Publications by authors named "Williams V"

Introduction: Age-associated depletion in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) concentrations has been implicated in metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative disorders. Supplementation with NAD+ precursors, such as nicotinamide riboside (NR), offers a potential therapeutic avenue against neurodegenerative pathologies in aging, Alzheimer's disease, and related dementias. A crossover, double-blind, randomized placebo (PBO) controlled trial was conducted to test the safety and efficacy of 8 weeks' active treatment with NR (1 g/day) on cognition and plasma AD biomarkers in older adults with subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment.

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Infectious diseases caused by bacteria are life-threating and are among the major causes of death in the world. Antibiotics have offered humans a new approach to infection control. Antibiotics are reckoned as the "magic bullets" for the fight against bacterial infections, therefore increasing life expectancy and decreasing mortality and morbidity.

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Background: This study evaluated the quality of cancer recurrence data in the National Cancer Database (NCDB) to determine if missingness and reporting consistency have improved enough to support national research.

Methods: This multi-methods study included NCDB analyses and a cancer registry staff survey. Trends in recurrence data missingness from 2004 to 2021 and multivariable analyses of factors associated with missingness from 2017 to 2021 were evaluated for 4,568,927 patients with non-metastatic cancer.

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Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the main functional index of kidney health and disease. Currently, no methods are available to directly measure tubular mass and function. Here, we report a serendipitous finding that the in vitro cell viability dye resazurin can be used in mice as an exogenous sensor of tubular function.

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Background And Aims: Sub-Saharan Africa drives global HIV-related mortality, and patients continuously present with advanced HIV disease (AHD) at diagnosis. We describe prevalence, predictors, and treatment outcomes in HIV clients with AHD.

Methods: We systematically reviewed PUBMED, SCOPUS, Web of Science, JSTOR, and CINAHL for relevant studies conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa from 2010 to 2022.

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A daily prompt to offer vaccination to inpatients awaiting transfer to rehabilitation resulted in increased SARS-CoV-2 (OR 5.64, 95% CI 3.3-10.

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This study explores the liquid crystalline properties of novel amphiphilic β-cyclodextrin derivatives functionalized with seven oligoethylene glycol chains at the primary face, terminated with either an O-methyl or an O-cyanoethyl group, and fourteen hydrophobic aliphatic chains (elaidic or oleic acids) at the secondary face. These derivatives were designed to study the impact of chain conformation and terminal group polarity on their mesomorphic behavior. Thermal, microscopic, and X-ray diffraction studies revealed that the elaidic derivatives form columnar hexagonal mesophases, with the O-cyanoethyl derivative undergoing a slow, temperature-dependent transition to a bicontinuous cubic phase.

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The genome sequences of thousands of bacteriophages have been determined and functions for many of the encoded genes have been assigned based on homology to characterized sequences. However, functions have not been assigned to more than two-thirds of the identified phage genes as they have no recognizable sequence features. Recent genome-wide overexpression screens have begun to identify bacteriophage genes that encode proteins that reduce or inhibit bacterial growth.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how clinical attacks contribute to ongoing disability in patients with aquaporin-4 antibody-positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (AQP4-NMOSD).
  • A total of 165 patients were analyzed using disability scores recorded after at least six months post-attack, with findings showing a significant increase in disability scores correlating with the number and type of relapses.
  • Results indicated that specific relapse types, particularly the combination of transverse myelitis and optic neuritis, had the most substantial impact on increasing residual disability.
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A group of new zwitterion based ionic liquid crystals (ILCs) have been synthesized. Depending on the counter anion (mesylate or hydrogen sulfate) the phase behavior of the resulting ILCs is quite different. Mesylate based ILCs show complex phase behavior with multiple phases depending on the alkyl chain length.

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Introduction: HIV is a global disease affecting millions of people. While treatments have improved over the past decades, treatment failure remains a significant issue for treatment experienced patients. Doravirine/islatravir is a new dual-therapy regimen with a promising resistance profile and reductions in central nervous system effects.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Between July 2023 and January 2024, California reported six RMSF cases linked to exposure in Tecate, Mexico, raising concerns as it was previously not identified as a high-risk area, and three of these cases were fatal.
  • * Effective detection of RMSF cases necessitated collaborative efforts among various public health agencies, highlighting the need for increased awareness among healthcare providers to enable quicker diagnoses and treatments on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
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Introduction: Late-life air pollution exposure is associated with an increased risk for dementia, with this effect exacerbated among apolipoprotein E-4 (ApoE-4) carriers. However, whether midlife occupational exposures likewise influence dementia outcomes, and varies as a function of ApoE-4 status is unknown.

