Socioeconomic factors, stress, hair cortisol, and white matter microstructure in children.

Socioeconomic disadvantage has been linked to increased stress exposure in children and adults. Exposure to stress in childhood has been associated with deleterious effects on cognitive development and well-being throughout the lifespan. Further, exposure to stress has been associated with differences in brain development in children, both in cortical and subcortical gray matter.

Lenvatinib versus sorafenib for first-line treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: patient-reported outcomes from a randomised, open-label, non-inferiority, phase 3 trial.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the third-leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Preservation of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) during treatment is an important therapeutic goal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of treatment with lenvatinib versus sorafenib on HRQOL.

Immunosuppression as a Hallmark of Critical COVID-19: Prospective Study.

The dysregulation of both the innate and adaptive responses to SARS-CoV-2 have an impact on the course of COVID-19, and play a role in the clinical outcome of the disease. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations in 82 patients with COVID-19, including 31 patients with a critical course of the disease. In COVID-19 patients who required hospitalization we analyzed T cell subsets, including Treg cells, as well as TCRα/β and γ/δ, NK cells, and B cells, during the first two weeks after admission to hospital due to the SARS-CoV-2 infection, with marked reductions in leukocytes subpopulations, especially in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Factors influencing the failure of interferon-free therapy for chronic hepatitis C: Data from the Polish EpiTer-2 cohort study.

Background: The introduction of direct-acting antiviral drugs into clinical practice has revolutionized the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, making it highly effective and safe for patients. However, few researchers have analyzed the factors causing therapy failure in some patients.

Aim: To analyze factors influencing the failure of direct antiviral drugs in the large, multicenter EpiTer-2 cohort in a real-world setting.

Value of quantitative analysis in lung computed tomography in patients severely ill with COVID-19.

Introduction: Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) is used to objectively assess the degree of parenchymal impairment in COVID-19 pneumonia.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective study on 61 COVID-19 patients (severe and non-severe; 33 men, age 63+/-15 years) who underwent a CT scan due to tachypnea, dyspnoea or desaturation. QCT was performed using VCAR software.

Physical Exercise Training Improves Judgment and Problem-Solving and Modulates Serum Biomarkers in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progressive impairment of memory, with an etiology involving oxidative stress and inflammation. Exercise training is a safe, efficacious, and economic approach to manage neurodegenerative diseases. In AD, the biomarkers of oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA are elevated.

Real-world direct-acting antiviral treatment in kidney transplant and hemodialysis patients: the EpiTer-2 multicenter observational study.

Background: Patients who undergo hemodialysis (HD) or kidney transplantation (KTx) previously had limited possibilities for treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Direct-acting antivirals (DAA) give these patients a chance of virus eradication and safe transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of DAA in KTx and HD patients in real-world settings.

Tocilizumab Improves the Prognosis of COVID-19 in Patients with High IL-6.

Despite direct viral effect, the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) includes an overproduction of cytokines including interleukin 6 (IL-6). Therefore, tocilizumab (TOC), a monoclonal antibody against IL-6 receptors, was considered as a possible therapeutic option. Patients were selected from the SARSTer database, containing 2332 individuals with COVID-19.

Multispectral Imaging for Metallic Biopsy Marker Detection During MRI-Guided Breast Biopsy: A Feasibility Study for Clinical Translation.

Purpose: To assess the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of multispectral MRI (MSI) in the detection and localization of biopsy markers during MRI-guided breast biopsy.

Methods: This prospective study included 20 patients undergoing MR-guided breast biopsy. In 10 patients (Group 1), MSI was acquired following tissue sampling and biopsy marker deployment.

Interpreting Cancer Survivors' Perceptions of the Survivor Label Through Social Identity and Communication Accommodation Theories.

This study uses social identity theory and communication accommodation theory as lenses to examine former cancer patients' perspectives of the "survivor" label, replacement labels for their experience, and use of survivor services. Semi-structured interviews of 43 former cancer patients offer insight into their unique cancer experiences and explain how these events influence their perceptions of the term survivor. Coders used constant comparison methods to capture six themes related to the participants' impressions of the survivor label.

Early Administration of Convalescent Plasma Improves Survival in Patients with Hematological Malignancies and COVID-19.

