Exploring novel inhibitors for Babesia bigemina lactate dehydrogenase: a computational structural biology perspective.

Babesia bigemina is an apicomplexan parasite responsible for causing "Texas fever" in bovines. Current treatments for bovine babesiosis are hindered by several limitations, including toxicity, insufficient efficacy in eliminating the parasite, and the potential for resistance development. A promising approach to overcome these challenges is the identification of compounds that specifically target essential metabolic pathways unique to the parasite.

Local flap guidance for scalp reconstruction following Mohs micrographic surgery.

Keratinocyte carcinomas (KCs) are commonly located on the scalp and often treated with excision with peripheral and deep en face margin assessment (PDEMA), with Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) being the most frequently used method. Resection of these malignancies results in wounds with a wide variety of sizes, ranging from small, sub-centimeter defects, to extensive, nearly complete scalp defects. MMS is often the preferred treatment for tumor resection and margin clearance, as it allows for maximal healthy tissue preservation and has the lowest recurrence rates.

The effect of exercise and physical activity on skeletal muscle epigenetics and metabolic adaptations.

Physical activity (PA) and exercise elicit adaptations and physiological responses in skeletal muscle, which are advantageous for preserving health and minimizing chronic illnesses. The complicated atmosphere of the exercise response can be attributed to hereditary and environmental variables. The primary cause of these adaptations and physiological responses is the transcriptional reactions that follow exercise, whether endurance- (ET) or resistance- training (RT).

Surgical Deescalation Within Gynecologic Oncology.

Importance: The goal of surgical deescalation is to minimize tissue damage, enhance patient outcomes, and reduce the adverse effects often associated with extensive or traditional surgical procedures. This shift toward less invasive techniques has the potential to revolutionize surgical practices, profoundly impacting the methods and training of future surgeons.

Objective: To evaluate adoption of surgical deescalation within the field of gynecologic oncology using The National Cancer Database.

Cost-Effectiveness of a Polypill for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in an Underserved Population.

Importance: The Southern Community Cohort Study (SCCS) Polypill Trial showed that a cardiovascular polypill (a single pill containing a statin and 3 half-standard dose antihypertensive medications) effectively controls cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in a majority Black race and low-income population. The cost-effectiveness of polypill treatment in this population has not been previously studied.

Objective: To determine the cost-effectiveness of the cardiovascular polypill.

Mesothelial cell responses to acute appendicitis or small bowel obstruction reactive ascites: Insights into immunoregulation of abdominal adhesion.

Previous abdominal surgery (PAS) increases risk of small bowel obstruction (SBO) due to adhesions, and appendectomy (appy) is an independent risk factor for abdominal adhesion-related complications. Peritoneal inflammation, e.g.

Oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers in Texas: examining incidence rates in dental health professional shortage areas.

Purpose: Oral cavity (OC) and oropharyngeal (OP) cancer rates have increased annually rising in the U.S. and Texas.

A pilot study to examine the opioid prescribing practices of medical residents.

Objective: The present opioid crisis has raised concern regarding the prescribing practices of physicians. However, the training of resident physicians has not been sufficiently evaluated. The proposed objective of this study was to evaluate how residents across different specialties perceived the adequacy of their training in the prescribing of opioid-based anal-gesics.

Efficacy of Revisional Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Background: Recurrent weight gain after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is common. Revisional endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (r-ESG) has been shown to be a promising endoscopic bariatric therapy (EBT) to treat weight recurrence after LSG. However, to date, weight loss outcomes beyond 1-year follow-up are unknown.

Traditional online and live-streaming dual-channel strategies and pricing policies.

This study examines the pricing policies and the dual-channel strategies in a two-tier supply chain where a manufacturer distributes products through a retailer and considers the opening of a traditional direct online channel or a live-streaming sales channel The manufacturer has three sales modes, i.e., traditional retail channel only, opening a traditional direct online channel and opening a live-streaming direct sales channel, to consider.

Practices and preferences in the use of magnification among endodontists and restorative dentists: A multicentre study.

Background And Objectives: Aim of the current study was to assess the perception, preference, and practice of endodontists and restorative dentists at different locations around the world about dental magnification instruments.

Materials And Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was ethically approved from the local committee of bioethics. After thorough literature search, a questionnaire was designed and validated.

