Traction Sural Neuropathy Following Nonoperative Management of Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture: A Case Report.

Achilles tendon ruptures are prevalent among physically active adults and can lead to sural nerve injuries (SNIs) due to the anatomical proximity of the sural nerve to the Achilles tendon. While SNIs are well-recognized in surgical contexts, their occurrence following nonoperative treatments, which are often preferred for their lower risk of surgical complications, remains less documented and poorly understood. This report describes a case of a 30-year-old active male who developed chronic traction sural neuropathy after opting for nonoperative treatment of an acute complete Achilles tendon rupture.

Sex Differences in Basal Cortisol Levels Across Body Fluid Compartments in a Cross-sectional Study of Healthy Adults.

Context: Many studies have moved toward saliva and peripheral blood sampling for studying cortisol, even in relation to disorders of the brain. However, the degree to which peripheral cortisol reflects central cortisol levels has yet to be comprehensively described. Data describing the effect that biological characteristics such as age and sex have on cortisol levels across compartments is also limited.

iPSC-Derived Epithelial, Mesenchymal, Endothelial, and Immune Cell Co-Culture to Model Airway Barrier Integrity in Lung Health and Disease.

Human lung tissue is composed of an interconnected network of epithelium, mesenchyme, endothelium, and immune cells from the upper airway of the nasopharynx to the smallest alveolar sac. Interactions between these cells are crucial in lung development and disease, acting as a barrier against harmful chemicals and pathogens. Current in vitro co-culture models utilize immortalized cell lines with different biological backgrounds, which may not accurately represent the cellular milieu or interactions of the lung.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among caregivers of children under five years old in a pediatric emergency department.

Objective: Children under five years old have a high rate of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection, yet rates of vaccination are relatively low. Our qualitative study investigated reasons why caregivers of children ages six months to four years old may be hesitant to vaccinate their children against COVID-19.

Study Design: Qualitative study.

Spatial modeling algorithms for reactions and transport in biological cells.

Biological cells rely on precise spatiotemporal coordination of biochemical reactions to control their functions. Such cell signaling networks have been a common focus for mathematical models, but they remain challenging to simulate, particularly in realistic cell geometries. Here we present Spatial Modeling Algorithms for Reactions and Transport (SMART), a software package that takes in high-level user specifications about cell signaling networks and then assembles and solves the associated mathematical systems.

Clinical burden, treatment, and disease control in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria: Real-world evidence.

Background: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is an unpredictable inflammatory skin condition with substantial clinical burden that affects 0.23-0.78% of the United States population.

Soil microbiome interventions for carbon sequestration and climate mitigation.

Mitigating climate change in soil ecosystems involves complex plant and microbial processes regulating carbon pools and flows. Here, we advocate for the use of soil microbiome interventions to help increase soil carbon stocks and curb greenhouse gas emissions from managed soils. Direct interventions include the introduction of microbial strains, consortia, phage, and soil transplants, whereas indirect interventions include managing soil conditions or additives to modulate community composition or its activities.

IP6 and PF74 affect HIV-1 Capsid Stability through Modulation of Hexamer-Hexamer Tilt Angle Preference.

The HIV-1 capsid is an irregularly shaped protein complex containing the viral genome and several proteins needed for integration into the host cell genome. Small molecules such as the drug-like compound PF74, and the anionic sugar inositolhexakisphosphate (IP6), are known to impact capsid stability, although the mechanisms through which they do so remain unknown. In this study, we employed atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to study the impact of molecules bound to hexamers at the central pore (IP6) and the FG-binding site (PF74) on the interface between capsid oligomers.

Integrative analysis of the 3D genome and epigenome in mouse embryonic tissues.

While a rich set of putative cis-regulatory sequences involved in mouse fetal development have been annotated recently on the basis of chromatin accessibility and histone modification patterns, delineating their role in developmentally regulated gene expression continues to be challenging. To fill this gap, here we mapped chromatin contacts between gene promoters and distal sequences across the genome in seven mouse fetal tissues and across six developmental stages of the forebrain. We identified 248,620 long-range chromatin interactions centered at 14,138 protein-coding genes and characterized their tissue-to-tissue variations and developmental dynamics.

PDA Stenting for Ductal-Dependent Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease: History and View from 10,000 Feet.

This article provides a historical review and a current perspective on the procedures used to palliate cyanosis in ductal-dependent infants. Eighty years ago, Helen Taussig, Alfred Blalock, and Vivien Thomas developed the first effective treatment. The Blalock-Taussig-Thomas (BTT) shunt is the historical predecessor of both the contemporary-modified BTT shunt and interventional stenting of the Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA).

