Traffic pollution, reproductive health, and depressive symptoms in a healthy multiethnic sample of reproductive age women in the Ovarian Aging Study.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is associated with depressive symptoms while also characterizing the contribution of key explanatory factors related to sociodemographics and health. In addition, it aimed to also explore the role of reproductive health as a pathway through which exposure to TRAP may relate to depressive symptoms.

Methods: Participants were 688 healthy reproductive-age women in the Ovarian Aging Study.

Barriers to the Management of Classic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Due to 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency.

Classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency is a rare genetic condition that requires lifelong management from birth. Individuals with CAH and their families often face structural barriers to obtaining comprehensive care and treatment, including limited access to appropriate newborn screening, comprehensive care centers, and medications. Social and cultural barriers to care may include stigmatization, discrimination, and adverse medical experiences.

Functional validation of a novel STAT3 'variant of unknown significance' identifies a new case of STAT3 GOF Syndrome and reveals broad immune cell defects.

Introduction: STAT3 orchestrates crucial immune responses through its pleiotropic functions as a transcription factor. Patients with germline monoallelic dominant negative or hypermorphic STAT3 variants, who present with immunodeficiency and/or immune dysregulation, have revealed the importance of balanced STAT3 signaling in lymphocyte differentiation and function, and immune homeostasis. Here, we report a novel missense variant of unknown significance in the DNA binding domain of STAT3 in a patient who experienced hypogammaglobulinemia, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, immune thrombocytopenia, eczema and enteropathy over a 35-year period.

Automated Deep Learning-Based Detection and Segmentation of Lung Tumors at CT.

Background Detection and segmentation of lung tumors on CT scans are critical for monitoring cancer progression, evaluating treatment responses, and planning radiation therapy; however, manual delineation is labor-intensive and subject to physician variability. Purpose To develop and evaluate an ensemble deep learning model for automating identification and segmentation of lung tumors on CT scans. Materials and Methods A retrospective study was conducted between July 2019 and November 2024 using a large dataset of CT simulation scans and clinical lung tumor segmentations from radiotherapy plans.

Perceived Burnout Among Underrepresented Minority Physician Assistant/Associate Educators in the United States.

Introduction: There is a keen interest regarding burnout in academic medicine with an existing need for more studies. The priority population were underrepresented physician assistant/associate (PA) educators in the United States. The purpose was to determine external/internal contributors leading to perceived burnout; investigate whether primary/secondary appraisal inform coping strategies; and determine whether there was an existing relationship between demographic factors and emotional exhaustion (EE).

Postdoc publications and citations link to academic retention and faculty success.

Postdoctoral training is a career stage often described as a demanding and anxiety-laden time when many promising PhDs see their academic dreams slip away due to circumstances beyond their control. We use a unique dataset of academic publishing and careers to chart the more or less successful postdoctoral paths. We build a measure of academic success on the citation patterns two to five years into a faculty career.

Optimized machine learning approaches to combine surface-enhanced Raman scattering and infrared data for trace detection of xylazine in illicit opioids.

Infrared absorption spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy were integrated into three data fusion strategies-hybrid (concatenated spectra), mid-level (extracted features from both datasets) and high-level (fusion of predictions from both models)-to enhance the predictive accuracy for xylazine detection in illicit opioid samples. Three chemometric approaches-random forest, support vector machine, and -nearest neighbor algorithms-were employed and optimized using a 5-fold cross-validation grid search for all fusion strategies. Validation results identified the random forest classifier as the optimal model for all fusion strategies, achieving high sensitivity (88% for hybrid, 92% for mid-level, and 96% for high-level) and specificity (88% for hybrid, mid-level, and high-level).

Ammonia and hydrogen sulfide - new insights into gut microbiota and male infertility through meta-analysis.

Background: Ammonia (NH) and hydrogen sulfide (HS) are produced during digestion in the human gut, yet the impact of these internally generated gases on male reproduction have received limited attention in scientific research.

Methods: We systematically reviewed 935 scientific publications, spanning from 1947 to 2023, focusing on external or internal NH and/or HS, male infertility, and gut microbiota. Meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the summary relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of combined studies.

Plain Language Summary of Publication: What is the effect of the medicine vibegron in the treatment of overactive bladder in patients with and without bladder leakage?

What is this summary about? People with overactive bladder need to use the bathroom many times a day to urinate (pee). This need may often be sudden and may cause some people with overactive bladder to have accidental bladder leakage. The EMPOWUR trial looked at how well a medicine called worked to help people with overactive bladder.

Comparison of Preoperative and Postoperative Conventional and Speckle Tracking Echocardiographic Parameters in Living Liver Donors.

Introduction We aimed to assess whether partial hepatectomy has an influence on conventional and speckle tracking parameters on echocardiography in living liver donors in the early postoperative period. Methods This study was a retrospective study to investigate the cardiac effects of liver donation after the transplant operation in a high-volume liver transplant center. Ninety living liver donors were included in the study.

Targeted detection of sequence variants in cell-free DNA from cerebrospinal fluid in pediatric central nervous system tumors.

The emergence of liquid biopsy technologies holds great promise in the cancer setting, including in pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors. In contrast to broad lower-depth sequencing, commonly referred to as low pass whole genome sequencing (WGS), targeted platforms with a higher depth of coverage have also been established. Here, we review targeted liquid biopsy techniques with applicability to pediatric CNS tumors.

Comparative thoracic radiography in healthy and tuberculosis-positive sun bears ().

Early and accurate diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is key to effective outbreak management, and in humans thoracic radiography is used extensively for screening purposes. In wildlife TB radiography is a relatively accessible diagnostic tool, particularly in under-resourced settings, however its use is limited by body size. Sun bears are susceptible to human-associated TB, and their small body size makes thoracic radiography feasible.

Education Research: Making a Tweetorial Fly: Features of Educational Social Media Posts Associated With High Sharing and Engagement.

Background And Objectives: Social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) are increasingly used in medical education. Characteristics of tweetorials (threaded teaching posts) associated with higher degrees of engagement are unknown. We sought to understand features of neurology-themed tweetorials associated with high sharing and engagement.

Lower limb lymphoedema-related mental depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of non-cancer-related studies.

Background: Lower limb lymphoedema, characterized by persistent swelling in the legs due to lymphatic dysfunction, not only imposes a physical burden but is also associated with significant mental depression. While emerging research suggests a strong link between lower limb lymphoedema and depression, the extent of the problem remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate the relationship between lower limb lymphoedema and mental depression through a meta-analysis of existing studies.

Delays in Blood Work and Disease Burden: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Unmet Blood Work Need and Seven Key Health Conditions Across 21 Countries.

Objectives: This study analyzes survey data across 21 countries to explore correlations between delays in blood testing and the prevalence of seven health conditions: thalassaemias, sickle cell disorders, malaria, HIV, high fasting plasma glucose, impaired kidney function, and high LDL cholesterol.

Methods: We analyzed Pandemic Recovery Survey data via multivariable logistic regression to compare blood test delays between individuals with and without medical conditions, while adjusting for sociodemographic factors. We also examined the disease burden using disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and summary exposure values (SEV) rates.

DISCOntinuation of disease-modifying therapies in MS: The DISCOMS extension trial.

Background: In the DISCOMS (DISCOntinuation of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in multiple sclerosis (MS)) randomized clinical trial, we could not demonstrate that discontinuing MS DMTs in older, stable adults was not inferior to continuing DMTs. Relapses were rare in both groups, and most new disease activity was one to two new brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions unassociated with clinical changes.

Objective/aims: Describe results of the DISCOMS extension study.

Associations between dementia and exposure to topical glaucoma medications.

Background: Some studies have suggested that glaucoma may be associated with neurodegeneration and a higher risk of dementia.

Objective: To evaluate whether exposure to different categories of topical glaucoma medications is associated with differential dementia risks in people with glaucoma.

Methods: We used data from Adult Changes in Thought, a population-based, prospective cohort study that follows cognitively normal older adults from Kaiser Permanente Washington (KPWA) until Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementia development.

Single- versus two-test criteria for cognitive impairment: associations with CSF and imaging markers in former American football players.

 Cognitive impairment is a core feature of traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES), the putative clinical syndrome of chronic traumatic encephalopathy-a neuropathological disease associated with repetitive head impacts (RHI). Careful operationalization of cognitive impairment is essential to improving the diagnostic specificity and accuracy of TES criteria. We compared single- versus two-test criteria for cognitive impairment in their associations with CSF and imaging biomarkers in male former American football players.

Evaluation of host immune responses to Mycobacteriophage Fionnbharth by route of delivery.

For much of the last decade, tuberculosis (TB) was the leading cause of mortality due to an infectious pathogen (Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M.tb). Approximately 1.

Engaging health system, service and consumer representatives in the co-design of a multi-criteria decision-making framework for commissioning overweight and obesity programs and services.

Background: Obesity is a multi-faceted problem that requires complex health system responses. While no single program or service is sufficient to meet every individual's needs, some criteria that increase the likelihood of program/service quality delivery to produce effective outcomes exist. However, although research on health commissioning is available internationally and is growing within the Australian context, no evidence exists of a multi-criteria decision-making framework to address the complexity required for effective commissioning of overweight and obesity early intervention and weight management programs or services.