Triggered Release of Ampicillin from Metallic Implant Coatings for Combating Periprosthetic Infections.

Periprosthetic infections caused by () pose unique challenges in orthopedic surgeries, in part due to the bacterium's capacity to invade surrounding bone tissues besides forming recalcitrant biofilms on implant surfaces. We previously developed prophylactic implant coatings for the on-demand release of vancomycin, triggered by the cleavage of an oligonucleotide (Oligo) linker by micrococcal nuclease (MN) secreted by the Gram-positive bacterium, to eradicate surrounding the implant in vitro and in vivo. Building upon this coating platform, here we explore the feasibility of extending the on-demand release to ampicillin, a broad-spectrum aminopenicillin β-lactam antibiotic that is more effective than vancomycin in killing Gram-negative bacteria that may accompany infections.

Effect of albiglutide on cardiovascular outcomes in older adults: A post hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

Aim: To analyse the effects of albiglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist, on cardiovascular outcomes in older adults aged ≥65 years with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease who participated in the Harmony Outcomes trial (NCT02465515).

Materials And Methods: We conducted a post hoc analysis of the primary endpoint of the Harmony Outcomes trial-time to first occurrence of a major adverse cardiovascular event-in subgroups of participants aged <65 and ≥65 years and <75 and ≥75 years at baseline. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were generated using Cox proportional hazards regression.

Chromosome-level genome assemblies of two parasitoid biocontrol wasps reveal the parthenogenesis mechanism and an associated novel virus.

Background: Biocontrol is a key technology for the control of pest species. Microctonus parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) have been released in Aotearoa New Zealand as biocontrol agents, targeting three different pest weevil species. Despite their value as biocontrol agents, no genome assemblies are currently available for these Microctonus wasps, limiting investigations into key biological differences between the different species and strains.

Randomized clinical trial examining financial incentives for smoking cessation among mothers of young children and possible impacts on child secondhand smoke exposure.

This randomized clinical trial examined whether financial-incentives increase smoking cessation among mothers of young children and potential impacts on child secondhand-smoke exposure (SHSe). 198 women-child dyads were enrolled and assigned to one of three treatment conditions: best practices (BP, N = 68), best practices plus financial incentives (BP + FI, N = 63), or best practices, financial incentives, and nicotine replacement therapy (BP + FI + NRT, N = 67). The trial was completed in Vermont, USA between June 2015 and October 2020.

Modulating On-Demand Release of Vancomycin from Implant Coatings via Chemical Modification of a Micrococcal Nuclease-Sensitive Oligonucleotide Linker.

Periprosthetic infections are one of the most serious complications in orthopedic surgeries, and those caused by () are particularly hard to treat due to their tendency to form biofilms on implants and their notorious ability to invade the surrounding bones. The existing prophylactic local antibiotic deliveries involve excessive drug loading doses that could risk the development of drug resistance strains. Utilizing an oligonucleotide linker sensitive to micrococcal nuclease (MN) cleavage, we previously developed an implant coating capable of releasing covalently tethered vancomycin, triggered by -secreted MN, to prevent periprosthetic infections in the mouse intramedullary (IM) canal.

Chemically Crosslinked Amphiphilic Degradable Shape Memory Polymer Nanocomposites with Readily Tuned Physical, Mechanical, and Biological Properties.

Facile surgical delivery and stable fixation of synthetic scaffolds play roles just as critically as degradability and bioactivity in ensuring successful scaffold-guided tissue regeneration. Properly engineered shape memory polymers (SMPs) may meet these challenges. Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSSs) can be covalently integrated with urethane-crosslinked polylactide (PLA) to give high-strength, degradable SMPs around physiological temperatures.

Trends and costs of stereotactic body radiation therapy in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: The purpose of this study is to describe stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) use, outcomes, hospitalizations and costs compared to patients receiving chemotherapy among patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database, we identified patients aged ≥66 with metastatic NSCLC treated with SBRT as first-line treatment between 2004 and 2014. Multivariable logistic regression identified covariates associated with SBRT.

Examining the latent factor structure of a hypothetical cigarette purchase task among pregnant women.

The cigarette purchase task (CPT) is a valid behavioral-economic measure of demand that has smokers estimate hypothetical cigarette consumption under a range of escalating prices. The task involves no experimenter exposure of participants to smoking. CPT demand is measured in terms of five indices: intensity (cigarettes consumed at $0), (largest expenditure), max (price associated with peak expenditure), breakpoint (the first price at which consumption is 0), and elasticity (rate at which consumption changes as a function of increasing price).

Effect of Smartphone-Based Financial Incentives on Peripartum Smoking Among Pregnant Individuals: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

This randomized clinical trial assesses the effect of a smartphone-based intervention with financial incentive on peripartum smoking among pregnant individuals.

Randomized Controlled Trial Examining the Efficacy of Adding Financial Incentives to Best practices for Smoking Cessation Among pregnant and Newly postpartum Women.

We report results from a single-blinded randomized controlled trial examining financial incentives for smoking cessation among 249 pregnant and newly postpartum women. Participants included 169 women assigned to best practices (BP) or BP plus financial incentives (BP + FI) for smoking cessation available through 12-weeks postpartum. A third condition included 80 never-smokers (NS) sociodemographically-matched to women who smoked.

