The interaction of tPA with NMDAR1 drives neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in α-synuclein-mediated neurotoxicity.

The thrombolytic protease tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is expressed in the CNS, where it regulates diverse functions including neuronal plasticity, neuroinflammation, and blood-brain-barrier integrity. However, its role in different brain regions such as the substantia nigra (SN) is largely unexplored. In this study, we characterize tPA expression, activity, and localization in the SN using a combination of retrograde tracing and β-galactosidase tPA reporter mice.

NASCI case of the month: "pseudo normalization of T1 values in Anderson-Fabry disease".

Anderson-Fabry disease (AFD) is a X-linked lysosomal storage disorder that can result in cardiac dysfunction including left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and conduction abnormalities (Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine vol. 10) [1]. The manifestations of AFD in women may be isolated to one organ and occur late in life due to the random inactivation of the X chromosome.

Hiatus and pelvic floor failure patterns in pelvic organ prolapse: A 3D MRI study of structural interactions using a Level III conceptual model.

Background: A large urogenital hiatus in Level III results in a higher risk of developing pelvic organ prolapse after birth and failure after prolapse surgery. Deepening of the pelvic floor and downward rotation of the levator plate have also been linked to prolapse. Currently we lack data that evaluates how these measures relate to one another and to prolapse occurrence and size.

Overcoming Cultural Barriers and Building Healthcare Trust: A Mixed Methods Study on Cervical Cancer Prevention Among Arab American Women Across Major U.S. Cities.

Background: Understanding why Arab American women have lower adherence to cervical cancer screening compared to other racial/ethnic groups is important. The study aimed to understand attitudes and knowledge of cervical cancer prevention and HPV vaccination among Arab American women.

Methods: A mixed-method approach was employed, including nine focus groups and an online questionnaire.

Circulating metabolomic biomarkers of 5-year body weight and composition change in a biracial cohort of community-dwelling older adults.

Unintentional weight loss in older populations is linked to greater mortality and morbidity risks. This study aims to understand the metabolic mechanisms of unintentional weight loss and their relationship with body composition changes in older adults. We investigated plasma metabolite associations with weight and body composition changes over 5 years in 1335 participants (mean age 73.

Controlled Dynamic Microfluidic Culture of Murine, Bovine, and Human Embryos Improves Development: Proof-of-Concept Studies.

Classical preimplantation embryo culture is performed in static fluid environments. Whether a dynamic fluid environment, like the fallopian tube, is beneficial for embryo development remains to be determined across mammalian species. Objectives of these proof-of-concept studies were to determine if controllable dynamic microfluidic culture would enhance preimplantation murine, bovine, and human embryo development compared to static culture.

Clinically meaningful classes of financial toxicity for patients with diabetes.

Aims: This study aims to improve the interpretability and clinical utility of the COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity-Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (COST-FACIT) by identifying distinct financial toxicity classes in adults with diabetes.

Methods: Data included a sample of 600 adults with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and high A1c. Latent Class Analysis was used to identify subgroups of patients based on COST-FACIT score patterns.

Nurse Experiences in an Electronic Health Record Transition: A Mixed Methods Analysis.

Transitions from one EHR to another can be enormously disruptive to care. Nurses are the largest group of EHR users, but nurse experiences with EHR transitions have not been well documented. We sought to understand nurse experiences with an EHR transition at the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

Severe maternal morbidity contributed by obstetric hemorrhage: Maryland, 2020-2022.

Background: Obstetric hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity (SMM) in Maryland and nationally. Currently, through a quality collaborative, the state is implementing the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) patient safety bundle on obstetric hemorrhage.

Objective: To describe SMM events contributed by obstetric hemorrhage and their preventability in Maryland.

Burden of Acute Respiratory Infections Caused by Influenza Virus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, and SARS-CoV-2 with Consideration of Older Adults: A Narrative Review.

Influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are acute respiratory infections (ARIs) that can cause substantial morbidity and mortality among at-risk individuals, including older adults. In this narrative review, we summarize themes identified in the literature regarding the epidemiology, seasonality, immunity after infection, clinical presentation, and transmission for these ARIs, along with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on seasonal patterns of influenza and RSV infections, with consideration of data specific to older adults when available. As the older adult population increases globally, it is of paramount importance to fully characterize the true disease burden of ARIs in order to develop appropriate mitigation strategies to minimize their impact in vulnerable populations.

