Publications by authors named "Ward L"

Objective: To systematically evaluate inpatient interventions to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, or stress in pregnant individuals during antepartum hospitalization.

Data Sources: Searches were conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL Plus, Cochrane CENTRAL, and PsycINFO from database inception through April 2023.

Study Eligibility Criteria: Randomized controlled trials and cohort studies were eligible for inclusion if an intervention was compared to treatment as usual (TAU) to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, or stress among pregnant individuals admitted to a hospital's antepartum unit.

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Fewer than 10 % of children with diffuse midline glioma (DMG) survive 2 years from diagnosis. Radiation therapy remains the cornerstone of treatment and there are no medicinal products with regulatory approval. Although the biology of DMG is better characterized, this has not yet translated into effective treatments.

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Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a potentially life-saving treatment for children with relapsed/refractory B-cell hematologic malignancies, and remains an important investigational therapy for other childhood cancers. Yet, access to this class of therapies remains suboptimal through both commercial use and clinical trials, especially in children, adolescents, and young adults. Using a series of case-based discussions, we outline guidance on real-world medical decision-making, and offer potential solutions to enhancing access to CAR T-cell therapy as a treatment modality.

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There is compelling evidence that although the increased availability of sensitive imaging is the main cause of the increasing incidence of differentiated thyroid cancer, particularly the papillary type, there are other factors involved. Despite the acknowledged role of genetic and certain lifestyle factors, comprehensive studies delineating the interactions between multiple risk factors and the mechanistic pathways involved are scarce. A greater understanding of both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for thyroid cancer is critical to prevent and manage the disease and could provide a scientific basis for future research into more appropriate lifestyles and living environments for people at high risk.

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Molecular profiling (MP), which involves testing tissue, blood, or other body fluids to identify biomarkers, has become increasingly important in cancer treatment. Genomic tumor sequencing, a specific type of MP, is commonly used to identify specific gene variants or proteins that can be targeted for treatment. Germline testing is also routinely recommended for certain cancers.

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Objective: To examine the evidence addressing the management of X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) in children to inform treatment recommendations.

Methods: We searched Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central up to May 2023. Eligible studies included RCTs and observational studies of individuals less than 18yrs with clinically or genetically confirmed XLH.

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Background: HIV continues to disproportionately impact men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States (US). Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective, but disparities persist. Limited studies have conducted systematic evaluations of social determinants of health (SDOH) and their effects on PrEP persistence among MSM.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to evaluate the most reliable evidence for managing X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) in adults to help shape treatment recommendations.
  • After reviewing over 4,000 records, only one clinical trial and two observational studies met the criteria, showing that burosumab likely helps with pain from fractures but has a limited effect on other symptoms like fatigue and stiffness.
  • There are currently no strong comparisons between burosumab and conventional treatments, highlighting a significant gap in data regarding their long-term effectiveness on important patient outcomes.
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Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) affects between 2 and 10% of pregnancies in the United States, with trends of increasing prevalence and a significant amount of variability across race and ethnicity, maternal age, and insurance status. Asian and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI) have been documented to have a higher prevalence and risk of developing GDM compared to non-Hispanic white populations and have been under-studied in health disparities research.

Methods: Using data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) 2016-2022 surveys, we conducted analyses for the overall PRAMS sample as well as within-group analyses among participants who identify as Asian and NHOPI to identify risk factors for GDM.

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Here, we present genomes of three strains of initially isolated from suburban soil-one strain of and two strains of -resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics. This expands the genomic sampling of a group relevant to the ecosystem and human health.

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Background: Adults with intellectual disability experience more pain than adults without and, despite a higher number of medications being prescribed, may be less likely to receive medication for pain. We conducted a systematic review of existing literature on medication for pain and painful conditions in adults with intellectual disability to explore if there is any association with polypharmacy, multimorbidity or demographic characteristics.

Methods: This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines.

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Cryphonectria hypovirus 1 (CHV1) is successful in controlling , the causal agent of chestnut blight, but little is known regarding its transmission to other fungi, for example the European . In this study, CHV1 was transmitted (circa 200,000-800,000 copies/microliter) to seven isolates from infected . Reverse transmission to virus-free (European 74 testers collection) was achieved, although it was less successful (250-55,000 copies/µL) and was dependent on the vegetative compatibility (VC) group.

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  • * A study involving 521 EVD survivors in Sierra Leone found that significant eye conditions such as cataracts, uveitis, and dry eyes were present, highlighting the prevalence of visual impairments in this population even years after recovery.
  • * EVD survivors with certain eye conditions, like cataracts and uveitis, were at greater risk of having vision impairment, underscoring the importance of ongoing eye care for those affected by the disease.
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  • The study investigates how acute psychological stress impacts cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, focusing on autonomic dysfunction as indicated by electrocardiographic measures.
  • In a cohort of 765 participants with stable CVD, researchers monitored heart rate variability (HRV) during stress tests and found a significant association between decreased HRV during stress and a higher risk of CVD death.
  • The findings suggest that both stress-induced decreases in HRV and low resting HRV independently increase the risk of CVD mortality, highlighting the need for further research on managing autonomic dysfunction to improve health outcomes.
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  • The study aimed to determine normal levels of cardiac troponin-I in stable newborns and see how factors like maternal diabetes, delivery method, and Apgar scores influence these levels.
  • A total of 132 newborns were analyzed, with 119 for baseline troponin-I levels and 13 who were born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2.
  • Results showed a mean troponin-I level of 0.019 ± 0.018 ng/mL in healthy newborns, with no significant differences based on maternal health or delivery method, while those born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 had higher levels at 0.081 ± 0.1 ng/mL.
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A 52-year-old man presented with a one-year history of episodic unilateral facial numbness, jaw weakness, ptosis, and hoarseness. Brain imaging was unremarkable and an 11.5cm right lower thoracic mass was discovered on chest x-ray, which was further evaluated by CT and MRI radiology.

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  • * A study with four children diagnosed with XLH sought to find hidden variants in the PHEX gene that could lead to mis-splicing.
  • * The results indicated that three of the four patients had PHEX mis-splicing, with specific deep intronic variants identified that contributed to their condition, suggesting that more detailed analysis could help uncover genetic causes in patients previously thought to lack identifiable mutations.
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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. We hypothesized that a senescent phenotype instigated by uremic toxins could account for early vascular aging (EVA) and vascular dysfunctions of microvasculature in end stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients which ultimately lead to increased cardiovascular complication. To test this hypothesis, we utilized both in vivo, and ex vivo approaches to study endothelial and smooth muscle function and structure, and characterized markers related to EVA in 82 ESKD patients (eGFR <15 ml/min) and 70 non-CKD controls.

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Inconsistent results have been obtained from studies investigating the association between soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and nutritional status and cognitive outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the influence of STHs and nutritional status on the intelligence quotient (IQ) of adolescents in the Chitwan Valley, Nepal. In this birth cohort study from the Chitwan district of Nepal, 74 cohort participants were followed up after 14 years.

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A growing number of hydrolase enzymes show promiscuous acyltransferase activity, even under aqueous conditions. Here we report, for the first time, the ability of Pyrobaculum calidifontis VA1 esterase (PestE) to catalyse the formation of a wide range of amides in buffer, where the acyl donor forms a significant structural component in the amide product. The reactions occur under mild conditions and can achieve conversions up to 97 % in 6 h for formation of N-benzylfuranamide as the model reaction.

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  • Plasma phospho-tau 217 (pTau217) assays, when performed on the common Lumipulse-G® platform, can effectively identify Alzheimer's disease (AD) by analyzing β-amyloid (Aβ) status and tau staging in patients.
  • In a study with 388 participants, pTau217 showed strong correlations with PET imaging results, achieving high accuracy rates in distinguishing between Aβ-negative and Aβ-positive individuals, as well as different stages of tau pathology.
  • The findings suggest that the plasma pTau217 assay is a reliable tool for predicting who might benefit from anti-β-amyloid treatments, emphasizing its potential for broader clinical use in AD diagnostics.
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Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate outcomes of fetal sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) from an academic tertiary center.

Study Design: This is a retrospective study evaluating pregnancy and postnatal outcomes of fetal SCT management at a single institution between 2006 and 2023. Results are reported as median (range).

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Background: Postpartum depression affects 14% of pregnant individuals and is a leading cause of preventable maternal mortality. Complications of pregnancy, such as preterm labor or pre-eclampsia, may require hospitalization for close monitoring and management. The impact of an antenatal hospitalization during pregnancy on postnatal depression remains understudied.

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Objectives: To describe lower-limb symptoms pre- through to 2-years post-surgery following newly diagnosed gynecological cancer; to explore relationships between lower-limb symptoms, lower-limb lymphedema, body image, quality of life, anxiety and depression; and to determine whether lower-limb symptoms predict lower-limb lymphedema.

Methods: Fourteen lower-limb symptoms, lymphedema, body image, anxiety, depression, and quality of life were prospectively collected in 408 women with gynecological cancer pre-surgery, and at 6-, 12-, and 24-months post-surgery. Point prevalence and cumulative incidence were calculated for symptoms.

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