Bone health ECHO case report: High bone mass in a patient with chronic kidney disease.

Bone Health ECHO (Extension of Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a growing family of online educational programs. Its mission is to enhance delivery of best practice skeletal healthcare worldwide. Each program typically consists of a didactic lecture and discussion of clinical cases with diagnostic and treatment dilemmas.

Prediction of mortality in intensive care unit with short-term heart rate variability: Machine learning-based analysis of the MIMIC-III database.

Background: Prognosis prediction in the intensive care unit (ICU) traditionally relied on physiological scoring systems based on clinical indicators at admission. Electrocardiogram (ECG) provides easily accessible information, with heart rate variability (HRV) derived from ECG showing prognostic value. However, few studies have conducted a comprehensive analysis of HRV-based prognostic model against established standards, which limits the application of HRV's prognostic value in clinical settings.

Clinical significance of small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol measurement in type 2 diabetes.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is known to be a causal substance of atherosclerosis, but its usefulness as a predictive biomarker for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is limited. In patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), LDL-C concentrations do not markedly increase, while triglycerides (TG) concentrations are usually elevated. Although TG is associated with ASCVD risk, they do not play a direct role in the formation of atheromatous plaques.

Mapping amyloid beta predictors of entorhinal tau in preclinical Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau in the entorhinal regions are key Alzheimer's disease (AD) markers, but the spatial Aβ pathways influencing tau pathology remain unclear.

Methods: We applied predictive modeling to identify Aβ standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) spatial patterns that predict entorhinal tau levels, future hippocampal volume, and Preclinical Alzheimer's Cognitive Composite (PACC) scores at 5-year follow-up. The model was trained on Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) (N = 237), incorporating amyloid-PET (positron emission tomography), tau-PET, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cognitive data, and validated on Harvard Aging Brain Study (HABS) (N = 276).

Historical Redlining and Community-Reported Housing Quality: A Spatial Analysis.

Historical redlining, a racially discriminatory practice implemented by the US government in the 1930s, has been associated with present-day environmental outcomes. However, there is limited research examining the relationship between historical redlining and contemporary housing quality. The objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between historical redlining and contemporary housing quality in Atlanta, Georgia.

Wieacker-Wolff syndrome with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia successfully treated using diazoxide: A case report.

Wieacker-Wolff syndrome (WRWF) is an X-linked genetic disorder characterized by neuromusculoskeletal abnormalities caused by loss-of-function variants of the gene. Here, we report the case of a male infant with WRWF manifesting as multiple joint contractures and congenital anomalies at birth. He underwent gastrostomy to treat the gastroesophageal reflux disease, which caused mixed apnea and transient bradycardia.

Low-carbohydrate diet score and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a machine learning analysis of NHANES data.

Background: Recent research has identified the Low-Carbohydrate Diet (LCD) score as a novel biomarker, with studies showing that LCDs can reduce carbon dioxide retention, potentially improving lung function. While the link between the LCD score and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been explored, its relevance in the US population remains uncertain. This study aims to explore the association between the LCD score and the likelihood of COPD prevalence in this population.

Lessons Learned from a Quality Improvement Initiative to Increase COVID-19 Vaccination in Hospitalized Children.

Introduction: Pediatric coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination rates in the United States remain lower compared with adults. We aimed to (1) implement a quality improvement initiative to increase COVID-19 vaccination 2-fold in hospitalized patients 12-21 years of age from 4.7% during the baseline period (August 10, 2021-November 1, 2021) to 9.

Measuring the Impact of Healthcare Provider Availability on Quality of Care and Disease Burden in Ohio: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Chronic lower respiratory disease, heart disease, and diabetes have a higher prevalence in rural areas. Previous studies raise concerns that a lower supply of physicians is associated with negative outcomes.

Objective: To assess disease burden across the 88 counties in Ohio, including Appalachian and non-Appalachian counties, and examine associations with the number of healthcare providers.

The Candida Genome Database: Annotation and Visualization Updates.

The Candida Genome Database (CGD; www.candidagenome.org) is unique in being both a model organism database and a fungal pathogen database.

Real-World Prevalence, Incidence and Management of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Germany: A Retrospective Claims Data Analysis.

Introduction: This study evaluated the prevalence and incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Germany and explored real-world data on sequence of therapy (SOT; sequence of drugs as prescribed in clinical practice).

Methods: This retrospective, observational, longitudinal cohort study using German claims data from the WIG2 GmbH Scientific Institute for Health Economics and Health System Research database (January 2011-December 2019), extrapolated to the statutory health insurance (SHI)-insured population, evaluated prevalence and incidence in an epidemiological analysis group and SLE treatment patterns in an incident cohort (subgroup ≥ 18 years of age with incident disease and ≥ 24-month follow-up post index date). Analyses were descriptive.

Alternative Formulations of Job Strain and Sleep Disturbances: A Longitudinal Study in the United States.

Background: Sleep disturbances are a major public health concern in the United States, leading to adverse health outcomes. In the working population, job strain has been identified as an important risk factor for sleep disturbances, but evidence from the United States remained limited. This study aimed to examine longitudinal associations between job strain and sleep disturbances in the United States, with a focus on the alternative formulations of job strain.

Measurement properties of the sit-to-stand test in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis using the COSMIN guidelines.

Introduction: Characteristics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can include shortness of breath, chronic cough, sputum production and reduced exercise capacity. The sit-to-stand (STS) test variations (e.g.

Identification of Environmental Determinants Involved in the Distribution of Burkholderia pseudomallei in Southeast Asia using MaxEnt software.

Burkholderia pseudomallei (Bp), causing melioidosis, is becoming a major global public health concern. It is highly endemic in Southeast Asia (SEA) and Northern Australia and is persisting beyond the established areas of endemicity. This study aimed to determine the environmental variables that would predict the most suitable ecological niche for this pathogenic bacterium in SEA by maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling.

Best clinical model predicting extubation failure: a diagnostic accuracy post hoc analysis.

Purpose: Predicting extubation failure remains a clinical challenge. This study aimed to determine diagnostic accuracy of models used at the bed side.

Methods: Post hoc analysis of 2341 patients at all risk included in five multicenter randomized trials.

An interpretable machine learning model for predicting in-hospital mortality in ICU patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common nosocomial infection in ICU, significantly associated with poor outcomes. However, there is currently a lack of reliable and interpretable tools for assessing the risk of in-hospital mortality in VAP patients. This study aims to develop an interpretable machine learning (ML) prediction model to enhance the assessment of in-hospital mortality risk in VAP patients.

Multivariate description of gait changes in a mouse model of peripheral nerve injury and trauma.

Objective: Animal models of nerve injury are important for studying nerve injury and repair, particularly for interventions that cannot be studied in humans. However, the vast majority of gait analysis in animals has been limited to univariate analysis even though gait data is highly multi-dimensional. As a result, little is known about how various spatiotemporal components of the gait relate to each other in the context of peripheral nerve injury and trauma.

An implementation trial to mAnage siCkle CELl disEase through incReased AdopTion of hydroxyurEa in Nigeria (ACCELERATE): Study protocol.

Background: Despite the proven efficacy of evidence-based healthcare interventions in reducing adverse outcomes and mortality associated with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), a vast majority of affected individuals in Africa remain deprived of such care. Hydroxyurea (HU) utilization among SCD patients in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) stands at less than 1%, while in Nigeria, approximately 13% of patients benefit from HU therapy. To enhance HU utilization, targeted implementation strategies addressing provider-level barriers are imperative.

Content validation of an activity-based therapy tracking tool in a community setting for people living with spinal cord injury or disease using cognitive debriefing interviews.

Background: Activity-based therapy (ABT) has shown promise as a viable therapeutic intervention to promote neurorecovery in people with spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D). Tools that track the details of ABT sessions may facilitate the collection of data needed to inform best practice guidelines for ABT.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the content validity of a prototype ABT tracking tool.

Uveitic macular oedema in ocular tuberculosis patients in a non-endemic country: characteristics, management, and visual Outcomes.

Objective: To describe clinical features, treatment strategies and visual acuity changes of eyes with uveitic macular oedema (UMO) in ocular tuberculosis (OTB) patients from a non-TB-endemic country.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted using a 10-year period registry of OTB patients diagnosed in Erasmus MC, Rotterdam. Longitudinal analysis of visual acuity trajectory in eyes with and without UMO was performed using linear mixed effect model.

Canine Best disease as a translational model.

In this review, we summarize the findings of several pre-clinical studies in the canine BEST1 disease model. To this end, client-owned and purpose bred dogs that were compound heterozygotes or homozygotes, respectively, for two or one of 3 different mutations in BEST1 were evaluated by ophthalmic examination, cSLO/sdOCT imaging, and retinal immunohistochemistry to characterize the clinical and microanatomic features of the disease. Subsequently AAV-mediated gene therapy was done to transfer the BEST1 transgene to the RPE under control of a hVMD2 promoter.

Machine-learning methodologies to predict disease progression in chronic hepatitis B in Africa.

Background: Little is known about the determinants of disease progression among African patients with chronic HBV infection.

Methods: We used machine-learning models with longitudinal data to establish predictive algorithms in a well-characterized cohort of Ethiopian HBV-infected patients without baseline liver fibrosis. Disease progression was defined as an increase in liver stiffness to >7.

Scleral Contact Lens Benefits for Myopic Patients With Regular Corneas: A Prospective Randomized Study.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of scleral contact lens (SL) wear on the visual quality and the ocular surface wettability in myopic patients with regular corneas.

Methods: This prospective, randomized, controlled study enrolled a total of 80 myopes with regular corneas. Subjects were randomly allocated to wear SL or rigid corneal lens (RCL) for 3 months.

Combined single-photon emission computed tomography-myocardial perfusion imaging with coronary calcium score for assessing coronary disease.

Purpose: Coronary artery disease (CAD) underestimation represents a major pitfall of single-photon emission computed tomography-myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT-MPI). Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) has emerged as a sensitive tool for the assessment of suspect CAD; however, the integration of SPECT-MPI with CACS has been seldom evaluated, so far, and was therefore the aim of the present study.

Methods: Patients undergoing SPECT-MPI with CACS and subsequent coronary angiography were included.

Is longer really better? Results of a retrospective real-life cohort study evaluating the benefit of adding a weekly educational session to a traditional 8-week home-based pulmonary rehabilitation programme in people with COPD.

Objectives: To evaluate the short-term and long-term benefits of adding a weekly educational session to a traditional 8-week home-based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programme in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Primary hypothesis was that 8 home-based supervised sessions will be equivalent to 16 home-based supervised sessions at both short- and long-term after PR.

Design: Retrospective cohort study conducted on prospectively collected real-life data, from January 2010 to December 2021.