BOston Neonatal Brain Injury Data for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (BONBID-HIE): I. MRI and Lesion Labeling.

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a brain injury that occurs in 1 ~ 5/1000 term neonates. Accurate identification and segmentation of HIE-related lesions in neonatal brain magnetic resonance images (MRIs) is the first step toward identifying high-risk patients, understanding neurological symptoms, evaluating treatment effects, and predicting outcomes. We release the first public dataset containing neonatal brain diffusion MRI and expert annotation of lesions from 133 patients diagnosed with HIE.

Decision-making in women who considered planned oocyte cryopreservation: decision satisfaction or regret?

Research Question: Among women who considered planned oocyte cryopreservation, does decision regret differ between those who pursued planned oocyte cryopreservation and those who did not?

Design: A survey was e-mailed to all women who presented for an initial consultation for planned oocyte cryopreservation between January 2016 and December 2021 using a secure REDCap platform. The survey comprised questions on demographics, reproductive planning and the validated Decision Regret Scale (DRS). Univariable and multivariable models were fitted to compare decision regret in the group who had proceeded with planned oocyte cryopreservation with the group who had not.

Real-World Treatment Patterns and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Multiple Myeloma Previously Treated With Lenalidomide and an Anti-CD38 Monoclonal Antibody.

Background: This analysis explored real-world characteristics, treatment patterns and clinical outcomes in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) previously treated with lenalidomide and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and requiring subsequent treatment.

Materials And Methods: The PREAMBLE and Connect MM prospective registries of patients with multiple myeloma (MM), and the US nationwide Flatiron Health electronic health record-derived de-identified database were analysed. MM-specific treatment patterns (prior/index therapies) and outcomes (progression-free survival [PFS]/overall survival [OS]) were assessed.

Efficacy, safety, and target engagement of dazukibart, an IFNβ specific monoclonal antibody, in adults with dermatomyositis: a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial.

Background: Dermatomyositis is a chronic autoimmune disease with distinctive cutaneous eruptions and muscle weakness, and the pathophysiology is characterised by type I interferon (IFN) dysregulation. This study aims to assess the efficacy, safety, and target engagement of dazukibart, a potent, selective, humanised IgG1 neutralising monoclonal antibody directed against IFNβ, in adults with moderate-to-severe dermatomyositis.

Methods: This multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial was conducted at 25 university-based hospitals and outpatient sites in Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain, and the USA.

Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Fellowship Applicants with Greater Research Productivity During Residency are Ranked Higher by Fellowship Programs.

Introduction: Shoulder and elbow surgery fellowships in the United States are recognized for their academic emphasis, yet the correlation between an applicant's research productivity and fellowship match results remains unclear. This study (1) analyzed temporal trends in research productivity among matched fellowship applicants, (2) evaluated the influence of quantity of publications and first authorships on match positions, and (3) investigated program variations in research productivity.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of data from the San Francisco (SF) Match Database for shoulder and elbow surgery applicants matched between 2017 and 2024.

Left-Right Brain-Wide Asymmetry of Neuroanatomy in the Mouse Brain.

Left-right asymmetry of the human brain is widespread through its anatomy and function. However, limited microscopic understanding of it exists, particularly for anatomical asymmetry where there are few well-established animal models. In humans, most brain regions show subtle, population-average regional asymmetries in thickness or surface area, alongside a macro-scale twisting called the cerebral petalia in which the right hemisphere protrudes anteriorly past the left.

Default mode network functional connectivity as a transdiagnostic biomarker of cognitive function.

The default mode network (DMN) is intricately linked with processes such as self-referential thinking, episodic memory recall, goal-directed cognition, self-projection, and theory of mind. Over recent years, there has been a surge in examining its functional connectivity, particularly its relationship with frontoparietal networks (FPN) involved in top-down attention, executive function, and cognitive control. The fluidity in switching between these internal and external modes of processing-highlighted by anti-correlated functional connectivity-has been proposed as an indicator of cognitive health.

An engineered adeno-associated virus mediates efficient blood-brain barrier penetration with enhanced neurotropism and reduced hepatotropism.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a formidable barrier that restricts the entry of substances into the brain, complicating the study of brain function and the treatment of neurological conditions. Traditional methods of delivering genes from the periphery to the central nervous system (CNS) using adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) often require high doses, which can trigger immune responses and hepatotoxicity. Here, we developed a new AAV variant named AAVhu.

Associations of maternal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance plasma concentrations during pregnancy with offspring polycystic ovary syndrome and related characteristics in Project Viva.

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may impact ovarian folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis, but whether prenatal exposure may impact offspring reproductive health is unknown. This study examines the extent to which maternal PFAS plasma concentrations during pregnancy are associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and related characteristics in female offspring.

Methods: We studied 322 mother-daughter pairs in Project Viva, a Boston-area longitudinal pre-birth cohort enrolled 1999-2002.

Joint Associations of Sedentary Time and Intensity-Specific Physical Activity With Cancer Mortality: A Device-Based Cohort Study of 72,458 UK Adults.

Background: There are no studies examining the prospective joint association of device-based measures of sedentary time and physical activity (PA) with cancer mortality. We examined the joint associations of sedentary time and intensity-specific PA with cancer mortality in 72,458 adults from UK Biobank.

Methods: Participants wore an Axivity AX3 accelerometer on their dominant wrist for at least 3 days (with at least 1 weekend day).

Clinical advances of mRNA vaccines for cancer immunotherapy.

The development of mRNA vaccines represents a significant advancement in cancer treatment, with more than 120 clinical trials to date demonstrating their potential across various malignancies, including lung, breast, prostate, melanoma, and more challenging cancers such as pancreatic and brain tumors. These vaccines work by encoding tumor-specific antigens and immune-stimulating molecules, effectively activating the immune system to target and eliminate cancer cells. Despite these promising advancements, significant challenges remain, particularly in achieving efficient delivery and precise regulation of the immune response.

The effects of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and urocortins on the serotonin (hydroxytryptamine, 5HT) released from the raphe nuclei (RN).

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and urocortins (UCN1, UCN2 and UCN3) belong to the same CRF family of neuropeptides. They regulate the neuroendocrine, autonomic and behavioral responses to stress via two CRF receptors (CRF1 and CRF2). Stress, anxiety and depression affects the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the serotoninergic neurotransmission, both being regulated by CRF and CRF-related peptides.

Lifting of travel restrictions brings additional noise in COVID-19 surveillance through wastewater-based epidemiology in post-pandemic period.

The post-pandemic world still faces ongoing COVID-19 infections, although international travel has returned to pre-pandemic conditions. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is considered an efficient tool for the population-wide surveillance of COVID-19 infections during the pandemic. However, the performance of WBE in post-pandemic era with travel restrictions lifted remains unknown.

The relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and frailty: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Aim: Frailty is frequently observed in end-stage liver disease of various etiologies, but its role in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains incompletely understood. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association and prevalence of frailty in NAFLD.

Methods: A systematic review of PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus was performed.

Meat intake in relation to composition and function of gut microbiota.

Objective: Meat intake is suggested to affect gut microbiome composition and the risk of chronic diseases. We aimed to identify meat-associated gut microbiome features and their association with host factors.

Design: Gut microbiota species were profiled by deep shotgun metagenomics sequencing in 9669 individuals.

Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and adverse outcomes among vaccinated patients with tuberculosis.

Objectives: Limited data are available to assess breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections, medical utilization, and mortality in patients with tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study was to examine the risk of COVID-19 and severe outcomes in patients with TB between January 2020 and March 2022.

Study Design: US electronic medical records were used to identify TB and non-TB patients who completed the primary series of vaccination and had no prior COVID-19.

Neurogenic inflammation and itch in barrier tissues.

Once regarded as distinct systems, the nervous system and the immune system are now recognized for their complex interactions within the barrier tissues. The neuroimmune circuitry comprises a dual-network system that detects external and internal disturbances, providing critical information to tailor a context-specific response to various threats to tissue integrity, such as wounding or exposure to noxious and harmful stimuli like pathogens, toxins, or allergens. Using the skin as an example of a barrier tissue with the polarized sensory neuronal responses of itch and pain, we explore the molecular pathways driving neuronal activation and the effects of this activation on the immune response.

Immunology in corneal transplantation-From homeostasis to graft rejection.

Immunology depends on maintaining a delicate balance within the human body, and disruptions can result in conditions such as autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiencies, and hypersensitivity reactions. This balance is especially crucial in transplantation immunology, where one of the primary challenges is preventing graft rejection. Such rejection can lead to organ failure, increased patient mortality, and higher healthcare costs due to the limited availability of donor tissues relative to patient needs.

Sewing the SEAMs: Surgical Education in the Art Museum.

Objective: The field of surgery is highly visual and technical. Yet, there is a paucity of data evaluating how a mandatory visual arts-based workshop may benefit surgical trainees. We report upon the feasibility of and short-term outcomes of a novel, visual art-based curriculum for surgery residents.