Methods: Using data from 3814 participants in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study (WLS), we employed weighted logistic regression to evaluate associations between midlife occupational respiratory exposures and late-life air pollution on all-cause dementia risk, stratified by ApoE-4 status.

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Background: Transthoracic echocardiography, a validated tool for risk assessment in non-pregnant population with sickle cell disease (SCD), uses tricuspid regurgitant velocity (TRV) over 2.5 m/s is an independent mortality risk factor. Its applicability in obstetrics lacks sufficient evidence.

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Article Synopsis
  • Patterns of failure and salvage treatment options for anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) post-definitive IMRT were investigated, revealing limited data on patient outcomes after recurrence.
  • A study of 375 ASCC patients showed significant locoregional failure (12%) and distant failure (13%) rates, with 73% progression-free survival and 80% overall survival at six years, emphasizing poorer outcomes for those with locoregional failure.
  • Salvage therapies improved survival chances significantly, with 30% of patients alive after ten years, contrasting sharply with those receiving only chemotherapy or supportive care.
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Background: Eswatini has a high HIV prevalence in adults and, despite being one of the first countries to achieve the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, AIDS-related deaths are still high.

Objectives: This study describes the causes of death among people living with HIV (PLHIV) receiving care at five clinics in Eswatini.

Method: A cross-sectional review of sociodemographic, clinical and mortality data of deceased clients who received care from 01 January 2021 to 30 June 2022, was conducted.

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Spine Pain.

Continuum (Minneap Minn)

October 2024

Objective: Spine pain is one of the most common presenting concerns in health care settings. This article reviews clinical strategies for evaluating and managing patients with spine pain.

Latest Developments: Minimally invasive interventional procedures, virtual reality, predictive analytics, neuromodulation, and other evolving technologies are significantly impacting the management of spine pain.

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Childhood overweight/obesity is associated with stress-related psychopathology, yet the pathways connecting childhood obesity to stress susceptibility are poorly understood. We employed a systems biology approach with 62 adolescent Lewis rats fed a Western-like high-saturated fat diet (WD, 41% kcal from fat) or a control diet (CD, 13% kcal from fat). A subset of rats underwent a 31-day model of predator exposures and social instability (PSS).

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Background: Malnutrition screening is not widely practiced in outpatient cancer centers. This review aims to determine the validity of malnutrition screening tools and provide recommendations for clinical use.

Methods: Studies identified by a systematic review assessed the general validity of screening tools in adult oncology outpatients from five databases through 2022.

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Amphiphilic supramolecular materials based on biodegradable cyclodextrins (CDs) have been known to self-assemble into different types of thermotropic liquid crystals, including smectic and hexagonal columnar mesophases. Previous studies on amphiphilic CDs bearing 14 aliphatic chains at the secondary face and 7 oligoethylene glycol (OEG) chains at the primary face showed that the stability of the mesophase can be rationally tuned through implementation of terminal functional groups to the OEG chains. Here, we report the syntheses of first examples of crown ether-functionalized amphiphilic cyclodextrins that unexpectedly form thermotropic bicontinuous cubic phases.

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Background: Potential differences in organ preservation between total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) regimens integrating long-course chemoradiotherapy (LCCRT) and short-course radiotherapy (SCRT) in rectal cancer remain undefined.

Patients And Methods: This natural experiment arose from a policy change in response to the COVID-19 pandemic during which our institution switched from uniformly treating patients with LCCRT to mandating that all patients be treated with SCRT. Our study includes 323 locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma patients treated with LCCRT-based or SCRT-based TNT from January 2018 to January 2021.

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A 76-year-old male Vietnam veteran with a medical history of OSA on CPAP, mild COPD, Parsonage-Turner syndrome (a rare neurologic syndrome manifesting with shoulder and arm pain), hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux, hiatal hernia, and prior endocarditis presented with 1 year duration progressive exertional dyspnea with minimal activity by referral from an outside pulmonologist. The patient reported possible exposure to Agent Orange during his service but was otherwise without significant occupational or environmental exposures. His exercise tolerance was well-maintained up until the last 12 months.

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Primary liposarcoma of the lung is an exceedingly rare phenomenon, with fewer than ten cases reported in prior literature as of 2024. Rarer still, dedifferentiated liposarcoma of pulmonary origin is even less frequently reported, with only two cases having been described. Here, we detail the case of a 66-year-old female who presented with a large left-sided obstructing lung mass and underwent bronchoscopy with tumor cryoprobe debulking.

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Fall injuries often occur on extension ladders. The extendable fly section of an extension ladder is typically closer to the user than the base section, though this design is minimally justified. This study investigates the effects of reversing the fly on foot placement, frictional requirements, adverse stepping events (repositioning the foot or kicking the rung), and user preferences.

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