A step change is required in citizen awareness of the global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) health crisis. But we must move beyond awareness-raising to action, directly engaging and involving patients and public in scoping, testing and scaling solutions to ensure their adoption and impact.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: High response rates are needed in population-based studies, as nonresponse reduces effective sample size and bias affects accuracy and decreases the generalizability of the study findings.
Objective: We tested different strategies to improve response rate and reduce nonresponse bias in a national population-based COVID-19 surveillance program in England, United Kingdom.
Methods: Over 19 rounds, a random sample of individuals aged 5 years and older from the general population in England were invited by mail to complete a web-based questionnaire and return a swab for SARS-CoV-2 testing.
Background: Virtual consultations are being increasingly incorporated into routine primary care, as they offer better time and geographical flexibility for patients while also being cost-effective for both patients and service providers. At the same time, concerns have been raised about the extent to which virtual care is safe for patients. As of now, there is no validated methodology for evaluating the safety nuances and implications of virtual care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) as an established procedure for treatment of large kidney stones, can trigger life threatening complications. Postoperative hemorrhaging is one of the main complications of PCNL. This study investigates the effectiveness of balloon nephrostomy in reducing hemorrhage in the postoperative phase of PCNL.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFElectronic waste (e-waste) is the fastest-growing type of solid waste. According to the United Nations (UN), e-waste costs the global economy around $37 billion annually. Indeed, e-waste impedes UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The present study aimed to examine the efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Cancer Recovery (MBCR) training on fatigue and sleep quality of Iranian female patients with cancer.
Method: Thirty female patients with cancer were randomized to one of the MBCR and control groups. Subjects of the MBCR group received 8 sessions of MBCR training, while subjects of the control group received a 1-day didactic stress management seminar (SMS).
To develop reliable, valid, and efficient measures of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) severity, comorbid depression severity, and total electrical energy delivered (TEED) by deep brain stimulation (DBS), we trained and compared random forests regression models in a clinical trial of participants receiving DBS for refractory OCD. Six participants were recorded during open-ended interviews at pre- and post-surgery baselines and then at 3-month intervals following DBS activation. Ground-truth severity was assessed by clinical interview and self-report.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: To evaluate the potential capability of preoperative urinary Prostate Cancer Antigen 3 (PCA3) in predicting adverse pathologic features in patients with any- risk prostate cancer undergoing open retro-pubic radical prostatectomy.
Methods: Sixty-one biopsy-proven, clinically localized prostate cancer patients who underwent open radical prostatectomy were included in a prospectively designed cohort to evaluate the association of PCA3 score with various Adverse Pathologic Features (APF). The Area Under the Curve (AUC) of the Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve was used to quantify the predictive accuracy of PCA3 and a cut-off point was calculated to determine the predictability potential of PCA3 in foretelling the study parameters.
Purpose: To develop a predictive model aimed at assessing the likelihood of improvement in corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) for patients undergoing lenticule extraction using the SmartSight system from SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions. This model evaluates the effectiveness and weight of various clinical and procedural parameters in predicting enhancements in visual acuity.
Methods: Data from 1,262 eyes treated with the SmartSight system, encompassing 86 features, were analyzed.
Background: The proliferation of electronic health records (EHR) in health systems of many high-income countries has ushered in profound changes to how clinical information is used, stored, and disseminated. For patients, being able to easily access and share their health information electronically through interoperable EHRs can often impact safety and their experience when seeking care across healthcare providers. While extensive research exists examining how EHRs affected workflow and technical challenges such as limited interoperability, much of it was done from the viewpoint of healthcare staff rather than from patients themselves.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To evaluate whether commercially available 'off-the-shelf' wearable technology can improve patient rehabilitation outcomes, and to categorise all wearables currently being used to augment rehabilitation, including the disciplines and conditions under investigation.
Design: Systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis 2020 statement checklist, and using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.
