Antibiotic exposure is associated with minimal gut microbiome perturbations in healthy term infants.

Background: The evolving infant gut microbiome influences host immune development and later health outcomes. Early antibiotic exposure could impact microbiome development and contribute to poor outcomes. Here, we use a prospective longitudinal birth cohort of n = 323 healthy term African American children to determine the association between antibiotic exposure and the gut microbiome through shotgun metagenomics sequencing as well as bile acid profiles through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

High clinical burden of classical homocystinuria in the United States: a retrospective analysis.

Background: Classical homocystinuria (HCU) is a rare genetic metabolic disorder resulting in elevated homocysteine and methionine levels. The clinical characteristics and associated complications of HCU are well documented. However, there is limited published research on the clinical burden of patients with HCU, especially stratified by total homocysteine (tHcy) levels.

The effect of healthy eating index-2015 in the associations of biological aging and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: an interaction and mediation analysis.

Background: The present study explored the association between biological aging (BA), healthy eating index-2015 (HEI-2015) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the general population of the United States.

Methods: We used data from the NHANES database between 2017-2018 years to conduct the study. Weighted multivariable logistic regression analysis, restricted cubic spline (RCS), and subgroup analysis were performed to analyze the association of BA and HEI-2015 with prevalence of NAFLD and the mediation effect of HEI-2015 was also discussed.

Activity of Aztreonam-avibactam and other β-lactamase inhibitor combinations against Gram-negative bacteria isolated from patients hospitalized with pneumonia in United States medical centers (2020-2022).

Background: Initial antimicrobial therapy for pneumonia is frequently empirical and resistance to antimicrobial agents represents a great challenge to the treatment of patients hospitalized with pneumonia. We evaluated the frequency and antimicrobial susceptibility of Gram-negative bacteria causing pneumonia in US hospitals.

Methods: Bacterial isolates were consecutively collected (1/patient) from patients hospitalized with pneumonia and the susceptibility of Gram-negative bacilli (3,911 Enterobacterales and 2,753 non-fermenters) was evaluated by broth microdilution in a monitoring laboratory.

Infertility stigma and openness with others are related to depressive symptoms and meaning in life in men and women diagnosed with infertility.

Background: Stigma is the experience of feeling different from socially accepted norms which can lead to personal devaluation or fear of disapproval from others. For men and women experiencing infertility, stigma has been associated with psychological distress, feelings of otherness in relation to people with children, and selective disclosure with others about their infertility challenges. However, there are few studies which examine how infertility stigma and being open with others are related to depressive symptoms and meaning in life for men and women diagnosed with infertility.

Development, implementation, and evaluation of an innovative clinical trial operations training program for Africa (ClinOps).

Background: Africa's involvement in clinical trials remains very low. Although the crucial role of training initiatives in building clinical trial capacity in Africa has been documented, current efforts fall short as they lack alignment with local contexts. This study aimed to design, develop, implement, and evaluate an innovative clinical trial operations training program for Africa.

Importance and fitness of family medicine milestone project from America to Taiwan.

Background: The six core competencies of ACGME - patient care (PC), medical knowledge (MK), systems-based practice (SBP), practice-based learning and improvement (PBLI), professionalism (PROF), and interpersonal and communication skills (ICS) - represent domains in which physicians must ultimately demonstrate competence. Although the ACGME's six core competencies have been applied in Taiwan with the milestone project, the application of the six core competences in the Family Medicine milestones for residency training have not yet been established.

Methods: We recruited 61 family medicine physicians from 25 hospitals from four major geographic areas for a Delphi round one survey and 72 physicians from 27 hospitals for a Delphi round two survey.

Interplay of aurora kinase a functional residues and Epstein-barr Nuclear Antigen 1 in Epstein-barr virus associated Gastric cancer using AGS cells.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), an oncogenic gamma-herpesvirus, belongs to group 1 carcinogen and is implicated in various cancers, including gastric cancer. Aurora Kinase A is a major mitotic protein kinase that regulates mitotic progression; overexpression and hyperactivation of AURKA commonly promote genomic instability in many tumours. However, the relationship of functional residues of AURKA and EBV in gastric cancer progression remains unknown.

The association of lifestyle with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality based on machine learning: a prospective study from the NHANES.

Background: Lifestyle and cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality have been exhaustively explored by traditional methods, but the advantages of machine learning (ML) over traditional methods may lead to different or more precise conclusions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of machine learning-based lifestyle factors in predicting cardiovascular and all-cause mortality and compare the results obtained by traditional methods.

Method: A prospective cohort study was conducted using a nationally representative sample of adults aged 40 years or older, drawn from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2010.

Association between colorectal cancer and arthritis among Americans in 2005-2016.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks among the most prevalent cancers globally. Some studies have found that arthritis could reduce the risk of CRC through inflammatory immune mediation. However, there have been no reports on whether arthritis is related to CRC.

Increased aqueous humor levels of endothelin-1 in patients with open angle glaucoma.

Background: Endothelin is a potent vasoconstrictor and contributes to the regulation of vascular perfusion. Aberrant endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in aqueous humor have been reported across a variety of vascular diseases of the eye, including glaucoma. These findings suggest that dysregulation of ET-1 production may contribute to glaucoma pathophysiology.

Incidence of ophthalmic manifestations in congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV).

Background: Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are associated with eye manifestations, especially in patients with systemic disease. However, there are no ophthalmic screening guidelines for infants with congenital CMV.

Methods: Retrospective review of pediatric patients (< 18 years old, 2010-2023) with a diagnosis of congenital CMV and at least 1 eye examination.

Association between sleep patterns and depression in older adults: a cross-sectional study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2014.

Objective: To assess the association between sleep patterns and sleep factors (sleep duration, trouble sleeping, sleep disorder) and the risk of depression in older adults.

