Northwestern University Research Articles

Surgical treatment of locally advanced kidney cancer in the T3a–с stage

BACKGROUND: Kidney cancer is a common pathologic condition, which ranks the 3rd place among urologic cancers. In 4–10% of patients, while growing it metastasizes upward the venous vessels up to the thoracic vena cava and right atrium. Selection of the optimal tactics for surgical treatment of such patients still remains a complex and unsolved task. AIM: To assess the surgical treatment findings for the patients suffered from kidney cancer with tumor invasion in the renal and inferior vena cava. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 115 patients with renal cell carcinoma complicated by tumor invasion into renal and inferior vena cava have been operated in North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov from 2003 to 2023. They were 76 (66.1%) men and 39 (33.9%) women, their mean age was 67.0 ± 4.1. Stage T3a covered 53 (46.1%), T3b — 33 (28.7%) and T3c 29 (25.2%) patients. Metastatic lesion of one lymph node was observed in 21 (18.3%) and of multiple nodes in 6 (5.2%) patients. Distant metastases were found in 26 (22.6%) patients: in the lungs in 9.6% and in the adrenal glands in 5.2%. All patients were treated with radical nephrectomy, removing blood trombi from the inferior vena cava system. Eight (7.0%) of them, received the treatment by the method developed in the clinic, which consists in preliminary endovascular extraction of the cranial trombus part. Another 3 (2.6%) patients were treated using cardiopulmonary bypass machine. RESULTS: Early postoperative complications developed in 36 (31.4%) patients. The most common and severe of them were pulmonary embolism (4.4%) and acute cardiovascular insufficiency (10.4%). These complications appeared the causes of death of 4 patients. The mortality rate was 3.5%. The three year survival rate in the T3a group was 70.6%, T3b group — 66.0% and T3c group — 50.6% (p 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Nephrectomy with vena cava thrombectomy is a radical surgical treatment. Its complexity increases as the tumor thrombus spreads further through the venous system and in some cases requires an interdisciplinary approach.

25-year experience of surgical treatment of thyroid diseases in a multidisciplinary hospital

BACKGROUND: Every year there is an increase in the number of patients with thyroid diseases, thus improving surgical treatment methods with decreased traumatic effect and postoperative complications, remains relevant. AIM: To summarize the results of 25-year work of the team (surgeons and endocrinologists) of specialists from the multidisciplinary hospital of Saint Petersburg and the departments of the North-Western State medical university named after I.I. Mechnikov on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with surgical pathology of the thyroid gland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The results of surgical treatment of 3977 patients with thyroid diseases operated accoding to the traditional Kocher approach, asymmetric “floating” mini-approach and video-assisted mini-approach were analyzed. RESULTS: In the analyzed time period, a rapid increase in the number of minimally invasive techniques for surgical operations on the thyroid gland is characteristic, which are used for nodular euthyroid goiter, multi-nodular euthyroid goiter and toxic thyroid adenoma. With the help of traditional approach, surgical intervention was performed mainly for diffuse toxic goiter and multinodular toxic goiter. The introduction of new techniques and approaches in the provision of medical care to patients with surgical diseases of the thyroid gland can significantly improve the results of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: 25-year experience of the endocrinological center of the Elizabethan Hospital demonstrates that collaboration of departments and doctors of a multidisciplinary hospital allows to introduce new approaches to treating surgical thyroid diseases and improve its results without increasing the number of postoperative complications.

Increasing Black Employees’ Social Identity Affirmation and Organizational Involvement: Reducing Social Uncertainty Through Organizational and Individual Strategies

Despite the psychological benefits of authenticity, Black employees within predominantly White organizations often face the dilemma of whether to downplay versus highlight their social identity. Our research introduces social uncertainty as a unifying lens to understand the reluctance of these employees to express their social identity. Highlighting the central role of social uncertainty also helps identify novel factors at both the organizational level (authenticity climates) and individual level (perspective-taking) that can encourage Black employees to engage in social identity affirmation—authentic expressions of the positive aspects of their social identity. To test our hypotheses, we conducted two survey studies, two experiments, qualitative interviews, as well as coded text responses to our experimental prompts. Across our studies, authenticity climates were associated with greater social identity affirmation by Black employees, and this relationship was strengthened when these employees engaged in perspective-taking. Consistent with our theorizing, social certainty mediated these direct and moderated effects. In addition, social identity affirmation increased Black employees’ organizational involvement. Our experimental studies offer causal evidence for the roles of both authenticity climates and Black employees’ perspective-taking, our qualitative interviews vividly illuminate our hypotheses, and our text response analyses provide insight into how authenticity climates operate. Overall, the current research highlights how organizations can help Black employees feel comfortable emphasizing and expressing their true selves by increasing their social certainty. These findings also have direct implications for organizational leaders, providing them with actionable strategies to create more inclusive environments. Funding: The research was supported by Northwestern University and Oklahoma State University. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2020.14659 .

Enhancing Cross-Cultural Understanding: The Role of Digital Platforms in Cultural Exchange for Chinese Graduate Students at Northwestern University

The rapid growth of digital platforms has reshaped the educational-rich landscape, introducing dynamic ways of cultural exchange that transcend traditional boundaries. This paper explores the unique potential of online cultural exchange to promote cross-cultural understanding and community building for students, with a special focus on Chinese graduate students in Northwestern University during their short spring break. As global connectivity increases, it becomes increasingly important to leverage these digital tools to facilitate meaningful cultural interactions. This study argues that social media platforms play a key role in this effort, enabling students to engage in cultural exchange activities that are both convenient and impactful (Abbas et al., 2019). Integrating digital tools into educational and cultural environments has revolutionized the way students interact with different cultural experiences. Social media platforms, in particular, offer unparalleled opportunities for students to connect with peers from different cultures, share knowledge and engage in collaborative activities. These platforms provide a flexible and accessible means for students to immerse themselves in cultural learning outside of geographical constraints. Moreover, the interactivity of social media fosters a sense of community and common purpose, which is essential for successful cultural exchange programs. While there are many advantages to using social media for cultural communication, there are also significant challenges that need to be addressed. The potential for distraction, information overload, and reduced face-to-face interaction could undermine the effectiveness of these platforms in educational Settings. In addition, given the differences in social media usage patterns among different demographic groups, such as gender differences, it is critical to ensure that programs are inclusive and effective. This article aims to explore these complexities and offer solutions to maximize the benefits of social media while mitigating its drawbacks.

Postpartum Management of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in Six Large U.S. Hospital Systems: Descriptive Review and Identification of Clinical and Research Gaps.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDPs) are a key contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality. Several gaps in knowledge remain regarding best practices in the postpartum management of HDPs. In this review, we describe postpartum HDPs management among six large academic U.S. hospital systems: Medical College of Wisconsin, University of Pittsburgh, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Northwestern University, University of Minnesota, and Boston Medical Center. We identified that all six health systems discharge patients with HDPs diagnosed with a blood pressure (BP) cuff and use the same two antihypertensive medications, nifedipine and labetalol, as first- and second-line treatment of HDPs. Northwestern University routinely adds oral furosemide for 5 days for patients with BP that exceeds 150/100 mm Hg. Most hospital systems administer magnesium sulfate routinely when readmission for HDPs occurs. In contrast, there was variation in BP threshold for antihypertensive treatment initiation, use of remote BP monitoring program, use of a transition clinic, delivery or lack of education on long-term cardiovascular disease risk, and BP management through the first 6 weeks postpartum and beyond. Based on the clinical review, we identified clinical gaps and formulated considerations for research priorities in the field of postpartum HDPs management. KEY POINTS: · Several gaps in knowledge remain regarding best practices in postpartum management of HDPs.. · There is a variation in the BP threshold for antihypertensive treatment initiation.. · Data are lacking on the reduction in severe maternal morbidity (SMM) and racial disparities in SMM with remote monitoring..

Research trends and hotspots of post-stroke upper limb dysfunction: a bibliometric and visualization analysis.

