Broadly inhibitory antibodies to severe malaria virulence proteins.

Malaria pathology is driven by the accumulation of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes in microvessels. This process is mediated by the polymorphic erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) adhesion proteins of the parasite. A subset of PfEMP1 variants that bind to human endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) through their CIDRα1 domains is responsible for severe malaria pathogenesis.

Hepatic glucose production rises with the histological severity of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and steatohepatitis (MASH) are associated with a high prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Individuals with MASLD exhibit insulin resistance (IR) and hyperglycemia, but it is unclear whether hepatic glucose production (HGP) is increased with MASLD severity. We evaluated HGP in a cohort of histologically characterized individuals with MASL/MASH using stable isotope infusion (6,6-H-glucose, U-H-glycerol) and liver-specific genome-scale metabolic models (GEMs).

Examining Community Preferences for Adaption and Dissemination of an Efficacious Brief Intervention on Alcohol Use and Sexual Behavior.

Compared to other age groups, 18- to 25-year olds (young adults) are more likely to engage in heavy alcohol use and inconsistent contraceptive use, increasing their susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancy. The Studying Alcohol and Related Risks (STARR) intervention was efficacious in reducing young adult alcohol-related risky sexual behavior, including reducing the number of casual sexual partners and alcohol use prior to sex. We conducted a qualitative study to guide the adaptation of the STARR intervention to include additional content on contraceptive use and prepare for dissemination of the intervention to a community audience.

Obstetric Life Support Education for Maternal Cardiac Arrest: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Management of maternal cardiac arrest (MCA) requires understanding the unique physiology of pregnancy and modifications to life support. Health care professionals have historically demonstrated inadequate knowledge and skills necessary to treat MCA.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Obstetric Life Support (OBLS) education on health care professionals' cognitive performance, skills, and self-efficacy in managing MCA.

Psychoneuroimmunology of Mood Disorders.

Recent research has shed light on the intricate relationship between mood disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD), and inflammation. This chapter explores the complex interplay involving immune and metabolic dysfunction in the pathophysiology of these disorders, emphasizing their association with autoimmunity/inflammatory conditions, chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, T cell overactivation, and immunosenescence. This perspective underscores the notion that MDD and BD are not solely brain disorders, highlighting their nature as multi-system conditions.

Economic and Performance Analysis of Achilles Tendon Rupture in the National Basketball Association.

Background: Achilles tendon ruptures are common and potentially career-ending injuries for National Basketball Association (NBA) players. Many studies have reviewed the impact of Achilles tendon ruptures on return to play (RTP) and performance, but there are no studies on their economic significance.

Purpose/hypothesis: This study aimed to analyze the economic and performance consequences of Achilles tendon ruptures usingthe cost of recovery (COR) for NBA franchises as well as preinjury salary/career success.

Perioperative outcomes and trends of transurethral surgeries for benign prostatic hyperplasia in octogenarians: a comprehensive analysis using the NSQIP database (2011-2022).

Introduction: Advances in health care have resulted in an increasing octogenarian population in the United States. The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in this subgroup exceeds 70%. This study attempts to evaluate perioperative outcomes of different transurethral techniques in octogenarians and define their utilization trends from 2011 to 2022.

Quality of Life and Appraisal Factors of Patients with Advanced Cancer and Their Family Caregivers.

Purpose: Few existing interventions have effectively improved the quality of life (QOL) for patients with advanced cancer and their caregivers, partly due to limited research on the factors associated with QOL. Guided by an adapted stress-coping model, this study aimed to examine the associations between the QOL of cancer patients and their caregivers and their primary and secondary appraisals. Primary appraisals involve perceptions and evaluations of advanced cancer and related caregiving, while secondary appraisals relate to their available resources and coping capabilities.

Differences in phenotype between long-lived memory B cells against Plasmodium falciparum merozoite antigens and variant surface antigens.

Plasmodium falciparum infections elicit strong humoral immune responses to two main groups of antigens expressed by blood-stage parasites: merozoite antigens that are involved in the erythrocyte invasion process and variant surface antigens that mediate endothelial sequestration of infected erythrocytes. Long-lived B cells against both antigen classes can be detected in the circulation for years after exposure, but have not been directly compared. Here, we studied the phenotype of long-lived memory and atypical B cells to merozoite antigens (MSP1 and AMA1) and variant surface antigens (the CIDRα1 domain of PfEMP1) in ten Ugandan adults before and after local reduction of P.

The Oral Microbiome of Peri-Implant Health and Disease: A Narrative Review.

Peri-implantitis disease has increased significantly over the last years, resulting in increased failure of implants. Many factors may play a role in implant complications and failure, including ones related to the oral microbiota. This literature review aims to summarize the current knowledge of microbiome of implants in health and disease, focusing not only on the presence/absence of specific microbiota or on their relative abundance, but also on their phenotypic expression and their complex relationships with the host.

An exploration of factors leading to readiness for organizational health literacy change in community-based health organizations.

Introduction: Healthcare systems have a responsibility to improve organizational health literacy (OHL) to increase health equity. This study explored two organizational cultural factors, leadership support and staff buy-in, for organizations planning OHL change.

Methods: Ten community-based health organizations participated in an OHL program.

State of the Science of Cognitive Processing Therapy.

This state of the science review provides an overview of the history and findings of cognitive processing therapy (CPT), one of the most recommended treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder, acute stress disorder, and comorbid conditions. After an introduction to CPT and the randomized controlled trials that have been conducted, the effects of CPT on comorbid conditions are reviewed, as well as new combination treatments. Cognitive mediators of change are described.

A Qualitative Assessment of Changes in Occupational Exposures Among Healthcare Facility Workers.

Adult-onset asthma, notably prevalent among healthcare professionals, especially nurses, is often attributed to occupational factors such as exposure to cleaning agents. Studies consistently underscore the substantial role of such exposure in work-related asthma among hospital staff. We aimed to (a) identify and characterize current practices in cleaning and aerosolized medication administration; (b) assess changes in practices since a similar 2003 study of Texas healthcare workers; and (c) identify factors contributing to diverse exposures within healthcare job categories.

Using the 12-item short-form health survey (SF-12) to evaluate self-rated health in an environmental justice community.

The Greater Fifth Ward (GFW) is a Northeast Houston, Texas, neighborhood with a legacy of industrial contamination and a confirmed cancer cluster. To understand self-rated health in the GFW, community-based participatory research (CBPR), was used to promote the inclusion of all partners. CBPR involves the community during each stage of the research process from design to research dissemination.

Auricular Therapy to Control Pain in Women With Breast Cancer: Protocol for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The increased incidence of breast cancer implies the appearance of frequent symptoms associated with disease and treatments, such as pain. For the management of this issue, auricular therapy has been used in a complementary manner, especially for its safety and analgesic action.

Objective: This systematic review aims to summarize available evidence on the effects of auricular therapy on pain in women undergoing breast cancer treatment.

TRENDING CULTURAL DRIVERS OF SMOKELESS TOBACCO: FOR RECENT REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANTS AS KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIOR DETERMINANTS: A SOUTH TEXAS ORAL HEALTH NETWORK COLLABORATIVE STUDY.

Objectives: Smokeless tobacco (SLT) use is a phenomenon that is detrimental to the health of adults worldwide and dramatically impacts the health of resettled populations. The prevalence of SLT has exponentially grown as a public health threat for the refugee and immigrant populations and is worthy of addressing. This research study examined the SLT cultural drivers of the Texas immigrant and refugee community, which led to their knowledge, perception, awareness, and cessation practices.

First step to environmentally sustainable endoscopy practice: a prospective study of minimizing multiple device use during screening colonoscopy at a large tertiary center.

Background: The healthcare sector generates 8% of greenhouse gas emissions in the USA, of which gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy is the third largest contributor. Single-use tools are a major contributor to modifiable waste generation during GI endoscopy. Through a quality improvement initiative, we aimed to reduce endoscopy waste by urging gastroenterologists to be mindful of tools used during polypectomies by avoiding using multiple tools.