The effect of Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative compliance on the association between mode of birth and breastfeeding initiation in Sri Lanka.

Background: In Sri Lanka, there is some evidence that the likelihood of breastfeeding initiation varies by exposure to Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative [BFHI]-compliant care and mode of birth. Globally, there is some evidence that exposure to mother-baby skin-to-skin contact (BFHI Step 4) is lower in caesarean section births. Therefore, we aimed to determine how breastfeeding initiation varies by mode of birth in Sri Lanka, and the extent to which women's exposure to BFHI practices explains any associations found.

Tucatinib and trastuzumab in HER2-mutated metastatic breast cancer: a phase 2 basket trial.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2, also known as ERBB2) signaling promotes cell growth and differentiation, and is overexpressed in several tumor types, including breast, gastric and colorectal cancer. HER2-targeted therapies have shown clinical activity against these tumor types, resulting in regulatory approvals. However, the efficacy of HER2 therapies in tumors with HER2 mutations has not been widely investigated.

Explainable deep learning and virtual evolution identifies antimicrobial peptides with activity against multidrug-resistant human pathogens.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a promising approach to identify new antimicrobial compounds in diverse microbial species. Here we developed an AI-based, explainable deep learning model, EvoGradient, that predicts the potency of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and virtually modifies peptide sequences to produce more potent AMPs, akin to in silico directed evolution. We applied this model to peptides encoded in low-abundance human oral bacteria, resulting in the virtual evolution of 32 peptides into potent AMPs.

The Sir Ludwig Guttmann lecture 2023: psychosocial factors and adjustment dynamics after spinal cord injury.

Study Design: Narrative review OBJECTIVES: Sir Ludwig Guttmann realised spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation should incorporate more than a biomedical approach if SCI patients were to adjust to their injury and achieve productive social re-integration. He introduced components into rehabilitation he believed would assist his patients build physical strength as well as psychological resilience that would help them re-engage with their communities. We pay tribute to Sir Ludwig by presenting research that has focussed on psychosocial factors that contribute to adjustment dynamics after SCI.

Gambling advertising regulation in Ghana: what do we know and where to next?

In Ghana and many other sub-Saharan African countries gambling advertising has become pervasive due to weak regulations that allow gambling operators to zealously promote their products as a risk-free way to make money. In this commentary, we provide a public health perspective based on document analysis of the Ghana Gaming Commission's guidelines on advertisements, and recommendations for strengthening Ghana's gambling regulatory environment. With the industry intensifying its focus on new markets to grow and sustain profits, and new global players entering Ghana's market, the competition for market share will most likely intensify with an associated and aggressive increase in gambling advertising.

Suppression of Aedes aegypti may not affect sympatric Aedes albopictus populations: findings from two years of entomological surveillance in Singapore.

Globally, multiple trials have successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of novel tools, such as the sterile and incompatible insect techniques, in suppressing Aedes aegypti populations. However, there is concern that Aedes albopictus, another arbovirus-competent vector, may occupy the niches vacated by Ae. aegypti in areas where these species occur in sympatry.

Enhanced CH emissions from global wildfires likely due to undetected small fires.

Monitoring methane (CH) emissions from terrestrial ecosystems is essential for assessing the relative contributions of natural and anthropogenic factors leading to climate change and shaping global climate goals. Fires are a significant source of atmospheric CH, with the increasing frequency of megafires amplifying their impact. Global fire emissions exhibit large spatiotemporal variations, making the magnitude and dynamics difficult to characterize accurately.

Climate change influences on the potential geographic distribution of the invasive Asian longhorned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis.

The Asian long-horned tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis Neumann, 1901, is the competent vector for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV). Haemaphysalis longicornis originated mainly in eastern Asia and invaded many areas like Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific islands, and was recently introduced to eastern parts of the USA. This species is characterized by high adaptability to a wide range of temperatures and can reproduce parthenogenically under stressful conditions.

Undoped ruthenium oxide as a stable catalyst for the acidic oxygen evolution reaction.

