Multi-target Stool DNA Testing for Colorectal Cancer Screening in Clinical Practice.

Background And Aims: Few studies have evaluated multi-target stool DNA (mt-sDNA) in clinical practice. We analyzed mt-sDNA utilization at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).

Methods: We assessed mt-sDNA orders between 1/1/2017 to 12/31/2021.

Comparing Patient Care Models at a Local Free Clinic vs an Insurance-Based University Medical Center.

More than 30 million Americans lack access to affordable health care, and many seek medical services such as dermatologic care at free clinics. In this study, we analyzed the dermatology patient populations at the Birmingham Free Clinic (BFC) and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), both in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A retrospective chart review of 76 BFC dermatology patients and a time-matched sample of 322 UPMC dermatology patients was performed for the period from January 2020 to May 2022.

The efficacy of acupuncture for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in college students: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common type of anxiety disorders. GAD usually occurs in adolescence or early adulthood, and the prevalence of GAD is higher among college-enrolled young adults than in the general adult population. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of GAD.

Restrictive or Liberal Blood Transfusion in Patients with Myocardial Infarction and CKD.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with higher risk of myocardial infarction and anemia. Among patients with anemia and CKD who experience myocardial infarction, it remains uncertain if a liberal red blood cell transfusion threshold strategy (hemoglobin cutoff [Hgb] < 10 g/dL) is superior to a restrictive transfusion threshold (Hgb 7-8 g/dL) strategy.

Methods: Among the 3,504 patients enrolled in the Myocardial Ischemia and Transfusion (MINT) trial with non-missing creatinine, we compared baseline characteristics and 30-day and 6-month outcomes of patients without CKD (N = 1279), CKD with eGFR 30-60 mL/min/1.

Within-person affect dynamics among individuals in residential treatment for opioid use disorder: An ecological momentary assessment study.

Ecological momentary assessment is increasingly leveraged to better understand affective processes underlying substance use disorder treatment and recovery. Research in this area has yielded novel insights into the roles of mean levels of positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) in precipitating drug craving and substance use in daily life. Little of the extant substance use disorder treatment research, however, considers dynamic patterns of PA and NA, separately or in relation to one another, or how such patterns may differ from those observed among nonclinical samples.

Children's executive functioning and health behaviors across pediatric life stages and ecological contexts.

Executive functioning (EF) has been linked to chronic disease risk in children. Health behaviors are thought to partially explain this association. The current cross-sectional study evaluated specific domains of EF and varied health behaviors in three pediatric life stages.

Circulating metabolomic biomarkers of 5-year body weight and composition change in a biracial cohort of community-dwelling older adults.

Unintentional weight loss in older populations is linked to greater mortality and morbidity risks. This study aims to understand the metabolic mechanisms of unintentional weight loss and their relationship with body composition changes in older adults. We investigated plasma metabolite associations with weight and body composition changes over 5 years in 1335 participants (mean age 73.

Pain Coping Skills Training for Patients Receiving Hemodialysis: The HOPE Consortium Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Chronic pain is common among individuals with dialysis-dependent kidney failure.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of pain coping skills training (PCST), a cognitive behavioral intervention, on pain interference.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This multicenter randomized clinical trial of PCST vs usual care was conducted across 16 academic centers and 103 outpatient dialysis facilities in the US.

Outcomes of Immunotherapy Treatment in Sinonasal Mucosal Melanoma.

Background: Sinonasal mucosal melanoma has poor survival despite multimodality treatment. While the impact of immunotherapy (IT) on metastatic cutaneous melanoma is well-defined, there are relatively little data on sinonasal mucosal melanoma.

Objective: We sought to define immunotherapy outcomes in patients with sinonasal mucosal melanoma.

Long-term Cognitive Trajectories in Older Adults After Surgery: A Population-based Cohort Study.

Introduction: Postoperative cognitive decline (POCD) is a common, but often unrecognized condition after surgery. We evaluate postsurgical cognitive changes in a longitudinal population-based study.

Methods: The study cohort comprises an age-stratified population-based random sample of individuals aged 65+ years from a small-town region of the United States.

Medical students' perceptions of mentorship in cardiothoracic surgery: A Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association Nationwide Survey.

Objective: The study objective was to explore medical students' perceptions of mentorship in cardiothoracic surgery in the United States.

Methods: A voluntary, anonymous electronic survey was distributed to medical students through the Thoracic Surgery Medical Student Association. The survey included 28 questions across 4 domains: demographic information, current mentorship status, goals and qualities sought in mentorship, and self-reported barriers to mentorship.

Pharmacological Vitamin C-induced high HO generation mediates apoptotic cell death by caspase 3/7 activation in breast cancer tumor spheroids.

Background: Pharmacological vitamin C (Vit-C), or high-dose Vit-C has recently gained attention as a potential cancer therapeutic. However, the anticancer activity of Vit-C has not been investigated in realistic 3D models of human cancers, especially with respect to breast cancer (BC), and its potential benefits remain under debate. Herein, we investigate the activity and mechanism of action of pharmacological Vit-C on two BC tumor spheroids.

