Advances in aldo-keto reductases immobilization for biocatalytic synthesis of chiral alcohols.

Chiral alcohols are essential building blocks of numerous pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. Aldo-keto reductases (AKRs) constitute a superfamily of oxidoreductases that catalyze the reduction of aldehydes and ketones to their corresponding alcohols using NAD(P)H as a coenzyme. Knowledge about the crucial roles of AKRs immobilization in the biocatalytic synthesis of chiral alcohols is expanding.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring for Management of Type 2 Diabetes and Perinatal Outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the association between continuous glucose monitoring in pregnant people with type 2 diabetes and perinatal outcomes.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of pregnant people with type 2 diabetes who received prenatal care and delivered singleton, nonanomalous neonates at a single academic tertiary care center from November 1, 2019, to February 28, 2023. The primary outcome was a composite of neonatal morbidity, including hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, shoulder dystocia, large for gestational age at birth, preterm birth, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, or perinatal death.

Sexual risk characteristics, social vulnerability, and anal cancer screening uptake among men living with HIV in the deep south.

Without standard guidelines, there is a critical need to examine anal cancer screening uptake in the South which has the highest HIV incidence in the U.S. We identified factors associated with screening among men living with HIV (MLHIV) at a large academic HIV outpatient clinic in Alabama.

Predicting peripartum infection in laboring patients at high risk in Cameroon, Africa.

Objective: To develop a predictive model for peripartum infection among high risk laboring patients in Cameroon, Africa.

Study Design: We conducted a secondary analysis of the Cameroon Antibiotic Prophylaxis Trial (NCT03248297), a multicenter 3-arm double-blind randomized controlled trial of oral azithromycin ± amoxicillin among term pregnancies with prolonged labor or rupture of membranes in Cameroon 1/2018-5/2020. Patients with chorioamnionitis prior to randomization, study drug contraindications, or planned cesarean were excluded.

Variations in Genes Encoding Human Papillomavirus Binding Receptors and Susceptibility to Cervical Precancer.

Background: Cervical cancer oncogenesis starts with human papillomavirus (HPV) cell entry after binding to host cell surface receptors; however, the mechanism is not fully known. We examined polymorphisms in receptor genes hypothesized to be necessary for HPV cell entry and assessed their associations with clinical progression to precancer.

Methods: African American women (N = 1,728) from the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study were included.

Predicting Spontaneous Labor beyond 39 Weeks among Low-Risk Expectantly Managed Pregnant Patients.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to identify the characteristics associated with spontaneous labor onset in pregnant patients undergoing expectant management at greater than 39 weeks' gestation and delineate perinatal outcomes associated with spontaneous labor compared with labor induction.

Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies at ≥39 weeks' gestation delivered at a single center in 2013. The exclusion criteria were elective induction, cesarean delivery or presence of a medical indication for delivery at 39 weeks, more than one prior cesarean delivery, and fetal anomaly or demise.

RNA-seq analysis identifies transcriptomic profiles associated with anal cancer recurrence among people living with HIV.

Background: Chemoradiation therapy (CRT) is the standard of care for squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA), the most common type of anal cancer. However, approximately one fourth of patients still relapse after CRT.

Methods: We used RNA-sequencing technology to characterize coding and non-coding transcripts in tumor tissues from CRT-treated SCCA patients and compare them between 9 non-recurrent and 3 recurrent cases.

Coevolving stability and activity of LsCR by a single point mutation and constructing neat substrate bioreaction system.

Carbonyl reductase (CR)-catalyzed bioreduction in the organic phase and the neat substrate reaction system is a lasting challenge, placing higher requirements on the performance of enzymes. Protein engineering is an effective method to enhance the properties of enzymes for industrial applications. In the present work, a single point mutation E145A on our previously constructed CR mutant LsCR , coevolved thermostability, and activity.

Study on regional differences and influencing factors of energy consumption in China.

Energy is becoming more and more important in the process of development. Through cluster analysis, 30 provinces chosen from the Chinese mainland are divided into high, medium, and low energy consumption regions, and the Theil index is used to analyze the characteristics of total energy consumption and other characteristics of regional differences. Based on this, an enhanced Panel-STIRPAT model is constructed.

Timing of Adjunctive Azithromycin for Unscheduled Cesarean Delivery and Postdelivery Infection.

Objective: To estimate the association between timing of administration of adjunctive azithromycin for prophylaxis at unscheduled cesarean delivery and maternal infection and neonatal morbidity.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of a randomized trial of adjunctive azithromycin prophylaxis in patients with singleton gestations who were undergoing unscheduled cesarean delivery. The primary exposure was the timing of initiation of the study drug (after skin incision or 0-30 minutes, more than 30-60 minutes, or more than 60 minutes before skin incision).

How Accurate Is Oncologist Knowledge of Fertility Preservation Options, Cost, and Time in Female Adolescents and Young Adults?

Often cited barriers to fertility preservation (FP) among female adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients include cost and time. We hypothesized that oncologists overestimate the time and costs required for female FP. We distributed an electronic survey to physicians in oncology-related departments.

Factors That Influence Posthospital Infant Feeding Practices Among Women Who Deliver at a Baby Friendly Hospital in Southern United States.

