Influence of Weather on Sickle Cell Disease Vaso-Occlusive Episodes and Acute Chest Syndrome: A Nationwide Sample Analysis.

Background: The clinical manifestations of sickle cell disease (SCD) result in significant morbidity and healthcare costs. The effect of weather as a risk factor for the development of vaso-occlusive episodes (VOEs) has been previously studied, although with variable results. The aim of our retrospective, nationwide study was to determine the association between weather patterns and pediatric VOE and acute chest syndrome (ACS).

Pain screening in youth with sickle cell disease: A quality improvement study.

Background: Youth with sickle cell disease (SCD) face several challenges as they age, including increased pain frequency, duration, and interference. The purpose of this study was to (i) determine the feasibility of routine pain screening; (ii) identify and describe various clinical pain presentations; and (iii) understand preferences/resources related to engaging in integrative health and medicine (IHM) modalities within an outpatient pediatric SCD clinic.

Methods: During routine outpatient visits, patients aged 8-18 completed measures of pain frequency, duration, and chronic pain risk (Pediatric Pain Screening Tool [PPST]).

Progesterone and Preterm Birth: Using Empirical Research to Explore Structural Racism Within Midwifery-Led Care.

Background: Progesterone has been the standard of practice for the prevention of preterm birth for decades. The drug received expedited Food and Drug Administration approval, prior to the robust demonstration of scientific efficacy.

Methods: Prospective research from the American Association of Birth Centers Perinatal Data Registry, 2007-2020.

Vav1/2/3-null mice define an essential role for Vav family proteins in lymphocyte development and activation but a differential requirement in MAPK signaling in T and B cells.

The Vav family of Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factors is thought to orchestrate signaling events downstream of lymphocyte antigen receptors. Elucidation of Vav function has been obscured thus far by the expression of three highly related family members. We generated mice lacking all Vav family proteins and show that Vav-null mice produce no functional T or B cells and completely fail to mount both T-dependent and T-independent humoral responses.