Methods: A total of 5636 participants (2754 men and 2882 women) aged 60 years and older from the 2007-2014 waves of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included. Sleep duration, sleep problems, and sleep disorders were assessed in the home by trained interviewers using the Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) system.

Associations between intake of different types of vegetables and metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: a population-based study.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) presently poses a threat to approximately 24% of the global population. The consumption of healthy diets rich in an abundant assortment of vegetables has been scientifically validated to mitigate the progression of MAFLD. However, it remains uncertain whether all categories of vegetables confer benefits for MAFLD.

Construction of the cancer patients' database based on the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) datasets for cancer epidemiology research.

Background: The US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset does not include a specific question or laboratory test to confirm a history of cancer diagnosis. However, if straightforward variables for cancer history are introduced, US NHANES could be effectively utilized in future cancer epidemiology studies. To address this gap, the authors developed a cancer patient database from the US NHANES datasets by employing multiple R programming codes.

A randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial of ketamine in Rett syndrome.

Background: Preclinical studies and anecdotal case reports support the potential therapeutic benefit of low-dose oral ketamine as a treatment of clinical symptoms in Rett syndrome (RTT); however, no controlled studies have been conducted in RTT to evaluate safety, tolerability and efficacy.

Design: This was a sequentially initiated, dose-escalating cohort, placebo-controlled, double blind, randomized sequence, cross-over study of oral ketamine in 6-12-year-old girls with RTT to evaluate short-term safety and tolerability and explore efficacy.

Methods: Participants were randomized to either five days treatment with oral ketamine or matched placebo, followed by a nine-day wash-out period and then crossed-over to the opposite treatment.

[Association between weight-adjusted waist index and pain: A cross-sectional study].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) and acute, subacute pain or chronic pain among American adults.

Methods: There was a cross-sectional study. Data from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) concerning waist circumference, weight, pain status and covariates (age, gender, race, marital status, education level and income, physical activity, alcohol consumption, smoking status, and diabetes) were extracted for analysis.

Elevated Fecal Lipocalin-2 Levels During Early Life Are Associated with Maternal Inflammatory Bowel Disease Diagnosis.

Background: Fecal lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is a biomarker of neutrophil activation, which is elevated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, its dynamic changes during pregnancy and early life are largely unknown. We characterized LCN2 levels by maternal IBD diagnosis, offspring feeding behavior, and gut microbiota composition.

Methods: In the prospective MECONIUM (Exploring Mechanisms of Disease Transmission In Utero through the Microbiome) study, we analyzed 559 fecal samples from 91 pregnant women with IBD, 78 healthy controls, and their 147 offspring for LCN2 levels at each trimester of pregnancy and multiple time points during early life using linear mixed-effects model and multiple logistic regression analyses.

Salivary gland stem/progenitor cells: advancing from basic science to clinical applications.

Salivary gland stem/progenitor cells (SSPCs) hold significant potential for regenerative medicine, especially for patients suffering from salivary gland dysfunction due to various causes such as radiation therapy, Sjögren's syndrome, and aging. This review provides a comprehensive overview of SSPCs, including their characteristics, isolation, culture techniques, differentiation pathways, and their role in tissue regeneration. Additionally, we highlight recent advances in cell- and tissue-based therapies, such as SSPC transplantation and bioengineered organ replacements.

Bibliometric analysis of liposarcomas treatment from 2004 to 2023.

Background: Liposarcomas are mesenchymal malignant tumors characterized by varying degrees of adipocytic differentiation that comprises approximately 20% of soft tissue sarcomas. Despite advancements in this field, there remains a need for a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of liposarcomas. Currently, there is a lack of bibliometric surveys on the development trajectory of liposarcomas treatment, research hotspots, and author and team collaboration.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Curable Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Purpose Of Review: Antimicrobial resistance in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has become an urgent global public health threat, raising the specter of untreatable infections. This review summarizes the determinants of resistance among the five most common curable STIs Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, Treponema pallidum, and Trichomonas vaginalis, as well as strategies to mitigate the spread of resistance.

Recent Findings: Genetic mutations are key drivers of resistance for N.

Increased use of damage control laparotomy for emergency small bowel or colon surgery: does it affect patient outcomes?

Purpose: Evidence to guide the application of damage control laparotomy (DCL) in emergency surgery patients is limited. We assessed whether DCL use for emergent small bowel or colon surgery increased over time and its impact on outcomes. We hypothesized that DCL would be utilized more often in patients with significant comorbidities or septic shock with improved outcomes.

Elevated uric acid levels, mortality and cognitive impairment in children with severe malaria.

We investigated the role of uric acid in the pathogenesis of severe malaria (SM) in two independent cohorts of children with SM. Hyperuricemia (blood uric acid ≥ 7 mg dl) was present in 25% of children with SM and was associated with increased in-hospital mortality and postdischarge mortality in both cohorts. Increased blood uric acid levels were also associated with worse scores in overall cognition in children with SM < 5 years old in both cohorts.

Embedding cultural competence in dental education.

Cultural competence plays a pivotal role in dentistry and is increasingly recognised and studied worldwide. As the dental profession evolves to cater to an ever-diverse society, it is imperative that universities consider how they support students in acquiring the skillset for providing culturally sensitive care. Cultural competency in dental education is highly variable globally.

Prevalence, incidence, and complications of malnutrition in severely injured patients.

Background: Severely injured patients may suffer from acute disease-related or injury-related malnutrition involving a marked inflammatory response. This study investigated the prevalence and incidence of malnutrition and its relation with complications in severely injured patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: This observational prospective cohort study included severely injured patients (Injury Severity Score ≥ 16), admitted to the ICU of five level-1 trauma centers in the Netherlands and United States.