Beyond Food Assistance: A Scoping Review Examining Associations of Nonfood Social Safety Net Programs in the United States With Food Insecurity and Nutrition Outcomes.

Objective: To conduct a scoping review to summarize the state of the evidence on associations between participation in nonfood social safety net programs (eg, income assistance, housing assistance) in the United States and food- and nutrition insecurity-related outcomes.

Background: Food and nutrition insecurity are persistent public health challenges in the United States that increase chronic disease risk and exacerbate health disparities. Several food assistance programs enhance food and nutrition security.

Standard Versus Reduced Hydration to Improve Elimination of High-Dose Methotrexate in Pediatric Patients: A Controlled Crossover Trial.

Background: Hydration and urine alkalinization are the mainstays for the prevention of methotrexate-induced nephrotoxicity. Current oncology protocols recommend pediatric patients who are administered high-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) to be aggressively hydrated with an alkaline solution, which may lead to overhydration. This pilot study sought to determine whether reduced posthydration results in a shorter time to methotrexate elimination without increasing adverse effects.

Potassium-telluroether interactions: structural characterisation and computational analysis.

Dissolution of the potassium complex [K(ATe)(dme)] (1-Te) in THF, layering with hexanes, and cooling to -30 °C afforded X-ray quality crystals of [K(ATe)(THF)] (2-Te). The K-TeR distances in 2-Te are substantially shorter than those in 1-Te, and DFT and QTAIM calculations support the presence of K-TeR interactions, providing the first unambiguous examples of s-block-telluroether bonding. Attempts to prepare bulk quantities of 2-Te afforded [K(ATe)(THF)] (3-Te), and further drying yielded [K(ATe)(THF)] (4-Te) and [K(ATe)] (5-Te).

Metabolic and Bariatric Operation and the Path to Kidney Transplantation.

Background: Obesity is a significant barrier to kidney transplantation for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We aimed to evaluate the long-term impact of metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) on kidney transplantation access and outcomes in individuals with obesity and ESRD patients.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study using data from 64 US healthcare organizations included 132,989 individuals with obesity (BMI ≥30kg/m²) and ESRD requiring dialysis, of whom 6,263 (4.

The efficacy and effectiveness of customized CAD/CAM brackets in fixed orthodontic treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Recent advancements in computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology have led to the development of customized brackets for personalized treatment.

Objective: Comparing customized CAD/CAM brackets for their efficacy and effectiveness in orthodontic patients using systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature.

Search Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane's CENTRAL up to June 2024, with no language or date restrictions.

Erector Spinae Muscle to Epicardial Visceral Fat Ratio on Chest CT Predicts the Severity of Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Background: Chest computed tomography (CT) is a valuable tool for diagnosing and predicting the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and assessing extrapulmonary organs. Reduced muscle mass and visceral fat accumulation are important features of a body composition phenotype in which obesity and muscle loss coexist, but their relationship with COVID-19 outcomes remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between the erector spinae muscle (ESM) to epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) ratio (ESM/EAT) on chest CT and disease severity in patients with COVID-19.

Are Randomized Trials Better? Comparison of Baseline Covariate Balance of a Propensity Score-Balanced Lumbar Spine IDE Trial and Comparable RCTs.

Study Design: Prospective Observational Propensity Score.

Objectives: Randomization may lead to bias when the treatment is unblinded and there is a strong patient preference for treatment arms (such as in spinal device trials). This report describes the rationale and methods utilized to develop a propensity score (PS) model for an investigational device exemption (IDE) trial (NCT03115983) to evaluate decompression and stabilization with an investigational dynamic sagittal tether (DST) vs decompression and Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF) for patients with symptomatic grade I lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis.

HOTAIR expression as a biomarker in glioblastoma multiforme: a comprehensive meta-analysis of current evidence.

Purpose: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor. This meta-analysis investigates the association between HOTAIR expression levels and GBM.

Methods: We searched the literature for studies on HOTAIR expression in GBM patients.

Protein biochemistry and engineering drive the development of a carbonic anhydrase-based carbon dioxide sequestration strategy.

The sequestration of carbon dioxide using carbonic anhydrase (CA) is one of the most effective methods for mitigating global warming. The burning of fossil fuels releases large quantities of flue gas; because of its high temperature and of the alkaline conditions required for CaCO precipitation in the mineralization process, thermo-alkali-stable CAs are needed. In this context, Manyumwa et al.

