Potentiation of cortico-spinal output via targeted electrical stimulation of the motor thalamus.

Cerebral white matter lesions prevent cortico-spinal descending inputs from effectively activating spinal motoneurons, leading to loss of motor control. However, in most cases, the damage to cortico-spinal axons is incomplete offering a potential target for therapies aimed at improving volitional muscle activation. Here we hypothesize that, by engaging direct excitatory connections to cortico-spinal motoneurons, stimulation of the motor thalamus could facilitate activation of surviving cortico-spinal fibers thereby immediately potentiating motor output.

Bridging the Digital Divide in Teledermatology Usage: A Retrospective Review of Patient Visits.

We sought to analyze the demographics of patients utilizing synchronous video visits (SVs), asynchronous visits (AVs), and in-office visits (IVs) following the implementation of SVs. We conducted a retrospective review of medical records and gathered patient demographics from 17,130 initial dermatology visits between July and December 2020. Diagnosis, age, sex, race, ethnicity, and insurance type were compared across visit types.

Effect of Roflumilast Cream vs Vehicle Cream on Chronic Plaque Psoriasis: The DERMIS-1 and DERMIS-2 Randomized Clinical Trials.

Importance: Once-daily roflumilast cream, 0.3%, a potent phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, demonstrated efficacy and was well tolerated in a phase 2b trial of patients with psoriasis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of roflumilast cream, 0.

Skin codelivery of contact sensitizers and neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists integrated in microneedle arrays suppresses allergic contact dermatitis.

Background: Allergic contact dermatitis (CD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease caused by type 1 biased adaptive immunity for which there is an unmet need for antigen (Ag)-specific immunotherapies. Exposure to skin sensitizers stimulates secretion of the proinflammatory neuropeptides substance P and hemokinin 1, which signal via the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) to promote the innate and adaptive immune responses of CD. Accordingly, mice lacking the NK1R develop impaired CD.

Magnetic Resonance Elastography of the Liver: A Single-Institution Review of Cases Performed in a 5-Year Interval.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) in detecting hepatic fibrosis and determining clinically relevant stiffness cutoff values per stage of fibrosis.

Methods: This retrospective study assessed 1488 hepatic MRE evaluations performed at a single institution for 5 years. Mean liver stiffness measurements were collected from 282 patients who had an MRE study within 1 year of histopathologic analysis.

The Use of Hybrid Lumbar Puncture Simulation to Teach Entrustable Professional Activities During a Medical Student Neurology Clerkship.

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. In 2014, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) published a list of 13 Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) that medical school graduates should be able to perform upon starting residency.

Extracutaneous involvement is common and associated with prolonged disease activity and greater impact in juvenile localized scleroderma.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate factors associated with extracutaneous involvement (ECI) in juvenile localized scleroderma (jLS).

Methods: A prospective, multicentre, 6-month observational study was performed. The data collected included disease features, global assessments, and subject symptoms.

Skin immunization for effective treatment of multifocal melanoma refractory to PD1 blockade and Braf inhibitors.

Background: Despite the remarkable benefits associated with the interventional treatment of melanomas (and other solid cancers) with immune checkpoint and Braf inhibitors (Brafi), most patients ultimately progress on therapy. The presence of multifocal/disseminated disease in patients increases their mortality risk. Hence, the development of novel strategies to effectively treat patients with melanomas that are resistant to anti-PD1 mAb (αPD1) and/or Brafi, particularly those with multifocal/disseminated disease remains a major unmet clinical need.

Bringing Parent Voices into a Pediatric Research Network Through a Virtual Parent Panel.

Background: Additional strategies are needed for longitudinal engagement of parents as key stakeholders in practice-based research networks (PBRNs). Our objective was to create a virtual Parent Panel for our PBRN to engage parents remotely and use their input on child health research.

Methods: We used an existing online parent survey study to invite parents to participate longitudinally by completing brief, monthly online questionnaires about child health research topics.

Prognostic Gene Expression Profiling in Cutaneous Melanoma: Identifying the Knowledge Gaps and Assessing the Clinical Benefit.

Importance: Use of prognostic gene expression profile (GEP) testing in cutaneous melanoma (CM) is rising despite a lack of endorsement as standard of care.

Objective: To develop guidelines within the national Melanoma Prevention Working Group (MPWG) on integration of GEP testing into the management of patients with CM, including (1) review of published data using GEP tests, (2) definition of acceptable performance criteria, (3) current recommendations for use of GEP testing in clinical practice, and (4) considerations for future studies.

