Augmenting rehabilitation robotics with spinal cord neuromodulation: A proof of concept.

Rehabilitation robotics aims to promote activity-dependent reorganization of the nervous system. However, people with paralysis cannot generate sufficient activity during robot-assisted rehabilitation and, consequently, do not benefit from these therapies. Here, we developed an implantable spinal cord neuroprosthesis operating in a closed loop to promote robust activity during walking and cycling assisted by robotic devices.

From Castaways to Discoveries: Unveiling Treasures in Skin RNAseq Using a Novel Multidimensional Data Processing Workflow Including Infection-Host Dynamics.

Defining physiology and methods to measure biological mechanisms is essential. Extensive datasets such as RNA sequencing are used with little analysis of the knowledge gained from the various methodologies. Within this work, we have processed publicly available NCBI RNAseq datasets using a combination of bioinformatics tools for the largest physiological organ, the skin.

Protocol for simultaneous detection of PRRS virus infection and dying cell populations by a flow cytometry double-staining approach.

When investigating cellular responses to viral infections, there is a need to quantitatively distinguish between dying cells, infected cells, and cells that are both infected and dying. Here, we present a protocol to simultaneously detect porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection and cell death using a flow cytometry double-staining approach. We describe steps for cell seeding, infection, and collection; staining dead cells; sample fixation; and cell permeabilization.

Protocol for cell-type-specific single-cell labeling and manipulation in Drosophila using a sparse driver system.

Here, we present a protocol for cell-type-specific single-cell labeling and manipulation in Drosophila using a sparse driver system. We describe steps for generating constructs and fly lines, titrating heat-shocked durations for precise temporal control and desired sparsity, and co-expressing multiple transgenes for experiments. We demonstrate that this generalizable toolkit enables tunable sparsity, multi-color staining, single-cell trans-synaptic tracing, single-cell manipulation, and cell-autonomous gene function analysis.

Comparison between Go-GutDx, a novel diagnostic stool test kit with potential impact in low-income countries, and BioFire test.

Introduction: Infectious diarrheal diseases are one of the leading causes of worldwide morbidity and mortality. The incidence of diarrhea is higher in Low-Middle-Income Countries (LMIC), where more than 90% of deaths from diarrheal diseases occur. Diagnostic tests for infectious diarrhea are not readily available in Low-Middle-Income Countries.

RBC-GEM: A genome-scale metabolic model for systems biology of the human red blood cell.

Advancements with cost-effective, high-throughput omics technologies have had a transformative effect on both fundamental and translational research in the medical sciences. These advancements have facilitated a departure from the traditional view of human red blood cells (RBCs) as mere carriers of hemoglobin, devoid of significant biological complexity. Over the past decade, proteomic analyses have identified a growing number of different proteins present within RBCs, enabling systems biology analysis of their physiological functions.

Accelerated Missense Mutation Identification in Intrinsically Disordered Proteins Using Deep Learning.

We use a combination of Brownian dynamics (BD) simulation results and deep learning (DL) strategies for the rapid identification of large structural changes caused by missense mutations in intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). We used ∼6500 IDP sequences from MobiDB database of length 20-300 to obtain gyration radii from BD simulation on a coarse-grained single-bead amino acid model (HPS2 model) used by us and others [Dignon, G. L.

Connecting the dots: Understanding and addressing the metabolic impact of antipsychotic and antidepressant medications.

Serious mental disorders such as schizophrenia and major depression are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, resulting in much shorter life expectancies in those affected. The discovery of antipsychotic medications ushered in improved health outcomes for people with serious mental disorders but also brought about increased morbidity due to their metabolic side effects, including obesity and diabetes mellitus. Antidepressant medications have a more favorable metabolic side effect profile, but some can still cause weight gain and hyperglycemia.

The impact of canine-assisted intervention on stress reduction among university students in Thailand.

