Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and epigenetic age acceleration in children.

Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution has been associated with epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) in adults, but its impact on children remains less understood. This study analyzed data from 457 children (mean age: 7.9 years) in the Project Viva cohort (2007-2010, eastern Massachusetts, USA).

Ethosuximide: Subunit- and Gβγ-dependent blocker and reporter of allosteric changes in GIRK channels.

Background And Purpose: The antiepileptic drug ethosuximide (ETX) suppresses epileptiform activity in a mouse model of GNB1 syndrome, caused by mutations in Gβ protein, likely through the inhibition of G-protein gated K (GIRK) channels. Here, we investigated the mechanism of ETX inhibition (block) of different GIRKs.

Experimental Approach: We studied ETX inhibition of GIRK channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes with or without their physiological activator, the G protein subunit dimer Gβγ.

Surgical Bailout in Patients Undergoing Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Incidence, Trends, and Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) harbors the risk of periprocedural complications that require emergent cardiac surgery, or "surgical bailout." Surgical bailout intends to be lifesaving but is associated with high mortality. This has given rise to discussion on the necessity of surgical backup during TAVR.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Undergoing 3 Aortic Valve Interventions: The THIRD Multicenter Registry.

Background: Lifetime treatment of aortic valve disease is a matter of increasing debate. Although the risks of a second aortic valve intervention are recognized, little attention has been given to the challenges of a third.

Objectives: This study delves into the clinical characteristics, indications, and outcomes of patients undergoing 3 aortic valve interventions.

Mechanistic implications of the Mediterranean diet in patients with newly diagnosed Crohn's disease- multi-omic results from a prospective cohort.

Background: To decipher the mechanisms underlying the protective role of the Mediterranean diet (MED) in Crohn's disease (CD), we explored the implications of adherence to MED on CD course, inflammatory markers, microbial and metabolite composition.

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed CD were recruited and followed prospectively. MED adherence was assessed by repeated food frequency questionnaires (FFQ), using a predefined IBDMED score, alongside validated MED adherence screeners.

Collective Forgetting of American Vaginal Breech Delivery.

When asked why nearly all doctors refer their breech cases to surgery, despite non-surgical breech birth being permitted throughout the United States, an obstetrician will likely cite the Term Breech Trial (TBT). This study, conducted in 2000, decisively concluded that planned cesarean delivery is safer than vaginal breech delivery. However, a review of the literature suggests that the decline of vaginal breech deliveries was a long time in the making.

Single-molecule toxicogenomics: Optical genome mapping of DNA-damage in nanochannel arrays.

Quantitative genomic mapping of DNA damage may provide insights into the underlying mechanisms of damage and repair. Sequencing based approaches are bound to the limitations of PCR amplification bias and read length which hamper both the accurate quantitation of damage events and the ability to map them to structurally complex genomic regions. Optical Genome mapping in arrays of parallel nanochannels allows physical extension and genetic profiling of millions of long genomic DNA fragments, and has matured to clinical utility for characterization of complex structural aberrations in cancer genomes.

Alterations in serum concentrations of visfatin and betatrophin in dogs with diabetes mellitus.

Canine diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. Visfatin and betatrophin are adipokines involved in the pathophysiology of insulin resistance and deranged lipid metabolism, and are also altered in obesity. We hypothesized that visfatin and betatrophin serum concentrations are altered in diabetic dogs, irrespective of their body condition.

Progressive natural killer cell dysfunction in advanced-stage clear-cell renal cell carcinoma and association with clinical outcomes.

Background: Natural killer (NK) cells are important contributors to antitumor immunity in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). However, their phenotype, function, and association with clinical outcomes in ccRCC remain poorly understood.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed single-cell RNA sequencing data from 13 primary tumors, 1 localized tumor extension, and 1 metastasis from ccRCC patients at different clinical stages.

Tailoring Design of Microneedles for Drug Delivery and Biosensing.

Microneedles (MNs) are emerging as versatile tools for both therapeutic drug delivery and diagnostic monitoring. Unlike hypodermic needles, MNs achieve these applications with minimal or no pain and customizable designs, making them suitable for personalized medicine. Understanding the key design parameters and the challenges during contact with biofluids is crucial to optimizing their use across applications.

Epitaxial CuO Thin Films Deposited from Solution: the Enabling Role of Cu Diffusion into the GaAs Substrate.

