Developing a risk prediction tool for lung cancer in Kent and Medway, England: cohort study using linked data.

Background: Lung cancer has the poorest survival due to late diagnosis and there is no universal screening. Hence, early detection is crucial. Our objective was to develop a lung cancer risk prediction tool at a population level.

Managing COVID-19 outbreaks in prisons - a brief review of literature and key lessons learnt.

Purpose: During the COVID-19 pandemic, prisons faced a unique challenge of preventing and managing outbreaks with minimal adverse impact. This study aims to describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 in prisons, identify lessons learnt and make recommendations.

Design/methodology/approach: The authors used the PubMed advanced search function using MeSH terms; (coronavirus, sars) AND (prisons) AND (disease outbreaks).

Short communications: Endothelin-1 in cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

Introduction: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a leading cause of death following heart transplant. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a highly potent vasoconstrictor peptide derived from the vascular endothelium with multiple biological actions known to be relevant for CAV. We assessed the trans-myocardial gradient (TMG: coronary sinus minus coronary artery concentration: negative = extraction, positive = secretion) of ET-1 in heart transplant patients to determine correlations with angiographic, Intravascular Ultrasound (IVUS) and Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) features of CAV.

Retrospective study evaluating association of colorectal tumors and hepatitis C virus.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been associated with hepatic and extrahepatic malignancies. Limited studies have shown an association between colorectal adenomas and HCV populations.

Aim: To study the prevalence of colorectal adenomas in patients with HCV compared to the general population and to evaluate if it is an independent risk factor for colorectal adenomas.

Use of Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT 2) inhibitor is associated with reduced emergency room visits and hospitalizations in patients with Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: The Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are a class of anti-diabetic medications that confer cardio-renal-metabolic (CRM) benefits. Emerging evidence also suggests that these agents provide better benefits for chronic pulmonary conditions, especially chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Research Question: We aimed to assess the association between SGLT2i use and outcomes in patients with COPD and concomitant Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).

Zibotentan in Microvascular Angina: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial.

Background: Microvascular angina is associated with dysregulation of the endothelin system and impairments in myocardial blood flow, exercise capacity, and health-related quality of life. The G allele of the noncoding single nucleotide polymorphism enhances expression of the endothelin-1 gene () in human vascular cells, potentially increasing circulating concentrations of Endothelin-1 (ET-1). Whether zibotentan, an oral receptor selective antagonist, is efficacious and safe for the treatment of microvascular angina is unknown.

Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir for Acute COVID-19 in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease and Postacute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Background: There is limited evidence of association of nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (NMV-r) and incidence of postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the association of NMV-r in nonhospitalized, vaccinated patients with pre-existing CVD and occurrence of PASC.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study utilizing the TriNetX research network, including vaccinated patients with pre-existing CVD who developed COVID-19 between December 2021 and December 2022.

Prognostic Value of Stress Perfusion Cardiac MRI in Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Effects of the Scanner, Stress Agent, and Analysis Technique.

Purpose To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the prognostic value of stress perfusion cardiac MRI in predicting cardiovascular outcomes. Materials and Methods A systematic literature search from the inception of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure until January 2023 was performed for articles that reported the prognosis of stress perfusion cardiac MRI in predicting cardiovascular outcomes. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool.

Co-localization of the sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 channel (SGLT-2) with endothelin ETA and ETB receptors in human cardiorenal tissue.

Unlabelled: Endothelin (ET) receptor antagonists are being investigated in combination with sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i). These drugs primarily inhibit the SGLT-2 transporter that, in humans, is thought to be mainly restricted to the renal proximal convoluted tubule, resulting in increased glucose excretion favouring improved glycaemic control and diuresis. This action reduces fluid retention with ET receptor antagonists.

Simultaneous Liver Kidney Transplantation in a Primary Type 2 Hyperoxaluria With Corrected TOF and Severe Cardiomyopathy: A Case Report.

Background: Primary type 2 hyperoxaluria is a very rare genetic disorder, where in the progression to renal failure was assumed to be insidious and not very common. PH2 is due to deficient glyoxylate reductase/hydroxypyruvate reductase (GRHPR), which was thought to have extra-hepatic production also. The progression to renal failure in these patient subgroups is well documented in the Literature and the role of SLK (simultaneous liver and kidney transplantation) has not been clearly established.

An enhanced IL17 and muted type I interferon nasal epithelial cell state characterizes severe COVID-19 with fungal coinfection.

