Clinical Manifestations.

Background: Subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are emerging as potential early indicators of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD). SCCs refers to a self-perceived decline in cognitive abilities without objective impairment, while NPS describe neuropsychiatric symptoms that emerge in later life that may precede or co-occur with cognitive decline. This study explores the association between SCCs, NPS, global cognition, and incident dementia using data from the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study (MAS).

Clinical Manifestations.

Background: Although it has been estimated that modifiable risk factors account for around 40% of population variability in dementia risk, understanding how risk factors are related to one another and to brain pathology and cognition has been challenging. We used a clustering approach to examine patterns of risk factor interrelationships and to investigate how these patterns affect relationships between pathology and cognition.

Method: We collected risk factor data concerning health, lifestyle, sleep, and personality from 149 cognitively normal older adults (73±6.

Clinical Manifestations.

Background: The success of therapeutic options for treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the growing emphasis for such treatment to commence in the pre-clinical phase makes it necessary to have robust empirical models of clinical disease progression to understand findings from clinical trials, allow clinicians to evaluate effects of new drugs, and to select individuals for future trials. Such models have been developed from relatively small samples, with incomplete data/substantial loss to follow-up. The ADOPIC consortium provides the largest complete AD natural history sample to date.

Clinical Manifestations.

Background: Apathy (loss of motivation or goal-directed behaviour) and depression each confer risk for dementia, cardiovascular disease and mortality in older adults. Mechanisms for this are not yet understood, and may involve systemic inflammation. However, this has received little attention, particularly in older adults where depression may present differently.

Automated abdominal aortic calcification and major adverse cardiovascular events in people undergoing osteoporosis screening: the Manitoba Bone Mineral Density Registry.

Vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) images from bone density machines enable the automated machine learning assessment of abdominal aortic calcification (ML-AAC), a marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The objective of this study was to describe the risk of a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE, from linked health records) in patients attending routine bone mineral density (BMD) testing and meeting specific criteria based on age, BMD, height loss, or glucocorticoid use have a VFA in the Manitoba Bone Mineral Density Registry. The cohort included 10 250 individuals (mean 75.

Atrial fibrillation ablation timing: where is the sweet spot?

Convincing evidence for the efficacy of ablation as first-line therapy in paroxysmal AF (PAF) and its clear superiority to medical therapy for rhythm control in both PAF and persistent AF (PsAF) has generated considerable interest in the optimal timing of ablation. Based on this data, there is a widespread view that the principle of 'the earlier the better' should be generally applied. However, the natural history of AF is highly variable and non-linear, and for this reason, it is difficult to be emphatic that all patients are best served by ablation early after their initial AF episodes.

Penile suspensory ligament: anatomy, function, and clinical perspectives of its repair.

Background: The penile suspensory ligament (PSL) plays a significant role in penile support and erection and its injury or congenital absence may result in functional impairment of erectile function.

Aim: To describe the diagnosis and surgical repair technique for PSL abnormalities and overall outcomes.

Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was performed to understand the anatomic relevance of the PSL and historical management of PSL defects.

Global, regional, and national burden of primary liver cancer attributable to metabolic risks: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2021.

Background: The global burden of metabolic diseases is increasing, but estimates of their impact on primary liver cancer are uncertain. We aimed to assess the global burden of primary liver cancer attributable to metabolic risk factors, including high body mass index (BMI) and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, between 1990 and 2021.

Methods: The total number and age-standardized rates of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from primary liver cancer attributable to each metabolic risk factor were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2021.

Controllable topological phase transition ferroelectric-paraelectric switching in a ferromagnetic single-layer MMGeX family.

Recently, the emergence of two-dimensional (2D) multiferroic materials has opened a new perspective for exploring topological states. However, instances of tuning topological phase transitions through ferroelectric (FE) polarization in 2D ferromagnetic (FM) materials are relatively rare. Here, we found that 11 single layer (SL) materials, named the MMGeX family, possess both FE and FM properties.

Warfare under the waves: a review of bacteria-derived algaecidal natural products.

Covering: 1960s to 2024Harmful algal blooms pose a major threat to aquatic ecosystems and can impact human health. The frequency and intensity of these blooms has increased over recent decades, driven primarily by climate change and an increase in nutrient runoff. Algal blooms often produce toxins that contaminate water sources, disrupt fisheries, and harm human health.

Family Caregivers' Experiences of Long-Term Care Residents Living With Dementia During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An International Grounded Theory Study.

Aims: Caution around the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in visitation restrictions to prevent the spread of the virus among vulnerable older persons living in long-term care (LTC), which posed a threat to individual well-being and family togetherness across the globe. The purpose of this study was to explore family caregiver's experience of having a person who is living with dementia residing in a long-term care facility during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design: Qualitative descriptive study using constructivist grounded theory (GT) methodology.

Single versus double stapled anastomosis in natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) laparoscopic anterior resection.

Background: Laparoscopic anterior resection (LAR) with Natural Orifice Specimen Extraction (NOSE) has shown benefits such as reduced pain, fewer wound complications, and improved cosmesis. In colorectal anastomosis during NOSE, double staple anastomosis (DSA) and triple stapled technique (TSA) are common. However, a novel single stapled anastomosis (SSA) technique, utilising two laparoscopically placed purse strings and only four 5 mm ports, has emerged.

