Burks

CASE DESCRIPTION: We describe a case of a patient treated with pembrolizumab (an immune checkpoint inhibitor) for metastatic scalp melanoma. He had a previous history of colorectal cancer, prostatic cancer and chronic polymyalgia rheumatica. The patient was known to have a stable ascending aortic aneurysm of 4.5 cm. However, he developed a rapid expansion of the ascending aortic aneurysm with the size crossing the threshold for surgery. The patient was referred to the cardiothoracic surgery service for intervention and he subsequently underwent surgery...

CONTEXT: This investigation includes the structural and optoelectronic characteristics of both pure and Er-doped rock salt aluminium nitride (AlN). Upon introducing Er doping into the AlN host, the calculations reveal a rise in the atomic parameter. Incorporating Er into the system leads to enhancements in the static dielectric coefficient ɛ1 (0), static reflectivity R(0), as well as static refractive index n(0), at zero frequency. After doping, the peaks of imaginary dielectric tensor, extinction coefficient and absorption coefficient shift towards lower energy levels...

In the few weight loss studies assessing diet quality, improvements have been minimal and recommended calculation methods have not been used. This secondary analysis of a parallel group randomised trial (regsitered: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03367936) assessed whether self-monitoring with feedback (SM + FB) v . self-monitoring alone (SM) improved diet quality. Adults with overweight/obesity (randomised: SM n 251, SM + FB n 251; analysed SM n 170, SM + FB n 186) self-monitored diet, physical activity and weight...

Although dysregulated stress biology is becoming increasingly recognized as a key driver of lifelong disparities in chronic disease, we presently have no validated biomarkers of toxic stress physiology; no biological, behavioral, or cognitive treatments specifically focused on normalizing toxic stress processes; and no agreed-upon guidelines for treating stress in the clinic or evaluating the efficacy of interventions that seek to reduce toxic stress and improve human functioning. We address these critical issues by (a) systematically describing key systems and mechanisms that are dysregulated by stress; (b) summarizing indicators, biomarkers, and instruments for assessing stress response systems; and (c) highlighting therapeutic approaches that can be used to normalize stress-related biopsychosocial functioning...

The transforming growth factor (TGF)-β3 is a well-known inducer for tenogenic differentiation, signaling via the Smad2/3 pathway. Furthermore, other factors like extracellular matrix or mechanical force can induce tenogenic differentiation and possibly alter the response to TGF-β3 by signaling via the Rho/ROCK pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate the interplay of Rho/ROCK and TGF-β3/Smad signaling in tenogenic differentiation, with the Smad2/3 molecule hypothesized as a possible interface...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, highly aggressive cutaneous malignancy. Immunosuppression increases the risk of MCC and is associated with poor prognosis. Organ transplant recipients (OTR) have worse overall survival (OS) than patients with immunosuppression due to other causes. Treating MCC after organ transplantation is challenging, as checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy, the standard of care for treating MCC, increases the risk of transplant rejection. This paper reviews the cases of two simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant (SPKT) recipients with MCC and explores the role of immunosuppression in the development of MCC...

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer an interesting opportunity for catalysis, particularly for metal-nitrogen-carbon (M-N-C) motifs by providing an organized porous structural pattern and well-defined active sites for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), a key need for hydrogen fuel cells and related sustainable energy technologies. In this work, we leverage electrochemical testing with computational models to study the electronic and structural properties in the MOF systems and their relationship to ORR activity and stability based on dual transitional metal centers...

Mucinous colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common histological subtype of colorectal adenocarcinoma, associated with a poor response to chemoradiotherapy. The commensal facultative anaerobes fusobacteria, have been associated with poor prognosis specifically in mesenchymal CRC. Interestingly, fusobacterial infection is especially prevalent in mucinous CRC. The objective of this study was therefore to increase our understanding of beneficial and detrimental effects of fusobacterial infection, by contrasting host cell signaling and immune responses in areas of high vs...

In this perspective, we present our experience developing and conducting two pragmatic clinical trials investigating physical therapist-led telehealth strategies for persons with chronic low back pain. Both trials, the BeatPain Utah and AIM-Back trials, are part of pragmatic clinical trial collaboratories and are being conducted with persons from communities that experience pain management disparities. Practice guidelines recommend nonpharmacologic care, and advise against opioid therapy, for the primary care management of persons with chronic low back pain...

Peritoneal inclusion cysts (PICs) are a rare and benign condition of uncertain pathogenesis. The fluid-filled, mesothelial-lined cysts manifest within the abdominopelvic cavity. This case report details an unusual occurrence of a 97 mm PIC- presenting as an umbilical hernia- in a 26-year-old male patient with no prior surgical history. Following pre-operative cross-sectional imaging, this was managed through open excision without complication. A systematic review of the literature highlighted 30 previous cases [26F, 4M] with a mean age of 34 years (std ±15...

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the high-level personal protective equipment used in the treatment of high-consequence infectious diseases is effective at stopping the spread of pathogens to healthcare personnel (HCP) while doffing. BACKGROUND: Personal protective equipment (PPE) is fundamental to the safety of HCPs. HCPs treating patients with high-consequence infectious diseases use several layers of PPE, forming complex protective ensembles. With high-containment PPE, step-by-step procedures are often used for donning and doffing to minimize contamination risk to the HCP, but these procedures are rarely empirically validated and instead rely on following infection prevention best practices...

PURPOSE: Transanal minimally invasive surgery has theoretical advantages for ileal pouch-anal anastomosis surgery. We performed a systematic review assessing technical approaches to transanal IPAA (Ta-IPAA) and meta-analysis comparing outcomes to transabdominal (abd-IPAA) approaches. METHODS: Three databases were searched for articles investigating Ta-IPAA outcomes. Primary outcome was anastomotic leak rate. Secondary outcomes included conversion rate, post operative morbidity, and length of stay (LoS)...

Craniofacial fibro-osseous lesions represent a diverse spectrum of pathologic conditions where fibrous tissue replaces healthy bone, resulting in the formation of irregular, woven bone. They are more commonly diagnosed in young people, with treatment strategies dependent on clinical behavior and skeletal maturity. This article discusses the examples of craniofacial fibro-osseous lesions, based on the latest classifications, along with their diagnostic criteria and management.

Preterm birth (PTB) occurs disproportionately among women who are minoritized and who live and work in poverty. This disadvantage occurs as a result of societal norms and policies that affect how people are treated and determine their access to a broad range of resources. Research that takes social context into account offers the best opportunity for identifying approaches to prevent PTB. The experience and knowledge of women from groups experiencing high rates of PTB can provide important insights for research design and for determining the feasibility and acceptability of potential interventions...

BACKGROUND: Effective governance arrangements are central to the successful functioning of health systems. While the significance of governance as a concept is acknowledged within health systems research, its interplay with health system reform initiatives remains underexplored in the literature. This study focuses on the development of new regional health structures in Ireland in the period 2018-2023, one part of a broader health system reform programme aimed at greater universalism, in order to scrutinise how aspects of governance impact on the reform process, from policy design through to implementation...

Plant pathogenic fungi produce toxins as virulence factors in many plant diseases. In Cercospora leaf blight (CLB) of soybean caused by Cercospora cf. flagellaris , symptoms are a consequence of the production of a perylenequinone toxin, cercosporin, which is light-activated to produce damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS). Cercosporin is universally toxic to cells, except to the cells of the producer. The current model of self-resistance to cercosporin is largely attributed to the maintenance of cercosporin in a chemically-reduced state inside hyphae, unassociated with cellular organelles...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Infratentorial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) harbor different characteristics compared with supratentorial AVMs. This study aims to explore the unique characteristics of pediatric infratentorial AVMs and their response to single session stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). METHODS: The International Radiosurgery Research Foundation database of pediatric patients with AVM (age <18 years) who underwent SRS was retrospectively reviewed...

PURPOSE: Against a historical backdrop of researchers who violated trust through lack of benefit sharing, transparency, and engagement, efforts are underway to develop better approaches for genetic and genomic research with Indigenous communities. To increase engagement, there is a need to understand factors that impact researcher and community collaborations. This study aimed to understand the barriers, challenges, and facilitators of Indigenous Peoples in the US participating in genetic research...

There are large differences in premature mortality in the USA by racial/ethnic, education, rurality, and social vulnerability index groups. Using existing concentration-response functions, particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) air pollution, population estimates at the tract level, and county-level mortality data, we estimated the degree to which these mortality discrepancies can be attributed to differences in exposure and susceptibility to PM 2.5 . We show that differences in mortality attributable to PM 2.5 were consistently more pronounced between racial/ethnic groups than by education, rurality, or social vulnerability index, with the Black American population having by far the highest proportion of deaths attributable to PM 2...