Deficient Mismatch Repair and BRAF Mutations in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer in the South Island of New Zealand.

Aim: Manatū Hauora, the Ministry of Health of New Zealand (NZ), published minimum standards for molecular testing of colorectal cancers (CRCs) in June 2018. These included mismatch repair (MMR) testing at diagnosis and BRAFV600E mutation analysis on newly diagnosed stage IV CRCs. This study aimed to determine the proportion of patients with CRC in the South Island of NZ with metastatic deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) CRC, the proportion of metastatic CRCs and dMMR CRCs that have a BRAFV600E mutation, and audit testing for BRAF mutations and appropriate referral to genetics services.

Validation Status of Electronic Sphygmomanometers in China: A National Survey.

Background: Although the information on the validation status of electronic sphygmomanometer (ES) devices in use in health care institutions and households is much more clinically relevant than that of ES models available on the market, it remains insufficient.

Methods: A national survey was conducted across all administrative regions of mainland China to assess the validation status of ESs. Fifty-eight cities were selected with stratification by municipality, provincial capital, and other cities, and health care institutions and households in each city were chosen by convenience to identify ES devices in use according to the study protocol.

Early Versus Delayed Antihypertensive Treatment After Acute Ischemic Stroke by Hypertension History.

Background: We performed a prespecified subgroup analysis of the CATIS-2 trial (China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke II) to compare the effect of early versus delayed antihypertensive treatment on death and disability in patients with and without medical history of hypertension.

Methods: CATIS-2 is a multicenter randomized clinical trial conducted in 106 hospitals in China. The trial randomized 4810 patients with acute ischemic stroke within 24 to 48 hours of symptom onset and elevated systolic blood pressure between 140 and <220 mm Hg to receive antihypertensive treatment immediately after randomization or to discontinue antihypertensive medications for 7 days and then receive treatment on day 8.

Real-world psoriasis treatment patterns and disease burden in Germany, with a focus on biologics and apremilast: data from a German statutory health insurance database.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic, systemic, inflammatory skin disease, with increasing prevalence; however, few studies have reported real-world prescription patterns and healthcare burden.

Objectives: This retrospective, observational cohort study used statutory health insurance claims data (January 2014-December 2019) to estimate prevalence/incidence of moderate-to-severe psoriasis in Germany. Patient characteristics, treatment patterns/compliance, and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU)/costs were evaluated, focusing on apremilast and anti-interleukin (IL) and anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) biologics.

Propensity Score Matching Analysis for Alcohol-Related Liver Disease.

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the impact of comorbidity with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) on the survival rates and incidence of liver cancer in patients with alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD).

Methods: Patients with ARLD and those with ARLD co-morbid with CHB were included in this study and designated as the ARLD group and the ARLD + HBV group, respectively. Propensity score matching (PSM) was then employed to compare survival rates and liver cancer development between these two groups.

Developing Healthcare Complaints Analysis Tool for Health System: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background And Aims: The role of the healthcare system in the provision, maintenance, and promotion of public health is associated with handling healthcare complaints. This notion as the principle of accountability requires the authorities' attention. This study aimed to develop the Healthcare Complaints Analysis Tool (HCAT) in Iran.

Cardiovascular health and risks of atrial fibrillation and its prognosis.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia around the world with an increased risk of a broad spectrum of adverse comorbidities and death. Whether cardiovascular health (CVH) is associated with AF development remains unclear.

Methods: 238,420 participants without cardiovascular disease at baseline were selected from the UK Biobank study cohort from 2006 to 2010.

Intestinal epithelial cell NCoR deficiency ameliorates obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Nuclear receptor corepressor (NCoR1) interacts with various nuclear receptors and regulates the anabolism and catabolism of lipids. An imbalance in lipid/energy homeostasis is also an important factor in obesity and metabolic syndrome development. In this study, we found that the deletion of NCoR1 in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) mainly activated the nuclear receptor PPAR and attenuated metabolic syndrome by stimulating thermogenesis.

