Objectives: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterised by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) and clinical outcomes of thrombosis and/or obstetric morbidity and is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). IgG antiphosphatidylserine/prothrombin complex (aPS/PT), IgM aPS/PT and IgG anti-beta 2 glycoprotein 1-domain 1 (aβ2GP1-D1) are novel aPLs that have been associated with thrombosis; however, conclusive data are still lacking. It remains unclear how best to incorporate non-criteria autoantibodies into clinical decision-making.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLOS Glob Public Health
December 2024
Debates over the scope, terms, and governance of technology transfer-the sharing of essential technical information, know-how, and materials needed to manufacture a health product-are prominent and controversial in international health diplomacy. These debates have become focal points in recent contentious negotiations to amend the International Health Regulations (IHR) and draft a global Pandemic Agreement. While some countries advocate for automatic or compulsory mechanisms to facilitate access to health technologies, especially in times of crisis, others oppose legal frameworks that mandate non-voluntary participation by the pharmaceutical industry.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAstronomers have found more than a dozen planets transiting stars that are 10-40 million years old, but younger transiting planets have remained elusive. The lack of such discoveries may be because planets have not fully formed at this age or because our view is blocked by the protoplanetary disk. However, we now know that many outer disks are warped or broken; provided the inner disk is depleted, transiting planets may thus be visible.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe fractional quantum Hall effect is a key example of topological quantum many-body phenomena, arising from the interplay between strong electron correlation, topological order and time-reversal symmetry breaking. Recently, a lattice analogue of the fractional quantum Hall effect at zero magnetic field has been observed, confirming the existence of a zero-field fractional Chern insulator (FCI). Despite this, the bulk-edge correspondence-a hallmark of a FCI featuring an insulating bulk with conductive edges-has not been directly observed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Lupus nephritis (LN) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, affecting up to 60% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The perspectives of patients with SLE have been explored; however, little is known of the lived experiences of patients with LN.
Methods: Patients aged ≥18 years with biopsy-proven pure or mixed International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society Class III, IV or V LN were purposefully recruited from a Canadian lupus cohort to participate in a photovoice (visual-narrative participatory research method) exercise.
The escalating stress epidemic in modern society has raised concerns about its impact on physical and mental health, prompting the need for effective interventions. Yoga, a multifaceted mind-body practice, has gained recognition for its potential in mitigating perceived stress. Our meta-analysis aimed to estimate yoga's impact on lowering perceived stress as measured by the Perceived Stress Scale.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground Psychedelic medicine is a rapidly growing area of research and policy change. Australia recently became the first country to legalize the prescription of psychedelics and serves as a case study of issues that may emerge in other jurisdictions. Despite their influence as a stakeholder group, there has been little empirical exploration of psychedelic researchers' views on the development of psychedelic research and the ethical concerns.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Policy changes in Australia mean that psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is now available to consumers outside of clinical trials. Yet, the regulatory frameworks guiding the practice of PAT are underdeveloped, and the evidence base for guiding clinical practice is diverse and emerging, resulting in anticipated challenges in translation to community practice. Mental health clinicians who have experience delivering PAT in clinical trials are likely to be at the forefront of community practice and training, and influential in discussions about implementation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe precise neurophysiological changes prompted by meningeal lymphatic dysfunction remain unclear. Here, we showed that inducing meningeal lymphatic vessel ablation in adult mice led to gene expression changes in glial cells, followed by reductions in mature oligodendrocyte numbers and specific lipid species in the brain. These phenomena were accompanied by altered meningeal adaptive immunity and brain myeloid cell activation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTransverse colonic volvulus is exceptionally rare and is the rarest compared to sigmoid or cecal volvulus. This case report summarizes the care of a young 19-year-old woman who presented with transverse colonic volvulus. This woman came to the emergency room with abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, and she had no risk factors for a volvulus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Empirical evidence has demonstrated associations between pre-pregnancy obesity and perinatal maternal depressive symptoms. Omega-3 is an essential fatty acid derived from dietary sources that is critical for fetal brain development. Pre-pregnancy obesity is associated with higher omega-3 intake, but a weaker association between dietary intake and respective maternal and cord blood omega-3 levels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Hiatal hernia (HH) is a common condition. A multidisciplinary expert panel was convened to develop evidence-based recommendations to support clinicians, patients, and others in decisions regarding the treatment of HH.
