Associations of fire smoke and other pollutants with incident rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease.

Objective: Determine whether pollutants such as fire smoke-related particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM) are associated with incident rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and RA-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD).

Methods: This case-control study used Veterans Affairs data 10/1/2009-12/31/2018.

Factors Influencing Telehealth Satisfaction Among Liver and Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients now have widespread access to telehealth, but the factors influencing their satisfaction still need to be understood. This cross-sectional study explored potential contributors to telehealth satisfaction among SOT recipients, including liver, kidney, and simultaneous liver-kidney recipients. A total of 136 adult SOT recipients completed an online survey.

Patient-Centric Approach for the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease in Older People.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this review is to outline considerations for treating older adults with rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) as it relates to infection, comorbidities, cancer, and quality of life.

Recent Findings: The recent 2023 American College of Rheumatology/American College of Chest Physicians guideline conditionally recommended specific disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), antifibrotics, and short-term glucocorticoids to treat RA-ILD. Since RA-ILD often affects older adults, we contextualize these pharmacologic options related to infection, gastrointestinal (GI) effects, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and quality of life.

One is not like the other: health quality of life scores vary in neuromuscular EOS by diagnosis.

Purpose: The etiology of early-onset scoliosis (EOS) has been shown to significantly influence baseline parent-reported health-related quality of life (HrQOL). In combining these etiology groups, we obligatorily lump together many disparate diagnoses, particularly true in the neuromuscular (NM) cohort. We sought to evaluate the influence of underlying neuromuscular diagnosis on the HrQOL at 5 years following surgery for EOS.

Proteomic signature of HIV-associated subclinical left atrial remodeling and incident heart failure.

People living with HIV are at higher risk of heart failure and associated left atrial remodeling compared to people without HIV. Mechanisms are unclear but have been linked to inflammation and premature aging. Here we obtain plasma proteomics concurrently with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in two independent study populations to identify parallels between HIV-related and aging-related immune dysfunction that could contribute to atrial remodeling and clinical heart failure.

Deep imaging of LepR stromal cells in optically cleared murine bone hemisections.

Tissue clearing combined with high-resolution confocal imaging is a cutting-edge approach for dissecting the three-dimensional (3D) architecture of tissues and deciphering cellular spatial interactions under physiological and pathological conditions. Deciphering the spatial interaction of leptin receptor-expressing (LepR) stromal cells with other compartments in the bone marrow is crucial for a deeper understanding of the stem cell niche and the skeletal tissue. In this study, we introduce an optimized protocol for the 3D analysis of skeletal tissues, enabling the visualization of hematopoietic and stromal cells, especially LepR stromal cells, within optically cleared bone hemisections.

Frailty index predicts adverse short- and long-term outcomes in older adults with rib fractures.

Background: Older adults with rib fractures pose an increasing clinical and financial burden on healthcare. Identifying and addressing the increased risk of adverse outcomes has been a key objective in geriatric co-management of surgical patients. The Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment-based Frailty Index (FI-CGA) is a useful predictor of complications and mortality in older adults, but its value in rib fracture management remains unclear.

INTERCEPT-AD, a phase 1 study of intravenous sabirnetug in participants with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Soluble species of multimeric amyloid-beta including globular amyloid-beta oligomers (AβOs) and linear amyloid-beta protofibrils are toxic to neurons. Sabirnetug (ACU193) is a humanized monoclonal antibody, raised against globular species of soluble AβO, that has over 650-fold greater binding affinity for AβOs over monomers and appears to have relatively little binding to amyloid plaque.

Objectives: To assess safety, pharmacokinetics, and exploratory measures including target engagement, biomarker effects, and clinical efficacy of sabirnetug in participants with early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (AD; defined as mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to AD).

Genetic predisposition to high circulating levels of interleukin 6 and risk for Alzheimer's disease. Discovery and replication.

Importance: Aging is accompanied by immune dysregulation, which has been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Individuals who are genetically predisposed to elevated levels of proinflammatory mediators might be at increased risk for AD.

Objective: To investigate whether genetic propensity for higher circulating levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) is associated with AD risk.

Key considerations for combination therapy in Alzheimer's clinical trials: Perspectives from an expert advisory board convened by the Alzheimer's drug discovery foundation.

There is growing consensus in the Alzheimer's community that combination therapy will be needed to maximize therapeutic benefits through the course of the disease. However, combination therapy raises complex questions and decisions for study sponsors, from preclinical research through clinical trial design to regulatory, statistical, and operational considerations. In January 2024, the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation convened an expert advisory board to discuss the key considerations in each of these areas.

Long-term Outcomes of Definitive Chemoradiation with Proton Therapy for Treatment of Carcinoma of the Anal Canal: Combined Analysis of Two Prospective Trials.

Purpose/objective(s): While definitive chemoradiation (CRT) with 5-FU/MMC remains the standard of care for localized anal cancer, treatment is associated with significant acute and late toxicity. Proton radiation therapy (RT) may potentially reduce such toxicity. Here, we assess the long-term outcomes of anal cancer patients treated with CRT using proton RT in two prospective pilot studies.

