Publications by authors named "Newman N"

The integration of environmental health (EH) into routine clinical care for children is in its early stages. The vision of pediatric EH is that all clinicians caring for children are aware of and able to help connect families to needed resources to reduce harmful environmental exposures and increase health-enhancing ones. Environmental exposures include air pollution, substandard housing, lead, mercury, pesticides, consumer products chemicals, drinking water contaminants, industrial facility emissions and, increasingly, climate change-related extreme weather and heat events.

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Background: This study aims to assess the relationships between sphenoid sinus (SS) types, septation, lobulation, symmetry, septal deviation, and the variations in SS pneumatization regarding the surrounding neurovascular structures using Computed tomography (CT) images. Sexes and age groups were investigated.

Material And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated head CT-scans of 320 patients (age range 18-49 years); mean of 43.

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The gut microbiota has been implicated as a major factor contributing to metabolic diseases and the response to drugs used for the treatment of such diseases. In this study, we tested the effect of cholestyramine, a bile acid sequestrant that reduces blood cholesterol, on the murine gut microbiota and metabolism. We also explored the hypothesis that some effects of this drug on systemic metabolism can be attributed to alterations in the gut microbiota.

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Background: New Zealand guidelines stipulate that patient consent is obtained for medical student involvement in clinical care, however, patients' preferences regarding consent for medical student teaching have not been widely explored. This study examined patient preferences for consent for medical student teaching with the aim to increase patient empowerment, to optimise care and to reflect societal expectations more accurately.

Method: Observational, semi-qualitative, cross-sectional study of in-patients.

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Purpose Of Review: Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a mitochondrial DNA disease characterised by sequential bilateral vision loss due to loss of retinal ganglion cells. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the results of recent clinical trials for LHON, focusing on studies of idebenone and lenadogene nolparvovec gene therapy.

Recent Findings: Evidence from three clinical studies (RHODOS, RHODOS-OFU, and LEROS) suggest that idebenone should be started early and continued for at least 24 months.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the long-term safety and efficacy of lenadogene nolparvovec, a gene therapy for Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) caused by the MT-ND4 gene variant, enrolling patients for up to 5 years after treatment.
  • Conducted between 2018 and 2022, the RESTORE trial followed patients who previously participated in two phase 3 studies, RESCUE and REVERSE, focusing on vision loss treatment; most participants were male with an average age of 35.9 years.
  • Results indicated that 94.7% of participants completed the initial studies, and 72.4% completed the 5-year follow-up, with key outcomes
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  • Cesarean delivery is the most common method for extremely preterm infants, but there's limited research comparing outcomes between cesarean and vaginal births for these babies.
  • A study involving data from 25 US medical centers focused on extremely preterm singletons (401-1000 g birth weight) to assess rates of death or severe neurodevelopmental impairment based on the mode of delivery.
  • The results showed no significant difference in outcomes between cesarean and vaginal deliveries, but cesarean and vertex vaginal deliveries had lower mortality rates compared to breech vaginal deliveries.
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  • Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart condition marked by reduced function and enlargement of the heart, with idiopathic cases (IDC) showing a link to genetic factors in 40% of instances.
  • Over 200 genes have been connected to DCM, but evidence to confirm their roles is still limited; recent advancements in genetic research reveal a mix of genetic influences, ranging from single-gene to multiple-gene interactions.
  • Current recommendations for DCM include genetic counseling and testing, along with some targeted treatments, while future developments in the field may focus on polygenic risk scores and more personalized medicine approaches.
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  • * Diagnostic methods for MINOCA include invasive imaging techniques and cardiac MRI, and conditions like myocarditis and takotsubo syndrome may be mistaken for it.
  • * Although long-term treatment for MINOCA isn't standardized, medications such as ACE inhibitors and statins show promise in managing affected patients.
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Background/objectives: Our aim was to compare factors associated with poor versus good visual outcomes in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) patients with severe papilledema at initial presentation.

Subjects/methods: Retrospective review of consecutive IIH patients (1/1/2013-6/10/2023) with severe papilledema (Frisén grade 4-5 and/or atrophy in at least one eye); Patients were divided into "poor visual outcome" (poor visual acuity and constricted visual field in at least one eye) and "good visual outcome" (good visual acuity and only mild visual field changes in both eyes) at >6 months for medically-treated patients and >3 months follow-up for surgically-treated patients.

Results: We included 134 IIH patients with severe papilledema (70 had poor and 64 had good visual outcomes).

