Consortium profile: the methylation, imaging and NeuroDevelopment (MIND) consortium.

Epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, show potential as biological markers and mechanisms underlying gene-environment interplay in the prediction of mental health and other brain-based phenotypes. However, little is known about how peripheral epigenetic patterns relate to individual differences in the brain itself. An increasingly popular approach to address this is by combining epigenetic and neuroimaging data; yet, research in this area is almost entirely comprised of cross-sectional studies in adults.

Chronic kidney disease and incident cancer risk: an individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: Studies examining the association of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with cancer risk have demonstrated conflicting results.

Methods: This was an individual participant data meta-analysis including 54 international cohorts contributing to the CKD Prognosis Consortium. Included cohorts had data on albuminuria [urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR)], estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), overall and site-specific cancer incidence, and established risk factors for cancer.

Multiomics approach to evaluating personalized biomarkers of allergen immunotherapy.

Recent advancements in genomics and "omic" technologies have ushered in a transformative era referred to as personalized or precision medicine. This innovative approach considers the unique genetic profiles of individuals, along with a range of variability factors, to devise tailored disease treatments and prevention strategies that cater to the distinct needs of each patient. Although the terms personalized medicine and precision medicine are frequently utilized interchangeably, it is essential to delineate the subtle distinctions between them.

Addressing depression, stress, and hopelessness through an economic and relationship-strengthening intervention: Findings from a pilot randomized controlled trial among people with HIV in Malawi.

Background: Depression disproportionately affects individuals in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Economic hardship and family strain exacerbate challenges, particularly for women. This study evaluated effects of Mlambe, an intervention targeting economic empowerment and relationship strengthening, on mental health in couples with HIV and unhealthy alcohol use in Malawi.

Do purpose in life and self-directedness mediate the effects of child abuse on anxiety and depression symptoms 18 years later?

Background: Childhood maltreatment is a transdiagnostic risk factor that is robustly associated with the development of anxiety and depressive disorder symptoms in adulthood. This study thus aimed to investigate potential mediators between early childhood abuse and adult psychopathology severity using data from an 18-year longitudinal study among community-dwelling adults in the U.S.

Lung Tumors Marked Percutaneously with Indocyanine Green Dye-Soaked Embolization Coils: A Visual Beacon for Accurate Intraoperative Localization during Lung Sparing Surgery.

Thoracic surgeons utilizing minimally invasive techniques for lung nodule resection often rely on localization markers to determine precise nodule location intraoperatively. Transbronchial or transthoracic injection of indocyanine green (ICG) dye has become a popular technique. However, surgery must be performed immediately as dye will dissipate to surrounding tissue.

Predicting Treatment Response in Retinal Vein Occlusions Using Baseline Optical Coherence Tomography Biomarkers: A Systematic Review.

This systematic review examines the prognostic value of baseline optical coherence tomography (OCT) biomarkers in predicting visual acuity (VA) outcomes for eyes with macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusions (RVO) treated with anti-VEGF therapies, steroids, laser photocoagulation, or combination treatments. VA predictions at 6, 12, and 24 months post-treatment were assessed using a narrative synthesis approach and vote counting based on effect direction relative to a minimal clinically important difference. Certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE guidelines.

Regulated release of small extracellular vesicles directs neutrophil recruitment in cutaneous wound healing.

Normal cutaneous wound healing is a multicellular process that involves the release of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) that coordinate intercellular communication by delivery of sEV payloads to recipient cells. We have recently shown how the pro-reparative activity of inflammatory cell sEVs, especially macrophage and neutrophil-derived sEVs, in the wound bed is dysregulated in impaired wound healing. Here we show that loss of Rab27A, a small GTPase that has a regulatory function in sEV secretion, reduces the release of neutrophil and macrophage-derived sEVs.

Biopsychosocial and Environmental Factors that Impact Brain-Gut-Microbiome Interactions in Obesity.

Background: Despite significant advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of obesity and influencing factors, its prevalence continues to increase at an alarming rate. Social determinants of health (SDOH) encompass a broad range of psychosocial and environmental factors, including economic stability, education, access to healthcare, social support, isolation, neighborhood disadvantage, discrimination, early life adversity, and stress, all of which have been recognized to significantly increase the risk of obesity.

Aim: This review aims to elucidate the intricate relationship between SDOH and biological mechanisms related to the brain-gut-microbiome (BGM) system that lead to altered eating behaviors and obesity.

Intimate partner violence and delays in obtaining contraception among young people in California and Texas.

Objective: Experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) can negatively impact young people's reproductive autonomy, including making it more challenging to get contraception. This study examined the association between IPV and delays in obtaining contraception in a sample of young women from California and Texas.

Study Design: The data are from a supplementary study to a cluster randomized controlled trial conducted with young people sexually-active within the past year recruited at 29 community colleges during the COVID-19 pandemic (May 2020-May 2023).

Exploring Molecular Characteristics and Therapeutic Strategies for Primary Sinonasal Mucosal Melanoma with Distant Metastasis.

