Electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation.

Background: Electronic cigarettes (ECs) are handheld electronic vaping devices that produce an aerosol by heating an e-liquid. People who smoke, healthcare providers, and regulators want to know if ECs can help people quit smoking, and if they are safe to use for this purpose. This is a review update conducted as part of a living systematic review.

Microbial surveillance versus cytokine responsiveness in native and non-native house sparrows.

The success of introduced species often relies on flexible traits, including immune system traits. While theories predict non-natives will have weak defences due to decreased parasite pressure, effective parasite surveillance remains crucial, as infection risk is rarely zero and the evolutionary novelty of infection is elevated in non-native areas. This study examines the relationship between parasite surveillance and cytokine responsiveness in native and non-native house sparrows, hypothesizing that non-natives maintain high pathogen surveillance while avoiding costly inflammation.

Precision Medicine in Colorectal Cancer: Targeted Therapies and Biomarker Insights.

The current review delves into the transformative role of precision medicine in addressing Colorectal Cancer [CRC], a pressing global health challenge. It examines closely signalling pathways, genetic and epigenetic modifications, and microsatellite in-stability. The primary focus is on elucidating biomarkers revolutionizing CRC diagnosis and treatment.

From Structure to Function: Isatin Derivatives as a Promising Class of Antiviral Agents.

A range of heterocyclic compounds, including Isatin (oneH-indole-2, 3-dione) and its by-products, have been shown to represent potential unit blocks in the synthesis of potential medicinal agents. Numerous studies have been carried out on isatin, its synthesis, biological uses, and its chemical composition since when it was discovered. Functionally, these isatin-containing heterocycles have demonstrated antibacterial, antidiabetic, antiviral, antitubercular, and anticancer properties, among many others.

Chromosome-level genome assembly of Pontederia cordata L. provides insights into its rapid adaptation and variation of flower colors.

Pontederia cordata L. is an aquatic ornamental plant native to the Americas, but has been widely distributed in South Asia, Australia, and Europe. The genetic mechanisms behind its rapid adaptation and spread have not yet been well understood.

Refractory and Resistant Herpes Simplex Virus Mucocutaneous Infections in Immunocompromised Patients: Literature Review and Proposed Definitions for Use in Clinical Trials.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is one of the most prevalent viral infections worldwide. In general, host immunity is sufficient to clear viral shedding and recurrences, although it is insufficient to prevent subsequent virologic reactivations. In immunocompromised patients, prolonged and difficult-to-treat HSV infections may develop.

How Can We Make Information on Equity in Clinical Guidelines More Usable for Clinicians? A Case Study Methodology of General Practitioners.

Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are moving toward greater consideration of population-level differences, like health inequities, when creating management recommendations. CPGs have the potential to reduce or perpetuate health inequities. The intrinsic design factors of electronic interfaces that contain CPGs are known barriers to guideline use.

Return-to-work in lung transplant recipients: an Australian perspective.

Background: Return-to-work (RTW) following lung transplant has been associated with increased quality of life, but little is known regarding the rates of and barriers to this in the Australian population.

Aims: We aimed to describe, characterise and determine predictors of return to work and social participation in Australian lung transplant recipients. We also sought to explore the relationship between return to work and quality of life.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm: a Swiss case series of a very rare disease and a structured review of the literature.

Introduction: Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a very rare disease, with unique diagnostic challenges and often dismal outcome. There are no widely accepted treatment guidelines available. Lymphoma-like regimens with or without autologous or allogenic transplantation were the cornerstone of most therapeutic concepts.

Identifying segment-specific barriers to ordering environmentally sustainable plant-based meat dishes in restaurants.

Eating less meat when dining out can help mitigate climate change. Plant-based meats can facilitate the transition to a more environmentally sustainable tourism sector. However, uptake of these products remains low.

Practice Guidelines for the Value Evaluation of Clinical Pharmacy Services (version 2).

Objective: To optimize the construction of pharmaceutical services in medical institutions, advance the development of clinical pharmacy as a discipline, enhance the level of clinical pharmacy services, systematically implement and evaluate clinical pharmacy practices, and improve patient therapeutic outcomes, we have developed the Practice Guidelines for the Value Evaluation of Clinical Pharmacy Services (Version 2).

Methods: This guideline was designed following the World Health Organization (WHO) Guideline Development Manual. The Delphi method was employed to identify clinical questions.

Prevalence, risk and resilience factors of mental health conditions among female sex workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Female sex workers are a vulnerable hard-to-reach group. Research in this field is scarce due to several issues, such as methodological difficulties or societal stigmatization. Most of the available literature focuses on sexually transmittable diseases.

A short screen for lifetime sexual victimization experiences: Expanding research on the Sexual Abuse History Questionnaire (SAHQ) across cultures, genders, and sexual identities.

The Sexual Abuse History Questionnaire (SAHQ), a widely used screening tool for childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and adolescent/adult sexual assault (AASA) experiences, has limited examination of its psychometric properties in diverse populations. Our study assessed the SAHQ's psychometric properties (i.e.

A Nonrandomized Pilot Study to Investigate the Acceptability and Feasibility of LivR Well: A Multifaceted 28-Day Home-Based Liver Optimization Program for Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure.

Background And Aims: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) has a 22%-74% 28-day mortality rate and 30%-40% 30-day readmission rate. We investigated the acceptability and feasibility of a multimodal community intervention for ACLF.

Methods: A single-arm nonrandomized pilot study of consecutive participants with ACLF was conducted in a tertiary health service.

Intralesional Steroid Injections for Management of Granulomatous Mastitis: A Systematic Review of Treatment Protocols and Clinical Outcomes.

Although idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (GM) of the breast is a benign condition, it can be locally aggressive and frequently chronic, causing significant pain and distress to the patient. Treatment often involves multiple disciplines including general practice, breast surgery/physicians, rheumatology and/or immunology. Traditional options for treatment include observation, oral steroids, methotrexate and/or surgery, all with variable outcomes.

Gut Microbiome and Metabolome Changes in Chronic Low Back Pain Patients With Vertebral Bone Marrow Lesions.

Background: Chronic low back pain (LBP) is a significant global health concern, often linked to vertebral bone marrow lesions (BML), particularly fatty replacement (FR). This study aims to explore the relationship between the gut microbiome, serum metabolome, and FR in chronic LBP patients.

Methods: Serum metabolomic profiling and gut microbiome analysis were conducted in chronic LBP patients with and without FR (LBP + FR,  = 40; LBP,  = 40) and Healthy Controls (HC,  = 31).

Heart Failure in Atrial Fibrillation Subtypes in Women and Men in the Tromsø Study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) often coexist and impact morbidity and mortality. There is limited knowledge on the association of AF subtypes with HF according to sex.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore sex-specific associations between AF subtypes and subsequent HF, identifying HF risk factors in participants with AF, and exploring the combined impact on mortality.

Practice Patterns and Attitudes Regarding Pregnancy and Parenthood After Lung Transplantation.

Background: Parenthood after lung transplantation (LuTx) is uncommon. Although data exist regarding practice patterns surrounding pregnancy after heart transplantation, there are no data specific to LuTx recipients and parenthood more broadly.

Methods: We conducted a voluntary, anonymous online survey between October and December 2021.

Long-term follow-up of intradetrusor botulinum toxin utilisation: A comparison of patients with multiple sclerosis and idiopathic overactive bladder.

Objectives: To assess long-term outcomes (up to 10 cycles) of repeated intradetrusor botulinum toxin (BoNT) utilisation in multiple sclerosis (MS) and idiopathic overactive bladder (OAB).

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective, international, multi-centre, observational cohort study of patients diagnosed with MS and neurogenic OAB and treated with intradetrusor BoNT between January 2005 and January 2020 (just prior to COVID-19 interruption). Dose, efficacy, duration of effect, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Overactive Bladder (ICIQ-OAB) and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Urinary Incontinence (ICIQ-UI) measures and complication rates were recorded.

Evaluating the utility of the HAS-BLED bleeding-estimator tool for transurethral resection of prostate.

Objectives: To evaluate the utility of the HAS-BLED bleeding risk-estimation tool to predict for clinically significant postoperative haematuria in patients receiving transurethral resection of prostate (TURP).

Patients And Methods: A single-centre, retrospective cohort analysis of patients underwent TURP from April 2019 to December 2023 for treatment of symptomatic benign prostate hyperplasia. The primary objective was to evaluate reliability of HAS-BLED score in predicting postoperative bleeding event.

The feasibility and safety of robotic-assisted salvage radical cystectomy.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of robotic-assisted salvage radical cystectomy (RA-SRC).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively searched the prospectively collected surgical database of two highly experienced robotic urological surgeons for cases of RA-SRC, defined as RARC performed post-previous pelvic RT for palliative or oncologic treatment purposes. Collected data included demographic and clinical information and outcome measures including operative course, hospital stay and complications.