Strength of Genetic Associations with Thyrotropin Values Differs Between Populations with Similarity to African and European Reference Populations.

Epidemiological data suggest the population distribution of thyrotropin (TSH) values is shifted toward lower values in self-identified Black non-Hispanic individuals compared with self-identified White non-Hispanic individuals. It is unknown whether genetic differences between individuals with genetic similarities to African reference populations (GSA) and those with similarities to European reference populations (GSE) contribute to these observed differences. We aimed to compare genome-wide associations with TSH and putative causal TSH-associated variants between GSA and GSE groups.

Exploring the role of T cells in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases: Emerging therapeutic insights from the T Cells in the Brain symposium.

This proceedings article summarizes the inaugural "T Cells in the Brain" symposium held at Columbia University. Experts gathered to explore the role of T cells in neurodegenerative diseases. Key topics included characterization of antigen-specific immune responses, T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire, microbial etiology in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and microglia-T cell crosstalk, with a focus on how T cells affect neuroinflammation and AD biomarkers like amyloid beta and tau.

Investigation of Genomic and Transcriptomic Risk Factors of Clopidogrel Response in African Americans.

Clopidogrel, an anti-platelet drug, is used to prevent thrombosis after percutaneous coronary intervention. Clopidogrel resistance results in recurring ischemic events, with African Americans (AA) suffering disproportionately. The aim of this study was to discover novel biomarkers of clopidogrel resistance in African Americans using genome and transcriptome data.

Functional independence trajectories over 5 years in older veterans with traumatic brain injury: A model systems study.

Background: Research on older adults who sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) has predominantly been on civilian, nonveteran populations. Military populations experience higher rates of TBI and often experience the additive effects of TBI and other comorbid disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder and/or substance use that may increase disability over time.

Objective: To investigate predictors of functional independence trajectories over the 5 years after TBI in veterans 55 years or older at injury.

Genetic Services in Appalachia Conference Series.

This study examined the data generated as part of a seven-session webinar series that focused on genetics care provision in the medically underserved, rural Appalachian region and examined how these services have adapted to challenging practice environments. Barriers and facilitators to care in our region were considered. Data included a baseline survey of registrants, transcripts of sessions, and feedback about sessions.

Beyond Food Assistance: A Scoping Review Examining Associations of Nonfood Social Safety Net Programs in the United States With Food Insecurity and Nutrition Outcomes.

Objective: To conduct a scoping review to summarize the state of the evidence on associations between participation in nonfood social safety net programs (eg, income assistance, housing assistance) in the United States and food- and nutrition insecurity-related outcomes.

Background: Food and nutrition insecurity are persistent public health challenges in the United States that increase chronic disease risk and exacerbate health disparities. Several food assistance programs enhance food and nutrition security.

Evaluating the Impact of a Safe Exercise Training on Clinician Knowledge and Self-Efficacy in Managing Dysfunctional Exercise in an Eating Disorder Treatment Setting.

Introduction: Dysfunctional exercise (DEX) is common among individuals with an eating disorder (ED) and poses significant challenges to treatment and recovery. While safe and nutritionally supported physical activity can enhance treatment outcomes without hindering weight restoration, clinicians often hesitate to address DEX with their patients. This mixed-method study aimed to evaluate the impact of a Safe Exercise at Every Stage (SEES) informed training on clinician knowledge and self-efficacy in managing DEX during ED treatment.

A neuropathology case report of a woman with Down syndrome who remained cognitively stable: Implications for resilience to neuropathology.

Introduction: Aging adults with Down syndrome (DS) accumulate Alzheimer's disease (AD) neuropathology, including amyloid beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, by age 40.

Methods: We present findings from an individual with DS who remained cognitively stable despite AD neuropathology. Clinical assessments, fluid biomarkers, neuroimaging, and neuropathological examinations were conducted to characterize her condition.

Medication Use Quality and Safety in Older Adults: 2023 Update.

Improving the quality of medication use and medication safety are important priorities for healthcare providers who care for older adults. The objective of this article was to identify four exemplary articles with this focus in 2023. We selected high-quality studies that advanced this field of research.

A multi-cohort study of longitudinal and cross-sectional Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in cognitively unimpaired older adults.

Introduction: The generalizability of neuroimaging and cognitive biomarkers in their sensitivity to detect preclinical Alzheimer's disease (AD) and power to predict progression in large, multisite cohorts remains unclear.

Method: Longitudinal demographics, T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cognitive scores of 3036 cognitively unimpaired (CU) older adults (amyloid beta [Aβ]-negative/positive [A-/A+]: 1270/1558) were included. Cross-sectional and longitudinal cognition and medial temporal lobe (MTL) structural measures were extracted.

Four targets: an enhanced framework for guiding causal inference from observational data.

Observational studies play an increasingly important role in estimating causal effects of a treatment or an exposure, especially with the growing availability of routinely collected real-world data. To facilitate drawing causal inference from observational data, we introduce a conceptual framework centered around "four targets"-target estimand, target population, target trial, and target validity. We illustrate the utility of our proposed "four targets" framework with the example of buprenorphine dosing for treating opioid use disorder, explaining the rationale and process for employing the framework to guide causal thinking from observational data.

