Novel Criteria for Diagnosing Acute and Early Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in a Multinational Study of Early Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation during acute and early human immunodeficiency virus infection (AEHI) limits HIV reservoir formation and may facilitate post-ART control but is logistically challenging. We evaluated the performance of AEHI diagnostic criteria from a prospective study of early ART initiation.

Methods: AIDS Clinical Trials Group A 5354 enrolled adults at 30 sites in the Americas, Africa, and Asia who met any 1 of 6 criteria based on combinations of results of HIV RNA, HIV antibody, Western blot or Geenius assay, and/or the signal-to-cutoff (S/CO) ratio of the ARCHITECT HIV Ag/Ab Combo or GS HIV Combo Ag/Ab EIA.

Warranty Period of a Calcium Score of Zero: Comprehensive Analysis From MESA.

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and model conversion of a normal coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan to an abnormal CAC scan.

Background: Although the absence of CAC is associated with excellent prognosis, progression to CAC >0 confers increased risk. The time interval for repeated scanning remains poorly defined.

The longitudinal relationship between patient-reported outcomes and clinical characteristics among patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network.

Background: Understanding the relationship between clinical and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) will help support clinical care and future clinical trial design of novel therapies for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).

Methods: FSGS patients ≥8 years of age enrolled in the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network completed Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System PRO measures of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (children: global health, mobility, fatigue, pain interference, depression, anxiety, stress and peer relationships; adults: physical functioning, fatigue, pain interference, sleep impairment, mental health, depression, anxiety and social satisfaction) at baseline and during longitudinal follow-up for a maximum of 5 years. Linear mixed-effects models were used to determine which demographic, clinical and laboratory features were associated with PROs for each of the eight children and eight adults studied.

Prenatal Exposure to Electronic-Cigarette Aerosols Leads to Sex-Dependent Pulmonary Extracellular-Matrix Remodeling and Myogenesis in Offspring Mice.

Electronic-cigarette (e-cig) vaping is a serious concern, as many pregnant women who vape consider it safe. However, little is known about the harmful effects of prenatal e-cig exposure on adult offspring, especially on extracellular-matrix (ECM) deposition and myogenesis in the lungs of offspring. We evaluated the biochemical and molecular implications of maternal exposure during pregnancy to e-cig aerosols on the adult offspring of both sexes, with a particular focus on pulmonary ECM remodeling and myogenesis.

Predictive Value of Coronary Artery Calcium Score Categories for Coronary Events Versus Strokes: Impact of Sex and Race: MESA and DHS.

Background: Coronary artery calcium (CAC) predicts atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events, inclusive of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, and is a decision-making aid for primary prevention. The predictive value of CAC categories for CHD and stroke separately and across sex and race groups of an asymptomatic population is unclear.

Methods: White, Black, and Hispanic participants of MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) and DHS (Dallas Heart Study) underwent CAC measurement at enrollment and were followed for incident ASCVD events.

AABIP Evidence-informed Guidelines and Expert Panel Report for the Management of Indwelling Pleural Catheters.

Background: While the efficacy of Indwelling pleural catheters for palliation of malignant pleural effusions is supported by relatively robust evidence, there is less clarity surrounding the postinsertion management.

Methods: The Trustworthy Consensus-Based Statement approach was utilized to develop unbiased, scientifically valid guidance for the management of patients with malignant effusions treated with indwelling pleural catheters. A comprehensive electronic database search of PubMed was performed based on a priori crafted PICO questions (Population/Intervention/Comparator/Outcomes paradigm).

Mechanism underlying increased cardiac extracellular matrix deposition in perinatal nicotine-exposed offspring.

Although increased predisposition to cardiac fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction has been demonstrated in the perinatally nicotine-exposed heart, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. With the use of a well-established rat model and cultured primary neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts, the effect of perinatal nicotine exposure on offspring heart extracellular matrix deposition and the likely underlying mechanisms were investigated. Perinatal nicotine exposure resulted in increased collagen type I (COL1A1) and III (COL3A1) deposition along with a decrease in miR-29 family and an increase in long noncoding RNA myocardial infarction-associated transcript (MIAT) levels in offspring heart.

Establishing core outcome domains in pediatric kidney disease: report of the Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology-Children and Adolescents (SONG-KIDS) consensus workshops.

Trials in children with chronic kidney disease do not consistently report outcomes that are critically important to patients and caregivers. This can diminish the relevance and reliability of evidence for decision making, limiting the implementation of results into practice and policy. As part of the Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology-Children and Adolescents (SONG-Kids) initiative, we convened 2 consensus workshops in San Diego, California (7 patients, 24 caregivers, 43 health professionals) and Melbourne, Australia (7 patients, 23 caregivers, 49 health professionals).

3-Year effect of weight loss via severe versus moderate energy restriction on body composition among postmenopausal women with obesity - the TEMPO Diet Trial.

