Which domains of the theoretical domains framework should be targeted in interventions to increase adherence to antihypertensives? A systematic review.

Nonadherence to antihypertensives is prevalent and is associated with poorer health outcomes. This study aimed to identify psychological factors associated with adherence in patients taking antihypertensives as these are potentially modifiable, and can, therefore, inform the development of effective interventions to increase adherence. PubMed, EMBASE and PsychINFO were searched to identify studies that tested for significant associations between psychological domains and adherence to antihypertensives.

Cost-Effectiveness of Combination of Baricitinib and Remdesivir in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 in the United States: A Modelling Study.

Introduction: Baricitinib-remdesivir (BARI-REM) combination is superior to remdesivir (REM) in reducing recovery time and accelerating clinical improvement among hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), specifically those receiving high-flow oxygen/noninvasive ventilation. Here we assessed the cost-effectiveness of BARI-REM versus REM in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in the USA.

Methods: A three-state model was developed addressing costs and patient utility associated with COVID-19 hospitalization, immediate post hospital care, and subsequent lifetime medical care.

Mycetoma in Timor-Leste and first report of nocardiosis.

Mycetoma is a neglected tropical disease with an unknown global burden. Although considered endemic to South-east Asia, it has not previously been reported from Timor-Lest. We describe two cases in Timor-Leste, highlighting the challenges surrounding microbiological diagnosis and management shared by many low to middle-income countries.

Vapour, gas, dust and fume occupational exposures in male patients with rheumatoid arthritis resident in Cornwall (UK) and their association with rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic protein antibodies: a retrospective clinical study.

Objectives: To quantify exposure to vapour, gas, dust and fumes (VGDF) and smoking in male rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and investigate impact on rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) levels.

Design: A retrospective observational study.

Setting: The Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, UK.

Is Male Rheumatoid Arthritis an Occupational Disease? A Review.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, inflammatory disease with an estimated global prevalence of 0.3-1.0%.

Anti-citrullinated protein antibody positive rheumatoid arthritis is primarily determined by rheumatoid factor titre and the shared epitope rather than smoking per se.

Objective: To analyse the relationship between rheumatoid factor (RF) titre, smoking and HLA-DRB1 alleles coding a "shared epitope" (SE) in relation to anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) positivity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: RA patients (n = 658) attending rheumatology clinics in Cornwall, UK (cohort 1) were stratified according to RF and ACPA titre, and smoking pack years at diagnosis. A further 409 RA patients from North Staffordshire, UK (cohort 2) were studied to confirm the relationship between RF levels, smoking and ACPA positivity in relation to SE status.

Prevalence of hepatitis B infection in women delivering at a community health centre in Dili, Timor-Leste and discussion of programmatic challenges.

Background: Limited data regarding prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in Timor-Leste exist.

Methods: An observational study of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) results of women delivering at Bairo Pite Clinic in Dili, Timor-Leste was carried out.

Results: Of the 781 women included in the study, 80.

Reptile-associated salmonellosis in children aged under 5 years in South West England.

Objective: To determine the proportion of Salmonella cases in children aged <5 years that were reptile-associated salmonellosis (RAS) and to compare the severity of illness.

Design: To analyse all cases of salmonellosis reported to public health authorities in children aged under 5 years in the South West of the UK from January 2010 to December 2013 for reptile exposure, age, serotype, hospitalisation and invasive disease.

Results: 48 of 175 (27%) Salmonella cases had exposure to reptiles.

Mass spectrometry based approach to study the kinetics of O6-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase-mediated repair of O6-pyridyloxobutyl-2'-deoxyguanosine adducts in DNA.

O(6)-POB-dG (O(6)-[4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)but-1-yl]deoxyguanosine) are promutagenic nucleobase adducts that arise from DNA alkylation by metabolically activated tobacco-specific nitrosamines such as 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N-nitrosonicotine (NNN). If not repaired, O(6)-POB-dG adducts cause mispairing during DNA replication, leading to G → A and G → T mutations. A specialized DNA repair protein, O(6)-alkylguanine-DNA-alkyltransferase (AGT), transfers the POB group from O(6)-POB-dG in DNA to a cysteine residue within the protein (Cys145), thus restoring normal guanine and preventing mutagenesis.

Increase of urban lake salinity by road deicing salt.

Over 317,000 tonnes of road salt (NaCl) are applied annually for road deicing in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area (TCMA) of Minnesota. Although road salt is applied to increase driving safety, this practice influences environmental water quality. Thirteen lakes in the TCMA were studied over 46 months to determine if and how they respond to the seasonal applications of road salt.

Why do boomers plan to work longer?

Objective: . Recent changes in retirement trends and patterns have raised questions about the likely retirement behavior of baby boomers, the large cohort born between 1946 and 1964. This study examined recent changes in retirement expectations and the factors that drove them.

Nasofacial phycomycosis: persistence pays.

Nasofacial phycomycosis caused by Conidiobolus is a rare fungal infection most often encountered in the developing world in conditions of poverty. A clinical presentation of the natural history of this condition observed over a period of 6 years by a visiting volunteer surgical team demonstrates the role of multimodality surgical and antifungal drug treatment in producing a successful outcome. The particular sensitivity of this infection to the new generation antifungal Voriconazole is noted.

Comparison of transthoracic echocardiography versus cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging for the assessment of ventricular function in adults after atrial switch procedures for complete transposition of the great arteries.

Adult patients with a history of transposition of the great arteries and atrial switch operation were studied with transthoracic echocardiography and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. Measurements of ventricular dimensions and function by these 2 techniques in 18 consecutive patients were well correlated.