ALSUntangled #77: Psilocybin.

ALSUntangled reviews alternate and off-label treatments prompted by patient interest. Here, we review psilocybin, a chemical derived from mushrooms and belonging in the category of drugs known as psychedelics. Psilocybin has plausible mechanisms for slowing ALS progression because of its ability to cross the blood brain barrier and effect neurogenesis and inflammation.

CSF1-R inhibition attenuates posttraumatic osteoarthritis and quadriceps atrophy following ligament injury.

Knee osteoarthritis contributes substantially to worldwide disability. Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) develops secondary to joint injury, such as ligament rupture, and there is increasing evidence suggesting a key role for inflammation in the aetiology of PTOA and associated functional deficits. Colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1-R) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of musculoskeletal degeneration following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.

Targeted long-read sequencing to quantify methylation of the C9orf72 repeat expansion.

Background: The gene C9orf72 harbors a non-coding hexanucleotide repeat expansion known to cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. While previous studies have estimated the length of this repeat expansion in multiple tissues, technological limitations have impeded researchers from exploring additional features, such as methylation levels.

Methods: We aimed to characterize C9orf72 repeat expansions using a targeted, amplification-free long-read sequencing method.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms in Children With Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

Objective: This meta-analysis aimed to robustly estimate differences in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms between children and adolescents with and without neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).

Method: Systematic literature searches were conducted in Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, PubMed, and ProQuest in September 2022 with a supplemental search conducted in Google Scholar in February 2023. The searches identified 2153 unique articles.

Utilization of Interval Throwing Programs: Analysis of Athletic Trainer, Physical Therapist, and Physician Perspectives.

Context: A common component within rehabilitation recommendations for baseball pitchers is employment of an interval throwing program. However, there is a lack of a consistent set of advocated guidelines for program content and implementation for athletes at the professional and collegiate levels.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Novel exploitation of autophagy by tombusviruses.

Positive-strand (+)RNA viruses are major pathogens of humans, animals and plants. This review summarizes the complex interplay between the host autophagy pathway and Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) replication. Recent discoveries with TBSV have revealed virus-driven exploitation of autophagy in multiple ways that contributes to the unique phospholipid composition of viral replication organellar (VROs) membranes.

A unique inflammaging profile generated by T cells from people with obesity is metformin resistant.

The alarmingly high prevalence of obesity in older adults coupled with the negative health effects of chronic inflammation in both obesity and aging highlight the importance of studies investigating the impacts of obesity on age-related inflammation. Since shifts in peripheral T-cell metabolism and function drive systemic inflammation in both obesity and aging, we hypothesize that obesity impacts the Th17-dominated inflammaging profile we identified in lean subjects and thus modifies the anti-inflammatory effects of geroprotective drugs like metformin. New cytokine profiling data showed that CD4 T cells from older people with obesity generate a profile that specifically excludes Th17 cytokines.

Exploratory Pilot Study Engages Community Health Workers to Test Drone-Based Package Delivery System for Personal Protective Equipment in High-Risk Appalachia Population.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, high-risk clients' and caregivers' access to essential personal protective equipment (PPE) was limited especially in many remote areas of Appalachia. A multidisciplinary team of community and university partners explored how to coordinate the use of community health workers (CHWs) and drone technologies to increase access to PPE in rural and remote Appalachian regions. CHWs recruited 10 Homeplace clients in an exploratory study of drone-based package delivery of PPE to assess importance and effectiveness of PPE self-efficacy related to PPE use, use of PPE, and ease and acceptability of drone delivery (following delivery only).

Population-based cross-sectional analysis of cannabis use among Kentucky adults, 2020-21.

Purpose: We conducted this study to assess cannabis use rates in the state of Kentucky relative to socioeconomic, demographic, and geographic factors, as well as reasons for use and modes of use, before the legal medical marijuana market commences in 2025.

Methods: We pooled Kentucky Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data for 2020-2021 and used weighted responses for all analyses. We estimated current cannabis use (at least once in the past 30 days), and heavy use (at least 20 of the past 30 days) prevalence rates for Appalachian, Delta, and Central geographic regions of Kentucky.

Computer-generated Clinical Decision-making in the Treatment of Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum.

Purpose: Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum is a multifactorial disease requiring complex surgeries. The treatment route is determined based on the right ventricle (RV) size, tricuspid annulus size and coronary circulation dependency of RV. Since multiple parameters influence the post-operative success, a personalized decision-making based on computed hemodynamics is hypothesized to improve the treatment efficacy.

Complex relationship between response rate and preference in pigeons: Williams (1992) revisited.

A decrease in the rate of reinforcement associated with one component of a multiple schedule is typically associated with a decrease in responding in that component as well as with an increase in responding in the unchanged component. This increase in responding, referred to as positive contrast, is thought to result from an increase in the subjective value associated with the unchanged component. Williams Animal Learning & Behavior, 19, 337-344, (1991) challenged this hypothesis in an experiment with pigeons in which Stimulus A, associated with a variable interval schedule, was always followed by Stimulus X, associated with extinction, while Stimulus B, associated with the same variable interval schedule, was always followed by Stimulus Y, also associated with a variable interval schedule.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Expert Consensus Statements on a Framework for a Standardized National Robotic Curriculum for Thoracic Surgery Trainees.

Objective: With robotic technology's rapid growth and integration, an urgent need to bridge the educational gap in thoracic surgical training has emerged. This document, a result of consensus among a group of experts in the practice and training of robotic surgery from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), aims to provide a framework for a standardized national robotic curriculum for thoracic surgery trainees.

