Obsessive-compulsive disorder secondary to focal brain lesions: from lesions to networks.

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may develop following brain lesions, but lesion distribution and connectivity patterns are unknown.

Methods: OCD-associated lesions, identified from systematic literature search, were traced on common brain space and compared to control lesions (N=608). Topography was analyzed using brain atlases, and lesion location networks computed using normative functional connectivity (N=1000).

[Functional disorders in chronic inflammatory bowel disease: the gut-brain axis].

Background: In patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), functional complaints frequently persist after the clearing of inflammation and are clinically difficult to distinguish from symptoms of inflammation. In recent years, the influence of bidirectional communication between the gut and brain on gut physiology, emotions, and behavior has been demonstrated.

Research Questions: What mechanisms underlie the development of functional gastrointestinal complaints in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and IBD? What therapeutic approaches arise from this?

Materials And Methods: Narrative review.

Public Involvement to Enhance Care Home Research; Collaboration on a Minimum Data Set for Care Homes.

Introduction: Information on care home residents in England is captured in numerous data sets (care home records, General Practitioner records, community nursing, etc.) but little of this information is currently analysed in a way that is useful for care providers, current or future residents and families or that realises the potential of data to enhance care provision. The DACHA study aimed to develop and test a minimum data set (MDS) which would bring together data that is useful to support and improve care and facilitate research.

Engaging dystonia networks with subthalamic stimulation.

Deep brain stimulation is an efficacious treatment for dystonia. While the internal pallidum serves as the primary target, recently, stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) has been investigated. However, optimal targeting within this structure and its surroundings have not been studied in depth.

Information Needs of State-Level Asthma Programs: Recommendations to Increase Accessibility.

Asthma is the most common pediatric chronic disease, affecting about 5 million U.S. children.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Retention and Disengagement After Initiation on Antiretroviral Therapy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries After the Introduction of Universal Test and Treat Policies.

Background: We previously published a systematic review evaluating retention in care after antiretroviral therapy treatment initiation among adults in low- and middle-income countries. We estimated retention at 36 months to be at 74% for studies published from 2008-2013. This review evaluates retention after the implementation of Universal Test and Treat in 2015.

Effects of lysine and methionine on mRNA expression of candidate transcription factors by primary bovine mammary epithelial cells.

It has been established that essential amino acids (EAA) regulate protein synthesis in mammary epithelial cells by rapidly altering the phosphorylation state of translation factors. However, the long-term transcriptional response to EAA supply has been investigated much less. Eight transcription factors were selected as candidate mediators of EAA effects on mammary cell function via the amino acid response (ATF4, ATF6), mitogen-activated protein kinase (JUN, FOS, EGR1), and mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (MYC, HIF1A, SREBF1).

Prevalence and progression of chronic kidney disease among adults undergoing creatinine testing in South African public healthcare facilities: a study leveraging data from South Africa's National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS).

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has emerged as a substantial global health challenge, with a marked rise in associated mortality. However, it often goes undetected until advanced stages, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries such as South Africa. We investigated the prevalence and progression of CKD in South Africa, utilising a subset of data from the National Health Laboratory Services Multi-morbidity Cohort.

The Optimal Duration of pH Monitoring: Testing the Validity of Lyon 2.0 Recommendations for Wireless pH Measurement.

Background & Aims: The Lyon 2.0 consensus recommends 96-hour wireless pH studies for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) diagnosis; however, the optimal length of pH measurement has not been established. Further, it is uncertain if, and under what circumstances, shorter recording times are sufficient for a conclusive diagnosis.

A critical role of action-related functional networks in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome.

Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (GTS) is a chronic tic disorder, characterized by unwanted motor actions and vocalizations. While brain stimulation techniques show promise in reducing tic severity, optimal target networks are not well-defined. Here, we leverage datasets from two independent deep brain stimulation (DBS) cohorts and a cohort of tic-inducing lesions to infer critical networks for treatment and occurrence of tics by mapping stimulation sites and lesions to a functional connectome derived from 1,000 healthy participants.

Assessing the Impact of Exposure Misclassification in Case-Control Studies of Self-Reported Medication Use.

Background: Empirically evaluating the potential impact of recall bias on observed associations of prenatal medication exposure is crucial.

