eEF-2K Deficiency Boosts the Virus-Specific Effector CD8 T Cell Responses During Viral Infection.

In this study, we revealed a critical role of eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase (eEF-2K), a negative regulator of protein synthesis, in regulating T cells during vaccinia virus (VACV) infection. We found that eEF-2K-deficient (eEF-2K⁻/⁻) mice exhibited a significantly higher proportion of VACV-specific effector CD8 T cells without compromising the development of VACV-specific memory CD8 T cells. RNA sequencing demonstrated that eEF-2K⁻/⁻ VACV-specific effector CD8 T cells had enhanced functionality, which improves their capacity to combat viral infection during the effector phase.

Viral Transcript and Tumor Immune Microenvironment-Based Transcriptomic Profiling of HPV-Associated Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Identifies Subtypes Associated with Prognosis.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HPV-positive HNSCC) has distinct biological characteristics from HPV-negative HNSCC. Using an AI-based analytical platform on meta cohorts, we profiled expression patterns of viral transcripts and HPV viral genome integration, and classified the tumor microenvironment (TME). Unsupervised clustering analysis revealed five distinct and novel TME subtypes across patients (immune-enriched, highly immune and B-cell enriched, fibrotic, immune-desert, and immune-enriched luminal).

Pathogen Detection and Resistome Analysis in Healthy Shelter Dogs Using Whole Metagenome Sequencing.

According to the Humane Society, 25 to 40 percent of pet dogs in the United States are adopted from animal shelters. Shelter dogs can harbor bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoal pathogens, posing risks to canine and human health. These bacterial pathogens may also carry antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), serving as a reservoir for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) transmission.

Clinical and Genomic Features of Androgen Indifferent Prostate Cancer.

Androgen-indifferent prostate cancer (AIPC) is increasingly common and particularly lethal. Data describing these tumors are sparse, and AIPC remains a poorly understood malignancy. Utilizing the Oncology Research Information Exchange Network (ORIEN) database, we enriched for tumors with features of AIPC using previously described characteristics.

Vertical Movement of Head, Withers, and Pelvis of High-Level Dressage Horses Trotting in Hand vs. Being Ridden.

Prior to international competitions, dressage horses are evaluated for fitness to compete while trotting in hand on a firm surface. This study compares the kinematics of experienced dressage horses trotting under fitness-to-compete conditions vs. performing collected and extended trot when ridden on a sand-fiber arena surface.

Outcomes of Brain Metastasis from Lung Cancer.

: Little information has been published on patients diagnosed with brain metastasis secondary to lung cancer. Correlating outcome patterns (hospice care, lost to follow-up, death before hospice care or treatment) and specific characteristics of treated and untreated patients may identify subsets of patients who may benefit from treatment. : We evaluated data from the Kentucky Cancer Registry and identified 284 cases who were diagnosed with brain metastasis secondary to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) between 1 August 2016, and 31 December 2019.

Effects of Therapeutic Hypothermia and Minimal Enteral Nutrition on Short-Term Outcomes in Neonates with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A 10-Year Experience from Oman.

Background: Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is the standard treatment for moderate to severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in developed countries, but data on its safety and efficacy in low-middle-income countries are limited and often conflicting. The impact of enteral feeding during TH remains inadequately explored. We aimed to examine TH's effects on mortality and brain injury and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of minimal enteral feeding during TH.

Molecular classification of endometrial cancers (EC) and association with relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) outcomes: Ancillary analysis of GOG-0258.

Purpose: Determine if molecular classification using mismatch repair (MMR) and p53 protein expression predicts recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in endometrial cancer (EC) patients treated with chemotherapy and radiation (CRT) versus chemotherapy (CT).

Methods: GOG-0258, a phase III randomized trial (NCT00942357), compared CRT to CT. Immunohistochemistry assessed MMR and p53 status.

Efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke and left ventricular assist device: review of the literature and meta-analysis.

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are used as definitive therapy or as a bridge to heart transplant in patients with advanced heart failure. Thromboembolic complications such as acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are common among patients with LVAD support. This study aims to evaluate the current evidence on the efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with AIS due to large vessel occlusions (LVO) and LVAD-support.

CD4CD8 double-positive T cells in immune disorders and cancer: Prospects and hurdles in immunotherapy.

CD4 and CD8 T cells play critical roles in both innate and adaptive immune responses, managing and modulating cellular immunity during immune diseases and cancer. Their well-established functions have led to significant clinical benefits. CD4CD8 double-positive (DP) T cells, a subset of the T cell population, have been identified in the blood and peripheral lymphoid tissues across various species.

The extent of western lowland gorilla social relationships within and between groups.

The nature of western lowland gorilla social relationships within and between groups is largely understudied, partly due to the challenges of monitoring associations between individuals who live in neighboring groups. In this study, we examined the social relationships of four western lowland gorilla groups in the Ndoki landscape of northern Republic of Congo. To do so, we compiled all-occurrence social interaction and silverback nearest neighbor social networks from data collected during daily group follows conducted over several years.

Laboratory and in-home evaluations of consumer- and professional-grade cockroach baits.

German cockroaches (Blattella germanica (L.)) are a persistent pest in affordable housing and studies indicate that residents implement control on their own to deal with cockroaches within their homes. While many do-it-yourself (DIY) control options have proven ineffective, baits are widely considered to be a viable DIY solution for residents who do not have access to professional pest control services.

