Real-World Effectiveness and Tolerability of Dolutegravir and Lamivudine 2-Drug Regimen in People Living with HIV: Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Dolutegravir (DTG) + lamivudine (3TC) demonstrated high rates of virologic suppression (VS) and low rates of virologic failure (VF), discontinuation, and drug resistance in randomized trials. Real-world evidence can support treatment effectiveness, safety, and tolerability in clinical practice and aid in treatment decisions.

Methods: A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to identify studies using DTG + 3TC (January 2013-March 2024).

Therapeutic effects of erythropoietin-alginate/chitosan hydrogel on impaired male rat fertility after spinal cord injury.

Background: Infertility is a significant issue in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Men with SCI often experience erectile and ejaculatory dysfunctions, and low sperm quality leading to impaired fertility. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of Erythropoietin (EPO)alginate/chitosan (CH-AL) hydrogel on SCI-induced male rat infertility.

Recent Advances in Radical Coupling Reactions Directly Involving Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane (BCP).

BCP (bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane) is an ideal saturated carbon bioisostere, instead of the traditional benzene group, which has been extensively developed.

Epigenome-wide association study of perceived discrimination in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Perceived discrimination, recognized as a chronic psychosocial stressor, has adverse consequences on health. DNA methylation (DNAm) may be a potential mechanism by which stressors get embedded into the human body at the molecular level and subsequently affect health outcomes. However, relatively little is known about the effects of perceived discrimination on DNAm.

Impact of time to treatment initiation on the development of cachexia and clinical outcomes in lung cancer.

Background: Pre-cancer onset of cachexia raises uncertainties regarding the optimal timing for early intervention in lung cancer patients. We aimed to examine changes in physical function, nutritional status, and cachexia incidence in patients with lung cancer from the initial visit to treatment initiation and determine the effect of these changes on lung cancer treatment.

Methods: This single-center retrospective cohort study enrolled patients suspected of having advanced lung cancer who visited Kansai Medical University Hospital between January and February 2023 and were definitely diagnosed with the disease.

Coronal Plane Alignment of the Medial Column in Isolated Hallux Valgus, Isolated Flatfoot, and Combined Hallux Valgus-Flatfoot.

Background: To provide improved treatment for hallux valgus (HV), we sought to understand more about the pathophysiologic connection between flatfoot deformity and HV by comparing coronal plane alignment of the medial column of the foot for patients with isolated HV, isolated flatfoot, and combined HV-flatfoot vs controls.

Methods: This study retrospectively assessed a consecutive series of 33 patients with combined symptomatic and radiographic HV and flatfoot, 33 isolated symptomatic HV, 33 isolated symptomatic flatfoot, and 33 controls. The medial column alignment was assessed in the coronal plane using 3-dimensional weightbearing computed tomography (WBCT); rotation was measured for the navicular, medial cuneiform, and first metatarsal (M1).

Functional variants in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene are associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer.

Background: Individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF; a recessive disorder) have an increased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Evidence suggests individuals with a single CFTR variant may also have increased CRC risk.

Methods: Using population-based studies (GECCO, CORECT, CCFR, and ARIC; 53 785 CRC cases and 58 010 controls), we tested for an association between the most common CFTR variant (Phe508del) and CRC risk.

Factors influencing evidence-based cardiovascular disease prevention programming in rural African American communities: a community-engaged concept mapping study.

Background: African Americans experience cardiovascular disease (CVD) disparities, and the burden is greatest in the rural south. Although evidence-based CVD prevention and management programs have been tailored to this context, implementation has been limited and not sustained long-term. To understand how to implement and sustain evidence-based CVD programs at scale, we must explore the perspectives of organizations serving rural African American communities and situate findings within foundational Implementation Science frameworks.

Safety and Efficacy of Deutetrabenazine at High versus Lower Daily Dosages in the ARC-HD Study to Treat Chorea in Huntington Disease.

Background: Huntington disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes psychiatric and neurological symptoms, including involuntary and irregular muscle movements (chorea). Chorea can disrupt activities of daily living, pose safety issues, and may lead to social withdrawal. The vesicular monoamine transporter 2 inhibitors tetrabenazine, deutetrabenazine, and valbenazine are approved treatments that can reduce chorea.

Tucatinib and trastuzumab in HER2-mutated metastatic breast cancer: a phase 2 basket trial.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2, also known as ERBB2) signaling promotes cell growth and differentiation, and is overexpressed in several tumor types, including breast, gastric and colorectal cancer. HER2-targeted therapies have shown clinical activity against these tumor types, resulting in regulatory approvals. However, the efficacy of HER2 therapies in tumors with HER2 mutations has not been widely investigated.

Comparison of failure rates between full-barium and striped barium distal shunt catheters: a matched case-control study.

Purpose: We hypothesize that distal shunt catheters fully impregnated with barium are more prone to failure compared to distal catheters with only a barium stripe. We sought to evaluate this distinction using a matched case-control study.

Methods: Patient records over an 8-year period were queried for distal shunt revisions for fracture or disconnection (cases).

Adherence to multi-target stool DNA testing for colorectal cancer screening in the United States.

