Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Clin Nutr ESPEN 2022 Jun 9;49:114-120. Epub 2022 Apr 9.

Post Graduate Program in Pediatrics and Child Health of PUCRS - Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 6681 - Partenon, Porto Alegre, 90619-900, RS, Brazil; Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 6681 - Partenon, Porto Alegre, 90619-900 - RS, Brazil. Electronic address:

Background & Aims: Concomitantly to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in the child population there was already another pandemic wave in progress: childhood obesity. Numerous studies in adults have been carried out and describe obesity as an independent risk and prognostic factor for the severity of COVID-19. This study aims to systematically review the literature on the relation between weight excess and the severity of COVID-19 in children and adolescents. Read More

Lancet Digit Health 2022 Jun;4(6):e455-e465

Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing, Health Policy Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Division of General Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Center for Health Equity Research Promotion, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Background: Little is known about whether machine-learning algorithms developed to predict opioid overdose using earlier years and from a single state will perform as well when applied to other populations. We aimed to develop a machine-learning algorithm to predict 3-month risk of opioid overdose using Pennsylvania Medicaid data and externally validated it in two data sources (ie, later years of Pennsylvania Medicaid data and data from a different state).

Methods: This prognostic modelling study developed and validated a machine-learning algorithm to predict overdose in Medicaid beneficiaries with one or more opioid prescription in Pennsylvania and Arizona, USA. Read More

BMJ Open 2022 May 27;12(5):e055735. Epub 2022 May 27.

Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Objective: The aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype disproportionately affects women of African ancestry across the diaspora, but its frequency across Africa has not been widely studied. This study seeks to estimate the frequency of TNBC among African populations.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2022 May 27. Epub 2022 May 27.

Translational Autoinflammatory Diseases Section (TADS), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Background: The interleukin-1 (IL-1) mediated systemic autoinflammatory diseases, including the cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS), tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS), mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD) and deficiency of the IL-1 receptor antagonist (DIRA), belong to a group of rare immunodysregulatory diseases that primarily present in early childhood with variable multiorgan involvement. When untreated, patients with severe clinical phenotypes have a poor prognosis, and diagnosis and management of these patients can be challenging. However, approved treatments targeting the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1 have been life changing and have significantly improved patient outcomes. Read More

Gen Comp Endocrinol 2022 May 24:114065. Epub 2022 May 24.

Biology Dept., Bowdoin College, 6500 College Station, Brunswick, Maine 04011. Electronic address:

Neuronal responses to peptide signaling are determined by the specific binding of a peptide to its receptor(s). For example, isoforms of the same peptide family can drive distinct responses in the same circuit by having different affinities for the same receptor, by having each isoform bind to a different receptor, or by a combination of these scenarios. Small changes in peptide composition can alter the binding kinetics and overall physiological response to a given peptide. Read More

Gastrointest Endosc 2022 May 24. Epub 2022 May 24.

Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.

Background And Aims: Placement of a Lumen Apposing Metal Stent (LAMS) between the gastric pouch and the excluded stomach allows for EUS Guided Transgastric Interventions (EDGI) in patients with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Although EUS guided transgastric ERCP (EDGE) outcomes have been reported, there is a paucity of data on other endoscopic interventions. We aimed to evaluate the outcomes and safety of EDGI. Read More

Am J Emerg Med 2022 Apr 6;58:39-42. Epub 2022 Apr 6.

Virginia Commonwealth University Health, Department of Pharmacy, 401 North 12th Street, PO Box 980042, Richmond, VA 23298-0042, United States of America. Electronic address:

Introduction: Acute heart rate control for atrial fibrillation (AF) with rapid ventricular response (RVR) in the emergency department (ED) is often achieved utilizing intravenous (IV) non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (CCB) or beta blockers (BB). For patients with concomitant heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), the American Heart Association and other clinical groups note that CCB should be avoided due to their potential negative inotropic effects. However, minimal evidence exists to guide this current recommendation. Read More

J Speech Lang Hear Res 2022 May 27:1-11. Epub 2022 May 27.

Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park.

Purpose: This study examines the efficacy of perceptual training for improving typical listeners' identification of vowels produced by individuals with dysarthria. We examined whether training on a subset of vowels can generalize to (a) untrained vowels and (b) other speakers with similar overall intelligibility.

Method: Sixty naive listeners completed a pretest/posttest perceptual learning task. Read More

PLoS One 2022 27;17(5):e0247629. Epub 2022 May 27.

Laboratory of Pain and Neuromodulation, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.

Introduction: The association between descending pain modulatory system (DPMS) dysfunction and fibromyalgia has been previously described, but more studies are required on its relationship with aberrant functional connectivity (FC) between the motor and prefrontal cortices.

Objectives: The objective of this cross-sectional observational study was to compare the intra- and interhemispheric FC between the bilateral motor and prefrontal cortices in women with fibromyalgia, comparing responders and nonresponders to the conditioned pain modulation (CPM) test.

Methods: A cross-sectional sample of 37 women (23 responders and 14 nonresponders to the CPM test) with fibromyalgia diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology criteria underwent a standardized clinical assessment and an FC analysis using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Read More

PLoS One 2022 27;17(5):e0268861. Epub 2022 May 27.

Bioinformatics Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America.

Recruiting, training and retaining scientists in computational biology is necessary to develop a workforce that can lead the quantitative biology revolution. Yet, African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Native Americans, and women are severely underrepresented in computational biosciences. We established the UCLA Bruins-in-Genomics Summer Research Program to provide training and research experiences in quantitative biology and bioinformatics to undergraduate students with an emphasis on students from backgrounds underrepresented in computational biology. Read More

Vet Sci 2022 May 12;9(5). Epub 2022 May 12.

Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.

The balance of the gut microbiome is important for the honey bee's growth and development, immune function and defense against pathogens. The use of a beneficial bacteria-based strategy for the prevention and biocontrol of American foulbrood (AFB) and European foulbrood (EFB) diseases in honey bees offers interesting prospects. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are common inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract of the honey bee. Read More

Vet Sci 2022 Apr 27;9(5). Epub 2022 Apr 27.

Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 589 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602, USA.

Although waterfowl are the primary reservoir for multiple subtypes of influenza A virus (IAV), our understanding of population immunity in naturally infected waterfowl is poorly understood. Population immunity may be an important driver of seasonal subtype predominance in waterfowl populations and may affect the potential for establishment of introduced IAV such as the Eurasian-like A/Goose/Guangdong/1/1996 lineage in these populations. Here, we examine the prevalence of naturally acquired antibodies to nucleoprotein (NP), hemagglutinin (H3, H4, H5), and neuraminidase (N1, N2, N6, N8) in early migrating mallards () sampled in Northwest Minnesota during staging and early fall migration in September 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018. Read More

Vet Sci 2022 Apr 25;9(5). Epub 2022 Apr 25.

Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates.

We have previously found that sera from contain anticancer agents and the treatment of MCF7 cells with this serum resulted in the differential expression of 51 genes. The purpose of this study was to use in silico analysis to identify genes that might be epigenetically modulated in cells treated with crocodile serum and to understand the role of potential genes as novel candidates with epigenetic therapeutic potential. The findings report five proto-oncogenes (, , , , and ) and two tumor suppressor genes (, ) as novel therapeutic targets. Read More

Toxics 2022 May 18;10(5). Epub 2022 May 18.

Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Route de la Corniche 2, 1066 Epalinges, Switzerland.

Many pathological conditions and certain airway exposures are associated with oxidative stress (OS). Malondialdehyde (MDA) is an end-product of the oxidation of lipids in our cells and is present in all biological matrices including exhaled breath condensate (EBC). To use MDA as a biomarker of OS in EBC, a reference interval should be defined. Read More

Toxins (Basel) 2022 May 6;14(5). Epub 2022 May 6.

Human Nutrition Department, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar.

This study aimed at evaluating the incidence of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in thyme and thyme-based products, related dietary exposure, and cancer risk for regular and high consumption. A total of 160 samples were collected, and 32 composite samples were analyzed. AFB1 and OTA were respectively found in 84% (27/32) and 38% (12/32) of the samples. Read More

Toxins (Basel) 2022 Apr 22;14(5). Epub 2022 Apr 22.

Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.

Despite coagulotoxicity being a primary weapon for prey capture by species (lancehead pit vipers) and coagulopathy being a major lethal clinical effect, a genus-wide comparison has not been undertaken. To fill this knowledge gap, we used thromboelastography to compare 37 venoms, from across the full range of geography, taxonomy, and ecology, for their action upon whole plasma and isolated fibrinogen. Potent procoagulant toxicity was shown to be the main venom effect of most of the species tested. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2022 May 27;5:CD014617. Epub 2022 May 27.

Department of public health, General Directorate of Health Affairs Aseer Region, Abha, Saudi Arabia.

Background: Corneal abrasion is a common disorder frequently faced by ophthalmologists, emergency physicians, and primary care physicians. Ocular antibiotics are one of the management options for corneal abrasion. A comprehensive summary and synthesis of the evidence on antibiotic prophylaxis in traumatic corneal abrasion is thus far unavailable, therefore we conducted this review to evaluate the current evidence regarding this important issue. Read More

Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2022 May 27. Epub 2022 May 27.

Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States.

In March 2022, the United States Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act that would abolish the biannual change in clocks each fall and spring, and permanently adopt daylight saving time that aligns with the 'spring forward' time change each March. A number of scientific and medical societies have endorsed the abolishment of the biannual clock change, but oppose the permanent adoption of daylight saving time. Instead, leading organizations such as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) and the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms (SRBR) position statements highlight peer-reviewed evidence in favor of a permanent shift to standard time. Read More

MicroPubl Biol 2022 13;2022. Epub 2022 Apr 13.

Department of Experimental Pathology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.

Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol 2022 May 27:101161CIRCEP121007956. Epub 2022 May 27.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City (B.O.).

Oral anticoagulants (OACs) are medications commonly used in patients with atrial fibrillation and other cardiovascular conditions. Both warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants are susceptible to drug-drug interactions (DDIs). DDIs are an important cause of adverse drug reactions and exact a large toll on the health care system. Read More

JAMA Netw Open 2022 May 2;5(5):e2213737. Epub 2022 May 2.

Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine.

Importance: Civilian public mass shootings (CPMSs) in the US result in substantial injuries. However, the types and consequences of these injuries have not been systematically described.

Objective: To describe the injury characteristics, outcomes, and health care burden associated with nonfatal injuries sustained during CPMSs and to better understand the consequences to patients, hospitals, and society at large. Read More

JAMA Netw Open 2022 May 2;5(5):e2215328. Epub 2022 May 2.

Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.

Importance: The American Heart Association (AHA) Life's Simple 7 (LS7) score captures 7 biological and lifestyle factors associated with promoting cardiovascular health.

Objectives: To test whether healthier LS7 profiles are associated with significant brain health benefits in persons without stroke or dementia, and to evaluate whether genomic information can recapitulate the observed LS7.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This genetic association study was a nested neuroimaging study within the UK Biobank, a large population-based cohort study in the United Kingdom. Read More

Breast Cancer Res Treat 2022 May 27. Epub 2022 May 27.

Department of Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC, 20007, USA.

Introduction: There is a paucity of literature comparing the postoperative outcomes of males and females with breast cancer who undergo mastectomy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the comorbidities and 30-day post-mastectomy complication rates among males and females.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of breast cancer patients who underwent mastectomy from 2014 to 2016 using the American College of Surgeon's National Surgical Quality Improvement Project database. Read More

Prev Sci 2022 May 27. Epub 2022 May 27.

Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089-1061, USA.

Stress exposure and stress reactivity may be potent factors associated with increased risk of dementia. The 2017 Lancet Commission on Dementia and its 2020 update reviewed modifiable risk factors associated with dementia, but stress was not addressed directly. The present study provides a focused review of the association between stress and dementia across the lifespan, with measures of stress including stress exposure, psychological stress, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and biological markers of stress. Read More

Eur Spine J 2022 May 27. Epub 2022 May 27.

Spine Research Unit, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.

Purpose: Anterior approaches are gaining popularity for adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgeries especially with the introduction of hyperlordotic cages and improvement in MIS techniques. Combined Approaches provide powerful segmental sagittal correction potential and increase the surface area available for fusion in ASD surgery, both of which would improve overall. This is the first study directly comparing surgical outcomes between combined anterior-posterior approaches and all-posterior approach in a matched ASD population. Read More

Calcif Tissue Int 2022 May 27. Epub 2022 May 27.

Department of Pediatrics, Section of Diabetes and Endocrinology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Harold Hamm Diabetes Center, 1200, Children's avenue Suite 4500, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.

The perinatal period is a time of substantial bone mass accrual with many factors affecting long-term bone mineralization. Currently it is unclear what effect maternal gestational/type 2 diabetes has on infant bone mass accrual. This is a prospective study of offspring of Native American and Hispanic mothers with normoglycemia (n = 94) and gestational diabetes or type 2 diabetes (n = 64). Read More

Pediatr Radiol 2022 May 27. Epub 2022 May 27.

Department of Radiology, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital-New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.

The increasing recognition of the need for a diverse workforce as a tool for excellence in medicine has fortified the efforts toward recruitment, retention and development of faculty from racial and ethnic minorities. Despite these efforts, individuals of Black, Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander backgrounds remain vastly underrepresented in the radiology workforce. The main impediments to increasing their representation are an insufficient pipeline and the long time required to train a pediatric radiologist. Read More

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2022 May 27. Epub 2022 May 27.

University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.

Background: Research on the utilization and effectiveness of anti-TNF biologics in children with Very Early Onset Inflammatory Bowel (VEOIBD) is urgently needed. Here we describe anti-TNF use and durability in a multicenter cohort.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with VEOIBD (<6 years) between 2008 and 2013 at 25 North American centers. Read More

Hematology 2022 Dec;27(1):636-641

Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hemato-Oncologic Cytogenetics, Centre Hospitalier de Versailles, Le Chesnay, France.

Objectives: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with inv(16)/t(16;16) is among the most frequent AML subtypes. It is recognized by the detection of the fusion which confers a favorable prognosis, irrespective of the presence of secondary cytogenetic abnormalities. However, the effect of additional genetic anomalies on the behavior of inv(16) AML is debatable. Read More

Mar Drugs 2022 May 17;20(5). Epub 2022 May 17.

"Andrija Štampar" School of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.

The history of saline nasal irrigation (SNI) is indeed a long one, beginning from the ancient Ayurvedic practices and gaining a foothold in the west at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, there is a growing number of papers covering the effects of SNI, from in vitro studies to randomized clinical trials and literature overviews. Based on the recommendations of most of the European and American professional associations, seawater, alone or in combination with other preparations, has its place in the treatment of numerous conditions of the upper respiratory tract (URT), primarily chronic (rhino)sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, acute URT infections and postoperative recovery. Read More