Reducing green hydrogen production cost is critical for its widespread application. Proton-exchange-membrane water electrolyzers are among the most promising technologies, and significant research has been focused on developing more active, durable, and cost-effective catalysts to replace expensive iridium in the anode. Ruthenium oxide is a leading alternative while its stability is inadequate.

Compositional data analysis enables statistical rigor in comparative glycomics.

Comparative glycomics data are compositional data, where measured glycans are parts of a whole, indicated by relative abundances. Applying traditional statistical analyses to these data often results in misleading conclusions, such as spurious "decreases" of glycans when other structures increase in abundance, or high false-positive rates for differential abundance. Our work introduces a compositional data analysis framework, tailored to comparative glycomics, to account for these data dependencies.

Yttrium-doped NiMo-MoO heterostructure electrocatalysts for hydrogen production from alkaline seawater.

Active and stable electrocatalysts are essential for hydrogen production from alkaline water electrolysis. However, precisely controlling the interaction between electrocatalysts and reaction intermediates (HO*, H*, and *OH) remains challenging. Here, we demonstrate an yttrium-doped NiMo-MoO heterogenous electrocatalyst that efficiently promotes water dissociation and accelerates the intermediate adsorption/desorption dynamics in alkaline electrolytes.

High-throughput method characterizes hundreds of previously unknown antibiotic resistance mutations.

A fundamental obstacle to tackling the antimicrobial resistance crisis is identifying mutations that lead to resistance in a given genomic background and environment. We present a high-throughput technique - Quantitative Mutational Scan sequencing (QMS-seq) - that enables quantitative comparison of which genes are under antibiotic selection and captures how genetic background influences resistance evolution. We compare four E.

Pharmacogenomic curriculum in Australian medical schools: a content analysis study.

Aims: To ascertain and describe pharmacogenomic concepts included in the intended curriculum of accredited Australian medical schools.

Methods: Content analysis of curriculum learning objectives of Australian medical schools was conducted, focusing on keywords and phrases pertaining to pharmacogenomic education. Learning objectives related to pharmacogenomics were categorized using (1) undergraduate medical genomic competencies per the Association of Professors in Human and Medical Genetics (2) Bloom's Taxonomy for cognitive and knowledge dimensions and (3) knowledge translation (enabling science, translation science and clinical implementation).

Zwitterionic Poly(ethylene glycol) Nanoparticles Minimize Protein Adsorption and Immunogenicity for Improved Biological Fate.

We report the assembly of poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles (PEG NPs) and optimize their surface chemistry to minimize the formation of protein coronas and immunogenicity for improved biodistribution. PEG NPs cross-linked with disulfide bonds are synthesized utilizing zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 NPs as the templates, which are subsequently modified with PEG molecules with different end groups (carboxyl, methoxy, or amino) to vary the surface chemistry. Among the modifications, the amino and residual carboxyl groups form a pair of zwitterionic structures on the surface of PEG NPs, which minimize the adsorption of proteins (e.

Electrosynthesis of Silane-Modified Magnetic Nanoparticles for Efficient Lead Ion Removal.

The removal of heavy metal ions, such as lead (Pb2+), from aqueous systems is critical due to their high toxicity and bioaccumulation in living organisms. This study presents a straightforward approach for the synthesis and surface modification of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) for the magnetic removal of Pb2+ ions. IONPs were produced via electrosynthesis at varying voltages (10-40 V), with optimal magnetic properties achieved at 40 V resulting in highly crystalline and magnetic IONPs in the gamma-maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) phase.

Soil Nitrogen Supply Exerts Largest Influence on Leaf Nitrogen in Environments with the Greatest Leaf Nitrogen Demand.

Accurately representing the relationships between nitrogen supply and photosynthesis is crucial for reliably predicting carbon-nitrogen cycle coupling in Earth System Models (ESMs). Most ESMs assume positive correlations amongst soil nitrogen supply, leaf nitrogen content, and photosynthetic capacity. However, leaf photosynthetic nitrogen demand may influence the leaf nitrogen response to soil nitrogen supply; thus, responses to nitrogen supply are expected to be the largest in environments where demand is the greatest.

Approximate Hamiltonians from a Linear Vibronic Coupling Model for Solution-Phase Spin Dynamics.

