Early physical rehabilitation dosage in the intensive care unit associates with hospital outcomes after critical COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between physical rehabilitation parameters including an approach to quantifying dosage with hospital outcomes for patients with critical COVID-19. DESIGN: Retrospective practice analysis from March 5, 2020, to April 15, 2021. SETTING: Intensive care units (ICU) at four medical institutions. PATIENTS: n = 3780 adults with ICU admission and diagnosis of COVID-19. INTERVENTIONS: We measured the physical rehabilitation treatment delivered in ICU and patient outcomes: (1) mortality; (2) discharge disposition; and (3) physical function at hospital discharge measured by the Activity Measure-Post Acute Care (AM-PAC) "6-Clicks" (6-24, 24 = greater functional independence). Physical rehabilitation dosage was defined as the average mobility level scores in the first three sessions (a surrogate measure of intensity) multiplied by the rehabilitation frequency (PT + OT frequency in hospital). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The cohort was a mean 64 ± 16 years old, 41% female, mean BMI of 32 ± 9 kg/m2 and 46% (n = 1739) required mechanical ventilation. For 2191 patients who received rehabilitation, the dosage and AM-PAC at discharge were moderately, positively associated (Spearman's rho [r] = 0.484, p < 0.001). Multivariate linear regression (model adjusted R2 = 0.68, p < 0.001) demonstrates mechanical ventilation (ß = - 0.86, p = 0.001), average mobility score in first three sessions (ß = 2.6, p < 0.001) and physical rehabilitation dosage (ß = 0.22, p = 0.001) were predictive of AM-PAC scores at discharge when controlling for age, sex, BMI, and ICU LOS. CONCLUSIONS: Greater physical rehabilitation exposure early in the ICU is associated with better physical function at hospital discharge.

Biologic and clinical analysis of childhood gamma delta T-ALL identifies LMO2/STAG2 rearrangements as extremely high-risk.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia expressing the gamma delta T cell receptor (yo T-ALL) is a poorly understood disease. We studied 200 children with yo T-ALL from 13 clinical study groups to understand the clinical and genetic features of this disease. We found age and genetic drivers were significantly associated with outcome. yo T-ALL diagnosed in children under three years of age was extremely high-risk and enriched for genetic alterations that result in both LMO2 activation and STAG2 inactivation. Mechanistically, using patient samples and isogenic cell lines, we show that inactivation of STAG2 profoundly perturbs chromatin organization by altering enhancer-promoter looping, resulting in deregulation of gene expression associated with T-cell differentiation. High throughput drug screening identified a vulnerability in DNA repair pathways arising from STAG2 inactivation, which can be targeted by Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibition. These data provide a diagnostic framework for classification and risk stratification of pediatric yo T-ALL.

Problem solving is embedded in context so how do we measure it?

Problem solving encompasses the broad domain of human, goal-directed behaviors. Though we may attempt to measure problem solving using tightly controlled and decontextualized tasks, it is inextricably embedded in both reasoners' experiences and their contexts. Without situating problem solvers, problem contexts, and our own experiential partialities as researchers, we risk intertwining the research of information relevance with our own confirmatory biases about people, environments, and ourselves. We review each of these ecological facets of information relevance in problem solving, and we suggest a framework to guide its measurement. We ground this framework with concrete examples of ecologically valid, culturally relevant measurement of problem solving.

Pheromone representation in the ant antennal lobe changes with age.

While the neural basis of age-related decline has been extensively studied,1,2,3 less is known about changes in neural function during the pre-senescent stages of adulthood. Adult neural plasticity is likely a key factor in social insect age polyethism, where individuals perform different tasks as they age and divide labor in an age-dependent manner.4,5,6,7,8,9 Primarily, workers transition from nursing to foraging tasks,5,10 become more aggressive, and more readily display alarm behavior11,12,13,14,15,16 as they get older. While it is unknown how these behavioral dynamics are neurally regulated, they could partially be generated by altered salience of behaviorally relevant stimuli.4,6,7 Here, we investigated how odor coding in the antennal lobe (AL) changes with age in the context of alarm pheromone communication in the clonal raider ant (Ooceraea biroi).17 Similar to other social insects,11,12,16 older ants responded more rapidly to alarm pheromones, the chemical signals for danger. Using whole-AL calcium imaging,18 we then mapped odor representations for five general odorants and two alarm pheromones in young and old ants. Alarm pheromones were represented sparsely at all ages. However, alarm pheromone responses within individual glomeruli changed with age, either increasing or decreasing. Only two glomeruli became sensitized to alarm pheromones with age, while at the same time becoming desensitized to general odorants. Our results suggest that the heightened response to alarm pheromones in older ants occurs via increased sensitivity in these two core glomeruli, illustrating the importance of sensory modulation in social insect division of labor and age-associated behavioral plasticity.

Risk of Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC) Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus on Anti-Hyperglycemic Medications.

Background: Observed activity of metformin in reducing the risk of severe COVID-19 suggests a potential use of the anti-hyperglycemic in the prevention of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). We assessed the 3-month and 6-month risk of PASC among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) comparing metformin users to sulfonylureas (SU) or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) users. Methods: We used de-identified patient level electronic health record data from the National Covid Cohort Collaborative (N3C) between October 2021 and April 2023. Participants were adults ≥ 18 years with T2DM who had at least one outpatient healthcare encounter in health institutions in the United States prior to COVID-19 diagnosis. The outcome of PASC was defined based on the presence of a diagnosis code for the illness or using a predicted probability based on a machine learning algorithm. We estimated the 3-month and 6-month risk of PASC and calculated crude and weighted risk ratios (RR), risk differences (RD), and differences in mean predicted probability. Results: We identified 5596 (mean age: 61.1 years; SD: 12.6) and 1451 (mean age: 64.9 years; SD 12.5) eligible prevalent users of metformin and SU/DPP4i respectively. We did not find a significant difference in risk of PASC at 3 months (RR = 0.86 [0.56; 1.32], RD = -3.06 per 1000 [-12.14; 6.01]), or at 6 months (RR = 0.81 [0.55; 1.20], RD = -4.91 per 1000 [-14.75, 4.93]) comparing prevalent users of metformin to prevalent users of SU/ DPP4i. Similar observations were made for the outcome definition using the ML algorithm. Conclusion: The observed estimates in our study are consistent with a reduced risk of PASC among prevalent users of metformin, however the uncertainty of our confidence intervals warrants cautious interpretations of the results. A standardized clinical definition of PASC is warranted for thorough evaluation of the effectiveness of therapies under assessment for the prevention of PASC.

Previous research suggests that metformin, due to its anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-thrombotic properties may reduce the risk of severe COVID-19. Given the shared etiology of COVID-19 and the post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), and the proposed inflammatory processes of PASC, metformin may also be a beneficial preventive option. We investigated the benefit of metformin for PASC prevention in a population of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis who were on metformin or two other anti-hyperglycemic medications prior to infection with SARS-CoV-2. Our results were consistent with a reduction in the risk of PASC with the use of metformin, however, the imprecise confidence intervals obtained warrants further investigation of this association of the potential beneficial effect of metformin for preventing PASC in patients with medication-managed diabetes.

Social Justice Education in CAATE-Accredited Post-Baccalaureate Athletic Training Programs.

Social justice education (SJE) prepares clinicians to provide patient-centered care. Our purpose was to assess SJE in CAATE-accredited, post-baccalaureate professional athletic training programs. We used a cross-sectional, online survey. Individuals (n=215) in their last year of post-baccalaureate professional education or those who were within 6 months post-graduation participated. The survey included closed and open-ended questions regarding types of education, topics of education, perceived confidence, and levels of agreement regarding identifying, addressing, and applying social justice concepts. Students from different cultural ethnicities reported having different educational experiences relative to their formal and informal instruction. Significant differences were identified between cultural ethnicity groups on perceptions of professors' knowledge (p<0.001), preceptors' knowledge (p<0.001), and agreement their program prepared them to address social justice issues (p<0.001). Two domains emerged from the open-ended responses: 1) social justice defined and 2) educational needs. Participants described social justice as equality, equity, and justice for minoritized people. Participants described SJE as not occurring or limited, and they expressed a desire for active practical experiences from heterogeneous and unbiased sources. As programs move to incorporate CAATE standards, more frequent and varied SJE is expected from minoritized students.

