The Complexity and Significance of Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) Signaling for FGF-Targeted Cancer Therapies.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) have diverse functions in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation in development, tissue maintenance, wound repair, and angiogenesis. The goal of this review paper is to (i) deliberate on the role of FGFs and FGF receptors (FGFRs) in different cancers, (ii) present advances in FGF-targeted cancer therapies, and (iii) explore cell signaling mechanisms that explain how FGF expression becomes dysregulated during cancer development. FGF is often mutated and overexpressed in cancer and the different FGF and FGFR isoforms have unique expression patterns and distinct roles in different cancers.

The Significance of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 in Cancers.

The goal of this paper is to discuss the role of ALDH isozymes in different cancers, review advances in ALDH1-targeting cancer therapies, and explore a mechanism that explains how ALDH expression becomes elevated during cancer development. ALDH is often overexpressed in cancer, and each isoform has a unique expression pattern and a distinct role in different cancers. The abnormal expression of ALDHs in different cancer types (breast, colorectal, lung, gastric, cervical, melanoma, prostate, and renal) is presented and correlated with patient prognosis.

Gender gap in surgical societies awards.

Introduction: Despite remarkable progress, gender inequality in medicine remains a significant issue. This disparity extends beyond clinical practices and educational programs; it is also evident in the recognition and awards received by surgeons. Underrepresentation of women in Surgical Society awards is a multi-layered issue that needs a holistic approach since these awards are used to hire, promote, and advance surgeons.

Modulation of Monocyte Effector Functions and Gene Expression by Human Cytomegalovirus Infection.

Monocytes are crucial players in innate immunity. The human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has significant impacts on monocyte effector functions and gene expression. CMV, a β-herpesvirus, disrupts key monocyte roles, including phagocytosis, antigen presentation, cytokine production, and migration, impairing their ability to combat pathogens and activate adaptive immune responses.

Evaluating the Impact of a Novel Program to Address Acute Food Insecurity Among Cancer Patients.

Introduction: Acute food insecurity (FI) significantly impacts cancer patients' health, exacerbating physical and psychological burdens. While current interventions address chronic FI, acute cases remain undermanaged. Legacy of Hope, a Philadelphia-based non-profit, addresses this gap through its Emergency Patient Support Network (EPSN), offering free bi-weekly groceries to patients facing acute FI.

Efficacy of Dietary Interventions for Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that alters the quality of life of patients. A variety of dietary interventions have been introduced to address this debilitating condition. The low-FODMAP diet (LFD), gluten-free diet (GFD), and Mediterranean diet are examples showing efficacy.

The Role of microRNA-155 as a Biomarker in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma.

Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Despite the use of newer agents, such as polatuzumab vedotin, more than one-third of patients have ultimately relapsed or experienced refractory disease. MiRNAs are single-stranded, ~22-nucleotide-long RNAs that interact with their target RNA.

Artificial Intelligence-Based Methodologies for Early Diagnostic Precision and Personalized Therapeutic Strategies in Neuro-Ophthalmic and Neurodegenerative Pathologies.

Advancements in neuroimaging, particularly diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques and molecular imaging with positron emission tomography (PET), have significantly enhanced the early detection of biomarkers in neurodegenerative and neuro-ophthalmic disorders. These include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody disease. This review highlights the transformative role of advanced diffusion MRI techniques-Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging and Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging-in identifying subtle microstructural changes in the brain and visual pathways that precede clinical symptoms.

A Vulnerable Subtype of Dopaminergic Neurons Drives Early Motor Deficits in Parkinson's Disease.

In Parkinson's disease, dopaminergic neurons (DANs) in the midbrain gradually degenerate, with ventral substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) DANs exhibiting greater vulnerability. However, it remains unclear whether specific molecular subtypes of ventral SNc DANs are more susceptible to degeneration in PD, and if they contribute to the early motor symptoms associated with the disease. We identified a subtype of + DANs, +, which are selectively lost earlier than other DANs, and with a time course that aligns with the development of motor symptoms in MitoPark mice.

Neurotheology: Practical Applications with Regard to Integrative Psychiatry.

Purpose Of Review: Neurotheology is a nascent field of research and scholarship that seeks to understand the relationship between the brain and religious and spiritual phenomena. In the context of integrative psychiatry, neurotheology offers an intriguing intermediary between understanding how spirituality and religion affect brain function, and how this might be related to changes in mental health.

Recent Findings: A number of research studies over the years have observed that religious and spiritual beliefs, practices, and experiences can have a profound impact on a person's psyche.

Food for thought: a qualitative assessment of medical trainee and faculty perceptions of nutrition education.

Background: The American Society of Clinical Nutrition recommends 37 to 44 h of undergraduate medical nutrition education. The Total Health Curriculum at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) contains 14 h of objective-based nutritional instruction. This study aimed to examine the perceptions of key stakeholders regarding the role of nutrition in medicine and to identify barriers, opportunities for improvement, and roles/responsibilities for innovative implementation of nutrition education.