The linear vibronic coupling (LVC) model is an approach for approximating how a molecular Hamiltonian changes in response to small changes in molecular geometry. The LVC framework thus has the ability to approximate molecular Hamiltonians at low computational expense but with quality approaching multiconfigurational calculations, when the change in geometry compared to the reference calculation used to parametrize it is small. Here, we show how the LVC approach can be used to project approximate spin Hamiltonians of a solvated lanthanide complex along a room-temperature molecular dynamics trajectory.

Permanent hypoparathyroidism following total thyroidectomy - Incidence and preventative strategies without imaging adjuncts.

Introduction: Permanent hypoparathyroidism (pHypoPT) is the most common permanent complication of total thyroidectomy. We aim to describe the incidence and predictors of hypoparathyroidism in a consecutive series of patients treated in a high-volume centre and define strategies to reduce the risk of pHypoPT.

Methods: 1182 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy between April 2018 and June 2022 were analyzed.

Urgent findings in CT chest examinations: Radiography and medical students' capabilities and learning perspectives - a preliminary study.

Introduction: Radiography and medical students (RMS), upon graduation, require capabilities to provide life-saving care through identification and communication of urgent findings on radiological imaging. This preliminary study investigated RMS' ability to identify and categorise urgent findings on CT examinations. It also explored their experiences of image interpretation education.

The Clinical Significance of PCI-Related Myocardial Infarction in Stable Ischaemic Heart Disease Patients in the Era of hs-Troponin.

Background & Aim: The definition and clinical relevance of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-related myocardial infarction (MI) has been a topic of significant debate and controversy. It has particularly garnered widespread attention recently due to a contemporary trend of including it as a component of primary end points in major trials. The study aimed to assess the clinical relevance of PCI-related MI (PMI) according to the Fourth Universal Definition of MI using a high-sensitivity troponin (hs-Tn) assay in a real-world setting.

Sex and Cardiac Operations: Are We Being Fair to Our Female Patients?

Background: Research suggests that although men have a higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) rate, women with CVD are more likely to experience a poorer prognosis, possibly owing to incorrect diagnosis and poorer treatment. A question not yet addressed is whether some of this inequality could be due to sex bias when selecting patients for operation.

Method: The participants were from the Scottish Heart Health Extended Cohort who had been admitted to hospital with a cardiovascular diagnosis over the study period.

Perioperative Use of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Procedures: A Scoping Review.

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) therapies are increasingly used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. Despite growing awareness of potentially increased risk of pulmonary aspiration due to delayed gastric emptying, the risks and benefits of their perioperative use in patients undergoing cardiac procedures remains unexplored. A scoping review was performed to investigate the perioperative GLP-1RA use in patients undergoing cardiac procedures and recommendations.

Identifying Gaps in Detection of Heart Valve Disease in Australia: A Population Survey.

Background: Untreated severe heart valve disease (HVD) is associated with premature mortality. Research shows low population awareness of when to seek assessment and low focus on cardiac auscultation by physicians in primary care settings. We studied contemporary public knowledge of HVD and assessment by their general practitioner (GP) in Australia.

Effectiveness of the Interdisciplinary Home-bAsed Reablement Programme (I-HARP) on improving functional independence of people living with dementia: a multicentre, pragmatic, randomised, open-label, controlled trial.

Background: We investigated the effectiveness of an Interdisciplinary Home-bAsed Reablement Programme (I-HARP) on improving functional independence, health and well-being of people with dementia, family carer outcomes and costs.

Method: A multicentre pragmatic parallel-arm randomised controlled trial compared I-HARP to usual care in community-dwelling people with mild to moderate dementia and their family carers in Sydney, Australia (2018-2022). I-HARP is a 4-month, home-based, dementia rehabilitation model delivered by an interdisciplinary team.

Recent progress in CRISPR/Cas9 system for eye disorders.

Ocular disorders encompass a broad spectrum of phenotypic and clinical symptoms resulting from several genetic variants and environmental factors. The unique anatomy and physiology of the eye facilitate validation of cutting-edge gene editing treatments. Genome editing developments have allowed researchers to treat a variety of diseases, including ocular disorders.