A new method for the estimation of stochastic epidemic descriptors reinforced by Kalman-based dynamic parameter estimation. Application to mpox data.

In the realm of epidemiology, it is essential to accurately assess epidemic phenomena through the adoption of innovative techniques that yield reliable predictions. This article introduces an advanced method that merges the Extended Kalman Filter approach with recursive algorithms to compute critical stochastic attributes important for evaluating epidemics. A new three-dimensional discrete Markov process is presented, according to which the total number of infections, deaths, and the duration of epidemic outbreaks are estimated.

Use of Gabapentin or Alprazolam in Cats during Postoperative, Short-Term Hospitalization.

This prospective, randomized study aimed to assess the anxiolytic efficacy of gabapentin or alprazolam in cats during short-term postoperative hospitalization. Sixty cats were randomly assigned to three groups (gabapentin-treated [100 mg per cat], alprazolam-treated [0.125 mg per cat], or placebo-treated), with treatments administered twice daily for two days.

Recent advancements and applications of deep learning in heart failure: Α systematic review.

Background: Heart failure (HF), a global health challenge, requires innovative diagnostic and management approaches. The rapid evolution of deep learning (DL) in healthcare necessitates a comprehensive review to evaluate these developments and their potential to enhance HF evaluation, aligning clinical practices with technological advancements.

Objective: This review aims to systematically explore the contributions of DL technologies in the assessment of HF, focusing on their potential to improve diagnostic accuracy, personalize treatment strategies, and address the impact of comorbidities.

Isoflurane treatment for refractory and super-refractory status epilepticus in dogs.

Introduction: Resistant epileptic episodes, such as refractory status epilepticus (RSE) and super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE), are neurological emergencies that require immediate medical treatment. Although inhalational anesthetics, such as isoflurane (ISO), have been proposed as a means of seizure control in dogs, there is currently a lack of both experimental and clinical studies on this subject.

Study Design: This is a retrospective clinical study.

Orally administered gabapentin and alprazolam induce comparable levels of anxiolysis and sedation in cats.

Objective: To assess the level of anxiolysis achieved by alprazolam and gabapentin in hospitalized cats prior to elective ovariohysterectomy and to evaluate the sedative effects of these agents.

Animals: 60 client-owned female cats classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1, admitted for elective ovariohysterectomy at a veterinary teaching hospital.

Methods: The cats were prospectively and randomly allocated into 3 groups.

'Building bridges': reflections and recommendations for co-producing health research.

Background: Co-produced research is when all stakeholders, including experts by experience and researchers, work together to conceptualise, design, deliver and disseminate research to enhance understanding and knowledge. This type of participatory inquiry is being increasingly used across health research; however, it continues to be a complex area to navigate given existing institutional structures.

Main Body: We collaborated across three independent co-produced research studies to share insights, reflections, and knowledge of our work in the fields of HIV, mental health, and disability research.

Bacterial responses to plant antimicrobials: the case of alkannin and shikonin derivatives.

Alkannin, shikonin and their derivatives (A/S) are secondary metabolites produced in the roots of certain plants of the Boraginaceae family such as Siebold & Zucc. and (L.) Tausch.

Barriers and facilitators to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in Specialist Sexual Health Services in the United Kingdom: A systematic review using the PrEP Care Continuum.

Objectives: HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery in the UK is inequitable; over 95% of PrEP users were men who have sex with men (MSM) despite making up less than 50% of new HIV diagnoses. We conducted a systematic review to identify modifiable barriers and facilitators to PrEP delivery in the UK among underserved populations.

Methods: We searched bibliographic/conference databases using the terms HIV, PrEP, barriers, facilitators, underserved populations, and UK.

An improved epidemiological-unscented Kalman filter (hybrid SEIHCRDV-UKF) model for the prediction of COVID-19. Application on real-time data.

The prevalence of COVID-19 has been the most serious health challenge of the 21th century to date, concerning national health systems on a daily basis, since December 2019 when it appeared in Wuhan City. Nevertheless, most of the proposed mathematical methodologies aiming to describe the dynamics of an epidemic, rely on deterministic models that are not able to reflect the true nature of its spread. In this paper, we propose a SEIHCRDV model - an extension/improvement of the classic SIR compartmental model - which also takes into consideration the populations of exposed, hospitalized, admitted in intensive care units (ICU), deceased and vaccinated cases, in combination with an unscented Kalman filter (UKF), providing a dynamic estimation of the time dependent system's parameters.

Caregiver perceptions and experiences of paediatric emergency department attendance during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-methods study.

Background: During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns were raised about reduced attendance at hospitals, particularly in paediatric emergency departments, which could result in preventable poorer outcomes and late presentations among children requiring emergency care. We aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on health-seeking behaviour and decision-making processes of caregivers presenting to paediatric emergency services at a National Health Service (NHS) Trust in London.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a mixed-methods study (survey and semi-structured interviews) across two hospital sites between November-December 2020.

Metabolite Production in Links Plant Development with the Recruitment of Individual Members of Microbiome Thriving at the Root-Soil Interface.

Plants are naturally associated with diverse microbial communities, which play significant roles in plant performance, such as growth promotion or fending off pathogens. The roots of L. are rich in naphthoquinones, particularly the medicinally used enantiomers alkannin and shikonin and their derivatives.

Impact of daily, oral pre-exposure prophylaxis on the risk of bacterial sexually transmitted infections among cisgender women: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.

