Recent ucladom_oapolicydeposits items

What Dose of Methamphetamine Do Regular Consumers Use Daily? Estimating Oral Amphetamine Milligram Equivalents

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVES: The purity, accessibility, and affordability of illicit methamphetamine have increased in recent decades, which has been linked to rising rates of methamphetamine-involved overdoses, psychosis, cardiovascular events, and other health consequences. Nevertheless, information about the quantity of methamphetamine used by regular consumers has been limited, despite the potential clinical utility of exposure quantification. METHODS: From August 2024 to April 2026, self-reported daily methamphetamine consumption was assessed among n = 94 individuals in Los Angeles County. Methamphetamine samples (n = 256) were analyzed for purity using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Bioavailability by route of administration and stimulant equivalency were obtained from the literature. A simulation model leveraging bootstrapping with 1,000,000 draws was used to estimate oral amphetamine milligram equivalents (AME). RESULTS: The average reported methamphetamine consumption was 1.09...

NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Survivorship, Version 3.2026.

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The NCCN Guidelines for Survivorship offer guidance for health care providers who care for survivors of adult-onset cancer. These guidelines include screening, evaluation, and treatment recommendations for common physical and psychosocial problems resulting from cancer and its treatment and provide a framework for care coordination. They also present guidance for helping cancer survivors to enhance their wellness and maintain a healthy lifestyle. This article summarizes the panel's current recommendations and recent updates regarding anxiety, depression, distress, and trauma in cancer survivors.

Unpacking “High-Risk”: A Latent Class Analysis of Sexual Partnership Patterns and HIV Transmission Risk Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men in Perú

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) are often considered a homogenous "high-risk" group. We aimed to differentiate subgroups based on participants' last sexual partner and explore associations with HIV transmission risk factors. SETTING: We utilized cross-sectional data (06/2022 to 03/2023) from "high-risk" GBMSM in Lima, Perú. METHODS: Participants included cisgender men and gender nonconforming adults assigned male at birth reporting condomless anal sex with ≥1 serodiscordant or unknown serostatus cisgender man or transgender woman in the past 6 months. Latent class analysis was performed using the last sexual partner characteristics, including partner type, sexual role, and condomless anal sex position. Multinomial logistic regression examined HIV risk factors associated with latent classes, including drug use, transactional sex, sexually transmitted infection diagnosis, sexual identity, hazardous alcohol use, and number of anonymous partners. RESULTS:...

Cabotegravir Maintains Protective Efficacy in the Setting of Bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections: A Secondary Analysis of HPTN 083

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have been shown to facilitate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and acquisition. HPTN 083, a global clinical trial, demonstrated superiority of long-acting cabotegravir (CAB-LA) versus daily oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) for HIV prevention among transgender women and cisgender men who have sex with men. This analysis assessed whether CAB-LA maintained protective efficacy when bacterial STIs (syphilis, rectal/urethral gonorrhea, and chlamydia) were present. METHODS: STI events per 100 person-years were calculated, including by subgroups (age, race/ethnicity, gender, education, treatment arm, drug use, alcohol use, region/country, condom usage, partner number, marital status, baseline STI). Association between baseline factors and STI incidence was modeled using Poisson regression. Cox proportional hazards modeling with STI status as a time-varying covariate was used to evaluate potential...

Leveraging Real-World Evidence to Inform Regulatory, Clinical, and Coverage Decisions Related to Glucagon-Like Peptide-1-Based Therapies: Synopsis of a National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Workshop.

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have transformed obesity and diabetes management, with rapidly expanding indications and use among U.S. adults. Despite their promise, key questions remain about optimal treatment pathways, long-term safety, effectiveness across diverse populations, adherence, and economic impact. Real-world evidence (RWE) derived from electronic health records, claims, and other data sources could address these gaps, but unique challenges complicate its use, such as inconsistent insurance coverage, high discontinuation rates, medication shortages, compounded formulations, and off-label prescribing. To explore these issues, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases convened a workshop in May 2025 with experts from regulatory agencies, guideline committees, payers, and academia. Discussions focused on identifying knowledge gaps in GLP-1RA use, evaluating how RWE informs practice, assessing limitations of real-world...

Dopamine signaling drives skin invasion by human-infective nematodes

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Skin-penetrating nematodes are one of the most prevalent causes of disease worldwide. The World Health Organization has targeted these parasites for elimination by 2030, but the lack of preventative measures is a major obstacle to this goal. Infective larvae enter hosts through skin and blocking skin penetration could prevent infection. However, in order to prevent worm ingress via the skin, an understanding of the behavioral and neural mechanisms that drive skin penetration is required. Here, we describe the skin-penetration behavior of the human-infective threadworm Strongyloides stercoralis. We show that S. stercoralis engages in repeated cycles of pushing, puncturing, and crawling on the skin surface before penetrating. Pharmacological inhibition of dopamine signaling inhibits these behaviors in S. stercoralis and the human hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum, suggesting a critical role for dopamine signaling in driving skin penetration across distantly related nematodes. CRISPR-mediated...

