A community-based approach to address lung cancer screening disparities in the black community using the Witness Project framework: development and pilot trial.

Background: Disparities in lung cancer outcomes persist among Black Americans, necessitating targeted interventions to address screening inequities. This paper reports the development and refinement of Witness Project Lung, a community-based initiative tailored to the specific needs of the Black community, aiming to improve awareness and engagement with lung cancer screening.

Methods: Utilizing a user-centered design and guided by the original Witness Project framework - an evidence-based lay health advisor intervention program originally developed to increase knowledge and awareness about breast cancer risk and screening in the Black community and later trans-created to the cervical and colorectal cancer screening contexts - Witness Project Lung was developed and refined through qualitative input from key stakeholders in the Black faith community.

Plasma proteomic evidence for increased β-amyloid pathology after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Previous studies have suggested that systemic viral infections may increase risks of dementia. Whether this holds true for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus infections is unknown. Determining this is important for anticipating the potential future incidence of dementia.

Prevalence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and chronic hypertension increased throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in South Carolina (2015-2021).

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and chronic hypertension (CHTN) are related to maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. We aimed to assess HDP and CHTN prevalence changes before (January 2015-February 2020) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020-December 2021) in South Carolina (SC). SC live births (2015-2021) were included (194,841 non-Hispanic White [NHW]); 108,195 non-Hispanic Black [NHB]; 25,560 Hispanic; 16,346 other race/ethnicity).

Integrating machine learning models for optimizing ecosystem health assessments through prediction of nitrate-N concentrations in the lower stretch of Ganga River, India.

Nitrate, a highly reactive form of inorganic nitrogen, is commonly found in aquatic environments. Understanding the dynamics of nitrate-N concentration in rivers and its interactions with other water-quality parameters is crucial for effective freshwater ecosystem management. This study uses advanced machine learning models to analyse water quality parameters and predict nitrate-N concentrations in the lower stretch of the Ganga River from the observations of six annual periods (2017 to 2022).

The relationship between intraoperative EndoFLIP™ distensibility index and manometry lower esophageal sphincter basal mean pressure in patients undergoing anti-reflux surgery.

Background: Decisions made for anti-reflux surgery can be guided by both EndoFLIP™ measurement of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) distensibility index (DI) and esophageal manometric measurement of lower esophageal function, but the exact nature of their relationship to one another is unknown despite serving similar purposes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between pre-operative LES basal mean pressure with esophageal manometry and intraoperative gastroesophageal DI using EndoFLIP™ following crural dissection to aid in informing surgeons' decision-making during anti-reflux surgery.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease who underwent preoperative esophageal manometry evaluation and anti-reflux surgery with EndoFLIP™ intraoperatively between December 2020 and January 2024.

Unmasking CHANTER syndrome: A rare neurological consequence of opioid overdose.

The opioid epidemic remains a major public health issue in the U.S., with over 100,000 overdose deaths in 2022, many linked to synthetic opioids.

COVID-19 and influenza vaccine Hesitancy among adults hospitalized in the United States, 2019-2022.

Background: Understanding similarities and differences between hesitancy for influenza and COVID-19 vaccines could facilitate strategies to improve public receptivity toward vaccination.

Methods: We compared hesitancy for COVID-19 vaccines during the first 13 months of availability (January 2021-January 2022) with hesitancy for influenza vaccines in the 15 months prior to COVID-19 vaccine availability (October 2019-December 2020) among adults hospitalized with acute respiratory illness at 21 hospitals in the United States. We interviewed patients regarding vaccination status, willingness to be vaccinated, and perceptions of vaccine safety and efficacy.

Strategies for Implementing Integrated Behavioral Health into Health Centers.

Background: Integrated behavioral health (IBH) is a promising approach which embeds behavioral health services into primary care. Yet, IBH has had limited implementation. Our objective was to identify strategies to successfully implement the "Cherokee" IBH model by examining a 2013 to 2019 IBH demonstration project in New Jersey that included Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Community Health Centers (CHCs).

Comparative efficacy and safety of stent retrievers as a bailout strategy following failed contact aspiration technique in acute stroke thrombectomy.

