Senior NIH scientist, research fellow charged with bringing deactivated mpox virus into U.S.

DETROIT — Two scientists at a U.S. government lab were charged with smuggling vials of deactivated mpox virus into the country from Africa and lying about it during interviews with investigators at a Michigan airport, authorities said Tuesday.

A criminal complaint was unsealed in federal court in Detroit against Vincent Munster, who is chief of the virus ecology section at Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana, and Claude Kwe, who works with him as a research fellow.

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Tics and OCD: Why Treatments Differ and Ways to Support Your Kids

by Dr. Christine Conelea and Dr. Adrienne Manbeck

Tics, compulsions, and obsessions are part of many people’s everyday lives. As clinicians and researchers at the University of Minnesota Tic and Compulsivity Lab (MnTiC), we see people living with different, unique combinations of these symptoms that can feel interconnected. There are some broad differences between tics, obsessions, and compulsions, but it’s important to note that they do overlap and that a person can have all of these things at the same time. Still, disentangling symptoms in order to provide effective treatment can sometimes be challenging. 

Tics and compulsions are similar in that they both involve movements that are repetitive and difficult for the person to control. Research has shown that overlapping genetic, neurological, and psychological factors contribute to both experiences. Because of this, researchers and clinicians consider both tics and compulsions to be on the “obsessive-compulsive spectrum.” However, there are important differences in treatment and in how loved ones can provide support.

Behaviors

Tics are sudden, repetitive, involuntary movements or sounds that are usually very brief.   Common tics include rapid or hard eye blinking, facial scrunching, throat clearing or sniffing. In our studies, we have found that people with tics have an average of 8 tics per minute. 

Many individuals with tics experience an urge right before they tic. This urge can feel like tension, an itch or pressure that typically goes away after the tic occurs. Tics tend to   wax and wane over time. Compulsions are often more rule bound or rigid and are driven by a thought. Common compulsions include checking, counting, washing and reordering. They tend to be longer, smooth movements or sequences of movements. They’re linked to very specific situations, triggers, or thoughts to prevent something bad from happening or to relieve anxiety.

Why Treatments Differ

Although tic disorders and OCD sometimes look similar on the surface (repetitive movements can occur in both), they are different disorders. Subjectively speaking, tics can feel like a “body itch” while compulsions might feel like a “brain itch.” Though they may be very connected for some people, what works for one won’t necessarily work for the other. 

In general, we often take a less interventionist approach to tic disorders because tics may not be inherently harmful. On the other hand, because compulsions work to reinforce obsessive thoughts and provide escape from non-harmful but unpleasant feelings, we often intervene with OCD as soon as possible. As clinicians working with children and teens, we want to help kids learn to be brave, learn that they can tolerate distress associated with anxiety, and learn that OCD doesn’t get to make their decisions for them. 

Watchful Waiting

In general, OCD will not get better on its own. If a parent notices symptoms associated with distress or impairment, taking action of some kind is often the best approach. If tics aren’t causing problems for a child, it might be best to monitor. If tics become painful, start to bother your child, or in some other way cause harm, that might be the time to pursue treatment. The American Academy of Neurology refers to this as “watchful waiting” and sees it as an appropriate treatment, in some cases, for tics.

Tips for Providing Support

People with tic disorders face high stigma and discrimination compared to the general population. Tics are often hyper-visible and poorly understood. For OCD, stigma is more likely to emerge from public messaging rather than hypervisibility. The general public talks about OCD in a highly stereotyped way that misses a lot of people’s actual experiences with OCD and can trivialize symptoms. 

For both OCD and tic disorders, parents can help support their child by collaboratively developing a reward structure for hard work in therapy.

For tic disorders, research has shown that situational factors have an important role in influencing tics, including what a person is doing, who is around them, and how they are feeling. Most people can identify situational factors that make their tics better or worse. Some factors frequently associated with tic exacerbation are fatigue, social events, and starting school in the fall. Stress, frustration, or anxiety-provoking events can make it harder for the brain to inhibit tics. Events frequently reported to coincide with tic reductions include social interactions with familiar people, situations in which the individual is a passive participant or deeply focused on a task, and leisure activities. 

Because tics are so reactive to situational factors, one of the best ways to provide support is to create tic-neutral environments. This means eliminating intended or unintended consequences related to the tics, such as minimizing reactions to tics or changes to activities because of tics. We frame this as, “focusing on the person instead of the tics.” Tic neutrality can also help children feel better about tics since they can’t control them. 

For OCD, minimizing parent accommodation, parents helping kids avoid anxiety-provoking things, can be helpful. Parents can help their kids by reducing accomodation and encouraging their children to be brave and face their fears in manageable, developmentally-appropriate ways. 


About the Authors:

Christine Conelea, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Minnesota, a licensed clinical psychologist, and the director of the MnTiC Lab. Dr. Conelea’s research interests include Tourette Syndrome/tic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and anxiety disorders. She is particularly interested in understanding how the brain, environment, and psychosocial factors interact to impact symptoms and treatment outcomes.

Adrienne Manbeck, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow in the MnTiC Lab. Dr. Manbeck earned her doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of Minnesota and completed her pre-doctoral internship at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Manbeck’s research aims to better understand the development, maintenance, and treatment of OCD and anxiety disorders across the lifespan, with a particular emphasis on the impact of societal stressors on these disorders, including the ways in which societal stressors impact symptom severity, access to high-quality treatment, and impact of treatment on symptoms.


More Reading:

Micali, N., Heyman, I., Perez, M., Hilton, K., Nakatani, E., Turner, C., & Mataix-Cols, D. (2010). Long-term outcomes of obsessive–compulsive disorder: Follow-up of 142 children and adolescents. British Journal of Psychiatry, 197(2), 128–134. 

Conelea, C.A., Woods, D.W., Zinner, S.H. et al. The Impact of Tourette Syndrome in Adults: Results from the Tourette Syndrome Impact Survey. Community Ment Health J 49, 110–120 (2013).

Tourette Association of America Tourette Awareness Month resources

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The post Tics and OCD: Why Treatments Differ and Ways to Support Your Kids appeared first on International OCD Foundation.

Cross-Reactive T Cells Could Point to Broad Vaccines or Treatments for Measles, Nipah Virus

T cells are some of the immune system’s most important fighters. They can stop tumor growth and fight off severe infections. Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have now reported a study indicating how T cells target paramyxoviruses, a viral family that includes measles virus and Nipah virus.

Paramyxoviruses are pathogens of pandemic concern. Measles virus is highly infectious, and Nipah virus has a high mortality rate. The new study shows how we might harness T cells to save lives. Headed by Alessandro Sette, PhD, the team systematically mapped human CD4+ T cell epitopes across Nipah and measles viruses, and analyzed T cells from donors who had previously received the MMR vaccine that protects against measles, and another paramyxovirus, mumps (as well as rubella), and who had not been exposed to Nipah virus. Their experiments showed that the two paramyxoviruses had conserved T cell epitopes (CTERs) in common, and that cross-reactive T cells can recognize multiple paramyxovirus species at once.

Instead of vaccinating against one virus at a time, the researchers found that activating these cross-reactive T cells may protect against the wider paramyxovirus family. This broad protection is essential when you don’t know which virus will strike next.

The discovery may guide the development of new vaccines and therapies that stop measles, Nipah, and other paramyxovirus infections before they turn deadly. “No one knows which particular viral species or strain of a virus might be responsible for an outbreak, as we’ve seen in the recent cases of Andes hantavirus,” Sette said.

Sette and colleagues reported on their findings in Cell Reports Medicine, in a paper titled “Comprehensive mapping of human CD4+ T cell epitopes for Nipah and measles as prototype Paramyxoviruses,” concluding, “Collectively, these findings support the concept that CTER-based immunogen design can both broaden protective coverage and strategically harness existing population immunity while complementing neutralizing antibody-based vaccine approaches.”

