Oral switch antibiotic therapy in uncomplicated bloodstream infection.

Background: The role of oral switch antibiotic therapy in uncomplicated bloodstream infection (BSI) remains unclear. This retrospective cohort study examines the effectiveness of oral switch compared with standard intravenous antibiotic therapy in uncomplicated BSI.

Methods: Adults with first episodes of uncomplicated monomicrobial BSI were admitted to 10 Prisma Health hospitals in South Carolina from January 2021 to June 2023 were included.

Drosophila Modulo is Essential for Transposon Silencing and Developmental Robustness.

Transposable element (TE) silencing in the germline is crucial for preserving genome integrity; its absence results in sterility and diminished developmental robustness. The Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway is the primary small non-coding RNA mechanism by which TEs are silenced in the germline. Three piRNA binding proteins promote the piRNA pathway function in the germline- P-element-induced wimpy testis (Piwi), Aubergine (Aub), and Argonaute 3 (Ago3).

Associations of pregnancy timing relative to the COVID-19 pandemic, maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection, and adverse perinatal outcomes.

Purpose: To examine associations between pregnancy timing relative to the COVID-19 pandemic, maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection, and perinatal outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 189,097 singleton births in South Carolina (2018-2021). Pregnancy timing relative to the pandemic was classified as pre-pandemic (delivered before March 1, 2020), partial pandemic overlap (conceived before and delivered during the pandemic), or pandemic (conceived and delivered during the pandemic).

Risk of carcinomas among children and adolescents with birth defects.

Background: Birth defects are associated with childhood cancer, but little is known regarding pediatric carcinomas, a group of especially rare tumors.

Methods: We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) for any carcinoma, as well as thyroid, hepatocellular, and renal carcinoma specifically, up to 18 years of age among children with major, non-syndromic anomalies or chromosomal/genetic syndromes, relative to unaffected children.

Results: Our registry-linkage study included nine states and 21,933,476 children between 1990 and 2018: 641,827 with non-syndromic anomalies, and 49,619 with syndromes.

Assessing Physician and Patient Agreement on Whether Patient Outcomes Captured in Clinical Progress Notes Reflect Treatment Success: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: It remains unclear if there is agreement between physicians and patients on the definition of treatment success following orthopedic treatment. Clinical progress notes are generated during each health care encounter and include information on current disease symptoms, rehabilitation progress, and treatment outcomes.

Objective: This study aims to assess if physicians and patients agree on whether patient outcomes captured in clinical progress notes reflect a successful treatment outcome following orthopedic care.

Suggested Dosing of Select Beta-lactam Agents for the Treatment of Antimicrobial-Resistant Gram-Negative Infections in Children.

Background: The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) publishes annual guidance on the treatment of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) gram-negative infections. Within the AMR guidance, suggested dosages of antibiotics for adults infected with AMR pathogens are provided. This document serves as a companion document to the IDSA guidance to assist pediatric specialists with dosing β-lactam agents for the treatment of AMR infections in children.

Regulation and Compliance in Telemedicine: Viewpoint.

The US COVID-19 Public Health Emergency ended on May 11, 2023. Lawmakers and regulators extended some flexibilities while they deliberate effective long-term telemedicine policy. Here, we discuss critical challenges in telemedicine compliance and regulation grounded in scholarly literature and current events.

After the storm, the calm never came: Hurricane Maria-related stressors and PTSD symptoms among Puerto Rican youth.

Objective: Youth may develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a hurricane. Triaging of mental health services is crucial to effectively deliver trauma-focused interventions following natural disasters. Given the increased likelihood of hurricanes due to the current climate crisis, this study sought to examine the dose-response effect between hurricane-related stressors and PTSD, identify a cumulative stressor cutoff score based on the number of hurricane-related stressors experienced, and identify important individual hurricane-related stressors in explaining PTSD symptoms among youth.

Central or Peripheral Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Pediatric Sepsis: Outcomes Comparison in the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Dataset, 2000-2021.