Background: The contact aspiration (CA) technique is often used to perform endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS); however, rescue strategies are necessary if CA fails to achieve recanalization. This study investigates the outcomes of incorporating stent retriever (SR) thrombectomy in the rescue strategy following failed CA.

Methods: EVT patients with failed CA attempts were identified from a large multicenter registry and stratified by rescue technique: CA alone or incorporating SR in the rescue strategy.

A Latent Trait-based Measure as a Data Harmonization and Missing Data Solution Applied to the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes Cohort.

Background: Collaborative research consortia provide an efficient method to increase sample size, enabling evaluation of subgroup heterogeneity and rare outcomes. In addition to missing data challenges faced by all cohort studies like nonresponse and attrition, collaborative studies have missing data due to differences in study design and measurement of the contributing studies.

Methods: We extend ROSETTA, a latent variable method that creates common measures across datasets collecting the same latent constructs with only partial overlap in measures, to define a common measure of socioeconomic status (SES) across cohorts with varying indicators in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes Cohort, a consortium of pregnancy and pediatric cohorts.

Report on the Development of the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics' Academic "Accreditation Standards for Advanced Practice Doctoral Education in Nutrition and Dietetics".

The dietetics profession is facing a shortage of registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) with a terminal degree. The need for doctoral prepared RDNs was augmented with the entry-level RDN requiring a graduate degree and exacerbated by the number of retirees from the baby boomer generation. Advanced practice doctoral (APD) programs can assist in meeting the increased need for doctoral prepared RDNs.

Comprehensive Extractables and Leachables Sensitization Analysis and Practical Application of a Risk-Based Approach to Sensitization Assessment for Parenteral Drug Products.

The Extractables and Leachables Safety Information Exchange (ELSIE) Consortium added to the sensitization potency analysis of Parris et al. (2023) by including the Product Quality Research Institute (PQRI) extractable and leachable dataset (Johnson et al., 2024; Product Quality Research Institute, 2021).

The dynamic duo: Decoding the roles of hypoxia-inducible factors in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) results in considerable mortality and neurodevelopmental disability, with a particularly high disease burden in low- and middle-income countries. Improved understanding of the pathophysiology underlying this injury could allow for improved diagnostic and therapeutic options. Specifically, hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF-1α and HIF-2α) likely play a key role, but that role is complex and remains understudied.

Unlocking insights: Clinical associations from the largest 6-minute walk test collection via the my Heart Counts Cardiovascular Health Study, a fully digital smartphone platform.

Background: The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a prognostic sub-maximal exercise test used clinically as a measure of functional capacity. With the emergence of advanced sensors, 6MWTs are being performed remotely via smartphones and other devices. The My Heart Counts Cardiovascular Health Study is a smartphone application that serves as a digital platform for studies of human cardiovascular health, and has been used to perform 30,475 6MWTs on 8922 unique participants.

Biomechanical mechanisms for modulating stride frequency in walking.

Humans typically choose to walk at a self-selected stride frequency that minimizes their metabolic cost. However, when environmental constraints are present (e.g.

Pharmacological ascorbate combined with rucosopasem selectively radio-chemo-sensitizes NSCLC via generation of HO.

Differences in cancer and normal cell oxidative metabolism provide a unique therapeutic opportunity for developing combined modality approaches with redox-active small molecules as radio-chemosensitizers that are well-tolerated by normal tissues. Pentaazamacrocyclic Mn (II)-containing (MnPAM) superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetics and pharmacological ascorbate given IV to achieve [mM] plasma levels (pharmacological ascorbate: P-AscH‾) have been shown to act individually as cancer cell radio- and chemosensitizers via the generation of HOin vivo. The current study shows that the combination of newly developed MnPAM dismutase mimetic, rucosopasem manganese (RUC) with P-AscH‾ radio-sensitizes non-small cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC) and increases steady state levels of intracellular HO with no additional toxicity to normal human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs).

Adverse Childhood Experiences and Accelerated Epigenetic Aging in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos: Nativity as an Effect Modifier.

