Evidence That Growth Mixture Model Results Are Highly Sensitive to Scoring Decisions.

Interest in identifying latent growth profiles to support the psychological and social-emotional development of individuals has translated into the widespread use of growth mixture models (GMMs). In most cases, GMMs are based on scores from item responses collected using survey scales or other measures. Research already shows that GMMs can be sensitive to departures from ideal modeling conditions and that growth model results outside of GMMs are sensitive to decisions about how item responses are scored, but the impact of scoring decisions on GMMs has never been investigated.

From Lab to Limb: Unraveling Translational Insights and Significance of Animal Models in Lower Extremity Transplantation.

The advancements in medicine throughout the twentieth century have been largely attributed to animal studies. The initial step in researching an animal disease is to establish a model closely resembling the clinical circumstances in humans. Consequently, an excellent animal model is essential for almost any experimental research.

The Impact of Additional Fractures and Polytrauma on Complications in Patients Undergoing Femoral Neck Fracture Fixation.

Background: While there have been significant advancements in recent years, complications following fixation for femoral neck fractures remain a concern. This retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the influence of polytrauma and additional fractures on the occurrence of complications in patients who underwent surgical fixation for femoral neck fractures. The study focused on analyzing patient demographics, comorbidities, fracture classifications, fixation methods, and the likelihood of experiencing post-operative complications, with a specific emphasis on the impact of polytrauma and additional fractures.

Early Versus Late Initiation of Dialysis in CKD Stage 5: Time for a Consensus.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), a major global public health problem, emerged as one of the leading causes of death, affecting over 800 million individuals worldwide, with significant burden to patients and their caregivers, and may lead to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The decision on optimal initiation of chronic dialysis is a common problem faced by nephrologists, patients, and caregivers due to lack of adequate data. Determining the ideal time to initiate maintenance dialysis for individuals struggling with ESKD has remained a puzzle.

Distinct Behavioral Profiles and Neuronal Correlates of Heroin Vulnerability Versus Resiliency in a Multi-Symptomatic Model of Heroin Use Disorder in Rats.

Objective: The behavioral and diagnostic heterogeneity within the opioid use disorder (OUD) diagnosis is not readily captured in current animal models, limiting the translational relevance of the mechanistic research that is conducted in experimental animals. The authors hypothesized that a nonlinear clustering of OUD-like behavioral traits would capture population heterogeneity and yield subpopulations of OUD vulnerable rats with distinct behavioral and neurocircuit profiles.

Methods: Over 900 male and female heterogeneous stock rats, a line capturing genetic and behavioral heterogeneity present in humans, were assessed for several measures of heroin use and rewarded and non-rewarded seeking behaviors.

Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a physical activity intervention in adults with lymphoma undergoing treatment.

Background: To determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a 6-month tailored non-linear progressive physical activity intervention (PAI) for lymphoma patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods: Patients newly diagnosed with lymphoma (non-Hodgkin (NHL) or Hodgkin (HL)) were randomized into the PAI or healthy living intervention (HLI) control (2:1). Feasibility was assessed by examining accrual, adherence, and retention rates.

A multi-site feasibility study of a stepped-care telehealth intervention for depression and anxiety in post-treatment cancer survivors at community cancer clinics (WF-30917CD).

Purpose: This feasibility study estimated accrual, retention, adherence, and summarized preliminary efficacy data from a stepped-care telehealth intervention for cancer survivors with moderate or severe levels of anxiety and/or depressive symptoms.

Methods: Participants were randomized to intervention or enhanced usual care (stratified by symptom severity). In the intervention group, those with moderate symptoms received a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) workbook/6 bi-weekly check-in calls (low intensity) and severe symptoms received the workbook/12 weekly therapy sessions (high intensity).

Achieving Language Justice in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology: A Multinational Perspective for Language-Concordant Equitable Patient- and Family-Centered Care and Research Inclusion.

Language-discordant healthcare encounters-when the patient/caregiver and clinician are not able to communicate directly in the patient's/caregiver's preferred language-are associated with worse quality of care, increased adverse events, and research exclusion. Here, we describe the current state of language justice in clinical practice and research in the United States, Canada, and Spain, discuss the role of social determinants of health and language, in patient safety and health outcomes and review an example of culturally and linguistically concordant interventions to increase research participation. We close with practical and global strategies to increase multilingual research participation and to provide equitable patient- and family-centered care in pediatric hematology-oncology.