Egg consumption, sleep, and mental health status among women with type II diabetes.

To evaluate if egg consumption is associated with sleep quality and psychological health (depression, anxiety, and stress) in women with type 2 diabetes. A cross-sectional study was conducted on women with type 2 diabetes (n = 230). Weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and blood pressure were measured.

Updated Appropriate Use Criteria for Amyloid and Tau PET: A Report from the Alzheimer's Association and Society for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Workgroup.

The Alzheimer's Association and the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging convened a multidisciplinary workgroup to update appropriate use criteria (AUC) for amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) and to develop AUC for tau PET. The workgroup identified key research questions that guided a systematic literature review on clinical amyloid/tau PET. Building on this review, the workgroup developed 17 clinical scenarios in which amyloid or tau PET may be considered.

The Impact of Surgical Prehabilitation on Postoperative Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Prehabilitation (preoperative rehabilitation) encompasses a range of patient health driven interventions with the potential to enhance surgical outcomes. This systematic review aims to assess the efficacy of prehabilitation on postoperative outcomes across surgical specialties, focusing on physical functionality and postoperative length of stay (LOS).

Methods: Medline, Embase, CINAHL Plus, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Clinicaltrials.

Demographic Correlates of Autism: How Do Associations Compare Between Diagnosis and a Quantitative Trait Measure?

Prevalence of autism diagnosis has historically differed by demographic factors. Using data from 8224 participants drawn from the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, we examined relationships between demographic factors and parent-reported autism-related traits as captured by the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS; T score > 65) and compared these to relations with parent-reported clinician diagnosis of ASD, in generalized linear mixed effects regression analyses. Results suggested lower odds of autism diagnosis, but not of SRS T > 65, for non-Hispanic Black children (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.

Prevention of Infections Among Pediatric Solid Organ Transplant Recipients With Asplenia or Hyposplenism.

Pediatric solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients with splenic dysfunction are at increased risk for infections, and tailored guidance on the management of asplenia/hyposplenism among SOT recipients is often lacking. The purpose of this article is to provide practice recommendations via a frequently asked questions (FAQs) format that focuses on three main domains: the identification of asplenia/hyposplenism among SOT recipients/candidates, prophylactic strategies for mitigating the risk of invasive disease associated with splenic dysfunction in the context of transplantation, and the provision of appropriate patient counseling on the risks associated with asplenia/hyposplenism. Answers to the FAQs are based on international expert opinion informed by practices for managing splenic dysfunction and associated data in other populations with asplenia.

Determinants of sleep quality and their impact on health outcomes: a cross-sectional study on night-shift nurses.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify determinants of sleep quality and explore their adverse health outcomes among night-shift nurses in China.

Method: Through convenience sampling, this cross-sectional study enrolled a total of 711 night-shift nurses aged 20-55 years who completed questionnaires from which details regarding their sociodemographic characteristics, health-related indicators and sleep quality based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were extracted. A generalized linear regression analysis was then created to identify factors influencing sleep quality.

Advancing psychosocial disability and psychosocial rehabilitation research through large language models and computational text mining.

Psychosocial rehabilitation and psychosocial disability research have been a longstanding topic in healthcare, demanding continuous exploration and analysis to enhance patient and clinical outcomes. As the prevalence of psychosocial disability research continues to attract scholarly attention, many scientific articles are being published in the literature. These publications offer profound insights into diagnostics, preventative measures, treatment strategies, and epidemiological factors.

Development of a Japanese version of the patient perceptions of deprescribing - Short form.

Background: Deprescribing is a critical component of clinical practice, especially in geriatric medicine. Nevertheless, the attributes of patients who are prepared for, interested in, and could potentially benefit from deprescribing have not been well examined. The Patient Perceptions of Deprescribing (PPoD) evaluates patients' overall readiness for deprescribing and is complemented by an 11-item validated short form (SF-PPoD).

Best holdout assessment is sufficient for cancer transcriptomic model selection.

Guidelines in statistical modeling for genomics hold that simpler models have advantages over more complex ones. Potential advantages include cost, interpretability, and improved generalization across datasets or biological contexts. We directly tested the assumption that small gene signatures generalize better by examining the generalization of mutation status prediction models across datasets (from cell lines to human tumors and vice versa) and biological contexts (holding out entire cancer types from pan-cancer data).

Millisecond-level transient heating and temperature monitoring technique for ultrasound-induced thermal strain imaging.

Ultrasound-induced thermal strain imaging (US-TSI) is a promising ultrasound imaging modality that has been demonstrated in preclinical studies to identify a lipid-rich necrotic core of an atherosclerotic plaque. However, human physiological motion, e.g.

Translation of a longitudinal survey of veterans' well-being into action by a research-practice-policy partnership.

Introduction: Research-practice-policy partnerships are shifting the academic research paradigm toward collaboration and research-informed action at community and policy levels. In this case study, researchers partnered with philanthropic foundations to actualize data findings from a rigorous, longitudinal study.

Context: In 2016, a survey of post-9/11 military veterans began assessing veterans' well-being in key domains: health, vocation (education and employment), finances, and social relationships.