Stress negatively impacts university students, leading to adverse outcomes. While canine-assisted intervention (CAI) has been shown to reduce self-reported stress, no studies have investigated stress levels and associated biomarkers in dogs and students simultaneously. This study examined salivary cortisol, blood pressure, and pulse rate in 122 university students experiencing self-reported moderate to high stress before an encounter with a dog (T1), immediately before meeting a dog (T2), and after spending 15 minutes interacting with a dog (T3).

The relationship between cardiometabolic abnormalities and mortality in the Women's Health Initiative: A comparison of associations among women with cancer to women without cancer.

Background: Prior studies of participants with breast and other obesity-associated cancers in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) showed worse mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes for individuals with a higher number of cardiometabolic risk factors at study entry. The purpose of this analysis is to compare the relationship between cardiometabolic abnormalities and mortality among women with and without cancer in the WHI.

Methods: Women with one of five early-stage obesity-associated cancers (breast, colorectal, endometrial, ovarian, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma) and controls without any new or prior history of cancer were selected from the WHI-Life and Longevity after Cancer ancillary study.

A telomere-to-telomere phased genome of an octoploid strawberry reveals a receptor kinase conferring anthracnose resistance.

Background: Cultivated strawberry (Fragaria xananassa Duch.), an allo-octoploid species arising from at least 3 diploid progenitors, poses a challenge for genomic analysis due to its high levels of heterozygosity and the complex nature of its polyploid genome.

Results: This study developed the complete haplotype-phased genome sequence from a short-day strawberry, 'Florida Brilliance' without parental data, assembling 56 chromosomes from telomere to telomere.

: refined taxonomy and new insights into the biology and evolution of diatom-infecting DNA viruses.

Bacilladnaviruses are single-stranded DNA viruses that infect diatoms that, so far, have been primarily identified in marine organisms and environments. Using a viral metagenomics approach, we discovered 13 novel bacilladnaviruses originating from samples of mud-flat snail (; =3 genomes) and benthic sediments (=10 genomes) collected from the Avon-Heathcote Estuary in New Zealand. Comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis of the new bacilladnavirus sequences in the context of the previously classified members of the family helped refine and further expand the taxonomy.

Spinal Osteotomies for Cervicothoracic Sagittal Imbalance Correction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Study DesignSystematic Review.ObjectivesCervicothoracic junction (CTJ) deformities, particularly kyphosis, significantly impact patients' quality of life, causing pain, dysphagia, and inability to maintain horizontal gaze. Various surgical osteotomy techniques are available to correct CTJ kyphosis, but their relative effectiveness and associated complications remain unclear.

A survey study of urban retailers selling alkyl nitrites ("poppers") in the New York City area which led to public health interventions.

Introduction: Alkyl nitrites ("poppers") are used recreationally for sexual enhancement, muscle relaxation, and euphoria. However, they can be toxic and cause adverse reactions such as methemoglobinemia. While inhalation is the typical route of usage, the New York City Poison Center has noted an increase in calls related to ingestion.

Diagnosis and Monitoring Pathways Using Non-Invasive Tests in Patients With Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency-Associated Liver Disease: Results From an Expert Delphi Panel.

Background And Aims: The severe alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) genotype Pi*ZZ increases the risk of liver disease (AATD-LD) and lung disease. While non-invasive tests (NITs) are widely used for fibrosis stage and monitoring of all liver diseases, the consensus for use in AATD-LD is limited. A Delphi panel study was conducted to address this need.

Operationalizing Inclusion of Diverse Older Adults in Aging Services Information.

As the United States' population ages, it is also becoming more diverse. The country's Older Americans Act requires county-level offices on aging to be both service and information providers. But it is unclear to what extent offices on aging can identify gaps within the aging services information they provide and improve efforts to meet the information needs of diverse older adults.

Exploring the Link Between Sleep Patterns and Early Cardiovascular Disease Markers in Young Adults with Chronic Anxiety.

