Validation of the Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) Among Children 10 to 14 Years of Age.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the performance of the Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) in predicting nutrient intake and health outcomes among children aged 10-14 years old in Mexico, the United States, the United Kingdom, and China. For comparison, we evaluated other dietary metrics (Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women [MDD-W], the Global Dietary Recommendations score [GDR], and the Healthy Eating Index-2020 [HEI-2020]).

Background: Given the magnitude of the health burden associated with all forms of malnutrition, monitoring dietary quality is fundamental to improving global health.

The Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS)-Meal and GDQS-Menu Metrics: How to Measure Meal and Menu Quality in Institutional Feeding Programs.

To achieve equitable, environmentally sustainable, and nutritious food systems, transformational change is needed. One potential path to such change is through institutional feeding programs, such as schools feeding. Despite the wide reach of institutional feeding programs there has not until recently been a simple yet rigorous metric that can measure, track, and evaluate the nutritional quality of the meals and menus.

How Are Global Diet Quality Scores at 9 Years Associated With Cardiometabolic Disease Risk in Early Adolescence in Mysore, India?

Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) at age 9.5 years and associated risk of cardiometabolic outcomes at 13.5 years in a birth cohort in Mysore, India.

Development and Validation of Metrics of Diet, Menu, and Meal Quality for Children 2 to 14 Years of Age: Overview.

Objective: To describe the motivation for undertaking research to validate the Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) for use among children 2-14 years of age, and to summarize results from the GDQS child validation research initiative presented in this Supplemental Issue.

Background: To advance an agenda to address diet quality among children globally requires the availability of diet quality metrics that meet the following 5 criteria: (1) cross-country relevance; (2) cross-country validity; (3) compatibility with the use of low-cost data collection methods; (4) straightforward tabulation methods; and (5) provides a whole-of-diet measure. No existing metric meets all 5 criteria.

Prevalence and Clinical Manifestation of Astrovirus Gastroenteritis in Adults: A Seven-Year Study in Washington D.C., USA.

Gastroenteritis is commonly caused by viral etiologies. The inclusion of astrovirus on multiplex, syndromic gastrointestinal PCR panels allows for the detection and characterization of infected patients. This retrospective, observational, clinical study examines the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of astrovirus infections in adults from our institution in Washington D.

Acupuncture for Anxiety, Depression, and Sleep in Veterans with Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

: Current interventions for anxiety, depression, and insomnia are efficacious, yet effectiveness may be limited by side effects and/or high withdrawal rates. Other desirable treatment options are needed. Many veterans and civilians are turning to acupuncture as an emerging therapy.

Consciousness in deep hypothermic circulatory arrest: a feasibility study.

Background: Studies have not explored consciousness during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA). However, as studies in cardiac arrest have identified a spectrum of consciousness, we sought to establish the feasibility of studying consciousness during DHCA.

Methods: This was a prospective study across 10 hospitals with 36 DHCA patients undergoing thoracic aortic aneurysm repair or pulmonary endarterectomy.

Interactions of sex and stress in modulation of ventral tegmental area dopaminergic activity.

Dopaminergic (DA) neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) have long been studied for their role in reward prediction and goal-directed behaviors. However, appreciation is growing for a complementary role of VTA DA neurons in responding to aversive stimuli and as critical substrates for behavioral sequelae of stressful experiences. As is the case across neuroscience, the majority of our knowledge about VTA DA neurons comes from studies in male subjects.

Validation of Two Portion Size Estimation Methods for Use with the Global Diet Quality Score App.

: The Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) was developed to provide crucial information on diet quality. The GDQS app standardizes the collection of GDQS data using portion size estimation at the food group level with 3D cubes of pre-defined size. Playdough was proposed as a possible alternative method.

CRISPR/Cas genome editing, functional genomics, and diagnostics for parasitic helminths.

Functional genomics using CRISPR (Clustered Regulatory Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)/Cas (CRISPR-associated endonuclease)-based approaches has revolutionized biomedical sciences. Gene editing is also widespread in parasitology generally and its use is increasing in studies on helminths including flatworm and roundworm parasites. Here, we survey the progress, specifically with experimental CRISPR-facilitated functional genomics to investigate helminth biology and pathogenesis, and also with the burgeoning use of CRISPR-based methods to assist in diagnosis of helminth infections.

Global Status of Adult Immunization Post COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background/objective: Historically, immunization programs have focused on infants, children, and women of reproductive age. COVID-19 vaccination prompted countries to vaccinate adults. The objective of this manuscript is to provide a global overview of adult immunization policies post COVID-19 pandemic.

Screening for Caregiver Stress in an Urban Medical Home for Children with Medical Complexity: Results of a Pilot Study.