A microfluidic coculture model for mapping signaling perturbations and precise drug screening against macrophage-mediated dynamic myocardial injury.

Macrophage-mediated inflammation plays a pivotal role in cardiovascular disease pathogenesis. However, current cell-based models lack a comprehensive understanding of crosstalk between macrophages and cardiomyocytes, hindering the discovery of effective therapeutic interventions. Here, a microfluidic model has been developed to facilitate the coculture of macrophages and cardiomyocytes, allowing for mapping key signaling pathways and screening potential therapeutic agents against inflammation-induced dynamic myocardial injury.

Nanotherapy for Neural Retinal Regeneration.

Retinal diseases can severely impair vision and even lead to blindness, posing significant threats to both physical and mental health. Physical retinal regenerative therapies are poised to revolutionize the treatment of various disorders associated with blindness. However, these therapies must overcome the challenges posed by the protective inner and outer blood‒retinal barriers.

Impact of Government Healthcare Policy Changes on Consumption and Human Movements During COVID-19: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis in Korea.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has altered daily behavioral patterns based on government healthcare policies, including consumption and movement patterns. We aimed to examine the extent to which changes in the government's healthcare policy have affected people's lives, primarily focusing on changes in consumption and population movements.

Methods: We collected consumption data using weekly credit card transaction data from the Hana Card Corporation and population mobility data using mobile phone data from SK Telecom in Seoul, South Korea.

[Focus on the outbreaks of invasive group A streptococcal disease].

In recent years, particularly since the outbreaks of scarlet fever and invasive group A streptococcal diseases/infections (iGAS) in several European countries in 2022, iGAS has garnered widespread attention. Recently, Japan experienced an outbreak of a specific type of iGAS, streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). The outbreak was reported under the label"flesh-eating bacteria,"emphasizing the pathogenic potential of group A streptococcus (GAS).

[Boosting the innovation transformation of clinical medicine based on core technology in anesthesiology].

The core technologies proposed in surgery have boosted the innovation transformation and disciplinary development. However, the core technologies in anesthesiology remain undefined both domestically and internationally. Through collaborative discussions among Chinese anesthesiologists, the core technologies of anesthesiology can be succinctly summarized as Relief of pain, Regulation of life, Resuscitation, and Restoration of organ function, and collectively referred to as the 4R technologies.

Age, creatinine, and ejection fraction score is a risk factor for acute kidney injury after surgical aortic valve replacement.

Background: The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) increases after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). This study aimed to characterize the risk factors of AKI after SAVR.

Methods And Results: We conducted a retrospective registry study based on data from 299 consecutive patients undergoing SAVR.

Beyond single-use: a systematic review of environmental, economic, and clinical impacts of endoscopic surgical instrumentation.

Background: The evolution of endoscopic surgery has introduced a multitude of instruments, available in both disposable and reusable variants, influencing practices across various surgical specialties. Instrument selection is complex, considering individual preferences and institutional factors such as costs, instrument performance, and factors related to cleaning and sterilization. Notably, environmental sustainability has gained prominence due to the threat of climate change.

Scope of work and contributions of female community health volunteers in Nepal's healthcare sector: a qualitative study.

Objectives: To determine the perception of female community health volunteers (FCHVs) in terms of their scope of work, impact of work on their professional experiences and their coping strategies and stakeholders' perception of FCHVs programme, their contribution to the health sector and its sustainability.

Design: A qualitative study involving in-depth interviews (IDIs) with FCHVs and key informant interviews (KIIs) with local stakeholders. All the interviews were conducted through telephone.

Incremental cost of treating antimicrobial-resistant infections among hospitalised patients in India: a cohort study.

Background: Accurate estimates of incremental cost (IC) attributable to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) provide information of immense public health importance to the policy makers. Here, we present the IC from patient perspective for treating antimicrobial-resistant pathogens in India.

Methods: This cohort study was conducted in eight hospitals including government (GH), private (PH) and trust hospitals (TH), considering their ownership, geographical location and categories of cities.

