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Background: This study sought to elucidate the associations of cardiometabolic index (CMI), as a metabolism-related index, with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among the older population. Utilizing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), we further explored the potential mediating effect of inflammation within these associations., Methods: A cohort of 3029 participants aged over 65 years old, spanning six NHANES cycles from 2005 to 2016, was enrolled and assessed. The primary endpoints of the study included all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality utilizing data from National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Cox regression model and subgroup analysis were conducted to assess the associations of CMI with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. The mediating effect of inflammation-related indicators including leukocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were evaluated to investigate the potential mechanism of the associations between CMI and mortality through mediation package in R 4.2.2., Results: The mean CMI among the enrolled participants was 0.74±0.66, with an average age of 73.28±5.50 years. After an average follow-up period of 89.20 months, there were 1,015 instances of all-cause deaths and 348 cardiovascular deaths documented. In the multivariable-adjusted model, CMI was positively related to all-cause mortality (Hazard Ratio (HR)=1.11, 95% CI=1.01-1.21). Mediation analysis indicated that leukocytes and neutrophils mediated 6.6% and 13.9% of the association of CMI with all-cause mortality., Conclusion: Elevated CMI is positively associated with all-cause mortality in the older adults. The association appeared to be partially mediated through inflammatory pathways, indicating that CMI may serve as a valuable indicator for poor prognosis among the older population., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Fulvestrant, as the first selective estrogen receptor degrader, is widely used in the endocrine treatment of breast cancer. However, in the real world, there is a lack of relevant reports on adverse reaction data mining for fulvestrant. To perform data mining on adverse events (AEs) associated with fulvestrant and explore the risk factors contributing to severe AEs, providing a reference for the rational use of fulvestrant in clinical practice. Retrieved adverse event report information associated with fulvestrant from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database, covering the period from market introduction to September 30, 2023. Suspicious AEs were screened using the reporting odds ratio (ROR) and proportional reporting ratio methods based on disproportionality analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted on severe AEs to explore the risk factors associated with fulvestrant-induced severe AEs. A total of 6947 reports related to AEs associated with fulvestrant were obtained, including 5924 reports of severe AEs and 1023 reports of non-severe AEs. Using the disproportionality analysis method, a total of 210 valid AEs were identified for fulvestrant, with 45 AEs (21.43%) not listed in the product labeling, involving 11 systems and organs. The AEs associated with fulvestrant were sorted by frequency of occurrence, with neutropenia (325 cases) having the highest number of reports. By signal strength, injection site pruritus showed the strongest signal (ROR = 658.43). The results of the logistic regression analysis showed that concurrent use of medications with extremely high protein binding (≥ 98%) is an independent risk factor for severe AEs associated with fulvestrant. Age served as a protective factor for fulvestrant-related AEs. The co-administration of fulvestrant with CYP3A4 enzyme inhibitors did not show statistically significant correlation with the occurrence of severe AEs. Co-administration of drugs with extremely high protein binding (≥ 98%) may increase the risk of severe adverse reactions of fulvestrant. Meanwhile, age (60-74 years) may reduce the risk of severe AEs of fulvestrant. However, further clinical research is still needed to explore and verify whether there is interaction between fulvestrant and drugs with high protein binding through more clinical studies., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia (DIIHA) is a rare but potentially life-threatening pharmacogenic hematological adverse effect. Updating the risk of DIIHA among the currently available drugs based on spontaneously reported adverse event data is of great significance., Objective: This study aimed to identify the top 50 drugs associated with immune hemolytic anemia in adults as well as common drugs that could cause immune hemolytic anemia in children based on the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database., Methods: We extracted adverse events (AE) in the FAERS database from Q1 2004 to Q3 2022 using Open vigil2.1. We use the high-level term "anaemias haemolytic immune" according to the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) Dictionary (version 24.0). The reported correlation between drugs and DIIHA risk was identified by reported odds ratio (ROR) and proportional reporting ratio (PRR)., Results: There were 10500309 AEs in FAERS from 2004Q1 to 2022Q3, of which 2326 (0.02%) were DIIHA cases. The incidence of DIIHA is comparable between males and females. The most common drugs associated with DIIHA in adults and children are summarized according to the number of AE reports. The top 3 categories in terms of quantity of drugs are antineoplastic agents, immunosuppressants, and antibiotics for systemic use. The top 5 drugs in terms of ROR and PRR are alemtuzumab, daclizumab, fludarabine, busulfan, and bendamustine in adults, with entecavir, treosulfan, vinorelbine, pegademase, and alemtuzumab for children., Conclusions: Our study identified the most common drugs that could induce DIIHA in adults and children, as well as the respective ROR and PRR value to discover new drug signals. This study provides references to clinicians for the management of rare DIIHA., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Bevacizumab is used for the treatment of advanced malignant tumors; it acts by inhibiting angiogenesis. This study aimed to examine adverse events (AEs) of bevacizumab, especially hemorrhage, using the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database., Research Design and Methods: The reporting odds ratio (ROR) and proportional reporting ratio (PRR) were used to analyze the AEs of bevacizumab using FAERS registration data from January 2004 to September 2022. Clinical information regarding hemorrhagic signals was further analyzed., Results: The number of bevacizumab-associated AE reports was 96,477. Our study found that 892 significant preferred terms (PTs) were spread throughout 25 organ systems. The system organ classes (SOCs) focus on general disorders, administration site conditions, blood and lymphatic system disorders, injury, poisoning, and procedural complications. A total of 2,847 bevacizumab-related hemorrhage cases were reported, and 37 hemorrhagic signals were identified. Hemorrhagic signals were focused on SOC levels in vascular, gastrointestinal, and nervous system disorders. Colorectal, lung, and breast cancers are the three most common malignancies associated with BV-induced hemorrhage., Conclusion: The AE report from the present study confirms the majority of label information for bevacizumab, while also identifying new AEs. In addition, this was a large descriptive study of bevacizumab-induced hemorrhage.

Background: This study aims to conduct a scientometric analysis and thematically-based narrative review of a century of Taraxacum officinale research (TOR), uncovering patterns, trends, themes, and advancements in the field to provide insights for future investigations. The study followed PRISMA guidelines and utilized the Scopus database with MeSH terms for bibliographic data retrieval. Scientometric mapping employed VOSviewer and R-package-based Bibliometrix, while extracted themes were reviewed narratively. A detailed analysis of TOR was achieved by including only original studies. Results: The findings include the extensive duration of TOR since 1908 and its significant growth, particularly in the last two decades. China emerges as the most productive country, but the United States leads in recognizable and collaborative TOR. The thematic map displays dynamic and diverse themes, with a rich knowledge structure revealed through the analysis of term co-occurrence. The year 2016 represents a turning point in the thematic map, marked by numerical growth and thematic bifurcation. The study extracted several main research topics within the field of TOR, including germination, antioxidant activity, bioherbicide, oxidative stress, Taraxacum kok-saghyz, and heavy metals. These topics represent key areas of investigation and provide insights into the diverse aspects of research surrounding T. officinale. Additionally, emerging topics in TOR encompass toxicity, metabolomics, dandelion extract, and diabetes mellitus. Conclusions: The study consolidated knowledge, highlighted research gaps, and provided directions for future investigations on TOR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil moisture is a key factor in ecosystems that profoundly affects carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles on land surfaces, vegetation growth, and climate change. Consequently, numerous scholars have researched and authored scientific literature on soil moisture and related topics. Using the Web of Science database, we conducted a bibliometric analysis of 60,581 papers published in the field of soil moisture between 2000 and 2022. The findings revealed the following trends. (1) The number of publications on soil moisture has consistently increased in the 21st century at an increasing rate. For instance, although the annual increase was only 94 publications in 2005, it surged to 321 publications in 2020. (2) The United States (US), China, and developed European countries emerged as primary research institutions and authors. The US occupies a leading position in soil moisture research, boasting the highest number of publications and total citations in the field, whereas China ranks second in both publications and total citations. (3) Regarding international collaboration, the US has established close partnerships with numerous international research institutions. However, China's international cooperation in this field requires improvement. (4) The Journal of Hydrology holds the top position in terms of both the total number of published articles and citations. Research on water resources ranked first in terms of its H-index. (5) Keyword analysis highlighted several current research hotspots, including the coupled covariance effect of soil moisture and land surface environmental factors in the context of climate change, soil moisture utilization rate, crop yield, influence mechanism of soil moisture on soil ecosystem structure, and development of high-precision soil moisture data products. In conclusion, this study provides a systematic review of the research hotspots and trends in soil moisture studies in the 21st century. The objective is to offer a comprehensive reference to aid in understanding the evolutionary patterns of soil moisture research in multiple dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and its recently identified subtype, quadruple negative breast cancer (QNBC), collectively account for approximately 13% of reported breast cancer cases in the United States. These aggressive forms of breast cancer are associated with poor prognoses, limited treatment options, and lower overall survival rates. In previous studies, our research demonstrated that VNLG-152R exhibits inhibitory effects on TNBC cells both in vitro and in vivo and the deuterated analogs were more potent inhibitors of TNBC cells in vitro. Building upon these findings, our current study delves into the molecular mechanisms underlying this inhibitory action. Through transcriptome and proteome analyses, we discovered that VNLG-152R upregulates the expression of E3 ligase Synoviolin 1 (SYVN1), also called 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl reductase degradation (HRD1) in TNBC cells. Moreover, we provide genetic and pharmacological evidence to demonstrate that SYVN1 mediates the ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation of MNK1/2, the only known kinases responsible for phosphorylating eIF4E. Phosphorylation of eIF4E being a rate-limiting step in the formation of the eIF4F translation initiation complex, the degradation of MNK1/2 by VNLG-152R and its analogs impedes dysregulated translation in TNBC cells, resulting in the inhibition of tumor growth. Importantly, our findings were validated in vivo using TNBC xenograft models derived from MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and MDA-MB-453 cell lines, representing different racial origins and genetic backgrounds. These xenograft models, which encompass TNBCs with varying androgen receptor (AR) expression levels, were effectively inhibited by oral administration of VNLG-152R and its deuterated analogs in NRG mice. Importantly, in direct comparison, our compounds are more effective than enzalutamide and docetaxel in achieving tumor growth inhibition/repression in the AR+ MDA-MD-453 xenograft model in mice. Collectively, our study sheds light on the involvement of SYVN1 E3 ligase in the VNLG-152R-induced degradation of MNK1/2 and the therapeutic potential of VNLG-152R and its more potent deuterated analogs as promising agents for the treatment of TNBC across diverse patient populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Identifying the associations between BRAF V600E mutation, the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) and clinicopathological characteristics could assist in making appropriate treatment strategies for pediatric patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma., Objective: To retrospectively assess the associations between BRAF V600E mutation, TI-RADS, and clinicopathological characteristics in pediatric patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma., Materials and Methods: Between May 2013 and May 2023, pediatric patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma who underwent thyroidectomy were retrospectively evaluated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the associations between BRAF V600E mutation, TI-RADS, and clinicopathological characteristics. The diagnostic performance of TI-RADS to predict BRAF V600E mutation was assessed., Results: The BRAF V600E mutation was found in 59.1% (39/66) of pediatric patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. Multivariate analyses showed that hypoechoic/very hypoechoic [odds ratio (OR) = 8.48; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.48-48.74); P-value = 0.02] and punctate echogenic foci (OR = 24.3; 95% CI = 3.80-155.84; P-value = 0.001) were independent factors associated with BRAF V600E mutation. In addition, BRAF V600E mutation was significantly associated with TI-RADS 5 (OR = 12.61; 95% CI = 1.28-124.49; P-value = 0.03). There were no associations between BRAF V600E mutation and nodule size, composition, shape, margin, cervical lymph node metastasis, or Hashimoto's thyroiditis (P-value > 0.05). Combined with hypoechoic/very hypoechoic and punctate echogenic foci, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 89.7%, 85.2%, 89.7%, 85.2%, and 87.9%, respectively., Conclusions: Hypoechoic/very hypoechoic, punctate echogenic foci, and TI-RADS 5 are independently associated with BRAF V600E mutation in pediatric patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Plant species are frequently reported to undergo leaf-out and flowering in a consistent order from 1 year to the next; however, only a limited number of these findings arise from studies encompassing many species or sites. Here, we evaluate the consistency in the order species leafed out in the northeastern United States using observations contributed to the USA National Phenology Network's Nature's Notebook platform. We repeated this analysis for flowering, evaluating a total of 132 species across 84 sites. We documented a relatively high degree of consistency in the order of both events among individual plants, with higher consistency in flowering. A small number of species pairs exhibited very high consistency in phenological order across several sites. The majority of species pairs exhibited variability in how consistently they underwent either leaf-out or flowering from site to site, which could be the result of either plastic or locally adaptive responses. Our investigation revealed that neither functional type nor seasonal position played a major role in shaping how consistently species leafed out or flowered in the same order. Instead, we found the number of days separating the events and interannual variability in timing to be the most influential factors driving the consistency in ordering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary aggregates (clods) attenuate wind erosion and land degradation by increasing surface roughness and reducing wind friction velocities at the soil surface. However, aggregates with low stability are erodible and may increase dust emissions by particle abrasion under saltation bombardment relative to non‐erodible aggregates. It is still not clear exactly how different secondary aggregate properties reduce, and in the presence of saltators potentially increase, wind erosion and dust emission. The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of erodible soil aggregates on the threshold friction velocities (u*t), aerodynamic roughness length (zo), and soil loss of loessial soils in the inland Pacific Northwest (iPNW) of the United States. The impact of erodible secondary aggregates in attenuating wind erosion was evaluated in terms of secondary aggregate lateral cover and density. Secondary aggregates were tested in a wind tunnel using five levels of aggregate densities. Secondary aggregates appeared to restrain wind erosion as z0 and u*t increased with increasing aggregate cover, but may significantly change wind erosion patterns by releasing more fine dust particles by abrasion. We found that, while abrasion losses contributed up to 69.3% of total soil loss for a sandy loam, total soil loss still decreased for all soils. Aggregates with greater stability may reduce soil loss with increasing secondary aggregate densities, and the rate of reduction in soil loss was up to two times higher than that for soil aggregates with lower stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the performance of the US travel and leisure stock, using daily data sets from December 31, 2019 to December 2, 2020. Applying the multifactor model, which is an extension of the capital asset pricing model, the study examines how governmental announcements and policy measures to contain the pandemic situation impact the stock prices, controlling for confirmed cases, growth rates, and death rates owing to the pandemic. Further, to reduce the potential bias in heterogeneity, crucial macroeconomic regressors such as oil prices, exchange rates, and a volatility index are included. The study obtains a heterogeneous impact across quantiles. Government stringency measures negatively impact the travel and leisure stock prices, while the announcement of economic support programs positively impacts the stocks, particularly at the high-end quantiles. We advocate that the introduction of asset-light and fee-based strategies will enable the firms to overcome the adverse implications of the pandemic in the long run. This study offers major insights for protecting and developing the recovery of the travel and leisure stock market by considering the importance of government interventions and their effective implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Themainmethods of treating pancreatic cancer are surgery and chemotherapy, but the treatment efficacy is low with a poor prognosis. Immunotherapy represented by PD-1/PD-L1 has brought amilestone progress in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. However, the unique tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer presents challenges for immunotherapy. In addition, m6A is a common RNA modification and a potentialmolecular target in tumor therapy. The expression pattern of m6A in pancreatic cancer is still unclear. LncRNAs also play an essential role in pancreatic cancer development and treatment. In this study, we found that some m6A regulators were significantly elevated in pancreatic cancer and associated with the expression of PD-1/PD-L1. Moreover, we observed that METTL3 can increase the expression of PD-L1. Notably, METTL3 positively regulates the expression of lncRNA MALAT1 in pancreatic cancer cells. Strikingly, lncRNA MALAT1 increased the expression of PD-L1 in pancreatic cancer cells. This finding indicated that METTL3 regulated the expression of PD-L1 possibly via targeting lncRNA MALAT1 in pancreatic cancer cells. Lastly, MALAT1 governed the viability of pancreatic cancer cells. Taken together, lncRNA MALAT1 is involved in METTL3-mediated promotion of PD-L1 expression in pancreatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of obesity is increasingly common in the United States, with ~25% of women of reproductive age being overweight or obese. Metaflammation, a chronic low grade inflammatory state caused by altered metabolism, is often present in pregnancies complicated by obesity. As a result, the fetuses of mothers who are obese are exposed to an in-utero environment that has altered nutrients and cytokines. Notably, both human and preclinical studies have shown that children born to mothers with obesity have higher risks of developing chronic illnesses affecting various organ systems. In this review, the authors sought to present the role of cytokines and inflammation during healthy pregnancy and determine how maternal obesity changes the inflammatory landscape of the mother, leading to fetal reprogramming. Next, the negative long-term impact on offspring's health in numerous disease contexts, including offspring's risk of developing neuropsychiatric disorders (autism, attention deficit and hyperactive disorder), metabolic diseases (obesity, type 2 diabetes), atopy, and malignancies will be discussed along with the potential of altered immune/inflammatory status in offspring as a contributor of these diseases. Finally, the authors will list critical knowledge gaps in the field of developmental programming of health and diseases in the context of offspring of mothers with obesity, particularly the understudied role of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helicobacter pylori is usually acquired during childhood. The reports from the last two decades pointed out a decrease in H. pylori prevalence across geographical areas worldwide compared to previously reported data. Most of the studies performed in America found an overall H. pylori infection prevalence of approximately 50%. The most important risk factors in America include being male, poor adherence or difficult access to treatment, and the lack of in-home water service. Despite the descending trend in prevalence worldwide, the overall prevalence in Africa remains very high (70%). Nevertheless, the prevalence of H. pylori in children without gastrointestinal who underwent screening was reported to be only 14.2%. The main risk factors in Africa are having a traditional pit or no toilet, poverty, birth order, source of drinking water, or being a farmer. Asia seems to have the widest variations in terms of H. pylori prevalence. Several risk factors were reported in Asia to be associated with this infection, such as lower income and educational level, house crowding, rural residence, ethnicity, the use of tanks as water supplies, alcohol drinking, active smoking, eating spicy food or raw uncooked vegetables, poor living conditions and sanitation. The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection in European children is almost 25%. Portugal has the highest prevalence of all European countries at 66.2% in children 13 years of age. The risk factors in European individuals consist of living in rural areas, eating unwashed fruits and vegetables, not washing hands after school, low parental education and unemployment, and short education duration. Further studies are required to identify the precise mechanisms involved in the discrepancies of H. pylori prevalence worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Foods have a considerable influence on human health and were directly related to glycemic control for diabetes patients. However, little is known about the effects of biscuits, a traditional food consumed in large amounts in several countries, on diabetic retinopathy. This study aimed to explore the association between biscuit consumption and diabetic retinopathy prevalence in adults of the United States population. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 1904 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database were included in this population-based, cross-sectional study. The association between different consumption frequencies of biscuit and diabetic retinopathy prevalence was evaluated using a binary logistic regression model. Trend test, stratified and interaction analyses were also performed. Results: After possible confounders including sex, age, ethnicity, education, marital status, family poverty income ratio, smoking and alcohol consumption habit, fasting blood glucose level, hemoglobin A1c level, diagnosis of diabetes, insulin use, blood pressure, body mass index were adjusted, the participants who consumed biscuit 1–11 times a year, 1–3 times a month, and more than once a week had a 139.8% (95% confidence interval, 1.003–5.734), 182.1% (95% confidence interval, 1.106–7.191), and 236.2% (95% confidence interval, 1.335–9.844) higher risk of diabetic retinopathy prevalence, respectively, compared with those who never ate biscuit. For male, non-Hispanic, and overweight (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2) subgroups, the trend test demonstrated that the diabetic retinopathy prevalence significantly elevated with increased frequency of biscuit consumption (Ptrend = 0.021, 0.009, and 0.002, respectively). The interaction analysis suggested that no aforementioned confounders played an interactive role in the relationship