Screening and Referral for Social Needs Among Veterans: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Healthcare-based social need screening and referral (S&R) among adult populations has produced equivocal results regarding social need resource connection.

Objective: Assess the efficacy of S&R on resource connection (primary outcome) and unmet need reduction (secondary outcome).

Design: Intention-to-treat randomized controlled trial.

U.S. State-Level Containment Policies Not Associated with Food Insecurity Changes During the Early COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multi-level Analysis.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between United States (US) containment measures during the COVID-19 pandemic and household food insecurity.

Design: To investigate these relationships, we developed a framework linking COVID-related containment policies with different domains of food security, then used multilevel random effects models to examine associations between state-level containment policies and household food security. Our framework depicts theorized linkages between stringency policies and five domains of food security (availability, physical access, economic access, acceptability in meeting preferences, and agency, which includes both self-efficacy and infrastructure).

The Influence of Migration Timing and Local Conditions on Reproductive Timing in Arctic-Breeding Birds.

For birds breeding in the Arctic, nest success is affected by the timing of nest initiation, which is partially determined by local conditions such as snow cover. However, conditions during the non-breeding season can carry over to affect the timing of breeding. We used tracking and breeding data from 248 individuals of 8 species and subspecies of Arctic-breeding shorebirds to estimate how the timing of nest initiation is related to local conditions like snowmelt phenology versus prior conditions, measured by the timing and speed of migration.

Impact of an Oncology Clinical Pharmacist Intervention on Clinical Trial Enrollment in The US Oncology Network's MYLUNG Consortium.

Introduction: The Molecularly Informed Lung Cancer Treatment in a Community Cancer Network: A Pragmatic Consortium™ (MYLUNG) clinical trial platform aims to advance the use of precision medicine in patients with non-small cell lung cancer through a series of prospective and iterative clinical trials. Timely patient accrual onto oncology clinical trials is a known practice challenge and impaired accrual rates can lead to premature trial closure or properly powered trial outcomes. The US Oncology Network recently implemented a clinical pharmacist (ClinReview) initiative to provide remote clinical services to screen patients for enrollment onto MYLUNG Protocol 2.

Efficacy of Fractional 2940-nm Erbium:YAG Laser Combined with Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus its Combination with Low-Level Laser Therapy for Scar Revision.

Objective: We sought to compare the safety and efficacy of combining fractional 2940-nm Erbium:YAG (Er:YAG) laser with autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) versus its combination with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for enhancing the outcome of postsurgical and post-traumatic scars.

Methods: Fourty-five individuals with post-surgical or post-traumatic scars were randomly divided into three groups: Group A received four fractional Er:YAG laser sessions spaced four weeks apart along with eight sessions of intradermal PRP injections spaced two weeks apart; Group B received four fractional Er:YAG laser sessions spaced four weeks apart along with two sessions of light emitting diode (LED) weekly; and Group C received four fractional Er:YAG laser sessions spaced four weeks apart. Treatment efficacy was evaluated using clinical photographs, Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), patient satisfaction and histopathology.

Exploring the role of exosomal lncRNA in cancer immunopathogenesis: Unraveling the immune response and EMT pathways.

Exosomes are membrane-bound vesicles secreted by diverse cell types, serving as crucial mediators in intercellular communication and significantly influencing cancer development. Exosomes facilitate complex signaling processes in the tumor microenvironment for immunomodulation, metastasis, angiogenesis, and treatment resistance. Notably, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a class of non-coding RNAs, engage with mRNA, DNA, proteins, and miRNAs to modulate gene expression through multiple mechanisms, including transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and epigenetic pathways.

Targeting breast tumor extracellular matrix and stroma utilizing nanoparticles.

Breast cancer is a complicated malignancy and is known as the most common cancer in women. Considerable experiments have been devoted to explore the basic impacts of the tumor stroma, particularly the extracellular matrix (ECM) and stromal components, on tumor growth and resistance to treatment. ECM is made up of an intricate system of proteins, glycosaminoglycans, and proteoglycans, and maintains structural support and controls key signaling pathways involved in breast tumors.

Melatonin enhances metal oxide nanoparticles tolerance in rice seedlings through dual regulation of antioxidant defense and photosynthetic efficiency.

The growing utilization of metal oxide nanoparticles (MONPs) presents novel and potential hazards to plants. However, the impacts of MONPs on plants and the mechanisms underlying their tolerance to MONPs remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that both CuO and ZnO nanoparticles hindered plant growth and triggered oxidative damage in rice seedlings.

Tai Chi and Wellness Interventions for Veterans with Gulf War Illness: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial.

Background: Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic multi-symptom illness that affects up to one-third of the 700,000 American military personnel deployed to the Persian Gulf region in 1990 and 1991. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to examine feasibility and the relative efficacy of two 12-week in-person group treatments (Tai Chi and Wellness) to address GWI symptoms of chronic pain, fatigue, and changes in mood and cognitive functioning.

Method: Male and female veterans were randomly assigned to Tai Chi (n = 27) or Wellness (n = 26) group interventions and assessed at four time points: baseline, post-treatment, 3-, and 9-month follow-up.

Resurgence of Pediatric Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infections in Southeast Texas, November 2023-June 2024.

We conducted a retrospective review of children tested for Mycoplasma pneumoniae from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2024. M. pneumoniae polymerase chain reaction positivity increased starting in November 2023, peaking at 18.

