The Risk of Pretransplant Blood Transfusion for Primary Graft Dysfunction After Lung Transplant.

Background: Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is the leading cause of short- and long-term mortality associated with lung transplantation. The impact of pretransplantation blood transfusions for recipients is not fully elucidated.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of 206 consecutive lung transplantations performed at a single academic center (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL) from January 2018 to July 2022.

Orthotopic Heart Transplantation in a Patient With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Marfan Syndrome.

A 24-year-old man with Marfan syndrome and heart failure from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was referred to our institution in cardiogenic shock for advanced therapies. He was supported by a femoral intra-aortic balloon pump, then bridged to orthotopic heart transplantation. This is a report of an orthotopic heart transplantation in a patient with both Marfan syndrome and heart failure from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Functional genotype classification groups distinguish disease severity in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa.

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is a genetic disorder due to pathogenic variants in the COL7A1 gene. In this study we determined the association between different categories of COL7A1 variants and clinical disease severity in 236 RDEB patients in North America. Published reports or in-silico predictions were used to assess the impact of pathogenic variants in COL7A1 on type VII collagen (C7) protein function.

Complications Following Open Versus Minimally Invasive Resection of Gastric Adenocarcinoma.

Background And Objectives: Gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) is commonly treated with open or minimally invasive surgery (MIS). The preferred surgical approach remains unclear. This study sought to assess utilization over time, compare complication rates by surgical approach, and identify predictors of experiencing complications.

Miniscope Imaging of Nucleus Accumbens Neural Activity in Freely Behaving Rats: Virus Injection, Gradient Index Lens Implantation, Recording Strategies, and Analytical Methods.

In vivo calcium imaging in freely moving rats using miniscopes provides valuable information about the neural mechanisms of behavior in real time. A gradient index (GRIN) lens can be implanted in deep brain structures to relay activity from single neurons. While such procedures have been successful in mice, few reports provide detailed procedures for successful surgery and long-term imaging in rats, which are better suited for studying complex human behaviors.

Salidroside Improves Oocyte Competence of Reproductively Old Mice by Enhancing Mitophagy.

The decline of oocyte quality with advanced maternal age has a detrimental effect on female fertility. However, there is limited knowledge of therapeutic options and their mechanisms to improve oocyte quality in reproductively older women. In this study, we demonstrated that supplementation of salidroside improves the oocyte quality of reproductively old mice.

Short-chain fatty acid metabolites propionate and butyrate are unique epigenetic regulatory elements linking diet, metabolism and gene expression.

The short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) propionate and butyrate have beneficial health effects, are produced in large amounts by microbial metabolism and have been identified as unique acyl lysine histone marks. To better understand the function of these modifications, we used chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing to map the genome-wide location of four short-chain acyl histone marks, H3K18pr, H3K18bu, H4K12pr and H4K12bu, in treated and untreated colorectal cancer (CRC) and normal cells as well as in mouse intestines in vivo. We correlate these marks with open chromatin regions and gene expression to access the function of the target regions.

Accurate identification of primary site in tumors of unknown origin (TUO) using DNA methylation.

Tumors of unknown origin (TUO) generally result in poor patient survival and are clinically difficult to address. Identification of the site of origin in TUO patients is paramount to their improved treatment and survival but is difficult to obtain with current methods. Here, we develop a random forest machine learning TUO methylation classifier using a large number of primary and metastatic tumor samples.

Effectiveness of shared decision making strategies for stroke prevention among patients with atrial fibrillation: cluster randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of multiple decision aid strategies in promoting high quality shared decision making for prevention of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Design: Cluster randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Six academic medical centers in the United States.

Subtypes of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Are Differentially Associated With Newborn and Childhood Metabolic Outcomes.

Objective: Subtypes of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) based on insulin sensitivity and secretion have been described. We addressed the hypothesis that GDM subtypes are differentially associated with newborn and child anthropometric and glycemic outcomes.

Research Design And Methods: Newborn and child (age 11-14 years) outcomes were examined in 7,970 and 4,160 mother-offspring dyads, respectively, who participated in the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome Study (HAPO) and Follow-Up Study.

SAFETY, PHARMACOKINETICS, AND CLINICAL EFFICACY OF ADS051, A NEUTROPHIL MODULATOR, IN ULCERATIVE COLITIS: RESULTS OF A RANDOMIZED PHASE 1B TRIAL.

Objectives: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by colonic inflammation, with neutrophils playing a key role in UC activity, prognosis, and response to therapies. Current UC therapeutics can have significant side effects and limited efficacy. ADS051 is a novel, oral, gut-restricted small molecule that modulates neutrophil migration and activation without in vitro suppression of T-cell activation.

Updating an HIV Knowledge Questionnaire With Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Through Expert Opinions in the United States Using Delphi Methodology: A Qualitative Study.