Objective: We sought to assess the effects of exposure misclassification on previous studies of the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in early pregnancy and increased risk of amniotic band syndrome (ABS).

Methods: Using data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS) on births from 1997 to 2011, we included 189 mothers of infants with ABS and 11,829 mothers of infants without congenital anomalies.

Update Motility Disorders: Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease - Diagnostic and Conservative Approach.

Background: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is extremely common, with at least 1 in 10 people in the general population reporting heartburn and acid regurgitation on a weekly basis. GORD can also be associated with a variety of atypical symptoms, including chest pain, chronic cough, and laryngopharyngeal symptoms. The causes of GORD are multifactorial, and the severity of symptoms is influenced by peripheral and central factors, including psychosocial stress and anxiety.

Semantically interoperable census data: unlocking the semantics of census data using ontologies and linked data.

The Canadian Census of Population is a survey that collects statistical information on the Canadian population. These censuses contain valuable socioeconomic data that is often used by both the public and private sectors for project planning and decision-making. However, there are a few issues that may arise when using census data.

Short-Term Outcomes Among Lung Transplant Recipients from SARS-CoV-2+ Donors and Evaluation of Lung Function Among SARS-CoV-2+ Donors.

There are reports of successful lung transplants using SARS-CoV-2+ donors, but the data on their overall outcome is limited. We used the United Network for Organ Sharing Database (UNOS) to identify all lung transplant patients who received lungs from SARS-CoV-2+ donors between 2020 and 2023. There was no difference in survival between those who received lungs from SARS-CoV-2- and SARS-CoV-2+ donors (P = .

Modern Sources of Controls in Case-Control Studies.

In 1992, Wacholder and colleagues developed a theoretical framework for case-control studies to minimize bias in control selection. They described three comparability principles (study base, deconfounding, and comparable accuracy) to reduce the potential for selection bias, confounding, and information bias in case-control studies. Wacholder et al.

Inter- and intraspecific responses of coral colonies to thermal anomalies on Palmyra Atoll, central Pacific.

Long-term monitoring of individual coral colonies is important for understanding variability between and within species over time in the context of thermal stress. Here, we analyze an 11-year time series of permanent benthic photoquadrats taken on Palmyra Atoll, central Pacific, from 2009 to 2019 to track the growth (i.e.

Engagement in antenatal and HIV care among pregnant women before and after Option B+ policy implementation in South Africa.

Background: Substantial gains have been made in South Africa in the prevention of vertical transmission of HIV over the past decade.

Objectives: to determine whether engagement in antenatal and HIV care among pregnant Women Living with HIV (WLWH) differed after Option B+ implementation.

Methods: We analysed cohort data from a pregnancy and birth defects surveillance system in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

USING SPUTUM AND TONGUE SWAB SPECIMENS FOR IN-HOME POINT-OF-CARE TARGETED UNIVERSAL TESTING FOR TB OF HOUSEHOLD CONTACTS: AN ACCEPTABILITY AND FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS.

Introduction: Effective strategies are needed to facilitate early detection and diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). The overreliance on passive case detection, symptom screening, and collection of sputum, results in delayed or undiagnosed TB, which directly contributes to on-going TB transmission. We assessed the acceptability and feasibility of in-home, Targeted Universal TB Testing (TUTT) of household contacts using GeneXpert MTB/RIF Ultra at point-of-care (POC) during household contact investigations (HCIs) and compared the feasibility of using sputum vs.

Professor Rolfe Birch: A Pioneer in Peripheral Nerve Surgery and a Mentor to Generations.

Professor Rolfe Birch, a founding head in the field of peripheral neurological surgery, left an enduring legacy marked by groundbreaking research, innovative surgical techniques, and unwavering dedication to patient care. From his early fascination with the nervous system to his pioneering work in brachial plexus injuries and the establishment of the UK's (if not the continent's) first peripheral nerve injury unit, Prof. Birch's contributions transformed the landscape of understanding, diagnosing, and treating peripheral nerve pathologies.

Diagnostic uncertainty and management of low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm-a case report and review of the literature.

Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) is a rare entity identified in ~1% of patients undergoing appendectomy. The presentation often varies, making diagnosis challenging. Timely identification and treatment are critical to prevent rupture, which may lead to pseudomyxoma peritonei.