Assessment of arousal recovery after cardiac arrest using diffusion kurtosis MRI with higher b-values: a pilot study.

Objective: Comatose survivors of cardiac arrest (CA) pose a complex challenge for physicians reliant on imperfect studies to determine the extent of neurologic injury. Clinically available imaging is frequently relied upon despite limited sensitivity. We conducted a prospective pilot study comparing diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI)-MRI and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) in comatose survivors of CA to investigate the benefit of utilizing higher diffusion b-values to enhance prediction of arousal recovery.

Gerontologic Biostatistics and Data Science: Aging Research in the Era of Big Data.

Introduced in 2010, the subdiscipline of gerontologic biostatistics was conceptualized to address the specific challenges of analyzing data from clinical research studies involving older adults. Since then, the evolving technological landscape has led to a proliferation of advancements in biostatistics and other data sciences that have significantly influenced the practice of gerontologic research, including studies beyond the clinic. Data science is the field at the intersection of statistics and computer science, and although the term "data science" was not widely used in 2010, the field has quickly made palpable effects on gerontologic research.

Association between patient race and emergency department physical restraint use in a statewide hospital system.

Objective: To measure the association between patient race and physical restraint use in the ED.

Methods: Adult patients presenting to eight rural, suburban, and urban EDs in a mid-Atlantic statewide hospital system ED between January 1, 2019 and June 30, 2022 were included. Those arriving already restrained, transported from detention centers, or who left before services were provided were excluded.

Proper duration of antibiotics after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the treatment of thoracic empyema.

Background: When chest tube drainage does not adequately resolve thoracic empyema, video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is often needed. However, the proper duration of antibiotics after VATS is poorly defined. Consequently, the objective of this study was to evaluate if short antibiotic durations post-VATS was equally effective compared to longer durations.

Age-related decline in blood-brain barrier function is more pronounced in males than females in parietal and temporal regions.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a pivotal role in protecting the central nervous system (CNS), and shielding it from potential harmful entities. A natural decline of BBB function with aging has been reported in both animal and human studies, which may contribute to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorders. Limited data also suggest that being female may be associated with protective effects on BBB function.

Clinical Performance of an N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Assay in Acute Heart Failure Diagnosis.

Background: We evaluated the Vitros® Immunodiagnostic Products N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) II assay for aiding in diagnosis of heart failure (HF) in patients with acute dyspnea.

Methods: Serum concentrations of NT-proBNP were measured in patient samples from 20 emergency departments across the United States. Study endpoints included sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, and predictive values for diagnosis of acute HF according to age-stratified cutoffs (450, 900, and 1800 pg/mL), and a rule-out age-independent cutoff (300 pg/mL).

Association of physical function with hospital readmissions among older adults: A systematic review.

Background: Hospital readmissions pose significant burdens on healthcare systems, particularly among older adults. While efforts to reduce readmissions have historically focused on medical management, emerging evidence suggests physical function may also play a role in successful care transitions. However, there is a limited understanding of the relationship between functional measures and readmission risk.

Guanine nucleotide exchange factors and colon neoplasia.

Despite many diagnostic and therapeutic advances, colorectal cancer (CRC) remains the second leading cause of cancer death for men and women in the United States. Alarmingly, for reasons currently unknown, the demographics of this disease have shifted towards a younger population. Hence, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying CRC initiation and progression and leveraging these findings for therapeutic purposes remains a priority.

Exploring the Link Between Factors in Musculoskeletal Oncology Surgery Fellowships and Industry Supplemental Income.

Introduction In the complex landscape of healthcare economics, the financial relationship between physicians and industry remains a topic of significant interest and reflection. While the dynamics of industry relationships in certain orthopedic subspecialties have been well documented, the intricacies of industry payments within musculoskeletal (MSK) oncology programs have yet to be thoroughly explored. In this study, we aim to examine the relationship between academic and industry productivity at the fellowship level.

Pallidal circuits drive addiction behavior.

Understanding the neural mechanisms that control addiction processes, including drug-seeking and relapse, is key to finding new targets for substance use disorder (SUD) pharmacotherapies and circuit-based therapies. Addictive drugs alter activity in distinct neural circuits that can lead to SUD symptoms, including compulsive drug craving and taking. This includes the pallidum, a region in the basal ganglia that acts as an integrator of associative, sensorimotor, and limbic information to shape motor responses, promote reward-learning, and regulate habit formation.

