Ethnic Differences in Atrial Fibrillation in the United Kingdom.

Background: Within the United States, White individuals experience a higher risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) while exhibiting a lower AF-related stroke risk compared to other ethnic groups. It is possible that these observations stem from phenomena unique to the United States, such as differential health care access. The United Kingdom provides socialized medicine, which ostensibly promotes equitable health care access.

Global Health Inequities in Electrophysiology Care: A State-of-the-Art Review.

This state-of-the-art review examines disparities in the diagnosis, management, and outcomes of cardiac arrhythmias globally. These arrhythmias include atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachyarrhythmias underlying sudden cardiac death, and bradyarrhythmias associated with sinus node and atrioventricular node disease. Arrhythmias in low- and middle-income countries often result in higher mortality rates due to complex and poorly documented risk factors, lack of clinical expertise among health care personnel, lack of sufficient infrastructure, and challenges in access to care.

A co-registration method to validate optical coherence tomography in the breast surgical cavity.

Breast-conserving surgery accompanied by adjuvant radiotherapy is the standard of care for patients with early-stage breast cancer. However, re-excision is reported in 20-30 % of cases, largely because of close or involved tumor margins in the specimen. Several intraoperative tumor margin assessment techniques have been proposed to overcome this issue, however, none have been widely adopted.

Safety and immunogenicity of ascending doses of influenza A(H7N9) inactivated vaccine with or without MF59®.

Introduction: While it remains impossible to predict the timing of the next influenza pandemic, novel avian influenza A viruses continue to be considered a significant threat.

Methods: A Phase II study was conducted in healthy adults aged 18-64 years to assess the safety and immunogenicity of two intramuscular doses of pre-pandemic 2017 influenza A(H7N9) inactivated vaccine administered 21 days apart. Participants were randomized (n = 105 in each of Arms 1-3) to receive 3.

Impact of Apixaban Lead-In Therapy Duration After Parenteral Anticoagulation on Bleeding in Patients Treated for Venous Thromboembolism.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) treatment with apixaban uses a higher 10 mg twice daily regimen for 7 days (lead-in therapy). But, in patients with initial parenteral anticoagulation treatment or those with higher bleeding risk, clinicians may not always adhere to the full 7-day lead-in duration. This retrospective cohort study included adult patients admitted to the Veterans Affairs Health care System from January 2011 to April 2022, who received at least 24 hours of parenteral anticoagulation followed by lead-in apixaban therapy for VTE.

Mucins as Precision Biomarkers in Glioma: Emerging Evidence for Their Potential in Biospecimen Analysis and Outcome Prediction.

Despite attempts at improving survival by employing novel therapies, progression in glioma is nearly universal. Precision biomarkers are critical to advancing outcomes; however, biomarkers for glioma are currently unknown. Most data on which the field can draw for biomarker identification comprise tissue-based analysis requiring the biospecimen to be removed from the tumor.

A cross-sectional survey of farmer reported prevalence and farm management practices associated with neonatal infectious arthritis ("joint ill") in lambs, on UK sheep farms.

Introduction: Neonatal infectious arthritis (NIA) is a bacterial disease of lambs in the first month of life. NIA is associated with poor animal welfare, economic losses, and prophylactic antibiotic use. Farmers report problems with NIA despite following current guidance on prevention.

Sex differences in aggression and its neural substrate in a cichlid fish.

Aggression is ubiquitous among social species and can function to maintain social dominance hierarchies. The African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni is an ideal study species for studying aggression due to their dominance hierarchy and robust behavioral repertoire. To further understand the potential sex differences in aggression in this species, we characterized aggression in male and female A.

A Time-varying Analysis of General Practice Prescribing in the COVID-19 Era: Lessons from Prescription Dynamics in a Pandemic.

Background/aim: Pharmacotherapy is vital in medicine, but inappropriate and inadequate use of medications significantly impacts global mortality and morbidity. Increased prescribing may indicate irrational use or prolonged illness, while decreased prescribing could suggest undertreatment, supply shortages, or the availability of safer and, more effective treatments. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted health systems, potentially altering prescribing patterns.

'Some Days Are Not a Good Day to Be a Mum': Exploring Lived Experiences of Guilt and Shame in the Early Postpartum Period.

The first 16 weeks postpartum are particularly challenging for a new mother and are associated with an elevated risk of experiencing psychological distress. Guilt and shame have been identified as significant predictors of other forms of psychological distress, such as anxiety and depression. However, guilt and shame are poorly distinguished in pre-existing literature.

