Faculty Bibliography

Tucumã-do-Amazonas (Astrocaryum aculeatum) is a fruit from the Brazilian Amazon with a high potential for processing and bioactive compound extraction. Understanding the chemical composition of different tucumã-processed crops may help create and improve high-quality and safe food products for industrial and health-related purposes. However, studies addressing how preservation methods affect tucumã's bioactive qualities are still lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the bioactive composition and antioxidant capacity of tucumã pulp subjected to four preservation methods convective drying, freeze-drying, acidified preserve, and jelly preparation, with fresh and blanched pulp as controls. Carotenoid content ranged from 26.62 to 557.90 µg/g, total phenolic compounds from 10.01 to 48.54 mg/g, and flavonoids from 0.073 to 0.596 mg/g. Antioxidant activity values were 67.29-215.81 (FRAP) and 0.073-0.596 (ABTS method) µmol of Trolox equivalent/g. Convective drying and freeze-drying preserved carotenoids best, at 101.92% and 77.17% of fresh control levels. Polyphenols were well preserved by freeze-drying and acidified preserve at 137.39% and 80.81% when compared to fresh pulp. Pearson's correlation indicated a strong relationship (r = 0.858-0.931) between total polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity. Preservation methods significantly affected the bioactive compound levels and antioxidant capacity and these results emphasize the potential of tucumã-do-Amazonas pulp for significant bioactive compound extraction.

To address the deterioration of expansive soil in seasonally frozen regions subjected to freeze-thaw cycles, this study investigated the effects of fiber modification by incorporating polypropylene fiber (PP) and lignin fiber (LF) on the swelling behavior, mechanical properties, and freeze-thaw durability of expansive soil. Using expansive soil as the base material, the modification effects of individual fiber incorporation were evaluated through free swell ratio, no-load swell ratio, and direct shear tests. Freeze-thaw cycle tests were then conducted on the composite fiber-modified soils, and the microscopic mechanism was analyzed in combination with SEM observations. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) For single-fiber modification, lignin fiber (LF) at a dosage of 1.2% exhibited the best overall performance, producing the greatest reduction in free swell ratio and the largest increase in shear strength. The incorporation of polypropylene fiber (PP) also significantly improved these parameters, although its effect was weaker than that of lignin fiber (LF). (2) Based on the results of single-fiber modification, the addition of 1.2% polypropylene fiber (PP) on the basis of 1.2% lignin fiber (LF) further improved the mechanical properties of expansive soil, under which the shear strength and unconfined compressive strength of the modified expansive soil were both enhanced. (3) In terms of freeze-thaw durability, the composite fiber-modified soil subjected to freeze-thaw cycles showed significantly lower attenuation rates of shear strength and unconfined compressive strength than the untreated specimens. SEM results showed that local overlapping and bridging structures formed between the fibers and soil particles, which helped delay crack propagation and weaken freeze-thaw damage. Through physical restraint and reinforcement effects, lignin fiber (LF) and polypropylene fiber (PP) jointly improved the mechanical performance and frost resistance of expansive soil, thereby providing an experimental reference for research on fiber modification of expansive soils in seasonally frozen regions.

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:Retained placenta is a potential complication of second-trimester induction of labour. There is limited consensus regarding the use of adjunctive medications to manage the third stage following second-trimester vaginal delivery. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of oxytocin versus misoprostol on third-stage duration and the need for dilation and curettage (D&C) among patients with and without mifepristone pretreatment. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing induction of labour between 14 + 0 and 23 + 6 weeks of gestation for any indication. Data on third-stage uterotonic use and mifepristone pre-treatment were collected. Primary outcomes were third-stage duration and the need for D&C for retained placenta among patients who received a third-stage uterotonic agent. Associations were assessed using adjusted linear and logistic regression models controlling for relevant clinical covariates. RESULTS:Among 181 patients, 85 (47.0%) received a third-stage uterotonic (oxytocin n = 55, 30.4%; misoprostol n = 45, 24.9%) and 101 (55.8%) received mifepristone (median 4.6 h prior to induction). Among patients receiving a third-stage uterotonic, oxytocin use was associated with a 2-hour reduction in placental delivery time and a 74% lower likelihood of D&C compared with misoprostol. Mifepristone pretreatment was not associated with third-stage duration (10 vs 24.5 min, p = 0.43) or D&C rates (12.9% vs 13.8%, p = 0.86). CONCLUSIONS:When third-stage uterotonic intervention is required following second-trimester induction of labour, oxytocin is associated with significantly shorter placental delivery time and lower likelihood of D&C when compared with misoprostol. Mifepristone pretreatment shortly before induction appears to have minimal impact on third-stage outcomes.

BACKGROUND:Major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder frequently co-occur, leading to heterogeneous presentations that complicate diagnosis and treatment. While diagnostic categories often obscure symptom variability, network approaches offer a powerful way to examine how symptoms relate to one another within and across conditions. By identifying symptom clusters, these methods can provide insights into potential mechanisms of comorbidity and symptom maintenance and may ultimately help guide more personalized treatment. METHODS: = 10,718), we examined the relationship between baseline cluster probabilities and three outcome trajectories over 12 weeks of treatment. RESULTS:We found four baseline symptom clusters relating to Affective Dysregulation, Worries, Neurovegetative symptoms, and Hyperarousal. Affective Dysregulation and Neurovegetative clusters were associated with poorer outcomes, whereas Worries and Hyperarousal were associated with recovery over partial improvement; Hyperarousal also differentiated recovery from non-response. CONCLUSIONS:Symptom clusters derived from standard screening measures were associated with differential treatment trajectories. Targeting these symptom configurations may be particularly effective at disrupting multiple symptom pathways. Future research should examine whether personalized treatment strategies that consider symptom clusters based on simple screening in practice settings yield greater clinical improvement than traditional diagnostic categories.