Awake tracheal intubation: Videolaryngoscopy in a pediatric institution: Use of guidelines and multidisciplinary team preparation to facilitate performance of an unfamiliar technique in a pediatric setting.

Formal guidelines for awake tracheal intubation have recently been published providing a streamlined process for the first time. We present a case of awake videolaryngoscopy in the pediatric setting, not previously reported. Application of guidelines and careful team preparation facilitated performance of a novel technique in our pediatric institution.

Guidelines for the use of the Attend Anywhere Platform for Telecommunications within the Pain Service.

Introduction Remote consultation is of growing in importance and gaining popularity in both primary and secondary healthcare settings. Reduced necessity for a physical presence of the patient within the healthcare setting is of particular benefit in the current COVID-19 era. It is also of benefit to a diverse group of patients, for example: those who are geographically distant from the base hospital, those suffering from mobility issues or chronic illness, those who require chaperoning as well as those with limited access to transport.

Surface-grafted zwitterionic polymers improve the efficacy of a single antibiotic injection in suppressing periprosthetic infections.

Implant-associated bacterial infections are difficult to treat due to the tendency of biofilm formation on implant surfaces, which protects embedded pathogens from host defense and impedes antibiotic penetration, rendering systemic antibiotic injections ineffective. Here, we test the hypothesis that implant coatings that reduce bacterial colonization would make planktonic bacteria within the periprosthetic environment more susceptible to conventional systemic antibiotic treatment. We covalently grafted zwitterionic polymer brushes poly(sulfobetaine methacryate) from Ti6Al4V surface to increase the substrate surface hydrophilicity and reduce () adhesion.

Contingency Management for Patients Receiving Medication for Opioid Use Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: Medication treatment for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is efficacious, but comorbid stimulant use and other behavioral health problems often undermine efficacy.

Objective: To examine the association of contingency management, a behavioral intervention wherein patients receive material incentives contingent on objectively verified behavior change, with end-of-treatment outcomes for these comorbid behavioral problems.

Data Sources: A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, and reference sections of articles from inception through May 5, 2020.

Beyond Ramen: Investigating Methods to Improve Food Agency among College Students.

Many college students struggle to cook frequently, which has implications for their diet quality and health. Students' ability to plan, procure, and prepare food (food agency) may be an important target for shifting the college student diet away from instant and inexpensive staples like packaged ramen. The randomized intervention study included two sequential cooking interventions: (1) six weeks of cooking classes based in food agency pedagogy held once per week, and (2) six weekly home delivered meal kits (3 meals per kit) to improve food agency, diet quality, and at home cooking frequency of college students.

Cooking as a Health Behavior: Examining the Role of Cooking Classes in a Weight Loss Intervention.

Americans are cooking fewer meals at home and eating more convenience foods prepared elsewhere. Cooking at home is associated with higher quality diets, while a reduction in cooking may be associated with increases in obesity and risk factors for chronic disease. The aims of this study were to examine cooking as an intervention for weight control in overweight and obese adults, and whether such an intervention increases participants' food agency and diet quality.

Household-smoking bans are associated with reduced nicotine exposure, increased smoking abstinence, and improved birth outcomes among pregnant women enrolled in smoking-cessation treatment.

Data indicate household-smoking bans aid cessation and reduce secondhand smoke exposure. This study assessed prevalence of antepartum (AP) and postpartum (PP) household-smoking bans and associations with nicotine exposure, abstinence, and birth weight among pregnant women. The current study is a secondary analysis of clinical trials examining the efficacy of financial incentives for smoking-cessation among pregnant women ( = 284).

Genetic Diversity in Invasive Populations of Argentine Stem Weevil Associated with Adaptation to Biocontrol.

Modified, agricultural landscapes are susceptible to damage by insect pests. Biological control of pests is typically successful once a control agent has established, but this depends on the agent's capacity to co-evolve with the host. Theoretical studies have shown that different levels of genetic variation between the host and the control agent will lead to rapid evolution of resistance in the host.

Smartphone-based financial incentives to promote smoking cessation during pregnancy: A pilot study.

Cigarette smoking during pregnancy increases risk for pregnancy complications, growth restriction, and other adverse health outcomes. The most effective intervention for reducing smoking during pregnancy is financial incentives contingent on biochemically-verified smoking abstinence. The present study examined the efficacy of a smartphone-based intervention whereby smoking monitoring and incentive delivery occurred remotely using a mobile app.

Sawfly Genomes Reveal Evolutionary Acquisitions That Fostered the Mega-Radiation of Parasitoid and Eusocial Hymenoptera.

The tremendous diversity of Hymenoptera is commonly attributed to the evolution of parasitoidism in the last common ancestor of parasitoid sawflies (Orussidae) and wasp-waisted Hymenoptera (Apocrita). However, Apocrita and Orussidae differ dramatically in their species richness, indicating that the diversification of Apocrita was promoted by additional traits. These traits have remained elusive due to a paucity of sawfly genome sequences, in particular those of parasitoid sawflies.