Four-color fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy with one laser and one camera.

The diffusion and reorganization of phospholipids and membrane-associated proteins are fundamental for cellular function. Fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) measures diffusion and molecular interactions at nanomolar concentration in biological systems. We have developed an economical method to simultaneously monitor diffusion and complexation with the use of super-continuum laser and spectral deconvolution from a single detector.

Improving Resident Hospital Discharge Communication by Changing Electronic Health Record Templates to Enhance Primary Care Provider Satisfaction.

Background And Objectives: Despite use of standardized electronic health record templates, the structure of discharge summaries may hinder communication from inpatient settings to primary care providers (PCPs). We developed an enhanced electronic discharge summary template to improve PCP satisfaction with written discharge summaries targeting diagnoses, medication reconciliation, laboratory test results, specialist follow-up, and recommendations.

Methods: Resident template usage was measured using statistical process control charts.

Novel Genomic Risk Stratification Model for Primary Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) in the Adjuvant Therapy Era.

Purpose: Traditional risk stratification schemes in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) were defined in the pre-imatinib era and rely solely on clinicopathologic metrics. We hypothesize that genomic-based risk stratification is prognostically relevant in the current era of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapeutics.

Experimental Design: Comprehensive mutational and copy-number profiling using MSK-IMPACT was performed.

Impacts of the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis on Caring for Sex-Trafficked Persons.

Background: Sex trafficking of persons, a pervasive public health issue disproportionately affecting the most marginalized within society, often leads to health as well as social consequences. Social service provision to meet the resulting needs is critical, however, little is known about the current pandemic's impact on providers' capacity to deliver requisite care.

Method: To examine social service providers' perspectives of care provision for domestically sex-trafficked persons in Ontario, Canada, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 providers and analyzed these using Braun and Clarke's analytic framework.

Investigation of the "Surgical Cuts CO Laser Therapy Technique" to Treat Minor Burn Scar Contractures in Children.

Fractional carbon dioxide (CO) laser therapy has been shown to improve scar contractures following burns. However, the benefits of using other CO laser techniques to treat burn scar contractures are relatively unknown. This pilot study investigated a CO laser technique in which a series of perpendicular "surgical cuts" were created along the contracture.

Video-Based Educational Interventions for Patients With Chronic Illnesses: Systematic Review.

Background: With rising time constraints, health care professionals increasingly depend on technology to provide health advice and teach patients how to manage chronic disease. The effectiveness of video-based tools in improving knowledge, health behaviors, disease severity, and health care use for patients with major chronic illnesses is not well understood.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the current literature regarding the efficacy of video-based educational tools for patients in improving process and outcome measures across several chronic illnesses.

Microstructural and Microvascular Phenotype of Sarcomere Mutation Carriers and Overt Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), myocyte disarray and microvascular disease (MVD) have been implicated in adverse events, and recent evidence suggests that these may occur early. As novel therapy provides promise for disease modification, detection of phenotype development is an emerging priority. To evaluate their utility as early and disease-specific biomarkers, we measured myocardial microstructure and MVD in 3 HCM groups-overt, either genotype-positive (G+LVH+) or genotype-negative (G-LVH+), and subclinical (G+LVH-) HCM-exploring relationships with electrical changes and genetic substrate.

Enhancing the reliability and accuracy of AI-enabled diagnosis via complementarity-driven deferral to clinicians.

Predictive artificial intelligence (AI) systems based on deep learning have been shown to achieve expert-level identification of diseases in multiple medical imaging settings, but can make errors in cases accurately diagnosed by clinicians and vice versa. We developed Complementarity-Driven Deferral to Clinical Workflow (CoDoC), a system that can learn to decide between the opinion of a predictive AI model and a clinical workflow. CoDoC enhances accuracy relative to clinician-only or AI-only baselines in clinical workflows that screen for breast cancer or tuberculosis (TB).

Knowledge, attitudes, and perception of air pollution in Ireland.

Aim: Air pollution remains a major global public health challenge; and Ireland is no exception to the human health implications of exposure ambient air pollutants. Accurate and timely information can be critical to mitigate the harmful effects of air pollution. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes to poor air quality in Ireland to assist stakeholders in developing and implementing effective communication pieces and policies about the management of air pollution.

Large language models encode clinical knowledge.

Large language models (LLMs) have demonstrated impressive capabilities, but the bar for clinical applications is high. Attempts to assess the clinical knowledge of models typically rely on automated evaluations based on limited benchmarks. Here, to address these limitations, we present MultiMedQA, a benchmark combining six existing medical question answering datasets spanning professional medicine, research and consumer queries and a new dataset of medical questions searched online, HealthSearchQA.

Extra-mandibular Osteoradionecrosis after the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer.

Aims: Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a serious toxicity of head and neck radiotherapy. It predominantly affects the mandible. Extra-mandibular ORN is rare.

Clinical characteristics of functioning gonadotroph adenoma in women presenting with ovarian hyperstimulation: Audit of UK pituitary centres.

Objective: Functioning gonadotroph adenomas (FGAs) are rare pituitary tumours stimulating ovarian function with potential life-threatening consequences in women. However, a lack of aggregated clinical experience of FGAs impairs management in affected women. The aim of this study is to present the clinical course of FGA-induced ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) cases as identified by some of the largest UK pituitary endocrine tertiary centres with a view to increasing awareness and improving diagnosis and management of women with FGA.