Sinonasal mucosal melanoma (SNMM) is a rare aggressive malignancy of the sinonasal tract. Due to its advanced clinical presentation and frequent late-stage diagnosis, the 5-year survival rate is less than 30%, with an even worse prognosis in patients with distant metastasis (SNMM-M). Therefore, characterizing the molecular landscape of SNMM may provide novel therapeutic targets for SNMM-M.

The bacterial tRNA modifying enzyme tRNA lysidine synthetase is genetically conserved but catalytically variable.

The AUA isoleucine codon is generally rare and used with varying frequency in bacterial genomes. The tRNA responsible for decoding this trinucleotide must be modified at the wobble position by tRNA lysidine synthetase (TilS) prior to aminoacylation and accommodation at the ribosome. To test the hypothesis that TilS catalytic efficiency correlates with AUA frequency, we cloned tilS genes from bacteria with varying AUA codon usage.

Development of a cyst-targeted therapy for polycystic kidney disease using an antagonistic dimeric IgA monoclonal antibody against cMET.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is characterized by the development of fluid-filled kidney cysts and relentless progression to renal failure. Current treatments have adverse effects and limited efficacy, enhancing the need for improved therapeutics. Here, we provide a proof of concept for the use of dimeric immunoglobulin A (IgA) (dIgA) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to target epithelial-enclosed cysts, by exploiting their ability to transcytose via the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor highly expressed on renal cyst-lining cells.

HT SpaceM: A high-throughput and reproducible method for small-molecule single-cell metabolomics.

Single-cell metabolomics (SCM) promises to reveal metabolism in its complexity and heterogeneity, yet current methods struggle with detecting small-molecule metabolites, throughput, and reproducibility. Addressing these gaps, we developed HT SpaceM, a high-throughput SCM method combining cell preparation on custom glass slides, small-molecule matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry (MS), and batch processing. We propose a unified framework covering quality control, characterization, structural validation, and differential and functional analyses.

IL-25-induced memory type 2 innate lymphoid cells enforce mucosal immunity.

Adaptation of intestinal helminths to vertebrates involved the evolution of strategies to attenuate host tissue damage to support parasite reproduction and dissemination of offspring to the environment. Helminths initiate the IL-25-mediated tuft cell-type 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2) circuit that enhances barrier protection of the host, although viable parasites can target and limit this pathway. We used IL-25 alone to create small intestinal adaptation, marked by anatomic and immunologic changes that persisted months after induction.

Uncovering differential tolerance to deletions versus substitutions with a protein language model.

Deep mutational scanning (DMS) experiments have been successfully leveraged to understand genotype to phenotype mapping. However, the overwhelming majority of DMS have focused on amino acid substitutions. Thus, it remains unclear how indels differentially shape the fitness landscape relative to substitutions.

Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances: Association with child behavior in the environmental influences on child health outcomes (ECHO) Cohort.

Background: Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may adversely impact child neurodevelopment; however, epidemiologic findings remain inconclusive because of small sample sizes, limited exposure variability, and differing neurodevelopmental measures. We aimed to investigate the relationship between prenatal PFAS exposure and child behavior.

Methods: We pooled data from nine study sites in the nationwide Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort.

Significant enhancement of photoproduced reactive intermediates in liquid-like region in frozen surface water for micropollutant degradation.

Freezing enhancing the photochemistry of dissolved organic matter (DOM), yet the mechanism of reactive intermediate (RIs) generation influenced by DOM property and structure remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that freezing induces exceptional amplification of RIs, with steady-state concentrations in ice (-10 °C) surpassing aqueous solutions by 5-41 times. Laser scanning confocal microscopy first visualized cryo-concentration of DOM and RIs in liquid-like regions (LLR).

A mixed-methods study of communication preferences and experiences from diagnosis to death as reported by patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers.

Objective: To examine how communication needs regarding prognosis, treatment options, and palliative care evolve over time for patients with advanced cancer and their family caregivers, particularly as patients approach the end-of-life.

Methods: This mixed-methods study surveyed 272 patients at a California healthcare system from October 2019-November 2021 at 1, 4, 8, and 12 months after identification of advanced cancer. Additionally, 24 family caregivers were interviewed between March 2021-May 2022.

What have we learned about infant visual attention in the first 25 years of the 21st century?

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the primary view of infant visual attention development focused on a transition across the first postnatal year from being stimulus-driven to goal-driven, reflecting a broader shift from subcortical to cortical control. This perspective was supported by decades of infant looking-time studies. However, our understanding of infant attention has significantly evolved over the past 25 years, shaped by both theoretical advancements and new technological and methodological tools.

Exploring touch-colour associations in achromatopsia: A case study.

Crossmodal correspondences - systematic mappings between stimulus attributes in different modalities - are ubiquitous in the general population. For example, high-pitched (vs low-pitched) sounds are commonly associated with elevated (vs low) positions in space, and rounded (vs angular) shapes tend to be linked to the term 'Bouba' (vs 'Kiki'). There is still some debate about the role of immediate sensory experience versus conceptual colour understanding in crossmodal correspondences.