Radon Exposure and Gestational Diabetes.

Importance: Understanding environmental risk factors for gestational diabetes (GD) is crucial for developing preventive strategies and improving pregnancy outcomes.

Objective: To examine the association of county-level radon exposure with GD risk in pregnant individuals.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This multicenter, population-based cohort study used data from the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study: Monitoring Mothers-to-Be (nuMoM2b) cohort, which recruited nulliparous pregnant participants from 8 US clinical centers between October 2010 and September 2013.

Recommendations from Imaging, Oncology, and Radiology Organizations to Guide Management in Prostate Cancer: Summary of Current Recommendations.

Prostate cancer is the second most common malignancy among male individuals in the United States and requires careful imaging approaches because of its varied presentations. This review examines prostate cancer imaging guidelines from leading organizations, including the American College of Radiology, American Urological Association, European Association of Urology, American Society of Clinical Oncology, and National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and serves as a reference highlighting commonalities and divergences in current imaging recommendations across prostate cancer states. We outline these organizations and their methods, focusing on their approaches to panel expertise, guideline development, evidence grading, and revision schedules.

Comparative Effectiveness of Outpatient COVID-19 Therapies in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients.

Background: Multiple outpatient therapies have been developed for COVID-19 in high-risk individuals, but solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients were not well represented in controlled clinical trials. To date, few comparative studies have evaluated outcomes between outpatient therapies in this population.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using de-identified administrative claims data from OptumLabs Data Warehouse.

Genomic re-sequencing reveals mutational divergence across genetically engineered strains of model archaea.

Unlabelled: Archaeal molecular biology has been a topic of intense research in recent decades as their role in global ecosystems, nutrient cycles, and eukaryotic evolution comes to light. The hypersaline-adapted archaeal species and serve as important model organisms for understanding archaeal genomics, genetics, and biochemistry, in part because efficient tools enable genetic manipulation. As a result, the number of strains in circulation among the haloarchaeal research community has increased in recent decades.

Audio-Based Care for Managing Chronic Conditions in Adults: A Systematic Review.

Background: There is a lack of consensus on the effectiveness of audio-based care to manage chronic conditions. This knowledge gap has implications for health policy decisions and for health equity, as underserved populations are more likely to access care by telephone.

Objectives: We compared the effectiveness of audio-based care to usual care for managing chronic conditions (except diabetes).

Audio-Based Care for Managing Diabetes in Adults: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: We compared the effectiveness of audio-based care, as a replacement or a supplement to usual care, for managing diabetes.

Background: Diabetes is a chronic condition afflicting many in the United States. The impact of audio-based care on the health of individuals with diabetes is unclear, particularly for those at risk for disparities-many of whom may only be able to access telehealth services through telephone.

Audio-Based Care for Managing Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders in Adults: A Systematic Review.

Background: Telehealth services can increase access to care by reducing barriers. Telephone-administered care, in particular, requires few resources and may be preferred by communities in areas that are systemically underserved. Understanding the effectiveness of audio-based care is important to combat the current mental health crisis and inform discussions related to reimbursement privileges.

Medicaid Policy and Hepatitis C Treatment Among Rural People Who Use Drugs.

Background: Restrictive Medicaid policies regarding hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment may exacerbate rural health care disparities for people who use drugs (PWUD). We assessed associations between Medicaid restrictions and HCV treatment among rural PWUD.

Methods: We compiled state-specific Medicaid treatment policies across 8 US rural sites in 10 states and merged these with participant survey data.

Exploring Inclusion by Creating Inclusion: A World Café Among Nurse Scientists.

Background: The concept of inclusion within diversity, equity, and inclusion has broad meanings and implications and has not been explored in nursing through a World Café.

Purpose: To describe the process and experiences of 9 nurse scientists who hosted a World Café focused on inclusion, to share participants' insights, and to offer considerations to advance inclusion in nursing.

Approach: We hosted and encouraged active participation in a World Café that focused on 7 inclusion topics in nursing during the 2024 Midwestern Nursing Research Society Annual Research Conference.

Preventing Sexual Assault in Intellectual Disability.

Prevention of sexual assault in intellectual disability (ID) begins with defining the problem. There are identified risk factors and barriers faced by adults with ID who experience sexual assault. Research shows that individuals with ID are victimized by sexual assault at rates substantially higher than the general population.

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of the Taking Care of Us Intervention for Couples Living With Heart Failure.

Background And Objectives: Despite the significant impact of heart failure on both members of the care dyad, few interventions focus on optimizing the health of the dyad. The current study examined the feasibility and acceptability of the novel Taking Care of Us (TCU) program with mid-late-life couples living with heart failure and explored preliminary efficacy.

Research Design And Methods: This NIH Stage I study used a 2-arm randomized controlled trial with pretest-post-test design and an additional 5-month follow-up to compare TCU with an educational counseling attention-control condition.

