The Recent Increase in Invasive Bacterial Infections: A Report From the National COVID Cohort Collaborative.

Background: When coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mitigation efforts waned, viral respiratory infections (VRIs) surged, potentially increasing the risk of postviral invasive bacterial infections (IBIs). We sought to evaluate the change in epidemiology and relationships between specific VRIs and IBIs [complicated pneumonia, complicated sinusitis and invasive group A streptococcus (iGAS)] over time using the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) dataset.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of all prospectively collected pediatric (<19 years old) and adult encounters at 58 N3C institutions, stratified by era: pre-pandemic (January 1, 2018, to February 28, 2020) versus pandemic (March 1, 2020, to June 1, 2023).

SmartChart Suite: a Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources-based framework for longitudinal syphilis surveillance using structured and unstructured data.

Objective: The resurgence of syphilis in the United States presents a significant public health challenge. Much of the information needed for syphilis surveillance resides in electronic health records (EHRs). In this manuscript, we describe a surveillance platform for automating the extraction of EHR data, known as SmartChart Suite, and the results from a pilot.

Acute Decompensated Valvular Disease in the Intensive Care Unit.

Acute decompensated valvular disease encompasses a group of complex and challenging conditions, which are often the primary reason for admission to the cardiac intensive care unit and can also complicate the management of other primary cardiac disorders. Critically ill patients with valvular disease also present unique diagnostic and management challenges. Historically, medical and percutaneous interventional therapies have been limited and surgery was the only definitive treatment; however, surgical risk can at times be prohibitive.

Factors affecting waiting times to enter opioid use disorder treatment in the United States with a particular focus on potential biological sex disparity.

Aim: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is the problematic use of licit or illicit opioids. Thus far, the literature on biological sex differences in accessing treatment is scarce. Hence, we hypothesize that biological sex has a moderating effect on OUD treatment accessibility.

A spatially constrained independent component analysis jointly informed by structural and functional network connectivity.

There are a growing number of neuroimaging studies motivating joint structural and functional brain connectivity. The brain connectivity of different modalities provides an insight into brain functional organization by leveraging complementary information, especially for brain disorders such as schizophrenia. In this paper, we propose a multimodal independent component analysis (ICA) model that utilizes information from both structural and functional brain connectivity guided by spatial maps to estimate intrinsic connectivity networks (ICNs).

Jets Downstream of Collisionless Shocks: Recent Discoveries and Challenges.

Plasma flows with enhanced dynamic pressure, known as magnetosheath jets, are often found downstream of collisionless shocks. As they propagate through the magnetosheath, they interact with the surrounding plasma, shaping its properties, and potentially becoming geoeffective upon reaching the magnetopause. In recent years (since 2016), new research has produced vital results that have significantly enhanced our understanding on many aspects of jets.

The Spectrum of Ocular Diseases in the Onchocerciasis-Endemic Focus of Raga in South Sudan.

Introduction: Raga County is an onchocerciasis-endemic area in the Western Bahr El Ghazal state of South Sudan, known to have a high prevalence of blindness. The objective of this study was to determine the causes of eye disease and blindness in Raga County as well as to assess the relationship of eye diseases with other prevalent conditions like onchocerciasis and epilepsy.

Methods: We reviewed unpublished pre-community directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) data about eye disease and onchocerciasis in Western Bahr El Ghazal including Raga.

Revisiting Injectable Estrogen Dosing Recommendations for Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy.

Injectable estrogens are options for gender-affirming hormone therapy per guidelines, which suggest intramuscular dosages of 5-30 mg every 2 weeks or 2-10 mg weekly with estradiol cypionate or valerate interchangeably. Data among transgender and gender-diverse patients are limited due to local unavailability and concerns around laboratory assay variability and estradiol (E2) level fluctuation. We note a concerning trend where patients are prescribed high-dose injections based on the guidelines leading to serum E2 levels well above the range recommended in the same guidelines.

Adaptation of a HIV Prevention Mobile App for Transmasculine People: A Pilot Acceptability and Feasibility Study.

Purpose: Using a community-engaged approach, we adapted a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention smartphone app, Transpire, to meet the HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention needs of transgender men and other transmasculine people. We conducted a pilot study to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the app among participants in two cities in the southeastern United States.

Methods: Participants were recruited online and through community partners.

The Utilization of Syndemic Theory in Transgender Literature: A Structured Literature Review.

Purpose: Trans and gender diverse (TGD) people are one of the world's most marginalized populations. Current evidence indicates that ostracism faced by these communities leads to multiple adverse conditions. The synergistic impact of these conditions -a syndemic-has been well established among other marginalized populations.

Artificial Intelligence-Driven Advances in Coronary Calcium Scoring: Expanding Preventive Cardiology.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) remains a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality, underscoring the need for effective cardiovascular risk stratification and preventive strategies. Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring, traditionally performed using electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated cardiac computed tomography (CT) scans, has been widely validated as a robust tool for assessing cardiovascular risk. However, its application has been largely limited to high-risk populations due to the costs, technical requirements, and limited accessibility of cardiac CT scans.

Rupture mechanics of blood clot fibrin fibers: A coarse-grained model study.

