Postoperative Radiotherapy ± Cetuximab for Intermediate-Risk Head and Neck Cancer.

Purpose: Radiotherapy (RT)/cetuximab (C) demonstrated superiority over RT alone for locally advanced squamous head and neck cancer. We tested this in completely resected, intermediate-risk cancer.

Methods: Patients had squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) of the oral cavity, oropharynx, or larynx, with one or more risk factors warranting postoperative RT.

Functional classification of tauopathy strains reveals the role of protofilament core residues.

Distinct tau amyloid assemblies underlie diverse tauopathies but defy rapid classification. Cell and animal experiments indicate tau functions as a prion, as different strains propagated in cells cause unique, transmissible neuropathology after inoculation. Strain amplification requires compatibility of the monomer and amyloid template.

Regional changes in cerebral blood flow between the upright and supine posture and over 3 days of bed rest.

A reduction in cerebral blood flow (CBF) has been observed during spaceflight and bed rest. We aimed to examine the magnitude and regional heterogeneity of the decrease in CBF during bed rest compared to posture changes on Earth. Seventeen participants (age, 29 ± 9 years, 7 females) were studied in the upright and supine posture and over 3 days of bed rest.

Depressive Symptoms and Amyloid Pathology.

Importance: Depressive symptoms are associated with cognitive decline in older individuals. Uncertainty about underlying mechanisms hampers diagnostic and therapeutic efforts. This large-scale study aimed to elucidate the association between depressive symptoms and amyloid pathology.

The Role of Fetal Echocardiography in Predicting Postnatal Pulmonary Venous Obstruction in Neonates with TAPVR: A Single Center Experience.

Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) is a high risk and rare cardiac malformation with a low prenatal detection rate and predicting obstruction in these cases is difficult. We sought to investigate fetal echocardiographic parameters associated with postnatal pulmonary venous obstruction (PPVO). We performed a retrospective review of 26 patients with TAPVR who had a fetal echocardiogram from 2010 to 2021.

Does Virtual Interviewing Provide the Information for a Satisfactory Rank Decision?: A Perspective From the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship Interviews.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to determine whether current fellows and program directors in pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) were satisfied with virtual interviewing (VI) in terms of their respective matches. The secondary goal was to assess areas in which the virtual interview process could be improved.

Methods: After institutional review was obtained, fellow surveys were piloted to non-PEM fellows to solicit feedback.

CD44-Mediated Metabolic Rewiring is A Targetable Dependency of IDH-Mutant Leukemia.

Recurrent IDH mutations catalyze NADPH-dependent production of oncometabolite R-2HG for tumorigenesis. IDH inhibition provides clinical response in a subset of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases; however, most patients develop resistance, highlighting the need for more effective IDH-targeting therapies. By comparing transcriptomic alterations in isogenic leukemia cells harboring CRISPR base-edited IDH mutations, we identify the activation of adhesion molecules including CD44, a transmembrane glycoprotein, as a shared feature of IDH-mutant leukemia, consistent with elevated CD44 expression in IDH-mutant AML patients.

Efficacy of the Optilume paclitaxel drug-coated balloon after urethroplasty: short-term results from a multicenter study.

Background: The Optilume paclitaxel drug-coated balloon (DCB) is a relatively new-to-market alternative in the management of male anterior urethral stricture disease. The pivotal trial excluded patients with a history of urethroplasty, although these strictures may be amenable to endoscopic management. Therefore, we sought to assess the efficacy of the DCB in the management of recurrent strictures following urethroplasty.

Initial clinical experience with [Lu]Lu-PNT2002 radioligand therapy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: dosimetry, safety, and efficacy from the lead-in cohort of the SPLASH trial.

Introduction: SPLASH (NCT04647526) is a multicenter phase III trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of [Lu]Lu-PNT2002 radioligand therapy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). This study leveraged a lead-in phase to assess tissue dosimetry and evaluate preliminary safety and efficacy, prior to expansion into a randomized phase. Here we report those results.

Integrating competency-based, interprofessional teamwork education for students: guiding principles to support current needs and future directions.

Interprofessional teamwork is vital to effective patient care, and targeting healthcare learners earlier in their education can lead to greater improvement in confidence and competence in teamwork skills. Despite this, institutions have continued struggling to integrate competency-based interprofessional teamwork curriculum in undergraduate health care professions' education. The current article provides guidance related to design, implementation, and assessment for institutions seeking to implement competency-based teamwork education and training strategies for healthcare students.

Management of a COVID-19 outbreak using a multidisciplinary approach and infection prevention control practices at a community living center in Veterans Administration Hospital, North Texas.

Background: The increase in severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) cases due to the omicron strain led to reduced acute care hospital beds at the Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital, North Texas; veterans with non-severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease were managed at a community living center (CLC), a VA nursing home. The management of non-severe COVID-19 in VA nursing homes has not been extensively described.

Methods: We describe resident characteristics and outcomes, and infection control practices implemented during 2 COVID-19 outbreak periods (January 12-February 15, 2022, June 28-July 14, 2023).

Deep Learning-Based Assessment of Lip Symmetry for Patients With Repaired Cleft Lip.

Objective: Post-surgical lip symmetry assessment is a key indicator of cleft repair success. Traditional methods rely on distances between anatomical landmarks, which are impractical for video analysis and overlook texture and appearance. We propose an artificial intelligence (AI) approach to automate this process, analyzing lateral lip morphology for a quantitative symmetry evaluation.

Oncogenic mutant KRAS inhibition through oxidation at cysteine 118.

Specific reactive oxygen species activate the GTPase Kirsten rat sarcoma virus (KRAS) by reacting with cysteine 118 (C118), leading to an electron transfer between C118 and nucleoside guanosine diphosphate (GDP), which causes the release of GDP. Here, we have mimicked permanent oxidation of human KRAS at C118 by replacing C118 with aspartic acid (C118D) in KRAS to show that oncogenic mutant KRAS is selectively inhibited via oxidation at C118, both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the combined treatment of hydrogen-peroxide-producing pro-oxidant paraquat and nitric-oxide-producing inhibitor N(ω)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester selectively inhibits human mutant KRAS activity by inducing oxidization at C118.

[Spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of snails spread in Suzhou City of Jiangsu Province from 2016 to 2023].

Objective: To investigate the snails spread and its spatio-temporal clustering characteristics in Suzhou City, Jiangsu Province from 2016 to 2023, so as to provide insights into precision control of snails in the City.

Methods: snail surveillance data in Suzhou City from 2016 to 2023 were collected, and the areas of snail spread and areas of emerging and re-emerging snail habitats were retrieved. The spatial distribution characteristics and clustering types and locations of environments with snail spread were investigated using global and local spatial auto correlation analyses with the software ArcGIS 10.

Comparison of Telehealth Versus Face-to-Face Administration of the Oral Trail Making Test in Older Adults with and without Cognitive Impairment: A Brief Report.

Objectives: To examine the performance reliability of the Oral Trail Making Test (OTMT) in face-to-face (FTF) and teleneuropsychology (TeleNP) conditions among older individuals with and without cognitive impairment.

Methods: Two hundred participants (with [n = 81], and without cognitive impairment [n = 119]) completed the OTMT in both conditions, in a counterbalanced design. Paired sample t-tests compared OTMT scores and intra-class correlation coefficients examined the degree of agreement between the two testing conditions for both diagnostic groups.

Pleural Drainage, Clinical Characteristics, and Management Strategies in the Perioperative Fontan Patient: A Multicenter Report.

Prolonged pleural drainage and chylothorax are common in postoperative Fontan patients and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Multiple medical and interventional treatment strategies exist and vary between centers. This is a retrospective multicenter observational cohort study of pediatric patients who underwent Fontan operation at 8 pediatric cardiac surgical institutions from 1/1/2019 to 12/31/2021.

Neoadjuvant nivolumab and chemotherapy in early estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer: a randomized phase 3 trial.

Patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) primary breast cancer (BC) have low pathological complete response (pCR) rates with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A subset of ER+/HER2- BC contains dense lymphocytic infiltration. We hypothesized that addition of an anti-programmed death 1 agent may increase pCR rates in this BC subtype.

Pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in high-risk, early-stage, ER/HER2 breast cancer: a randomized phase 3 trial.

Addition of pembrolizumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by adjuvant pembrolizumab improved outcomes in patients with high-risk, early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer. However, whether the addition of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab to chemotherapy would improve outcomes in high-risk, early-stage, estrogen receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER/HER2) breast cancer remains unclear. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study (KEYNOTE-756) in which patients with previously untreated ER/HER2 grade 3 high-risk invasive breast cancer (T1c-2 (≥2 cm), cN1-2 or T3-4, cN0-2) were randomly assigned (1:1) to neoadjuvant pembrolizumab 200 mg or placebo Q3W given with paclitaxel QW for 12 weeks, followed by four cycles of doxorubicin or epirubicin plus cyclophosphamide Q2W or Q3W.

Intermittent documentation of blood pressure values does not provide comprehensive evaluation of the hemodynamic response during continuous intravenous medication administration.

Blood pressure (BP) is a dynamic measure that is frequently discussed in static terms. There exist many limitations in current documentation systems whereby documented BP values may not be reflective of the dynamic variability of BP. This study used an observational, prospective, non-randomized study design to examine the variability in BP response during intravenous vasoactive medication administration in an intensive care unit setting.

Durability of response of UGN-101: Longitudinal follow up of multicenter study.

Purpose: UGN-101, a reverse thermal mitomycin gel for upper tract instillation, recently became the first FDA approved treatment for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). However, the durability of UGN-101 treatment has not been well described. Here we present long term outcomes from our multi-institutional cohort for patients who initially responded to treatment.

Audible tremor: Analysis of the validity of audible information in assessing tremor severity.

Introduction: Assessing the severity of kinetic tremor is important in clinical and research settings. Archimedes spirals are often used to assess tremor severity. Rating tremor from spirals has been based solely on visual information.