The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative has had a positive impact on breastfeeding initiation; however, little is known about posthospital infant feeding practices among women who deliver at baby friendly hospitals. Therefore we sought to evaluate posthospital breastfeeding outcomes among women who deliver at a baby friendly hospital (BFH) by (1) estimating exclusive breastfeeding rates at the postpartum visit (PPV), (2) quantifying the exclusive breastfeeding discontinuation rate, and (3) identifying which factors are associated with breastfeeding discontinuation. This was a prospective cohort study of women aged 14 and over, who delivered at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Euglycemia after antenatal late preterm steroids: a multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

Background: Late preterm steroid administration can induce transient maternal and thus fetal hyperglycemia, which can increase production of fetal insulin and C-peptide. Infants delivered in this setting are subsequently at increased risk for hypoglycemia. Although maternal glycemic control before delivery is a key component of care for parturients with diabetes, this intervention has not been studied in the setting of late preterm steroid administration.

Effect of misoprostol on type 3 transformation zone of the cervix among Cameroonian women.

Background: Type 3 transformation zone (TZ) of the cervix has been shown to be associated with a four to five-fold increased risk of missed precancerous/cancerous lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intravaginal misoprostol on the TZ among women with Type 3 TZ in Cameroon.

Materials And Methods: A single dose of vaginal misoprostol (400 mcg or 600 mcg) was administered as part of the plan of care for women with Type 3 TZ during cervical cancer screening.

What Women Really Think About Breastfeeding and Breast Pumping: A Qualitative Analysis of Women Who Deliver at a Baby-Friendly Hospital.

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative has had a positive impact on breastfeeding initiation; however, posthospital exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates remain low. We aimed to analyze thoughts and attitudes toward breastfeeding at the postpartum visit among women who deliver at a Baby-Friendly hospital. Women ≥14 years who delivered a live-born infant at our center were eligible.

Single Dose of Oral Azithromycin With or Without Amoxicillin to Prevent Peripartum Infection in Laboring, High-Risk Women in Cameroon: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of single-dose azithromycin, with or without amoxicillin, with placebo to prevent peripartum infection in laboring women.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, three-group, double-blind randomized controlled trial of women with viable term nonanomalous pregnancies with either prolonged labor of 18 hours or longer or rupture of membranes for 8 hours or longer in Cameroon. Women with chorioamnionitis before randomization, study drug contraindications, or planned cesarean births were excluded.

Pathology findings among women with alterations in uterine bleeding patterns in cameroon.

Purpose: Endometrial cancer is on the rise in high-income countries but it has not been adequately studied in low-and-middle income countries especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), likely due to scarce pathology facilities. The purpose of this study was to characterize and quantify the prevalence of endometrial hyperplasia or cancer in a cohort of women with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) who underwent endometrial biopsy in Cameroon.

Methods: We designed a cross-sectional study using medical records to characterize women who underwent endometrial biopsy in the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS) from 2008 to 2019.

How fluoroquinolone preauthorization affects third- and fourth-generation cephalosporin use and resistance in a large academic hospital.

Objective: We observed an overall increase in the use of third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins after fluoroquinolone preauthorization was implemented. We examined the change in specific third- and fourth-generation cephalosporin use, and we sought to determine whether there was a consequent change in non-susceptibility of select Gram-negative bacterial isolates to these antibiotics.

Design: Retrospective quasi-experimental study.

Immunophenotype-associated gene signature in ductal breast tumors varies by receptor subtype, but the expression of individual signature genes remains consistent.

Background: In silico deconvolution of invasive immune cell infiltration in bulk breast tumors helps characterize immunophenotype, expands treatment options, and influences survival endpoints. In this study, we identify the differential expression (DE) of the LM22 signature to classify immune-rich and -poor breast tumors and evaluate immune infiltration by receptor subtype and lymph node metastasis.

Methods: Using publicly available data, we applied the CIBERSORT algorithm to estimate immune cells infiltrating the tumor into immune-rich and immune-poor groups.

A 12-year retrospective evaluation of anal pre-cancerous lesions and cancer in people living with HIV-1 infection in the Southeastern U.S.

Background: Anal cancer is rare in the general population in both genders in the US, but an increased incidence of anal cáncer (AC) has been reported among people living with HIV-1 infection (PLWH) and little is known among the population in South US.

Methods: In a retrospective study design, electronic health records from 2006 to 2018 were reviewed in a HIV clinical cohort at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Associations of demographic, sociodemographic, and HIV-clinical indicators were examined in univariate analyses between high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and AC cases and condition-free individuals.

HSV-infection-related herpetic anogenital ulcer disease among PLWH in southeastern US: electronic medical record based analysis.

Unlabelled: ObjectivesThe southeastern US is a domestic epicentre for incident HIV with high prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) coinfection. We estimated the incidence rates (IR) of symptomatic herpetic anogenital ulcer disease (HAUD) and assessed its associations with demographic and clinical characteristics, specifically with immunological markers using median, nadir and trajectory CD4 counts.

Methods: Electronic medical records (EMR) of over 7000 people living with HIV (PLWH) attending one of the leading HIV clinics in the southeastern US between 2006 and 2018 were reviewed and analysed.

Rates and Correlates of Incident Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Among Persons Living With HIV-1 Infection.

The prevalence of various comorbidities continue to rise in aging persons living with HIV-1 infection (PLWH), and our study here aimed to assess the rates and correlates of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in PLWH from a retrospective, southeastern U.S. cohort.

CD4 Trajectory Models and Onset of Non-AIDS-Defining Anal Genital Warts, Precancer, and Cancer in People Living With HIV Infection-1.

Background: It is unclear how the characteristics of CD4 counts predict non-AIDS-defining human papillomavirus-related anogenital warts (AGWs) and anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions/cancer (HSIL) in people living with HIV infection-1 (PLWH). We compared the associations between 3 CD4 counts measures and these disease outcomes in the study.

Methods: Retrospective sociobehavioral and clinical data from electronic health records of 4803 PLWH from 2006 to 2018 were included.