Evidence Review: The MPWG members and other international melanoma specialists participated in 2 online surveys and then convened a summit meeting.

Neurokinin-1 Receptor Signaling Is Required for Efficient Ca Flux in T-Cell-Receptor-Activated T Cells.

Efficient Ca flux induced during cognate T cell activation requires signaling the T cell receptor (TCR) and unidentified G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). T cells express the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R), a GPCR that mediates Ca flux in excitable and non-excitable cells. However, the role of the NK1R in TCR signaling remains unknown.

Parent Perceptions of and Preferences for Participation in Child Health Research: Results from a Pediatric Practice-Based Research Network.

Background: Recruitment efforts for child health research are often based on assumptions, therefore improving knowledge about parents' perceptions and preferences could enhance engagement.

Aim/objective: 1) To describe parents' perceptions about and preferences for participation in child health research within a pediatric practice-based research network (PBRN), and 2) to investigate any associations with the presence of on-site PBRN research staff, office location, and child age.

Methods: We conducted a 2-phase study with a convenience sample of parents from diverse office settings.

Unplanned postoperative intensive care unit admission for ovarian cancer cytoreduction is associated with significant decrease in overall survival.

Objectives: Previous studies have identified age, nutritional status, and hematocrit as risk factors for unplanned ICU admission in gynecologic oncology patients. We sought to identify additional perioperative factors that can be predictive of unplanned ICU admission and its impact on outcomes in women with ovarian cancer undergoing ovarian cancer cytoreductive procedures.

Methods: This was a case-control study of patients with unplanned ICU admission after primary surgery for ovarian cancer from January 2007 to December 2013.

Scholarly Research Projects Benefit Medical Students' Research Productivity and Residency Choice: Outcomes From the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Purpose: Many medical schools require scholarly research projects. However, outcomes data from these initiatives are scarce. The authors studied the impact of the Scholarly Research Project (SRP), a four-year longitudinal requirement for all students at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (UPSOM), on research productivity and residency match.

Cancer Recurrence After Esophagectomy: Impact of Postoperative Infection in Propensity-Matched Cohorts.

Background: Postoperative infection increases cancer recurrence and worsens survival in colorectal cancer, but the relationship for esophagogastric adenocarcinoma after esophagectomy is not well defined. We aimed to determine whether recurrence and survival after minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophagogastric adenocarcinoma were influenced by postoperative infection using propensity-matched analysis.

Methods: We abstracted data for 810 patients (1997-2010) and defined exposure as at least 1 in-hospital or 30-day infectious complication (n = 206 [25%]).

Non-Elective Paraesophageal Hernia Repair Portends Worse Outcomes in Comparable Patients: a Propensity-Adjusted Analysis.

Introduction: Patients undergoing non-elective paraesophageal hernia repair (PEHR) have worse perioperative outcomes. Because they are usually older and sicker, however, these patients may be more prone to adverse events, independent of surgical urgency. Our study aimed to determine whether non-elective PEHR is associated with differential postoperative outcome compared to elective repair, using propensity-score weighting.

The SELF trial: A self-efficacy-based behavioral intervention trial for weight loss maintenance.

Objective: The SELF Trial examined the effect of adding individual self-efficacy (SE) enhancement sessions to standard behavioral weight loss treatment (SBT).

Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to SBT or SBT plus SE sessions (SBT+SE). Outcome measures were weight loss maintenance, quality of life, intervention adherence, and self-efficacy at 12 and 18 months.

Trends over time with commonly performed obstetric and gynecologic inpatient procedures.

Objectives: To estimate trends over time in inpatient obstetric and gynecologic surgical procedures, and to estimate commonly performed obstetric and gynecologic surgical procedures across a woman's lifespan.

Methods: Data were collected for procedures in adult women from 1979 to 2006 using the National Hospital Discharge Survey, a federal discharge dataset of U.S.

Reengineering the national clinical and translational research enterprise: the strategic plan of the National Clinical and Translational Science Awards Consortium.

Advances in human health require the efficient and rapid translation of scientific discoveries into effective clinical treatments; this process, in turn, depends on observational data gathered from patients, communities, and public health research that can be used to guide basic scientific investigation. Such bidirectional translational science, however, faces unprecedented challenges due to the rapid pace of scientific and technological development, as well as the difficulties of negotiating increasingly complex regulatory and commercial environments that overlap the research domain. Further, numerous barriers to translational science have emerged among the nation's academic research centers, including basic structural and cultural impediments to innovation and collaboration, shortages of trained investigators, and inadequate funding.