Background: Whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with accelerated epigenetic aging over time among the Hispanic/Latino population remains unknown. This study examined the longitudinal association between ACEs and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), as well as potential effect modifiers, among a sample of Hispanic/Latino adults.

Methods: We analyzed 960 Hispanic/Latino adults with DNA methylation (DNAm) profile data from two visits (approximately six years apart) sampled from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL).

Nexinhib20 inhibits JFC1-mediated mobilization of a subset of CD11b/CD18+ vesicles decreasing integrin avidity, but does not inhibit Rac1.

Regulated sequential exocytosis of neutrophil granules is essential in orchestrating the innate immune response, while uncontrolled secretion causes inflammation. We developed and characterized Nexinhib20, a small-molecule inhibitor that targets azurophilic granule exocytosis in neutrophils by blocking the interaction between the small GTPase Rab27a and its effector JFC1. Its therapeutic potential has been demonstrated in several pre-clinical models of inflammatory disease.

Patient outcomes and health care resource utilization in acute pancreatitis-related central nervous system complications: insights from a national cohort study.

Objectives: Central nervous system complications of acute pancreatitis (AP) can result in cerebral edema (CE). We assessed the risk of serious outcomes and health care features associated with CE in patients hospitalized with AP.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the National Inpatient Sample database.

Communicating with Stakeholders to Identify High-Impact Research Directions for Non-Targeted Analysis.

Non-targeted analysis (NTA) using high-resolution mass spectrometry without defined chemical targets has the potential to expand and improve chemical monitoring in many fields. Despite rapid advancements within the research community, NTA methods and data remain underutilized by many potential beneficiaries. To better understand barriers toward widespread adoption, the Best Practices for Non-Targeted Analysis (BP4NTA) working group conducted focus group meetings and follow-up surveys with scientists (n = 61) from various sectors (e.

First report of causing anthracnose of ashwagandha () in India.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), enriched in alkaloids, steroidal lactones and saponins, is a valuable herb in Indian Ayurvedic medicine. During December 2023, Va-1 (Vallabh Ashwagandha-1) plants at ICAR -Central Tobacco Research Institute, Vedasandur, Tamil Nadu (10.53717ºN, 77.

Comparison of two active warming techniques on body temperature in healthy, anesthetized dogs premedicated with acepromazine or dexmedetomidine: A pilot study.

Temperature regulation in dogs is significantly impaired during general anesthesia. Glabrous skin on paws may facilitate thermoregulation from this area and is a potential target for interventions attenuating hypothermia. This pilot study aimed to compare efficacy of an innovative warming device placed on the front paws (AVAcore; AVA), with no warming methods (NONE) and conventional truncal warming methods (CONV; circulating water blanket/forced air warmer) on rectal temperature and anesthetic recovery times.

clustur: an R package for clustering features using sparse distance matrices.

The clustur R package implements the clustering algorithms found in the mothur software package for assigning 16S rRNA gene sequences to operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Making these algorithms accessible through the R ecosystem will foster their further development, broader application, and integration within other R packages.

A Framework for Assessing Viral Pathogens: A Key Element of the BARDA Emerging Infectious Diseases Strategy.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the need for nations to prepare more effectively for emerging infectious diseases. Preparing for these threats requires a multifaceted approach that includes assessing pathogen threat, building flexible capabilities for rapid medical countermeasure (MCM) development, and exercising, maintaining, and improving those response capabilities. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) promotes the advanced development of MCMs in response to natural and manmade threats.

Characterizing Antisense Oligonucleotide-Induced Histopathology Findings in Spinal Cord of Mauritius Cynomolgus Monkeys by Molecular Localization Investigation.

The safety of a 2'--methoxyethyl antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) was investigated in Mauritius cynomolgus monkeys in a 41-week Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) toxicity study after multiple intrathecal (IT) administrations. Histopathological examination revealed ectopic formation of lymphoid follicles in the spinal cord (SC) at the injection site at all doses and the presence of granular material in neurons of the SC in high-dose animals. The granular material was seen in all the segments of the SC, but mainly in the lumbar segment and persisted at the end of the 26-week recovery period, while the lymphoid follicles showed a reversibility trend.