Safety and efficacy of nipocalimab in adults with generalised myasthenia gravis (Vivacity-MG3): a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Background: Given burdensome side-effects and long latency for efficacy with conventional agents, there is a continued need for generalised myasthenia gravis treatments that are safe and provide consistently sustained, long-term disease control. Nipocalimab, a neonatal Fc receptor blocker, was associated with dose-dependent reductions in total IgG and anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies and clinically meaningful improvements in the Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) scale in patients with generalised myasthenia gravis in a phase 2 study. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of nipocalimab in a phase 3 study.

Substitution load revisited: a high proportion of deaths can be selective.

Haldane's Dilemma refers to the concern that the need for many "selective deaths" to complete a substitution (i.e. selective sweep) creates a speed limit to adaptation.

Long-Term Therapeutic Effects of Ac-DOTA-E[c(RGDfK)] Induced by Radiosensitization via G2/M Arrest in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

: Alpha radionuclide therapy has emerged as a promising novel strategy for cancer treatment; however, the therapeutic potential of Ac-labeled peptides in pancreatic cancer remains uninvestigated. : In the cytotoxicity study, tumor cells were incubated with Ac-DOTA-RGD. DNA damage responses (γH2AX and 53BP1) were detected using flowcytometry or immunohistochemistry analysis.

Central Asia Cold Case: Siberian Pine Fingers New Suspects in Growth Decline CA 1700 CE.

Tree-ring width chronologies of Du Tour from near the upper treeline in the Western Sayan, Southern Siberia are found to have an exceptional (below mean-3SD) multi-year drop near 1700 CE, highlighted by the seven narrowest-ring years in a 1524-2022 regional chronology occurring in the short span of one decade. Tree rings are sometimes applied to reconstruct seasonal air temperatures; therefore, it is important to identify other factors that may have contributed to the growth suppression. The spatiotemporal scope of the "nosedive" in tree growth is investigated with a large network of (14 sites) and Ledeb.

Poly(amic acid)-Polyimide Copolymer Interfacial Layers for Self-Powered CHNHPbI Photovoltaic Photodiodes.

Hybrid organohalide perovskites have received considerable attention due to their exceptional photovoltaic (PV) conversion efficiencies in optoelectronic devices. In this study, we report the development of a highly sensitive, self-powered perovskite-based photovoltaic photodiode (PVPD) fabricated by incorporating a poly(amic acid)-polyimide (PAA-PI) copolymer as an interfacial layer between a methylammonium lead iodide (CHNHPbI, MAPbI) perovskite light-absorbing layer and a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) hole injection layer. The PAA-PI interfacial layer effectively suppresses carrier recombination at the interfaces, resulting in a high power conversion efficiency () of 11.

Epidemiology of Chagas Disease in the United States of America: A Short Review and Some Comments.

The epidemiology of Chagas disease in humans has markedly changed within the past several decades in the United States of America. This report discusses autochthonous cases of Chagas disease as well as disease in immigrants from Latin American countries. Suggestions for epidemiology research and medical care are discussed given the evolving epidemiology of the disease in the United States of America.

Simultaneous Classification of Objects with Unknown Rejection (SCOUR) Using Infra-Red Sensor Imagery.

Recognizing targets in infra-red images is an important problem for defense and security applications. A deployed network must not only recognize the known classes, but it must also reject any new or objects without confusing them to be one of the known classes. Our goal is to enhance the ability of existing (or pretrained) classifiers to detect and reject unknown classes.

Characterization of the Sodium Multi-Vitamin Transporter in the Mosquito and Its Capacity to Mobilize Pantothenate and Biotin.

Pantothenate (Pan), or vitamin B5, is essential for the synthesis of co-enzyme A (CoA), acetyl-CoA, and numerous downstream physiological processes. We previously demonstrated that Pan is not only essential for mosquito survival, but also for the development of malaria parasites within the mosquito, suggesting that targeting Pan and CoA biosynthesis may be a novel approach for malaria control. However, little is known about how Pan is acquired and mobilized within the mosquito.

Leveraging the McGeer Criteria to Estimate the Frequency of Inappropriate Antibiotic Prescribing for Urinary and Respiratory Tract Infections Relative to the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic at a Skilled Nursing Facility.

: The COVID-19 pandemic affected antimicrobial stewardship in healthcare, including Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs). This study aimed to (1) assess the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and identify predictors of inappropriate use; (2) analyze changes in prescribing practices relative to the pandemic's onset. : A retrospective review of electronic medical records from a 300-bed SNF (March 2019-March 2021) identified suspected UTIs and RTIs based on laboratory tests and antibiotic requests.

Relations Between Parental Emotion Talk and Preschoolers' Emotion Expressions in Low-Income Chinese American and Mexican American Families.

: Preschool children learn to express emotions in accordance with sociocultural norms. Parental emotion talk (ET) has been theorized to shape these processes. Limited research has examined preschoolers' observed emotion expressions and emotion-related behaviors in culturally diverse samples.