3D-Printable Elastomers for Real-Time Autonomous Self-Healing in Soft Devices.

Photocurable self-healing elastomers are promising candidates for producing complex soft devices that can mend damage. However, the practicality of these materials is limited by reliance on external stimuli, custom synthesis, manual realignment, and multihour healing cycles. This paper introduces a tough 3D-printable hybrid acrylate/thiol-ene elastomer (prepared with commercially available precursors) that exhibits nearly instantaneous damage repair in the absence of external stimuli.

Sternal Reconstruction for Refractory Pectus Excavatum From Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy.

A 44-year-old man with a history of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy and pectus excavatum presented with multiyear history of progressive, severe respiratory dysfunction, pain, recurrent respiratory infection, and chest wall deformity. With bioprosthetic engineers, the surgical team customized a 3-dimensional printed model of a sternal implant interacting with the patient's anatomy. After approval from the Food and Drug Administration, the customized sternal plates were created and implanted in a sternal reconstruction operation.

The Role of Environmental Exposures on Survival After Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Resection.

Background: Socioeconomic status and pollution exposure have been described as risk factors for poor survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the relationship between these factors is complex and inadequately studied. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between environmental and social factors and their impact on survival after NSCLC resection.

Human Applications of the Anstadt Cup: Implications for Non-Blood-Contacting Biventricular Support.

Background: Direct mechanical ventricular actuation (DMVA) with the Anstadt cup is effective for non-blood-contacting biventricular support. Pneumatic regulation of a silicone device augments ventricular pump function. Vacuum attachment facilitates diastolic augmentation critical for biventricular support.

Trial of Oxygen Delivery on Cardiopulmonary Bypass and Major Clinical Outcomes.

Background: Low oxygen delivery (DO2) on cardiopulmonary bypass has been associated with acute kidney injury. We sought to determine the association of intraoperative DO2, postoperative length of stay, and major postoperative events.

Methods: DO2 values were calculated in 845 patients after initiation, and every 30 minutes on bypass.

Bypass Grafting for Myocardial Infarction From Endocarditis Embolus to the Left Anterior Descending.

A 67-year-old man with aortic valve endocarditis presented with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and was found to have embolic vegetation occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. This patient was successfully treated with early aortic valve replacement, extraction of a vegetation embolus, and coronary artery bypass grafting over the site of extraction.

A Curious Case of Scimitar Syndrome That Defies Embryology.

Scimitar syndrome is a rare condition described by unique anatomic features that consist mainly of an abnormal connection of the right pulmonary veins to the inferior vena cava and right atrial junction, as well as an anomalous systemic arterial supply to the right lung. We present the case of a 60-year-old man with an atypical variant of scimitar syndrome that was embryologically perplexing and anatomically challenging to correct. We highlight key surgical and procedural considerations for a patient with scimitar syndrome presenting with this complex surgical anatomy.

Holiday Weight Change in a US College Student Sample: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

Objective: The November through January holiday period is often thought to produce weight gain, coined "holiday weight gain." While this trend has been documented among early to midlife adults, it is less certain whether college students experience similar levels of weight gain during this period, as they undergo lifestyle changes (e.g.

An Elusive Diagnosis of Castleman Disease.

We present the case of a 41-year-old man with an anterior mediastinal mass and constellation of clinical symptoms, including dyspnea, pleural effusions, pericardial effusions, renal insufficiency, and pancytopenia. After inconclusive results on several laboratory tests and a nondiagnostic surgical biopsy specimen, a specimen from a second surgical biopsy identified the patient's condition as Castleman disease associated with TAFRO (thrombocytopenia, anasarca, fevers, reticulin myelofibrosis, organomegaly) syndrome. This case highlights the importance of obtaining large tissue biopsy samples, interval follow-up, and acknowledging cognitive biases.

Efficiency at Heart: Navigating the Hybrid Single-Ventricle Pathway.

Background: Single-ventricle cardiac defects (SVCDs) are among of the most health care resource-intensive congenital diseases. Although SVCDs are traditionally palliated using the Norwood pathway, in the last 2 decades select programs have used the hybrid strategy, which redistributes the operative and interstage risks. This study sought to characterize resource use for a cohort of patients with hybrid-palliated SVCD.

State of Lung Cancer in Egypt: Moving Towards Improved Guidelines for Prevention, Screening, Treatment, and Clinical Care Programs.

Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally and presents significant challenges in Egypt. In 2023, the first annual meeting of the Thoracic Oncology Multidisciplinary Faculty, organized by the Egyptian Cancer Research Network and the Egyptian Society of Respiratory Neoplasms, was held in Cairo, Egypt. The meeting aimed to address gaps in lung cancer management across Egypt and the broader Middle East and North Africa region.