Objectives: Small studies of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for children with refractory septic shock (RSS) suggest that high-flow (≥ 150 mL/kg/min) venoarterial ECMO and a central cannulation strategy may be associated with lower odds of mortality. We therefore aimed to examine a large, international dataset of venoarterial ECMO patients for pediatric sepsis to identify outcomes associated with flow and cannulation site.

Design: Retrospective analysis of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) database from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2021.

Interest in Injectable and Oral PrEP for HIV Prevention Among Women and Men Who Inject Drugs.

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) are at increased risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Women who inject are a particularly vulnerable group. Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective, but access and uptake has been limited.

Pediatric Central Retinal Artery Occlusion in a Patient With Elevated Lipoprotein (A) and Factor VIII Levels.

The purpose of this manuscript is to report a rare case of pediatric central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) in the setting of atypical hypercoagulable tests. An 11-year-old female presented to the emergency department with painless, visual changes in the left eye. Ophthalmological examination was remarkable for a central area of retinal ischemia and edema with sparing along the distribution of the cilioretinal artery along with a cherry red spot, all of which were consistent with a CRAO.

An artificial transcription factor that activates potent interferon-γ expression in human Jurkat T Cells.

Interferon (IFN)-γ is a central regulator of cell-mediated immunity in human health and disease, but reduced expression of the target receptors impairs signaling activity and leads to immunotherapy resistance. Although intracellular expression of IFN-γ restores the signaling and downstream functions, we lack the tools to activate the gene instead of cell surface receptors. This paper introduces the design and characterization of an artificial transcription factor (ATF) protein that recognizes the gene with six zinc finger domains, which are dovetailed to a VP64 signaling domain that promotes gene transcription and translation.

First-line cadonilimab plus chemotherapy in HER2-negative advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: a randomized, double-blind, phase 3 trial.

Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitors plus chemotherapy have been the standard of care in the first-line treatment of advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (G/GEJ) adenocarcinoma; however, the survival benefits are modest in patients with low programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. Here we investigated the efficacy and safety of cadonilimab (PD-1/cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) bispecific antibody) plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment in G/GEJ adenocarcinoma. The prespecified interim analysis is reported here.

Genomics yields biological and phenotypic insights into bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease. Despite high heritability (60-80%), the majority of the underlying genetic determinants remain unknown. We analysed data from participants of European, East Asian, African American and Latino ancestries (n = 158,036 cases with bipolar disorder, 2.

Cohort profile: the BangladEsh Longitudinal Investigation of Emerging Vascular and nonvascular Events (BELIEVE) cohort study.

Purpose: Bangladesh has experienced a rapid epidemiological transition from communicable to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in recent decades. There is, however, limited evidence about multidimensional determinants of NCDs in this population. The BangladEsh Longitudinal Investigation of Emerging Vascular and nonvascular Events (BELIEVE) study is a household-based prospective cohort study established to investigate biological, behavioural, environmental and broader determinants of NCDs.

Redefining diagnostic lesional status in temporal lobe epilepsy with artificial intelligence.

Despite decades of advancements in diagnostic MRI, 30-50% of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients remain categorized as "non-lesional" (i.e., MRI negative or MRI-) based on visual assessment by human experts.

Primary splenic involvement in kaposiform lymphangiomatosis: A case report.

Introduction: Kaposiform Lymphangiomatosis (KLA) is a rare, pathologically distinct lymphatic anomaly characterized by abnormal lymphatic channel malformation and a high mortality rate. Previous studies describe primary thoracic involvement.

Presentation Of Case: A previously healthy eighteen-month-old female presented to the pediatric emergency department with sudden onset of petechiae and bruising.

Sisonke Ntwana: Describing the mechanisms of change of an arts-based intervention for pregnant and parenting adolescents experiencing violence and poor mental health in South Africa.

