Acceptability and Feasibility of Self-Collected Dried Blood Spot Specimens for Viral Load Monitoring among Rural Older People Living with HIV.

Self-collected dried blood spot (DBS) samples may be useful in monitoring viral load (VL) in research studies or clinically given that they eliminate the need for participants to travel to study sites or laboratories. Despite this, little information exists about monitoring VL using DBS self-collected at home, and no information exists on DBS for this use among older rural people living with HIV (PLH), a population that could benefit from self-collection given difficulty accessing care. We report on the feasibility and acceptability of self-collected DBS samples, DBS VL results, concordance between self-reported and DBS VL, and factors associated with DBS detectable VL in a rural Southern U.

Associations of Maternal Prenatal Zinc Consumption with Infant Brain Tissue Organization and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes.

Background/objectives: While studies in rat pups suggest that early zinc exposure is critical for optimal brain structure and function, associations of prenatal zinc intake with measures of brain development in infants are unknown. This study aimed to assess the associations of maternal zinc intake during pregnancy with MRI measures of brain tissue microstructure and neurodevelopmental outcomes, as well as to determine whether MRI measures of the brain mediated the relationship between maternal zinc intake and neurodevelopmental indices.

Methods: Forty-one adolescent mothers were recruited for a longitudinal study during pregnancy.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for T3 Tumors in the Era of Precision Medicine-Biology Is Still King.

Clinical T3 (cT3) breast cancer (BC) presents a challenge for achieving cosmetically acceptable breast conservation, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is commonly used for cytoreduction in these high-risk cancers. MammaPrint risk-of-recurrence and BluePrint molecular subtyping genomic signatures have demonstrated high accuracy in predicting chemotherapy benefits. Here, we examined the utility of MammaPrint/BluePrint for predicting pathological Complete Response (pCR) rates to NAC among 404 patients diagnosed with cT3 early-stage BC.

Efficacy of a clinical decision support tool to promote guideline concordant evaluations in patients with high-risk microscopic hematuria: a cluster randomized quality improvement project.

Purpose: We aimed to determine whether implementation of clinical decision support (CDS) tool integrated into the electronic health record (EHR) of a multi-site academic medical center increased the proportion of patients with American Urological Association (AUA) "high risk" microscopic hematuria (MH) who receive guideline concordant evaluations.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a two-arm cluster randomized quality improvement project in which 202 ambulatory sites from a large health system were randomized to either have their physicians receive at time of test results an automated CDS alert for patients with 'high-risk' MH with associated recommendations for imaging and cystoscopy (intervention) or usual care (control). Primary outcome was met if a patient underwent both imaging and cystoscopy within 180 days from MH result.

Traumatic Brain Injury Promotes Neurogenesis and Oligodendrogenesis in Subcortical Brain Regions of Mice.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the major causes of severe neurological disorders and long-term dysfunction in the nervous system. Besides inducing neurodegeneration, TBI alters stem cell activity and neurogenesis within primary neurogenic niches. However, the fate of dividing cells in other brain regions remains unclear despite offering potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Medicaid managed care network adequacy standards and mental health care access.

Objectives: Medicaid is the largest payer of mental health (MH) services in the US, and more than 80% of its enrollees are covered by Medicaid managed care (MMC). States are required to establish quantitative network adequacy standards (NAS) to regulate MMC plans' MH care access. We examined the association between quantitative NAS and MH care access among Medicaid-enrolled adults and among those with MH conditions.

Pooled safety analysis and management of sotorasib-related adverse events in KRAS G12C-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Introduction: We describe the safety of sotorasib monotherapy in patients with KRAS G12C-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and discuss practical recommendations for managing key risks.

Methods: Incidence rates of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were pooled from 4 clinical trials: CodeBreaK 100 (NCT03600883), CodeBreaK 101 (NCT04185883), CodeBreaK 105 (NCT04380753), and CodeBreaK 200 (NCT04303780) and graded according to CTCAE v5.0.

Interest in Injectable and Oral PrEP for HIV Prevention Among Women and Men Who Inject Drugs.

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) are at increased risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Women who inject are a particularly vulnerable group. Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective, but access and uptake has been limited.

ENHANCING TRANSCRANIAL FOCUSED ULTRASOUND TREATMENT PLANNING WITH SYNTHETIC CT FROM ULTRA-SHORT ECHO TIME (UTE) MRI: A MULTI-TASK DEEP LEARNING APPROACH.

Utilizing a multi-task deep learning framework, this study generated synthetic CT (sCT) images from a limited dataset of Ultrashort echo time (UTE) MRI for transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) planning. A 3D Transformer U-Net was employed to produce sCT images that closely replicated actual CT scans, demonstrated by an average Dice coefficient of 0.868 for morphological accuracy.

Eye reactions under the influence of drugs of abuse as measured by smartphones: a controlled clinical study in healthy volunteers.

Background: It is known that illicit and prescribed drugs impact pupil size, eye movement and function. Still, comprehensive quantitative evaluations under known ambient light conditions are lacking, when smartphones are used for monitoring.

Methods: In this clinical study (NCT05731999), four medicinal products with addiction risks were administered to 48 subjects (18-70 years old, all with informed consent, 12 subjects per drug).

Promoting Evidence-Based Tobacco Cessation Treatment in Community Mental Health Clinics: Results of a Pilot Implementation Study: Promouvoir le traitement de sevrage tabagique fondé sur des données probantes dans les cliniques communautaires de santé mentale : résultats d'une étude pilote de mise en œuvre.

