Elevated cell-free hemoglobin: A novel early biomarker following traumatic injury.

Background: Cell-free hemoglobin (CFH) and free heme are potent mediators of endotheliopathy and organ injury in sepsis, but their roles in other hemolytic pathologies are not well-defined. A prime example is trauma where early hemolysis may initiate damage and predict outcome. Here, we investigated the presence of plasma CFH, heme, and their major scavengers after traumatic injury.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy in trauma patients with grade IV-V duodenal or pancreatic injuries: a post hoc analysis of an EAST multicenter trial.

Introduction: The utility of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for high-grade traumatic injuries remains unclear and data surrounding its use are limited. We hypothesized that PD does not result in improved outcomes when compared with non-PD surgical management of grade IV-V pancreaticoduodenal injuries.

Methods: This is a retrospective, multicenter analysis from 35 level 1 trauma centers from January 2010 to December 2020.

Potential Process Control Issues with Vasopressin.

The University of Kentucky's Drug Quality Task Force (DQTF) conducted a study to perform consumer-level quality assurance screening of vasopressin injections used in their healthcare pharmacies. The primary objective was to identify potential quality defects by examining intralot and interlot variability using Raman spectrometry and statistical analyses. Raman spectra were collected noninvasively and nondestructively from vasopressin vials (n=51) using a Thermo Scientific Smartraman DXR3 Analyzer.

Developmental Mismatch Across Brain Modalities in Young Children.

Brain development during the preschool period is complex and extensive and underlies ongoing behavioral and cognitive maturation. Increasing understanding of typical brain maturation during this time is critical to early identification of atypical development and could inform treatments and interventions. Previous studies have suggested mismatches between brain structural and functional development in later childhood and adolescence.

Advancing Systemic Toxicity Risk Assessment: Evaluation of a NAM-based Toolbox Approach.

For many years, a method that allowed systemic toxicity safety assessments to be conducted without generating new animal test data, seemed out of reach. However, several different research groups and regulatory authorities are beginning to use a variety of in silico, in chemico and in vitro techniques to inform safety decisions. To manage this transition to animal-free safety assessments responsibly, it is important to ensure that the level of protection offered by a safety assessment based on new approach methodologies (NAMs), is at least as high as that provided by a safety assessment based on traditional animal studies.

Targeting Radiation Resistance in Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma with Pyrazinib-Functionalised Gold Nanoparticles.

Unlabelled: Only 20-30% of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) patients achieve a complete response to neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy for locally advanced tumours. Enhancing the response to radiation therapy is critical for improving outcomes in this aggressive cancer. Pyrazinib (P3) is a promising compound with radiosensitizing, anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-metabolic properties.

Maternal concentrations of perfluoroalkyl sulfonates and alterations in white matter microstructure in the developing brains of young children.

Background: Maternal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been linked to child neurodevelopmental difficulties. Neuroimaging research has linked these neurodevelopmental difficulties to white matter microstructure alterations, but the effects of PFAS on children's white matter microstructure remains unclear. We investigated associations between maternal blood concentrations of six common perfluoroalkyl sulfonates and white matter alterations in young children using longitudinal neuroimaging data.

Manipulating Backbone Planarity of Ester Functionalized Conjugated Polymer Constitutional Isomer Derivatives Blended with Molecular Acceptors for Controlling Photovoltaic Properties.

Exploring both electron donor and acceptor phase components in bulk heterojunction structures has contributed to the advancement of organic photovoltaics (OPV) realizing power conversion efficiencies reaching 20%. Being able to control backbone planarity of the donor polymer, while understanding its effects on the polymer conformation and photophysical properties, fosters the groundwork for further achievements in this realm. In this report, three isomeric PM7 derivatives are designed and synthesized where the benzodithiophene-4,8-dione structure is replaced by a quaterthiophene bridge carrying two ester moieties.

Adult Height Following Prepubertal Treatment With Antiandrogen, Aromatase Inhibitor, and Reduced Hydrocortisone in CAH.

Context: Height outcome in patients with classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is suboptimal due to glucocorticoid and androgen excess.

Methods: In an open, randomized, controlled trial, children with classic CAH were randomized to receive a combination regimen of antiandrogen, aromatase inhibitor, reduced hydrocortisone, and fludrocortisone prior to puberty or standard therapy (hydrocortisone, fludrocortisone). Females continued on antiandrogen during puberty.

Cutaneous vasculitis in systemic lupus erythematosus: epidemiology and risk factors over a 20-year follow-up.

Objectives: Cutaneous vasculitis (CV) is common in SLE, but the epidemiology and risk factors remain unclear. We aimed to identify the trends and risk factors for CV in patients with SLE over a period of 20 years.

Methods: The Birmingham Lupus Cohort is an observational longitudinal cohort of SLE patients.

Basiliximab induction immunosuppression and lung transplant outcomes: Propensity analysis in a multicenter cohort.

Background: Basiliximab induction immunosuppression is increasingly employed in lung transplant recipients despite limited prospective evidence to support its use in this population. We sought to determine the relationship between basiliximab induction and development of acute rejection, chronic lung allograft dysfunction, and other clinically relevant outcomes in a multicenter lung transplant cohort with variable induction practice patterns.

Methods: We applied propensity-based statistical methods to rigorous, prospectively collected longitudinal data from 768 newly transplanted adult lung recipients at 5 North American centers (368 who received basiliximab induction immunosuppression and 400 who received no induction immunosuppression).

Comparing Historical and Contemporary Observations of Avian Fauna on the Yáláƛi (Goose Island) Archipelago, British Columbia, Canada.

In an era of global change, historical natural history data can improve our understanding of ecological phenomena, particularly when evaluated with contemporary Indigenous and place-based knowledge. The Yáláƛi (Goose Island) Archipelago is a group of islands in Heiltsuk (Haíɫzaqv) territory on the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada. Not only has this region been important to the Heiltsuk for millennia but also it is both a federally and internationally recognized important bird area.

Improving Student Outcomes with an Adaptable Molecular Cloning Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience.

The continuous advancement of molecular biology techniques requires that molecular biology curricula are regularly refined to effectively prepare students to enter the workforce with modern competencies. In particular, the emergence of Gibson Assembly, a highly customizable and adaptive molecular cloning technique, has advanced the landscape of molecular cloning in numerous research environments. Thus, we created a Gibson Assembly cloning module for deployment in a molecular biology laboratory course at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and evaluated student learning outcomes from the module.

State-Level Racial Inequity in Children's Dental Care Use in the U.S. and Association with State-Level Structural Racism.

Introduction: The aims of this study were to estimate state-level racial inequities in dental care use among children in the U.S., overall and by insurance type, and to examine relationships between inequities and state-level structural racism.

Omics analysis reveals galectin-3 to be a potential key regulator of allergic inflammation in hereditary angioedema.

Background: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare inherited disorder that predisposes an individual to develop vasogenic edema. Bradykinin release, which increases vascular permeability, results in angioedema. C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) is a major regulator of critical enzymes involved in bradykinin generation and mutations in genes that encode the C1 inhibitor of complement factor 1, which prevent its synthesis (type I HAE), form a dysfunctional protein (type II HAE), or have normal functioning C1-INH (type III HAE, aka HAE-III).

Multi-faceted strategies to advance health equity in colorectal cancer screening in primary care setting: quality improvement project.

Background: The aim of this quality improvement (QI) project was to increase Colorectal Cancer (CRC) screening in patients ages 50-75 years from a baseline of 27-40% within 12 months in a primary care clinic in limited resource communities.

Methods: The multidisciplinary QI-team applied the Plan-Do-Study-Act method and developed stakeholder analysis, an Ishikawa fish bone diagram, a process flow map, and a driver diagram. Major barriers to suboptimal CRC screening included limited health literacy, language preferences, absence of stool test options, and knowledge gaps among patients and providers.

The hostile environment in primary care: Qualitative analysis of a cross sectional survey of health care professionals in primary care.

Background: In 2014 the UK government rolled out the then called hostile environment as a series of punitive policies designed to disenfranchise undocumented migrants from living in Britain. As part of these measures upfront charging was introduced in 2017 which saw patients being denied treatment without prior full payment based on their immigration status.

Aim: Assess the knowledge of the charging regulations in a sample of primary care practitioners.

The effect of Position and Availability interventions on adolescents' food choice: An online experimental study.

Interventions that alter characteristics of the food environment have been found to reduce energy intake in adults. However, few studies have examined the effect of Availability (reducing the number of higher energy options) and Position (altering the order of options) interventions on food choices by younger populations. Hence, this study examined the individual and combined effects of Availability and Position interventions on adolescents' energy selection from restaurant menus.

Comparison of EasyM, a clonotypic mass spectrometry assay, and EuroFlow minimal residual disease assessment in multiple myeloma.

Not available.

FAIRSTEPS study - Framework Addressing Inequities in pRimary care using STakEholder PerspectiveS: Integrative evidence review and Delphi consensus.

Objectives: Health inequities are unjust and avoidable differences in health outcomes across populations and between population groups. Though these arise predominantly from social determinants of health, healthcare is estimated to contribute around 20 % and primary healthcare reduces inequities in healthcare outcomes. As each provider works in their local context, we sought to provide an evidence-informed framework for designing, implementing, and evaluating local health inequity interventions in primary care.