Fecal microbiota transplantation in mice improves bone material properties through altered mineral quality.

Disruptions of the composition of the gut microbiome are linked to impaired bone tissue strength. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an established clinical therapy that can restore a healthy gut microbiome and reduce systemic inflammation. However, whether FMT from a healthy donor could rescue bone fragility is unknown.

Academic and Social-Behavioral Assessment in a Prospective Cohort of Normocephalic School-Aged Children with Antenatal Zika Virus Exposure.

Objectives: Long-term outcomes in children with antenatal Zika virus (ZIKV) exposure without microcephaly are unknown. We assessed academic and social-behavioral outcomes among normocephalic school-aged children with antenatal ZIKV exposure and controls.

Methods: School-aged Zika-exposed children (ZEC) and unexposed controls (ZUC) were recruited in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Structural disadvantage and HIV risk - comparing risk factors between trans women's partnerships with cis men and trans women sexual partners.

Introduction: Little is known about differences in HIV risk for trans women by partner gender, particularly with respect to social determinants of health and partner-level factors that affect behavior. We examined differences in demographic, social determinants, and HIV-related risk behaviors for trans women with cisgender men and trans women sexual partners.

Materials And Methods: Data are from a cross-sectional survey of trans women and their sexual partners conducted between April 2020 and January 2021.

Leptospirosis? An epidemiologic investigation following the historic 2024 floods in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

In May 2024, the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul experienced an historic flood that affected millions of people. Hundreds of thousands of people were displaced by the record-breaking flood waters, exposing them to water-borne pathogens, including leptospirosis. With concern for an outbreak, local efforts focused on identifying and treating any potential cases of leptospirosis.

Exposure-response relationship of fedratinib in patients with intermediate-2 or high-risk myelofibrosis.

Aims: Fedratinib is a potent, oral, Janus kinase inhibitor for the treatment of myelofibrosis (MF). This report describes exposure-response (E-R) analyses of fedratinib based on pooled data from phase 2/3 studies in patients with intermediate-2 or high-risk MF, with or without prior ruxolitinib exposure.

Methods: Pharmacokinetic (PK) exposures were derived from the population PK analysis.

Combinatorial characterization of bacterial taxa-driven differences in the microbiome of oyster beds.

Oyster reefs and beds provide crucial ecosystem services, including water filtration, coastal protection, and habitat provision for marine species. However, these habitats face significant threats from climate change and anthropogenic stressors. To address these challenges, numerous oyster restoration initiatives have been undertaken globally.

Dietary menaquinone-9 supplementation does not influence bone tissue quality or bone mineral density during skeletal development in mice.

Vitamin K has been implicated in skeletal health because vitamin K-dependent proteins are present in bone tissue. While there are multiple forms of vitamin K, most research has focused on phylloquinone, which is found mainly in plant-based foods, and its metabolite menaquinone-4 (MK4). However, there are additional forms of vitamin K that are bacterially produced that appear to influence bone health but have not yet been studied extensively.

Clinician Perceptions of Clinical Pharmacy Services at Federally Qualified Health Centers in Ohio.

Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are safety-net institutions that are heavily affected by burnout among health care professionals. We examined pharmacist-clinician relationships in FQHCs by assessing clinicians' satisfaction with clinical pharmacy services (CPS), perceptions of the impact of CPS on patient care and clinician well-being, and the potential impact of CPS on clinician retention. We used a survey composed of 21 questions sent to clinicians practicing within Ohio-based FQHCs with access to CPS.

Repercussions of the COVID- 19 pandemic on maternal and congenital syphilis in South Brazil: a time series analysis 2010-2022.

Background: The global increase in maternal and congenital syphilis cases over the past decade has been substantial. In south Brazil, preexisting maternal and congenital syphilis epidemics have been worsened since the onset of COVID- 19. We evaluated the impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic on the epidemiological trends of maternal and congenital syphilis in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

Impact of interferon-β and dimethyl fumarate on nonlinear dynamical characteristics of electroencephalogram signatures in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an intricate neurological condition that affects many individuals worldwide, and there is a considerable amount of research into understanding the pathology and treatment development. Nonlinear analysis has been increasingly utilized in analyzing electroencephalography (EEG) signals from patients with various neurological disorders, including MS, and it has been proven to be an effective tool for comprehending the complex nature exhibited by the brain.

Methods: This study seeks to investigate the impact of Interferon-β (IFN-β) and dimethyl fumarate (DMF) on MS patients using sample entropy (SampEn) and Higuchi's fractal dimension (HFD) on collected EEG signals.

Transporter excess and clustering facilitate adaptor protein shuttling for bacterial efflux.

Multidrug efflux pumps confer not only antibiotic resistance to bacteria but also cell proliferation. In gram-negative bacteria, the ATP-binding cassette (ABC)-family transporter MacB, the adaptor protein MacA, and the outer membrane protein TolC form the MacA:MacB:TolC assembly to extrude antibiotics and virulence factors. Here, using quantitative single-molecule single-cell imaging, we uncover that, in cells, there is a large excess of MacB (and TolC) driving the limiting adaptor protein MacA mostly into the MacAB-TolC assembly.

Dietary Menaquinone-9 Supplementation Does Not Influence Bone Tissue Quality or Bone Mineral Density in Mice.

