Clinical Manifestations.

Background: African Americans (AA) are disproportionately affected by Long COVID, highlighting the need for targeted research to understand the enduring consequences of COVID-19 within this community. Among the array of symptoms associated with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), cognitive impairments emerge as a significant concern affecting up to 19% of COVID survivors. In this study, our goal is to comprehensively characterize the specific cognitive domains impacted in older AA adults.

Advancing precision medicine: the transformative role of artificial intelligence in immunogenomics, radiomics, and pathomics for biomarker discovery and immunotherapy optimization.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is significantly advancing precision medicine, particularly in the fields of immunogenomics, radiomics, and pathomics. In immunogenomics, AI can process vast amounts of genomic and multi-omic data to identify biomarkers associated with immunotherapy responses and disease prognosis, thus providing strong support for personalized treatments. In radiomics, AI can analyze high-dimensional features from computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) images to discover imaging biomarkers associated with tumor heterogeneity, treatment response, and disease progression, thereby enabling non-invasive, real-time assessments for personalized therapy.

Prostatic E. coli infection drives CCR2-dependent recruitment of fibrocytes and collagen production.

Prostate fibrosis contributes to lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD). To develop targeted treatments for prostate fibrosis, it is necessary to identify cell types and molecular pathways required for collagen production. We used a genetic approach to label and track potential collagen-producing cell lineages in mouse prostate through a round of Escherichia coli (E.

Sensory quiescence induces a cell-non-autonomous integrated stress response curbed by condensate formation of the ATF4 and XRP1 effectors.

Sensory disabilities have been identified as significant risk factors for dementia but underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. In different Drosophila models with loss of sensory input, we observe non-autonomous induction of the integrated stress response (ISR) deep in the brain, as indicated by eIF2α phosphorylation-dependent elevated levels of the ISR effectors ATF4 and XRP1. Unlike during canonical ISR, however, the ATF4 and XRP1 transcription factors are enriched in cytosolic granules that are positive for RNA and the stress granule markers Caprin, FMR1, and p62, and are reversible upon restoration of vision for blind flies.

The revised colorectal cancer screening guideline and screening burden at community health centers.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer among men and women combined, and the second leading cause of cancer death in the US. The revised USPSTF CRC screening recommendations increased CRC screening needs across health systems, which may create particular challenges for community health centers (CHCs) given their resource constraints. The objective of our study is to assess CRC screening rates across 10 CHCs in Massachusetts and estimate the additional increase in the number of average-risk screening-eligible individuals after the revision in guidelines.

Real-time CBCT imaging and motion tracking via a single arbitrarily-angled x-ray projection by a joint dynamic reconstruction and motion estimation (DREME) framework.

Real-time cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides instantaneous visualization of patient anatomy for image guidance, motion tracking, and online treatment adaptation in radiotherapy. While many real-time imaging and motion tracking methods leveraged patient-specific prior information to alleviate under-sampling challenges and meet the temporal constraint (< 500 ms), the prior information can be outdated and introduce biases, thus compromising the imaging and motion tracking accuracy. To address this challenge, we developed a framework (DREME) for real-time CBCT imaging and motion estimation, without relying on patient-specific prior knowledge.

Tumor immunomodulation by nanoparticle and focused ultrasound alters gut microbiome in a sexually dimorphic manner.

Local immunomodulation with nanoparticles (NPs) and focused ultrasound (FUS) is recognized for triggering anti-tumor immunity. However, the impact of these tumor immunomodulations on sex-specific microbiome diversity at distant sites and their correlation with therapeutic effectiveness remains unknown. Here, we conducted local intratumoral therapy using immunogenic cell death-enhancing Calreticulin-Nanoparticles (CRT-NPs) and FUS in male and female mice.

Retrograde approach to chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary interventions- Technique and outcomes.

The retrograde approach to chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has significantly contributed to the success rates of CTO PCI. It is usually performed in complex CTO lesions, in which the antegrade approach is not feasible or fails. In this article we discuss the steps to perform retrograde CTO PCI and its complications and success rates.

MRI-derived radiomics and end-to-end deep learning models for predicting glioma ATRX status: a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies.

We aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze the predictive value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-derived radiomics/end-to-end deep learning (DL) models in predicting glioma alpha thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked (ATRX) status. We conducted a comprehensive search across four major databases-Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. All the studies that assessed the performance of radiomics and/or end-to-end DL models for predicting glioma ATRX status were included.

Factors Associated with Pediatric Drowning-Associated Lung Injury.

Objective: To identify risk factors for clinically-important drowning-associated lung injury (ciDALI) in children.

Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study of children (0 through18 years) who presented to 32 pediatric emergency departments (EDs) from 2010 through 2017. We reviewed demographics, comorbidities, prehospital data, chest radiographs reports, and ED course from emergency medical services, medical, and fatality records.

Biotissue Curriculum Translates to Performance in the Operating Room for Gastrojejunostomy and Hepaticojejunostomy in Robotic Pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Objective: Robotic simulation training curricula aim to aid surgeons in attaining robotic operating room proficiency, but the crossover success remains to be examined.

Design: A retrospective cohort study grading robotic biotissue training models and intraoperative anastomotic videos. The curriculum included deliberate practice of inanimate drills of a hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) and gastrojejunostomy (GJ).

So Many Injections, So Much Waste: Understanding the Environmental Impact of Intravitreal Injections.

To understand the environmental burden associated with intravitreal injections (IVIs) and propose actionable solutions to mitigate this impact. An analysis of current IVI practices was conducted, focusing on packaging waste, energy consumption, the carbon footprint, and disposal processes. Data on the environmental footprint of IVIs were collected from the literature and industry reports.

Over 100 Fontan Patients on Systemic Ventricular Assist Device Support: An ACTION Update.

As the Fontan population grows, understanding successful strategies for ventricular assist device (VAD) support of the failing Fontan circulation is needed. We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with Fontan circulation and systemic VAD support in the Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network (ACTION) registry. Competing outcomes and Kaplan-Meier estimated survival methods were used.

Hepatocellular carcinoma: updates on epidemiology, surveillance, diagnosis and treatment.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global burden, ranking as the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. HCC due to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or C virus (HCV) infection has decreased due to universal vaccination for HBV and effective antiviral therapy for both HBV and HCV, but HCC related to metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is increasing. Biannual liver ultrasonography and serum α-fetoprotein are the primary surveillance tools for early HCC detection among high-risk patients (e.

Access to Care and the Hispanic Paradox Among Hispanic Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: Despite the disproportionate impact of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on Hispanic patients, reported outcomes are limited, particularly among subpopulations. Our study aimed to evaluate outcomes in access to care and survival among racial and ethnic Hispanic subpopulations.

Methods: The National Cancer Database was then utilized to identify patients diagnosed with HCC between 2004 and 2020.

Ethnicity does not change burn resuscitation and time to first excision.

Health and racial disparities can limit access to preventative, trauma, and chronic disease care but have not been addressed in burn resuscitation. Over- and under-resuscitation contribute to increased overall hospital costs, and morbidity and mortality rates. The primary objective of this study was to identify potential racial disparities that may exist during the initial fluid resuscitation after burn injury.

DEK::AFF2 Fusion Sinonasal and Skull Base Nonkeratinizing Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Clinical Outcome Study Compared With Conventional Sinonasal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

DEK::AFF2 fusion nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinoma (NKSCC) is an emerging entity in the sinonasal tract, temporal bone, and skull base. However, the clinical behavior of these tumors has not been well studied. Here, we report the largest cohort of DEK::AFF2 carcinomas to determine if morphology, mitotic rate, and/or Ki-67 IHC are associated with patient outcomes, including a comparison with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated and independent patients.

A Multi-Center Study of Ossiculoplasty Hearing Outcomes and a Grading Scale of Ear Environment Risk.

Objective: To determine which ear environment risk factors impact ossiculoplasty hearing outcomes and to generate a statistically-valid grading system for ossiculoplasty outcome reporting.

Study Type: Retrospective case series.

Methods: A multi-institutional database was generated from cases performed between 2011 and 2019.

A multimodal ensemble approach for clear cell renal cell carcinoma treatment outcome prediction.

Purpose: A reliable and comprehensive cancer prognosis model for clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) could better assist in personalizing treatment. In this work, we developed a multi-modal ensemble model (MMEM) which integrates pretreatment clinical information, multi-omics data, and histopathology whole slide image (WSI) data to learn complementary information to predict overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) for patients with ccRCC.

Methods And Materials: We collected 226 patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma dataset (TCGA-KIRC).

Caveolin-1 regulates context-dependent signaling and survival in Ewing Sarcoma.

Cellular plasticity is a hallmark function of cancer, but many of the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. In this study, we identify Caveolin-1, a scaffolding protein that organizes plasma membrane domains, as a context-dependent regulator of survival signaling in Ewing sarcoma (EwS). Single cell analyses reveal a distinct subpopulation of EwS cells, which highly express the surface marker CD99 as well as Caveolin-1.

multimutants enable efficient identification of SPI-2 effector protein function in gut inflammation and systemic colonization.

enterica spp. rely on translocation of effector proteins through the SPI-2 encoded type III secretion system (T3SS) to achieve pathogenesis. More than 30 effectors contribute to manipulation of host cells through diverse mechanisms, but interdependency or redundancy between effectors complicates the discovery of effector phenotypes using single mutant strains.

Early Palliative Care Following Aborted Cancer Surgery: Results of a Prospective Feasibility Trial.

Background: Although resection is generally necessary for curative-intent treatment of most solid organ cancers, surgery is occasionally aborted due to intraoperative findings. Following aborted cancer surgery, patients have unique care needs that specialized palliative care (PC) providers may be best equipped to manage. We hypothesized that early ambulatory PC referral following aborted cancer surgery would be feasible and acceptable.

Biomechanical modeling combined with pressure-volume loop analysis to aid surgical planning in patients with complex congenital heart disease.

Patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) can be treated with a double switch operation (DSO) to restore the normal anatomical connection of the left ventricle (LV) to the systemic circulation and the right ventricle (RV) to the pulmonary circulation. The subpulmonary LV progressively deconditions over time due to its connection to the low pressure pulmonary circulation and needs to be retrained using a surgical pulmonary artery band (PAB) for 6-12 months prior to the DSO. The subsequent clinical follow-up, consisting of invasive cardiac pressure and non-invasive imaging data, evaluates LV preparedness for the DSO.