Lessons Learned From the Liver About the Undergraduate to Graduate Medical Education Transition.

The burden of cirrhosis and chronic liver disease is growing, yet there is a projected worsening deficit in hepatology providers. As such, cirrhosis and liver disease have been important inclusions within the core curricula of Internal Medicine. Formal assessments of provider preparedness resulting from the curriculum are lacking though.

TRP drop, TRP drop: a steady patter of anti-schistosomal target illumination.

Infections caused by parasitic flatworms impart a significant disease burden. This is well exemplified by the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis, which afflicts millions of people worldwide. The anti-schistosomal activity of various chemotypes has been known for decades, but the parasite targets of many of these remain undefined.

Sleep problems and parental stress among caregivers of children and adolescents enrolled in a digital mental health intervention.

Introduction: Caregivers of children with mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder often experience heightened sleep problems, largely due to their children's disrupted sleep, and increased parental stress. Evidence suggests that mental and behavioral health care for children and adolescents has the potential to positively affect their caregivers; however, this has not been investigated in the context of pediatric digital mental health interventions (DMHIs). Therefore, the current study used caregivers' self-report measures to determine whether caregivers whose children are involved in a DMHI exhibit improvements in sleep problems and parental stress after initiation of their children's care.

Praziquantel activates a native cation current in .

Introduction: Praziquantel (PZQ), an anthelmintic drug discovered in the 1970s, is still used to treat schistosomiasis and various other infections caused by parasitic flatworms. PZQ causes a triad of phenotypic effects on schistosome worms - rapid depolarization, muscle contraction, and damage throughout the worm tegument. The molecular target mediating these effects has been intimated as a Ca-permeable ion channel, but native currents evoked by PZQ have not been reported in any schistosome cell type.

Non-instrumented management of traumatic atlanto-axial rotatory subluxation: surgical technique.

Atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation (AARS) in the adult population is primarily trauma-induced. Conservative and surgical treatments have both been used successfully in treating AARS. In cases where AARS cannot be reduced by conservative measures, open reduction and fusion is the conventional treatment approach.

Probiotics beyond the farm: Benefits, costs, and considerations of using antibiotic alternatives in livestock.

The increasing global expansion of antimicrobial resistant infections warrants the development of effective antibiotic alternative therapies, particularly for use in livestock production, an agricultural sector that is perceived to disproportionately contribute to the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis by consuming nearly two-thirds of the global antibiotic supply. Probiotics and probiotic derived compounds are promising alternative therapies, and their successful use in disease prevention, treatment, and animal performance commands attention. However, insufficient or outdated probiotic screening techniques may unintentionally contribute to this crisis, and few longitudinal studies have been conducted to determine what role probiotics play in AMR dissemination in animal hosts and the surrounding environment.

Increased usage of doxycycline for young children with Lyme disease.

Background: The 2018 Infectious Disease Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics stated that up to 3 weeks or less of doxycycline is safe in children of all ages. Our goal was to examine trends in doxycycline treatment for children with Lyme disease.

Methods: We assembled a prospective cohort of children aged 1 to 21 years with Lyme disease who presented to one of eight participating Pedi Lyme Net centers between 2015 and 2023.

Latest Advancements in Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Electronic Muscle Stimulation (EMS): Revisiting an Established Therapy with New Possibilities.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Electronic Muscle Stimulation (EMS) are non-invasive therapies widely used for pain relief and neuromuscular adaptation. However, the clinical research supporting the efficacy of TENS in chronic pain management is limited by significant methodological flaws, including small sample sizes and inconsistent reporting of stimulation parameters. TENS modulates pain perception through various techniques, targeting specific nerve fibers and pain pathways.

Know your brain aging to know your resilience in neurodegenerative diseases.

This scientific commentary refers to 'Brain aging rejuvenation factors in adults with genetic and sporadic neurodegenerative disease', by Casaletto . (https://doi.org/10.

The UW Experience: Feasibility of De Novo Letermovir for Primary Prophylaxis After Abdominal Solid Organ Transplant.

Background: Letermovir is approved for primary prophylaxis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in high-risk kidney transplant recipients. However, many experts suggest the drug be reserved as a second-line agent when valganciclovir is not tolerated or fails.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the feasibility of a de novo letermovir prophylactic approach for CMV high-risk and seropositive abdominal solid organ transplant patients.

Adapting self-measured blood pressure monitoring to reduce health disparities (ASPIRE): a pilot hybrid effectiveness‑implementation study protocol.

Background: Hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Despite advances in blood pressure management, significant racial and ethnic disparities persist, resulting in higher risks of stroke, heart disease, and mortality among non-White populations. Self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring, also known as home blood pressure monitoring, has shown promise in improving blood pressure control, especially when combined with feedback from healthcare providers.

Efficacy and safety of anesthetic agents in awake craniotomy using monitored anesthesia care protocol: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Awake craniotomy (AC) facilitates real-time brain mapping, maximizing tumor resection while preserving critical neurological functions. This study systematically reviews the efficacy of several anesthetic protocols under Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) during AC, focusing on clinical outcomes. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using data from observational studies and randomized trials involving AC under MAC.

Resting state BOLD-perfusion coupling patterns using multiband multi-echo pseudo-continuous arterial spin label imaging.

The alteration of neurovascular coupling (NVC), where acute localized blood flow increases following neural activity, plays a key role in several neurovascular processes including aging and neurodegeneration. While not equivalent to NVC, the coupling between simultaneously measured cerebral blood flow (CBF) with arterial spin labeling (ASL) and blood oxygenation dependent (BOLD) signals, can also be affected. Moreover, the acquisition of BOLD data allows the assessment of resting state (RS) fMRI metrics.

