A study to identify individuals at risk to be affected by late-onset Pompe disease who had previously been given a non-specific or tentative diagnosis for their muscle weakness (Pompe PURSUE).

Background: Late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder that results in severe progressive proximal muscle weakness. Over time, reductions in muscle strength result in respiratory failure and a loss of ambulation. Delayed diagnosis of LOPD deprives patients of treatments that can enhance quality of life and potentially slow disease progression.

Vascular access: Femoral, radial and large-bore alternative access.

Vascular access for coronary, peripheral, and structural interventions has changed significantly over the past two decades. The evolving demand for both large-bore access for valvular interventions and mechanical support devices, and for safer access for coronary interventions, in patients with comorbidities have driven progress in these areas. This review will provide an overview of the techniques of arterial access in the femoral, forearm (radial and ulnar), and alternative (transcarotid, transaxillary, and transcaval) locations based on the latest evidence and experience.

Effectiveness of conversion surgery in stage IV gastric cancer.

Background: For patients with stage IV gastric cancer (GC), systemic therapy is often the standard treatment, but the prognosis remains poor. Conversion surgery (CS) has emerged as a potential therapeutic option for selected patients who had certain response to chemotherapy. This study aims to compare the survival outcomes of CS versus continued chemotherapy (CT) in stage IV GC.

Arrhythmogenic atrial remodeling during pregnancy in mice.

Background: Pregnancy is associated with greater vulnerability to supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Objective: As the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated, we investigated whether pregnancy induces atrial remodeling that might contribute to this.

Methods: Atrial electrophysiological and contractile properties were examined in nonpregnant and pregnant (P) mice.

Effects of Organic Substrate Amendments on Selected Organic Fractions and Biochemical Parameters under Different Soils.

The application of organic substrates can affect soil respiration, dehydrogenase (DH-ase) activity, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and humic acid (HA) fractions. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of five organic substrates in the organic fractions of degraded alluvial soil, acid sulfate soil, and sandy soils and the physicochemical properties of the soil. Soil samples were amended at a rate of 5 tons ha with (1) water hyacinth compost, (2) sugarcane filter cake compost, (3) biogas sludge-rice straw compost, (4) vermicompost, and (5) sludge.

Cardiac automaticity is modulated by IKACh in sinoatrial node during pregnancy.

Aims: Pregnant (P) women have a significantly elevated resting heart rate (HR), which makes cardiac arrhythmias more likely to occur. Although electrical remodelling of the sinoatrial node (SAN) has been documented, the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. The acetylcholine-activated potassium current (IKACh), one of the major repolarizing currents in the SAN, plays a critical role in HR control by hyperpolarizing the maximal diastolic potential (MDP) of the SAN action potential (AP), thereby reducing SAN automaticity and HR.

Risk factors of postoperative complications and their effect on survival after laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer.

Background: The association between postoperative complications and long-term survival after laparoscopic gastrectomy (LG) for gastric cancer (GC) remains uncertain. This study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors of postoperative complications and evaluate their impact on survival outcomes in patients undergoing LG.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 621 patients who underwent LG for gastric adenocarcinoma between March 2015 and December 2021.

Is artificial intelligence useful in the practice of geriatric dermatology?

Geriatric dermatology has gained increasing importance through the years, alongside a steadily aging global population. Simultaneously, artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have become more advanced, and AI has been found to be useful in the general practice of dermatology. Whether or not and how AI can be useful in the practice of geriatric dermatology remains unanswered.

Laparoscopic versus open total gastrectomy for T4a gastric cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis of long-term outcomes.

Evidence of implementation of laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) for surgical T4a stage (sT4a) gastric cancer (GC) remains inadequate. This study aimed to compare short- and long-term outcomes of LTG versus open total gastrectomy (OTG) for sT4a GC. This retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from patients with sT4a GC underwent total gastrectomy from 2014 to 2020.

Development and validation of the Dermatology Social Comparison (DSC) Scale.

Background: Social comparison, the process of evaluating one's characteristics in relation to others, influences individuals' self-perception and behavior. However, instruments are scarce for assessing social comparison in the medical setting.

Objectives: Our aim was to develop and validate a new scale for assessing social comparison.

Role of indocyanine green fluorescence imaging for evaluating blood supply in the gastric conduit via the substernal route after McKeown minimally invasive esophagectomy.

Background: Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a determining factor of morbidity and mortality after esophagectomy. Adequate perfusion of the gastric conduit is crucial for AL prevention. This study aimed to determine whether intraoperative angiography using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence improves the incidence of AL after McKeown minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) with gastric conduit via the substernal route (SR).

Billroth-II modified with hinged anti-peristaltic afferent loop versus Roux-en-Y reconstruction after distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer: A propensity-score match analysis.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of modified Billroth-II with a hinged anti-peristaltic afferent loop by comparing it with the Roux-en-Y method.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 344 patients with gastric cancer who underwent distal gastrectomy between 2016 and 2021. Propensity score matching was conducted to balance baseline characteristics.

How do people with chronic low back pain perceive specific and general exercise? A mixed methods survey.

Purpose: Exercise prescriptions for chronic low back pain (CLBP) often utilize reductionistic, trunk-focused exercise aimed at addressing proposed pain mechanisms. It is unknown if the use of these trunk-focused exercises imply beliefs to people with CLBP about the rationale for their use (e.g.

Comparison of substernal and posterior mediastinal route of reconstruction after minimally invasive esophagectomy for esophageal cancer.

Background: Substernal (ST) and posterior mediastinal (PM) routes are the two most common for reconstruction after esophagectomy with cervical anastomosis. Recent evidence showed similar outcomes between the routes; thus, the superior choice remained controversial. This study aimed to compare the short-term outcomes of the ST to the PM route for reconstruction after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer (EC).

A recurrent de novo MAX p.Arg60Gln variant causes a syndromic overgrowth disorder through differential expression of c-Myc target genes.

Cyclin D2 (CCND2) stabilization underpins a range of macrocephaly-associated disorders through mutation of CCND2 or activating mutations in upstream genes encoding PI3K-AKT pathway components. Here, we describe three individuals with overlapping macrocephaly-associated phenotypes who carry the same recurrent de novo c.179G>A (p.

Stomach-partitioning versus conventional gastrojejunostomy for unresectable gastric cancer with gastric outlet obstruction: A propensity score matched cohort study.

Background: Stomach partitioning gastrojejunostomy (SPGJ) was introduced to deal with delayed gastric emptying (DGE). This study aimed to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of SPGJ versus conventional gastrojejunostomy (CGJ).

Method: This cohort study analyzed 108 patients who underwent gastrojejunostomy for unresectable gastric cancer: 70 patients underwent SPGJ, and 38 patients underwent CGJ between 2018 and 2022.

Dermatology and the visual arts: More than meets the eye.

Dermatology, as a discipline that deals with the physical manifestation of disease on the skin, is heavily reliant on visual representation, both in historic and contemporary practice. This presentation provides a window through which we may visualize the interplay between dermatology and the visual arts.

Dermatologists' Perceptions of the Use of Teledermatology in Managing Hidradenitis Suppurativa: Survey Study.

Background: The field of teledermatology has expanded tremendously and has been used for conditions including hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). However, due to the sensitive location of lesions, HS may be considered less suitable for teledermatology.

Objective: We sought to assess dermatologists' experiences and perceptions toward using teledermatology for HS relative to atopic dermatitis (AD) as a comparison.