Microbiome-Targeted Therapies as an Adjunct to Traditional Weight Loss Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: This study evaluated the effect of microbiome-targeted therapies (pre-, pro-, and synbiotics) on weight loss and other anthropometric outcomes when delivered as an adjunct to traditional weight loss interventions in overweight and obese adults.

Methods: A systematic review of three databases (Medline [PubMed], Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) was performed to identify randomized controlled trials published between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2020, that evaluated anthropometric outcomes following microbiome-targeted supplements in combination with dietary or dietary and exercise interventions. The pooled mean difference (MD) between treatment and control groups was calculated using a random effects model.

Trends in Degree Conferrals, Degree-Associated Debt, and Employment Outcomes Among Undergraduate Public Health Degree Graduates, 2001‒2020.

To characterize the trends in degree conferrals, degree-associated debt, and employment outcomes among undergraduate public health degree (UGPHD) graduates. We reported administrative data on degree conferrals from 2001 to 2020 from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). For alumni graduating from 2015 to 2019, we also reported degree-associated debt and earnings 1 year after graduation compiled by NCES.

Galleria mellonella immune melanization is fungicidal during infection.

A key component of the insect immune response is melanin production, including within nodules, or aggregations of immune cells surrounding microbes. Melanization produces oxidative and toxic intermediates that limit microbial infections. However, a direct fungicidal role of melanin during infection has not been demonstrated.

Detecting Left Heart Failure in Echocardiography through Machine Learning: A Systematic Review.

Background: Heart failure remains a considerable burden to healthcare in Asia. Early intervention, mainly using echocardiography, to assess cardiac function is crucial. However, due to limited resources and time, the procedure has become more challenging during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 impact on index testing services and programmatic cost in 5 high HIV prevalence Indian districts.

Background: Restrictions to curb the first wave of COVID-19 in India resulted in a decline in facility-based HIV testing rates, likely contributing to increased HIV transmission and disease progression. The programmatic and economic impact of COVID-19 on index testing, a standardized contact tracing strategy, remains unknown.

Methods: Retrospective programmatic and costing data were analyzed under a US government-supported program to assess the pandemic's impact on the programmatic outcomes and cost of index testing implemented in two Indian states (Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh).

Applying symptom dynamics to accurately predict influenza virus infection: An international multicenter influenza-like illness surveillance study.

Background: Public health organizations have recommended various definitions of influenza-like illnesses under the assumption that the symptoms do not change during influenza virus infection. To explore the relationship between symptoms and influenza over time, we analyzed a dataset from an international multicenter prospective emergency department (ED)-based influenza-like illness cohort study.

Methods: We recruited patients in the US and Taiwan between 2015 and 2020 with: (1) flu-like symptoms (fever and cough, headache, or sore throat), (2) absence of any of the respiratory infection symptoms, or (3) positive laboratory test results for influenza from the current ED visit.

Understanding the role of parents' social connectedness in children's behavioral wellbeing in low-income communities: A study protocol.

Group-based parent-training (PT) is one of the most common and well-established approaches for strengthening parenting skills and reducing child behavior problems. When offered in school settings, the social connections formed among participants may generate additional benefits for parents, schools, and children. However, to date there has been limited research on the potential benefits or harms associated with social connectedness (SC) in group-based PT.

Phenotypes of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and all-cause mortality: unsupervised machine learning analysis of NHANES III.

Objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a non-communicable disease with a rising prevalence worldwide and with large burden for patients and health systems. To date, the presence of unique phenotypes in patients with NAFLD has not been studied, and their identification could inform precision medicine and public health with pragmatic implications in personalised management and care for patients with NAFLD.

Design: Cross-sectional and prospective (up to 31 December 2019) analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III (1988-1994).

Efficacy and Safety of Anti-Xa-Guided Versus Fixed Dosing of Low Molecular Weight Heparin for Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in Trauma Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: Trauma patients are at high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We summarize the comparative efficacy and safety of anti-Xa-guided versus fixed dosing for low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for the prevention of VTE in adult trauma patients.

Methods: We searched Medline and Embase from inception through June 1, 2022.

Racial capitalism and the US formula shortage: A policy analysis of the formula industry as a neocolonial system.

The U.S. is currently experiencing a formula shortage and an infant feeding crisis that began with a formula recall and the hospitalization of 4 infants, 2 of whom died.

Omicron Subvariants: Clinical, Laboratory, and Cell Culture Characterization.

Background: The variant of concern Omicron has become the sole circulating severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant for the past several months. Omicron subvariants BA.1, BA.

Factors associated with HPV vaccination decision-making among Korean American women.

Despite a significant reduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the United States in the past decade, Korean American (KA) women experience a disproportionately high cervical cancer burden due to low HPV vaccination rates. Given associations between parental decision-making and adolescent vaccination, it is crucial to identify and address factors influencing parental HPV vaccination decision-making for their children. The purpose of this study was to examine the sociodemographic characteristics and health literacy factors in relation to KA women's willingness to allow their daughters to receive HPV vaccination.

Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 isolates in rodents.

The BA.2 sublineage of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has become dominant in most countries around the world; however, the prevalence of BA.4 and BA.

Melanization of Is Associated with Alteration of Extracellular pH.

is a recently emerged global fungal pathogen, which causes life-threatening infections, often in healthcare settings. infections are worrisome because the fungus is often resistant to multiple antifungal drug classes. Furthermore, forms durable and difficult to remove biofilms.

Association between Abdominal CT Measurements of Body Composition before Deceased Donor Liver Transplant with Posttransplant Outcomes.

Background Pre-liver transplant (LT) sarcopenia is associated with poor survival. Methods exist for measuring body composition with use of CT scans; however, it is unclear which components best predict post-LT outcomes. Purpose To quantify the association between abdominal CT-based body composition measurements and post-LT mortality in a large North American cohort.

Optimal cardiometabolic health and risk of heart failure in type 2 diabetes: an analysis from the Look AHEAD trial.

Aims: To evaluate the contribution of baseline and longitudinal changes in cardiometabolic health (CMH) towards heart failure (HF) risk among adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods And Results: Participants of the Look AHEAD trial with T2D and without prevalent HF were included. Adjusted Cox models were used to create a CMH score incorporating target levels of parameters weighted based on relative risk for HF.

Females are less likely to receive best medical therapy for stroke prevention before and after carotid revascularization than males.

Background: Current professional guidelines recommend best medical therapy (BMT) with statin agents and antiplatelet therapy for primary and secondary stroke prevention in patients with carotid artery stenosis. We aimed to assess the association of patient sex with preoperative BMT in patients undergoing carotid revascularization.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of Vascular Quality Initiative patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy or carotid artery stenting between January 2003 and February 2022.

From screening to treatment: the new landscape of diabetic kidney disease.

Globally, diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and it is predicted to increase in the following years. Despite its high prevalence, CKD remains under diagnosed. In this BMC Medicine collection of articles on diabetic kidney disease (DKD), we place in context the importance of screening and early detection of DKD and the most accurate tools to monitor for optimal glycemic control in this his risk population.

Omicron Subvariants: Clinical, Laboratory, and Cell Culture Characterization.

Background: The variant of concern, Omicron, has become the sole circulating SARS-CoV-2 variant for the past several months. Omicron subvariants BA.1, BA.

Evaluating the impact of naloxone dispensation at public health vending machines in Clark County, Nevada.

Introduction: Implementing public health vending machines (PHVMs) is an evidence-based strategy for mitigating substance use-associated morbidity and mortality the dispensation of essential supplies to people who use drugs, including overdose prevention resources. PHVMs have been implemented throughout the world; however, their implementation in the United States (US) is a recent phenomenon. In 2017, Trac-B Exchange (a syringe services program in Clark County, Nevada) installed three PHVMs.

The standardisation of uveitis nomenclature (SUN) project.

The uveitides are a collection of over 30 diseases characterised by intraocular inflammation. Previous work demonstrated that the agreement among uveitis experts on diagnosis was modest at best with some pairs of experts having chance alone agreement on selected diseases. The Standardisation of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) is a17-year collaboration among experts in uveitis, ocular image grading, informatics, and machine learning to improve clinical and translational uveitis research.

Developing and validating clinical features-based machine learning algorithms to predict influenza infection in influenza-like illness patients.

Background: Seasonal influenza poses a significant risk, and patients can benefit from early diagnosis and treatment. However, underdiagnosis and undertreatment remain widespread. We developed and compared clinical feature-based machine learning (ML) algorithms that can accurately predict influenza infection in emergency departments (EDs) among patients with influenza-like illness (ILI).

Impact of Motivational Enhanced Adherence Counseling and Point-of-Care Viral Load Monitoring on Viral Load Outcome in Women on Life-Long ART: A Randomized Pilot Study.

We piloted the combined effectiveness of point-of-care viral load monitoring plus motivational enhanced adherence counseling (intervention) compared with routine care (control) in women identified at risk of virologic failure in the PROMOTE study in Zimbabwe. In an unblinded randomized study, consenting women with last viral load ≥200 copies/ml and/or pill count outside 90-110% range were randomized 1 : 1 to receive the intervention or continue routine care, comprising laboratory-based VL monitoring and standard EAC, from trained nurses and counsellors. Viral load was measured 0, 3, 6, and 12 months after enrolment.

Virulence Assay Using a Larvae Model System.

is a human pathogenic fungus that can cause pulmonary infections and meningitis in both immunocompromised and otherwise healthy individuals. Limited treatment options and a high mortality rate underlie the necessity for extensive research of the virulence of . Here we describe a detailed protocol for using the (Greater Wax Moth) larvae as a model organism for the virulence analysis of the cryptococcal infections.