Alcohol use and HIV suppression after completion of financial incentives for alcohol abstinence and isoniazid adherence: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: In a recent randomized trial, six months of financial incentives contingent for recent alcohol abstinence led to lower levels of hazardous drinking, while incentives for recent isoniazid (INH) ingestion had no impact on INH adherence, during TB preventive therapy among persons with HIV (PWH). Whether the short-term incentives influence long-term alcohol use and HIV viral suppression post-intervention is unknown.

Methods: We analyzed twelve-month HIV viral suppression and alcohol use in the Drinkers' Intervention to Prevent Tuberculosis study, a randomized controlled trial among PWH with latent TB and unhealthy alcohol use in south-western Uganda.

A chemically modified DNAzyme-based electrochemical sensor for binary and highly sensitive detection of reactive oxygen species.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a critical role in regulating various physiological processes. To gain a comprehensive understanding of their distinct functions in different physiological events, it is imperative to detect binary ROS simultaneously. However, the development of the sensing method capable of binary ROS detection remains a significant challenge.

Measuring salivary cortisol in biobehavioral research: A systematic review and methodological considerations.

The assessment of salivary cortisol in community settings has gained popularity in biobehavioral research due to its noninvasive sampling, ease of handling and storage, and suitability for repeated sampling in short intervals. Ensuring consistent methodological practices for salivary cortisol is essential. This systematic review critically examines salivary cortisol collection procedures, data cleaning, and analysis to better understand its role in biobehavioral research within community populations.

Cardiorespiratory-gated cardiac proton radiotherapy using a novel ultrasound guidance system.

Cardiac stereotactic body radiotherapy is a promising noninvasive treatment for patients with refractory ventricular tachycardia. With the aim to prove feasibility of a novel image guided radiotherapy and heart motion gating device, cardiac proton radiotherapy was performed using a porcine model. Using a novel adaptation of γ - H2AX tissue staining techniques, we have been able to localize a radiation beam in large animal tissue to assess targeting accuracy within a defined field.

Primordial black holes and their gravitational-wave signatures.

In the recent years, primordial black holes (PBHs) have emerged as one of the most interesting and hotly debated topics in cosmology. Among other possibilities, PBHs could explain both some of the signals from binary black hole mergers observed in gravitational-wave detectors and an important component of the dark matter in the Universe. Significant progress has been achieved both on the theory side and from the point of view of observations, including new models and more accurate calculations of PBH formation, evolution, clustering, merger rates, as well as new astrophysical and cosmological probes.

The long-run effect of historical redlining practices on social vulnerability in U.S. cities.

Historical redlining practices in the United States date back to the 1930s and have continued to impact cities socially, environmentally, and economically since then. This study explores current social vulnerability inequity among former HOLC (Home Owners' Loan Corporation) neighborhoods with four color-coded grades in 196 U.S.

Neural Correlates of Irritability and Potential Moderating Effects of Inhibitory Control.

Background: Irritability affects up to 20% of youth and is a primary reason for referral to pediatric mental health clinics. Irritability is thought to be associated with disruptions in processing of reward, threat, and cognitive control; however, empirical study of these associations at both the behavioral and neural level have yielded equivocal findings that may be driven by small sample sizes and differences in study design. Associations between irritability and brain connectivity between cognitive control and reward- or threat-processing circuits remain understudied.

Gene Editing: Developments, Ethical Considerations, and Future Directions.

An examination of recent developments related to CRISPR technology, ethical considerations of the application of such technologies, and future directions for germline editing.

Multidisciplinary Management of Complex Trauma and Burn Injuries: A Case Series of Challenging Clinical Scenarios.

Trauma and burn injuries often present with multiple complications, necessitating a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach to management. This case series reviews the outcomes and challenges of treating high-risk trauma and burn patients, with a focus on complex polytrauma, alcohol withdrawal, high-voltage electrical injuries, and lightning strikes. Each case underscores the importance of early intervention, multidisciplinary team involvement, and individualized treatment protocols for improving patient outcomes in critically injured burn victims.

Clinical, immunophenotypic, and genomic findings of acute myeloid leukemia with RAM immunophenotype: Comparison with other CD56-positive acute leukemias.

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with RAM immunophenotype is a newly recognized high-risk AML immunophenotypic subcategory characterized by blasts with bright expression of CD56 and weak to absent expression of CD45, HLA-DR, and CD38, as first described by the Children's Oncology Group (COG). The relationship between AML-RAM and other CD56-positive acute leukemias is unclear. The goal of this study is to characterize the clinicopathological characteristics of AML with RAM phenotype and compare them with other CD56 co-expressing acute leukemias.

Quantitative assessment of the generalizability of a brain tumor Raman spectroscopy machine learning model to various tumor types including astrocytoma and oligodendroglioma.

Significance: Maximal safe resection of brain tumors can be performed by neurosurgeons through the use of accurate and practical guidance tools that provide real-time information during surgery. Current established adjuvant intraoperative technologies include neuronavigation guidance, intraoperative imaging (MRI and ultrasound), and 5-ALA for fluorescence-guided surgery.

Aim: We have developed intraoperative Raman spectroscopy as a real-time decision support system for neurosurgical guidance in brain tumors.