Pneumococcal and Herpes Zoster Vaccination Rates Among U.S. Veterans With Chronic Inflammatory Disease on Biologic Medications: A Quality Improvement Project.

Introduction: Patients with chronic inflammatory diseases are often treated with pharmacologic therapies that target the immune system and have an increased risk of infection. These risks can be reduced by vaccination against common pathogens. This quality improvement project aimed to increase pneumococcal and herpes zoster vaccination rates in patients with chronic inflammatory disease on biologic immunosuppressive therapy.

Impact of a lagoon with high anthropic activity on a World Heritage Site.

The Ichkeul-Bizerte Lagoon Complex (IBLC), a critical ecosystem for local biodiversity, faces a pressing threat due to climate change and severe pollution. Despite past conservation efforts, pollution persists, particularly in the Bizerte Lagoon. This study investigated the impact of water dynamics and climatic conditions on heavy metal contamination in the IBLC's sediments.

Radiomics-based diagnosis of patellar chondromalacia using sagittal T2-weighted images.

Objective: This study aimed to explore and evaluate a novel method for diagnosing patellar chondromalacia using radiomic features from patellar sagittal T2-weighted images (T2WI).

Methods: The experimental data included sagittal T2WI images of the patella from 40 patients with patellar chondromalacia and 40 healthy volunteers. The training set comprised 30 cases of chondromalacia and 30 healthy volunteers, while the test set included 10 cases of each.

Review of honeycomb-based Kitaev materials with zigzag magnetic ordering.

The search for a Kitaev quantum spin liquid in crystalline magnetic materials has fueled intense interest in the two-dimensional honeycomb systems. Many promising candidate Kitaev systems are characterized by a long-range-ordered magnetic structure with an antiferromagnetic zigzag-type order, where the static moments form alternating ferromagnetic chains. Recent experiments on high-quality single crystals uncovered the existence of intriguing multi-k magnetic structures, which evolved from zigzag structures.

MOMENT registry: Patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer harboring exon 14 skipping treated with systemic therapy.

exon 14 ex14) skipping occurs in 3-4% of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases. Low frequency of this alteration necessitated open-label, single-arm trials to investigate MET inhibitors. Since broad MET biomarker testing was only recently introduced in many countries, there is a lack of historical real-world data from patients with ex14 skipping NSCLC receiving conventional therapies.

Cortical reorganization following dorsal spinal injuries in newborn monkeys reveals a critical period in the development of the somatosensory cortex.

Lesions of the dorsal columns of the spinal cord in adult macaque monkeys lead to the loss of hand inputs and large-scale expansion of the face inputs in the hand region of the somatosensory cortex. Inputs from alternate spinal pathways do not reactivate the deafferented regions of area 3b. Here, we determined how transections of the dorsal columns done within a few days after birth affect the developing somatosensory cortex.

Aberrant FGF signaling promotes granule neuron precursor expansion in SHH subgroup infantile medulloblastoma.

Mutations in Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway genes, for example, (SUFU), drive granule neuron precursors (GNP) to form medulloblastomas (MB). However, how different molecular lesions in the Shh pathway drive transformation is frequently unclear, and mutations in the cerebellum seem distinct. In this study, we show that fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) signaling is integral for many infantile MB cases and that expression is uniquely upregulated in infantile MB tumors.

Association between Sputum Culture Conversion and Body Mass Index among Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Patients in Punjab, Pakistan: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Background: The global challenge of Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) presents a substantial public health concern, requiring extended and complex treatment regimens. Understanding the factors impacting treatment results, particularly sputum culture conversion and Body Mass Index (BMI), is crucial. This retrospective cohort investigation conducted in Punjab, Pakistan, sought to explore the correlation between BMI and sputum culture conversion in individuals diagnosed with MDR-TB.

Night Eating Syndrome and Its Association With Depression Among College Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction Night eating syndrome (NES) is categorized as an eating disorder characterized by a delayed circadian rhythm of food intake and involves evening hyperphagia and/or nighttime awakening and food consumption two or more times per week. Young adults showed a higher prevalence of night eating, and students who reported high stress, irregular sleep patterns, and disordered eating may be more likely to develop NES symptoms. Objective This study aimed to assess the prevalence of Night Eating Syndrome among college students in Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu (India) and to find out the association between NES and socio-demographic variables and depression among the students.

Urine kidney injury molecule-1 predicts subclinical kidney disease among persons living with HIV initiating tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-based ART in Zambia.

Introduction: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) increases the life expectancy of persons living with HIV (PLWH), but not without potentially serious adverse effects. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) can cause nephrotoxicity, manifesting as acute kidney injury (AKI) that may persist after treatment discontinuation. Kidney injury biomarkers such as kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4), interleukin-18 (IL-18), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) can aid early diagnosis and predict TDF-associated nephrotoxicity.

Exploring the role of inflammatory biomarkers in trigeminal neuralgia.

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a severe facial pain disorder with complex etiology. Inflammation has been suggested as a contributing factor to TN pathogenesis. This study investigates the causal relationship between inflammatory biomarkers, including 41 circulating inflammatory cytokines, C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT), and TN using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.

Composition and the predicted functions of fungal communities and the key drivers in acidic soils of Jiaodong Peninsula, China.

Introduction: Soil acidification imperils soil health and hinders the agricultural sustainability. As being more tolerant than bacteria to soil acidification, so it would be more meaningful for agricultural management and crop yield to characterize fungal community in acidic soils and manifest its key drivers.

