Association of Unmet Social Needs With Disease-Related Outcomes in Pediatric Patients With Sickle Cell Disease.

Background: Social determinants of health (SDoH) are socioeconomic factors that influence health and well-being, though when unmet can greatly contribute to health disparities. Individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at increased risk of mortality, disability, and healthcare utilization. However, there are limited data linking specific social needs with disease outcomes in this population.

Modeling nasal septal flap repair of an anterior skull base defect: A pilot simulation study.

Simulation models have utility in rehearsal of endoscopic skull base repair with a nasoseptal flap. Trainee confidence, technical skill, and repair quality saw significant improvement in this study.

pH-Responsive Peptide Nanoparticles Deliver Macromolecules to Cells via Endosomal Membrane Nanoporation.

The synthetically evolved pHD family of peptides is known to self-assemble into macromolecule-sized nanopores of 2-10 nm diameter in synthetic lipid bilayers, but only when the pH is below ∼6. Here, we show that a representative family member, pHD108, has the same pH-responsive nanopore-forming activity in the endosomal membranes of living human cells, which is triggered by endosomal acidification. This enables the cytosolic delivery of endocytosed proteins and other macromolecules.

Factors associated with PrEP awareness and use among men who have sex with men who use drugs in the Southern United States.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) dramatically reduces HIV transmission risk. PrEP is underutilized among men who have sex with men who use substances (SU-MSM) in the Southern U.S.

Implementing Precision Medicine for Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Insights from The DCM Consortium.

Background: Clinical genetic evaluation of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is implemented variably or not at all. Identifying needs and barriers to genetic evaluations will enable strategies to enhance precision medicine care.

Methods: An online survey was conducted in June 2024 among cardiologist investigators of the DCM Consortium from US advanced heart failure/transplant (HF/TX) programs to collect demographics, training, program characteristics, genetic evaluation practices for DCM, and implementation needs.

Digital divide: Differences between digital access, preference, and use among parents of pediatric research participants.

Objective: Healthcare delivery and research are moving increasingly towards digital engagement, which could inequitably exclude some populations due to differential technology access and uptake. We sought to evaluate study-related digital access, preferences, and use among parents of patients with Medicaid insurance enrolled in research in a pediatric emergency department (ED).

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis within a randomized trial at an academic pediatric ED.

Disparities in disaster healthcare: A review through a pandemic lens.

Objective: To provide an overview of the literature on the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on healthcare disparities in various groups, in relation to social determinants of health (SDOH) and longstanding social disparities.

Design: The Disaster Preparedness and Response Committee of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) addressed the impact of health disparities in disaster planning and response. A workgroup composed of seven physicians with academic and deployment disaster medicine experience was formed.

A comparative analysis of microsurgical resection versus stereotactic radiosurgery for Spetzler-Martin grade III arteriovenous malformations: A multicenter propensity score matched study.

Background: Spetzler-Martin (SM) Grade III brain arteriovenous malformations (BAVMs) represent a transitional risk zone between low- and high-grade BAVMs, characterized by diverse angioarchitecture. The primary treatment options are endovascular embolization, microsurgical resection (MS), and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). This study compares the efficacy and outcomes of MS and SRS.

Sex-dimorphic tumor growth is regulated by tumor microenvironmental and systemic signals.

Tumor growth and progression involve coordinated regulation by internal, microenvironmental, and systemic signals and often display conspicuous sexual dimorphism. The mechanisms governing the integration and coordination of these signals, along with their sex-based differences, remain largely unknown. Using a tumor model originating from nonreproductive tissue, we show that female-biased tumor growth involves multifaceted communications among tumor cells, hemocytes, and neuroendocrine insulin-producing cells (IPCs).

International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis Clinical Practice Guideline for Treatment of Congenital Haemophilia-A Critical Appraisal.

Introduction: Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines drive optimal patient care and facilitate access to high-quality treatment. Creating guidelines for rare diseases such as haemophilia, where evidence does not often come from randomized controlled trials but from non-randomized and well-designed observational studies and real-world data, is challenging. The methodology used for assessing available evidence should consider this critical fact.

TopDIA: A Software Tool for Top-Down Data-Independent Acquisition Proteomics.

Top-down mass spectrometry is widely used for proteoform identification, characterization, and quantification owing to its ability to analyze intact proteoforms. In the past decade, top-down proteomics has been dominated by top-down data-dependent acquisition mass spectrometry (TD-DDA-MS), and top-down data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry (TD-DIA-MS) has not been well studied. While TD-DIA-MS produces complex multiplexed tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) spectra, which are challenging to confidently identify, it selects more precursor ions for MS/MS analysis and has the potential to increase proteoform identifications compared with TD-DDA-MS.

