Cutaneous dysbiosis characterizes the post-allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation period.

Gut dysbiosis is linked to mortality and the development of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), but the impact of cutaneous dysbiosis remains unexplored. We performed a pilot observational study and obtained retroauricular and forearm skin swabs from 12 adult patients prior to conditioning chemotherapy/radiation, and at 1-week, 1-month and 3-months after allogeneic HSCT, and performed shotgun metagenomic sequencing. The cutaneous microbiome among HSCT patients was enriched for gram-negative bacteria such as E coli and Pseudomonas, fungi, and viruses.

Concussion and the Autonomic, Immune, and Endocrine Systems: An Introduction to the Field and a Treatment Framework for Persisting Symptoms.

A significant proportion of patients who sustain a concussion/mild traumatic brain injury endorse persisting, lingering symptoms. The symptoms associated with concussion are nonspecific, and many other medical conditions present with similar symptoms. Medical conditions that overlap symptomatically with concussion include anxiety, depression, insomnia, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and cervical strain injuries.

Interaction Between Malat1 and miR-499-5p Regulates Meis1 Expression and Function with a Net Impact on Cell Proliferation.

Meis1 is a transcription factor involved in numerous functions including development and proliferation and has been previously shown to harness cell cycle progression. In this study, we used in silico analysis to predict that miR-499-5p targets Meis1 and that Malat1 sponges miR-499-5p. For the first time, we demonstrated that the overexpression of miR-499-5p led to the downregulation of Meis1 mRNA and protein in C166 cells by directly binding to its 3'UTR.

Meeting Challenges in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Glaucoma.

Glaucoma, a progressive and multifactorial optic neurodegenerative disease, still poses significant challenges in both diagnosis and management and remains a perpetual enigma [...

Long term outcomes associated with the use of perioperative systemic chemotherapy on low grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms with pseudomyxoma peritonei treated with cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

Introduction: Low grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms (LAMN) are indolent tumors that lack invasive potential but may present as pseudomyxoma peritonei. Cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) significantly improves both overall and recurrence free survival. While systemic chemotherapy is generally considered ineffective for LAMN, little literature is available to support this notion.

Age- and sex-specific care cascades to detect gaps in the care of children with tuberculosis in Bangladesh: a cohort study.

Background: Programmatic interventions to increase the detection of children with tuberculosis (TB) are rarely evaluated to understand age- and sex-specific completion rates. We applied modified TB screening and treatment cascade frameworks to assess indicators of effective implementation by age and sex of a TB screening program for children (zero to 14 years) in Bangladesh.

Methods: We implemented an intensified screening program for paediatric TB detection in 119 health care facilities (2018-21).

Joint fluid multi-omics improves diagnostic confidence during evaluation of children with presumed septic arthritis.

Background: An accurate diagnosis of septic versus reactive or autoimmune arthritis remains clinically challenging. A multi-omics strategy comprising metagenomic and proteomic technologies were undertaken for children diagnosed with presumed septic arthritis to advance clinical diagnoses and care for affected individuals.

Methods: Twelve children with suspected septic arthritis were prospectively enrolled to compare standard of care tests with a rapid multi-omics approach.

Metformin intake and risk of metabolic acidosis after radical cystectomy with urinary diversion: A comparative study using data from the TriNetX research network.

Purpose: To investigate the association of diabetes mellitus and metformin use with metabolic acidosis risk after radical cystectomy (RC) and urinary diversion for bladder cancer.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study used TriNetX Research Network data. Patients undergoing RC with continent diversion or ileal conduit for bladder cancer were identified using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) and ICD-10 Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) codes.

Impact of Subsequent Fellowship on Urology Chief Resident Case Log Volumes.

Objective: To characterize the impact of subsequent fellowship on the case log experience of trainees throughout their residency and specifically their chief resident year.

Materials And Methods: Urology resident case logs from 2010 to 2022 were obtained from 13 institutions for total residency and chief years. Five categorized index procedures were included for analysis: General Urology; Endourology; Reconstructive Urology; Urologic Oncology; and Pediatric Urology.

Lysosomal dysfunction and inflammatory sterol metabolism in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Vascular inflammation regulates endothelial pathophenotypes, particularly in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Dysregulated lysosomal activity and cholesterol metabolism activate pathogenic inflammation, but their relevance to PAH is unclear. Nuclear receptor coactivator 7 () deficiency in endothelium produced an oxysterol and bile acid signature through lysosomal dysregulation, promoting endothelial pathophenotypes.

