Why Study Religion and Spirituality in Bioethics? Results of a Survey of Courses in Graduate Bioethics Programs in the USA.

The critical relevance and importance of considering religion and spirituality (R/S) in academic and public discourse on bioethical issues and in the illness experiences of patients and families is difficult to deny. Yet, little is known about the nature and scope of R/S education in graduate bioethics training. We therefore conducted a literature review and survey of bioethics programs in the USA and a content analysis of relevant syllabi of courses.

A sterilization method for human decellularized vaginal matrices.

Vaginal reconstruction is necessary for various congenital and acquired conditions, including vaginal aplasia, trauma, tumors, and gender incongruency. Current surgical and non-surgical treatments often result in significant complications. Decellularized vaginal matrices (DVMs) from human tissue offer a promising alternative, but require effective sterilization to ensure safety and functionality.

Effect of peripheral blood absolute monocyte count at admission on relapse-free survival in patients with idiopathic thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in remission.

Introduction: Peripheral monocytes have been reported to correlate with clinical outcomes in various types of malignancies. Previous reports have also shown that acute-phase thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) plasma could induce the activation of monocytes. However, the significance of peripheral blood absolute monocyte count (AMC) in idiopathic TTP remains an unanswered question.

Assessing neonatal Sequential Organ Failure (nSOFA) scores in suspected late-onset neonatal sepsis among preterm infants: implications for morbidity and mortality.

Background: The neonatal Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (nSOFA) score is an organ dysfunction score developed for predicting mortality risk in preterm neonates with proven late-onset neonatal sepsis (LONS) and necrotising enterocolitis. However, the utility of the nSOFA score in determining the risk of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or mortality in patients with suspected LONS is unknown.

Methods: We performed a dual-centre retrospective cohort study of preterm (gestational age <32 weeks) neonates suspected of LONS, from 2016 to 2020 at two neonatal intensive care units.

From Bystander-to-Upstander: A Novel Intervention Framework to Address Microaggressions in a Pediatric Academic Medical Center.

Microaggressions undermine health professionals' performance in patient care, research, and education. This study aimed to develop and evaluate an intervention addressing microaggressions in healthcare settings by empowering bystanders to act as upstanders across an academic medical center (AMC). This was achieved through an educational intervention that included a novel framework, didactics, video demonstrations, and practice with realistic scenarios.

Comparison of using animal manure and sludge compost as biofilter filling material for off-gas control in aerobic composting.

Biofiltration is an important method for composting off-gas treatment. Compost-based materials are widely used as the filling media for biofilter. To expand the application of compost from different composting materials in off-gas control for organic waste aerobic composting, the NH removal efficiency, NO generation, and microbial communities of ammonia monooxygenase (amoA functional gene was selected) and nitrite reductase (nirS functional gene was selected) were investigated using the animal manure compost (AMC) and sludge compost (SC) as filling materials.

Safety and Feasibility of Robot-Assisted Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Using the AVIAR 2.0 System: A Prospective, Multi-Center, Single-Arm, Open, Investigator-Initiated, Post-Approval Clinical Trial.

Background And Objectives: Traditional manual percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) exposes operators to significant radiation and physical stress. The recently developed Advanced Vascular Intervention Assist Robot (AVIAR) 2.0 system in South Korea aimed to overcome these issues by evaluating its safety and feasibility in a clinical setting.

Early midlife ovarian removal is associated with lower posterior hippocampal function.

Introduction: Women with early bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) have greater Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk than women with spontaneous menopause (SM), but the pathway toward this risk is understudied. Considering associative memory deficits may reflect early signs of AD, we studied how BSO affected brain activity underlying associative memory.

Methods: Early midlife women with BSO (with and without 17β-estradiol therapy [ET]) and age-matched controls (AMCs) with intact ovaries completed a face-name associative memory task during functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Persistence, severity and reactivity thresholds in fish allergic patients sensitized to parvalbumin.

Background: Fish allergy affects children and adults worldwide and there are transient and persistent phenotypes.

Objective: We aimed to analyze persistence, severity and reactivity thresholds in challenge-confirmed fish allergic patients sensitized to parvalbumin.

Methods: Patients 12-65 years-old reporting immediate reactions to fish, with fish skin prick test ≥5 mm and IgE to cod and carp β-parvalbumins ≥0.

Pterygium extended removal followed by minor ipsilateral simple limbal epithelial transplantation (PERMISLET): An innovative technique for recurrent pterygium.

We describe a novel technique for recurrent pterygium and assess the advantage of properties of extended tenonectomy, amniotic membrane transplantation, and limbal epithelial transplantation in terms of recurrence rate, postoperative symptoms, postoperative orthoptics, and other complications. A total of nine eyes with recurrent pterygium underwent PERMISLET, i.e.

Repair of Cleft Palate in Adult Patients; Impact of Speech Therapy Following Surgical Intervention in Africa.

Cleft lip and palate anomalies constitute both aesthetic and functional impairments for affected individuals. While an individual with an unrepaired cleft palate may adjust somewhat to the associated feeding challenges as he or she gets older, the consequent speech impairment is amenable primarily to surgery. It is pertinent to assess how well speech function is restored in individuals with cleft after surgical repairs.

European biologic training course for type 2 inflammation by EUFOREA in 2024: key facts and lessons learned.

The European Forum for Research and Education in Allergy and Airways diseases (EUFOREA) organized the first European Biologic Training Course (EBTC) in Brussels on 1st March 2024. The aim of this hybrid EBTC including both face-to-face and web-based participation was to address the educational needs of physicians dealing with asthma and Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP) on the clinically relevant aspects of diagnosing and treatment with biologics. EUFOREA is an international non-for-profit organization forming an alliance of all stakeholders dedicated to reducing the prevalence and burden of chronic respiratory diseases through the implementation of optimal patient care via educational, research, and advocacy activities.

A Retrospective Analysis of Demographics, Clinical Features, and Treatment Patterns in Sickle Cell Disease Patients at a Tertiary Healthcare Centre of North East India.

Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary disorder marked by abnormal hemoglobin (HbS), leading to chronic hemolytic anemia, vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), and multi-organ complications. In India, the prevalence of SCD is highest among tribal populations in states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Assam, with the disease burden exacerbated by limited healthcare access, especially in rural regions. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the demographic profile, clinical features, and treatment patterns of SCD patients at a tertiary healthcare center in Upper Assam, where the prevalence of SCD is high among the tea tribe communities.

Influence of pericardium on ventricular mechanical interdependence in an isolated biventricular working pig heart model.

The pericardium plays an important role in mechanical interactions between the right (RV) and left (LV) ventricles, referred to as ventricular interdependence. However, the exact mechanisms of its supportive role remain unknown. The present study aimed to evaluate specifically ventricular interdependence in a model of isolated biventricular working heart of large mammal, which is in absence of neurohormonal influence or series interactions, and to evaluate the impacts of intact pericardium on this phenomenon.

A simple predictive model for puerperal infections: emphasizing risk factors and pathogen analysis.

Background: Puerperal infection (PI) accounting for approximately 11% of maternal deaths globally is an important preventable cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. This study aims to analyze the high-risk factors and pathogenic bacteria of PI, design a nomogram to predict the risk of PI occurrence, and provide clinical guidance for prevention and treatment to improve maternal outcomes.

Methods: A total of 525 pregnant women were included in the study.

Prevalence and outcomes of nonmass lesions detected on screening breast ultrasound based on ultrasound features.

Purpose: To determine how often non-mass lesions are seen in screening breast ultrasounds, and analyze their ultrasound features according to the ultrasound lexicon to find features suggestive of malignant non-mass lesions.

Methods: This study is a single center retrospective study for nonmass lesions on screening breast ultrasound. Among 21,604 patients who underwent screening breast US, there were 279 patients with nonmass lesions.

Inaccurate communication in health sciences: The case of 'partial artemisinin resistance' for the treatment of malaria.

Background: Accurate scientific terminology is crucial in health sciences to avoid misinterpretations. The use of 'artemisinin resistance' to describe delayed parasite clearance may be inaccurately equated with full resistance, as is typically the case when 'resistance' is used with other pathogens, leading to potential confusion. In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced 'partial artemisinin resistance' to more accurately reflect the delayed parasite clearance observed with artemisinin-based therapies.

Application of four pricing models for orphan medicines: a case study for lumasiran.

Background: The combination of high prices and uncertain effectiveness is a growing challenge in the field of orphan medicines, hampering health technology assessments. Hence, new methods for establishing price benchmarks might be necessary to support reimbursement negotiations. In this study, we applied several pricing models containing cost-based elements to the case of lumasiran for treating primary hyperoxaluria type 1.

Intrathecal Nicardipine After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Scoping Review.

Intrathecal nicardipine (ITN) is an investigational therapy for cerebral vasospasm (CVS) and delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The objective of this scoping review was to characterize the current state of the literature and map the current available evidence, examine research methodology, clarify key concepts and definitions in the literature, report procedural characteristics, identify and analyze knowledge gaps, and serve as a precursor for future systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials. An electronic search for studies on ITN for the treatment of CVS and DCI in patients with aSAH was conducted in accordance with published standards.

Mutation Rate Variation and Other Challenges in 2-LTR Dating of Primate Endogenous Retrovirus Integrations.

The time of integration of germline-targeting Long Terminal Repeat (LTR) retroposons, such as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), can be estimated by assessing the nucleotide divergence between the LTR sequences flanking the viral genes. Due to the viral replication mechanism, both LTRs are identical at the moment of integration, when the provirus becomes part of the host genome. After that time, proviral sequences evolve within the host DNA.

Encompassing view of spatial and single-cell RNA sequencing renews the role of the microvasculature in human atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a pervasive contributor to ischemic heart disease and stroke. Despite the advance of lipid-lowering therapies and anti-hypertensive agents, the residual risk of an atherosclerotic event remains high, and developing therapeutic strategies has proven challenging. This is due to the complexity of atherosclerosis with a spatial interplay of multiple cell types within the vascular wall.

Risk of acute kidney injury after contrast-enhanced MRI examinations in a pediatric population.

Objectives: To investigate the associations between gadolinium-based contrast agent (GBCA) administration and the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in pediatric patients, and to determine the risks associated with AKI.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on pediatric patients who underwent contrast-enhanced or unenhanced MRI between January 1st, 2015, and June 30th, 2021. Examinations were included if they had data on height and serum creatinine levels within 3 months before and 2 days after the examinations.