Increasing engagement of Spanish-speaking transgender Latinas in research: strategies from ChiCAS, a community-based participatory research intervention trial.

Minoritized racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender communities and populations face profound health disparities and their engagement in research remains low. In a randomized controlled trial, our community-based participatory research partnership tested the efficacy of ChiCAS, an HIV prevention intervention designed to increase pre-exposure prophylaxis use among Spanish-speaking transgender Latinas. Of 161 eligible Spanish-speaking transgender Latinas screened, we enrolled 144, achieving an 89% participation rate, and retained 94% at 6-month follow-up.

Representing subpopulations with latent profile analysis: a non-technical introduction using exercisers' goal orientation adoption profiles.

Latent profile analysis (LPA) is in the finite mixture model analysis family and identifies subgroups by participants' responses to continuous variables (i.e., indicators); participants' probable membership in each subgroup is based on the similarity between the subgroup's prototypical responses and the person's unique responses.

Identification of Patients at Risk for Food Insecurity During the Anesthesia Preoperative Interview.

Purpose: Food insecurity (FI) is a social determinant of health and health disparity that leads to increased risk of chronic health conditions. Despite the widespread implementation of FI screening in other settings, the role of the anesthesia team in FI screening is underused, increasing the chance of at-risk individuals not being identified. The anesthesia preoperative interview is an opportunity to identify patients experiencing FI and provide resources to improve outcomes.

Program Evaluation of an Adolescent Intervention Program: Substance Use Education Program for At-Risk Adolescents.

In the United States, approximately 20 million individuals, age 12 and older, have a substance use disorder (SUD), with an average age of first-time use at 13 years old. Evidence has shown that many SUDs begin in adolescence, and involvement with the legal system can ensue. Adolescents with first-time drug and alcohol arrests can be referred to an Adolescent Intervention Program (AIP) as an alternative to jailtime from the juvenile court system.

Comparing Performance of Large Language Model-Based Tools on Patient-Driven Glaucoma Inquiries.

Purpose: Large language models (LLMs) can assist patients who seek medical knowledge online to guide their own glaucoma care. Understanding the differences in LLM performance on glaucoma-related questions can inform patients about the best resources to obtain relevant information.

Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated the accuracy, comprehensiveness, quality, and readability of LLM-generated responses to glaucoma inquiries.

A Novel Combination of Exogenous Klotho Combined With Telmisartan Ameliorated Diabetic Cardiomyopathy via an Antifibrotic Mechanism.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a progressive heart disorder associated with diabetes mellitus, leading to structural and functional cardiac abnormalities. The mechanisms responsible include renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAAS) activation, inflammation, apoptosis, and metabolic disturbances. Despite well-established epidemiological links, treatments for DCM are elusive.

Improving the Thermostability and Catalytic Activity of DAAO by a Combinatorial Strategy Using Sequence Consensus Design and SpyTag/SpyCatcher Self-Cyclization.

d-Amino acid oxidase from (DAAO) is valuable for pharmaceutical and chemical synthesis due to its high enantioselectivity, but its poor thermostability limits extensive application. This study proposed a synergistic strategy of "sequence consensus design coupled with structure modification" to enhance DAAO thermostability. Through homologous sequence analysis and greedy algorithm-based optimization, a triple mutant M3 (S18T/V7I/Y132F) was obtained, showing a 3.

Laparoscopic Microwave Ablation vs Resection for Small Solitary Colorectal Liver Metastases: Multicenter Analysis of Long-Term Results.

Background: Although traditionally reserved for unresectable lesions, recent studies have provided evidence that in selected patients, microwave ablation (MWA) may provide similar oncologic outcomes compared to liver resection (LR). This study aimed to compare oncologic outcomes of patients with solitary small (<3 cm) colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) undergoing LR vs laparoscopic MWA.

Study Design: This retrospective study included patients with a solitary CRLM <3cm treated with LR or MWA in three centers over 25-years.

Extinction in Free-Ranging Aves in Competition with Sciurus carolinensis.

Decreasing funding for nonhuman animal research decreases the opportunity for students and researchers to explore the behavior of many species in many contexts. In the long run, this will reduce variability within the experimental analysis of behavior around what species are being researched and what questions are being asked. New technologies, however, offer students and researchers the opportunity to observe the behavior of organisms in everyday environments in cost-effective ways.

Uncovering the impacts of cardiothoracic surgeon-mothers' careers on their children: Partner perspectives.

