Correction: Urine tumor DNA detection of minimal residual disease in muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated with curative-intent radical cystectomy: A cohort study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.

Meet EBE: The Development of an Evidence-Based Endoscopy Simulator.

Background And Aims: In the digital era of evidence-based medicine, there is a paucity of video endoscopy teaching platforms that use evidence-based medicine principles, or that allow for cognitive simulation of endoscopic management strategies. We created a guideline-based teaching platform for fellows that incorporates these features, and tested it.

Methods: A pilot video module with embedded questions was drafted, and after incorporation of feedback from several attending gastroenterologists, an additional 2 modules were created.

Vibrational Fingerprint Analysis of an Azo-based Resonance Raman Scattering Probe for Imaging Proton Distribution in Cellular Lysosomes.

Due to the fundamental mechanism of vibrational state transitions for chemical bonds, the spectra of Raman scattering are narrow-banded and photostable signals capable of probing specific reactions. In the case of protonation/deprotonation reactions, certain chemical bonds are broken and new bonds are formed. Based on the changes of the vibrational modes for the corresponding bonds, fingerprint analysis of multiple Raman bands may allow for the visualization of proton distribution in live cells.

Genomic expansion of Aldh1a1 protects beavers against high metabolic aldehydes from lipid oxidation.

The North American beaver is an exceptionally long-lived and cancer-resistant rodent species. Here, we report the evolutionary changes in its gene coding sequences, copy numbers, and expression. We identify changes that likely increase its ability to detoxify aldehydes, enhance tumor suppression and DNA repair, and alter lipid metabolism, potentially contributing to its longevity and cancer resistance.

A combined approach for stabilization and endoscopic/ endonasal odontoid and clivus resection for treatment of basilar invagination.

Background: Basilar invagination (BI) is a complex condition characterized by prolapse of the odontoid into the brain stem/upper cervical cord. This lesion is often associated with Chiari malformations, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Treatment options for BI typically include cervical traction, an isolated anterior transoral odontoidectomy, anterior endonasal odontoidectomy, an isolated posterior fusion, or combined anterior/ posterior surgical approach.

Diverse epigenetic mechanisms maintain parental imprints within the embryonic and extraembryonic lineages.

Genomic imprinting and X chromosome inactivation (XCI) require epigenetic mechanisms to encode allele-specific expression, but how these specific tasks are accomplished at single loci or across chromosomal scales remains incompletely understood. Here, we systematically disrupt essential epigenetic pathways within polymorphic embryos in order to examine canonical and non-canonical genomic imprinting as well as XCI. We find that DNA methylation and Polycomb group repressors are indispensable for autosomal imprinting, albeit at distinct gene sets.

Serious illness conversations in pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension has evolved from a fatal disease with few treatment options to a chronic condition with improved survival. This improvement is possible through development of effective therapies as well as the expansion of risk stratification scores to assist clinical decision making. Despite improved disease control, quality of life, and overall prognosis, many challenges remain.

High risk of acute kidney injury in Malawian trauma patients: a prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Trauma is a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). Yet little data exist regarding trauma-related-AKI in low-resourced settings, where the majority of deaths from AKI and trauma occur. We prospectively evaluated epidemiology of AKI in hospitalized Malawian trauma patients.

SGOOP-d: Estimating Kinetic Distances and Reaction Coordinate Dimensionality for Rare Event Systems from Biased/Unbiased Simulations.

Understanding kinetics including reaction pathways and associated transition rates is an important yet difficult problem in numerous chemical and biological systems, especially in situations with multiple competing pathways. When these high-dimensional systems are projected on low-dimensional coordinates, which are often needed for enhanced sampling or for interpretation of simulations and experiments, one can end up losing the kinetic connectivity of the underlying high-dimensional landscape. Thus, in the low-dimensional projection, metastable states might appear closer or further than they actually are.

Characterization of a 200-nF unipolar, high current, low inductance capacitor switch assembly.

Capacitor switch assemblies (CSAs) are a viable alternative to the standard Linear Transformer Driver (LTD) brick-the prime power "building block" in LTD-based high current drivers. In a CSA, the geometrical advantages combined with the switch's placement within a CSA produce a significantly lower inductance structure compared to the LTD brick. Lower inductances enable higher peak currents and faster rise times when all other parameters are held constant, thus making low inductance a crucial feature in high current systems.

Making High-Dimensional Molecular Distribution Functions Tractable through Belief Propagation on Factor Graphs.