Understanding Orthopaedic Infections: A Conceptual Approach.

Background: Memorizing mounds of facts without having an effective conceptual framework to store them is often an unsuccessful learning style because memory frequently fails without understanding. To accomplish this goal, we offer a framework of ideas called "concept maps". Of the many strategies for metacognition (that is, thinking about thinking), concept mapping is proven to improve meaningful and independent learning.

Kratom: A Narrative Review of the Possible Clinical Uses and Dangers of This Opioid-Like Plant.

The term "kratom" refers to a plant species formally known as  Kratom is composed of over 40 alkaloids, a type of organic compound that contains nitrogen. These compounds work primarily via binding to opioid receptors expressed on neurons, where they stimulate signal transduction mechanisms involving the activation of G proteins. Kratom has been shown to cause both a stimulant-like effect and a sedative effect in humans.

Assessment of psychological debriefing models' components & effective implementation, and its impact on healthcare professionals stress management skills, mental wellbeing, and clinical performance.

Introduction: This study aims to assess various models of psychological debriefing, their benefits, and the impact of their implementation on medical trainees & healthcare professionals' stress management skills, mental well-being, and clinical performance.

Methods: This review queried PubMed, ProQuest, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases for articles regarding psychological debriefing in medical education published through May 2024. Included studies that assessed the utilization, implementation, and effectiveness of various psychological debriefing models in the hospital setting among nursing staff, medical trainees, and attending physicians.

Acute stress activates basolateral amygdala neurons expressing corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor type 1 (CRHR1): Topographical distribution and projection-specific activation in male and female rats.

Although the basolateral amygdala (BLA) and corticotropin releasing hormone receptor type I (CRHR1) signaling are both central to the stress response, the spatial and circuit-specific distribution of CRHR1 have not been identified in the BLA at a high resolution. We used transgenic male and female CRHR1-Cre-tdTomato rats to topographically map the distribution of BLA neurons and identify whether they are activated by acute stress. Additionally, we used the BLA circuits projecting to the central amygdala (CeA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) as a model to test circuit-specific expression of CRHR1 in the BLA.

Multicenter Clinical Performance Evaluation of the NeuMoDx™ CT/NG Assay 2.0.

Background: Given the continued increases in rates of both Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infection, additional diagnostic assays may be useful in increasing access to testing for these sexually transmitted infections. We evaluated the performance of the NeuMoDx™ CT/NG Assay 2.0 on the NeuMoDx-96 and NeuMoDx-288 Molecular Systems.

A 15-Year Bibliometric Analysis of Sports Medicine Studies in : A Systematic Review.

Background: Orthopaedic sports medicine is among the most popular subspecialties. Understanding the trends in sports medicine research over time can offer insight into progress and innovation within the field. The purpose of this study was to assess both the quality of the current literature and trends in gender diversity and inclusion by evaluating publishing characteristics of sports medicine studies in The from 2007 to 2021.

Practical considerations in the establishment of psychedelic research programs.

Rationale: There is increasing interest in establishing psychedelic research programs at academic medical centers. However, psychedelics are intensely psychoactive, carry considerable sociopolitical baggage, and most are Schedule I drugs, creating significant potential impediments to implementation. There is little formal guidance for investigators on navigating the complex on-the-ground obstacles associated with establishing psychedelic research programs.

Spinal Cord Stimulator Complication Rates: A Single-Institution, 22-Year Study (1999-2021).

Background: Since the initial introduction in 1967 of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in the field of neuromodulation, SCS has been utilized to treat a multitude of chronic pain disorders refractory to both conservative and surgical management. Although efficacious when indicated, SCS has associated risks.

Objectives: The goals of this study are to explore the trend of rates of SCS complications in 2 approximately equally sized cohorts (1999-2015 and 2016-2021) within a single institution over a 22-year period.

Exponential Decline of 28.9% in Utilization of Interventional Pain Management Techniques Among Medicare Beneficiaries From 2019 to 2022: Updated Analysis on the Ongoing Effects of COVID-19, Economic Decline, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and Medical Policies.

Background: Numerous studies have highlighted the escalating costs associated with managing low back and neck pain, as well as other musculoskeletal disorders. In the past, there was a notable increase in the use of interventional techniques to address these disorders. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted various chronic pain treatment approaches, including interventional procedures and opioid use, following a broader trend of reduced healthcare services.

From Surviving to Thriving: Key Considerations for Weight Control Across Diverse Cancer Survivorship Populations.

Background: Obesity is a chronic, relapsing, progressive disease of excess adiposity that increases the risk of dying from at least 16 types of cancer. The prevalence of obesity has increased more rapidly in cancer survivors compared with the general population. Tailored weight management strategies are needed to improve prognosis and health outcomes in the growing population of cancer survivors.