Associations of blood pressure with white matter hyperintensities later in life; influence of short-term menopausal hormone therapy.

Objective: To assess the association of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) in recently menopausal women with white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume later in life and determine whether short-term menopausal hormone therapy (mHT) modifies these associations.

Methods: Kronos Early Estrogen Prevention Study (KEEPS) was a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled 4-year mHT trial (oral conjugated equine estrogens or transdermal 17β-estradiol). KEEPS continuation was an observational follow-up of the participants 10 years after the end of mHT.

BAE-ViT: An Efficient Multimodal Vision Transformer for Bone Age Estimation.

This research introduces BAE-ViT, a specialized vision transformer model developed for bone age estimation (BAE). This model is designed to efficiently merge image and sex data, a capability not present in traditional convolutional neural networks (CNNs). BAE-ViT employs a novel data fusion method to facilitate detailed interactions between visual and non-visual data by tokenizing non-visual information and concatenating all tokens (visual or non-visual) as the input to the model.

Relationship of Individual Athlete External Load, Session Rating of Perceived Exertion, and Athlete Playing Status Across a Collegiate Women's Basketball Season.

External (EL) and internal (IL) load are commonly used methods used to quantify training load in team sports. Playing time and playing position may influence the training loads for specific athletes throughout a season. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of athlete playing status and individual in-season practices on EL and IL across a collegiate women's basketball season.

Pupilmate: A do-it-yourself frugal pupilometer.

The pupillary direct and consensual reflex is an important non-invasive quick assessment of the neurological state of the eye. Currently, there is no cheap and affordable recording tool for screening and documentation of a relative afferent pupillary defect. We describe how to construct a frugal, do-it-yourself handheld scotopic binocular pupillometer device called Pupilmate.

Acute Responses of Low-Load Resistance Exercise with Blood Flow Restriction.

Blood flow restriction (BFR) is a popular resistance exercise technique purported to increase metabolic stress and augment training adaptations over time. However, short-term use may lead to acute neuromuscular fatigue and higher exertion ratings. The purpose of the current study was to examine acute physiological responses to low-load resistance exercise utilizing BFR compared to higher-load, non-BFR resistance exercise.

Quantitative MRI Assessment of Post-Surgical Spinal Cord Injury Through Radiomic Analysis.

This study investigates radiomic efficacy in post-surgical traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), overcoming MRI limitations from metal artifacts to enhance diagnosis, severity assessment, and lesion characterization or prognosis and therapy guidance. Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) causes severe neurological deficits. While MRI allows qualitative injury evaluation, standard imaging alone has limitations for precise SCI diagnosis, severity stratification, and pathology characterization, which are needed to guide prognosis and therapy.

Elucidating Early Radiation-Induced Cardiotoxicity Markers in Preclinical Genetic Models Through Advanced Machine Learning and Cardiac MRI.

Radiation therapy (RT) is widely used to treat thoracic cancers but carries a risk of radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD). This study aimed to detect early markers of RIHD using machine learning (ML) techniques and cardiac MRI in a rat model. SS.

Genetics and Genomics of Gastroschisis, Elucidating a Potential Genetic Etiology for the Most Common Abdominal Defect: A Systematic Review.

(1) Background: The exact etiology for gastroschisis, the most common abdominal defect, is yet to be known, despite the rising prevalence of this condition. The leading theory suggests an increased familial risk, indicating a possible genetic component possibly in the context of environmental risk factors. This systematic review aims to summarize the studies focused on the identification of a potential genetic etiology for gastroschisis to elucidate the status of the field.

Using T-Cell Subsets to Better Characterize Immunoresiliency and Immunodeficiency in Patients with Recurrent Infections.

Background/objectives: Common Variable Immunodeficiency Disease (CVID) and other immunodeficiencies can present in subtle and variable ways. Whether or not a genetic lesion can be identified, there are not well understood biomarkers that quantitatively describe how severe a deficiency is. Here we discuss two possible ranking systems, CD4/CD8 T cell ratios and Immune Health Grades, and how such data maybe applicable to some immunodeficiencies.

Antibody-mediated clearance of an ER-resident aggregate that causes glaucoma.

Recombinant antibodies are a promising class of therapeutics to treat protein misfolding associated with neurodegenerative diseases, and several antibodies that inhibit aggregation are approved or in clinical trials to treat Alzheimer's disease. Here, we developed antibodies targeting the aggregation-prone β-propeller olfactomedin (OLF) domain of myocilin, variants of which comprise the strongest genetic link to glaucoma and cause early onset vision loss for several million individuals worldwide. Mutant myocilin aggregates intracellularly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

Association of trabecular bone score corrected for tissue thickness with glucose metabolism in acromegaly.

Introduction: Acromegaly is associated with increased vertebral fracture (VF) risk regardless of bone mineral density (BMD). However, the vertebral trabecular compartment is still low; a possible contributor to this may be impaired glucose metabolism (GM) which frequently complicates acromegaly. Additionally, soft tissue thickness may confound bone imaging in acromegaly patients.

