Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of (nitrato-κ ,')(1,4,7,10-tetra-aza-cyclo-dodecane-κ )nickel(II) nitrate.

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Ni(CHN)(NO)]NO, at room temperature, has monoclinic (2/) symmetry. The structure displays inter-molecular hydrogen bonding. The nickel displays a distorted bipyramidal geometry with the symmetric bidentate bonded nitrate occupying an equatorial site.

Cost-effectiveness of left atrial appendage closure for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: a systematic review appraising the methodological quality.

Background: The increasing global prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) has led to a growing demand for stroke prevention strategies, resulting in higher healthcare costs. High-quality economic evaluations of stroke prevention strategies can play a crucial role in maximising efficient allocation of resources. In this systematic review, we assessed the methodological quality of such economic evaluations.

Global, regional, and national burden of heart failure associated with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Heart failure is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, and Atrial fibrillation (AF) is among many modifiable risk factors for heart failure. No estimates are available on the magnitude of the burden of heart failure associated with AF, and this study estimated the global, regional, and national burdens associated with AF.

Methods: We used the comparative risk assessment method to estimate the disease burden in terms of prevalence and years lived with disability (YLD).

Global and regional burden of ischemic stroke associated with atrial fibrillation, 2009-2019.

The extent of the preventable burden of ischaemic stroke associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains uncertain to date. To address this knowledge gap, we utilised the comparative risk assessment methodology to estimate the burden of ischaemic stroke associated with AF at both global and regional levels. The population attributable fraction for ischaemic stroke and AF was obtained from published literature, while data on the prevalence, incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) associated with ischaemic stroke were sourced from the Global Burden of Disease study database.

Factors affecting the recruitment of Hispanic/Latinx American older adults in clinical trials in the United States: A scoping review.

Objective: Participation of Hispanic/Latinx American older adults (HLAOA) in clinical trials is fundamental to health equity in aging research. However, information on strategies for the successful recruitment of this population in clinical trials is limited.

Design: This scoping review aims to identify hindering and facilitating factors that impact the recruitment of HLAOA in clinical trials in the United States.

Long-term Patient and Health Service Outcomes of Ablation and Antiarrhythmic Drugs in Atrial Fibrillation: A Comparative Systematic Review.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent problem worldwide and a common cause of hospitalization, poor quality of life, and increased mortality. Although several treatments are used, the use of ablation and antiarrhythmic drug therapy has increased in the past decade. However, debate continues on the most suitable option for heart rhythm control in patients.

Pre-vaccination RT-PCR negative contacts in workplace settings show high, SARS COV-2 neutralizing antibody levels.

Background: Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection occurring in RT-PCR negative individuals represent a poorly characterized cohort with important infection control connotations. While household and community-based studies have evaluated seroprevalence of antibody and transmission dynamics in this group, workplace-based data is currently unavailable.

Methods: A cohort study was carried out in July 2021, during and immediately following the peak of the 3 wave of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka, prior to mass vaccination.

Presentation, Diagnosis and Treatment Delays in Breast Cancer Care and Their Associations in Sri Lanka, a Low-resourced Country.

Aims: Delays in breast cancer care, one important attributable factor for breast cancer being diagnosed at advanced stages, are not systematically studied in many countries. This study assessed the magnitude and factors associated with delays in breast cancer care in Sri Lanka, from symptom detection to treatment initiation.

Materials And Methods: We interviewed 800 consecutively sampled female breast cancer patients, diagnosed within the last 12 months, using context-specific questionnaires and medical records.

Analysis of common genetic mutations in a cohort of children with salt wasting form of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.

Introduction: Steroid hydroxylase deficiency due to CYP21A2 gene mutation is the most common cause of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH). Mutation spectrum in Sri Lankan CAH patients has not been investigated adequately.

Objectives: This study attempted to study the spectrum of mutations in CYP21A2 gene in 30 patients with salt wasting form of CAH in Sri Lanka.

Medical and social domains of ageing research in Singapore (2008-2018): a scoping review.

Introduction: This scoping review examined the number, types and characteristics of journal publications on ageing in Singapore from 2008 to 2018 to determine how ageing research in medical and social domains in Singapore has transformed over time.

Methods: Using relevant search terms, articles were extracted from multiple databases and then screened and reviewed for eligibility and inclusion by independent reviewers. Data such as article title, authors, year of publication, name of journal, type of journal, study design and the kind of data used were charted from the included articles for evidence synthesis.

'Why are you not dead yet?' - dimensions and the main driving forces of stigma and discrimination among COVID-19 patients in Sri Lanka.

Objectives: To explore the experiences, and main driving forces of stigma and discrimination among COVID-19 patients, following hospital discharge, in Sri Lanka.

Study Design: A qualitative study was used in order to gain insight and explore the depth and complexity of COVID-19 patients' experiences.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted via telephone in a purposively selected sample of 139 COVID-19 patients.

Sri Lanka's early success in the containment of COVID-19 through its rapid response: Clinical & epidemiological evidence from the initial case series.