Data Sources: Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were searched up to and including July 2023.
Introduction: Inadequate exposure to real-life operating can impede timely acquisition of technical competence among surgical residents, and is a major challenge faced in the current training climate. Mental rehearsal (MR)-the cognitive rehearsal of a motor task without overt physical movement-has been shown to accelerate surgical skills learning. However, the neuroplastic effect of MR of a complex bimanual surgical task is unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTher Adv Gastrointest Endosc
October 2024
Colonoscopy is a commonly performed procedure in the United Kingdom and the gold standard for diagnosis and therapy in the gastrointestinal tract. Increased levels of pain during colonoscopy have been associated with reduced completion rates and difficulties in maintaining attendance for repeat procedures. Multiple factors play a role in causing discomfort intra-procedurally: patient factors, such as gender, anatomy and pre-procedure anxiety; operator factors, such as patient position and level of experience and other factors, such as bowel preparation and total procedure time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The clinical pathogenesis of COVID-19 necessitates a comprehensive and homogeneous study to understand the disease mechanisms. Identifying clinical symptoms and laboratory parameters as key predictors can guide prognosis and inform effective treatment strategies. This study analyzed comorbidities and laboratory metrics to predict COVID-19 mortality using a homogeneous model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCOVID-19-related critical and acute illness are associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). These evidence-based recommendations of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) are intended to support patients, clinicians, and other healthcare professionals in decisions about the use of anticoagulation for thromboprophylaxis in patients with COVID-19-related critical illness, acute illness, and those being discharged from the hospital, who do not have suspected or confirmed VTE. ASH formed a multidisciplinary panel, including three patient representatives, and applied a conflicts of interest management policy to minimize potential bias.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To evaluate the impact of refractive couplings in myopia and myopic astigmatism with two different keratorefractive lenticule extraction (KLEx) systems.
Methods: This was a retrospective evaluation of refractive outcomes with two different lasers studying 2,841 eyes undergoing small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) (VisuMax 500; Carl Zeiss Meditec) and 2,528 eyes undergoing SmartSight (ATOS; SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions GmbH). Coupling effects (derived from the ratio between partial slopes) were determined for sphere and cylinder and for spherical equivalent, cardinal, and oblique astigmatism separately.
Introduction: Several studies indicated the ameliorating effects of raloxifene supplementation on apolipoproteins and blood pressure, although others have conflicting findings. Therefore, the present study was conducted in order to accurately and definitively understands the effect of raloxifene on apolipoprotein AI (Apo-AI), apolipoprotein B (APoB), lipoprotein (a) (Lp (a)), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in postmenopausal women.
Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using scientific databases including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science and the Cochrane Library, through May 2024.
The p75 Neurotrophin Receptor (p75 ) is a multifunctional transmembrane protein that mediates neuronal responses to pathological conditions in specific regions of the nervous system. In many biological contexts, p75 signaling is initiated through sequential cleavage of the receptor by α- and γ-secretases, which releases receptor fragments for downstream signaling. Our previous work demonstrated that proteolytic processing of p75 in this manner is stimulated by oxidative stress in Lund Human Mesencephalic (LUHMES) cells, a dopaminergic neuronal cell line derived from human mesencephalic tissue.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExcessive engagement in online activities, also known as Internet addiction can have detrimental impacts on the mental, social, and physical well-being of individuals. This research work aims to contribute to the existing body of knowledge on internet addiction and alexithymia to provide insights that may inform the development of targeted interventions to support university students at risk of internet addiction. With emotional intelligence as the moderator and cognitive distortion as the mediator, the study investigated the effect of alexithymia on internet addiction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a highly prevalent yet neglected health burden for women. Strengthening thepelvic floor with bioactive tissue-engineered meshes is an emerging concept. The study investigates tissue regenerative design parameters, including degradability, porosity, and angulation, to develop alternative degradable melt electrowritten (MEW) constructs for surgical applications of POP.
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