Patient Factors Influence Minimal Clinically Important Difference for the SNOT-22 in Medically Treated Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Background: The present study explores the effect of sociodemographics and comorbidities on the calculated minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) scores in patients with medically treated chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The importance of delineating a threshold to indicate clinically meaningful changes perceived by a patient is well acknowledged, yet the influence of patient-specific factors on MCID has not been fully elucidated.

Methods: Patients with CRS (n = 221) presenting to a tertiary care practice reported their change in disease burden with anchor questions following CRS-directed medical treatment.

Estimating the accumulation and re-accumulation of commercial tobacco, electronic cigarette, and cannabis waste based on a stratified random sample of census blocks.

We investigated the amount and distribution of waste generated by commercial tobacco, electronic cigarette, and cannabis (TEC) use to inform policy options aimed at mitigating the environmental harm caused by these products. Using disproportionate stratified random sampling, we selected 60 census blocks from the eight largest cities in San Diego County, California. We twice surveyed publicly accessible areas in these blocks to quantify TEC waste accumulation and its re-accumulation.

Terminology in ecology and evolutionary biology disproportionately harms marginalized groups.

The discipline of ecology and evolutionary biology (EEB) has long grappled with issues of inclusivity and representation, particularly for individuals with systematically excluded and marginalized backgrounds or identities. For example, significant representation disparities still persist that disproportionately affect women and gender minorities; Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC); individuals with disabilities; and people who are LGBTQIA+. Recent calls for action have urged the EEB community to directly address issues of representation, inclusion, justice, and equity.

Parenting Self-Efficacy Moderates the Association Between Unmet Parenting Expectations and NICU-Related PTSD Symptoms Reported by Mothers 1-5 Years Post-Infant NICU Hospitalization.

Infant neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization increases maternal risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, which may negatively impact mother-child attachment and infant growth and development. Prior studies have documented positive associations between unmet parenting expectations and adverse maternal psychological outcomes, including post-NICU discharge. However, no studies have yet explored how unmet parenting expectations may be associated with maternal NICU-related PTSD symptoms.

Engineering the Ratios of Nanoparticles Dispersed in Triphasic Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications.

Polymer/ceramic nanocomposites integrated the advantages of both polymers and ceramics for a wide range of biomedical applications, such as bone tissue repair. Here, we reported triphasic poly(lactic--glycolic acid) (PLGA, LA/GA = 90:10) nanocomposites with improved dispersion of hydroxyapatite (HA) and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles using a process that integrated the benefits of ultrasonic energy and dual asymmetric centrifugal mixing. We characterized the microstructure and composition of the nanocomposites and evaluated the effects of the HA/MgO ratios on degradation behavior and cell-material interactions.

Tetrafluoro(aryl)sulfanylated Bicyclopentane Crystals That Self-Destruct upon Cooling.

Whereas single crystals of organic compounds that respond to heat or light have been reported and studied in detail, studies on crystalline organic compounds that elicit an extreme mechanical response are relatively rare in the chemical literature. A tetrafluoro(aryl)sulfanylated bicyclopentane synthesized in our laboratory was discovered to exhibit such behavior; i.e.

Gut-brain Axis and Irritable Bowel Syndrome During the Lockdown due to the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: A Survey-based Study.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is influenced by various factors, including socioemotional stressors. The COVID-19 lockdown created a unique environment characterized by reduced social interactions, potentially impacting IBS symptoms.

Aim: To assess how lockdown measures affected symptoms related to the gut-brain axis in IBS patients in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Performance of Ulcer Features in Predicting Malignancy Among Gastric Ulcers Diagnosed on Upper Endoscopy.

Objective: Even though the prevalence of malignancy within gastric ulcers is low, surveillance endoscopy is routinely performed after gastric ulcer diagnosis resulting in unnecessary costs and risks. Endoscopic appearance may be used to identify ulcers with malignant features and guide decisions regarding the need for surveillance endoscopy. Our aim was to assess the predictive value of several endoscopic ulcer features with the risk of prevalent malignancy in patients diagnosed with gastric ulcers.

Fragment-to-Lead Medicinal Chemistry Publications in 2023.

This Perspective summarizes successful fragment-to-lead (F2L) studies that were published in 2023 and is the ninth installment in an annual series. A tabulated summary of the relevant articles published in 2023 is provided (17 entries from 16 articles), and a comparison of the target classes, screening methods, and overall fragment or lead property trends for 2023 examples and for the combined entries over the years 2015-2023 is discussed. In addition, we identify several trends and innovations in the 2023 literature that promise to further increase the success of fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD), particularly in the areas of NMR and virtual screening, fragment library design, and fragment linking.

What Matters When Providing Conversational Recast Treatment? A Multilevel Modeling Analysis.

Purpose: Conversational recasting treatment is generally effective. However, different versions of this treatment and different targets may yield different outcomes for children. Here, we directly compare multiple variations of conversational recasting to determine how modifications to delivery and target impact treatment outcomes.

Microelectronic Structure and Doping Nonuniformity of Phosphorus-Doped CdSeTe Solar Cells.

Optimizing group-V doping and Se alloying are two main focuses for advancing CdTe photovoltaic technology. We report on nanometer-scale characterizations of microelectronic structures of phosphorus (P)-doped CdSeTe devices using a combination of two atomic force microscopy-based techniques, namely, Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) and scanning spreading resistance microscopy (SSRM). KPFM on device cross-section images distribution of the potential drop across the device.

Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis and Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Individuals Using HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis.

Importance: Doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis (doxyPEP) has been shown to decrease the incidence of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among people assigned male sex at birth in clinical trials, but data from clinical practice are limited.

Objective: To describe early uptake of doxyPEP and evaluate changes in STI incidence following doxyPEP initiation.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study of adults (aged ≥18 years) dispensed HIV preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) at Kaiser Permanente Northern California during November 1, 2022, to December 31, 2023, examined electronic health record data to compare HIV PrEP users dispensed and not dispensed doxyPEP and rates of bacterial STIs before and after starting doxyPEP.

Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis and Sexually Transmitted Infection Trends.

Importance: Increasing rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have been associated with rises in serious morbidity. While doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis (doxyPEP), a strategy in which individuals take doxycycline, 200 mg, after condomless sex to prevent bacterial STIs, has been shown to be efficacious in randomized clinical trials, doxyPEP's potential effect on population-level STI incidence is unknown.

Objective: To assess the association of citywide doxyPEP guideline release with reported chlamydia, gonorrhea, and early syphilis cases in men who have sex with men (MSM) and in transgender women in San Francisco, California.

Use of Clinical Trial Characteristics to Estimate Costs of New Drug Development.

Importance: Despite their importance to patients, health, and industry, the magnitude of investments in drug research and development (R&D) remain nebulous. New policies require more granular and transparent R&D cost estimates to better balance incentives for innovation and returns to developers.

Objective: To estimate per-drug R&D costs using a novel, reproduceable approach and to describe firm-level R&D costs per discrete unit of R&D activity (1 patient-month).

Obstetric Outcomes by Hospital Volume of Operative Vaginal Delivery.

Importance: Characterizing hospital-level factors associated with adverse outcomes following operative vaginal delivery (OVD) is crucial for optimizing obstetric care.

Objective: To assess the association between hospital OVD volume and adverse outcomes.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This was a retrospective cohort study of OVDs in California between 2008 and 2020.

Serum amyloid P (PTX2) attenuates hepatic fibrosis in mice by inhibiting the activation of fibrocytes and HSCs.

Background: Liver fibrosis is caused by chronic toxic or cholestatic liver injury. Fibrosis results from the recruitment of myeloid cells into the injured liver, the release of inflammatory and fibrogenic cytokines, and the activation of myofibroblasts, which secrete extracellular matrix, mostly collagen type I. Hepatic myofibroblasts originate from liver-resident mesenchymal cells, including HSCs and bone marrow-derived CD45+ collagen type I+ expressing fibrocytes.

A Conservative Crease-Height-Adjustable Asian Double Eyelid Surgery Technique Based on Live Anatomical Studies.

Background: Ideal methods for double eyelid crease creation in Asian upper eyelids remain controversial due to the complexity of Asian upper eyelid anatomies. Key confusions include the underestimation of tarsal height and the septum/aponeurosis fusion point height (FPH), which may underlie the unnaturally high creases in many classic double eyelid procedures.

Methods: A total of 1272 patients had tarsal heights measured.

Priority Clinical Actions for Outpatient Management of Nonhospitalized Traumatic Brain Injury.

Outpatient care following nonhospitalized traumatic brain injury (TBI) is variable, and often sparse. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's 2022 report on highlighted the need to improve the consistency and quality of TBI care in the community. In response, the present study aimed to identify existing evidence-based guidance and specific clinical actions over the days to months following nonhospitalized TBI that should be prioritized for implementation in primary care.

Indications for continuous electroencephalography and frequency of electrographic seizure detection in a pediatric and neonatal cardiovascular intensive care unit.

Objective: Seizures are a recognized complication of critical cardiovascular illness in infants and children. We assessed the diagnostic yield of continuous video-electroencephalography (cEEG) in a pediatric and neonatal cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU) by the symptoms and risk factors prompting cEEG evaluation.

Methods: This retrospective case series included all consecutive cEEGs in patients ≤21 years old performed in one CVICU over 38 months.

Inpatient Nutritional Considerations in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Purpose Of Review: This review aims to explain the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of malnutrition in hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), focusing on both adults and children.

Recent Findings: Malnutrition is common among IBD patients, affecting up to 85% of individuals, and is linked to higher rates of illness, death, and longer hospital stays. Recent studies highlight the importance of early detection using tools like the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and handgrip strength tests.

A phase I study of convection-enhanced delivery (CED) of liposomal-irinotecan using real-time magnetic resonance imaging in patients with recurrent high-grade glioma.

Background: Irinotecan demonstrates anti-tumor efficacy in preclinical glioma models but clinical results are modest due to drug delivery limitations. Convection enhanced delivery (CED) improves drug delivery by increasing intratumoral drug concentration. Real-time magnetic resonance imaging of infusate delivery during CED may optimize tumor coverage.

Automating excellence: A breakthrough in emergency general surgery quality benchmarking.

Background: Given the high mortality and morbidity of emergency general surgery (EGS), designing and implementing effective quality assessment tools is imperative. Currently accepted EGS risk scores are limited by the need for manual extraction, which is time-intensive and costly. We developed an automated institutional electronic health record (EHR)-linked EGS registry that calculates a modified Emergency Surgery Score (mESS) and a modified Predictive OpTimal Trees in Emergency Surgery Risk (POTTER) score and demonstrated their use in benchmarking outcomes.