Dietary Interventions in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Scoping Review.

Patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are burdened by multiple diet-sensitive comorbidities, including obesity and malnutrition. Despite this, a low percentage of patients with HFpEF have been enrolled in dietary intervention trials in heart failure and few dietary interventions have been conducted in HFpEF exclusively. This scoping review will examine available evidence regarding dietary interventions in patients with HFpEF, highlight existing gaps in knowledge, and discuss emerging dietary therapies in this population.

Solar elastosis correlates with high tumor mutation burden and better 5-year disease-specific survival in patients with stage II/III melanoma.

Objective: To evaluate the relation between solar elastosis and tumor mutation burden (TMB) in a large clinically annotated cohort of stage II and III melanoma patients.

Methods: Primary cutaneous melanomas from 469 AJCC (8 edition) stage II and III patients with clinical annotation including outcome at 5 years of diagnosis were histopathologically evaluated for solar elastosis. Next-generation sequencing assay MSK-IMPACT was employed to determine TMB.

SGLT2i and Primary Prevention of Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction in Patients With Diabetes.

Background: Specific cancer treatments can lead to cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). Sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) can potentially prevent these cardiotoxic effects.

Objectives: This study sought to determine whether SGLT2i use is associated with a lower incidence of CTRCD in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cancer, exposed to potentially cardiotoxic antineoplastic agents, and without a prior documented history of cardiomyopathy or heart failure.

Cardiovascular Considerations During Cancer Therapy: Gaps in Evidence and Expert Panel Recommendations.

The administration of certain cancer therapies can be associated with the development of cardiovascular toxicity or complications. This spectrum of toxicities is broad and requires nuanced approaches for prevention, identification, and management. This expert panel summarizes the consensus of opinions of diverse health care professionals in several key areas: 1) cardioprotection involves strategies aimed at the primary prevention of cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity; 2) surveillance entails monitoring for cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity during cancer therapy; 3) permissive cardiotoxicity is the informed continuation of cancer therapy in the presence of cardiovascular toxicity, along with the implementation of mitigating cardiovascular treatments; and 4) special considerations include the invasive management of severe cardiovascular disease in patients receiving treatments for advanced cancer and the exploration of drug-drug interactions in cardio-oncology.

Fluctuations in mHealth engagement following receipt of goal-discrepant feedback messages.

Objective: Digital behavior change interventions can successfully promote change in behavioral outcomes, but often suffer from steep decreases in engagement over time, which hampers their effectiveness. Providing feedback on goal performance is an established technique to promote goal attainment; however, theory indicates that sending goal-discrepant feedback messages could cause some users to respond more negatively than others. This analysis assessed whether goal-discrepant messaging was negatively associated with participant engagement, and if this relationship was exacerbated by baseline depressive symptoms within the context of a three-month weight loss pilot mHealth intervention.

Chronic enrichment affects nitrogen removal in tidal freshwater river and estuarine creek sediments.

Population growth in coastal areas increases nitrogen inputs to receiving waterways and degrades water quality. Wetland habitats, including floodplain forests and marshes, can be effective nitrogen sinks; however, little is known about the effects of chronic point source nutrient enrichment on sediment nitrogen removal in tidally influenced coastal systems. This study characterizes enrichment patterns in two tidal systems affected by wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) effluent and assesses the impact on habitat nitrogen removal via denitrification.

Atp1a2 and Kcnj9 Are Candidate Genes Underlying Sensitivity to Oxycodone-Induced Locomotor Activation and Withdrawal-Induced Anxiety-Like Behaviors in C57BL/6 Substrains.

Opioid use disorder is heritable, yet its genetic etiology is largely unknown. C57BL/6J and C57BL/6NJ mouse substrains exhibit phenotypic diversity in the context of limited genetic diversity which together can facilitate genetic discovery. Here, we found C57BL/6NJ mice were less sensitive to oxycodone (OXY)-induced locomotor activation versus C57BL/6J mice in a conditioned place preference paradigm.