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  • This review article highlights global advancements in neuro-ophthalmology, specifically focusing on innovative diagnostic and therapeutic techniques shaping the field's future.
  • Key developments include the vital role of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for understanding optic nerve and central nervous system issues, as well as the promise of gene therapy for conditions like Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy.
  • The article also explores the impact of telemedicine and artificial intelligence in patient care, along with emerging biomarkers and new treatments such as Tocilizumab and Teprotumumab, enhancing the approach to managing conditions like immune-mediated optic neuritis.
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Functional coronary angiography (FCA) is a novel modality for assessing the physiology of coronary lesions, going beyond anatomical visualization by traditional coronary angiography. FCA incorporates indices like fractional flow reserve (FFR) and instantaneous wave-free ratio (IFR), which utilize pressure measurements across coronary stenoses to evaluate hemodynamic impacts and to guide revascularization strategies. In this review, we present traditional and evolving modalities and uses of FCA.

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Fundoplication is a durable, effective, and well-accepted treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Nonetheless, troublesome postoperative symptoms do occasionally occur with management varying widely among centers. In an attempt to standardize definition and management of postfundoplication symptoms, a panel of international experts convened by the Guidelines Committee of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus devised a list of 33 statements across 5 domains through a Delphi approach, with at least 80% agreement to establish consensus.

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  • The study explores the differences in nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) between Black and White patients, noting that NAION is less common in Black individuals but the reasons for this are unclear.
  • It was a retrospective analysis that included 32 Black patients and a sample of 69 White patients, examining various health factors and the timing of their NAION diagnosis.
  • Findings revealed that Black patients had longer delays in seeking treatment and were more likely to have chronic kidney disease and require hemodialysis, but there were no significant differences in optic nerve features between the two groups.
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Our aim was to assess the visual outcomes of patients with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) harboring the m.11778G>A MT-ND4 mutation who had no treatment (natural history) or received idebenone or lenadogene nolparvovec. Efficacy outcomes included clinically relevant recovery (CRR) from nadir and final best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

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  • The study focuses on improving the diagnosis of arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AAION) from giant cell arteritis, which can prevent vision loss, particularly when symptoms are subtle or unreliable tests are involved.
  • Researchers developed a deep learning system (DLS) to differentiate between AAION and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) by analyzing color fundus images from a large international dataset involving 961 eyes from 802 patients.
  • The DLS demonstrated promising performance metrics, such as area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, validating its potential as a diagnostic tool during the acute phase.
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  • Non-mydriatic fundus cameras, useful in non-eye care settings, are rare in US hospitals, reflecting a challenge in adopting new medical technology despite supporting research.
  • The successful implementation of these cameras in an emergency department (ED) was guided by Kotter's 8-Step Change Model, focusing on training, teamwork, and constant motivation among staff.
  • After one year, the ED managed to image 1,274 patients, indicating sustained use, while future developments may include AI for enhanced diagnostic interpretation in non-ophthalmic settings.
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Ocular emergencies are commonly evaluated in general emergency departments (ED) where ophthalmologists are rarely available. Nonmydriatic ocular imaging combining color fundus photographs and optical coherence tomography (NMFP-OCT) can help with rapid remote triage by ophthalmologists. We evaluated the rate at which retinal detachments (RDs) can be diagnosed with NMFP-OCT in the ED.

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Coronary artery anomalies encompass a spectrum of congenital abnormalities affecting the origin, course, or termination of the major epicardial coronary arteries. Despite their rarity, coronary artery anomalies represent a significant burden on cardiovascular health due to their potential to disrupt myocardial blood flow and precipitate adverse cardiac events. While historically diagnosed postmortem, the widespread availability of imaging modalities has led to an increased recognition of coronary artery anomalies, particularly in adults.

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Background: Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) has shown promise in achieving pathologic complete response (pCR) and enabling organ preservation through watch-and-wait (WW) strategies. However, implementation of WW protocols in diverse patient populations and safety-net hospitals faces unique challenges. The objective of this study is to evaluate TNT outcomes and identify barriers to WW implementation in a predominantly Hispanic safety-net hospital in South Texas.

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Drug-coated balloons have emerged as a promising therapeutic option in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. This review article provides an overview of the concept of drug-coated balloons and their clinical applications in both de novo and treated coronary artery disease. A summary of key clinical trials and registry studies evaluating drug-coated balloons is presented for reference.

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