Impact and Recovery of VHA Epilepsy Care Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The Epilepsy Centers of Excellence (ECoE) is a network of facilities within the Veterans Health Administration that evaluates and treats veterans with epilepsy and seizure disorders. This article outlines how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted ECoE services and recovery.

Methods: Directors of 17 ECoEs were surveyed 4 times between May 2020 and July 2022 on 5 domains: functioning of outpatient epilepsy clinics, outpatient electroencephalogram, epilepsy monitoring unit, anticipated permanent operational changes, and utility of national and local recommendations.

External validation of a novel cancer-associated venous thromboembolism risk assessment score in a safety-net hospital.

Background: Cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT) is a leading cause of death in patients diagnosed with cancer. However, pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis use in cancer patients must be carefully evaluated due to a 2-fold increased risk of experiencing a major bleeding event within this population. The electronic health record CAT (EHR-CAT) risk assessment model (RAM) was recently developed, and reports improved performance over the widely used Khorana score.

Neurological impact of HIV/AIDS and substance use alters brain function and structure.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is the cause of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has successfully controlled AIDS, but HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HANDs) remain prevalent among people with HIV. HIV infection is often associated with substance use, which promotes HIV transmission and viral replication and exacerbates HANDs even in the era of cART.

Cellular cross-talk drives mesenchymal transdifferentiation in diabetic kidney disease.

While changes in glomerular function and structure may herald diabetic kidney disease (DKD), many studies have underscored the significance of tubule-interstitial changes in the progression of DKD. Indeed, tubule-interstitial fibrosis may be the most important determinant of progression of DKD as in many forms of chronic glomerulopathies. The mechanisms underlying the effects of tubular changes on glomerular function in DKD have intrigued many investigators, and therefore, the signaling mechanisms underlying the cross-talk between tubular cells and glomerular cells have been the focus of investigation in many recent studies.

Multidisciplinary Amputation Prevention at the DeBakey VA Hospital: Our First Decade.

Background: In 2011, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) undertook multidisciplinary efforts to improve care for patients with nonhealing foot ulcers and reduce leg amputation rates. This article examines the impact of interdisciplinary care for amputation prevention in the VHA.

Methods: The VHA patient population was characterized using internal registries.

Clinical and surgical factors influencing screw breakage during hardware removal following periacetabular osteotomy.

Periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is a procedure used to treat patients with hip dysplasia. Current literature reports symptomatic hardware removal (HWR) rates of 13.6% following PAO.

Single-Crystal Elasticity of α-Hydroquinone-An Analogue for Organic Planetary Materials.

In this study, we measured the single-crystal elasticity of α-hydroquinone at ambient conditions using Brillouin spectroscopy to assess the feasibility of this technique for studying the mechanical properties of organic ices in the outer solar system. In this study, α-hydroquinone serves as an ambient temperature analogue for low-temperature organic ices on Titan and other solar system bodies. We found that a satisfactory Brillouin spectrum can be obtained in less than 5 min of experimental time with negligible damage to the sample.

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).

The Influence of Migration Timing and Local Conditions on Reproductive Timing in Arctic-Breeding Birds.

For birds breeding in the Arctic, nest success is affected by the timing of nest initiation, which is partially determined by local conditions such as snow cover. However, conditions during the non-breeding season can carry over to affect the timing of breeding. We used tracking and breeding data from 248 individuals of 8 species and subspecies of Arctic-breeding shorebirds to estimate how the timing of nest initiation is related to local conditions like snowmelt phenology versus prior conditions, measured by the timing and speed of migration.

Age-dependent phenotypes of cognitive impairment as sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Cognitive changes associated with PASC may not be uniform across populations. We conducted individual-level pooled analyses and meta-analyses of cognitive assessments from eight prospective cohorts, comprising 2,105 patients and 1,432 controls from Argentina, Canada, Chile, Greece, India, Italy, Russia, and the UK. The meta-analysis found no differences by country of origin.

Long-Term Grazing and Nitrogen Management Impacted Methane Emission Potential and Soil Microbial Community in Grazing Pastures.

Achieving sustainable development in livestock agriculture by balancing livestock production, reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and effective utilization of nitrogen nutrient has indeed been challenging. This study investigated the long-term effects of continuous cattle grazing, stocking rates, and fertilization regimens on methane (CH) emissions, soil microbial communities, and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in Bermudagrass pastures in East Texas, USA. Pastures were subjected to high or low stocking rates for over 50 years, with further subdivision based on fertilization: nitrogen-based fertilizer application or no fertilizer but with the growth of annual clover.

Area-Specific Assessment of Stratum Corneum Hydration and Transepidermal Water Loss in Pediatric Patients With Atopic Dermatitis.

SCORring atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) is widely used to assess the severity of atopic eczema, but score systems based on the entire body may be limited in effective monitoring and intervention. It is crucial to monitor moisture levels in each affected body part, but empirical research is still lacking. The objective of this study was to analyze the levels of stratum corneum hydration (SCH) and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients, focusing on the presence and location of atopic lesions at different body sites.

Ayahuasca-assisted meaning reconstruction therapy for grief: a non-randomized clinical trial protocol.

Background: Psychotherapy for Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD), a condition characterized by an intense and persistent grief response, has received increased attention over the past decades. Evidence-based approaches to prevent PGD are currently scarce, and not always effective. This paper introduces a protocol for a clinical trial exploring the effectiveness of a Meaning Reconstruction psychotherapy approach (MR) assisted with ayahuasca, a traditional indigenous medicine.

Prolonged storage reduces viability of and core intestinal bacteria in fecal microbiota transplantation preparations for dogs.

Introduction: Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been described useful as an adjunct treatment for chronic enteropathy in dogs. Different protocols can be used to prepare and store FMT preparations, however, the effect of these methods on microbial viability is unknown. We aimed (1) to assess the viability of several core intestinal bacterial species by qPCR and (2) to assess () viability through culture to further characterize bacterial viability in different protocols for FMT preparations.

Complex bacterial diversity of Guaymas Basin hydrothermal sediments revealed by synthetic long-read sequencing (LoopSeq).

Hydrothermal sediments host phylogenetically diverse and physiologically complex microbial communities. Previous studies of microbial community structure in hydrothermal sediments have typically used short-read sequencing approaches. To improve on these approaches, we use LoopSeq, a high-throughput synthetic long-read sequencing method that has yielded promising results in analyses of microbial ecosystems, such as the human gut microbiome.

Venom immunization: IgG/IgE titers, safety, risk, and methods of the VIPRBITEM cohort.

Background: This is the first study to examine a cohort that engages in the practice of immunization with snake venoms. In this practice, either fresh wet venom or venom reconstituted from freeze-dried form is used in vaccination protocols to produce hyper-immunity to venom.

Methods: This is a retrospective community-initiated collaborative research (CICR) project that collated the records of venom immunization.

Diabetes disparities in diabetes health care access and outcomes during the Covid-19 Pandemic in the United States.

Objectives: To investigate the impact of COVID-19 on hospitalization and consequent diabetes-related complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with diabetes. Interrupted time series analysis (ITS) was used to analyze the monthly trends in diabetes-related hospitalization rates, including short- and long-term complications, 1-year before and after onset of COVID-19.

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.

Pangenomics Links Boll Weevil Divergence With Ancient Mesoamerican Cotton Cultivation.

The boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman, and thurberia weevil, Anthonomus grandis thurberiae Pierce, together comprise a species complex that ranges throughout Mexico, the southwestern regions of the United States and parts of South America. The boll weevil is a historically damaging and contemporaneously threatening pest to commercial upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L. (Malvales: Malvaceae), whereas the thurberia weevil is regarded as an innocuous non-pest subspecies that is mostly found on non-cultivated Thurber's or Arizona cotton, Gossypium thurberi L.

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.

Filarial parasite infection prevalence in field-caught mosquitoes from Connecticut, United States.

Filarial nematodes are parasitic roundworms transmitted by mosquitoes that can cause morbidity and mortality for their human and animal hosts. The filariae community, specifically infection prevalence of heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis (Filarioidea: Onchocercidae) (Leidy), and its primary mosquito vector species, has not been described in Connecticut since 1977. In light of the recent invasion and establishment of an important filariasis vector, Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) (Skuse), we used molecular-based sequencing methods to identify filarial species infecting field-caught mosquitoes in Connecticut, United States.

Reliability of Central Vein Sign Imaging With 3T FLAIR* in a Multicenter Study.

Background And Purpose: The central vein sign (CVS) is a diagnostic imaging biomarker for multiple sclerosis (MS). FLAIR* is a combined MRI contrast that provides high conspicuity for CVS at 3 Tesla (3T), enabling its sensitive and accurate detection in clinical settings. This study evaluated whether CVS conspicuity of 3T FLAIR* is reliable across imaging sites and MRI vendors and whether gadolinium (Gd) contrast increases CVS conspicuity.

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.

Comprehensive assessment reveals numerous clinical and neurophysiological differences between MECP2-allelic disorders.

Objective: Rett syndrome (RTT) and MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS) result from under- and overexpression of MECP2, respectively. Preclinical studies using genetic-based treatment showed robust phenotype recovery for both MDS and RTT. However, there is a risk of converting MDS to RTT, or vice versa, if accurate MeCP2 levels are not achieved.