Two Clinically Implementable Digital PCR Assessments of DNA Methylation for Diagnosing Heavy Alcohol Consumption.

Background: Heavy alcohol consumption (HAC) has a profound adverse effect on human health. Unfortunately, there is a relative lack of tools that are easily implementable in clinical settings and that can be used to supplement self-reporting in the diagnosis and management of HAC. In part, this paucity is due to limitations of currently available biological measures and a mismatch between available biological measures and the needs of clinicians managing HAC.

Effects of a community pharmacy cardiovascular practice transformation (CPT) program on blood pressure.

Objectives: To implement the Cardiovascular Practice Transformation (CPT) program and evaluate its impact on blood pressure, and to assess the feasibility of implementing the CPT program by identifying obstacles and facilitators.

Methods: Twenty-three Iowa pharmacies participated in the program, each monitoring approximately 10 hypertensive patients for 6 months. Pharmacists assessed blood pressure, medication adherence and addressed medication-related problems during patient visits.

Cell deconvolution-based integrated time-series network of whole blood transcriptome reveals systemic antiviral activities and cell-specific immunological changes against PRRSV infection.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) causes significant economic losses in the swine industry. However, the molecular mechanisms behind the common and cell type-specific systemic responses during PRRS virus (PRRSV) infection are not well understood. In this study, we collected viremia data, antibody levels, and whole-blood RNA-seq data obtained from eight PRRSV-infected piglets.

Plasma glucagon-like peptide-2 in cats with chronic enteropathies.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare plasma glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) concentrations in cats with chronic enteropathies (CE) with those of healthy cats.

Methods: Nineteen client-owned cats with a histopathologic diagnosis of either idiopathic chronic enteropathy (CIE) or low-grade lymphoma and six healthy client-owned cats were enrolled in a prospective study between 2 December 2021 and 9 June 2023. Fasted and postprandial plasma GLP-2 concentrations were measured via ELISA in CE cats at the time gastrointestinal biopsies were obtained and before CE treatment.

An Updated Demographic Profile of Orthopaedic Surgery Using a New ABOS Data Set.

Introduction: The orthopaedic surgery physician workforce is predominately White and male and has been identified as the least diverse medical specialty. Increasing efforts toward diversification within orthopaedic surgery are underway. Evaluating the effectiveness of these programs requires a thorough understanding of the current demographic profile of the profession.

A Qualitative Study of Attitudes Toward HPV Vaccine Recommendation in Otolaryngology Clinics.

Objective: The incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal cancers has increased such that they are now the most prevalent HPV-related cancer. In 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the indication for Gardasil-9 to include the prevention of oropharyngeal and other head and neck cancers caused by selected HPV types, but uptake remains low. Otolaryngology office interactions may provide opportunities to increase uptake, given the relevance of HPV to clinical practice.

Elucidating the role of oxidation in two-dimensional silicon nanosheets.

We report a synthetic protocol that yields hydrogen-terminated 2D silicon nanosheets with greatly reduced siloxane (, Si-O-Si, OSi) content. These nanosheets displayed weak, broad photoluminescence centered near 610 nm with a low absolute photoluminescence quantum yield (as low as 0.2%).

Durability of response of UGN-101: Longitudinal follow up of multicenter study.

Purpose: UGN-101, a reverse thermal mitomycin gel for upper tract instillation, recently became the first FDA approved treatment for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). However, the durability of UGN-101 treatment has not been well described. Here we present long term outcomes from our multi-institutional cohort for patients who initially responded to treatment.

Pediatric Predictive Artificial Intelligence Implemented in Clinical Practice from 2010-2021: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To review pediatric artificial intelligence (AI) implementation studies from 2010-2021 and analyze reported performance measures.

Methods: We searched PubMed/Medline, Embase CINHAL, Cochrane Library CENTRAL, IEEE and Web of Science with controlled vocabulary.

Inclusion Criteria: AI intervention in a pediatric clinical setting that learns from data (i.

Navigating the Discussion of Mental Illness With Korean Americans.

Korean Americans have one of the highest rates of depression of the Asian subgroups in the United States, and they have culture-related factors that affect their mental health. It is important for health care providers to understand the cultural considerations of Korean Americans to better address their mental health. This review article delves into the pertinent cultural practices of Korean Americans for navigating discussions of mental health.

Genetically Engineered Brain Organoids Recapitulate Spatial and Developmental States of Glioblastoma Progression.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive form of brain cancer that is highly resistant to therapy due to significant intra-tumoral heterogeneity. The lack of robust in vitro models to study early tumor progression has hindered the development of effective therapies. Here, this study develops engineered GBM organoids (eGBOs) harboring GBM subtype-specific oncogenic mutations to investigate the underlying transcriptional regulation of tumor progression.

Correlation analysis of transcriptome and metabolomics and functional study of Galactinol synthase gene (VcGolS3) of blueberry under salt stress.

Soil salinity poses a significant environmental challenge for the growth and development of blueberries. However, the specific mechanisms by which blueberries respond to salt stress are still not fully understood. Here, we employed a comprehensive approach integrating physiological, metabolomic, and transcriptomic analyses to identify key metabolic pathways in blueberries under salt stress.

Phase formation and phase stability for the homogenous and heterogeneous amorphous metals versus the crystalline phase.

From molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of melt-quenching and thermal aging procedures in pure Ag, Cu, Ag-Cu binary alloys, and Cu-Zr binary alloys, we have identified two distinct amorphous phases for a metastable undercooled liquid: the homogeneous L-phase with low shear rigidity and the heterogenous G-phase with much higher shear rigidity and a heterogeneity length scale Λ. Here, we examine two-phase equilibration studies showing that the G-phase melts to form the L-phase above ~1,000 K, which then transforms to form the crystal (X) phase; however, below the melting point of the G-Phase (~990 K), the X- and G-phases do not transform into each other. We suggest the presence of a G-phase is likely responsible for embrittlement often observed in metallic glasses.

The pattern and burden of non-communicable diseases in armed conflict-exposed populations in Northeastern Nigeria.

Background: The risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in conflict and post-conflict settings in Northeastern Nigeria has not been evaluated to date. As this region undergoes recovery, understanding the prevalence of NCDs, such as hypertension, diabetes, depression, and obesity, and the associated behavioral coping mechanisms, is crucial for developing tailored healthcare solutions. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of conflict on the prevalence of NCDs in conflict-exposed areas in Northeastern Nigeria compared with non-conflict regions.

Perspectives of Midwives and Nurse Practitioners in Kentucky on Exercise Counseling During Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Healthcare professionals are in an optimal position to deliver exercise information to pregnant women, yet previous research suggests this seldom happens. Midwives and nurse practitioners, who may have more time with pregnant women, are particularly well suited for this role.

Objectives: This qualitative study examined the exercise advice and counseling provided by midwives and nurse practitioners in Kentucky, focusing on the barriers they face.

and mRNA expression-based risk stratification of acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Prognostication of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at initial diagnosis relies on identification of pre-determined underlying genetic abnormalities. Nevertheless, the disease course of AML remains highly unpredictable and robust reliable prognostic biomarkers for newly diagnosed AML are lacking. We retrospectively explored two publicly available AML RNA-Seq datasets and found that inferior overall survival was associated with high- and low- transcript levels (" / ") compared to low- and high- transcript levels (" / ") in adult AML patients, with a hazard ratio for death of at least 2.

Accessibility of Public Health Knowledge: The Presence of Public Health Courses in General Education Programs at US Public Universities.

Objectives: In 2003, the Institute of Medicine released the report , in which the authors recommended that "all undergraduates have access to education in public health." The objective of this study was to explore the current status of that recommendation in public institutions in the United States with schools or programs accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).

Methods: We used a systematic qualitative content analysis approach, specifically a manifest analysis strategy, focusing on data that were available, tangible, and observable.

Enhancing the interactions of ion-tagged oligonucleotides and magnetic ionic liquid supports for the sequence-specific extraction of hepatitis B virus DNA.

Background: Infections from the hepatitis B virus (HBV) are a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma, one of the most common types of liver cancer. Circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) in human plasma can be used as a non-invasive biomarker for diagnosing HBV-related liver diseases. The isolation of target ccfDNA sequences is often challenging due to the co-extraction of highly abundant non-target DNA from samples.

Evaluation of Cannabis Per Se Laws: A Semi-Mechanistic Pharmacometrics Model for Quantitative Characterization of THC and Metabolites in Oral Users.

Recreational cannabis use has increased notably in the United States in the past decade, with a recent surge in oral consumption. This trend has raised concerns about driving under the influence. Current cannabis-impaired driving laws lack standardization, with some states implementing blood Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per se limits (1, 2, and 5 ng/mL).

Green synthesis of Ag-Fe bimetallic nanoparticles using fungal filtrates: unlocking multifunctional medical and environmental applications.

The current investigation focuses on synthesizing Ag-Fe bimetallic nanoparticles (AgFe-BMNPs) using cell-free filtrates of the as a novel fungal reducing agent. The optical, morphological, and surface properties of these fungus-fabricated AgFe-BMNPs and their monometallic counterparts (AgNPs and FeNPs) were analyzed using sophisticated nanotechnology instruments. The UV-visible spectrum showed peaks at 231 nm and 415 nm for BMNPs and 450 nm and 386 nm for AgNPs and FeNPs, respectively.

Ultrathin, Dynamically Controllable Circularly Polarized Emission Laser Enabled by Resonant Chiral Metasurfaces.

We demonstrate a simple, low-cost, and ultracompact chiral resonant metasurface design, which, by strong local coupling to a quantum gain medium (quantum emitters), allows to implement an ultrathin metasurface laser, capable of generating tunable circularly polarized coherent lasing output. According to our detailed numerical investigations, the lasing emission can be transformed from linear to circular and switch from right- to left-handed circularly polarized (CP) not only by altering the metasurface chiral response but also by changing the polarization of a linearly polarized pump wave, thus enabling dynamic lasing-polarization control. Given the increasing interest for CP laser emission, our chiral metasurface laser design proves to be a versatile yet straightforward strategy to generate a strong and tailored CP emission laser, promising great potential for future applications in both photonics and materials science.

Brown Carbon in East Asia: Seasonality, Sources, and Influences on Regional Climate and Air Quality.

Brown carbon (BrC) has been recognized as an important light-absorbing carbonaceous aerosol, yet understanding of its influence on regional climate and air quality has been lacking, mainly due to the ignorance of regional coupled meteorology-chemistry models. Besides, assumptions about its emissions in previous explorations might cause large uncertainties in estimates. Here, we implemented a BrC module into the WRF-Chem model that considers source-dependent absorption and avoids uncertainties caused by assumptions about emission intensities.