Long COVID-19 in pregnancy: increased risk but modest incidence following mild Omicron infection in a boosted obstetric cohort during endemicity.

Background: Significant heterogeneity has been reported in estimates of long-term sequelae following SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant women, and most studies were conducted pre-Omicron and pre-dated vaccination rollout. Less severe COVID-19 attributed to milder Omicron may potentially attenuate risk of post-COVID-19 sequelae.

Objective: We sought to examine long-term risk of new-incident multi-systemic sequelae following SARS-CoV-2 Delta/Omicron infection in a population-based cohort of pregnant women, contrasted against a)test-negatives; b)infected non-pregnant women of childbearing age.

The state-of-the-art of invasive brain-computer interfaces in humans: a systematic review and individual patient meta-analysis.

Invasive brain-computer interfaces (iBCIs) have evolved significantly since the first neurotrophic electrode was implanted in a human subject three decades ago. Since then, both hardware and software advances have increased the iBCI performance to enable tasks such as decoding conversations in real-time and manipulating external limb prostheses with haptic feedback. In this systematic review, we aim to evaluate the advances in iBCI hardware, software and functionality and describe challenges and opportunities in the iBCI field.

Severity of Chronic Kidney Disease as Assessed by the Kidney Failure Risk Equation Is Associated With Incident Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Aim: Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, with substantial healthcare implications. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is similarly impactful, and emerging evidence links CKD to a higher stroke risk. Despite this, stroke risk assessment in CKD patients remains limited.

Cultural and urban city living expectations of knee motion in a Southeast Asian city: implications on total knee arthroplasty outcomes.

Background: The prevalence of knee osteoarthritis in Southeast Asia has increased steadily over the years. When conservative management options fail, total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a reliable surgical option. Despite over 90% post-operative satisfaction, the high volume of TKAs performed means that even a small percentage of dissatisfied patients holds significance.

Robot-assisted minimally invasive transforaminal interbody fusion: a complete workflow pilot feasibility study.

Background: Robotic-assisted spinal surgery has reportedly improved the accuracy of instrumentation with smaller incisions, improving surgical outcomes and reducing hospital stay. However, robot-assisted spine surgery has thus far been confined to placement of pedicle screw instrumentation only. This pilot study aims to explore the feasibility of utilizing the Mazor™ X Stealth Edition (Medtronic, Sofamor Danek USA), robotic-arm platform in the minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) procedure inclusive of interbody cage placement, in our institution.

Effectiveness of continuous glucose monitoring in patient management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: an umbrella review of systematic reviews from 2011 to 2024.

Background: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is increasingly popular for managing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Many systematic reviews have reported on CGM's effectiveness, but with heterogeneous methodologies and objectives. We aim to conduct an umbrella review (UR) to consolidate a most contemporaneous and comprehensive evidence base comparing CGM with self-monitoring of blood glucose or usual care (SMBG/UC).

Single position lateral lumbar interbody fusion with navigated percutaneous pedicle screw fixation: technique modification with resultant resource usage optimisation.

Background: There is an increase in the volume of elective lumbar fusion surgeries. Various techniques have been described however the literature on cost comparisons of different fusion techniques is sparse. The aim of this study was to evaluate resource utilisation of single position (SP) lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) compared to dual position (DP) LLIF.

Acceptability, Perceptions, and Experiences Regarding Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Feasibility Study.

Background: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) can be defined as any report of a patient's health taken directly from the patient. Routine collection of PRO data has been shown to offer potential benefits to patient-doctor communication. Electronic forms of PRO measures (PROMs) could be more beneficial in comparison to traditional PROMs in obtaining PROs from patients.

A Systematic Review of the Reliability and Validity of the Patient Activation Measure Tool.

Patient activation, broadly defined as the ability of individuals to manage their health and navigate the healthcare system effectively, is crucial for achieving positive health outcomes. The Patient Activation Measure (PAM), a popularly used tool, was developed to assess this vital component of health care. This review is the first to systematically examine the validity of the PAM, as well as study its reliability, factor structure, and validity across various populations.

Prognostic potentials of AI in ophthalmology: systemic disease forecasting via retinal imaging.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) that utilizes deep learning (DL) has potential for systemic disease prediction using retinal imaging. The retina's unique features enable non-invasive visualization of the central nervous system and microvascular circulation, aiding early detection and personalized treatment plans for personalized care. This review explores the value of retinal assessment, AI-based retinal biomarkers, and the importance of longitudinal prediction models in personalized care.

Intermittent tourniquet compared to throughout tourniquet use during Total Knee Arthroplasty in patients with Body Mass Index of 30 or more: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Tourniquet use during total knee arthroplasty (TKA) reduces bleeding which optimises bone-cement interface for prosthesis stability and improves surgical field visualisation. However, prolonged usage can lead to complications and poorer outcomes. Some surgeons advocate for intermittent tourniquet application.

Risk of wound infection with use of sterile versus clean gloves in wound repair at the Emergency Department: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Study Objective: Sterile gloves are widely used during wound repair procedures in Emergency Departments (ED) worldwide. It is unclear whether sterile gloves protect against postoperative wound infections. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine if sterile gloves offer significant protection against wound infections compared to clean gloves for wound repair in the ED.

Cardiovascular disease risk assessment using a deep-learning-based retinal biomarker: a comparison with existing risk scores.

Aims: This study aims to evaluate the ability of a deep-learning-based cardiovascular disease (CVD) retinal biomarker, Reti-CVD, to identify individuals with intermediate- and high-risk for CVD.

Methods And Results: We defined the intermediate- and high-risk groups according to Pooled Cohort Equation (PCE), QRISK3, and modified Framingham Risk Score (FRS). Reti-CVD's prediction was compared to the number of individuals identified as intermediate- and high-risk according to standard CVD risk assessment tools, and sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated to assess the results.

Framework to assess the quality of mHealth apps: a mixed-method international case study protocol.

Introduction: Healthcare professionals (HCPs) often recommend their patients to use a specific mHealth app as part of health promotion, disease prevention and patient self-management. There has been a significant growth in the number of HCPs downloading and using mobile health (mHealth) apps. Most mHealth apps that are available in app stores employ a 'star rating' system.

Tibio-Talar-Calcaneal Nail Fixation for Ankle Fractures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Unstable ankle fractures are traditionally treated with open reduction and internal fixation. An alternative surgical option is primary tibio-talar-calcaneal fusion. Our aims were to determine the indication, complication rates, and functional outcomes, of tibio-talar-calcaneal nailing when used as the primary treatment of ankle fractures.

Two-layered metallic film-induced surface plasmon polariton for fluorescence emission enhancement in on-chip waveguide.

We demonstrate an enhancement of fluorescence emission due to bimetallic silver-gold film-induced surface plasmon wave extension. Rhodamine B (RhB) dyes were excited by the evanescent wave field produced from surface plasmon polaritons excited on metal-deposited sections along an embedded strip waveguide. Various silver-gold combinations were used to quantify for the evanescent field enhancement.

Transformation of the ryegrass endophyte Neotyphodium lolii can alter its in planta mycelial morphology.

The fungus Neotyphodium lolii grows in the intercellular spaces of perennial ryegrass as a mutualistic endosymbiont. One of the benefits it conveys to the plant is the production of alkaloids toxic to herbivores. We wanted to determine in planta expression patterns of the N.