Paediatric endogenous Cushing syndrome is a rare condition with variable signs and symptoms of presentation. We studied a large cohort of paediatric patients with endogenous Cushing syndrome with the aim of describing anthropometric, clinical, and biochemical characteristics as well as associated complications and outcomes to aid diagnosis, treatment, and management. In this prospective, multisite cohort study, we studied children and adolescents (≤18 years at time of presentation) with a diagnosis of Cushing syndrome. Patients had either received their initial diagnosis and evaluation at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (Bethesda, MD, USA) or been referred from other centres in the USA or outside the USA. We collected participants' clinical, biochemical, and imaging findings and recorded their post-operative course until their latest appointment. Of 342 paediatric patients with a diagnosis of Cushing syndrome, 193 (56%) were female and 149 (44%) male. 261 (76%) patients had corticotroph pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (Cushing disease), 74 (22%) had adrenal-associated Cushing syndrome, and seven (2%) had ectopic Cushing syndrome. Patients were diagnosed at a median of 2 years (IQR 1·0-3·0) after the first concerning sign or symptom, and patients with adrenal-associated Cushing syndrome were the youngest at diagnosis (median 10·4 years [IQR 7·4-13·6] vs 13·0 years [10·5-15·3] for Cushing disease vs 13·4 years [11·0-13·7] for ectopic Cushing syndrome; p<0·0001). Body-mass index z-scores did not differ between the diagnostic groups (1·90 [1·19-2·34] for adrenal-associated Cushing syndrome vs 2·18 [1·60-2·56] for Cushing disease vs 2·22 [1·42-2·35] for ectopic Cushing syndrome; p=0·26). Baseline biochemical screening for cortisol and adrenocorticotropin at diagnosis showed overlapping results between subtypes, and especially between Cushing disease and ectopic Cushing syndrome. However, patients with ectopic Cushing syndrome had higher urinary free cortisol (fold change in median cortisol concentration from upper limit of normal: 15·5 [IQR 12·7-18·0]) than patients with adrenal-associated Cushing syndrome (1·5 [0·6-5·7]) or Cushing disease (3·9 [2·3-6·9]; p<0·0001). Common complications of endogenous Cushing syndrome were hypertension (147 [52%] of 281 patients), hyperglycaemia (78 [30%] of 260 patients), elevated alanine transaminase (145 [64%] of 227 patients), and dyslipidaemia (105 [48%] of 219 patients). Long-term recurrence was noted in at least 16 (8%) of 195 patients with Cushing disease. This extensive description of a unique cohort of paediatric patients with Cushing syndrome has the potential to inform diagnostic workup, preventative actions, and follow-up of children with this rare endocrine condition. Intramural Research Program, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, National Institutes of Health.

Background: Racially and ethnically minoritized (REM) women experience social and structural factors that may affect their response to mental health treatment and menopausal symptoms during the menopause transition (MT). This scoping review on mental health during the MT for REM women in the United States was conducted to characterize factors associated with mental health challenges. Materials and Methods: Five databases were searched. Articles were included if focused on MT in REM women in the United States and its territories with specific mental illnesses and published in English from 2005 to 2021. Titles and abstracts and full text were screened. Screening and data collection were completed in duplicate by two reviewers in Covidence. Results: Sixty-five articles were included and indicate that REM women experience a disproportionate burden of depressive symptoms during the MT. Less evidence is reported about anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia, and other mental illnesses. The risk factors associated with mental illness during MT are social, structural, and biological. Treatment response to therapeutic interventions is often underpowered to explain REM differences. Conclusion: Depression during the MT is associated with negative outcomes that may impact REM women differentially. Incorporating theoretical frameworks (e.g., intersectionality, weathering) into mental health research will reduce the likelihood that scientists mislabel race as the cause of these inequities, when racism and intersecting systems of oppression are the root causes of differential expression of mental illness among REM women during the MT. There is a need for interdisciplinary research to advance the mental health of REM women.

Ozark chinquapin (Castanea ozarkensis Ashe) is a forest tree, endemic to the Ozark Mountain region in Eastern United States. Its nutritious nuts were consumed by Native Americans, European settlers, livestock, and wild animals and its wood was an important rot-resistant construction material. Once a significant tree in regional forest communities, the species was nearly eradicated by a chestnut blight caused by Cryphonectria parasitca (Murill) Barr fungus. Some individuals have survived as sprouts from adventitious root buds, but they rarely reach reproductive maturity. While some in situ restoration efforts are underway, the development of a viable ex situ germplasm preservation method is critical to the conservation of this important food-bearing species. Our experiment aimed to develop a cryopreservation method for C. ozarkensis dormant winter buds subjected to eight experimental treatments before desiccation, slow cooling, and storage in liquid nitrogen vapor. The highest post cryogenic viability was 91.2 % for dormant buds pretreated with 0.3 M sucrose for 16 h followed by 0.75 M sucrose for 3 h; this treatment is suggested for cryopreservation of dormant winter buds of Ozark chinquapin germplasm.

BackgroundThe 2022 mpox outbreak has infected over 30 000 people in the USA, with cases declining since mid-August. Infections were commonly associated with sexual contact between men. Interventions to mitigate the outbreak included vaccination and a reduction in sexual partnerships. Understanding the contributions of these interventions to decreasing cases can inform future public health efforts.MethodsWe fit a dynamic network transmission model to mpox cases reported by Washington DC through 10 January 2023. This model incorporated both vaccine administration data and reported reductions in sexual partner acquisition by gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men (MSM). The model output consisted of daily cases over time with or without vaccination and/or behavioural adaptation.ResultsWe found that initial declines in cases were likely caused by behavioural adaptations. One year into the outbreak, vaccination and behavioural adaptation together prevented an estimated 84% (IQR 67% to 91%) of cases. Vaccination alone averted 79% (IQR 64% to 88%) of cases and behavioural adaptation alone averted 25% (IQR 10% to 42%) of cases. We further found that in the absence of vaccination, behavioural adaptation would have reduced the number of cases, but would have prolonged the outbreak.ConclusionsWe found that initial declines in cases were likely caused by behavioural adaptation, but vaccination averted more cases overall and was key to hastening outbreak conclusion. Overall, this indicates that outreach to encourage individuals to protect themselves from infection was vital in the early stages of the mpox outbreak, but that combination with a robust vaccination programme hastened outbreak conclusion.

To assess and compile the current level of evidence regarding successful surgical treatment of vesicovaginal fistulae and how these perioperative interventions affect anatomic, patient-centered, and adverse outcomes. PubMed and EMBASE were searched from inception through September 9, 2022. This review included comparative studies (of any sample size) and single-group studies (1,000 or more participants) of primary or recurrent vesicovaginal fistula (ie, vesicovaginal fistula, urethrovaginal fistula, and bladder neck-vaginal fistula). We evaluated preintervention assessment or management, various techniques for intraoperative management, and postoperative management. Outcomes of interest included anatomic and objective outcomes (such as successful repair, fistula closure, urinary incontinence, recurrent fistula, perioperative complications) and subjective outcomes (such as voiding symptoms and quality of life). Abstracts and full-text articles were screened in duplicate, and study descriptions and findings were extracted into standardized extraction forms. Risk of bias was assessed independently by two investigators and adjudicated by a third. Study quality was summarized with standardized tools. We conducted random-effects model and restricted maximum-likelihood meta-analyses of relative risks when at least three studies compared similar interventions and reported similar outcome measures. Forty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies were categorized into 11 domains: 1) preoperative assessment, 2) preoperative and postoperative physical therapy, 3) route of surgery, 4) incorporation of a flap, 5) trimming, 6) layered closure, 7) intraoperative antibiotics, 8) fibrin glue, 9) fascial sling, 10) postoperative Foley catheter duration, and 11) quality of life. Although the strength of the data is insufficient, preoperative phenazopyridine, physical therapy, layered closure, and intraoperative antibiotics seemed to improve the rate of successful fistula repair. Route of surgery (vaginal vs abdominal laparotomy) was determined primarily by surgeon preference and showed no difference in successful fistula repair. In addition, use of interpositional flaps, trimming fistula edges, fibrin glue, and fascial sling did not show significant improvement in rates of fistula cure. Overall, quality-of-life scores improved postoperatively regardless of route of repair and use of interpositional flaps. Our findings highlight the limited information available to guide evidence-based treatment of vesicovaginal fistula repair. Overall, high-quality evidence is lacking to provide guidelines; therefore, expert opinion remains the primary influence for fistula repair recommendations. PROSPERO, CRD42021214948.

