Efficacy and Safety of a Desensitization Treatment With Rituximab and Immunoglobulin in Hyperimmunized Patients Awaiting a Cadaveric Kidney Transplantation.

Background: Patients on a kidney transplant waiting list with antibodies against more than 80% of a panel reactive antibody (PRA) are difficult to transplant, even with national or regional programs. Desensitization treatment with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin and rituximab could be offered to patients with a long waiting time for a cadaveric donor to improve their odds of finding a kidney.

Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center study including all hyperimmunized patients on the waiting list for a cadaveric kidney donor who received a desensitization treatment between 2010 and 2020.

Awake Craniotomy for Eloquent Brain Arteriovenous Malformations: A Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis.

Background: Arteriovenous Malformations (AVMs) pose a risk of neurologic deterioration, particularly when located in eloquent areas. While awake surgery is well-established for treating low-grade gliomas near eloquent areas, its efficacy for AVMs is less conclusively reported.

Methods: This study conducted a systematic review and individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis following Cochrane Collaboration and PRISMA guidelines.

Experience of individuals with lung and gastrointestinal cancers undergoing radiation therapy: a qualitative study.

Purpose: Lung cancer remains one of the most diagnosed cancers in Canada and continues to be the leading cause of cancer deaths in Canada, responsible for 25% of all cancer deaths. Prior studies consistently report poor experiences of people with lung cancers. The study purpose was to explore the reasons for consistently poorer reported experience of people with lung cancer compared to people with gastrointestinal cancers, who previously have reported positive cancer care experiences within the same context, and to better understand key differences that influence patient experience.

Color Doppler Ultrasonographic Examination of Ovarian Grafts in Goats.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of color Doppler ultrasonography for examination of the blood flow areas in superficial grafts after 7 or 15 days of heterotopic allotransplantation, comparing an in-ear subcutaneous area (IE) with an in-neck cervical intramuscular area (IN) in goats. To monitor the local blood flow in the graft areas, color Doppler signals were assessed daily until days seven and fifteen, when the left and right implants, respectively, were removed. The areas of blood flow around the transplanted ovarian fragments were significantly larger ( < 0.

Correction: Comparison between intra-articular ozone and placebo in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Patient Experiences With Hospitalization Due to Diabetes in Alberta, Canada: A Cohort Study Using Survey and Administrative Data.

Objectives: Individuals living with diabetes are often hospitalized. Despite this, little is known about their experiences with hospital care. In this study we examined the comprehensive experiences of patients hospitalized due to diabetes in Alberta, Canada, and compared them with those of patients hospitalized for other chronic conditions.

Relational and functional aspects of safety for patients and caregivers in intensive care: scoping review.

Objective: To analyze the relational and functional aspects of patient safety through the experiences reported by the patients themselves and/or their caregivers in intensive care units.

Method: Scoping review developed with searches, in September 2021 and updated in November 2022, in the following databases: Virtual Health Library, considering only the LILACS, BDENF, IBECS, ColecionaSUS databases; SCIELO, PsycINFO, EMBASE, COCHRANE, CINAHL, SCOPUS and Web of Science.

Results: The final selection included 14 articles highlighting communication as an essential relational factor for care safety.

Educating patients about patient-reported outcomes-are we there yet?

Background: Using Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) in clinical settings can improve patient outcomes by enhancing communication between patient and provider. There has been significant improvements in the development of PROMs, their implementation in routine patient clinical care, training physicians and other healthcare providers to interpret the PROMs results to identify any issues reported by the patient, and to use the PROMs results to provide or modify the treatment.

Main Body: Despite the increased use of PROMs, the lack of PROM completion by patients is a major concern in the optimal use of PROMs.

Bilateral decompressive craniectomy as a damage control strategy for a preschooler multilobar bihemispheric firearm injury: a case report and systematic review.

The absence of guidelines for managing gunshot wounds to the head (GSWH) with bihemispheric lesions in pediatric patients highlights the need for prompt and diverse damage control strategies. This article aims to systematically evaluate the evidence surrounding the management of GSWH in preschoolers and to report a novel approach. We present a case of a 4-year-old girl who sustained a gunshot wound to the left parietal region.

Intraperitoneal Administration of 17-DMAG as an Effective Treatment against Infection in BALB/c Mice: A Preclinical Study.

Background: Leishmaniasis is a significant global public health issue that is caused by parasites from genus. With limited treatment options and rising drug resistance, there is a pressing need for new therapeutic approaches. Molecular chaperones, particularly Hsp90, play a crucial role in parasite biology and are emerging as promising targets for drug development.

APPROACH e-PROM system: a user-centered development and evaluation of an electronic patient-reported outcomes measurement system for management of coronary artery disease.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) confers increased risks of premature mortality, non-fatal morbidity, and significant impairment in functional status and health-related quality of life. Routine administration of electronic patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and its real time delivery to care providers is known to have the potential to inform routine cardiac care and to improve quality of care and patient outcomes. This study describes a user-centered development and evaluation of the Alberta Provincial Project for Outcomes Assessment (APPROACH) electronic Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement (e-PROM) system.