Developing dry antimicrobial delivery systems that combine bioactive protection with biofilm-matrix disruption remains a major challenge. Building on a previously established protease-modulated pea protein isolate (PPI)-carvacrol nanoemulsion system, this study developed protease-assisted microcapsules designed to preserve carvacrol and promote the removal of preformed biofilms. Carvacrol-loaded nanoemulsions were prepared at pH 3.5, 7.0, and 10.0 and supplemented with pepsin or trypsin before spray-drying or freeze-drying with maltodextrin. Protease-specific interfacial modification markedly affected emulsion stability, powder structure, and encapsulation performance. At pH 7.0 and 10.0, trypsin reduced droplet size from 284.60 to 232.52 nm and from 149.13 to 140.38 nm, respectively. The resulting spray-dried microcapsules exhibited high encapsulation efficiency (>96%) and low surface carvacrol contents (0.95-1.24 mg/g). In contrast, pepsin caused pronounced destabilization under acidic conditions, particularly after freeze-drying, yielding porous powders with an encapsulation efficiency of 48.18% and a surface carvacrol content of 69.51 mg/g. Trypsin-assisted microcapsules achieved 90-99% removal of preformed Listeria innocua biofilm biomass within 1 h, whereas enzyme-free and pepsin-containing formulations generally remained below 40%. Microscopic observations confirmed extensive disruption and detachment of the biofilm structure. After one year at 4 °C, trypsin-loaded formulations retained high biofilm biomass removal activity (85-99% after 2 h). These findings demonstrate that protease-assisted microencapsulation can couple interfacial regulation during particle formation with enzyme-mediated biofilm-matrix disruption after rehydration, providing a sustainable carvacrol delivery platform with durable antibiofilm functionality.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS/UNASSIGNED:Endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE) is emerging as a minimally invasive alternative for benign gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). This study evaluated its safety, efficacy, and long-term outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS/UNASSIGNED:This international, multicenter retrospective study included 72 patients who underwent EUS-GE for benign GOO across 13 centers. Clinical success was defined as ability to tolerate solid food based on the GOO scoring system. Secondary outcomes included technical success and adverse events (AEs). RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:< 0.00001). Mean time to oral intake was 20.1 hours. AEs were mild,occurring in 6% intra-procedurally and 10% post-procedurally. Mean follow-up duration was 426.3 days. CONCLUSIONS/UNASSIGNED:EUS-GE demonstrates high technical and clinical success rates with a favorable safety profile for benign GOO, offering a promising alternative to traditional surgical approaches.

Treatment de-escalation is increasingly shaping the management of breast cancer, aiming to reduce treatment intensity, minimize toxicity, and improve quality-of-life outcomes without compromising effectiveness and survival. Breast cancer cryoablation, a minimally invasive image-guided percutaneous technique that destroys tumor cells through controlled freezing and thawing, has emerged as an alternative to surgery for select patients with early-stage disease. Support for this approach has grown following recent prospective trials demonstrating its safety and efficacy, US Food and Drug Administration approval of the ProSense Cryoablation System for early-stage low-risk breast cancers in women 70 years of age and older, and inclusion of breast cancer cryoablation in updated American Society of Breast Surgeons treatment guidelines. In this review, we summarize the mechanistic rationale, clinical evidence, and practical considerations for clinical adoption of breast cancer cryoablation in the evolving paradigm of treatment de-escalation.

INTRODUCTION/UNASSIGNED:Autologous serum eye drops (ASEDs) are used to treat patients with dry eye syndrome. ASED is manufactured by fractionation of autologous whole blood of concerned patients and usually stored under home freezing conditions. METHODS/UNASSIGNED:We analyzed sterility, particle number, protein concentration, and stability of 14 growth factors in ASED for 148 days at -10°C. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:Total protein concentration was constant showing no significant degradation as assessed by 1D-SDS-PAGE. Slightly increased concentrations of angiopoietin-2, vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, and hepatocyte growth factor were observed, while stem cell factor concentration showed only a modest decrease. CONCLUSION/UNASSIGNED:Our data support the feasibility to store ASED for patient use under usual home freezing conditions for up to 148 days.

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder in the United States that disproportionately affects African Americans. Religious and spiritual practices are important coping mechanisms that may influence health beliefs and healthcare decisions, yet their influence on epilepsy outcomes in this population remains understudied. This narrative review examines how religious and spiritual practices contribute to health decision making behaviors among African Americans living with epilepsy. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, Connected Papers, and the New York University Library system, focusing on religiosity and spirituality in chronic illness, epilepsy outcomes, racial disparities, stigma in faith-based settings, and church-based health interventions. Across the reviewed literature, findings showed that religiosity and spirituality were associated with coping, finding purpose, social support, and quality of life. In epilepsy-specific studies, positive religious and spiritual coping associated with better well-being, lower anxiety and depressive symptoms, and higher quality of life, while negative religious coping was associated with poorer psychosocial outcomes. Direct evidence among African Americans with epilepsy was limited; however, available findings suggest that Black patients relied more on religion, emotional support, positive reframing, and denial as coping strategies compared to White patients. Overall, this review highlights the need to better understand how African Americans with epilepsy use religious and spiritual frameworks to manage living with a chronic neurological condition.