Routine Sperm Cryopreservation before Vasectomy Is Not Cost-Effective and Does Not Increase Live Birth Rates Compared to Surgical Sperm Retrieval or Vasectomy Reversal.

Objectives: To determine if routine pre-vasectomy sperm cryopreservation is more cost-effective than fertility restoration for patients who desire additional children following vasectomy?

Methods: A scoping review was performed to collect published data regarding efficacy and outcomes of cryopreservation, vasectomy reversal, surgical sperm retrieval, and assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Cost data were collected from US-based facilities performing cryopreservation and andrology clinical care. A cost-effectiveness model was generated using TreeAge Pro cost-effectiveness modeling software with three different variations representing a balanced scenario with median expected parameter values, a scenario with assumptions/variables favoring pre-vasectomy cryopreservation, and a scenario favoring fertility restoration.

Dietary blueberry before and/or after exposure to HZE particle radiation attenuates neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, glial cell activation, and memory deficits in rats.

Background: Acute neuroinflammatory and oxidative-stress (OS)-inducing stressors, such as high energy and charge (HZE) particle irradiation, produce accelerated aging in the brain. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant foods, such as blueberries (BB), attenuate neuronal and cognitive deficits when administered to rodents before or both before and after HZE particle exposure. However, the effects of post-stressor treatments are unknown and may be important to repair initial damage and prevent progressive neurodegeneration.

Update on Mast Cell Biology.

Mast cells (MCs) are heterogeneous tissue-resident effector cells thought to play central roles in allergic inflammatory disease, yet the degree of heterogeneity and nature of these roles has remained elusive. In recent years, advances in tissue culture systems, pre-clinical mouse models, and the continued spread of single-cell RNA sequencing has greatly advanced our understanding of MC phenotypes in health and disease. These approaches have identified novel interactions of MC subsets with immune cells, neurons, and tissue structural cells, changing our understanding of how MCs both drive and help resolve tissue inflammation, reshape tissue microenvironments, and influence host behavior.

Peripheral Vascular Emboli in Patients with Infective Endocarditis are Common.

Objective: Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and places patients at risk for subsequent peripheral vascular emboli. Our goals were to analyze the incidence of peripheral emboli and their associated complications and outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective single-center review of all patients with IE from 2013-2021 was performed.

Compensation Study of Vascular Surgeons in the United States.

Objective: The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) partnered with Phairify, Inc, an organization with experience in physician compensation data compilation for several other medical specialties, to survey its membership and assess factors influencing vascular surgeon compensation.

Methods: The SVS Compensation Study Task Force developed a vascular surgery-specific survey between January 2023 and May 2023 including experience level, academic rank, bonuses, incentives, gender, race, ethnicity, geography, on-call pay, and other factors influencing overall reimbursement. After a soft launch on May 1, 2023, with an initial phase of SVS leadership engagement in completion, the survey was formally introduced to the SVS membership on June 14, 2023.

The Effect of Aneurysm Diameter on Perioperative Outcomes Following Complex Endovascular Repair.

Objectives: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for large infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) has been associated with worse outcomes compared to EVAR for smaller AAAs. Whether these findings apply to complex AAAs (cAAA) remains uncertain.

Methods: We identified all intact complex EVAR (cEVAR) from 2012-2024 in the Vascular Quality Initiative.

Statistical harmonization of versions of measures across studies using external data: self-rated health and self-rated memory.

Purpose: Harmonizing variables for constructs measured differently across studies is essential for comparing, combining, and generalizing results. We developed and fielded a brief survey to harmonize Likert and continuous versions of measures for two constructs, self-rated health and self-rated memory, for use in studies of French older adults.

Methods: We recruited 300 participants from a French memory clinic in 2023 to answer both the Likert and continuous versions of self-rated health and self-rated memory questions.

Prevalence and impact of parental co-morbid anxiety and depression during the first 2 years postpartum in China.

Background: Parental postpartum co-morbid anxiety and depression negatively impact personal well-being, family dynamics, and child developmental outcomes. This study investigates the prevalence of co-morbid anxiety and depression in both mothers and fathers during the first 2 years postpartum in China, and to explore its associations with parental family support, maternal health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and child development.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in China, involving families with children aged 0-2 years who participated in community child health care.

Baseline predictors of cross-sectional and longitudinal performance on the symbol digit modalities test in individuals with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Cognitive impairment occurs frequently in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) at some point in the course of the disease. However, not all PwMS develop cognitive difficulties suggesting a role for important moderating factors. We examined baseline predictors of cross-sectional and longitudinal change in cognitive performance in PwMS.

Utilizing natural language processing to identify pediatric patients experiencing status epilepticus.

Purpose: Compare the identification of patients with established status epilepticus (ESE) and refractory status epilepticus (RSE) in electronic health records (EHR) using human review versus natural language processing (NLP) assisted review.

Methods: We reviewed EHRs of patients aged 1 month to 21 years from Boston Children's Hospital (BCH). We included all patients with convulsive ESE or RSE during admission.