Essential tremor with tau pathology features seeds indistinguishable in conformation from Alzheimer's disease and primary age-related tauopathy.

Neurodegenerative tauopathies are characterized by the deposition of distinct fibrillar tau assemblies, whose rigid core structures correlate with defined neuropathological phenotypes. Essential tremor (ET) is a progressive neurological disorder that, in some cases, is associated with cognitive impairment and tau accumulation. In this study, we explored tau assembly conformation in ET patients with tau pathology using cytometry-based tau biosensor assays.

BUILDing SCHOLARS: A program exemplar at a Hispanic serving institution to develop biomedical researchers.

The student development initiatives of the BUILDing SCHOLARS Center at The University of Texas at El Paso comprise a program intended to prepare undergraduate students to enter and succeed in advanced graduate and professional biomedical degree programs, ultimately contributing to the diversity of the biomedical research workforce. The program adopted the Johnson/Bozemann Asset Bundles model, which recommends addressing five areas necessary to support minority students as they prepare for and continue towards scientific careers: a) educational endowments, b) science socialization, c) network development, d) family expectations and e) material resources. Through a variety of activities, which included a minimum of two years of research training, all five asset bundles were integrated into the program.

Randomized, observer-blind, controlled Phase 1 study of the safety and immunogenicity of the Na-GST-1/Alhydrogel hookworm vaccine with or without a CpG ODN adjuvant in hookworm-naïve adults.

Background: Recombinant Necator americanus Glutathione-S-Transferase-1 (Na-GST-1) formulated on Alhydrogel (Na-GST-1/Alhydrogel) is being developed to prevent anemia and other complications of N. americanus infection. Antibodies induced by vaccination with recombinant Na-GST-1 are hypothesized to interfere with the blood digestion pathway of adult hookworms in the host.

Standardizing the reporting of cholangiocarcinoma: the society of abdominal radiology disease focused panel on cholangiocarinoma lexicon.

In March 2023, the Society of Abdominal Radiology (SAR) Disease Focused Panel (DFP) on Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) was formed. One of its initial tasks was for creation of a lexicon specific for CCA to complement the terms related to the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) category M. A committee was formed and vetted 15 unique terms for CCA.

Enhanced D614G and Omicron Variants Antibody Persistence in Infants at 2 Months of Age Following Maternal mRNA Booster Vaccination During Pregnancy or Postpartum.

Background: Following maternal COVID-19 vaccination, the persistence of antibodies in sera and breast milk for mothers and infants is not well characterized. We sought to describe the persistence of antibodies through 2 months after delivery in maternal and infant serum and breast milk following maternal COVID-19 mRNA vaccination and to examine differences by receipt of booster dose during pregnancy or postpartum.

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study with enrollment from July 2021 to January 2022 at 9 US academic sites.

Validation of Härtel Surface Anatomical Landmarks for Locating the Foramen Ovale: A Computed Tomography Scan Analysis and Revised Technique Description.

Background And Objectives: Härtel triangle provides surface landmarks for locating the foramen ovale (FO) when performing trigeminal nerve percutaneous procedures. Although widely adopted in clinical practice, there is no report that these landmarks have ever been formally validated through modern imaging techniques. Here we aim to validate Härtel anatomical landmarks using computed tomography scans and propose technical considerations for percutaneous trigeminal procedures.

How macrophage heterogeneity affects tuberculosis disease and therapy.

Macrophages are the primary host cell type for infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vivo. Macrophages are also key immune effector cells that mediate the control of bacterial growth. However, the specific macrophage phenotypes that are required for optimal immune control of M.

Impact of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization on Female Sterilization Rates at a Texas Military Medical Center, a Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: Female sterilization is a common form of contraception in the United States. On June 24, 2022, the United States Supreme Court eliminated the federal standard protecting a woman's right to abortion via Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.

Cardiac Biomarkers, Subclinical Brain Vascular Changes, and Cognitive Decline: Post Hoc Analysis of the SPRINT Trial.

Background: The association between subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cognitive decline in hypertensive adults and the underlying brain pathologies remain unclear. It is also undetermined whether intensifying blood pressure (BP) treatment slows down cognitive decline associated with subclinical CVD.

Methods: We conducted a post hoc analysis of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial.