Using a Hand-Held Icterometer to Screen for Neonatal Jaundice: Validation, Feasibility, and Acceptability of the Bili-Ruler in Kumasi, Ghana.

Background: Neonatal jaundice (NNJ) remains a leading cause of newborn mortality in much of sub-Saharan Africa. We sought to examine the validity of using a hand-held icterometer as a screening tool to determine which newborns need further assessment. Additionally, we sought to assess the feasibility of its use among mothers.

Stress Due to Inflation and Its Association with Anxiety and Depression Among Working-Age Adults in the United States.

Inflation generates stress, which may lead to high rates of anxiety and depression. Given the recent surge and subsequent decline in the inflation rate in the United States, the prevalence of stress due to inflation may vary, as well as its relationship with anxiety and depression. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of stress due to inflation and its association with anxiety and depression over time among working-age adults in the United States.

Neighborhood Violence Exposure and Alcohol and Tobacco Use Initiation Among Ethnic Minority Adolescents.

Although the extant literature has recognized the importance of neighborhood contexts for adolescent alcohol and tobacco use, less is known about the effects of exposure to neighborhood violence on the prevalence and timing of initiation across gender and race/ethnic groups. This secondary analysis of administrative and survey data from a natural experiment in Denver examines the influence of neighborhood contexts on the health and well-being of 1100 Latino/a and African American adolescents. Cox Proportional Hazard models were used to (1) estimate the effects of exposure to neighborhood violence on the prevalence and timing of adolescent alcohol and tobacco use initiation; (2) examine gender and race/ethnic variations in alcohol and tobacco use initiation after controlling for adolescent, caregiver, household, and other neighborhood characteristics; and (3) test for threshold effects.

Feasibility pilot of a novel coaching intervention to optimize cannabis use for chronic pain management among Veterans.

Introduction: Chronic pain is common among Veterans, some of whom use cannabis for pain. We conducted a feasibility pilot study of a novel coaching intervention to help Veterans optimize use of medical cannabis products for pain management (NCT06320470).

Methods: The intervention drew from scientific literature, consultation with cannabis experts, Veteran input via a Community Advisory Board, and tenets of motivational interviewing.

Effects of socioeconomic and human-modified landscape variables on medicinal species richness at a macroscale: the case of the Caatinga, Brazil.

Background: Ethnobiological studies at local scales have shown that knowledge of medicinal species tends to decrease as socioeconomic status and the extent of human-modified landscapes increase. However, it remains largely unknown whether these same factors can predict knowledge of useful species at broader scales and whether their interaction might create scenarios that enhance knowledge of medicinal species.

Methods: To address this, we tested whether knowledge of woody medicinal species-measured as the number of species known-is influenced by socioeconomic status, human-modified landscapes, and their interaction.

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.

Framework for types of metainferences in mixed methods research.

Background: The generation of metainferences is a core and significant feature of mixed methods research. In recent years, there has been some discussion in the literature about criteria for appraising the quality of metainferences, the processes for generating them, and the critical role that assessing the "fit" of quantitative and qualitative data and results plays in this generative process. However, little is known about the types of insights that emerge from generating metainferences.

Dual anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 blockade in metastatic basal cell carcinoma.

We report the basal cell cancer (BCC) cohort of the SWOG/NCI 1609 Dual Anti-CTLA-4 & Anti-PD-1 blockade in Rare Tumors (DART), a phase II prospective, multicenter basket trial of nivolumab and ipilimumab. The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) (RECIST v1.1).

Stable laser-acceleration of high-flux proton beams with plasma collimation.

Laser-plasma acceleration of protons offers a compact, ultra-fast alternative to conventional acceleration techniques, and is being widely pursued for potential applications in medicine, industry and fundamental science. Creating a stable, collimated beam of protons at high repetition rates presents a key challenge. Here, we demonstrate the generation of multi-MeV proton beams from a fast-replenishing ambient-temperature liquid sheet.

Unraveling complexity and leveraging opportunities in uncommon breast cancer subtypes.

Special histologic subtypes of breast cancer (BC) exhibit unique phenotypes and molecular profiles with diagnostic and therapeutic implications, often differing in behavior and clinical trajectory from common BC forms. Novel methodologies, such as artificial intelligence may improve classification. Genetic predisposition plays roles in a subset of cases.

Differential impact from individual versus collective misinformation tagging on the diversity of Twitter (X) information engagement and mobility.

Fears about the destabilizing impact of misinformation online have motivated individuals and platforms to respond. Individuals have increasingly challenged others' online claims with fact-checks in pursuit of a healthier information ecosystem and to break down echo chambers of self-reinforcing opinion. Using Twitter (now X) data, here we show the consequences of individual misinformation tagging: tagged posters had explored novel political information and expanded topical interests immediately prior, but being tagged caused posters to retreat into information bubbles.

A Call for a Neoadjuvant Kidney Cancer Consortium: Lessons Learned from Other Cancer Types.

Neoadjuvant systemic treatment strategies have improved outcomes in several solid tumour types. This success has not yet been replicated in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). A consensus and international collaboration are urgently needed for the development of adaptive perioperative immunotherapy strategies for patients with RCC at high risk of recurrence.

Mechanical thrombectomy in elderly stroke patients with low ASPECTS: insights from STAR.

Background: The elderly population (≥80 years) were underrepresented in recent trials of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for anterior circulation large vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke (LVO-AIS) with low Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) (≤5).

