Impact of Higher Cell-Free DNA Yields on Liquid Biopsy Testing in Glioblastoma Patients.

Background: Minimally invasive molecular profiling using cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is increasingly important to the management of cancer patients; however, low sensitivity remains a major limitation, particularly for brain tumor patients. Transiently attenuating cfDNA clearance from the body-thereby, allowing more cfDNA to be sampled-has been proposed to improve the performance of liquid biopsy diagnostics. However, there is a paucity of clinical data on the effect of higher cfDNA recovery.

Characterization of sleep apnea among a sample of adults from Samoa.

Sleep apnea is a global public health concern, but little research has examined this issue in low- and middle-income countries, including Samoa. The purpose of this study was to examine the sample prevalence and characteristics of sleep apnea using a validated home sleep apnea device (WatchPAT, Itamar) and explore factors that may influence sleep health in the Samoan setting. This study used data collected through the ("Good Health") study, which investigated the impact of the body mass index (BMI)-associated genetic variant rs373863828 in on metabolic traits in Samoan adults (sampled to overrepresent the obesity-risk allele of interest).

Maternal immune activation by toll-like receptor 7 agonist during mid-gestation increases susceptibility to blood-brain barrier leakage after puberty.

Maternal immune activation (MIA), a maternal stressor, increases risk for neuropsychiatric diseases, such as Major Depressive Disorder in offspring. MIA of toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) initiates an immune response in mother and fetuses in a sex-selective manner. The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), a brain region that is sexually dimorphic and regulates hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) stress responses, have been tied to stress-related behaviors (i.

Precision Medicine for Pulmonary Vascular Disease: The Future Is Now (2023 Grover Conference Series).

Pulmonary vascular disease is not a single condition; rather it can accompany a variety of pathologies that impact the pulmonary vasculature. Applying precision medicine strategies to better phenotype, diagnose, monitor, and treat pulmonary vascular disease is increasingly possible with the growing accessibility of powerful clinical and research tools. Nevertheless, challenges exist in implementing these tools to optimal effect.

Frequency of Spondyloarthritis Symptoms Among U.S. Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Cross-sectional Multi-Center Study.

Objective: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is the most common extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The application of screening tools to detect SpA in patients with IBD may lead to earlier recognition of SpA and affect treatment decisions.

Methods: A combination of two previously described SpA screening questionnaires, DETAIL and IBIS-Q, was administered to consecutive patients with IBD attending IBD specialty clinics in six U.

Cross-Sectional Evaluation of State-Level Protections, Medical Debt, and Deferred Care Among Sexual and Gender Minority People.

Background: Millions of Americans have medical debt and/or defer care due to cost. Few studies have examined the association of such health-related financial problems with sexual orientation or gender identity, and whether state-level policies protecting sexual and gender minority (SGM) people affect disparities in such problems.

Objective: To examine the relationships between SGM status, state-level SGM protections, and health-related financial problems.

Viral oncogene EBNALP regulates YY1 DNA binding and alters host 3D genome organization.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen leader protein (EBNALP) is essential for the immortalization of naive B lymphocytes (NBLs). However, the mechanisms remain elusive. To understand EBNALP's role in B-cell transformation, we compare NBLs infected with wild-type EBV and an EBNALP-null mutant EBV using multi-omics techniques.

Half-wave nanolasers and intracellular plasmonic lasing particles.

The ultimate limit for laser miniaturization would be achieving lasing action in the lowest-order cavity mode within a device volume of ≤(λ/2n), where λ is the free-space wavelength and n is the refractive index. Here we highlight the equivalence of localized surface plasmons and surface plasmon polaritons within resonant systems, introducing nanolasers that oscillate in the lowest-order localized surface plasmon or, equivalently, half-cycle surface plasmon polariton. These diffraction-limited single-mode emitters, ranging in size from 170 to 280 nm, harness strong coupling between gold and InGaAsP in the near-infrared (λ = 1,000-1,460 nm), away from the surface plasmon frequency.

The impact of common and rare genetic variants on bradyarrhythmia development.

To broaden our understanding of bradyarrhythmias and conduction disease, we performed common variant genome-wide association analyses in up to 1.3 million individuals and rare variant burden testing in 460,000 individuals for sinus node dysfunction (SND), distal conduction disease (DCD) and pacemaker (PM) implantation. We identified 13, 31 and 21 common variant loci for SND, DCD and PM, respectively.

Tumor cell-based liquid biopsy using high-throughput microfluidic enrichment of entire leukapheresis product.

Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) in blood encompass DNA, RNA, and protein biomarkers, but clinical utility is limited by their rarity. To enable tumor epitope-agnostic interrogation of large blood volumes, we developed a high-throughput microfluidic device, depleting hematopoietic cells through high-flow channels and force-amplifying magnetic lenses. Here, we apply this technology to analyze patient-derived leukapheresis products, interrogating a mean blood volume of 5.

Designing, implementing and evaluating multidisciplinary healthcare training programmes in the wartime humanitarian context of Ukraine.

Introduction: Civilian healthcare workers (HCW) and medical facilities are directly and indirectly impacted by armed conflict. In the Russia-Ukraine war, acute trauma care needs grew, the workforce was destabilised by HCW migrating or shifting roles to meet conflict needs, and facilities faced surge events. Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) exposure risks created unique preparedness needs.

Maternal and infant predictors of human milk macronutrient and energy concentrations in rural Bangladesh: an observational cohort study.

Background: Human milk macronutrient (protein, fat, and carbohydrate) and energy concentrations vary based on maternal and infant factors and time postpartum.

Objective: To determine the change in milk macronutrient and energy concentrations from approximately 2 to 5 months postpartum and identify factors associated with this variation among a lactation cohort in Bangladesh.

Methods: In this prospective observational lactation cohort in rural Sylhet, Bangladesh, we collected hand-expressed mid-feed human milk samples and analyzed macronutrient concentrations using mid-infrared spectroscopy.

Cigarette smoking and symptom burden: baseline results from 9 ECOG-ACRIN cancer clinical trials.

Context: Approximately 11% of cancer survivors smoke post-diagnosis.

Objective: Understanding the relationship between smoking and perceived cancer-related symptoms may inform tobacco treatment interventions for this population.

Methods: From 2017-2021, 740 adults in 9 ECOG-ACRIN trials provided baseline data.

Interview Results from a Telehealth Hospice Intervention for Children and Young Adults with Cancer.

Background And Aims: Surveyed families of children and young adults with cancer who participated in a pilot study of three coordinated telehealth visits (triad of patient/family, hospital clinician, and hospice nurse) during the first month of hospice enrollment found telehealth feasible and were highly satisfied with hospice care. The aim of this study is to further explore adult patient and caregiver perspectives on telehealth, specifically the benefits of telehealth, trade-offs with in-person appointments, and the impact on patient care and family end-of-life preparations.

Methods: This is a single-arm prospective pilot study of patients aged 0-29-with cancer initiating hospice care between 2021-2022 and their caregivers.

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange for Fibrinogen-Associated Hyperviscosity: Results of the COPLEX Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is the primary intervention for treating symptomatic hyperviscosity from hypergammaglobulinemia, yet its efficacy for treating hyperviscosity related to hyperfibrinogenemia is unclear.

Objective: Define the safety and efficacy of TPE for critically ill COVID-19 patients with elevated blood viscosity from hyperfibrinogenemia.

Method: A prospective, randomized controlled trial in critically ill COVID-19 patients at a single US healthcare system.

Composite Hyaluronic Acid Gas-Entrapping Materials to Promote Wound Healing.

Tissue repair is often impaired in pathological states, highlighting the need for innovative wound-healing technologies. This study introduces composite hyaluronic acid gas-entrapping materials (GEMs) delivering carbon monoxide (CO) to promote wound healing in pigs. These composite materials facilitate burst release followed by sustained release of CO over 48 h.

Prescribing Trends of Antidiabetes Medications Near End-of-Life Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: A Cohort Study.

Objective: To assess prescribing trends of antidiabetes medications in the last year of life among older adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and explore whether frailty is associated with differential prescribing.

Research Design And Methods: In this observational cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥67 years (2015-2019) with T2D, we assessed temporal trends in prescribing an antidiabetes medication, stratified by frailty. The main outcome included antidiabetes medication fills within 1 year of death.

Nomadic Nanomedicines: Medicines Enabled by the Paracrine Transfer Effect.

In nanomedicine, the cellular export of nanomaterials has been less explored than uptake. Traditionally viewed in a negative light, recent findings highlight the potential of nanomedicine export to enhance therapeutic effects. This Perspective examines key pathways for export and how nanomaterial design affects removal rates.

Rare germline structural variants increase risk for pediatric solid tumors.

Pediatric solid tumors are a leading cause of childhood disease mortality. In this work, we examined germline structural variants (SVs) as risk factors for pediatric extracranial solid tumors using germline genome sequencing of 1765 affected children, their 943 unaffected parents, and 6665 adult controls. We discovered a sex-biased association between very large (>1 megabase) germline chromosomal abnormalities and increased risk of solid tumors in male children.