Common lipidomic signatures across distinct acute brain injuries in patient outcome prediction.

Lipidomic alterations have been associated with various neurological diseases. Examining temporal changes in serum lipidomic profiles, irrespective of injury type, reveals promising prognostic indicators. In this longitudinal prospective observational study, serum samples were collected early (46 ± 24 h) and late (142 ± 52 h) post-injury from 70 patients with ischemic stroke, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, and traumatic brain injury that had outcomes dichotomized as favorable (modified Rankin Scores (mRS) 0-3) and unfavorable (mRS 4-6) three months post-injury.

Prioritising domains of glucocorticoid therapy to measure in trials: Results from a modified delphi exercise from the OMERACT glucocorticoid impact working group.

Introduction: There is no consensus amongst patients and healthcare professionals about how to measure important adverse effects of glucocorticoids (GCs) that includes the patient's perspective. The OMERACT GC Impact working group sought to identify the domains of greatest importance to both patients and healthcare professionals for use in a proposed core outcome set.

Methods: Patients and healthcare professionals participated in a Delphi consensus exercise to rate the importance of previously identified candidate domains.

Soluble Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor and Inflammatory Biomarker Response with Prognostic Significance after Acute Neuronal Injury - a Prospective Cohort Study.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), ischemic stroke (IS), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) are severe conditions impacting individuals and society. Identifying reliable prognostic biomarkers for predicting survival or recovery remains a challenge. Soluble urokinase type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) has gained attention as a potential prognostic biomarker in acute sepsis.

Brain plasticity and neuroinflammatory protein biomarkers with circulating MicroRNAs as predictors of acute brain injury outcome - A prospective cohort study.

Background: Brain recovery mechanisms after injuries like aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), ischemic stroke (IS), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) involve brain plasticity, synaptic regeneration, and neuroinflammation. We hypothesized that serum levels of the p75 neurotrophic receptor (p75NTR) and associated signaling proteins, as well as differentially expressed (DE) microRNAs, could predict recovery outcomes irrespective of injury type.

Methods: A prospective patient cohort with ischemic stroke (IS, n = 30), aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH, n = 31), and traumatic brain injury (TBI, n = 13) were evaluated (total n = 74).

Brain Plasticity Modulator p75 Neurotrophin Receptor in Human Urine after Different Acute Brain Injuries-A Prospective Cohort Study.

Acute brain injuries (ABIs) pose a substantial global burden, demanding effective prognostic indicators for outcomes. This study explores the potential of urinary p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) concentration as a prognostic biomarker, particularly in relation to unfavorable outcomes. The study involved 46 ABI patients, comprising sub-cohorts of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, ischemic stroke, and traumatic brain injury.

Consensus of the definitions of the OMERACT glucocorticoid impact core domain set for people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.

Background: The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Glucocorticoid (GC) Impact Working Group has been working to develop a core domain set to measure the impact of GCs on patients living with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. The mandatory domains previously identified for inclusion in all clinical trials measuring the GC effects include infection, bone fragility, mood disturbance, hypertension, diabetes, weight, fatigue, and mortality. Before progressing to instrument selection, the Working Group sought to establish precise definitions of all mandatory domains within the core domain set.

Outcome and survival of surgically treated acute subdural hematomas and postcraniotomy hematomas - A retrospective cohort study.

Background: The morbidity and mortality of acute subdural hematoma (aSDH) remains high. Several factors have been reported to affect the outcome and survival of these patients. In this study, we explored factors potentially associated with the outcome and survival of surgically treated acute subdural hematoma (aSDH), including postcraniotomy hematomas (PCHs).

Benefits of deprescribing for older people with frailty and polypharmacy: part two.

Polypharmacy is a significant issue for many older people, including those with frailty, and it is associated with a range of adverse effects. Therefore, it is important to address polypharmacy by optimising patients' medicines use. Medication reviews are one of the main approaches to medicines optimisation, and various tools are available to support healthcare professionals with conducting these.

Benefits of deprescribing for older people with frailty and polypharmacy: part one.

The UK population is ageing rapidly, a trend that is likely to continue due to improvements in chronic disease management and increased life expectancy. Comorbidities, including frailty, become increasingly common with age and as a result it is likely that multiple medicines will be prescribed for older people, leading to polypharmacy. This is a concern because polypharmacy is associated with various adverse effects and an increased medicine burden in this population, as well as a financial burden for the healthcare system.

Incidence of biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis (GCA) in South Australia 2014-2020.

Objective: To determine the incidence of biopsy proven giant cell arteritis (GCA) in South Australia.

Methods: Patients with biopsy-proven GCA were identified from pathology reports of temporal artery biopsies at state-based pathology laboratories, from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020. Incidence rates for biopsy-proven GCA were calculated using Australian Bureau of Statistics data for South Australian population sizes by age, sex, and calendar year.

Clinical phenotype and complications of large vessel giant cell arteritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) is a heterogenous systemic granulomatous vasculitis involving the aorta and any of its major tributaries. Despite increased awareness of large vessel (LV) involvement, studies reporting incidence, clinical characteristics and complications of large-vessel GCA (LV-GCA) show conflicting results due to inconsistent disease definitions, differences in study methodologies and the broad spectrum of clinical presentations. The aim of this systematic literature review was to better define LV-GCA based on the available literature and identify distinguishing characteristics that may differentiate LV-GCA patients from those with limited cranial disease.

Measuring the impact of steroid therapy on health-related quality of life in patients with rheumatic diseases: international development of a glucocorticoid treatment-specific patient-reported outcome measure.

Objectives: Glucocorticoids (GCs) ('steroids') are used to treat rheumatic diseases but adverse effects are common. We aimed to explore the impact of GC therapy on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), to inform the development of a treatment-specific patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for use in clinical trials and practice.

Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with patients from the UK, USA and Australia, treated for a rheumatic condition with GCs in the last 2 years.

Diagnosis of giant cell arteritis by temporal artery biopsy is associated with biopsy length.

Aims: Temporal artery biopsy (TAB) is a widely used method for establishing a diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA). The optimal TAB length for accurate histological GCA diagnosis has been suggested as 15 mm post-fixation (15-20 mm pre-fixation). The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between a histological GCA diagnosis and optimal TAB length in the South Australian (SA) population.

Giant cell arteritis: A population-based retrospective cohort study exploring incidence and clinical presentation in Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Background/aim: To determine the epidemiology and clinical features of giant cell arteritis (GCA) in Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand, with a particular focus on extra-cranial large vessel disease.

Methods: Patients with GCA were identified from radiology and pathology reports, outpatient letters and inpatient hospital admissions in the Canterbury New Zealand from 1 June 2011 to 31 May 2016. Data was collected retrospectively based on review of electronic medical records.

Genicular Nerve Block for Pain Management in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of ultrasound-guided genicular nerve block (GNB) for the management of knee pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: We performed a 12-week parallel-group, placebo-controlled randomized trial of GNB. Within 2 weeks of randomization, patients with knee osteoarthritis in the active arm received 3 injections of 5.

Living with a frozen shoulder - a phenomenological inquiry.

Background: Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is an inflammatory condition affecting the capsule of the glenohumeral joint. It is characterised by a painful restricted range of passive and active movement in all planes of motion. The impact of frozen shoulder on affected individuals remains poorly characterised.

Towards a comprehensive understanding of p75 neurotrophin receptor functions and interactions in the brain.

The role of neurotrophins in neuronal plasticity has recently become a strong focus in neuroregeneration research field to elucidate the biological mechanisms by which these molecules modulate synapses, modify the response to injury, and alter the adaptation response. Intriguingly, the prior studies highlight the role of p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75) in various injuries and diseases such as central nervous system injuries, Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. More comprehensive elucidation of the mechanisms, and therapies targeting these molecular signaling networks may allow for neuronal tissue regeneration following an injury.

Improving benefit-harm assessment of glucocorticoid therapy incorporating the patient perspective: The OMERACT glucocorticoid core domain set.

Objective: Our primary objective was to develop an Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) core domain set to capture the impact of glucocorticoids (GC), both positive and negative, on patients with Rheumatic conditions.

Methods: The OMERACT Filter 2.1 was used to guide core domain selection.

Perfusion and permeability as diagnostic biomarkers of cavernous angioma with symptomatic hemorrhage.

Cavernous angiomas with symptomatic hemorrhage (CASH) have a high risk of rebleeding, and hence an accurate diagnosis is needed. With blood flow and vascular leak as established mechanisms, we analyzed perfusion and permeability derivations of dynamic contrast-enhanced quantitative perfusion (DCEQP) MRI in 745 lesions of 205 consecutive patients. Thirteen respective derivations of lesional perfusion and permeability were compared between lesions that bled within a year prior to imaging (N = 86), versus non-CASH (N = 659) using machine learning and univariate analyses.

An Alternative Pipeline for Glioblastoma Therapeutics: A Systematic Review of Drug Repurposing in Glioblastoma.

The treatment of glioblastoma (GBM) remains a significant challenge, with outcome for most pa-tients remaining poor. Although novel therapies have been developed, several obstacles restrict the incentive of drug developers to continue these efforts including the exorbitant cost, high failure rate and relatively small patient population. Repositioning drugs that have well-characterized mechanistic and safety profiles is an attractive alternative for drug development in GBM.

Benefits of medicines optimisation for older people living with frailty.

Medicines optimisation involves ensuring that medicines are administered safely and effectively. In the UK, an ageing population and an increasing prevalence of polypharmacy mean that interprofessional medicines reviews and medicines optimisation are vital. This article uses a case study of an older person living with frailty to provide a critical analysis of the medicines optimisation process in optimising health outcomes.

Intracerebral Hemorrhage Volume Reduction and Timing of Intervention Versus Functional Benefit and Survival in the MISTIE III and STICH Trials.

Background: The extent of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) removal conferred survival and functional benefits in the minimally invasive surgery with thrombolysis in intracerebral hemorrhage evacuation (MISTIE) III trial. It is unclear whether this similarly impacts outcome with craniotomy (open surgery) or whether timing from ictus to intervention influences outcome with either procedure.

Objective: To compare volume evacuation and timing of surgery in relation to outcomes in the MISTIE III and STICH (Surgical Trial in Intracerebral Hemorrhage) trials.

Thrombolysis for Evacuation of Intracerebral and Intraventricular Hemorrhage: A Guide to Surgical Protocols With Practical Lessons Learned From the MISTIE and CLEAR Trials.

Background: Minimally Invasive Surgery Plus Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Intracerebral Hemorrhage Evacuation (MISTIE) procedure was recently tested in a large phase III randomized trial showing a significant probability of functional benefit in those cases that reached the goal hematoma evacuation of ≤15 mL residual (or ≥70% removal). Benefit of thrombolysis was also identified in cases with large intraventricular hemorrhage, and achieving at least 85% volume reduction in the Evaluating Accelerated Resolution of Intraventricular Hemorrhage (CLEAR) III trial.

Objective: To protocolize steps in the MISTIE and CLEAR procedures in order to maximize hematoma evacuation and minimize complications.

Not really a smoker? A study on the prevalence of and attitudes to occasional social smoking in a third level institution in Ireland.

Background: Occasional smoking is defined as any smoking occurring on a less than daily basis. Social smoking, i.e.