Citations

The use of cannabis and cannabis-related products among patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is increasing globally. Given the potential anti-inflammatory, therapeutic, and pain management benefits of cannabis-related products, we reviewed primary literature to evaluate the prevalence and possible purpose for cannabis use among patients with HS and to provide recommendations to patients and physicians. A narrative review of original studies was conducted using Embase and Ovid Medline databases. The search strategy was confirmed by a librarian and conducted on September 1, 2023, using a detailed list of subject headings and keywords tailored to cannabis, cannabis-related products, HS, and both adult and pediatric populations. Among 43 identified studies, 6 met the eligibility criteria and encompassed 34,435 patients. Patients were mostly female, and studies were conducted across the United States, Canada, and France. Findings show higher cannabis use among HS patients, demonstrating efficacy in pain management, sleep, anxiety relief, itch relief, and improved quality of life. Cannabis may play a role in analgesia, improved quality of life, pain, itch, and overall mental health in patients with HS and healthcare providers including dermatologists should increase their familiarity in appropriate use of cannabis-related products.

Abstract Objective People living with HIV have an increased risk of heart failure (HF). There are different subtypes of HF. Knowledge about the factors differentiating HF subtypes in people with HIV is limited but necessary to guide preventive measures and treatment. Methods A retrospective review of medical records was undertaken in people with HIV aged ≥18 years who received care at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial HIV Clinic between January 2017 and November 2019 ( N = 1166). Patients with an echocardiogram available for review ( n = 305) were included. HF was defined as a documented diagnosis of any HF subtype ( n = 52). We stratified those with HF by their ejection fraction (EF) into HF with preserved EF (HFpEF), HF with borderline EF, or HF with reduced EF (HFrEF). Results The prevalence of HF was 4.5%. The cohort included 46.2% females and 75% self‐identified African Americans. Those with HF had a higher prevalence of hypertension, prior myocardial infarction, angina, coronary artery disease, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery bypass grafting, diastolic dysfunction, and left ventricle hypertrophy. People with HIV with HF with borderline EF exhibited more coronary artery disease than those with HFpEF. Conclusions We characterize HF in people with HIV in South Florida and report the prevalence of HF and HF subtypes. Only a small percentage of patients had echocardiograms performed, suggesting an ongoing need for recognition of the increased risk of HF in people living with HIV, and raising the concern about lack of awareness contributing to underdiagnosis and missed treatment opportunities in this population.

Abstract We present SEQuence Weighted Alignment for Sorting and Harmonization (Seqwash), an algorithm designed to process sequencing profiles utilizing large language models. Seqwash harmonizes immune cell sequences into a unified representation, empowering LLMs to embed meaningful patterns while eliminating irrelevant information. Evaluations using immune cell sequencing data showcase Seqwash’s efficacy in standardizing profiles, leading to improved feature quality and enhanced performance in both supervised and unsupervised downstream tasks for sequencing data.

Background Nickel hypersensitivity is the most common metal related allergy. Nickel containing alloys are frequently used in endovascular devices. The use of intracranial stents in patients with nickel hypersensitivity appears to be safe, but these small series only evaluated arterial stent placement. This case series aimed to assess the safety of intracranial venous stent placement in patients with documented nickel allergy. Methods In this retrospective multicenter case series, patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension and documented nickel allergy underwent treatment with a permanently implanted nickel containing stent in the dural venous sinuses. Results Nine patients with nickel allergy were included. All patients reported clinical improvement in their idiopathic intracranial hypertension symptoms. Of the five patients who had follow-up intracranial venous imaging, all stents remained patent. No patients experienced intraoperative, postoperative, or long term procedure related complications, with follow-up ranging from 1.8 weeks to 49.1 months. Conclusion In this limited case series, the use of nickel containing stents in intracranial venous sinuses in patients with nickel allergy did not result in any allergic reaction or adverse outcome.

Abstract Objectives To describe mismatch repair (MMR) and microsatellite instability (MSI) testing practices in laboratories using the College of American Pathologists (CAP) MSI/MMR proficiency testing programs prior to the 2022 publication of the MSI/MMR practice guidelines copublished by CAP and the Association of Molecular Pathology (AMP). Methods Data from supplemental questionnaires provided with the 2020-B MSI/MMR programs to 542 laboratories across different practice settings were reviewed. Questionnaires contained 21 questions regarding the type of testing performed, specimen/tumor types used for testing, and clinical practices for checkpoint blockade therapy. Results Domestic laboratories test for MSI/MMR more often than international laboratories (P = .04) and academic hospitals/medical centers test more frequently than nonhospital sites/clinics (P = .03). The most commonly used testing modality is immunohistochemistry, followed by polymerase chain reaction, then next-generation sequencing. Most laboratories (72.6%; 347/478) reported awareness of the use of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for patients with high MSI or MMR-deficient results. Conclusions The results demonstrate the state of MMR and MSI testing in laboratories prior to the publication of the CAP/AMP best practice guidelines, highlighting differences between various laboratory types. The findings indicate the importance of consensus guidelines and provide a baseline for comparison after their implementation.

Abstract Natural prokaryotic gene repression systems often exploit DNA looping to increase the local concentration of gene repressor proteins at a regulated promoter via contributions from repressor proteins bound at distant sites. Using principles from the Escherichia coli lac operon we design analogous repression systems based on target sequence-programmable Transcription Activator-Like Effector dimer (TALED) proteins. Such engineered switches may be valuable for synthetic biology and therapeutic applications. Previous TALEDs with inducible non-covalent dimerization showed detectable, but limited, DNA loop-based repression due to the repressor protein dimerization equilibrium. Here, we show robust DNA loop-dependent bacterial promoter repression by covalent TALEDs and verify that DNA looping dramatically enhances promoter repression in E. coli. We characterize repression using a thermodynamic model that quantitates this favorable contribution of DNA looping. This analysis unequivocally and quantitatively demonstrates that optimized TALED proteins can drive loop-dependent promoter repression in E. coli comparable to the natural LacI repressor system. This work elucidates key design principles that set the stage for wide application of TALED-dependent DNA loop-based repression of target genes.