between biscuit consumption and diabetic retinopathy prevalence. Conclusions: The risk of diabetic retinopathy was positively associated with biscuit consumption. Moreover, for male, non-Hispanic, or overweight individuals, the risk of diabetic retinopathy significantly increased with the frequency of biscuit consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Providing school-based child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention programs ensures that the majority of children will participate in programming. Since many parents may feel ill equipped to have such discussions with their children, programs offered in education settings can bring awareness to this issue. A sample of mothers (N = 268) from across the United States completed an online survey related to their experiences with and attitudes toward school-based CSA prevention programs. Most mothers (70%) had no exposure to prevention programs during their childhood, but the majority (95%) had a positive attitude toward programming for their children. Most mothers believed that offering CSA prevention in schools was important and could provide a safety net. Mothers desired programming that was age appropriate, involved parents and was activity based. These results can help inform schools' prevention programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how online vaccine information seeking is related to vaccination intention in the United States and China during the initial stage of their coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination programs. Analysis of the pooled sample showed a positive relationship between online vaccine information seeking and vaccination intention. There was also a negative indirect effect via perceived information overload, vaccine risk perception, and negative affective response. Multigroup analysis revealed differences between the United States and China. This study highlights the bright and dark sides of online health information during a global pandemic and has practical implications for communication campaigns to promote health-related behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Aging is associated with subtle cognitive decline in attention, memory, executive function, processing speed, and reasoning. Although lower brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been linked to cognitive decline among older adults, it is not known if the association differs among individuals with various BDNF Val66Met (rs6265) genotypes. In addition, it is not clear whether these associations vary by hand grip strength or physical activity (PA). Methods: A total of 2904 older adults were included in this study using data from the Health and Retirement Study. Associations between serum BDNF and measures of cognitive function were evaluated using multivariable linear regression models stratified by Met allele status. PA and hand grip strength were added to the model to evaluate whether including these variables altered associations between serum BDNF and cognition. Results: Mean age was 71.4 years old, and mean body mass index was 28.3 kg/m2. Serum BDNF levels were positively associated with higher total cognitive score (beta = 0.34, p =.07), mental status (beta = 0.16, p =.07), and word recall (beta = 0.22, p =.04) among Met carriers, while serum BDNF levels were negatively associated with mental status (beta = −0.09, p =.07) among non-Met carriers. Furthermore, associations changed when hand grip strength was added to the model but not when PA was added to the model. Conclusions: The BDNF Val66Met variant may moderate the association between serum BDNF levels and cognitive function in older adults. Furthermore, such associations differ according to hand grip strength but not PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low back pain (LBP) is a common health issue worldwide with a huge economic burden on healthcare systems. In the United States alone, the cost is estimated to be $100 billion each year. Intervertebral disc degeneration is considered one of the primary causes of LBP. Moreover, the critical role of the vertebral endplates in disc degeneration and LBP is becoming apparent. Endplate abnormalities are closely correlated with disc degeneration and pain in the lumbar spine. Imaging modalities such as plain film radiography, computed tomography, and fluoroscopy are helpful but not very effective in detecting the causes behind LBP. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to acquire high-quality threedimensional images of the lumbar spine without using ionizing radiation. Therefore, it is increasingly being used to diagnose spinal disorders. However, according to the American College of Radiology, current referral and justification guidelines for MRI are not sufficiently clear to guide clinical practice. This review aimed to evaluate the role of MRI in diagnosing LBP by considering the correlative contributions of vertebral endplates. The findings of the review indicate that MRI allows for fine evaluations of endplate morphology, endplate defects, diffusion and perfusion properties of the endplate, and Modic changes. Changes in these characteristics of the endplate were found to be closely correlated with disc degeneration and LBP. The collective evidence from the literature suggests that MRI may be the imaging modality of choice for patients suffering from LBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground‐based Global Positioning System (GPS) observations of vertical surface displacement can be used to study terrestrial water storage (TWS) change after properly accounting for nonhydrological loading effects. This study systematically merged ground‐based GPS observations of vertical displacement into a land surface model in order to better estimate TWS. Assimilation was conducted across two snow‐dominated watersheds in the western United States using a one‐dimensional ensemble Kalman filter (EnkF). Modeled estimates were compared against TWS retrievals derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission and in situ measurements of snow water equivalent (SWE), soil moisture, and runoff. The GPS data assimilation (GPS DA) technique improves prediction skill of TWS anomalies relative to the Open Loop (OL; model run without assimilation) when compared against GRACE TWS retrievals, especially during an extended drought period post‐2011 (e.g., correlation coefficient ROL = 0.46 and RGPSDA = 0.82 in the Great Basin). Furthermore, GPS DA improves SWE estimation with improved R values found over 76% and 69% of all pixels collocated with in situ stations in the Great Basin and Upper Colorado watersheds, respectively. GPS DA estimates of surface soil moisture and runoff, however, exhibit degraded performance relative to the OL due to the limited sensitivity of GPS observations to surface soil moisture variations and the lack of a dynamic surface routing scheme as well as other missing model physics (e.g., river and dam regulation, irrigation‐related water withdrawals, surface water impoundments) that are not included in the Catchment Land Surface Model. Plain Language Summary: Terrestrial water storage (TWS) is defined as all forms of water on land, including surface water, soil moisture, groundwater, snow, ice, and vegetation biomass. Understanding changes in TWS is vital for hydrological, climate change, and water resource management studies. Considering the elastic response of the Earth's surface to TWS change, ground‐based Global Positioning System (GPS) observations of vertical displacement can be used to improve modeled TWS estimates. This study merged ground‐based GPS observations of vertical displacement into an advanced land surface model (NASA Catchment Land Surface Model) using a data assimilation (DA) framework in order to further improve TWS estimation accuracy as well as reduce associated uncertainties. Results showed that GPS DA improved modeled TWS change by providing better consistency with TWS retrievals derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment mission. Model improvements are most significant during an extended drought period in the western United States, such that GPS DA help correct for the missing physics in the model. Furthermore, GPS DA effectively downscaled the TWS change information embedded in the GPS observations into improved estimates of snow mass when compared against in situ measurements. Key Points: New and novel framework introduced to assimilate ground‐based GPS into a land surface model to improve terrestrial water storage estimatesGPS data assimilation improved terrestrial water storage accuracy and reduced uncertainty, especially during an extended droughtGPS data assimilation improved snow water equivalent estimates in regions of deep snow [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 100th meridian is a conceptual arid‐humid divide that effectively bisects the continent of the United States into the humid east and arid west. Here, we examine the historical and future shifts of the 100th meridian from atmospheric, hydrologic, and agroecological perspectives. We find that the effective arid‐humid divide regarding vegetation greenness and runoff has been moving toward west with a mean shift of 0.73° (1982–2015) and 2.08° (1961–2010), respectively, suggesting decreased agroecological and hydrologic aridity in the region. For future periods, the agroecological divide shows a persistent westward movement, whereas eastward shifts of the 100th meridian are