Improving Completion Rates of Transcranial Doppler Ultrasounds in Children With Sickle Cell Disease Using Quality Improvement Efforts: In-Clinic versus Population-Based Assessments.

Transcranial Doppler (TCD) screening is essential for stroke prevention in children with sickle cell disease (SCD), but screening rates are low nationally. We use Medicaid administrative claims to assess TCD completion rates before and after a 12-month QI initiative to improve rates in the Pacific Sickle Cell Regional Collaborative (PSCRC). We found an increase in TCD screening rates for QI participant sites (52.

An In Vitro Comparison of Marginal Fit of Single-Unit Copings Fabricated Using Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing Zirconia, Direct Metal Laser Sintering and Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal.

Introduction: The marginal fit of dental restorations is essential for longevity and effectiveness of fixed prostheses, particularly single-unit crowns. Direct digital scanning offers significant advantages over indirect methods, providing a non-invasive, accurate, and reproducible means to evaluate marginal fit. This study aimed to assess the marginal fit of single-unit copings fabricated using computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) zirconia, direct metal laser sintering (DMLS), and porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) utilizing direct three-dimensional (3D) scanning.

Physician perspectives about the diagnosis and management of acute chest syndrome.

Background: Acute chest syndrome (ACS) is the leading cause of mortality, accounting for 25% of all deaths among individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD). There is a lack of evidence-based laboratory and clinical risk stratification guidelines for the diagnosis and management of ACS.

Study Design And Methods: To better understand physician practices for the management of ACS in the United States, we created an ACS Working Group including hematology and transfusion medicine physicians from four different SCD treatment centers in the United States.

Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as Liquid Biopsy for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Solid Tumors: Their Clinical Utility and Reliability as Tumor Biomarkers.

Early cancer detection and accurate monitoring are crucial to ensure increased patient survival. Recent research has focused on developing non-invasive biomarkers to diagnose cancer early and monitor disease progression at low cost and risk. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), nanosized particles secreted into extracellular spaces by most cell types, are gaining immense popularity as novel biomarker candidates for liquid cancer biopsy, as they can transport bioactive cargo to distant sites and facilitate intercellular communications.

A complementary metaproteomic approach to interrogate microbiome cultivated from clinical colon biopsies.

The human gut microbiome plays a vital role in preserving individual health and is intricately involved in essential functions. Imbalances or dysbiosis within the microbiome can significantly impact human health and are associated with many diseases. Several metaproteomics platforms are currently available to study microbial proteins within complex microbial communities.