Safety of Extended Pirtobrutinib Exposure in Relapsed and/or Refractory B-Cell Malignancies.

INTRODUCTION: Pirtobrutinib, a highly selective, noncovalent (reversible) Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has demonstrated promising efficacy in B-cell malignancies and is associated with low rates of discontinuation and dose reduction. Pirtobrutinib is administered until disease progression or toxicity, necessitating an understanding of the safety profile in patients with extended treatment. METHODS: Here we report the safety of pirtobrutinib in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies with extended (≥12 months) drug exposure from the BRUIN trial. Assessments included median time-to-first-occurrence of adverse events (AEs), dose reductions, and discontinuations due to treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs) and select AEs of interest (AESIs). RESULTS: Of 773 patients enrolled, 326 (42%) received treatment for ≥12 months. In the extended exposure cohort, the median time-on-treatment was 19 months. The most common all-cause TEAEs were fatigue (32%) and diarrhea (31%). TEAEs leading to dose reduction occurred in 23 (7%) and discontinuations in 11 (3%) extended exposure patients. One patient had a fatal treatment-related AE (COVID-19 pneumonia). Infections (73.0%) were the most common AESI with a median time-to-first-occurrence of 7.4 months. Majority of TEAEs and AESIs occurred during the first year of therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Pirtobrutinib therapy continues to demonstrate an excellent safety profile amenable to long-term administration without evidence of new or worsening toxicity signals.

Inflammatory Profiles Induced by Intranasal Immunization with Ricin Toxin-immune Complexes.

The underlying contribution of immune complexes in modulating adaptive immunity in mucosal tissues remains poorly understood. In this report, we examined, in mice, the proinflammatory response elicited by intranasal delivery of the biothreat agent ricin toxin (RT) in association with two toxin-neutralizing mAbs, SylH3 and PB10. We previously demonstrated that ricin-immune complexes (RICs) induce the rapid onset of high-titer toxin-neutralizing Abs that persist for months. We now demonstrate that such responses are dependent on CD4+ T cell help, because treatment of mice with an anti-CD4 mAb abrogated the onset of RT-specific Abs following intranasal RICs exposure. To define the inflammatory environment associated with RIC exposure, we collected bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and sera from mice 6, 12, and 18 h after they had received RT or RICs by the intranasal route. A 32-plex cytometric bead array revealed an inflammatory profile elicited by RT that was dominated by IL-6 (>1500-fold increase in BALF) and secondarily by KC (CXCL1), G-CSF, GM-CSF, and MCP-1. RICs induced inflammatory profiles in both BALF and serum response that were similar to RT, albeit at markedly reduced levels. These results demonstrate that RICs retain the capacity to induce local and systemic inflammatory cytokines/chemokines that, in turn, may influence Ag sampling and presentation in the lung mucosa and draining lymph nodes. A better understanding of the fate of immune complexes following intranasal delivery has implications for the development of mucosal vaccines for biothreats and emerging infectious diseases.

Exploring Secondary School Athletic Trainers' Perspectives in Managing Mental Health Situations.

BACKGROUND: Most people believe that student-athletes experience fewer difficulties related to mental health than non-sport participants. However, several studies have shown high depression levels or emotional difficulties in adolescent athletes. Most secondary school students have access to athletic trainers in their schools. Secondary school athletic trainers (SSATs) are medical professionals who can provide health care for student-athletes, and they could be appropriate supporters in providing mental health management in secondary schools. However, there are no studies that have addressed their preparedness and confidence level to manage potential risk factors and mental health disorders. This study aims to ascertain preparedness and confidence levels from SSATs' perspectives in handling mental health disorders using a survey based on the mental health management guidelines and consensus statement. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study design. The research team created an online survey questionnaire based on the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) Mental Health Guidelines for Secondary School and Interassociation Recommendation: A Consensus Statement. Utilizing the NATA Research Survey Service, the online survey was emailed to SSATs who self-categorized as secondary school athletic trainers in the NATA membership system. (n = 171, 65% completion rate). SPSS was used to analyze the survey data. RESULT: This study found that 29.2% of SSATs reported they have policies or guidelines regarding mental health disorders management for minors. The most frequent policy was mandatory reporting in cases in which an individual is being abused or neglected (80.5%). The highest confidence area was aligned with the most frequent policy. The least frequent policy was considering unique stressors and triggers with student-athletes to recognize the potential mechanisms that may cause a mental illness or exacerbate an existing mental illness (58.5%). Even though the least frequent policy was not aligned with the least confidence area, it was the second lowest confidence level. This study identified significant differences between two different employment structures: school-based employment and hospital-based employment structures. Policies were more common in school-based employment than in hospital-based employment structures. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the gap between organizational and individual preparation. The majority of SSATs respondents expressed moderate to high confidence in their ability to manage mental health disorders, despite the lack of mental health policies or procedures in their secondary schools. This study recommends that SSATs create guidelines or procedures in the areas where they are least confident and prepared to offer mental health management for minor student-athletes. They can use the interassociation recommendations and the NATA guidelines for mental health care to close the gap.

ADAM9 promotes type I interferon-mediated innate immunity during encephalomyocarditis virus infection.

Viral myocarditis, an inflammatory disease of the heart, causes significant morbidity and mortality. Type I interferon (IFN)-mediated antiviral responses protect against myocarditis, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. We previously identified A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase domain 9 (ADAM9) as an important factor in viral pathogenesis. ADAM9 is implicated in a range of human diseases, including inflammatory diseases; however, its role in viral infection is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that mice lacking ADAM9 are more susceptible to encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV)-induced death and fail to mount a characteristic type I IFN response. This defect in type I IFN induction is specific to positive-sense, single-stranded RNA (+ ssRNA) viruses and involves melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5)-a key receptor for +ssRNA viruses. Mechanistically, ADAM9 binds to MDA5 and promotes its oligomerization and thereby downstream mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS) activation in response to EMCV RNA stimulation. Our findings identify a role for ADAM9 in the innate antiviral response, specifically MDA5-mediated IFN production, which protects against virus-induced cardiac damage, and provide a potential therapeutic target for treatment of viral myocarditis.

Variability in short-term mortality following repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms across centers and physicians.

BACKGROUND: Variation in the care management of repairs for ruptured infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms between centers and physicians, such as procedural volumes, may explain differences in mortality outcomes. First, we quantified the center and physician variability associated with 30- and 90-day mortality risk after ruptured open surgical repair (rOSR) and ruptured endovascular aneurysm repair (rEVAR). Second, we explored wheter part of this variability was attributable to procedural volume at the center and physician levels. METHODS: Two cohorts including rOSR and rEVAR procedures between 2013 and 2019 were analyzed from the Vascular Quality Initiative database. Thirty- and 90-day all-cause mortality rates were derived from linked Medicare claims data. The median odds ratio (MOR) (median mortality risk from low- to high-risk cluster) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) (variability attributable to each cluster) for 30- and 90-day mortality risks associated with center and physician variability were derived using patient-level adjusted multilevel logistic regression models. Procedural volume was calculated at the center and physician levels and stratified by quartiles. The models were sequentially adjusted for volumes, and the difference in ICCs (without vs with accounting for volume) was calculated to describe the center and physician variability in mortality risk attributable to volumes. RESULTS: We included 450 rOSRs (mean age, 74.5 ± 7.6 years; 23.5% female) and 752 rEVARs (76.4 ± 8.4 years; 26.1% female). After rOSRs, the 30- and 90-day mortality rates were 32.9% and 38.7%, respectively. No variability across centers and physicians was noted (30- and 90-day MORs ≈1 and ICCs ≈0%). Neither center nor physician volume was associated with 30-day (P = .477 and P = .796) or 90-day mortality (P = .098 and P = .559). After rEVAR, the 30- and 90-day mortality rates were 21.3% and 25.5%, respectively. Significant center variability (30-day MOR, 1.82 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.33-2.22]; ICC, 11% [95% CI, 2%-36%]; and 90-day MOR, 1.76 [95% CI, 1.37-2.09]; ICC, 10% [95% CI, 3%-30%]), but negligeable variability across physicians (30- and 90-day MORs ≈1 and ICCs ≈0%) were noted. Neither center nor physician volume were associated with 30-day (P = .076 and P = .336) or 90-day mortality risk (P = .066 and P = .584). The center variability attributable to procedural volumes was negligeable (difference in ICCs, 1% for 30-day mortality; 0% for 90-day mortality). CONCLUSIONS: Variability in practice from center to center was associated with short-term mortality outcomes in rEVAR, but not for rOSR. Physician variability was not associated with short-term mortality for rOSR or rEVAR. Annualized center and physician volumes did not significantly explain these associations. Further work is needed to identify center-level factors affecting the quality of care and outcomes for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.

A Preliminary Validation of an Optimal Cutpoint in Total Number of Patient-Reported Symptoms in Head and Neck Cancer for Effective Alignment of Clinical Resources with Patients' Symptom Burden.

Background: Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) often experience high symptom burden leading to lower quality of life (QoL). Objective: This study aims to conceptually model optimal cutpoint by examining where total number of patient-reported symptoms exceeds patients' coping capacity, leading to a decline in QoL in patients with HNC. Methods: Secondary data analysis of 105 individuals with HNC enrolled in a clinical usefulness study of the NYU Electronic Patient Visit Assessment (ePVA)©, a digital patient-reported symptom measure. Patients completed ePVA and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC©) QLQ-C30 v3.0. The total number of patient-reported symptoms was the sum of symptoms as identified by the ePVA questionnaire. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to define optimal cutpoint. Results: Study participants had a mean age of 61.5, were primarily male (67.6%), and had Stage IV HNC (53.3%). The cutpoint of 10 symptoms was associated with significant decline of QoL (F= 44.8, P<.0001), dividing the population into categories of low symptom burden (< 10 symptoms) and high symptom burden (≥ 10 symptoms). Analyses of EORTC© function subscales supported the validity of 10 symptoms as the optimal cutpoint (Physical: F=28.3, P<.0001; Role: F=21.6, P<.0001; Emotional: F=9.5, P=.003; Social: F=33.1, P<.0001). Conclusions: In HNC, defining optimal cutpoints in the total number of patient-reported symptoms is feasible. Implications for Practice: Cutpoints in the total number of patient-reported symptoms may identify patients experiencing a high symptom burden from HNC. Foundational: Using optimal cutpoints of the total number of patient-reported symptoms may help effectively align clinical resources with patients' symptom burden.

Clinician perspectives regarding CYP2C19 genotype testing in patients with critical limb ischemia: A Delphi approach.

OBJECTIVES: Antiplatelet therapy is an essential element in the management of patients with arterial vascular disease. In peripheral arterial disease (PAD), dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT), primarily clopidogrel and aspirin, is routinely prescribed following intervention. There is sparse data regarding the need for DAPT, the appropriate duration, or the heterogeneity of treatment effects for antiplatelet regimens across patients, leading to potential uncertainty and heterogeneity around treatment practices. An example of heterogeneity of treatment effects is a patients' metabolizer status for the use of clopidogrel. The aim of the study was to (1) assess clinicians' knowledge of and attitudes toward managing patients with CYP2C19 mutations, (2) identify barriers to implementation of CYP2C19 testing and management policies, and (3) reach consensus for CYP2C19 testing and management strategies for patients with PAD who undergo peripheral vascular interventions (PVI). METHODS: A modified Delphi method was used to establish consensus amongst PAD interventionalists around CYP2C19 testing. All practicing Yale New Haven Hospital PAD interventionalists with backgrounds in interventional cardiology, vascular surgery, or interventional radiology were approached by email for participation. Round 1 included the collection of baseline demographic questions, knowledge questions, and three statements for consensus. Knowledge questions were rated on a 0-10 Likert scale with the following anchors: 0 ("Not at all"), 5 ("Neutral), and 10 ("Very Much"). Participants were asked to rate the importance of the three consensus statements on a 9-point Likert scale from 1 ("Strongly Disagree") to 10 ("Strongly Agree"). In Round 2, participants were shown the same consensus statements, the median response of the group from the previous round, and their previous answers. Participants were instructed to revise their rating using the results from the previous round. This process was repeated for Round 3. RESULTS: Of the 28 experts invited to participate, 13 agreed (46%). Participants were predominantly male (92.3%) and white (61.5%) with representation from interventional cardiology (46.2%) and vascular surgery (53.8%). Most participants reported more than 10+ years in practice (61.5%). PAD interventionalists felt they would benefit from more education regarding CYP2C19 mutations (median score 8.0, interquartile range 5.0-8.5). They indicated some familiarity with CYP2C19 mutations (7.0, 6.0-9.5) but did not feel strongly that CYP2C19 was important to their practice (6.0, 5.5-7.5). In each round, the median responses for the three consensus statements were 5, 6, and 9, respectively. With each successive round the interquartile range narrowed indicative of evolving consensus but did not reach the prespecified interquartile range for consensus of 1 for any of the statements. CONCLUSIONS: PAD interventionalists practicing at an academic health system recognize the heterogenous response of their patients to clopidogrel therapy but are unsure when to leverage genetic testing to improve outcomes for their patients. Our study identified gaps regarding PAD interventionalists' knowledge, perceived barriers, and attitudes toward CYP2C19 testing in PAD. This information highlights the need for randomized data on genetic testing for clopidogrel responsiveness in peripheral vascular disease following intervention to help guide antiplatelet management.

Longitudinal evaluation of the cutaneous and rectal microbiota of German shepherd dogs with perianal fistulas undergoing therapy with ciclosporin and ketoconazole.

BACKGROUND: Perianal fistulas are painful ulcers or sinus tracts that disproportionately affect German shepherd dogs and are proposed as a spontaneous animal model of fistulising Crohn's disease. OBJECTIVES: To characterise the rectal and cutaneous microbiota in German shepherd dogs with perianal fistulas and to investigate longitudinal shifts with lesion resolution during immunomodulatory therapy. ANIMALS: Eleven German shepherd dogs with perianal fistulas and 15 healthy German shepherd dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Affected dogs were evaluated and swabbed at three visits, 30 days apart, while undergoing treatment with ciclosporin and ketoconazole. Healthy German shepherd dogs were contemporaneously sampled. Sites included the rectum, perianal skin and axilla. The microbiome was evaluated following sequencing of the V4 hypervariable region of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene. RESULTS: Alpha diversity was not significantly different between healthy and affected dogs at each of the three body sites (p > 0.5), yet rectal and perianal beta diversities from affected dogs differed significantly from those of healthy dogs at Day 0 (p = 0.004). Rectal and perianal relative abundance of Prevotella spp. increased and perianal Staphylococcus spp. relative abundance decreased in affected dogs over time, coincident with lesion resolution. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Changes in lesional cutaneous and rectal microbiota occur in German shepherd dogs with perianal fistulas and shift over time with lesion resolution during immunomodulatory therapy. Further investigations of the role of cutaneous and enteric microbiota in the pathogenesis of perianal fistulas, and whether manipulation of microbial populations may ameliorate disease, are needed.

Examining Ableism Through the Physical Activity Experiences of Blind and Visually Impaired Women.

PURPOSE: This study examined how ableism influences blind and visually impaired women's experiences accessing and engaging in exercise, physical activity, and sport. METHODS: Ten women between the ages of 27 and 45 years completed a one-on-one audio-recorded virtual interview where they reflected on the meaningfulness of their exercise, physical activity, and/or sport experiences, as well as described any experiences related to direct, indirect, systemic, or internalized ableism within or when attempting to access those physical activity experiences. The interview transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. FINDINGS: The analysis resulted in the construction of 2 themes that depicted the participants' experiences: (1) "It's exhausting": navigating inaccessibility and (2) "You feel like a fish out of water": internalized ableism. DISCUSSION: The themes highlight the participants' experiences which were largely focused on being forced to navigate inaccessible environments which resulted in exhaustion and expressions of internalized ableism. These findings provide insight into what makes and does not make a physical activity space accessible and welcoming for blind and visually impaired adults.

Association between monoclonal antibody therapy, vaccination, and longer-term symptom resolution after acute COVID-19.

Effective therapies for reducing post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) symptoms are lacking. Evaluate the association between monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment or COVID-19 vaccination with symptom recovery in COVID-19 participants. The longitudinal survey-based cohort study was conducted from April 2021 to January 2022 across a multihospital Colorado health system. Adults ≥18 years with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test were included. Primary exposures were mAb treatment and COVID-19 vaccination. The primary outcome was time to symptom resolution after SARS-CoV-2 positive test date. The secondary outcome was hospitalization within 28 days of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. Analysis included 1612 participants, 539 mAb treated, and 486 with ≥2 vaccinations. Time to symptom resolution was similar between mAb treated versus untreated patients (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 0.90, 95% CI: 0.77-1.04). Time to symptom resolution was shorter for patients who received ≥2 vaccinations compared to those unvaccinated (aHR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.31-1.88). 28-day hospitalization risk was lower for patients receiving mAb therapy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.19-0.50) and ≥2 vaccinations (aOR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.20-0.55), compared with untreated or unvaccinated status. Analysis included 1612 participants, 539 mAb treated, and 486 with ≥2 vaccinations. Time to symptom resolution was similar between mAb treated versus untreated patients (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 0.90, 95% CI: 0.77-1.04). Time to symptom resolution was shorter for patients who received ≥2 vaccinations compared to those unvaccinated (aHR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.31-1.88). 28-day hospitalization risk was lower for patients receiving mAb therapy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.19-0.50) and ≥2 vaccinations (aOR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.20-0.55), compared with untreated or unvaccinated status. COVID-19 vaccination, but not mAb therapy, was associated with a shorter time to symptom resolution. Both were associated with lower 28-day hospitalization.

DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY IN SLENDER-TAILED MEERKATS (SURICATA SURICATTA) UNDER HUMAN CARE.

Meerkats (Suricata suricatta) housed at two accredited zoological institutions in the United States were evaluated via echocardiography, thoracic radiography, and blood biomarkers-taurine and feline N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide-to determine the prevalence and severity of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in both populations. In total, 24 meerkats were evaluated and 7 were diagnosed with DCM based on the following parameters: left ventricular internal diameter at end diastole > 1.30 cm, left ventricular internal diameter at end systole > 1.10 cm, and a fractional shortening of <18%. Echocardiographic parameters were identified and reported for normal and affected meerkats, whereas thoracic radiographs were not useful for screening for DCM. Meerkats with DCM were treated with pimobendan and/or benazepril and furosemide if indicated. Seven meerkats died during the study period, with the majority exhibiting myocardial fibrosis. Of the blood parameters tested, elevated taurine levels were associated with DCM. Further research is necessary to characterize the etiology of DCM in meerkats.

Dopant-additive synergism enhances perovskite solar modules.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are among the most promising photovoltaic technologies owing to their exceptional optoelectronic properties1,2. However, the lower efficiency, poor stability and reproducibility issues of large-area PSCs compared with laboratory-scale PSCs are notable drawbacks that hinder their commercialization3. Here we report a synergistic dopant-additive combination strategy using methylammonium chloride (MACl) as the dopant and a Lewis-basic ionic-liquid additive, 1,3-bis(cyanomethyl)imidazolium chloride ([Bcmim]Cl). This strategy effectively inhibits the degradation of the perovskite precursor solution (PPS), suppresses the aggregation of MACl and results in phase-homogeneous and stable perovskite films with high crystallinity and fewer defects. This approach enabled the fabrication of perovskite solar modules (PSMs) that achieved a certified efficiency of 23.30% and ultimately stabilized at 22.97% over a 27.22-cm2 aperture area, marking the highest certified PSM performance. Furthermore, the PSMs showed long-term operational stability, maintaining 94.66% of the initial efficiency after 1,000 h under continuous one-sun illumination at room temperature. The interaction between [Bcmim]Cl and MACl was extensively studied to unravel the mechanism leading to an enhancement of device properties. Our approach holds substantial promise for bridging the benchtop-to-rooftop gap and advancing the production and commercialization of large-area perovskite photovoltaics.