Cognitive impairment and limited health literacy are associated with poor health outcomes among patients with heart failure residing in rural areas.

Background: Cognitive impairment and limited health literacy are prevalent among patients with heart failure, particularly those residing in rural areas, and are linked to poor health outcomes. Little is known about the intricate relationships among cognitive function, health literacy, and rehospitalization and death in rural patients with heart failure.

Objectives: To determine the relationships among cognitive function, health literacy, and cardiac event-free survival (ie, heart failure hospitalizations and cardiac mortality) in rural patients with heart failure.

Development and validation of a self-report adaptability measure for the military remote operations community.

Building on emerging literature, a new self-report inventory was developed to assess multiple psychological attributes relevant to adaptability in remote warriors. Literature search backed by surveys of military and psychological experts identified 32 attributes for self-report scale development. Items were sorted reliably into targeted dimensions (67.

Alcohol-induced liver injury is mediated via α4-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors expressed in hepatocytes.

Background: Our previous study demonstrated that alcohol induced the expression of the α4 subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the livers of wild type mice (WT), and that whole-body α4 nAChR knockout mice (α4KO) showed protection against alcohol-induced steatosis, inflammation, and injury. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that hepatocyte-specific α4 nAChRs may directly contribute to the detrimental effects of alcohol on the liver.

Methods: Hepatocyte-specific α4 knockout mice (α4HepKO) were generated, and the absence of α4 nAChR was confirmed through PCR of genomic DNA.

Gender Differences in Barriers in Career Development Among a Cohort of Dental Researchers. A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: This cross-sectional study investigated gender differences in barriers to career development among dental researchers and between academic and non-academic women.

Methods: An anonymous 34-item survey assessing barriers to career development and workplace obstacles (14 items), along with demographic/occupation characteristics (22 items), was distributed among dental researchers at the Women In Science Network meetings at 2024 AADOCR/IADR General Session (QR code) and through AADOCR/IADR discussion board (online platform). Differences in barriers and workplace obstacles were analyzed between women and men with chi-square tests; comparisons were repeated among women working within versus outside academia.

Substance use disorders and pharmacotherapies: exploring public knowledge and supportive attitudes.

Despite available and effective prevention and treatment strategies for substance use disorders (SUD), drug overdose deaths in the US remain high. Further, limited public knowledge of SUD pharmacotherapies may contribute to increased stigmatization toward SUD medications and a lack of willingness to help people with SUD. This study evaluated knowledge and attitudes about SUD pharmacotherapies and willingness to help people with SUD among a sample of U.

A Systematic Review of Parental Occupational Pesticide Exposure and Geographical Proximity to Agricultural Fields in Association with Neural Tube Defects.

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the second most common congenital anomaly and have been widely associated with exposure to pesticides. This systematic review which analyzes the association between parental exposure to pesticides and NTDs was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The search strategy was designed considering the population, exposure, controls, outcomes, and study design (PECOS).

An Enigmatic Wild Passerine Mortality Event in the Eastern United States.

The ability to rapidly respond to wildlife health events is essential. However, such events are often unpredictable, especially with anthropogenic disturbances and climate-related environmental changes driving unforeseen threats. Many events also are short-lived and go undocumented, making it difficult to draw on lessons learned from past investigations.

Serious Bacterial Infections and Hepatitis C Virus Among People Who Inject Drugs: A Syndemic or Intertwined Epidemics?

Limited research has examined the possible synergistic interrelationships between serious bacterial infections (SBIs) of the heart (i.e., endocarditis), bone, spine, brain, or joints (e.

Engaging Nurses in Effective Cost of Care Conversations to Address Cancer-Related Financial Toxicity: Results from an Exploratory Survey.

Few evidence-based trainings exist on how to equip healthcare providers, particularly nurses, with the skills to engage in cost of care conversations with patients/caregivers to mitigate the impact of cancer-related financial toxicity. This study evaluated a pilot training developed in collaboration with Triage Cancer to prepare oncology nurses to identify and assist patients/caregivers facing financial and/or legal barriers to care. Ten pediatric oncology nurses completed the training and pre/post-surveys on behaviors related to financial and legal need screening, frequency and comfort level of answering questions, knowledge, and behavior changes, along with training evaluation questions.

MambaTab: A Plug-and-Play Model for Learning Tabular Data.

Despite the prevalence of images and texts in machine learning, tabular data remains widely used across various domains. Existing deep learning models, such as convolutional neural networks and transformers, perform well however demand extensive preprocessing and tuning limiting accessibility and scalability. This work introduces an innovative approach based on a structured state-space model (SSM), MambaTab, for tabular data.

Educator Sexual Misconduct: A Description of Electronic Communication Use.

While media reports of educator sexual misconduct (ESM) often note educators' use of electronic communication, few have systematically explored electronic communication use in ESM. This study describes educators who use electronic communication when committing sexual misconduct and the nature of this communication. The author inductively and deductively coded Kentucky Education Professional Standards Board disciplinary action records ( = 74) to descriptively and statistically analyze electronic communication use by educator characteristics.

Cross-species comparisons between pigs and mice reveal conserved sex-specific intraspinal inflammatory responses after spinal cord injury.

Objective: Therapeutic translation is challenging in spinal cord injury (SCI) and large animal models with high clinical relevance may accelerate therapeutic development. Pigs have important anatomical and physiological similarities to humans. Intraspinal inflammation mediates SCI pathophysiology.