Assessing Surgical Competency Among Fellows in Vitreoretinal Surgery: A Survey of Fellowship Program Directors and Fellows.

Purpose: We surveyed vitreoretinal (VR) fellowship program directors (PDs) to elucidate how they assess surgical competency among VR fellows. In addition, we also surveyed fellowship program graduates for the years 2022 and 2023 regarding assessment metrics and tools used during VR fellowship training.

Design: Web-based, cross-sectional descriptive study.

A Method for Validating PET and SPECT Cameras for Quantitative Clinical Imaging Trials Using Novel Radionuclides.

Our aim is to report methodology that has been developed to calibrate and verify PET and SPECT quantitative image accuracy and quality assurance for use with nonstandard radionuclides, especially with longer half-lives, in clinical imaging trials. Procedures have been developed for quantitative PET and SPECT image calibration for use in clinical trials. The protocol uses a 3-step approach: check quantitative accuracy with a previously calibrated radionuclide in a simple geometry, check the novel trial radionuclide in the same geometry, and check the novel radionuclide in a more challenging, complex geometry (the National Electrical Manufacturers Association [NEMA] NU-2 International Electrotechnical Commission [IEC] image-quality phantom).

Sociodemographic Variables Associated with Self-reported Access to Mental Healthcare Among Brazilian Immigrant Women in the U.S.

Brazilians are a rapidly growing immigrant population in the United States (U.S.), yet little is known about their mental health and access to mental healthcare.

Assessment of clinical characteristics and mortality in patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 from January 2022 to November 2022, when Omicron variants were predominant in the United States.

Objective: To describe the demographic/clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and mortality among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 during Omicron predominance by immunocompromised and high-risk status.

Methods: Retrospective observational study of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 between January 1, 2022 and November 30, 2022, using data from the Optum de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database. Patient demographic/clinical characteristics, treatments, mortality and costs, were assessed, during the emergence of BA.

Ventral pallidal GABAergic neurons drive consumption in male, but not female rats.

Food intake is controlled by multiple converging signals: hormonal signals that provide information about energy homeostasis, but also hedonic and motivational aspects of food and food cues that can drive non-homeostatic or "hedonic" feeding. The ventral pallidum (VP) is a brain region implicated in the hedonic and motivational impact of food and foods cues, as well as consumption of rewards. Disinhibition of VP neurons has been shown to generate intense hyperphagia, or overconsumption.

Vaccine hesitancy or hesitancies? A latent class analysis of pediatric patients' parents.

Vaccine hesitancy is an attitude of indecision toward vaccination that is related to but not determinative of vaccination behaviors. Although theories of vaccine hesitancy emphasize it is often vaccine-specific, we do not know the extent to which this is true across sociodemographic groups. In this study, we asked: What latent classes of vaccine hesitancy might exist when examining parents' attitudes toward vaccines in general and COVID-19 and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination specifically? Which sociodemographic, health access, and health-related variables are predictive of membership in those classes? To answer those questions, we analyze online survey data from parents of pediatric patients recruited through eight clinics within the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Rural Research Network.

Pre-screening donor eligibility to avoid a deferral in the blood donation center: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: The application of a temporary deferral when attempting to donate has a negative impact on retention. Little has been done to reduce the likelihood of a donor attending to donate, only to be found to be ineligible. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of pre-screening donors when making an appointment, to prevent in-center deferrals.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts as therapeutic targets for cancer: advances, challenges, and future prospects.

Research into cancer treatment has been mainly focused on developing therapies to directly target cancer cells. Over the past decade, extensive studies have revealed critical roles of the tumour microenvironment (TME) in cancer initiation, progression, and drug resistance. Notably, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have emerged as one of the primary contributors in shaping TME, creating a favourable environment for cancer development.

Mechanisms of Alpha-Synuclein Seeded Aggregation in Neurons Revealed by Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging.

1The brains of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients are characterized by the presence of Lewy body inclusions enriched with fibrillar forms of the presynaptic protein alpha-synuclein (aSyn). Despite related evidence that Lewy pathology spreads across different brain regions as the disease progresses, the underlying mechanism hence the fundamental cause of PD progression is unknown. The propagation of aSyn pathology is thought to potentially occur through the release of aSyn aggregates from diseased neurons, their uptake by neighboring healthy neurons via endocytosis, and subsequent seeding of native aSyn aggregation in the cytosol.

Glutamine metabolism is systemically different between primary and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived brain microvascular endothelial cells.

Human primary (hpBMEC) and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived brain microvascular endothelial-like cells (hiBMEC) are interchangeably used in blood-brain barrier models to study neurological diseases and drug delivery. Both hpBMEC and hiBMEC use glutamine as a source of carbon and nitrogen to produce metabolites and build proteins essential to cell function and communication. We used metabolomic, transcriptomic, and computational methods to examine how hpBMEC and hiBMEC metabolize glutamine, which may impact their utility in modeling the blood-brain barrier.

Neuropathology-based approach reveals novel Alzheimer's Disease genes and highlights female-specific pathways and causal links to disrupted lipid metabolism: insights into a vicious cycle.

Dementia refers to an umbrella phenotype of many different underlying pathologies with Alzheimer's disease (AD) being the most common type. Neuropathological examination remains the gold standard for accurate AD diagnosis, however, most that we know about AD genetics is based on Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) of clinically defined AD. Such studies have identified multiple AD susceptibility variants with a significant portion of the heritability unexplained and highlighting the phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity of the clinically defined entity.

Site-specific seeding of Lewy pathology induces distinct pre-motor cellular and dendritic vulnerabilities in the cortex.

Circuit-based biomarkers distinguishing the gradual progression of Lewy pathology across synucleinopathies remain unknown. Here, we show that seeding of α-synuclein preformed fibrils in mouse dorsal striatum and motor cortex leads to distinct prodromal-phase cortical dysfunction across months. Our findings reveal that while both seeding sites had increased cortical pathology and hyperexcitability, distinct differences in electrophysiological and cellular ensemble patterns were crucial in distinguishing pathology spread between the two seeding sites.

Social context modulates active avoidance: Contributions of the anterior cingulate cortex in male and female rats.

Actively avoiding danger is necessary for survival. Most research on active avoidance has focused on the behavioral and neurobiological processes when individuals learn to avoid alone, within a solitary context. Therefore, little is known about how social context affects active avoidance.

Do biopsychosocial factors predict the level of physical activity in individuals with persistent shoulder pain?

Objective: The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare the physical activity level between individuals with and without rotator cuff related shoulder pain (RCRSP), and, in individuals with RCRSP, investigate whether biopsychosocial factors are associated with the physical activity level.

Methods: Seventy-four participants with and 84 participants without RCRSP wore a fitness tracking watch for seven consecutive days to assess physical activity (step count, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)-minutes). Additionally, participants with RCRSP completed questionnaires on their level of pain, disability, and physical activity (short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ]), as well as on biopsychosocial factors, including resilience, stress, catastrophizing, anxiety and depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, and social support.

Comparative analysis of neural crest development in the chick and mouse.

A core framework of the gene regulatory network (GRN) governing neural crest (NC) cell development has been generated by integrating separate inputs from diverse model organisms rather than direct comparison. This has limited insights into the diversity of genes in the NC cell GRN and extent of conservation of newly identified transcriptional signatures in cell differentiation and invasion. Here, we address this by leveraging the strengths and accessibility of the avian embryo to precise developmental staging by egg incubation and use an integrated analysis of chick (HH13) and mouse (E9.

Decision analysis of Integrated Pest Management: A case study on invasive sea lamprey in the Great Lakes Basin.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) provides a powerful framework for addressing threats to human well-being caused by nuisance species including invasives. We examined the hypothesis that adaptive management could erode barriers to IPM implementation by developing a decision-analytic adaptive management framework for invasive sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) IPM in the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America. The framework addressed objectives associated with coordinating multiple sea lamprey control actions at the regional scale and objectives associated with internal validity of control actions.

Hospitalised older adults with community-acquired pneumonia and sepsis have dysregulated neutrophil function but preserved glycolysis.

Objective: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of hospitalisation in older adults and is associated with a high likelihood of adverse outcomes. Given the ageing population and lack of therapeutic advances in CAP, new strategies to manage the burden of this disease are needed. Neutrophil dysfunction has been widely demonstrated in CAP and is associated with poor outcomes.

Exploring the association between moral injury and posttraumatic stress symptoms among Canadian public safety personnel.

Public safety personnel (PSP), such as police officers, firefighters, correctional workers, and paramedics, routinely face work stressors that increase their risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PSP may additionally face moral transgressions in the workplace (e.g.

Understanding ACGME Standards for Simulation: A Document Analysis of Institutional and Program Requirements.

Our institution has established priorities for graduate medical education (GME) simulation which include increasing adoption of, garnering additional financial support for, and creating a core simulation curriculum. Better understanding of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) simulation requirements will inform our efforts and serve as a guide for other institutions. The purpose of this study was to perform a structured review of ACGME simulation standards using a document analysis to guide GME simulation activities at an institutional level.

SWOG S1815: A Phase III Randomized Trial of Gemcitabine, Cisplatin, and Nab-Paclitaxel Versus Gemcitabine and Cisplatin in Newly Diagnosed, Advanced Biliary Tract Cancers.

Purpose: SWOG S1815 was a randomized, open label phase III trial, evaluating gemcitabine, nab-paclitaxel, and cisplatin (GAP) versus gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) in patients with newly diagnosed advanced biliary tract cancers (BTCs).

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed locally advanced unresectable or metastatic BTC, including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) and gallbladder carcinoma (GBC), were randomly assigned 2:1 to either GAP (gemcitabine 800 mg/m, cisplatin 25 mg/m, and nab-paclitaxel 100 mg/m intravenously once per day on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle) or GC (gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m and cisplatin 25 mg/m intravenously once per day on days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle).

Results: Among 452 randomly assigned participants, 441 were eligible and analyzable, 67% with ICC, 16% with GBC, and 17% with ECC.