Leveraging computational modeling to explore epithelial and endothelial cell monolayer mechanobiology.

Endothelial cells (ENCs) and epithelial cells (EPCs) form monolayers whose barrier function is critical for the maintenance of physiological processes and extremely sensitive to mechanical cues. Computational models have emerged as powerful tools to elucidate how mechanical cues impact the behavior of these monolayers in health and disease. Herein, the importance of mechanics in regulating ENC and EPC monolayer behavior is established, highlighting similarities and differences in various biological contexts.

Retrospective Evaluation of Novel Synthetic Opioids and Xylazine Chronic Intake by Post-Mortem Hair Testing.

Fentanyl and its derivatives (nonpharmaceutical fentanyl, NPFs) represent the largest group among synthetic opioids. Fentanyl-related deaths and fatalities from tampering with pharmaceutical products have been reported. Furthermore, in the United States, adulterants such as xylazine and other substances, including the nitazenes class of opioids, have been found in an increasing number of unintentional overdose deaths, drug seizures, and reports of use by recreational drug users.

A Review of Initial and Ongoing Training Needs through the Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control.

Established in 2021, the Alabama Regional Center for Infection Prevention and Control (ARC IPC) aims to address critical gaps in infection prevention and control (IPC) across Alabama's public health and healthcare systems. Through a comprehensive needs assessment, the Center identified priority areas which informed its targeted training and technical assistance programs. This paper examines the Center's multifaceted approach to addressing significant IPC challenges throughout the state, with particular emphasis on underserved areas.

The window of opportunity: Estimating the role of climate finance on urban-rural electricity inequality.

Access to electricity is vital for enhancing human welfare; however, it is not equally distributed between rural and urban demographics. This paper, for the first time, examine the impact of climate finance on electricity accessibility, and the inequality of electricity accessibility between urban and rural areas. Based on the dataset covering 125 countries during 2002-2020, and by using the instrumental Variables-Generalized Method of Moments model, we mainly arrive at the following conclusions.

Air pollution, metabolic signatures, and the risk of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Air pollution has been associated with a higher incidence of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), yet this metabolic mechanism remains unclear. 185,865 participants were included in the UK Biobank. We estimated air pollution exposure using the bilinear interpolation approach, including fine particle matter with diameter < 2.

'Care as capital': Developing theory about school investment in mental health and wellbeing.

Recent years have seen an emphasis on delivering mental health and wellbeing support in school settings. However, the process by which schools meet this resource allocation challenge is largely undocumented. Our study used theory-building process tracing to develop a mechanistic understanding of the process of mental health investment in schools.

Not all uterine carcinosarcomas are created equal: Survival outcomes according to molecular characterization of uterine carcinosarcoma.

Objectives: To assess if ProMisE classifier molecular subtypes are associated with differing survival outcomes in uterine carcinosarcoma (UCS) and compare these outcomes to endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) tumors.

Methods: There were 2235 UCS and 6469 EEC tumors using next-generation sequencing of DNA, whole exome sequencing, and RNA. Microsatellite instability (MSI) was tested by IHC and NGS.

Perceptions of diabetic retinopathy patients on the management of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in South Tarawa, Kiribati: A qualitative study.

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common causes of legal blindness in developing countries, particularly between the ages of 20 to 65 years. Kiribati is currently facing the burden of DR where more than 5% of diabetes patients had experienced negative impacts of DR. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of DR patients on DR management in South Tarawa, Kiribati.

Approach to the Patient: Diagnostic Challenges in the Work Up for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects 10-13% of women globally. It is a condition with metabolic, reproductive and psychological features, with health impacts across the lifespan. The aetiology of PCOS is complex, with an interplay of several factors including genetic and epigenetic susceptibility, androgen exposure in early life and adiposity related dysfunction leading to hypothalamic-ovarian disturbance.

Fundus Autofluorescence Variation in Geographic Atrophy of Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Clinicopathologic Correlation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop ground-truth histology about contributors to variable fundus autofluorescence (FAF) signal and thus inform patient selection for treating geographic atrophy (GA) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods: One woman with bilateral multifocal GA, foveal sparing, and thick choroids underwent 535 to 580 nm excitation FAF in 6 clinic visits (11 to 6 years before death). The left eye was preserved 5 hours after death.

A Friendlier "Kinda" Social System: Male Kinda Baboons Invest in Long-Term Social Bonds With Females.

Objectives: Certain group-living mammals-including many primates-exhibit affiliative relationships between sexes that persist past copulation. Relationships between females and males in baboons (Papio sp.) are particularly well-characterized.

The emergence of DNAM-1 as the facilitator of NK cell-mediated killing in ovarian cancer.

Introduction: Ovarian cancer (OC) is the sixth most common malignancy in women and the poor 5-year survival emphasises the need for novel therapies. NK cells play an important role in the control of malignant disease but the nature of tumour-infiltrating and peripheral NK cells in OC remains unclear.

Methods: Using flow cytometric analysis, we studied the phenotype and function of NK cells in blood, primary tumour and metastatic tissue in 80 women with OC.

Factors Associated With the Development of Heart Failure Following Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains a major global health burden, encompassing a spectrum of conditions from unstable angina to acute myocardial infarction. Despite advancements in early detection and management, ACS is often complicated by the development of heart failure. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify factors associated with the development of heart failure following acute coronary syndrome.

Improving Adherence to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Guidelines for the Use of Tranexamic Acid in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Background: Tranexamic acid (TXA) is a pharmacological agent used in reducing blood loss during orthopaedic surgeries, including total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Despite its proven efficacy and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommending combined topical and intravenous administration, compliance in clinical practice often lags.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate and improve adherence to NICE guidelines for TXA use during TKA through a quality improvement initiative.

Surveillance of soil-transmitted helminths and other intestinal parasites in shelter dogs, Mississippi, USA.

In recent years, soil-transmitted helminthiases, including strongyloidiasis have become a prominent public health concern in the southeastern United States of America (USA). While there is ongoing human soil-transmitted helminths (STH) surveillance in Mississippi and Alabama, very little attention has been paid to potentially zoonotic STH from dogs in this region. We microscopically examined faecal samples collected from 252 shelter dogs in Mississippi using the formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation method.

Urine kidney injury molecule-1 predicts subclinical kidney disease among persons living with HIV initiating tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-based ART in Zambia.

Introduction: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) increases the life expectancy of persons living with HIV (PLWH), but not without potentially serious adverse effects. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) can cause nephrotoxicity, manifesting as acute kidney injury (AKI) that may persist after treatment discontinuation. Kidney injury biomarkers such as kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4), interleukin-18 (IL-18), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) can aid early diagnosis and predict TDF-associated nephrotoxicity.

Urinary incontinence (UI) in older women in low- and middle-income countries: a rapid review and case study from Burkina Faso.

The prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) in older women in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is not well understood. We conducted a rapid literature review to assess the burden of UI in this population and contextualize findings from a household survey of women aged 40 and older in Nouna, in northwestern Burkina Faso. The rapid review included 21 survey articles.