Antisense mediated blockade of Dickkopf 1 attenuates tumor survival, metastases and bone damage in experimental osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone malignancy. The canonical Wnt inhibitor Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) has been implicated in bone destruction, tumor survival and metastases during OS. We examined the role of Dkk-1 in OS disease progression and explored strategies for targeting its activity.

Multidrug resistance in urinary E. coli higher in males compared to females.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common however the widespread use of antibiotics has led to a rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) amongst uropathogens, rendering a significant proportion of infections resistant to first line treatment. AMR in UTIs may differentially affect men and women, younger and older patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate MDR (multi-drug resistance) and AMR in males and females in an Australian health district.

Exploring Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management Practices Among African Americans in Rural Counties: A Qualitative Study.

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to understand diabetes self-management practices among African American individuals living with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in rural communities.

Methods: This qualitative descriptive study, undergirded by the theory of integration, purposively sampled African Americans (N = 34) diagnosed with T2D living in rural communities. Thematic analysis employed both a priori and inductive coding to identify salient themes.

Development of a Hematology-General Medicine Hybrid Team to Improve Care of Patients With Sickle Cell Disease.

Problem: Approximately 100,000 individuals in the United States have sickle cell disease (SCD). These individuals face multiple barriers to equitable care. At Brigham and Women's Hospital, existing health inequities for these patients were compounded by admitting, rounding, and team structures that assigned patients with SCD to multiple medicine teams with a hematologist attending, leading to delays in patient care and gaps in residents' hematology knowledge.

Insights gained from sequencing Australian non-invasive and invasive isolates.

Epidemiological data have indicated that invasive infections caused by the Gram-positive cocci (group A streptococcus, GAS) have increased in many Australian states over the past two decades. In July 2022, invasive GAS (iGAS) infections became nationally notifiable in Australia via public-health agencies. Surveillance for infections has been sporadic within the state of New South Wales (NSW).

Medical consult: aHUS, TTP? How to distinguish and what to do.

Immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) caused by an autoantibody-mediated deficiency of ADAMTS13 and atypical hemolytic syndrome (aHUS) caused by alternative complement dysregulation are the most common primary thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs). The evaluation of a patient with TMA is a medical emergency since it is critical to quickly distinguish iTTP and aHUS from other causes of TMA. Untreated iTTP is rapidly fatal, and delays in initiating complement inhibition in aHUS increase the risk of irreversible renal failure.

Thrombo-inflammatory response in hospitalised patients with COVID-19: a single institution experience.

Background: Severe COVID-19 causes acute inflammation, which is complicated by venous thromboembolism events (VTE). However, it is unclear if VTE risk has evolved over time since the COVID-19 outbreak.

Aims: To determine markers of thrombo-inflammation and rates of symptomatic VTE in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 in a metropolitan hospital in Sydney, Australia.

Brain Health Indicators Following Acute Neuro-Exergaming: Biomarker and Cognition in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) after Pedal-n-Play (iPACES).

Facing an unrelenting rise in dementia cases worldwide, researchers are exploring non-pharmacological ways to ameliorate cognitive decline in later life. Twenty older adults completed assessments before and after a single bout of interactive physical and cognitive exercise, by playing a neuro-exergame that required pedaling and steering to control progress in a tablet-based video game tailored to impact executive function (the interactive Physical and Cognitive Exercise System; iPACES v2). This study explored the cognitive and biomarker outcomes for participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and normative older adults after 20 min of pedal-to-play exercise.

Social Media Usage as a Form of Breastfeeding Support Among Black Mothers: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

Introduction: Social support has been identified in the literature as a key facilitator of breastfeeding success among Black mothers. Over the past decade, there has been a surge of social media groups that can now be used as a means of support for various health and social issues. Social media breastfeeding groups have been used as sources of additional support.

Wetland cohesion is associated with increased probability of infection by the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis.

The amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) poses a substantial threat to amphibian populations. Understanding the landscape conditions that facilitate Bd transmission and persistence is crucial for predicting Bd trends in amphibian populations. Here, we investigated the interactions between land use, wetland connectivity, and Bd occurrence and infection intensity.

Exploration of how emotional social support predicts food insecurity among college students.

Food insecurity has broad detrimental impacts on college students, including failing grades, depression, and social disconnection. Social disconnection is concerning as students often use various support resources to manage food insecurity. Racial disparities in food insecurity are well documented in the literature.

Absolute neutrophil count by Duffy status among healthy Black and African American adults.