Background: Despite the rising global burden, Sri Lanka reported a relatively low caseload and mortality (13 deaths as of 20 October 2020) for COVID-19. This warrants exploration of the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the case series during the initial passive case detection phase in Sri Lanka, in order to understand the success in containment of the disease for more than nine months in the country through its initial early and rapid pandemic response.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using secondary data (hospital records and investigation reports) extracted from all laboratory-confirmed patients admitted to the three main state-sector hospitals in Sri Lanka from 11 March to 7 April 2020.

Factors Associated with Intended Postpartum OGTT Uptake and Willingness to Receive Preventive Behavior Support to Reduce Type 2 Diabetes Risk Among Women with Gestational Diabetes in Singapore: An Exploratory Study.

Aim: To assess and explore the factors affecting willingness to undergo an early postpartum oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and receive postpartum lifestyle modification assistance.

Methods: An explanatory sequential mixed-method design was used. A prenatal cross-sectional survey questionnaire (n = 216) was given to women diagnosed with GDM in a tertiary health institution in Singapore and followed up with postpartum semi-structured interviews (n = 30).

Peritubular Macrophages Are Recruited to the Testis of Peripubertal Rats After Mono-(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate Exposure and Is Associated With Increases in the Numbers of Spermatogonia.

Peripubertal exposure of male rodents to the phthalate metabolite mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) causes testicular inflammation, spermatocyte apoptosis, and disruption of the blood-testis barrier. The MEHP-induced inflammatory response in the testis includes an infiltration of macrophages and neutrophils, although the cause and purpose of this response is unknown. Recently, a population of testicular macrophages known as peritubular macrophages that are phenotypically distinct from those resident in interstitium was described in mice.

Active screening of patients with diabetes mellitus for pulmonary tuberculosis in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka.

End TB strategy by the WHO suggest active screening of high-risk populations for tuberculosis (TB) to improve case detection. Present study generates evidence for the effectiveness of screening patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) for Pulmonary TB (PTB). A study was conducted among 4548 systematically recruited patients over 45 years attending DM clinic at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka.

The Role of the Lung Ultrasound in Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Systematic Review.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has now infected six million people and is responsible for nearly four hundred thousand deaths. We review the potential role of the lung ultrasound to evaluate its benefits and potential roles to compare it to the current gold standard of computed tomography. A literature search was carried out utilizing electronic search engines and databases with COVID-19.

Breastfeeding Duration and Development of Dysglycemia in Women Who Had Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Evidence from the GUSTO Cohort Study.

(1) Background: Breastfeeding has been shown to support glucose homeostasis in women after a pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and is potentially effective at reducing long-term diabetes risk. (2) Methods: Data from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) study were analyzed to understand the influence of breastfeeding duration on long-term dysglycemia (prediabetes and diabetes) risk in women who had GDM in the index pregnancy. GDM and dysglycemia four to seven years postpartum were determined by the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

The Impact of COVID-19 on Medical Examinations.

Background and aim The coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a profound impact on many aspects of our lives, including medical education. The suspension of clinical placements and cancellation of objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE) is likely to have an influence on students' performance.   Methods Using a questionnaire, a retrospective observational study was conducted.

Factors associated with environmental service worker cleaning practices in health care settings: A systematic review of the literature.

Introduction: Health care-associated infections can be reduced through better environmental disinfection practices. Central to effective disinfection is the environmental service worker (ESW). The aim of this systematic literature review was to identify factors associated with the disinfection practices of ESWs in health care settings.

The correlation between bowel complications and cardiac surgery.

Although advances in knowledge and technology have improved outcomes in surgical cardiac patients over the last decade, complications following cardiac operations still remain to be potentially fatal. Gastrointestinal complications, in particular, tend to have high rates of reintervention and mortality following cardiac surgery, with ischemia and hemorrhage being two of the commonest underlying causes. The intention of this review is to identify which risk factors play important roles in predisposing patients to such complications and to gain better insight into the pathogenesis of the sequelae.

Does the choice of care pathways matter in timely breast cancer care in Sri Lanka?

Background: An understanding on the use of care pathways facilitates identification of timeliness in breast cancer care. Aims of this study were to describe different breast cancer care pathways used by female breast cancer patients in Sri Lanka and to identify whether they experienced timely breast cancer care.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 800 female breast cancer patients with a histological/ cytological confirmation, from four state cancer treatment centers.

Dissection of coronary artery: A clinical overview.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare but life-threatening disorder. SCAD is gaining importance as an emerging cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS), especially in otherwise healthy young women. While SCAD and ACS show similarity in presentation, the management of SCAD differs to that of ACS.

The effect of antivirals on COVID-19: a systematic review.

Introduction: Coronavirus Disease 2019 is a contagious infection that has infected millions worldwide. The objective of this systematic review is to identify studies pertaining to antivirals, both as sole and combined therapies, in COVID-19 patients and review the clinical outcomes of these treatment methods.

Areas Covered: A systematic review was conducted using Preferred Reporting Items or Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines.