Online driver license renewal and road user injury and fatality in Washington State.

Objectives: Washington State implemented a new policy in 2004 that allowed drivers younger than 70 years old to renew their driver license by mail or online at every other renewal. Drivers aged 70 years and older were still required to renew in-person every 6 years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether this policy change was associated with motor vehicle crash (MVC) injury and fatality among drivers, non-drivers, and all road users aged 45-69 years.

Indications and Outcomes for Tracheostomies in Pediatric Oncology Patients-A Single Center Study.

Background: Children with cancer face a high risk of complications including prolonged mechanical ventilation requiring tracheostomies. While tracheostomies have been demonstrated to be a generally safe procedure, there remain significant rare complications and a paucity of literature addressing outcomes specifically for pediatric patients with cancer. The objective of this study was to characterize pediatric patients with cancer who underwent tracheostomies and describe their indications and outcomes for length of stay, decannulation, and complications.

Polyphenol-Scaffolded Modular Assembly of Heterotypic Cell-Cell Assemblies for Potentiating Cancer Immunotherapy.

Cells existing in the form of clusters often exhibit distinct biological functions from their single-cell counterparts. However, the ability to modulate cell-cell interactions among multiple cell types through molecular scaffolds remains an ongoing challenge. Here, a supramolecular phenolic network on surfaces of live cells designed is engineered to act as modular scaffolds that promote intercellular interactions, presenting a universal platform for the construction of cell-cell assemblies (CCAs).

Histone Deacetylase 7-Derived 7-Amino Acid Peptide Increases Skin Wound Healing via Regulating Epidermal Fibroblast Proliferation and Migration.

Due to the complexity of wound healing, how to achieve successful healing is a significant clinical challenge. In this study, we found that the histone deacetylase-7-derived 7-amino acid peptide (7A, MHSPGAD), especially its phosphorylated version 7Ap (MH[pSer]PGAD), increased dermal fibroblast cell HDFα proliferation and migration via elevated delta-catenin (CTNND1) serine phosphorylation-mediated beta-catenin (CTNNB) nuclear translocation and subsequent upregulation of c-Myc and cyclin D1 expression. 7Ap physically interacted with platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) and increased PDGFR interaction with cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6).

Intestinal failure-associated liver disease model: a reduced phytosterol intravenous lipid emulsion prevents liver injury.

Background: Long-term parenteral nutrition in children often results in intestinal failure-associated liver disease (IFALD). Phytosterols are plant steroids in vegetable oil-based intravenous lipid emulsions (ILEs) that are associated with IFALD. We investigated whether a phytosterol-depleted soybean oil ILE, compared to standard soybean oil ILE, prevented hepatotoxicity in a murine IFALD model.

Directional ciliary beats across epithelia require Ccdc57-mediated coupling between axonemal orientation and basal body polarity.

Motile cilia unify their axonemal orientations (AOs), or beat directions, across epithelia to drive liquid flows. This planar polarity results from cytoskeleton-driven swiveling of basal foot (BF), a basal body (BB) appendage coincident with the AO, in response to regulatory cues. How and when the BF-AO relationship is established, however, are unaddressed.

Misdiagnosed for 14 Years: Adenosine Deaminase 2 (ADA2) Deficiency in a Teen Mimicking Polyarteritis Nodosa.

The deficiency of adenosine deaminase 2 (DADA2) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by loss of function mutations in the ADA2 gene (previously the CECR1 gene) on chromosome 22q11. The clinical spectrum of the disease is remarkably broad, and its presentations mimic features of polyarteritis nodosa, such as livedoid rash, hematological abnormalities (e.g.

Inhalation of itraconazole mitigates bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis via regulating SPP1 and C3 signaling pathway pivotal in the interaction between phagocytic macrophages and diseased fibroblasts.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) stands as a significant contributor to global mortality rates. Presently, there exists a dearth of effective anti-fibrotic treatments for this condition. While itraconazole (ITR) has exhibited potential in mitigating pulmonary fibrosis, its oral administration is hampered by unfavorable pharmacokinetics, which elevate the risk of adverse reactions, thus limiting its clinical utility.

Elevation of NT-proBNP Levels in Pediatric and Young Adult Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients with Endotheliopathy.

Background/objectives: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in pediatric and young adult (YA) patients can lead to endotheliopathy, such as thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). Natriuretic peptides have been studied as markers of endotheliopathy and critical illness. We hypothesized that an elevation in NT-proBNP was associated with the development of endotheliopathy (DAH, SOS, or TMA) in the first 100 days following HSCT in pediatric and YA patients.

Factors Predicting Fetal Growth Restriction and Fetal Cardiac Remodeling.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate factors influencing fetal growth restriction (FGR) occurrence and assess the clinical significance of fetal cardiac parameters in FGR prediction.

Methods: Pregnant women with clinically suspected FGR (n=179) and uncomplicated pregnancies (n=53) were included. All had undergone routine obstetric ultrasonography and fetal echocardiography.