Thrombosis, when occurring undesirably, disrupts normal blood flow and poses significant medical challenges. As the skeleton of blood clots, fibrin fibers play a vital role in the formation and fragmentation of blood clots. Thus, studying the deformation and fracture characteristics of fibrin fiber networks is the key factor to solve a series of health problems caused by thrombosis.

Performance of Conditional Random Forest and Regression Models at Predicting Human Fecal Contamination of Produce Irrigation Ponds in the Southeastern United States.

Irrigating fresh produce with contaminated water contributes to the burden of foodborne illness. Identifying fecal contamination of irrigation waters and characterizing fecal sources and associated environmental factors can help inform fresh produce safety and health hazard management. Using two previously collected data sets, we developed and evaluated the performance of logistic regression and conditional random forest models for predicting general and human-specific fecal contamination of ponds in southwest Georgia used for fresh produce irrigation.

Detecting Selective Laser Melting Beam Power from Ultrasonic Temporal and Spectral Responses of Phononic Crystal Artifacts Toward Real-Time Quality Monitoring.

Unlike many conventional manufacturing techniques, 3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing (3DP/AM) fabrication creates builds with unprecedented degrees of structural and geometrical complexities. However, uncertainties in 3DP/AM processes and material attributes could cause geometric and structural quality issues in resulting builds and products. Evaluating the sensitivity of process parameters and material properties for process optimization, quality assessment, and closed-loop control is crucial in practice.

Social Norms Regarding Alcohol Use, Perceptions of Alcohol Advertisement and Intent to Drink Alcohol among Youth in Uganda.

The objective of this paper is to address the scarcity of research on alcohol marketing exposure and underage drinking in sub-Saharan Africa. This study examines perceptions of alcohol advertisements and perceived peer, adult, and parental attitudes regarding alcohol use and intentions to drink among vulnerable youth. The Kampala Youth Survey is a cross-sectional study conducted in 2014 with service-seeking youth (ages 12-18 years) living in the slums of Kampala (n=1,134) who were participating in Uganda Youth Development Link drop-in centers.

Endocrine Care of a 19-year-old Woman With Isolated Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism due to 4H Syndrome.

Background/objective: 4H syndrome is a rare form of leukodystrophy characterized by hypomyelination, hypodontia, and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. In 95% of cases, hypomyelination is present, but other clinical features, such as hypodontia and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, are not always present and may not be necessary for diagnosis. Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is the most common endocrine complication that can occur in 4H syndrome.

The prevalence of small airways disease and association with handgrip strength in young Hispanic farmworkers.

Background: Small airways disease (SAD) is a key risk in developing obstructive lung diseases (OLD). Handgrip strength (HGS) is found to be associated with pulmonary function in populations with lung conditions. Hispanics remain the main workforce in farming industry, but their prevalence of lung conditions remain understudied.

Uptake of metals, metalloids, and radiocesium varies with habitat use among passerine communities at coal combustion and nuclear fission legacy waste sites.

Releases of coal combustion and nuclear fission wastes create contaminated landscapes that pose long-term management challenges. Efforts to facilitate the natural attenuation of legacy wastes in the environment can provide attractive habitat for passerine birds. Passerines have diverse foraging and nesting behaviors that lead to heterogenous contaminant exposure, yet few studies investigate contaminant uptake in passerines on a community scale.

Physician Assistants in Clinical Endocrinology: Characteristics and Demographics.

Objective: Physician assistants (PAs) are employed in endocrinology, but little is known about their roles and activities. The study aimed to assess PAs' employment characteristics in endocrinology compared to those in all other specialties.

Methods: This descriptive observational study used the 2022 National Commission on Certification of PAs (NCCPA) dataset.

Outcomes after unilateral bevacizumab treatment for infants with asymmetric retinopathy of prematurity.

In this retrospective study of asymmetric retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) cases treated with unilateral intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB), half of the treated patients did not require further IVB, whereas the other half required sequential IVB at a mean of 12 days after initial treatment.

Biological and chemical properties of new multi-functional root canal irrigants.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of multi-functional root canal irrigating solutions in the removal of canal wall smear layers, antibacterial activity, cytotoxicity, and tissue dissolution efficacy.

Methods: Forty single-rooted teeth were mechanically instrumented and irrigated with Triton, EndoJuice™, EDTA, and 0.9% saline.

Community pharmacy-based buprenorphine programs and pharmacists' roles, knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to providing buprenorphine-related services: A systematic review.

Background: Buprenorphine is an effective medication for treating opioid use disorder (OUD) and reducing opioid-related overdose deaths. Community pharmacies are key access points for buprenorphine, with pharmacists well-positioned to dispense and counsel patients on appropriate use. Recent evidence has identified pharmacists' growing engagement in buprenorphine services; yet, access to buprenorphine and related services in community pharmacies remains limited.

Racial Discrimination-related Interoceptive Network Disruptions: A Pathway to Disconnection.

Background: Racial discrimination (RD) disrupts regulatory systems in minoritized individuals, particularly those that govern attention, including attention to visceral signals (interoception). RD frequency is linked to physiological "shut down" responses, characterized clinically by dissociation. We examined associations between RD frequency and functional connectivity of attention and interoceptive networks in sample of trauma-exposed Black women, investigating how connectivity alterations associate with dissociation severity.