Trends in Medicare Part D Spending on Topical Steroids from 2012 to 2021 Increasing Costs of Generic Topical Steroids and Potential Savings.

Background: Increasing prescription drugs costs are a major concern in healthcare. The literature lacks an up-to-date assessment of U.S.

Comparison of the capillary and venous blood plasma lipidomes- validation of self-collected blood for plasma lipidomics.

Venipuncture of the upper extremities is commonly used to collect blood for plasma lipidomics. However, self-administered blood collection devices such as the Tasso+ system for capillary blood sampling and plasma separation are convenient and enable frequent sampling without a clinical blood draw. The purpose of this study is to validate Tasso+ sampling for plasma lipidomics by comparing the venous blood and Tasso+ sampled capillary blood plasma lipidomes.

The rapid diagnosis of intraamniotic infection with nanopore sequencing.

Background: Intraamniotic infection (defined as intraamniotic inflammation with microorganisms) is an important cause of the preterm labor syndrome. Methods for the detection of microorganisms in amniotic fluid are culture and/or polymerase chain reaction. However, both methods take time, and results are rarely available for clinical decision-making.

Characterizing the heterogeneity of Castleman disease and oligocentric subtype: Findings from the ACCELERATE registry.

Castleman disease (CD) describes a group of rare lymphoproliferative disorders that exhibit a wide range of symptomatology and degree of lymphadenopathy, particularly across the two forms of CD with unknown etiology, unicentric CD (UCD) and HHV-8-negative/idiopathic multicentric CD (iMCD). Whereas UCD cases typically present with localized lymphadenopathy and mild symptoms, iMCD involves multicentric lymphadenopathy and cytokine-storm driven symptoms with three recognized clinical phenotypes. Increasingly, there are anecdotal reports of cases that do not fit into this framework, but these cases have not been systematically described.

Evaluating the effectiveness of medical therapy in infantile epileptic spasms syndrome due to surgically-remediable lesions.

Objective: This single-center retrospective study examined the response to initial standard therapy in children with infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) associated with surgically-remediable lesion and evaluated the risk factors for drug resistance. We assessed whether the failure of the first standard therapy for surgically-remediable IESS predicted eventual drug resistance.

Methods: New-onset IESS with surgically-remediable lesions was included.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) supplementation improves dyspnea and may normalize von Willebrand plasma levels in gynecologic patients with Post-Acute-COVID-Sequela (PASC)/Long COVID.

Objectives: A subset of COVID-infected cancer patients may develop post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), also known as Long COVID (LC). While LC is considered multifactorial in its pathogenesis, growing evidence suggests that persistent microvascular inflammation (ie, spike-induced endotheliosis) causing chronically elevated levels of clotting factors including von Willebrand factor (vWF), clumping/clotting of red blood cells and platelets, and thrombotic complications may be at the root of PASC/LC symptoms. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), a precursor of glutathione, is an inexpensive FDA-approved drug/supplement endowed with mucolytic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and thrombolytic properties.

Unveiling Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Exploring Pathogenic Mechanisms and Therapeutic Advances.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs), either primary or secondary, are a heterogeneous group of clonal hematological neoplasms characterized by bone marrow dyshematopoiesis, peripheral blood cytopenia, and the potential risk of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) transformation. The clinical heterogeneity in MDS is a reflection of the underlying multitude of genetic defects playing a role in the pathogenesis. Recent advances in the clinicopathological, immunophenotypic, and molecular landscape in understanding the pathophysiology of MDS lead to evolving and refined classification systems with newer entities.

Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Pancreaticobiliary Endoscopy.

Pancreaticobiliary diseases can lead to significant morbidity and their diagnoses rely on imaging and endoscopy which are dependent on operator expertise. Artificial intelligence (AI) has seen a rapid uptake in the field of luminal endoscopy, such as polyp detection during colonoscopy. However, its use for pancreaticobiliary endoscopic modalities such as endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and cholangioscopy remains scarce, with only few studies available.

Protective Effects of Sulforaphane Preventing Inflammation and Oxidative Stress to Enhance Metabolic Health: A Narrative Review.

The worldwide obesity epidemic has led to a drastic increase in diabetes and cardiovascular disease in younger generations. Further, maintaining metabolic health during aging is frequently a challenge due to poor diets and decreased mobility. In this setting, bioactive nutrients that are naturally occurring antioxidants, such as sulforaphane (SFN), are of high nutritional interest.

The rise of pediatric reduction mammoplasties over the past decade: Trends in patients and surgical outcomes.

Objectives: Symptomatic macromastia can lead to physical and psychosocial challenges, especially in younger patients. Here we aim to assess trends in the volume of pediatric reduction mammoplasties and their associated outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective review of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Pediatric (NSQIP-P) Participant Use Data File identified pediatric patients who underwent reduction mammoplasty from 2012 to 2021.

Current State of Evidence on Definitions and Management of High-Risk Multiple Myeloma.