Purpose: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer mortality in the USA and is highly preventable, with early screening vital for improving outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate adherence rates of multi-target stool DNA (mt-sDNA) testing, following updated guidelines recommending screening starting at age 45.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used aggregated data from Exact Sciences Laboratories LLC, examining new users (first-time testers) aged 45-85 with commercial, Medicare, or Medicaid insurance who received mt-sDNA test kits (point-of-care) between January 1, 2023, and June 1, 2023.

Non-metallic iodine single-atom catalysts with optimized electronic structures for efficient Fenton-like reactions.

In this study, we introduce a highly effective non-metallic iodine single-atom catalyst (SAC), referred to as I-NC, which is strategically confined within a nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) scaffold. This configuration features a distinctive C-I coordination that optimizes the electronic structure of the nitrogen-adjacent carbon sites. As a result, this arrangement enhances electron transfer from peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to the active sites, particularly the electron-deficient carbon.

Neutralizing antibody immune correlates in COVAIL trial recipients of an mRNA second COVID-19 vaccine boost.

Neutralizing antibody titer has been a surrogate endpoint for guiding COVID-19 vaccine approval and use, although the pandemic's evolution and the introduction of variant-adapted vaccine boosters raise questions as to this surrogate's contemporary performance. For 985 recipients of an mRNA second bivalent or monovalent booster containing various Spike inserts [Prototype (Ancestral), Beta, Delta, and/or Omicron BA.1 or BA.

SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity amongst healthcare workers in South Africa during the Omicron wave: natural infection versus vaccination.

Aims: Concerns over population-level immunity have been heightened with each successive wave of COVID-19, prompting questions about whether it is primarily derived from vaccination efforts or from previous natural infections with the virus. We wished to determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Pretoria (Tshwane), South Africa, and to establish whether they were derived from vaccination or natural infection.

Methods: Serum samples were collected from HCWs during the fourth wave of COVID-19 between 1 December 2021 and 13 March 2022.

On-Surface Synthesis and Characterization of Pentadecacene and Its Gold Complexes.

Acenes are an important class of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that have gained considerable attention from chemists, physicists, and material scientists, due to their exceptional potential for organic electronics. They serve as an ideal platform for studying the physical and chemical properties of sp carbon frameworks in the one-dimensional limit and also provide a fertile playground to explore magnetism in graphenic nanostructures due to their zigzag edge topology. While higher acenes up to tridecacene have been successfully generated by means of on-surface synthesis, it is imperative to extend their synthesis toward even longer homologues to comprehensively understand the evolution of their electronic ground state.

Optimizing a mobile just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI) for weight loss in young adults: Rationale and design of the AGILE factorial randomized trial.

Background: Young adults (YAs) are underrepresented in behavioral health and weight loss interventions and express interest in flexible, highly tailored programs. Mobile interventions are a lower-burden, scalable approach to providing behavioral support. Just-in-time-adaptive interventions (JITAI) promise to deliver the "right" support at the "right" time using real-time data from smartphones and sensors.

Microsurgical Education in Reproductive Urology: A Review of Current Techniques and Opportunities for Improved Access to Learning Experiences.

Infertility is a common problem. Despite this, a dearth of urologists are trained in infertility care. Improved training opportunities may improve proficiency and interest in subspecialized training.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with structural covariance network reconfiguration in cognitively unimpaired adults with type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is often accompanied by non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), both of which are related to brain damage and cognitive impairment. However, cortical structural alteration and its relationship with metabolism and cognition in T2D with NAFLD (T2NAFLD) and without NAFLD (T2noNAFLD) remain unclear. The brain MRI scans, clinical measures and neuropsychological test were evaluated in 50 normal controls (NC), 73 T2noNAFLD, and 58 T2NAFLD.

Assessing Surgical Competency Among Fellows in Vitreoretinal Surgery: A Survey of Fellowship Program Directors and Fellows.

Purpose: We surveyed vitreoretinal (VR) fellowship program directors (PDs) to elucidate how they assess surgical competency among VR fellows. In addition, we also surveyed fellowship program graduates for the years 2022 and 2023 regarding assessment metrics and tools used during VR fellowship training.

Design: Web-based, cross-sectional descriptive study.

Cerebellum abnormalities in vascular mild cognitive impairment with depression symptom patients: A multimodal magnetic resonance imaging study.

Background: Subcortical vascular mild cognitive impairment (svMCI) frequently occurs alongside depressive symptoms, significantly affecting patients' quality of life. While cognitive decline and depressive symptoms are linked to cerebellar changes, the specific relationship between these changes and cognitive status in svMCI patients with depression remains unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to investigates the gray matter volume and functional alterations in the cerebellum of svMCI patients, with and without depressive symptoms, and their correlation with cognitive and depressive symptoms.

Older adults exhibit lesser smoothness despite increased caution than younger adults when navigating turns during walking.

Straight line walking currently dominates research into mechanisms associated with walking-related instability; however, the dynamics of everyday walking behavior are far more complex. The figure-8 walk test (F8W) is a clinically-feasible activity that focuses on turning mobility and provides a convenient and relevant task for understanding age-related differences in walking beyond our present knowledge of steady-state behavior. Our purpose was to investigate the effects of age (n = 30 older versus n = 31 younger adults) on path characteristics and the "smoothness" of turning mobility - herein measured via normalized center of mass jerk - during the F8W.