A Case of Skin Limited IgA Vasculitis in an 84-Year-Old Female.

IgA vasculitis is a small vessel vasculitis and while it represents the most common form of vasculitis in pediatric populations, it is rare in adults. This manuscript describes a case of skin limited IgA vasculitis in an 84-yearold Caucasian female. The patient presented for bilateral lower extremity rash that occurred roughly one month following a viral upper respiratory illness.

Risk Profile and Prognostic Implications of Premature Advanced Coronary Atherosclerotic Disease Among Young to Early Middle-aged Adults: The Coronary Artery Calcium Consortium.

Introduction: Premature advanced subclinical coronary atherosclerosis among young adults is an under-recognized and unique disease phenotype that has not been well characterized.

Methods: We used data from 44,047 participants with no prior CVD history (59.8% male) from the Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) Consortium.

Distinct molecular and clinical features of specific variants of KRAS codon 12 in pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

PURPOSE Oncogenic mutations in KRAS have been identified in > 85% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cases. G12D, G12V, and G12R are the most frequent variants. Using large clinical and genomic databases, this study characterizes prognostic and molecular differences between KRAS variants, focusing on KRAS G12D and G12R.

Posterior epidural migration of thoracic and lumbar disc material: a comprehensive 63-year systematic review with anatomical perspectives.

This study aims to thoroughly investigate the clinical presentation, duration of symptoms, radiological aspects of posterior epidural migration of disc fragments (PEMDF), and assess various treatment options and their impacts on patient functionality. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. We conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus from inception to March 2024.

2024 Scholars' Research Symposium Abstract: Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Routine Pediatric Vaccination Rates in 7 Upper Midwestern States.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic stressed healthcare systems by increasing patient loads and creating shortages of both staffing and medical supplies. As a result, the process of administering routine pediatric vaccinations was affected. Multiple studies have reported ongoing decreases in vaccination opportunities.

Hepcidin, Incident Heart Failure and Cardiac Dysfunction in Older Adults: the ARIC Study.

Aims: Hepcidin regulates plasma and tissue iron levels. We studied the association of hepcidin levels with the risk of incident heart failure (HF) and cardiac dysfunction in older adults.

Methods: We included adults from the ongoing, longitudinal Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study who were free from prevalent anemia and HF at Visit 5 (2011-2013) and had available hepcidin and covariate data.

PSMA+ Extracellular Vesicles are a Biomarker for SABR in Oligorecurrent Prostate Cancer Analysis from the STOMP-like and ORIOLE trial cohorts.

Purpose: Two randomized clinical trials (STOMP and ORIOLE) demonstrated that stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) can prolong ADT-free survival or progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with metachronous oligometastatic prostate cancer (omCSPC) patients. While most omCSPC patients have a more modest delay in progression, a small subset achieves a durable response following SABR. We investigated the prognostic and predictive value of circulating PSMA-positive extracellular vesicles (PSMA+EV) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) in a biomarker correlative study using blood samples from three independent patient cohorts.

Genome-wide association study of urinary cadmium levels in current smokers from the multiethnic cohort study.

Background: Cadmium (Cd), classified as an International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Group 1 human carcinogen, is present in cigarette smoke. Recent studies have illustrated the potential role of genetics in influencing Cd biomarker levels.

Methods: We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of urinary Cd levels in 1977 current smokers from the Multiethnic Cohort Study, comprising participants from five different racial and ethnic groups.

Mode of Delivery and Subsequent Motor Function in Children With Myelomeningocele Without In Utero Repair.

Objective: To assess the association between mode of delivery and 2-year motor function in children with prenatal diagnosis of myelomeningocele.

Methods: A multisite retrospective cohort study of children with myelomeningocele across 14 NAFTNet (North American Fetal Therapy Network) centers born between 2007 and 2020 who had a physical examination available at 2 years of life. Exclusion criteria were in utero myelomeningocele repair, postnatal myelomeningocele diagnosis, missing data on fetal presentation at delivery, and contraindications to labor.

Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Functioning in Adolescents with Klinefelter Syndrome.

Objective: Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is a common genetic condition in males associated with an extra X chromosome (i.e., 47,XXY).

Impact of warning pictorials and size on perceived effectiveness of cigar warning labels in a nationally representative between-subjects experiment.

Background: People who smoke cigars often have misperceptions about the associated risks, contributing to rises in smoking rates. This study investigates the perceived warning effectiveness (PWE) of health warning labels (HWLs) on cigar packages. We tested the impact of warning type and warning size in the HWLs on PWE and other health outcomes.

Non-Indexed vs. Body Surface Area Indexed Measured Glomerular Filtration Rate Determinations as a Criterion of Living Donor Acceptance.

Introduction: When GFR is measured (mGFR) using iohexol plasma clearance, results are reported both as a "non-indexed" (mL/min) and "body-surface area (BSA) indexed" to 1.73 m2. When these two values differ, there is no consensus as to which is preferable to use to determine suitability for living kidney donation (LKD).

