Social-structural barriers to primary care among sex workers: findings from a community-based cohort in Vancouver, Canada (2014-2021).

Background: Due to social-structural marginalization, sex workers experience health inequities including a high prevalence of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, mental health disorders, trauma, and substance use, alongside a multitude of barriers to HIV and substance use services. Given limited evidence on sex workers' broader primary healthcare access, we aimed to examine social-structural factors associated with primary care use among sex workers over 7 years.

Methods: Data were derived from An Evaluation of Sex Workers Health Access (AESHA), a community-based open prospective cohort of women (cis and trans) sex workers in Metro Vancouver, from 2014 to 2021.

A phase II study of ramucirumab and somatostatin analog therapy in patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors.

Objectives: Well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NET) are highly vascular tumors characterized by their expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). This trial investigated the activity of ramucirumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and inhibits activity of VEGF, in combination with somatostatin analog therapy in patients (pts) with advanced extra-pancreatic NET.

Methods: We conducted a single-arm phase II trial enrolling pts with advanced, progressive extra-pancreatic NET.

Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists in Diabetic Kidney Disease: Clinical Evidence and Potential Adverse Events.

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) globally and is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). DKD management requires a multipronged approach to decrease the progression of CKD and CVD. Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) added to renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor therapy reduce the incidence of cardiovascular outcomes and progression of CKD.

The current landscape of artificial intelligence in oral and maxillofacial surgery- a narrative review.

Objective: This narrative review aims to explore the current applications and future prospects of AI within the subfields of oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS), emphasizing its potential benefits and anticipated challenges.

Methods: A detailed review of the literature was conducted to evaluate the role of AI in oral and maxillofacial surgery. All domains within OMS were reviewed with a focus on diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic interventions.

Biomarker Panels for Discriminating Risk of CKD Progression in Children.

Background: We have previously studied biomarkers of tubular health (EGF), injury (KIM-1), dysfunction (alpha-1 microglobulin), and inflammation (TNFR-1, TNFR-2, MCP-1, YKL-40, suPAR), and demonstrated that plasma KIM-1, TNFR-1, TNFR-2 and urine KIM-1, EGF, MCP-1, urine alpha-1 microglobulin are each independently associated with CKD progression in children. In this study, we used bootstrapped survival trees to identify a combination of biomarkers to predict CKD progression in children.

Methods: The CKiD Cohort Study prospectively enrolled children 6 months to 16 years old with an eGFR of 30-90 ml/min/1.

Urinary Kidney Injury Biomarker Profiles in Healthy Individuals and After Nephrotoxic and Ischemic Injury.

Two observational studies were conducted to support an initiative to qualify translational kidney safety biomarkers as clinical drug development tools that identify tubular injury prior to changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Normal healthy volunteers provided three morning spot urine collections over 4 weeks. Patients undergoing surgical resection and intrathoracic cisplatin for malignant pleural mesothelioma provided urine samples pre- and postoperatively at 4, 8, and 12 hours and daily for 6 days.

Modified Approach to Segmental Maxillary Surgery: Midline Osteotomy and Parasagittal Soft Tissue Incisions.

Traditional surgical techniques for segmental maxillary surgery include a combination of interdental osteotomies with paramidline bony cuts while keeping the palatal soft tissue intact. Besides surgical complexity, segmental maxillary procedures have been associated with higher incidence of relapse and complications. We present our experience with specific hard- and soft-tissue modifications (midline bony osteotomy and reflection of palatal soft tissue with carefully designed incisions) which will allow surgeons to perform larger expansions with a low incidence of complications and decreased relapse.

Associations of early life per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposure with body mass index and risk of overweight or obesity at age 2-18 years: Mixture analysis in the prospective Boston Birth Cohort.

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of widespread persistent chemicals, which may have obesogenic effects during the fetal period. This study investigated the long-term association of maternal plasma PFAS concentrations at delivery and their mixture with child body mass index (BMI) and the risk of Overweight or Obesity (OWO) at the age of 2-18 years.

Methods: The study included 1189 mother-child dyads from the prospective Boston Birth Cohort.

Long-Term Safety and Effectiveness of Dimethyl Fumarate in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Treated in Routine Medical Practice: Final Analysis of the ESTEEM Study.

Introduction: Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) has demonstrated a favorable benefit-risk profile in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) in clinical and real-world studies. The ESTEEM study (NCT02047097) was conducted to assess the long-term safety and effectiveness of delayed-release DMF in patients with relapsing forms of MS in routine clinical practice. We report final outcomes from ESTEEM with up to 6.

Nascent matrix deposition supports alveolar organoid formation from aggregates in synthetic hydrogels.

Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived alveolar organoids have emerged as a system to model the alveolar epithelium in homeostasis and disease. However, alveolar organoids are typically grown in Matrigel, a mouse sarcoma-derived basement membrane matrix that offers poor control over matrix properties, prompting the development of synthetic hydrogels as a Matrigel alternative. Here, we develop a two-step culture method that involves pre-aggregation of organoids in hydrogel-based microwells followed by embedding in a synthetic hydrogel that supports alveolar organoid growth, while also offering considerable control over organoid and hydrogel properties.

Comparing Postprandial Glycemic Control Using Fiasp vs Insulin Aspart in Hospitalized Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective: Hyperglycemia in hospitalized patients is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Basal-bolus insulin therapy is the treatment of choice for most patients. The efficacy of an ultrarapid vs rapid-acting insulin in hospitalized patients with diabetes has not been evaluated.

DNA Methylation Signatures of Cardiovascular Health Provide Insights into Diseases.

Background: The association of overall cardiovascular health (CVH) with changes in DNA methylation (DNAm) has not been well characterized.

Methods: We calculated the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score to reflect CVH in five cohorts with diverse ancestry backgrounds. Epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) for LE8 score were conducted, followed by bioinformatic analyses.

The lung is a megakaryocyte outpost that can defend against thrombocytopenic attack.

Lung megakaryocytes (Mks) are a unique subset of Mks that are distinct from their bone marrow counterparts. Recent evidence suggests that lung Mks favor an immune phenotype, but have unclear contributions to the total platelet mass. In this issue of the JCI, Livada et al.

Aberrant Activation of Wound-Healing Programs within the Metastatic Niche Facilitates Lung Colonization by Osteosarcoma Cells.

Purpose: Lung metastasis is responsible for nearly all deaths caused by osteosarcoma, the most common pediatric bone tumor. How malignant bone cells coerce the lung microenvironment to support metastatic growth is unclear. The purpose of this study is to identify metastasis-specific therapeutic vulnerabilities by delineating the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying osteosarcoma lung metastatic niche formation.

CRISPR-based gene therapy for the induction of fetal hemoglobin in sickle cell disease.

Introduction: Sickle cell disease is ameliorated and perhaps can be 'cured' if enough fetal hemoglobin is present in most erythrocytes. Hydroxyurea, which increases fetal hemoglobin levels, is widely available and effective, especially in children. Nevertheless, only cell-based gene therapy can achieve a 'curative' fetal hemoglobin threshold.

Home Dialysis for Latinx Individuals Living with Kidney Failure: A Qualitative Study of Interdisciplinary Dialysis Clinicians.

Background: Latinx individuals experience 2 times the incidence of kidney failure compared to non-Latinx individuals and are less likely to utilize home dialysis therapies. In this qualitative study, interdisciplinary home dialysis clinicians were interviewed to understand the key factors and strategies used by clinicians to improve home dialysis uptake among the Latinx community.

Methods: One-to-one, semi-structured interviews were conducted between November 2021 and March 2023 with 25 home dialysis interdisciplinary clinicians in Denver, Colorado and Houston, Texas.