Estimation of Genetic Parameters and GWAS on Water Efficiency Traits in the Senepol Cattle.

The need for producing in environmentally resilient system drives new research to achieve sustainable beef production. Water footprint of the beef supply chain is a concern that must be addressed, aiming to improve water use within the production chain. One approach is genetic selection of beef cattle for water efficiency.

A Network Analysis of Quality of Life Among Older Adults With Arthritis.

Introduction: Arthritis, one of the most common chronic diseases among older people, greatly impairs quality of life through a variety of physical and psychological challenges. This study used network analysis to gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between the indicators of quality of life in older adults with arthritis depending on duration of disease.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from 874 older adults with osteoarthritis and/or rheumatoid arthritis who answered the eighth (2019-2021) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Examining the factor structure of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and its determinants among GI cancer patients.

Background: Poor sleep quality is one of the prevalent manifestations experienced by cancer patients. There is a lack of research focusing specifically on sleep quality and affecting factors in Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer patients. This study aimed to assess the potential interaction between dietary, comorbid conditions, demographic, and socioeconomic determinants of sleep quality in GI cancer patients.

Building Research Capacity (BRC): Purposes, Components, and Activities to Date.

The Building Research Capacity (BRC) initiative was founded in 2015 as a collaboration between the Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM) and the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG). It aims to enhance family medicine research engagement by helping develop researchers, research educators, and research leaders. Through consultations, a fellowship, tailored presentations at national conferences, and ongoing assessment, BRC addresses the dynamic needs of various stakeholders in family medicine research.

Building a Culture of Curiosity in Family Medicine to Increase Research Capacity.

Family medicine as a discipline is the foundation of health care systems. In addition to clinical practice and education, research is a professional duty for family physicians. Unfortunately, the culture of family medicine has historically de-emphasized research.

Hydrolysis of the acetyl-CoA allosteric activator by Staphylococcus aureus pyruvate carboxylase.

Pyruvate carboxylase (PC) catalyzes the carboxylation of pyruvate to oxaloacetate which serves as an important anaplerotic reaction to replenish citric acid cycle intermediates. In most organisms, the PC-catalyzed reaction is allosterically activated by acetyl-coenzyme A. It has previously been reported that vertebrate PC can catalyze the hydrolysis of acetyl-CoA, offering a potential means for the enzyme to attenuate its allosteric activation.

Amygdala-centered emotional processing in Prolonged Grief Disorder: Relationship with clinical symptomatology.

Background: Prolonged Grief Disorder is a multidimensional condition with adverse health consequences. We hypothesized that enhanced negative emotional bias characterizes this disorder and underlies its key clinical symptoms.

Methods: In a cross-sectional design, chronically grieving older adults (61.

Adherence to recommended blood-based screening tests for cancer and chronic diseases: A systematic literature review.

Introduction: Blood-based tests represent a compelling option for early detection and management of cancers and other chronic diseases. While they may increase patient engagement, assumptions about greater adherence in clinical practice need further evaluation. This systematic review aimed to evaluate real-world adherence to established blood-based tests for commonly recommended screening indications to inform expectations for average-risk colorectal cancer (CRC) screening.

Outcomes of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in primary plasma cell leukemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) is a pivotal treatment modality for primary plasma cell leukemia (pPCL). We aimed to examine the outcomes of allogeneic (allo) and autologous (auto) HCT in adult pPCL patients.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was performed on PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and Clinicaltrials.

Characterizing patterns of opioid prescribing after outpatient ventral hernia repair with mesh.

Purpose: Despite efforts to minimize opioid prescribing, outpatient ventral hernia repair (VHR) with mesh remains notoriously painful, often requiring postoperative opioid analgesia. Here, we aim to characterize patterns of opioid prescribing for the heterogenous group of patients and procedures that comprise mesh-based, outpatient VHR.

Methods: The Abdominal Core Health Quality Collaborative registry was queried for patients undergoing VHR with mesh who were discharged the same or next day between January 2019 to October 2023.

Tianeptine Exposures Reported to United States Poison Centers, 2015-2023.

Introduction: Tianeptine is an atypical tricyclic antidepressant not approved for medical use in the US but is found in dietary supplements. This study investigates single-substance tianeptine exposures reported to US poison centers.

Methods: We analyzed cases involving tianeptine reported to the National Poison Data System from 2015 to 2023.

The Yeast Optogenetic Toolkit (yOTK) for Spatiotemporal Control of Gene Expression in Budding Yeast.

Optogenetic systems utilize genetically encoded light-sensitive proteins to control cellular processes such as gene expression and protein localization. Like most synthetic systems, generation of an optogenetic system with desirable properties requires multiple design-test-build cycles. A yeast optogenetic toolkit (yOTK) allows rapid assembly of optogenetic constructs using Modular Cloning, or MoClo.