Cutting through the noise: A narrative review of Alzheimer's disease plasma biomarkers for routine clinical use.

As novel, anti-amyloid therapies have become more widely available, access to timely and accurate diagnosis has become integral to ensuring optimal treatment of patients with early-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD). Plasma biomarkers are a promising tool for identifying AD pathology; however, several technical and clinical factors need to be considered prior to their implementation in routine clinical use. Given the rapid pace of advancements in the field and the wide array of available biomarkers and tests, this review aims to summarize these considerations, evaluate available platforms, and discuss the steps needed to bring plasma biomarker testing to the clinic.

Research Attitudes Questionnaire scores and retention in a recruitment registry.

Background: Recruitment registries are maximally effective when registrants are retained to the point of referral. The Research Attitudes Questionnaire (RAQ) has previously been shown to predict research participation behaviors, including Alzheimer's disease clinical trial completion.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that RAQ score is associated with retention behaviors in a local recruitment registry.

Appropriate Use Criteria for Neoplastic Compression Fractures.

Background Context: Clinical outcomes are directly related to patient selection and treatment indications for improved quality of life. With emphasis on quality and value, it is essential that treatment recommendations are optimized.

Purpose: The purpose of the North American Spine Society (NASS) Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) is to determine the appropriate (ie, reasonable) multidisciplinary treatment recommendations for patients with metastatic neoplastic vertebral fractures across a spectrum of more common clinical scenarios.

Prenatal opioid exposure, neonatal abstinence syndrome diagnosis, and child welfare involvement.

Background: Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), or withdrawal from prenatal opioid exposure at birth, can trigger a referral to child protective services (CPS). However, there is some evidence of selection into NAS diagnosis because NAS screening is not universal. Such referrals may protect the infant, help connect the mother to services, or cause harm.

Fully biodegradable hierarchically designed high-performance nanocellulose piezo-arrays.

While piezoelectric sensing and energy-harvesting devices still largely rely on inorganic components, biocompatible and biodegradable piezoelectric materials, such as cellulose nanocrystals, might constitute optimal and sustainable building blocks for a variety of applications in electronics and transient implants. To this aim, however, effective methods are needed to position cellulose nanocrystals in large and high-performance architectures. Here, we report on scalable assemblies of cellulose nanocrystals in multilayered piezoelectric systems with exceptional response, for various application scopes.

Spatially programmed alignment and actuation in printed liquid crystal elastomers.

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) exhibit reversible shape morphing behavior when cycled above their nematic-to-isotropic transition temperature. During extrusion-based 3D printing, LCE inks are subjected to coupled shear and extensional flows that can be harnessed to spatially control the alignment of their nematic director along prescribed print paths. Here, we combine experiment and modeling to elucidate the effects of ink composition, nozzle geometry, and printing parameters on director alignment.

Hypomorphic RAG2 Deficiency Promotes Selection of Self-Reactive B Cells.

Reduced function or hypomorphic variants in recombination-activating genes (RAG) 1 or 2 result in a broad clinical phenotype including common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and even adult-onset disease. Milder RAG variants are less characterized. Here we describe the longitudinal course of a milder combined RAG deficiency in 3 of 7 siblings sharing the same RAG2 mutations over a 50-year study.

MOG antibody-associated disease epidemiology in Olmsted County, USA, and Martinique.

Objectives: To report myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) epidemiology in two American regions using 2023 diagnostic criteria.

Patients And Methods: We compared age- and sex-adjusted incidence and prevalence of MOGAD per 2023 diagnostic criteria in Olmsted County (Minnesota [USA]) and Martinique (Caribbean [FR]) (01/01/2003-12/31/2018, prevalence day) using Poisson regression. Archived sera in 68-85% were available for MOG-IgG testing by live cell-based assay at Mayo Clinic.

Identity change metaphors in public blogs written by people living with dementia and their care partners.

Dementia and the associated stigma pose unique threats to the identity of persons with dementia, triggering attempts to cope with resulting identity changes. We explore identity change narratives and metaphors written by people with dementia and care partners in public blog posts. These metaphors reflect bloggers' motivation to adapt, adjust, and cope with identity change and their motives to challenge common misunderstandings of dementia as a complete loss of selfhood.

Combining Top-Down and Bottom-Up: An Open Microfluidic Microtumor Model for Investigating Tumor Cell-ECM Interaction and Anti-Metastasis.

Using a combined top-down (i.e., operator-directed) and bottom-up (i.

Break through the mold: Hyper-IgE syndrome as a vehicle for invasive aspergillosis.

Hyperimmunoglobulin E syndrome (HIGES) is a rare immunodeficiency characterized by high levels of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the setting of various clinical features such as cutaneous candidiasis, asthma, recurrent rashes, and fungal infections. This case describes a 70-year-old male with cachexia and dyspnea found to have a cavitary lesion and aspergilloma, with remarkably high IgE and positive 1,3-β-D-glucan and Aspergillus testing. Herein, we describe the aforementioned case, review the available literature, and hypothesize the connection between invasive fungal infections and HIGES.

Health Disparities in Rheumatology in the United States.

Objective: Underserved populations are often at risk of experiencing systematic healthcare disparities. Existing disparities in care access, quality of care received, and treatment outcomes among patients with rheumatic disease are not well understood.

Methods: We conducted a targeted literature review to understand disparities in health outcomes, treatment patterns, and healthcare management faced by rheumatology patients in the United States, with a focus on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).