Unlabelled: We have previously shown that a severely energy-restricted diet leads to greater loss of weight, fat, lean mass and bone mineral density (BMD) at 12 months in postmenopausal women with obesity than a moderately energy-restricted diet. We now aim to evaluate whether these effects are sustained longer term (ie, at 36 months). 101 postmenopausal women were randomized to either 12 months of moderate (25 to 35%) energy restriction with a food-based diet (moderate intervention), or 4 months of severe (65 to 75%) energy restriction with a total meal replacement diet followed by moderate energy restriction for 8 months (severe intervention).

GRP78 and Integrins Play Different Roles in Host Cell Invasion during Mucormycosis.

Mucormycosis, caused by species, is a life-threatening fungal infection that occurs in patients immunocompromised by diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), cytotoxic chemotherapy, immunosuppressive therapy, hematologic malignancies, or severe trauma. Inhaled spores cause pulmonary infections in patients with hematologic malignancies, while patients with DKA are much more prone to rhinoorbital/cerebral mucormycosis. Here, we show that interacts with glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) on nasal epithelial cells via its spore coat protein CotH3 to invade and damage the nasal epithelial cells.

Detection of carbapenem resistant enterobacteriace from fomite surfaces.

Accurately identifying carbapenem resistant enterobacteriace (CRE) from fomites is critical for infection control practices, research, and assessing patient risk. We compared a commercial CRE agar intended for patient use with a modified MacConkey agar. We found that our modified MacConkey agar was more selective at identifying CRE from environmental sources.

Cardiovascular Outcomes in Relation to Antihypertensive Medication Use in Women with and Without Cancer: Results from the Women's Health Initiative.

Background: Recent clinical trials have evaluated angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (ACEis), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), and beta blockers (BBs) in relation to cardiotoxicity in patients with cancer, typically defined by ejection fraction declines. However, these trials have not examined long-term, hard clinical endpoints. Within a prospective study, we examined the risk of heart failure (HF) and coronary heart disease (CHD) events in relation to use of commonly used antihypertensive medications, including ACEis/ARBs, BBs, calcium channel blockers (CCB), and diuretics, comparing women with and without cancer.

Relationship of fibroblast growth factor 21 levels with inflammation, lipoproteins and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background And Aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with inflammation and atherogenic lipoprotein abnormalities. Previous studies suggest an association of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) with NAFLD. Therefore, we assessed the association of circulating FGF21 levels with inflammatory markers, lipoprotein profile and NAFLD in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Tranilast induces MiR-200c expression through blockade of RelA/p65 activity in leiomyoma smooth muscle cells.

Objective: To determine the mechanism by which tranilast induces miR-200c expression in leiomyoma smooth muscle cells (LSMCs).

Design: Experimental study.

Setting: Academic research laboratory.

Correction to: Racial Differences in the Utilization of Guideline-Recommended and Life-Sustaining Procedures During Hospitalizations for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

There was an error in Fig. 1 as published in this article, and the Hemodialysis and Palliative Care titles in the figure are reversed.

Racial Differences in the Utilization of Guideline-Recommended and Life-Sustaining Procedures During Hospitalizations for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Background: Racial and ethnic minorities are at risk for disparities in quality of care after out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest (OHCA). As such, we examined associations between race and ethnicity and use of guideline-recommended and life-sustaining procedures during hospitalizations for OHCA.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of hospitalizations for OHCA in all acute-care, non-federal California hospitals from 2009 to 2011.

Cross-talk between miR-29c and transforming growth factor-β3 is mediated by an epigenetic mechanism in leiomyoma.

Objective: To determine the expression of miR-29c and its target gene transforming growth factor-β3 (TGF-β3) in leiomyoma and the mechanisms of their reciprocal regulation.

Design: Experimental study.

Setting: Academic research laboratory.

Time-Limited Trials Among Critically Ill Patients With Advanced Medical Illnesses to Reduce Nonbeneficial Intensive Care Unit Treatments: Protocol for a Multicenter Quality Improvement Study.

Background: Invasive intensive care unit (ICU) treatments for patients with advanced medical illnesses and poor prognoses may prolong suffering with minimal benefit. Unfortunately, the quality of care planning and communication between clinicians and critically ill patients and their families in these situations are highly variable, frequently leading to overutilization of invasive ICU treatments. Time-limited trials (TLTs) are agreements between the clinicians and the patients and decision makers to use certain medical therapies over defined periods of time and to evaluate whether patients improve or worsen according to predetermined clinical parameters.

Associations of recreational and non-recreational physical activity with coronary artery calcium density vs. volume and cardiovascular disease events: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Aims: The benefits of physical activity (PA) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) are well known. However, studies suggest PA is associated with coronary artery calcium (CAC), a subclinical marker of CVD. In this study, we evaluated the associations of self-reported recreational and non-recreational PA with CAC composition and incident CVD events.