Second-line treatment patterns and outcomes in advanced HCC after progression on atezolizumab/bevacizumab.

Background & Aims: Atezolizumab/bevacizumab (A/B) is now a standard first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the optimal second-line regimen is not known. We evaluated real-world treatment patterns and outcomes to investigate factors associated with post-progression survival (PPS).

Methods: In this multicenter, international, retrospective study, we examined clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with advanced HCC who progressed on first-line A/B.

Modeling and correction of protein conformational disease in iPSC-derived neurons through personalized base editing.

Altered protein conformation can cause incurable neurodegenerative disorders. Mutations in , the gene encoding neuroserpin, can alter protein conformation resulting in cytotoxic aggregation leading to neuronal death. Familial encephalopathy with neuroserpin inclusion bodies (FENIB) is a rare autosomal dominant progressive myoclonic epilepsy that progresses to dementia and premature death.

Outcomes of wrist denervation and core decompression of the radius for Kienbock's disease.

Background: The definitive treatment of Kienbock's disease has yet to be determined. Wrist denervation combined with core decompression of the radius has not been previously studied as a combined treatment for Kienbock's disease.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of simultaneous wrist denervation and core decompression of the radius in the treatment of Kienbock's disease.

Descriptive Analysis of Preoperative Breast Reconstruction Patient Expectations Using the BREAST-Q Expectations Module.

Patient expectations have been shown to influence postoperative outcomes across surgical specialties. However, the impact of expectations in breast reconstruction is not well understood. The purpose of this project is to perform the first large-scale analysis and classification of BREAST-Q Expectations responses in patients undergoing implant-based reconstruction.

Maternal History of Child Maltreatment Predicts Dysregulated Offspring Stress Response System Functioning.

Identifying proximal and multigenerational distal risk mechanisms through which adversity exposure may shape neuroendocrine dysregulation among children is critical to advancing effective preventive interventions for adversity-exposed individuals. Utilizing longitudinal data ( = 247), the current study examined maternal and offspring history of childhood maltreatment (CM) as predictors of offspring cortisol/DHEA ratios, and, in exploratory analyses, extended this longitudinally to offspring depressive symptoms in young adulthood. Youth (ages 8-13 years) initially attended a research camp, then were followed up approximately eight years later (ages 18-22 years).

The promise of community-driven preprints in ecology and evolution.

Publishing preprints is quickly becoming commonplace in ecology and evolutionary biology. Preprints can facilitate the rapid sharing of scientific knowledge establishing precedence and enabling feedback from the research community before peer review. Yet, significant barriers to preprint use exist, including language barriers, a lack of understanding about the benefits of preprints and a lack of diversity in the types of research outputs accepted (e.

Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effects of High-Dose Ondansetron on Clinical Symptoms and Brain Connectivity in Obsessive-Compulsive and Tic Disorders.

Objective: Sensory phenomena (SP) are aversive sensations driving repetitive behaviors in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette's disorder that are not well addressed by standard treatments. SP are related to the functioning of an interoceptive-sensorimotor circuit that may be modulated by the 5-HT receptor antagonist ondansetron. The present study employed an experimental medicine approach to test the effects of 4 weeks of high-dose ondansetron compared to placebo on SP severity and brain connectivity in a cohort of individuals with OCD and/or Tourette's disorder.

Context-specific eQTLs provide deeper insight into causal genes underlying shared genetic architecture of critically ill COVID-19 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Most genetic variants identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are suspected to be regulatory in nature, but only a small fraction colocalize with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs, variants associated with expression of a gene). Therefore, it is hypothesized but largely untested that integration of disease GWAS with context-specific eQTLs will reveal the underlying genes driving disease associations. We used colocalization and transcriptomic analyses to identify shared genetic variants and likely causal genes associated with critically ill COVID-19 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Genotype-driven sensitivity of mice to tick-borne encephalitis virus correlates with differential host responses in peripheral macrophages and brain.

Background: Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is the most common tick-borne viral infection in Eurasia. Outcomes range from asymptomatic infection to fatal encephalitis, with host genetics likely playing a role. BALB/c mice have intermediate susceptibility to TBE virus (TBEV) and STS mice are highly resistant, whereas the recombinant congenic strain CcS-11, which carries 12.

Using capacity assessments and tailored technical assistance to advance trauma informed care integration at the organizational level.

Background: The prevalence of trauma among individuals with HIV has prompted efforts to integrate trauma-informed care (TIC) into HIV care and treatment to improve health outcomes. A TIC Implementation Model, developed by a US capacity-building organization focuses on organizational changes, aligning cultural and physical environments, emphasizing values like safety and trustworthiness, engaging leadership, and training staff in skills-based TIC services. Despite growing research, gaps remain in understanding the relationship between organizational capacity, provider knowledge, and the dosage of technical assistance (TA) required to sustain TIC integration.

