Sexual orientation and sexual functioning in midlife women veterans.

Objective: Midlife women experience menopause- and aging-related health changes that may impact sexual functioning. Research has historically relied on heteronormative constructs of sexuality, and little is known about the experiences of sexual minority women (SMW) during menopause. We therefore examined whether indices of sexual function differed between SMW and heterosexual midlife women Veterans.

Exploring Racial and Ethnic Differences in Utilization of Medications for Obesity Management in a Nationally Representative Survey.

Background: The burden of obesity falls disproportionately on some racial and ethnic minority groups.

Objective: To assess for racial and ethnic differences in the utilization of obesity-management medications among clinically eligible individuals.

Design: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2011-2016, 2018 and 2020) data and a cross-sectional study design was used to assess for racial and ethnic differences in obesity-management medication utilization.

The Interaction and Implication of Stress-Induced Hyperglycemia and Cytokine Release Following Traumatic Injury: A Structured Scoping Review.

Introduction: This is a structured scoping review to assess whether there is a relationship between stress-induced hyperglycemia (SIH), cytokine interactions, and mortality in trauma patients in comparison to non-diabetic normoglycemia [NDN], diabetic normoglycemia [DN], and diabetic hyperglycemia [DH].

Methods: We conducted a literature search of MEDLINE (PubMed) databases from 2000 to 2022 using a search strategy to identify observational studies. Initially, 2879 articles were retrieved.

Unveiling the HSF1 Interaction Network: Key Regulators of Its Function in Cancer.

Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) plays a central role in orchestrating the heat shock response (HSR), leading to the activation of multiple heat shock proteins (HSPs) genes and approximately thousands of other genes involved in various cellular functions. In cancer cells, HSPs play a particular role in coping with the accumulation of damaged proteins resulting from dysregulated translation and post-translational processes. This proteotoxic stress is a hallmark of cancer cells and causes constitutive activation of HSR.

Involving Knowledge Users in Health Services Research: Collective Reflections and Learning From a National Evaluation of Recurrent Miscarriage Services.

Introduction: Involving knowledge users in research can facilitate the translation of evidence into policy and practice. How to best involve and support various types of knowledge users, including patient and public involvement contributors, in research is an identified knowledge gap. We conducted a national evaluation of recurrent miscarriage care supported by a Research Advisory Group (convened in March 2020) comprising a range of knowledge users, including parent advocates and people involved in the management/provision of services.

Improving perinatal depression screening uptake: The impact of Medicaid reimbursement policy in Massachusetts.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the Massachusetts Medicaid program's reimbursement policy change for perinatal depression screening on utilization rates.

Study Setting And Design: This study employed a difference-in-differences design to compare insurance-paid prenatal and postpartum depression screening rates as well as postpartum antidepressant receipt rates between Medicaid and privately insured individuals before and after policy implementation in May 2016.

Data Sources And Analytic Sample: Data are from the 2014-2020 Massachusetts All-Payer Claims Database.

Mental Health Provider Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Diagnosing Anxiety Disorders in the Veterans Health Administration.

Clinical practice guidelines indicate treatments for specific anxiety diagnoses. Misdiagnosing specific anxiety disorders as unspecified anxiety may prevent patients from receiving appropriate care. Provider knowledge and attitudes may influence diagnostic practices.

Synergistic anticancer activity of HSP70 and HSF1 inhibitors in colorectal cancer cells: A new strategy for combination therapy.

Background: The heat shock response (HSR) is a highly conserved mechanism that maintains intracellular homeostasis in response to various environmental and physiological stresses. Heat shock proteins (HSPs), particularly HSP70, play a pivotal role in this process as molecular chaperones. Although HSP70 inhibitors have demonstrated anti-cancer activity, their therapeutic potential has been limited by the negative feedback mechanism between HSP70 and heat shock factor 1 (HSF1).

Perinatal outcomes in siblings from different conception methods: in vitro fertilization with autologous oocyte or donor egg vs. unassisted medical conception.

Objective: To study the perinatal outcomes of children born from different conception methods: in vitro fertilization (IVF) with autologous oocytes or IVF with donor egg vs. those conceived without medical assistance by using a sibling analysis.

Design: Retrospective cohort study conducted using electronic medical record data from 2000 through 2018, of a national healthcare organization.

Clinical, histological and safety outcomes with long-term maintenance therapies for eosinophilic esophagitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aim: Our aim was to evaluate outcomes of maintenance treatments for EoE among observational studies (OSs) and randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Materials And Methods: Studies reporting histological success of maintenance therapy ≥ 48 weeks were included. Primary outcome was histological success rate (defined as <15/<6 eos/HPF).

Perioperative and long-term outcomes of bilateral cardiac sympathetic denervation via video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in patients with refractory ventricular arrhythmias.

Background: Bilateral cardiac sympathetic denervation (CSD) performed via video-assisted thoracoscopic (VAT) surgery shows potential in managing ventricular tachycardia (VT), thereby reducing arrhythmic burden. In this setting, the scarcity of studies addressing both perioperative and long-term outcomes creates a substantial gap in the optimal management of patients with multiple comorbidities and limited treatment options. This observational study aimed to assess the medical comorbidities, as well as the short- and long-term outcomes of patients who underwent CSD for VT refractory to catheter ablation and medical therapy at a referral tertiary teaching hospital.

Discovery of 22(S)-23-phenyl-24-norchol-5-en-3β,22-diol (PFM046) as the first-in-class, steroidal, non-sulfated Liver X Receptor antagonist with anticancer activity.

A plethora of studies have demonstrated the crucial role played by Liver X Receptors (LXRs) in cancer. However, whether LXRs activation results in pro-versus anti-tumor effects is still matter of debate. Recently, we have reported the ability of 22(S)-hydroxycholesterol-3-sulfate (PFM037) to antagonize LXRα activity, and, at the same time, its capability to improve in-vivo anti-tumor immune responses.

Sustainability of California's Whole Person Care pilots integrating medical and social services for Medicaid enrollees via newly developed Medicaid benefits.

Objective: To assess multi-level factors influencing the sustainability of 26 social care pilots integrating medical and social services for Medicaid enrollees across California in newly developed Medicaid benefits.

Study Setting And Design: This qualitative study assessed the sustainability of Whole Person Care (WPC) pilots implemented between 2016 and 2021. Pilots (n = 26) represented a majority of counties in California.

Clinical outcomes of patients with bicuspid aortic valve undergoing a targeted transcatheter aortic valve replacement approach: the LIRA Method.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) disease is still burdened by a non-negligible rate of stroke and permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI). These suboptimal results, possibly related to the unique BAV anatomy, might suggest the use of a different sizing method in this setting. The aim of our study is to evaluate whether the application of the supra-annular LIRA method might improve clinical outcomes in this population.

Prevalence and Outcomes of Emergency Presentations of Colorectal Cancer in Veterans Affairs Health Care System.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnoses are frequently made through emergency presentations (EPs), a new cancer diagnosis following an emergency care episode or unplanned inpatient admission. The extent and implications of EPs are not well known in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health system, where robust CRC screening protocols exist. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the route of CRC diagnosis also remains unclear.

Reducing industrial pollution and inter-regional environmental inequality via the world's largest high-speed railway network.

Industrial pollution and the associated spatial environmental inequality increase health risks and hinder sustainable development, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Large-scale public transportation infrastructure that connects developed and developing cities, exemplified by high-speed railway (HSR), has the potential to be an effective instrument. Here, we provide nationwide micro-level estimates for the overall and distributional environmental impacts of HSR in a middle-income context.

Nephrotoxicity in locally advanced head and neck cancer: when the end justifies the means to preserve nutritional status during chemoradiation.

Cisplatin is a nephrotoxic agent able to damage renal function both in acute and chronic phases. Radiotherapy concomitant with cisplatin 100 mg/m given once every 3 weeks is the curative standard of care for locally advanced head and neck cancer. A prospective evaluation of a wide range of biochemical and anthropometrical parameters, handgrip strength, risk of malnutrition, visual analogue scale of appetite, and body composition was performed before, during, and after concomitant chemoradiotherapy in 60 consecutive patients affected by locally advanced head and neck cancer.

Commercial influences on patient and public involvement: a renewed call for research and action.

Patient and public involvement is increasingly advocated in health policy, research and practice. Patients and people with lived experience, carers and the general public should have a say in how policy is generated, how services are delivered and how research is conducted. Through this perspective article, we hope to stimulate discussion and debate around industry influence in patient and public involvement, specifically pertaining to patient organizations, which often play a key role in patient and public involvement activities.

Diazoxide toxicity in congenital hyperinsulinism: A case report.

Background: Diazoxide is the sole approved drug for congenital hyperinsulinism; however, diuretic administration and vigilant monitoring are crucial to prevent and promptly identify potentially life-threatening adverse effects. This report aims to highlight a seldom-considered rare side effect of diazoxide. We believe that this brief report is of general interest to readership and increase the physicians' awareness of the guideline importance.

Telehealth and disparities in opioid use disorder treatment: Medicaid enrollees versus privately insured individuals.

Objective: To determine how the rise of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted Medicaid enrollees' access to opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment.

Data Sources And Study Setting: Electronic health records from Northwestern Medicine, a large midwestern academic health system, from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2021.

Study Design: The exposure was the expansion of telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Serum levels of total bile acids are associated with an increased risk of HCC in patients with cirrhosis.

Background: Previous studies have reported higher circulating bile acid levels in patients with HCC compared to healthy controls. However, the association between prediagnostic bile acid levels and HCC risk among patients with cirrhosis is unclear.

Methods: We measured total BA (TBA) concentration in serum samples collected from a prospective cohort of patients with cirrhosis who were followed until the development of HCC, death, or last study date.