Trends in cutaneous melanoma mortality and incidence in European Union 15+ countries between 1990 and 2019.

Background: Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is the leading cause of skin cancer mortality with associated high healthcare costs. Up-to-date reporting of epidemiological trends for CM is required to project future trends, assess the burden of disease and aid evaluation of new diagnostic, therapeutic and preventative strategies.

Objectives: To describe the trends in CM mortality, incidence, mortality-to-incidence indices (MIIs) and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) over the last three decades.

Long-term efficacy and safety of two short standardised regimens for the treatment of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (STREAM stage 2): extended follow-up of an open-label, multicentre, randomised, non-inferiority trial.

Background: STREAM stage 2 showed that two bedaquiline-containing regimens (a 9-month all-oral regimen and a 6-month regimen with 8 weeks of aminoglycoside) had superior efficacy to a 9-month injectable-containing regimen for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis up to 76 weeks after randomisation. Our objective in this follow-up analysis was to assess the durability of efficacy and safety, including mortality, at 132 weeks.

Methods: We report the long-term outcomes from STREAM stage 2, a randomised, phase 3 non-inferiority (10% margin) trial in participants (aged ≥15 years) with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis without fluoroquinolone or aminoglycoside resistance at 13 clinical sites in seven countries (Ethiopia, Georgia, India, Moldova, Mongolia, South Africa, and Uganda).

Comparative Efficacy and Safety of Moxifloxacin and Levofloxacin in a Short Standardised Rifampicin Resistant TB Regimen: A STREAM 2 Secondary Analysis.

(1) Background: The World Health Organisation (WHO) categorises moxifloxacin and levofloxacin as Group A drugs, which should be prioritised in the treatment of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis. We compare their relative efficacy and safety using data from the STREAM trial; (2) Methods: Marginal structural models were used to balance differences in the baseline characteristics of participants receiving the STREAM control regimen containing either moxifloxacin or levofloxacin as this was not a randomised comparison. The difference in proportions between regimens was estimated for favourable outcome, any grade 3/4 adverse event, QTcF increase to ≥500 ms, QTcF increase from baseline by at least 60 ms, and any grade 3/4 adverse event excluding QT events, using weighted analyses; (3) Results: In efficacy analyses ( = 123), the weighted risk difference (moxifloxacin-levofloxacin, wRD) for a favourable outcome was -0.

Temporal Analysis of the Incidence, Mortality and Disability-Adjusted Life Years of Benign Gallbladder and Biliary Diseases in High-Income Nations, 1990-2019.

Objective: The aim of this observational study was to analyze trends in the incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of benign gallbladder and biliary diseases across high-income countries between 1990 and 2019.

Background: Benign gallbladder and biliary diseases place a substantial burden on healthcare systems in high-income countries. Accurate characterization of the disease burden may help optimize healthcare policy and resource distribution.

A Qualitative Study of Patients' Lived Experiences of Free Tissue Transfer for Diabetic Foot Disease.

Background: Free tissue transfer (FTT) for reconstruction of diabetic foot disease (DFD) is an emerging field to preserve the lower limb within this patient group. The design of future quantitative research and clinical services in this area must consider the needs, expectations and concerns of patients. This qualitative study explores patient experiences of FTT for reconstruction of DFD.

T-wave morphology abnormalities in the STREAM stage 1 trial.

Background: Shorter regimens for drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) have non-inferior efficacy compared with longer regimens, but QT prolongation is a concern. T-wave morphology abnormalities may be a predictor of QT prolongation.

Research Design And Methods: STREAM Stage 1 was a randomized controlled trial in rifampicin-resistant TB, comparing short and long regimens.

Digital papillary adenocarcinoma: An important differential diagnosis for digital soft tissue masses.

Digital papillary adenocarcinoma (DPAC) is a rare, aggressive cancer with significant metastatic potential which arises from digital sweat glands. We present a case of a DPAC managed with surgical excision and reconstruction with a reversed homodigital island flap. .

Radiographic characteristics of rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis in the STREAM stage 1 trial and their influence on time to culture conversion in the short regimen.

Background: Stage 1 of the STREAM trial demonstrated that the 9 month (Short) regimen developed in Bangladesh was non-inferior to the 20 month (Long) 2011 World Health Organization recommended regimen. We assess the association between HIV infection and radiographic manifestations of tuberculosis and factors associated with time to culture conversion in Stage 1 of the STREAM trial.

Methods: Reading of chest radiographs was undertaken independently by two clinicians, and films with discordant reading were read by a third reader.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus disease burden in high health expenditure countries between 1990 and 2019.