LJI Professor Alessandro Sette, Dr.Biol.Sci. [La Jolla Institute for Immunology]
LJI Professor Alessandro Sette, PhD [La Jolla Institute for Immunology]

The Paramyxoviridae family, which includes measles and Nipah viruses, represents “… a plethora of viruses that impact global human health,” the authors wrote. “Understanding adaptive immune responses to these viruses is critical for characterizing host-pathogen interactions and evaluating vaccine performance.”

A part of the adaptive immune system T cells learn to target a specific threat. A T cell might respond to influenza virus infection but not malaria parasite infection. To do this T cells recognize specific epitopes on the pathogen. In general, T cell epitopes on one pathogen look very different from T cell epitopes on another pathogen.

LJI Research Assistant Professor Alba Grifoni, Ph.D. [La Jolla Institute for Immunology]
LJI Research Assistant Professor Alba Grifoni, PhD [La Jolla Institute for Immunology]

But viruses may retain some “conserved” features that remain unchanged within viral families. LJI scientists have shown that some T cells can cross-react to different viruses, as long as the viruses share similar epitopes. In a series of landmark studies during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sette, LJI research assistant professor Alba Grifoni, PhD, LJI assistant professor Daniela Weiskopf, PhD, and professor and chief scientific officer Shane Crotty, PhD, showed that cross-reactive T cells can recognize the family resemblance between different coronaviruses. A person who had previously contracted a common cold coronavirus may already have T cells primed to recognize SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

More recently, Sette and Grifoni demonstrated that cross-reactive T cells may offer broad protection against the deadly Lassa virus and the wider viral family of arenaviruses. Their findings suggested that future vaccines and therapies could activate these cross-reactive T cells to protect against many dangerous viruses at once. Each study makes it clear that cross-reactive T cells are key to stopping emerging viruses.

Measles is a threat worldwide, and while an effective vaccine is available, the authors cited figures indicating that there were over 10 million estimated infections worldwide in 2023. “Measles remains one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in children, due to secondary infections from measles-induced immune suppression,” they noted. People in Southeast Asia also have to keep watch for a related paramyxovirus threat, Nipah virus, which is spread by bats. Cases are rare but can be deadly. “Nipah virus is another Paramyxovirus of concern due to high mortality rates, often mediated by fatal encephalitis,” the investigators wrote. Nipah virus has a fatality rate of 40-75%, which is much higher than measles. “Outbreaks are becoming more and more frequent, especially in the Malaysian region,” said Grifoni.

The new LJI study suggests cross-reactive T cells may be just the weapons we need to combat the dangerous paramyxovirus family. The scientists worked with LJI’s John and Susan Major Center for Clinical Investigation to collect and analyze T cells from the blood of 31 study participants. These study participants had received their MMR vaccines, which protect against severe infection from the measles and mumps viruses (both are paramyxoviruses) and the rubella virus. As a result, the blood samples contained T cells that were ready to fight measles infection.

LJI postdoctoral fellow Alison Tarke, PhD, and LJI senior staff scientist Ricardo Da Silva Antunes, PhD, led experiments to map the T cell epitopes on measles virus. These findings were important on their own. “Even though measles has been studied for quite some time, and there is a vaccine for measles, there was not a lot known about the specific T-cell response elicited by the measles vaccine,” Sette commented.

Tarke and the LJI team then tested how these same T cells reacted to Nipah virus. From blood tests, the scientists knew that the study participants had never been infected with Nipah virus, yet they found that measles-fighting T cells could cross-react and also recognize Nipah virus. The two paramyxoviruses had conserved T cell epitope regions (CTERs) in common. “Focusing immune responses on these conserved regions could have a broad, protective capacity for the whole viral family,” says Sette. The authors added,

The new study is the first to map T cell epitopes on Nipah virus. The researchers were able to zero in on a specific epitope shared between measles and Nipah viruses: a region of the viral fusion or “F” protein. A large number of cross-reactive T cells targeted this relatively small, conserved viral structure. “It appears that if someone is vaccinated against measles, their T cells will have some degree of cross-reactivity to Nipah,” said Sette. “That raises the possibility that during a Nipah outbreak, one could perhaps vaccinate people with a measles vaccine, and this cross-reactivity could potentially offer some benefit.”

The authors further noted, “In light of these findings, current Nipah vaccine candidates, many of which focus primarily on whole-protein antigens selected to maximize neutralizing antibody responses, particularly F and G glycoproteins, could potentially be optimized by incorporating conserved T cell epitope regions.” Added Grifoni, “Activating T cells can be your first line of defense when you don’t know what’s going to be thrown at you.”

In their paper the team concluded “With specific regard to vaccine strategies targeting Nipah or other paramyxoviruses, one anticipated outcome of focusing on CTERs, particularly those shared with measles and mumps viruses, is the potential to boost preexisting cross-reactive memory T cell responses in populations where MMR vaccination is widespread.”

The post Cross-Reactive T Cells Could Point to Broad Vaccines or Treatments for Measles, Nipah Virus appeared first on GEN – Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

Fulcrum Halts Development of SCD Candidate Pociredir, Sets Strategic Review

Fulcrum Therapeutics said today it is scrapping its lead pipeline program to develop pociredir as a treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD) and launching a “comprehensive” review of strategic alternatives, after the FDA told the company it had heightened concerns about the drug’s risks and benefits in fighting the disease.

Those concerns, which the agency raised with Fulcrum executives at a recent end-of-phase meeting, stemmed from an unexpectedly high rate of secondary blood cancers seen with another PRC2 inhibitor—Ipsen’s Tazverik® (tazemetostat), indicated to treat follicular lymphoma and epithelioid sarcoma, the company disclosed, based on meeting minutes received May 28.

Ipsen voluntarily withdrew Tazverik from the market in March following adverse events of secondary blood cancers emerging from the ongoing Phase Ib/III SYMPHONY-1 trial (NCT04224493), which evaluated the drug in combination with lenalidomide plus rituximab (R2) vs R2 in follicular lymphoma. Ipsen inherited the drug when it acquired its developer Epizyme in 2022 for $247 million. Tazverik last year generated €40.6 million ($47.2 million) for Ipsen and another $2.5 million for Hutchmed, which marketed the drug in China. The withdrawal also affected Eisai, since it marketed Tazverik in Japan and manufactured the drug there.

Pociredir is an oral small molecule polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) inhibitor targeting embryonic ectoderm development (EED), and was discovered using Fulcrum’s discovery technology. Fulcrum has reasoned that inhibiting EED leads to potent downregulation of key fetal globin repressors including BCL11A, thereby causing an increase in fetal hemoglobin (HbF).

“Fulcrum submitted information to FDA supporting the position that mechanistic differences between EED (pociredir’s target) and EZH2 (tazemetostat’s target), which perform different biological roles, were relevant to the benefit-risk assessment,” Fulcrum said in a statement. “While no new safety signals have been observed to date with pociredir, the FDA raised concerns regarding the potential malignancy risk associated with pociredir’s inhibition of the PRC2 complex.

The agency considered Fulcrum’s position before rebuffing the company, concluding that any drug intervention targeting the PRC2 complex carries equivalent malignancy risk “regardless of the specific subunit engaged,” Fulcrum continued, based on pociredir’s previously disclosed preclinical malignancy observations.

That left no viable regulatory path forward for further clinical development of pociredir, Fulcrum concluded.

No path forward

“Following a thorough review of regulatory feedback, the totality of available data, and the implications for a viable regulatory path, we have made the very difficult decision to discontinue development of pociredir,” stated Alex C. Sapir, Fulcrum’s president and CEO. “We arrived at this decision after discussion with the FDA, and despite robust elevations in fetal hemoglobin seen with pociredir and the potential for clinical benefit, we do not see a path forward with pociredir.”

