Comparative efficacy of closed-loop spinal cord stimulation and dorsal root ganglion stimulation through combination trialing for cancer pain - A retrospective case series.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of closed-loop spinal cord stimulation (CL-SCS) and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulation in managing chronic cancer-related pain.

Material/methods: A retrospective review was conducted with IRB exemption for four patients with cancer-related pain who underwent combination stimulator trials. Patients were trialed with both CL-SCS and DRG stimulation for 8-10 days, with assessments of pain relief, functional improvement, sleep improvement, pain medication changes, and overall satisfaction.

Solvent-Responsive Glass Transition Behavior of Polyelectrolyte Complexes.

Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their unique physicochemical properties and potential applications as smart materials. Herein, the glass transitions of PECs solvated with varying alcohols are investigated in poly(diallyldimethylammonium)/poly(acrylic acid) (PDADMA/PAA) complexes by using modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC). Solvents with one or two hydroxyl groups are selected to examine the effect of PAA-solvent interactions on the glass transition temperature ( ).

Self-Diffusion of Star and Linear Polyelectrolytes in Salt-Free and Salt Solutions.

This work explored solution properties of linear and star poly(methacrylic acids) with four, six, and eight arms (PMAA, 4PMAA, PMAA, and 8PMAA, respectively) of matched molecular weights in a wide range of pH, salt, and polymer concentrations. Experimental measurements of self-diffusion were performed by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), and the results were interpreted using the scaling theory of polyelectrolyte solutions. While all PMAAs were pH sensitive and showed an increase in hydrodynamic radius ( ) with pH in the dilute regime, the of star polymers (measured at basic pH values) was significantly smaller for the star polyacids due to their more compact structure.

Hunting for heroes: Brain neurons mediating GLP-1R agonists in obesity treatment.

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have proven to be highly effective in reducing obesity across species and ages, gaining unmet popularity in clinical treatments against obesity. Although extensive research efforts have been made to explore how the brain regulates body weight homeostasis including the effect brought up by GLP-1 and its synthetic analogs GLP-1RAs, the identity of neurons and neural pathways that are responsible for the observed anti-obesity effect of GLP-1RAs remain largely elusive. Excitingly, three recent high-profile studies presented compelling evidence that each argues for the importance of GLP-1Rs in the dorsomedial hypothalamus, hindbrain, or lateral septum, respectively, in mediating the anti-obesity effect of GLP-1RAs.

Speech Enhancement for Cochlear Implant Recipients using Deep Complex Convolution Transformer with Frequency Transformation.

The presence of background noise or competing talkers is one of the main communication challenges for cochlear implant (CI) users in speech understanding in naturalistic spaces. These external factors distort the time-frequency (T-F) content including magnitude spectrum and phase of speech signals. While most existing speech enhancement (SE) solutions focus solely on enhancing the magnitude response, recent research highlights the importance of phase in perceptual speech quality.

Case Report: Percutaneous Peripheral Nerve Stimulation for the Treatment of Occipital Neuralgia.

Headaches are among the most prevalent medical complaints globally. Occipital neuralgia is a chronic headache disorder characterized by unilateral or bilateral severe pain originating in the neck or skull base and radiating up along the occipital nerve distribution. Effective treatment options for occipital neuralgia can be challenging and some patients may prove to be refractory to conventional medical and interventional therapies.

Prevalence of cannabidiol use and correlates in U.S. adults.

Background: Cannabidiol (CBD) use has been increasing for its putative therapeutic potential for various health conditions. Research using a nationally representative sample is needed to examine characteristics of CBD users.

Methods: Data came from the adult sample (N=47,100) of the 2022 U.

Child Death and Mothers' Subsequent Mental Health in a High-Mortality African Community.

Despite declines in child mortality rates, experiencing a child death remains a common feature of motherhood in many contemporary African populations. Yet, we lack population insights into the consequences of child death for mothers' well-being in the high-mortality regions where it concentrates. Contrasting an extensive psychology literature on the severe and long-lasting consequences of child death for parents in low-mortality settings, a long-standing thesis in multiple social science literature is that the normativity of child death in high-mortality settings can lead to a numbing effect-muting parents' reactions to child loss.

A Qualitative Study of First HIV Test Experiences Among Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents.

Introduction: This qualitative study examined adolescents' first experiences with HIV testing.

Methods: Data were collected from April 2018 to October 2020 as part of an HIV prevention and sex education intervention; SGM adolescents ( = 175) answered open-ended questions regarding experiences with their first HIV test and advice for other adolescents seeking HIV testing. Data were analyzed through inductive content analysis.

Topical Carboxytherapy for Skin Rejuvenation.

Driven by public demand, new safe and effective approaches for achieving dermal rejuvenation are continuously being developed. Recently, there has been growing interest and advances in carbon dioxide therapy, or carboxytherapy. Based on the Bohr effect, carboxytherapy enhances the release of O from the blood into the surrounding tissues in response to increased blood CO.

Recalcitrant Pediatric Facial Vitiligo Successfully Treated with Roflumilast Cream 0.3% Once Daily.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder that causes melanocyte damage and pigment loss. The clinical presentation of vitiligo consists of patchy areas of lighter skin and results from a loss of functioning melanocytes and may be more visible in darker skin toned patients. Vitiligo affects approximately 2 percent of children and adolescents in the United States, with half of the affected cases undiagnosed.

Incidence and Factors in Delayed Neurological Deficits after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Mice.

Background: Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) is one of the most feared complications in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Animal models are crucial to studying the disease mechanisms and potential treatments. DCI in rodents was thought to not exist; herein we examine literature and our experience with DCI in rodents.

Multiscale Measurements of Greenhouse Gas Emissions at U.S. Natural Gas Liquefaction Terminals.

Addressing methane emissions across the liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply chain is key to reducing climate impacts of LNG. Actions to address methane emissions have emphasized the importance of the use of measurement-informed emissions inventories given the systematic underestimation in official greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventories. Despite significant progress in field measurements of GHG emissions across the natural gas supply chain, no detailed measurements at US liquefaction terminals are publicly available.

Improving the Clinical Diagnostic Criteria for Genetically Confirmed Adult-Onset Huntington Disease: Considering Nonmotor Presentations.

Background: Huntington disease (HD) is a genetic neurodegenerative disorder. Given the focus on motor manifestations, nonmotor symptoms are frequently underappreciated in clinical evaluations, despite frequently contributing to primary functional impairment.

Recent Findings: A diagnosis of motor-onset as the definition of manifest symptoms misrepresents the complex nature of HD presentation.

Consensus Recommendations for the Management of Neurosarcoidosis: A Delphi Survey of Experts Across the United States.

Background And Objectives: Neurosarcoidosis poses a diagnostic and management challenge due to its rarity, phenotypic variability, and lack of randomized controlled studies to guide treatment selection. Recommendations for management based on expert opinion are useful in clinical practice and provide a framework for designing prospective studies.

Methods: In this Delphi survey study, specialists with experience in managing patients with neurosarcoidosis were invited to anonymously complete 2 surveys about key elements of evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and long-term management of neurosarcoidosis.

Small Group Learning Communities as a Prototype for Intersectional Black Feminist Praxis in Higher Education.

Through the creation and analysis of Small Group Learning Communities (SGLC) at a predominantly White university in the U.S. South, this study investigated how SGLCs operationalize intersectional Black feminist praxis via dialogue, liberation, and ethic of caring.

Brevundimonas diminuta Bacteremia in a Case of Adrenal Insufficiency: A Case Report and Literature Review.

is an uncommon Gram-negative bacteria rarely isolated from clinical samples. There are few reports of infections caused by this microorganism, especially in immunocompromised patients. We present a case of a 69-year-old male with a history of adrenal insufficiency who presented with bacteremia.

Pandemic mothering: Mothers' experiences of adaptation and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research suggests that the demands of have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for mothers. Widespread loss of childcare and in-person schooling forced parents to make adjustments to care for their children in new ways, many while working remotely. This qualitative study, guided by Walsh's theory of family resilience, examines mothers' experiences with stress and resilience as they adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Investigating GLP-1 Injections: Potential Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Non-Diabetic Patients Presenting with Migraines and Hypoglycemia: A Case Report.

Introduction: GLP-1 medications are widely used for weight loss in patients with and without type 2 diabetes. However, limited research exists on their effects in non-diabetic patients, particularly concerning mitochondrial function. This case report investigates the potential of altered mitochondrial dysfunction as a cause of side effects of GLP-1 medications in patients without type 2 diabetes.

Comparison of Diabetes Education Content Experienced by Blind and Nonblind People With Diabetes.

This survey sought to examine disparities in diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) to illuminate gaps underlying morbidity and mortality disparities experienced by blind people with diabetes and develop a pathway for improved health care delivery and health outcomes. Blind participants were more likely to report getting DSMES on strategies to promote treatment adherence and noncompliance with medical regimen; yet, blind and nonblind participants did not differ on primary care provider visits or amount of time spent in diabetes education. These findings suggest that DSMES content may differ for blind versus nonblind participants.

Discovering novel prognostic biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma using eXplainable Artificial Intelligence.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a global health challenge with high mortality rates, largely due to late diagnosis and suboptimal efficacy of current therapies. With the imperative need for more reliable, non-invasive diagnostic tools and novel therapeutic strategies, this study focuses on the discovery and application of novel genetic biomarkers for HCC using explainable artificial intelligence (XAI). Despite advances in HCC research, current biomarkers like Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) exhibit limitations in sensitivity and specificity, necessitating a shift towards more precise and reliable markers.

Dietary inclusion of olive cake alone or in combination with in Black goat kids: Implications for performance and health.

Background And Aim: To address the problems associated with the availability and prices of conventional feeds, researchers have started to include alternative feeds to reduce the cost of diets and increase profitability. This study examined the influences of olive cake (OC), either alone or in combination with (SC), in the diet of black kids.

Materials And Methods: Thirty kids were distributed into three treatments: A free OC diet (control [CON]), OC (20% OC), and OCSC (20% OC with 1 g SC head/d).

Chemical EOR Formulation for a Clay-Rich Sandstone Reservoir with Reduced Surfactant Consumption.

Alkali-surfactant-polymer (ASP) flooding can reduce oil-water interfacial tension to ultralow values and mobilize oil in petroleum reservoirs. Surfactant is consumed by adsorption/retention which is significant in clay-rich reservoirs. Alkali can be added to surfactant-polymer formulations to minimize surfactant adsorption.