An Explorative Study on Knowledge, Attitudes, and Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine Intention among Parents in India.

India's National COVID Vaccination Program recommended vaccination of children ages 6-12 years in April 2022. This study assessed vaccine acceptance among mothers to better understand potential barriers and facilitators of national acceptance of pediatric coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. Qualitative data were collected through three focus group discussions (FGDs) with mothers who had children younger than 12 years of age; FGD-1 was composed of mothers who worked at a tertiary medical center in India, whereas FGD-2 and FGD-3 were composed of mothers who sought care at urban and rural community health centers.

[C]MK-6884 PET imaging reveals lower M muscarinic acetylcholine receptor availability following cocaine self-administration in male rats.

Background: Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD) remains a significant problem in the United States, with high rates of relapse and no present FDA-approved treatment. The acetylcholine neurotransmitter system, specifically through modulation of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) function, has shown promise as a therapeutic target for multiple aspects of CUD. Enhancement of the M mAChR subtype via positive allosteric modulation has been shown to inhibit the behavioral and neurochemical effects of cocaine across several rodent models of CUD.

Impact of Frailty on Antihypertensive Treatment in Older Adults.

Background: The association between systolic blood pressure and all-cause mortality differs between frail and nonfrail individuals, highlighting uncertainties about the effectiveness of antihypertensive treatments in frail populations.

Methods: Using data from the SHEP trial (Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program), a baseline frailty index (FI), including 55 variables, was constructed. Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard models and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to explore the association between baseline FI and the risks of stroke, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause death, as well as to examine whether the impact of antihypertensive treatment on these outcomes was modified by baseline FI.

Prognostic, biological, and structural implications of FLT3-JMD point mutations in acute myeloid leukemia: an analysis of Alliance studies.

The FLT3 gene frequently undergoes mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), with internal tandem duplications (ITD) and tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) point mutations (PMs) being most common. Recently, PMs and deletions in the FLT3 juxtamembrane domain (JMD) have been identified, but their biological and clinical significance remains poorly understood. We analyzed 1660 patients with de novo AML and found FLT3-JMD mutations, mostly PMs, in 2% of the patients.

Video versus Direct Laryngoscopy for Tracheal Intubation Following Cardiac Arrest: a Secondary Analysis of the DEVICE Trial.

Background: Airway management is a critical component of the care of patients experiencing cardiac arrest, but data from randomized trials on the use of video vs direct laryngoscopy for intubation in the setting of cardiac arrest are limited. Current AHA guidelines recommend placement of an endotracheal tube either during CPR or shortly after return of spontaneous circulation but do not provide guidance around intubation methods, including the choice of laryngoscope.

Research Question: Does use of video laryngoscopy improve the incidence of successful intubation on the first attempt, compared to use of direct laryngoscopy, among adults undergoing tracheal intubation after experiencing cardiac arrest?

Study Design And Methods: This secondary analysis of the Direct versus Video Laryngoscope (DEVICE) trial compared video laryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy in the subgroup of patients who were intubated following cardiac arrest.

A discrete choice experiment with health professions trainees to improve the urban-rural health care access disparity in Appalachia: Study protocol.

Globally, those who live in rural areas experience significant barriers to accessing health care due to a maldistribution of health care providers. Those who live in rural areas in the Appalachian region of the United States face one of the worst shortages of health care providers despite experiencing more complex health needs compared to Americans in more affluent, urban areas. Prior research has failed to identify effective solutions to narrow the provider maldistribution, despite it being a policy focus for decades.

PARADIGM-PV: a randomized, multicenter phase 4 study to assess the efficacy and safety of ropeginterferon alfa-2b in patients with low- or high-risk polycythemia vera.

Polycythemia vera (PV) is characterized by clonal hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells with constitutively active somatic mutation(s) in the Janus kinase 2 gene. Phlebotomy (Phl) and aspirin are often used alone for low-risk PV patients. However, data from the Low-PV study demonstrated that Phl and aspirin may not be adequate for patients.

Caregiver Psychosocial Factors & Stroke Survivor Cognitive Outcomes: A REGARDS-CARES Cohort Study.

