Breast cancer screening practices among Vietnamese women and factors associated with clinical breast examination uptake.

Background: This study examined current breast cancer (BC) screening practices among Vietnamese women and the factors associated with the uptake of clinical breast examination (CBE).

Methods: A total of 508 women aged 30-74 years in Hanoi completed a knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) survey in 2019 including validated measures of breast cancer awareness (Breast-CAM) and health beliefs (Champion's Health Belief Model Scale). Descriptive statistics, χ2, and ANOVA tests were used to analyse KAP responses across groups with different sociodemographic characteristics.

Compensatory biomechanics and spinal loading during dynamic maneuvers in patients with chronic low back pain.

Purpose: This study explores the biomechanics underlying the sit-to-stand (STS) functional maneuver in chronic LBP patients to understand how different spinal disorders and levels of pain severity relate to unique compensatory biomechanical behaviors. This work stands to further our understanding of the relationship between spinal loading and symptoms in LBP patients.

Methods: We collected in-clinic motion data from 44 non-specific LBP (NS-LBP) and 42 spinal deformity LBP (SD-LBP) patients during routine clinical visits.

Critical Analysis of the Applicability of Small Bowel Capsule Endoscopy Performance Measures among 2 Portuguese Centers with Different Capsule Endoscopy Platforms.

Introduction: The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) identified the need to benchmark the quality of small bowel capsule endoscopy (SBCE) and produced a set of performance measures (PM). The aim of this study is to critically evaluate the accordance of the PM for SBCE in two Portuguese centers with different SBCE platforms.

Methods: The authors conducted a cross-sectional analysis of consecutive SBCE performed in an 18-month period in 2 Portuguese centers that used two different SBCE platforms Mirocam® (IntroMedic, Seoul, South Korea) and PillCam® (Medtronic, Yokneam, Israel).

Sunproofed study protocol: A mixed-methods scoping study of sun safety policies in primary schools in Wales.

Background: Skin cancer, including melanoma and non-melanoma (keratinocyte), is increasing in incidence in the UK. Accounting for half of all cancers in England and Wales, the disease significantly impacts overstretched dermatology services. Research suggests that 86% of melanoma is preventable with modified sun exposure.

Demographic characteristics and ocular needs of children attending child eye clinics in Cross River State, Nigeria: a retrospective analysis of clinical records.

Objectives: To describe the demographic characteristics and ocular needs of children attending four child eye clinics in Cross River State, Nigeria, to inform the development of a sustainable spectacle cross-subsidisation scheme.

Design: Retrospective analysis of clinic records.

Setting: Four child eye clinics in Calabar, Ogoja, Ikom and Ugep, Cross River State, Nigeria, from 1 May 2017 to 30 June 2019.

Unsupervised Machine Learning on Motion Capture Data Uncovers Movement Strategies in Low Back Pain.

Chronic low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability and opioid prescriptions worldwide, representing a significant medical and socioeconomic problem. Clinical heterogeneity of LBP limits accurate diagnosis and precise treatment planning, culminating in poor patient outcomes. A current priority of LBP research is the development of objective, multidimensional assessment tools that subgroup LBP patients based on neurobiological pain mechanisms, to facilitate matching patients with the optimal therapies.

Significant Reduction in Short-Term Complications Following Unicompartmental Versus Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis.

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a gold standard surgical treatment for end-stage arthritis and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is an alternative for localized disease in appropriate patients. Both have been shown to have equivalent complications in the short-term period. We aimed to explore the differences in 30-day complication rates between UKA and TKA using recent data.

Caregivers' assessment of meaningful and relevant clinical outcome assessments for Sanfilippo syndrome.

Objectives: Sanfilippo syndrome is a rare multisystem disease with no approved treatments. This study explores caregiver perspectives on the most impactful symptoms and patient-relevant clinical outcomes assessments. The pediatric onset and progressive neurodegenerative nature of Sanfilippo limits use of self-report in clinical research.

The contributions of cartilage endplate composition and vertebral bone marrow fat to intervertebral disc degeneration in patients with chronic low back pain.

Purpose: The composition of the subchondral bone marrow and cartilage endplate (CEP) could affect intervertebral disc health by influencing vertebral perfusion and nutrient diffusion. However, the relative contributions of these factors to disc degeneration in patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP) have not been quantified. The goal of this study was to use compositional biomarkers derived from quantitative MRI to establish how CEP composition (surrogate for permeability) and vertebral bone marrow fat fraction (BMFF, surrogate for perfusion) relate to disc degeneration.

Changes in public satisfaction with GP services in Britain between 1998 and 2019: a repeated cross-sectional analysis of attitudinal data.

Background: Between 1998 and 2019, the structure and process of general practitioner services in Britain underwent a series of reforms and experienced distinct funding environments. This paper examines changes in satisfaction with GP services over time against this backdrop.

Methods: Data were extracted from the British Social Attitudes Survey for the period 1998-2019.

Appropriateness of tooth replacement strategies for adult patients in the United Kingdom with reduced dentitions - a modified Delphi analysis.

Objective: To develop consensus from experts in Restorative Dentistry based in the United Kingdom (UK) on the most appropriate tooth replacement strategies in adult patients with reduced dentitions using a modified Delphi analysis.