Objectives: Careers in cardiothoracic (CT) surgery can substantially impact home dynamics, specifically influencing relationships and interactions with children. Factors impacting family experiences of CT surgeon-mothers have not been well-described. We sought to describe co-parent perceptions of child emotional and psychological well-being in families with CT surgeon-mothers.

Corrigendum to Surgical resection of diffuse pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) [JTCVS Open Volume 23, February 2025, Pages 309-317].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.xjon.

Developing and validating a bi-polar gated respiratory motion management strategy for improved lung stereotactic body radiotherapy treatment.

Background: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is an effective treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. However, patient breathing can affect treatment accuracy. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a bi-polar (BP) gated motion management strategy for SBRT and evaluate its feasibility geometrically and dosimetrically.

Handling errors in the response: Considerations for leveraging unsupervised or incomplete data for genetic evaluations.

Accurate genetic evaluations rely on high-quality phenotypic data; however, measurement errors and data inconsistencies-such as those arising from unsupervised or incomplete sources-pose challenges to their reliability. This study investigates the effect of response errors on genetic evaluations across continuous and categorical traits. We introduce an additive measurement error model to illustrate how phenotypic errors influence genetic effects and variance estimation.

Communicating Health Research With Plain Language.

Although critical to enacting change, effectively communicating clinical and public health research results remains a challenge. In a webinar that occurred on December 7, 2023, a group of clinical and public health researchers and communications specialists convened to share their experiences using plain language materials to communicate research results. Herein, they provide practical guidance and case examples of lay summaries, infographics, data dashboards, and zines, along with challenges and potential solutions.

A Guide to Engaging with Media to Amplify Health Research.

Communicating health research through local and national print, television, and radio news can amplify the impact of research findings. However, relatively few health researchers work with the media to communicate their findings to a broader audience. In April 2024, we convened a group of specialists with expertise in traditional media, health news, and health advocacy for a webinar sponsored by the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative.

Asymmetric Electronic Distribution at Mn-Cu Dual Atomic Sites Promoting Electrochemical Conversion of N to NH.

Electrochemical synthesis of ammonia (NH) is a promising green alternative to the conventional Haber-Bosch process. Here, we report the synthesis of a heteroatomic metal-metal bonded dual atomic (DA) Mn-Cu catalytic site embedded within nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) matrix for high-performance electrochemical reduction of N to NH. The asymmetric electronic distribution localized at the dual atomic sites synergistically enhances the adsorption and activation of N, facilitating the complex proton-coupled electron transfer process.

A Retrospective Cohort Study From 2 Academic Medical Centers: Oral vs Intravenous Antibiotics for Diabetic Osteomyelitis.

Background: The Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines recommend a prolonged course of antibiotics in the setting of residual osteomyelitis. More recently published literature suggests that oral antibiotics may offer comparable outcomes to intravenously administered antibiotics when treating orthopaedic infections. In a prior study, we investigated the outcomes of both routes of antibiotic administration in patients with diabetic foot infections at a single academic medical institution.

Free Sunscreen Dispensers on a University Campus: A Pilot Study of Awareness and Use.

Skin cancer is the most common malignancy in the USA, yet many young adults underestimate their risk. To promote prevention, ten free sunscreen dispensers were installed across a university designated as a Skin Smart Campus. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 203 students, staff, and faculty to assess sun protection behaviors and dispenser use.

Heterologous two-dose Ebola vaccine regimen in pregnant women in Rwanda: a randomized controlled phase 3 trial.

Risk of death for both mother and fetus following Ebola virus infection is extremely high. In this study, healthy women in Rwanda aged ≥18 years were randomized to two-dose Ebola vaccination (Ad26.ZEBOV, MVA-BN-Filo) during pregnancy (group A) or postpartum (group B).

Re-entrant phase behaviour of organic semiconductors.

The number of polymeric and small-molecular acceptors for organic photovoltaics has exploded in the past decade. As a result, physical insights and efforts aiming at elucidating the coupling between composition and behaviour are required more than ever. Here we present an encompassing study into the phase behaviour of 55 polymer:small-molecular acceptor blends, pivotal in determining device performance and stability.

Management and Outcomes of Renal Artery Aneurysms in Older Adults.

Renal artery aneurysms (RAAs) are rare but clinically significant vascular abnormalities. The management of RAA in older adults poses unique challenges related to their baseline comorbidities and age-related vascular changes. Traditionally, open surgery has been the gold standard for large or complex RAA.

Perioperative Evaluation and Risk Stratification of the Elderly Patient Undergoing Vascular Intervention.

The surgical management of elderly patients has become increasingly important as the population ages in the U.S. and globally, and the incidence of cardiovascular risk factors continues to rise.