Investigating Cardiac Amyloidosis: A Primer for Clinicians.

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is an infiltrative disease that results from the deposition of amyloid fibrils in the myocardium, resulting in restrictive cardiomyopathy. The amyloid fibrils are predominantly derived from two parent proteins, immunoglobulin light chain (AL) and transthyretin (ATTR), and ATTR is further classified into hereditary (ATTRv) and wild-type (ATTRwt) based on the presence or absence, respectively, of a mutation in the transthyretin gene. Once thought to be a rare entity, CA is increasingly recognized as a significant cause of heart failure due to improved clinical awareness and better diagnostic imaging.

Updated Adjustment of the HCAHPS Survey for New Modes of Survey Administration and Patient Mix.

Background: Web-first multimode survey protocols increase HCAHPS survey response rates and representativeness but may result in different HCAHPS scores because of survey mode effects and selective email address availability. A variable absent from many patient-mix adjustment models that may result in more positive patient experiences is whether the hospital admission was planned; adjustment for planned stays may better measure hospital performance.

Objectives: Develop adjustments for new Web-first survey protocols and planned admissions to facilitate comparisons across hospitals.

Hearing care in low-resourced and humanitarian settings: findings from a pilot study in South Sudan.

Objectives: This longitudinal experimental study aimed to profile audiometric hearing loss, explore the feasibility and efficacy of low-cost hearing devices, and examine their social and emotional impact on participants in South Sudan, a low-resource humanitarian setting.

Design: We performed pure tone hearing screenings on adults with self-reported hearing disability, randomly providing eligible participants with one of two inexpensive devices-Asana Pro 800, a non-customizable hearing device fit unilaterally, or the Super Ear SE9000, a hand-held amplifier with headphones given one per individual.

Study Sample: Between October 2022 and January 2023, 142 adults underwent hearing screening at the Juba Teaching Hospital ENT clinic, of whom 19 eligible individuals were provided with hearing devices.

Radiogenomic explainable AI with neural ordinary differential equation for identifying post-SRS brain metastasis radionecrosis.

Background: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is widely used for managing brain metastases (BMs), but an adverse effect, radionecrosis, complicates post-SRS management. Differentiating radionecrosis from tumor recurrence non-invasively remains a major clinical challenge, as conventional imaging techniques often necessitate surgical biopsy for accurate diagnosis. Machine learning and deep learning models have shown potential in distinguishing radionecrosis from tumor recurrence.

A Serum- and Feeder-Free System to Generate CD4 and Regulatory T Cells from Human iPSCs.

iPSCs can serve as a renewable source of a consistent edited cell product, overcoming limitations of primary cells. While feeder-free generation of clinical grade iPSC-derived CD8 T cells has been achieved, differentiation of iPSC-derived CD4sp and regulatory T cells requires mouse stromal cells in an artificial thymic organoid. Here we report a serum- and feeder-free differentiation process suitable for large-scale production.

Cinnamaldehyde-Based ROS-Responsive Polymeric Gene Vectors for Efficient Gene Delivery and Tumor Cell Growth Inhibition.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-sensitive polymers are extensively used in cancer therapies. However, the ROS levels in the tumor microenvironment are often insufficient to trigger an adequate therapeutic response. Herein, we report a cinnamaldehyde ()-based ROS-responsive cationic polymer () and demonstrate its high efficiency in gene delivery and tumor cell growth inhibition.

The common chemical logic of 'bridged' peroxo species in mononuclear non-heme iron systems.

Mononuclear non-heme iron enzymes catalyze a wide array of important oxidative transformations. They are correspondingly diverse in both structure and mechanism. Despite significant evolutionary distance, it is becoming increasingly apparent that these enzymes nonetheless illustrate a compelling case of mechanistic convergence the formation of peroxo species bridging metal and substrate.

Assessing Physician Motivation to Engage in Continuing Professional Development on Artificial Intelligence.

To realize the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care, physicians must learn how to use AI-based tools effectively, safely, and equitably. Continuing professional development (CPD) activities are one way to learn how to do this. The purpose of this article is to describe a theory-based approach for assessing health professionals' motivation to participate in CPD on AI-based tools.

A series of benzensulfonamide derivatives as new potent carbonic anhydrase IX and XII inhibitors.

Aim: Human carbonic anhydrases (hCAs) are involved in many physiological processes including respiration, pH control, ion transport, bone resorption, and gastric fluid secretion. Recently, CA IX and CA XII have been studied for their role in cancer diseases, motivating the design of inhibitors of these isoforms.

Material And Method: Here, we used the tail approach to design a new series of monoaryl () and bicyclic () benzensulfonamide derivatives CA IX and CA XII inhibitors.

Comparison of in-clinic assessment of 6MWT by conventional method and using wearable sensors for patients with ATTR-CM.

Introduction: The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is used to assess submaximal exercise capacity in clinical trials. Conducting the 6MWT can be challenging when patients cannot visit the clinic due to physical/travel limitations. This pilot study assessed the feasibility of conducting the 6MWT using wearable sensors for patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy.

Pre-Assault Diagnoses Associated with Post-Assault Emergency Department Visits After Recent Sexual Assault.

Characteristics associated with individuals who frequent the emergency department at higher rates have been well established; however, factors associated with greater emergency department visits following a recent sexual assault are largely unknown. The current study evaluated the associations between pre-assault factors such as substance use and physical injuries, assault characteristics such as genital injury, non-genital injury, alcohol or drug use involvement, intimate partner involvement, and emergency department visits one-year after a sexual assault medical forensic exam (SAMFE). The current study included a medical record review of 123 individuals who received a SAMFE at a hospital in the United States.