Background: In South Africa, one in five adolescents experience pregnancy and face heightened rates of interpersonal violence and mental health challenges. Yet, few interventions are tailored to them.

Methods: 28 pregnant adolescents reporting past year intimate partner violence and/or non-partner rape were purposively recruited in antenatal clinics in Johannesburg to attend a 6-session arts-based intervention, delivered by 4 graduate art therapy students alongside clinical supervision.

Harnessing Big Heterogeneous Data to Evaluate the Potential Impact of HIV Responses Among Key Populations in Sub-Saharan Africa: Protocol for the Boloka Data Repository Initiative.

Background: In South Africa, there is no centralized HIV surveillance system where key populations (KPs) data, including gay men and other men who have sex with men, female sex workers, transgender persons, people who use drugs, and incarcerated persons, are stored in South Africa despite being on higher risk of HIV acquisition and transmission than the general population. Data on KPs are being collected on a smaller scale by numerous stakeholders and managed in silos. There exists an opportunity to harness a variety of data, such as empirical, contextual, observational, and programmatic data, for evaluating the potential impact of HIV responses among KPs in South Africa.

Physical development and sociocultural context influences on children's physical activity.

Objective: To examine the predictive strength of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), motor competence (MC), maternal educational status, and parental perception of their children's favorite leisure activities for meeting physical activity (PA) guidelines of each gender among children aged 3-6 years.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 367 preschoolers (53% girls), assessing CRF (PREFIT 20m shuttle run), MC (battery of motor skills), PA (accelerometry), maternal education and parental perception of children's preferred leisure (questionnaires). Factorial analysis of covariance, multiple logistic regression, and chi-square tests were conducted.

Female Brain and Endocrinological Research-Veteran (FemBER-Vet) study: A study protocol for identifying endocrinological, lifestyle and psychosocial determinants of brain health outcomes in female veterans for future intervention success.

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated a greater risk of dementia in female veterans compared to civilians; with the highest prevalence noted for former service women with a diagnosis of psychiatric (trauma, alcoholism, depression), and/or a physical health condition (brain injury, insomnia, diabetes). Such findings highlight the need for increased and early screening of medical and psychiatric conditions, and indeed dementia, in the female veteran population. Further, they call for a better understanding of the underlying biopsychosocial mechanisms that might confer heightened risk for female veterans, to tailor preventative and interventional strategies that support brain health across the lifespan.

Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups.

The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) is a widely used self-report measure of subjective well-being, but studies of its measurement invariance across a large number of nations remain limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset-with data collected between 2020 and 2022 -to assess measurement invariance of the SWLS across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups (N = 56,968). All participants completed the SWLS under largely uniform conditions.

Acceptability and preliminary outcomes of the Enhanced Assess, Acknowledge, and Act Sexual Assault Resistance Education Program for women who use alcohol and cannabis (EAAA+): Findings from an open pilot trial.

Objective: One in five college women experiences sexual assault (SA). Feminist scholars have called for the use of programming that empowers women by increasing their ability to recognize and resist SA. One such program, the Enhanced Assess, Acknowledge, Act SA Resistance Education Program (EAAA), has demonstrated lower rates of SA up to 24 months (Senn et al.

Pharmacotherapy for Agitation Management in a Pediatric Emergency Department.

Objectives: In the treatment of agitation in a pediatric emergency department (PED), it is common to use once or as needed (PRN) medications when nonpharmacological management options have failed. Currently, there is limited available evidence on the treatment of pediatric agitation. The objective of this analysis was to characterize the prescribing practices of once or PRN medications for the treatment of agitation in a PED at an academic medical center.

Amplifying Women's Voices in Menopause Research: The Importance of Inclusive Perspectives.

Menopause, a significant life transition for half the global population, intersects biological, cultural and social dimensions. Despite its universal occurrence, menopause research has historically been dominated by biomedical perspectives, often neglecting women's voices and diverse experiences. This article highlights the importance of including women's perspectives in menopause research to ensure relevance, accuracy and equity.