Closing the gap on vaccine uptake in developing countries: Is there a role for cash incentives?

Vaccination saves lives, yet vaccine uptake remains insufficient particularly in developing countries. While various approaches have been used to improve vaccine uptake, this review focuses on the potential of cash incentives to address this issue in developing countries. We examine the role and criticism of cash incentives and offer suggestions for reducing health disparities through targeting.

Cardiogenic shock in patients with active onco-hematological malignancies: A multicenter retrospective study.

Purpose: Onco-hematological (OH) patients face significant cardiovascular risks due to malignancy and drug toxicity. Data are limited on the characteristics and outcomes of OH patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) in intensive care units (ICUs).

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 214 OH patients with CS across 22 ICUs (2010-2021).

Maternal exposure to legacy PFAS compounds PFOA and PFOS is associated with disrupted cytokine homeostasis in neonates: The Upstate KIDS study (2008-2010).

There is growing concern that exposure to per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), persistent chemicals used widely to make consumer products water- or grease-proof, may alter immune function, leading to reduced vaccine response or greater susceptibility to infections. We investigated associations between two legacy PFAS (PFOA and PFOS) and infant cytokine levels measured in newborn dried bloodspots (NDBS) from a large population-based birth cohort in Upstate New York, to determine whether exposure to legacy PFAS is associated with variability in cytokine profiles in newborns. We performed adjusted mixed effects regressions for each cytokine against PFOS and PFOA followed by exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on specific cytokine subsets selected via the prior regressions.

Exposure to residential air pollution and the development of functional connectivity of brain networks throughout adolescence.

Background: A few studies linked air pollution to differences in functional connectivity of resting-state brain networks in children, but how air pollution exposure affects the development of brain networks remains poorly understood. Therefore, we studied the association of air pollution exposure from birth to 3 years and one year before the first imaging assessment with the development of functional connectivity across adolescence.

Methods: We utilized data from 3,626 children of the Generation R Study (The Netherlands).

Association of anti-phosphatidylserine/prothrombin antibodies with adverse in vitro fertilization outcomes.

Anti-phosphatidylserine/prothrombin antibodies (aPS/PT) are classified as non-criteria antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), and are strongly associated with thrombosis and pregnancy complications linked to antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). This study aimed to investigate whether aPS/PT positivity is associated with adverse outcomes in vitro fertilization (IVF). The study included infertile women who tested positive aPS/PT and underwent IVF cycles, as well as infertile controls with pure tubal etiology.

Long-term posttransplant-related bone volumetric changes in eight face transplant recipients - A single-center retrospective case series.

Background: The long-term stability of allograft or native bone in facial vascularized composite allograft (fVCA) recipients is unclear. This study quantified long-term bone volume changes in facial transplants.

Methods: Computed tomography scans of eight fVCA recipients (2011-2023) were analyzed with Materialise Mimics.

Ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of gallic acid in beverages based on nitrogen-doped multi-walled carbon nanotube networks embellished with cobalt 2-methylimidazole nanoparticles.

This work presents a convenient and easy-to-operate method for synthesizing the functionally integrated nanocomposite of nitrogen-doped multi walled carbon nanotube networks (N-CNTs) and cobalt 2-methylimidazole (ZIF-67) nanoparticles. The N-CNTs@ZIF-67 nanocomposite was utilized to design a novel electrochemical sensing platform for detecting gallic acid (GA). The N-CNTs@ZIF-67 modified glass carbon electrode (GCE) demonstrated high sensitivity for GA electrochemical detection (LOD: 10.

The interplay between chromatin remodeling and DNA double-strand break repair: Implications for cancer biology and therapeutics.

Proper chromatin remodeling is crucial for many cellular physiological processes, including the repair of DNA double-strand break (DSB). While the mechanism of DSB repair is well understood, the connection between chromatin remodeling and DSB repair remains incompletely elucidated. In this review, we aim to highlight recent studies demonstrating the close relationship between chromatin remodeling and DSB repair.