“We know the SCD community has faced many disappointments and setbacks related to innovation for this devastating disease,” Sapir added. “We are not only humbled but forever grateful to the SCD warriors, investigators, and broader SCD community who have worked tirelessly alongside Fulcrum to evaluate new treatment options for this devastating disease.”

Pociredir is not the first SCD therapy to be scrapped. In 2024, Pfizer withdrew Oxbryta® (voxelotor) from the market, citing deaths and vaso-occlusive crises occurring in patients given Oxbryta in clinical studies. Hours before Pfizer’s announcement, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) disclosed findings from two Phase III trials of Oxbryta in which a total of 18 deaths occurred—all but two of them reported in patients who were dosed with the drug.

Pfizer inherited Oxbryta when it acquired the drug’s original developer, Global Blood Therapeutics (GBT), for $5.4 billion, a deal completed in 2022.

Vijay Sankaran, MD, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics at Boston Children’s Hospital and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, called the outcome “unfortunate.” Sankaran told GEN: “There have been concerns about whether PRC2 inhibition could be sufficiently selective and without potential side effects.”

Much of the preclinical work on pociredir, Sankaran noted, was performed in cell models that might not have revealed the full range of potential effects.

Vivien Sheehan, MD, PhD, director of Translational Sickle Cell Disease Research at Emory University School of Medicine, told GEN Fulcrum’s data was “reasonable, although not game changing.”

“I don’t take it [Fulcrum’s halt to pociredir development] as an abandonment of SCD,” said Sheehan, who is also a member of the Discovery and Developmental Therapeutics Research Program at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. “There may not have been a path forward, and more efficacious drugs in the pipeline may have also influenced the decision.”

She expressed greater enthusiasm for a potential SCD treatment being developed by Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS)—BMS-986470, an oral HbF-activating cereblon (CRBN) E3 ligase modulator (CELMoD™) agent designed as a potential first-in-class degrader of both transcription factors zinc finger and BTB domain containing 7A (ZBTB7A) and widely interspaced zinc finger (WIZ).

BMS-986470 is now under study in an ongoing Phase I/II trial (NCT06481306) designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, pH and food effect, and preliminary efficacy of BMS-986470 in healthy volunteers and participants with SCD. The study’s estimated primary completion date is January 6, 2027, according to ClinicalTrials.gov.

A 2024 preclinical study by a team of BMS researchers showed BMS-986470 to have generated “robust γ -globin induction activity leading to HbF levels predicted to significantly ameliorate SCD pathology.”

$1.5B peak sales forecast

In ending development of pociredir, Fulcrum has scrapped a drug that stood to generate as much as $1.5 billion in projected peak sales by 2038, according to BofA Securities, which predicted a 2029 commercial launch for the drug.

Investors responded to Fulcrum’s halt to development of pociredir with a stock selloff that sent shares of Fulcrum on the Nasdaq Global Market plummeting 51% Tuesday, to $3.13 from yesterday’s closing price of $6.42.

As a result of scraping development of pociredir, Fulcrum said, it will explore potential strategic alternatives, “including, but not limited to, a merger, acquisition, business combination, or other strategic transactions involving the company or its assets.”

Fulcrum said it has also begun efforts to “significantly” reduce its operating expenses and preserve capital. Fulcrum finished the first quarter with $333.3 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities.

“We believe that our existing cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of March 31, 2026 will enable us to fund our operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements into 2029,” Fulcrum stated in its Form 10-Q regulatory filing for the first quarter.

“With a strong balance sheet extending our cash runway into 2029, we are well positioned to advance pociredir through the next phase of clinical development,” Fulcrum stated in its April 27 press release.

The company has not set a timeline for completing its strategic review, adding that it does not intend to provide further updates “unless and until the board of directors has approved a course of action, the review process is concluded, or other disclosure is otherwise determined to be appropriate.”

Positive interim data

As late as April 27, when it held its quarterly earnings call with analysts to discuss first quarter results, Fulcrum had conveyed optimism about pociredir’s clinical prospects.

During the call, Sapir cited Fulcrum’s announcement of positive interim data from its Phase Ib PIONEER trial (NCT05169580) in February, which showed:

  • A mean absolute HbF increase of 12.2% at 12 weeks of treatment with pociredir, rising from a baseline of 7.1% to 19.3%—what the company said represented “a rapid, robust, and clinically relevant response,” with progression toward pan-cellular HbF induction as F-cells increased from 31% to 63%.
  • Absolute HbF levels ≥20% in 7 of 12 patients (58%), with all patients achieving at least a 6.5% absolute increase in HbF.
  • Improvements in markers of hemolysis, improved erythropoiesis, and a >1 g/dL increase in total hemoglobin.
  • Zero vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) during the treatment period reported in seven of 12 patients (58%).

“Importantly, pociredir has continued to be generally well tolerated with no treatment-related serious adverse events reported to date,” Sapir told analysts. “Taken together, these data reinforce our conviction in pociredir’s potential to address the underlying biology of sickle cell disease—and support our belief that pociredir has the potential to represent a differentiated, once-daily oral treatment option for patients.”

The post Fulcrum Halts Development of SCD Candidate Pociredir, Sets Strategic Review appeared first on GEN – Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News.

<![CDATA[New evidence shows CBT timed after ketamine boosts lasting depression relief; Yale tests digital therapy Rejoyn to scale the neuroplasticity window.]]>

Surveillance of Cannabis Strains Using Online Data: Observational Study

Background: The flower strains of cannabis are an important attribute that determines product appeal and health impacts. However, there is a lack of surveillance of cannabis strains as the marketplace expands in response to the growing legalization of recreational and medical cannabis. Objective: This study aimed to analyze cannabis strains and their growth using existing data from user-generated reviews on the Leafly website. Methods: Using the time stamps of each review, we constructed a dataset of the number of reviews by strain and year over the period of 2010 to 2023. We further conducted trend analyses using Joinpoint regression. Results: As of December 2023, more than 7000 cannabis strains are available for view or purchase on the website, including more than 6000 that have been reviewed by users or customers. The number of strains with reviews experienced a 13-fold increase from 280 strains in 2010 to 3905 strains in 2023. Strains that are hybrid and contain more than 20% tetrahydrocannabinol experienced the highest growth in review numbers. Conclusions: The rapid growth of strain numbers poses challenges to cannabis regulation. Policymakers who would like to base regulations on product features need to consider the variability of strains, along with other features such as potency levels and product forms.
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Use of the Dynamic Systems Development Method to Inform Technology-Assisted Motivational Interviewing (TAMI) for Tobacco Cessation: Qualitative Study

Background: Smoking continues to be a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality, and more than 480,000 Americans die annually due to smoking-related illness attributable to smoking and secondhand smoke. More advanced, responsive, and tailored digital interventions using machine learning and artificial intelligence may be a valuable tool for successful smoking cessation referrals. Objective: This study used the dynamic systems development method to incorporate patient and consumer sources of conversational data to develop a technology-assisted motivational interviewing (TAMI) chatbot, a digital agent using machine learning models to deliver motivational interviewing (MI) for tobacco cessation. Methods: During the functional model iteration phase, user-centered design interviews with smokers (n=3) informed the creation of TAMI. The design and build phase involved the use of existing datasets to guide the incorporation of MI-consistent utterances, language recognition, and topic classification to guide a discussion about smoking, and providing a tailored quit plan if indicated. During the implementation phase, user experience interviews with randomly selected participants (n=9) in a pilot trial discussed their experiences with TAMI. Results: User-centered design interviews indicated a desire for a chatbot that was engaging and adaptable to personal interests in quitting smoking. Inductive analysis of user experience interviews revealed that anonymity, regular reminders, and a humanized experience facilitated engagement with TAMI, but technical glitches, chatbot misunderstandings, and issues with rapport were barriers to engagement. Conclusions: Informed by user input and patient and consumer datasets, TAMI can use MI skills to elicit change talk and/or accurately evaluate readiness for tobacco cessation. Further development will enhance TAMI’s ability to seamlessly engage with users when discussing behavior change and assist underserved populations achieve improvements in a variety of health behavior goals.
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Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Adherence and HIV Self-Testing App Among Women in the South Bronx: 12-Month Usability, Acceptability, and Feasibility Study

