"It was a foregone conclusion": a qualitative study of women's experiences and meaning-making of later-in-life abortion in Belgium.

Abortion is an indispensable healthcare service for women of all reproductive ages. Research on abortion is often focused on younger women, neglecting those who are closer to the end of their reproductive lifespan. This study presents findings from qualitative interviews with Belgian women who had an abortion at the age of 40 or older, conducted between May 2022 and April 2023.

Parenteral nutrition and bioelectrical impedance analysis estimated fat-free mass in adult patients with chronic intestinal failure: A descriptive cohort study.

Background: In patients with chronic intestinal failure, the content and type of parenteral nutrition are individually determined based on various factors, including body composition. In clinical practice, bioelectrical impedance analysis is used to assess body composition using standardized protocols. However, these protocols lack specific recommendations for patients receiving parenteral nutrition.

"I'm trying to figure out who the hell I am": Examining the psychosocial and mental health experience of individuals learning "Not Parent Expected" news from a direct-to-consumer DNA ancestry test.

Background: According to recent estimates, around 30 million people have taken Direct-to-Consumer DNA ancestry tests, typically marketed as a fun, harmless and exciting process of discovery. These tests estimate a user's ethnic ancestry, also matching users with biological relations on their database. This matching can produce a surprising 'not parent expected' discovery, where a user learns that an assumed parent (typically the father) is not a biological parent.

Oxidative Neutralisation of Sulfur-based Chemical Warfare Agents Mediated by a Lipase: from Batch to Flow Reactor.

The sulfur-containing chemical warfare agents sulfur mustard HD and nerve agent VX are highly toxic and persistent in the environment. Therefore, their neutralisation requires harsh oxidation conditions, but also precise selectivity. Here we report the safe and effective detoxification of surrogates CEES and PhX by selective oxidation of the sulfur atom by generating peracetic acid from AcOEt and aq.

Patient-reported outcomes following ciltacabtagene autoleucel or standard of care in patients with lenalidomide-refractory multiple myeloma (CARTITUDE-4): results from a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial.

Background: In CARTITUDE-4, ciltacabtagene autoleucel (cilta-cel) significantly improved progression-free survival (primary endpoint; previously reported) versus standard of care in patients with relapsed, lenalidomide-refractory multiple myeloma. We report here patient-reported outcomes.

Methods: In the ongoing, phase 3, open-label CARTITUDE-4 study, patients were recruited from 81 sites in the USA, Europe, Asia, and Australia, and were randomly assigned 1:1 to cilta-cel (target, 0·75 × 10 CAR-T cells/kg) or standard of care (daratumumab, pomalidomide, and dexamethasone; pomalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone).

Revising EU pharmaceutical legislation: will it foster drug repurposing?

Repurposing off-patent drugs can be a potential source of low-cost treatments for patients with unmet medical needs. Here, we review the proposed new European Union (EU) pharmaceutical legislation in which two articles address drug repurposing. We find certain barriers hindering the adoption of these new incentives by academic and not-for-profit stakeholders, including lack of knowledge on regulatory aspects, pharmacovigilance, and restrictions in data protection.

Vagus nerve stimulation lead durability: Insights from an extensive monocentric single-operator adult series.

Background: Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an established surgical option for neuromodulation. Lead failure is a significant complication mainly reported in children.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of all VNS-related surgeries for refractory epilepsy in adults performed by a single experienced surgeon at a French national referral center from November 2011 to March 2023.

A deep learning approach to perform defect classification of freeze-dried product.

Cosmetic inspection of freeze-dried products is an important part of the post-manufacturing quality control process. Traditionally done by human visual inspection, this method poses typical challenges and shortcomings that can be addressed with innovative techniques. While many cosmetic defects can occur, some are considered more critical than others as they can be harmful to the patient or affect the drug's efficacy.

Impact of virtual reality with or without hypnosis before oocyte retrieval: A randomised study.

Objective Of The Study: Anxiety can affect pregnancy rate following an in-vitro-fertilisation procedure. Hypnosis reduces emotional distress associated with medical procedures. Virtual reality (VR) is an immersive 3D experience, created using a visual headset and headphones.

Vanzacaftor-tezacaftor-deutivacaftor versus elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor in individuals with cystic fibrosis aged 12 years and older (SKYLINE Trials VX20-121-102 and VX20-121-103): results from two randomised, active-controlled, phase 3 trials.

Background: The goal of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators is to reach normal CFTR function in people with cystic fibrosis. Vanzacaftor-tezacaftor-deutivacaftor restored CFTR function in vitro and in phase 2 trials in participants aged 18 years and older resulting in improvements in CFTR function, as measured by sweat chloride concentrations and lung function as measured by spirometry. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of vanzacaftor-tezacaftor-deutivacaftor compared with standard of care elexacaftor-tezacaftor-ivacaftor in individuals with cystic fibrosis aged 12 years and older.

Systematic review: REM sleep, dysphoric dreams and nightmares as transdiagnostic features of psychiatric disorders with emotion dysregulation - Clinical implications.

Background: Fragmented rapid eye movement (REM) sleep disrupts the overnight resolution of emotional distress, a process crucial for emotion regulation. Emotion dysregulation, which is common across psychiatric disorders, is often associated with sleep disturbances. This systematic review explores how REM sleep and nightmares affect emotion processing and regulation in individuals with psychiatric disorders where emotion dysregulation is a key concern, suggesting novel sleep-related treatment pathways.

3D reconstruction of shoulder muscles in hominoid primates: Correlating scapular attachment areas with muscle volume.

Digital muscle reconstructions have gained attraction in recent years, serving as powerful tools in both educational and research contexts. These reconstructions can be derived from various 2D and 3D data sources, enabling detailed anatomical analyses. In this study, we evaluate the efficacy of surface scans in accurately reconstructing the volumes of the rotator cuff and teres major muscles across a diverse sample of hominoids.

Grouping of chemicals for safety assessment: the importance of toxicokinetic properties of salicylate esters.

Grouping of chemicals has been proposed as a strategy to speed up the screening and identification of potential substances of concern among the broad chemical universe under REACH. Such grouping is usually based on shared structural features and should only be used for the prioritization objectives. However, additional considerations (as well as structural similarity) are needed, e.

Integrating human biomonitoring exposure data into a primary care morbidity database: a feasibility study.

Background: The detection of a local per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pollution hotspot in Zwijndrecht (Belgium) necessitated immediate action to address health concerns of the local community. Several human biomonitoring (HBM) studies were initiated, gathering cross-sectional exposure data from more than 10,000 participants. The linkage of these HBM data with primary care health registries might be a useful new tool in environmental health analysis.

The well-being of polish general practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic-cross-sectional questionnaire-based study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused psychological distress to the population and healthcare workers. Physicians' well-being is essential and contributes significantly to overall health. This study aimed to assess the strain on Polish general practitioners from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and to ascertain the potential predictors of their distress.

Effectiveness of a scapular exercise program on functional outcomes in patients with hand, wrist or elbow disorders: A comprehensive systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: Usually, patients with hand, wrist/forearm disorders report musculoskeletal complaints in the shoulder. Although, role of scapula is fundamental for movement and functional stability across the upper limb kinetic chain; however, there are no systematic reviews and meta-analyses that have analyzed the effect of scapular exercises in these patients.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a scapular exercise program on functional outcomes in patients with hand, wrist or elbow disorders.

Acceptability and safety of 3D printed wrist-based orthoses compared to fiberglass casts for the treatment of non-surgical distal radius- and scaphoid fractures: A randomized feasibility trial.

Background: Non-invasiveness and comfort are crucial in the conservative management of distal radius and scaphoid fractures. While fiberglass casts are standard, three-dimensional (3D)-printed orthoses offer a promising alternative.

Purpose: To compare patient experiences, safety perceptions, and satisfaction between a 3D orthosis and fiberglass cast for distal radius or scaphoid fractures.