Defining Structure-Function Relationships of Amphiphilic Excipients Enables Rational Design of Ultra-Stable Biopharmaceuticals.

Biopharmaceuticals are the fastest-growing class of drugs in the healthcare industry, but their global reach is severely limited by their propensity for rapid aggregation. Currently, surfactant excipients such as polysorbates and poloxamers are used to prevent protein aggregation, which significantly extends shelf-life. Unfortunately, these excipients are themselves unstable, oxidizing rapidly into 100s of distinct compounds, some of which cause severe adverse events in patients.

Refinement of a Published Gene-Physical Activity Interaction Impacting HDL-Cholesterol: Role of Sex and Lipoprotein Subfractions.

Large-scale gene-environment interaction (GxE) discovery efforts often involve analytical compromises for the sake of data harmonization and statistical power. Refinement of exposures, covariates, outcomes, and population subsets may be helpful to establish often-elusive replication and evaluate potential clinical utility. Here, we used additional datasets, an expanded set of statistical models, and interrogation of lipoprotein metabolism via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based lipoprotein subfractions to refine a previously discovered GxE modifying the relationship between physical activity (PA) and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C).

Perspectives on postbaccalaureate PEERS: Advocacy and empowering communities.

The impact of Covid-19 pandemic has dramatically shifted the education landscape between recent college and university graduates and pathways to graduate degrees. In my perspective article, I wish to share the challenges, reflections, and a call-to-action framework in ways we can support and advocate for postbaccalaureate persons excluded because of their ethnicity of race, or from a structurally marginalized community or PEERS through the lens of mindfulness, humility, reflection, and deep listening. Through cross-institutional community network support, culturally responsive mentoring of postbaccalaureate PEERS is one of the key dimensions in empowering communities toward health, environmental, and social justice.

HIV interventions across the care continuum for adolescents in high-burden countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Adolescents (10-19 years old) have poor outcomes across the prevention-to-treatment HIV care continuum, leading to significant mortality and morbidity. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions that documented HIV outcomes among adolescents in HIV high-burden countries.

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library for studies published between January 2015 and September 2024, assessing at least one HIV outcome along the prevention-to-care cascade, including PrEP uptake, HIV testing, awareness of HIV infections, ARV adherence, retention, and virological suppression.

Patient With Post-operative Recurrent Pancreatic Cancer Treated With Cone Beam Computed Tomography-Guided Stereotactic Adaptive Radiotherapy: A Case Report.

CT-guided adaptive radiotherapy (ART) for the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma is rapidly increasing and has been shown to provide advanced treatment tools comparable to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided adaptive therapy. Here, we provide the first case report of a local pancreatic recurrence treatment after definitive resection using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)-guided ART (CT-guided ART) enabled by HyperSight imaging (Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA) for daily delineation of organs-at-risk (OARs) and target to improve the quality of online ART.

The current state of wearable device use in Parkinson's disease: a survey of individuals with Parkinson's.

Background: Interest in wearable device use in Parkinson's disease (PD) has grown rapidly with many compelling studies supporting diagnostic and therapeutic uses. Concurrently, consumer devices have proliferated and their role in health and wellness has expanded. However, incorporation of consumer and medical wearable devices into medical care has in our experience been limited.

Projecting temperature-related dengue burden in the Philippines under various socioeconomic pathway scenarios.

Introduction: As climate change advances, the looming threat of dengue fever, intricately tied to rising temperatures, intensifies, posing a substantial and enduring public health challenge in the Philippines. This study aims to investigate the historical and projected excess dengue disease burden attributable to temperature to help inform climate change policies, and guide resource allocation for strategic climate change and dengue disease interventions.

Methods: The study utilized established temperature-dengue risk functions to estimate the historical dengue burden attributable to increased temperatures.

Multi-modal prediction of extracorporeal support-a resource intensive therapy, utilizing a large national database.