There are concerns that the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) may result in an increased incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Evidence for this is mixed and has mostly been based on reviews focussed on gay and bisexual men and transgender women, while none have summarised evidence in cisgender women. We conducted a systematic review to explore whether daily, oral PrEP use is associated with changes in bacterial STI occurrence (diagnoses or self-reported) and/or risk among HIV seronegative cisgender women (ciswomen).

Analysis of digitalized ECG signals based on artificial intelligence and spectral analysis methods specialized in ARVC.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is an inherited heart muscle disease that appears between the second and forth decade of a patient's life, being responsible for 20% of sudden cardiac deaths before the age of 35. The effective and punctual diagnosis of this disease based on electrocardiograms (ECGs) could have a vital role in reducing premature cardiovascular mortality. In our analysis, we first outline the digitalization process of paper-based ECG signals enhanced by a spatial filter aiming to eliminate dark regions in the dataset's images that do not correspond to ECG waveform, producing undesirable noise.

Expanding the Biological Properties of Alkannins and Shikonins: Their Impact on Adipogenesis and Life Expectancy in Nematodes.

Alkannin, shikonin (A/S) and their derivatives are naturally occurring hydroxynaphthoquinones biosynthesized in some species of the Boraginaceae family. These natural compounds have been extensively investigated for their biological properties over the last 40 years, demonstrating a plethora of activities, such as wound healing, regenerative, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antimicrobial and antioxidant. This study aims to extend the current knowledge by investigating the effects of various A/S compounds on two model systems, namely on 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes and the nematode .

Influence of Material Deprivation on Clinical Outcomes Among People Living with HIV in High-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Despite developments in HIV treatment and care, disparities persist with some not fully benefiting from improvements in the HIV care continuum. We conducted a systematic review to explore associations between social determinants and HIV treatment outcomes (viral suppression and treatment adherence) in high-income countries. A random effects meta-analysis was performed where there were consistent measurements of exposures.

A qualitative exploration of participant and investigator perspectives from the TRED-HF trial.

Aims: We explored the experiences and motivations of participants and staff who took part in the TRED-HF trial (Therapy withdrawal in REcovered Dilated cardiomyopathy).

Methods And Results: We conducted a qualitative study, using semi-structured interviews, with participants (n = 12) and the research team (n = 4) from the TRED-HF trial. Interviews were carried out in 2019 and were audio-recorded and transcribed.

Electrospun wound dressings containing bioactive natural products: physico-chemical characterization and biological assessment.

Background: Current research on skin tissue engineering has been focusing on novel therapies for the effective management of chronic wounds. A critical aspect is to develop matrices that promote growth and uniform distribution of cells across the wound area, and at the same time offer protection, as well as deliver drugs that help wound healing and tissue regeneration. In this context, we aimed at developing electrospun scaffolds that could serve as carriers for the bioactive natural products alkannin and shikonin (A/S).

Novel electrospun poly-hydroxybutyrate scaffolds as carriers for the wound healing agents alkannins and shikonins.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of novel electrospun fiber mats loaded with alkannin and shikonin (A/S) derivatives, using as carrier a highly biocompatible, bio-derived, eco-friendly polymer such as poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid] (PHB). PHB fibers containing a mixture of A/S derivatives at different ratios were successfully fabricated via electrospinning. Αs evidenced by scanning electron microscopy, the fibers formed a bead-free mesh with average diameters from 1.

Use of propofol to induce food consumption by anorectic dogs following ovariohysterectomy.

Objective: To determine whether IV propofol administration at a dose of 2 mg/kg (0.9 mg/lb) could induce food consumption by anorectic female dogs following elective ovariohysterectomy.

Animals: 51 healthy female dogs that failed to eat voluntarily when food was offered 6 hours after ovariohysterectomy.

The Role of Magnesium in the Management of Acute and Long-Term Symptoms Caused by Tetanus in Two Dogs.

Tetanus in dogs is a relatively uncommon neurological disease caused by the sporogenic bacillus Clostridium tetani. This disease is associated with prolonged hospitalization and mortality rates from 8%-50%. A 2-year-old, neutered male King Charles Spaniel and an approximately 8-months-old female Mongrel dog presented to Companion Animal Clinic with symptoms of muscle rigidity and generalized stiffness.

Endophytic Bacteria From the Roots of the Medicinal Plant Tausch (): Exploration of Plant Growth Promoting Properties and Potential Role in the Production of Plant Secondary Metabolites.

Alkannin and shikonin (A/S) are enantiomeric naphthoquinones produced in the roots of certain plants from the Boraginaceae family such as spp. and spp. They possess antimicrobial, anti-tumoral and wound healing properties.

Usability and Acceptability of Home-based Self-testing for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Antibodies for Population Surveillance.

Background: This study assesses acceptability and usability of home-based self-testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies using lateral flow immunoassays (LFIA).

Methods: We carried out public involvement and pilot testing in 315 volunteers to improve usability. Feedback was obtained through online discussions, questionnaires, observations, and interviews of people who tried the test at home.

Patient data-sharing for immigration enforcement: a qualitative study of healthcare providers in England.

Aim: To explore healthcare providers' perceptions and experiences of the implications of a patient data-sharing agreement between National Health Service (NHS) Digital and the Home Office on access to NHS services and quality of care received by migrant patients in England.

Design: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews, thematic analysis and constant-comparison approach.

Participants: Eleven healthcare providers and one non-clinical volunteer working in community or hospital-based settings who had experience of migrants accessing NHS England services.