Improving current understanding of cognitive impairment in patients with a spinal cord injury: A UK-based clinician survey.

Context: Emerging data suggests that patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) have a higher risk of developing cognitive impairment. The true incidence of cognitive impairment in this group is unclear due to the difficulty in administering commonly used assessment tools, which are dependent on functional abilities e.g.

Assessing Stroke and Mortality Risk in Heart Failure: The CHA2DS2-VASc Score's Prognostic Value in Patients With and Without Atrial Fibrillation: A Meta-Analysis.

The CHA2DS2-VASc [congestive heart failure, hypertension, age (≥75 years earns 2 points, 65-74 years earns 1 point), diabetes mellitus, prior stroke, transient ischemic attack, or thromboembolism (2 points), vascular disease (eg, prior myocardial infarction, peripheral artery disease), and female sex category] score has demonstrated potential as a prognostic indicator for adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the predictive accuracy of the CHA2DS2-VASc score in determining the occurrence of stroke and mortality in HF patients. We did a thorough search of electronic databases until December 2023.

Targeting pulmonary vein myocardial sleeves with omnipolar mapping can reduce radiofrequency applications and procedure time: a proof-of-concept study.

Background: There remains an imperative need to accurately map the left atrium in the setting of atrial fibrillation. While the pulmonary vein segmental ostial isolation plays a significant role in atrial fibrillation, clinical attempts to selectively ablate near the pulmonary vein myocardial sleeves have demonstrated a higher recurrence rate of arrhythmia given less precise mapping modalities. However, novel omnipolar mapping technology coupled with Advisor™ HD Grid Mapping Catheter may provide an advantageous profile to map and selectively ablate near the myocardial sleeves.

Carnosine/histidine-containing dipeptide supplementation improves depression and quality of life: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Context: Mental ill-health is a common and growing issue, affecting 1 in 8 individuals or 970 million people worldwide in 2019. Histidine-containing dipeptides (HCDs) have been suggested to mitigate some aspects of mental ill-health, but a quantitative synthesis of the evidence is lacking. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted.

Lactobacillus casei Shirota probiotic drinks reduce antibiotic associated diarrhoea in patients with spinal cord injuries who regularly consume proton pump inhibitors: a subgroup analysis of the ECLISP multicentre RCT.

Study Design: This was a sub-group analysis of a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial (ECLISP trial) OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of a probiotic containing at least 6.5 × 10 live Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS) in preventing antibiotic associated diarrhoea (AAD) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) who consumed proton pump inhibitor (PPI) regularly. LcS or placebo was given once daily for the duration of an antibiotic course and continued for 7 days thereafter.

Patients with a high defibrillation threshold: Approaches to management.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) have revolutionized the prognosis for patients at elevated risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias. For safety, defibrillation should be effective with a minimum of 10 J below the device's maximum energy. While modern ICDs rarely deliver ineffective shocks in primary prevention, the surge in managing severe heart failure patients has led to an increased number of patients with high defibrillation thresholds (DFTs).

Seeking arrangements: cell contact as a cleavage-stage biomarker.

Research Question: What can three-dimensional cell contact networks tell us about the developmental potential of cleavage-stage human embryos?

Design: This pilot study was a retrospective analysis of two Embryoscope imaging datasets from two clinics. An artificial intelligence system was used to reconstruct the three-dimensional structure of embryos from 11-plane focal stacks. Networks of cell contacts were extracted from the resulting embryo three-dimensional models and each embryo's mean contacts per cell was computed.

Safety and effectiveness of the first contact force ablation catheter with a flexible tip.

Background: Catheter ablation is an established therapy for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). The TactiFlex Ablation Catheter, Sensor Enabled (TactiFlex SE) is a next-generation radiofrequency ablation catheter incorporating fiber optics-based contact force-sensing technology with a flexible, laser-cut tip.

Objective: The study sought to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the TactiFlex SE ablation catheter for treatment of drug-refractory PAF.

Carnosine supplementation improves glucose control in adults with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes: A randomised controlled trial.

Background And Aims: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Carnosine, a naturally occurring dipeptide, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-glycating effects, with preliminary evidence suggesting it may improve important chronic disease risk factors in adults with cardiometabolic conditions.

Methods And Results: In this randomised controlled trial, 43 adults (30%F) living with prediabetes or T2DM consumed carnosine (2 g) or a matching placebo daily for 14 weeks to evaluate its effect on glucose metabolism assessed via a 2-h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test.

Histidine-containing dipeptide supplementation improves delayed recall: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Context: Histidine-containing dipeptides (carnosine, anserine, beta-alanine and others) are found in human muscle tissue and other organs like the brain. Data in rodents and humans indicate that administration of exogenous carnosine improved cognitive performance. However, RCTs results vary.

Comparison of HbA2 Using High Performance Liquid Chromatography Versus Haemoglobin Capillary Zone Electrophoresis.

Thalassemia is among the most common hereditary disorders in the world. Approximately 5% of the world's population are carriers of hemoglobinopathies, and 2.9% are carriers of beta thalassemia.

Feasibility of and Experience With Free State-Funded Telehealth-Based Patient Self-referral for COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Therapy.

Background: Monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been underutilized due to logistical challenges, lack of access, and variable treatment awareness among patients and health-care professionals. The use of telehealth during the pandemic provides an opportunity to increase access to COVID-19 care.

Methods: This is a single-center descriptive study of telehealth-based patient self-referral for mAb therapy between March 1, 2021, and October 31, 2021, at Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital (BCCFH).

A Rare Multilevel Spinal Epidural Abscess With Streptococcus agalactiae in an Adult With Uncontrolled Diabetes: A Case Report.

Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a rare, life-threatening infection that typically presents with fever, back pain, and neurologic deficits. Although most commonly caused by , this case reviews a rare occurrence of a multilevel SEA caused by in a 62-year-old female with uncontrolled type II diabetes mellitus. The patient initially presented with lower back pain and was subsequently diagnosed with a SEA complicated by hyperglycemia.

A case of combined pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and watchman implant through hepatic vein in a patient with interrupted inferior vena cava (IVC).

This case report describes a successful procedure involving pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and left atrial appendage (LAA) closure with a watchman device in a 78-year-old male with atrial fibrillation and an interrupted inferior vena cava. Due to the vascular anomaly, a transhepatic approach was used, which proved successful.

The Experience of Limited Access to Care for Community-Based Patients With Spinal Cord Injury and Stroke in Nepal and the Potential of Telerehabilitation: A Qualitative Study.

This study explores the experiences of care received and management of disability for individuals with spinal cord injury and stroke following discharge from a specialty rehabilitation center, alongside perspectives on the potential role of telerehabilitation. We employed qualitative in-depth face-to-face interviews with patients who had accessed and been discharged from a specialist rehabilitation center in Nepal were used. Interviews sought perspectives of adjusting to, living with, and managing disability alongside the potential role of telerehabilitation in the community setting.

Cognition and Quality of Life of People with Spinal Cord Injury.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the cognitive abilities of people with spinal cord injury (SCI) using the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavior Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Screen (ECAS), a tool designed for testing cognition in individuals with limited hand motor function. The impact of cognitive dysfunction on quality of life was also assessed.

Methods: Forty-one patients with SCI were assessed using ECAS, the brief version of the World Health Organisation Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF), and the Spinal Cord Independence Measure.

Strategies for enhancing the efficacy of anaerobic digestion of food industry wastewater: An insight into bioreactor types, challenges, and future scope.

Food waste have become a growing concern worldwide with raising population and economic growth. Wastewater discharged from food industries contains many valuable and toxic components that have a negative impact on the ecological system. Large amounts of wastewater are discharged from the food industry, which necessitates the creation of effective technologies.

Carnosine as a potential therapeutic for the management of peripheral vascular disease.

Aims: To evaluate the potential role of carnosine in the management of peripheral vascular disease.

Data Synthesis: Peripheral vascular disease is growing in its burden and impact; however it is currently under researched, and there are a lack of strong, non-invasive therapeutic options for the clinicians. Carnosine is a dipeptide stored particularly in muscle and brain tissue, which exhibits a wide range of physiological activities, which may be beneficial as an adjunct treatment for peripheral vascular disease.

Morpho-physiological, biochemical and molecular characterization of coastal rice landraces to identify novel genetic sources of salinity tolerance.

Soil salinity is a leading cause for yield losses in rice, affecting nearly 6% of global rice cultivable area. India is host to a rich diversity of coastal rice landraces that are naturally tolerant to salinity and an untapped source to identify novel determinants of salinity tolerance. In the present study, we have assessed the relative salinity tolerance of 43 previously genotyped rice landraces at seedling stage, using thirteen morpho-physiological and biochemical parameters using a hydroponics system.

Looks Like Neurosyphilis, Feels Like Guillain-Barre: At the Confluence of Infection and Immunology.

We present a 51-year-old male, with a past medical history of type 2 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (T2IDDM) without neuropathy, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in April 2020 without residual symptoms, Raynaud's, and recent occupational outdoor exposure to insects as a construction manager who came to the emergency room complaining of a three-week history of bilateral progressive numbness and weakness beginning in his lower extremities and ascending toward his pelvis. Notably, he received the second dose of his Moderna COVID-19 vaccine one week prior to symptom onset and four weeks prior to admission. He also reported a recent appearance of a maculopapular rash on his upper extremities and flanks.

An uncommon cause of spontaneous pneumothorax in a febrile infant: Atypical Kawasaki disease.

Kawasaki disease after respiratory viral infections is often observed but following Human Metapneumovirus infection (HMPV) is uncommon. Pulmonary presentation of Kawasaki disease without its classical features, though uncommon, can present as bronchopneumonia refractory to routine supportive care and antibiotics treatment. Lung collapse and pneumothorax as a pulmonary presentation of atypical Kawasaki disease are described very infrequently.

Correlation between sinus rhythm deceleration zones and critical sites for localized reentrant atrial flutter: A retrospective multicenter analysis.

Background: Atypical left atrial flutter (AFL) may be macroreentrant or spatially localized. The relationship between the critical isthmus (CI) for localized reentry with sinus rhythm (SR) conduction slowing has not been systematically examined.

Objective: To examine the correlation between CI sites for localized AFL (L-AFL) and deceleration zones (DZ) identified by isochronal late activation mapping (ILAM) during baseline rhythm.