detected from the atmospheric and hydrologic perspectives. Nevertheless, the eastward movements of the atmospheric and hydrologic divide substantially slow down when the vegetation response to elevated atmospheric CO2 is accounted for. This finding demonstrates that CO2 fertilization on vegetation could largely alleviate the warming‐induced drying tendency around the 100th meridian region. Plain Language Summary: The 100th meridian is a conceptual arid‐humid divide in the physical climate and landscape of the central United States continent and has exerted a profound influence on human settlement and agriculture developments. Using climate projections and aridity index, a previous study reported an eastward movement of the 100th meridian, indicating an overall drying trend in the region. Here, we reexamine the historical and future shifts of the 100th meridian from the atmospheric, hydrologic, and agroecological perspectives. We find that the movements of the 100th meridian are strongly modified by the vegetation response to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration that CO2 fertilization on vegetation could largely alleviate the warming‐induced drying tendency and effectively slows down the eastward movement of the arid‐humid divide. Key Points: Historical and future shifts of the 100th meridian from atmospheric, hydrologic, and agroecological perspectives are assessedObserved hydrologic and agroecological 100th meridian have been moving toward west over the past few decadesProjected agroecological divide moves toward west whereas hydrologic and atmospheric divides move toward east in the coming century [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian cancer is one of the top gynecological malignancies that cause deaths among females in the United States. At the molecular level, significant progress has been made in our understanding of ovarian cancer development and progression. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, single-stranded, highly conserved non-coding RNA molecules (19–25 nucleotides) that negatively regulate target genes post-transcriptionally. Over the last two decades, mounting evidence has demonstrated the aberrant expression of miRNAs in different human malignancies, including ovarian carcinomas. Deregulated miRNAs can have profound impacts on various cancer hallmarks by repressing tumor suppressor genes. This review will discuss up-to-date knowledge of how the aberrant expression of miRNAs and their targeted genes drives ovarian cancer initiation, proliferation, survival, and resistance to chemotherapies. Understanding the mechanisms by which these miRNAs affect these hallmarks should allow the development of novel therapeutic strategies to treat these lethal malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women with gynecologic cancer may be at increased risk for adverse events (AEs) due to peritoneal disease burden and prior treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, and pelvic radiotherapy). This study compared the toxicity profiles of patients with and without gynecologic cancer enrolled in phase 1 trials.Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of the National Cancer Institute phase 1 database for all trials enrolling 1 or more patients with gynecologic cancer over 2 decades (1995-2015). Clinical parameters collected included demographics, cancer history, trial information, AEs, and responses. AEs (according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) were documented for each patient during treatment, and they were counted once and analyzed on the basis of the highest grade and drug attribution. Multiple regression models were used to compare AEs at the baseline and during treatment.Results: A total of 4269 patients enrolled in 150 trials were divided into 3 groups: 1) women with gynecologic cancer (n = 685), 2) women with nongynecologic cancer (n = 1698), and 3) men with cancer (n = 1886). The median age was 58 years. The mean number of total AEs reported during treatment was highest for women with gynecologic cancer (17.1 vs 14.7 vs 13.5; P < .001), even though they were similar at the baseline (7.0 vs 7.4 vs 7.0; P = .09). The mean number of drug-related AEs was also highest for women with gynecologic cancer (8.3 vs 6.9 vs 6.2; P < .001). Grade 3 to 5 AEs were similar (2.3 vs 2.3 vs 2.1); however, grade 2 AEs were more frequent in women with gynecologic cancer (4.6 vs 3.9 vs 3.5). Treatment discontinuations due to AEs were similar (9% vs 9% vs 10%).Conclusions: Women with gynecologic cancer experienced more frequent low-grade AEs during treatment, and this warrants attention to support their symptom burden. Study dose management should be considered for recurrent grade 2 AEs, particularly during continuous therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Approximately 5% of cancer patients in the United States presented with metastatic bone disease (MBD) at diagnosis. Current study explores the disparities in survival for patients with MBD., Methods: Patients with the diagnosis of MBD at presentation for the five most common primary anatomical sites were extracted from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Census tract-level dataset (2010-2016). Kaplan-Meier and Cox Proportional Hazard models were used to evaluate survival, and prognostic factors for each cohort. Prognostic significance of socioeconomic status (SES) and insurance status were ascertained., Results: The five most common anatomical-sites with MBD at presentation included "lung" (n = 59 739), "prostate" (n = 19 732), "breast" (n = 16 244), "renal and urothelium" (n = 7718) and "colon" (n= 3068). Lower SES was an independent risk factor for worse disease-specific survival (DSS) for patients with MBD originating from lung, prostate, breast and colon. Lack of insurance was an independent risk factor for worse DSS for MBD patients with primary tumors in lung and breast., Conclusions: MBD patients from the five most common primary sites demonstrated SES and insurance-related disparities in disease-specific survival. This is the first and largest study to explore SES and insurance-related disparities among patients specifically afflicted with MBD. Our findings highlight vulnerability of patients with MBD across multiple primary sites to financial toxicity., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Early abstract reasoning has typically been characterized by a "relational shift," in which children initially focus on object features but increasingly come to interpret similarity in terms of structured relations. An alternative possibility is that this shift reflects a learned bias, rather than a typical waypoint along a universal developmental trajectory. If so, consistent differences in the focus on objects or relations in a child's learning environment could create distinct patterns of relational reasoning, influencing the type of hypotheses that are privileged and applied. Specifically, children in the United States may be subject to culture-specific influences that bias their reasoning toward objects, to the detriment of relations. In experiment 1, we examine relational reasoning in a population with less object-centric experience-3-y-olds in China-and find no evidence of the failures observed in the United States at the same age. A second experiment with younger and older toddlers in China (18 to 30 mo and 30 to 36 mo) establishes distinct developmental trajectories of relational reasoning across the two cultures, showing a linear trajectory in China, in contrast to the U-shaped trajectory that has been previously reported in the United States. In a third experiment, Chinese 3-y-olds exhibit a bias toward relational solutions in an ambiguous context, while those in the United States prefer objectbased solutions. Together, these findings establish populationlevel differences in relational bias that predict the developmental trajectory of relational reasoning, challenging the generality of an initial object focus and suggesting a critical role for experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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High temperature alone would lead to a well‐understood loss of crop yields, but the compounding effects by other global change factors are much less well understood and can either amplify or reduce temperature‐driven yield change. Analysis focusing on U.S. maize yield shows that the concurrent changes in precipitation have nonnegligible influence on temperature‐yield relations. For the country as a whole, ~27% of the observed strength of temperature‐yield relation relates to the compounding precipitation effects. Further analysis shows that precipitation exerted the compounding effects mainly through its direct influence on yields rather than indirectly from its feedback to temperature. Under 2 and 1.5°C global warming, maize yield for the country as a whole is projected to decrease by ‐13.53 to ‐14.37% and ‐9.02 to ‐9.29%, respectively, with the magnitude of change depending on the climate model. Around 30% of the benefit by constraining global warming to 1.5°C would be contributed by the compounding precipitation effects, pointing to the important role of precipitation in regulating the impacts of temperature rise on yields. The results can greatly improve our understanding and interpretation of the important but uncertain temperature‐yield relations. Plain Language Summary: This paper assesses the precipitation effect in modulating maize yield response to temperature rise in the United States within the context of global warming. Results show that excluding the effect of precipitation does not lead to significant change in the spatial distribution pattern of temperature‐driven maize yield changes but can alter the magnitudes substantially. For the country as a whole, concurrent changes in precipitation lead to a decrease in the sensitivity of maize yield to growing‐season temperature from ‐7.48 to ‐5.47%/k. Constraining global warming to 1.5°C can benefit maize yield by reducing temperature‐driven loss from ‐13.53 to ‐14.37% under 2°C to ‐9.02 to ‐9.29%. However, the estimated benefit by limiting global warming to 1.5°C versus 2°C would be altered considerably, when the effects induced by precipitation changes are excluded. This study highlights the important role of precipitation in regulating temperature impact on crop yields, which are subject to substantial uncertainties. Key Points: U.S. maize yield is projected to decrease by ‐13.53 to ‐14.37% and ‐9.02 to ‐9.29% under 2 and 1.5 degrees Celsius global warming, respectivelyThe compounding precipitation effect is substantial in modulating temperature impact on maize yield under global warmingSuch effects are exerted mainly through the direct influence on yields than indirectly through its covariance with temperature [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The proposed model of this paper is for the bearing fault diagnosis of industrial rotating machinery. Specifically, the general fault diagnosis model only can predict the bearing fault based on the predefined number of stored fault information. The proposed approach provides an online fault diagnosis process, where unknown faults are detected and updated with knowledge of the proposed diagnosis system. This paper proposes an online fault diagnosis system for bearings that detect emerging fault modes and then updates the diagnostic system knowledge (DSK) to incorporate information about the newly detected fault modes. New fault modes are detected using k-means clustering along with a new cluster evaluation method, i.e., multivariate probability density function's cluster distribution factor (MPDFCDF). In this proposed model, a heterogeneous pool of features is constructed from the signal. A hybrid feature selection model is adopted for selecting optimal feature for learning the model with existing fault mode. The proposed online fault diagnosis system detects new fault modes from unknown signals using k-means clustering with the help of proposed MPDFCDF cluster evaluation method. The DSK is updated whenever new fault modes are detected and updated DSK is used to classify faults using the k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) classifier. The proposed model is evaluated using acoustic emission signals acquired from low-speed rolling element bearings with different fault modes and severities under different rotational speeds. Experimental results present that the MPDFCDF cluster evaluation method can detect the optimal number of fault clusters, and the proposed online diagnosis model can detect newly emerged faults and update the DSK effectively, which improves the diagnosis performance in terms of the average classification performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: A new powdery mildew resistance gene conferring a wide spectrum of resistance toBgtisolates in the USA,Pm63, was identified in Iranian wheat landrace PI 628024 and mapped to the terminal region of the long arm of chromosome 2B. Powdery mildew is a globally important wheat disease causing severe yield losses, and host resistance is the preferred strategy for managing this disease. The objective of this study was to characterize a powdery mildew resistance gene in Iranian landrace PI 628024, which exhibited a wide spectrum of resistance to representative Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) isolates collected from different regions of the USA. An F2 population and F2:3 lines derived from the cross PI 628024 × CItr 11349 were used in this study, and genetic analysis indicated that a single dominant gene, designated Pm63, conferred resistance to Bgt isolate OKS(14)-B-3-1. Linkage analysis located Pm63 to an interval of about 13.1 Mb on the long arm of chromosome 2B, spanning 710.3–723.4 Mb in the Chinese Spring reference sequence. Bin mapping assigned Pm63 to the terminal bin 2BL6-0.89-1.0, 1.1 cM proximal to STS marker Xbcd135-2 and 0.6 cM distal to SSR marker Xstars419. Allelism tests indicated that Pm63 is a new powdery mildew resistance gene, which differs from other genes in the terminal bin by origin, genomic location, and responses to a set of 16 representative US Bgt isolates. Pm63 can be widely used to enhance powdery mildew resistance in the Great Plains, western, and southeastern regions of the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Technology has multiple potential applications to dementia from diagnosis and assessment to care delivery and supporting ageing in place. Objectives: To summarise key areas of technology development in dementia and identify future directions and implications. Method: Members of the US Alzheimer's Association Technology Professional Interest Area involved in delivering the annual pre-conference summarised existing knowledge on current and future technology developments in dementia. Results: The main domains of technology development are as follows: (i) diagnosis, assessment and monitoring, (ii) maintenance of functioning, (iii) leisure and activity, (iv) caregiving and management. Conclusions: The pace of technology development requires urgent policy, funding and practice change, away from a narrow medical approach, to a holistic model that facilitates future risk reduction and prevention strategies, enables earlier detection and supports implementation at scale for a meaningful and fulfilling life with dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direction and magnitude of responses of evapotranspiration (ET) to climate change are important to understand, as ET represents a major water and energy flux from terrestrial ecosystems, with consequences that feed back to the climate system. We inferred multidecadal trends in water balance in 11 river basins (1940–2012) and eight smaller watersheds (with records ranging from 18 to 61 years in length) in the Northeastern United States. Trends in river basin actual ET (AET) varied across the region, with an apparent latitudinal pattern: AET increased in the cooler northern part of the region (Maine) but decreased in some warmer regions to the southwest (Pennsylvania–Ohio). Of the four small watersheds with records longer than 45 years, two fit this geographic pattern in AET trends. The differential effects of the warming climate on AET across the region may indicate different mechanisms of change in more‐ vs. less‐energy‐limited watersheds, even though annual precipitation greatly exceeds potential ET across the entire region. Correlations between AET and time series of temperature and precipitation also indicate differences in limiting factors for AET across the Northeastern U.S. climate gradient. At many sites across the climate gradient, water‐year AET correlated with summer precipitation, implying that water limitation is at least transiently important in some years, whereas correlations with temperature indices were more prominent in northern than southern sites within the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation examines the multidimensional relationships among several critical components in online collaborative learning, including group trust, communication media, and interactivity. Four hundred eleven university students from 103 groups in the United States responded survey items on online collaboration, interactivity, communication media, and group trust. Structural equation modeling was employed to examine the relationships among these variables. Results revealed that trust among group members had a positive and powerful influence on online collaboration. Results further revealed that the influence of group trust on online collaboration was mediated by communication media and the interactivity among group members. These findings are discussed in the context of existing literature in the field. Practical implications and directions for future investigation are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lower Great Miami River (LGMR) lies within the Mississippi River watershed and contributes to nutrient loads that promote seasonal hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Moreover, the LGMR has recently experienced algal blooms caused by excess N and P. To investigate N cycling in the LGMR, we incubated intact sediment cores with stable 15N isotope additions in a continuous-flow system. We measured sediment nutrient fluxes, N sinks and sources (denitrification/anammox and N fixation, respectively), and potential dissimilatory NO3− reduction to NH4+ (DNRA) in spring and summer at 6 locations along a river reach (~50 km) influenced by urban and agricultural nutrient loads. LGMR sediments were a source of bioavailable NH4+ and orthophosphate to river water. However, high denitrification rates resulted in LGMR sediments being a net sink for N in the river reach. NO3− amendments did not consistently stimulate denitrification, a result suggesting that denitrifiers were functioning at or near maximum rates. Anammox and DNRA were not consistently