HeartEnsembleNet: An Innovative Hybrid Ensemble Learning Approach for Cardiovascular Risk Prediction.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a prominent determinant of mortality, accounting for 17 million lives lost across the globe each year. This underscores its severity as a critical health issue. Extensive research has been undertaken to refine the forecasting of CVD in patients using various supervised, unsupervised, and deep learning approaches.

Scaling-up symptom-agnostic, community-wide screening towards global tuberculosis elimination: opportunities, challenges and lessons from history.

There has been little change in global TB incidence in the 21 century. Although case notification has increased, millions of people with TB each year remain unreached. Recently there has been increased recognition that many people with undiagnosed, potentially infectious TB do not experience or report TB symptoms.

Full-Length Sequencing of Circular DNA Viruses Using CIDER-Seq.

Full-length viral genome sequencing is key for virus distribution profiling, new virus discovery, and understanding virus populations across different samples. Circular DNA Enrichment Sequencing (CIDER-Seq) allows unbiased enrichment and long-read sequencing of circular DNA viruses. CIDER-Seq produces single-read full-length virus genomes, combining PCR-free enrichment with Single Molecule Real-Time sequencing and de-concatenation algorithm.

Clinical Reasoning: Juvenile-Onset Dopa-Responsive Dystonia-Until It Isn't.

Dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) encompasses a broad spectrum of phenotypically diverse conditions, offering unique diagnostic challenges. We describe the case of a 24-year-old woman with dystonic gait and jerky position-sensitive limb tremor that initially responded exquisitely well to low-dose levodopa, suggesting DRD. Two years later, she developed parkinsonian features, ultimately leading to a diagnostic reclassification.

The use of pre-endoscopic metoclopramide in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is a critical condition with an incidence of 80-150 cases per 100 000 annually and a mortality rate of 2-15%. Endoscopy is crucial for diagnosis and treatment. Prokinetic agents like metoclopramide are studied for their potential to improve visualization by promoting gastric motility.

Black tea waste/iron slag reactive filter media-electrokinetic for mixed heavy metals treatment from contaminated site.

Electrokinetic (EK) remediation is a cutting-edge technique used for extracting heavy metals from soils by applying an electric field. This study explores the integration of EK remediation with reactive filtration media (RFM) composed of recycled waste materials of powder iron slag/black tea waste (PIS/BTW) and granular iron slag/black tea waste (GIS/BTW) to improve the removal efficiency of single and mixed heavy metals from kaolinite and natural soils. Results demonstrated that PIS/BTW significantly outperformed GIS/BTW in heavy metal extraction, achieving 98.

Pioneering Advances in Hemodialysis: A Review of Contemporary Machines.

This review article describes the evolution of dialysis technologies spanning the past few decades and discusses the current advancements in hemodialysis devices. These advancements aim to meet the growing global demand for hemodialysis through improved engineering and patient-centered developments that enhance treatment accessibility, automation and sustainability. This article aims to bring together hemodialysis hardware, its clinical utility and the philosophy underpinning it-aiming to improve outcomes, user experience and restore independence for patients with end-stage kidney failure undergoing dialysis care.

Impact of Filgrastim on Mortality During Induction Chemotherapy in Childhood B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Background Childhood B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a group of rapidly growing neoplasms that are fatal if left untreated. Induction chemotherapy during the treatment makes these patients vulnerable to several life-threatening infections due to their immunocompromised state. Prophylactic use of filgrastim before initiating the second induction chemotherapy cycle can improve outcomes.

Endovascular Treatment of Stroke Due to Medium-Vessel Occlusion.

Background: Whether the large effect size of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for stroke due to large-vessel occlusion applies to stroke due to medium-vessel occlusion is unclear.

Methods: In a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label trial with blinded outcome evaluation, we assigned patients with acute ischemic stroke due to medium-vessel occlusion who presented within 12 hours from the time that they were last known to be well and who had favorable baseline noninvasive brain imaging to receive EVT plus usual care or usual care alone. The primary outcome was the modified Rankin scale score (range, 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]) at 90 days, reported as the percentage of patients with a score of 0 or 1.

Remote Monitoring for the Management of Spasticity: Challenges, Opportunities and Proposed Technological Solution.

Spasticity is disabling feature of long-term neurological conditions that has substantial impact on people' quality of life. Assessing spasticity and determining the efficacy of current treatments is limited by the measurement tools available in clinical practice. We convened an expert panel of clinicians and engineers to identify a solution to this urgent clinical need.

Waist circumference, a body shape index, and molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer: A pooled analysis of four cohort studies.

Background Waist circumference (WC) and its allometric counterpart, "a body shape index" (ABSI), are risk factors for colorectal cancer (CRC); however, it is uncertain whether associations with these body measurements are limited to specific molecular subtypes of the disease. Methods Data from 2,772 CRC cases and 3,521 controls were pooled from four cohort studies within the Genetics and Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Consortium. Four molecular markers (BRAF mutation, KRAS mutation, CpG island methylator phenotype, and microsatellite instability) were analysed individually and in combination (Jass-types).

Balloon-mounted versus self-expandable stent in failed neurothrombectomy: a post hoc analysis of the SAINT study.

Background: Previous studies have shown that when thrombectomy has failed, rescue intracranial stenting is associated with better clinical outcomes compared with failed reperfusion. However, comparative data regarding stent type are lacking.

Objective: To compare the procedural and clinical outcomes of balloon-mounted stents (BMS) with those of self-expandable stents (SES).

Effectiveness of Abdominal Breathing Exercise to Control Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: To determine the effect of actively training the crura of diaphragm which is a part of lower esophageal sphincter using abdominal breathing exercises to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Methodology: With a randomized controlled study design, a total of 22 (11 in each group) clinically diagnosed patients of GERD presenting to the gastroenterology outpatient department at Holy Family Hospital in Pakistan were assessed using GERD related "quality of life index (QoLI)" questionnaire and their on-demand proton pump inhibitors (PPI) usage. Single blinding technique will be used.

Medium vessel occlusions in the drip-and-ship model: Clinical vs. hub CTP-supported decision making.

Introduction: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for medium vessel occlusions (MeVO) is emerging as a promising treatment in acute stroke. We aim to evaluate the utility of additional imaging (CTP) in patients with MeVOs who received thrombolysis at a spoke hospital and were transferred to the hub.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from April 2018 to June 2023.

Safety of Adjunctive Intraarterial Tenecteplase Following Mechanical Thrombectomy: The ALLY Pilot Trial.

Background: Recent studies suggest that the use of adjunctive intraarterial alteplase after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) may improve outcomes; however, there are limited data on the use of intraarterial tenecteplase, a newer-generation lytic, in this acute ischemic stroke patient population. Here, we evaluate the use of intraarterial tenecteplase in the ALLY pilot study (Adjunctive Intraarterial Tenecteplase Following Mechanical Thrombectomy).

Methods: ALLY was a prospective, single-center, nonrandomized pilot study assessing the feasibility and safety of intraarterial tenecteplase up to 4.

Cardioprotective Potential of d-limonene against Isoproterenol induced Myocardial Infarction in Rats.

d-limonene is a type of colorless liquid hydrocarbon that falls under the category of cyclic monoterpene. It is the component found in the oil extracted from fruit peels. Isoproterenol, a synthetic β-adrenergic agonist, was administered to rats to induce myocardial injury by increasing heart rate and myocardial oxygen demand, leading to ischemia and oxidative stress.

Developing entrustable professional activities for undergraduate operative dentistry clerkship.

Objective: In many dental schools worldwide, theoretical knowledge is prioritized over comprehensive training in essential clinical procedures. This leads to graduates with insufficient hands-on experience who are not fully "ready to practice", thereby failing to meet the demands of the job market and community needs. This study aimed to address this critical gap by developing and validating a set of core Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) specifically for operative dentistry clerkships to enhance the practical competencies and readiness of dental graduates for effective and independent practice.

Exploring medical educators' perspectives on teaching effectiveness and student learning.

Background: Medical education in resource-constrained settings such as Pakistan faces significant challenges, including large class sizes, limited resources, and reliance on traditional teacher-centered pedagogies. These factors hinder effective learning and fail to equip students with the critical thinking and practical skills essential for modern medical practice. Educators play a fundamental role in shaping student experiences but often struggle to adopt student-centred methodologies due to insufficient training, resource limitations, and institutional constraints.

From quantum communication fundamentals to decoherence mitigation strategies: Addressing global quantum network challenges and projected applications.

In the aftermath of unparalleled disruptive technologies, the quantum realm has become a fundamental field of research due to unrivaled computational power and super-secure communication. In addition to conventional networks, a new word in the quantum domain is quantum network. The quantum network uses quantum communication (QC) to send quantum information bits known as qubits, to predetermined destination nodes.

Role of Multimodality Imaging in Cardiac Sarcoidosis: A Retrospective Single-Center Experience.

Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is a rare entity characterized by granulomatous infiltration of the myocardium, which can lead to myocardial fibrosis, conduction abnormalities, and the development of heart failure, thereby elevating the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). While endomyocardial biopsy (EMBx) is regarded as the gold standard for diagnosis, its low sensitivity and inherent procedural risks may limit its practical application. This study retrospectively explored the role of advanced imaging modalities, specifically cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), in the diagnosis and management of CS within a single center.

Rhazes' insights on abortion and abortogenic drugs in relation to modern concepts.

Abortion remains one of the most prevalent complications of pregnancy, contributing significantly to maternal mortality and presenting a substantial public health challenge. This study aimed to explore Rhazes' perspective on abortion and abortifacient medicinal plants he mentioned in Kitāb al-Ḥāwī fī al-Ṭibb. A detailed analysis of his seminal work, Kitāb al-Ḥāwī fī al-Ṭibb, was conducted.

MAM-STAT3-Driven Mitochondrial Ca Upregulation Contributes to Immunosenescence in Type A Mandibuloacral Dysplasia Patients.

Individuals with homozygous laminA/C p.R527C mutations manifest a severe form of Mandibuloacral dysplasia-(MAD) and exhibit overlapping progeroid symptoms, for which the underlying molecular pathology remains unknown. Herein, it is shown that MAD patients achieved inflammaging with different pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to progeria-(HGPS) patient.

Effectiveness of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) for managing post-stroke dysphagia: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Post-Stroke Dysphagia (PSD) is a common complication that significantly affects the quality of life and health outcomes of stroke survivors. Traditional treatments often have limitations, necessitating the exploration of new therapeutic approaches. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation (iTBS) as an innovative treatment for PSD.

Metabolic Syndrome in Non-diabetic Stroke Patients.

Introduction Metabolic syndrome (MetS) encompasses a range of diverse conditions, such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, central obesity, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. MetS in non-diabetic elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke can worsen vascular damage and lead to worse outcomes, highlighting the significance of early detection. Objective The objective of this paper was to determine the frequency of MetS in non-diabetic elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke visiting a tertiary care hospital.