The determinants of the nutritional quality of food provided to the homeless population: a mixed methods systematic review protocol.

Background: Studies assessing the nutritional quality of food provided to the homeless population show deficiencies in micronutrients and excess fat, sugar, and salt. The availability of cheap, energy-dense and nutrient-poor food has changed the profile of people living with homelessness from primarily underweight to obese in western countries. Many factors influence the nutritional quality of food provided to the homeless population such as budget and time constraints, food donations and limited equipment.

Impact of HIV on the Oral Microbiome of Children Living in Sub-Saharan Africa, Determined by Using an Gene Fragment Metataxonomic Approach.

Children living with HIV have a higher prevalence of oral diseases, including caries, but the mechanisms underlying this higher prevalence are not well understood. Here, we test the hypothesis that HIV infection is associated with a more cariogenic oral microbiome, characterized by an increase in bacteria involved in the pathogenesis of caries. We present data generated from supragingival plaques collected from 484 children representing three exposure groups: (i) children living with HIV (HI), (ii) children who were perinatally exposed but uninfected (HEU), and (iii) unexposed and therefore uninfected children (HUU).

Hemodynamics of thrombus formation in intracranial aneurysms: An observational study.

How prevalent is spontaneous thrombosis in a population containing all sizes of intracranial aneurysms? How can we calibrate computational models of thrombosis based on published data? How does spontaneous thrombosis differ in normo- and hypertensive subjects? We address the first question through a thorough analysis of published datasets that provide spontaneous thrombosis rates across different aneurysm characteristics. This analysis provides data for a subgroup of the general population of aneurysms, namely, those of large and giant size (>10 mm). Based on these observed spontaneous thrombosis rates, our computational modeling platform enables the first observational study of spontaneous thrombosis prevalence across a broader set of aneurysm phenotypes.

The pervasive and unyielding impacts of cognitive-communication changes following traumatic brain injury.

Background: Cognitive-communication disorders (CCDs) are common in the traumatic brain injury (TBI) population. Despite this, there has been limited research that explores the long-term impacts of reduced cognitive-communication functioning on daily life for this population.

Aims: To identify the long-term impacts of cognitive-communication impairment as reported by adults with TBI and their significant others.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Young Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction Without Standard Modifiable Risk Factors.

Patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with no standard modifiable risk factors (SMuRFs: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking) have worse short-term mortality than those with SMuRFs. Whether this association extends to younger patients is unclear. A retrospective cohort study was performed of patients aged 18 to 45 years with STEMI at 3 Australian hospitals between 2010 and 2020.

Individual Assessment of Perioperative Brain Growth Trajectories in Infants With Congenital Heart Disease: Correlation With Clinical and Surgical Risk Factors.

Background Infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk of neurodevelopmental impairments, which may be associated with impaired brain growth. We characterized how perioperative brain growth in infants with CHD deviates from typical trajectories and assessed the relationship between individualized perioperative brain growth and clinical risk factors. Methods and Results A total of 36 infants with CHD underwent preoperative and postoperative brain magnetic resonance imaging.

Invasive wild deer exhibit environmental niche shifts in Australia: Where to from here?

Invasive species have established populations around the world and, in the process, characteristics of their realized environmental niches have changed. Because of their popularity as a source of game, deer have been introduced to, and become invasive in, many different environments around the world. As such, deer should provide a good model system in which to test environmental niche shifts.

Efficacy, Safety, and Cost-effectiveness of Bezlotoxumab in Preventing Recurrent Clostridioides difficile Infection : Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Introduction: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) remains a global health challenge. Bezlotoxumab (BEZ) is a monoclonal antibody against C. difficile toxin B.

Addressing the sustainability challenges for polymers in liquid formulations.

Polymers in liquid formulations, or PLFs, are present in many of the products we use, from the shampoo we use to wash our hair, to the paint on the walls, and the lubricants in our car. They provide high functionality in these and a multitude of other applications, delivering many positive benefits to society. They are essential to global markets worth more than $1 trillion and so large quantities of these materials are made and sold each year - 36.

Role of Adjuvant Radiotherapy in Acinic Cell Carcinoma of the Salivary Glands: A Systematic Review.

A systematic review was carried out to evaluate if adjuvant radiotherapy for acinic cell carcinomas (ACCs) of salivary glands improves survival. Twelve retrospective studies published between 2000 and 2020 that analysed the effect of radiotherapy on salivary gland neoplasms and ACCs of salivary glands and met the inclusion criteria were included in the review. The overall quality of the studies was moderate to low.

Deep-learning-enabled brain hemodynamic mapping using resting-state fMRI.

Cerebrovascular disease is a leading cause of death globally. Prevention and early intervention are known to be the most effective forms of its management. Non-invasive imaging methods hold great promises for early stratification, but at present lack the sensitivity for personalized prognosis.

Geriatric assessment prior to cancer treatment: A health economic evaluation.

Introduction: To address uncertainty regarding the cost-effectiveness of implementing geriatric assessment (GA) in oncology practice, we undertook a synthetic, model-based economic evaluation.

Materials And Methods: A decision-analytic model with embedded Markov chains was developed to simulate a cost-effectiveness analysis of implementing GA within standard oncological care compared to current practice. This was for patients aged 77 years (the mean age in included trials) receiving chemotherapy or surgery as first-line treatment.