Effectiveness of Root Canal Irrigation and Dressing for the Treatment of Asymptomatic Apical Periodontitis: A Systematic Review Assessing Complementary Timeframes.

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)) are used in root canal treatment. However, further research is needed to assess their effectiveness at time points not considered in previous guidelines. This review complements the systematic review by Rossi-Fedele and Rödig (2023) by considering time points excluded by the latter.

Distinct single cell transcriptional profile in CD4+ T-lymphocytes among obese children with asthma.

Obesity is a risk factor for asthma morbidity, associated with less responsiveness to inhaled corticosteroids. CD4+ T-cells are central to the immunology of asthma and may contribute to the unique obese asthma phenotype. We sought to characterize the single cell CD4+ Transcriptional profile differences in obese children with asthma compared to normal weight children with asthma.

Modeling Pathways by which the Caregiver TLC Psychoeducational Program Impacts Psychological Health of Caregivers.

Background And Objectives: The study seeks to elucidate the pathways by which the Caregiver TLC psycho-educational program impacts the psychological health of caregivers by examining the degree to which changes in self-efficacy, personal gains, and emotional support mediate the changes on perceived depression, anxiety and burden.

Research Design And Methods: Using pre-post data from the Caregiver TLC randomized controlled trial (n = 81) for each outcome and mediator pair, a series of multiple regression models were executed to test the degree to which the program's total effects on changes in depression, burden and anxiety from baseline to post-intervention are due to changes in each mediator variable from pre- and post-intervention assessments. Caregivers were primarily female (85%), White (62 %), Black (38%), with a median age of 62 and household income of $75,000+.

Nanoparticle-protein corona enhances accuracy of Ca-19.9-based pancreatic cancer classification.

Among the various types of pancreatic cancers, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most lethal and aggressive, due to its tendency to metastasize quickly and has a particularly low five-year survival rate. Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) is the only biomarker approved by the Food and Drug Administration for PDAC and has been a focal point in diagnostic strategies, but its sensitivity and specificity are not sufficient for early and accurate detection. To address this issue, we introduce a synergistic approach combining CA 19-9 levels with a graphene oxide (GO)-based blood test.

Educational attainment as a potential effect modifier of alcohol use and 100% alcohol-attributable mortality in the United States-A longitudinal analysis of mortality linked survey data from 1997 to 2018.

Aims: To measure effects between educational attainment and alcohol use as a driver of unequal alcohol-attributable mortality.

Design: Nation-wide cohort study using a longitudinal design, linking data from the 1997-2018 National Health Interview Survey to mortality data of the National Death Index in 2019. The study has an average follow-up time of 10.

VAX014 Activates Tumor-Intrinsic STING and RIG-I to Promote the Development of Antitumor Immunity.

In situ immunization (ISI) has emerged as a promising approach to bolster early phases of the cancer immunity cycle through improved T cell priming. One class of ISI agents, oncolytic viruses (OVs), has demonstrated clinical activity, but overall benefit remains limited. Mounting evidence suggests that due to their inherent vulnerability to antiviral effects of type I interferon (IFN), OVs have limited activity in solid tumors expressing stimulator of interferon genes (STING) and/or retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I).

Mechanisms of CO oxidation on high entropy spinels.

The CO oxidation reaction on (Co,Mg,Mn,Ni,Zn)(Al,Co,Cr,Fe,Mn)O and (Cr,Mn,Fe,Co,Ni)O high entropy spinel oxides was studied for what concerns its mechanism by means of soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy. In the (Cr,Mn,Fe,Co,Ni)O high entropy spinel, CO oxidation starts at 150 °C, and complete conversion to CO is obtained at 300 °C. For the (Co,Mg,Mn,Ni,Zn)(Al,Co,Cr,Fe,Mn)O spinel oxides, in contrast, the reaction starts at 200 °C, and complete conversion needs temperatures of the order of 350 °C.

Bioabsorbable magnesium-based bulk metallic glass composite (BMGC) for improved medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy in knee osteoarthritis.