Background: Children with medical complexity (CMC), a subset of children with special healthcare needs, have chronic conditions affecting multiple organ systems, require medical technology, and account for a significant share of pediatric healthcare spending despite comprising only 1% of the population. Their families experience unique stressors, including financial strain and high rates of workforce attrition, suggesting medical inequity is an independent risk factor for health inequity. The role of universal caregiver stress screening using a validated tool within the outpatient primary care medical home for CMC youth has not been explored in the literature.

Recent advances in targeting obesity, with a focus on TGF-β signaling and vagus nerve innervation.

Over a third of the global population is affected by obesity, fatty liver disease (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease, MASLD), and its severe form, MASH (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis), which can ultimately progress to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent advancements include therapeutics such as glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists and neural/vagal modulation strategies for these disorders. Among the many pathways regulating these conditions, emerging insights into transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling highlight potential future targets through its role in pathophysiological processes such as adipogenesis, inflammation, and fibrosis.

Integration of harm reduction principles and practices within specialty substance use treatment programs in New Jersey: A qualitative study of program leadership.

Introduction: Harm reduction is a philosophical approach to improve the health of people who use drugs (PWUD) that integrates risk reduction, evidence-based treatment, and person-centered care. Specialty substance use treatment programs have historically been siloed from, and often misaligned with, harm reduction principles, but this trend has begun to shift in recent years. This study explored the ways in which some specialty treatment settings are adopting harm reduction principles and practices.

Laboratory Characterization of Co-Infections in Individuals Infected with HHV-8.

HHV-8 infection can be asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals but poses significant risks in immunocompromised patients. As an oncovirus, it can lead to Kaposi sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma, and multicentric Castleman disease (MCD). While the association between HHV-8 and HIV is well-established, other co-infections remain underexplored due to the low incidence of HHV-8 infections.

Interstitial lung disease imaging for autoimmune diseases.

Imaging plays a central role in the diagnosis and surveillance of patients with rheumatic diseases complicated by lung disease. This lung disease ranges from acute lung injury to chronic, diffuse lung disease attributed to their underlying autoimmune condition. Whether screening for lung disease or evaluating respiratory symptoms in patients with rheumatic diseases, chest radiography and computed tomography remain the most common and important diagnostic imaging tests.

SMART Pharmacist-The Impact of Education on Improving Pharmacists' Participation in Monitoring the Safety of Medicine Use in Montenegro.

Pharmaceutical care as a concept was introduced in Montenegro during the last 10 years. The Pharmaceutical Chamber of Montenegro (PCM) and the Institute for Medicines and Medical Devices (CInMED) conducted SMART Pharmacist Program educational activities for pharmacists as a project to improve their impact on monitoring drug safety. In the period from September 2023 to May 2024, a total of 78 pharmacists participated in the project, of which 53 (68%) submitted valid reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs).

New insights into biomarkers and risk stratification to predict hepatocellular cancer.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third major cause of cancer death worldwide, with more than a doubling of incidence over the past two decades in the United States. Yet, the survival rate remains less than 20%, often due to late diagnosis at advanced stages. Current HCC screening approaches are serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) testing and ultrasound (US) of cirrhotic patients.

US military veterans' perceived concordance with their providers regarding persistent physical symptoms prospectively predicts satisfaction with care and adherence to care plans.

Background: Medically unexplained, persistent physical symptoms and syndromes are commonly seen in primary care. These are debilitating for patients and difficult to treat, causing frustration for patients and providers.

Purpose: This study investigates how well US military veterans with multiple persistent physical symptoms (PPS), called Gulf War illness (GWI), agree with their healthcare providers about their illness.

The role of health systems in shaping vaccine decisions: Insights from Italy, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Background: The demographic drivers of vaccine uptake and confidence have been well-documented in diverse contexts. However, the role of health systems in improving vaccine uptake and confidence has been less discussed particularly in the post-pandemic period.

Methods: Using nationally representative surveys of adults conducted between December 2022 and April 2023 in Italy, Mexico, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (US), we examined demographic, health, and health system determinants of vaccine confidence and uptake of four vaccines for adult respondents or their children: COVID-19, influenza, human papillomavirus (HPV), and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).

Anti-Fibrotic Effect of Oleamide Identified from the Lam. Leaves via Inhibition of TGF-β1-Induced SMAD2/3 Signaling Pathway.

(MO) is a prominent plant in traditional medicine, widely recognized for its phytochemicals with anti-inflammatory properties. Liver fibrosis characterized by chronic inflammation and excessive extracellular matrix deposition may benefit from the therapeutic properties of MO. This report focuses on the potential of oleamide (OLA), a bioactive compound identified from MO, in mitigating liver fibrosis.

Sector-, Season-, and Country-Specific NO-Associated Health Benefits from NO Emission Reductions.

Long-term exposure to NO is associated with elevated risks for pediatric asthma and premature death. Despite national policies targeting NO's main source, NO emissions, its global health burden remains high. Here, we use the air quality model GEOS-Chem adjoint with TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI)-based satellite downscaling to estimate that long-term NO exposure is responsible for 2.