PepCentric Enables Fast Repository-Scale Proteogenomics Searches.

Identifying novel peptides arising from alternative splicing, mutations, or non-canonical translations is a crucial yet challenging aspect of proteogenomics. We introduce PepCentric, a scalable computational platform and a web-based portal utilizing advanced 2-D fragment indexing for rapid peptide-centric searches across extensive mass spectrometry datasets. With robust false discovery rate control and optimized search performance, PepCentric offers an efficient tool for validating novel peptides and exploring proteomic variations.

The Vibrating Capsule: Safety and Tolerability in Patients With Chronic Idiopathic Constipation.

Background: Chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) remains a significant problem globally with increasing estimates for disease burden. In a Phase 3 placebo-controlled trial, a novel treatment using the Vibrating Capsule was recently shown to be effective in treating patients with CIC. However, its safety and tolerability has not been described in detail.

Trends in Prevalence of Rome IV Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results From a Nationally Representative Sample of Over 160,000 People in the US.

Background: We hypothesized that disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) increased during the pandemic due to the enteropathic nature of SARS-CoV-2, together with the potential for COVID-19 pandemic-related stress to negatively impact the gut-brain axis. To test our hypothesis, we conducted a series of pre-specified cross-sectional surveys initiated at the beginning of the pandemic to trend the prevalence of Rome IV DGBI over time among a nationally representative sample of more than 160,000 people in the US.

Methods: From May 2020 to May 2022, we performed a series of cross-sectional online surveys among a representative sample of adults ≥ 18 years old in the US.

Leveraging complementary multi-omics data integration methods for mechanistic insights in kidney diseases.

Chronic kidney diseases (CKDs) are a global health concern, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of their complex pathophysiology. This study explores the use of 2 complementary multidimensional -omics data integration methods to elucidate mechanisms of CKD progression as a proof of concept. Baseline biosamples from 37 participants with CKD in the Clinical Phenotyping and Resource Biobank Core (C-PROBE) cohort with prospective longitudinal outcome data ascertained over 5 years were used to generate molecular profiles.

COVID-19 Biopharmaceutical Innovation and Industry Appropriation.

The rapid emergence of vaccines and therapeutics in response to the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic demonstrated the value of medical innovation. These advances not only led to enhanced patient welfare by reducing the disease's mortality and morbidity but also reduced the need for costly prevention measures, such as cuts in economic activity. This paper offers the first estimate of the portion of economic value generated by these medical innovations that was appropriated as earnings by the innovating companies, measured by the ratio of company earnings to the overall societal value generated by the innovations.

Assessing Tobacco Harm Perceptions among Transgender and Nonbinary Adults: Results from a Community Informed State-wide Survey.

Introduction: Epidemiologic data has documented elevated levels of smoking and vaping among transgender and nonbinary (trans) adults. Yet, knowledge about nicotine and tobacco harm perceptions are not well understood within this population.

Methods: Utilizing data from a community-informed study conducted among transgender adults in Washington state from March-April 2023, we explored gender differences in the distribution of tobacco harm perceptions (knowledge, addiction, and harm perceptions).

Multi-Centre External Validation of a Nomogram for 10-Year Periodontal Tooth Loss Prediction.

Aims: To externally validate the potential applicability of the 2018 classification of periodontal diseases as a risk assessment tool, through the use of a nomogram built on a multivariate predictor model.

Materials And Methods: Data from 459 patients with periodontitis, across four cohorts (three in the United States, and one in the United Kingdom), were retrospectively analysed. After staging and grading periodontitis before active periodontal therapy (APT), patients were categorised by the model as having 'low tooth loss' (≤ 1 teeth lost due periodontal reasons [TLP]) or 'high tooth loss' (≥ 2 TLP) at a 10-year follow-up.

3D Printing of Silicone Organogel Elastomers for Structured Soft Biomaterials.

Creating customizable soft medical implants and devices tailored to patient-specific anatomy represents a significant challenge in healthcare, requiring 3D-printable materials with viscoelastic properties similar to those of natural tissue, high adaptability, and biocompatibility. Here, we develop a family of silicone organogel inks for 3D printing of tunable soft biomaterials via direct ink writing (DIW). We have developed a set of ink formulations comprising photo-cross-linkable silicone polymers, silicone oil, and fumed silica nanoparticles to modify the rheological behavior of the inks, optimize their printability, and control the viscoelastic properties of the printed organogel materials.

The Moderating Effect of Social Skills and Social Support on the Association Between Poverty Ratio and Health Promotion Behaviors in Adolescence.

Eating and exercise habits established in adolescence are associated with immediate and long-term health outcomes. These habits may be influenced by adolescents' socioeconomic status (SES), such that low SES households often experience inequitable access to nutritious foods and opportunities for exercise. Emerging evidence suggests that social factors, such as social skills and social support may support adolescents' health behavior engagement.

Perceived barriers to neurodevelopmental follow-up among cardiac neurodevelopmental outcome collaborative institutional and affiliated members.

Objective: Neurodevelopmental follow-up programmes for children with CHD help identify neurodevelopmental impairments and support the delivery of recommended interventions. The Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Special Interest Group surveyed members to assess perceived patient barriers to neurodevelopmental follow-up, previous diversity and inclusion education, and confidence in caring for historically marginalised populations.

Methods: A link to a Redcap online survey was emailed to Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative members on 23 April 2022, with 4 weeks given to complete.

Database of Nonaqueous Proton-Conducting Materials.

This work presents the assembly of 48 papers, representing 74 different compounds and blends, into a machine-readable database of nonaqueous proton-conducting materials. SMILES was used to encode the chemical structures of the molecules, and we tabulated the reported proton conductivity, proton diffusion coefficient, and material composition for a total of 3152 data points. The data spans a broad range of temperatures ranging from -70 to 260 °C.

Real-world insights from a cohort of approximately 2000 individuals who were analysed using a freely available next-generation sequencing anaemia screening programme.

Data from a large cohort of individuals referred for NGS testing evaluate the utility of next-generation sequencing in clinical practice for diagnosing hereditary haemolytic anaemias.

Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of Upadacitinib in Crohn's disease: A Multi-Centre Study.

Background: We aimed to describe the real-world effectiveness and safety of upadacitinib (UPA), an oral Janus kinase 1 inhibitor (JAKi) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted across nine centers in the United States, focusing on adults with CD treated with UPA 45 mg as induction therapy for active luminal disease. The co-primary endpoints were clinical remission at 12 weeks (Harvey Bradshaw Index ≤ 4 or absence of symptoms on physician's global assessment) and endoscopic remission at 6 months (SEMA-CD score of 0-1 or absence of ulcers).

A phase II study of multiparametric MR-guided high-dose response-adaptive radiotherapy with concurrent temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma: Results from an interim analysis.

Background: Biologically-informed radiotherapy (RT) targeting an adversely prognostic hypercellular/hyperperfused imaging phenotype in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) may improve outcomes by identifying emerging regions of treatment resistance associated with survival (OS), and is under investigation in an ongoing Phase II trial (XXX) of individualized, response-adaptive RT.

Methods: In this single-arm phase II study, patients with newly diagnosed GBM following resection undergo dose-intensified chemoradiation (chemoRT) targeting the residual hypercellular (TV, 2 SD above mean intensity contralateral normal brain) and hyperperfused tumor volume (TV, 1 SD above contralateral normal frontal lobe grey matter) identified using high b-value diffusion-weighted and dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion MRI. The combination of TV and TV (TV/TV) is treated to 50 Gy in 20 fractions (2.

The Impact of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors on Atrial Fibrillation Burden In Diabetic Patients.

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) are comorbid conditions associated with increased adverse outcomes. Recent evidence suggests that antidiabetic therapies such as sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists (GLP1a) may influence the risk of AF and stroke differently. This study aims to compare the risk of new-onset AF and stroke in T2DM patients treated with SGLT2i versus GLP1a.

Cost as a barrier to eyeglasses in pediatric population: a cross-sectional survey analysis.

Eyeglasses are an essential medical device to maximize visual potential and learning in children. We surveyed parents and pediatric ophthalmologists regarding their perspectives on the cost of pediatric eyeglasses. Parents and ophthalmologists identified cost as a barrier to obtaining eyeglasses.

Orphan discipline and child neglect: An analysis from 48 countries.

Background: Orphans comprise a sizable sub-population of all children, and their status as orphans exposes them to many risk factors. Orphan exposure to violent discipline is poorly understood, as research on parents' disciplinary practices largely focuses on biological families. The little research that exists has found that orphans are at reduced risk of harsh discipline but fails to explain why.

Compound effects of drought and COVID-19 on soybean production in Brazil: Challenges and policy responses.

This study investigates the cumulative and interactive impacts of drought and COVID-19 on soybean production in Brazil, focusing on cascading economic and operational disruptions. The country has faced numerous drought events in recent years (1989 to 2022), culminating with one in 2022 that, together with the occurrence of COVID-19, led to the highest decline in soybean production since 1990 (10.5 % of the total national production).

Erasable hippocampal neural signatures predict memory discrimination.

Memories involving the hippocampus can take several days to consolidate, challenging efforts to uncover the neuronal signatures underlying this process. Here, we use calcium imaging in freely moving mice to track the hippocampal dynamics underlying memory consolidation across a 10-day contextual fear conditioning task. We find two neural signatures that emerge following learning and predict memory performance: context-specific place field remapping and coordinated neural activity prior to memory recall (freezing).

Early Childhood Nutrition-Related Policy, System, and Environmental-Focused Evaluation: A Qualitative Study Exploring Knowledge, Barriers, and Opportunities.

Objective: To explore stakeholders' perceptions of the barriers, facilitators, and existing needs associated with evaluating policy, system, and environmental (PSE) strategies focused on early childhood nutrition within Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) programming using the Capabilities, Opportunities, and Motivations of Behavior Model.

Methods: Stakeholders (n = 32) implementing and evaluating SNAP-Ed-approved PSE nutrition-related strategies across the US participated in virtual semistructured interviews. Audio transcripts were deidentified, coded, and analyzed manually by 2 research assistants using thematic analysis with a hybrid deductive and inductive coding approach.