Many people of African ancestry have lower absolute neutrophil counts (ANCs) without increased risk for infection. This is associated with the Duffy-null phenotype (nonexpression of the Duffy antigen on red blood cells), which is commonly found in those of African descent. Currently, there are no studies that compare the ANC of individuals with Duffy-null phenotype to those with Duffy non-null phenotypes within a self-identified Black population.

Morpholino-driven blockade of Dkk-1 in osteosarcoma inhibits bone damage and tumour expansion by multiple mechanisms.

Background: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone malignancy. Chemotherapy plays an essential role in OS treatment, potentially doubling 5-year event-free survival if tumour necrosis can be stimulated. The canonical Wnt inhibitor Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) enhances OS survival in part through upregulation of aldehyde-dehydrogenase-1A1 which neutralises reactive oxygen species originating from nutritional stress and chemotherapeutic challenge.

Women's Articulations of Aging: "Learning to Be Affected" Through Experiences in Recreational Ballet.

In this article, we draw upon the experiences of mature recreational dancers who participated in classes facilitated by a professional ballet company and catered to older adults. Moving with 11 women through a 10-week ballet course, and immersing ourselves in the empirical material, we recognized opportunities for broadening our analysis of aging dancing bodies. Inspired by a Latourian understanding of bodies and a recent new materialist turn in humanities and social sciences, we became curious about the ways that the women were being affected by their experiences in ballet.

Practice patterns and outcomes of direct oral anticoagulant use in myeloproliferative neoplasm patients.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are characterized by an increased risk of thrombosis and bleeding. Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) are the historic anticoagulant recommended for use in MPNs. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are being increasingly used in general and cancer populations.

Genetics of HLA Peptide Presentation and Impact on Outcomes in HLA-Matched Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

Minor histocompatibility antigens (mHAs), recipient-derived peptide epitopes presented on the cell surface, are known to mediate graft-versus-host disease (GVHD); however, there are no current methods to associate mHA features with GVHD risk. This deficiency is due in part to the lack of technological means to accurately predict, let alone confirm, the tremendous number of potential mHAs in each individual transplant. Previous studies have shown that different HLA molecules present varying fractions of candidate peptide epitopes; however, the genetic "distance" between HLA-matched donors and recipients is relatively constrained.

CKLF and IL1B transcript levels at diagnosis are predictive of relapse in children with pre-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Disease relapse is the greatest cause of treatment failure in paediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL). Current risk stratifications fail to capture all patients at risk of relapse. Herein, we used a machine-learning approach to identify B-ALL blast-secreted factors that are associated with poor survival outcomes.

Prevention of recurrent thromboembolism in myeloproliferative neoplasms: review of literature and focus on direct oral anticoagulants.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), including polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (MF) are stem cell clonal neoplasms characterized by expansion of late myeloid cells. Thrombosis risk is elevated in MPNs and contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality. Current consensus guidelines make no specific recommendations regarding anticoagulant choice for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in MPNs, with most evidence supporting the use of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for secondary prophylaxis.

Developmental stages and estimated prevalence of coexisting mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions and service use in youth with intellectual disabilities, 2011-2012.

Background: Few studies exist on mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions and service use among youth with intellectual disabilities (IDs), which makes it difficult to develop interventions for this population. The objective of the study is to (1) estimate and compare the prevalence of mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions in youth with and without ID across three developmental stages and (2) estimate and compare mental health service use in youth with and without ID across three developmental stages.

Methods: We conducted secondary data analysis using cross-sectional data collected from caregivers completing the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health.

Recovering from an Epidemic of Teen Pregnancy: The Role of Rural Faith Leaders in Building Community Resilience.

This study explores the role of faith leaders and congregations in preventing teen pregnancy and enhancing overall health. Seventeen faith-based leaders responded to an invitation to participate. Participants were recruited from two counties within Oklahoma, based on desired community characteristics.

"What Should Sex Look Like?" Students' Desires for Expanding University Sexual Assault Prevention Programs to Include Comprehensive Sex Education.

Rates of sexual assault and sexual violence among college-aged adults are much higher than the national rates of sexual assault and sexual violence. Therefore, reduction and prevention of sexual violence among university students is critical and is consistent with national public health priorities. Often times, messages to students focus only on sexual assault and omit larger notions of sexual health.

Impact of Work Schedule, Race, and Psychological Distress among Impoverished Mothers.

We tested the relationships among work schedule, race, and psychological distress in impoverished working mothers. Baseline data from a longitudinal cohort study of impoverished mothers (N = 285) were analyzed. The Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) was utilized to measure levels of psychological distress.