The global prevalence of stroke has been increasing. Motor dysfunction is observed in approximately 55 to 75% of stroke patients, with upper limb impairment affecting around 85% of them. Following upper limb dysfunction, the body's recovery time is not only slower compared to the lower limbs, but the restoration of its fine motor skills is significantly more challenging, greatly impacting the daily lives of patients. Consequently, there is an increasing urgency for study on the upper limb function in stroke. A search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-Expanded) database for material published from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2023. We included all relevant literature reports and conducted an analysis of annual publications, countries/regions, institutions, journals, co-cited references, and keywords using the software packages CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix R. Next, we succinctly outlined the research trends and hotspots in post-stroke upper limb dysfunction. This analysis comprised 1,938 articles from 1,897 institutions, 354 journals, and 53 countries or regions. A yearly rise in the production of publications was noted. The United States is the foremost nation on the issue. Northwestern University has the most amounts of papers compared to all other institutions. The journal Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair is a highly significant publication in this field, with Catherine E. Lang serving as the principal author. The majority of the most-cited references focus on subjects such as the reliability and validity of assessment instruments, RCT of therapies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. The intervention measures primarily comprise three types of high-frequency phrases that are related, as determined by keyword analysis: intelligent rehabilitation, physical factor therapy, and occupational therapy. Current areas of focus in research include randomized clinical trials, neurorehabilitation, and robot-assisted therapy. Current research has shown a growing interest in studying upper limb function assessment, occupational therapy, physical therapy, robot-assisted therapy, virtual reality, brain-computer interface, telerehabilitation, cortical reorganisation, and neural plasticity. These topics have become popular and are expected to be the focus of future research.

Risk of significant functional impairment across cancer diagnosis and care continuum

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe authors examined baseline physical functional (PF) impairment among cancer outpatients in the National Cancer Institute Cancer Moonshot study Northwestern University Improving the Management of Symptoms During and Following Cancer Treatment (NU IMPACT). They hypothesized that PF impairment, measured with the Patient Reported Outcome Measurement Information System–Physical Function (PROMIS‐PF) survey, would (1) be common and more prevalent for patients receiving treatment compared with no treatment and (2) differ across tumor types, independent of cancer continuum phase.MethodsAdults who were diagnosed with cancer in NU IMPACT (n = 2273) were sampled, and their PROMIS‐PF scores were compared across tumor types and cancer continuum (curative, noncurative, or no treatment), with scores ≤40 indicating moderate–severe impairment. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the relation among patient and cancer factors and PF scores using a 95% confidence interval.ResultsForty percent of the surveyed patients reported moderate–severe PF impairment. Patients with melanoma reported the least impairment, and those with lung cancer were 6.5 times more likely to have moderate–severe impairment (95% confidence interval, 2.393–17.769). The noncurative group was 1.5 times more likely to have moderate–severe impairment (95% confidence interval, 1.045–2.145; mean score, 43; p < .001) than the curative (mean score, 6) and no treatment (mean score, 48) groups. One‐third of those who reported PF impairment also had significant pain and/or fatigue.ConclusionsA sizeable minority experienced PF impairment across tumor types for which pain and/or fatigue co‐occurred, particularly in the noncurative group. The PROMIS‐PF survey effectively identified variations in physical function. Future studies will explore how screening for PF impairment can be used to refer patients for appropriate cancer rehabilitation services.

Epinephrine, Pregabalin, and Crizotinib as Three Medicines with Polish Implications over Three Last Centuries and in View of Three Different Drug Discovery Approaches.

The discovery of epinephrine (adrenaline) and its subsequent implications in medicine owes significant contributions to Cybulski across different centuries, who, in 1894, was pivotal in identifying the adrenal medulla's role in blood pressure regulation and naming the active substance "nadnerczyna", known today as adrenaline. His work demonstrated the adrenal glands' critical function in the body's regulatory mechanisms beyond the nervous system. Cybulski's groundbreaking research laid foundational knowledge for future endocrinological studies and pharmaceutical advancements. In the late 20th century, Andruszkiewicz collaborated with Silverman at Northwestern University to develop pregabalin, the active ingredient in Lyrica. Their innovative synthesis of gamma-aminobutyric acid derivatives led to a significant advancement in treating epilepsy, neuropathic pain, and fibromyalgia. Andruszkiewicz's expertise in organic chemistry and enzymology was crucial in this collaborative effort, resulting in the successful development and commercialization of Lyrica. Additionally, Mroczkowski's leadership at Pfizer contributed to the development of crizotinib, a notable anaplastic lymphoma kinase and proto-oncogene 1 tyrosine-protein kinase inhibitor used to treat specific types of non-small cell lung cancer. Her work exemplifies the continuing influence of Polish researchers in pioneering drug discovery and advancing therapeutic treatments over the past three centuries. These contributions highlight Poland's significant role in global pharmaceutical innovations and medical research.

A time-series deep learning model for predicting concrete shrinkage and creep verified with in-situ and laboratory test data

This paper proposed a time series prediction method for concrete shrinkage and creep based on deep learning and the accuracy of the method was verified by field tests. Based on the experiment data in the Northwestern University (NU database), a deep learning model considering the material, environment, and history was constructed by integrating Gated Recurrent Units and Self-Attention mechanism (GSA model). To validated the model, short-term indoor and outdoor field tests of concrete shrinkage and creep were conducted. The proposed GSA model outperformed the LSTM model for both creep and shrinkage predictions. Moreover, the comparison between the GSA model prediction and the outdoor test data indicated that the model can accurately capture the real-time outdoor temperature and humidity variation through historical data. To predict the ten-year shrinkage and creep of concrete, a recursive multi-step method was proposed to extrapolate the short-term predictions of the GSA model. The effectiveness of the recursive multi-step method was validated against the long-term test data in the NU database. Overall, the proposed GSA model demonstrated high accuracy in both short-term and long-term predictions.

Drowning Out the Noise

How does music listening in headphones function as an extension of the queer self in the public sphere? In what ways does this music support, exhibit, or conceal the presentation of gender and sexuality in these heteronormative publics? Awarded the 2022 Frederick Niecks Essay Prize and exhibited at Northwestern University in 2023, this project explores the extent to which this private listening adds to or alters the physical presentation of an individual and supports the action of existing queer in public spatialities, through the lens of Goffman’s “Territories of the Self (1971).” Methodologically, this work experiments with queer sonic ethnography through the dissemination of 18 sections of audio from six Go-Along interviews, a methodology developed by Kusenbach in “Street Phenomenology: The Go-Along as Ethnographic Research Tool (2003).” I aim to answer Steven Feld’s 2014 imagination of “an anthropology in sound” and to build upon Rooke’s 2009 writings on queering ethnographic research, particularly in its methods. I present this work as a report of an experiment in queer sonic ethnography, in the hope that it may further research into the public and private lives of queer individuals and provide a deeper insight into the street soundscape of the queer everyday.

Alice Hamilton: A Legacy of Advancing Occupational Health and Safety Standards.

Alice Hamilton was a physician, research scientist, and author from America. She was a prominent figure in the occupational health industry, established the groundwork for safety measures, and was a trailblazer in industrial toxicology. Hamilton received medical training at the University of Michigan Medical School. While living at Hull House in Chicago from 1887 to 1919, she interacted with a wide range of working-class families and learned about the risks they encountered in their daily lives. In 1897, she was appointed as a pathology professor at the Woman's Medical School of Northwestern University. In 1919, she made history as the initial female faculty member of Harvard University. Furthermore, Hamilton researched mercury, carbon monoxide, rubber, and the munitions industries, in addition to her authoritative work on hazardous lead trades, such as smelting, refining, painting, and manufacturing. She wrote more than 80 scientific reports in 40 years. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed three months after she died in 1970.

ПРИОРИТЕТЫ ВЫБОРА СРЕДСТВ КОНТРАЦЕПЦИИ СТУДЕНТКАМИ МЕДИЦИНСКОГО УНИВЕРСИТЕТА

Purpose: To determine the priorities of contraceptive choices of medical students depending on various factors. Materials and methods: 75 female students of North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov participated in the study; mean age was 20,5 years, 77% were sexually active. Information was collected using a specially designed questionnaire that included questions about the characteristics of sexual life (duration, number of partners, frequency of partner changes, regularity of sex), methods of contraception and the reasons for their choice, diagnosis and prevention of STIs, the effect of contraception on the menstrual cycle and its characteristics, and sexual life. Pearson criterion at p≤0.05 was applied in data analysis. Female Sexuality Index (FSI) was assessed using The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire. Results: the predominant method of contraception choice among the respondents depending on sexual experience was the barrier method. With increasing sexual experience, the proportion of girls using interrupted intercourse increased and the proportion using hormonal contraception decreased. The predominant contraceptive method among girls who rarely change sexual partners was the condom, while girls with frequent changes in sexual partners preferred to use the standard day method. The reasons for choosing a contraceptive method were the fear of unwanted pregnancy, simplicity and ease of use of the method, and the lack of impact on sexual pleasure. The vast majority of all respondents were primarily afraid of HIV infection, syphilis, and the development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Girls using hormonal contraception were primarily guided by a doctor's prescription when choosing a method. The majority in this group had a positive effect of the method on the menstrual cycle and a decrease in pain in the mammary glands was observed with the start of contraception. The maximum index of female sexuality was found in the groups of girls using spermicides and the standard days method, and the lowest - in female students not using contraception. Conclusion: barrier and natural methods of contraception were the priority of choice for most of the respondents.

Community-engaged randomised controlled trial to disseminate COVID-19 vaccine-related information and increase uptake among Black individuals in two US cities with rheumatic conditions.

Inequities in COVID-19 infection and vaccine uptake among historically marginalised racial and ethnic groups in the USA persist. Individuals with rheumatic conditions, especially those who are immunocompromised, are especially vulnerable to severe infection, with significant racialised inequities in infection outcomes and in vaccine uptake. Structural racism, historical injustices and misinformation engender racial and ethnic inequities in vaccine uptake. The Popular Opinion Lleader (POL) model, a community-based intervention that trains trusted community leaders to disseminate health information to their social network members (eg, friends, family and neighbours), has been shown to reduce stigma and improve care-seeking behaviours. This is a community-based cluster randomised controlled trial led by a team of community and academic partners to compare the efficacy of training POLs with rheumatic or musculoskeletal conditions using a curriculum embedded with a racial justice vs a biomedical framework to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake and reduce vaccine hesitancy. This trial began recruitment in February 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Eligible POLs are English-speaking adults who identify as Black and/or of African descent, have a diagnosis of a rheumatic or musculoskeletal condition and have received >=1 COVID-19 vaccine after 31 August 2022. POLs will be randomised to a 6-module virtual educational training; the COVID-19 and vaccine-related content will be the same for both groups however the framing for arm 1 will be with a racial justice lens and for arm 2, a biomedical preventative care-focused lens. Following the training, POLs will disseminate the information they learned to 12-16 social network members who have not received the most recent COVID-19 vaccine, over 4 weeks. The trial's primary outcome is social network member COVID-19 vaccine uptake, which will be compared between intervention arms. This trial has ethical approval in the USA. This has been approved by the Mass General Brigham Institutional Review Board (IRB, 2023P000686), the Northwestern University IRB (STU00219053), the Boston University/Boston Medical Center IRB (H-43857) and the Boston Children's Hospital IRB (P00045404). Results will be published in a publicly accessible peer-reviewed journal. NCT05822219.

Exploring the Relationship Among Financial Hardship, Anxiety, and Depression in Patients With Cancer: A Longitudinal Study.

Financial hardship (FH) is a complex issue in cancer care, affecting material conditions, well-being, and coping behaviors. This study aimed to longitudinally examine FH, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and their associations while incorporating social determinants of health and health care cost covariates in a sample of patients diagnosed with cancer. This prospective, longitudinal cohort study analyzed data from 2,305 participants from the Northwestern University Improving the Management of Symptoms during and following Cancer Treatment trial. Outcomes assessed at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postbaseline included depressive symptoms, anxiety, and FH. Analysis involved random intercept cross-lagged panel models to explore between- and within-person effects, incorporating factors such as age, sex, insurance status, neighborhood area deprivation, health care charges, out-of-pocket costs, and health literacy. The cohort had a mean age of 60.7 (standard deviation [SD] = 12.7) years and was mostly female (64.9%) and White (86.2%). Correlations were found between FH and depressive symptoms (r = 0.310) and anxiety (r = 0.289). A predictive relationship was observed between FH and depressive symptoms, with baseline and 6-month depressive symptom levels predicting later FH (baseline β = .079, P = .070; 6-month β = .072, P = .081) and 9-month FH significantly predicting 12-month depressive symptoms (β = .083, P = .025), even after accounting for health care charges and out-of-pocket costs. Baseline and 9-month anxiety showed a predictive relationship with subsequent FH (baseline β = .097, P = .023; 9-month β = .071, P = .068). FH emerged as a prominent issue, with nearly half of participants experiencing some level of FH. Depressive symptoms and anxiety were related to FH. These findings underscore the need for a comprehensive approach in cancer care that concurrently addresses anxiety, depressive symptoms, and FH, recognizing their interconnected impact.

Differential proteomic expression in non-functional pituitary neuroendocrine tumours and pituitary glands.

Pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (PitNETs) are common accounting for 10 to 25 % of all intracranial tumours. This project describes the feasibility of developing a novel membrane-based biomarker that could be used for fluorescent guided surgery. The aim was to catalogue the differential expression of membrane proteins between non-functional PitNETs and pituitary glands. Ten pituitary gland tissue specimens were obtained from the National Institute of Health (NIH) NeuroBio-Bank and twenty non-functional PitNETs were obtained from the Northwestern University Nervous System Tumour Bank. Mass spectrometry analysis using an Orbitrap Fusion Lumos Tribrid Mass Spectrometer linked to a Dionex Ultimate 3000 UPLC system was undertaken. Data Dependent Acquisition Mass Spectrometry and Data Independent Acquisition Mass Spectrometry was then completed. Pathway enrichment analysis was performed using clusterProfiler v4.6.0. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted using Gene Ontology terms and Reactome pathways. Differential expression analysis between the two groups revealed a total of 2110 significant differently expressed proteins (DEPs), with 1387 of these also having a Log2 fold change either greater than 1, or less than -1. Of the 2110 DEPs, 925 were upregulated in tumours compared to control, while 1185 were downregulated. We have demonstrated a proteomic comparison between non-functional PitNETs and normal pituitary glands. These results demonstrate differences consistent with contemporary literature but shows that NOTCH3 and PTPRJ are up-regulated in non-functional PitNETs compared to pituitary glands.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Accidental Ingestions Among Pediatric Food Allergy Patients

BackgroundDespite a known diagnosis of food allergy, accidental ingestions continue to occur. ObjectivesWe sought to characterize accidental ingestions, including prevalence, risk factors, food allergen triggers, and severity of reactions. MethodsA prospective monthly survey developed by the Food Allergy Consortium (FARC) at Northwestern University was administered to parents of food allergic children between April 2015 and April 2017. The monthly survey included questions on any allergic reactions experienced in the previous month. Additionally, chart review of 100 pediatric participants from Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago allergy clinics (typical clinical encounters) were compared to the prospective survey results. Results196 FARC survey participants and 100 retrospective review subjects were analyzed. 31.1% of participants from the surveyed cohort and 19.0% of participants from the retrospective review reported at least 1 accidental ingestion over one year. The rate of accidental ingestions reported in the prospective survey was high: 10-25% of participants each month report an accidental ingestion, and multiple ingestions were common. Common triggers were milk, wheat, and tree nuts. In the retrospective cohort, the highest rate of accidental ingestion (25.0%) occurred to milk, followed by sesame (20.0%) and egg (18.8%). Rates of anaphylaxis after exposure were high among both the prospective and retrospective cohorts (33.1% and 16.7% respectively). ConclusionsAccidental ingestion rates were high among food allergic patients. Multiple exposures, especially to milk, were common. Incidence of anaphylaxis was also high, suggesting that ongoing patient education around allergen avoidance and accidental exposure is imperative.

College Athlete Unionization

The U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 2021 decision in NCAA v. Alston has opened the door to serious consideration of the potential for college athlete unionization and collective bargaining. The ruling, highlighted by Justice Kavanaugh’s concurring opinion, suggests collective bargaining as a potential solution to the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (“NCAA’s”) antitrust vulnerabilities. This Article delves into the initial legal and strategic questions surrounding the prospect of unionization, focusing particularly on NCAA Division I football and basketball, due to their significant revenue generation making them prime candidates for unionization efforts. The National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB” or “Board”) is positioned to play a central role in the unionization attempts at private universities and potentially influence public university efforts. A recent NLRB complaint against the University of Southern California (“USC”) accusing the institution of misclassifying student athletes as non-employees will answer some important labor law questions that will likely guide future unionization efforts. Moreover, the Service Employees International Union’s (“SEIU’s”) successful union election bid involving the Dartmouth College men’s basketball team represents a significant step forward, marking the potential beginning of college athlete unionization. This Article provides a comprehensive examination of the issue, starting with the NLRB’s involvement and its pivotal decision regarding the Northwestern University case. It proceeds to dissect the Supreme Court’s Alston decision’s implications for unionization and collective bargaining. It further explores the complex labor and employment law intricacies, such as the definitions of employee and employer, appropriate bargaining units, and the NLRB’s jurisdiction over public universities. Finally, it theorizes on how unionization may unfold, outlining possible challenges, pitfalls, and the expected advantages for college athletes through collective bargaining.

Comparative analysis of the prevalence of smoking and consumption of nicotine-containing products and their risk factors among students of medical and technical universities of Saint Petersburg based on data from the PROTECT study

BACKGROUND: Taking into account the importance of quitting smoking of any nicotine-containing products by young people in various social groups, a comparative analysis of the prevalence of smoking tobacco and nicotine-containing products among students of medical and technical universities in St. Petersburg was carried out. AIM: To compare the prevalence and structure of consumption of tobacco and nicotine-containing products, as well as the smoking behavior of students at medical and technical universities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional cross-sectional study of a random sample of student groups included 1,105 respondents. RESULTS: The prevalence of tobacco smoking among students at a technical university was 2 times higher than at a medical university (p 0.01). Cigarette smoking was also more often noted at the onset of smoking among engineering students and in their families (p 0.05). 17.2% of North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov students and 14.2% of Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University “LETI” named after V.I. Ulyanov (Lenin) students consume nicotine-containing products. Men from the medical university smoke cigarettes significantly more often than women, or use nicotine-containing products, as well as a combination of both. No similar gender differences were found at the technical university. Female doctors used ES more often than women from a technical university at the beginning of smoking (p 0.05). Men at a medical university started using nicotine-containing products more often than women, considering them the least dangerous to health (p 0.05). The example of friends was the most common reason for starting smoking among respondents from both universities (43.9 and 30.8%, respectively). Common risk factors for smoking any product among students of North-Western State Medical University and LETI were boyfriend/girlfriend smoking, smoking among one’s immediate environment. Studying in senior years was a protective factor for girls at a medical university in comparison with students at a technical university (odds ratio 0.48). CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained on the lower prevalence of tobacco smoking among medical university students compared to technical students may indirectly indicate the latter’s insufficient knowledge about the harmful effects of tobacco smoking on the body. The high prevalence of nicotine-containing products consumption in universities of various fields of study and the lack of significant differences in the share of their consumers can also be interpreted as an underestimation of the health risks of new smoking products. This requires adjustments to educational programs in order to increase students’ awareness of the potential health hazards not only of smoking cigarettes, but also of using any nicotine-containing products.

Erratum to “Gorham–Stout disease started with recurrent bilateral exudative pleuritis: case description and literature review” (doi: 10.17816/RFD625565)

The editorial board regret that in the published version of “Gorham–Stout disease started with recurrent bilateral exudative pleuritis: case description and literature review” institution (place of work) of the authors North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov was indicated incorrectly. The authors’ institutions are: Olga M. Lesnyak — North Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov, Clinical Rheumatological Hospital No. 25, Saint Petersburg; Vadim G. Pischik — Saint Petersburg State University, City Clinical Oncological Clinic, Saint Petersburg; Olga N. Tkach — Clinical Rheumatological Hospital No. 25, Saint Petersburg; Elena S. Kunitsina — Clinical Rheumatological Hospital No. 25, Saint Petersburg. The editorial board is confident that the error could not significantly affect the perception of the work and the interpretation of information by readers. The error has been corrected online, the file of the article and the issue have been updated.

Whole-Genome Deep Sequencing of the Healthy Adult Nasal Microbiome.

This study aimed to determine shifts in microbial populations regarding richness and diversity from the daily use of a popular over-the-counter nasal spray. In addition, the finding of nasal commensal bacterial species that overlap with the oral microbiome may prove to be potential probiotics for the "gateway microbiomes". Nasal swab samples were obtained before and after using the most popular over-the-counter (OTC) nasal spray in 10 participants aged 18-48. All participants were healthy volunteers with no significant medical histories. The participants were randomly assigned a number by randomizing software and consisted of five men and five women. The sampling consisted of placing a nasal swab atraumatically into the nasal cavity. The samples were preserved and sent to Northwestern University Sequencing Center for whole-genome deep sequencing. After 21 days of OTC nasal spray use twice daily, the participants returned for further nasal microbiome sampling. The microbial analysis included all bacteria, archaea, viruses, molds, and yeasts via deep sequencing for species analysis. The Northwestern University Sequencing Center utilized artificial intelligence analysis to determine shifts in species and strains following nasal spray use that resulted in changes in diversity and richness.