Objectives: Caring for an individual with cognitive impairment carries a physical, mental, and emotional toll. This manuscript examines the relationship between caregiver psychosocial measures and longitudinal cognitive outcomes of stroke survivors, as well as analyzing the psychosocial factors as moderators of stroke severity and cognition.

Methods: This analysis was conducted on caregiver and stroke survivor dyads (n = 157) that participated in the Caring for Adults Recovering from the Effects of Stroke (CARES) project, an ancillary study of the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) national cohort study.

The Association of Menopausal Age with Sex Hormones and Anthropometric Measures Among Postmenopausal Women in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Study.

We investigated associations of menopausal age category with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, and waist-height ratio. We also explored the moderating effect of anthropometric measures on associations of menopausal age category with prespecified sex hormones: estradiol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), sex hormone-binding globulin, bioavailable testosterone, and total testosterone-estradiol (T/E) ratio. In this cross-sectional study, we included 2,436 postmenopausal women from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis who had menopausal age, anthropometric, and sex hormone data at baseline.

Utilizing Quantitative Analysis of CSF Volume from Clinical T1-Weighted MRI to Predict Thrombectomy Outcomes.

Background And Purpose: Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is the standard for acute ischemic stroke from large vessel occlusion, but post-EVT functional independence varies. Brain atrophy, linked to higher cerebrospinal fluid volume (CSFV), may affect outcomes. Baseline CSFV could predict EVT benefit by assessing brain health.

Electrospinning based biomaterials for biomimetic fabrication, bioactive protein delivery and wound regenerative repair.

Electrospinning is a remarkably straightforward and adaptable technique that can be employed to process an array of synthetic and natural materials, resulting in the production of nanoscale fibers. It has emerged as a novel technique for biomedical applications and has gained increasing popularity in the research community in recent times. In the context of tissue repair and tissue engineering, there is a growing tendency toward the integration of biomimetic scaffolds and bioactive macromolecules, particularly proteins and growth factors.

Impact of Body Mass Index on Operative Time in Women Undergoing Benign Hysterectomy.

Background: Optimization of surgical scheduling represents an opportunity to improve resource utilization and increase patient access. Increasing body mass index (BMI) has been associated with increased operating time and may provide an opportunity to more accurately predict operating time.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between BMI and operative time for benign hysterectomy and develop a predictive model for hysterectomy operating time based on patient BMI.

Situational Syncope Triggered by Swallowing.

Syncope is characterized by a transient loss of consciousness. Swallow syncope, a rare cause of syncope, is caused by vagus nerve activation resulting in vasodilation and bradycardia, thus causing transient hypotension and cerebral hypoperfusion. It is diagnosed through clinical history, cardiac, and esophageal evaluation.

Lipoprotein(a), high-sensitivity c-reactive protein, homocysteine and cardiovascular disease in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background And Aims: Elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP), and total homocysteine (tHcy) are associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. This study investigated the individual and joint associations of Lp(a), hs-CRP and tHcy with coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.

Methods: This study was conducted in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort (2000-2017) (CHD analytic = 6,676; stroke analytic = 6,674 men and women).

American society for preventive cardiology 2024 cardiovascular disease prevention: Highlights and key sessions.

Groundbreaking strategies for preventive cardiology were showcased at the 2024 American Society for Preventive Cardiology (ASPC) Congress on Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Prevention held in Salt Lake City, Utah, from August 2nd to 4th, 2024. The event featured 69 moderators and 13 scientific sessions comprised of 98 topics, 36 satellite events, 133 poster presentations, and 27 lifestyle classes. The conference highlighted innovative strategies focused on integrating cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic health, presenting a cohesive approach for managing complex, interrelated conditions.

Challenges and potential solutions to enrollment in a clinical trial of arteriovenous fistula vs arteriovenous graft vascular access strategy.

This article presents the rationale, challenges, and adaptive strategies employed during the initiation and execution of the arteriovenous (AV) access trial-a multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing AV fistulas and AV grafts for hemodialysis in older adults with major comorbidities. Motivated by shifts in epidemiologic landscapes and evolving guidelines moving away from a fistula-first approach and to more patient-centric approaches, the objective of this randomized controlled trial was to fill critical knowledge gaps in determining the optimal vascular access for this complex patient population. We outline the challenges encountered in patient recruitment along with measures employed to overcome these obstacles in recruitment.