Oral Antibacterial Drug Prescribing in Primary Care Out-of-Hours Services: A Scoping Review.

Background/objectives: The rapid spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents a critical threat to global health. Primary care plays a significant role in this crisis, with oral antibacterial drugs among the most prescribed medications. Antibacterial prescribing rates are often high and complicated in out-of-hours (OOH) services, including weekdays outside regular hours, weekends, and holidays, potentially exacerbating AMR.

Evaluation of the Synergistic Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oils and Cecropin A Natural Peptide on Gram-Negative Bacteria.

In an era dominated by the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance, it is increasingly important to look for alternatives to synthetic antibiotics. In light of these considerations, the synergistic use of essential oils and Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) seems a viable strategy. In this study, we assessed the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) and Fractional Inhibitory Concentration (FIC) of three Essential Oils (EOs): winter savory (), bergamot () and cinnamon () and of the insect antimicrobial peptide Cecropin A (CecA), alone and in combination with EOs, against two Gram-negative ATCC bacterial strains: and serovar Typhimurium.

The Role of Nutrition Across Production Stages to Improve Sow Longevity.

Modern hyperprolific sows are increasingly susceptible to health challenges. Their rapid growth rates predispose them to locomotor disorders, while high metabolic demands, reduced backfat thickness, and increased protein accretion heighten their vulnerability to heat stress and dystocia. Additionally, prolonged farrowing negatively affects the oxidative and inflammatory status of these females.

Precision in Motion Management: Long-Term Local Control and Prognostic Insights in SBRT for Oligometastatic Lung and Liver Metastases.

: Inadequate dosing and respiratory motion contribute to local recurrence for oligometastatic disease (OMD). While short-term LC rates are well-documented, data on long-term LC remain limited. This study investigated long-term LC after stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), using respiratory motion management techniques.

Emerging Trends in Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation: The New Kids on the Block.

In the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations for 2030, mental health has been identified as a global priority, emphasizing the need to reduce the prevalence, morbidity, and premature mortality associated with mental disorders [...

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Waterborne Diseases in Couffo, Southwestern Benin: The Case of Aplahoué.

Water-related diseases are among the infectious diseases that represent a major public health challenge in developing countries. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of waterborne diseases and the factors associated with their occurrence in the commune of Aplahoué, located in southwestern Benin. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 125 households selected through simple random sampling in the commune.

Enlightening Nursing Care: A Protocol for a Multicenter Observational Study Measuring Nursing Work in Hospital Settings.

: Rising costs and demands for improved quality of care present complex challenges for existing healthcare systems. The strain on healthcare resources is exacerbated by the increasing complexity of patient conditions. The Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) system classifies inpatients according to clinical and treatment criteria, controls healthcare expenditures, and ensures the sustainability of procedures.

Validity and Reliability of the Spanish Version of Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire in Prostate Cancer Patients.

Background: Prostate cancer is highly prevalent in Spanish men. Although physical activity has benefits on several factors in prostate cancer survivors, this is diminished after medical oncology treatment. Cancer-related fatigue is one of the main barriers to physical activity, leading to a decrease in activity levels in these patients.

Penetrating Orbital Injury: A Narrative Review for Emergency Clinicians.

Penetrating orbit injury is a rare but complex and life-threatening occurrence that may easily be overlooked. Management in the emergency department requires an early multidisciplinary approach but still lacks standard guidelines. This narrative review aims to provide a systematic approach to the management of penetrating orbital injuries for emergency clinicians.

Impact of Nasal Anatomical Variation Subtype on Surgical Outcomes for Rhinogenic Contact Point Headache.

Rhinogenic contact point headache (RCPH) is a controversial secondary headache disorder involving mucosal contact points in the nasal sinuses. The efficacy of surgical versus medical management has been debated, with some studies showing excellent long-term outcomes but others citing placebo effects. This study aimed to clarify the correlation with nasal anatomical variation detected by CT and RCPH treatment outcomes.

Automated AI-based image analysis for quantification and prediction of interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis patients.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare connective tissue disease associated with rapidly evolving interstitial lung disease (ILD), driving its mortality. Specific imaging-based biomarkers associated with the evolution of lung disease are needed to help predict and quantify ILD.

Methods: We evaluated the potential of an automated ILD quantification system (icolung) from chest CT scans, to help in quantification and prediction of ILD progression in SSc-ILD.

Participatory Action Research to Enhance Patient-Centred Goal Setting in Geriatric Rehabilitation: A Nursing Team's Quest.

Aim: The aim of this study was to provide insights into how, through exploring goal-setting interventions, a nursing team in geriatric rehabilitation might refine their patient-centred strategies.

