Antimelanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA5) antibody-positive dermatomyositis: clinical features and outcomes in a racially diverse patient cohort.

Background: The anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA5) antibody-positive dermatomyositis is known for its association with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) and ulcerative skin lesions, often presenting with or without muscle involvement. The aim of this study was to identify distinct clinical and laboratory features that could be used to evaluate disease progression in an ethnically diverse cohort of anti-MDA5 dermatomyositis patients at a U.S.

Characterization of trends in preoperative hemoglobin A1c testing prior to metabolic and bariatric surgery: a retrospective, observational study.

Background: Irrespective of baseline diabetes status, preoperative hemoglobin A1c (A1C) influences perioperative care in patients undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS). Accordingly, the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) endorses that patients undergoing MBS should receive a preoperative A1C test. We aimed to assess the proportion of MBS patients who received a preoperative A1C test and determine whether baseline diabetes status influences receipt of a test.

Human migrations, anthropogenic changes, and insect-borne diseases in Latin America.

Rapid urbanization and migration in Latin America have intensified exposure to insect-borne diseases. Malaria, Chagas disease, yellow fever, and leishmaniasis have historically afflicted the region, while dengue, chikungunya, and Zika have been described and expanded more recently. The increased presence of synanthropic vector species and spread into previously unaffected areas due to urbanization and climate warming have intensified pathogen transmission risks.

Biophysical mapping of TREM2-ligand interactions reveals shared surfaces for engagement of multiple Alzheimer's disease ligands.

TREM2 is a signaling receptor expressed on microglia that has emerged as an important drug target for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. While a number of TREM2 ligands have been identified, little is known regarding the structural details of how they engage. To better understand this, we created a protein library of 28 different TREM2 variants that could be used to map interactions with various ligands using biolayer interferometry.

Sarcolemma resilience and skeletal muscle health require O-mannosylation of dystroglycan.

Background: Maintaining the connection between skeletal muscle fibers and the surrounding basement membrane is essential for muscle function. Dystroglycan (DG) serves as a basement membrane extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor in many cells, and is also expressed in the outward-facing membrane, or sarcolemma, of skeletal muscle fibers. DG is a transmembrane protein comprised of two subunits: alpha-DG (α-DG), which resides in the peripheral membrane, and beta-DG (β-DG), which spans the membrane to intracellular regions.

Retrospective analysis of the occurrence, potential risk factors and medical significance of pulmonary complications after total shoulder arthroplasty from the National Inpatient Sample database (2010-2019).

Background: In USA, total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) ranks amongst the top five surgeries that require hospitalization. As a result, the healthcare system in USA could face a considerable financial strain due to the emergence of subsequent pulmonary problems. This study aimed to conduct a thorough examination of the prevalence, influential factors and medical importance of pulmonary complications, with emphasis on pneumonia, respiratory failure and pulmonary embolism (PE) following total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) procedures in USA.

Plasma S100β is a predictor for pathology and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Blood-brain barrier dysfunction is one characteristic of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is recognized as both a cause and consequence of the pathological cascade leading to cognitive decline. The goal of this study was to assess markers for barrier dysfunction in postmortem tissue samples from research participants who were either cognitively normal individuals (CNI) or diagnosed with AD at the time of autopsy and determine to what extent these markers are associated with AD neuropathologic changes (ADNC) and cognitive impairment.

Methods: We used postmortem brain tissue and plasma samples from 19 participants: 9 CNI and 10 AD dementia patients who had come to autopsy from the University of Kentucky AD Research Center (UK-ADRC) community-based cohort; all cases with dementia had confirmed severe ADNC.

Study protocol for a hybrid type 3 effectiveness-implementation trial of a team-based implementation strategy to support educators' use of a social engagement intervention.

Background: Remaking Recess (RR) is a school-based evidence-based peer social engagement intervention for autistic students. RR involves direct training and coaching with educators; however, educators face several barriers to implementation at both the individual- and organizational-levels. This protocol paper describes a multi-site study that will test whether an educator-level implementation strategy, coaching, with or without a school-level implementation strategy, school-based teams, will maximize educators' use (fidelity and sustainment) of RR for autistic students and their peers who are socially-isolated, rejected, or peripheral and may need additional support during recess.

Changes in pulse pressure variation induced by passive leg raising test to predict preload responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients with low tidal volume in ICU: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Pulse pressure variation (PPV) is limited in low tidal volume mechanical ventilation. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate whether passive leg raising (PLR)-induced changes in PPV can reliably predict preload/fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients with low tidal volume in the intensive care unit.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were screened for diagnostic research relevant to the predictability of PPV change after PLR in low-tidal volume mechanically ventilated patients.

Influence of hip morphology on gluteal muscle biomechanics: a computational modeling study.

Background: Hip morphology variations, particularly in femoral neck shaft angle (NSA) and iliac wing width (IWW), have been associated with gluteal tendinopathy. However, the biomechanical implications of these morphological differences on gluteal muscle function are not well understood. This study investigates how NSA and IWW influence gluteal muscle forces, moment arms, and estimated tendon loads during walking, aiming to provide insights into the potential biomechanical pathways that may contribute to altered lateral hip loading patterns.

Cancer-related health behaviors during the COVID 19 pandemic in geographically diverse samples across the US.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic involved business closures (e.g., gyms), social distancing policies, and prolonged stressful situations that may have impacted engagement in health behaviors.

Management of acute myocardial infarction in chronic kidney disease in Germany: an observational study.

Background: Managing acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage renal disease on dialysis (renal replacement therapy, RRT) presents challenges due to elevated complication risks. Concerns about contrast-related kidney damage may lead to the omission of guideline-directed therapies like percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in this population.

Methods: We analysed German-DRG data of 2016 provided by the German Federal Bureau of Statistics (DESTATIS).

Changes in muscle performance among older adults with myeloid malignancies engaging in a mobile health (mHealth) exercise intervention: a single arm pilot study.

Background: Older adults with cancer are vulnerable to declines in muscle performance (e.g., strength, speed, duration of muscular contraction), which are associated with worse cancer-related outcomes.

Differences in anxiety, depression and pain experience among adults with chronic low back pain as a function of nicotine product use.

The landscape of nicotine use in the United States (US) has continued to evolve, with electronic cigarette use (hereafter e-cigarette) becoming more evident in recent years. Patterns of dual nicotine use, or using combustible nicotine in conjunction with e-cigarettes, may increase dependence on nicotine, continued exposure to toxins, and corresponding health risks. One of the most prevalent health problems related to nicotine use is the experience of chronic pain.

Minority stress in relation to biological outcomes among sexual and gender minority people: a systematic review and update.

Here we present an updated systematic review identifying studies published 2019-2024, since our prior systematic review in 2020, that examine the association between minority stress and a biological outcome among sexual and gender minority (SGM) people. Pubmed, Web of Science, and Embase were queried to identify studies that examined an association between minority stress (including prejudice events and conditions, anticipation of rejection and discrimination, concealment or disclosure of SGM identity(ies), internalized stigma, or structural stigma) and a biological health outcome among SGM people. Included studies were coded for methodological approaches, study population, minority stress measure, biological outcomes, count of overall analyses, and count of analyses where an association was detected.

A Bibliometric Analysis on Multi-epitope Vaccine Development Against SARS-CoV-2: Current Status, Development, and Future Directions.

The etiological agent for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the SARS-CoV-2, caused a global pandemic. Although mRNA, viral-vectored, DNA, and recombinant protein vaccine candidates were effective against the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) reduced the protective efficacies of these vaccines. This necessitates the need for effective and accelerated vaccine development against mutated VOCs.

The Influence of Project ECHO and Integrated Behavioral Health in Primary Care on Emergency Department Visits Among Youth Diagnosed with Depression.

Rates of depression among youth and emergency department (ED) visits for un- or under-treated symptoms are on the rise. Early identification and treatment of depression is imperative at the patient, program, system, and population levels. This paper examines the individual and cumulative impact of Project ECHO and the inclusion of IBH services in pediatric primary care practices on mental health-related ED rates among youth diagnosed with depression for those practices.

Aberrant neural event segmentation during a continuous social narrative in trauma-exposed older adolescents and young adults.

Post-traumatic stress and major depressive disorders are associated with "overgeneral" autobiographical memory, or impaired recall of specific life events. Interpersonal trauma exposure, a risk factor for both conditions, may influence how symptomatic trauma-exposed (TE) individuals segment everyday events. The ability to parse experience into units (event segmentation) supports memory.

IRE1α-XBP1 safeguards hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells by restricting pro-leukemogenic gene programs.

Hematopoietic stem cells must mitigate myriad stressors throughout their lifetime to ensure normal blood cell generation. Here, we uncover unfolded protein response stress sensor inositol-requiring enzyme-1α (IRE1α) signaling in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) as a safeguard against myeloid leukemogenesis. Activated in part by an NADPH oxidase-2 mechanism, IRE1α-induced X-box binding protein-1 (XBP1) mediated repression of pro-leukemogenic programs exemplified by the Wnt-β-catenin pathway.

Conditional Deletion of Gremlin-1 in Cathepsin K-expressing Mature Osteoclasts Altered the Skeletal Response to Calcium Depletion in Sex-Dependent Manner.

This study assessed the novel concept that osteoclast-derived Grem1 has regulatory functions in the skeletal response to calcium stress using an osteoclastic Grem1 conditional knockout (cKO) mouse model. The calcium stress was initiated by feeding cKO mutants and wildtype (WT) littermates a calcium-deficient diet for 2 weeks. Deletion of Grem1 in mature osteoclasts did not affect developmental bone growth nor basal bone turnover.

Impact of RSVpreF vaccination on reducing the burden of respiratory syncytial virus in infants and older adults.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes a substantial health burden among infants and older adults. Prefusion F protein-based vaccines have shown high efficacy against RSV disease in clinical trials, offering promise for mitigating this burden through maternal and older adult immunization. Employing an individual-based model, we evaluated the impact of RSV vaccination on hospitalizations and deaths in 13 high-income countries, assuming that the vaccine does not prevent infection or transmission.

Virus Association with Bacteria and Bacterial Cell Components Enhance Virus Infectivity.

The transmission and infection of enteric viruses can be influenced by co-existing bacteria within the environment and host. However, the viral binding ligands on bacteria and the underlying interaction mechanisms remain unclear. This study characterized the association of norovirus surrogate Tulane virus (TuV) and murine norovirus (MNV) as well as the human enteric virus Aichi virus (AiV) with six bacteria strains (Pantoea agglomerans, Pantoea ananatis, Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter cloacae, Exiguobacterium sibiricum, Pseudomonas spp.

Characterizing phenotype variants of Cercosporidium personatum, causal agent of peanut late leaf spot disease, their morphology, genetics and metabolites.

Cercosporidium personatum (CP) causes peanut late leaf spot (LLS) disease with 70% yield losses unless controlled by fungicides. CP grows slowly in culture, exhibiting variable phenotypes. To explain those variations, we analyzed the morphology, genomes, transcriptomes and chemical composition of three morphotypes, herein called RED, TAN, and BROWN.

Age Matters: Early-Onset Rectal Cancer Exhibits Higher Rates of Pathological Complete Response: A Retrospective Analysis of the Influence of Young Age on Treatment Success in Stage II-III Rectal Cancer.

Background: The incidence of rectal cancer has decreased overall, but the incidence of early-onset rectal cancer (eoRC) has increased. Early-onset rectal cancer and late-onset rectal cancer (loRC) differ due to phenotypical, genetic characteristics, and higher stage presentations in eoRC. Thus, eoRC patients undergo more aggressive neoadjuvant treatments.

The Experience of Undocumented Individuals Denied Stem Cell Transplant for Hematologic Malignancies.

Background: Undocumented individuals with hematologic malignancies in the United States face barriers to receiving often-curative stem cell transplant (SCT), instead receiving inferior treatment with higher mortality. Federal and state policies' impact on undocumented individuals' lived experiences goes unnoticed.

Objective: To understand the experiences of this rare population of undocumented individuals with hematologic malignancies who cannot receive medically indicated SCT.