Starting a surgical prehabilitation program: results from a pragmatic nonrandomized feasibility study.

Purpose: We sought to assess the feasibility and estimate the effects on outcomes of a multimodal prehabilitation service implemented as an ancillary surgical service.

Methods: We conducted a pragmatic, nonrandomized feasibility study of surgical prehabilitation. Patients were eligible if they were ≥ 18 yr of age, fluent in English, and referred by a health professional for prehabilitation.

The Impact of Using Intraoperative Computed Tomography on the Number of Surgical Approaches Used for Zygomaticomaxillary Complex Repair.

Zygomaticomaxillary complex (ZMC) fractures are repaired using a variety of surgical approaches. Utilization of intraoperative computed tomography (CT) may reduce the number of surgical approaches. To compare the use of intraoperative CT for the operative repair of ZMC fractures, as measured by the number of surgical approaches.

Adult Physical Function Has Roots in Early Childhood Brain Function: A Five-Decade Cohort Study.

Objectives: Tests of physical function are often thought to measure functioning that is (1) musculoskeletal, and (2) newly declining in adult life. In contrast, this study aimed to: (1) add to evidence that physical-function tests also measure brain function, and (2) test the novel hypothesis that adult physical function is associated with brain function beginning in early childhood. We investigated early childhood brain function and midlife physical function in the Dunedin Study, a 5-decade longitudinal birth cohort (n = 1,037).

Guide for Combining Primary Tumors for Statistical Analysis in Rodent Carcinogenicity Studies.

The Tumor Combination Guide was created at the request of the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by a Working Group of biopharmaceutical experts from international societies of toxicologic pathology, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and members of the Standard for Exchange of Nonclinical Data (SEND) initiative, to assist pharmacology/toxicology reviewers and biostatisticians in statistical analysis of nonclinical tumor data.

Transcriptome Analysis Identifies Tumor Immune Microenvironment Signaling Networks Supporting Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common cause of cancer death in American men. Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is the most lethal form of PCa and preferentially metastasizes to the bones through incompletely understood molecular mechanisms. Herein, we processed RNA sequencing data from patients with mCRPC ( = 60) and identified 14 gene clusters (modules) highly correlated with mCRPC bone metastasis.

Out of the blue: inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour identified during repair of tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour of the heart is an exceedingly rare benign neoplasm. While benign, without prompt management its impact can be devastating. Tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve is a rare form of CHD.

A Genetic Etiology Identified for a Form of Familial Polyvalvular Dysplasia.

This case presents a family with multiple individuals diagnosed with congenital heart disease (CHD) secondary to a novel TAK1-binding protein 2 pathogenic variant. This case advocates the use of cardiovascular genetic testing in individuals with CHD as part of a comprehensive approach to managing infants with CHD. ().

Community health improvement plan: Study protocol for Kansas City's intervention and implementation evaluation.

Objectives: Community health improvement plans (CHIPs) are foundational public health practice, yet no studies have been conducted to understand implementation of these plans. This evaluation study of the Kansas City CHIP aims to 1) identify implementation strategies used in the CHIP, 2) assess changes in implementation, service, and client outcomes, 3) assess contextual factors associated with implementation, and 4) understand social networks of coalitions who implement the Kansas City CHIP.

Study Design: This study protocol uses a unique, mixed methods approach to evaluating process and outcomes of the Kansas City CHIP.

Scientific, ethical, and legal considerations for the inclusion of pregnant people in clinical trials.

Clinical trials to address the COVID-19 public health emergency have broadly excluded pregnant people from participation, illustrating a long-standing trend of clinical trial exclusion that has led to a clear knowledge gap and unmet need in the treatment and prevention of medical conditions experienced during pregnancy and of pregnancy-related conditions. Drugs (includes products such as drugs, biologics, biosimilars and vaccines) approved for a certain medical condition in adults are also approved for use in pregnant adults with the same medical condition, unless contraindicated for use in pregnancy. However, there are limited pregnancy-specific data on risks and benefits of drugs in pregnant people, despite their approval for all adults.

Scientific and Regulatory Policy Committee Points to Consider: Primary Digital Histopathology Evaluation and Peer Review for Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) Nonclinical Toxicology Studies.

The Society of Toxicologic Pathology's Scientific and Regulatory Policy Committee formed a working group to consider the present and future use of digital pathology in toxicologic pathology in general and specifically its use in primary evaluation and peer review in Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) environments. Digital histopathology systems can save costs by reducing travel, enhancing organizational flexibility, decreasing slide handling, improving collaboration, increasing access to historical images, and improving quality and efficiency through integration with laboratory information management systems. However, the resources to implement and operate a digital pathology system can be significant.

Scientific and Regulatory Policy Committee Brief Communication: 2019 Survey on Use of Digital Histopathology Systems in Nonclinical Toxicology Studies.

Histopathologic evaluation and peer review using digital whole-slide images (WSIs) is a relatively new medium for assessing nonclinical toxicology studies in Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) environments. To better understand the present and future use of digital pathology in nonclinical toxicology studies, the Society of Toxicologic Pathology (STP) formed a working group to survey STP members with the goal of creating recommendations for implementation. The survey was administered in December 2019, immediately before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the results suggested that the use of digital histopathology for routine GLP histopathology assessment was not widespread.