Unlabelled: Recent case reports and epidemiological data suggest that fungal infections represent an underappreciated complication among people with severe COVID-19. However, the frequency of fungal colonization in patients with COVID-19 and associations with specific immune responses in the airways remain incompletely defined. We previously generated a single-cell RNA-sequencing data set characterizing the upper respiratory microenvironment during COVID-19 and mapped the relationship between disease severity and the local behavior of nasal epithelial cells and infiltrating immune cells.

Subtle Visual Latency Can Profoundly Impair Implicit Sensorimotor Learning.

Short sub-100ms visual feedback latencies are common in many types of human-computer interactions yet are known to markedly reduce performance in a wide variety of motor tasks from simple pointing to operating surgical robotics. These latencies are also present in the computer-based experiments used to study the sensorimotor learning that underlies the acquisition of motor performance. Inspired by neurophysiological findings showing that cerebellar LTD and cortical LTP would both be disrupted by sub-100ms latencies, we hypothesized that implicit sensorimotor learning may be particularly sensitive to these short latencies.

Implementing the English health inequalities agenda: addressing challenges to person-level, cross-sectoral data linkage, access and routine use for local authority public health.

Local authorities are central to the implementation of English Integrated Care Systems' health inequalities agendas, embedding public health into population health management planning. They work with partners to deliver a range of 'health determinant' services and facilities for people in a defined geographic area. This work is substantially premised on the use of cross-sectoral data that is linked at the individual level, readily available, longitudinal and contemporaneous.

Phase 3 RCT comparing docetaxel-platinum with docetaxel-platinum-5FU as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in borderline resectable oral cancer.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) with TPF (docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5FU) is one of the treatment options in very locally advanced oral cancer with a survival advantage over PF (cisplatin and 5FU). TP (docetaxel and cisplatin) has shown promising results with a lower rate of adverse events but has never been compared to TPF.

Methods: In this phase 3 randomized superiority study, adult patients with borderline resectable locally advanced oral cancers were randomized in a 1:1 fashion to either TP or TPF.

Use of inflammatory markers as predictor for mechanical ventilation in COVID-19 patients with stages IIIb-V chronic kidney disease?

Background: Studies have shown elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) to predict mechanical ventilation (MV) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Its utility is unknown in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), who have elevated baseline CRP levels due to chronic inflammation and reduced renal clearance.

Aim: To assess whether an association exists between elevated inflammatory markers and MV rate in patients with stages IIIb-V CKD and COVID-19.

Case-control analysis of venous thromboembolism risk in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis diagnosed by transient elastography.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Studies have shown a strong association between non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) cirrhosis and portal vein thrombosis. Specifically, there is paucity of data on the association of NASH and venous thromboembolism (VTE), with one such study predicting a 2.

Planning for healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Southeast of England: a system dynamics modelling approach.

Objectives: To develop, test, validate and implement a system dynamics model to simulate the pandemic progress and the impact of various interventions on viral spread, healthcare utilisation and demand in secondary care.

Design: We adopted the system dynamics model incorporating susceptible, exposed, infection and recovery framework to simulate the progress of the pandemic and how the interventions for the COVID-19 response influence the outcomes with a focus on secondary care.

Setting: This study was carried out covering all the local health systems in Southeast of England with a catchment population of six million with a specific focus on Kent and Medway system.

Computer-aided design software-enabled preclinical prosthodontic training: A digital education technique.

The prosthodontics preclinical training modules involve textbook-based two-dimensional (2D) ideal images and practicing on manikin models to emulate ideal tooth preparations and teeth arrangements. Relying solely on 2D images as objectives for preclinical exercises limits the trainee's creative skills to instructions of textbooks and clinical instructions received. With advancements in digital dentistry, dental trainees should have early exposure to the three-dimensional (3D) rendering of ideal preclinical objectives.

Outpatient Treatment of Confirmed COVID-19: Living, Rapid Practice Points From the American College of Physicians (Version 2).

Description: Evidence for the use of outpatient treatments in adults with confirmed COVID-19 continues to evolve with new data. This is version 2 of the American College of Physicians (ACP) living, rapid practice points focusing on 22 outpatient treatments for COVID-19, specifically addressing the dominant SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

Methods: The Population Health and Medical Science Committee (formerly the Scientific Medical Policy Committee) developed this version of the living, rapid practice points on the basis of a living, rapid review done by the ACP Center for Evidence Reviews at Cochrane Austria at the University for Continuing Education Krems (Danube University Krems).