Efficacy of Health Literacy Interventions for Caregivers of Individuals with Neurodevelopmental and Chronic Conditions: A Rapid Review.

Background/objectives: Caregivers of individuals with neurodevelopmental and chronic health conditions require health literacy (HL) skills for the long-term management of these conditions. The aim of this rapid review was to investigate the efficacy of HL interventions for these caregivers.

Methods: Five databases (Cochrane Central, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO) were searched.

Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants in the Management of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis-Where Do We Stand?

Background: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVT) is a rare cause of stroke, constituting 0.5-3% of all strokes with an extremely varied spectrum of presentation, predisposing factors, neuroimaging findings, and eventual outcomes. A high index of suspicion is needed because timely diagnosis can significantly alter the natural course of the disease, reduce acute complications, and improve long-term outcomes.

A Retrospective Analysis Evaluating the Impact of Neighborhood Deprivation on Birth Weight in Phoenix, Arizona.

Background: Health inequities begin before birth and are influenced by pregnancy conditions, race/ethnicity, social class, and environment. Research indicates that, in the United States, Black women are significantly more likely to have low-birth-weight babies compared to White women. Interestingly, Hispanic women in the United States do not experience this birth weight inequity.

Population genetic structure of Phaedranassa cinerea Ravenna (Amaryllidaceae) and conservation implications.

Background: Andean orography has shaped the endemism of plant species in montane forests, creating a mosaic of habitats in small and isolated areas. Understanding these endemic species' genetic diversity patterns is crucial for their conservation. Phaedranassa cinerea (Amaryllidaceae), a species restricted to the western Andes of Ecuador, is listed as "vulnerable" according to the IUCN criteria.

Pterygoid implants as alternative to bone augmentation in implant dentistry.

The ultimate dental implant challenge is reconstruction of the severely resorbed maxilla, especially in patients with long-term edentulism or multiple previous failed attempts at dental implant placement and full-arch implant rehabilitation. Before implant dentistry, complete dentures, which are limited by poor retention and lack of support that the alveolar ridge offers in atrophic maxillae, were the only option for these patients. Pterygoid implants are now a valid and valuable resource for the rehabilitation of the posterior atrophic maxilla.

Intratympanic administration of dexamethasone attenuates radiation induced damage to middle ear mucosa.

Radiotherapy (RTx) is a highly effective treatment for head and neck cancer that can cause concurrent damage to surrounding healthy tissues. In cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the auditory apparatus is inevitably exposed to radiation fields and sustains considerable damage, resulting in dysfunction. To date, little research has been conducted on the changes induced by RTx in the middle ear and the underlying mechanisms involved.

Repurposing Mitochondria-Targeted Therapeutics for Kidney Diseases.

The kidney is one of the most metabolically demanding organs in the human body and requires a large amount of energy, in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), to perform and maintain normal renal functions. To meet this energy demand, proximal tubule cells within the nephron segments of the renal cortex are mitochondrially dense with high oxygen consumption rates. Mitochondria are complex organelles involved in diverse cellular and molecular functions, including the production of ATP, calcium homeostasis, and phospholipid regulation.

Pediatric Transplant and Cellular Therapy Consortium RESILIENT Conference on Pediatric Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease Survivorship after Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: Part II. Organ Dysfunction and Immune Reconstitution Considerations for children with chronic GVHD after Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

While highly morbid forms of chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) and severe late effects of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) can impact children and adults alike, unique considerations arise in pediatric cases regarding diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and likelihood of resolution. As children can present with atypical features of cGVHD, and with more significant disease due to inability to communicate symptoms, they may be at increased risk for highly morbid forms of cGVHD and incur greater subsequent late effects, which may be more pronounced in those with underlying chromosomal breakage syndromes, with higher prevalence in pediatric HCT recipients. The long-term effects of cGVHD and its therapies include impaired immune reconstitution, leading to increased risks of infection and secondary malignant neoplasms.

Targeting alarmins in asthma- From the bench to the clinic.

Over the past two decades, mechanistic studies of allergic and type 2 (T2)-mediated airway inflammation have led to multiple approved therapies for the treatment of moderate-to-severe asthma. The approval and availability of these monoclonal antibodies targeting immunoglobulin E, a type 2 cytokine (IL-5) and/or cytokine receptors (IL-5Rα, IL-4Rα) has been central to the progresses made in the management of moderate-to-severe asthma over this period. However, there are persistent gaps in clinician's ability to provide precise care given that many patients with type 2-high asthma do not respond to the IgE or T2 cytokine-targeting therapies and patients with type 2-low asthma have limited therapeutic options.

Cardiopulmonary Impact of the Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum in Pediatric patients: A Prospective Pilot Study.

Introduction: The physiologic benefits of the minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) on cardiopulmonary function are poorly understood in pediatrics. We sought to examine the effects of MIRPE on exercise response during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).

Methods: A prospective-pilot study was conduct of patients ≤18 years who presented for pectus bar removal.