Racial/ethnic differences in the associations between social support and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Background: Despite the established link between social support and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes, few studies have examined racial/ethnic variation in these associations. This study utilized data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) to investigate racial/ethnic differences in perceived social support and in the link between support and incident hard CVD events and mortality.

Method: Participants (N = 6,814) were 45-84 years of age who identified as White, Black, Hispanic/Latino, or Chinese without known clinical CVD at baseline (2000-2002).

Treatment options to break the cycle of recurrent pericarditis.

Purpose Of Review: This review provides a contemporary, evidence-based update on the pathophysiological mechanisms and rapidly evolving therapeutic options for recurrent pericarditis.

Recent Findings: Recent studies have elucidated the pathogenesis of recurrent pericarditis, identifying autoinflammation as a key mechanism and interleukin-1 (IL-1) as a central modulator of the inflammatory cascade. Multiple clinical trials have investigated novel therapeutic approaches, particularly focusing on IL-1 inhibition.

Extensor Pollicis Longus Tendon Rupture With Concomitant Electrodiagnostic and MRI Findings of Posterior Interosseous Nerve Palsy: A Report of 2 Cases and Review of the Literature.

Cases: Two patients with spontaneous loss of thumb interphalangeal joint extension were referred after history, electrodiagnostic, and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were felt to demonstrate a posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) palsy. Subsequent physical examination and additional directed studies suggested an alternative explanation: rupture of the extensor pollicis longus (EPL) tendon, subsequently confirmed at surgery. An extensor indicis proprius to EPL transfer restored thumb function.

Hospital Boarding Creates Critical Shortcomings in Disaster Preparedness.

Hospital patient boarding in emergency departments has reached unprecedented crisis levels over the past 4 years. Boarding and crowding has been demonstrated by prior literature to have adverse effects on patient care as well as increased associated costs. Importantly, the increase in hospital patient boarding has created critical shortcomings in disaster preparedness by limiting the capacity of emergency departments to respond to mass casualty incidents due to space and staffing constraints.

"I was angry that I fell" all the way to "if I fall, I fall": a qualitative study of the spectrum of behavioral fall risk factors for veterans with dysvascular lower-limb amputation.

Purpose: To explore behavioral risk factors contributing to fall and near-fall scenarios for Veterans with dysvascular lower-limb amputation.

Materials And Methods: Participants were a convenience sample of Veterans with unilateral dysvascular lower-limb amputation, receiving care at a single Veterans Administration Regional Amputation Center, who participated in an interview (12/2021-04/2023). We used phenomenological research and directed content analysis to explore participant perspectives on fall scenarios.

Oxidative stress suppresses internal carotid artery dilation to hypercapnia in healthy older adults.

: Cerebrovascular disease and dementia risk increases with age and lifetime risk is greater in women. Cerebrovascular dysfunction likely precedes cerebrovascular disease and dementia but the mechanisms are incompletely understood. We hypothesized that oxidative stress mediates cerebrovascular dysfunction with human aging.

Ruminant-dense environments increase risk of reported Shiga toxin-producing infections independently of ruminant contact.

Cattle and other domestic ruminants are the primary reservoirs of O157 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing (STEC). Living in areas with high ruminant density has been associated with excess risk of infection, which could be due to both direct ruminant contact and residual environmental risk, but the role of each is unclear. We investigated whether there is any meaningful risk to individuals living in ruminant-dense areas if they do not have direct contact with ruminants.

Health Care Stereotype Threat During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals.

To determine the levels and differentials in health care stereotype threat experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic by individuals with sexual or gender minority identities. The National Couples' Health and Time Use Study is a national cross-sectional US population‒ based sample of partnered individuals interviewed during the pandemic between September 2020 and April 2021 with oversamples of sexual and gender minority individuals. The analytic sample consisted of 3614 individuals (n = 2043 heterosexual and n = 1571 sexual minority individuals along with 3489 cisgender and 125 noncisgender people).

First Report of Bacterial Wilt of Ginger Caused by in the Continental United States.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is an herbaceous perennial in the Zingiberaceae family grown primarily in tropical to subtropical biomes as a culinary spice, a traditional medicine, and a landscaping plant. While ginger grows at soil temperatures above 20°C, several farmers in the upper Midwestern US farmers grows short-season ginger in high tunnels. In 2023 and 2024, growers in southeastern Minnesota reported a new disease of ginger.

Colophony in Dentistry: Routes of Exposure and Reported Reactions.

Colophony is a solid form of resin derived from coniferous trees that has both adhesive and water-resistant properties. For these reasons, this allergen is incorporated into many personal care products, medications, and occupational materials, and is thus commonly implicated in allergic contact dermatitis. Dedicated "dental" allergen series often include colophony, but dermatologists are likely not well-versed on its use in a dental setting.