Targeted exonic sequencing identifies novel variants in a cerebral small vessel disease cohort.

Background And Aims: Cerebral small vessel diseases (CSVDs) are a set of conditions that affect the small blood vessels in the brain and can cause severe neurological pathologies such as stroke and vascular dementia. The most common monogenic CSVD is cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) which is caused by mutations in NOTCH3. However, only 15-20% of CADASIL cases referred for genetic testing have pathogenic mutations in NOTCH3.

Incidence, Characteristics and Prognostic Significance of Early Recurrences Following Different Ablation Approaches for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Early recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia (ERAT) is common following catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). The specific clinical and arrhythmia characteristics of ERAT influencing late recurrence risk in persistent AF is unclear. Additionally, the impact of different ablation strategies on the incidence and prognostic significance of ERAT remains unknown.

Altered anconeus muscle activation characteristics during isometric gripping in individuals with lateral elbow tendinopathy compared to age- and sex-matched control.

Purpose: Individuals with Lateral Epicondyle Tendinopathy (LET) commonly experience gripping deficits, which are marked by pain and altered motor control of the forearm extensors and flexors. Although delayed activation of the anconeus muscle during rapid wrist extension has been observed in LET, its role during gripping is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate anconeus activation and its relation to forearm muscle activity during gripping in individuals with LET.

Impact of Mild Hypercapnia on Renal Function After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Post-resuscitation cardiogenic shock (CS) is a key contributing factor. Targeting a higher arterial carbon dioxide tension may affect AKI after OHCA in patients with or without CS.

Prediction of good neurological outcome after return of circulation following paediatric cardiac arrest: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: To evaluate the ability of blood-biomarkers, clinical examination, electrophysiology, or neuroimaging, assessed within 14 days from return of circulation to predict good neurological outcome in children following out- or in-hospital cardiac arrest.

Methods: Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane Trials databases were searched (2010-2023). Sensitivity and false positive rates (FPR) for good neurological outcome (defined as either 'no, mild, moderate disability or minimal change from baseline') in paediatric survivors were calculated for each predictor.

Synthetic glycol-split heparin tri- and tetrasaccharides provide new insights into structural peculiarities for antiheparanase activity.

Heparanase is the only known endo-β-glucuronidase able to cleave heparan sulfate, participating in degradation and remodelling of the extracellular matrix. Heparanase upregulation promotes tumor growth and metastasis, therefore, its inhibition is a target for anticancer therapies. Heparan sulfate mimetics bearing glycol-split (gs) units are one of the most promising class of heparanase inhibitors.

Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to predict information- and support-seeking on Facebook in people with endometriosis.

Background: Many people with endometriosis want to learn more about their condition and connect with others for support. Frequently they turn to social media site Facebook to do so. This study aimed to explore the drivers of endometriosis consumers' intentions and use of Facebook for health-related information and support, as outlined in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB).

Comparison of United States and Australian pharmacy student attitudes towards careers in geriatrics.

Introduction: The population of older adults is expanding globally, but there remains a lack of healthcare professionals trained to meet growing care needs. The primary objective of this study was to compare the top three to four factors driving interest vs. lack of interest in geriatrics among pharmacy students in the United States (US) vs.

Perceptions of birth and wellbeing after birth debriefing among women who describe their birth as traumatic.

Introduction: In Australia, birth debriefing (BD) practices have primarily focused on clinical PTSD-FC, often neglecting the needs of mothers who describe their birth as traumatic but do not meet PTSD-FC criteria. The cessation of routine BD has overlooked a significant cohort- mothers experiencing subjective birth trauma (SBT). Their perceptions and wellbeing during the postpartum period remain poorly understood, and the lack of targeted interventions limits options for these mothers.

Physical therapist-delivered motivational interviewing and health-related behaviour change: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Motivational interviewing (MI) promotes health-related behaviour change and improves patient health outcomes, but the effect of physical therapist-delivered MI is unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of physical therapist-delivered MI on health-related behaviour change in adults attending physical therapy or rehabilitation.

Methods: CINAHL, Medline, PubMed, PEDro, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched in August 2023.

Changes in sleep duration status and risk of high carotid intima-media thickness in children: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Short sleep duration is common in the pediatric population and is associated with an increased risk of high carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. However, little is known regarding whether changes in sleep duration status over time can alter the risk of high cIMT in children.

Objectives: To examine the association between changes in sleep duration status and high cIMT in a cohort study of Chinese children.

Preserving privacy in healthcare: A systematic review of deep learning approaches for synthetic data generation.

Background: Data sharing in healthcare is vital for advancing research and personalized medicine. However, the process is hindered by privacy, ethical, and legal challenges associated with patient data. Synthetic data generation emerges as a promising solution, replicating statistical properties of real data while enhancing privacy protection.

Mediators and Moderators of two online interventions for managing pain, fear of progression and functional ability in rheumatoid arthritis.

This is a secondary analysis of a trial comparing online mindfulness-based stress reduction with cognitive-behaviour therapy for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Both interventions were administered over eight weeks with five lessons and accompanied by weekly therapist contact. For the purposes of this study, we investigated the pain severity, fear of progression and functional ability as the outcome variables because the treatments had differential effects on these three outcomes but had equivalent effects on other variables.

Dynamics of visual object coding within and across the hemispheres: Objects in the periphery.

The human brain continuously integrates information across its two hemispheres to construct a coherent representation of the perceptual world. Characterizing how visual information is represented in each hemisphere over time is crucial for understanding how hemispheric transfer contributes to perception. Here, we investigated information processing within each hemisphere over time and the degree to which it is distinct or duplicated across hemispheres.

Unearthing the secrets of Australia's most enigmatic and cryptic mammal, the marsupial mole.

The marsupial moles are arguably Australia's most enigmatic marsupials. Almost indistinguishable from placental (eutherian) moles, they provide a striking example of convergent evolution. Exploring the genome of the southern marsupial mole, we provide insights into its unusual biology.

Joint Metabolites for Avocado Oil Identity: Fatty Acid Profiles and Fatty Alcohol Esters as Unique Derivatives.

Fatty acid (FA), tocopherol, and phytosterol profiles are used in avocado oil purity standards. However, blends with other oils can mimic the profile of pure avocado oil, resulting in similar ranges for these molecules. Therefore, fatty alcohol esters (FAEs) uniquely of spp.

Apps and Digital Resources for Child Neurodevelopment, Mental Health, and Well-Being: Review, Evaluation, and Reflection on Current Resources.

Background: An increase in the prevalence of neurodevelopmental conditions worldwide, alongside resource constraints within clinical services, has led to increased interest in health information technologies, such as apps and digital resources. Digital tools are often viewed as a solution to bridge this divide and to increase supports for families. There is, however, a paucity of research that has evaluated digital health tools, their potential benefits for child neurodevelopment and associated concerns (eg, mental health, well-being), and their benefit for families.

Causes of Unwarranted Variation and Disparity in Breast Cancer Management in Regional and Rural Area.

Introduction: Breast cancer management is complex, requiring personalised care from multidisciplinary teams. Research shows that there is unwarranted clinical variation in mastectomy rates between rural and metropolitan patients; that is, variation in treatment which cannot be explained by disease progression or medical necessity. This study aims to determine the clinical and nonclinical factors contributing to any unwarranted variation in breast cancer management in rural patients and to evaluate how these factors and variations relate to patient outcomes.

Breast Desmoid Tumours: A Review of the Literature.

Breast desmoid tumour is a rare type of benign breast disease that presents like malignancy. Current guidelines are based on limited evidence derived from case reports and small case series and recommend resection with microscopically-negative margin (R0). There is a high risk of recurrence despite negative surgical margins.

Should an Interval Appendicectomy Be Performed by a Minimally Invasive Gynaecologist?

Objective: We aimed to explore the abnormal pathology findings in appendix specimens removed based on intraoperative abnormal appearance during elective surgery for benign gynaecological conditions by a minimally invasive gynaecologist, as well as the associated complication rate.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary referral surgical centre for benign gynaecological conditions between the years 2004-2023. It included patients who underwent appendicectomy by a trained minimally invasive gynaecologist based on observations during surgery for benign gynaecological conditions.

Psychometric validation of the Cardiac Distress Inventory - Short Form among people with cardiac diseases in Hong Kong.

Objectives: Cardiac patients experience various somatic and psychosocial symptoms and stress is an important prognostic factor of cardiac rehabilitation. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the 12-item Cardiac Distress Inventory - Short Form (CDI-SF) in the Chinese context.

Methods: A total of 227 patients with cardiac diseases were recruited in a specialist outpatient clinic in Hong Kong between Aug 2022 and July 2023.

The crop mined phosphorus nutrition via modifying root traits and rhizosphere micro-food web to meet the increased growth demand under elevated CO.

Elevated CO (eCO) stimulates productivity and nutrient demand of crops. Thus, comprehensively understanding the crop phosphorus (P) acquisition strategy is critical for sustaining agriculture to combat climate changes. Here, wheat ( L) was planted in field in the eCO (550 µmol mol) and ambient CO (aCO, 415 µmol mol) environments.

The influence of fetal sex on antenatal maternal glucose and insulin dynamics.

The 'Developmental Origins of Health and Disease' (DOHaD) hypothesis postulates that exposures during critical periods of development and growth, including maternal hyperglycemia, can have significant consequences for short- and long-term health in offspring. The influence of fetal status on maternal (patho)physiology is less well understood but gaining attention. Fetal sex specifically may be an independent risk factor for a range of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including increased gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) frequency with male fetuses in multi-ethnic populations.

Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals for the Management of Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Postmenopausal Women.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in women and risk of development is greatly increased following menopause. Menopause occurs over several years and is associated with hormonal changes, including a reduction in estradiol and an increase in follicle-stimulating hormone. This hormonal shift may result in an increased risk of developing abdominal adiposity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, vascular dysfunction, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), and metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Conceptualizing the Social Determinants of Mental Health Within an International Human Rights Framework: A Focus on Housing and Employment.

The social determinants of health and international human rights law share many overlapping concerns and goals in promoting human well-being. However, so far they have been developing largely in silos, resulting in calls for greater interdisciplinary collaboration. The purpose of this paper is to explore how the social determinants of health-specifically mental health-can fit within international human rights law conceptually and practically.