Early insights of dengue virus serotype 3 (DENV-3) re-emergence in São Paulo, Brazil.

Background: In dengue hyperendemic regions, the evolution of the virus is marked by frequent virus introduction/reintroduction and clade replacement events, occasionally linked to an epidemic outbreak. From 2023 onwards, an increase in the detection of DENV-3 cases has been reported in different regions of Brazil. Thus, molecular and genomic surveillance of circulating DENV strains is crucial for public health preparedness and response efforts for the disease.

Pembrolizumab in microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair deficient (MSI-H/dMMR) and non-MSI-H/non-dMMR advanced endometrial cancer: Phase 2 KEYNOTE-158 study results.

Objective: We report updated results with longer follow-up in patients with MSI-H/dMMR endometrial cancer (EC) in cohort D (advanced EC of any MSI/dMMR status) and cohort K (any MSI-H/dMMR advanced solid tumor, except colorectal) of the phase 2 KEYNOTE-158 study (NCT02628067) and the first results from patients with non-MSI-H/non-dMMR advanced EC (cohort D).

Methods: Patients received pembrolizumab 200 mg Q3W for ≥35 cycles. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) per RECIST v1.

ED observation unit-based delayed comfort care pathway for ED patients on life support.

Background: Critically ill ED patients on life support may undergo transition to comfort care as decided by the surrogate decision maker. When several hours are needed for loved ones to arrive and say farewell before initiating comfort care ("delayed comfort care"), these patients require prolonged ED stays or costly intensive care unit (ICU) admissions.

Methods: A novel ED observation unit (EDOU)-based delayed comfort care pathway for ED patients on invasive mechanical ventilation and/or vasopressors was created in 2013 at Stanford Hospital.

Stage-based analysis of an adaptive worksite intervention trial for diabetes prevention.

Objective: Stage-based models of change posit stage specific factors to promote motivation and intention formation for those not ready to change and volitional action strategies for others. The impact of two interventions on energy restriction and weight change among adults with prediabetes (n = 190) was examined by baseline stage.

Methods: Stage classification included: Pre-intenders had no intention to change; Intenders set an intention but were not acting; and Actors reported eating a low-fat diet at baseline.

Comparing the Robustness of Intensity-modulated Proton Therapy and Proton-arc Therapy Against Interplay Effects of 4D Robust-optimised Plans for Lung Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy.

Aims: To assess the robustness of 4D-optimised IMPT and PAT plans against interplay effects in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with respiratory motion over 10 mm, and to provide insights into the use of proton-based stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for lung cancer with significant tumour movement.

Materials And Methods: Fourteen patients with early-stage NSCLC and tumour motion >10 mm were selected. Three hypofraction regimens were generated using 4D robust optimisation with the IMPT and PAT techniques.

Adaptive approach to diagnosis of amebic liver abscess in non-endemic areas.

Entamoeba histolytica infections range from asymptomatic intestinal amebiasis to more severe syndromes like invasive colitis or hepatic abscess. While diagnostic tests available for assessing these infections have evolved, the optimal use of newer diagnostics like enteric multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) panels has not been fully established. Here we describe the case of a 34-year-old male with an amebic liver abscess (ALA) that was diagnosed via multiplex Gastrointestinal (GI) PCR panel on formed stool and subsequently confirmed by testing liver abscess fluid (off-label) on the same multiplex GI PCR panel leading to rapid diagnosis and targeted treatment modification with excellent outcome.

Structural racism and racial disparities in stroke mortality in the United States, 2021.

Objectives: To understand place-based drivers of racial disparities in stroke mortality in the United States by investigating the relationship between county-level measures of structural racism and racial disparities in stroke mortality.

Methods: We constructed an additive structural racism score from census-based indicators of racial disproportionality (income, poverty, unemployment, home ownership, education, health insurance) and residential segregation (evenness, isolation), as well as county-level jail incarceration data from the Vera Institute of Justice. We utilized age-standardized, spatially smoothed stroke death rates in 2021 for Black and White adults aged 35-64 years in the United States.

