Safety and Immunogenicity of Omicron Protein Vaccines in mRNA-Vaccinated Adolescents: A Phase 3, Randomised Trial.

Objectives: Safety and immunogenicity assessment of updated monovalent and bivalent SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in adolescents.

Methods: This phase 3, double-blinded study randomised 12-<18-year-old participants, who received ≥2 prior doses of an approved/authorised mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, 1:1 to receive NVX-CoV2601 (XBB.1.

Microbial synthesis of m-tyrosine via whole-cell biocatalysis.

Meta-tyrosine (m-tyrosine), a nonproteinogenic amino acid, has shown significant potential for applications as an herbicide in agriculture and for various medical uses. However, the natural abundance of m-tyrosine is very low, limiting its widespread use. In this study, we successfully achieved microbial production of m-tyrosine by establishing the in vivo enzyme activity of phenylalanine 3-hydroxylase (PacX from Streptomyces coeruleoribudus) in E.

FIGG at 5: An update on U.S. public perspectives on forensic investigative genetic genealogy five years after its introduction to criminal investigations.

In 2018, after law enforcement announced it had used a technique called forensic investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) to identify the Golden State Killer, we conducted a U.S. general population survey and found most respondents supported using FIGG to solve violent crimes.

Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis occurs at high frequency in Ashkenazi Jews.

Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis (CTX) is a treatable, inborn error of bile acids metabolism caused by pathogenic variants in CYP27A1. CTX is a multi-organ system disorder that progresses over decades. Clinical features include cerebellar dysfunction, pyramidal tract dysfunction, cognitive deficits and decline, peripheral neuropathy, chronic diarrhea, bilateral cataracts, and tendon xanthomas.

High risk and low incidence diseases: Stercoral colitis.

Introduction: Stercoral colitis is a rare but serious diagnosis which is associated with a high rate of morbidity.

Objective: This review highlights the pearls and pitfalls of stercoral colitis, including presentation, diagnosis, and emergency department (ED) management based on the available evidence.

Discussion: Stercoral colitis is an uncommon inflammatory condition of the distal large bowel and rectum resulting from accumulation of impacted stool and is associated with several complications including bowel ulceration, ischemia, perforation, peritonitis, and sepsis.

Epidemiologic Investigation of Protozoa and Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Starr County, Texas.

The burden of pathogenic enteric protozoa and soil-transmitted helminths among impoverished populations living on the Texas-Mexico border is unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional study on an ongoing longitudinal cohort of 616 adults residing in Starr County, Texas. A total of 359 adults were screened for four protozoa and five soil-transmitted helminths by using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Corticosteroids in severe alcohol-associated hepatitis? Not so fast: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Severe alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) is rising in incidence with a high mortality burden. While corticosteroids are recommended for eligible patients with severe AH, no guidance exists for the timing of steroid initiation, tapering regimens, and surveillance of adverse events.

Objective: We aim to systematically review these variables and provide evidence-based recommendations for the inpatient and outpatient management of severe AH.

Polydipsia Induced Acute Angle-Closure Crisis.

We present a case of Acute Angle-Closure Crisis (AACC) precipitated by primary transient psychogenic polydipsia; we believe that our case is the first of its kind to be reported. A 74-year-old male presented to the emergency department with altered mental status due to acute-onset hyponatremia. Six days after admission, the patient noticed painful loss of vision in his right eye and an ipsilateral headache lasting 10-15 minutes.

MAIT Cell-Mediated Immune Mechanisms of Dialysis-Induced Peritoneal Fibrosis and Therapeutic Targeting.

Background: Peritoneal fibrosis is a serious complication of long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) and abdominal surgeries, yet effective treatments remain elusive. Given the known roles of mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in immune responses and fibrotic diseases, we investigated their involvement in PD-induced peritoneal fibrosis to identify potential therapeutic targets.

Methods: We employed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and flow cytometry to characterize the activation and function of peritoneal MAIT cells in patients undergoing long-term PD.

Fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 regulates satellite cell self-renewal and expansion during skeletal muscle repair.

Skeletal muscle regeneration in adults is predominantly driven by satellite cells. Loss of satellite cell pool and function leads to skeletal muscle wasting in many conditions and disease states. Here, we demonstrate that the levels of fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) were increased in satellite cells after muscle injury.

Brief Scoping Review of Pathways Community Hubs for the Care of Pregnant Mothers and Their Infants.

Objectives: Pathways Community Hub (PCH) programs help connect pregnant women to healthcare and social services. A scoping review of peer-reviewed studies on PCHs that reported quantitative outcomes was conducted.

Methods: A search of academic databases from 1901 to 2024 initially yielded a total of 1,312 articles, which was ultimately reduced to 4 articles after duplicates were removed, and two levels of screening were conducted to determine whether studies met the inclusion criteria of evaluating a community hub for pregnant women, was written in English, was peer-reviewed, and reported quantitative outcomes.

Methodologies and characteristics of studies investigating the cost of the palliative phase of cancer: a systematic review.

Purpose: Improvements in the treatment of advanced cancer have increased life expectancy but have also increased the costs to healthcare systems, patients and their families. A systematic review is needed to summarize research work on the cost of cancer. The primary objective was to describe the characteristics and methodology of studies investigating the cost of cancer during the palliative phase.

In silico screening and immunogenic features of putative tick cement protein PA107 from Ixodes ricinus tick.

Tick salivary proteins are crucial for efficient and successful tick feeding. Most of them are still uncharacterized, especially those involved in the formation of tick cement. Tick salivary protein PA107 is a putative cement protein, which is transcribed in salivary glands during the initial phase of tick feeding.

Barriers and facilitators to sustaining a lupus patient decision aid in regular rheumatology outpatient care in the US.

Objective: This study investigates the barriers and facilitators to sustaining a decision aid (DA) tool for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in routine rheumatology outpatient care across the U.S. The DA was initially developed for assisting Patients with SLE in making informed medication choices by providing personalized information on their treatment process.

The swinging sclera technique for evisceration.

Purpose: To present a modified evisceration technique with a full-thickness horizontal sclerotomy and assess post-operative motility and long-term outcomes.

Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent evisceration with a single surgeon (TJM). The standard initial steps of evisceration were performed.

Time dependency for human papillomavirus circulating tumor DNA detection after chemoradiation as a prognostic biomarker for localized anal cancer.

Background: While detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) weeks after surgery is linked to recurrence for other solid tumors, the optimal time point for ctDNA assessment as a prognostic biomarker following chemoradiation for anal cancer is undefined.

Methods: Patients with stages I-III anal cancer treated with chemoradiation between 12/2020-5/2024 were evaluated for HPV ctDNA status at baseline, at the end of chemoradiation, and during surveillance using a droplet digital HPV ctDNA PCR assay targeting HPV E6 and E7 oncogenes for 13 oncogenic HPV types. Median recurrence-free survival (RFS) according to HPV ctDNA status was estimated via Kaplan-Meier and compared using a log-rank test.

Case 337.

A 38-year-old previously healthy male patient presented with left-sided facial pain over the prior 5 weeks. He first noticed the pain while washing and applying pressure to his face. The pain was described as shock-like, sharp and shooting, and radiating along the left cheek and temple.

Conformational flexibility is a critical factor in designing broad-spectrum human norovirus protease inhibitors.

Unlabelled: Human norovirus (HuNoV) is a leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide and is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and economic impact. There are currently no licensed antiviral drugs for the treatment of HuNoV-associated gastroenteritis. The HuNoV protease plays a critical role in the initiation of virus replication by cleaving the polyprotein.

Vitamin B2 Operates by Dual Thermodynamic and Kinetic Mechanisms to Selectively Tailor Urate Crystallization.

Here we demonstrate how a biologically relevant molecule, riboflavin (vitamin B2), operates by a dual mode of action to effectively control crystallization of ammonium urate (NHHU), which is associated with cetacean kidney stones. In situ microfluidics and atomic force microscopy experiments confirm a strong interaction between riboflavin and NHHU crystal surfaces that substantially inhibits layer nucleation and spreading by kinetic mechanisms of step pinning and kink blocking. Riboflavin does not alter the distribution of tautomeric urate isomers, but its adsorption on NHHU crystal surfaces does interfere with the effects of minor urate tautomer by limiting its ability to induce NHHU crystal defects while also suppressing NHHU nucleation and inhibiting crystal growth by 80% at an uncharacteristically low modifier concentration.