Animal Models, Therapeutics, and Vaccine Approaches to Emerging and Re-Emerging Flaviviruses.

Flaviviruses are arthropod-borne viruses primarily transmitted through the mosquito or genus of mosquitos. These viruses are predominantly found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world with their geographical spread predicted to increase as global temperatures continue to rise. These viruses cause a variety of diseases in humans with the most prevalent being caused by dengue, resulting in hemorrhagic fever and associated sequala.

Injectable Tumoricidal Neural Stem Cell-Laden Hydrogel for Treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme-An In Vivo Safety, Persistence, and Efficacy Study.

Background/objectives: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common high-grade primary brain cancer in adults. Despite efforts to advance treatment, GBM remains treatment resistant and inevitably progresses after first-line therapy. Induced neural stem cell (iNSC) therapy is a promising, personalized cell therapy approach that has been explored to circumvent challenges associated with the current GBM treatment.

Nutrient-Nutrient Interactions Among Broccoli Glucosinolates and Their Implications for Breeding Cruciferous Crops to Enhance Human Health.

Unlabelled: While a balanced diet can fulfill most nutritional needs, optimizing the composition of specific foods like broccoli can amplify their health benefits.

Background/objectives: Broccoli ( L. Italica group) is a widely consumed cruciferous vegetable valued for its gastrointestinal and immune health benefits.

The Relationship Between a Mediterranean Diet and Frailty in Older Adults: NHANES 2007-2017.

Background: Frailty is a geriatric syndrome of significant public health concern that causes vulnerability to physiologic stressors and an increased risk of mortality and hospitalizations. Dietary intake and quality are contributing factors to the development of frailty. The Mediterranean diet is known to be one of the healthiest eating patterns with promising health impacts for prevention.

Sleep Quality, Nutritional Habits, and Physical Activity in Pediatric Cancer Survivors: A Dyadic Analysis Approach.

Background/objectives: Sleep disturbances are prevalent among pediatric cancer survivors (PCSs) and their caregivers, often leading to poorer dietary choices and reduced physical activity. Additionally, the sleep quality and health behaviors of parents and children can affect each other. This study examined bi-directional associations between PCSs and their parents' sleep quality and health-related behaviors.

Species in Dromedary Camels () and Ruminants from Somalia.

Ehrlichioses, caused by species, are tick-borne diseases (TBDs) that affect animals and humans worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the molecular occurrence of spp. in 530 animals (155 Dromedary camels, 199 goats, 131 cattle, and 45 sheep) in the Benadir and Lower Shabelle regions of Somalia.

Protection Conferred by Gallid Alphaherpesvirus 2 Vaccines Against Immunosuppression Induced by Very Virulent Plus (vv+) Marek's Disease Virus Strains in Commercial Meat Type Chickens.

Very virulent plus Marek's disease virus (vv+MDV) induces severe immunosuppression in commercial chickens. In this study, we evaluated how three Gallid alphaherpesvirus 2 (GaHV-2) vaccines (CVI-988, rMd5-BAC∆Meq, and CVI-LTR) protected against two negative outcomes of vv+MDV infection: (1) reduced viability and frequency of immune cells in the spleen and (2) decreased efficacy of the CEO (chicken embryo origin) vaccine against infectious laryngotracheitis challenge. At 25 days post-infection with vv+MDV 686, all vaccines are protected against the reduced viability of splenocytes.

Mixed-Effects Model to Assess the Effect of Disengagements on Speed of an Automated Shuttle with Sensors for Localization, Navigation, and Obstacle Detection.

The focus of this study is to investigate the underexplored operational effects of disengagements on the speed of an automated shuttle, providing novel insights into their disruptive impact on performance metrics. For this purpose, global positioning system data, disengagement records, weather reports, and roadway geometry data from an automated shuttle pilot program, from July to December 2023, at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, were collected. The automated shuttle uses sensors for localization, navigation, and obstacle detection.

Effect of Preparation Conditions of Fe@SiO Catalyst on Its Structure Using High-Pressure Activity Studies in a 3D-Printed SS Microreactor.

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) in a 3D-printed stainless steel (SS) microchannel microreactor was investigated using Fe@SiO catalysts. The catalysts were prepared by two different techniques: one pot (OP) and autoclave (AC). The mesoporous structure of the two catalysts, Fe@SiO (OP) and Fe@SiO (AC), ensured a large contact area between the reactants and the catalyst.

Ferroptosis Inducers Erastin and RSL3 Enhance Adriamycin and Topotecan Sensitivity in ABCB1/ABCG2-Expressing Tumor Cells.

Acquired resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs is the primary cause of treatment failure in the clinic. While multiple factors contribute to this resistance, increased expression of ABC transporters-such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), and multidrug resistance proteins-play significant roles in the development of resistance to various chemotherapeutics. We found that Erastin, a ferroptosis inducer, was significantly cytotoxic to NCI/ADR-RES, a P-gp-expressing human ovarian cancer cell line.

Unmasking Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities in United States Chordoma Clinical Trials: Systematic Review.

Background: Chordoma is a rare bone cancer with limited treatment options. Clinical trials are crucial for developing effective therapies, but their success depends on including diverse patient populations. The objective of this study was to systematically evaluate the reporting of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity in United States clinical trials exploring treatment for chordoma.

The Role of Metastasectomies and Immunotherapy in the Management of Melanoma Lung Metastases: An Analysis of the National Cancer Database.

Introduction: Patients with metastatic melanoma to the lung typically have poor outcomes. Although a pulmonary metastasectomy for selected patients has been shown to improve survival, the role of surgical resection following the introduction of immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine predictors of survival for patients with melanoma metastatic to the lung in the era of immunotherapy.