Atrial fibrillation status and associations with adverse clinical outcomes in patients hospitalised with COVID-19: a large unselected statewide population-linkage study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in COVID-19 patients. The impact of AF on major-adverse-cardiovascular-events (MACE defined as all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, cardiac failure or coronary revascularisation), recurrent AF admission and venous thromboembolism in hospitalised COVID-19 patients is unclear.

Methods: Patients admitted with COVID-19 (1-January-2020 to 30-September-2021) were identified from the New South Wales Admitted-Patient-Data-Collection database, stratified by AF status (no-AF vs prior-AF or new-AF during index COVID-19 admission) and followed-up until 31-Mar-2022.

Factors Associated With Prelacteal Feeding of Commercial Milk Formula: An Analysis of Cohort Data From the BADUTA Study in Indonesia.

Introducing commercial milk formula (CMF) as prelacteal feeds can disturb exclusive breastfeeding and shorten breastfeeding duration. However, the prelacteal feeding of CMF has been growing alongside its increasing sales in Indonesia. This study examined predictors of the CMF feeding in the Malang and Sidoarjo districts of Indonesia.

Nature-Based Community Recovery Post-Natural Disaster: Black Summer Bushfires.

Objective: Natural disasters can cause widespread death and extensive physical devastation, but also harmfully impact individual and community health following a disaster event. Nature-based recovery approach can positively influence the mental health of people and community's post-natural disasters. In response to the Australian bushfire season of 2019-2020, Zoos Victoria, in partnership with the Arthur Rylah Institute, worked with local communities in East Gippsland to support people's recovery through experiencing, supporting, and witnessing nature's recovery.

Adaptive Radiative Thermal Management Using Transparent, Flexible Ag Nanowire Networks.

Effective heat management is critical for improving energy efficiency and minimizing environmental impact. Passive radiative heat management systems rely on specific materials and design configurations to naturally modulate temperature, enhance system reliability, and decrease operational costs by modulating infrared light. However, their static nature proves insufficient in dynamic settings experiencing significant temperature fluctuations.

Phenotype Spectrum of TRPM3-Associated Disorders.

Objective: Monoallelic variants in the transient receptor potential melastatin-related type 3 gene (TRPM3) have been associated with neurodevelopmental manifestations, but knowledge on the clinical manifestations and treatment options is limited. We characterized the clinical spectrum, highlighting particularly the epilepsy phenotype, and the effect of treatments.

Methods: We analyzed retrospectively the phenotypes and genotypes of 43 individuals with TRPM3 variants, acquired from GeneMatcher and collaborations (n = 21), and through a systematic literature search (n = 22).

High-Speed Video Blink Analysis Improves Detection of Facial Palsy in Early Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Introduction/aims: Electrophysiological investigations in early Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) can be nondiagnostic. Improved testing for facial weakness in the early phase of GBS may improve diagnostic processes, as such weakness is found in approximately 50% of patients with GBS. This work pilots the utility of high-speed video analysis to complement blink reflex testing in early GBS.

Novel digital droplet inverse PCR assay shows that natural clearance of Hepatitis B infection is associated with fewer viral integrations.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA integration into the host cell genome is reportedly a major cause of liver cancer, and a source of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). High HBsAg levels can alter immune responses which therefore contributes to the progression of HBV-related disease. However, to what extent integration leads to the persistent circulating HBsAg is unclear.

Financial assistance for snakebite envenoming by OECD nations.

Background: The World Health Organization re-established snakebite as a neglected tropical disease in 2017. An overview is provided on snakebite financial assistance in relation to the policy landscape change.

Methods: The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Creditor Reporting System database was searched and 184 results obtained from 1999 to 2022 underwent simple Excel analysis.

An Array of Glucose Nanozymes That Can Selectively Detect Glucose in Whole Blood.

Achieving sensors that can sensitively and selectively quantify levels of analytes in complex biofluids such as blood remains a significant challenge. To address this, we synthesized an array of isolated carbon nanochannels on a flat gold electrode that function as molecular sieves to prevent protein fouling and eliminate the need for antifouling layers. Utilizing a two-step pulsed technique, a reductive pulse expels negative interferences and fouling molecules followed by an oxidative pulse that oxidizes glucose at the bottom of the channel and on the gold surface.

Challenges and strategies for effective recruitment and retention of participants in clinical research studies.

Effective recruitment and retention of participants in clinical research studies are critical to be able to draw meaningful and valid conclusions in research studies. However, there are multiple challenges related to communication, generalizability, and logistics. Researchers must address and overcome these challenges to ensure robust research outcomes.

Patients perspectives on integrating eHealth in regular care pathways for atrial fibrillation: evaluating photoplethysmography for remote self-assessment.

Aims: Smartphone applications for heart rate and rhythm assessment are increasingly used for the management of atrial fibrillation (AF). Although the use of a photoplethysmography (PPG)-based smartphone application with subsequent (tele)consultations for AF management has been proven feasible in the TeleCheck-AF project, specific needs, and expectations of patients with AF are unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate patients' perspectives on the use of remote PPG-based electronical health (eHealth) integrated in regular care pathways for AF.