Factors Associated with Corneal Hysteresis in an Elderly White Population: The Thessaloniki Eye Study.

Prcis: In 801 participants, corneal hysteresis (CH) was positively associated with female gender and central corneal thickness, and negatively with age and axial length. Diabetes showed no significant association with CH in the adjusted models.

Purpose: To provide values of corneal hysteresis (CH) in an elderly, healthy Greek population and to investigate its association with demographic, ocular, and systemic factors.

The Impact of Hematologic Disorders on the Severity of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis: A Comparative Study.

Hematologic diseases are considered important contributors to cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) cases. This retrospective study aims to compare the difference of the clinical and radiological characters between CVST patients with and without hematologic diseases. Consecutive hospitalized CVST patients with hematologic disorders constituted the hematologic disorder group, while that without identifiable risk factors comprised the control group in this study.

Fully automated radiosynthesis of [F]FCPPC for imaging microglia with PET.

Colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) is almost exclusively expressed on microglia in the human brain and thus, has promise as a biomarker for imaging microglia density as a proxy for neuroinflammation. [C]CPPC is a radiotracer with selective affinity to CSF1R, and has been evaluated for in-human microglia PET imaging. The flourine-18 labeled CPPC derivative, 5-cyano-N-(4-(4-(2-[F]fluoroethyl)piperazin-1-yl)-2-(piperidin-1-yl)phenyl)furan-2-carboxamide ([F]FCPPC), was previously synthesized, however, with a low radiochemical yield using manual radiosynthesis.

Effects of Tocotrienol on Cardiovascular Risk Markers in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Tocotrienols, isomers of vitamin E, may provide an effective nutritional strategy to mitigate common cardiovascular risks such as dyslipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effects of a tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) supplementation (300 mg/day) on oxidative stress and inflammatory markers, including transcription factors in nondialysis (ND) and hemodialysis (HD) CKD patients for three months. Interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor- (IL-6 and TNF-), C-reactive protein (CRP), lipid peroxidation, biochemical parameters, and transcription factors such as NRF2 and NF-B mRNA expression were evaluated.

Enhancing home-based physical activity for neurodivergent children: adapting the program with AI and universal design.

Purpose: While it is common practice for schools across the United States to include neurodivergent children in physical education classes, many programs outside of school-such as those at home or in the community-are not effectively tailored to meet their support needs. This gap contributes to lower levels of physical activity among neurodivergent children. Our objective was to address this issue by systematically adapting the program to enable neurodivergent children to safely engage in physical activity at home.

Rapid Adaptation to Prevent Drug Use (RAPD): protocol of a pilot randomized trial to enhance the impact of an evidence-based intervention for youth.

Background: Drug use trends change rapidly among youth, leaving intervention experts struggling to respond promptly. Delays in responses can lead to preventable morbidity and mortality. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need for implementation science to facilitate rapid, equitable responses using existing treatment and prevention efforts.

Novel Sarcoidosis Epitope Augments MHCII, CD80/CD86 Expression, Promotes B-Cell Differentiation and IgG Production.

Numerous chronic human disorders are associated with immune activation by obscure antigen(s). We identified a novel sarcoidosis-epitope (ChainA) by immunoscreening of a novel T7 phage library and confirmed an abundance of ChainA IgG-antibody in sarcoidosis. We tested whether ChainA epitope elicits immune responses through B-cell activation, plasma cell differentiation and antibody production.

An Unexpected Case of Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma of the Cervix in a Non-Diethylstilbestrol-Exposed Postmenopausal Woman.

Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix (CCAC) is a rare subtype of cervical adenocarcinoma. It has been linked to intrauterine exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) but can happen in non-DES-exposed patients, albeit less commonly. Presentation is largely vaginal bleeding, emphasizing the importance of considering CCAC in the differential of abnormal vaginal bleeding despite the tumor's rarity.

Curcumin encapsulated in PAMAM dendrimers for the therapeutic treatment of ischemic stroke in rats.

Introduction: Ischemic stroke is a devastating neurovascular condition that occurs when cerebral tissue fails to receive an adequate supply of oxygen. Despite being a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, therapeutic interventions are currently limited. Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers are nanomolecules commonly used in biomedical applications due to their ability to encapsulate small-molecules and improve their pharmacokinetic properties.

Effect of Perceived Neighborhood Environment on Cannabis Use during Pregnancy among African American Women.

Environmental context is an important predictor of health behavior. Understanding its effect on cannabis use among pregnant women is yet to be understood. The aim of the study is to assess the impact of perceived neighborhood environment on prenatal cannabis use and explore the mediating role of stress.

An Educational Intervention to Promote Central Nervous System-Active Deprescribing in Dementia: A Pilot Study.

Background: Central nervous system (CNS)-active polypharmacy (defined as concurrent exposure to three or more antidepressant, antipsychotic, antiseizure, benzodiazepine, opioid, or nonbenzodiazepine benzodiazepine receptor agonists) is associated with significant potential harms in persons living with dementia (PLWD).We conducted a pilot trial to assess a patient nudge intervention's implementation feasibility and preliminary effectiveness to prompt deprescribing conversations between PLWD experiencing CNS-active polypharmacy and their primary care clinicians ("clinicians").

Methods: We used the electronic health record to identify PLWD prescribed CNS-active polypharmacy in primary care clinics from two health systems.

Electrochemical Filtration of Gadolinium from Patient Urine after Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

The widespread use of gadolinium-based contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in recent decades has led to a growing demand for Gd and raised environmental concerns due to their direct discharge into wastewater systems. In response, we developed an electrochemical filtration method to recover Gd from patient urine following contrast-enhanced MRI. This method involves modifying a conventional vacuum filtration apparatus by introducing electrodes into the filter membrane, creating a strong electric field of ∼5 kV/m and a steep three-zone pH gradient within the filter membrane.

Current landscape of immunotherapy in esophageal cancer: a literature review.

Background And Objective: Esophageal cancer has witnessed a significant shift in its epidemiology within the United States. Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is now the fastest-growing solid malignancy, surpassing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in frequency. There has been a concentrated effort to establish new therapies for dealing with this malignancy including immunotherapy in conjunction with surgery and radiotherapy.

Internet-delivered emotional awareness and expression therapy for somatic symptom disorder: one year follow-up.

Objective: We examined whether the treatment effects from a previous RCT of Internet-delivered Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (I-EAET) for somatic symptom disorder were maintained 12 months after treatment.

Method: 12-month assessments of self-reported somatic symptoms, pain severity, and several secondary outcomes were compared with baseline and post-treatment levels within the I-EAET condition only, given that the waitlist control condition had already received treatment. Twenty-eight out of the original 37 participants (76%) in the I-EAET condition provided follow-up data.

Assessing Health Disparities in Digital Services and Technologies During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pooled Cross-Sectional Analysis Using HINTS Data.

Introduction: Digital health techniques were adopted faster during COVID-19, but the gap remains. This study analyzes how the digital gap affected pandemic patient portal uptake during and after. Patient portals improve physician connections and patient health information access, increasing health outcomes.

"The doctor will see you now… but not for long": Linking physicians' racial attitudes and patients' discrimination experiences to racial disparities in the duration of medical consultations.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between non-Black physicians' racial attitudes, Black patients' discrimination experiences, and consultation duration in diverse clinical settings.

Methods: Secondary analyses were conducted on data from three prior studies involving non-Black primary care physicians (Study 1: n = 14, Study 2: n = 5) and their Black patients (Study 1: n = 118, Study 2: n = 31), as well as 15 non-Black oncologists and their 72 Black patients (Study 3). Data included physician and patient surveys, along with video-recorded consultations.

Agingassociated challenges to persons living with HIV/AIDS in Vietnam: integrated perspectives from multiple stakeholders.

This study examined the aging-associated health and care needs among the HIV population in Vietnam, integrating perspectives from healthcare professionals, PLWH, and their caregivers. Qualitative data were collected through five focus group interviews involving ten PLWH, nine caregivers, and eight healthcare providers in Hanoi, Vietnam, in March 2023. Thematic analyses uncovered recurring patterns and themes across the three participant groups.

Unfolded protein responses: Dynamic machinery in wound healing.

Skin wound healing is a dynamic process consisting of multiple cellular and molecular events that must be tightly coordinated to repair the injured tissue efficiently. The healing pace is decided by the type of injuries, the depth and size of the wounds, and whether wound infections occur. However, aging, comorbidities, genetic factors, hormones, and nutrition also impact healing outcomes.

Trends in anti-seizure medication spending by Medicare Part D and Medicaid from 2012 to 2022.

Objectives: The rising cost of anti-seizure medications (ASMs) in the United States (US) is a major concern for patients, healthcare providers, insurance payors, and policymakers. We aim to describe and analyze the spending trends on ASMs in the Medicare Part D (MPD) and Medicaid population in the US.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on the databases of MPD and Medicaid Spending by Drug from 2012 to 2022, which was published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Epidemiology of bacterial biofilms on polyps and normal tissues in a screening colonoscopy cohort.

Background: Invasive bacterial biofilms are implicated in colorectal cancer. However, their prevalence on histologically normal tissues and polyps is not well established, and risk factors of biofilms have not been previously investigated. Here we evaluated potential procedural and demographic risk factors associated with biofilm status using a cross-sectional observational cohort.