Scrub typhus in pregnancy: A 10-year multicenter study in resource-limited settings in China.

Background: Despite its association with high mortality rates and negative fetal outcomes, large-scale epidemiological studies on scrub typhus (ST) during pregnancy remain scarce.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter study by collecting 260 pregnant women with ST in China across a 10-year time period to evaluate how clinical characteristics changed over this time and identify risk factors for poor fetal outcome.

Results: In total, 78.

"Update on pediatric primary liver tumors".

Liver masses are common in children, however primary malignant neoplasms are rare, representing only 1% of all pediatric cancers. Hepatocellular neoplasms are the most common primary liver malignancies and hepatoblastoma (HB) is the most frequently diagnosed. The incidence of HB, which is increasing, is approximately of 2 cases per million in the United States, followed by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Improved Annotation of Asthma Gene Variants with Cell Type Deconvolution of Nasal and Lung Expression-Quantitative Trait Loci.

Asthma is a genetically complex inflammatory airway disease associated with over 200 Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). However, the functional effects of many asthma-associated SNPs in lung and airway epithelial samples are unknown. Here, we aimed to conduct expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis using a meta-analysis of nasal and lung samples.

Inhibition of DEK restores hematopoietic stem cell function in Fanconi anemia.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are susceptible to replication stress, which is a major contributor to HSC defects in Fanconi anemia (FA). Here, we report that HSCs relax the global chromatin by downregulating the expression of a chromatin architectural protein, DEK, in response to replication stress. DEK is abnormally accumulated in bone marrow (BM) CD34+ cells from patients with FA and in Fancd2-deficient HSCs.

Germ cell quantification in human fetal and prepubertal testis tissues - a comparison of current methodologies.

Methods to quantify germ cell number in human immature testicular tissues are essential to evaluate the impact of chemotherapy exposures and for optimising cryopreservation protocols used in fertility preservation for prepubertal boys. Established quantification methods rely on the presence of round tubules within the tissue. However, round tubular cross sections are limited in human prepubertal testicular tissues, especially when using in vitro culture.

Diaper Dermatitis Algorithm and Scoring Tool in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU): A Quality Improvement Project.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement and evaluate an algorithm for management and prevention of diaper dermatitis (DD) embedded in a scoring tool. The specific aim of the project was to decrease DD occurrences with a severity score of 3 to 4 by 25%.

Participants And Setting: Quality improvement participants comprised 164 neonates; 89 were cared for prior to project implementation and 75 post-implementation.

CT, MRI, and FDG PET/CT in the Assessment of Lymph Node Involvement in Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma: An Expert Consensus Definition by an International Collaboration on Staging Evaluation and Response Criteria Harmonization for Children, Adolescent, and Young Adult Hodgkin Lymphoma (SEARCH for CAYAHL).

Staging of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma is currently based on the Ann Arbor classification, incorporating the Cotswold modifications and the Lugano classification. The Cotswold modifications provide guidelines for the use of CT and MRI. The Lugano classification emphasizes the importance of CT and PET/CT in evaluating both Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma but focuses on adult patients.

C-Reactive Protein Changes in Adult and Pediatric People With Cystic Fibrosis During Treatment of Pulmonary Exacerbations.

Objective: Although studies have examined changes in C-reactive protein (CRP) during pulmonary exacerbations (PEX) in people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF), few have evaluated CRP profiles across age groups. Here, we characterize age-related CRP responses to PEX treatment.

Methods: We measured CRP concentrations at the beginning and end of intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy for PEX in 100 pediatric and 147 adult PwCF at 10 US CF Centers.

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio at diagnosis predicts colonoscopic activity in pediatric inflammatory bowel diseases (pIBD).

Background: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a novel biomarker studied in several autoimmune diseases including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in adults, but poorly characterized in pediatric IBD (pIBD). We aimed to primarily investigate the relationship between NLR and pIBD endoscopic disease severity. We also examined whether NLR predicted hospitalization, surgery, and therapy response by 52 weeks.

Caregivers' experience of having a child with Down syndrome: a meta-synthesis.

Background: This study aimed to integrate the experiences of caregivers of children with Down syndrome during the care process and understand their feelings and needs.

Methods: We used Page et al.'s (2021) Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-synthesis Statement.

International expert consensus on micronutrient supplement use during the early life course.

Background: Growing evidence demonstrates that maternal nutrition is crucial for the health of the mother-to-be, and early life course of the offspring. However, for most micronutrients, guidelines are inconsistent. This Delphi study aimed to investigate the level of expert consensus on maternal nutrition and micronutrient needs during preconception, pregnancy and lactation.

Using Community Engagement to Create a Telecoaching Intervention to Improve Self-Management in Adolescents and Young Adults With Cystic Fibrosis: Qualitative Study.

Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cystic fibrosis (CF) are at risk for deviating from their daily treatment regimen due to significant time burden, complicated daily therapies, and life stressors. Developing patient-centric, effective, engaging, and practical behavioral interventions is vital to help sustain therapeutically meaningful self-management.

Objective: This study aimed to devise and refine a patient-centered telecoaching intervention to foster self-management in AYA with CF using a combination of intervention development approaches, including an evidence- and theory-based approach (ie, applying existing theories and research evidence for behavior change) and a target population-centered approach (ie, intervention refinement based on the perspectives and actions of those individuals who will use it).

Proteomic characterization and comparison of the infective and adult life stage secretomes from Necator americanus and Ancylostoma ceylanicum.

More than 470 million people globally are infected with the hookworms Ancylostoma ceylanicum and Necator americanus, resulting in an annual loss of 2.1 to 4 million disability-adjusted-life-years. Current infection management approaches are limited by modest drug efficacy, the costs associated with frequent mass drug administration campaigns, and the risk of reinfection and burgeoning drug resistance.

Consortium-driven rapid software validation for Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap).

There is a growing trend for studies run by academic and nonprofit organizations to have regulatory submission requirements. As a result, there is greater reliance on REDCap, an electronic data capture (EDC) widely used by researchers in these organizations. This paper discusses the development and implementation of the Rapid Validation Process (RVP) developed by the REDCap Consortium, aimed at enhancing regulatory compliance and operational efficiency in response to the dynamic demands of modern clinical research.

Relationships Between Recent Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Somatic Symptoms in Adolescence.

Early identification and interventions are imperative for mitigating the harmful effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Nonetheless, a substantial barrier persists in identifying adolescents experiencing ACEs. One understudied avenue for early identification of ACEs is through the examination of somatic symptoms endorsed by adolescents.

De novo and inherited dominant variants in U4 and U6 snRNAs cause retinitis pigmentosa.

The U4 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) forms a duplex with the U6 snRNA and, together with U5 and ~30 proteins, is part of the U4/U6.U5 tri-snRNP complex, located at the core of the major spliceosome. Recently, recurrent variants in the U4 RNA, transcribed from the gene, and in at least two other genes were discovered to cause neurodevelopmental disorder.

Circulating lipocalin-2 across the adult lifespan.

Lipocalin-2 (LCN2), a hormone produced by adipocytes, osteoblasts, and renal tubular cells, is implicated in age-related diseases, including cardio-metabolic disease. To understand the role LCN2 may play in pathological states, we first need to elucidate the relationship between circulating LCN2 with indices of cardio-metabolic health during "normal" aging. This study examined the relationship between serum levels of LCN2, age, and cardio-metabolic measures across the adult lifespan in males and females.

KIF9 Ameliorates Neuropathology and Cognitive Dysfunction by Promoting Macroautophagy in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder affecting the elderly. The imbalance of protein production and degradation processes leads to the accumulation of misfolded and abnormally aggregated amyloid-beta (Aβ) in the extracellular space and forms senile plaques, which constitute one of the most critical pathological hallmarks of AD. KIF9, a member of the kinesin protein superfamily, mediates the anterograde transport of intracellular cargo along microtubules.

Proposed resources required for a comprehensive program for CCT CHD imaging.

Background: Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT) is increasingly used for evaluation of congenital heart disease (CHD) in patients of all ages. Pediatric and adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) surgical programs require high quality CCT imaging as part of the multimodality imaging support expected of comprehensive care centers. Despite these expectations, there are no benchmarks or defined programmatic elements specific to the performance of CCT in patients with CHD.

The ACTION VAD registry: A collective five-year experience.

Background: The Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network (ACTION) began in 2018 as a collaborative learning health system committed to improving outcomes in pediatric heart failure, including children and adults with congenital heart disease, supported with ventricular assist devices (VADs). This report describes patient and device characteristics, and outcomes through 1-year post-implant.

Methods: The ACTION VAD registry report was created from data submitted to the ACTION learning network from April 2018 to June 2023.

Longitudinal investigation of neurobiological changes across pregnancy.

Pregnancy is a period of profound biological transformation. However, we know remarkably little about pregnancy-related brain changes. To address this gap, we chart longitudinal changes in brain structure during pregnancy and explore potential mechanisms driving these changes.

Tracheobronchopexy to Avoid Tracheostomy in Esophageal Atresia Patients With Severe Life-Threatening Tracheobronchomalacia.

Background: Esophageal atresia (EA) is associated with tracheobronchomalacia (TBM), which in its most severe form, causes blue spells, brief resolved unexplained events (BRUEs) that can require cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and positive pressure ventilation (PPV) or ventilator dependence, often requiring tracheostomy. We study the role of tracheobronchopexy, as an alternative to tracheostomy, in EA patients with severe life-threatening TBM.

Methods: We reviewed EA patients who underwent tracheobronchopexy for blue spells, BRUEs, and failure to wean PPV or extubate from February 2013 to September 2021 at two institutions.