Objective: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is among the most resource-intensive therapies in critical care. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the lack of ECMO resource allocation tools. We aimed to develop a continuous ECMO risk prediction model to enhance patient triage and resource allocation.

Association between somatic microsatellite instability, hypermutation status, and specific T cell subsets in colorectal cancer tumors.

Background: Microsatellite instability-high (MSI-high) tumors comprise ~15% of sporadic colorectal cancers (CRC) and are associated with elevated T cell infiltration. However, the universality of this response across T cell subtypes with distinct functions is unknown.

Methods: Including 1,236 CRC tumors from three observational studies, we conducted T cell profiling using a customized 9-plex (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD45RA, CD45RO, FOXP3, KRT, MKI67, and DAPI) multispectral immunofluorescence assay.

The role of brainstem biopsy and targeted therapies in pediatric diffuse midline glioma/diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.

Pediatric diffuse midline glioma (DMG), including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), are aggressive brainstem tumors with a dire prognosis, traditionally diagnosed based on MRI characteristics. The recognition that molecular characteristics may determine prognosis and response to therapy has led to a reevaluation of biopsy necessity. This comprehensive review addresses the evolving role of brainstem biopsies in diagnosing and managing these tumors - both within the context of a clinical trial and in routine clinical care.

A Virtual Music Mindfulness Tool for Individuals of African descent during COVID-19.

Mental health disparities result from complex factors, including differential diagnoses, lack of access to standard mental health treatments, and inconsistent application of treatments when care is accessed. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these disparities as marginalized groups had less access to testing and care while having higher infection rates. Community-based forms of care, such as music and mindfulness, are affordable and accessible options that can potentially address present mental health disparities.

The impact of stigma and discrimination-based narratives in the health of migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean: a scoping review.

Stigma and discrimination-based narratives have been associated with adverse health outcomes. Migrants and refugees face multiple barriers to accessing healthcare, influenced by stigma and discrimination-based narratives against them. We conducted a scoping review of scientific and grey literature (n = 61) to discuss available evidence in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) concerning communication and narrative speeches related to international migration and its implications for population health, particularly when associated with stigma and discrimination against migrants and refugees.

High-Grade Sarcomatous Transformation of Hybrid Hemosiderotic Fibrolipomatous Tumor-Myxoinflammatory Fibroblastic Sarcoma with Novel Gene Fusion.

Hemosiderotic fibrolipomatous tumor (HFLT) and myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma (MIFS) are rare, locally aggressive soft tissue tumors with a predilection for distal extremities of middle-aged adults. Hybrid tumors (HFLT-MIFS) demonstrate overlapping features of both and share recurrent translocation (1;10) (p22; q24). We describe a tumor with high-grade sarcomatous transformation of a hybrid HFLT-MIFS, with a novel gene fusion, presenting as a right foot soft tissue mass in an 85-year-old woman.

Assessing the Utility of DNA Methylation Profiling in the Classification of Myogenic Sarcomas of Bone.

The diagnosis of primary leiomyosarcoma (LMS) of bone is generally established based on integrative findings of morphologic features, immunohistochemical staining, and clinical and radiological findings. There are no specific genetic alterations that can be used to confirm the diagnosis of LMS in challenging diagnoses of bone sarcomas with myogenic differentiation. In this study, we assessed the utility of a DNA methylation-based classifier as an ancillary diagnostic tool for subclassifying bone sarcomas with myogenic differentiation.

Posterolateral Corner Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Biomechanical Studies.

Background: Surgical reconstruction is the standard treatment for injuries to the posterolateral corner (PLC) of the knee and can be performed using either a fibular-based or combined tibiofibular-based technique. Although some comparative studies have been performed, there is no consensus regarding the reconstructive approach that confers optimal biomechanical properties of the PLC.

Purpose: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the biomechanical properties of the knee after PLC reconstruction with fibular-based and tibiofibular-based techniques.

