Publications by authors named "Neff C"

(L.) Urban (family Apiaceae) () is a traditional botanical medicine used in aging and dementia. Water extracts of (CAW) have been used to treat neuropsychiatric symptoms in related animal models and are associated with increases in antioxidant response element (ARE) genes and improvements in mitochondrial respiratory function and neuronal health.

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Cyanobacteria are the oldest photoautotrophic lineage that release oxygen during photosynthesis, an ability that possibly evolved as far as 3.5 billion years ago and changed the Earth's environment-both in water and on land. Linked to the mechanism of carbon accumulation by cyanobacteria during photosynthesis are their calcifying properties, a process of biologically mediated mineralization of CO by precipitation with calcium to CaCO.

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  • The study explored how a high-fiber/low-fat agrarian diet (AD) affects inflammation and metabolic health in HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM).
  • Participants included 36 HIV-positive MSM, with results showing the AD reduced harmful cholesterol and improved immune function, especially in those with specific gut microbiome types.
  • The findings suggest that customizing dietary interventions based on individual microbiomes could enhance metabolic health for HIV-positive MSM.
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Background: A water extract of the Ayurvedic plant (CAW) improves cognitive function in mouse models of aging and Alzheimer's disease, and affects dendritic arborization, mitochondrial activity and oxidative stress in mouse primary neurons. Triterpenes (TT) and caffeoylquinic acids (CQA) are constituents associated with these bioactivities of CAW although little is known about how interactions between these compounds contribute to the plant's therapeutic benefit.

Methods: Mouse primary cortical neurons were treated with CAW, or equivalent concentrations of four TT combined, eight CQA combined, or these twelve compounds combined (TTCQA).

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  • The Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS) provides comprehensive data on brain tumors, revealing a higher average annual age-adjusted incidence rate (AAAIR) of 25.34 per 100,000 population from 2017 to 2021, with malignant tumors at 6.89 and non-malignant at 18.46.
  • Females and non-Hispanic Black individuals had the highest rates, while gliomas made up 22.9% of all tumors, with glioblastomas being the most common malignant type.
  • The report notes 87,053 deaths due to malignant brain tumors during the same period, indicating a significant mortality rate of 4.41 per
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  • * Data from 38,414 NMPTS cases diagnosed between 2004 and 2019 was analyzed, revealing significant differences in treatment frequency and type based on urbanicity, with rural patients receiving certain surgeries less often.
  • * The findings indicate that non-Hispanic Black patients in non-metropolitan areas have a significantly lower all-cause survival rate compared to their urban counterparts, underscoring disparities in health outcomes related to race-ethnicity and geographic location.
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Purpose Of Review: To review novel experimental approaches for studying host:microbe interactions and their role in intestinal and systemic inflammation in people living with HIV (PLWH).

Recent Findings: Inflammation in PLWH is impacted by interactions between the microbiome, the intestinal epithelium, and immune cells. This complex interplay is not fully understood and requires a variety of analytical techniques to study.

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Diet plays a pivotal role in health outcomes, influencing various metabolic pathways and accounting for over 20% of risk-attributable disability adjusted life years (DALYs). However, the limited time during primary care visits often hinders comprehensive guidance on dietary and lifestyle modifications. This paper explores the integration of electronic consultations (eConsults) in Culinary Medicine (CM) as a solution to bridge this gap.

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  • New therapies for melanoma have improved patient survival rates, leading to more cases of brain metastasis (BrM) developing, making it crucial to identify at-risk patients.
  • This study aimed to investigate if a history of atopy (allergic conditions) affects survival rates or the incidence of BrM in older patients with cutaneous melanoma.
  • The findings revealed that individuals with atopy had a 16% lower risk of death and a 15% decreased likelihood of developing BrM, particularly noting that those with atopic dermatitis experienced a 25% reduction in risk.
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  • Cancer survival rates are improving overall, but have not increased for adolescents and young adults (ages 15-39), especially for those with brain tumors.
  • The report details the unique histopathological differences of brain tumors in AYA compared to children and older adults, revealing an average incidence rate of 12.00 per 100,000 population from 2016 to 2020 and approximately 1,018 deaths annually due to primary malignant brain tumors.
  • The most common brain tumors were pituitary tumors, with an incidence that varied by race and sex, showing higher rates in females and distinct patterns among different racial/ethnic groups.
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To ascertain their potential for heavy metal pollution remedy, we studied the adsorption mechanism of cadmium onto scallop shells and the interactions between the heavy metal and the shell matrix. Intact shells were used to investigate the uptake and diffusion of the metal contaminant onto the shell carbonatic layers, as well as to evaluate the distribution of major and trace elements in the matrix. LA-ICPMS measurements demonstrate that Cd is adsorbed on a very thin layer on the inner and outer surfaces of the shell.