Purpose Of Review: This review aims to address the subgroup of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) who have high-risk multiple myeloma (HRMM) and continue to experience poor outcomes despite recent therapeutic advances. We will explore various clinical, biochemical, imaging, genetic, and dynamic features associated with high-risk status, along with the different risk stratification tools developed to identify HRMM patients.

Recent Findings: Although numerous parameters for defining HRMM have been proposed, a universally accepted definition remains absent.

Impact of Fentanyl Test Strips as Harm Reduction for Drug-Related Mortality.

This study examines the impact of legalizing fentanyl test strips (FTSs) on drug-related mortality in the United States from 2018 to 2022. Using a difference-in-differences approach with state-level data, we find that FTS legalization is associated with a significant reduction in drug-overdose deaths. Across the population, FTS legalization corresponds to a 7% decrease in overdose mortality, with an even more pronounced 13.

Strategies to Combat Resistance to Anti-angiogenesis Therapies in Cancer: Current Status and Future Prospects.

Anti-angiogenic therapy represents a promising approach to cancer treatment by targeting the vascular support systems of tumors rather than the tumor cells themselves. Antiangiogenic agents face numerous obstacles that impede their efficacy, notwithstanding their potential: mechanistic complexity, toxicity, resistance, and the lack of validated predictive biomarkers. Resistance mechanisms may encompass genetic modifications, alternative angiogenic pathways, or the recruitment of cells derived from bone marrow.

Dynamic global acetylation remodeling during the yeast heat shock response.

All organisms experience stress and must rapidly respond to changing conditions. Thus, cells have evolved sophisticated rapid-response mechanisms such as post-translational protein modification to rapidly and reversibly modulate protein activity. One such post-translational modification is reversible lysine acetylation, where proteomic studies have identified thousands of acetylated proteins across diverse organisms.

The role of platelets in cancer: from their influence on tumor progression to their potential use in liquid biopsy.

Platelets, anucleate blood cells essential for hemostasis, are increasingly recognized for their role in cancer, challenging the traditional notion of their sole involvement in blood coagulation. It has been demonstrated that platelets establish bidirectional communication with tumor cells, contributing to tumor progression and metastasis through diverse molecular mechanisms such as modulation of proliferation, angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, resistance to anoikis, immune evasion, extravasation, chemoresistance, among other processes. Reciprocally, cancer significantly alters platelets in their count and composition, including mRNA, non-coding RNA, proteins, and lipids, product of both internal synthesis and the uptake of tumor-derived molecules.

"I've Been Forged in Fire": Preliminary Theory of HIV Prevention Resilience Among Sexual Minority Men With HIV Risk Factors.

HIV prevention research on sexual minority men focuses predominantly on risk factors, yet there is potential for enhancing HIV risk reduction by also examining resilience factors. We used mixed methods to explore HIV-related resilience pathways among 20 HIV-negative sexual minority men reporting HIV syndemic risks (childhood sexual abuse, partner abuse, mental health problems, substance abuse). Using grounded theory, we found that stress-related growth after mental health problems and/or unwanted sexual experiences can trigger development/use of HIV prevention resilience resources that, in turn, help sexual minority men cope and enhance HIV prevention behavior.

Power and Sample Size Calculations for Cluster Randomized Hybrid Type 2 Effectiveness-Implementation Studies.

Hybrid studies allow investigators to simultaneously study an intervention effectiveness outcome and an implementation research outcome. In particular, type 2 hybrid studies support research that places equal importance on both outcomes rather than focusing on one and secondarily on the other (i.e.

Neuromuscular Blockade and Antagonism in Patients with Renal Impairment: A Multicenter Retrospective Cross Sectional Study.

Background: Current practice guidelines do not address the use of neuromuscular blocking and antagonism agents in patients with renal impairment. The FDA label for sugammadex advises against use in patients with severe renal impairment (eGFR < 30 ml/min). Using a multicenter electronic health record registry, we sought to understand the modern use of neuromuscular blockade and antagonism agents in patients with significant renal impairment (eGFR < 60 ml/min).

Approach to Janus kinase inhibition for juvenile dermatomyositis among CARRA and PReS providers.

Objectives: Janus kinase inhibition (JAKi) has been proposed as a treatment for idiopathic inflammatory myopathies to target increased interferon signalling. Predominantly retrospective reports have demonstrated effectiveness of JAKi in refractory juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM). However, JAKi remains an off-label treatment for JDM and there may be variation in use worldwide.

Correction: Assessing the Effects of Dasatinib on Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s12195-024-00830-1.].

Assessing the Effects of Dasatinib on Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells.

Introduction: Progressive aging, or senescence, of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) is a major obstacle faced when trying to culture potent stem cells for use in therapy. Senescent cells are irreversibly nondividing cells that cease performing critical functional effects. Elimination of senescent cells using biochemical means, such as the use of senolytic drugs like dasatinib, may be useful in retaining the viable and proliferating populations of the cells.