Methods: The STS Task Force on Robotic Thoracic Surgery and Workforce on E-learning and Educational Innovation assembled an expert group with the input of the Thoracic Surgery Director's Association (TSDA).

Evaluating post-cardiac arrest blood pressure thresholds associated with neurologic outcome in children: Insights from the pediRES-Q database.

Background: Current Pediatric Advanced Life Support Guidelines recommend maintaining blood pressure (BP) above the 5th percentile for age following return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after cardiac arrest (CA). Emerging evidence suggests that targeting higher thresholds, such as the 10th or 25th percentiles, may improve neurologic outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the association between post-ROSC BP thresholds and neurologic outcome, hypothesizing that maintaining mean arterial pressure (MAP) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) above these thresholds would be associated with improved outcomes at hospital discharge.

Pharmacotherapy adjuncts for traumatic brain injury: A narrative review of evidence and considerations in the emergency department.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) remains a significant global health concern with significant impact on morbidity and mortality. This narrative review explores adjunctive pharmacologic agents to be employed by emergency medicine clinicians during Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) in patients presenting with a TBI. Pharmacologic agents are commonly employed for the management of rapid sequence intubation and post-intubation analgosedation, hemodynamics, intracranial pressure, coagulopathy, seizure prophylaxis, and infection.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police cadets' exposure to potentially psychologically traumatic events during the Cadet Training Program.

Lifetime exposures to potentially psychologically traumatic events (PPTEs) among Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) cadets starting the Cadet Training Program (CTP) appear lower than exposures reported by serving RCMP, but the prevalence of PPTE exposures during the CTP remains unknown. The current study assessed PPTE exposures during the CTP and examined associations with mental disorders among RCMP cadets. Participants were cadets (n = 449, 24.

A review of ultraviolet filters and their impact on aquatic environments.

Numerous anthropogenic ultraviolet filters (UVF) have been detected in aquatic environments and concerns have arisen regarding their potential impacts on aquatic organisms. This manuscript reviews the environmental concentrations and potential toxicity of various UVF. The highest concentrations of UVF are typically observed near frequently visited recreational areas and during peak water-activity periods, which suggests that sunscreen application correlates with noticeable alterations in UVF concentrations.

Phase separation of MYB73 regulates seed oil biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.

MYB family transcription factors (TFs) play crucial roles in plant development, metabolism, and responses to various stresses. However, whether MYB TFs are involved in regulating fatty acid biosynthesis in seeds remains largely elusive. Here, we demonstrated that transgenic Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants overexpressing MYB73 exhibit altered FATTY ACID ELONGATION1 (FAE1) expression, seed oil content, and seed fatty acid composition.

Electrodiagnostic Testing Predicts Postdecompression Outcomes in Patients With Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.

Purpose: Electrodiagnostic (EDX) testing is commonly used in conjunction with symptoms and physical examination findings to diagnose cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between preoperative EDX diagnosis and the degree of Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) improvement after surgery within the CuTS patient population.

Methods: A retrospective review was designed to analyze patients from a single institution who underwent a cubital tunnel release.

Association of Cancer Risk Perception and Patient-provider Communication with Pap Test Among African American and Sub-Saharan African-born Women.

Black women bear a disproportionately higher burden of cervical cancer than any ethnic/racial group. Patient's cancer risk perceptions and patient-provider communication behavior may influence uptake of cervical cancer screening with Papanicolaou (Pap) test. We examined the association of cancer risk perceptions and patient-provider communication behavior and Pap test uptake.

"The PO-Driven Model": A Basic Science Pipeline for the Bioeconomy with Solutions Inspired by Convergent Evolution for Connecting Parallel Research Ideas.

Basic science research, also called "curiosity-driven research," is fundamental work done with no immediate economic goals but rather a focus on discovery for discovery's sake. However, basic science research is often needed to seed more applied, economically-oriented, research. Both basic and applied research efforts are important aspects of the "bioeconomy" defined here as the contributions to the overall economy from various biology-related fields spanning everything from museum-based natural history research to agricultural food and material production to healthcare.

2019 EULAR/ACR classification criteria for SLE score predicts future lupus hospital admission and costs.

Objective: To test the ability of the 2019 EULAR/ACR Classification Criteria for SLE score to predict lupus related hospitalization and overall cost of hospitalization.

Methods: 217 University of Kentucky patient records that met our preliminary inclusion criteria, 44 patients were selected by a random number generator algorithm for a thorough chart review to collect data needed for calculation of the 2019 EULAR/ACR Classification Criteria for SLE score. Total hospitalization cost was calculated by using hospital adjusted expenses per inpatient day data, which estimates the expense incurred by the hospital to provide services and thus removes the variability of charges and reimbursements introduced by insurance type.

Inadequate Intensification of LDL-cholesterol lowering therapy after coronary revascularization: Insights from the GOULD registry.

Background: Patients with a history of coronary revascularization are at a higher risk for subsequent cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality. Lowering LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels post-revascularization significantly reduces these risks.

Methods: This analysis compared LDL-C-lowering therapies at baseline and over time among patients with and without prior coronary revascularization in the GOULD registry (a prospective multicenter cohort study).

Long-Term Follow-Up and Overall Survival in NRG258, a Randomized Phase III Trial of Chemoradiation Versus Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Endometrial Carcinoma.

This randomized phase III trial aimed to determine whether treatment with cisplatin and volume-directed radiation followed by carboplatin and paclitaxel for four cycles (chemoradiotherapy [C-RT]) increased recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) when compared with carboplatin and paclitaxel for six cycles (chemotherapy [CT]) in locally advanced endometrial cancer (UC). Previously reported results showed that C-RT did not improve RFS compared with CT. Here we report the final OS analysis.