Histological Evaluation of Photobiomodulation and Calcium Aluminosilicate on Direct Pulp Capping of Dogs' Permanent Teeth.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) is beneficial to biological tissues; depending on the optical dose that is absorbed by tissues, it can function as a biostimulative, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory mediator. Thus, the current research aimed to assess the impacts of PBM and Calcium aluminosilicate-based material on direct pulp capping (DPC) of dogs' permanent teeth through histological analysis. To study DPC of dogs' teeth, we separated 24 canines and premolars obtained from mature, healthy mongrel dogs into four equal groups: group 1, which served as the control (exposed pulp was covered with a sterile polytetrafluoroethylene, Teflon tape); group 2, which received PBM treatment using a 980 nm diode laser with a 100 mw output power for one minute; group 3: Calcium aluminosilicate-based material; group 4: Calcium aluminosilicate+PBM.

Revisiting the Plasmodium falciparum druggable genome using predicted structures and data mining.

The identification of novel drug targets for the purpose of designing small molecule inhibitors is key component to modern drug discovery. In malaria parasites, discoveries of antimalarial targets have primarily occurred retroactively by investigating the mode of action of compounds found through phenotypic screens. Although this method has yielded many promising candidates, it is time- and resource-consuming and misses targets not captured by existing antimalarial compound libraries and phenotypic assay conditions.

Potentiality of chitosan/titanium oxide nanocomposite for removing iron and chromium from hydrous solutions.

The present study involved the preparation of a nano-polymer based on shrimp wastes as a biodegradable chitosan nanoparticle (Cs) incorporated into titanium oxide nanoparticles (TiO) in an aqueous medium and carried on the specific polymer to form thin films. The spectroscopic properties of chitosan/TiO/Polymer thin films were estimated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The fabricated films were then examined for their potential to eliminate iron (Fe) and chromium (Cr) from solutions.

Personalizing cognitive processing therapy with a case formulation approach to intentionally target impairment in psychosocial functioning associated with PTSD.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition often accompanied by significant functional impairments affecting quality of life and well-being. While Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) is a leading, evidence-based psychotherapy for PTSD, demonstrating substantial efficacy in core symptom reduction, its impact on psychosocial functioning is less well-established. The Personalizing Cognitive Processing Therapy with a Case Formulation Approach (Personalizing Approaches to Therapy: PATh) study aims to enhance CPT by explicitly targeting functional impairments and idiosyncratic challenges to optimal therapy outcomes (COTOs), comparing its efficacy against standard CPT in improving psychosocial functioning, quality of life, well-being, and core PTSD and depression symptoms.

Clinical Manifestations of Acute COVID-19 in Previously Healthy Pediatric Patients Diagnosed by Rapid Antigen Screening in a Community-Based, Outpatient Primary Care Pediatrics Practice.

Background: The PediCenter and Niles Children's Clinic provide pediatric primary and urgent care services in central California. We remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, providing scheduled well child-care and sick visits.

Methods: Beginning in September 2020, we implemented a COVID-19 screening program.

Regenerative endodontic therapy in immature teeth using photobiomodulation and photodynamic therapy; a histomorphological study in canine model.

Background: Regenerative endodontic therapy (RET) is still coming up short to demonstrate histological evidence for true regeneration with clinically feasible protocol of cell homing in single visit approach.

Aim: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the regenerative potential of photobiomodulation (PBM) on RET in immature roots when photodynamic therapy (PDT) protocol is implemented for root canal disinfection in canine model.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-two root canals were recruited, with sixty assigned to experimental groups and twelve to positive and negative controls.

Bevacizumab First in DRCR Protocol AC vs Real-World Physician Treatment Choice for Diabetic Macular Edema: Two-Year Cost Analysis.

To compare the modeled costs of the Protocol AC bevacizumab-first treatment protocol (with a switch to aflibercept for sub-responders) with real-world costs for treatment-naïve patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) over a 2-year period. Published data from the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DRCR) Protocol AC bevacizumab-first arm (154 eyes) were used to model 2-year treatment costs. Real-world costs were modeled using data from the Vestrum Health electronic medical records database from a 2016 to 2018 cohort of treatment-naïve eyes with DME (n = 1062) treated with antivascular endothelial growth factor monotherapy.

Reducing the effective dose of doxycycline using chitosan silver nanocomposite as a carriers on gram positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Doxycycline (Doxy) is a tetracycline antibiotic with a potent antibacterial activity against a broad range of bacteria. Using nanotechnology is one feasible way to increase the antibiotics' ability to penetrate the body and increase their antibacterial effectiveness. In this work, we report the formation of a stable green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by chitosan with Doxy nanocomposite for the first time.

Specific, Measurable, Action-Oriented, Realistic, and Timed Goals and the Personal Health Inventory in a Wellness Group for Veterans With GWI.

Background: Interventions based on the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) Whole Health (WH) initiative may be beneficial for veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI) through specific, measurable, action-oriented, realistic, and timed (SMART) goal setting and monitoring of perceived goal attainment with the Personal Health Inventory (PHI).

Objectives: This secondary analysis of 2 randomized controlled trials focused on (1) categorizing SMART goals set during a wellness intervention based on the VHA's WH approach to identify goals most relevant for veterans with GWI and chronic pain and (2) descriptively examining the PHI over a course of treatment to assess its preliminary sensitivity to change. Also, changes in PHI for those who engaged in the intervention in-person versus remotely were compared.

Protocol for remote Tai Chi and wellness for PTSD and pain in veterans.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychological disorder that is associated with a host of psychosocial and health ailments, including chronic pain. Although evidence-based psychological therapies are recommended as first-line PTSD treatments, a large proportion of individuals either drop out and/or do not achieve a therapeutic response. PTSD is increasingly recognized as a systemic disorder that impacts both physical and mental health, and mind-body approaches, such as Tai Chi, have shown promise.