Widespread formation of intracellular calcium carbonates by the bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis.

The formation of intracellular amorphous calcium carbonates (iACC) has been recently observed in a few cultured strains of Microcystis, a potentially toxic bloom-forming cyanobacterium found worldwide in freshwater ecosystems. If iACC-forming Microcystis are abundant within blooms, they may represent a significant amount of particulate Ca. Here, we investigate the significance of iACC biomineralization by Microcystis. First, the presence of iACC-forming Microcystis cells has been detected in several eutrophic lakes, indicating that this phenomenon occurs under environmental conditions. Second, some genotypic (presence/absence of ccyA, a marker gene of iACC biomineralization) and phenotypic (presence/absence of iACC) diversity have been detected within a collection of strains isolated from one single lake. This illustrates that this trait is frequent but also variable within Microcystis even at a single locality. Finally, one-third of publicly available genomes of Microcystis were shown to contain the ccyA gene, revealing a wide geographic and phylogenetic distribution within the genus. Overall, the present work shows that the formation of iACC by Microcystis is common under environmental conditions. While its biological function remains undetermined, this process should be further considered regarding the biology of Microcystis and implications on the Ca geochemical cycle in freshwater environments.

Mortality Among Children Aged <5 Years Living with HIV Who Are Receiving Antiretroviral Treatment - U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, 28 Supported Countries and Regions, October 2020-September 2022.

Globally, children aged <5 years, including those living with HIV who are not receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART), experience disproportionately high mortality. Global mortality among children living with HIV aged <5 years receiving ART is not well described. This report compares mortality and related clinical measures among infants aged <1 year and children aged 1-4 years living with HIV with those among older persons aged 5-14, 15-49, and ≥50 years living with HIV receiving ART services at all clinical sites supported by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. During October 2020-September 2022, an average of 11,980 infants aged <1 year and 105,510 children aged 1-4 years were receiving ART each quarter; among these infants and children receiving ART, 586 (4.9%) and 2,684 (2.5%), respectively, were reported to have died annually. These proportions of infants and children who died ranged from four to nine times higher in infants aged <1 year, and two to five times higher in children aged 1-4 years, than the proportions of older persons aged ≥5 years receiving ART. Compared with persons aged ≥5 years living with HIV, the proportions of children aged <5 years living with HIV who experienced interruptions in treatment were also higher, and the proportions who had a documented HIV viral load result or a suppressed viral load were lower. Prioritizing and optimizing HIV and general health services for children aged <5 years living with HIV receiving ART, including those recommended in the WHO STOP AIDS Package, might help address these disproportionately poorer outcomes.

Expanded triazolophanes: a topological analysis of vesicular assembly.

Triazolophanes with larger ring sizes such as 40- and 42- were designed and synthesized. Ultramicroscopic studies on a variety of expanded triazolophanes and larger acyclic systems revealed vesicular self-assembly. The role of molecular topology on vesicular assembly was systematically investigated by studying a series of molecules with increasing curvature.

Esthetic rehabilitation of mutilated maxillary anterior alveolar segment by combining orthodontic osseous distraction and implant-supported crowns: A clinical report.

Bony defects in the esthetic zone, especially in the maxillary anterior region, increase the complexity of surgical and prosthetic procedures. Moving teeth with preprosthetic osseous distraction techniques can be an alternative nonsurgical option to traditional regenerative or reparative surgical therapies to increase bone volume. Healthy peri-implant bone, periodontium, and adjacent teeth provide a favorable environment for implant restorations. The esthetic rehabilitation of the maxillary region after the removal of 2 ankylosed central incisors is presented. The lateral incisors were moved mesially to the central incisor positions, and implants placed in the lateral incisor positions after new healthy bone had been induced.

Lessons Learned from Programmatic Gains in HIV Service Delivery During the COVID-19 Pandemic - 41 PEPFAR-Supported Countries, 2020.

