Exploring risk factors and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns associated with bacteriuria among Syrian refugees in makeshift camps.

Background: The health and well-being of refugees are critically compromised by harsh living conditions, which foster the emergence of infectious diseases and the misuse of antimicrobial agents. This multicentre cross-sectional community-based study investigated the prevalence of urine carriage of bacteria and the associated antimicrobial resistance patterns among Syrian refugees living in makeshift camps in Lebanon, an East Mediterranean country.

Methods: We used multivariable logistic regression models to identify the risk factors associated with bacteriuria in this vulnerable population.

Three-year course of clinical high-risk symptoms for psychosis in the community: a latent class analysis.

Aims: Clinical high-risk for psychosis (CHR-P) states exhibit diverse clinical presentations, prompting a shift towards broader outcome assessments beyond psychosis manifestation. To elucidate more uniform clinical profiles and their trajectories, we investigated CHR-P profiles in a community sample.

Methods: Participants ( = 829; baseline age: 16-40 years) comprised individuals from a Swiss community sample who were followed up over roughly 3 years.

Do coping strategies mediate the effects of childhood adversities and traumata on clinical high-risk of psychosis, depression, and social phobia? A cross-sectional study on patients of an early detection service.

Background: Childhood adversities and traumata (CAT) increase the risk for various mental disorders, including the clinical high-risk of psychosis (CHR-P) state and its main comorbidities, i.e., depression, and social phobia.

Reduced durability of hybrid immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in immunocompromised children.

Background: In endemic COVID-19, immunocompromised children are vulnerable until vaccinated but the optimal primary vaccination regime and need for booster doses remains uncertain.

Methods: We recruited 19 immunocompromised children (post-solid organ transplantation, have autoimmune disease or were on current or recent chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia), and followed them from the start of primary vaccination with BNT162b2 mRNA SARS-CoV-2 until 1-year post-vaccination. We investigated the quality of vaccine immunogenicity, and longevity of hybrid immunity, in comparison to healthy children.

Ameliorated delivery of amphotericin B to macrophages using chondroitin sulfate surface-modified liposome nanoparticles.

Background: The neglected tropical disease leishmaniasis has significant adverse effects from current treatments and limited therapeutic options are currently available.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a surface-modified nano-liposomal drug delivery system, anchored with chondroitin sulfate (CS), to effectively transport Amphotericin B (AmB) to macrophages.

Methods: Conventional liposome formulations (CL-F) and CS-coated surface-modified liposome formulations (CS-SML-F) were formulated by the thin film hydration method and characterized for particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency with long-term stability.

Retrospective analysis of a large-scale cholera outbreak in Sudan.

Background: Cholera outbreak is a significant public health threat in some parts of Sudan. In 2023, there was a large-scale outbreak in Gadarif State.

Aim: To analyse the 2023 cholera outbreak in Sudan and recommend prevention and control measures for the future.

A Segmentation-based Automated Calculation of Patient Size and Size-specific Dose Estimates in Pediatric Computed Tomography Scans.

Background And Purpose: Size-specific dose estimates (SSDE) have been introduced into computed tomography (CT) dosimetry to tailor patients' unique sizes to facilitate accurate CT radiation dose quantification and optimization. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate an automated algorithm for the determination of patient size (effective diameter) and SSDE.

Materials And Methods: A MATLAB platform was used to develop software of algorithms based on image segmentation techniques to automate the calculation of patient size and SSDE.

A comprehensive method to analyze single-cell vibrations.

All living cells vibrate depending on metabolism. It has been hypothesized that vibrations are unique for a given phenotype and thereby suitable to diagnose cancer type and stage and to pre-assess the effectiveness of pharmaceutical treatments in real time. However, cells exhibit highly variable vibrational signals, can be subject to environmental noise, and may be challenging to differentiate, having so far limited the phenomenon's applicability.

The outcomes of robot-assisted surgery in the treatment of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunctions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: To assess the outcomes of robotic surgery for patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunctions (NLUTD).

Materials And Methods: Studies evaluating the outcomes (efficacy and safety) of robot-assisted ileal conduit creation or artificial urinary sphincter (R-AUS) implantation or augmentation cystoplasty or continent urinary diversion creation in patients with NLUTD were included. The search strategy and studies selection were performed on Medline, Embase and Cochrane using the PICOS method according to the PRISMA statement (PROSPERO 2022 CRD42022333157).

The "flipped visit": an innovative method to improve medical student self-efficacy through a structured approach in clinic.

Background: Specialty clinics can be challenging for students on the internal medicine clerkship. They often lack the specialized knowledge necessary to fully engage in the clinic and may be pushed into an observational role, rather than being afforded meaningful opportunities. These peripheral roles undermine self-efficacy, and, therefore, education and interest.

Growth Promotion and In vitro Seed Germination of Lycium barbarum L. (Red Goji) Using Different Types of Cytokinins.

Introduction: Lycium barbarum L., commonly known as red goji berry, is a widely recognized plant-based medicinal herb with nutritional and therapeutic properties. In this study, the effects of various cytokinins on the germination of L.

Dual Coaching of Medical Clerkship Students' History Taking Skills by Volunteer Inpatients at the Bedside and Faculty Physicians on Zoom During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose: Coaching is a well-described means of providing real-time, actionable feedback to learners. We aimed to determine whether dual coaching from faculty physicians and real inpatients led to an improvement in history-taking skills of clerkship medical students.

Patients And Methods: Expert faculty physicians (on Zoom) directly observed 13 clerkship medical students as they obtained a history from 26 real, hospitalized inpatients (in person), after which students received immediate feedback from both the physician and the patient.

Deciphering the role of claudins in lung cancer.

Lung cancer remains a major global health challenge, characterized by aggressive malignancy and poor prognostic outcomes. This review article focuses on the pivotal role of claudins, a family of tight junction proteins, in the pathophysiology of lung cancer. Claudins are integral to maintaining epithelial barrier function and cellular polarity, yet they are intricately involved in the progression and metastasis of lung cancer.

Correlation between postural stability and fall risk in trans-femoral amputees due to muscle fatigue.

[Purpose] This study aimed to establish a connection between postural stability and falling in individuals with transfemoral amputation (TFA), particularly with muscle fatigue. [Participants and Methods] Fourteen participants were recruited. Muscle fatigue was induced using a sit-to-stand (STS) fatigue protocol.

Unveiling the Gut Microbiota of Pig-Tailed Macaque (Macaca nemestrina) in Selected Habitats in Malaysia.

Background: The gut microbiota plays an important role in primates, which may be associated with their habitat. In Malaysia, pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) live in different habitat environments and have traditionally been used for coconut plucking for more than a century. There is currently no information regarding the gut microbiota of this macaque in Malaysia.

Scaling cervical cancer screening in Mozambique: analysis of loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) specimens.

Objectives: As cervical cancer screening programs are implemented and expanded, an increasing number of women require loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) for treatment of pre-invasive cervical disease. Our objective was to describe the pathological results of LEEP specimens performed as part of the MULHER study and identify factors associated with positive LEEP margins.

Methods: The MULHER study enrolled 9014 women who underwent HPV testing followed by visual assessment for treatment (VAT) using visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and thermal ablation for those with positive results.

Association of Aggression with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Overactive Bladder in Men: Observations from a Large Population-representative Study.

Background And Objective: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and overactive bladder (OAB) intimately affect the psychological wellbeing and mental health of men. However, to date, the association of aggression with LUTS and OAB has not been investigated. To address this knowledge gap, we evaluated the association of aggression with LUTS and OAB in a large representative cohort of men at the population level.

Analysis of human ambulation as a chaotic time-series: with nonlinear dynamics tools.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the complexity and stability of human ambulation and the implications on robotic prostheses control systems. Fourteen healthy individuals participate in two experiments, the first group run at three different speeds. The second group ascended and descended stairs of a five-level building block at a self-selected speed.