The impact of dietary patterns on gut microbiota for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review.

Background: Previous studies found that it is promising to achieve the protective effects of dietary patterns on cardiovascular health through the modulation of gut microbiota. However, conflicting findings have been reported on how dietary patterns impact gut microbiota in individuals either established or at risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Our systematic review aimed to explore the effect of dietary patterns on gut microbiota composition and on risk factors for CVD in these populations.

Monitoring Use of Language Interpreting Services for Patients with Limited English Proficiency: Methods to Match Patient Medical Records with Interpreter Billing Logs.

Background: Over 60 million patients in the USA have limited English proficiency (LEP) and experience barriers in care. Still, there exists no standardized method of monitoring the utilization of language interpreting services (LIS).

Objective: To introduce a methodological approach to systematically monitor utilization of LIS for LEP patients.

Cardiovascular disease, bone fracture, and all-cause mortality risks among postmenopausal women by arthritis and veteran status: A multistate Markov transition analysis.

Arthritis, a chronic inflammatory condition linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and bone fracture, is more frequent among military veterans and postmenopausal women. This study examined correlates of arthritis and relationships of arthritis with risks of developing CVD, bone fractures, and mortality among postmenopausal veteran and non-veteran women. We analyzed longitudinal data on 135,790 (3,436 veteran and 132,354 non-veteran) postmenopausal women from the Women's Health Initiative who were followed-up for an average of 16 years between enrollment (1993-1998) and February 17, 2024.

End-to-End Deep Learning Prediction of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Response in Osteosarcoma Patients Using Routine MRI.

This study aims to develop an end-to-end deep learning (DL) model to predict neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) response in osteosarcoma (OS) patients using routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We retrospectively analyzed data from 112 patients with histologically confirmed OS who underwent NACT prior to surgery. Multi-sequence MRI data (including T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images) and physician annotations were utilized to construct an end-to-end DL model.

Congenital scoliosis presenting in teenage years outcomes without hemivertebra excision.

Purpose: In congenital scoliosis, the surgical strategy approach of hemivertebra excision, with or without instrumentation and fusion, is a common approach to correction of scoliosis. However, hemivertebra excisions are technically challenging, with potential complications including spinal cord injury, nerve root injury and cerebrospinal fluid leak. The purpose of this study was to determine whether correction of congenital scoliosis can be achieved using a posterior instrumentation/fusion-only approach without the need for hemivertebra excision.

Microenvironmental determinants of endothelial cell heterogeneity.

During development, endothelial cells (ECs) undergo an extraordinary specialization by which generic capillary microcirculatory networks spanning from arteries to veins transform into patterned organotypic zonated blood vessels. These capillary ECs become specialized to support the cellular and metabolic demands of each specific organ, including supplying tissue-specific angiocrine factors that orchestrate organ development, maintenance of organ-specific functions and regeneration of injured adult organs. Here, we illustrate the mechanisms by which microenvironmental signals emanating from non-vascular niche cells induce generic ECs to acquire specific inter-organ and intra-organ functional attributes.

Robotic Versus Open Placement of Hepatic Artery Infusion Pumps.

Background: A growing number of centers offer hepatic artery infusion pump (HAIP) chemotherapy for advanced liver malignancies. While small series have demonstrated feasibility of robotic HAIP placement, comparison of outcomes with open placement is lacking. We compared outcomes after robotic versus open HAIP placement.

Infertility and risk of ovarian cancer in the women's health initiative.

Purpose: There is a consistent relationship with greater ovulation frequency and increased risk of ovarian cancer. However, prior research on infertility, which may be associated with ovulation frequency through multiple mechanisms, and ovarian cancer has yielded conflicting results, possibly due to prior research conflating fertility treatment with infertility and restricting follow-up to premenopausal cases. Our objective was to determine the association between infertility and risk of postmenopausal ovarian cancer, overall and by histotype, in a population that had not received treatment with IVF.

Coeliac disease: complications and comorbidities.

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease characterized by small intestinal villus atrophy and inflammation upon exposure to gluten. It has a global prevalence of approximately 1%. Although the gluten-free diet can be an effective treatment, this diet is burdensome with practical difficulties and frequent inadvertent gluten exposure.

Associations between common genetic variants and income provide insights about the socio-economic health gradient.

We conducted a genome-wide association study on income among individuals of European descent (N = 668,288) to investigate the relationship between socio-economic status and health disparities. We identified 162 genomic loci associated with a common genetic factor underlying various income measures, all with small effect sizes (the Income Factor). Our polygenic index captures 1-5% of income variance, with only one fourth due to direct genetic effects.