Acupuncture as an Adjunct to Lifestyle Interventions for Weight Loss in Simple Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture as an adjunct to lifestyle interventions on weight loss in simple obesity.

Methods: Potentially eligible studies that assessed anthropometric outcomes as well as glucose and lipid metabolism following acupuncture combined with lifestyle interventions in simple obesity patients were searched from eight databases from inception to October 2023. All analyses were performed using the Review Manager software v5.

Integration of eQTL and multi-omics comprehensive analysis of triacylglycerol synthase 1 (TGS1) as a prognostic and immunotherapeutic biomarker across pan-cancer.

An increasing number of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) have been linked to tumorigenesis. In this study, we used Mendelian randomization (MR) to identify a novel cancer susceptibility gene, Trimethylguanosine Synthase 1 (TGS1). TGS1-induced hypermethylation at the 5' end of human telomerase RNA (hTR) impedes hTR accumulation, decreasing telomerase assembly factor levels and thus limiting telomere elongation, a crucial factor in tumor progression.

Generation of iPSC-derived human venous endothelial cells for the modeling of vascular malformations and drug discovery.

Venous malformations (VMs) represent prevalent vascular anomalies typically attributed to non-inherited somatic mutations within venous endothelial cells (VECs). The lack of robust disease models for VMs impedes drug discovery. Here, we devise a robust protocol for the generation of human induced VECs (iVECs) through manipulation of cell-cycle dynamics via the retinoic signaling pathway.

ROS-responsive nanoparticles for bioimaging and treating acute lung injury by releasing dexamethasone and improving alveolar macrophage homeostasis.

Background: Acute lung injury (ALI) triggers the activation of pulmonary macrophages, which in turn produce excessive amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Results: We synthesized ROS-responsive red light-emitting carbon dots (RCMNs) that target lung macrophages, possess bioimaging capabilities, and efficiently eliminate intracellular ROS, thereby demonstrating anti-inflammatory effects for treating acute lung injury (ALI). In an LPS-induced ALI mouse model, RCMNs showed bioimaging and therapeutic potential, reducing lung damage and inflammation by targeting ROS-damaged tissue.

Effectiveness and Safety of Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir in Italian Children and Adolescents With Chronic Hepatitis C: A Real-Word, Multicenter Study.

Background & Aims: Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) has been approved by the European Medicine Agency (EMA) and by the US Food and Drug Administration (US-FDA) for the treatment of children and adolescents from 3 years of age with chronic hepatitis C virus (CHC) infection. The aim of this study was to confirm the real-world effectiveness and safety of GLE/PIB in children and adolescents (3 to < 18 years old) with CHC.

Methods: This prospective, multicentre study involved 11 Italian centres.

Association of Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate Exposure with Reproductive Hormones in the General Population and the Susceptible Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), an environmental endocrine disruptor, has hormone-like activity and endocrine-disrupting effects. However, the types of reproductive hormones associated with DEHP vary across the studies. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to pool existing epidemiological evidence.

Establishing a Multifaceted Comprehensive Maternity Cohort Facilitates Understanding of How Environmental Exposures Impact Perinatal Health.

China's "three-child policy", implemented in response to population aging, has made the protection of maternal and infant health an urgent priority. In this environmental and medical big-data era, the Zhejiang Environmental and Birth Health Research Alliance (ZEBRA) maternity cohort was established with the aim of identifying risk factors for perinatal morbidity and mortality from the perspectives of both observational epidemiology and experimental etiology. Compared with conventional birth cohorts, the inclusion of a maternity cohort allows greater scope for research and places an emphasis on maternal health.

Effects of parabens on human and rat placental 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isoforms: Structure activity relationship and docking analysis.

Parabens are widely used as preservatives in personal care products and are linked to potential disruptions in placental steroidogenesis. However, their exact impact remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the inhibition, mechanisms, structure-activity relationships (SAR) of parabens on human placental 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (h3β-HSD1) and its rat counterpart, r3β-HSD4.

Discovery of IRAK1/4/pan-FLT3 Kinase Inhibitors as Treatments for Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

We report the discovery of an imidazopyridine series of IRAK1/4/pan-FLT3 kinase inhibitors. Optimization of this series has produced compound which displays potent and selective inhibition of IRAK1, IRAK4, FLT3, and all mutant forms of FLT3, as well as good in vitro ADME and pharmacokinetic properties. In a mouse xenograft model of AML, produces survival prolongation equal to that of Gilteritinib, the leading marketed FLT3 inhibitor currently used to treat AML.

Sympathetic Overdrive and Role of Beta-blockers in Various Forms of Heart Failure: A Consensus Statement from India.

In heart failure, sympathetic overdrive is evidenced by norepinephrine spillover, receptor level changes, etc. Beta-blockers continue to be the cornerstone of treatment in patients with chronic heart failure due to their ability to counteract sympathetic overdrive. Extensive clinical research has demonstrated that long-term beta-blocker treatment with metoprolol succinate, carvedilol, or bisoprolol enhances left ventricular function and reverses left ventricular remodeling, decreases hospitalization risk, and increases survival.