constructs of importance to people with PPA that have received less attention.

Methods: Following Core Outcome Set Standards for Development Recommendations (COSSTAD), this study comprised: Stage 1 - systematic review to identify measures; Stage 2 - consensus groups to identify important outcome constructs for people with PPA (n = 82) and care partners (n = 91); Stage 3 - e-Delphi consensus with 57 researchers.

HuBar: A Visual Analytics Tool to Explore Human Behavior based on fNIRS in AR Guidance Systems.

The concept of an intelligent augmented reality (AR) assistant has significant, wide-ranging applications, with potential uses in medicine, military, and mechanics domains. Such an assistant must be able to perceive the environment and actions, reason about the environment state in relation to a given task, and seamlessly interact with the task performer. These interactions typically involve an AR headset equipped with sensors which capture video, audio, and haptic feedback.

Global perspectives on the management of primary progressive aphasia.

Speech-language therapists/pathologists (SLT/Ps) are key professionals in the management and treatment of primary progressive aphasia (PPA), however, there are gaps in education and training within the discipline, with implications for skills, confidence, and clinical decision-making. This survey aimed to explore the areas of need amongst SLT/Ps working with people living with PPA (PwPPA) internationally to upskill the current and future workforce working with progressive communication disorders. One hundred eighty-six SLT/Ps from 27 countries who work with PwPPA participated in an anonymous online survey about their educational and clinical experiences, clinical decision-making, and self-reported areas of need when working with this population.

Advances and ongoing challenges in eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders presented at the CEGIR/TIGERs Symposium at the 2024 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology meeting.

The Consortium of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal disease Researchers (CEGIR) and The International Gastrointestinal Eosinophil Researchers (TIGERs) organized a daylong symposium at the 2024 annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. The symposium featured new discoveries in basic and translational research as well as debates on the mechanisms and management of eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases. Updates on recent clinical trials and consensus guidelines were also presented.

Social determinants of health and language outcomes in preterm infants with public and private insurance.

Objective: To evaluate associations of maternal social determinants of health (SDOH) with language outcomes of preterm infants with public and private insurance.

Study Design: Single center study of 375 neonates born ≤ 28 weeks. Perinatal characteristics were collected, and the Bayley III was administered at 18-24 months.

A Bioinformatically Initiated Approach to Evaluate GATA1 Regulatory Regions in Samples with Weak D, Del, or D- Phenotypes Despite Normal Exons.

Introduction: With over 360 blood group antigens in systems recognized, there are antigens, such as RhD, which demonstrate a quantitative reduction in antigen expression due to nucleotide variants in the non-coding region of the gene that result in aberrant splicing or a regulatory mechanism. This study aimed to evaluate bioinformatically predicted GATA1-binding regulatory motifs in the gene for samples presenting with weak or apparently negative RhD antigen expression but showing normal exons.

Methods: Publicly available open chromatin region data were overlayed with GATA1 motif candidates in .

Preeclampsia, Fetal Growth Restriction, and 24-Month Neurodevelopment in Very Preterm Infants.

Importance: Preeclampsia has direct influences on a developing fetus and may impact postnatal health, and fetal growth restriction (FGR) is often seen co-occurring with preeclampsia. The development of children born very preterm after preeclampsia diagnosis with and without FGR is not well characterized.

Objective: To examine the associations of preeclampsia and FGR with developmental and/or behavioral outcomes in a cohort of very preterm infants.

Mammalian Meat Allergy and IgE to Alpha-Gal in Central Virginia: Findings From a COVID-19 Vaccine and Patient Cohort.

Background: IgE to galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal) is linked to tick bites and an important cause of anaphylaxis and urticarial reactions to mammalian meat. The alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is recognized as being common in the southeastern United States. However, prevalence studies are lacking and open questions remain about risk factors and clinical presentation of alpha-gal sensitization.

Non-pharmacological interventions for improving language and communication in people with primary progressive aphasia.

Background: Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) accounts for approximately 43% of frontotemporal dementias and is mainly characterised by a progressive impairment of speech and communication abilities. Three clinical variants have been identified: (a) non-fluent/agrammatic, (b) semantic, and (c) logopenic/phonological PPA variants. There is currently no curative treatment for PPA, and the disease progresses inexorably over time, with devastating effects on speech and communication ability, functional status, and quality of life.

PRO-FIT-CARE study: the feasibility assessment of a pilot online exercise intervention for persons living with obesity and female infertility.

Introduction: Moderate-to-high physical activity participation is associated with a reduced risk of infertility. Yet, exercise interventions that target cardiorespiratory fitness, independent of weight loss, are lacking in obesity and female fertility research.

Purpose: The primary objective of the PRO-FIT-CARE (PROmoting FITness for CArdiometabolic & REproductive Health) study was to assess the feasibility of a moderate-to-high-intensity online exercise program for persons with obesity and female infertility.

Neonatal neurobehavior associated with developmental changes from age 2 to 3 in very preterm infants.

Objective: Understand how high-risk infants' development changes over time. Examine whether NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) profiles are associated with decrements in developmental outcomes between ages 2 and 3 years in infants born very preterm.

Study Design: The Neonatal Outcomes for Very preterm Infants (NOVI) cohort is a multisite prospective study of 704 preterm infants born <30 weeks' gestation across nine university and VON affiliated NICUs.

Automated synthesis of [Zr]ZrCl, [Zr]ZrDFOSquaramide-bisPh(PSMA) and [Zr]ZrDFOSquaramide-TATE.

Background: Automated [Zr]Zr-radiolabeling processes have the potential to streamline the production of [Zr]Zr-labelled PET imaging agents. Most radiolabeling protocols use [Zr][Zr(ox)] as the starting material and oxalate is removed after radiolabeling. In some instances, radiolabeling with [Zr]ZrCl as starting material gives better radiochemical yields at lower reaction temperatures.

Gastroenterology trainee experience, confidence and satisfaction in nutrition training: a cross-sectional survey in the UK.

Introduction: Nutrition is an essential part of gastroenterology specialist training. There is limited evidence of trainee experience in this area. The shorter training programme introduced in 2022 may lead to reduced exposure to this subspecialty.

Epigenetic dissection of human blood group genes reveals regulatory elements and detailed characteristics of KEL and four other loci.

Background: Blood typing is essential for safe transfusions and is performed serologically or genetically. Genotyping predominantly focuses on coding regions, but non-coding variants may affect gene regulation, as demonstrated in the ABO, FY and XG systems. To uncover regulatory loci, we expanded a recently developed bioinformatics pipeline for discovery of non-coding variants by including additional epigenetic datasets.

The current landscape of exercise and female fertility research: a narrative review.

In Brief: Females with obesity may experience infertility and can improve their fertility through exercise. This review found that most exercise interventions improve fertility outcomes regardless of technique, intensity, or duration. More detailed reporting through the lens of exercise prescription should be included in future studies.