observed, and N fixation occurring simultaneously with denitrification was not observed. We estimate that denitrification in LGMR sediments removed 8 to 33% of external N loads to the river from the watershed, with the remainder exported downstream. This result indicates that denitrification can be an important N sink in the LGMR, but further decrease of external N inputs will be required to minimize eutrophication in the LGMR and N export to downstream systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significance: The rise in the prevalence of myopia, a significant worldwide public health concern, has been too rapid to be explained by genetic factors alone and thus suggests environmental influences., Purpose: Relatively little attention has been paid to the possible role of nutrition in myopia. The availability of the large National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data set, which includes results from vision examinations, offers the opportunity to investigate the relationship between several nutrition-related factors, including body metrics, and the presence and magnitude of myopia., Methods: Cross-sectional survey data sets with vision examination, demographic, body metrics, and nutritional data, collected as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey over the years of 2003 to 2008, were extracted for analysis. Based on already published basic and epidemiological studies, the following parameters were selected for study: body height and body mass index, demographics, serum vitamin D and glucose/insulin levels, and caffeine intake, using multivariable models and objectively measured refractive errors as the main outcome measure., Results: Data from a total of 6855 ethnically diverse Americans aged 12 to 25 years were analyzed. In final multivariate models, female sex and age were the most significant factors related to myopia status and refractive error. In general, body metrics (body mass index) or nutritional factors (serum vitamin D, glucose levels, and caffeine intake) were found to be associated with refractive error or myopia status; however, increased insulin levels were related to increased odds of having myopia., Conclusions: These largely negative findings suggest that other environmental factors, such as those related to the visual environment, may contribute more to the development and/or progression of myopia and would argue for continued research in these areas in support of more evidence-based myopia clinical management., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None of the authors have reported a financial conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 American Academy of Optometry.)

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) constitute a developing area of particular interest for researchers in different fields due to their broad range of applications. However, there are few studies dedicated to the bibliometric analysis of AOPs. Hence, a systematic literature review of research publications (research articles, review articles, and book chapters) from 1980 to 2018 was carried out to visualize and evaluate research trends on AOPs around the world and, especially in Ibero-America (IA), on the field of wastewater treatment. Using the most extensive databases in literature search, Scopus and Web of Science (WoS), which encompass 95% of the publications in the world, a total of 18,751 records were retrieved by limiting the search results to words associated with AOPs in the titles, keyword, and abstracts. Raw data were manually organized and filtered, standardizing authors and institution names, publication titles, and keywords for the purpose of eliminating double-counted entries. Similarly, homonymous authors and institutions were identified for all records retrieved. The bibliometric dataset was processed using the VantagePoint software. The research trends visualized about AOPs were as follows: number of publications per triennium, publications by country, participation by continent, most important journals and authors, most referenced institutions, global network of co-authors, and keywords network visualization, highlighting the Ibero-American contribution to global research.

Objective: This abbreviated version of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's Low Back Disorders guideline reviews the evidence and recommendations developed for invasive treatments used to manage low back disorders., Methods: Comprehensive systematic literature reviews were accomplished with article abstraction, critiquing, grading, evidence table compilation, and guideline finalization by a multidisciplinary expert panel and extensive peer-review to develop evidence-based guidance. Consensus recommendations were formulated when evidence was lacking and often relied on analogy to other disorders for which evidence exists. A total of 47 high-quality and 321 moderate-quality trials were identified for invasive management of low back disorders., Results: Guidance has been developed for the invasive management of acute, subacute, and chronic low back disorders and rehabilitation. This includes 49 specific recommendations., Conclusion: Quality evidence should guide invasive treatment for all phases of managing low back disorders., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.)

Background Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (lupus) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can impact any organ system and result in life-threatening complications. African-Americans are at increased risk for morbidity and mortality from lupus. Self-management programs have demonstrated significant improvements in health distress, self-reported global health, and activity limitation among people with lupus. Despite benefits, arthritis self-management education has reached only a limited number of people. Self-selection of program could improve such trends. The aim of the current study is to test a novel intervention to improve quality of life, decrease indicators of depression, and reduce perceived and biological indicators of stress in African-American lupus patients in South Carolina. Methods/design: In a three armed randomized, wait list controlled trial, we will evaluate the effectiveness of a patient-centered 'a-la-carte' approach that offers subjects a variety of modes of interaction from which they can choose as many or few as they wish, compared to a 'set menu' approach and usual care. This unique 'a-la-carte' self-management program will be offered to 50 African-American lupus patients participating in a longitudinal observational web-based SLE Database at the Medical University of South Carolina. Each individualized intervention plan will include 1-4 options, including a mail-delivered arthritis kit, addition and access to an online message board, participation in a support group, and enrollment in a local self-management program. A 'set menu' control group of 50 lupus patients will be offered a standardized chronic disease self-management program only, and a control group of 50 lupus patients will receive usual care. Outcomes will include changes in (a) health behaviors, (b) health status, (c) health care utilization, and (d) biological markers (urinary catecholamines). Discussion: Such a culturally sensitive educational intervention which includes self-selection of program components has the potential to improve disparate trends in quality of life, disease activity, depression, and stress among African-American lupus patients, as better outcomes have been documented when participants are able to choose/dictate the content and/or pace of the respective treatment/intervention program. Since there is currently no "gold standard" self-management program specifically for lupus, this project may have a considerable impact on future research and policy decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop evidence-based recommendations for safe, effective, and appropriate thyroidectomy., Background: Surgical management of thyroid disease has evolved considerably over several decades leading to variability in rendered care. Over 100,000 thyroid operations are performed annually in the US., Methods: The medical literature from 1/1/1985 to 11/9/2018 was reviewed by a panel of 19 experts in thyroid disorders representing multiple disciplines. The authors used the best available evidence to construct surgical management recommendations. Levels of evidence were determined using the American College of Physicians grading system, and management recommendations were discussed to consensus. Members of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons reviewed and commented on preliminary drafts of the content., Results: These clinical guidelines analyze the indications for thyroidectomy as well as its definitions, technique, morbidity, and outcomes. Specific topics include Pathogenesis and Epidemiology, Initial Evaluation, Imaging, Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy Diagnosis, Molecular Testing, Indications, Extent and Outcomes of Surgery, Preoperative Care, Initial Thyroidectomy, Perioperative Tissue Diagnosis, Nodal Dissection, Concurrent Parathyroidectomy, Hyperthyroid Conditions, Goiter, Adjuncts and Approaches to Thyroidectomy, Laryngology, Familial Thyroid Cancer, Postoperative Care and Complications, Cancer Management, and Reoperation., Conclusions: Evidence-based guidelines were created to assist clinicians in the optimal surgical management of thyroid disease.

