Atrial Fibrillation as a Predictor of Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Background: Aging of the population has resulted in more patients living with atrial fibrillation (AF) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AF is associated with macro- and micro-thromboembolism, microvascular dysfunction, and system inflammation. Organ systems sensitive to the long-term systemic and vascular disease associations of AF will likely develop dysfunction over time.

Gender norms and sexual violence among South African adolescents: discrepancies between personal attitudes and perceived peer norms.

Social norms, particularly those pertaining to gender equity, can shape attitudes and behaviors that contribute to adolescent sexual violence (SV). This study examines personal attitudes and perceived peer norms regarding gender equity and associations with perpetration of SV among 100 South Africans aged 13-17 in 2019. We assessed: (1) sexual activity and SV behaviors and (2) personal attitudes and perceived peer norms around gender equity.

Examining Practices for Youth Illegal Sexual Behaviors which May Warrant De-Implementation: Overview and Recommendations.

Youth problem sexual behaviors (PSBs), and particularly youth illegal sexual behaviors, have deleterious consequences for youth who engage in them, including removal from the home, perpetration of non-sexual offenses, and chronic involvement with the child welfare and juvenile legal systems (Lussier, Juvenile sex offending through a developmental life course criminology perspective: An agenda for policy and research). Further, individuals who are victims of youth PSBs also experience poor mental and physical health outcomes, resulting in a significant public health expenditure (Hailes et al., Long-term outcomes of childhood sexual abuse: An umbrella review).

Amyloid-Related Imaging Abnormalities With Donanemab in Early Symptomatic Alzheimer Disease: Secondary Analysis of the TRAILBLAZER-ALZ and ALZ 2 Randomized Clinical Trials.

Importance: Amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) are the major adverse event associated with amyloid-targeting immunotherapy. Identifying clinical features and individual risk factors for ARIA could facilitate effective prediction and prevention strategies.

Objective: To characterize ARIA in participants treated with donanemab.

Evaluating the Effect of Video Source and Other Video Characteristics on the Quality, Reliability, Actionability, and Understandability of Videos on Acromioclavicular Joint Repair.

Purpose:  This study aims to evaluate video quality, reliability, actionability, and understandability differences based on length, popularity, and source credentials (physician versus non-physician). The hypothesis suggests that current videos are of low quality and limited usefulness to patients, highlighting significant disparities based on the credentials of the video source.

Methods:  The phrase "acromioclavicular joint separation" was searched on YouTube.

Does structural compromise of the aorta in patients with aortic pathologies predict increased spinal and vascular complications and reoperations in patients undergoing anterior approach to the spine?

Objectives: Anterior spinal fusion (ASF) presents unique challenges, including the proximity of critical anatomic structures. Previous reports have detailed vascular injuries during exposure/approach; however, it is not well-documented whether structural aortic pathology, such as aneurysm, dissection, atherosclerosis, aortitis, or aortic tumors, impacts postoperative outcomes following anterior approach to the spine for spinal fusion.

Materials And Methods: Using the New York State Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System, thoracolumbar ASF patients with a history of aneurysm, dissection, atherosclerosis, aortitis, or aortic tumors (APath) were identified and matched to patients with no aortic pathologies (No-APath).

Prior authorization and utilization management for post-acute home health in Medicare Advantage: the motivations, players, processes, unique challenges, and impacts on patient care.

In 2024, 90% of Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees were in a plan that required prior authorization of home health care. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 44 leaders of MA plans, post-acute care (PAC) management companies, and home health agencies (HHAs) across the country to understand their experiences with prior authorization and utilization management (UM) of post-acute home health care. Our analysis of these interviews revealed that representatives of MA plans and PAC management companies report varying motives and approaches to prior authorization for post-acute home health care, resulting in varied experiences for HHAs.

Neural signal analysis in chronic stroke: advancing intracortical brain-computer interface design.

Introduction: Intracortical Brain-computer interfaces (iBCIs) are a promising technology to restore function after stroke. It remains unclear whether iBCIs will be able to use the signals available in the neocortex overlying stroke affecting the underlying white matter and basal ganglia.

Methods: Here, we decoded both local field potentials (LFPs) and spikes recorded from intracortical electrode arrays in a person with chronic cerebral subcortical stroke performing various tasks with his paretic hand, with and without a powered orthosis.

Interobserver reproducibility of a hybrid three-tier grading system of papillary nonmuscle invasive urothelial carcinoma: an international Uropathology study.

Aims: A hybrid-three tier system with low grade (LG), high grade- G2 (HG-G2), high grade- G3 (HG-G3) has been proposed in recognition of, and to help address, the clinical heterogeneity within high grade WHO 2004/2022. We assessed interobserver reproducibility amongst international uropathologists using this three-tier approach.

Methods And Results: Papillary Ta nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) specimens (n = 30) were selected and graded by two uropathologists and assessed using WHO 2004/2022 and WHO 1973 and categorized as LG (n = 15), HG-G2 (n = 8), HG-G3 (n = 7), and photographed at 10× and 20× magnification.

High Anticholinergic Burden of Patients Hospitalized for Hip Fracture Reveals a Target for Deprescribing.

Objectives: Anticholinergic medications can produce harmful side effects, such as ataxia and delirium, in older adults. Older adults with hip fractures are particularly vulnerable, yet they are often prescribed these medications. This study aimed to evaluate the anticholinergic burden (ACB) before and after hospitalization for hip fracture, to identify potential targets for deprescribing.

Improvement in clinician confidence in and knowledge of Diabetic Ketoacidosis management following a case-based curriculum in Kenya.