Comparing functional outcomes between 3D printed acetabular cups and traditional prosthetic implants in hip arthroplasty: a systematic review and meta analysis.

Objective: The primary research aim was to determine if the use of traditional or 3D printed prosthesis resulted in better functional outcome scores in hip arthroplasty.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted utilizing the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Six databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, WebOfScience, and Cochrane Library, Google Scholar) were searched yielding 1117 article titles and abstracts.

The early-onset Alzheimer's disease MRI signature: a replication and extension analysis in early-stage AD.

Early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD) is less investigated than the more common late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) despite its more aggressive course. A cortical signature of EOAD was recently proposed and may facilitate EOAD investigation. Here, we aimed to validate this proposed MRI biomarker of EOAD neurodegeneration in an Appalachian clinical cohort.

Healthcare transition readiness of families of youth with cystic fibrosis during COVID-19: A correlational multicenter analysis.

Background: Enhancing family readiness for the healthcare transition (HCT) to adult-focused care can help adolescents and young adults (AYA) thrive in adulthood. We aimed to explore modifiable and non-modifiable individual, family, and healthcare factors associated with HCT readiness of AYA among families of AYA with cystic fibrosis (CF) during COVID-19.

Methods: A multi-site, cross-sectional design was used and an online survey was deployed among families and their AYA from three US pediatric CF centers.

Chemical Synthesis and Antifibrotic Properties of (±)-Cochlearol T, (±)-Ganocochlearin A, and (±)-Cochlearol Y.

The cochlearols and ganocochlearins are natural products with unique antifibrotic and renoprotective activities in models of kidney disease. They represent compelling lead compounds for pharmacological intervention against kidney disease, often characterized by renal fibrosis. We report a four-step synthesis of (±)-cochlearol T () and the first reported syntheses of (±)-ganocochlearin A () and (±)-cochlearol Y () through a strategy that includes a Robinson annulation and unexpected oxidative aromatization.

From empiric anti-scabietic treatments to delusional infestation: A case report.

Chronic pruritus accounts for approximately 1 % of all physician visits, and providers are often confronted with how to treat patients with pruritus. Scabies is oftentimes a concern by both patients and providers, and anti-scabietic treatments are generally considered safe and effective. However, the pruritus will continue if there is an alternate etiology.

Time-Restricted Eating and Cancer: Lessons Learned and Considerations for a Path Forward.

Time-restricted eating (TRE) is a type of intermittent fasting (IF). Food can be consumed as desired during the eating period, but not during the remainder of the day. Studies suggest that many of the health benefits of fasting may not simply be the result of weight loss, but also due to the body's responses to the fasting that lead to improved metabolic functioning.

Data Verification and Respondent Validity for a Web-Based Sexual Health Survey: Tutorial.

Background: As technology continues to shape the landscape of health research, the utilization of web-based surveys for collecting sexual health information among adolescents and young adults has become increasingly prevalent. However, this shift toward digital platforms brings forth a new set of challenges, particularly the infiltration of automated bots that can compromise data integrity and the reliability of survey results.

Objective: We aimed to outline the data verification process used in our study design, which employed survey programming and data cleaning protocols.

Anger and associated risk and protective factors among rural American adolescents: Implications for violence prevention.

Background: Adolescent violence in the United States is a prevalent public health problem and is understudied in rural settings. Anger is a significant risk factor for adolescent violence. To better craft adolescent violence interventions, it is important to examine anger and identify its most significant associated factors.

SmartGraph API: Programmatic Knowledge Mining in Network-Pharmacology Setting.

The recent SmartGraph platform facilitates the execution of complex drug-discovery workflows with ease in the network-pharmacology paradigm. However, at the time of its publication we identified the need for the development of an Application Programming Interface (API) that could promote biomedical data integration and hypothesis generation in an automated manner. This need was magnified at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our First Steps: A QI Project to Reduce NICU Admissions of Infants With NAS.

Background: In 2020, the rate of newborns diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in the United States was 6.3 for every 1000 newborn hospitalizations. Resources used to care for this population, particularly NICU beds, are being overwhelmed.