Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault With Tetrahydrozoline (Visine): A Case Report.

This is a case presentation of an 18-year-old male victim who experienced a drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA). The drug used to incapacitate him was tetrahydrozoline (Visine) given rectally. Tetrahydrozoline, intended for ophthalmic administration, is in the class of drugs known as imidazoline receptor agonists and has been used as an agent for DFSA since the 1940s.

Effects on Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome of Parental Caregivers' Ability to Leave the Postpartum Unit During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: To determine if a policy change that limited the ability of parental caregivers to leave the postpartum unit during the COVID-19 pandemic influenced neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) scores, admissions to the NICU for NAS treatment, and length of stay (LOS) on the nursing unit.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting/local Problem: During the pandemic, a change in policy limited parental caregivers from leaving the nursing unit.

Characteristics Associated with Pelvic Floor Disorders among Female Canadian Armed Forces Members.

Objectives: Urinary incontinence (UI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) are prevalent pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) among the female population. In the military environment, being a non-commissioned member (NCM), and physically demanding occupations are factors associated with higher PFD risk. This study seeks to characterize the profile of female Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members reporting symptoms of UI and/or POP.

Uptitrating Treatment After Heart Failure Hospitalization Across the Spectrum of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction.

Background: Acute heart failure (AHF) is associated with a poor prognosis regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). STRONG-HF showed the efficacy and safety of a strategy of rapid uptitration of oral treatment for heart failure (HF) and close follow-up (high-intensity care), compared with usual care, in patients recently hospitalized for AHF and enrolled independently from their LVEF.

Objectives: In this study, we sought to assess the impact of baseline LVEF on the effects of high-intensity care vs usual care in STRONG-HF.

Safety, tolerability and efficacy of up-titration of guideline-directed medical therapies for acute heart failure in elderly patients: A sub-analysis of the STRONG-HF randomized clinical trial.

Aims: STRONG-HF examined a high-intensity care (HIC) strategy of rapid up-titration of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and close follow-up after acute heart failure (AHF) admission. We assess the role of age on efficacy and safety of HIC.

Methods And Results: Hospitalized AHF patients, not treated with optimal GDMT were randomized to HIC or usual care.

Revision to the musculoskeletal domain of the BILAG-2004 index to incorporate ultrasound findings.

Objectives: To improve the definitions of inflammatory arthritis within the musculoskeletal (MSK) domain of the BILAG-2004 index by incorporating imaging findings and clinical features predictive of response to treatment.

Methods: The BILAG MSK Subcommittee proposed revisions to the BILAG-2004 index definitions of inflammatory arthritis, based on review of evidence in two recent studies. Data from these studies were pooled and analysed to determine the impact of the proposed changes on the severity grading of inflammatory arthritis.

Sexual health and treatment-related sexual dysfunction in sexual and gender minorities with prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer treatment has substantial effects on sexual health and function. Sexual function is a vital aspect of human health and a critical component of cancer survivorship, and understanding the potential effects of different treatment modalities on sexual health is crucial. Existing research has extensively described the effects of treatment on male erectile tissues necessary for heterosexual intercourse; however, evidence regarding their effects on sexual health and function in sexual and gender minority populations is minimal.

NT-proBNP and high intensity care for acute heart failure: the STRONG-HF trial.

Aims: STRONG-HF showed that rapid up-titration of guideline-recommended medical therapy (GRMT), in a high intensity care (HIC) strategy, was associated with better outcomes compared with usual care. The aim of this study was to assess the role of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) at baseline and its changes early during up-titration.

Methods And Results: A total of 1077 patients hospitalized for acute heart failure (HF) and with a >10% NT-proBNP decrease from screening (i.

Leveraging African American family connectors for Alzheimer's disease genomic studies.

Introduction: The underrepresentation of African Americans (AAs) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) research may limit potential benefits from translational applications. This article describes an approach to recruit AA families into an AD genomic study and characteristics of seeds (family connectors) used to overcome recruitment barriers of AA families into AD research.

Methods: A four-step outreach and snowball sampling approach relying on family connectors was used to recruit AA families.

Organoid modeling of lung-resident immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Tissue-resident immunity underlies essential host defenses against pathogens, but analysis in humans has lacked model systems where epithelial infection and accompanying resident immune cell responses can be observed . Indeed, human primary epithelial organoid cultures typically omit immune cells, and human tissue resident-memory lymphocytes are conventionally assayed without an epithelial infection component, for instance from peripheral blood, or after extraction from organs. Further, the study of resident immunity in animals can be complicated by interchange between tissue and peripheral immune compartments.

Pilot Study of a Wearable Hydration Monitor in Haemodialysis Patients: Haemodialysis Outcomes & Patient Empowerment Study 02.

