Impact of substructure radiation dose on health-related quality of life in children with brain tumors: a Pediatric Proton/Photon Consortium Registry (PPCR) study.

Purpose: Cranial irradiation is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) deficits in childhood cancer survivors. We investigated the relationship between radiation dose to brain substructures and HRQoL in children with brain tumors treated with proton beam therapy (PBT).

Methods: Data were obtained from children in the Pediatric Proton/Photon Consortium Registry who received PBT for primary brain tumors between 2015 and 2021.

Solution Structure of the Broad-Spectrum Bacteriocin Garvicin Q.

Class IId bacteriocins are linear, unmodified antimicrobial peptides produced by Gram-positive bacteria, and often display potent, narrow-spectrum inhibition spectra. Garvicin Q (GarQ) is a class IId bacteriocin produced by the lactic acid bacterium . It stands out for its unusual broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against various bacterial species, including , , , , and spp.

Tuning Maps for Two-Photon Absorption Cross Sections of Canonical and Noncanonical Fluorescent Protein Chromophores.

Two-photon absorption (2PA) spectroscopy, which involves the simultaneous absorption of a pair of photons, is an important area of research in chemical biology, where a diversity of biological chromophores have been explored for 2PA applications. This work offers a perspective on how electrostatic interactions influence the 2PA response of fluorescent protein (FP) chromophores, demonstrating the role of their surrounding environment in modulating 2PA optical properties. In this work, we present electrostatic tuning maps, created by placing partial charges along the van der Waals radii of eight different chromophores: Green FP (neutral and anion), Red FP (neutral and anion), mBlueberry FP, Kusabira orange FP, and two noncanonical chromophores, a hydroxyquinolone derivative, and the chromophore of Gold FP.

Wilms Tumor, Version 2.2025, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines In Oncology.

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines (NCCN Guidelines) for Wilms Tumor (WT; nephroblastoma) cover strategies for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of WT, which is the most frequent primary kidney tumor in children. WT can generally be separated into 2 histology types: favorable histology WT and anaplastic WT. Five-year survival is high for children with favorable histology WT who receive appropriate treatment; however, survival rates are much lower for patients who present with higher stage diffuse anaplastic WT.

Evaluation of a Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Initiation Program in the Emergency Department.

Background: Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is the standard evidence-based treatment option for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). Initiating MOUD in the emergency department (ED) may help patients start the treatment and lead to greater success in sustaining recovery from OUD. Programs have been introduced in EDs to support the initiation of MOUD, but little is known about the implementation facilitators and challenges that impact these programs.

Long COVID Patients' Perceptions of Social Support in Their Work and Personal Lives: A Qualitative Study.

The onset and persistence of Long COVID can lead to cognitive and functional impairment, contributing to illness-induced employment and work disparities. Understanding how social support influences these issues can inform care strategies and support continued workforce participation. : This study explored perceptions of social support among patients with Long COVID.

How difficult is it to learn different steps of a cortical mastoidectomy?

Introduction: A clear understanding of the difficulty levels of different aspects of a surgery is required to effectively guide and assess trainees. This study investigated which steps of cortical mastoidectomy are most challenging for novice and intermediate surgeons, and how these performances align with expert opinions.

Methods: Thirty participants were divided into three groups: 10 novices (medical students), 10 intermediates (surgical trainees), and 10 experts (consulting ENT surgeons).

Handling skewness and directional tails in model-based clustering.

Model-based clustering is a powerful approach used in data analysis to unveil underlying patterns or groups within a data set. However, when applied to clusters that exhibit skewness, heavy tails, or both, the classification of data points becomes more challenging. In this study, we introduce two models considering two component-wise transformations of the observed data within a mixture of multiple scaled contaminated normal (MSCN) distributions.

"Automatic" online reach corrections are associated with individual differences in executive function.

Previous research has demonstrated that the dorsal visual stream is able to execute rapid online movement corrections to sudden changes in target position. This "automatic pilot" can operate in the absence of visual awareness, and even under circumstances where participants are instructed to not correct their movements. In the current study, we examined the extent to which these "automatic" corrections might be related to individual differences in executive function.

Patient-informed outpatient intervention to improve pregnancy outcomes through connections to social services: protocol for the BETTER randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: A substantial portion of the 3.6 million births per year in the USA (approximately 25%-30%) occur in the context of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs), including preterm birth (PTB), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth. Black individuals have a 2-3-fold higher risk of APOs and a similarly increased risk of maternal morbidity and mortality compared with White individuals.

Sexual size and shape dimorphism are consistent with predictions that both natural and sexual selection are driving the evolution of sexual dimorphism in Mormon crickets, Anabrus simplex.

Background: Selection can be a powerful force causing morphological adaptation in populations. We tested predictions about the role of both natural and sexual selection in shaping morphology in the Mormon cricket, Anabrus simplex, a species with two population types that differ in their ecological conditions. Solitary populations are characterized by low densities, non-migratory individuals, and typical mating roles (males compete for access to choosy females), whereas gregarious populations are characterized by high densities, migratory behaviour, reversed mating roles, and widespread cannibalism.