Method: This study investigated the composition and diversity of fungal communities and its key driving factors by collecting 90 soil samples from the acidic region of Jiaodong Peninsula China, spanning 3 × 10 km.

DISCOntinuation of disease-modifying therapies in MS: The DISCOMS extension trial.

Background: In the DISCOMS (DISCOntinuation of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in multiple sclerosis (MS)) randomized clinical trial, we could not demonstrate that discontinuing MS DMTs in older, stable adults was not inferior to continuing DMTs. Relapses were rare in both groups, and most new disease activity was one to two new brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions unassociated with clinical changes.

Objective/aims: Describe results of the DISCOMS extension study.

Linezolid Dosing and Pharmacokinetics in North American Patients with Tuberculosis.

Introduction: Linezolid is recommended in treatment regimens for rifampin- or multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis. However, considerable pharmacokinetic variability exists, and long-term use is limited by adverse effects. This study evaluates the pharmacokinetics of linezolid in patients with tuberculosis from an international therapeutic drug monitoring service.

Evaluating the Safety and Usability of an Over-the-Counter Medical Device for Adults With Mild to Moderate Hearing Loss: Formative and Summative Usability Testing.

Background: Only 15% of the nearly 30 million Americans with hearing loss use hearing aids, partly due to high cost, stigma, and limited access to professional hearing care. Hearing impairment in adults can lead to social isolation and depression and is associated with an increased risk of falls. Given the persistent barriers to hearing aid use, the Food and Drug Administration issued a final rule to allow over-the-counter hearing aids to be sold directly to adult consumers with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss at pharmacies, stores, and online retailers without seeing a physician or licensed hearing health care professional.

NKX6.3 modulation of mitotic dynamics and genomic stability in gastric carcinogenesis.

Background: Gastric cancer remains a significant global health challenge, characterized by poor prognosis and high mortality rates. Mitotic integrity and genomic stability are crucial in maintaining cellular homeostasis and preventing tumorigenesis. The transcription factor NKX6.

Uncommon metastatic journey: unusual breast metastases of medullary thyroid carcinoma: a case report.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma is a neuroendocrine tumor derived from thyroid C-cells. It is a rare aggressive tumor, known to metastasize to lymph nodes, liver, bones, and lungs. We report a case of a young patient with a family history of breast cancer, who developed breast metastases six months post-treatment for medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Ecogenomic insights into the resilience of keystone Blastococcus Species in extreme environments: a comprehensive analysis.

Background: The stone-dwelling genus Blastococcus plays a key role in ecosystems facing extreme conditions such as drought, salinity, alkalinity, and heavy metal contamination. Despite its ecological significance, little is known about the genomic factors underpinning its adaptability and resilience in such harsh environments. This study investigates the genomic basis of Blastococcus's adaptability within its specific microniches, offering insights into its potential for biotechnological applications.

Spatial and temporal distribution characteristics and source apportionment of biogenic elements using APCS-MLR model in the main inlet tributary of Danjiangkou Reservoir.

Danjiangkou Reservoir has been widely concerned as the water source of the world's longest cross basin water transfer project. Biogenic elements are the foundation of material circulation and key factors affecting water quality. However, there is no comprehensive study on the biogenic elements in tributaries of Danjiangkou Reservoir, hindering a detailed understanding of geochemical cycling characteristics of biogenic elements in this region.

Implementation of a Faith Community Nursing Transition of Care Program in the USA: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Faith community nursing (FCN) is a specialty nursing practice that integrates spiritual and religious practices into patient care. This study aimed to quantitatively assess the impact of the standardized FCN transition of care (TOC) program on the rate of hospital readmission and length of stay (LOS) through propensity score matching and difference-in-differences methods. Compared with those in the non-FCN group (n = 409), patients in the FCN group (n = 66) had a reduced likelihood of hospital readmission at 30, 90, and 180 days after discharge (by 8.

Bose-Einstein condensation of a two-magnon bound state in a spin-1 triangular lattice.

In ordered magnets, the elementary excitations are spin waves (magnons), which obey Bose-Einstein statistics. Similarly to Cooper pairs in superconductors, magnons can be paired into bound states under attractive interactions. The Zeeman coupling to a magnetic field is able to tune the particle density through a quantum critical point, beyond which a 'hidden order' is predicted to exist.

Performance improvements and increased ruminal microbial interactions in Angus heifers via supplementation with native rumen bacteria during high-grain challenge.

Feedlot cattle may be subjected to digestive disorders, including ruminal acidosis, due to high concentration of grain in their diet. Therefore, novel feeding strategies are required to maximize animal performance and mitigate economic losses in the operation. This study employed a two-period crossover design to assess the effect of direct ruminal administration of native rumen microorganisms (NRM) inoculation on cattle that underwent a high-grain challenge.

Sleeve gastrectomy reveals the plasticity of the human gastric epithelium.

Gastrin is secreted following a rise in gastric pH, leading to gastric acid secretion. Sleeve gastrectomy (SG), a bariatric surgery where 80% of the gastric corpus is excised, presents a challenge for gastric pH homeostasis. Using histology, and single-cell RNA sequencing of the gastric epithelium in 12 women, we observed that SG is associated with an increase in a sub-population of acid-secreting parietal cells that overexpress respiratory enzymes and an increase in histamine-secreting enterochromaffin-like cells (ECLs).