Trends in Medicare Coverage of Overactive Bladder Medications in the United States.

Importance: Strong evidence demonstrates long-term cognitive decline associated with anticholinergics. While prevalent among older populations, medical management of overactive bladder (OAB) is dictated by insurance coverage rather than medical provider and patient preferences.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess Medicare insurance plan coverage for select OAB medications and evaluate coverage of preferred medications to medications with a greater risk of cognitive dysfunction.

A genomics learning framework for undergraduates.

Genomics is an increasingly important part of biology research. However, educating undergraduates in genomics is not yet a standard part of life sciences curricula. We believe this is, in part, due to a lack of standard concepts for the teaching of genomics.

Moving toward universal health coverage with a national health insurance program: A scoping review and narrative synthesis of experiences in eleven low- and lower-middle income countries.

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) aims to provide access to quality health services to all while avoiding financial hardship. Strategies can include establishing a national health insurance scheme (NHIS). However, variations in the progress exist among countries with an NHIS.

Menthol Cigarettes and Maternal Health: 2004-2022.

The United States is proposing to ban menthol cigarettes. Our objective is to examine the extent of menthol smoking among pregnant women and its association with their health. Nationally representative study of 14,226 pregnant women aged 18-44 years using the 2004-2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Pharmacokinetic and Metabolomic Studies with BBT-059 in Nonhuman Primates Exposed to Total-Body Gamma Radiation.

BBT-059 is a long-acting PEGylated interleukin-11 analog that has been shown to have hematopoiesis-promoting and anti-apoptotic attributes, and is being studied as a radiation countermeasure for the hematopoietic acute radiation syndrome (H-ARS). This potential countermeasure has been demonstrated to enhance survival in irradiated mice. To investigate the toxicity and safety profile of this agent, 14 nonhuman primates (NHPs, rhesus macaques) were administered two different doses of BBT-059 subcutaneously 24 h after 4 Gy total-body irradiation and were monitored for the next 60 days postirradiation.

Temporal trends and patterns for early- and late-onset adult liver cancer incidence vary by race/ethnicity, subsite, and histologic type in the United States from 2000 to 2019.

Purpose: To examine incidence trends and patterns for early- and late-onset liver cancer.

Methods: Liver and intrahepatic bile duct (IBD) cancers diagnosed between 2000 and 2019 were acquired from 22 SEER registries. Variables included early-onset (20-49) vs.

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.

Ischemic Jejunitis as a Late Complication of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

The rising prevalence of obesity has led to a substantial investment in the advancement of treatment options for the disease and its comorbid conditions including lifestyle, pharmacologic, and procedural interventions. In this study, we describe a patient with a history of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass who was diagnosed with ischemic jejunitis on upper endoscopy because of the development of an internal hernia, a known late complication of bariatric surgery. This case highlights the diagnostic utility of endoscopy in postgastric bypass complications and the need for safer alternatives to surgery that have the potential to achieve significant weight loss such as bariatric endoscopic therapies.

Pixels to precision: Neuroradiology's leap into 3D printing for personalized medicine.

The realm of precision medicine, particularly its application within various sectors, shines notably in neuroradiology, where it leverages the advancements of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology. This synergy has significantly enhanced surgical planning, fostered the creation of tailor-made medical apparatus, bolstered medical pedagogy, and refined targeted therapeutic delivery. This review delves into the contemporary advancements and applications of 3D printing in neuroradiology, underscoring its pivotal role in refining surgical strategies, augmenting patient outcomes, and diminishing procedural risks.

No prediction without prevention: A global qualitative study of attitudes toward using a prediction tool for risk of developing depression during adolescence.

Given the rate of advancement in predictive psychiatry, there is a threat that it outpaces public and professional willingness for use in clinical care and public health. Prediction tools in psychiatry estimate the risk of future development of mental health conditions. Prediction tools used with young populations have the potential to reduce the worldwide burden of depression.

Investigation of Third Window Symptoms in Patients With Enlarged Vestibular Aqueduct: A Pilot Study.

Objective: To assess if patients with enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) experience symptoms characteristic of other third mobile window disorders such as superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome (SCDS).

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Tertiary care center.

Efficacy of Colchicine for Secondary Prevention of Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Control Trials.

Colchicine, a long-established anti-inflammatory medication, has emerged as a potential therapeutic agent for secondary prevention of stroke. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of colchicine in preventing secondary stroke by comprehensively synthesizing available evidence. A systematic literature search was conducted across multiple electronic databases from inception to November 15, 2024, using comprehensive search strategies.

Social media and disaster management by the National Emergency Management in Nigeria: What it is and what it should be.

The environment for communicating about emergencies and disasters has changed as a result of the development of mobile technologies and social media applications. The public expects emergency management agencies to monitor, respond to, and report disasters via mobile applications due to this shift. This study, using the retrospective approach, analyzes the posts by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on social media in Nigeria.

Prevalence of urinary tract infections in women with vulvovaginal atrophy and the impact of vaginal prasterone on the rate of urinary tract infections.

Objective: The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of urinary tract infections (UTI) in women newly diagnosed with vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) versus women without VVA and to evaluate the potential of vaginal prasterone to be used in postmenopausal VVA women with UTI as prophylaxis to reduce the future UTI risk. As a first subgroup analysis, women using aromatase inhibitors, medications that stop the production of estrogen were analyzed. As a second subgroup analysis, we looked at women with diabetes to investigate whether the same prophylaxis approach should be considered.

Neurogastroenterology and motility disorders in patients with cirrhosis.

Neurogastroenterology and motility disorders are complex gastrointestinal conditions that are prevalent worldwide, particularly affecting women and younger individuals. These conditions significantly impact the quality of life of people suffering from them. There is increasing evidence linking these disorders to cirrhosis, with a higher prevalence compared to the general population.

Detecting Early Recurrence With Circulating Tumor DNA in Stage I-III Biliary Tract Cancer After Curative Resection.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess (1) the prognostic value of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and (2) the ability of ctDNA to detect recurrence compared with standard surveillance in curatively resected early-stage biliary tract cancer (BTC).

Methods: This retrospective, multicenter cohort study evaluated serial ctDNA testing for surveillance in patients with early-stage BTC after curative resection. We evaluated the relapse-free survival (RFS) by ctDNA positivity.

The protein kinase C modulator bryostatin-1 therapeutically targets microglia to attenuate neuroinflammation and promote remyelination.

In multiple sclerosis (MS), microglia and macrophages within the central nervous system (CNS) play an important role in determining the balance among demyelination, neurodegeneration, and myelin repair. Phagocytic and regenerative functions of these CNS innate immune cells support remyelination, whereas chronic and maladaptive inflammatory activation promotes lesion expansion and disability, particularly in the progressive forms of MS. No currently approved drugs convincingly target microglia and macrophages within the CNS, contributing to the lack of therapies aimed at promoting remyelination and slowing disease progression for individuals with MS.

Efficacy and Safety of IV Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients With Moyamoya Disease.

Objectives: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare cerebrovascular condition, and it is a well-known risk factor of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). While IV thrombolysis (IVT) is an established treatment for patients with AIS, its efficacy and safety for patients with MMD is largely unknown.

Methods: This was a large retrospective analysis of the 2016-2021 Nationwide Readmissions Database in the United States.

Surgery for giant ovarian cysts in Guyana using single-port laparoscopy: a retrospective case series analysis.

Giant ovarian cysts (GOCs) have become less common in developed countries due to routine health screenings, but they remain prevalent in economically underdeveloped regions. Treatment options for GOCs depend on factors such as age, cyst characteristics, and pregnancy status. Minimally invasive single-port laparoscopic surgery has largely replaced traditional open surgery due to its aesthetic advantages and effectiveness.

Dysregulated miRNA Expression and Androgen Receptor Loss in Racially Distinct Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Androgen receptor (AR)-negative triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), often termed quadruple-negative breast cancer (QNBC), disproportionately impacts women of African descent, leading to poorer overall survival (OS). MiRNAs regulate the expression of gene drivers involved in critical signaling pathways in TNBC, such as the gene, and their expression varies across races and breast cancer subtypes. This study investigates whether differentially expressed miRNAs influence AR transcription, potentially contributing to the observed disparities between African American (AA) and European American (EA) QNBC patients.

Beyond Nucleotide Excision Repair: The Importance of XPF in Base Excision Repair and Its Impact on Cancer, Inflammation, and Aging.

DNA repair involves various intricate pathways that work together to maintain genome integrity. XPF (ERCC4) is a structural endonuclease that forms a heterodimer with ERCC1 that is critical in both single-strand break repair (SSBR) and double-strand break repair (DSBR). Although the mechanistic function of ERCC1/XPF has been established in nucleotide excision repair (NER), its role in long-patch base excision repair (BER) has recently been discovered through the 5'-Gap pathway.

Projecting temperature-related dengue burden in the Philippines under various socioeconomic pathway scenarios.

Introduction: As climate change advances, the looming threat of dengue fever, intricately tied to rising temperatures, intensifies, posing a substantial and enduring public health challenge in the Philippines. This study aims to investigate the historical and projected excess dengue disease burden attributable to temperature to help inform climate change policies, and guide resource allocation for strategic climate change and dengue disease interventions.

Methods: The study utilized established temperature-dengue risk functions to estimate the historical dengue burden attributable to increased temperatures.

Sub-second characterization of locomotor activities of mouse models of Parkinsonism.

The degeneration of midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons disrupts the neural control of natural behavior, such as walking, posture, and gait in Parkinson's disease. While some aspects of motor symptoms can be managed by dopamine replacement therapies, others respond poorly. Recent advancements in machine learning-based technologies offer opportunities for unbiased segmentation and quantification of natural behavior in both healthy and diseased states.