Identification of Gene Co-Expression Networks Associated with Consensus Molecular Subtype-1 of Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is driven in part by dysregulated Wnt, Ras-Raf-MAPK, TGF-β, and PI3K-Akt signaling. The progression of CRC is also promoted by molecular alterations and heterogeneous-yet interconnected-gene mutations, chromosomal instability, transcriptomic subtypes, and immune signatures. Genomic alterations of CRC progression lead to changes in RNA expression, which support CRC metastasis.

Exploring the Role of Community Health Workers in Improving the Collection of Family Health History: A Pilot Study.

Community health workers (CHWs) have been successful partners in addressing public health and health care challenges but have yet to be engaged in efforts to promote family health history (FHH) collection. FHH information is a key factor in determining disease risk and supporting screening and prevention across multiple diseases. The collection of FHH information could be facilitated by the existing cadre of CHWs already working alongside clients and families.

The Application, Challenges, and Advancement Toward Regulatory Acceptance of Digital Toxicologic Pathology: Results of the 7th ESTP International Expert Workshop (September 20-21, 2019).

With advancements in whole slide imaging technology and improved understanding of the features of pathologist workstations required for digital slide evaluation, many institutions are investigating broad digital pathology adoption. The benefits of digital pathology evaluation include remote access to study or diagnostic case materials and integration of analysis and reporting tools. Diagnosis based on whole slide images is established in human medical pathology, and the use of digital pathology in toxicologic pathology is increasing.

Scientific Regulatory Policy Committee Points to Consider*: Nuisance Factors, Block Effects, and Batch Effects in Nonclinical Safety Assessment Studies.

Detection of test article-related effects and the determination of the adversity of those changes are the primary goals of nonclinical safety assessment studies for drugs and chemicals in development. During these studies, variables that are not of primary interest to investigators may change and influence data interpretation. These variables, often referred to as "nuisance factors," may influence other groups of data and result in "block or batch effects" that complicate data interpretation.

Predictors of genetic beliefs toward cancer risk perceptions among adults in the United States: Implications for prevention or early detection.

The objective of this study is to assess predictors of genetic beliefs toward cancer risk perceptions among adults, aged 18 years and over, in the United States (US). Data were obtained from the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Health Information National Trends Survey 2014 (HINTS) 4 Cycle 4. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess factors associated with an individual's beliefs about genetic and cancer risk perceptions.

Effects of participating in the annual Animal Welfare Assessment Contest on veterinary students' self-perceived knowledge of and attitudes toward animal welfare science and their career choices.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of participating in the annual Animal Welfare Assessment Contest (AWJAC) on veterinary students' self-perceived knowledge of and attitudes toward animal welfare science and on participants' career choices.

Sample: 46 veterinary students who participated in the AWJAC from 2014 through 2017.

Procedures: The study consisted of 2 parts.

Conceptual Framework for Assessing Ecosystem Health.

Over the past century, the environment of the Gulf of Mexico has been significantly altered and impaired by extensive human activities. A national commitment to restore the Gulf was finally initiated in response to the unprecedented Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. Consequently, there is a critical need for an assessment framework and associated set of indicators that can characterize the health and sustainability of an ecosystem having the scale and complexity of the Gulf.

Advanced spectroscopy-based phenotyping offers a potential solution to the ash dieback epidemic.

Natural and urban forests worldwide are increasingly threatened by global change resulting from human-mediated factors, including invasions by lethal exotic pathogens. Ash dieback (ADB), incited by the alien invasive fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, has caused large-scale population decline of European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) across Europe, and is threatening to functionally extirpate this tree species. Genetically controlled host resistance is a key element to ensure European ash survival and to restore this keystone species where it has been decimated.

PAR2 (Protease-Activated Receptor 2) Deficiency Attenuates Atherosclerosis in Mice.

Objective: PAR2 (protease-activated receptor 2)-dependent signaling results in augmented inflammation and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of PAR2 deficiency on the development of atherosclerosis.

Approach And Results: PAR2 mRNA and protein expression is increased in human carotid artery and mouse aortic arch atheroma versus control carotid and aortic arch arteries, respectively.

Fungal communities associated with species of Fraxinus tolerant to ash dieback, and their potential for biological control.

Ash dieback, caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, has threatened ash trees in Europe for more than two decades. However, little is known of how endophytic communities affect the pathogen, and no effective disease management tools are available. While European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is severely affected by the disease, other more distantly related ash species do not seem to be affected.

Ash leaf metabolomes reveal differences between trees tolerant and susceptible to ash dieback disease.

European common ash, Fraxinus excelsior, is currently threatened by Ash dieback (ADB) caused by the fungus, Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. To detect and identify metabolites that may be products of pathways important in contributing to resistance against H. fraxineus, we performed untargeted metabolomic profiling on leaves from five high-susceptibility and five low-susceptibility F.