Objective: This observational study assesses trends in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) disease burden across the 19 countries of the European Union (EU) 15+ between 1990 and 2019.

Methods: The Global Burden of Disease Study database was used to gather T1DM age-standardised incidence (ASIR), prevalence (ASPR), mortality (ASMR), and disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) rates per 100,000 for each EU15+ country (1990 - 2019). Joinpoint regression analysis was used to describe the trends.

DeePMD-kit v2: A software package for deep potential models.

DeePMD-kit is a powerful open-source software package that facilitates molecular dynamics simulations using machine learning potentials known as Deep Potential (DP) models. This package, which was released in 2017, has been widely used in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, and material science for studying atomistic systems. The current version of DeePMD-kit offers numerous advanced features, such as DeepPot-SE, attention-based and hybrid descriptors, the ability to fit tensile properties, type embedding, model deviation, DP-range correction, DP long range, graphics processing unit support for customized operators, model compression, non-von Neumann molecular dynamics, and improved usability, including documentation, compiled binary packages, graphical user interfaces, and application programming interfaces.

Multi-layer laser cutting of electrical steel sheets applied to electric machine laminations.

With the move away from fossil fuels, the importance of electric machines is increasing. This is particularly the case within major engineering sectors such as the automotive industry. There is therefore a need to further develop processes which will allow for the diverse range of machining operations and large volume manufacture which will be required to overcome the inherent challenges in making this transition.

Outcomes of skin cancer excision in frail patients: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common cancer type and incidence increases with age. As a consequence, an increasing number of frail patients are being referred for consideration of skin cancer surgery. However, some of these patients may not live long enough to experience benefit from surgery, while being at risk of postoperative complications.

Trends in the mortality, incidence and disability-adjusted life-years of appendicitis in EU15+ countries: an observational study of the Global Burden of Disease Database, 1990-2019.

Background: Appendicitis places a substantial burden on healthcare systems, with acute appendicitis alone being the most common abdominal surgical emergency worldwide. Further characterisation of the disease burden in EU15+ countries may help optimise the distribution of healthcare resources. The aim of this observational study was to assess the trends in mortality, incidence and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of appendicitis across European Union (EU) 15+ countries between the years 1990 and 2019, Supplemental Digital Content 3, http://links.

Implementation of circulating tumour DNA multi-target mutation testing in plasma: a perspective from an external quality assessment providers' survey.

Demand for large-scale tumour profiling across cancer types has increased in recent years, driven by the emergence of targeted drug therapies. Analysing alternations in plasma circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) for cancer detection can improve survival; ctDNA testing is recommended when tumour tissue is unavailable. An online survey of molecular pathology testing was circulated by six external quality assessment members of IQN Path to registered laboratories and all IQN Path collaborative corporate members.

Management of purpura fulminans skin loss at a regional burns centre: Sixteen-year experience.

Introduction: Purpura fulminans (PF) is a rare syndrome of cutaneous purpura which is the consequence of severe circulatory shock causing intravascular thrombosis, haemorrhagic necrosis, and consequent tissue loss. The aim of this study was to present our 16-year experience of managing PF in a regional burns centre.

Methods: We performed a single-centre retrospective case series of all patients admitted to the St Andrews Burns Centre at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, Essex, UK, between June 2006 and July 2022 with a diagnosis of PF.

Trends in keratinocyte skin cancer incidence, mortality and burden of disease in 33 countries between 1990 and 2017.

Background: Keratinocyte cancers (KCs) are the most common type of cancer in the White population worldwide, with associated high healthcare costs. Understanding the epidemiological trends for KCs, namely basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), is required to assess burden of disease, project future trends and identify strategies for addressing this pressing global health issue.

Objectives: To report trends in BCC and SCC incidence, and SCC mortality and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs).

Variability in Fetal Fraction Estimation: Comparing Fetal Fractions Reported by Noninvasive Prenatal Testing Providers Globally.

Background: Fetal fraction (FF) measurement is considered important for reliable noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT). Using minimal FF threshold as a quality parameter is under debate. We evaluated the variability in reported FFs of individual samples between providers and laboratories and within a single laboratory.

Temporal trend analysis of rheumatic heart disease burden in high-income countries between 1990 and 2019.

Aims: To assesses trends in rheumatic heart disease (RHD) burden in high-income, European Union 15+ (EU15+) countries between 1990 and 2019.

Methods And Results: Cross-sectional analysis of the incidence and mortality of RHD was conducted using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study database. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) and age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) were extracted for EU15+ countries per sex for each of the years from 1990 to 2019, inclusive, and mortality-to-incidence indices (MII) were computed.