Background: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is underused by cis- and transgender women despite a significant HIV burden. Smartphone technologies are promising tools to support HIV prevention but have yet to be assessed in women. Objective: We conducted a 12-month feasibility study to assess the use and acceptability of a mobile phone app, SmartPrEP, designed to support PrEP adherence and HIV self- and partner-testing among women living in an area of elevated HIV burden in New York City. Methods: Nonpregnant adult cisgender and transgender women who met US PrEP eligibility criteria and were PrEP naïve, reported PrEP use for <3 months, or had inconsistent PrEP use were eligible. Participants received oral PrEP and HIV self-testing kits and downloaded the SmartPrEP app, which sent daily reminders to take PrEP and record adherence through the app. PrEP adherence was assessed based on participants’ self-recorded average doses per week as entered in the app. Sexual behaviors and app acceptability were evaluated quarterly by interviewer-administered questionnaires. Results: From February 2022 to August 2023, 40 participants were enrolled in the study. Median age was 30 (IQR 24-35) years, 70% (28/40) identified as cisgender women, 30% (12/40) as transgender women, 48% (19/40) as Hispanic, and 35% (14/40) as Black. At baseline, the majority, 80% (32/40), had no history of PrEP use, and 65% (26/40) reported that they did not believe they were at risk of HIV. However, 90% (36/40) reported ≥1 and 25% (10/40) reported >4 HIV risk behaviors in the past 6 months, with 58% (23/40) reporting anal or vaginal sex with more than 1 partner. Over the course of the study, although 8 participants withdrew early, and 14 were lost to follow-up, there were 2 pregnancies and 1 HIV seroconversion. PrEP adherence was low, with 80% (32/40) recording <3 doses per week, 17% (7/40) recording 3‐5 doses, and 3% (1/40) recording ≥6 doses per week. PrEP adherence averaged over the second half of study participation was lower than adherence in the first half, with only 10% (4/40) recording >3 doses per week compared to 20% (8/40). In total, 4 participants conducted HIV self- or partner-testing using SmartPrEP during study follow-up. App acceptability assessed at month 12 was moderate to high (median score 3.71 of max 5, IQR 3.47‐4.16). Conclusions: Despite consistently rating the app as acceptable and receiving quarterly HIV testing and counseling, most participants did not achieve optimal PrEP adherence, demonstrating the limitations of this mobile health app among women at elevated risk of HIV. Active navigation and strategies to address gaps in risk perception among women will remain critical, as new, long-acting formulations of PrEP become available. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05111119; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05111119

Preliminary Evaluation of a Large Language Model–Powered Chatbot for Osteoporosis Self-Management Education: Formative Randomized Controlled Trial

