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.

Trends in Mortality Due to Cardiovascular Diseases Among Patients With Parkinson's Disease in the United States: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background: Parkinson disease (PD) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) present significant health burdens, particularly among older adults. Patients with PD have an elevated risk of CVD-related mortality. Analyzing mortality trends in this population may help guide focused interventions.

PFAS Destruction and Near-Complete Defluorination of Undiluted Aqueous Film-Forming Foams at Ambient Conditions by Piezoelectric Ball Milling.

The nonthermal destruction of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) stockpiles, one of the major culprits responsible for water and soil contamination by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), is extremely challenging because of the coexistence of mixed recalcitrant PFAS and complicated organic matrices at extremely high concentrations. To date, the complete defluorination of undiluted AFFF at ambient conditions has not been demonstrated. This study reports a novel piezoelectric ball milling approach for treating AFFF with a total organic fluorine concentration of 9080 mg/L and total organic carbon of 234 g/L.

Oxygen-Driven Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization.

In traditional atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), oxygen must be meticulously eliminated due to its propensity to quench radical species and halt the polymerization process. Additionally, oxygen oxidizes the lower-valent Cu catalyst, compromising its ability to activate alkyl halides and propagate polymerization. In this study, we present an oxygen-driven ATRP utilizing alkylborane compounds, a method that not only circumvents the need for stringent oxygen removal but also exploits oxygen as an essential cofactor to promote polymerization.

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).

Theoretical investigation of the AΠ-XΣ, BΣ-XΣ, CΣ-XΣ, and EΠ-XΣ transitions of the CO molecule.

The spectrum of carbon monoxide is important for astrophysical media, such as planetary atmospheres, interstellar space, exoplanetary and stellar atmospheres; it also important in plasma physics, laser physics and combustion. Interpreting its spectral signature requires a deep and thorough understanding of its absorption and emission properties. A new accurate spectroscopic model for the ground and electronically-excited states of the CO molecule computed at the aug-cc-pV5Z CASSCF/MRCI+Q level is reported.

High Plasma Polyamine Levels Are Associated With an Increased Risk of Poststroke Cognitive Impairment: A Multicenter Prospective Study From CATIS.

Background: Polyamines have been suggested to play pivotal roles in ischemic stroke and neurodegenerative disorders, but the associations of plasma polyamines with poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) remain unclear. We aimed to prospectively investigate the associations of plasma putrescine, spermidine, and spermine with PSCI among patients with ischemic stroke in a multicenter cohort study.

Methods And Results: We measured plasma polyamine levels at baseline among 619 patients with ischemic stroke from a preplanned ancillary study of CATIS (China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke).

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.

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.

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.

Elevated Cerebrospinal Fluid α-Synuclein Seeding Activity Predicts Central Lewy Body Diseases.

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) α-synuclein seeding activity (SSA) via a seed amplification assay might predict central Lewy body diseases (LBD) in at-risk individuals.

Objective: The aim was to assess CSF SSA in a prospective, longitudinal study.

Methods: Participants self-reported risk factors were genetics, olfactory dysfunction, dream enactment behavior, orthostatic intolerance, or hypotension; individuals who had ≥3 confirmed risk factors underwent CSF sampling and were followed for up to 7.

Use of Digital Health Interventions for Cancer Prevention Among People Living With Disabilities in the United States: A Scoping Review.

Background: The use of digital health strategies for cancer care increased dramatically in the United States over the past 4 years. However, a dearth of knowledge remains about the use of digital health for cancer prevention for some populations with heath disparities. Therefore, the purpose of the present scoping review was to identify digital health interventions for cancer prevention designed for people with disabilities.

Prognostic Value of Frailty in Patients With Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

Background: There is scarce data on the prognostic value of frailty in patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM). This study aimed to assess the association between frailty and in-hospital outcomes in patients with TCM.

Methods: Adult admissions with TCM were included using the 2016-2019 National Inpatient Sample database.

OzNOxESI: A Novel Mass Spectrometry Ion Chemistry for Elucidating Lipid Double-Bond Regioisomerism in Complex Mixtures.

Double bond (C═C) position isomerism in unsaturated lipids can indicate abnormal lipid metabolism and pathological conditions. Novel chemical derivatization and mass spectrometry-based techniques are under continuing development to provide more accurate elucidation of lipid structure in finer structural detail. Here, we introduce a new ion chemistry for annotating lipid C═C positions, which is highly efficient for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based lipidomics.

Crispant analysis in zebrafish as a tool for rapid functional screening of disease-causing genes for bone fragility.

Heritable fragile bone disorders (FBDs), ranging from multifactorial to rare monogenic conditions, are characterized by an elevated fracture risk. Validating causative genes and understanding their mechanisms remain challenging. We assessed a semi-high throughput zebrafish screening platform for rapid in vivo functional testing of candidate FBD genes.

Continuous Near-Bed Movements of Microplastics in Open Channel Flows: Statistical Analysis.

The ubiquitous distribution of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments is linked to their transport in rivers and streams. However, the specific mechanism of bedload microplastic (MP) transport, notably their stochastic behaviors, remains an underexplored area. To investigate this, particle tracking velocimetry was employed to examine the continuous near-bed movements of four types of MPs under nine setups with different experimental conditions in a laboratory flume, with an emphasis on their streamwise transport.

Exploring pathological targets and advancing pharmacotherapy in autism spectrum disorder: Contributions of glial cells and heavy metals.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a globally recognized neurodevelopmental condition characterized by repetitive and restrictive behavior, persistent deficits in social interaction and communication, mental disturbances, etc., affecting approximately 1 in 100 children worldwide. A combination of genetic and environmental factors is involved in the etiopathogenesis of the disease, but specific biomarkers have not yet been identified.

A case for broadening our view of mechanism in developmental biology.

Developmental biologists can perform studies that describe a phenomenon (descriptive work) and/or explain how the phenomenon works (mechanistic work). There is a prevalent perception that molecular/genetic explanations achieved via perturbations of gene function are the primary means of advancing mechanistic knowledge. We believe this to be a limited perspective, one that does not effectively represent the breadth of work in our field.

A Promising Druggable Target for Translational Therapy of Ovarian Cancer: A Molecular Profiling of Therapeutic Innovations, Extracellular Vesicle Acquired Resistance, and Signaling Pathways.

Ovarian cancer (OC) ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, posing a significant threat to female health. Late-stage diagnoses, driven by elusive symptoms often masquerading as gastrointestinal issues, contribute to a concerning 70% of cases being identified in advanced stages. While early-stage OC brags a 90% cure rate, progression involving pelvic organs or extending beyond the peritoneal cavity drastically diminishes it.

Global Publication Trends and Research Hotspots of Diabetes and Osteoporosis.

Background: Diabetes and osteoporosis, as chronic diseases with high incidence, have caused deep concern in the field of global public health due to their high morbidity and mortality. More importantly, the complex and close relationship between diabetes and osteoporosis has gradually become the focus of scientific research. It is very meaningful to carry out bibliometric analysis in the research field of diabetes and osteoporosis to describe the current international trend and present a visual representation of the past and emerging trends of diabetes and osteoporosis in the past decade.

Capturing Strong Correlation in Molecules with Phaseless Auxiliary-Field Quantum Monte Carlo Using Generalized Hartree-Fock Trial Wave Functions.

Generalized Hartree-Fock (GHF) is a long-established electronic structure method that can lower the energy (compared to spin-restricted variants) by breaking physical wave function symmetries, namely and . After an exposition of GHF theory, we assess the use of GHF trial wave functions in phaseless auxiliary field quantum Monte Carlo (ph-AFQMC-G) calculations of strongly correlated molecular systems including symmetrically stretched hydrogen rings, carbon dioxide, and dioxygen. Imaginary time propagation is able to restore symmetry and yields energies of comparable or better accuracy than CCSD(T) with unrestricted HF and GHF references, and consistently smooth dissociation curves─a remarkable result given the relative scalability of ph-AFQMC-G to larger system sizes.

Diagnosing Epilepsy with Normal Interictal EEG Using Dynamic Network Models.

Objective: Whereas a scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) is important for diagnosing epilepsy, a single routine EEG is limited in its diagnostic value. Only a small percentage of routine EEGs show interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) and overall misdiagnosis rates of epilepsy are 20% to 30%. We aim to demonstrate how network properties in EEG recordings can be used to improve the speed and accuracy differentiating epilepsy from mimics, such as functional seizures - even in the absence of IEDs.

Examining Healthy Lifestyles as a Mediator of the Association Between Socially Determined Vulnerabilities and Incident Heart Failure.

Background: Increased burden of socially determined vulnerabilities (SDV), which include nonmedical conditions that contribute to patient health, is associated with incident heart failure (HF). Mediators of this association have not been examined. We aimed to determine if a healthy lifestyle mediates the association between SDV and HF.

Downscaling of Non-Van der Waals Semimetallic WN with Resistivity Preservation.

The bulk phase of transition metal nitrides (TMNs) has long been a subject of extensive investigation due to their utility as coating materials, electrocatalysts, and diffusion barriers, attributed to their high conductivity and refractory properties. Downscaling TMNs into two-dimensional (2D) forms would provide valuable members to the existing 2D materials repertoire, with potential enhancements across various applications. Moreover, calculations have anticipated the emergence of uncommon physical phenomena in TMNs at the 2D limit.