Evaluating the home-based intervention strategy (HIS-UK) to reduce new chlamydia infection among young men aged 16-25 years by promoting correct and consistent condom use: findings from a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Correct and consistent condom use is the most effective method to reduce transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Objective: To compare the HIS-UK intervention to usual condom information and distribution care for effect on chlamydia test positivity.

Methods: Trial design A 3-parallel arm randomised controlled trial (1:1:1 allocation, two intervention arms vs.

Tracheoesophageal Puncture Outcomes at a Safety Net Hospital.

Tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) is the gold standard for voice rehabilitation after total laryngectomy (TL). Retrospective analysis was performed of TEP outcomes in patients between 2013 and 2020 at a single tertiary hospital. TEP was performed primarily in 79%, secondarily in 6%, and not placed in 15% of 226 patients.

Feasibility and efficacy of home-based lymphedema exercises for head and neck cancer patients at a safety net hospital.

Purpose: Lymphedema therapy is an effective tool in mitigating head and neck lymphedema morbidity and long-term fibrosis. Studies have shown the efficacy of facility-based therapy; however, access can be limited by sociodemographic factors, including socioeconomic status and transportation. This study evaluates the feasibility and effectiveness of home-based lymphedema therapy in a socially vulnerable patient population.

Next generation sequencing-based MSI scoring predict benefit in mismatch repair deficient tumors treated with nivolumab: follow-up on NCI-MATCH arm Z1D.

Purpose: Mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) tumors have demonstrated favorable responses to immune checkpoint inhibition targeting PD-1. However, more in-depth identification of predictors of response could further refine patient selection for immunotherapy treatment.

Experimental Design: We undertook integrated evaluation performed on samples collected from 28 of 42 patients enrolled on the NCI-MATCH arm Z1D trial that evaluated PD-1 inhibition treatment with nivolumab in patients with non-colorectal dMMR tumors.

Racial differences and geographic variations in oral anticoagulation treatment among Medicare patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Use of oral anticoagulants (OACs) for stroke reduction in atrial fibrillation (AF) varies by race and geography within the United States. We seek to better understand the relationship between OAC underutilization, race, and US geography.

Methods: Patients with AF were selected from the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services claims database from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2016.

Cost-effectiveness of Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) as destination therapy in the UK: An economic modelling study.

Objectives: Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) for destination therapy (DT) are used in many countries but in some, like the UK, LVADs are not commissioned due to uncertainty around their cost-effectiveness. Existing economic evaluations of LVADs for these patients have limitations. This study aimed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of LVADs as destination therapy, compared to optimal medical therapy, in the UK.

Clean Intermittent Catheterisation via a Mitrofanoff Is Superior to Long Term Suprapubic Catheters for Bladder Drainage.

Aim: Some children require long-term drainage of the bladder but do not tolerate clean intermittent catheterisation (CIC) urethrally. We aimed to compare long term suprapubic catheter (SPC) drainage vs Mitrofanoff conduit (allowing CIC) by comparing the survival of the drainage methods and rates of urinary tract infection (UTI).

Method: Retrospective review of a single surgeon's experience (2007-2023).

Rapid disposition, emergency department flow and best practices in hospital mass casualty incident response.

This paper examines how Stanford Hospital, a Level I trauma centre serving the metropolitan region of California's Bay Area, manages an acute surge of patients from a mass casualty incident, specifically within the context of the crowded and overburdened US emergency medicine system. The authors offer practical considerations for the rapid creation of space and bandwidth during an acute surge of injured patients as well as best practices for reorganising daily systems to care for those patients efficiently. The study also discusses how past mass casualty incidents were examined for lessons learned in order to build and refine the response plan at Stanford Hospital, with input from a multidisciplinary committee.

JYNNEOS vaccine safety surveillance in the vaccine safety datalink during the 2022 mpox outbreak in the United States.

Background: The JYNNEOS vaccine (two doses given 28 days apart) was recommended in the United States for people at high risk of exposure to monkeypox virus during the 2022 mpox outbreak. Our objective was to assess the safety of JYNNEOS using two complementary epidemiologic methods.

Methods: This observational cohort included patients of eight large integrated healthcare organizations who received JYNNEOS.

Impact of race and ethnicity on the rhythm control of newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation: Insights from the Get With the Guidelines Atrial Fibrillation Registry.

Background: An early rhythm control strategy is the preferred management for patients newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF). A rhythm control strategy, however, has been historically underused for patients from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups (UREGs).

Objective: We aimed to determine whether disparities in rhythm control are present at the initial diagnosis with AF.