Pathobiont-driven antibody sialylation through IL-10 undermines vaccination.

The pathobiont Staphylococcus aureus (Sa) induces nonprotective antibody imprints that underlie ineffective staphylococcal vaccination. However, the mechanism by which Sa modifies antibody activity is not clear. Herein, we demonstrate that IL-10 is the decisive factor that abrogates antibody protection in mice.

Antibody Levels from High-Throughput Variant-Specific SARS-CoV-2 Anti-Spike IgG and ACE2 Neutralization Assays Correlate with COVID Infection Risk in a Large Population.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels have been proposed as a correlate of protection (CoP) from infection. Yet, large-scale prospective studies of cost-effective scalable antibody measures as predictors of infection under real-world conditions are limited. We examined whether antibody levels measured using high-throughput variant-specific SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike immunoglobulin G (IgG) and ACE2-neutralization assays correlate with cell-based neutralizing antibody (NAb) measurements, and whether they can serve as a reasonable CoP from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Systematic review of exercise for the treatment of pediatric metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Background & Aims: Steatotic liver disease affects approximately 1 in 10 children in the U.S. and increases the risk of cirrhosis, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

The Independent and Interactive Effects of Economic Stability and Health Care Access on 10-Year Cognitive Trajectories of Black/African American and White Older Adults from the ACTIVE Study.

Objectives: Social and structural determinants of health (SSDoH) have been linked to racial disparities in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Research has established that living in an environment with greater economic stability (ES) or health care access (HCA) is associated with better baseline cognition, but the interactive effects between these distinct SSDoH on cognition over time have not been studied. Therefore, the present study examined the independent and interactive effects of ES and HCA on 10-year change in cognitive functioning within a large sample of racially diverse community-dwelling older adults.

HIV Clinical Providers' Awareness, Attitudes, and Willingness to Support Patient Outreach Efforts for HIV Cure-Directed Research in Philadelphia, United States.

Background: Ethical patient outreach is critical for engaging patients with HIV in HIV cure-directed research. We sought to examine HIV clinical providers' awareness of current HIV cure-directed research strategies investigated through the Martin Delaney Collaboratories (MDC) and providers' attitudes toward patient outreach for HIV cure-directed research and to identify opportunities for clinical provider education on MDC research strategies.

Methods: We conducted a 1-time, cross-sectional, web-based survey with 64 HIV clinical providers (physicians, physician assistants, and nurses) in Philadelphia.

Outcomes of Intranodal and Modified Intranodal Lymphangiography for Treatment of Traumatic Chylous Leaks in the Thorax and Neck.

Purpose: To report outcomes, procedure and fluoroscopy times, and adverse event rates after intranodal lymphangiography (IL) and modified IL (mIL) for treatment of traumatic chylous leaks in the thorax and neck.

Methods: Under an IRB-approved protocol, retrospective review of a quality assurance database identified all lymphangiograms for post-surgical refractory chylous leaks in the thorax and neck at a tertiary center from 2002-2022. Records were reviewed for technical and clinical outcomes, procedure and fluoroscopy times, and adverse events.

Successful Treatment of Severe, Poorly Controlled Benign Essential Blepharospasm with DaxibotulinumtoxinA.

Benign essential blepharospasm is a focal dystonia characterized by involuntary contractions of the orbicularis oculi. Botulinum toxin type A injections are often first-line treatment, but patients may experience refractory symptoms or decreased response over time. DaxibotulinumtoxinA, a novel botulinum toxin type A product, has shown promise in cervical dystonia and facial rhytids but has not been previously reported for benign essential blepharospasm treatment.

"Bupe by the Book": A study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial of library-facilitated telehealth to increase buprenorphine treatment among unstably housed individuals.

Background: Accessing opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment is difficult for individuals in unstable housing. This population often uses public libraries for computer and internet access, which could provide telehealth access to OUD treatment. Therefore, we developed a novel 12-week library-facilitated telehealth intervention study called "Bupe by the Book" (BBB), which uses library resources to facilitate the initiation and retention of OUD treatment with buprenorphine.

Study of the upper airway anatomy using magnetic resonance imaging in Indian obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea - A pilot study.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is very common in obese patients. However, why some obese patients have severe OSA while others do not is unclear. Research is limited regarding which structures contribute to upper airway narrowing, especially in Asian patients where bony restrictions is thought to be important.