Is Breath Best? A Systematic Review on the Accuracy and Utility of Nanotechnology Based Breath Analysis of Ketones in Type 1 Diabetes.

Timely ketone detection in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is critical for the effective management of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This systematic review evaluates the current literature on breath-based analysis for ketone detection in T1DM, highlighting nanotechnology as a potential for a non-invasive alternative to blood-based ketone measurements. A comprehensive search across 5 databases identified 11 studies meeting inclusion criteria, showcasing various breath analysis techniques, such as semiconducting gas sensors, colorimetry, and nanoparticle-based chemo-resistive sensors.

Socioeconomic status and the effect of prolonged pandemic confinement on anthropometric and glycaemic outcomes in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aim: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the impact of COVID19 lockdown on the anthropometric and glycaemic outcomes of adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and assess whether socioeconomic status (SES) was relevant to these changes.

Methods: A search of three databases was conducted. Meta-analyses using random effects models were undertaken to combine anthropometric and glycaemic measures pre- and post-confinement.

Efficacy of anti-VEGF monotherapy versus anti-VEGF therapy with subthreshold micropulse laser (SML) in the management of diabetic macular oedema (DMO): a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Intravitreal injection anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (IVI anti-VEGF) therapy serves as the primary treatment for centre involving diabetic macular oedema (DMO). Conventional laser therapy (CLT) adjunct has proven beneficial; however, it is not widely used due to significant risks of retinal scarring. Subthreshold micropulse laser (SML) therapy has, however, emerged as a comparable alternative to combination therapy, offering a distinct advantage by mitigating the risk of retinal scarring.

Efficacy of multidisciplinary interventions in preventing metabolic syndrome and improving body composition in prostate cancer patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Exercise is known to reduce adverse side effects of androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) on quality of life, bone health and fatigue for prostate cancer (PCa) patients. We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of multidisciplinary interventions on body composition and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in ADT-treated PCa patients.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted based on searches of EMBASE, MEDLINE, CENTRAL and Scopus databases from inception to March 2023.

Comparative analysis of vaginal microbiota sampling using menstrual cups and high vaginal swabs in pregnant women living with HIV-1 infection.

Background: Menstrual cups (MCs) are increasingly used to collect cervicovaginal secretions to characterise vaginal mucosal immunology, in conjunction with high vaginal swabs (HVS) for metataxonomics, particularly in HIV transmission studies. We hypothesised that both methods of collecting bacterial biomass are equivalent for 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Material And Methods: Cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) samples from 16 pregnant women with HIV-1 (PWWH) were included to represent the major vaginal bacterial community state types (CST I-V).

Concentric Reversible Visual Field Loss, Nyctalopia, and Dyschromatopsia with Ezetimibe Therapy.

This is a case of ezetimibe-induced concentric field loss, dyschromatopsia, and nyctalopia in a patient with no prior history of retinal dystrophy or drug hypersensitivity. A 55-year-old Caucasian woman presents with a 1-year history of increasing concentric visual field loss, nyctalopia, photophobia, and colour vision impairment. These symptoms correlated with the commencement of ezetimibe therapy 10 mg daily for hypercholesterolaemia.

Determining Contemporary Barriers to Effective Multidisciplinary Team Meetings in Neurological Surgery: A Review of the Literature.

Objective: The integration of multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTMs) for neurosurgical care has been accepted worldwide. Our objective was to review the literature for the limiting factors to MDTMs that may introduce bias to patient care.

Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis was used to perform a literature review of MDTMs for neuro-oncology, pituitary oncology, cerebrovascular surgery, and spine surgery and spine oncology.

Thyrotropinoma with silent somatotroph and lactotroph adenoma during pregnancy.

Summary: Thyrotropinomas are an uncommon cause of hyperthyroidism and are exceedingly rarely identified during pregnancy, with limited evidence to guide management. Most commonly they present as macroadenomas and may cause symptoms of mass effect including headache, visual field defects and hypopituitarism. We present a case of a 35-year-old woman investigated for headaches in whom a 13 mm thyrotropinoma was found.

Using artificial intelligence for personal protective equipment guidance for healthcare workers in the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

Background: Current procedures for effective personal protective equipment (PPE) usage rely on the availability of trained observers or 'buddies' who, during the COVID-19 pandemic, are not always available. The application of artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to overcome this limitation by assisting in complex task analysis. To date, AI use for PPE protocols has not been studied.

The Impact of Multidisciplinary Weight Management on Body Weight and Body Mass Composition in Women with Breast Cancer Post-Adjuvant Chemotherapy: A Retrospective Chart Review.

Introduction: Weight gain during chemotherapy for breast cancer is a well-documented adverse effect. The purpose of this study was to investigate how multidisciplinary weight management involving endocrinology, dietitian, and exercise physiology care, in a real-life healthy weight clinic (HWC) would impact body weight and mass composition in breast cancer women post-adjuvant chemotherapy compared to a cohort of non-cancer women who have been matched by age, ethnicity, smoking, and menopausal status.

Methods: Body weight (kg), BMI (kg/m2), skeletal muscle mass (SMM %), fat mass (FM %), and waist circumference (cm) were collected at baseline of the first HWC appointment, 3 months after baseline, and 6 months after baseline.

Association of clinically significant weight loss with number of patient visits and months of attendance at an Australian multidisciplinary weight management clinic.

Despite the obesity epidemic, there are relatively few multidisciplinary obesity services in Australia, and only limited data on the effectiveness of these services. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a university hospital-based weight management clinic-the 'Healthy Weight Clinic' in supporting patients to achieve clinically significant weight loss (≥5% reduction in body weight), weight maintenance, and changes in body composition. A retrospective review was conducted to determine weight and associated health outcomes in patients who attended an initial consultation in the first 2 years of the clinic-between March 2017 and March 2019.

The effects of diet on weight and metabolic outcomes in patients with double diabetes: A systematic review.

With the global rise in obesity and the metabolic syndrome, double diabetes is increasingly prevalent in patients with type 1 diabetes. This review investigated the effects of diet on weight management and metabolic outcomes in patients with double diabetes. MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, ERIC, and Web of Science databases were searched through September 2020.

Vaginal Microbiota, Genital Inflammation and Extracellular Matrix Remodelling Collagenase: MMP-9 in Pregnant Women With HIV, a Potential Preterm Birth Mechanism Warranting Further Exploration.

Background: Pregnant women living with HIV infection (PWLWH) have elevated rates of preterm birth (PTB) in which HIV and cART are implicated. PWLWH also have a high prevalence of adverse vaginal microbiota, which associate with genital tract inflammation. The mechanism underlying PTB in PWLWH is unknown.

Application of artificial intelligence and radiomics in pituitary neuroendocrine and sellar tumors: a quantitative and qualitative synthesis.

Purpose: To systematically review the literature regarding the application of machine learning (ML) of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics in common sellar tumors. To identify future directions for application of ML in sellar tumor MRI.

Methods: PubMed, Medline, Embase, Google Scholar, Scopus, ArxIV, and bioRxiv were searched to identify relevant studies published between 2010 and September 2021.

Communication as a clinical skill: a challenge in the delivery of safe and effective patient care.

Communication in clinical practice has been the focus of linguistic, psychological, and sociological research for half a century, yet there is still so little emphasis on using that research to improve communication in practice. In this article, we urge for a repositioning of communication as a clinical skill, along with a stronger reliance on communication research evidence and collaboration with experts in studying and teaching these skills.

Communication is the key: biofilms, quorum sensing, formation and prevention.

Antibiotic resistance is a relevant topic nowadays, representing one of the main causes of infection-related mortality and morbidity at a global level. This phenomenon is worrisome and represents an area of interest for both clinical practice and fundamental research. One important mechanism whereby bacteria acquire resistance to antibiotics and evade the immune system is by forming biofilms.

Macrogonadotropinoma, a venous thromboembolic event and asymptomatic extensive periventricular white matter changes in a patient with Klinefelter syndrome.

Gonadotropinoma in Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is uncommon and may be a result of protracted stimulation of gonadotrophs from lack of androgen feedback. Associations of white matter changes and increased venous thromboembolic risk have been reported and need to be considered in patients with KS.

Clinical challenges of a co-secreting TSH/GH pituitary adenoma.

Summary: Co-secreting thyrotropin/growth hormone (GH) pituitary adenomas are rare; their clinical presentation and long-term management are challenging. There is also a paucity of long-term data. Due to the cell of origin, these can behave as aggressive tumours.

Primary Ovarian Carcinoid: Extensive Clinical Experience With an Underrecognized Uncommon Entity.

Purpose: Primary ovarian neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) develop in pure form or in association with other tumors, mainly teratomas. The available data regarding this rare condition are limited. Much of the literature focuses on single case reports, previously dismissed as a totally benign disorder, and thus long-term considerations and evidence-based management guidelines are lacking.

Evaluation of Blood Glucose Meter Efficacy in an Antenatal Diabetes Clinic.

Background: The optimal treatment of diabetes in pregnancy requires accurate measurement of blood glucose levels, in order to minimize adverse outcomes for both mother and neonate. Self-monitoring of blood glucose is routinely used to measure glycemic control and to assess whether treatment targets are being met; however, the accuracy of blood glucose meters in pregnancy is unclear.

Materials And Methods: Pregnant women with gestational, type 1, or type 2 diabetes mellitus were eligible to participate.

A new association - multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.

We report a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) and an aggressive malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) arising from a ganglioneuroma of the adrenal gland. Patients with MEN-1 require careful consideration of other tumor associations, including MPNST, as it can portend a poor prognosis. MEN-1 and MPNST have not been reported.