Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit smaller regional brain volumes in commonly reported regions including the amygdala and hippocampus, regions associated with fear and memory processing. In the current study, we have conducted a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) meta-analysis using whole-brain statistical maps with neuroimaging data from the ENIGMA-PGC PTSD working group.

T1-weighted structural neuroimaging scans from 36 cohorts (PTSD n = 1309; controls n = 2198) were processed using a standardized VBM pipeline (ENIGMA-VBM tool). We meta-analyzed the resulting statistical maps for voxel-wise differences in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes between PTSD patients and controls, performed subgroup analyses considering the trauma exposure of the controls, and examined associations between regional brain volumes and clinical variables including PTSD (CAPS-4/5, PCL-5) and depression severity (BDI-II, PHQ-9).

PTSD patients exhibited smaller GM volumes across the frontal and temporal lobes, and cerebellum, with the most significant effect in the left cerebellum (Hedges’ g = 0.22, pcorrected = .001), and smaller cerebellar WM volume (peak Hedges’ g = 0.14, pcorrected = .008). We observed similar regional differences when comparing patients to trauma-exposed controls, suggesting these structural abnormalities may be specific to PTSD. Regression analyses revealed PTSD severity was negatively associated with GM volumes within the cerebellum (pcorrected = .003), while depression severity was negatively associated with GM volumes within the cerebellum and superior frontal gyrus in patients (pcorrected = .001).

PTSD patients exhibited widespread, regional differences in brain volumes where greater regional deficits appeared to reflect more severe symptoms. Our findings add to the growing literature implicating the cerebellum in PTSD psychopathology.

To evaluate performance of registered nurse assessments of the PEN-FAST penicillin allergy clinical decision rule compared to antimicrobial stewardship pharmacists.

Prospective, blinded, non-interventional, quality assurance study.

This study took place across 4 inpatient hospitals within a large health system in Houston, Texas.

We implemented PEN-FAST rule questions into the electronic health record (EHR) for registered nurses to perform. Patients were randomly selected in a prospective fashion, with nurse documented scores hidden, for re-assessment by antimicrobial stewardship pharmacists to compare risk stratification and scores.

Overall agreement of high risk and low risk results was 84.3%. Registered nurse evaluations with the PEN-FAST clinical decision rule for detecting a high-risk patient demonstrated a sensitivity of 67%, specificity of 89.8%, positive predictive value of 67.9%, and negative predictive value of 89.5%. Additionally, 34.4% of patients with a documented penicillin allergy admitted to tolerating amoxicillin or amoxicillin/clavulanate since their last recalled reaction to penicillin.

Registered nurse assessment of the PEN-FAST clinical decision rule demonstrated good performance and can effectively be used to screen for low-risk penicillin allergy patients. Incorporation of the PEN-FAST rule into EHR can be scaled into large health systems to help appropriately stratify patients with low- and high-risk penicillin allergies and improve documentation.

External funding is a critical metric in research career advancement, particularly in biomedical fields. Grant-writing coaching emerges as a strategy in biomedical workforce development. Recognizing disparities in grant success among early-career investigators from underrepresented groups, the National Research Mentoring Network Strategic Empowerment Tailored for Health Equity Investigators (NRMN-SETH) provides grant-writing coaching to support these scholars. This study explores the roles of NRMN-SETH grant-writing coaches in fostering technical skills and social support in a group setting.

This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews with 16 NIH-funded investigators who served as coaches within the NRMN-SETH program. Data were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using the Framework Method, identifying key roles related to coaching practices.

Findings reveal that grant-writing coaching involved personalized guidance, confidence-building, and structured group interactions. Coaches emphasized individualized feedback on grant components and provided iterative guidance. The group-based coaching environment fostered peer support and normalized challenges, creating a collaborative atmosphere conducive to skill-building. Coaches noted the importance of institutional support in enabling participants to engage in the program, though challenges arose in managing participants with varying grant-writing experience.

This study highlights the potential of grant-writing coaching to enhance research capacity among underrepresented scholars, offering a structured, supportive approach that complements traditional mentorship. Integrating tailored coaching programs within biomedical workforce development, particularly at minority-serving and low-resourced institutions, may reduce disparities in grant success. Future research could expand on these findings by investigating the long-term career impacts of coaching and testing the effectiveness of peer-led, group-based components in grant-writing success.

Dental management is critical prior to radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) but cumbersome and time intensive. This qualitative study investigates dentists’ evaluative processes to identify areas for improvement.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with dentists involved in the care of HNC patients. The interviews were guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and the Theoretical Domains Framework to identify factors influencing pre-RT dental management.

Five dentists were participated in the interviews. Key themes were identified through qualitative and quantitative evaluation and are as follows: Coordination among care providers, knowledge of the RT plan, visual depictions of dose distribution and understanding of the patient’s dental history.

This study demonstrates the complexity of pre-RT management and identifies key elements. Knowledge of the RT plan and improved interdisciplinary coordination represents opportunities for improvement. Visual dose prediction methods may expedite and improve pre-RT management.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we rapidly implemented a plasma coordination center, within two months, to support transfusion for two outpatient randomized controlled trials. The center design was based on an investigational drug services model and a Food and Drug Administration-compliant database to manage blood product inventory and trial safety.

A core investigational team adapted a cloud-based platform to randomize patient assignments and track inventory distribution of control plasma and high-titer COVID-19 convalescent plasma of different blood groups from 29 donor collection centers directly to blood banks serving 26 transfusion sites.

We performed 1,351 transfusions in 16 months. The transparency of the digital inventory at each site was critical to facilitate qualification, randomization, and overnight shipments of blood group-compatible plasma for transfusions into trial participants. While inventory challenges were heightened with COVID-19 convalescent plasma, the cloud-based system, and the flexible approach of the plasma coordination center staff across the blood bank network enabled decentralized procurement and distribution of investigational products to maintain inventory thresholds and overcome local supply chain restraints at the sites.

The rapid creation of a plasma coordination center for outpatient transfusions is infrequent in the academic setting. Distributing more than 3,100 plasma units to blood banks charged with managing investigational inventory across the U.S. in a decentralized manner posed operational and regulatory challenges while providing opportunities for the plasma coordination center to contribute to research of global importance. This program can serve as a template in subsequent public health emergencies.

Over recent decades, the commercial ultra-processed food industry has grown, making snacks high in energy, added sugar, saturated fat and sodium affordable and accessible to consumers. Dietary patterns high in ultra-processed snacks are concerning as this can result in negative health outcomes. This study aims to provide insight into available snack products in South African supermarkets, and the marketing thereof, which can be used to support policy development aimed at improving the healthfulness of the food supply and consumption patterns.

This was an observational cross-sectional, mixed-method study.

Secondary data from six major supermarket chains (eight stores) in three different suburbs in Cape Town, South Africa was analysed to evaluate the nutritional composition of snack products (n 3837). The same eight supermarkets were revisited to obtain information on marketing via an observational checklist. Qualitative interviews were also conducted with store managers.

Majority (89 %) of the products assessed either contained non-sugar sweeteners or were high in sugar, saturated fat or sodium. These snack items that are high in nutrients of concern to limit were available at checkout areas in all stores and were found in high-traffic areas, and several in-store promotional strategies such as branded displays, special offers and combo-deals were commonly found.

The current South African supermarket environment encourages consumers to purchase unhealthy snacks. Most snacks assessed in this study cannot be recommended for regular consumption due to the nutritional composition being high in nutrients linked to poor health outcomes. There is a need for regulation of the in-store marketing of unhealthy snacks in South Africa. Retail settings are potential intervention points for limiting exposure to these unhealthy products.