Methods: Systematic reviews were conducted for four key questions regarding the treatment of HH in adults: surgical treatment of asymptomatic HH versus surveillance; use of mesh versus no mesh; performing a fundoplication versus no fundoplication; and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) versus redo fundoplication for recurrent HH.
Objective: Substantial morbidity and mortality affect those with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), yet patient experiences remain poorly understood. This research investigated patient experiences of aPL/APS diagnosis; effects on daily life; and healthcare and treatment.
Methods: Patients aged ≥18 years with APS per the Revised Sapporo criteria or with ≥1 positive aPL on ≥2 occasions were recruited from a Canadian multidisciplinary APS clinic to participate in semi-structured in-depth interviews.
Aim: Psychotic disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) commonly co-occur. Likewise, subthreshold psychosis symptoms (clinical high risk for psychosis; CHR) and obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCS) often overlap and may be difficult to differentiate. This study aimed to replicate research investigating the prevalence of OCD in a CHR clinic sample, validate and investigate factor structure of a self-report OCS measure in a CHR sample, explore how OCS may relate to CHR and co-occurring symptoms, and investigate whether real-world CHR treatment improves OCS and CHR symptoms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: There is evidence that sex differences exist in stroke presentation, risk factors, severity, treatment, and outcomes. To further understand this, we explored how sex differences influence acute stroke management, secondary prevention prescribing, and mortality outcomes in a well-characterised cohort of first-ever stroke patients in Scotland.
Methods: This is a retrospective, population-based, data-linkage study of stroke admissions to acute care hospitals in Scotland between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2018.
Background: The ravaging effects of the opioid epidemic have affected our communities locally and nationally and are multifaceted in their cause and treatment. It is imperative to locate multiple modalities of treatment options and care for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) including developing healthy nutrition habits and addressing mental health concerns. Understanding patient perceptions of their personal nutrition habits and mental health status is imperative to providing holistic care in the OUD patient population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe emergence of new infectious diseases poses a major threat to humans, animals, and broader ecosystems. Defining factors that govern the ability of pathogens to adapt to new host species is therefore a crucial research imperative. Pathogenic bacteria are of particular concern, given dwindling treatment options amid the continued expansion of antimicrobial resistance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: The microbiota can promote host health by inhibiting pathogen colonization, yet how host-resident fungi, or the mycobiota, contribute to this process remains unclear. The human skin mycobiota is uniquely stable compared to other body sites and dominated by yeasts of the genus . We observe that colonization of human skin by significantly reduces subsequent colonization by the prominent bacterial pathogen .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlobal supply chains for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are highly centralized in certain countries and are susceptible to supply-chain shocks. However, there is no systematic monitoring or global coordination to manage risk and ensure equitable supply continuity during public health emergencies. In this study, we applied quasi-experimental methods on shipment-level customs data to determine how prices and export volume for APIs exported from India were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: As the population ages, more older adults are presenting for surgery. Age-related declines in physiological reserve and functional capacity can result in frailty and poor outcomes after surgery. Hence, optimizing perioperative care in older patients is imperative.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicrobes must adapt to diverse biotic and abiotic factors encountered in host environments. Polyamines are an abundant class of aliphatic molecules that play essential roles in fundamental cellular processes across the tree of life. Surprisingly, the bacterial pathogen is highly sensitive to polyamines encountered during infection, and acquisition of a polyamine resistance locus has been implicated in spread of the prominent USA300 methicillin-resistant lineage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis paper investigates the potential of graphene-coated sand (GCS) as an advanced filtration medium for improving water quality and mitigating chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) in treated municipal wastewater, aiming to enhance water reuse. The study utilizes three types of sand (Ottawa, masonry, and concrete) coated with graphene to assess the impact of surface morphology, particle shape, and chemical composition on coating and filtration efficiency. Additionally, sand coated with graphene and activated graphene coated sand were both tested to understand the effect of coating and activation on the filtration process.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Anti-inflammatory therapy with long-term colchicine prevented vascular recurrence in coronary disease. Unlike coronary disease, which is typically caused by atherosclerosis, ischaemic stroke is caused by diverse mechanisms including atherosclerosis and small vessel disease or is frequently due to an unknown cause. We aimed to investigate the hypothesis that long-term colchicine would reduce recurrent events after ischaemic stroke.
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