Assessing fecal contamination from human and environmental sources using as an indicator in rural eastern Ethiopian households-a cross-sectional study from the EXCAM project.

Introduction: Enteric pathogens are a leading causes of diarrheal deaths in low-and middle-income countries. The Exposure Assessment of Infections in Rural Ethiopia (EXCAM) project, aims to identify potential sources of bacteria in the genus and, more generally, fecal contamination of infants during the first 1.5 years of life using as indicator.

Chronic Khat Usage as a Cause of Chronic Hypertensive Encephalopathy and Vascular Dementia: A Case Report.

Khat is a native plant of Eastern Africa that is widely utilized for its stimulant-like effects. It is known to have effects similar to those of amphetamine and has a comparable side effect profile, including tachycardia, hypertension, and insomnia. In this case report, we present a 45-year-old Somali gentleman with a history of more than eight years of chronic Khat use, presenting with progressive cognitive decline.

Perceptions of swine euthanasia among Brazilian caretakers from non-integrated swine farms.

Timely and humane euthanasia is crucial for animal welfare on swine farms, yet challenges persist in its implementation, particularly in Brazil, where the responsibility often falls to caretakers lacking training. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of swine caretakers regarding euthanasia across non-integrated farms (ranging from 1,000 to 3,500 housed sows) and different experience levels (from less than a month to 40 years working with pigs). A total of 117 people directly working with pigs participated in a survey designed to evaluate their decision-making skills, euthanasia competencies, and understanding of Brazilian guidelines for euthanasia methods.

panniculitis in a cat from northern California.

Case Summary: A 9-year-old male castrated domestic shorthair cat from northern California was evaluated for a 12-month history of dermal and subcutaneous dermatitis in the inguinal region. Histopathologic examination of a biopsy revealed severe, chronic, multifocal to coalescing pyogranulomatous dermatitis and panniculitis, accompanied by ulceration and central necrosis. Aerobic bacterial culture of lesions yielded mycobacterial growth.

A socioecological taxonomy of determinants to colorectal cancer screening in black men: Insights from a mixed-methods systematic review.

Background: In the United States, African/Black American (henceforth Black) men face significantly higher mortality rates from colorectal cancer (CRC) compared to other gender, racial, and ethnic groups. Although CRC is preventable and treatable with early detection, screening rates among Black men remain low. This study aimed to synthesize existing literature on the barriers and facilitators (determinants) of CRC screening to offer guidance to primary care teams in their efforts to improve screening uptake.

Parental Perceptions of School Experiences for Children With Epilepsy.

Given the centrality of school to the lives of the more than 450 000 US children living with epilepsy, their interface with schools related to medical and educational needs is critical. This qualitative study explores parental experiences with school systems for the care and education of their children with epilepsy. Two 90-minute focus groups were empaneled with a total of 11 caregivers of children with epilepsy.

DISCOntinuation of disease-modifying therapies in MS: The DISCOMS extension trial.

Background: In the DISCOMS (DISCOntinuation of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in multiple sclerosis (MS)) randomized clinical trial, we could not demonstrate that discontinuing MS DMTs in older, stable adults was not inferior to continuing DMTs. Relapses were rare in both groups, and most new disease activity was one to two new brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions unassociated with clinical changes.

Objective/aims: Describe results of the DISCOMS extension study.

Opportunities in Bottlebrush Block Copolymers for Advanced Materials.

Bottlebrush block copolymers (BBCPs) are a unique class of materials that contain a backbone with densely grafted and chemically distinct polymeric side chains. The nonlinear architecture of BBCPs provides numerous degrees of freedom in their preparation, including control over key parameters such as grafting density, side chain length, block arrangement, and overall molecular weight. This uniquely branched structure provides BBCPs with several important distinctions from their linear counterparts, including sterically induced side chain and backbone conformations, rapid and large self-assembled nanostructures, and reduced or eliminated entanglement effects (assuming sufficient grafting density and that the molecular weight of the side chains is below their respective entanglement molecular weight).

Plasma Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Predicts Intraoperative Experience and Extent of Resection in Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of plasma matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) level in determining the extent of tumor resection (EOR) and tumor adherence in vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Academic referral center.

Association between procedure duration and adverse events in congenital cardiac catheterization.

Background: Procedure duration is an important predictor of patient outcomes in surgery. However, the relationship between procedure duration and adverse events in congenital cardiac catheterization is largely unexplored.

Methods: All cases entered into the Congenital Cardiac Catheterization Project on Outcomes from 2014 to 2017 were included.

Population genomics of premature termination codons in cavefish with substantial trait loss.

Loss-of-function alleles are a pertinent source of genetic variation with the potential to contribute to adaptation. Cave-adapted organisms exhibit striking loss of ancestral traits such as eyes and pigment, suggesting that loss-of-function alleles may play an outsized role in these systems. Here, we leverage 141 whole genome sequences to evaluate the evolutionary history and adaptive potential of single nucleotide premature termination codons (PTCs) in Mexican tetra.

Heart Rate Variability Predicts Therapy Outcome in Anxiety Disorders: The Role of Inhibitory Learning.

