• Fitzsimmons Daniels posted an update 1 week, 3 days ago

    To study the relationship of soy foods and nuts consumption during early pregnancy with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

    This was a prospective observational study conducted in Southwest China. Dietary information was assessed through 3-day 24-h dietary recalls at 6-14 gestational weeks. For soy foods and nuts, non-consumers were used as the reference category and the consumers were categorized into tertiles. GDM was assessed with the 75-g, 2-h oral glucose tolerance test at 24-28 gestational weeks. Log-binomial models were used to assess the effects of soy foods and nuts on GDM.

    Of the 1495 pregnant women, 529 were diagnosed with GDM. Median (IQRs) intakes of soy foods and nuts were 2.9 (0.0, 10.3) and 5.0 (0.0, 15.0) g/d, respectively. Our study found that, compared with the non-consumers, the highest tertile of soy foods intake was associated with a decrease in risk of GDM (RR = 0.73, 95%CI 0.54-0.99,

     = .049). Similarly, compared with the non-consumers, a negative relationship between the highest tertile of nuts intake and GDM risk was identified (RR = 0.65, 95%CI 0.48-0.89,

     = .007).

    Consumption of soy foods and nuts are independently inversely associated with the risk of GDM during early pregnancy.

    Consumption of soy foods and nuts are independently inversely associated with the risk of GDM during early pregnancy.

    to study the true determinants of adverse perinatal outcome (APO) in term healthy mothers with normal cardiotocograph (CTG), evaluating the real influence of maternal age.

    In a retrospective study, we assessed a group of 529 term healthy mothers with normal CTGs that regardless of maternal age, evolved spontaneously up to 41 ± 2 weeks. The result of the conservative management was evaluated by means of univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis, determining the association of maternal age and other clinical and ultrasonographical parameters with APO.

    In contrast with low CPR MoM (OR = 0.155,

     = .014), induction of labor (OR = 2.273,

     = .023) and low parity (OR = 0.494,

     = .026), maternal age and birth weight centile did not prove to be true determinants of perinatal outcome. The multivariable model for prediction of APO using clinical parameters presented a sensitivity of 35% and 27% for a false positive rate of 10% and 5%, AUC 0.736 (95% CI 0.655-0.818),

     < .0001).

    in healthy old mothers with normal CTGs at term, APO is determined by low CPR, the existence of labor induction and low parity, while no real influence was observed for maternal age, fetal smallness, and interval examination-delivery. These results do not support the current consensus on induction at earlier weeks to prevent adverse outcomes in all cases of advanced maternal age, advocating for a more individualized, customized, and less interventional management based on fetal hemodynamics.

    in healthy old mothers with normal CTGs at term, APO is determined by low CPR, the existence of labor induction and low parity, while no real influence was observed for maternal age, fetal smallness, and interval examination-delivery. These results do not support the current consensus on induction at earlier weeks to prevent adverse outcomes in all cases of advanced maternal age, advocating for a more individualized, customized, and less interventional management based on fetal hemodynamics.Patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) represent a heterogeneous population and therefore there is no standard of care first salvage regimen. We conducted a multicenter, retrospective analysis to compare chemotherapy (e.g. HyperCVAD, MOAD, Larson/CALGB-9511, etc.) to novel agents (blinatumomab or inotuzumab) in first salvage. The primary endpoint, overall survival (OS), was not significantly different among treatment arms, with a median OS of 10.6 months with chemotherapy and 10.1 months with novel therapy (p = .799). Similarly, there was no difference in the CR/CRi rate, with a CR/CRi in 18 patients (41.9%) versus 16 patients (47.1%) treated with salvage chemotherapy and novel therapy, respectively (p = .817). Age significantly impacted the probability of achieving CR/CRi with novel therapy versus chemotherapy. This analysis suggests the use of chemotherapy in first salvage still represents an appropriate treatment option, particularly for young fit patients, as the median OS was roughly 10 months regardless of whether patients received novel therapy or chemotherapy in first salvage. For the reported outcomes, 100% of patients in the novel therapy arm received a novel therapy (per design), whereas only 60.5% of patients in the chemotherapy arm required a novel therapy. Thus, 40% of patients did not require a novel therapy for similar OS. This analysis demonstrates that first-line chemotherapy can achieve similar results to novel therapies, especially now that novel therapies are available for subsequent relapses. However, this study has several limitations including younger age, increased CNS involvement, and higher blast percentage in the chemotherapy arm and potential confounders, including selection of treatment sequence as 43 patients (55.8%) ultimately received both chemotherapy and novel therapy. Therefore, a larger, prospective, randomized study with adequate chemotherapy comparators and availability of novel agents upon relapse is warranted to confirm these results.

    This study evaluates the economic impact to US commercial payers of MMDx-Kidney used in conjunction with histologic evaluation of for-cause kidney transplant biopsies.

    An Excel-based model was developed to assess the cost impact of histology plus MMDx-Kidney versus histology alone for the evaluation of potential rejection in kidney transplant patients who receive a for-cause biopsy. Different model time periods were assessed, ranging from 1 to 5 years post-biopsy. A targeted literature review was used to identify parameter estimates, validated by two external clinicians with expertise in managing kidney transplant rejection. 1-Naphthyl PP1 purchase A sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the relative impact of key clinical and cost parameters. In particular, the model identified the magnitude of MMDx-Kidney’s impact on graft failure from rejection that would be required for MMDx-Kidney to be cost-neutral.

    By more accurately characterizing rejection, MMDx-Kidney is estimated to increase antirejection treatment costs bytion of for-cause kidney transplant biopsies alone, the use of MMDx-Kidney in conjunction with histologic evaluation improves the diagnoses of graft dysfunction and may have the potential to generate overall savings from reductions in rejection-related graft failure.Accumulating research suggests that individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) experience subtle functional changes, but that available functional assessment tools are insensitive to this. To address this gap, we describe the development and validation of the self-report, “Healthy Brain Ageing Functional Assessment Questionnaire” (HBA-FAQ). We examined the factor structure and psychometric properties of the HBA-FAQ in 503 participants with normal cognition, subjective cognitive decline (SCD), MCI or dementia. Our results found the HBA-FAQ to have good reliability, validity and stronger discriminative ability between healthy control participants and those with SCD (0.734, p = .001), MCI (0.666, p = .012) and dementia (0.798, p less then .001) compared to a widely-used instrumental activities of daily living screener. In conclusion, the HBA-FAQ is a valid, reliable self-report tool, providing an efficient and sensitive approach to identifying subtle changes in daily functioning in older people at risk of dementia.

    Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is known to be associated with hydrocephalus, but not with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Case presentation We describe such a case and propose the pathogenesis. We also discuss the challenges of diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring outcomes in this population that is already at high risk of vision loss from retinal dystrophy.

    IIH can result from a combination of risk factors in conjunction with the underlying dysfunctional cilia in BBS patients. Monitoring disease progression is difficult, and as such IIH may be underdiagnosed or missed. Management must be adjusted to account for BBS patients’ impaired metabolic and renal physiology. It is important that clinicians be aware of these challenges in this vulnerable population, and regular monitoring should be done to avoid preventable vision loss.

    IIH can result from a combination of risk factors in conjunction with the underlying dysfunctional cilia in BBS patients. Monitoring disease progression is difficult, and as such IIH may be underdiagnosed or missed. Management must be adjusted to account for BBS patients’ impaired metabolic and renal physiology. It is important that clinicians be aware of these challenges in this vulnerable population, and regular monitoring should be done to avoid preventable vision loss.

    Antiretroviral therapy (ART) reduces HIV replication to undetectable levels and prevents AIDS but cannot cure the infection and discontinuing ART results in viral rebound. Therefore, a primary goal of HIV therapeutic vaccine research is to induce potent HIV-specific immunity that could control viremia without ART, a so-called “functional cure” that eliminates the need for lifelong ART. DNA vaccines have several features that make them an attractive modality for an HIV therapeutic vaccine they are easy to manufacture, induce T-cell and antibody responses without anti-vector immunity, and do not involve ex vivo manipulations of patient cells.

    This review covers the progress in developing therapeutic HIV DNA vaccines, emphasizing delivery innovations to enhance vaccine immunogenicity. A central theme is a transition from needle injection delivery to the muscle toward using more sophisticated devices to target the skin and/or increasing transfection efficiency.

    There are multiple barriers to an effective therapeutic HIV DNA vaccine. While variables such as delivery, adjuvants, and immunogen design have been extensively explored, combining DNA vaccines with complementary approaches is underdeveloped. Complementary approaches include co-administration with latency reversal agents, immune checkpoint blockade, and targeting conserved fitness-constrained portions of the virus.

    There are multiple barriers to an effective therapeutic HIV DNA vaccine. While variables such as delivery, adjuvants, and immunogen design have been extensively explored, combining DNA vaccines with complementary approaches is underdeveloped. Complementary approaches include co-administration with latency reversal agents, immune checkpoint blockade, and targeting conserved fitness-constrained portions of the virus.

    Given the highly infectious nature of COVID-19, social distancing practices are key in stemming the spread of the virus. We aimed to assess the complex interplay among psychological factors, socio-demographic characteristics and social distancing behaviours within the framework of the widely used Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model.

    The present research employed network psychometrics on data collected during the first UK lockdown in April 2020 as part of the COVID-19 Psychological Research Consortium (C19PRC) Study. Using a network approach, we examined the predictions of psychological and demographic variables onto social distancing practices at two levels of analysis macro and micro.

    Our findings revealed several factors that influenced social distancing behaviour during the first UK lockdown. The COM-B model was successful in predicting particular aspects of social-distancing via the influence of psychological capability and motivation at the macro-and micro-levels, respectively.