Methods: This study analyzed data from a prospectively maintained database of 37 thrombectomy centers. The primary cohort of the study comprised patients with LVO-AIS aged ≥80 who underwent EVT with ASPECTS≤5 from 2013 to 2023.

Development and temporal-validation of prognostic models for 5-year risk of pneumonia, respiratory failure/collapse, and fracture among adults with cerebral palsy.

Purpose: Pneumonia, respiratory failure, and fracture are common and highly burdensome for adults with cerebral palsy (CP). To date, there are no clinically friendly tools to assess individualized risk of these outcomes for adults with CP. The objective was to develop and validate prognostic models for 5-year risk of pneumonia, respiratory failure/collapse, and fracture for adults with CP.

Simulation-based training improves developmental hip dysplasia examination and diagnosis skills on newborns.

Background: Examination maneuvers used to diagnose developmental hip dysplasia (DDH) translate poorly to video and written curricula. This poses a challenge to teaching the infant hip exam to orthopedic, family medicine, and pediatric trainees. This work investigated the impact of the MiHip simulation-based training program on residents' knowledge, confidence, and exam skills in the simulated setting, and translation of these skills to the clinical setting.

Application of an Externally Developed Algorithm to Identify Research Cases and Controls from Electronic Health Record Data: Failures and Successes.

Background: The use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) in research demands robust, interoperable systems. By linking biorepositories to EHR algorithms, researchers can efficiently identify cases and controls for large observational studies (e.g.

BabyFM: Towards accurate 3D baby facial models using spectral decomposition and asymmetry swapping.

In this paper, we present the first publicly available 3D statistical facial shape model of babies, the Baby Face Model (BabyFM). Constructing a model of the facial geometry of babies entails specific challenges, such as occlusions, extreme and uncontrollable expressions, and data shortage. We address these challenges by proposing (1) a non-template dependent method that jointly estimates a 3D facial baby-specific template and the point-to-point correspondences; (2) a novel method to establish correspondences based on the spectral decomposition of the Laplace Beltrami Operator, which provides a more robust theoretical foundation than state-of-the-art methods; and (3) an asymmetry-swapping strategy to alleviate the shortage of large scale datasets by decoupling the identity-related and the asymmetry-related shape deformation fields.

Awareness and care practices for rare neurologic diseases among senior neurologists: A global survey.

Objective: Rare neurologic diseases (RNDs) are difficult to diagnose and treat due to their low prevalence and complex nature. This survey evaluated awareness and current care status of RNDs among esteemed neurologists affiliated with the World Federation of Neurology (WFN).

Methods: A 34-question survey was distributed to renowned neurologists, including delegates from national neurology societies in the WFN Assembly, various WFN committees, and members of the Rare Neurologic Diseases Specialist group.

Patient and family engagement in culturally-tailored diabetes self-management education in a Hispanic community.

Objectives: Diabetes self-management education (DSME) is effective in improving outcomes among adults with diabetes (AWD); but engagement in DSME has been lower among Hispanic AWD. We examined factors predicting engagement of Hispanic AWD in culturally tailored DSME that included a family/friend 'support person'.

Methods: 222 predominantly Hispanic AWD enrolled in DSME with a support person (SP), half of the AWD-SP pairs participated in pair-focused ('FAM-ACT') DSME and the others in patient-focused DSME.

Paediatric strategy forum for medicinal product development in diffuse midline gliomas in children and adolescents ACCELERATE in collaboration with the European Medicines Agency with participation of the Food and Drug Administration.

Fewer than 10 % of children with diffuse midline glioma (DMG) survive 2 years from diagnosis. Radiation therapy remains the cornerstone of treatment and there are no medicinal products with regulatory approval. Although the biology of DMG is better characterized, this has not yet translated into effective treatments.

Molecular classification of endometrial cancers (EC) and association with relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) outcomes: Ancillary analysis of GOG-0258.

Purpose: Determine if molecular classification using mismatch repair (MMR) and p53 protein expression predicts recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in endometrial cancer (EC) patients treated with chemotherapy and radiation (CRT) versus chemotherapy (CT).

Methods: GOG-0258, a phase III randomized trial (NCT00942357), compared CRT to CT. Immunohistochemistry assessed MMR and p53 status.

Risk Factors for Delayed (>30 Days) Readmission Following Rectal Cancer Surgery.

Introduction: Unplanned, delayed readmissions (>30 ds) following oncologic surgeries can increase mortality and care costs and affect hospital quality indices. However, there is a dearth of literature on rectal cancer surgery. Hence, we aimed to assess the risk factors associated with delayed readmissions following rectal cancer surgery to improve targeted interventions, patient outcomes, and quality indices.

Association between pituitary adenoma consistency, resection techniques, and patient outcomes: a single-institution experience.

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the association between pituitary adenoma (PA) consistency and other measurable tumor characteristics, extent of resection (EOR), postoperative complications, and outcomes.

Methods: In total, 507 PA resections were intraoperatively assigned a consistency grade from 1 (cystic/hemorrhagic tumors) to 5 (calcified tumors) based on intraoperative tumor characteristics. Tumor consistency was analyzed in tertiles (grades 1 and 2, grade 3, and grades 4 and 5) to determine associations with tumor characteristics, EOR, recurrence, postoperative outcomes, and complications.