Processes and measurements: a framework for understanding neural oscillations in field potentials.

Various neuroscientific theories maintain that brain oscillations are important for neuronal computation, but opposing views claim that these macroscale dynamics are 'exhaust fumes' of more relevant processes. Here, we approach the question of whether oscillations are functional or epiphenomenal by distinguishing between measurements and processes, and by reviewing whether causal or inferentially useful links exist between field potentials, electric fields, and neurobiological events. We introduce a vocabulary for the role of brain signals and their underlying processes, demarcating oscillations as a distinct entity where both processes and measurements can exhibit periodicity.

Effect of telemedicine support for intraoperative anaesthesia care on postoperative outcomes: the TECTONICS randomised clinical trial.

Background: Telemedicine may help improve care quality and patient outcomes. Telemedicine for intraoperative decision support has not been rigorously studied.

Methods: This was a single-centre randomised clinical trial of unselected adult surgical patients.

Preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate to predict cardiac events in major noncardiac surgery: a secondary analysis of two large international studies.

Background: Optimised use of kidney function information might improve cardiac risk prediction in noncardiac surgery.

Methods: In 35,815 patients from the VISION cohort study and 9219 patients from the POISE-2 trial who were ≥45 yr old and underwent nonurgent inpatient noncardiac surgery, we examined (by age and sex) the association between continuous nonlinear preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the composite of myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery, nonfatal cardiac arrest, or death owing to a cardiac cause within 30 days after surgery. We estimated contributions of predictive information, C-statistic, and net benefit from eGFR and other common patient and surgical characteristics to large multivariable models.

Maternal shift work during pregnancy and cardiovascular health impacts on mother and offspring.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death for women worldwide. One of the risk factors for CVD in women is complications during pregnancy. Pregnancy complications include a wide arena of pathologies, including hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm delivery and miscarriage.

Behind the scenes of EQA - characteristics, capabilities, benefits and assets of external quality assessment (EQA).

This is the first in a series of five papers that detail the role and substantial impact that external quality assessment (EQA) and their providers' services play in ensuring diagnostic (IVD) performance quality. The aim is to give readers and users of EQA services an insight into the processes in EQA, explain to them what happens before EQA samples are delivered and after examination results are submitted to the provider, how they are assessed, what benefits participants can expect, but also who are stakeholders other than participants and what significance do EQA data and assessment results have for them. This first paper presents the history of EQA, insights into legal, financing and ethical matters, information technology used in EQA, structure and lifecycle of EQA programs, frequency and intensity of challenges, and unique requirements of extra-examination and educational EQA programs.

Nuclear Cardiology Surrogate Biomarkers in Clinical Trials.

Nuclear cardiology offers a diverse range of imaging tools that provide valuable insights into myocardial perfusion, inflammation, metabolism, neuroregulation, thrombosis, and microcalcification. These techniques are crucial not only for diagnosing and managing cardiovascular conditions but also for gaining pathophysiologic insights. Surrogate biomarkers in nuclear cardiology, represented by detectable imaging changes, correlate with disease processes or therapeutic responses and can serve as endpoints in clinical trials when they demonstrate a clear link with these processes.

2024 SNMMI Highlights Lecture: General Clinical Specialties.

The Journal of Nuclear Medicine

Statistical principles in neurointervention part 2. Multivariable analysis: generalized linear models, modification, confounding, and mediation.

This two part series on statistical principles in neurointervention offers a comprehensive foundation for neurointerventionalists to engage with both fundamental and advanced statistical principles. This series aims to equip neurointerventionalists with essential statistical knowledge for critically reviewing literature and conducting methodologically sound research. Part one of this series covered fundamental concepts such as frequentism, study types, data types, summarization, visualization, hypothesis testing, and univariable analysis.

Statistical principles in neurointervention part 1: basic principles, descriptive statistics and univariable analysis.

Neurointervention has seen significant advancements in recent decades with the adoption of myriad new technologies and techniques. Initially reliant on case reports and small case series, we now benefit from multicenter studies and randomized trials that can provide robust practice-changing evidencea and often employ sophisticated statistical methods. This two-part series on statistical principles in neurointervention aims to equip neurointerventionalists with essential statistical knowledge for critically reviewing literature and conducting methodologically sound research.

Rurality predisposes departure from gold-standard care, leading to delayed or accelerated access to surgery: insights from a scoping review.

Background: Because tertiary centres are generally situated at urban sites, it is unclear whether patients in rural areas have the same access to surgical services that patients in urban areas do. We sought to map the North American evidence landscape of how rurality affects access to medically indicated surgeries and identify system-, patient-, and provider-level barriers that preclude urban-comparable care.

Methods: We carried out a systematic search adhering to PRISMA for Scoping Reviews methodology across PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science, encompassing literature from the last 26 years (January 2023).

Bona fide diminished ovarian reserve or profound ovarian suppression by long-term oral contraceptive use?

Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) are widely used by reproductive-aged women. Current data suggest that long-term use of COCs can suppress ovarian reserve markers, including anti-mullerian hormone and antral follicle count, which may negatively impact ovarian response and oocyte yield in patients undergoing planned oocyte cryopreservation to preserve future reproductive potential. Discontinuation of COCs can improve ovarian stimulation outcomes, though the ideal duration of cessation is unknown.

Gender-affirming care education in pharmacy: a scoping review protocol of practices in Canada and the USA.

Introduction: Gender-affirming care refers to a range of social, psychological, medical and/or surgical interventions provided to affirm one's gender. Pharmacists play a key role in gender-affirming care and are involved with choosing optimal treatments, monitoring progress/side-effects and providing education. However, it is currently unknown what gender-affirming care education is provided to pharmacy students and pharmacists according to information available in published literature.

Preferred labels and language to improve communication about lesions at low risk of progressing to cancer: qualitative interviews with patients and physicians.

Objectives: We explored how to improve communication about low-risk lesions including labels, language and other strategies.

Design: Qualitative description and thematic analysis to examine the transcripts of telephone interviews with patients who had low-risk lesions and physicians; and mapping to Communication Accommodation Theory to interpret themes.

Setting: Canada PARTICIPANTS: 15 patients: 6 (40%) bladder, 5 (33%) prostate and 4 (27%) cervix lesions; and 13 physicians: 7 (54%) cervix, 3 (23%) bladder and 3 (23%) prostate lesions.

IMPACT-ICU feasibility study: pragmatic mixed-methods randomised controlled trial of a follow-up care intervention for survivors of critical illness and caregivers.

Introduction: Survivors of critical illness and their caregivers are at risk for long-term cognitive, physical and psychiatric impairments known as post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) and PICS-family, respectively. This study will assess the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) evaluating an intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up care bundle versus standard-of-care for ICU patients and their caregivers.

Methods And Analysis: This is a single-centre feasibility study.

Behind the scenes of EQA - characteristics, capabilities, benefits and assets of external quality assessment (EQA).

External quality assessment (EQA) cycles are the smallest complete units within EQA programs that laboratories can use to obtain external assessments of their performance. In each cycle, several samples are distributed to the laboratories registered for participation, and ideally, EQA programs not only cover the examination procedures but also the pre- and post-examination procedures. The properties and concentration range of measurands in individual samples are selected with regard to the intended challenge for the participants so that each sample fulfils its purpose.

Behind the scenes of EQA - characteristics, capabilities, benefits and assets of external quality assessment (EQA).

External quality assessment (EQA) enhances patient safety through the evaluation of the quality of laboratory-based and point of care testing. Regulatory agencies and accreditation organizations utilize the results and the laboratory's response to them as part of assessing the laboratory's fitness to practice. In addition, where EQA samples are commutable and the assigned value has been determined using reference measurement procedures (RMPs), EQA data contributes to the verification of metrological traceability of assays as part of the post-market surveillance of diagnostic (IVD) medical devices (IVD-MDs).

The Effectiveness of Video Animations as a Tool to Improve Health Information Recall for Patients: Systematic Review.

Background: Access to clear and comprehensible health information is crucial for patient empowerment, leading to improved self-care, adherence to treatment plans, and overall health outcomes. Traditional methods of information delivery, such as written documents and oral communication, often result in poor memorization and comprehension. Recent innovations, such as animation videos, have shown promise in enhancing patient understanding, but comprehensive investigations into their effectiveness across various health care settings are lacking.

The Role of Machine Learning in the Detection of Cardiac Fibrosis in Electrocardiograms: Scoping Review.

Background: Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Cardiac fibrosis impacts the underlying pathophysiology of many cardiovascular diseases by altering structural integrity and impairing electrical conduction. Identifying cardiac fibrosis is essential for the prognosis and management of cardiovascular disease; however, current diagnostic methods face challenges due to invasiveness, cost, and inaccessibility.

Platform-Based Patient-Clinician Digital Health Interventions for Care Transitions: Scoping Review.

Background: Care transitions are complex and can make patients vulnerable to adverse events. Poor communication among clinicians, patients, and their caregivers is a critical gap during these periods of transition. Technology solutions such as platform-based patient-clinician digital health interventions (DHIs) can provide support and education to patients.

Behind the scenes of EQA - characteristics, capabilities, benefits and assets of external quality assessment (EQA).

Providers of external quality assessment (EQA) programs evaluate data or information obtained and reported by participant laboratories using their routine procedures to examine properties or measurands in samples provided for this purpose. EQA samples must offer participants an equal chance to obtain accurate results, while being designed to provide results in clinically relevant ranges. It is the responsibility of the EQA provider to meet the necessary requirements for homogeneity, stability and some other properties of the EQA items in order to offer participants a fair, reliable and technically interesting EQA experience.