Body Mass Index Did Not Impact Efficacy and Safety of Etrasimod: A Post Hoc Analysis of the ELEVATE UC Clinical Program.

Objective: High body mass index (BMI) may reduce ulcerative colitis (UC) treatment efficacy. Etrasimod is an oral, once-daily (QD), selective sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P)1,4,5 receptor modulator for the treatment of moderately to severely active UC. This post hoc analysis assessed treatment outcomes according to BMI in ELEVATE UC 52 and ELEVATE UC 12.

Fact or Myth? Black Patients Do Not Want to Participate in Clinical Trials.

Objectives: To assess strategies for optimizing participation of underserved minorities in a blood-based early CRC detection test study (PREEMPT CRC; NCT04369053) at a hospital serving primarily Black patients.

Methods: Culturally sensitive, racially congruent research staff approached patients undergoing average-risk screening colonoscopy. Consent/study procedures were synchronized with clinical appointments.

Large Electromechanical Response and Field-Induced Shape Memory Effect in Ferroelectric Ceramics.

Electric-field-induced shape memory effect has potential applications in electromechanical actuator. Here, this study proposes the a phase structure design routine in (1-x)(75NaBiTiO-25SrTiO)-xPbTiO ceramics to obtain large electromechanical response and shape memory effect. It is found that the shape memory effect is closely related to the bending deformation induced by asymmetric polarization between positive and negative electrodes, which is resulted from the reductions of Bi and Pb because of electron injection from negative electrode.

"Everything cannot be handled virtually": Understanding intention and use of digital health technologies among rural adults and rural cancer survivors.

Purpose: This qualitative study assessed internet access and use, barriers and facilitators to participating in digital health interventions or programs, and the engagement experience in virtual versus in-person health interventions among rural adults and rural cancer survivors.

Methods: Rural adults (n = 10) and rural cancer survivors (n = 10) were recruited from previous studies to participate in an in-depth interview. The interview guide contained eight open-ended questions related to participation in technology-based programs.

Trends in the incidence and mutational landscape of advanced uterine cancer.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine disparities in 20-year incidence trends and mutations in advanced-stage uterine cancer in the United States, given poor survival rates.

Methods: Data were obtained from the United States Cancer Statistics for patients from 2001 to 2019 with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2009 stage IVA and IVB uterine cancer. SEER∗Stat 8.

Basket study of oral progesterone antagonist onapristone extended-release in combination with anastrozole in progesterone receptor-positive recurrent adult-type granulosa cell tumor of the ovary.

Objective: We sought to determine the safety and efficacy of the oral progesterone antagonist onapristone in combination with anastrozole in patients with recurrent progesterone receptor-positive adult-type granulosa cell tumor of the ovary.

Methods: This was a single-institution phase II study of patients with progesterone receptor-positive adult-type granulosa cell tumor who received at least 1 prior line of chemotherapy. Patients were enrolled from November 2021 to August 2022 and tissue was evaluated for progesterone receptor status via immunohistochemistry.

Cervical cancer stage distribution and survival outcomes in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women, with a disproportionate burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding the cervical cancer stage and outcomes is crucial for developing effective interventions and reducing its burden. We aimed to undertake a systematic review and meta-analysis of cervical cancer stage distribution and survival outcomes in Africa.

Minimally invasive compared to open surgery in patients with low-risk cervical cancer following simple hysterectomy: An exploratory analysis from the Gynegologic Cancer Intergroup/Canadian Cancer Trials Group CX.5/SHAPE trial.

Objective: The Laparoscopic Approach to Cervical Cancer trial demonstrated that minimally invasive radical hysterectomy was associated with worse disease-free survival and overall survival among women with early-stage cervical cancer. It is unknown whether this applies to patients with low-risk disease following simple hysterectomy.

Methods: Among patients who underwent simple hysterectomy in the Simple Hysterectomy And PElvic node assessment trial, univariate and multivariate Cox models were used to assess the association of minimally invasive versus open surgery with clinical outcomes, including pelvic and extra-pelvic recurrence-free survival, overall recurrence-free survival, and overall survival.

Measuring XNA polymerase fidelity in a hydrogel particle format.

Growth in the development of engineered polymerases for synthetic biology has led to renewed interest in assays that can measure the fidelity of polymerases that are capable of synthesizing artificial genetic polymers (XNAs). Conventional approaches require purifying the XNA intermediate of a replication cycle (DNA → XNA → DNA) by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, which is a slow, costly, and inefficient process that requires a large-scale transcription reaction and careful extraction of the XNA strand from the gel slice. In an effort to streamline the assay, we developed a purification-free approach in which the XNA transcription and reverse transcription steps occur inside the matrix of a hydrogel-coated magnetic particle.

Elderly Patients With Aplastic Anemia: Treatment Patterns and Outcomes in the Real World.

We retrospectively analyzed a large international cohort of 1113 patients with aplastic anemia to evaluate treatment choice and outcome in elderly patients as compared with a younger population. Overall, 319 (29%) patients were > 60 years old at diagnosis (60-64 years (n = 85), 106 65-69 years (n = 106), and 128 > 70 years (n = 128)). Elderly patients showed a more severe thrombocytopenia at onset and a significantly lower overall response (complete plus partial) to first-line therapy at 6 months as compared to younger patients (47% vs.

Treatment of Cutaneous Adnexal Carcinoma With Radiotherapy: A 20-Year, Single-Institution Experience in 49 Patients.

Objectives: Cutaneous adnexal carcinomas (CACs) are rare skin cancers with no established treatment guidelines. Given the limited data, this study aims to explore the characteristics and outcomes of patients with CAC treated with radiation therapy (RT).

Methods: Patients diagnosed with CAC between 2000 and 2020 who received RT were included.