A Fully Integrated Wearable Sweat Sensing Patch for Online Analysis of Multiple Parkinson's Disease-Related Biomarkers.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is marked by a prolonged asymptomatic "window period" (several years). Early prediction and diagnosis during this window are crucial, as timely interventions can slow disease progression. In this study, a fully integrated wearable sweat-sensing patch capable of real-time detection of three key PD biomarkers: L-Dopa, ascorbic acid, and glucose is developed.

Balancing burden and bond: challenges and motivations of family caregivers of patients with end-stage liver disease in Northern Ghana-a qualitative inquiry.

Objective: This study explored the burdens and motivations of family caregivers (FCs) for patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) in a tertiary hospital in Ghana.

Design: A qualitative exploratory, descriptive approach with a purposive sampling technique was adopted. Data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews.

Development of the SMART Toolkit: An online collection of management resources for health care-associated infection prevention.

We previously reported results of an in-depth study of management practices to prevent health care-associated infections. Here we describe the development of an online toolkit containing resources that can be used to implement 6 of these key management practices. Resources include practical examples, quotations describing the importance of the practice, facilitator guides and presentation slides for conducting informational sessions, assessment tools, communication templates, and simulation activities.

"The gay clubs are it": An analysis of straight women's motivations for frequenting gay bars.

The question of whether straight individuals belong in gay bars has long been a topic of debate. But why do straight cisgender women go to gay bars in the first place? Through qualitative semi-structured interviews, I analyze women's motivations for frequenting gay bars in Canada and the United States. My findings show that straight cisgender women go to gay bars to pursue safety and joy-and that these motivations are complicated by reflections on belonging in a space that was not made for them.

Developing and implementing a new health information technology innovation to improve patient safety in the Canadian context.

Adverse Drug Events (ADEs) are unintended and harmful events related to medication use. Many ADEs recur because patients are unintentionally re-exposed to medications that previously caused harm. To help address this, we designed ActionADE, an interoperable Health Information Technology (HIT) that allows clinicians to communicate ADEs across health sectors.

Emergency Medical Services Clinicians and COVID-19 Booster Behavior-A Cross-Sectional National Evaluation.

Background/objectives: Emergency Medical Services (EMS) clinicians in the US have high COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy rates and often do not receive primary vaccinations or subsequent boosters. The extent of booster attrition following initial vaccination and first booster dose in EMS clinicians is unknown. Our objective was to evaluate the prevalence and drivers of COVID-19 booster attrition in EMS clinicians.

The Impact of Telepresence Robots on Family Caregivers and Residents in Long-Term Care.

Telepresence robots can enhance social connection and support person-centered care in long-term care (LTC) homes. This study evaluates their impact in facilitating virtual visits between family caregivers and older residents in Canadian LTC homes. Telepresence robots were placed in residents' rooms, allowing virtual visits at mutual convenience.

From Words to Wounds: Cyberbullying and Its Influence on Mental Health Across the Lifespan.

Cyberbullying can be prevalent across different life stages, with lasting traces on mental health across the lifespan. This study aims to (a) explore how cyberbullying is emotionally experienced across three distinct age groups and (b) analyze the influence of cyberbullying on mental health across the lifespan. This study included 883 participants divided into three age groups: 18-39, 40-59, and 60+.

The Relationship Between Children's Indoor Loose Parts Play and Cognitive Development: A Systematic Review.

Children's engagement with toys and play materials can contribute to the foundational cognitive processes that drive learning. Loose parts are interactive, open-ended materials originally not designed as toys but can be incorporated into children's play (e.g.

Patients' perspectives about sharing information with providers on social needs during pregnancy: a qualitative study.

Background: There is increasing interest in addressing adverse social determinants of health (SDoH) as a part of clinical care, yet there is limited understanding about the perspectives of patients, including pregnant and postpartum individuals from marginalized groups, that can be used to inform collection and use of information about patients' social needs. This study examines the perceptions of patients regarding barriers to and facilitators of sharing information about social needs during pregnancy with their obstetric providers.

Methods: In this qualitative study, we conducted exploratory semi-structured telephone and in-person interviews with pregnant and postpartum patients of an ambulatory obstetrics and gynecology clinic serving a large and racially diverse population primarily covered by Medicaid.

The low-carbon fruit tree for primary care.

Primary care practitioners are optimally positioned to reduce the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions produced by the healthcare system, which pose great risk to the health of people and the environment. This narrative review discusses 19 initiatives that can be implemented into primary care practices to reduce GHG emissions and financial costs through decreasing highly intensive emergency room visits and hospitalizations. This article also summarizes the time it may take for primary care practitioners to embed each of these initiatives into their care delivery.

Outcomes following radiation therapy for embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes (ETMR): results from the Pediatric Proton/Photon Consortium Registry (PPCR).

Purpose: Embryonal tumor with multilayered rosettes (ETMR) is a rare pediatric CNS embryonal tumor with poor survival. The Pediatric Proton/Photon Consortium Registry (PPCR) was queried for outcomes data from prospectively consenting pediatric patients with ETMR treated with proton radiation therapy (RT).

Methods: 20 patients (2013-2021) at 9 institutions had ETMR; 2 with prior RT were excluded from statistical analyses (PPCR ETMR, N = 18).