Abnormal Amyloid-β Duration, Tau, and Neurodegeneration in Cranial Images.

Importance: It is unclear whether the duration of amyloid-β (Aβ) pathology is associated with neurodegeneration and whether this depends on the presence of tau.

Objective: To examine the association of longitudinal atrophy with Aβ positron emission tomography (PET)-positivity (Aβ+) and the estimated duration of Aβ+ (Aβ+ duration), controlling for tau-positivity.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Data for this longitudinal cohort study were drawn from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer Prevention and the Wisconsin Alzheimer Disease Research Center Clinical Core Study.

Photodynamic therapy for glioblastoma: a narrative review.

Purpose: Glioblastoma (GBM) remains one of the most aggressive primary brain tumors with poor survival outcomes and a lack of approved therapies. A promising novel approach for GBM is the application of photodynamic therapy (PDT), a localized, light-activated treatment using tumor-selective photosensitizers. This narrative review describes the mechanisms, delivery systems, photosensitizers, and available evidence regarding the potential of PDT as a novel therapeutic approach for GBM.

Correlation between visual function and corneal backscatter by Scheimpflug imaging or anterior segment optical coherence tomography in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy.

Abtract: PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between corneal backscatter and visual function in patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD).

Study Design: Prospective case series.

Methods: This study included 53 eyes from 38 patients with FECD.

PILS-Nir1 is a sensitive phosphatidic acid biosensor that reveals mechanisms of lipid production.

Phosphatidic acid (PA) regulates lipid homeostasis and vesicular trafficking, yet high-affinity tools to study PA in live cells are lacking. We identified the lipin-like sequence of Nir1 (PILS-Nir1) as a candidate PA biosensor based on structural analysis of Nir1's LNS2 domain. Using liposome-binding assays and pharmacological and genetic manipulations in HEK293A cells expressing fluorescent PILS-Nir1, we found that while PILS-Nir1 binds PA and PIP2in vitro, only PA is necessary and sufficient for membrane localization in cells.

Outcomes of Left Atrial Appendage Patency After Device Closure Detected by Cardiac CT: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Residual leaks are common after left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO).

Objectives: The authors aimed to systematically evaluate the prognostic implications of residual left atrial appendage (LAA) patency and peridevice leaks (PDLs) detected by cardiac computed tomography (CT) following LAAO.

Methods: The authors used traditional meta-analytical methods and a Bayesian framework to assess the probability of increased risks associated with these residual leaks.

Targeting LxCxE cleft pocket of retinoblastoma protein in immunosuppressive macrophages inhibits ovarian cancer progression.

Ovarian cancer remains a major health threat with limited treatment options available. It is characterized by immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) maintained by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) hindering anti-tumor responses and immunotherapy efficacy. Here we show that targeting retinoblastoma protein (Rb) by disruption of its LxCxE cleft pocket causes preferential cell death in Rbhigh M2 polarized or M2-like Rbhigh immunosuppressive TAMs by induction of ER stress, p53 and mitochondria-related cell death pathways.

Model Systems of Gammaherpesvirus Infection, Immunity, and Disease.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) are oncogenic human gammaherpesviruses (GHVs) associated with a broad spectrum of malignancies and chronic diseases. However, direct studies of these viruses in humans are limited by ethical constraints, technical challenges, and their strict species specificity. To overcome these barriers, researchers have developed surrogate models, with murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68) emerging as a tractable and widely utilized system.

Neurocritical Care Entrustable Professional Activities for Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Education and Professional Development: Standardizing Curriculum, Training, and Assessment.

Objective: To develop a set of pediatric neurocritical care (PNCC) entrustable professional activities (EPAs) for pediatric critical care medicine (PCCM).

Design: Survey and Delphi methodology in a panel of experts from the Pediatric Neurocritical Care Research Group (PNCRG) and the Education in Pediatric Intensive Care (EPIC) Research Collaborative.

Setting: Interprofessional local focus group, national focus group, and subsequent national multi-institutional, multidisciplinary expert panel in the United States.

Accurate detection of tandem repeats exposes ubiquitous reuse of biological sequences.

Tandem repetition is one of the major processes underlying genome evolution and phenotypic diversification. While newly formed tandem repeats are often easy to identify, it is more challenging to detect repeat copies as they diverge over evolutionary timescales. Existing programs for finding tandem repeats return markedly different results, and it is unclear which predictions are more correct and how much room remains for improvement.

Observational Study: Lung Function and Symptom Control in Youth With Asthma up to 34 Months After COVID-19.

Introduction: Prior studies of pediatric asthma control and lung function after COVID-19 have been limited by short follow-up intervals. We aimed to evaluate symptom control and lung function in children with asthma up to 34 months post-COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational chart review study.

The Association between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Function in Patients with Non-Functioning Pituitary Adenoma.

