Using Heart Rate and Behaviors to Predict Effective Intervention Strategies for Children on the Autism Spectrum: Validation of a Technology-Based Intervention.

Many children on the autism spectrum engage in challenging behaviors, like aggression, due to difficulties communicating and regulating their stress. Identifying effective intervention strategies is often subjective and time-consuming. Utilizing unobservable internal physiological data to predict strategy effectiveness may help simplify this process for teachers and parents.

Novel Cyclic Peptide-Drug Conjugate P6-SN38 Toward Targeted Treatment of EGFR Overexpressed Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Here, we report on the synthesis and biological evaluation of a novel peptide-drug conjugate, P6-SN38, which consists of the EGFR-specific short cyclic peptide, P6, and the Topo I inhibitor SN38, which is a bioactive metabolite of the anticancer drug irinotecan. SN38 is attached to the peptide at position 20 of the E ring's tertiary hydroxyl group via a mono-succinate linker. The developed peptide-drug conjugate (PDC) exhibited sub-micromolar anticancer activity on EGFR-positive (EGFR+) cell lines but no effect on EGFR-negative (EGFR-) cells.

Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NRTI)-Induced Neuropathy and Mitochondrial Toxicity: Limitations of the Poly-γ Hypothesis and the Potential Roles of Autophagy and Drug Transport.

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are the backbone of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-the current standard of care for treating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Despite their efficacy, NRTIs cause numerous treatment-limiting adverse effects, including a distinct peripheral neuropathy, called antiretroviral toxic neuropathy (ATN). ATN primarily affects the extremities with shock-like tingling pain, a pins-and-needles prickling sensation, and numbness.

Evaluation of the Cancer-Preventive Effect of Resveratrol-Loaded Nanoparticles on the Formation and Growth of In Vitro Lung Tumor Spheroids.

Background: Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural polyphenol that offers antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and chemopreventive benefits. This project determined the ability of RSV-loaded nanoparticles (NP) to inhibit the growth of lung tumor spheroids in vitro.

Methods: RSV was encapsulated in NP comprised of the biodegradable polymer, acetalated dextran.

The Development of an Age-Appropriate Fixed Dose Combination for Tuberculosis Using Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling (PBBM) and Risk Assessment.

The combination of isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF) is indicated for the treatment maintenance phase of tuberculosis (TB) in adults and children. In Brazil, there is no current reference listed drug for this indication in children. Farmanguinhos has undertaken the development of an age-appropriate dispersible tablet to be taken with water for all age groups from birth to adolescence.

Mesoporous Polydopamine Nano-Bowls Demonstrate a High Entrapment Efficiency and pH-Responsive Release of Paclitaxel for Suppressing A549 Lung Cancer Cell Proliferation In Vitro.

The effectiveness of paclitaxel (PTX) in treating non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is restricted by its poor pharmacokinetic profile and side effects. This limitation stems from the lack of a suitable delivery vector to efficiently target cancer cells. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop an efficient carrier for the optimised delivery of PTX in NSCLC therapy.

Population Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Study of Palbociclib in Children and Young Adults with Recurrent, Progressive, or Refractory Brain Tumors.

Palbociclib, an oral CDK 4/6 inhibitor, was evaluated in a Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (PBTC) phase 1 (NCT02255461; PBTC-042) study to treat children and young adults with recurrent, progressive, or refractory brain tumors. The objectives of this study were to characterize the palbociclib population pharmacokinetics in children enrolled on PBTC-042, to conduct a population pharmacodynamic analysis in this patient population, and to perform a simulation study to assess the role of palbociclib exposure on neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. The palbociclib population pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics were characterized in this patient population (n = 34 patients; 4.

Biomimetic 3D Hydrogels with Aligned Topography for Neural Tissue Engineering.

Spinal cord trauma leads to the destruction of the highly organized cytoarchitecture that carries information along the axis of the spinal column. Currently, there are no clinically accepted strategies that can help regenerate severed axons after spinal cord injury (SCI). Hydrogels are soft biomaterials with high water content that are widely used as scaffolds to interface with the central nervous system (CNS).

Determinants of Indoor NO and PM Concentration in Senior Housing with Gas Stoves.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO) and particulate matter of 2.5 microns (PM) are air pollutants that impact health, especially among vulnerable populations with respiratory disease. This study identifies factors influencing indoor NO and PM in low-income households of older adults with asthma who use gas stoves in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Non-Genotoxic and Environmentally Relevant Lower Molecular Weight Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Significantly Increase Tumorigenicity of Benzo[]pyrene in a Lung Two-Stage Mouse Model.

The World Health Organization has classified air pollution as a carcinogen, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are major components of air particulates of carcinogenic concern. Thus far, most studies focused on genotoxic high molecular weight PAHs; however, recent studies indicate potential carcinogenicity of the non-genotoxic lower molecular weight PAHs (LMW PAHs) that are found in indoor and outdoor air pollution as well as secondhand cigarette smoke. We hypothesize that LMW PAHs contribute to the promotion stage of cancer when combined with benzo[]pyrene (B[]P), a legacy PAH.

Global Trends and Hotspots in Non-Targeted Screening of Water Pollution Research: Bibliometric and Visual Analysis.

Non-targeted screening (NTS) technology has been showing significant potential in identifying contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in water and has attracted great attention in academia in recent years. It is a method that analyzes samples without pre-selecting substances, enabling the detection and identification of unknown compounds, which is crucial for environmental health and public protection. This study uses the Bibliometrix package in R 4.

Evaluating the Impact of a Novel Program to Address Acute Food Insecurity Among Cancer Patients.

Introduction: Acute food insecurity (FI) significantly impacts cancer patients' health, exacerbating physical and psychological burdens. While current interventions address chronic FI, acute cases remain undermanaged. Legacy of Hope, a Philadelphia-based non-profit, addresses this gap through its Emergency Patient Support Network (EPSN), offering free bi-weekly groceries to patients facing acute FI.

Factors Associated with the Prolonged Use of Donor Human Milk at the Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children in Vietnam.

Background And Objectives: Donor human milk (DHM) from a human milk bank (HMB) is used to feed low-birthweight (LBW) and preterm infants when mothers cannot provide their own breastmilk. The misuse of DHM could interfere with mothers' breastmilk and weaken breastfeeding efforts. This study aimed to identify factors behind prolonged DHM usage during the first six years of Vietnam's first HMB.

The Camden Study-A Pregnancy Cohort Study of Pregnancy Complications and Birth Outcomes in Camden, New Jersey, USA.

Background: Pregnancy is a unique stage of the life course characterized by trade-offs between the nutritional, immune, and metabolic needs of the mother and fetus. The Camden Study was originally initiated to examine nutritional status, growth, and birth outcomes in adolescent pregnancies and expanded to study dietary and molecular predictors of pregnancy complications and birth outcomes in young women.

Methods: From 1985-2006, 4765 pregnant participants aged 12 years and older were recruited from Camden, NJ, one of the poorest cities in the US.

Label Accuracy and Quality of Select Weight-Loss Dietary Supplements Sold on or near US Military Bases.

: Sixty-eight percent of service members are living with overweight or obesity, some who may not consult a healthcare provider when they decide to lose weight. Instead, they often turn to weight-loss dietary supplements for self-care solutions. The purpose of this case series study was to examine the label accuracy and quality of select weight-loss dietary supplements sold on or near US military bases across the country.

Heterogeneity in Health Outcomes in the Strong Hearts, Healthy Communities-2.0 Multilevel Intervention in a Community-Randomized Trial: An Exploratory Study of Moderators.

Background/objectives: Multilevel interventions have demonstrated efficacy in improving obesity and other related health outcomes. However, heterogeneity in individual responses indicates the need to identify the factors associated with responses and non-responses to multilevel interventions. The objective of this report is to identify the potential sources of heterogeneity through the exploration of the moderation effects of participant characteristics (sociodemographic and baseline physical/mental health) in the Strong Hearts, Healthy Communities-2.

Defining "High-In" Saturated Fat, Sugar, and Sodium to Help Inform Front-of-Pack Labeling Efforts for Packaged Foods and Beverages in the United States.

: To help consumers make healthier choices, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been charged with developing a front-of-package label (FOPL) to appear on US packaged foods and beverages. One option being explored is the use of "high-in" FOPLs for added sugar, sodium, and saturated fat using a threshold of ≥20% of the recommended daily value (%DV) per portion/serving size to define "high-in". While research has addressed what FOPL designs are most effective at visually communicating "high-in", less attention has been paid to the nutrient profile model (NPM) used to decide which products should receive these labels.

Associations Between Added Sugars Intake from Various Food and Beverage Sources and Diet Quality Among the U.S. Population.

A diet high in added sugars has been linked to poor diet quality; however, little is known about specific sources of added sugars and their association with diet quality. This study examined associations between added sugars intake from specific food and beverage sources and diet quality, as indicated by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) 2020 score, among the U.S.

Study of the Association Between Diets Containing Nuts and Seeds and the Degree of Abdominal Aortic Calcification.

: The association between nuts and seeds (nuts/seeds) consumption and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) has been studied rarely, if at all. However, AAC is a good marker of CVD risk and premature mortality. Consequently, the present observational study was conducted.

Associations Between Knowledge of Health Conditions and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake Among US Adults, 2021.

Background: Frequent consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) is associated with an increased risk of some health outcomes.

Objective: We investigated the relationships between knowledge of health risks related to SSB and SSB intake among adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2021 SummerStyles survey.

Associations of Coffee and Tea Consumption on Neural Network Connectivity: Unveiling the Role of Genetic Factors in Alzheimer's Disease Risk.

Background: Coffee and tea are widely consumed beverages, but their long-term effects on cognitive function and aging remain largely unexplored. Lifestyle interventions, particularly dietary habits, offer promising strategies for enhancing cognitive performance and preventing cognitive decline.

Methods: This study utilized data from the UK Biobank cohort ( = 12,025) to examine the associations between filtered coffee, green tea, and standard tea consumption and neural network functional connectivity across seven resting-state networks.

Prenatal Breastfeeding Intention Is Consistently Associated with Breastfeeding Duration Among WIC-Participating Women.

Background/objective: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides breastfeeding support to participating women in low-income households. This study aimed to determine the relationships between prenatal maternal and household characteristics and breastfeeding duration, as well as whether these characteristics modify associations of prenatal breastfeeding intention with breastfeeding duration.

Methods: This is a prospective cohort study of pregnant respondents to Los Angeles County (LAC), California, WIC surveys conducted between 2005 and 2020 (n = 1014).

Racial-Ethnic Disparities of Obesity Require Community Context-Specific Biomedical Research for Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders.

Compared to the general population of Hawai'i, Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders (NHPI) shoulder a disproportionately high risk for obesity-related cardiometabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The gut microbiome is an area of rapid research interest for its role in regulating adjacent metabolic pathways, offering novel opportunities to better understand the etiology of these health disparities. Obesity and the gut microbiome are influenced by regional, racial-ethnic, and community-specific factors, limiting the generalizability of current literature for understudied populations.

Host Long Noncoding RNAs as Key Players in Mycobacteria-Host Interactions.

Mycobacterial infections, caused by various species within the Mycobacterium genus, remain one of the main challenges to global health across the world. Understanding the complex interplay between the host and mycobacterial pathogens is essential for developing effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Host long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as key regulators in cellular response to bacterial infections within host cells.

Innovative Methodology for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Determination in Biofilms.

spp. are facultative pathogens that contribute to the pathogenesis of multiple bovine diseases, including the bovine respiratory disease complex, and have been shown to form biofilms. Biofilm formation is associated with increased antibiotic resistance in many organisms, but accurate determination of antimicrobial susceptibility in biofilms is challenging.