Sex and APOE ε4 allele differences in longitudinal white matter microstructure in multiple cohorts of aging and Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: The effects of sex and apolipoprotein E (APOE)-Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk factors-on white matter microstructure are not well characterized.

Methods: Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging data from nine well-established longitudinal cohorts of aging were free water (FW)-corrected and harmonized. This dataset included 4741 participants (age = 73.

Treatment Response Biomarkers for Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease.

Objective: This studied investigated whether changes in circulating biomarkers predict progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PFF) in patients with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) receiving treatment.

Method: Participants of Scleroderma Lung Study (SLS) II, which compared mycophenolate (MMF) versus cyclophosphamide (CYC) for SSc-ILD, who had blood samples at baseline and 12-months were included. Levels for C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, chemokine ligand 4 (CXCL4), chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18) and Krebs von den Lungen 6 (KL-6) were measured, and a logistic regression model evaluated relationships between changes in these biomarkers and the development of PPF by 24 months.

Artificial Intelligence Assessment of Chest Radiographs for COVID-19.

Background: The sensitivity of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is limited for diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Chest computed tomography (CT) is reported to have high sensitivity; however, given the limited availability of chest CT during a pandemic, the assessment of more readily available imaging, such as chest radiographs, augmented by artificial intelligence may substitute for the detection of the features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia.

Methods: We trained a deep convolutional neural network to detect SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia using publicly available chest radiography imaging data including 8,851 normal, 6,045 pneumonia, and 200 COVID-19 pneumonia radiographs.

Delirium-like symptomatology in community-dwelling older adults with dementia.

Background: Delirium, a sudden and acute state of confusion, is known to be more prevalent in hospitalised older adults with dementia and is associated with lower levels of functioning after the delirium episode; yet, the literature on estimates of delirium prevalence in community-dwelling older adults with dementia is scarce. The aim of this study was to define and determine the frequency of delirium-like symptoms in two different samples of community-dwelling persons living with dementia, as reported by their family caregivers. 'Delirium-like symptoms' is a concept that specifies an occurrence of cognitive and behavioural symptoms, provoking suspicion of delirium, that represent a sudden and unusual deleterious change in a community-dwelling person living with dementia that can be identified by family caregivers and prompt healthcare seeking behaviours.

Risk Factors for Diagnostic Change from Glaucoma Suspect to Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Vice Versa over Two Years.

Objective: This study investigates the incidence and causes of diagnostic changes from primary open angle glaucoma suspect (POAGS) to primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), and vice versa, in clinical practice.

Design: This is a retrospective, single site, case-control study.

Participants: It includes patients over age 40 diagnosed with either POAG or POAGS between 2013-2020.

Expert-based physical activity guidelines for metabolic and bariatric surgery patients: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Patients undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) can improve outcomes through a physically active lifestyle. Despite ongoing research, clinical recommendations for physical activity (PA) are not fully developed. For this review, 39 articles representing 24 randomized clinical trials satisfied inclusion criteria.

International prevalence patterns of low eGFR in adults aged 18-60 without traditional risk factors from a population-based cross-sectional disadvantaged populations eGFR epidemiology (DEGREE) study.

The disadvantaged populations eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) epidemiology (DEGREE) study was designed to gain insight into the burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) of undetermined cause (CKDu) using standard protocols to estimate the general-population prevalence of low eGFR internationally. Therefore, we estimated the age-standardized prevalence of eGFR under 60 ml/min per 1.73m in adults aged 18-60, excluding participants with commonly known causes of CKD; an ACR (albumin/creatinine ratio) over 300 mg/g or equivalent, or self-reported or measured (HT) hypertension or (DM) diabetes mellitus, stratified by sex and location.

Insulin clearance at randomisation and in response to treatment in youth with type 2 diabetes: a secondary analysis of the TODAY randomised clinical trial.

Aims/hypothesis: Insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinaemia are core features leading to beta cell failure in youth-onset type 2 diabetes. Insulin clearance (IC) is also a key regulator of insulin concentrations, but few data exist on IC in youth-onset type 2 diabetes. In a secondary analysis of our Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth (TODAY) randomised clinical trial, we investigated potential sex-, race-, ethnicity- and treatment-related differences in IC in youth-onset type 2 diabetes and aimed to identify metabolic phenotypes associated with IC at baseline and in response to metformin, metformin plus a lifestyle intervention, and metformin plus rosiglitazone.

Vagus nerve stimulation in treatment-resistant depression: A one-year, randomized, sham-controlled trial.

Background: Few treatments are available for individuals with marked treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

Objective: Evaluate the safety and effectiveness of FDA-approved adjunctive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) in patients with marked TRD.

Methods: This 12-month, multicenter, double-blind, sham-controlled trial included 493 adults with marked treatment-resistant major depression who were randomized to active or no-stimulation sham VNS for 12 months.

The role of the psychedelic experience in psilocybin treatment for treatment-resistant depression.

Objective: To determine the relationships between psilocybin dose, psychedelic experiences, and therapeutic outcome in treatment-resistant depression.

Methods: For treatment-resistant depression, 233 participants received a single dose of 25, 10, or 1 mg of COMP360 psilocybin (a proprietary, pharmaceutical-grade synthesized psilocybin formulation, developed by the sponsor, Compass Pathfinder Ltd.) with psychological support.

Survival analysis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma based on radiomics and deep learning features from CT images.

Purpose: To create a nomogram for accurate prognosis of patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) based on computed tomography images.

Methods: Eight hundred twenty-two ccRCC patients with contrast-enhanced computed tomography images involved in this study were collected. A rectangular region of interest surrounding the tumor was used to extract quantitative radiomics and deep-learning features, which were filtered by Cox proportional hazard regression model and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator.

Complete genome sequence of a penicillin-resistant subsp. from a tonsillitis patient.

We report the complete genome sequence of a penicillin-resistant subsp. isolate, AJ79, from a tonsillitis patient. The AJ79 genome consists of a chromosome (2,440,359 bp) and plasmid (9,887 bp), providing insights into the genetic basis of penicillin resistance in and its implications for treating tonsillitis.

Effectiveness of Ventilation via an Endotracheal Tube in Pharynx Versus a Facemask in Patients With Potentially Difficult Airway: A Randomized, Crossover, and Blind Trial.

Background: The difficult airway is frequently encountered across many scenarios. The extreme form is a "cannot intubate and cannot oxygenate" scenario, which lacks a reliable rescue technique. Previous case reports or studies with small sample sizes indicate the feasibility and efficiency of an endotracheal tube in the pharynx (TTIP) to ventilate patients.

Recovery Residences Are an Innovative Site for HIV Prevention Interventions Targeting People Who Inject Drugs: Preliminary Data From Project HOMES.

Of 1.2 million Americans who would benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), only 36% were prescribed PrEP in 2023. Project HOMES is an ongoing study that evaluates recovery residences for individuals in medication-assisted recovery from opioid use disorder across five Texas cities.

Clinician Perspectives on Implementing HPV Vaccination Guidelines into Practice.

In the United States, HPV vaccination is available for unvaccinated 27 to 45 year olds based on a shared clinical decision with a health care provider. Since the implementation of the guideline, little has been known about provider perceptions of this recommendation. The purpose of this study was to elucidate health care provider perspectives on HPV vaccination for 27 to 45 year olds in the United States.

Genome Mining Reveals Biosynthesis of the Antifungal Lipopeptaibols, Texenomycins, through a Hybrid PKS-NRPS System, in the Fungus .

Texenomycins are a family of linear lipopeptaibols with a long polyketide side chain at the N-terminus and 21 amino acid residues at the -terminus, presenting demonstrated potential as antibiotics against plant fungal pathogens. In this study, texenomycins were identified and isolated from the fungus strain TTI-0396 and showed effective antifungal properties against two plant pathogens and . Through analysis of the whole-genome data of strain TTI-0396, we discovered a hybrid PKS-NRPS system with the polyketide synthase (PKS: TexQ), thioesterase (TexO), acyl-CoA ligase (TexI), and three nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs: TexG, TexJ, TexV) in the gene cluster that were proposed to be responsible for the biosynthesis of texenomycins and another related lipopeptaibol, lipohexin.

Designing a blockchain technology platform for enhancing the pre-exposure prophylaxis care continuum.

Objectives: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a key biomedical intervention for ending the HIV epidemic in the United States, but its uptake is impeded by systemic barriers, including fragmented workflows and ineffective data coordination. This study aims to design PrEPLinker, a blockchain-based, client-centered platform to enhance care to address these challenges by improving care coordination and enabling clients to securely manage their identity and PrEP-related data.

Materials And Methods: Using Houston, Texas, as a use case, we conducted a needs assessment with PrEP collaborators to evaluate existing workflows and identify barriers in the PrEP care continuum.

Effects of vagus nerve stimulation on daily function and quality of life in markedly treatment-resistant major depression: Findings from a one-year, randomized, sham-controlled trial.

Background: Depression treatments aim to minimize symptom burden and optimize quality of life (QoL) and psychosocial function.

Objective: Compare the effects of adjunctive versus sham vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) on QoL and function in markedly treatment-resistant depression (TRD).

Methods: In this multicenter, double-blind, sham-controlled trial, 493 adults with TRD and ≥4 adequate but unsuccessful antidepressant treatment trials (current episode) were randomized to active (n = 249) or sham (n = 244) VNS (plus treatment as usual) over a 12-month observation period.

More than carriers, orosomucoids are key metabolic modulators.

Orosomucoids (ORMs) have historically been considered as carriers involved in drug and lipid delivery. However, recent studies indicate ORM2 as a hepatokine involved in metabolic regulation. Here, we highlight the functions of ORM2 in controlling metabolic health and disease, focusing on its newly discovered regulatory mechanisms.

Metabolomic and lipidomic pathways in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) results in a complex systemic response that is critical to the pathophysiology of late complications and has important effects on outcomes. Omics techniques have expanded our investigational scope and depth into this phenomenon. In particular, metabolomics-the study of small molecules, such as blood products, carbohydrates, amino acids, and lipids-can provide a snapshot of dynamic subcellular processes and thus broaden our understanding of molecular-level pathologic changes that lead to the systemic response after aSAH.