Cardiovascular Toxicity of Antibody-Drug Conjugates in Breast Cancer Current Evidence and Evolving Considerations: JACC: CardioOncology Primer

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Cardiovascular Toxicity of Antibody-Drug Conjugates in Breast Cancer Current Evidence and Evolving Considerations: JACC: CardioOncology Primer

Practice Pattern and Outcome Differences in the Emergency Department by Physician Sex

Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Practice Pattern and Outcome Differences in the Emergency Department by Physician Sex

Understanding the gastrointestinal microbiome in systemic sclerosis: methodological advancements and emerging research

Sun, 6 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review highlights the role of the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome in systemic sclerosis (SSc). We describe techniques for evaluating the GI microbiome in humans, and emerging research linking GI microbiome alterations (i.e., dysbiosis) and distinct SSc clinical manifestations. We also address the evolving treatment landscape targeting dysbiosis in SSc. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent literature brings into focus the complex relationship between the GI microbiome and SSc pathogenesis. Advanced techniques (e.g., shotgun metagenomics, meta-transcriptomics) provide deeper insights into microbial taxonomy and active gene expression, exposing dysbiosis as a potential driver of SSc. New studies demonstrate that SSc patients who possess specific SSc clinical features, (e.g., interstitial lung disease), have unique GI microbiome profiles. SUMMARY: Dysbiosis is associated with specific clinical features in patients with SSc. New tools for studying the GI microbiome have...

Real-world genetic testing data of ovarian cancer patients: Informing counseling and risk reduction in patients over age seventy

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Older women are underrepresented in hereditary cancer guidelines, and the prevalence of pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P/LP) germline variants in ovarian cancer (OC) patients aged ≥70 remains poorly characterized. Current recommendations for risk-reducing interventions and surveillance rely heavily on variant and family history (FH), yet their applicability in older populations is uncertain. We evaluated age-stratified prevalence of P/LP variants at OC diagnosis to identify at-risk older patients and inform more inclusive genetic counseling strategies. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 113,236 OC patients undergoing germline testing through the Myriad Collaborative Research Registry (1996-2024). Variant prevalence, ancestry, FH, and testing patterns were evaluated across age groups, with focus on patients ≥70. RESULTS: Overall, 14,513 patients (12.8%) harbored a P/LP variant, including 13,049 (11.5%) in established OC susceptibility genes. Among patients...

Ligandability at the Membrane Interface of GPx4 Revealed through a Reverse Micelle Fragment Screening Platform.

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

While they account for a large portion of drug targets, membrane proteins present a unique challenge for drug discovery. Peripheral membrane proteins (PMPs), a class of water-soluble proteins that bind to membranes, are also difficult targets, particularly those that function only when bound to membranes. The protein-membrane interface in PMPs is often where functional interactions and catalysis occur, making it a logical target for inhibition. However, protein-membrane interfaces are underexplored spaces in inhibitor design, and there is a need for enhanced methods for small-molecule ligand discovery. In an effort to better initiate drug discovery efforts for PMPs, this study presents a screening methodology using membrane-mimicking reverse micelles (mmRM) and NMR-based fragment screening to assess ligandability at the protein-membrane interface. The proof-of-principle target, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4), is a lipid hydroperoxidase that is essential for the oxidative protection...

Time-restricted feeding enhances cross-tissue temporal coordination of mitochondrial-associated transcripts

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Coordinating metabolism with the day-night cycle is essential for health. Circadian rhythms synchronize cellular and tissue functions with the external environment. Nutrient timing is a potent circadian cue that entrains peripheral clocks across organs. Mitochondria exhibit daily rhythms in energy metabolism and redox regulation; however, the temporal organization of mitochondrial-associated transcriptional programs across tissues remains unknown. We hypothesized that time-restricted feeding (TRF) enhances the cross-tissue coordination of mitochondrial-associated transcripts (MATs). Using a 22-tissue, 24-h transcriptomic dataset from mice under ad libitum or TRF conditions, we applied correlation- and phase-based analyses to quantify the intra- and inter-tissue alignment of MAT expression. TRF markedly increased cross-tissue coordination, nearly quadrupling the number of globally aligned MATs. Among these, Coq10b emerged as the most rhythmically aligned gene across...

On the Misuse of Virus-Transformed Human Corneal Epithelial Cells as Surrogates for Normal Cells

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Research in corneal biology and pathology including disease modeling and drug testing largely depends on the availability of human ex vivo cultures. Because normal corneal epithelium can be cultured only for several passages, stable epithelial cell lines transformed by different agents or spontaneously have been developed. Telomerase immortalized diploid cell lines introduced more recently were shown to recapitulate traits of normal cells including the expression of some markers and stratification ability. At the same time, there are frequently used cell lines generated by transformation with viruses. The most popular lines were shown to be unstable, tetraploid, lacking important epithelial markers, having aberrant differentiation and deviating from normal cells by gene expression patterns. This perspective reviews properties of various corneal epithelial cell lines and cautions against the use of virally transformed, especially tumorigenic cell lines, as seriously deviating form...