Cohort profile: the potentially preventable burden of community-acquired pneumonia in South African adults in the era of widespread PCV13 immunisation and antiretroviral therapy roll-out, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic - the multicentre, multimethod PotPrev Study.

Purpose: In the setting of an established childhood pneumococcal vaccination programme with immediate initiation and treatment of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people living with HIV (PLWH), the risk of adult pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is not recently described. We aimed to investigate CAP incidence, recurrence, mortality, risk factors and microbiology before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Participants: Adults aged ≥18 years were enrolled in three South African provinces from March 2019 to October 2021, with a brief halt during the initial COVID-19 lockdown.

Equity of intensive care unit bed resource allocation in ethnic minority areas of China-an empirical analysis based on geographical and population dimensions.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to analyse the changes in the equity of intensive care unit (ICU) bed allocation in 14 cities in China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 2018 to 2021, to identify the problems in the process of ICU bed allocation in China's ethnic minority regions.

Design: The Gini coefficient, Theil index, health resource density index, and spatial correlation analysis were used to analyse the current status of ICU bed resource allocation and allocation equity in Guangxi, China, on two dimensions: geography, and population.

Setting: The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Epidemiology, management and patient needs in myasthenia gravis: an Italian multistakeholder consensus based on Delphi methodology.

Objectives: To provide comprehensive information on the burden of myasthenia gravis (MG) in Italy, including the unmet needs of patients and several other aspects related to the disease, based on skilled viewpoints of MG experts.

Design: Iterative analysis conducted in accordance with the best practices of the Delphi method, including anonymity, controlled feedback, and statistical stability of consensus.

Setting And Participants: 24 clinicians, 18 public health experts and 4 patient associations experts completed all the Delphi iterations between 18 April and 3 July 2023, for a total of 46 participants from several Italian Regions.

Scoping review of veterans' disclosure of mental health concerns or medical conditions in the workplace and other settings: study protocol.

Introduction: Veterans deal with 'unobservable' medical or mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, at higher rates than the general population. Disclosure of such conditions is important to provide social, emotional, medical and mental health support, but veterans may face challenges when deciding whether to disclose conditions, including fear of stigma or discrimination. Safe disclosure in the workplace is particularly important, as it allows employees to gain accommodations and enables employers to manage workplace health and safety effectively.

Protocol for a multisite randomised controlled trial assessing the effect of the Telehealth for Early Developmental Intervention in babies born very preterm (TEDI-Prem) programme on neurodevelopmental outcomes and parent well-being.

Introduction: Infants born very preterm (VPT, <32 weeks' gestation) are at increased risk for neurodevelopmental impairments including motor, cognitive and behavioural delay. Parents of infants born VPT also have poorer mental health outcomes compared with parents of infants born at term.We have developed an intervention programme called TEDI-Prem (Telehealth for Early Developmental Intervention in babies born very preterm) based on previous research.

Randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled trial of fenofibrate for treatment of diabetic macular oedema with economic evaluation (FORTE study): study protocol for a randomised control trial.

Introduction: Diabetic macular oedema (DMO), a serious ocular complication of diabetic retinopathy (DR), is a leading cause of vision impairment worldwide. If left untreated or inadequately treated, DMO can lead to irreversible vision loss and blindness. Intravitreal injections using antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) and laser are the current standard of treatment for DMO.

Safe, effective and cost-effective oxygen saturation targets for children and adolescents with respiratory distress: protocol for a randomised controlled trial (OxyKids study).

Introduction: Little is known about the effectiveness and safety of oxygen saturation (SpO2) thresholds in children admitted with respiratory distress. The current 90%-94% threshold could lead to prolonged administration of supplemental oxygen, increased duration of hospital admissions, distress for children and families, and healthcare costs. To balance reducing unnecessary oxygen administration and preventing hypoxia, a lower SpO2 threshold of 88% for oxygen supplementation in children has been suggested.