The U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) supports country programs in identifying persons living with HIV infection (PLHIV), providing life-saving treatment, and reducing the spread of HIV in countries around the world (1,2). CDC used Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting (MER) data* to assess the extent to which COVID-19 mitigation strategies affected HIV service delivery across the HIV care continuum† globally during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Indicators included the number of reported HIV-positive test results, the number of PLHIV who were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART), and the rates of HIV viral load suppression. Percent change in performance was assessed between countries during the first 3 months of 2020, before COVID-19 mitigation efforts began (January-March 2020), and the last 3 months of the calendar year (October-December 2020). Data were reviewed for all 41 countries to assess total and country-level percent change for each indicator. Then, qualitative data were reviewed among countries in the upper quartile to assess specific strategies that contributed to programmatic gains. Overall, positive percent change was observed in PEPFAR-supported countries in HIV treatment (5%) and viral load suppression (2%) during 2020. Countries reporting the highest gains across the HIV care continuum during 2020 attributed successes to reducing or streamlining facility attendance through strategies such as enhancing index testing (offering of testing to the biologic children and partners of PLHIV)§ and community- and home-based testing; treatment delivery approaches; and improvements in data use through monitoring activities, systems, and data quality checks. Countries that reported program improvements during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic offer important information about how lifesaving HIV treatment might be provided during a global public health crisis.

Cardiac Registries During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned.

PURPOSE OF THIS REVIEW: We discuss the role of observational studies and cardiac registries during the COVID-19 pandemic. We focus on published cardiac registries and highlight contributions to the field that have had clinical implications. RECENT FINDINGS: We included observational studies of COVID-19 patients published in peer-reviewed medical journals with defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, defined study design, and primary outcomes. A PubMed and MEDLINE literature review results in 437 articles, of which 52 include patients with COVID-19 with cardiac endpoints. From July 2020 to December 2021, the average time from last data collected to publication was 8.9 ± 4.1 months, with an increasing trend over time (R = 0.9444, p < 0.0001). Of the 52 articles that met our inclusion criteria, we summarize main findings of 4 manuscripts on stroke, 14 on acute coronary syndrome, 4 on cardiac arrest, 7 on heart failure, 7 on venous thromboembolism, 5 on dysrhythmia, and 11 on different populations at risk for cardiovascular. Registries are cost effective, not disruptive to essential health services, and can be rapidly disseminated with short intervals between last data point collected and publication. In less than 2 years, cardiac registries have filled important gaps in knowledge and informed the care of COVID-19 patients with cardiovascular conditions.

Integrating life cycle assessment and characterisation techniques: A case study of biodiesel production utilising waste Prunus Armeniaca seeds (PAS) and a novel catalyst.

Prunus Armeniaca seed (PAS) oil was utilised as a waste biomass feedstock for biodiesel production via a novel catalytic system (SrO-La2O3) based on different stoichiometric ratios. The catalysts have been characterised and followed by a parametric analysis to optimise catalyst results. The catalyst with a stoichiometric ratio of Sr: La-8 (Sr-La-C) using parametric analysis showed an optimum yield of methyl esters is 97.28% at 65 °C, reaction time 75 min, catalyst loading 3 wt% and methanol to oil molar ratio of 9. The optimum catalyst was tested using various oil feedstocks such as waste cooking oil, sunflower oil, PAS oil, date seed oil and animal fat. The life cycle assessment was performed to evaluate the environmental impacts of biodiesel production utilising waste PAS, considering 1000 kg of biodiesel produced as 1 functional unit. The recorded results showed the cumulative abiotic depletion of fossil resources over the entire biodiesel production process as 22,920 MJ, global warming potential as 1150 kg CO2 equivalent, acidification potential as 4.89 kg SO2 equivalent and eutrophication potential as 0.2 kg PO43- equivalent for 1 tonne (1000 kg) of biodiesel produced. Furthermore, the energy ratio (measured as output energy divided by input energy) for the entire production process was 1.97. These results demonstrated that biodiesel obtained from the valorisation of waste PAS provides a suitable alternative to fossil fuels.

A Comparison of Methylprednisolone and Dexamethasone in Intensive Care Patients With COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: This study retrospectively compares the effectiveness of methylprednisolone to dexamethasone in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19) requiring intensive care. DESIGN: This is an institutional review board approved cohort study in patients with COVID-19 requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Patients admitted and requiring oxygen supplementation were treated with no steroids, methylprednisolone, or dexamethasone. SETTING: This study takes place in the ICU's at a large, tertiary, public teaching hospital serving a primarily low-income community in urban Los Angeles. PATIENTS: All eligible patients admitted to the ICU for COVID-19 respiratory failure from March 1 to July 31, 2020 were included in this study. INTERVENTIONS: A total of 262 patients were grouped as receiving usual care (n = 75), methylprednisolone dosed at least at 1mg/kg/day for ≥ 3 days (n = 104), or dexamethasone dosed at least at 6 mg for ≥7 days (n = 83). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All-cause mortality within 50 days of initial corticosteroid treatment as compared to usual care was calculated. The mortality effect was then stratified based on levels of respiratory support received by the patient. In this cohort of 262 patients with severe COVID-19, all-cause mortalities in the usual care, methylprednisolone, and dexamethasone groups were 41.3%, 16.4% and 26.5% at 50 days (P < 0.01) respectively. In patients requiring mechanical ventilation, mortality was 42% lower in the methylprednisolone group than in the dexamethasone group (hazard ratio 0.48, 95% CI: 0.235-0.956, P = 0.0385). CONCLUSIONS: In COVID-19 patients requiring mechanical ventilation, sufficiently dosed methylprednisolone can lead to a further decreased mortality as compared to dexamethasone.

Who Are the Men Who Pay for Sex in Mozambique? Results from the National HIV/AIDS Indicator Survey 2015.

Mozambique has one of the highest burdens of HIV in the world, where the prevalence is estimated at 13.2% among adults aged 15-49 years. Men who pay for sex (MPS) are considered a bridging population for HIV infection. However, the characteristics of MPS in Mozambique are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of paid sex among men 15-49 years and investigate risk factors associated with paid sex. We analyzed data collected from 4724 men, aged 15-49 years, as part of the 2015 Mozambique AIDS Indicator Survey. Chi-squared tests and logistic regression models accounting for survey design were used to assess the associations between paying for sex and demographic characteristics and the number of lifetime and recent sex partners, condom use at last sex, and self-reported sexually transmitted infection symptoms. The prevalence of paid sex in the last 12 months was 10.4% (95% CI 9.0-12.1), with Cabo Delgado province having the highest prevalence (38.8%). MPS in the last 12 months were most frequently between the ages of 20-24 years (13.5%), not in a relationship (17.8%), had a primary education (11.9%), from poor households (14.0%), had more than three sexual partners excluding their spouse in the last 12 months (44.7%), and self-reported a STI in the past 12 months (44.2%). HIV prevalence was higher among men who ever paid for sex compared with men who did not (13.1% vs. 9.4%, p = .02). Men who reported 10+ lifetime partner (aOR 7.7; 95% CI 4.5-13.0; p < .001), from Cabo Delgado (aOR 4.0; 95% CI 2.2-7.4; p < .001), who reported STI symptoms in the past 12 months (aOR 2.7; 95% CI 1.7-4.2; p < .001), and HIV positive (aOR 1.6; 95% CI 1.0-3.7; p = .05) were more likely to have paid for sex in the last 12 months. These findings present the HIV prevalence among Mozambican MPS and highlight the need for a comprehensive behavioral, structural, and biomedical approach to interventions to reduce the risks of commercial and transactional sex.

The new contraceptive revolution: developing innovative products outside of industry†,‡.

A significant global unmet need for new contraceptive options for both women and men remains due to side effect profiles, medical concerns, and inconvenience of many currently available products. The pharmaceutical industry has largely abandoned early research and development for contraception and will not likely engage to bring new products to the market unless they have been significantly de-risked by showing promise in early phase clinical trials. This lack of interest by big pharma comes at a time when scientific and technological advances in biology and medicine are creating more opportunities than ever for the development of new and innovative drug products. Novel partnerships between the academic sector, small biotechnology companies, foundations, non-government organizations (NGOs), and the federal government could accelerate the development of new contraceptive products. We discuss the challenges and opportunities that we have encountered as an NGO with a mission to develop novel contraceptive products for low- and middle-income countries and how it differs from developing products for higher-income markets. We hope that our experiences and "lessons learned" will be of value to others as they proceed down the product development path, be it for female or male or for hormonal or nonhormonal contraceptives.

An aero mycological analysis of Mucormycetes in indoor and outdoor environments of northern India.

Mucormycosis is an angio-invasive infection, predominantly acquired by inhalation of sporangiospores from the environment. However, the burden of Mucormycetes sporangiospores in the air is not well studied. We aimed to estimate the burden of Mucormycetes spores in the outdoor and indoor (hospital) environment across different seasons in north India. A total of 380 air samples from outdoor (n = 180) and indoor (n = 200) environment were included in the study. Air samples were suctioned using air sampler (100 l/min) and cultured on Dichloran Rose Bengal Chloramphenicol (DRBC) with benomyl for selective isolation of Mucormycetes. The isolates were identified by phenotypic and genotypic methods. The mean spore count (±SD) of Mucormycetes (cfu/m3) in outdoor samples varied from 0.73 (±0.96) to 8.60 (±5.70) across different seasons. In hospital, the mean spore count varied from 0.68 (±1.07) to 1.12 (±1.07) and 0.88 (±1.01) to 1.72 (±2.17) for air-conditioned wards and non-air-conditioned wards, respectively. Rhizopus arrhizus was the predominant agent isolated from both indoor and outdoor environment followed by Cunninghamella species. We also report a single isolate of the rare mucormycete agent, Apophysomyces variabilis from outdoor environment. The present study highlights the presence of low spore burden of Mucormycetes in outdoor and hospital settings in north India. This study also reports the first isolation of A. variabilis from air samples in the Indian subcontinent.

Sequestration of Radionuclides Radium-226 and Strontium-90 by Cyanobacteria Forming Intracellular Calcium Carbonates.

226Ra is a naturally occurring radionuclide with a half-life of 1600 years. In contrast, 90Sr is a radionuclide of sole anthropogenic origin, produced by nuclear fission reactions and has a half-life of 29 years; each of these radionuclides poses potential threats to human and ecosystem health. Here, the cyanobacterium Gloeomargarita lithophora, capable of forming intracellular amorphous calcium carbonate inclusions, was investigated for its ability to uptake 226Ra and 90Sr. In BG-11 medium, G. lithophora accumulated 3.9 µg g-1 of 226Ra within 144 h and 47.9 ng g-1 of 90Sr within 1 h, corresponding to ∼99% removal of trace radionuclides. The presence of high-concentration Ca2+ in the background media solution did not inhibit 90Sr and 226Ra uptake by G. lithophora. In contrast, dead biomass of G. lithophora accumulated 0.8 µg g-1 of 226Ra and 8.87 ng g-1 of 90Sr. Moreover, Synechocystis, a nonbiomineralizing cyanobacteria, removed only 14 and 25% of 226Ra and 90Sr, respectively. This suggested that sequestration of 90Sr and 226Ra was not intrinsic to all cyanobacteria but was likely a specific biological trait of G. lithophora related to the formation of intracellular amorphous Ca-carbonates. The unique ability of G. lithophora to uptake 90Sr and 226Ra at high rates makes it an attractive candidate for further studies involving bioremediation of these radionuclides.

Age of Both Parents Influences Reproduction and Egg Dumping Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster.

Trans-generational maternal effects have been shown to influence a broad range of offspring phenotypes. However, very little is known about paternal trans-generational effects. Here, we tested the trans-generational effects of maternal and paternal age, and their interaction, on daughter and son reproductive fitness in Drosophila melanogaster. We found significant effects of parent ages on offspring reproductive fitness during a 10 day postfertilization period. In daughters, older (45 days old) mothers conferred lower reproductive fitness compared with younger mothers (3 days old). In sons, father's age significantly affected reproductive fitness. The effects of 2 old parents were additive in both sexes and reproductive fitness was lowest when the focal individual had 2 old parents. Interestingly, daughter fertility was sensitive to father's age but son fertility was insensitive to mother's age, suggesting a sexual asymmetry in trans-generational effects. We found the egg-laying dynamics in daughters dramatically shaped this relationship. Daughters with 2 old parents demonstrated an extreme egg dumping behavior on day 1 and laid >2.35× the number of eggs than the other 3 age class treatments. Our study reveals significant trans-generational maternal and paternal age effects on fertility and an association with a novel egg laying behavioral phenotype in Drosophila.