The Brussels consensus for non-invasive ICP monitoring when invasive systems are not available in the care of TBI patients (the B-ICONIC consensus, recommendations, and management algorithm).

Background: Invasive systems are commonly used for monitoring intracranial pressure (ICP) in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and are considered the gold standard. The availability of invasive ICP monitoring is heterogeneous, and in low- and middle-income settings, these systems are not routinely employed due to high cost or limited accessibility. The aim of this consensus was to develop recommendations to guide monitoring and ICP-driven therapies in TBI using non-invasive ICP (nICP) systems.

Changes in multidisciplinary perceptions of trauma video review following implementation of a novel program: let us go to the tape.

Background: Trauma video review (TVR) is an evolving technology that can be used to measure technical and non-technical aspects of trauma care leading to meaningful improvements. Only 30% of centers currently use TVR, with non-users citing medicolegal concerns, staff discomfort with recording, and resource constraints as barriers to implementation. Multiple studies have shown established TVR programs are well-perceived by staff.

Low-Cost Lower Extremity Screening to Predict Shoulder Distraction Force in College Softball Pitchers.

Background: During a windmill softball pitch, the throwing shoulder experiences forces greater than the pitcher's body weight. Various kinematic, kinetic, and performance factors have been related to shoulder forces and torques in softball pitchers, and softball research has examined clinical screening measures such as range of motion, muscular strength, and/or neuromuscular control. However, no studies have explicitly identified low-cost, clinic-friendly screening measures predictive of shoulder distraction forces in softball pitchers.

Postoperative Radiotherapy ± Cetuximab for Intermediate-Risk Head and Neck Cancer.

Purpose: Radiotherapy (RT)/cetuximab (C) demonstrated superiority over RT alone for locally advanced squamous head and neck cancer. We tested this in completely resected, intermediate-risk cancer.

Methods: Patients had squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) of the oral cavity, oropharynx, or larynx, with one or more risk factors warranting postoperative RT.

Functional classification of tauopathy strains reveals the role of protofilament core residues.

Distinct tau amyloid assemblies underlie diverse tauopathies but defy rapid classification. Cell and animal experiments indicate tau functions as a prion, as different strains propagated in cells cause unique, transmissible neuropathology after inoculation. Strain amplification requires compatibility of the monomer and amyloid template.

Regional changes in cerebral blood flow between the upright and supine posture and over 3 days of bed rest.

A reduction in cerebral blood flow (CBF) has been observed during spaceflight and bed rest. We aimed to examine the magnitude and regional heterogeneity of the decrease in CBF during bed rest compared to posture changes on Earth. Seventeen participants (age, 29 ± 9 years, 7 females) were studied in the upright and supine posture and over 3 days of bed rest.

Depressive Symptoms and Amyloid Pathology.

Importance: Depressive symptoms are associated with cognitive decline in older individuals. Uncertainty about underlying mechanisms hampers diagnostic and therapeutic efforts. This large-scale study aimed to elucidate the association between depressive symptoms and amyloid pathology.

CD44-Mediated Metabolic Rewiring is A Targetable Dependency of IDH-Mutant Leukemia.

Recurrent IDH mutations catalyze NADPH-dependent production of oncometabolite R-2HG for tumorigenesis. IDH inhibition provides clinical response in a subset of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases; however, most patients develop resistance, highlighting the need for more effective IDH-targeting therapies. By comparing transcriptomic alterations in isogenic leukemia cells harboring CRISPR base-edited IDH mutations, we identify the activation of adhesion molecules including CD44, a transmembrane glycoprotein, as a shared feature of IDH-mutant leukemia, consistent with elevated CD44 expression in IDH-mutant AML patients.

Efficacy of the Optilume paclitaxel drug-coated balloon after urethroplasty: short-term results from a multicenter study.

Background: The Optilume paclitaxel drug-coated balloon (DCB) is a relatively new-to-market alternative in the management of male anterior urethral stricture disease. The pivotal trial excluded patients with a history of urethroplasty, although these strictures may be amenable to endoscopic management. Therefore, we sought to assess the efficacy of the DCB in the management of recurrent strictures following urethroplasty.

Initial clinical experience with [Lu]Lu-PNT2002 radioligand therapy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: dosimetry, safety, and efficacy from the lead-in cohort of the SPLASH trial.

Introduction: SPLASH (NCT04647526) is a multicenter phase III trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of [Lu]Lu-PNT2002 radioligand therapy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). This study leveraged a lead-in phase to assess tissue dosimetry and evaluate preliminary safety and efficacy, prior to expansion into a randomized phase. Here we report those results.

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).