A systematic review of exergame usability as home-based balance training tool for older adults usability of exergames as home-based balance training.

Background: Exergames are a fun, viable, attractive, and safe way to engage in physical exercise for most patient populations, including older adults. Their use in the home environment enables an expanded understanding about its applicability and its impact on clinical outcomes that can contribute to improved functionality and quality of life in this population. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the evidence on the usability of exergames as a tool for home-based balance training in older adults.

Perspectives of parents with lived experience of cytomegalovirus infection, on universal newborn screening for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) in Canada: a patient-led qualitative study.

Objective: To understand parental perspectives regarding universal newborn screening (UNS) for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) in Canada.

Design: A qualitative, patient-led study using the Patient and Community Engagement Research approach consisting of online focus groups and in-depth individual interviews to understand parental preferences regarding UNS for cCMV. Data were analysed iteratively using inductive thematic analysis and narrative story analysis.

Enhancing informed consent through multimedia tools in pediatric spinal surgery: a comprehensive review.

Pediatric spine surgery is a high complexity procedure that can carry risks ranging from pain to neurological damage, and even death. This comprehensive mini review explores current best practice obtaining valid and meaningful informed consent (IC) prior to pediatric spinal surgery, including modalities that support effective comprehension and understanding. An evaluation of the literature was performed to explore understanding of surgical IC by patients or their guardians and the role of multimedia tools as a possible facilitator.

A protocol for the formative evaluation of the implementation of patient-reported outcome measures in child and adolescent mental health services as part of a learning health system.

Background: Mental health conditions affect one in seven young people and research suggests that current mental health services are not meeting the needs of most children and youth. Learning health systems are an approach to enhancing services through rapid, routinized cycles of continuous learning and improvement. Patient-reported outcome measures provide a key data source for learning health systems.

Predictive genetic panel for adult asthma using machine learning methods.

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that is heterogeneous and multifactorial, making its accurate characterization a complex process. Therefore, identifying the genetic variations associated with asthma and discovering the molecular interactions between the omics that confer risk of developing this disease will help us to unravel the biological pathways involved in its pathogenesis.

Objective: We sought to develop a predictive genetic panel for asthma using machine learning methods.

Measuring the Impact of Patient Engagement in Health Research: An Exploratory Study Using Multiple Survey Tools.

Background: Studies report various ways in which patients are involved in research design and conduct. Limited studies explore the influence of patient engagement (PE) at each research stage in qualitative research from the perspectives of all stakeholders.

Methods: We established two small research groups, a Patient Researcher-Led Group and an Academic Researcher-Led Group.

Studying How Patient Engagement Influences Research: A Mixed Methods Study.

Background: There is evidence supporting the value of patient engagement (PE) in research to patients and researchers. However, there is little research evidence on the influence of PE throughout the entire research process as well as the outcomes of research engagement. The purpose of our study is to add to this evidence.

An exploration of COVID-19 vaccination models for newcomer refugees and immigrants in Calgary, Canada.

Background: The World Health Organization stresses the need for tailored COVID-19 models of vaccination to meet the needs of diverse populations and ultimately reach high rates of vaccination. However, little evidence exists on how COVID-19 models of vaccination operated in the novel context of the pandemic, how vulnerable populations, such as refugees, experience COVID-19 vaccination systems in high-income countries, and what lessons may be learned from vaccination efforts with vulnerable populations. To address this gap, this study explored COVID-19 vaccine delivery models available to newcomer refugees and immigrants, and refugee experiences across different COVID-19 vaccine delivery models in Calgary, Canada, and surrounding area in 2021 and 2022, to understand the barriers, strengths, and strategies of models to support access to COVID-19 vaccination for newcomer refugees and immigrants.

A scoping review of decision-making tools to support substitute decision-makers for adults with impaired capacity.

Background: Substitute decision-makers (SDMs) make decisions that honor medical, personal, and end-of-life wishes for older adults who have lost capacity, including those with dementia. However, SDMs often lack support, information, and problem-solving tools required to make decisions and can suffer with negative emotional, relationship, and financial impacts. The need for adaptable supports has been identified in prior meta-analyses.

COVID-19 Vaccinations, Trust, and Vaccination Decisions within the Refugee Community of Calgary, Canada.

Refugee decisions to vaccinate for COVID-19 are a complex interplay of factors which include individual perceptions, access barriers, trust, and COVID-19 specific factors, which contribute to lower vaccine uptake. To address this, the WHO calls for localized solutions to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake for refugees and evidence to inform future vaccination efforts. However, limited evidence engages directly with refugees about their experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations.

The role of IL10 and IL17 gene polymorphisms in treatment response in children and adolescents with severe asthma.

Objective: To determine whether polymorphisms of the IL10 and IL17 genes are associated with severe asthma control and bronchodilator reversibility in children and adolescents with severe asthma.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, nested within a prospective cohort study of patients with severe asthma. Two outcomes were evaluated: asthma control and bronchodilator reversibility.