Improving Medication Reconciliation at Discharge: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background

Medication discrepancies remain a persistent patient safety concern despite decades of quality improvement efforts. Research indicates that about half of hospitalized adults experience at least one such discrepancy after discharge, often stemming from unclear clinician roles and poor communication among nurses, physicians, and pharmacists. Understanding nurses' perspectives is critical to designing interventions that will improve medication reconciliation and enhance patient safety at discharge.

Purpose

This study aimed to explore RNs' perspectives of medication reconciliation during hospital discharge, focusing on barriers, communication patterns, and opportunities for system improvement.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was administered to nursing staff across medical telemetry, cardiac observation, short-stay, and general observation units at a large quaternary academic teaching hospital between March 21 and April 30, 2022. The survey assessed...

Facile strategy enabling both high loading and high release amounts of the water-insoluble drug clofazimine using mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Facile strategy enabling both high loading and high release amounts of the water-insoluble drug clofazimine using mesoporous silica nanoparticles

Photothermal Nanoblades for Delivery of Large-Sized Cargo into Mammalian Cells at High Throughput

Fri, 21 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Technologies for transferring large-sized cargo into mammalian cells are needed to advance key applications in cell engineering. However, reliable methodologies for introducing large-sized cargo into mammalian cells are nearly completely lacking. This talk will present two new technologies, photothermal nanoblade and BLAST, that overcome the size limitation of cargo delivery into mammalian cells.

Discovery and cryoEM structure of FPM13, a periplasmic metalloprotein unique to Francisella

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We report the identification and cryoEM structure of the Francisella protein FTN_1118, a previously uncharacterized 13 kDa periplasmic protein unique to the Francisella genus. The protein was serendipitously discovered during purification of Francisella type VI secretion system (T6SS) effector proteins and is hereby designated as FPM13 (Francisella Periplasmic Metalloprotein, 13 kDa) based on its cellular and biochemical properties. Identified by the cryoID approach based on our cryoEM density map, FPM13 exists naturally as a cylindrical 18-mer complex with 9-fold dihedral symmetry, formed by stacking two donut-shaped nonamers head-to-head. Measuring ~8 nm in height and outer diameter with a 3.5 nm central channel, the complex features a double-layered wall comprising an inner β-sheet core and an outer α-helical shell. Each FPM13 monomer adopts a compact fold comprising an N-terminus β-strand, an α-helix and two additional β strands at the C-terminus. Inter-ring loop interactions,...

Examining Undergraduates’ Intentions to Pursue a Science Career: A Longitudinal Study of a National Biomedical Training Initiative

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Disparities in the participation of individuals from historically excluded groups in science careers persist, particularly at advanced career stages. In response to this challenge, the National Institutes of Health developed the BUilding Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) initiative, aimed at undergraduate institutions to examine evidence-based strategies to engage and retain students across science-related fields. In this longitudinal study, we used propensity score matching and mixed-effects logistic regression models to examine the effects of BUILD on undergraduates' intentions to pursue science-related research careers. The results indicate that students who participated in BUILD are four times more likely to pursue a science-related research career in comparison to their non-BUILD counterparts. We also discuss and present the need to incorporate research training and mentorship to promote a diverse scientific workforce.

Institutionalizing grant-funded interventions: a multiple case study examining long-term investments in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM)

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background, context, and purposeAlthough funding agencies make large investments and encourage program adoption, little is known about the process of institutionalizing grant-funded efforts in higher education. This multiple case study examined how grant-funded awardees of a biomedical training grant worked toward institutionalizing program activities. Cases included 10 diverse postsecondary institutions (368 study participants) across the United States charged with implementing a federal grant aimed at comprehensive and multi-level approaches to engage and retain students from diverse backgrounds in biomedical research.FindingsEmploying prior frameworks on institutionalization in higher education, we examined how embedded campus agents appealed to two determinants of institutionalization: compatibility and mutualism. We identified institutional resources as an additional determinant. Compatibility is most commonly sought after as early as the grant proposal stage, while agents...

Correlates of Risk for Disinhibited Behaviors in the Million Veteran Program Cohort

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Importance: Many psychiatric outcomes share a common etiologic pathway reflecting behavioral disinhibition, generally referred to as externalizing (EXT) disorders. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have demonstrated the overlap between EXT disorders and important aspects of veterans' health, such as suicide-related behaviors and substance use disorders (SUDs). Objective: To explore correlates of risk for EXT disorders within the Veterans Health Administration (VA) Million Veteran Program (MVP). Design, Setting, and Participants: A series of phenome-wide association studies (PheWASs) of polygenic risk scores (PGSs) for EXT disorders was conducted using electronic health records. First, ancestry-specific PheWASs of EXT PGSs were conducted in the African, European, and Hispanic or Latin American ancestries. Next, a conditional PheWAS, covarying for PGSs of comorbid psychiatric problems (depression, schizophrenia, and suicide attempt; European ancestries only), was performed....

Community PrEP delivery preferences among pregnant and breastfeeding women using oral PrEP in south africa and kenya.