Vitamin K has been implicated in skeletal health because vitamin K-dependent proteins are present in bone. While there are multiple forms of vitamin K, most research has focused on phylloquinone, which is found mainly in plant-based foods, and its metabolite menaquinone-4 (MK4). However, there are additional forms of vitamin K that are bacterially produced that appear to influence bone health but have not yet been studied extensively.

Socio-ecological Determinants of Detectable Viremia among Pregnant People Living with HIV in South Brazil: The Role of Stimulant Use Disorder and Homelessness.

Pregnant patients living with HIV are a priority group for the recruitment into the HIV healthcare cascade to prevent adverse maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Understanding the structural, interpersonal, and individual factors that are associated with detectable HIV viremia is of importance to guide outreach and intervention priorities. This was a retrospective cohort study of pregnant patients living with HIV who delivered from January 1, 2017, to December 31, 2023, at a tertiary-level hospital and referral institution for HIV care in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

A Pilot Study of the Gut Microbiota in Spine Fusion Surgery Patients.

Background: The microbiome has been identified as a contributor to bone quality. As skeletal health is critical to success of orthopedic surgery, the gut microbiome may be a modifiable factor associated with postoperative outcomes. For spine fusion surgery in particular, bone formation and sufficient bone mineral density are essential for successful outcomes.

Assessing the Risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections among Men who have Sex with Men in San Francisco during COVID-19: A Socio-ecological Analysis.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections, a disparity that has only worsened in recent years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, an overall increasing trend remained.

Methods: We utilized data from the MSM cycle of the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) study in San Francisco, California, conducted from June 2021 through December 2021, to identify socio-ecological disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic that were associated with sexually transmitted infections.

The Benefits of COVID-19 Vaccination for Pregnant Patients Hospitalized with Respiratory Symptoms: A Retrospective Cohort Study in South Brazil.

Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 infection is a known risk factor for adverse health outcomes in pregnancy, affecting both maternal and neonatal health. Mounting evidence suggests that even a single dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine protects against severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and is safe for both pregnant persons and neonates. Southern Brazil was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the protective effects of the vaccine on maternal and neonatal health are not well described.

High interest for long-acting injectable PrEP among men who have sex with men at most risk for HIV in San Francisco, 2021.

Background Men who have sex with men (MSM) represent a disproportionate total of incident HIV cases. Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has contributed to significant declines in total HIV incidence. Barriers to PrEP include individual and structural factors that can prevent PrEP adherence and persistence.

Identifying and Evaluating Online Kidney Stone Pain Resources: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction and objectives With the continuous growth of social media platforms, an increasing number of individuals are turning to them as their main source of medical information. This article aims to pinpoint the most widely accessed online resources on kidney stone pain among those who suffer from kidney stones and to assess the reliability, understandability, quality, and actionability of their content. Materials and methods The social media analysis platform BuzzSumo was employed to identify pertinent articles and assess their engagement levels.

Inhibition of Aflatoxin B1 Production by Procyanidins Present in and Aqueous Extracts.

Aflatoxin B (AFB), primarily produced by and , is the most dangerous mycotoxin for humans and contaminates a variety of crops. To limit fungal growth and aflatoxin production in food and feed, research has been increasingly focusing on alternatives to pesticides. Studies show that some aqueous plant extracts with strong antioxidant properties could significantly impact AFB production, representing an eco-friendly and sustainable method to protect crops.

Interest in the Use of Herbal Supplements to Close the Treatment Gap for Hazardous Alcohol Use Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: Secondary Analysis of a Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Hazardous alcohol consumption is highly prevalent for men who have sex with men (MSM). The 4 treatments currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for alcohol use are reaching an alarmingly low percentage of people who would benefit from a reduction in their alcohol use. There is increasing interest in alternative methods of treatment, such as herbal supplements, to address hazardous drinking.

Microbiome-induced increases and decreases in bone matrix strength can be initiated after skeletal maturity.

Recent studies in mice have indicated that the gut microbiome can regulate bone tissue strength. However, prior work involved modifications to the gut microbiome in growing animals and it is unclear if the same changes in the microbiome, applied later in life, would change matrix strength. Here we changed the composition of the gut microbiome before and/or after skeletal maturity (16 weeks of age) using oral antibiotics (ampicillin + neomycin).

Effects of high dose aspartame-based sweetener on the gut microbiota and bone strength in young and aged mice.

In a recent study examining the effects of manipulating the gut microbiome on bone, a control group of mice in which the microbiome was altered using a non-caloric, aspartame-based sweetener resulted in whole bone strength being 40% greater than expected from geometry alone, implicating enhanced bone tissue strength. However, the study was not designed to detect changes in bone in this control group and was limited to young male mice. Here we report a replication study examining how changes in the gut microbiome caused by aspartame-based sweetener influence bone.

Structural disadvantage and HIV risk - comparing risk factors between trans women's partnerships with cis men and trans women sexual partners.

Introduction: Little is known about differences in HIV risk for trans women by partner gender, particularly with respect to social determinants and partner-level circumstances that affect behavior. We examined differences in demographic, social determinants, and HIV-related risk behaviors for trans women with cis men and trans women sexual partners.

Materials And Methods: Data are from a cross-sectional survey of trans women and their sexual partners conducted between April 2020 and January 2021.