Expert views on screening for tuberculosis infection in patients commencing treatment with a biologic agent.

Objective: Many biologic agents cause some degree of immunosuppression, which can increase the risk of reactivation of tuberculosis infection (TBI). This risk is variable between individual biologics. We aimed to assess current (and recommended) clinical practice of TBI screening and treatment among patients initiating treatment with biologic agents.

Bibliometric Indices As Indicators of Research Output: Analyzing Anesthesiologists as a Paradigm for Surgical Disciplines.

Anesthesiology is one of the increasingly competitive surgical specialties with a growing emphasis on scholarly activity. A metric of productivity and citation influence, the Hirsch index (h-index), can help identify mentors capable of guiding postgraduate trainees toward successful academic achievements. This study sought to determine associations between h-indices or m-quotients and manuscript publication in anesthesiology.

An overview of local anesthetics in over-the-counter products.

Over-the-counter (OTC) local anesthetics have historically been used to alleviate pain in several common conditions including toothache and sore throat. With a rise in chronic conditions and an aging population, there has been an increase in associated chronic pain-related disorders. Individuals with chronic pain often seek OTC treatments for quick and accessible pain relief.

Cocaine and Ischemic or Hemorrhagic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Evidence.

Cocaine consumption has increased over the last decade. The potent sympathomimetic effects of the drug can lead to serious neurovascular complications in the form of ischemic stroke (IS), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). This systematic review and meta-analysis were designed to describe the clinical features and outcomes of patients suffering from IS, ICH, or SAH occurring in the context of cocaine use.

Targeted Temperature Management After Cardiac Arrest in COVID-19 Patients.

There is a paucity of evidence regarding the utility of targeted temperature management (TTM) in COVID-19 patients who suffer cardiac arrest. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to use the available data of how temperature predicts outcomes in COVID-19 patients and the association between active cooling and outcomes in non-COVID-19 cardiac arrest patients to give recommendations for the utility of TTM in COVID-19 survivors of cardiac arrest. The PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were queried in August 2022 for two separate searches: (1) temperature as a predictor of clinical outcomes in COVID-19 and (2) active cooling after return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in non-COVID-19.

Predicting leptomeningeal disease spread after resection of brain metastases using machine learning.

Objective: The incidence of leptomeningeal disease (LMD) has increased as treatments for brain metastases (BMs) have improved and patients with metastatic disease are living longer. Sample sizes of individual studies investigating LMD after surgery for BMs and its risk factors have been limited, ranging from 200 to 400 patients at risk for LMD, which only allows the use of conventional biostatistics. Here, the authors used machine learning techniques to enhance LMD prediction in a cohort of surgically treated BMs.

Complications and cosmetic outcomes of materials used in cranioplasty following decompressive craniectomy-a systematic review, pairwise meta-analysis, and network meta-analysis.

Background: Optimal reconstruction materials for cranioplasty following decompressive craniectomy (DC) remain unclear. This systematic review, pairwise meta-analysis, and network meta-analysis compares cosmetic outcomes and complications of autologous bone grafts and alloplasts used for cranioplasty following DC.

Method: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane were searched from inception until April 2021.

Statins and Gliomas: A Systematic Review of the Preclinical Studies and Meta-Analysis of the Clinical Literature.

Background: Gliomas represent most common primary brain tumors. Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common subtype and carries a poor prognosis. There is growing interest in the anti-glioma properties of statins.

Aura Type and Outcome After Anterior Temporal Lobectomy.

Objective: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is one of the most common causes of medically refractory focal epilepsy. Anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) leads to improved seizure control in patients with medically refractory TLE. Various auras are associated with TLE; however, the relationships between aura type and outcome after ATL are poorly understood.

Multiwall and bamboo-like carbon nanotubes from the Allende chondrite: A probable source of asymmetry.

This study presents multiwall and bamboo-like carbon nanotubes found in samples from the Allende carbonaceous chondrite using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). A highly disordered lattice observed in this material suggests the presence of chiral domains in it. Our results also show amorphous and poorly-graphitized carbon, nanodiamonds, and onion-like fullerenes.

Munc13 proteins control regulated exocytosis in mast cells.

Mast cells (MCs) are involved in host defenses against pathogens and inflammation. Stimulated MCs release substances stored in their granules via regulated exocytosis. In other cell types, Munc13 (mammalian homolog of uncoordinated gene 13) proteins play essential roles in regulated exocytosis.

[Injuries from external causes in minors (less than 18 years of age) and adults at a hospital in Colombia].

Objectives: To define and compare the types of injuries from external causes in patients more than and less than 18 years of age treated by the Mario Correa Rengifo Hospital.

Methods: An analysis was conducted of data retrieved from the Sistema de Vigilancia de Lesiones de Causa Externa (Surveillance System for Injuries from External Causes) maintained by the Mario Correa Rengifo Hospital in Cali, Colombia, to compare minors (less than 18 years of age) with adults during January 2004-December 2007.

Results: A total of 4 507 minors were seen, most of whom (69.

Synthesis and characterization of RuS2 nanostructures.

Small naked ruthenium sulfide nanoparticles (NPs) with narrow size distribution (2.5 +/- 0.4 nm of diameter) were synthesized in DMSO colloidal dispersions, under mild reaction conditions and using commercial RuCl3 as precursor.