Commutability assessment of new standard reference materials (SRMs) for determining serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D using ligand binding and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assays.

Commutability is where the measurement response for a reference material (RM) is the same as for an individual patient sample with the same concentration of analyte measured using two or more measurement systems. Assessment of commutability is essential when the RM is used in a calibration hierarchy or to ensure that clinical measurements are comparable across different measurement procedures and at different times. The commutability of three new Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) for determining serum total 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], defined as the sum of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], was assessed through an interlaboratory study.

Identifying 'Where' and 'How' Peer Support for Youth is Integrated into Community-Based Mental Health Services: A Survey Study.

To mitigate barriers to care among youth (12-25 years), community-based organizations have increasingly integrated peer support as a complement to clinical mental health care; however, information regarding the integration process is lacking. To explore organizational perspectives regarding the contexts and mechanisms underlying integration of peer support for youth accessing mental health services from community-based, youth-serving organizations. Representatives from community-based youth-serving organizations completed a survey describing the contexts in which they are located and their experiences integrating peer support.

Deriving Mendelian Randomization-based Causal Networks of Brain Imaging Phenotypes and Bipolar Disorder.

Neuroanatomical variation in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) has been previously described in observational studies. However, the causal dynamics of these relationships remain unexplored. We performed Mendelian Randomization of 297 structural and functional neuroimaging phenotypes from the UK BioBank and BD using genome-wide association study summary statistics.

Improving Clinical Management of Diabetic Macular Edema: Insights from a Global Survey of Patients, Healthcare Providers, and Clinic Staff.

Introduction: In contrast with patients receiving therapy for retinal disease during clinical trials, those treated in routine clinical practice experience various challenges (including administrative, clinic, social, and patient-related factors) that can often result in high patient and clinic burden, and contribute to suboptimal visual outcomes. The objective of this study was to understand the challenges associated with clinical management of diabetic macular edema from the perspectives of patients, healthcare providers, and clinic staff, and identify opportunities to improve eye care for people with diabetes.

Methods: We conducted a survey of patients with diabetic macular edema, providers, and clinic staff in 78 clinics across 24 countries on six continents, representing a diverse range of individuals, healthcare systems, settings, and reimbursement models.

Charting the shared genetic architecture of Alzheimer's disease, cognition, and educational attainment, and associations with brain development.

The observation that the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is reduced in individuals with high premorbid cognitive functioning, higher educational attainment, and occupational status has led to the 'cognitive reserve' hypothesis. This hypothesis suggests that individuals with greater cognitive reserve can tolerate a more significant burden of neuropathological changes before the onset of cognitive decline. The underpinnings of cognitive reserve remain poorly understood, although a shared genetic basis between measures of cognitive reserve and Alzheimer's disease has been suggested.

Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis identifies acute changes in the tumor microenvironment induced by interferon α gene therapy in a murine bladder cancer model.

Introduction: Nadofaragene firadenovec (Ad-IFNα/Syn3) is now approved for BCG-unresponsive bladder cancer (BLCA). IFNα is a pleiotropic cytokine that causes direct tumor cell killing via TRAIL-mediated apoptosis, angiogenesis inhibition, and activation of the innate and adaptive immune system. We established an immunocompetent murine BLCA model to study the effects of murine adenoviral IFNα (muAd-Ifnα) gene therapy on cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment using a novel murine equivalent of Nadofaragene firadenovec (muAd-Ifnα).

Nutrition support for patients with renal dysfunction in the intensive care unit: A narrative review.

Providing optimal nutrition support in the intensive care unit (ICU) is a challenging and dynamic process. Energy, protein, fluid, electrolyte, and micronutrient requirements all can be altered in patients with acute, chronic, and acute-on-chronic kidney disease. Given that renal dysfunction occurs in up to one-half of ICU patients, it is imperative that nutrition support providers understand how renal dysfunction, its metabolic consequences, and its treatments, including renal replacement therapy (RRT), affect patients' nutrition needs.

Leveraging the Genetics of Psychiatric Disorders to Prioritize Potential Drug Targets and Compounds.

Background: Genetics has the potential to inform biologically relevant drug treatment and repurposing which may ultimately improve patient care. In this study, we combine methods which leverage the genetics of psychiatric disorders to prioritize potential drug targets and compounds.

Methods: We used the largest available genome-wide association studies, in European ancestry, of four psychiatric disorders [i.

Comparing Wise Pattern to Non-Wise Pattern Skin Sparing Mastectomy: A Critical Evaluation of Patient Demographics and Surgical Outcomes.

Background: Multiple skin-sparing incisions are utilized in immediate post-mastectomy breast reconstruction; however, the Wise pattern incision (WPI) may have superior cosmetic outcomes for large ptotic breasts compared to non-Wise pattern incisions (NWPI). We evaluated patient demographics and surgical outcomes with WPI versus NWPI.

Methods: An electronic medical record search was performed for patients at a single academic institution from 2019 to 2022 with ICD-10-CM diagnosis code "Z42.

Youth mental health care use during the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta, Canada: an interrupted time series, population-based study.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, youth had rising mental health needs and changes in service accessibility. Our study investigated changes in use of mental health care services for Canadian youth in Alberta before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also investigated how youth utilization patterns differed for subgroups based on social factors (i.

Leveraging real-world data to predict cancer cachexia stage, quality of life, and survival in a racially and ethnically diverse multi-institutional cohort of treatment-naïve patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: Cancer-associated cachexia (CC) is a progressive syndrome characterized by unintentional weight loss, muscle atrophy, fatigue, and poor outcomes that affects most patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The ability to identify and classify CC stage along its continuum early in the disease process is challenging but critical for management.

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of CC stage overall and by sex and race and ethnicity among treatment-naïve PDAC cases using clinical, nutritional, and functional criteria.

An analysis of referral patterns of traumatic brain injury at Groote Schuur Hospital Trauma Centre.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in significant morbidity and mortality if not diagnosed in a timely manner. Brain computed tomography (CT) is the diagnostic gold standard but is of limited availability in most South African public hospitals, resulting in transfer of TBI patients to tertiary hospitals.

Objective: To describe the referral patterns and outcomes of patients with TBI referred to Groote Schuur Hospital Trauma Centre.