Conquering Overtreatment of DCIS: Lessons from PRECISION.

As we cannot reliably distinguish indolent, low-risk ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) from potentially progressive, high-risk DCIS, all women with DCIS diagnosis undergo intensive treatment without any benefit. The PREvent ductal Carcinoma In Situ Invasive Overtreatment Now team was established to unravel DCIS biology and develop new multidisciplinary approaches for accurate risk stratification to tackle the global problem of DCIS overdiagnosis and overtreatment. See related article by Bressan et al.

Concomitant Waldenström Macroglobulinemia/Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma and Non-Immunoglobulin M Plasma Cell Neoplasm.

Context.—: The co-occurrence of plasma cell neoplasm (PCN) and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) is rare, and their clonal relationship remains unclear.

Objective.

Can Citizen Scientists Contribute to Trail Assessment and Monitoring Programs? An Empirical Evaluation of Data Congruence and Overall Efficacy.

Citizen science has been increasingly utilized for monitoring resource conditions and visitor use in protected areas. However, the quality of data provided by citizen scientists remains a major concern that hinders wider applications in protected area management. We evaluated a prototype, citizen science-based trail assessment and monitoring program in Hong Kong using an integrated evaluative approach with a specific focus on the congruence of data collected by trained volunteers and managers.

Does using the Lung Clearance Index (LCI) inform clinical decisions in children with cystic fibrosis?

Introduction: The Lung Clearance Index (LCI) is an established research test, but its role in clinical decision-making is not well defined. This study estimated the proportion of treatment decisions that are changed or supported by the added information provided by LCI.

Methods: A mixed methods prospective observational study was conducted in North America.

Predictors of Potentially Inappropriate Stimulant Prescribing Among Adults.

Purpose: Increases in adult stimulant prescribing pose a potential risk due to the higher prevalence of contraindicated conditions among this population. We sought to identify patient, provider, and visit characteristics predictive of potentially inappropriate adult stimulant prescriptions.

Methods: We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, a nationally representative weighted sample of 5 453 702 723 ambulatory care visits from 2012 to 2019.

Interactive effects between yields of Bt and non-Bt corn and planting dates in the southeastern United States.

Transgenic corn (Zea mays L.) expressing insecticidal toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) helps to control or suppress injury from a range of target insect pests. This study summarizes the yield benefits of Bt corn from field trials in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina evaluating Bt and non-Bt corn hybrids from 2009 to 2023.

First-in-human phase I trial of the bispecific CD47 inhibitor and CD40 agonist Fc-fusion protein, SL-172154 in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

Background: SL-172154 is a hexameric fusion protein adjoining the extracellular domain of SIRPα to the extracellular domain of CD40L via an inert IgG-derived Fc domain. In preclinical studies, a murine equivalent SIRPα-Fc-CD40L fusion protein provided superior antitumor immunity in comparison to CD47- and CD40-targeted antibodies. A first-in-human phase I trial of SL-172154 was conducted in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

Use of a periodontal resective procedure (proximal wedge technique) for treating gingival and periodontal pockets of mandibular canine teeth in dogs.

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the ability of a periodontal resective procedure (the Proximal Wedge Technique) to improve the long-term health of the mandibular canines by reducing probing depths immediately post-surgery via targeted tissue recontouring and precise debridement. The technique aims to enhance periodontal health and stabilize the supporting structures of strategically important adjacent canine teeth, including alveolar bone, rather than relying solely on mandibular incisor extractions with simple closure.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective records review compiled data from patients with suprabony pockets of 6 mm or greater at the mesial aspect of the mandibular canines treated with the proximal wedge technique (PWT).

Comparison of Clinical and Radiological Outcomes of Three-Column Lumbar Osteotomies with and without Interbody Cages for Adult Spinal Deformity.

Background Context: Correcting sagittal malalignment in adult spinal deformity (ASD) is a challenging task, often requiring complex surgical interventions like pedicle subtraction osteotomies (PSOs). Different types of three-column osteotomies (3COs), including Schwab 3, Schwab 4, Schwab 4 with interbody cages, and the "sandwich" technique, aim to optimize alignment and fusion outcomes. The role of interbody cages in enhancing fusion and segmental correction remains unclear.

Validation of the Contraception-Focused Preference-Aligned Fertility Management Index in Uganda and Nigeria.

Objective: To evaluate construct validity of the contraception-focused "Preference-aligned Fertility Management" (PFM) Index, a new person-centered and rights-based outcome measure, in Nigeria and Uganda.

Study Design: We analyzed survey data from convenience samples of new users of contraception and non-users of contraception in Uganda and users of contraception in Nigeria. PFM Index scores were calculated by combining two indicators: Indicator 1 assessing alignment between desire to use contraception and actual use; Indicator 2 evaluating whether users' current methods are desired.

Non-colorectal Cancer Screening and Vaccinations in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Expert Review.

Description: The aim of this American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Clinical Practice Update (CPU) is to provide best practice advice (BPA) statements for gastroenterologists and other health care providers who provide care to patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The focus is on IBD-specific screenings (excluding colorectal cancer screening, which is discussed separately) and vaccinations. We provide guidance to ensure that patients are up to date with the disease-specific cancer screenings, vaccinations, as well as advice for mental health and general wellbeing.

Rural-urban disparity in survival and use of PCI in patients who develop STEMI while hospitalized for a non-cardiac condition.

Background: The development of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in patients hospitalized for non-cardiac indications carries a high mortality rate.

Objectives: Determine the impact of rural vs. urban hospital location and hospital percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) volumes on clinical outcomes.

Statistical harmonization of versions of measures across studies using external data: self-rated health and self-rated memory.

Purpose: Harmonizing variables for constructs measured differently across studies is essential for comparing, combining, and generalizing results. We developed and fielded a brief survey to harmonize Likert and continuous versions of measures for two constructs, self-rated health and self-rated memory, for use in studies of French older adults.

Methods: We recruited 300 participants from a French memory clinic in 2023 to answer both the Likert and continuous versions of self-rated health and self-rated memory questions.

An 18-Year Review of Hemoglobinopathy Proficiency Testing: Recommendations From the College of American Pathologists Hematology and Clinical Microscopy Committee.

Context.—: The College of American Pathologists Hematology and Clinical Microscopy Committee implemented a hemoglobinopathy proficiency testing and education program to monitor and assess the performance of participating laboratories.

Objective.

Gaps in psychiatric care before and after the COVID-19 pandemic among patients with depression using electronic health records.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruption to health services. It is unclear if there were inequalities in the continuity of mental health care in the years around the COVID-19 pandemic. We used electronic health records (EHR) to detect mental health care gaps of more than six months in psychiatric appointments across demographic and socioeconomic characteristics among patients with depression.

Symmetric deformable registration of multimodal brain magnetic resonance images via appearance residuals.

Background And Objective: Deformable registration of multimodal brain magnetic resonance images presents significant challenges, primarily due to substantial structural variations between subjects and pronounced differences in appearance across imaging modalities.

Methods: Here, we propose to symmetrically register images from two modalities based on appearance residuals from one modality to another. Computed with simple subtraction between modalities, the appearance residuals enhance structural details and form a common representation for simplifying multimodal deformable registration.

Potentiating the effect of immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer using gas-entrapping materials.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) show limited success in treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), largely due to immune evasion mechanisms, including downregulating expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I). Our retrospective analysis demonstrated that smoking - a state of elevated CO exposure - is correlated with increased MHC I expression in pancreatic tumors. Here we tested our hypothesis that introducing exogenous CO augments the anti-cancer effects of immunotherapy.