Chronic anxiety is commonly associated with poor sleep patterns, which may contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) through mechanisms like oxidative stress, vascular dysfunction, and poor blood pressure control. As sleep disturbances, particularly poor sleep quality and/or regularity, have been independently linked to CVD development, this study explored whether sleep quality/regularity in young adults with chronic anxiety are associated with early indicators of CVD risk, specifically oxidative stress, vascular function, and blood pressure control. Twenty-eight young (24±4 years) participants with a prior clinical diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or elevated GAD symptoms (GAD7>10) had their sleep quality (total sleep time (TST) and sleep efficiency (SE)) and regularity (via TST/SE standard deviations (SD)) assessed for seven consecutive days.

Comparison of health-related quality of life trajectories in older breast cancer survivors and noncancerous controls over 10 years: A SEER-MHOS analysis.

Purpose: This study analyzed the long-term effects of cancer on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of older breast cancer survivors for 10 years, including a control group to distinguish between the impacts of cancer treatment and aging.

Methods: The SEER-MHOS data resource was used in the analysis. Cases were 674 older women diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998-2015 at age 65 and older and participated in Medicare Health Outcomes Survey within 24 months before their cancer diagnosis and at least once within 10 years of post-diagnosis.

In Vitro Activity of Bacteriophages Against Ocular Methicillin-resistant S. aureus Isolates Collected in the US.

Introduction: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a leading cause of sight-threatening infections in the US. These strains pose a significant challenge in managing ocular infections, as they frequently exhibit resistance to first-line empirical antibiotics. To assess the potential of bacteriophages as innovative topical therapies for treatment of recalcitrant ocular infections, we evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial activity of a set of anti-S.

Re-Evaluating the Use of Glyphosate-based Herbicides: Implications on Fertility.

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are the most widely used herbicides in the United States, accounting for 19% of estimated global use. Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reaffirmed that the active ingredient glyphosate (GLY) is safe for humans, recent studies on exposure have suggested association with cancer, metabolic disorders, endocrine disruption and infertility, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and psychological disorders. Current literature on the effects of GLY exposure on reproductive function suggests potential clinical implications on women's reproductive health, including polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, infertility, and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Money Matters: The Effect of Income on Postsurgical Outcomes in Stage IA Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: Treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains challenging; 5-year survival is as low as 24% for resectable disease. However, the outlook for stage IA NSCLC is favorable, with 5-year survival exceeding 74% and with surgery often being curative. Despite this positive prognosis, low socioeconomic status has been shown to correlate with nonstandard treatment and worse overall survival specifically in stage IA.

Vedolizumab for prevention of lower-GI acute GVHD in the Japanese subgroup analysis of the phase 3 GRAPHITE study.

In the randomized, double-blind, phase 3 GRAPHITE study (NCT03657160), anti-αβ integrin antibody vedolizumab showed greater efficacy than placebo for prevention of lower-gastrointestinal (GI) acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) after unrelated allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). This post hoc analysis assessed the efficacy and safety of vedolizumab versus placebo for lower-GI aGVHD prevention in Japanese and non-Japanese patients, when added to standard GVHD prophylaxis (calcineurin inhibitor + methotrexate/mycophenolate mofetil + / - anti-thymocyte globulin [ATG]). The analysis included 35 (18 vedolizumab-treated, 17 placebo-treated) Japanese and 298 (150 vedolizumab-treated, 148 placebo-treated) non-Japanese patients.

Minimal Residual Disease in Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma.

Liquid biopsies represent a promising and minimally invasive approach to diagnosing and monitoring cancer. In recent years, studies across a multitude of solid organ malignancies have suggested the clinical utility of biomarkers such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Particular attention has been given to serial assessment of such biomarkers in an effort to detect minimal residual disease (MRD), in order to predict which patients may be at highest risk of relapse following curative-intent surgical or medical intervention.

Racial Disparities in Doctor-Patient Communication: Examining Doctors' Encounters with Black and White Patients.

Healthcare disparities persist in the USA, with Black patients often receiving lower-quality care. Effective doctor-patient communication is crucial for influencing satisfaction, adherence to treatment, and overall health outcomes. This study examined racial disparities in doctor-patient communication, focusing on encounters with Black and White patients recently diagnosed with myelodysplastic neoplasm (MDS).