Cuprous oxide (CuO) thin films were chemically deposited from a solution onto GaAs(100) and (111) substrates using a simple three-component solution at near-ambient temperatures (10-60 °C). Interestingly, a similar deposition onto various other substrates including Si(100), Si(111), glass, fluorine-doped tin oxide, InP, and quartz resulted in no film formation. Films deposited on both GaAs(100) and (111) were found alongside substantial etching of the substrates.

Development of a recombinant Ang1 variant with enhanced Tie2 binding and its application to attenuate sepsis in mice.

The angiopoietin (Ang)-Tie axis, critical for endothelial cell function and vascular development, is a promising therapeutic target for treating vascular disorders and inflammatory conditions like sepsis. This study aimed to enhance the binding affinity of recombinant Ang1 variants to the Tie2 and explore their therapeutic potential. Structural insights from the Ang1-Tie2 complex enabled the identification of key residues within the Ang1 receptor binding domain (RBD) critical for Tie2 interaction.

Cervical dysplasia in women with HIV in the modern treat-all era: Elevated risk remains despite long-term ART and normal CD4 count.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of ART duration and CD4 count on risk for high grade cervical dysplasia in women with HIV (WWH) compared to women without HIV in the treat-all era with integrase strand inhibitors (INSTIs).

Design: Prospective longitudinal cohort study in Botswana.

Methods: From February 2021 to August 2022, baseline HPV self-sampling was offered to women with and without HIV.

Effectiveness and Safety of Adalimumab in Patients With Very Early-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Retrospective Study on Behalf of the Porto Inflammatory Bowel Disease Working Group of European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition.

Background And Aims: Patients with very early-onset inflammatory bowel disease (VEO-IBD), with an age of onset < 6 years, can present with severe manifestations and may require biologic therapy. Infliximab and adalimumab are approved for induction and maintenance in pediatric IBD patients but are licensed only above the age of 6 years. Effectiveness and safety data on adalimumab in this patient population are lacking.

Vat Photopolymerization Additive Manufacturing of WC-Co Hardmetals Enabled by In Situ Polymerization-Induced Microencapsulation.

The additive manufacturing of hardmetals has attracted great attention recently but faces significant challenges in low printing resolution and low mechanical strength. Herein, the fabrication of hardmetal parts with complex structures and high surface quality by vat photopolymerization assisted with a sintering process has been achieved. This was enabled by in situ polymerization-induced microencapsulation of WC powder, which simultaneously enhances the photocuring ability and sedimentation stability of the WC-Co slurry.

Recurrence Patterns and Management after Pleurectomy Decortication for Pleural Mesothelioma.

Objective: We hypothesize that recurrence following pleurectomy decortication (PD) is primarily local. We explored factors associated with tumor recurrence patterns, disease-free interval (DFI), and post-recurrence survival (PRS).

Summary Background Data: Tumor recurrence is a major barrier for long-term survival after pleural mesothelioma (PM) surgery.

Blood Culture Use in Medical and Surgical Intensive Care Units and Wards.

Importance: Blood culture (BC) use benchmarks in US hospitals have not been defined.

Objective: To characterize BC use in adult intensive care units (ICUs) and wards in US hospitals.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A retrospective cross-sectional study of BC use in adult medical ICUs, medical-surgical ICUs, medical wards, and medical-surgical wards from acute care hospitals from the 4 US geographic regions was conducted.

Employment Nondiscrimination Protection and Mental Health Among Sexual Minority Adults.

Importance: In the 2020 Bostock v Clayton County decision, the US Supreme Court extended employment nondiscrimination protection to sexual minority adults. The health impacts of this ruling and similar policies related to sexual orientation-based discrimination are not currently known.

Objective: To estimate changes in mental health following the Bostock decision among sexual minority adults in states that gained employment nondiscrimination protection (intervention states) compared with those in states with protections already in place (control states).

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Post-Traumatic Headache: A Systematic Review.

Purpose Of Review: To evaluate existing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies on post-traumatic headache (PTH) following traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Recent Findings: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed and Embase databases from inception to February 1, 2024. Eligible fMRI studies were required to include adult participants diagnosed with acute or persistent PTH post-TBI in accordance with any edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders.

Hypomorphic RAG2 Deficiency Promotes Selection of Self-Reactive B Cells.

Reduced function or hypomorphic variants in recombination-activating genes (RAG) 1 or 2 result in a broad clinical phenotype including common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and even adult-onset disease. Milder RAG variants are less characterized. Here we describe the longitudinal course of a milder combined RAG deficiency in 3 of 7 siblings sharing the same RAG2 mutations over a 50-year study.