Surgical delay-associated mortality risk varies by subtype in loco-regional breast cancer patients in SEER-Medicare.

Substantial evidence supports that delay of surgery after breast cancer diagnosis is associated with increased mortality risk, leading to the introduction of a new Commission on Cancer quality measure for receipt of surgery within 60 days of diagnosis for non-neoadjuvant patients. Breast cancer subtype is a critical prognostic factor and determines treatment options; however, it remains unknown whether surgical delay-associated breast cancer-specific mortality (BCSM) risk differs by subtype. This retrospective cohort study aimed to assess whether the impact of delayed surgery on survival varies by subtype (hormone [HR] + /HER2 -, HR -/HER2 -, and HER2 +) in patients with loco-regional breast cancer who received surgery as their first treatment between 2010 and 2017 using the SEER-Medicare database.

Potential of right ventricular function assessment with echocardiography in transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) function assessment by echocardiography can be challenging due to its complex morphology. Also, increasing use of sedation rather than general anesthesia for transfemoral approach transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) reduces the need for intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Recent clinical studies have demonstrated the importance of 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiography and a longitudinal strain for RV function assessment.

Exercise and cardiac rehabilitation after LVAD implantation.

Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) have improved mortality and quality of life for patients with end-stage heart failure by providing an alternative to cardiac transplant or as a bridge to transplantation. The improvement in functional capacity however is minimal to modest depending on the right ventricular function, optimal hemodynamics on LVAD therapy, and comorbidities. There is improvement in submaximal exercise capacity but improvement in peak aerobic capacity is limited.

The Impact of Postprocedural Anticoagulant Use in Patients Undergoing Woven EndoBridge: A Multicenter Propensity Score-Matched Study.

The Woven EndoBridge (WEB) device has become a prominent treatment for wide-neck bifurcation intracranial aneurysms since its FDA approval in 2018. However, the impact of anticoagulant therapy on its efficacy and patient outcomes remains underexplored. This study aims to evaluate the effects of postoperative anticoagulant use on aneurysm occlusion, retreatment rates, and functional outcomes following WEB device implantation.

Maternal Morbidity Associated with Early Preterm Birth in Low-Risk Singleton Pregnancies.

While neonatal morbidities associated with early preterm birth are known, the risks of maternal morbidities in these births remain unclear. Thus, we set out to assess the risk of maternal morbidities associated with early preterm births. Retrospective cohort study utilizing the United States (US) Natality Live Birth database from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016-2021).

Cocaine-Induced DNA-Dependent Protein Kinase Relieves RNAP II Pausing by Promoting TRIM28 Phosphorylation and RNAP II Hyperphosphorylation to Enhance HIV Transcription.

Drug abuse continues to pose a significant challenge in HIV control efforts. In our investigation, we discovered that cocaine not only upregulates the expression of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) but also augments DNA-PK activation by enhancing its phosphorylation at S2056. Moreover, DNA-PK phosphorylation triggers the higher localization of the DNA-PK into the nucleus.

Peritraumatic C-reactive protein levels predict pain outcomes following traumatic stress exposure in a sex-dependent manner.

Background: Chronic pain following traumatic stress exposure (TSE) is common. Increasing evidence suggests inflammatory/immune mechanisms are induced by TSE, play a key role in the recovery process versus development of post-TSE chronic pain, and are sex specific. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with chronic pain after TSE in a sex-specific manner.

The C-terminal PHDVC5HCH tandem domain of NSD2 is a combinatorial reader of unmodified H3K4 and tri-methylated H3K27 that regulates transcription of cell adhesion genes in multiple myeloma.

Histone methyltransferase NSD2 (MMSET) overexpression in multiple myeloma (MM) patients plays an important role in the development of this disease subtype. Through the expansion of transcriptional activating H3K36me2 and the suppression of repressive H3K27me3 marks, NSD2 activates an aberrant set of genes that contribute to myeloma growth, adhesive and invasive activities. NSD2 transcriptional activity also depends on its non-catalytic domains, which facilitate its recruitment to chromatin through histone binding.

Veterans Affairs Military Toxic Exposure Research Conference: Veteran-centric Approach and Community of Practice.

The U.S. Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act expands benefits and services to U.

Robotic versus manual diagnostic and stenting procedures: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Endovascular procedures are associated with improved outcomes and patient satisfaction compared to open surgery in selected cases. However, this is at the cost of increased radiation exposure. Robotic procedures are thought to minimize radiation exposure and may confer procedural efficacy due to the lack of operator fatigue.

A TeamSTEPPS-Based Simulation Delivered Virtually Provides Teamwork and Communication Outcomes Comparable to In-Person Instruction.

Introduction: Interprofessional collaborative practice is linked to decreased medical errors. Previously, we published that large-scale in-person simulations can teach interprofessional teamwork skills. To prove that virtual instruction in these skills produces similar learning outcomes, we compared virtual and in-person learning outcomes from delivery of a workshop based on TeamSTEPPS.