The Banff 2022 Kidney Meeting Report: Re-Appraisal of Microvascular Inflammation and the Role of Biopsy-Based Transcript Diagnostics.

The XVI-th Banff Meeting for Allograft Pathology was held in Banff, Alberta, Canada, from 19th-23rd September 2022, as a joint meeting with the Canadian Society of Transplantation. To mark the 30 anniversary of the first Banff Classification, pre-meeting discussions were held on the past, present, and future of the Banff Classification. This report is a summary of the meeting highlights that were most important in terms of their effect on the Classification, including discussions around microvascular inflammation and biopsy-based transcript analysis for diagnosis.

Overexpression of CDC42 causes accumulation of DNA damage leading to failure of oogenesis in triploid Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas.

Triploid Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas exhibits notable differences in fecundity, with the majority being sterile individuals, referred to as female β, which produce few oocytes, while a minority are fertile individuals, referred to as female α, which produce abundant oocytes. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these differences in triploid fecundity remain poorly understood. CDC42 has been implicated in processes related to increased DNA damage and genomic instability.

Association of phenotypic age and accelerated aging with severity and disability in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Objective: Biological age may be more accurate than chronological age in determining chronic health outcomes. However, few studies have shown the association between biological age and acute ischemic stroke (AIS). In this study we showed the association between phenotypic age (PhenoAge) or accelerated aging and severity and disability in patients with AIS.

ZNFX1 is a Novel Master Regulator in Epigenetically-induced Pathogen Mimicry and Inflammasome Signaling in Cancer.

DNA methyltransferase and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (DNMTis, PARPis) induce a stimulator of interferon (IFN) genes (STING)-dependent pathogen mimicry response (PMR) in ovarian (OC) and other cancers. We now show that combining DNMTis and PARPis upregulates expression of a little-studied nucleic-acid sensor, NFX1-type zinc finger-containing 1 protein (ZNFX1). We demonstrate that ZNFX1 is a novel master regulator for PMR induction in mitochondria, serving as a gateway for STING-dependent PMR.

α-Synuclein Strain Dynamics Correlate with Cognitive Shifts in Parkinson's Disease.

α-Synuclein (α-syn) strains can serve as discriminators between Parkinson's disease (PD) from other α-synucleinopathies. The relationship between α-syn strain dynamics and clinical performance as patients transition from normal cognition (NC) to cognitive impairment (CI) is not known. Here, we show that the biophysical properties and neurotoxicity of α-syn strains change as PD cognitive status transitions from NC to mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) and dementia (PD-D).

Nonunion Fractures: Trends in Epidemiology and Treatment of Femur Fractures, 2017-2022.

Background: The incidence of femur fractures has increased in recent years, along with the rate of surgery and subsequent nonunion following these fractures. Nonunion is a significant concern due to the burden it places on both patients and the healthcare system. This study aims to investigate the demographic factors associated with femoral shaft fracture nonunion by comparing two surgical management approaches: open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) with plating versus closed reduction and fixation using intramedullary nailing (IMN).

Association between differentiated HIV care delivery model and low-level viremia among people living with HIV in Rwanda.

Background: Low-level viremia (LLV) (HIV-RNA 51-999 copies/mL) is associated with increased risk of non viral load suppression (HIV-RNA ≥ 1000 copies/mL). We assessed the association between differentiated service delivery model (DSDM) and LLV among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Rwanda.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis using routinely collected data of adults living with HIV from 28-healthcare facilities in Rwanda before and after the introduction of DSDM.

The Pharmacogenomics Global Research Network Implementation Working Group: global collaboration to advance pharmacogenetic implementation.

Pharmacogenetics promises to optimize treatment-related outcomes by informing optimal drug selection and dosing based on an individual's genotype in conjunction with other important clinical factors. Despite significant evidence of genetic associations with drug response, pharmacogenetic testing has not been widely implemented into clinical practice. Among the barriers to broad implementation are limited guidance for how to successfully integrate testing into clinical workflows and limited data on outcomes with pharmacogenetic implementation in clinical practice.