Prevention and Management of Infectious Complications in Pediatric Patients With Cancer: A Survey Assessment of Current Practices Across Children's Oncology Group Institutions.

Introduction: While clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for pediatric oncology infection prophylaxis and management exist, few data describe actual management occurring at pediatric oncology centers.

Methods: An electronic survey querying infection management practices in nontransplant pediatric oncology patients was iteratively created by the Children's Oncology Group (COG) Cancer Control and Supportive Care Infectious Diseases Subcommittee and sent to leaders at all COG institutions, limiting each site to one response to represent their institution.

Results: The response rate was 57% (129/227 institutions).

Determinants of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among men who have sex with men (MSM) living in rural areas of the United States: A scoping review framed by the PrEP care continuum.

Background: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective intervention to prevent HIV transmission among men who have sex with men (MSM). Despite its effectiveness, PrEP uptake and adherence among MSM in the United States remain suboptimal, particularly in rural areas.

Objective: The present study presents a scoping review of the self-reported barriers and facilitators of PrEP use among MSM living in rural areas of the United States.

The microbiota-derived bile acid taurodeoxycholic acid improves hepatic cholesterol levels in mice with cancer cachexia.

Alterations in bile acid profile and pathways contribute to hepatic inflammation in cancer cachexia, a syndrome worsening the prognosis of cancer patients. As the gut microbiota impinges on host metabolism through bile acids, the current study aimed to explore the functional contribution of gut microbial dysbiosis to bile acid dysmetabolism and associated disorders in cancer cachexia. Using three mouse models of cancer cachexia (the C26, MC38 and HCT116 models), we evidenced a reduction in the hepatic levels of several secondary bile acids, mainly taurodeoxycholic (TDCA).

Streptomyces secretes a siderophore that sensitizes competitor bacteria to phage infection.

To overtake competitors, microbes produce and secrete secondary metabolites that kill neighbouring cells and sequester nutrients. This metabolite-mediated competition probably evolved in complex microbial communities in the presence of viral pathogens. We therefore hypothesized that microbes secrete natural products that make competitors sensitive to phage infection.

Sources and Pathways of PFAS Occurrence in Water Sources: Relative Contribution of Land-Applied Biosolids in an Agricultural Dominated Watershed.

This study evaluated PFAS occurrence in rural well water and surface water relative to land application of biosolids in a tile-drained agriculture-dominated watershed. Spatial data were used to identify potentially vulnerable rural wells based on their proximity to biosolid-permitted land and location with respect to groundwater flow. Water was collected from 103 private wells in Greater Tippecanoe County Indiana and 168 surface water locations within the Region of the Great Bend of the Wabash River watershed.

Mortality of gastrointestinal cancers attributable to smoking, alcohol, and metabolic risk factors, and its association with socioeconomic development status 2000-2021: GI Cancer Mortality and Risk Factors.

Objective: Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers account for one-third of global cancer mortality, with nearly half being preventable. This study updates the global burden of GI cancers attributed to major risk factors: smoking, alcohol, and metabolic disturbances.

Methods: We utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 to examine trends in death and age-standardized death rates related to GI cancers caused by smoking, alcohol, high body mass index (BMI), and high fasting blood glucose (FBG) from 2000 to 2021.

Correlates of Perceived Illness Severity and Terminality in Advanced Lung and Prostate Cancer.

Context: While prognostic awareness has been commonly assessed as perceived illness terminality in patients with advanced cancer, both perceptions of illness severity and terminality may be correlated with symptom burden and quality of life.

Objectives: The present study examined physical and psychological symptoms, quality of life, and smoking status in relation to perceived illness severity and terminality in patients with advanced, inoperable lung and prostate cancer.

Methods: Patients (N=198) were recruited from hospitals in the midwestern U.

COVID-19 and chronic pain: Implications and lessons learned.

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted people with chronic pain, affecting their access to pain management services and the social fabric of society. Here we review evidence indicating that during and since the pandemic (1) the overall prevalence and burden of chronic pain has increased, (2) social threats such as social isolation, abuse and neglect, and disparities in access to pain management, have increased, and these changes are associated with worsening pain and pain-related health outcomes, and (3) there has been a surge in research into telehealth interventions for chronic pain, with promising results. We conclude with a discussion of lessons that may guide future research and care for people with chronic pain in a post-COVID world.

Designing a Multimodal and Culturally Relevant Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementia Generative Artificial Intelligence Tool for Black American Informal Caregivers: Cognitive Walk-Through Usability Study.

Background: Many members of Black American communities, faced with the high prevalence of Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) within their demographic, find themselves taking on the role of informal caregivers. Despite being the primary individuals responsible for the care of individuals with ADRD, these caregivers often lack sufficient knowledge about ADRD-related health literacy and feel ill-prepared for their caregiving responsibilities. Generative AI has become a new promising technological innovation in the health care domain, particularly for improving health literacy; however, some generative AI developments might lead to increased bias and potential harm toward Black American communities.

Effects of Magnesium-Doped Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles on Bioink Formulation for Bone Tissue Engineering.

Bioprinting of nanohydroxyapatite (nHA)-based bioinks has attracted considerable interest in bone tissue engineering. However, the role and relevance of the physicochemical properties of nHA incorporated in a bioink, particularly in terms of its printability and the biological behavior of bioprinted cells, remain largely unexplored. In this study, two bioinspired nHAs with different chemical compositions, crystallinity, and morphologies were synthesized and characterized: a more crystalline, needle-like Mg-doped nHA (N-HA) and a more amorphous, rounded Mg- and CO-doped nHA (R-HA).