Our study was designed to update the HIV Knowledge Questionnaire by incorporating pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) knowledge questions, as previous HIV knowledge tools lack this focus. Four rounds of Delphi surveys were conducted with 47 expert participants, each with extensive HIV-related expertise (mean experience: 18.94 years).

Ribosome customization and functional diversification among P-stalk proteins regulate late poxvirus protein synthesis.

Growing evidence suggests that ribosomes selectively regulate translation of specific mRNA subsets. Here, quantitative proteomics and cryoelectron microscopy demonstrate that poxvirus infection does not alter ribosomal subunit protein (RP) composition but skews 40S rotation states and displaces the 40S head domain. Genetic knockout screens employing metabolic assays and a dual-reporter virus further identified two RPs that selectively regulate non-canonical translation of late poxvirus mRNAs, which contain unusual 5' poly(A) leaders: receptor of activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) and RPLP2.

Using natural spline models to explore the trajectories of empirically derived domains of premenstrual symptoms.

Premenstrual symptoms are distressing and impairing for individuals and costly to society. These symptoms are heterogeneous within and across people, dimensional, and dynamic. While some efforts have been made to understand the trajectories of premenstrual symptoms, two major gaps in the literature remain.

Prehospital endotracheal intubation success rates for critical care nurses versus paramedics.

Objectives: Prehospital endotracheal intubation (ETI) is a lifesaving procedure with known complications. To reduce ETI-associated morbidity and mortality, organizations prioritize first-pass success (FPS). However, there are few data evaluating the association of FPS with clinician licensure.

Children's executive functioning and health behaviors across pediatric life stages and ecological contexts.

Executive functioning (EF) has been linked to chronic disease risk in children. Health behaviors are thought to partially explain this association. The current cross-sectional study evaluated specific domains of EF and varied health behaviors in three pediatric life stages.

Desmoplakin Cardiomyopathy: Role of Inflammation and Potential Role of Disease-Modifying Therapies.

Purpose Of Review: To summarize the available data on the use of immunosuppression therapies for the management of hot phases of disease and recurrent myocarditis in patients with desmoplakin cardiomyopathy (DSP-CMP).

Recent Findings: Occurrence of myocarditis episodes has been associated with worsening of outcomes in DSP-CMP. Multiple case reports and small case series have described potential benefit in using anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medications for the treatment of those episodes.

α-Catenin force-sensitive binding and sequestration of LZTS2 leads to cytokinesis failure.

Epithelial cells can become polyploid upon tissue injury, but mechanosensitive cues that trigger this state are poorly understood. Using an Madin Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cell knock-out/reconstitution system, we show that α-catenin mutants that alter force-sensitive binding to F-actin or middle (M)-domain promote cytokinesis failure and binucleation, particularly near epithelial wound-fronts. We identified Leucine Zipper Tumor Suppressor 2 (LZTS2), a factor previously implicated in abscission, as a conformation sensitive proximity partner of α-catenin.

Building a supportive clinical learning environment: Orienting newly licensed nurses to their impact on the professional development of physician trainees.

What Was The Educational Challenge?: Nurses play an essential role in the professional development of physician trainees within the clinical learning environment (CLE), but rarely receive formal training regarding this role.

What Was The Solution?: Utilizing a multifaceted, systematic approach, we developed an educational program for newly licensed nurses which addressed their role in the CLE and the professional development of physician trainees.

How Was The Solution Implemented?: We delivered two 90-minute workshops to approximately 40 nurses during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Validation of Pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (pSOFA) Scores to Predict Critical Events in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Objective: To determine the prognostic value of the Pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (pSOFA) to discriminate critical events, including code events and intubations, in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Methods: We performed an observational cohort study of all critical events in a quaternary care PICU between 5/2020 and 4/2023. Critical events were extracted from our hospital communications platform and from the electronic health record (EHR).

α-catenin phosphorylation is elevated during mitosis to resist apical rounding and epithelial barrier leak.

Epithelial cell cohesion and barrier function critically depend on α-catenin, an actin-binding protein and essential constituent of cadherin-catenin-based adherens junctions. α-catenin undergoes actomyosin force-dependent unfolding of both actin-binding and middle domains to strongly engage actin filaments and its various effectors; this mechanosensitivity is critical for adherens junction function. We previously showed that α-catenin is highly phosphorylated in an unstructured region that links the mechanosensitive middle and actin-binding domains (known as the P-linker region), but the cellular processes that promote α-catenin phosphorylation have remained elusive.

Comparison of Associations of Food Security Instruments and Mediators With Premature All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease Death in US Adults.

Background: Food insecurity is associated with high morbidity and mortality and is typically measured with the 10-item US Adult Food Security Survey Module. Shorter instruments may capture similar information, but this has not been validated against mortality in general populations.

Methods: A nationally representative sample of individuals aged 20 to 74 years from the US National Health Interview Survey 2011 to 2018 was included, with deaths linked to the National Death Index through 2019.