"It's like it's the old boys club"-the age-related experiences of diverse older women living with HIV: A scoping review and consultative exercise.

Objectives: HIV is often under-recognized in older individuals, particularly women, despite a significant number of new cases being diagnosed in those aged >50 years. This review aimed to understand the age-related experiences and challenges faced by women aged ≥50 years living with HIV through an intersectional perspective.

Methods: We conducted a systematic scoping review using the framework by Arksey and O'Malley, refined by Levac, Colquhoun, and Peters, and informed by a Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis Plus (SGBA+) approach.

Exploring the Perspectives of Older Adults Living With HIV on Virtual Care: Qualitative Study.

Background: As the population of individuals with HIV ages rapidly due to advancements in antiretroviral therapy, virtual care has become an increasingly vital component in managing their complex health needs. However, little is known about perceptions of virtual care among older adults living with HIV.

Objective: This study aimed to understand the perceptions of older adults living with HIV regarding virtual care.

Understanding the use of co-design methods for research involving older adults living with HIV: A scoping review protocol.

There is a growing population of adults aged 50 years or older living with HIV, facing unique challenges in care due to age, minority status, and stigma. Co-design methodologies, aligning with patient-centered care, have potential for informing interventions addressing the complex needs of older adults with HIV. Despite challenges, co-design has shown promise in empowering older individuals to actively participate in shaping their care experiences.

Long-Term Outcomes of Resynchronization-Defibrillation for Heart Failure.

Background: The Resynchronization-Defibrillation for Ambulatory Heart Failure Trial (RAFT) showed a greater benefit with respect to mortality at 5 years among patients who received cardiac-resynchronization therapy (CRT) than among those who received implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). However, the effect of CRT on long-term survival is not known.

Methods: We randomly assigned patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II or III heart failure, a left ventricular ejection fraction of 30% or less, and an intrinsic QRS duration of 120 msec or more (or a paced QRS duration of 200 msec or more) to receive either an ICD alone or a CRT defibrillator (CRT-D).

Validation of automated pipeline for the assessment of a motor speech disorder in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Background And Objective: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) frequently causes speech impairments, which can be valuable early indicators of decline. Automated acoustic assessment of speech in ALS is attractive, and there is a pressing need to validate such tools in line with best practices, including analytical and clinical validation. We hypothesized that data analysis using a novel speech assessment pipeline would correspond strongly to analyses performed using lab-standard practices and that acoustic features from the novel pipeline would correspond to clinical outcomes of interest in ALS.

Study protocol for IMPRoVE: a multicentre prospective observational cohort study of the incidence, impact and mechanisms of perioperative right ventricular dysfunction in non-cardiac surgery.

Introduction: Perioperative myocardial injury evidenced by elevated cardiac biomarkers (both natriuretic peptides and troponin) is common after major non-cardiac surgery. However, it is unclear if the rise in cardiac biomarkers represents global or more localised cardiac injury. We have previously shown isolated right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in patients following lung resection surgery, with no change in left ventricular (LV) function.

Experimental nest cooling reveals dramatic effects of heatwaves on reproduction in a Mediterranean bird of prey.

Future climatic scenarios forecast increases in average temperatures as well as in the frequency, duration, and intensity of extreme events, such as heatwaves. Whereas behavioral adjustments can buffer direct physiological and fitness costs of exposure to excessive temperature in wild animals, these may prove more difficult during specific life stages when vagility is reduced (e.g.

Speech timing and monosyllabic diadochokinesis measures in the assessment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Canadian French.

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to determine if speech and pause measures obtained using a passage reading task and timing measures from a monosyllabic diadochokinesis (DDK) task differ across speakers of Canadian French diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) presenting with and without bulbar symptoms, and healthy controls. The secondary objective was to determine if these measures can reflect the severity of bulbar symptoms.

Method: A total of 29 Canadian French speakers with ALS (classified as bulbar symptomatic [ = 14] or pre-symptomatic [ = 15]) and 17 age-matched healthy controls completed a passage reading task and a monosyllabic DDK task (/pa/ and /ta/), for up to three follow-up visits.

Analytical Validation of a Webcam-Based Assessment of Speech Kinematics: Digital Biomarker Evaluation following the V3 Framework.

Introduction: Kinematic analyses have recently revealed a strong potential to contribute to the assessment of neurological diseases. However, the validation of home-based kinematic assessments using consumer-grade video technology has yet to be performed. In line with best practices for digital biomarker development, we sought to validate webcam-based kinematic assessment against established, laboratory-based recording gold standards.

Recommendations for anatomical structures to identify on ultrasound for the performance of intermediate and advanced blocks in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia.

Recent recommendations describe a set of core anatomical structures to identify on ultrasound for the performance of basic blocks in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA). This project aimed to generate consensus recommendations for core structures to identify during the performance of intermediate and advanced blocks. An initial longlist of structures was refined by an international panel of key opinion leaders in UGRA over a three-round Delphi process.

Biomarkers of neuroprogression and late staging in bipolar disorder: A systematic review.

Background: Bipolar disorder may undertake a progressive course in a subset of patients, and research efforts have been made to understand the biological basis underlying this process. This systematic review examined the literature available on biological markers associated with illness progression in bipolar disorder.

Methods: Peer-reviewed articles were assessed using Embase, PsycINFO and PubMed, as well as from external sources.

Efficacy of parenteral formulations of desmopressin in the treatment of bleeding disorders: A systematic review.

Introduction: Desmopressin (DDAVP) is a proven therapy for bleeding disorders; however, the therapeutic efficacy of different parenteral formulations has never been systematically analyzed. This study investigated whether subcutaneous (SC) DDAVP provides equivalent hemostatic efficacy to intravenous (IV) desmopressin, particularly in patients with mild to moderate bleeding tendencies from hemophilia A (HA) or von Willebrand disease (vWD).

Materials And Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane, and CINAHL databases for observational studies and randomized controlled trials which compared the hemostatic efficacy of parenteral formulations of DDAVP in healthy patients and those with bleeding disorders.

Validating Automatic Diadochokinesis Analysis Methods Across Dysarthria Severity and Syllable Task in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Purpose: Oral diadochokinesis (DDK) is a standard dysarthria assessment task. To extract automatic and semi-automatic DDK measurements, numerous DDK analysis algorithms based on acoustic signal processing are available, including amplitude based, spectral based, and hybrid. However, these algorithms have been predominantly validated in individuals with no perceptible to mild dysarthria.

Impact of anaemia in oesophago-gastric cancer patients undergoing curative treatment by means of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery.

Background: The present study investigated factors associated with pre-neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), and pre-operative anaemia, and examined their impact on outcomes in patients with oesophago-gastric cancer treated with curative intent.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with oesophago-gastric cancer (January 2010 to December 2015) and treated with curative intent by NAC then surgery at a tertiary centre were included. Patients were grouped by the presence of anaemia (haemoglobin <130 mg/L in males and <120 mg/L in females) and into microcytic (MCV <80 fL), normocytic (80-100 fL) and macrocytic (>100 fL) subgroups.

Spironolactone in Patients With Heart Failure, Preserved Ejection Fraction, and Worsening Renal Function.

Background: Treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) with spironolactone is associated with lower risk of heart failure hospitalization (HFH) but increased risk of worsening renal function (WRF). The prognostic implications of spironolactone-associated WRF in HFpEF patients are not well understood.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between WRF, spironolactone treatment, and clinical outcomes in patients with HFpEF.

Comparison of Outcomes in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus Treated With Versus Without Insulin + Heart Failure With Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (from the TOPCAT Study).

We aimed to evaluate the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) and insulin treatment on clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction enrolled in the TOPCAT study. We investigated the influence of DM status (insulin-treated [ITDM], non-insulin treated [NITDM], and no diabetes [non-DM]) at baseline on time to development of the primary end point, a composite of cardiovascular (CV) mortality, heart failure hospitalization, and aborted cardiac arrest. Secondary end points included the individual components of the primary end point, myocardial infarction, stroke, all-cause mortality, hyperkalemia, and worsened renal function.

Incident Hyperkalemia, Hypokalemia, and Clinical Outcomes During Spironolactone Treatment of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction: Analysis of the TOPCAT Trial.

Background: In patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (HF-PEF) randomized in the Americas as part of the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) trial, treatment with spironolactone enhanced the risk of hyperkalemia but reduced the risk of hypokalemia. We examined the clinical correlates and prognostic implications of incident hypo- and hyperkalemia during study follow-up.

Methods: We defined the region-specific incidence of hypokalemia (potassium [K] <3.

Data and Safety Monitoring Board evaluation and management of a renal adverse event signal in TOPCAT.

Clinical trial Data and Safety Monitoring Boards (DSMBs) have a primary obligation of ensuring study participant safety, while maintaining trial integrity. The role of DSMBs is expanding, and ideally should include post-hoc reporting of deliberative processes related to clinically important safety issues or factors that could impact on future trial designs. We describe how the TOPCAT DSMB detected, investigated, and adjudicated an unexpectedly large renal adverse event signal midway through the trial, and offer general guidelines for dealing with similar unanticipated occurrences in future trials.

QRS Duration Is a Predictor of Adverse Outcomes in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

Objectives: This study examined the relationship between baseline QRS duration and clinical outcomes in subjects enrolled in the TOPCAT (Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure With an Aldosterone Antagonist) trial.

Background: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) is a heterogeneous clinical syndrome. Whether QRS duration identifies HFPEF subjects at an increased risk of adverse outcomes has not been well studied.

Impact of Spironolactone on Longitudinal Changes in Health-Related Quality of Life in the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure With an Aldosterone Antagonist Trial.

Background: Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction patients have equally impaired health-related quality of life (HRQL) compared with those with HF with reduced ejection fraction, but limited studies have evaluated the impact of therapies on changes in HRQL.

Methods And Results: Patients ≥50 years of age, with symptomatic HF and left ventricular ejection fraction ≥45%, were enrolled in Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure With an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) and randomized to spironolactone or placebo. Patients completed the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), which was the primary HRQL instrument, and EQ5D visual analog scale at baseline, 4 months, 12 months, and annually thereafter.

Influence of ejection fraction on outcomes and efficacy of spironolactone in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.

Aims: While mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) have been shown to benefit patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), spironolactone did not reduce the primary endpoint of cardiovascular death, heart failure hospitalization, or aborted cardiac arrest in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in the TOPCAT trial, which enrolled patients with LVEF of 45% or greater. We utilized data from TOPCAT to assess the relationship between LVEF as well as outcomes and efficacy of spironolactone.

Methods And Results: We assessed differences in baseline characteristics and outcomes across LVEF categories in 3444 patients with HFpEF, and determined whether LVEF modified the treatment effect of spironolactone.