26,767 results match your criteria: "VU University Medical Center; J.R. Kirwan[Affiliation]"

Increased plasma DOPA decarboxylase levels in Lewy body disorders are driven by dopaminergic treatment.

Nat Commun

January 2025

Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam Neuroscience, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

DOPA Decarboxylase (DDC) has been proposed as a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker with increased concentrations in Lewy body disorders (LBDs) and highest levels in patients receiving dopaminergic treatment. Here we evaluate plasma DDC, measured by proximity extension assay, and the effect of dopaminergic treatment in three independent LBD (with a focus on dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease (PD)) cohorts: an autopsy-confirmed cohort (n = 71), a large multicenter, cross-dementia cohort (n = 1498) and a longitudinal cohort with detailed treatment information (n = 66, median follow-up time[IQR] = 4[4, 4] years). Plasma DDC was not altered between different LBDs and other disease groups or controls in absence of treatment.

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Three-dimensional diffractive acoustic tomography.

Nat Commun

January 2025

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.

Acoustically probing biological tissues with light or sound, photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging can provide anatomical, functional, and/or molecular information at depths far beyond the optical diffusion limit. However, most photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging systems rely on linear-array transducers with elevational focusing and are limited to two-dimensional imaging with anisotropic resolutions. Here, we present three-dimensional diffractive acoustic tomography (3D-DAT), which uses an off-the-shelf linear-array transducer with single-slit acoustic diffraction.

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Purpose: To examine the relationship between dyadic coping and dyadic adjustment in patients with cervical cancer and their spouses in northwest China, and explore the mediating role of psychological resilience in this relationship.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to October 2024 in two tertiary hospitals in Xinjiang Province, China; 260 patients with cervical cancer and their spouses were enrolled. Participants independently completed demographic and clinical questionnaires as well as Chinese versions of the Resilience Scale, Dyadic Coping Inventory, and Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Scale.

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Objectives: Scholars have increasingly recognized the crucial role that empathy plays as informal caregivers provide unpaid care to their older family and friends (i.e., care recipients).

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Globally, many complex issues, like the ageing population and health inequalities, require attention. People are experimenting to combat these issues in their local contexts through bigger or smaller networks; however, much of the knowledge about these initiatives remains localised and elitist and omits the voices and perspectives of citizens. This article identifies the characteristics of a more horizontal, emergent and plural epistemology to mobilize knowledge.

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Background: Fatigue and inactivity are linked to decreased health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in chronic conditions. A multidimensional approach to activity pacing may improve HRQoL by promoting physical activity (PA) and alleviating fatigue. Addressing fatigue across chronic conditions is crucial, especially when underlying causes are unknown.

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Background: This study qualitatively investigates retirement-age adults' perspectives on engaging in health behaviors such as physical activity or a healthy diet, distinguishing facilitators, barriers, goals, and motivations (the two later in line with Self-Determination Theory).

Methods: Two clinical psychologists conducted four focus groups with Spanish adults around retirement age. We conducted inductive and deductive content analysis.

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We conducted a genome-wide association study on income among individuals of European descent (N = 668,288) to investigate the relationship between socio-economic status and health disparities. We identified 162 genomic loci associated with a common genetic factor underlying various income measures, all with small effect sizes (the Income Factor). Our polygenic index captures 1-5% of income variance, with only one fourth due to direct genetic effects.

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An Algorithmic Overview of Advanced Pain Therapies: A Narrative Review.

Curr Pain Headache Rep

January 2025

Department of Pain Medicine, Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.

Purpose Of Review: Quickly referenceable, streamlined, algorithmic approaches for advanced pain management are lacking for patients, trainees, non-pain specialists, and interventional specialists. This manuscript aims to address this gap by proposing a comprehensive, evidence-based algorithm for managing neuropathic, nociceptive, and cancer-associated pain. Such an algorithm is crucial for pain medicine education, offering a structured approach for patient care refractory to conservative management.

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The effect of sleep disturbances on the incidence of dementia for varying lag times.

J Prev Alzheimers Dis

February 2025

Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, De Boelelaan 1118, Amsterdam 1081 HZ, The Netherlands.

Background: Few studies have addressed the association of sleep disturbances with incident dementia with long lag times. We add to this literature by investigating how lag times varying from 2.2 to 23.