<strong>Background:</strong> With the increasing burden of chronic diseases, self-management education (SME) is crucial. Traditional SME based on face-to-face delivery by clinicians is resource-intensive, and general digital tools such as web-based platforms often provide limited interactivity for patient learning. Although chatbots based on large language models (LLMs) show promise in interactivity, their real-world effectiveness lacks empirical evidence. <strong>Objective:</strong> This study aimed to explore the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an LLM-based chatbot specifically designed for osteoporosis SME. <strong>Methods:</strong> A formative randomized controlled trial was conducted in a tertiary hospital from February 2024 to March 2025. Adults aged ≥18 years with osteoporosis were recruited and randomly assigned (1:1) to either the intervention (OPBot) group or a control group receiving traditional health education. The chatbot provided interactive educational content and question-and-answer support, while the control group received face-to-face education and written materials. Osteoporosis knowledge was assessed using the Osteoporosis Knowledge Assessment Tool at baseline and discharge. Nurses’ time spent on health education was self-recorded during each intervention session and aggregated across sessions. Adherence to disease management was assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months after discharge via telephone using Likert-scale questionnaires. The reliability of OPBot responses was evaluated by 2 clinician assessors using a 5-point Likert scale, with interrater agreement calculated using Cohen <i>κ</i>. Group comparisons were conducted using 2-tailed independent <i>t</i> tests, Mann-Whitney <i>U</i> tests, and chi-square tests, and adherence outcomes were analyzed using mixed-effects models. <strong>Results:</strong> A total of 100 participants were randomized; 12% (12/100) were excluded due to loss to follow-up, refusal of the second knowledge assessment, or death, leaving 88% (88/100) participants for analysis (n=45, 51.1% in the OPBot group and n=43, 48.9% in the control group). The OPBot group showed significantly higher postintervention knowledge scores than the control group (median 80.0, IQR 70.0-89.0 vs median 75.0, IQR 65.5-80.0; <i>P</i>=.01). Nurses in the OPBot group spent lesser time on SME than those in the control group (median 5.0, IQR 2.0-17.0 vs median 23.0, IQR 20.0-25.0 minutes; <i>P</i>&lt;.001). For adherence outcomes, a significant group×time interaction was observed for calcium supplement intake (odds ratio 1.49, 95% CI 1.08-2.06; <i>P</i>=.02), indicating differing adherence trajectories over time. The OPBot group also showed higher odds of consuming calcium-rich foods across time points (odds ratio 2.87, 95% CI 1.04-7.89; nominal <i>P</i>=.04), although this association did not remain significant after Holm correction. No significant effects were observed for sun exposure (<i>P</i>=.56), exercise (<i>P</i>=.79), or total adherence scores (<i>P</i>=.33). In the question-and-answer module, most OPBot responses were rated as highly reliable 89.4% (76/85), with high interrater agreement (Cohen <i>κ</i>=0.83). <strong>Conclusions:</strong> LLM-based chatbots specifically designed for osteoporosis SME may improve patient knowledge, supporting adherence behaviors, and reducing healthcare workload. However, further large-scale studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Recommendations for Research and Clinical Implementation of Ambulatory Assessment, Mood Monitoring, Digital Phenotyping, and Remote Measurement Technology in Mood Disorders: Synthesis of Systematic Review Findings

Background: Ambulatory assessment and active and passive monitoring all offer a real-time, flexible approach to assessing mood and behavior in mood disorders. Despite their potential, concerns remain regarding the performance, usability, adherence, and potential safety of these tools. Objective: This study synthesizes the findings from 7 systematic reviews, integrating quantitative and qualitative data from randomized trials, observational studies, and user experience research to evaluate the performance, feasibility, acceptability, and clinical impact of ambulatory assessment and mood monitoring in people with depression and bipolar disorder. We assessed studies over the medium or long term (3 months or more). Methods: A summary of a series of systematic reviews was carried out by the authors—including meta-analyses (for quantitative data) and meta-syntheses (for qualitative data). Eight electronic databases were searched, and mixed methods studies were included. Studies were assessed for risk of bias. The results were checked for coherence, and recommendations were made by individuals with lived experience, methodologists, and psychiatrists. GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) was used to assess the quality and strength of the evidence. Results: The 111 included studies included 19,945 participants and used 69 different ambulatory assessment protocols or mood-monitoring interventions. Key barriers to implementation were identified, including performance inconsistency, adverse effects, and user disengagement. Evidence-based recommendations are provided to guide future clinical and research applications. Conclusions: Ambulatory assessment and mood monitoring hold promise in research and clinical practice, yet their implementation requires more rigorous evaluation, greater personalization, and responsible, user-centered design. Crucially, these measures can add granularity and confirmation, but additional context is often required, and none of these measures are robust enough yet to replace current outcomes.
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