Common practices for sociodemographic data reporting in digital mental health intervention research: a scoping review.

Background: The ability of digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) to reduce mental health disparities relies on the recruitment of research participants with diverse sociodemographic and self-identity characteristics. Despite its importance, sociodemographic reporting in research is often limited, and the state of reporting practices in DMHI research in particular has not been comprehensively reviewed.

Objectives: To characterise the state of sociodemographic data reported in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of app-based DMHIs published globally from 2007 to 2022.

Synthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of 22-[F]Fluorodocosahexaenoic Acid as a Positron Emission Tomography Probe for Monitoring Brain Docosahexaenoic Acid Uptake Kinetics.

Docosahexaenoic acid [22:6(-3), DHA], a polyunsaturated fatty acid, has an important role in regulating neuronal functions and in normal brain development. Dysregulated brain DHA uptake and metabolism are found in individuals carrying the APOE4 allele, which increases the genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), and are implicated in the progression of several neurodegenerative disorders. However, there are limited tools to assess brain DHA kinetics that can be translated to humans.

Changes in stress, burnout, and resilience associated with an 8-week intervention with relational agent "Woebot".

Background: Research investigating the potential for digital mental health interventions with integrated relational agents to improve mental health outcomes is in its infancy. By delivering evidence-based mental health interventions through tailored, empathic conversations, relational agents have the potential to help individuals manage their stress and mood, and increase positive mental health.

Aims: The aims of this study were twofold: 1) to assess whether a smartphone app delivering mental health support through a relational agent, , is associated with changes in stress, burnout, and resilience over 8 weeks, and 2) to identify demographic and clinical factors associated with changes in these outcomes.

Liquid Biopsy-Based Volatile Organic Compounds from Blood and Urine and Their Combined Data Sets for Highly Accurate Detection of Cancer.

Liquid biopsy is seen as a prospective tool for cancer screening and tracking. However, the difficulty lies in effectively sieving, isolating, and overseeing cancer biomarkers from the backdrop of multiple disrupting cells and substances. The current study reports on the ability to perform liquid biopsy without the need to physically filter and/or isolate the cancer cells per se.

Patient Satisfaction and Acoustic Changes in Trans Women after Gender Affirming Voice Training.

Objectives: Gains in pitch from gender affirming voice training (GVT) alone in trans women have historically been shown to decline after 1 year. Currently no standard exists for length and type of GVT that yields meaningful behavioral change and patient satisfaction with voice outcomes in trans women. This study aims to determine whether GVT alone leads to sustained pitch elevation and patient satisfaction in trans women.

Gate-Controlled Chiral Recognition and Spin Assessment with All-Electric Hybrid Quantum Wire-Based Transistors.

The search for inexpensive and all-electric tunable methods for portable and fast recognition and discrimination between various chiral enantiomers, mainly those found in the gas phase, has been one of the most challenging tasks in the field of analytical chemistry. The current article reports on a chiral sensitive electric architecture (CSEA) of a helical polyaniline (PANI)@carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrid quantum-wire based field effect transistor (FET) platform. The CSEA architecture exhibits gate-controlled-channel-chirality modulation for the selective distinction of Limonene (S(+)/R(-)) at ≈12 V intervals.

Radiosynthesis of 20-[F]fluoroarachidonic acid for PET-MR imaging: Biological evaluation in ApoE4-TR mice.

Dysreglulated brain arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism is involved in chronic inflammation and is influenced by apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) genotype, the strongest genetic risk factor of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Visualization of AA uptake and distribution in the brain can offer insight into neuroinflammation and AD pathogenesis. Here we present a novel synthesis and radiosynthesis of 20-[F]fluoroarachidonic acid ([F]-FAA) for PET imaging using a convergent route and a one-pot, single-purification radiolabeling procedure, and demonstrate its brain uptake in human ApoE4 targeted replacement (ApoE4-TR) mice.

Positive Predictive Value of Endoscopic Findings to Diagnose Vocal Fold Paresis.

Objective: Laryngoscopy corresponding with laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) is essential in diagnosing vocal fold paresis. However, baseline asymmetry or other diseases oftentimes confound the exam, making diagnosis difficult. There is currently no agreed upon endoscopic criteria proven to reliably correlate with LEMG findings.

Discovering Engagement Personas in a Digital Diabetes Prevention Program.

Digital health technologies are shaping the future of preventive health care. We present a quantitative approach for discovering and characterizing engagement personas: longitudinal engagement patterns in a fully digital diabetes prevention program. We used a two-step approach to discovering engagement personas among = 1613 users: (1) A univariate clustering method using two unsupervised k-means clustering algorithms on app- and program-feature use separately and (2) A bivariate clustering method that involved comparing cluster labels for each member across app- and program-feature univariate clusters.

Calcium-dependent cytosolic phospholipase A activation is implicated in neuroinflammation and oxidative stress associated with ApoE4.

Background: Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) is associated with a greater response to neuroinflammation and the risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the mechanisms for this association are not clear. The activation of calcium-dependent cytosolic phospholipase A (cPLA2) is involved in inflammatory signaling and is elevated within the plaques of AD brains. The relation between APOE4 genotype and cPLA2 activity is not known.

1-Year Results of Combined Modified Wendler Glottoplasty with Voice Therapy in Transgender Women.

Background: To date, 1-year evaluation of pitch elevation in patients undergoing modified Wendler glottoplasty (WG) in combination with VT has not been assessed.

Objectives: To determine whether 1-year pitch elevation is sustained in patients who undergo modified WG in combination with VT for voice feminization.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients who underwent WG in combination with voice therapy (VT) was performed from 2016 to 2020.

Long-term upper aerodigestive sequelae as a result of infection with COVID-19.

Objectives: Respiratory, voice, and swallowing difficulties after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may result secondary to upper airway disease from prolonged intubation or mechanisms related to the virus itself. We examined a cohort who presented with new laryngeal complaints following documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. We characterized their voice, airway, and/or swallowing symptoms and reviewed the clinical course of their complaints to understand how the natural history of these symptoms relates to COVID-19 infections.

Long-Term Voice Outcomes After Type I, Type II, or Type V Cordectomy.

Introduction: We compare long-term voice outcomes in patients treated with European Laryngeal Society (ELS) classification Type I, Type II, or Type V cordectomy. The aim is to understand the impact of Type V cordectomy on voice outcomes in relation to Type I and Type II cordectomy.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients treated with Type I, Type II, or Type V cordectomy by a single surgeon over a 20-year period was performed.

How can we make better decisions about dystonic voice management?

Purpose Of Review: The optimal diagnosis and management of dystonic voice disorders are rooted in the nuanced understanding of their phenomenology. Distinguishing between subtypes of vocal dystonia is challenging, not only because the audible and physical presentations of these dystonia's can seem similar, but also because there is a lack of scientific consensus regarding the diagnostic criteria for these conditions. To help improve the clinician's acumen we focus on outlining the classification of the top three neurological voice disorders, notably: spasmodic dysphonia, (2) spasmodic dysphonia with tremor, and essential tremor of the voice.

Acute Vocal Fold Paresis and Paralysis After COVID-19 Infection: A Case Series.

Objective: Evidence demonstrates neurotropism is a common feature of coronaviruses. In our laryngology clinics we have noted an increase in cases of "idiopathic" vocal fold paralysis and paresis in patients with no history of intubation who are recovering from the novel SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus (COVID-19). This finding is concerning for a post-viral vagal neuropathy (PVVN) as a result of infection with COVID-19.

Voice assessment of fat injection vs medialization laryngoplasty in nonparalytic dysphonia.

Objective: Compare long-term voice outcomes in patients treated with FIM or BML for nonparalytic dysphonia. There is controversy whether fat injection medialization (FIM) is a durable alternative to bilateral medialization laryngoplasty (BML) for nonparalytic dysphonia (atrophy, sulcus, scar, paresis). Both interventions yield improved voice quality, yet comparison of patients' long-term perceptions of their voice after these procedures has not been performed.

Calcium-dependent cytosolic phospholipase A activation is implicated in neuroinflammation and oxidative stress associated with ApoE4.

Background: Apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) is associated with a greater response to neuroinflammation and the risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD), but the mechanisms for this association are not clear. The activation of calcium-dependent cytosolic phospholipase A (cPLA2) is involved in inflammatory signaling and is elevated within the plaques of AD brains. The relation between APOE4 genotype and cPLA2 activity is not known.

Association of White Matter Hyperintensities With HIV Status and Vascular Risk Factors.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that brain white matter hyperintensities (WMH) are more common in people living with HIV (PLWH), even in the setting of well-controlled infection, and to identify clinical measures that correlate with these abnormalities.

Methods: Research brain MRI scans, acquired within longitudinal studies evaluating neurocognitive outcomes, were reviewed to determine WMH load using the Fazekas visual rating scale in PLWH with well-controlled infection (antiretroviral therapy for at least 1 year and plasma viral load <200 copies/mL) and in sociodemographically matched controls without HIV (CWOH). The primary outcome measure of this cross-sectional analysis was increased WMH load, determined by total Fazekas score ≥2.

Aspirin and celecoxib may help to rectify a neurotransmission imbalance in bipolar disorder.

Background: Mood stabilizers with disparate chemical structures are approved for treating bipolar disorder, but their mechanisms of action are not agreed on. However, when administered to unanesthetized rats at clinically relevant doses, they modulate neurotransmission involving arachidonic acid and brain activity of COX-2, which oxidizes arachidonic acid within the arachidonic acid metabolic cascade.

Hypothesis: Inhibiting COX-2 directly might enhance mood stabilizer effects in bipolar disorder patients.

THERAPEUTIC TARGETING OF BRAIN ARACHIDONIC ACID CASCADE IN BIPOLAR DISORDER BY LOW DOSE ASPIRIN AND CELECOXIB.

Background: Studies in unanesthetized rats suggest that mood stabilizers approved for treating bipolar disorder downregulate brain arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism. AA plays a role in neurotransmission and neuroinflammation, among other processes. Other drugs that reduce brain AA metabolism may add to mood stabilizer action.

Very early family-based intervention for anxiety: two case studies with toddlers.

Anxiety disorders represent the most common category of psychiatric disorder in children and adolescents and contribute to distress, impairment and dysfunction. Anxiety disorders or their temperamental precursors are often evident in early childhood, and anxiety can impair functioning, even during preschool age and in toddlerhood. A growing number of investigators have shown that anxiety in preschoolers can be treated efficaciously using cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) administered either by training the parents to apply CBT strategies with their children or through direct intervention with parents and children.

Determining the utility of standard hospital microbiology testing: Comparing standard microbiology cultures with DNA sequence analysis in patients with chronic sinusitis.

Objective: To demonstrate DNA sequencing analysis (DNAsa) of sinus cultures in patients with CRS is a reliable method of detecting pathogens in polymicrobial CRS infections.

Methods: After obtaining Institutional Review Board approval for this prospective cohort study, we selected a random sample of 50 patients with CRS at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital between September 2016 and March 2017. We defined CRS as a history of rhinosinusitis refractory to maximal medical therapy and prior endoscopic sinus surgery.

MRI Reveals Changes to Intracerebral Vasculature Caliber in HIV Infection.

To characterize cerebral arterial remodeling in HIV-infected (HIV+) individuals , and to study its clinical and immunological associations. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imagining sequences was used to determine cross-sectional area (vascular caliber) of the anterior (A1 segment) and middle (M1 segment) cerebral arteries in HIV- (control) and HIV+ subjects on antiretroviral therapy. Correlations of A1 caliber with clinical, demographic parameters, and immunological markers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were determined using multivariable analyses.