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide a wealth of high-dimensional data at all-atom and femtosecond resolution but deciphering mechanistic information from this data is an ongoing challenge in physical chemistry and biophysics. Theoretically speaking, joint probabilities of the equilibrium distribution contain all thermodynamic information, but they prove increasingly difficult to compute and interpret as the dimensionality increases. Here, inspired by tools in probabilistic graphical modeling, we develop a factor graph trained through belief propagation that helps factorize the joint probability into an approximate tractable form that can be easily visualized and used.

Influence of Maternal Carbohydrate Source (Concentrate-Based vs. Forage-Based) on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Meat Quality of Progeny.

The objective of this research was to investigate the influence of maternal prepartum dietary carbohydrate source on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of offspring. Angus-based cows were assigned to either a concentrate-based diet or forage-based diet during mid- and late-gestation. A subset of calves was selected for evaluation of progeny performance.

The Transition from Pediatric to Adult Health Care in Young Adults with Spina Bifida: Demographic and Physician-Related Correlates.

Objective: This study examined the transition to adult health care for individuals with spina bifida (SB) and explored demographic and relational associations with transition status.

Method: Young adults with SB (18-30; n = 326) were recruited to complete an anonymous, online survey. Frequencies of reported experiences, behaviors, and satisfaction with the transition to adult health care were examined.

Advanced Endoscopic Techniques for the Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer and Management of Biliary and GastricOutlet Obstruction.

Following high-quality imaging studies for staging, endoscopic ultrasound examination fine needle aspiration/biopsy is the preferred modality for tissue diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with metal stent placement is used for palliation of malignant biliary obstruction. Metal stents can be placed in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer in whom surgery is going to be delayed.

Utility of machine learning algorithms in degenerative cervical and lumbar spine disease: a systematic review.

Machine learning is a rapidly evolving field that offers physicians an innovative and comprehensive mechanism to examine various aspects of patient data. Cervical and lumbar degenerative spine disorders are commonly age-related disease processes that can utilize machine learning to improve patient outcomes with careful patient selection and intervention. The aim of this study is to examine the current applications of machine learning in cervical and lumbar degenerative spine disease.

Epi-illumination dark-field microscopy enables direct visualization of unlabeled small organisms with high spatial and temporal resolution.

Dark-field microscopy is known to offer both high resolution and direct visualization of thin samples. However, its performance and optimization on thick samples is under-explored and so far, only meso-scale information from whole organisms has been demonstrated. In this work, we carefully investigate the difference between trans- and epi-illumination configurations.

Urine tumor DNA detection of minimal residual disease in muscle-invasive bladder cancer treated with curative-intent radical cystectomy: A cohort study.

Background: The standard of care treatment for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is radical cystectomy, which is typically preceded by neoadjuvant chemotherapy. However, the inability to assess minimal residual disease (MRD) noninvasively limits our ability to offer bladder-sparing treatment. Here, we sought to develop a liquid biopsy solution via urine tumor DNA (utDNA) analysis.

Enhancing the Measure of Participation Burden in Protocol Design to Incorporate Logistics, Lifestyle, and Demographic Characteristics.

Background: Growing interest in improving patient participation convenience and the feasible execution of clinical trials has increased demand for new approaches to leverage patient input in the protocol design process.

Methods: This study builds on prior work conducted by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development in collaboration with ZS. A comprehensive participant burden algorithm based on protocol procedures, participation requirements and lifestyle preferences was developed and tested.

Organelle-specific phase contrast microscopy enables gentle monitoring and analysis of mitochondrial network dynamics.

Mitochondria are delicate organelles that play a key role in cell fate. Current research methods rely on fluorescence labeling that introduces stress due to photobleaching and phototoxicity. Here we propose a new, gentle method to study mitochondrial dynamics, where organelle-specific three-dimensional information is obtained in a label-free manner at high resolution, high specificity, and without detrimental effects associated with staining.

Incidence of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia in Patients With Newly Implanted Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices.

Background: Heparin exposure and device-related thrombocytopenia complicate the diagnosis of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) in patients receiving mechanical circulatory support (MCS). To improve anticoagulation management for patients with newly implanted MCS devices, incidence of confirmed HIT needs to be further characterized.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to describe the incidence of HIT and clinical utility of the 4Ts score in patients with newly implanted MCS devices.

Cross-Lag Model of Medical Responsibility and Skills in Youth With Spina Bifida.

Objective: This study examined bidirectional associations between mother- and father-reported medical responsibility and medical skill mastery in youth with spina bifida (SB).

Methods: Participants were 140 youth with SB and their parents who participated in three waves of a longitudinal study across four years (ages 8-15 years at Time 1). Mother- and father-report of both medical responsibility and medical skill mastery were used, and age and estimated intelligence quotient were included as covariates, in cross-lagged models.