Although many studies examine privacy in social media settings, few studies examine privacy issues that may arise due to characteristics of user populations. This study compares privacy issues among social media users in the United States and China. It also explores privacy issues among users with different levels of Internet addiction and different online identity perceptions. In doing so, it identifies several populations that are more susceptible to privacy violations due to their online behaviors. The study finds that U.S. and Chinese users differ in their privacy coping and information-sharing behaviors. Chinese users may be at greater risk to privacy violations because of their online behaviors. Additionally, users addicted to social media and users with different online identities may be vulnerable to privacy violations. Potential explanations for these findings are provided and directions for future research are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States has a deficit of rheumatology specialists. This leads to an increased burden in accessing care for patients requiring specialized care. Given that most rheumatologists are located in urban centers at large hospitals, many lupus patients must travel long distances for routine appointments. The present work aims to determine whether travel burden is associated with increased levels of depression and anxiety among these patients. Data for this study were collected from baseline visits of patients participating in a lupus study at MUSC. A travel/economic burden survey was assessed as well as the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) survey as measures of depression and anxiety, respectively. Linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between travel burden and depression and anxiety. Frequency of healthcare visits was significantly associated with increased depression (β = 1.3, p = 0.02). Significant relationships were identified between anxiety and requiring time off from work for healthcare appointments (β = 4, p = 0.02), and anxiety and perceived difficulty in traveling to primary care providers (β = 3.1, p = 0.04). Results from this study provide evidence that travel burden can have an effect on lupus patients' anxiety and depression levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional cancer models including cell lines and animal models have limited applications in both basic and clinical cancer research. Genomics-based precision oncology only help 2–20% patients with solid cancer. Functional diagnostics and patient-derived cancer models are needed for precision cancer biology. In this review, we will summarize applications of conditional cell reprogramming (CR) in cancer research and next generation living biobanks (NGLB). Together with organoids, CR has been cited in two NCI (National Cancer Institute, USA) programs (PDMR: patient-derived cancer model repository; HCMI: human cancer model initiatives. HCMI will be distributed through ATCC). Briefly, the CR method is a simple co-culture technology with a Rho kinase inhibitor, Y-27632, in combination with fibroblast feeder cells, which allows us to rapidly expand both normal and malignant epithelial cells from diverse anatomic sites and mammalian species and does not require transfection with exogenous viral or cellular genes. Establishment of CR cells from both normal and tumor tissue is highly efficient. The robust nature of the technique is exemplified by the ability to produce 2 × 106 cells in five days from a core biopsy of tumor tissue. Normal CR cell cultures retain a normal karyotype and differentiation potential and CR cells derived from tumors retain their tumorigenic phenotype. CR also allows us to enrich cancer cells from urine (for bladder cancer), blood (for prostate cancer), and pleural effusion (for non-small cell lung carcinoma). The ability to produce inexhaustible cell populations using CR technology from small biopsies and cryopreserved specimens has the potential to transform biobanking repositories (NGLB: next-generation living biobank) and current pathology practice by enabling genetic, biochemical, metabolomic, proteomic, and biological assays, including chemosensitivity testing as a functional diagnostics tool for precision cancer medicine. We discussed analyses of patient-derived matched normal and tumor models using a case with tongue squamous cell carcinoma as an example. Last, we summarized applications in cancer research, disease modeling, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine of CR-based NGLB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is associated with increased morbidity, mortality, healthcare costs and decreased quality of life. African Americans in the USA have three to four times greater prevalence of SLE, risk of developing SLE at an earlier age, and SLE-related disease activity, damage, and mortality compared with Caucasians, with the highest rates experienced by African American women. There is strong evidence that patient-level factors are associated with outcomes, which justifies targeting them with intervention. While evidence-based self-management interventions that incorporate both social support and health education have reduced pain, improved function, and delayed disability among patients with SLE, African Americans and women are still disproportionately impacted by SLE. Peer mentoring interventions are effective in other chronic conditions that disproportionately affect minorities, such as diabetes mellitus, HIV, and kidney disease, but there is currently no empirically tested peer mentoring intervention developed for patients with SLE. Preliminary data from our group suggest that peer mentoring improves self-management, reduces disease activity, and improves health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in African American women with SLE.Methods: This study will test an innovative, manualized peer mentorship program designed to provide modeling and reinforcement by peers (mentors) to other African American women with SLE (mentees) to encourage them to engage in activities that promote disease self-management. Through a randomized, "mentored" or "support group" controlled design, we will assess the efficacy and mechanism(s) of this intervention in self-management, disease activity, and HRQOL.Discussion: This is the first study to test peer mentorship as an alternative strategy to improve outcomes in African American women with SLE. This could result in a model for other programs that aim to improve disease self-management, disease activity, and HRQOL in African American women suffering from chronic illness. The peer mentoring approach is uniquely fitted to African Americans, and this intervention has the potential to lead to health improvements for African American women with SLE that have not been attainable with other interventions. This would significantly reduce disparities and have considerable public health impact.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03734055 . Registered on 27 November 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensive use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture has led to widespread nonpoint source pollution in surface waterbodies. In this work, the occurrence and distribution of nonpoint source metals (Cu and Zn) and herbicides (metribuzin; atrazine; and its degradates, including desethyl atrazine (DEA), desisoproylatrazine (DIA), and deethyldeisopropylatrazine (DEDIA)) in the surface water of the Baima River, which is located in a region noted for its intense agricultural activities, were investigated during a high water period in August and a low water period in October. The results showed that the heavy metals and herbicides investigated were detected frequently in the surface water of the river during the two periods. The average concentrations of Cu during the high water period and low water period were 9.3 (0–20.7) and 8.7 (0–15.55) μg/L, and the average concentrations of Zn during the two periods were 11.4 (6.65–22.15) and 10.6 (7.55–15.15) μg/L, respectively. The concentrations of atrazine were higher than those of metribuzin, which ranged from 0.07 to 1.12 μg/L during the high water period and 0.01–0.74 μg/L during the low water period. The total concentrations of atrazine and its transformation products in 60.00% of the samples during the high water period exceeded the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 3 μg/L for the drinking water criteria in the USA, and 33.33% of the samples exceeded the MCL during the low water period. The spatial and temporal distributions of nonpoint source pollutants along the Baima River were influenced by land use and hydrogeomorphic settings. The ecotoxicological risk assessment indicated that atrazine and DIA have moderate risks to aquatic environment in Baima River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article informs that in 2016 the periodical is celebrating its 100th anniversary and mentions that in order to mark its anniversary the periodical is reprinting is several articles from its past issues such as a 1922 speech by Chief Justice William Howard Taft.