Background And Objective: Osteoarthritis is a widespread and debilitating condition, particularly affecting the medial compartment of knee joint due to varus knee deformities. Medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) has emerged as an effective treatment, but it comes with challenges like fractures, correction loss, and nonunion, leading to unsatisfactory results in up to 26 % of patients. In response, our study explores the potential of a bioabsorbable magnesium-based bulk metallic glass composite (MgZnCa BMGC) enriched with molybdenum particles as an innovative solution for MOWHTO.

Initiation of primary T cell-B cell interactions and extrafollicular antibody responses in an organized microphysiological model of the human lymph node.

Antibody production is central to protection against new pathogens and cancers, as well as to certain forms of autoimmunity. Antibodies often originate in the lymph node (LN), specifically at the extrafollicular border of B cell follicles, where T and B lymphocytes physically interact to drive B cell maturation into antibody-secreting plasmablasts. In vitro models of this process are sorely needed to predict aspects of the human immune response.

Facilitation of Ca 3.2 channel gating in pain pathways reveals a novel mechanism of serum-induced hyperalgesia.

The Ca 3.2 isoform of T-type voltage-gated calcium channels plays a crucial role in regulating the excitability of nociceptive neurons; the endogenous molecules that modulate its activity, however, remain poorly understood. Here, we used serum proteomics and patch-clamp physiology to discover a novel peptide albumin (1-26) that facilitates channel gating by chelating trace metals that tonically inhibit Ca 3.

Intrinsic Opening of BK Channels Derives from Inherent Leakage in Hydrophobic Gating.

The big potassium (BK) channels remain open with a small limiting probability of ∼ 10 at minimal Ca and negative voltages < -100 mV. The molecular origin and functional significance of such "intrinsic opening" are not understood. Here we combine atomistic simulations and electrophysiological experiments to show that the intrinsic opening of BK channels is an inherent property of the vapor barrier, generated by hydrophobic dewetting of the BK inner pore in the deactivated state.

Enforced E-selectin ligand installation enhances homing and efficacy of adoptively transferred T cells.

Adoptive T-cell transfer has revolutionized the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, this approach has had very limited success in treating solid tumors, largely due to inadequate infiltration of vascularly administered T cells at tumor sites. The shear-resistant interaction between endothelial E-selectin and its cognate ligand expressed on leukocytes, sialyl Lewis X (sLe), is an essential prerequisite for extravasation of circulating leukocytes.

Genomic Resources for the Scuttle Fly : A Model Organism for Comparative Developmental Studies in Flies.

The order Diptera (true flies) holds promise as a model taxon in evolutionary developmental biology due to the inclusion of the model organism, , and the ability to cost-effectively rear many species in laboratories. One of them, the scuttle fly (Phoridae) has been used in evolutionary developmental biology for 30 years and is an excellent phylogenetic intermediate between fruit flies and mosquitoes but remains underdeveloped in genomic resources. Here, we present a chromosome-level assembly and annotation of and transcriptomes of 9 embryonic and 4 postembryonic stages.

Defining the Polycystin Pharmacophore Through HTS & Computational Biophysics.

Background And Purpose: Polycystins (PKD2, PKD2L1) are voltage-gated and Ca -modulated members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family of ion channels. Loss of PKD2L1 expression results in seizure-susceptibility and autism-like features in mice, whereas variants in PKD2 cause autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Despite decades of evidence clearly linking their dysfunction to human disease and demonstrating their physiological importance in the brain and kidneys, the polycystin pharmacophore remains undefined.

Dual physiological responsive structural color hydrogel particles for wound repair.

Hydrogel-based patches have demonstrated their values in diabetic wounds repair, particularly those intelligent dressings with continuous repair promoting and monitoring capabilities. Here, we propose a type of dual physiological responsive structural color particles for wound repair. The particles are composed of a hyaluronic acid methacryloyl (HAMA)-sodium alginate (Alg) inverse opal scaffold, filled with oxidized dextran (ODex)/quaternized chitosan (QCS) hydrogel.

Role of imaging in the diagnosis and management of mixed epithelial and stromal tumors of the kidney: Case series and comprehensive review.

Mixed epithelial and stromal tumor (MEST) of the kidney is a rare benign neoplasm composed of both stromal and epithelial components. MEST is mainly seen in adults with a strong predilection for perimenopausal women with history of hormone replacement therapy. While MEST is generally benign, there are reported cases of malignant transformation and adverse clinical outcomes.