Betalain-Chickpea Protein Particles Produced by Freeze Drying and Spray Drying: Physicochemical Aspects, Storage Stability, and In Vitro Digestion.

Beetroots are one of the primary sources of betalains, nitrogenous pigments with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, due to their chemical instability, betalains have limited use in food applications. This work investigated whether betalains encapsulated in chickpea protein could be stabilized and delivered in a shelf-stable format.

The Links Between Community-Based Financial Inclusion and Household Food Availability: Evidence from Mozambique.

Financial inclusion can boost wealth, health, and quality of life. However, few studies have examined how women's participation in community-based financial inclusion opportunities, such as village saving and loan groups (VSLGs), relates to household food security. Using program data from central Mozambique, this study examined whether low-income women's participation in VSLGs directly increases household food availability, as well as indirectly through increased asset ownership.

Exploring the impact of insurance switching on the cost-effectiveness of population genetic screening for familial hypercholesterolemia to US payers.

Background: Widespread familial hypercholesterolemia screening requires a large upfront economic investment, but the health benefits and cost savings of cardiovascular disease prevention directed by screening occur over many years.

Objective: We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of population genetic screening for familial hypercholesterolemia compared to cascade testing to US payers while accounting for patient insurance switching between commercial and Medicare insurance.

Methods: We developed a hybrid decision-tree Markov model to assess genetic screening in 20-year-old adults over a lifetime horizon in which cohort members transitioned between commercial payers representing three commercial plans and Medicare.

Evaluating the Laboratory Performance of Pellet-Fueled Semigasifier Cookstoves.

This study examines three representative semigasifier cookstove models each burning four types of pelletized-biomass fuel (hardwood, peanut hull, rice husk, and wheat straw) using the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 19867-1:2018 protocol. ISO tier ratings for fine particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions ranged 1-4 and 2-5 (where 5 = cleanest), respectively, suggesting that pellet-fueled cookstoves may provide substantial emissions reductions, dependent upon stove/fuel matching and operation, over other biomass-fueled cooking alternatives. PM emission factors based on useful energy delivered (EF) varied by up to 25-fold, and organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC) EF values respectively varied by >200- and ∼100-fold, reflecting complex variability in PM composition.

Mechanical thrombectomy in elderly stroke patients with low ASPECTS: insights from STAR.

Background: The elderly population (≥80 years) were underrepresented in recent trials of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for anterior circulation large vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke (LVO-AIS) with low Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) (≤5).

Methods: This study analyzed data from a prospectively maintained database of 37 thrombectomy centers. The primary cohort of the study comprised patients with LVO-AIS aged ≥80 who underwent EVT with ASPECTS≤5 from 2013 to 2023.

A proposed screening strategy for evaluating the genotoxicity potential of botanicals and botanical extracts.

Botanicals have long been used to promote health and treat diseases, but the safety of many currently marketed botanicals has not been adequately evaluated. Given the chemical complexity of botanicals, which often contain numerous unknown constituents, and their widespread use, comprehensive toxicity assessments are needed. The Botanical Safety Consortium was established to address this challenge.

A quasi-experimental study of general practices' referral to mammography in the post-trials treatment era.

Background: Improvements in breast cancer therapy since the randomized controlled trials of mammography screening might have reduced the screening benefit. Most observational studies of mammography effectiveness would be confounded by these improvements and other factors. Using a design resistant to this confounding, we evaluated whether mammography in asymptomatic women reduces breast cancer mortality during the treatment era succeeding the trials.

Industrial air emissions and breast cancer incidence in a United States-wide prospective cohort.

Background: We evaluated air emissions of industrial compounds, many of which have carcinogenic or endocrine disrupting properties, in relation to breast cancer incidence.

Methods: Using the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Toxics Release Inventory, we quantified air emissions of 28 compounds near Sister Study participants' residences during the 10 years leading up to study enrollment (2003-2006; n=46,150). We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations of residential emission levels of single pollutants with incident breast cancer.

Estimating prevalence of opioid misuse in North Carolina counties from 2016-2021: An integrated abundance model approach.

Background: The overdose epidemic remains largely driven by opioids, but county-level prevalence of opioid misuse is unknown. Without this information, public health and policy responses are limited by a lack of knowledge on the scope of the problem.

Methods: Using an integrated abundance model, we estimate annual county-level prevalence of opioid misuse for counties in North Carolina from 2016 to 2021.

Associations between weather extremes and faecal contamination along pathogen transmission pathways in rural Bangladeshi households: a prospective observational study.

Background: Weather extremes are predicted to influence pathogen exposure but their effects on specific faecal-oral transmission pathways are not well investigated. We evaluated associations between extreme rain and temperature during different antecedent periods (0-14 days) and Escherichia coli along eight faecal-oral pathways in rural Bangladeshi households.

Methods: We used data from the WASH Benefits Bangladesh cluster-randomised controlled trial (NCT01590095).

A novel approach to assess coordination in people with transtibial amputations using continuous and event relative phase.

Continuous relative phase (CRP) quantifies coordination for cyclic motions as the difference in the phase portrait locations between its constituent coordinates and has been widely used in populations with neuromuscular impairments. Continuous analyses, like statistical parameter mapping (SPM), provide greater resolution than traditional techniques that first compress CRP across a section of the cycle to a single point, like mean average relative phase (MARP). However, both analyses neglect the effect of intermediate event timing (e.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of family-based interventions for early psychosis: Carer and patient outcomes.

Background: Previous reviews have indicated that family interventions in early psychosis are beneficial for patients and family caregivers. Given recent developments in research and service provision an updated review is warranted.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of family intervention trials in the first 5 years after psychosis onset.