Objective: Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable death among individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) but few persons with SMI are offered smoking cessation treatment. The purpose of this study was to pilot-test a multicomponent intervention to increase the delivery of evidence-based smoking cessation treatment in community mental health clinics (CMHCs).

Method: This study was carried out at five CMHCs in Maryland involving clinicians who participated in training in smoking cessation.

Neuroeconomically dissociable forms of mental accounting are altered in a mouse model of diabetes.

Those with diabetes mellitus are at high-risk of developing psychiatric disorders, especially mood disorders, yet the link between hyperglycemia and altered motivation has not been thoroughly explored. Here, we characterized value-based decision-making behavior of a streptozocin-induced diabetic mouse model on Restaurant Row, a naturalistic neuroeconomic foraging paradigm capable of behaviorally capturing multiple decision systems known to depend on dissociable neural circuits. Mice made self-paced choices on a daily limited time-budget, accepting or rejecting reward offers based on cost (delays cued by tone pitch) and subjective value (flavors), in a closed-economy system tested across months.

Optimal Predilatation Treatment Before Implantation of a Magmaris Bioresorbable Scaffold in Coronary Artery Stenosis: The OPTIMIS Trial.

Background: Bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) were developed to overcome limitations related to late stent failures of drug-eluting stents, but lumen reductions over time after implantation of BRS have been reported. This study aimed to investigate if lesion preparation with a scoring balloon compared with a standard noncompliant balloon minimizes lumen reduction after implantation of a Magmaris BRS assessed with optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound.

Methods: Eighty-two patients with stable angina were randomized in a ratio of 1:1 to lesion preparation with a scoring balloon versus a standard noncompliant balloon before implantation of a Magmaris BRS.

Impact of Time to Catheter-Based Therapy on Outcomes in Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of early versus delayed catheter-based therapies (CBTs) on clinical outcomes in patients with acute intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 2 academic centers involving patients with intermediate-risk PE from January 2020 to January 2024. Patients were divided into early (<12 hours) and delayed CBT (≥12 hours) groups.

Governance and resilience as entry points for transforming food systems in the countdown to 2030.

Due to complex interactions, changes in any one area of food systems are likely to impact-and possibly depend on-changes in other areas. Here we present the first annual monitoring update of the indicator framework proposed by the Food Systems Countdown Initiative, with new qualitative analysis elucidating interactions across indicators. Since 2000, we find that 20 of 42 indicators with time series have been trending in a desirable direction, indicating modest positive change.

Determinants of Racial and Ethnic Differences in Maternal Cardiovascular Health in Early Pregnancy.

Background: Suboptimal cardiovascular health (CVH) in pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and offspring outcomes. To guide public health efforts to reduce disparities in maternal CVH, we determined the contribution of individual- and neighborhood-level factors to racial and ethnic differences in early pregnancy CVH.

Methods: We included nulliparous individuals with singleton pregnancies who self-identified as Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black (NHB), or non-Hispanic White (NHW) and participated in the nuMoM2b cohort study (Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be).

Harnessing the tumor microenvironment: targeted cancer therapies through modulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is integral to cancer progression, impacting metastasis and treatment response. It consists of diverse cell types, extracellular matrix components, and signaling molecules that interact to promote tumor growth and therapeutic resistance. Elucidating the intricate interactions between cancer cells and the TME is crucial in understanding cancer progression and therapeutic challenges.

Prevalence and Temporal Trends of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Medication Fills During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding in Denmark.

Background And Objectives: Females of reproductive age are increasingly using attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication, but its use during pregnancy and breastfeeding is largely unknown. The aim of this study is to examine the prevalence of ADHD medication fills during pregnancy and breastfeeding, including characteristics of these females and cohort differences over time.

Methods: We conducted a descriptive study using Danish nationwide registers.

Psychiatric Epidemiology During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose Of Review: Our review critically examines research on trends in mental health among US adults following the COVID-19 pandemic's onset and makes recommendations for research on the topic.

Recent Findings: Studies comparing pre-pandemic nationally representative government surveys ("benchmark surveys") with pandemic-era non-benchmark surveys generally estimated 3-4-fold increases in the prevalence of adverse mental-health outcomes following the pandemic's onset. However, studies analyzing trends in repeated waves of a single survey, which may carry a lower risk of bias, generally estimated much smaller increases in adverse outcomes.

Single-nucleus transcriptomics reveals time-dependent and cell-type-specific effects of psilocybin on gene expression.

There is growing interest to investigate classic psychedelics as potential therapeutics for mental illnesses. Previous studies have demonstrated that one dose of psilocybin leads to persisting neural and behavioral changes. The durability of psilocybin's effects suggests that there are likely alterations of gene expression at the transcriptional level.

Recurrent negative autobiographical memories and mental health.

Background: Recurrent symptom-relevant negative autobiographical memories are common in patients with emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression, even among those without a trauma-related diagnosis. Recurrent negative autobiographical memories may also contribute to distress in non-clinical populations.

Methods: To examine the prevalence of recurrent negative autobiographical memories and associated psychological features, we recruited a student sample ( = 101) and a treatment-seeking sample of patients with emotional disorders ( = 123).

Developing a Research Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are driving innovation in biosciences and are already affecting key elements of medical scholarship and clinical care. Many schools of medicine are capitalizing on the promise of these new technologies by establishing academic units to catalyze and grow research and innovation in AI/ML. At Stanford University, we have developed a successful model for an AI/ML research center with support from academic leaders, clinical departments, extramural grants, and industry partners.