Knowledge of Sickle Cell Disease, Awareness of Sickle Cell Trait Status and Its Impact on Relationships Among Students at a Historically Black College.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) primarily affects people of African American descent in the United States. Many individuals do not know their sickle cell trait (SCT) status or might not be aware of SCD. The purpose of this study was to assess SCD knowledge, awareness of SCT status, and its impact on relationships.

Phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase 1 () associated retinal degeneration: an international study.

Introduction: Phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase 1 () is an X-linked gene critical for nucleotide metabolism. Pathogenic variants cause three overlapping phenotypes: Arts syndrome (severe neurological disease), Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 5 [CMTX5] (peripheral neuropathy), and non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Each may be associated with retinal dystrophy.

A new disease symptomology observed in wheat is associated with high levels of Triticum mosaic virus transcripts.

Wheat is an important cereal crop globally and in the United States, and is the largest crop grown by acreage in Colorado. In June 2023, we observed wheat fields displaying severe yellowing and virus-like disease symptoms in plants across seven eastern Colorado counties (Yuma, Prowers, Kit Carson, Washington, Sedgewick, Morgan, and Weld). Symptomatic plants were prominent in fields and appeared bright yellow, with ringspots, mosaic patterning, and streaking on leaves.

Virulence Characterization and Population Structure of f. sp. in Henan Province, China.

Wheat stripe rust, caused by f. sp. (), poses a significant threat to wheat production, particularly in Henan province, which produces more than 36 million tons of wheat grain every year, the highest production among all provinces in China.

Child marriage, educational attainment, and comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS: a multi-country analysis.

Understanding the link between HIV/AIDS knowledge and child marriage is important for designing and planning effective intervention programmes. Despite significant advances in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, it remains important to study the impact of child marriage on HIV/AIDS knowledge because HIV/AIDS continues to affect millions globally. This study investigated the association of child marriage with scores on an index measuring comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention.

Freestanding Wide-Bandgap Semiconductors Nanomembrane from 2D to 3D Materials and Their Applications.

Wide-bandgap semiconductors (WBGS) with energy bandgaps larger than 3.4 eV for GaN and 3.2 eV for SiC have gained attention for their superior electrical and thermal properties, which enable high-power, high-frequency, and harsh-environment devices beyond the capabilities of conventional semiconductors.

Buprenorphine and postpartum contraception utilization among people with opioid use disorder: a multi-state analysis.

Background: The postpartum period provides an opportunity for birthing people with opioid use disorder (OUD) to consider their future reproductive health goals. However, the relationship between the use of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and contraception utilization is not well understood. We used multistate administrative claims data to compare contraception utilization rates among postpartum people with OUD initiating buprenorphine (BUP) versus no medication (psychosocial services receipt without MOUD (PSY)) in the United States (US).

Implementation research logic model in the design and execution of eHealth innovations for maternal and newborn healthcare in Ethiopia.

Background: The use of eHealth innovations is becoming increasingly important in improving health outcomes, especially for maternal and newborn health. However, planning and executing these innovations can be challenging due to their complex nature. To provide guidance and clarity on implementation approaches, researchers need to use implementation research (IR) tools.

The impact of COVID-19 on HIV care: a comprehensive analysis of patient and healthcare providers experiences at the largest HIV treatment center in Ghana.

Background: We sought to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected care delivery for HIV patients in Ghana.

Methods: Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), we performed a cross-sectional study between May and July 2021 among 40 people living with HIV and 19 healthcare providers caring for HIV patients. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were done with HIV patients, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, data scientists, administrators, and counselors to ascertain barriers and facilitators to HIV care during the pandemic.

Electronic Health Record Time Allocation Among Primary Care Clinicians at the Veterans Health Administration Using Virtual Observations.

Background: Prior research has shown that primary care clinicians (PCPs) spend a large portion of clinic visits on tasks within the electronic health record (EHR). However, no time allocation studies have been done in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and little is known about EHR time spent during virtual visits.

Objective: To estimate the proportion of clinician time spent working within the EHR during primary care visits at VHA clinics.