Interventions That Support or Involve Caregivers or Families of Patients with Traumatic Injury: a Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Almost 40 million family caregivers care for a loved one with severe physical or cognitive impairments. The purpose of this review is to summarize evidence about the benefits of interventions to support or involve family members/caregivers of patients with trauma-related injury on caregiver, patient, and household outcomes. METHODS: English-language peer-reviewed publications in MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO from 1995 through December 2016 were identified. Eligible studies included RCT or quasi-experimental studies evaluating interventions designed to support or involve caregivers or family members of patients with TBI, PTSD, or polytrauma. Abstractions were completed by one reviewer and checked by a second; two reviewers independently assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organization of Care Review Criteria. RESULTS: Thirteen studies (n = 9 TBI; n = 4 PTSD, n = 0 polytrauma) evaluated psychological or rehabilitation interventions involving caregivers. Interventions did not improve TBI patients' functional status (standardized mean difference [SMD], 0.29 [95% confidence interval [CI], - 0.51 to 1.08]) or psychological symptoms (SMD - 0.25, CI - 0.62 to 0.12). Qualitative analysis shows potential intervention benefit for TBI symptoms. Interventions did not improve TBI caregiver psychological symptoms (SMD - 0.26, CI - 0.57 to 0.05); however, qualitative analysis suggests mixed effects for caregiver burden and quality of life. Positive intervention effects on patients' PTSD symptoms, mental health service use, and PTSD caregivers' psychological symptoms were identified with certain interventions. Strength of evidence ranged from moderate to very low. DISCUSSION: Studies showed mixed patterns of intervention effects on caregiver and patient outcomes; evidence about intervention impact is inconclusive. This review is the first to identify caregiving interventions for patients with TBI and polytrauma and extends past reviews about patients with PTSD. Limitations include a small evidence base, low study quality, disparate methods, varied outcome measures, and high heterogeneity. PROSPERO Registration CRD42017053516.

Central nervous system involvement in T-cell lymphoma: A single center experience.

Background We characterized the incidence of central nervous system (CNS) involvement, risk factors and outcome in a large single institution dataset of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). Methods Retrospective review of the PTCL database at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. We identified 231 patients with any subtype of PTCL between 1994-2011 with a minimum six months of follow-up or an event defined as relapse or death. Results Histologies included peripheral T-cell lymphoma-not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS) (31.6%), angioimmunoblastic (16.9%), anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), ALK- (12.1%), ALCL, ALK + (6.1%), extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (7.4%), adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) (7.4%), and transformed mycosis fungoides (8.7%). Seventeen patients had CNS disease (7%). Fifteen had CNS involvement with PTCL and two had diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and glioblastoma. Median time to CNS involvement was 3.44 months (0.16-103.1). CNS prophylaxis was given to 24 patients (primarily intrathecal methotrexate). Rates of CNS involvement were not different in patients who received prophylaxis. Univariate analysis identified stage III-IV, bone marrow involvement, >1 extranodal site and ATLL as risk factors for CNS disease. On multivariate analysis, >1 extranodal site and international prognostic index (IPI) ≥ 3 were predictive for CNS involvement. The median survival of patients with CNS involvement was 2.63 months (0.10-75). Conclusions Despite high relapse rates, PTCL, except ATLL, carries a low risk of CNS involvement. Prognosis with CNS involvement is poor and risk factors include: >1 extra nodal site and IPI ≥3.

The promise of biomarkers in diagnosing major depression in primary care: the present and future.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder, but it can be underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Most people with depression are seen in primary care settings, where there are limited resources to diagnose and treat the patient. There is a lack of clinically validated objective laboratory-based diagnostic tests to diagnose MDD; however, it is clear that these tests could greatly improve the correct and timely diagnosis. This review aims to give a cross-sectional view of current efforts of DNA methylomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic approaches to identify biomarkers. We outline our view of the biomarker developmental steps from discovery to clinical application. We then propose that better cooperation will lead us closer to the common goal of identifying biological biomarkers for major depression. "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." Albert Einstein.

Comparison of different regimes of misoprostol for the termination of early pregnancy failure.

