Ankle-foot orthoses for improving walking in adults with calf muscle weakness due to neuromuscular disorders.

Background: Calf muscle weakness is a common symptom in slowly progressive neuromuscular disorders that lead to walking problems like instability and increased walking effort. The mainstay of treatment to improve walking in this population is the provision of ankle-foot-orthoses (AFOs). Since we are not aware of an up-to-date and complete overview of the effects of AFOs used for calf muscle weakness in slowly progressive neuromuscular disorders, we reviewed the evidence for the effectiveness of AFOs to improve walking in this patient group, in order to support clinical decision-making.

Weight and Blood-Based Markers of Cachexia Predict Disability, Hospitalization and Worse Survival in Cancer Immunotherapy Patients.

Background: Cancer-associated cachexia can inhibit immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy efficacy. Cachexia's effect on ICI therapy has not been studied in large cohorts of cancer patients aside from lung cancer. We studied associations between real-world routinely collected clinical cachexia markers and disability-free, hospitalization-free and overall survival of cancer patients.

Trifunctional lipid derivatives: PE's mitochondrial interactome.

Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) is a ubiquitous lipid species in higher eukaryotes. Here, we synthesized a multifunctionalized PE derivative (1) designed to identify PE-binding proteins in intact cells through photo-crosslinking and subsequent isolation and proteomic analysis of the PE-protein conjugates. We show that the tool is also useful for tracking PE translocation to mitochondria after uncaging.

A Case Series With Cysteamine-Isobionicamide Complex: Clues for Skin-Rejuvenating Activity.

Background: Skin aging is inevitable. Wrinkles, skin texture abnormalities, senile hyperpigmentation, loss of skin tone, dryness, atrophy, and telangiectasias represent some of the hallmarks of aged skin. Skin rejuvenation can be addressed by topical therapies, such as topical retinoids and antioxidants or physical modalities with energy-based devices, all providing acceptable outcomes.

Defining the Critical Requisites for Accurate Simulation of SARS-CoV-2 Viral Dynamics: Patient Characteristics and Data Collection Protocol.

Mathematical models of viral dynamics are crucial in understanding infection trajectories. However, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral load data often includes limited sparse observations with significant heterogeneity. This study aims to: (1) understand the impact of patient characteristics in shaping the temporal viral load trajectory and (2) establish a data collection protocol (DCP) to reliably reconstruct individual viral load trajectories.

A preliminary analysis of teaching children with autism spectrum disorder self-protection skills for bullying situations.

Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder are at high risk of being bullied, but research on teaching children with autism self-protection skills for bullying situations is scant. We taught five children self-protection skills for two types of bullying (threats and unkind remarks) and consecutive bullying occurrences. We first evaluated behavioral skills training and a textual prompt to teach children to report threats of physical or material harm, provide a disapproving statement after a first unkind remark, and occupy themselves with an activity away from a bully after a second unkind remark.

Transtracheal ultrasound for identifying endotracheal intubation in adults.

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (diagnostic). The objectives are as follows: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of transtracheal ultrasound for detecting endotracheal intubation in adult patients. Secondary objectives Secondary objectives include assessing the diagnostic accuracy of transtracheal ultrasound amongst the following subgroups: setting (e.

Toward Safety Protocols for Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS): A Computational and Experimental Approach.

As the clinical applicability of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) expands, the need for PNS-specific safety criteria becomes pressing. This study addresses this need, utilizing a novel machine learning and computational bio-electromagnetics modeling platform to establish a safety criterion that captures the effects of fields and currents induced on axons. Our approach is comprised of three steps: experimentation, model creation, and predictive simulation.

Virginia Memory Project: Using the Healthy Brain Initiative Roadmap to design a statewide dementia registry.

Introduction: The Virginia Memory Project (VMP) is a statewide epidemiological registry for Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) and other neurodegenerative conditions. It aims to support dementia research, policy, and care by leveraging the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) Roadmap.

Methods: To capture comprehensive data, the VMP integrates self-enrollment and automatic enrollment using Virginia's All-Payer Claims Database (APCD).

Prognostic Value of D-Dimer in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection and Intramural Hematoma: Observations from the Acute Aortic Syndrome Group of the Registry of Acute Non-Traumatic Chest Pain in China.

Background: Acute type A aortic dissection (AAD) and acute type A intramural hematoma (AIMH) are life-threatening conditions with high mortality rates, and prognostic indicators are critical for guiding urgent treatment decisions. We assessed the prognostic significance of admission D-dimer levels in patients with AAD and AIMH.

Methods And Results: The prospective, multicenter, observational study in China recruited participants from 2013 to 2019.

Cadherins and Growth Factor Receptors: ligand selective mechano-switches at cadherin junctions.

This study investigated possible mechanisms underlying differences between heterophilic and homophilic cadherin adhesions that influence intercellular mechanics and multicellular organization. Results suggest that homophilic cadherin ligation selectively activates force-transduction, such that resulting signaling and mechano-transduction amplitudes are independent of cadherin binding affinities. Epithelial (E-) and neural (N-) cadherin cooperate with distinct growth factors to mechanically activate force-transduction cascades.

Predictive validity of obstacle-crossing test variations in identifying fallers after inpatient rehabilitation for stroke.

Background: The ability to step over an obstacle is often evaluated as part of fall-risk and balance assessments. Although different obstacle-crossing tests exist, their comparative predictive validity in stroke is unknown.

Objectives: To examine the predictive validity of different obstacle depths and different obstacle-crossing tests, including a novel, custom-height test and an existing "one-size-fits-all" obstacle test, for predicting post-stroke fallers.

Disopyramide Revisited for Treatment of Symptomatic Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Efficacy and Safety in Patients Treated for at Least 5 Years.

Background: Disopyramide is used to treat heart failure symptoms in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with known medium-term efficacy and safety, while long-term outcomes are unknown.

Methods And Results: A total of 92 consecutive patients with symptomatic obstructive HCM with peak left ventricular outflow tract gradients of ≥30 mm Hg at rest or with provocation who were maintained on disopyramide for ≥5 years at 2 dedicated HCM centers were included: 92 patients; mean age, 62.5 years; 54% women; treated with disopyramide for median 7.

Nocturnal pulse oxygen saturation dynamics at simulated high altitude: Predictive value for acute mountain sickness in healthy men born pre-term.

The physiological sequelae of pre-term birth might influence the responses of this population to hypoxia. Moreover, identifying variables associated with development of acute mountain sickness (AMS) remains a key practically significant area of altitude research. We investigated the effects of pre-term birth on nocturnal oxygen saturation ( ) dynamics and assessed the predictive potential of nocturnal -related metrics for morning AMS in 12 healthy adults with gestational age < 32 weeks (pre-term) and 12 term-born control participants.

Coexisting Calcific Aortic Stenosis and Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis: Real-World Evaluation of Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes.

Background: The coexistence of transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) and aortic stenosis (AS) is increasingly recognized, but the clinical consequences are unclear. We aimed to characterize clinical outcomes in AS plus ATTR-CA compared with only AS or ATTR-CA.

Methods And Results: In a retrospective cohort study, patients with AS only, ATTR-CA only, or AS plus ATTR-CA were identified using all-payer claims data (2015-2021).

Burden of Valvular Heart Diseases in a Racially and Ethnically Diverse Population: The Bronx-Valve Registry.

Background: Valvular heart disease (VHD) is a major focus of cardiovascular medicine, but limited data are available for racial and ethnic minorities. The aim was to assess the burden and clinical correlates of VHD in a highly diverse area of the United States.

Methods And Results: Individuals with echocardiographic diagnosis of native VHD between January 2010 and December 2019 at a quaternary care health system of the Bronx (New York, USA) were included.

Mapping the spatial atlas of the human bone tissue integrating spatial and single-cell transcriptomics.

Bone is a multifaceted tissue requiring orchestrated interplays of diverse cells within specialized microenvironments. Although significant progress has been made in understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms of component cells of bone, revealing their spatial organization and interactions in native bone tissue microenvironment is crucial for advancing precision medicine, as they govern fundamental signaling pathways and functional dependencies among various bone cells. In this study, we present the first integrative high-resolution map of human bone and bone marrow, using spatial and single-cell transcriptomics profiling from femoral tissue.

Distinct structural and functional heterochromatin partitioning of lamin B1 and lamin B2 revealed using genome-wide nicking enzyme epitope targeted DNA sequencing.

Gene expression is regulated by chromatin DNA methylation and other features, including histone post-translational modifications (PTMs), chromatin remodelers and transcription factor occupancy. A complete understanding of gene regulation will require the mapping of these chromatin features in small cell number samples. Here we describe a novel genome-wide chromatin profiling technology, named as Nicking Enzyme Epitope targeted DNA sequencing (NEED-seq).

Correlating autonomic physiology with symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia after spinal cord injury.

Background: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) commonly have autonomic dysreflexia (AD) with increased sympathetic activity. After SCI, individuals have decreased baroreflex sensitivity and increased vascular responsiveness.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between baroreflex and blood vessel sensitivity with AD symptoms.

Number of Previous Strokes and the Association With Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: Longitudinal Data From the GLORIA-AF Registry.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who suffered a previous stroke are at increased risk of recurrent thromboembolic events and other major outcomes. The impact of the number of stroke episodes on the natural history of patients with AF is still unclear.

Methods And Results: Using data from the international, multicenter, and prospective GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation) Registry Phase III, we categorized patients with a recent diagnosis of non-valvular AF according to the number of previous strokes (either 0, 1, or ≥2 episodes).

The association of seizure control with neuropathology in dementia.

Seizures in people with dementia (PWD) are associated with faster cognitive decline and worse clinical outcomes. However, the relationship between ongoing seizure activity and postmortem neuropathology in PWD remains unexplored. We compared post-mortem findings in PWD with active, remote, and no seizures using multicentre data from 39 Alzheimer's Disease Centres from 2005 to 2021.