Use of e-cigarettes, traditional combustible cigarettes, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein: The Cross Cohort Collaboration.

This cross-sectional study included 18,797 participants from 6 longitudinal cohorts (CARDIA, FHS Gen III, HCHS/SOL, MESA, MiHeart, and REGARDS), and 5,806 of them had high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) measurements. We found that exclusive electronic cigarette (EC) use was associated with significantly lower hs-CRP levels compared to exclusive combustible cigarette use, suggesting a potentially lower inflammatory burden. hs-CRP levels in dual users and former smokers currently using EC were comparable to those observed in exclusive cigarette smokers.

Management and outcome of intracranial fungal infections in children and adults in Africa: a scoping review.

Introduction: Intracranial fungal infections' (IcFIs) varying clinical manifestations lead to difficulties in diagnosis and treatment. African populations are disproportionately affected by the high burden of the disease. There is a lack of clarity as to the diagnostic and treatment modalities employed across the continent.

Epilepsy care and outcome in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review.

Objectives: Epilepsy is a common neurological condition in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aims to systematically review, analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information on the current state of medical and surgical management and outcomes of epilepsy in LMICs.

Materials And Methods: Systematic searches were conducted on MEDLINE, EMBASE, World Health Organization Global Index Medicus, African Journals Online, WOS, and Scopus, covering the period from the inception of the databases to August 18, 2021, focusing on studies reporting management and outcomes of epilepsy in LMICs.

E-Cigarette Use Among US Adults in the 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey.

Importance: After the initial disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unclear how patterns of e-cigarette use in the US have changed.

Objective: To examine recent patterns in current and daily e-cigarette use among US adults in 2021.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study used data from the 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) database.

Cardiovascular risk stratification among individuals with obesity: The Coronary Artery Calcium Consortium.

Objective: The effectiveness of coronary artery calcification (CAC) for risk stratification in obesity, in which imaging is often limited because of a reduced signal to noise ratio, has not been well studied.

Methods: Data from 9334 participants (mean age: 53.3 ± 9.

Examining the association of habitual e-cigarette use with inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in young adults: The VAPORS-Endothelial function study.

Introduction: Acute exposure to e-cigarette aerosol has been shown to have potentially deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system. However, the cardiovascular effects of habitual e-cigarette use have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to assess the association of habitual e-cigarette use with endothelial dysfunction and inflammation - subclinical markers known to be associated with increased cardiovascular risk.

Patterns of tobacco product use and substance misuse among adolescents in the United States.

Among adolescents, sole use is the most common pattern of e-cigarette use. However, concurrent use of e-cigarettes with other tobacco products is not uncommon and may be associated with high-risk behaviors. We used data from 12,767 participants in the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey to examine the patterns of tobacco product use among youth in the US.

Management and outcomes of intracranial fungal infections in children and adults in Africa: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: The protocol presents the methodology of a scoping review that aims to synthesise contemporary evidence on the management and outcomes of intracranial fungal infections in Africa.

Methods And Analysis: The scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the Arksey and O'Malley's framework. The research question, inclusion and exclusion criteria and search strategy were developed based on the Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome framework.

Healthcare Provider Screening for Tobacco Product and Electronic Cigarette Use Among Youth in the United States.

Purpose: Healthcare providers play a critical role in curbing youth tobacco use through screening and counseling. Current rates of tobacco use screening by healthcare providers among US youth are unknown.

Methods: We used 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey data to examine the prevalence of healthcare provider screening for tobacco and e-cigarette use among US youth.

Impact of the Food and Drug Administration enforcement policy on flavored e-cigarettes on the online popularity of disposable e-cigarettes: analyses of Google search query data.

Background: The impact of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) initial enforcement policy on flavored cartridge-based e-cigarettes and subsequent notice for the removal of flavored disposable electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) such as Puff Bar from the market has not been well evaluated.

The inverse association of state cannabis vaping prevalence with the e-cigarette or vaping product-use associated lung injury.

The e-cigarette or vaping product-use-associated lung injury (EVALI) epidemic was primarily associated with the use of e-cigarettes containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)- the principal psychoactive substance in cannabis, and vitamin-E-acetate- an additive sometimes used in informally sourced THC-containing e-liquids. EVALI case burden varied across states, but it is unclear whether this was associated with state-level cannabis vaping prevalence. We, therefore, used linear regression models to assess the cross-sectional association between state-level cannabis vaping prevalence (obtained from the 2019 behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System) and EVALI case burden (obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) adjusted for state cannabis policies.

Study on South African Indigenous Teas-Antioxidant Potential, Nutritional Content, and Hypoxia-Induced Cyclooxygenase Inhibition on U87 MG Cell Line.

This study comparatively assessed seven indigenous traditional tea plants on several attributes that included antioxidant, nutritional, caffeine contents, and cyclooxygenase activity. Nutritional content of all tea plants were determined for energy, fat, carbohydrates, total sugars, dietary fiber and amino acids. Antioxidant potential and the antioxidant potentiating secondary metabolites were also measured and compared.

Perceived Stress and Coping Strategies among Adults with Asthma in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Background And Objectives: Asthma is one of the common chronic diseases globally. There is paucity of data on perceived stress among patients with asthma in Nigeria. This study aimed to determine the extent of perceived stress and its association with coping strategies among adults with asthma.

Cannabis sativa L. protects against oxidative injury in kidney (vero) cells by mitigating perturbed metabolic activities linked to chronic kidney diseases.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Cannabis sativa L. is among numerous medicinal plants widely used in traditional medicine in treating various ailments including kidney diseases.

Aims: The protective effect of C.

Hosting an Educational Careers Day Within the Virtual Paradigm: The Neurology and Neurosurgery Interest Group Experience.

Introduction:  To explore our experience of hosting the 10 Annual Neurology and Neurosurgery Interest Group-Society of British Neurological Surgeons (NANSIG-SBNS) Neurosurgery Careers Day, held virtually for the first time.

Methods:  Reflective feedback and review of an international, virtual neurosurgery careers day. The authors reflect on the logistics of organizing the event, and the pre- and post-event feedback provided by delegates.

Neurosurgical Equipment Donations: A Qualitative Study.

Introduction: Neurosurgical equipment donation from high-income countries (HICs) to low-and-middle income countries (LMICs) exists. However, there is currently no published literature on whether there is a need for neurosurgical equipment donations or how to design equipment donation programmes that meet the needs of LMIC neurosurgeons. The primary aims of this study were to explore: (1) the need for the donation of neurosurgical equipment from the UK and Ireland to LMICs within the African continent, and (2) the ways through which neurosurgical equipment donations could meet the needs of LMIC neurosurgeons.

Acute Exacerbation of COPD: Clinical Perspectives and Literature Review.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) COPD is a significant cause of morbidity and the third leading cause of death worldwide. COPD is a chronic progressive disease which may be interspersed by periods of acute worsening of respiratory symptoms beyond normal day-to-day variations, called exacerbations, which substantially impact health status and has cumulative effects on lung function. Acute exacerbation of COPD negatively affects disease progression, facilitating decline in pulmonary function and resulting in impaired quality of life and increased mortality risk.

Unravelling the Anticancer Mechanisms of Traditional Herbal Medicines with Metabolomics.

Metabolite profiling of cancer cells presents many opportunities for anticancer drug discovery. The Chinese, Indian, and African flora, in particular, offers a diverse source of anticancer therapeutics as documented in traditional folklores. In-depth scientific information relating to mechanisms of action, quality control, and safety profile will promote their extensive usage in cancer therapy.