Meta-Analysis of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Rhythm Control Strategies for Atrial Fibrillation in the United States.

Rhythm control strategies are a key component of atrial fibrillation (AF) therapy, with recent reports suggesting racial and ethnic disparities in their utilization. We aimed to determine differences in the utilization of catheter ablation (CA), direct current cardioversion (DCCV), and anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD) among different racial and ethnic groups. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library (from inception to January 31, 2024) for studies including adults with AF and reporting CA, DCCV, or AAD utilization rates in at least two racial and ethnic groups.

The Influence of Ambient Factors on Emotional Wellbeing of Older Adults: A Review.

This work conducts a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines and using software tools like Covidence 2024 and Nvivo 15 for thematic analysis, aiming to examine significant studies on the impact of external factors on the emotional wellbeing of older adults and propose new conclusions and future research directions. In this context, studies using sensors to measure factors such as ambient temperature or lighting are key to understanding their impact on the emotional wellbeing of older individuals. These technologies offer opportunities to monitor and adapt environments in real-time, enabling targeted interventions.

The Roles of Discrete Populations of Neurons Expressing Short Neuropeptide F in Sleep Induction in Drosophila melanogaster.

Sleep is of vital importance in our lives, yet we are far from understanding the neuronal networks that control the amount and timing of sleep. There is substantial conservation of known sleep-regulating transmitters, allowing for studies in simpler organisms to lead the way in gaining insight into the organization of sleep control circuits. In Drosophila melanogaster, we recently showed that optogenetic activation of neurons that produce the neuropeptide Y (NPY)-related transmitter short neuropeptide F (sNPF) increases time spent asleep.

New-onset prolonged psychosis from non-convulsive status epilepticus.

The most common ictal psychiatric symptom is fear, followed by ictal depression, and least commonly ictal psychosis. A 44-year-old man with poststroke focal epilepsy developed new-onset behavioural change, disorientation, hallucinations and delusions, persisting for several months before medical evaluation. He was agitated, disorientated, with impaired memory and disorganised thinking, but had no minor epileptic motor signs.