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Objective: Metabolic reprogramming plays a critical role in modulating the innate and adaptive immune response, but its role in cutaneous autoimmune diseases, such as cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), is less well studied. An improved understanding of the metabolic pathways dysregulated in CLE may lead to novel treatment options, biomarkers and insights into disease pathogenesis. The objective was to compare metabolomic profiles in the skin and sera of CLE and control patients using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

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Background: Given burdensome side-effects and long latency for efficacy with conventional agents, there is a continued need for generalised myasthenia gravis treatments that are safe and provide consistently sustained, long-term disease control. Nipocalimab, a neonatal Fc receptor blocker, was associated with dose-dependent reductions in total IgG and anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies and clinically meaningful improvements in the Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG-ADL) scale in patients with generalised myasthenia gravis in a phase 2 study. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of nipocalimab in a phase 3 study.

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: Sitosterolemia is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by diverse clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic cases to the development of xanthomas, hypercholesterolemia, premature atherosclerosis, or even sudden death during childhood. It results from homozygous or compound heterozygous pathogenic variants in the or genes. Prompt detection and intervention are essential to managing this condition and preventing severe outcomes.

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Given the increasing integration of trusted leaders in public health science, including vaccination programs, context-specific understandings of community perceptions and levels of trust are critical to intervention. This study aimed to understand the perspectives and attitudes of the southeastern Louisiana community and inform the development of a community-engaged action plan. A cross-sectional survey of 555 southeastern Louisianans-including faith-based organization (FBO) members, community pharmacy (CommRx) customers, community-based organization (CBO) contacts, and Louisiana community-dwelling residents-was conducted from November 2020 to March 2021.

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Background: The emergence of mosquito-borne viruses (MBVs) in Europe emphasizes the need for preparedness and response plans. This requires knowledge integration and collaboration across the human, animal, vector, and environmental health domains, aligning with the One Health approach. Despite the importance of a One Health approach, engaging stakeholders from each domain remains challenging.

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Cost-effectiveness of data driven personalised antibiotic dosing in critically ill patients with sepsis or septic shock.

J Clin Monit Comput

January 2025

Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Van der Boechorststraat 7, Amsterdam, 1081 BT, the Netherlands.

Purpose: This study provides an economic evaluation of bedside, data-driven, and model-informed precision dosing of antibiotics in comparison with usual care among critically ill patients with sepsis or septic shock.

Methods: This economic evaluation was conducted alongside an AutoKinetics randomized controlled trial. Effect measures included quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), mortality and pharmacokinetic target attainment.

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Background: Biomarkers are needed to track progression in MS trials. Neurofilament heavy chain (NfH) has been underutilized due to assay limitations.

Objective: To investigate the added value of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) NfH in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) using contemporary immunoassays.

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Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is preventable through regular screening and vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV). However, CC remains a significant public health issue in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Vietnam, where financial constraints hinder the widespread implementation of HPV vaccination and screening programmes. Currently, Vietnam lacks both a national CC screening intervention and an HPV vaccination programme for women and girls.

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Recurrent IDH mutations catalyze NADPH-dependent production of oncometabolite R-2HG for tumorigenesis. IDH inhibition provides clinical response in a subset of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases; however, most patients develop resistance, highlighting the need for more effective IDH-targeting therapies. By comparing transcriptomic alterations in isogenic leukemia cells harboring CRISPR base-edited IDH mutations, we identify the activation of adhesion molecules including CD44, a transmembrane glycoprotein, as a shared feature of IDH-mutant leukemia, consistent with elevated CD44 expression in IDH-mutant AML patients.

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Introduction: Several studies suggest a potential correlation between troponin levels detected in serum and saliva. However, prior investigations have not adequately addressed the critical aspect of collecting samples upon admission, which is essential for timely troponin level determination. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between troponin levels in serum and saliva among patients admitted for chest pain evaluation.

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Despite the increasing burden of dengue in Kenya and Africa, the introduction and expansion of the virus in the region remain poorly understood. The objective of this study is to examine the genetic diversity and evolutionary histories of dengue virus (DENV) serotypes 1 and 3 in Kenya and contextualize their circulation within circulation dynamics in the broader African region. Viral RNA was extracted from samples collected from a cohort of febrile patients recruited at clinical sites in Kenya from 2013 to 2022.

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Background And Objectives: Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are a leading contributor to morbidity and mortality in hospitalised neonates. Diagnosing neonatal HAI is challenging owing to non-specific symptoms and lack of definitive diagnostic markers, contributing to high rates of inappropriate antibiotic use. This study evaluated the theoretical impact of implementing a bedside tool for decision-making on antibiotic length of therapy (LOT).

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Dietary inflammation and childhood adiposity: Analysis of individual participant data from six birth cohorts.

Clin Nutr

January 2025

School of Public Health, Physiotherapy, and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address:

Background & Aims: Childhood adiposity and inflammation impact long-term health. However, associations between dietary inflammation and childhood adiposity are unclear. We investigated if more pro-inflammatory diets are associated with greater adiposity in early-, mid-, and late-childhood.

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