Exposure therapy has been shown to be useful for the treatment of anxiety disorders. However, there are individual differences in the extent to which this intervention is effective in reducing symptoms, and a substantial number of patients may experience a return of fear (ROF). The factors associated with successful therapy outcomes are an important topic of investigation as these factors might influence the nature of the interventions as well as enhance our understanding of the process associated with the disorder and its treatment.

Disparities in Patient Demographics at a Student-Run Free Clinic: Comparing Clinic Utilization to City, State, and National Trends.

Background: With 8.4% of Americans uninsured, free clinics serve as essential safety nets for underserved populations. This study compared the demographics of the patients of a student-run free to Toledo, Ohio, and national census data to evaluate health needs, barriers to care, and the characteristics of the underserved population.

Proof-of-concept for integrating multimodal digital health assessments into lifestyle interventions for older adults with dementia risk factors.

Multimodal digital health assessments overcome the limitations of patient-reported outcomes by allowing for continuous and passive monitoring but remain underutilized in older adult lifestyle interventions for brain health. Therefore, we aim to (1) report ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and ActiGraph adherence among older adults during a lifestyle intervention; and (2) use dynamic data collected via EMA and ActiGraph to examine person-specific patterns of mindfulness, steps, and sleep throughout the intervention. We analyzed EMA and ActiGraph data from a pilot study of the 8-week My Healthy Brain program (N = 10) lifestyle group for older adults (60+) with subjective cognitive decline.

A climatically significant abiotic mechanism driving carbon loss and nitrogen limitation in peat bogs.

Sphagnum-dominated bogs are climatically impactful systems that exhibit two puzzling characteristics: CO:CH ratios are greater than those predicted by electron balance models and C decomposition rates are enigmatically slow. We hypothesized that Maillard reactions partially explain both phenomena by increasing apparent CO production via eliminative decarboxylation and sequestering bioavailable nitrogen (N). We tested this hypothesis using incubations of sterilized Maillard reactants, and live and sterilized bog peat.

Hominin presence in Eurasia by at least 1.95 million years ago.

The timing of the initial dispersal of hominins into Eurasia is unclear. Current evidence indicates hominins were present at Dmanisi, Georgia by 1.8 million years ago (Ma), but other ephemeral traces of hominins across Eurasia predate Dmanisi.

A nested case-control study evaluating the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and immune-mediated inflammatory disease in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

Objective: Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) have inconsistently been implicated as risk factors for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID). We evaluated whether the association of ACE with disease differs between IMID and other chronic diseases.

Design: Nested retrospective case-control study.

Updating the kidney donor risk index: Removing donor race and hepatitis C virus status.

This study reports the results of a recalculation of the kidney donor risk index (KDRI) formula requested by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network's Minority Affairs Committee to remove donor race and hepatitis C virus (HCV) status variables. The updated KDRI model was fit on adult, deceased donor, solitary kidney, first-time transplants from 2018 through 2021. Deceased donors from 2018 through 2021 were included in a counterfactual analysis to evaluate how the kidney donor profile index (KDPI) would change if race and HCV seropositivity were excluded.

Performance of the pooled cohort equations and D:A:D risk scores among individuals with HIV in a global cardiovascular disease prevention trial: a cohort study leveraging data from REPRIEVE.

Background: Risk estimation is an essential component of cardiovascular disease prevention among people with HIV. We aimed to characterise how well atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk scores used in clinical guidelines perform among people with HIV globally.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study leveraging REPRIEVE data, we included participants aged 40-75 years, with low-to-moderate traditional cardiovascular risk, not taking statin therapy.

Test-Retest Reliability and Reliable Change Estimates for Sensorimotor Concussion Assessments in Healthy Young Adults.

Context: Sensorimotor impairments are common sequela following concussion, but recovery following a concussion is often determined through examiner scored clinical testing. There are emerging technologies that provide objective methods to determine physiological impairment after concussion, but the psychometrics of these tools are lacking and must be established for use in clinical practice.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest reliability and provide reliable change estimates in healthy young adults for outcomes from 3 emerging technologies providing objective assessments of sensorimotor function in healthy young adults.

Stroke Rehabilitation: Synopsis of the 2024 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Description: In July 2024, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and U.

Era of Generalist Conversational Artificial Intelligence to Support Public Health Communications.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into health communication systems has introduced a transformative approach to public health management, particularly during public health emergencies, capable of reaching billions through familiar digital channels. This paper explores the utility and implications of generalist conversational artificial intelligence (CAI) advanced AI systems trained on extensive datasets to handle a wide range of conversational tasks across various domains with human-like responsiveness. The specific focus is on the application of generalist CAI within messaging services, emphasizing its potential to enhance public health communication.

Modified transcatheter aortic valve replacement: the pros and cons of removing the guidewire immediately after valve deployment.

The authors propose a modified transcatheter aortic valve replacement technique wherein the removal of the guidewire and delivery catheter immediately after the valve implantation helps to not only shorten the procedure but also decrease complications induced by the guidewire and delivery catheter.