Immunology of Biliary Atresia.

Biliary atresia is a progressive neonatal cholangiopathy that leads to liver failure. Characterized by inflammation-mediated liver injury, the immune system plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Though several types of immune cells and mediators have been implicated in animal models of biliary atresia, emerging literature reflects the complex interplay of components of the immune response that contributes to disease progression in humans.

A Highly Correlated, Multireference Study of the Lowest Lying Singlet and Triplet States of the Four Thiophene Diradicals.

The energies and geometries of the lowest lying singlet and triplet states of the four diradicals formed by removing two H atoms from thiophene have been characterized. We utilized the highly correlated, multireference methods configuration interaction with single and double excitations with and without the Pople correction for size-extensivity (MR-CISD+Q and MR-CISD) and averaged quadratic coupled cluster theory (MR-AQCC). CAS (8,7) and CAS (10,8) active spaces involving σ, σ*, π, and π* orbitals were employed along with the cc-pVDZ and cc-pVTZ basis sets.

Bioethics Principles in Machine Learning-Healthcare Application Design: Achieving Health Justice and Health Equity.

Health technologies featuring artificial intelligence (AI) are becoming more common. Some healthcare AIs are exhibiting bias towards underrepresented persons and populations. Although many computer scientists and healthcare professionals agree that eliminating or mitigating bias in healthcare AIs is needed, little information exists regarding how to operationalize bioethics principles like autonomy in product design and implementation.

Cross-species comparisons between pigs and mice reveal conserved sex-specific intraspinal inflammatory responses after spinal cord injury.

Objective: Therapeutic translation is challenging in spinal cord injury (SCI) and large animal models with high clinical relevance may accelerate therapeutic development. Pigs have important anatomical and physiological similarities to humans. Intraspinal inflammation mediates SCI pathophysiology.

Assessing Physician and Patient Agreement on Whether Patient Outcomes Captured in Clinical Progress Notes Reflect Treatment Success: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: It remains unclear if there is agreement between physicians and patients on the definition of treatment success following orthopedic treatment. Clinical progress notes are generated during each health care encounter and include information on current disease symptoms, rehabilitation progress, and treatment outcomes.

Objective: This study aims to assess if physicians and patients agree on whether patient outcomes captured in clinical progress notes reflect a successful treatment outcome following orthopedic care.

Citizen of science.

Floyd Bloom, who died on 8 January, was a towering figure in both neuroscience and the scientific community as a whole. As Editor-in-Chief of from 1995 to 2000, he presided over a transformative period in which the journal embraced the digital age, expanding its reach and impact while advocating for open access and the sharing of data. His groundbreaking contributions to neuropharmacology and the understanding of neurotransmitters were only part of his legacy.

RL-QPSO net: deep reinforcement learning-enhanced QPSO for efficient mobile robot path planning.

Introduction: Path planning in complex and dynamic environments poses a significant challenge in the field of mobile robotics. Traditional path planning methods such as genetic algorithms, Dijkstra's algorithm, and Floyd's algorithm typically rely on deterministic search strategies, which can lead to local optima and lack global search capabilities in dynamic settings. These methods have high computational costs and are not efficient for real-time applications.

Urinary selenium, cranial MRI, and cognitive function in American Indians: The Strong Heart Study.

Introduction: Selenium (Se), a trace element found in soil and groundwater, is necessary for many biological functions, including cerebrovascular health, through selenoprotein formation. However, high concentrations may be harmful. American Indians face elevated cerebrovascular disease rates, which may be associated with other trace elements, such as Se.

A Survey of Employed Orthopedic Surgeons Ability to Estimate Operating Room Device Costs.

Background: Orthopaedic devices represent a large amount of the overall cost incurred in the operating room. It is unknown if employed sports medicine surgeons are aware of the true prices of these devices. The purpose of this study was to assess sports medicine orthopaedic surgeons' knowledge of implant and device costs, as well of commonly used items in their operating rooms.

A Method for Sensitivity Analysis of Automatic Contouring Algorithms Across Different MRI Contrast Weightings Using SyntheticMR.

Background: Currently, a majority of institution-specific automatic MRI-based contouring algorithms are trained, tested, and validated on one contrast weighting (i.e., T2-weighted), however their actual performance within this contrast weighting (i.

Management of Chronic Post-Endodontic Pain with a Standardized Gabapentin Pyramid Protocol: A Case Series and Clinical Guidelines.

Introduction: Persistent post-endodontic pain following endodontic therapy is a rare but substantial clinical challenge. Mechanisms that mediate peripheral neuropathy and/or central sensitization likely play a pivotal role in its development and chronification. The objective of this case series is to describe a management plan for persistent post-endodontic pain and provide prescription guidelines using a standardized "Gabapentin Pyramid Protocol" for clinical practice.

Medical, Endoscopic, and Surgical Treatments for Rectal Cuffitis in IBD Patients with an Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis: A Narrative Review.