Real-world use of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir in COVID-19 outpatients during BQ.1, BQ.1.1., and XBB.1.5 predominant omicron variants in three U.S. health systems: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Ritonavir-boosted Nirmatrelvir (NMV-r), a protease inhibitor with in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2, can reduce risk of progression to severe COVID-19 among high-risk individuals infected with earlier variants, but less is known about its effectiveness against omicron variants BQ.1/BQ.1.1/XBB.1.5. We sought to evaluate effectiveness of NMV-r in BQ.1/BQ.1.1/XBB.1.5 omicron variants by comparing hospitalisation rates to NMV-r treated patients during a previous omicron phase and to contemporaneous untreated patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study of non-hospitalised adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection using real-world data from three health systems in Colorado and Utah, and compared hospitalisation rates in NMV-r-treated patients in a BA.2/BA.2.12.1/BA.4/BA.5 variant-predominant (first) phase (April 3, 2022-November 12, 2022), with a BQ.1/BQ.1.1/XBB.1.5 variant-predominant (second) phase (November 13, 2022-March 7, 2023). In the primary analysis, we used Firth logistic regression with a two-segment (phase) linear time model, and pre-specified non-inferiority bounds for the mean change between segments. In a pre-specified secondary analysis, we inferred NMV-r effectiveness in a cohort of treated and untreated patients infected during the second phase. For both analyses, the primary outcome was 28-day all-cause hospitalisation. Subgroup analyses assessed treatment effect heterogeneity. Findings: In the primary analysis, 28-day all-cause hospitalisation rates in NMV-r treated patients in the second phase (n = 12,061) were non-inferior compared to the first phase (n = 25,075) (198 [1.6%] vs. 345 [1.4%], adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.76 [95% CI 0.54-1.06]), with consistent results among secondary endpoints and key subgroups. Secondary cohort analyses revealed additional evidence for NMV-r effectiveness, with reduced 28-day hospitalisation rates among treated patients compared to untreated patients during a BQ.1/BQ.1.1/XBB.1.5 predominant phase (198/12,061 [1.6%] vs. 376/10,031 [3.7%], aOR 0.34 [95% CI 0.30-0.38), findings robust to additional sensitivity analyses. Interpretation: Real-world evidence from major US healthcare systems suggests ongoing NMV-r effectiveness in preventing hospitalisation during a BQ.1/BQ.1.1/XBB.1.5-predominant phase in the U.S, supporting its continued use in similar patient populations. Funding: U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Rehabilitation Interventions in Head and Neck Cancer: A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to identify and appraise current evidence for rehabilitation interventions in head and neck cancer. DESIGN: A previously published scoping review spanning 1990 through April 2017 was updated through January 11, 2023 and narrowed to include only interventional studies (Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2019;100(12):2381-2388). Included studies had a majority head and neck cancer population and rehabilitation-specific interventions. Pairs of authors extracted data and evaluated study quality using the PEDro tool. Results were organized by intervention type. RESULTS: Of 1338 unique citations, 83 studies with 87 citations met inclusion criteria. The median study sample size was 49 (range = 9-399). The most common interventions focused on swallow (16 studies), jaw (11), or both (6), followed by whole-body exercise (14) and voice (10). Most interventions took place in the outpatient setting (77) and were restorative in intent (65 articles). The overall study quality was fair (median PEDro score 5, range 0-8); none were of excellent quality (PEDro >9). CONCLUSIONS: Most head and neck cancer rehabilitation interventions have focused on restorative swallow and jaw exercises and whole-body exercise to address dysphagia, trismus, and deconditioning. More high-quality evidence for head and neck cancer rehabilitation interventions that address a wider range of impairments and activity and social participation limitations during various cancer care phases is urgently needed to reduce head and neck cancer-associated morbidity.