BACKGROUND: Nearly 20% of all confirmed pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion. Misoprostol's use in early pregnancy failure is varied and dose and route are not well established. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and the side effects of different regimes of misoprostol in causing expulsion of products of conception in early pregnancy failure. METHOD: Women patients with an ultrasound diagnosis of early pregnancy failure, less than 12 weeks gestation were divided into two, Group-A: tab. Misoprostol 800 mcg 6 hourly vaginally, upto 3 doses. Group-B tablet misoprostol 600 mcg 6 hourly, sublingually for 3 doses. All observations were noted and statistical analyzed. RESULTS: Mean gestational age was 7.93 weeks. Mean induction abortion interval 18.183 h. Women patients with less than six weeks gestational age had least mean induction-abortion interval time, 15.75 ± 2.82 h in vaginal group but was highest in sublingual group 22 ± 2 h and 18.43 h in overall (P = 0.02). Though after 8 weeks, both routes were equally effective. Mean dose required in group-A was 20044 mcg and in group-B was 1564 mcg (P < 0.001). Efficacy of protocol was 88.89% in group-A and 92.85% in group-B. CONCLUSION: Both regimes had comparable efficacy, acceptability (90%) and side effects. In women patients less than six weeks period of gestation, the vaginal (800 mcg) route was distinctly superior, in women patients with 6-8 weeks the sublingual (600 mcg) route was more advantageous. The correct dose must be used for the route chosen. The route of administration should be decided in accordance with the preference of the patient and the clinical situation.

Calcium isotope fractionation by intracellular amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) forming cyanobacteria.

The formation of intracellular amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) by various cyanobacteria is a widespread biomineralization process, yet its mechanism and importance in past and modern environments remain to be fully comprehended. This study explores whether calcium (Ca) isotope fractionation, linked to ACC-forming cyanobacteria, can serve as a reliable tracer for detecting these microorganisms in modern and ancient settings. Accordingly, we measured stable Ca isotope fractionation during Ca uptake by the intracellular ACC-forming cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. PCC 7425. Our results show that Cyanothece sp. PCC 7425 cells are enriched in lighter Ca isotopes relative to the solution. This finding is consistent with the kinetic isotope effects observed in the Ca isotope fractionation during biogenic carbonate formation by marine calcifying organisms. The Ca isotope composition of Cyanothece sp. PCC 7425 was accurately modeled using a Rayleigh fractionation model, resulting in a Ca isotope fractionation factor (Δ44Ca) equal to -0.72 ± 0.05‰. Numerical modeling suggests that Ca uptake by these cyanobacteria is primarily unidirectional, with minimal back reaction observed over the duration of the experiment. Finally, we compared our Δ44Ca values with those of other biotic and abiotic carbonates, revealing similarities with organisms that form biogenic calcite. These similarities raise questions about the effectiveness of using the Ca isotope fractionation factor as a univocal tracer of ACC-forming cyanobacteria in the environment. We propose that the use of Δ44Ca in combination with other proposed tracers of ACC-forming cyanobacteria such as Ba and Sr isotope fractionation factors and/or elevated Ba/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios may provide a more reliable approach.

Current Status and Future Directions: The Application of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning for Precision Medicine.

Technological innovations, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), have the potential to expedite the goal of precision medicine, especially when combined with increased capacity for voluminous data from multiple sources and expanded therapeutic modalities; however, they also present several challenges. In this communication, we first discuss the goals of precision medicine, and contextualize the use of AI in precision medicine by showcasing innovative applications (e.g., prediction of tumor growth and overall survival, biomarker identification using biomedical images, and identification of patient population for clinical practice) which were presented during the February 2023 virtual public workshop entitled "Application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Precision Medicine," hosted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and University of Maryland Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (M-CERSI). Next, we put forward challenges brought about by the multidisciplinary nature of AI, particularly highlighting the need for AI to be trustworthy. To address such challenges, we subsequently note practical approaches, viz., differential privacy, synthetic data generation, and federated learning. The proposed strategies - some of which are highlighted presentations from the workshop - are for the protection of personal information and intellectual property. In addition, methods such as the risk-based management approach and the need for an agile regulatory ecosystem are discussed. Finally, we lay out a call for action that includes sharing of data and algorithms, development of regulatory guidance documents, and pooling of expertise from a broad-spectrum of stakeholders to enhance the application of AI in precision medicine.