This article presents an overview of the pain research programs within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Helping to End Addiction Long-term® Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative®. Launched in 2018 to address the opioid crisis, the NIH HEAL Initiative supports research on addiction prevention and treatment. A key component of addiction prevention is the development of new, effective, non-addictive treatments for acute and chronic pain. HEAL's innovate research portfolio spans the spectrum from therapeutic discovery and development through clinical trials and into clinical practice.

Children with asthma and obesity are more likely to have lower vitamin D levels, but the optimal replacement dose is unknown in this population. The objective of this study is identifying a vitamin D dose in children with obesity-related asthma that safely achieves serum vitamin D levels of ≥ 40 ng/mL. This prospective multisite randomized controlled trial recruited children/adolescents with asthma and body mass index ≥ 85% for age/sex. Part 1 (dose finding), evaluated 4 oral vitamin D regimens for 16 weeks to identify a replacement dose that achieved serum vitamin D levels ≥ 40 ng/mL. Part 2 compared the replacement dose calculated from part 1 (50,000 IU loading dose with 8,000 IU daily) to standard of care (SOC) for 16 weeks to identify the proportion of children achieving target serum 25(OH)D level. Part 1 included 48 randomized participants. Part 2 included 64 participants. In Part 1, no SOC participants achieved target serum level, but 50-72.7% of participants in cohorts A-C achieved the target serum level. In part 2, 78.6% of replacement dose participants achieved target serum level compared with none in the SOC arm. No related serious adverse events were reported. This trial confirmed a 50,000 IU loading dose plus 8,000 IU daily oral vitamin D as safe and effective in increasing serum 25(OH)D levels in children/adolescents with overweight/obesity to levels ≥ 40 ng/mL. Given the critical role of vitamin D in many conditions complicating childhood obesity, these data close a critical gap in our understanding of vitamin D dosing in children.