Background: Cortisol and growth hormone are important for sleep regulation and cognition. Sleep is critical for cognitive functioning, and memory consolidation. Patients with pituitary disease experience hormonal dysregulation, impaired sleep quality, and cognitive dysfunction.

Thyroidal expression of ER molecular chaperone GRP170 is required for efficient TSH-mediated thyroid hormone synthesis.

Intracellular trafficking of secretory and membrane proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the cell surface, via the secretory pathway, is crucial to the differentiated function of epithelial tissues. In the thyroid gland, a prerequisite for such trafficking is proper protein folding in the ER, assisted by an array of ER molecular chaperones. One of the most abundant of these chaperones, Glucose-Regulated-Protein-170 (GRP170, encoded by Hyou1), is a noncanonical hsp70-like family member.

Metabolites From Salivary Exosomes as Potential Biomarkers for Alveolar Bone and Tooth Resorption.

Objective(s): In this pilot study, exosomes from saliva were isolated and tested for the presence of metabolomic biomarkers for physiological external root resorption and/or pathological alveolar bone resorption.

Settings And Sample Population: Saliva samples of 20 individuals in the mixed dentition stage of dental development.

Materials And Methods: Saliva was obtained from healthy control children with resorbing primary teeth or children with localised aggressive periodontitis (LAP) showing alveolar bone loss but little root resorption.

Posterior leaflet reconstruction in mitral valve repair: Does resect versus respect strategy matter?

Objective: Previous randomized controlled trials demonstrated comparable outcomes between posterior leaflet resections and neochord implantation in mitral valve (MV) repair. However, these studies were limited up to 1-year follow-up, and more recent evidence suggested that leaflet resections may offer superior long-term outcomes.

Methods: All patients who underwent MV repair with either resection or neochord implantation for posterior leaflet pathology between October 2011 and July 2024 were included.

An alternative approach to repair of giant paraesophageal hernia in selected patients with minimal history of reflux: Analysis of outcomes in more than 100 patients.

Objectives: Laparoscopic repair of giant paraesophageal hernia (LGPEHR) is a complex operation and typically includes an antireflux procedure (ARS); however, some patients without a history of reflux may be able to avoid an ARS. The objective of this study was to evaluate an alternative approach for giant paraesophageal hernia (GPEH) repair with restoration of the normal anatomy and an extended gastropexy in selected patients with minimal reflux symptoms.

Methods: Patients who underwent GPEH repair with an extended gastropexy were reviewed retrospectively.

The CHARMS study: rationale and study protocol for an observational study of sleep and biobehavioral rhythms in older adult couples.

Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) demonstrate cognitive decline without major functional impairment and are at increased risk for developing Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Sleep and biobehavioral rhythm disturbances (disruptions in 24-h oscillations in physiology and behavior, including rest-activity patterns and mealtimes) are more than twice as common among patients with MCI than cognitively intact older adults. Importantly, the consequences of sleep and biobehavioral rhythm disruption in MCI extend beyond the patient, also profoundly affecting the spouse/partner.

Weathering the storm: youth vulnerability and resilience during the climate crisis.

Teens are experiencing an increase in the incidence of anxiety and depression. Climate change adds uncertainty. Dire predictions and unknown impacts contribute to teens' worldview, increasing concerns that add to their normal stressors and anxiety; and for some, this becomes overwhelming.

Describing Multidomain Health Outcomes in Autistic Children in the ECHO Program.

Objective: The goal of this study is to characterize health outcomes across 3 domains-overall well-being, behavioral health, and physical health-in a large sample of autistic and non-autistic children and adolescents in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program.

Method: First, we examined differences in health outcomes between autistic (N = 286) and non-autistic (N = 4,225) children and adolescents in the ECHO Program. Using a subsample of 1,809 participants (116 autistic participants) with complete outcome data, we conducted latent profile analyses (LPAs) to define profiles of health outcomes for autistic children and adolescents and for the combined sample of autistic and non-autistic participants.

Food as Medicine: Curbing Type-2 Diabetes Prevalence Through Consumption of High Amylose Starchy Foods in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The prevalence of nutrition-related non-communicable diseases like diabetes mellitus (DM) is exponentially increasing across the world. Particularly, type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) than in any other region of the world, with a significant effect on mortality and morbidity. T2DM is a disease known to be associated with elevated glucose levels in the blood, caused by numerous factors including dietary and lifestyle changes.

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.

Comparative Analysis of Methods for Obtaining Median Nerve Cross-Sectional Area Using Ultrasound.

Background: Ultrasound measurement of median nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) is widely used in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) diagnosis. This study compared 3 common measurement methods: A-B, Ellipse, and Trace to evaluate their reliability and accuracy.

Methods: Two observers (experienced hand surgeon and orthopedic surgery resident) measured median nerve CSA in 10 patients with suspected CTS.