Methods: An expert panel of UK specialists (n=20) in Restorative Dentistry or Prosthodontics were asked to answer the following question: using available evidence and your clinical experience, how appropriate is each tooth replacement strategy for each clinical scenario of tooth loss in the mandible presented? Five specific clinical patterns of tooth loss were presented to panellists using clinical photographs, and using a 9-point Likert scale, they were asked to rate the appropriateness of listed tooth replacement strategies during two Delphi rounds. The target level of consensus for each statement was 70%.

British Lymphology Society's position paper for management of people with lymphoedema in presence of deep vein thrombosis: a summary.

There is some confusion surrounding the management of people with lymphoedema in the presence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This may be in relation to the suitability of commencing compression therapy or regarding the continuation of compression therapy in those who develop DVT. The purpose of this British Lymphology Society position paper is to support evidence-based practice and debunk the myths surrounding the management of DVT and lymphoedema.

Using hierarchical unsupervised learning to integrate and reduce multi-level and multi-paraspinal muscle MRI data in relation to low back pain.

Purpose: The paraspinal muscles (PSM) are a key feature potentially related to low back pain (LBP), and their structure and composition can be quantified using MRI. Most commonly, quantifying PSM measures across individual muscles and individual spinal levels renders numerous separate metrics that are analyzed in isolation. However, comprehensive multivariate approaches would be more appropriate for analyzing the PSM within an individual.

Unit costs for non-acute care in Ireland 2016-2019.

This paper presents detailed unit costs for 16 healthcare professionals in community-based non-acute services in Ireland for the years 2016-2019. Unit costs are important data inputs for assessments of health service performance and value for money. Internationally, while some countries have an established database of unit costs for healthcare, there is need for a more coordinated approach to calculating healthcare unit costs.

COVID-19 Vaccination and Legal Preparedness: Lessons from Ireland.

Ireland has been a leader in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the EU, with almost 80% of the eligible population (aged over 5 years) fully vaccinated at the time of writing. The success of the vaccine rollout in this jurisdiction notwithstanding, the legal frameworks supporting the rollout had significant lacunas. Two aspects in particular highlighted a lack of legal preparedness: the inadequacy of the legal framework for consent and the absence of a vaccine injury redress scheme.

[Teleconsultation in the Portuguese National Health Service During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey of Physicians' Views and Future Implications].

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic led to the reorganization of healthcare services and teleconsultation emerged as a solution to facilitate patient appointments. The aim of this study was to characterize, from a physician perspective, the teleconsultations carried out in the Portuguese National Health Service (SNS) during the first phase of the pandemic and to identify factors that influence the experience of the teleconsultation.

Material And Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted based on an online survey, between July-September 2020, aimed at SNS doctors.

Constraining the response of continental-scale groundwater flow to climate change.

Numerical models of groundwater flow play a critical role for water management scenarios under climate extremes. Large-scale models play a key role in determining long range flow pathways from continental interiors to the oceans, yet struggle to simulate the local flow patterns offered by small-scale models. We have developed a highly scalable numerical framework to model continental groundwater flow which capture the intricate flow pathways between deep aquifers and the near-surface.

Sociodemographic characteristics of patients and their use of post-bariatric contouring surgery in the US.

Background: Expansion of healthcare insurance coverage to bariatric surgeries has led to an increased demand from patients for post-bariatric contouring surgeries. This study examined the relationship between the use of contouring procedures on post-bariatric surgery patients, clinical need and sociodemographic factors.

Methods: Data were extracted from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample (NASS) regarding hospital-owned ambulatory surgical centres in the US.

Examining the transnational preventive healthcare utilisation of a group of Eastern European migrants living full-time in another European state.

Migrants in Europe are shown to have consistently lower uptake of preventive healthcare compared to European host populations. This paper examines how the transnational preventive care use of Eastern European migrants in their country of origin may be associated with preventive care uptake in their European host country. Preventive care use data in Ireland was collected on 119 Polish migrants and 123 native Irish from June 2018 to September 2019.

Understanding disease symptoms and impacts and producing qualitatively-derived severity stages for MPS IIIA: a mixed methods approach.

Background: MPS IIIA is a rare, degenerative pediatric genetic disease characterized by symptoms impacting cognition, mobility and behavior; the mean age of death is around 15 years of age. Currently, there are no approved therapies for MPS IIIA.

Methods: A two-year, multi-center, prospective, descriptive cohort study was conducted to document the natural history course of MPS IIIA.

Destabilization of deep oxidized mantle drove the Great Oxidation Event.

The rise of Earth's atmospheric O levels at ~2.4 Ga was driven by a shift between increasing sources and declining sinks of oxygen. Here, we compile recent evidence that the mantle shows a significant increase in oxidation state leading to the Great Oxidation Event (GOE), linked to sluggish upward mixing of a deep primordial oxidized layer.

Perioperative systemic immunophenotype following irreversible electroporation (IRE) predicts recurrence.

Comprehensive understanding of the immunophenotypic response to local therapy will likely be required to improve outcomes for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). While the desmoplastic stroma has rendered PDAC resistant to immunotherapies, irreversible electroporation (IRE), a non-thermal method of tumor ablation, can overcome some of this resistance and immune suppression. We studied the systemic immunophenotype of patients following local treatment of PDAC.

Sex differences in endurance exercise capacity and skeletal muscle lipid metabolism in mice.

Previous studies suggest that sex differences in lipid metabolism exist with females demonstrating a higher utilization of lipids during exercise, which is mediated partly by increased utilization of muscle triglycerides. However, whether these changes in lipid metabolism contribute directly to endurance exercise performance is unclear. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of exercise substrate metabolism to sex differences in endurance exercise capacity (EEC) in mice.