The MR1/MAIT cell axis enhances dystrophic neurite development in Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Plaques are a hallmark feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We found that the loss of mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells and their antigen-presenting molecule MR1 caused a delay in plaque pathology development in AD mouse models. However, it remains unknown how this axis is impacting dystrophic neurites.

A Second Look: Retrospective Identification of Thrombotic Microangiopathy in Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Patients With Veno-Occlusive Disease.

Background: Veno-occlusive disease (VOD) and transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) remain a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Both VOD and TA-TMA share an underlying etiology of microvascular endothelial damage. Potential under-recognition of TA-TMA in the context of VOD leaves HSCT recipients vulnerable to additional endothelial damage, and risk of end-organ failure.

Recommended Elements of a Musculoskeletal Course for Fourth-Year Medical Students: A Modified Delphi Consensus.

Background And Objectives: A recognized gap exists between primary care physicians' training in musculoskeletal (MSK) medicine and the burden of MSK complaints in primary care. Family medicine interns often lack adequate baseline MSK physical exam skills, which prompted a proposal to introduce a fourth-year preceptorship to reinforce MSK education. The aim of this study was to prioritize the most important elements to include in this new clinical rotation.

Widespread release of translational repression across Plasmodium's host-to-vector transmission event.

Malaria parasites must respond quickly to environmental changes, including during their transmission between mammalian and mosquito hosts. Therefore, female gametocytes proactively produce and translationally repress mRNAs that encode essential proteins that the zygote requires to establish a new infection. While the release of translational repression of individual mRNAs has been documented, the details of the global release of translational repression have not.

Improving communication to increase uptake of high-risk breast cancer prevention appointments: Building a better letter.

Objective: Mailed letters to women identified as being at high-risk for developing breast cancer were not having the desired effect for encouraging appointments with prevention-focused providers at a large Midwest healthcare system. A partnership with communication scholars sought to revise the letter to increase awareness, intentions, and appointments.

Methods: Guided by the Extended Parallel Process Model, survey responses were collected from letter recipients over the course of two years, both pre and post letter revision.

Development and validation of computable social phenotypes for health-related social needs.

Objective: Measurement of health-related social needs (HRSNs) is complex. We sought to develop and validate computable phenotypes (CPs) using structured electronic health record (EHR) data for food insecurity, housing instability, financial insecurity, transportation barriers, and a composite-type measure of these, using human-defined rule-based and machine learning (ML) classifier approaches.

Materials And Methods: We collected HRSN surveys as the reference standard and obtained EHR data from 1550 patients in 3 health systems from 2 states.

Challenges and Opportunities in Examining and Addressing Intersectional Stigma and Health.

Background: 'Intersectional stigma' is a concept that has emerged to characterize the convergence of multiple stigmatized identities within a person or group, and to address their joint effects on health and wellbeing. While enquiry into the intersections of race, class, and gender serves as the historical and theoretical basis for intersectional stigma, there is little consensus on how best to characterize and analyze intersectional stigma, or on how to design interventions to address this complex phenomenon. The purpose of this paper is to highlight existing intersectional stigma literature, identify gaps in our methods for studying and addressing intersectional stigma, provide examples illustrating promising analytical approaches, and elucidate priorities for future health research.

Chaotic fun! Promoting active recall of anatomical structures and relationships using the Catch-Phrase game.

Active recall, the act of recalling knowledge from memory, and games-based learning, the use of games and game elements for learning, are well-established as effective strategies for learning gross anatomy. An activity that applies both principles is Catch-Phrase, a fast-paced word guessing game. In Anatomy Catch-Phrase, players must get their teammates to identify an anatomical term by describing its features, functions, or relationships without saying the term itself.

Clinical decision instruments for predicting mortality in patients with cirrhosis seeking emergency department care.

Objective: Clinical decision instruments (CDIs) could be useful to aid risk stratification and disposition of emergency department (ED) patients with cirrhosis. Our primary objective was to derive and internally validate a novel Cirrhosis Risk Instrument for Stratifying Post-Emergency department mortality (CRISPE) for the outcomes of 14- and 30-day post-ED mortality. Secondarily, we externally validated the existing Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores for explicit use in ED patients and prediction of the same outcomes.

Development and validation of a molecular classifier of meningiomas.

Background: Meningiomas exhibit considerable clinical and biological heterogeneity. We previously identified four distinct molecular groups (immunogenic, NF2-wildtype, hypermetabolic, proliferative) that address much of this heterogeneity. Despite the utility of these groups, the stochasticity of clustering methods and the use of multi-omics data for discovery limits the potential for classifying prospective cases.

Reactive and Proactive Aggression in Daily Life: An Exploratory Experience-Sampling Method Study.

Trait aggression is often separated into two functional dimensions: reactive and proactive tendencies. Reactive aggression is the tendency to engage in emotionally driven aggressive responses to perceived provocation, whereas proactive aggression is the tendency to engage in premeditated aggressive behaviors in the service of goal attainment. To date, the majority of empirical investigations examining these interrelated constructs have done so using cross-sectional data that have important limitations (e.