Conceptualizing self-reported adverse childhood experiences: From epidemiologic exposure to psychometric latent variable.

In this paper, we apply a measurement science perspective to explore both the epidemiologic and psychometric frameworks for the conceptualization, operationalization and assessment of self-reported adverse childhood experiences (srACEs). The epidemiologic paradigm suggests that srACEs are 'exposures', while the psychometric paradigm views responses on srACEs instrumentation as 'indicators'. It is the central premise of this paper that srACEs cannot be both exposures and indicators of scales.

Dynamic spectrum-driven hierarchical learning network for polyp segmentation.

Accurate automatic polyp segmentation in colonoscopy is crucial for the prompt prevention of colorectal cancer. However, the heterogeneous nature of polyps and differences in lighting and visibility conditions present significant challenges in achieving reliable and consistent segmentation across different cases. Therefore, this study proposes a novel dynamic spectrum-driven hierarchical learning model (DSHNet), the first to specifically leverage image frequency domain information to explore region-level salience differences among and within polyps for precise segmentation.

Comprehensive profiling and risk assessment of antibiotic resistomes in surface water and plastisphere by integrated shotgun metagenomics.

The ever-increasing microplastics (MPs) and antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic ecosystems has become a serious global challenging issue. However, the impact of different pollution sources on microbiome and antibiotic resistome in surface water (SW) and plastisphere (PS) remains largely elusive. Here, shotgun metagenomics was used to analyze microbiome structure and antibiotic resistome in SW and PS under the influence of different pollution sources.

The expression of chromosome 19 miRNA cluster members during insulin sensitivity changes in pregnancy.

Hypothesis: Declines in insulin sensitivity during pregnancy important for fetal growth are associated with impairments in skeletal muscle post-receptor insulin signaling. The primary initiator of these changes is unknown but believed to originate in the placenta. We hypothesize that placental miRNAs are associated with maternal sensitivity changes and impact insulin-sensitive mechanisms in target tissues in vitro.

New treatments for adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.

Adult T cell leukemia lymphoma (ATL) is a mature T cell neoplasm caused by human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). ATL is endemic in specific geographic regions of the world closely related to areas with high prevalence of HLTV-1 infection, including Southwestern Japan, the Caribbean Basin, Central Africa, South America, Northern and Central Australia. HLTV-1 is primarily transmitted through breastmilk in asymptomatic carriers with a long latency period before transformation into ATL in 3 - 5 % of carriers after acquisition of multiple leukemogenic mutations.

Understanding private equity-owned HHAs in the U.S.: A performance comparison between pe-owned and non-pe-owned agencies.

Background: Private equity (PE) ownership in the healthcare sector has increased, raising concerns about its impact on care quality and patient outcomes. In the U.S.

Polyelectrolyte nanofiltration membranes for base separation and recovery.

Nanofiltration (NF) membranes have the potential to significantly advance resource recovery efforts where monovalent/divalent ion separation is critical, but their utilization is limited by inadequate stability under extreme conditions. "Base separation"-i.e.

Combined UV/HO and biochar processes for enhanced removal of contaminants of emerging concern in dry wells.

Dry wells are neighborhood-scale stormwater infiltration systems increasingly used in drought-prone areas for stormwater capture and groundwater recharge. These systems bypass the low permeability surface soil to maximize infiltration rates. However, hydrophilic contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in urban runoff pose potential groundwater contamination risks.

Regulating gypsum scaling-induced wetting in membrane distillation by heterogeneous crystallization: Role of filter media.

Mineral scaling and scaling-induced wetting are critical issues in membrane distillation (MD) during treatment of saline wastewaters. Gypsum scaling and scaling-induced wetting in MD were successfully regulated by heterogeneous crystallization with in-line granular filtration in this study. Stable water recovery increased from 32.