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  • Glioblastoma (GB) is the most common and aggressive brain tumor, primarily affecting older adults with a median age of 64, and treatment increases survival but also leads to adverse side effects.
  • A study using the SEER-Medicare dataset found that males were more likely to receive standard treatment for GB compared to females, who were more often untreated.
  • The research also revealed distinct sex differences in adverse events, with females experiencing more gastrointestinal and blood disorders, while males faced higher rates of cardiac and renal issues after treatment.*
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Background: The widespread availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically reduced mortality and improved life expectancy for people living with HIV (PLWH). However, even with HIV-1 suppression, chronic immune activation and elevated inflammation persist and have been linked to a pro-inflammatory gut microbiome composition and compromised intestinal barrier integrity. PLWH in urban versus rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa experience differences in environmental factors that may impact the gut microbiome and immune system, in response to ART, yet this has not previously been investigated in these groups.

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  • * The 2022 report found an average annual age-adjusted incidence rate of 24.25 per 100,000 people, with higher rates in females and non-Hispanics, featuring glioblastoma and meningioma as the most common malignant and non-malignant tumors, respectively.
  • * The summary highlights variations in mortality and median survival rates based on factors such as age and tumor type, serving as an essential reference for healthcare providers dealing with these conditions. *
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  • The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in the U.S. led to delays in cancer diagnoses, particularly affecting the incidence of brain and CNS tumors.
  • Utilizing data from the Central Brain Tumor Registry, the study analyzed tumor incidence rates for 2019 and 2020, finding significant decreases in early 2020, especially for nonmalignant tumors.
  • Black individuals experienced larger declines in tumor incidence compared to White individuals, while glioblastoma rates remained unchanged, indicating that pandemic-related healthcare disruptions affected diagnosis rates of certain tumor types.
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A 49-year-old patient with changes in the nails of the hallux for 10 years was diagnosed with onychomycosis. The identity of the causative agent was confirmed as Cladosporium halotolerans from the Cladosporium sphaerospermum species complex using molecular techniques. MALDI-TOF identified the agent as C.

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  • The study updates the incidence, prevalence, and survival statistics for 12 rare central nervous system (CNS) tumor types, focusing on their importance and potential for targeted treatments.
  • It utilizes the CBTRUS database to analyze age-adjusted incidence rates from 2008-2019 and survival rates, revealing that ependymomas have the highest incidence and five-year survival rates compared to other tumor types.
  • These findings help measure the effectiveness of clinical care and assess new therapies for rare CNS tumors in light of evolving medical standards.
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Cross-neutralizing aptamers targeting both HSV-1 and HSV-2 were developed by selecting against the ectodomains of glycoprotein D (gD) from both viruses in parallel as well as sequentially using the SELEX method. Since gD facilitates viral invasion, sterically blocking the host-receptor interaction prevents infection. Candidate aptamers were screened, and lead aptamers were identified that exhibited exceptional neutralizing activity against both viruses in vitro.

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Centella asiatica (Centella) is a traditional botanical medicine that shows promise in treating dementia based on behavioral alterations seen in animal models of aging and cognitive dysfunction. In order to determine if Centella could similarly improve cognitive function and reduce disease burden in multiple sclerosis (MS), we tested its effects in the neuroinflammatory experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS. In two independent experiments, C57BL/6J mice were treated following induction of EAE with either a standardized water extract of Centella (CAW) or placebo for 2 weeks.

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The Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute, is the largest population-based registry focused exclusively on primary brain and other central nervous system (CNS) tumors in the United States (US) and represents the entire US population. This report contains the most up-to-date population-based data on primary brain tumors available and supersedes all previous CBTRUS reports in terms of completeness and accuracy. All rates are age-adjusted using the 2000 US standard population and presented per 100,000 population.

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Background: Comprehensive analysis of brain tumor incidence and survival in the Veteran population has been lacking.

Methods: Veteran data were obtained from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Medical Centers via VHA Corporate Data Warehouse. Brain tumor statistics on the overall US population were generated from the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the US data.

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The widespread availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people living with HIV (PLWH) has dramatically reduced mortality and improved life expectancy. However, even with suppression of HIV-1 replication, chronic immune activation and elevated inflammation persist. Chronic immune activation has been linked to a pro-inflammatory gut microbiome composition, exacerbated by compromised intestinal barrier integrity that occurs after HIV infection.

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Background: Spinal cord ependymomas (SCEs) represent the most common intramedullary spinal cord tumors among adults. Research shows that access to neurosurgical care and patient outcomes can be greatly influenced by patient location. This study investigates the association between the outcomes of patients with SCE in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas.

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