The use of convalescent plasma in the treatment of COVID-19 may lead to a milder course of infection and has been associated with improved outcomes. Determining optimal treatments in high risk populations is crucial, as is the case in those with hematological malignancies. We analyzed a cohort of 23 patients with hematological malignancies and COVID-19 who had received plasma 48-72 h after the diagnosis of infection and compared it with a historical group of 22 patients who received other therapy.

The Association Between Scope of Practice Regulations and Nurse Practitioner Prescribing of Buprenorphine After the 2016 Opioid Bill.

This article examines the relationship between federal regulations, state scope-of-practice regulations on nurse practitioners (NPs), and buprenorphine prescribing patterns using pharmacy claims data from Optum's deidentified Clinformatics Data Mart between January 2015 and September 2018. The county-level proportion of patients filling prescriptions written by NPs was low even after the 2016 Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), 2.7% in states that did not require physician oversight of NPs, and 1.

[Evolution of hepatitis C virus genotype 1a vs. 1b distribution in Germany between 2004 and 2018 - An analysis of 17093 patients from different real world registries].

Background:  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype (GT) 1 is the most common HCV GT in Western and Central Europe. The main focus of this present work is to analyze the change of baseline characteristics of 17 093 HCV-patients with genotype 1a/1b with antiviral therapy in Germany between 2004 and 2018. We analyzed five periods: (i) 2004-2007, (ii) 2008-2010, (iii) 2010-2013, (iv) 2014-2016, (v) 2017-2018.

Engineering highly efficient backsplicing and translation of synthetic circRNAs.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are highly stable RNA molecules that are attractive templates for expression of therapeutic proteins and non-coding RNAs. In eukaryotes, circRNAs are primarily generated by the spliceosome through backsplicing. Here, we interrogate different molecular elements including intron type and length, repeats, internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs), and exon length essential for circRNA formation and exploit this information to engineer robust backsplicing and circRNA expression.

How Much Do Outside Options Matter? The Effect of Subsidized Health Insurance on Social Security Disability Insurance Benefit Receipt.

New government health insurance programs may affect participation in existing safety-net benefits that provide health insurance as a secondary aim. We examine whether the outside options for health insurance made available by the Affordable Care Act affected Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) application decisions. Using the universe of U.

The Strategies to Support the COVID-19 Vaccination with Evidence-Based Communication and Tackling Misinformation.

COVID-19 vaccinations are about to begin in various countries or are already ongoing. This is an unprecedented operation that is also met with a loud response from anti-vaccine communities-currently using all available channels to manipulate public opinion. At the same time, the strategy to educate on vaccinations, explain their mechanism of action, and build trust in science is subdued in different world parts.

Institutions For Mental Diseases Medicaid Waivers: Impact On Payments For Substance Use Treatment Facilities.

The Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMD) exclusion prohibits use of federal Medicaid funds to treat enrollees ages 21-64 in psychiatric residential treatment facilities that have more than sixteen beds. In 2015 the federal government created a streamlined application pathway for state waivers of this rule to allow Medicaid coverage for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in residential facilities. Nine states received IMD waivers during the period 2015-18.

Anopheles stephensi Mosquitoes as Vectors of Plasmodium vivax and falciparum, Horn of Africa, 2019.

Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes, efficient vectors in parts of Asia and Africa, were found in 75.3% of water sources surveyed and contributed to 80.9% of wild-caught Anopheles mosquitoes in Awash Sebat Kilo, Ethiopia.

The reverse vagal manoeuvre: A new tool for treatment of supraventricular tachycardia?

Supraventricular tachycardia is a common cardiac arrhytmia with recurrent episodes. The rapid resolution of supraventricular tachycardia remains a challenge. Vagal manoeuvres are simple and non-invasive but yield positive results in less than half the cases.

Can policy affect initiation of addictive substance use? Evidence from opioid prescribing.

Drug control policy can have unintended consequences by pushing existing users to alternative, possibly more dangerous substances. Policies that target only new users may therefore be especially promising. Using commercial insurance claims data, we provide the first evidence on a set of new policies intended to reduce opioid initiation in the form of limits on initial prescription length.

Assessment of Filled Buprenorphine Prescriptions for Opioid Use Disorder During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

This cohort study examines changes in the number of buprenorphine prescriptions fill by individuals with opioid use disorder before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.