Design: The study design was participatory action research (PAR).

Method: Team members and nursing students, under the guidance of a facilitator, performed two PAR cycles.

EEG Responses to Upper Limb Pinprick Stimulation in Acute and Early Subacute Motor and Sensorimotor Stroke: A Proof of Concept.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) during pinprick stimulation has the potential to unveil neural mechanisms underlying sensorimotor impairments post-stroke. A proof-of-concept study explored event-related peak pinprick amplitude and oscillatory responses in healthy controls and in people with acute and subuacute motor and sensorimotor stroke, their relationship, and to what extent EEG somatosensory responses can predict sensorimotor impairment. In this study, 26 individuals participated, 10 people with an acute and early subacute sensorimotor stroke, 6 people with an acute and early subacute motor stroke, and 10 age-matched controls.

Derivation of human toxicokinetic parameters and internal threshold of toxicological concern for tenuazonic acid through a human intervention trial and hierarchical Bayesian population modeling.

Background: Tenuazonic acid (TeA), a mycotoxin produced by Alternaria alternata, contaminates various food commodities and is known to cause acute and chronic health effects. However, the lack of human toxicokinetic (TK) data and the reliance on external exposure estimates have stalled a comprehensive risk assessment for TeA.

Objective: To bridge this gap, a human TK trial and population-based TK (PopTK) modeling were applied to determine human TK parameters of TeA, and the results were applied for risk screening using population biomonitoring data and threshold of toxicological concern (TTC)-based approaches.

V3+ extends the V3 framework to ensure user-centricity and scalability of sensor-based digital health technologies.

We propose the addition of usability validation to the extended V3 framework, now "V3+", and describe a pragmatic approach to ensuring that sensor-based digital health technologies can be used optimally at scale by diverse users. Alongside the original V3 components (verification; analytical validation; clinical validation), usability validation will ensure user-centricity of digital measurement tools, paving the way for more inclusive, reliable, and trustworthy digital measures within clinical research and clinical care.

Unraveling complexity and leveraging opportunities in uncommon breast cancer subtypes.

Special histologic subtypes of breast cancer (BC) exhibit unique phenotypes and molecular profiles with diagnostic and therapeutic implications, often differing in behavior and clinical trajectory from common BC forms. Novel methodologies, such as artificial intelligence may improve classification. Genetic predisposition plays roles in a subset of cases.

Whole exome sequencing in 18 Brazilian families with vertical transmission of non-syndromic oral clefts.

This study describes the results of whole exome sequencing in the etiological investigation and genetic counseling of families presenting with non-syndromic oral clefts with vertical transmission recorded in the Brazilian Database on Craniofacial Anomalies. Whole exome sequencing was performed in 18 families presenting with non-syndromic oral clefts with vertical transmission, and variant filtering was used to identify rare, and also possibly pathogenic variants in genes associated with oral clefts. Overall, our study identified seven families (38.

Automated adjustment of metabolic niches enables the control of natural and engineered microbial co-cultures.

Much attention has focused on understanding microbial interactions leading to stable co-cultures. In this work, substrate pulsing was performed to promote better control of the metabolic niches (MNs) corresponding to each species, leading to the continuous co-cultivation of diverse microbial organisms. We used a cell-machine interface, which allows adjustment of the temporal profile of two MNs according to a rhythm, ensuring the successive growth of two species, in our case, a yeast and a bacterium.

Patient-reported outcomes in sarcopenia: An ICFSR task force report.

The International Conference on Frailty and Sarcopenia Research (ICFSR) Task Force convened in March 2024 to address patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) in the field of sarcopenia. PROMs are crucial to enhance healthcare services at both individual and societal levels. PROMs complement objective outcome measures by capturing insights that patients are best suited to judge.

International benchmarking of stage at diagnosis for six childhood solid tumours (the BENCHISTA project): a population-based, retrospective cohort study.

Background: International variation in childhood cancer survival might be explained by differences in stage at diagnosis, among other factors. As part of the BENCHISTA project, we aimed to assess geographical variation in tumour stage at diagnosis through the application, by population-based cancer registries working with clinicians, of the international consensus Toronto Childhood Cancer Stage Guidelines.

Methods: This population-based, retrospective cohort study involved 67 cancer registries from 23 European countries, Australia, Brazil, Japan, and Canada.

Characteristics of children and adolescents with multidrug-resistant and rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis and their association with treatment outcomes: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.

Background: There are few data on the treatment of children and adolescents with multidrug-resistant (MDR) or rifampicin-resistant (RR) tuberculosis, especially with more recently available drugs and regimens. We aimed to describe the clinical and treatment characteristics and their associations with treatment outcomes in this susceptible population.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis.