Social determinants of health and health-related quality of life in individuals with isolated dystonia.

Background And Objectives: Dystonia is the third most common movement disorder. Motor and non-motor manifestations of dystonia may impact Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), with lower HRQoL scores compared to the healthy population. People with generalized dystonia report worse HRQoL scores (vs.

Managing, not lessening, uncertainty: a novel mind-body intervention for fear of cancer recurrence.

Purpose: After a cancer diagnosis, uncertainty is common. IN FOCUS is a pilot randomized controlled trial that evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a virtual mind-body group resiliency intervention on fear of cancer recurrence (FCR). The current study examines secondary outcomes of this trial, specifically exploring changes in related mental health constructs, which will contribute to our understanding of symptom relief as well as diagnostic overlap and discrepancies.

Global Financial Shocks and American Elites: Income and Wealth of the One Percent in the United States, 1989 to 2022.

Extreme levels of inequality have drawn increasing attention to those at the top of the income and wealth distributions, and the United States is home to some of the world's most affluent and influential households. A robust literature on economic elites in the United States documented details about their incomes and wealth prior to 2019, but it is unclear how recent economic shocks affected their financial resources and the distribution of income and wealth among U.S.

Sex differences in the impact of genetic and clinical risk factors for Alzheimer's disease in midlife.

BackgroundPreclinical risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), including amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition, begins 10-15 years prior to diagnosis. In addition to genetics, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and depression in midlife are major risk factors for AD.ObjectiveHere, we assessed sex differences in associations of AD risk status with memory circuitry function and AD pathology in midlife.

Plaque Vulnerability and Cardiovascular Risk Factor Burden in Acute Coronary Syndrome: An Optical Coherence Tomography Analysis.

Background: Cardiovascular risk factors are strongly associated with adverse clinical outcomes, including acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Although individual risk factors have been related to specific plaque phenotypes, the relationship between the cumulative number of risk factors and plaque vulnerability has not been systematically explored.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the number of cardiovascular risk factors and plaque vulnerability defined by optical coherence tomography.

Addressing artifactual bias in large, automated MRI analyses of brain development.

Large, population-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of adolescents promise transformational insights into neurodevelopment and mental illness risk. However, youth MRI studies are especially susceptible to motion and other artifacts that introduce non-random noise. After visual quality control of 11,263 T1 MRI scans obtained at age 9-10 years through the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study, we uncovered bias in measurements of cortical thickness and surface area in 55.

Exploring the PREVENT HF score and myocardial function among persons with HIV.

Objective: Persons with HIV (PWH) are at risk for myocardial structural changes, which can progress to diastolic dysfunction and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We explored the AHA PREVENT HF (Predicting Risk of cardiovascular disease EVENTs for Heart Failure) risk score in relation to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging.

Design: This cross-sectional study included 37 PWH on ART, ages 40-65, without known cardiovascular disease (CVD) who underwent CMR.

Symptomatic venous thromboembolism after transsphenoidal surgery in Cushing's disease: incidence and risk factors.

Purpose: Cushing's Disease (CD) has been linked to increased venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk. This study investigates the incidence and risk factors of postoperative VTE in patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for CD.

Methods: This retrospective study analyzed patients with CD and non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) who underwent TSS at Massachusetts General Hospital from 2005 to 2019.

Coronary spotty calcification, compared with macro calcification, is associated with a higher level of vascular inflammation and plaque vulnerability in patients with stable angina.

Background And Aims: Spotty calcification in the coronary arteries is considered to represent plaque vulnerability, whereas more advanced calcification is thought to be a feature of advanced stable plaque. However, data supporting this notion is limited. Inflammation plays a key role in atherogenesis, including the formation of early-stage calcification.

Study protocol for a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked mechanistic clinical trial of transdermal estrogen replacement in hypoestrogenic eating disorders to explore the role of estrogen on cognitive flexibility and reward processing.

Background: Restrictive eating disorders (EDs) are associated with cognitive inflexibility, reduced reward responsiveness, and tendency to favor delayed rewards, which contribute to illness maintenance and poor outcomes. Low estrogen is common in EDs and has been linked to poor cognitive flexibility and reward processing in other conditions. We describe a randomized controlled double-masked trial of short-term (12 weeks) transdermal estrogen (100 μg 17-β) replacement versus placebo to test estrogen-effects on cognitive flexibility, reward responsiveness, delay discounting, and ED pathology in females with EDs and low estrogen (ED-LE).

Comparison of Event-based Analysis Versus Trend-based Analysis in the Detection of Glaucoma Progression by Optical Coherence Tomography 3-Dimensional Rim Measurements.

Prcis: Compared with trend-based analysis, event-based analysis detects OCT structural progression in more patients and at an earlier time point. Using event-based analysis, MDB rim thickness detects progression more often than RNFL thickness.

Purpose: To determine whether event-based or trend-based analysis best detects glaucoma progression using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and minimum distance band (MDB) neuroretinal rim measurements.

Tracking genetic diversity in amur tigers: a long-term study using microsatellites in Southwest Primorye, Russia.

Background: The tiger population in Southwest Primorye is small and predominantly isolated from the main Sikhote-Alin population, which constitutes approximately 90% of the wild Amur tiger population. By 1996, this population declined to fewer than 10 individuals, but it has since grown and expanded into nearby habitats, now numbering over 50 individuals. Therefore, the regular genetic monitoring of this population is essential, as it has grown from a few founding members and remained geographically isolated.

Strategic Sampling of Eurasian Otter Spraints for Genetic Research in South Korea: Enhancing PCR Success and Data Accuracy.

Non-invasive genetic approaches, particularly using fecal samples, are commonly used to study endangered and elusive species, as they are easy to collect with minimal permission and cause little disturbance to the subject population. However, such studies face limitations due to poor DNA yield, which affects the overall utilization of collected samples and increases data errors. Here, we evaluated the impact of sample age and collection season on the performance of DNA extracted from feces (spraints) of the Eurasian otter (), a semi-aquatic apex predator in South Korean freshwater ecosystems.

High-risk plaque features and perivascular inflammation.

Background: The association between high-risk plaque (HRP) on coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) and the level of perivascular inflammation has not been fully investigated.

Methods: Patients who underwent both CTA and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were included. The level of perivascular inflammation was assessed by pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) attenuation at two levels: lesion-specific and the proximal segment of the culprit vessel.

Metabolic Adaptation and Its Determinants in Adolescents Two Years After Sleeve Gastrectomy.

Weight loss is associated with reductions in resting energy expenditure (REE), which are impacted by changes in body composition following sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Current data regarding changes in measured REE (mREE) and metabolic adaptation in adolescents after SG are limited. We evaluated changes in mREE, metabolic adaptation, and body composition in youths after SG vs.

Survival benefit associated with liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma based on tumor burden scores at listing.

Introduction: Liver transplantation (LT) provides significant survival benefits to patients with unresectable HCC. In the United States, organ allocation policies for HCCs within the United Network for Organ Sharing criteria do not prioritize patients based on their differences in oncological characteristics. This study assessed whether transplant-associated survival benefits (TASBs) vary among patients with different tumor burden scores (TBS) measured at the time of listing.

Gut-derived appetite regulating hormones across the anorexia nervosa spectrum.

Background: Appetite-regulating hormones are implicated in anorexia nervosa (AN) pathophysiology, however, data are limited for appetite-regulating hormones across the AN weight spectrum. We aimed to investigate fasting and post-prandial concentrations of appetite-regulating hormones - peptide YY (PYY), cholecystokinin (CCK), and ghrelin - among adolescent and young adult females across the AN weight spectrum, specifically those with AN and Atypical AN, and healthy controls (HC).

Methods: Participants (N = 95; ages 11-22 years) included 33 with AN, 25 with Atypical AN, and 37 HC.

Efficacy and safety of rebamipide/nizatidine in patients with erosive gastritis: A randomized, multicenter, phase 4 study.

Background: For the treatment of gastritis, rebamipide, a mucoprotective agent, and nizatidine, a gastric acid suppressant, are commonly employed individually.

Aim: To compare the efficacy of Mucotra SR (rebamipide 150 mg) and Axid (nizatidine 150 mg) combination therapy with the sole administration of Axid in managing erosive gastritis.

Methods: A total of 260 patients diagnosed with endoscopically confirmed erosive gastritis were enrolled in this open-label, multicenter, randomized, phase 4 clinical trial, allocating them into two groups: Rebamipide/nizatidine combination twice daily nizatidine twice daily for 2 weeks.

Relationship Between Coronary Artery Calcium Score and Vulnerability of Culprit Plaque Assessed by OCT in Patients With Established Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) is widely used for risk stratification. However, in patients with established coronary artery disease, its clinical implication and relationship with plaque vulnerability are unclear. We sought to correlate the CACS and plaque vulnerability assessed by optical coherence tomography.

Behavioral and cardiac responses to a model startle test to assess retired Thoroughbred racehorses for equestrians.

Importance: Equine behavioral traits are important criteria to assess the suitability of retired Thoroughbred racehorses for equestrian sports.

Objective: This study aims to develop a practical procedure to assess retired Thoroughbreds for their suitability for equestrian sports or leisure purposes and to assess if horses identified as having reactive temperaments in response to a standardized startle test, will have improved test results following a period of transition training.

Methods: Behavioral reactivity data and cardiac autonomic responses to a startle test (comprising of a plastic bag applied to the neck area) were collected from twelve retired Thoroughbred racehorses (6 males and 6 females; average age: 4.

Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of IN FOCUS: A Mind-Body Resiliency Intervention for Fear of Cancer Recurrence.

Introduction: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is prevalent and distressing among survivors of cancer. Evidence-based mind-body and cognitive-behavioral skills lack integration and testing in scalable formats.

Objective: This pilot randomized controlled trial (NCT04876599) tested a synchronous, virtual mind-body group resiliency intervention for FCR (IN FOCUS).

An Antimicrobial Blue Light Prototype Device Controls Infected Wounds in a Preclinical Porcine Model.

We developed a translational prototype antimicrobial blue light (ABL) device for treating skin wounds with ABL. Partial-thickness surgical wounds were created in live swine (an animal whose skin is considered the most like human skin), then heavily contaminated and left untreated for 24 hours with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). ABL treatment stabilized and reduced MRSA infection by greater than 4 orders of magnitude (>99.