Background: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a common emergency associated with significant morbidity and mortality in low resource settings. Prompt diagnosis and correct management improves outcomes. To improve clinician knowledge and confidence in DKA management, we designed a novel curriculum for training local clinicians in a low-resource setting.

Prognostic and molecular multi-platform analysis of CALGB 40603 (Alliance) and public triple-negative breast cancer datasets.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and heterogeneous disease that remains challenging to target with traditional therapies and to predict risk. We provide a comprehensive characterization of 238 stage II-III TNBC tumors with paired RNA and DNA sequencing data from the CALGB 40603 (Alliance) clinical trial, along with 448 stage II-III TNBC tumors with paired RNA and DNA data from three additional datasets. We identify DNA mutations associated with RNA-based subtypes, specific TP53 missense mutations compatible with potential neoantigen activity, and a consistently highly altered copy number landscape.

Adapting and implementing a pre-hospital trauma program for community health responders: A pilot study from rural Nepal.

Introduction: Effective pre-hospital care is critical for improving trauma outcomes, yet pre-hospital systems are underdeveloped in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Nepal, where trauma-related deaths are rising. Community health responders (CHRs) have the potential to reduce time to post-injury care in rural settings, where other health infrastructure may be unavailable. This pilot study assessing the feasibility and preliminary impact of CHR based program in rural Nepal.

Implementing a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) promotion intervention among persons who inject drugs: Perspectives from community and research implementation partners.

Background: Clinical guidelines recommend pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV among persons who inject drugs (PWID), yet few are reached by this evidence-based intervention. To address this challenge, we are conducting a clinical trial to evaluate the impact of contingency management (CM) with stepped care to PrEP adherence and support services (PASS) among PWID. We sought to elicit perspectives from community- and research-based implementation partners on barriers and facilitators to implementing this intervention package as well as describe perspectives around evidence-based research practices in general.

Prenatal PFAS exposures and cardiometabolic health in middle childhood in the MIREC cohort.

Studies on prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and cardiometabolic health in childhood have produced inconsistent results. In this study, we evaluated associations between prenatal PFAS exposures, individually and as a mixture, and cardiometabolic outcomes including insulin resistance, beta cell function, blood lipids, blood pressure and central adiposity during middle childhood (7-9 years of age) in a Canadian maternal-child cohort (n = 281). We also explored effect measure modification based on child sex and physical activity.

Repeatability of facial emotion processing over 12 weeks in healthy participants.

Few studies have assessed influences of mood state on facial emotion processing changes. We examined if the repeatability of fMRI facial emotional processing in healthy participants (HCs) is affected by mood state changes and hypothesized that fMRI activation would be stable but may be influenced by mood state fluctuations. In a multi-site study, thirty-two HCs underwent emotion faces task (EFT) fMRI and completed a post-scan facial emotion rating and the Profile of Mood States (POMS) ∼ 12 weeks apart.

A randomized phase II/III study of paclitaxel/carboplatin/metformin versus paclitaxel/carboplatin/placebo as initial therapy for measurable stage III or IVA, stage IVB, or recurrent endometrial cancer: An NRG oncology/GOG study.

Introduction: We evaluated the efficacy of the addition of the anti-diabetic drug metformin to standard-of-care paclitaxel and carboplatin (PC) in patients with advanced and recurrent endometrial cancer (EC).

Methods: In this phase II/III trial, EC patients with chemotherapy-naïve stage III/IVA (with measurable disease) and stage IVB or recurrent (with or without measurable disease) disease were randomly assigned to PC/metformin (850 mg BID) versus PC/placebo. Metformin or placebo was continued as maintenance therapy after completion of PC until disease progression.

Characteristics of anesthesia program that graduating medical students find important: A cross-sectional survey.

Background: Applying to residency programs and constructing a rank order list is a challenging process and is a vital task that fourth year medical students must undergo each year. The aim of our study was to identify common themes in what residency applicants are considering when applying to an anesthesiology program and compare them between male and female applicants.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed to all 1447 medical students who applied to the Brown University Anesthesiology residency program for the 2022 National Residency Matching Program (NRMP).

The prevalence and characterisation of energy drink consumption in North America: A systematic review.

Objectives: Energy drinks (ED), which contain high levels of caffeine, are widely popular and their consumption is increasing, especially among young people who may have limited understanding of the associated risks. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of ED consumption in North America (Canada, Mexico and the US) and to characterise ED consumers.

Study Design: Systematic review.

"Sometimes I'm interested in seeing a fuller story to tell with numbers" Implementing a forecasting dashboard for harm reduction and overdose prevention: a qualitative assessment.

Objectives: The escalating overdose crisis in the United States points to the urgent need for new and novel data tools. Overdose data tools are growing in popularity but still face timely delays in surveillance data availability, lack of completeness, and wide variability in quality by region. As such, we need innovative tools to identify and prioritize emerging and high-need areas.

COVID-19 booster doses reduce sex disparities in antibody responses among nursing home residents.

Background: Data suggest that antibody responses following COVID-19 vaccines are a correlate of protection. Some studies, including the clinical trials of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, did not stratify and evaluate whether antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccines differed between the sexes or with aging. This gap in research is particularly relevant for older populations such as nursing home residents (NHR).

Molecular testing in urinary cytology specimens: Current status and future directions.

Bladder cancer is a common type of urological cancer with high recurrence and mortality rates. Currently, it is diagnosed and monitored using minimal invasive cystoscopies and biopsies. Urinary cytology, the most widely accepted noninvasive and more economic urinary diagnosis method, aims to detect high grade urothelial carcinoma with a high specificity but low sensitivity, especially for detecting low-grade tumors.