Introduction: We aimed to assess the validity and reproducibility of a wearable hydration device in a cohort of maintenance dialysis patients.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, single-arm observational study on 20 haemodialysis patients between January and June 2021 in a single centre. A prototype wearable infrared spectroscopy device, termed the Sixty device, was worn on the forearm during dialysis sessions and nocturnally.

Preclinical characterization of ISB 1342, a CD38 × CD3 T-cell engager for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Although treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) with daratumumab significantly extends the patient's lifespan, resistance to therapy is inevitable. ISB 1342 was designed to target MM cells from patients with relapsed/refractory MM (r/r MM) displaying lower sensitivity to daratumumab. ISB 1342 is a bispecific antibody with a high-affinity Fab binding to CD38 on tumor cells on a different epitope than daratumumab and a detuned scFv domain affinity binding to CD3ε on T cells, to mitigate the risk of life-threatening cytokine release syndrome, using the Bispecific Engagement by Antibodies based on the TCR (BEAT) platform.

Sex-specific analysis of the rapid up-titration of guideline-directed medical therapies after a hospitalization for acute heart failure: Insights from the STRONG-HF trial.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of rapid up-titration of guideline-directed medical therapies (GDMT) in men and women hospitalized for acute heart failure (AHF).

Methods And Results: In STRONG-HF, AHF patients were randomized just prior to discharge to either usual care (UC) or a high-intensity care (HIC) strategy of GDMT up-titration. In these analyses, we compared the implementation, efficacy, and safety of the HIC strategy between men and women.

Phase 2 randomised placebo-controlled trial of spironolactone and dexamethasone versus dexamethasone in COVID-19 hospitalised patients in Delhi.

Background: In this phase 2 randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with COVID-19, we hypothesised that blocking mineralocorticoid receptors using a combination of dexamethasone to suppress cortisol secretion and spironolactone is safe and may reduce illness severity.

Methods: Hospitalised patients with confirmed COVID-19 were randomly allocated to low dose oral spironolactone (50 mg day 1, then 25 mg once daily for 21 days) or standard of care in a 2:1 ratio. Both groups received dexamethasone 6 mg daily for 10 days.

Points to consider: EULAR-UEMS standards for the training of European rheumatologists.

Background: Postgraduate rheumatology training programmes are already established at a national level in most European countries. However, previous work has highlighted a substantial level of heterogeneity in the organisation and, in part, content of programmes.

Objective: To define competences and standards of knowledge, skills and professional behaviours required for the training of rheumatologists.

Tuning innate immune function using microneedles containing multiple classes of toll-like receptor agonists.

Microneedle arrays (MNAs) are patches displaying hundreds of micron-scale needles that can penetrate skin. As a result, these arrays efficiently and painlessly access this immune cell-rich niche, motivating significant clinical interest in MNA-based vaccines. Our lab has developed immune polyelectrolyte multilayers (iPEMs), nanostructures built entirely from immune signals employing electrostatic self-assembly.

Plasma and Urinary Biomarkers Improve Prediction of Mortality through 1 Year in Intensive Care Patients: An Analysis from FROG-ICU.

Background: This study aimed to assess the value of blood and urine biomarkers in addition to routine clinical variables in risk stratification of patients admitted to ICU.

Methods: Multivariable prognostic models were developed in this post hoc analysis of the French and EuRopean Outcome ReGistry in Intensive Care Units study, a prospective observational study of patients admitted to ICUs. The study included 2087 patients consecutively admitted to the ICU who required invasive mechanical ventilation or a vasoactive agent for more than 24 h.

Macular pigment is inversely related to circulating C-reactive protein concentrations in school-aged children.

Xanthophyll carotenoids (i.e., lutein and zeaxanthin) are plant pigments that selectively deposit in the macula of the eye and provide retinal tissue with protection against photooxidative stress.

Under the Lens: Team Perception of Trauma Video Review.

Background: Video-based assessment and review are becoming increasingly common, and trauma video review (TVR) has been shown to be an effective educational, quality improvement, and research tool. Yet, trauma team perception of TVR remains incompletely understood.

Objective: We evaluated positive and negative perceptions of TVR across multiple team member groups.

Cost-Effectiveness of Vaccination of Older Adults with an MF59-Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Compared to Standard-Dose and High-Dose Vaccines in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Individuals aged 65 years and above are at increased risk of complications and death from influenza compared with any other age group. Enhanced vaccines, as the MF59-adjuvanted quadrivalent influenza vaccine (aQIV) and the high-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine (HD-QIV), provide increased protection for older adults in comparison to the traditional standard-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccines (SD-QIV). This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of aQIV compared to SD-QIV and HD-QIV in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden for adults aged ≥65 years.