Background: Ulcerative colitis patients who undergo ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) without mucosectomy may develop inflammation of the rectal cuff (cuffitis). Treatment of cuffitis typically includes mesalamine suppositories or corticosteroids, but refractory cuffitis may necessitate advanced therapies or procedural interventions. This review aims to summarize the existing literature regarding treatments options for cuffitis.

The Role of Social Deficits in the Link Between Social Gambling Motives and Problem Gambling.

In comparison to other motives for gambling, social motives (e.g., gambling for social interaction) are often suggested to be the least problematic and, in some cases, even a protective factor for problem gambling.

A randomized controlled trial to assess whether a telehealth-based contingency management intervention reduces alcohol use for individuals with alcohol use disorder.

Background: Contingency management (CM) is an intervention for alcohol use disorder (AUD) that reinforces abstinence, as confirmed by alcohol biomarkers. CM is usually brief (12-16 weeks) despite evidence that longer interventions have better long-term outcomes. Most CM models are in-person which can also be a barrier for treatment.

Enhancing Sensory Experiences for Infants Born Preterm: A Quality Improvement Project.

Objective: To enhance neonatal sensory experiences in infants born preterm: a quality improvement project.

Design: This was a time-interruption quality improvement project. The time-interruption lasted 4 weeks with an 8-week data collection period before and after.

Comparisons of Risk Scores for Infective Endocarditis Surgery: A Meta-Analysis.

While multiple scoring systems exist to predict mortality in cardiac surgery, their utility in infective endocarditis (IE) remains uncertain, prompting this study to compare their prognostic accuracy. We conducted a comprehensive review using Ovid Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Data were pooled using Open-Meta[Analyst] software, and calibration analysis was performed with Review Manager 5.

First Report of Causing Root Rot on Tulip Poplar in Tennessee and the United States.

Tulip poplar () is a member of the Magnolia family, is a large, fast-growing, long-lived, deciduous tree native to eastern North America. One-year-old tulip poplar seedlings grown under field conditions in a commercial nursery in Warren County, Tennessee, exhibited severe root rot in May 2024. Dark brown to black lesions were observed on the affected roots.

Strong Association Between HIV Incidence and Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 in Zambia and South Africa: Prospective Data From the HPTN 071 (PopART) Trial.

Background: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) is an important cofactor for HIV acquisition and transmission. Associations between the infections are reexamined in longitudinal data from an HIV prevention trial.

Methods: The HPTN 071 (PopART) trial evaluated a combination prevention intervention in 21 urban communities in Zambia and South Africa.

Census Tract Rurality, Predominant Race and Ethnicity, and Distance to Lung Cancer Screening Facilities : An Ecological Study.

Background: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends annual lung cancer screening (LCS) for adults who meet specific age and smoking history criteria.

Barriers to Buprenorphine: A Case Series of Misadventures Implementing a Prehospital Buprenorphine Protocol.

While several studies have focused on preliminary data and outcomes associated with prehospital buprenorphine administration interventions, to date there has been little discussion of the challenges experienced during the initial implementation of a prehospital buprenorphine protocol. In this case series we examine 3 separate patient encounters with different crews, patients, and receiving emergency medicine (EM) physicians, which highlight initial challenges experienced with implementing the first prehospital buprenorphine program in a rural Appalachian County within South Carolina. In 2 cases we highlight conflicts that may require collegial intervention and education of local receiving EM physicians regarding the new prehospital protocol.

Extracellular vesicles from diverse fungal pathogens induce species-specific and endocytosis-dependent immunomodulation.

Microbial pathogens generate extracellular vesicles (EVs) for intercellular communication and quorum sensing. Microbial EVs also induce inflammatory pathways within host innate immune cells. We previously demonstrated that EVs secreted by trigger type I interferon signaling in host cells specifically via the cGAS-STING innate immune signaling pathway.

Disseminated histoplasmosis in a 4-month-old infant presenting with prolonged fever and pancytopenia: A case report.

Background: Histoplasmosis is the most prevalent endemic mycosis in the United States, typically affecting immunocompromised individuals. Diagnosis of histoplasmosis in immunocompetent patients is rare, particularly among young infants, with only a few cases reported.

Case Presentation: We present a 4-month-old female with a history of prematurity who initially presented with 11 days of fever.

Human-centered design of a health recommender system for orthopaedic shoulder treatment.

Background: Rich data on diverse patients and their treatments and outcomes within Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems can be used to generate real world evidence. A health recommender system (HRS) framework can be applied to a decision support system application to generate data summaries for similar patients during the clinical encounter to assist physicians and patients in making evidence-based shared treatment decisions.

Objective: A human-centered design (HCD) process was used to develop a HRS for treatment decision support in orthopaedic medicine, the Informatics Consult for Individualized Treatment (I-C-IT).

Right Ventricular Injury Definition and Management in Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Right ventricular injury (RVI) in respiratory failure receiving veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) is associated with significant mortality. A scoping review is necessary to map the current literature and guide future research regarding the definition and management of RVI in patients receiving VV ECMO. We searched for relevant publications on RVI in patients receiving VV ECMO in Medline, EMBASE, and Web of Science.