Abstract Background Serial galactomannan (GM), 1,3-β-d-glucan (BDG) and Pneumocystis jirovecii (PJ) testing after lung transplantation are resource consuming and have low PPV for invasive fungal infections (IFI) in asymptomatic recipients. Methods We aim to document the added-value of mentioned reflex screenings tests in diagnosing IFI among lung transplant recipients. After IRB approval, we retrospectively collected all blood and BAL GM, BDG and PJ PCR results from patients transplanted at one large academic center from January 2015 – July 20, 2022. Manual chart review was then used to inform clinical likelihood of infection. Results During the study period, 236 lung transplant patients were cared for by our program. Of these, 561 BAL and 56 serum GM tests were ordered. Twenty-five (4.1%) were positive ( &amp;gt; 1), all from BAL. Fungal cultures were requested for most BAL GM (301/343; 87.8%) and were positive for mold in 11 incidences (11/343; 3.2%). Only one was considered involved in a clinical IFI. Out of the duplicates in same BAL specimen a discrepancy in results were seen in 3.4% (7/207). 172 BDG tests were performed of which 25.6% (44/172) were positive. Among the 13 patients with serial BDG during a unique hospitalization, a mean of 2.3 tests were performed. None of the negative test repeated during the same stay became positive. Among patients with IA diagnoses and BDG testing, 5 BDG were positive (5/19; 26.3%). Three cases of IA had a positive BDG while having a negative BAL GM but had positive cultures for Aspergillus spp. Of the 737 BAL specimens, 577 (78.3%) had PJ testing (DFA (n=497) or PCR (n=83), or both (n=3)). None were positive. Among hospitalized patients, mean duration of stay was 31.2 d at time of testing and many had repeated testing (mean 1.8 tests). Additional results will be provided with the final analysis. Conclusion BAL GM should be performed with fungal cultures and duplicates on same BAL probably have little additional benefit. BDG confers no added-value over BAL GM combined with cultures for the diagnosis of IA and likely can be deferred in most cases. There is limited value for systematic PJ testing on surveillance BAL of stable recipients with prophylaxis. There is especially limited diagnostic value in repeating a negative BDG or PJ testing during a stay. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Abstract Background Norovirus (NoV) results in potentially severe, relapsing, remitting diarrhea in immunocompromised hosts (ICH). A number of interventions, including nitazoxanide (NTZ), have been tried with unclear success in managing cases of NoV in ICH. Methods We conducted a NIH-sponsored multi-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind study of NTZ for the treatment of Norovirus in adult HSCT and SOT recipients between 2018 and 2021. Subjects with a positive Norovirus test within 14 days of enrollment and active GI symptoms were randomly assigned (1:1) to NTZ 500 mg twice daily or placebo (P) for 56 consecutives doses and were followed for 6 months, including patient reported outcomes (PRO) diary assessments. Primary endpoint was to determine the clinical efficacy, assessed as the time from randomization until symptoms resolution for at least 48 hours. Secondary endpoints included virologic efficacy assessed as the time from randomization to first negative viral load and safety through frequency of adverse events. Results 31 subjects (16 NTZ, 15 P) were enrolled and had balanced demographics (See Table 1). Early withdrawal was documented in 5 subjects from each group. Thirty (30) had received solid organ transplants. Most had chronic ( &amp;gt; 14 days) symptoms (77%). In the mITT population, the median time to initial clinical resolution was 19.0 days (95% CI: 1.0, 31.0) for the Nitazoxanide group and 11.0 days (95% CI: 2.0, 14.0) for the placebo group (p-value=0.459). The difference between time to first negative viral load for the Norovirus GII genotype was not significant (p-value=0.873). Patients appear to have clinical improvement based on PRO results while on active therapy. No serious adverse event related to the study treatment was documented. One severe unsolicited adverse event, abdominal pain, was reported on the day of first dose NTZ. Hospitalization and non-serious or laboratory adverse events were not significantly different between the two arms. Analysis of PK and viral genetics is ongoing and will be reported at the meeting. Conclusion NTZ did not shorten time to clinical resolution or viral shedding duration but may have resulted in transient symptom improvement. Although NTZ appears safe, its role is likely limited in the setting of chronic NoV among ICHs. Disclosures Daniel Kaul, MD, Medscape: Honoraria|Nobelpharma: Grant/Research Support|Takeda: Grant/Research Support Robin K. Avery, MD, Aicuris: Grant/Research Support|Astellas: Grant/Research Support|Astra-Zeneca: Grant/Research Support|Chimerix: Grant/Research Support|Merck: Grant/Research Support|Oxford Immunotec: Grant/Research Support|Qiagen: Grant/Research Support|Regeneron: Grant/Research Support|Takeda: Grant/Research Support Ajit Limaye, Professor/MD, MedPace: DSMB member|merck: Advisor/Consultant|merck: Grant/Research Support|moderna: Advisor/Consultant|moderna: site investigator|syneos: DSMB member Steven A. Pergam, MD, MPH, Cidara: Investigator in clinical trials|F2G: Investigator in clinical trials|Global Life Technologies: Grant/Research Support|Symbio: Investigator in clinical trials Michael D. Green, MD, MPH, ADMA: Advisor/Consultant|Allovir: Advisor/Consultant|Bristol Myers Squibb: Advisor/Consultant|ITB-MED: Advisor/Consultant Marian G. Michaels, MD, MPH, Merck: Grant/Research Support|Viracor: Grant/Research Support Lara A. Danziger-Isakov, MD, MPH, Aicuris: Contracted Clinical Research|Ansun Biopharma: Contracted Clinical Research|Astellas: Contracted Clinical Research|GSK: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Contracted Clinical Research|Pfizer: Contracted Clinical Research|Roche Diagnostics: Advisor/Consultant|Takeda: Advisor/Consultant|Takeda: Contracted Clinical Research Michael P. Angarone, DO, Abbvie Pharmeciuticals: Advisor/Consultant|DKBMed Inc: Advisor/Consultant|DKBMed Inc: Honoraria

Thread blight disease (TBD) is a serious emerging threat to global cacao production, causing leaf blight symptoms and necrosis in the canopy of infected trees. Though previously thought to be caused primarily by the fungus Marasmiellus scandens, recent work has revealed that a variety of pathogenic Marasmiaceae are responsible for TBD, with Marasmius tenuissimus identified as the dominant causal agent of TBD in Ghanaian cacao plantations. M. tenuissimus has also been reported in remote organic cacao plantations in the Amazonas Department of Peru, infecting 90 to 100% of the trees surveyed. Here, we have assembled and annotated the nuclear genome of M. tenuissimus isolate GH-37. This resource is a first attempt at a high-quality draft genome utilizing both second- and third-generation sequencing for M. tenuissimus and extends the current understanding of the evolution, ecology, and virulence of this pathogen. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .