Preferences for and acceptability of long-acting HIV prevention products among pregnant and lactating women accessing health services in Kenya: a mixed method cross-sectional analysis.

Background: Increased risk of HIV acquisition during pregnancy and lactation among women is evident, necessitating their inclusion in the evaluation of new HIV prevention interventions. Pregnant and postpartum women specifically face challenges with oral PrEP associated with stigma, and the burden of using other tablets. Long-acting products may address challenges related to oral PrEP, however, there is limited data on product-specific preferences and acceptability among pregnant and lactating women.

Delayed Tooth Development and the Impaired Differentiation of Stem/Progenitor Cells in Incisors from Type 2 Diabetes Mice.

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have an increased risk of tooth decay caused by alterations in their tooth development and their oral environment, as well as a tendency to present with pulp infection due to compromised immune response. The present study analyzed the characteristic alterations in tooth development under DM conditions using incisors from type 2 diabetic mouse model (T2DM mice). In micro-CT analyses, T2DM mice showed delayed dentin and enamel formation.

Haptic Technology: Exploring Its Underexplored Clinical Applications-A Systematic Review.

Background/objectives: Haptic technology has transformed interactions between humans and both tangible and virtual environments. Despite its widespread adoption across various industries, the potential therapeutic applications of this technology have yet to be fully explored.

Methods: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and randomized crossover trials was conducted, utilizing databases such as PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science.

Adaptive Compensatory Neurophysiological Biomarkers of Motor Recovery Post-Stroke: Electroencephalography and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Insights from the DEFINE Cohort Study.

Objective: This study aimed to explore longitudinal relationships between neurophysiological biomarkers and upper limb motor function recovery in stroke patients, focusing on electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) metrics.

Methods: This longitudinal cohort study analyzed neurophysiological, clinical, and demographic data from 102 stroke patients enrolled in the DEFINE cohort. We investigated the associations between baseline and post-intervention changes in the EEG theta/alpha ratio (TAR) and TMS metrics with upper limb motor functionality, assessed using the outcomes of five tests: the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), Handgrip Strength Test (HST), Pinch Strength Test (PST), Finger Tapping Test (FTT), and Nine-Hole Peg Test (9HPT).

EEG Oscillations as Neuroplastic Markers of Neural Compensation in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation: The Role of Slow-Frequency Bands.

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects approximately 250,000 to 500,000 individuals annually. Current therapeutic interventions predominantly focus on mitigating the impact of physical and neurological impairments, with limited functional recovery observed in many patients. Electroencephalogram (EEG) oscillations have been investigated in this context of rehabilitation to identify effective markers for optimizing rehabilitation treatments.

The cerebral blood flow response to neuroactivation is reduced in cognitively normal men with β-amyloid accumulation.

Background: Accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) in the brain is a hallmark of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Cerebral deposition of Aβ initiates deteriorating pathways which eventually can lead to AD. However, the exact mechanisms are not known.

Benzodiazepine agonist treatment for patients with benzodiazepine dependence undergoing opioid agonist treatment: a study protocol for the randomized controlled trial BMX-BAR.

Background: There is a lack of knowledge on effective treatment methods for comorbid benzodiazepine dependence in populations undergoing opioid agonist treatment (OAT). Tapering and discontinuation of benzodiazepines has long been considered the standard treatment, even though there is limited evidence for this practice. There is also limited research on benzodiazepine agonist treatment; however, peer and clinical experiences indicate that such approaches may be beneficial for a subgroup of the patients with long-lasting benzodiazepine dependence not responding to other treatment approaches.

Neurotensin-neurotensin receptor 2 signaling in adipocytes suppresses food intake through regulating ceramide metabolism.

Neurotensin (NTS) is a secretory peptide produced by lymphatic endothelial cells. Our previous study revealed that NTS suppressed the activity of brown adipose tissue via interactions with NTSR2. In the current study, we found that the depletion of Ntsr2 in white adipocytes upregulated food intake, while the local treatment of NTS suppressed food intake.

Early experience of prostate artery embolization: a retrospective single-centre study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the early experiences of prostate artery embolization (PAE) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Material And Methods: This retrospective study included all patients treated for BPH who were referred to the radiology department for PAE in Västmanland between 2018 and 2021. Data were collected on patient demographics, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), prostate-specific antigen level, and peri- and post-procedure outcomes.

An exploratory cluster-randomized controlled trial on mindfulness yoga's effectiveness in school-refusing children: reductions in SCAS-C physical injury fears and pulse rate.

Introduction: School refusal is one of the serious problems with children's mental health, and various studies have examined its prevalence and factors among students. Although many studies suggested that anxiety and depression are deeply associated with school refusal, there is little agreement as to effective interventions. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of mindfulness yoga intervention in children with school refusal.

Acceptability and feasibility of a urine-based tenofovir adherence assay for monitoring and providing feedback on PrEP adherence in Kenya.

Objective measures of oral PrEP adherence - especially point-of-care (POC) measures that enable real-time assessment, intervention, and feedback - have the potential to improve adherence. Our team previously developed and validated a novel urine-based POC metric of PrEP adherence. In this study, we sought to determine whether this assay is acceptable and feasible among women taking PrEP and PrEP providers in Kenya.

Low-added sugar dietary intervention study to mitigate glucose intolerance and improve body composition in adults with cystic fibrosis: a protocol of a double-blind, randomised study.

Introduction: People with cystic fibrosis (PwCF) are at high risk for developing cystic fibrosis (CF)-related diabetes (CFRD), which worsens morbidity and mortality. Although the pathological events leading to the development of CFRD are complex and not completely understood, dietary factors may play a role. For example, habitual intake of dietary added sugar (i.

Crosstalk between periodontitis and cardiovascular risk.

Recent demographic developments resulted in an aged society with a rising disease burden of systemic and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In cardiovascular disease (CVD), a NCD with high morbidity and mortality, recent preventive strategies include the investigation of comorbidities to reduce its significant economic burden. Periodontal disease, an oral bacterial-induced inflammatory disease of tooth-supporting tissue, is regulated in its prevalence and severity by the individual host response to a dysbiotic oral microbiota.

Mapping of the Deep Epigastric Vessels Stratified by Body Mass Index (BMI).

Objective: To investigate the positioning of deep epigastric vessels in obese patients to determine the need to redefine laparoscopic port placement 'safe zones' based on body habitus.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: University-affiliated 500-bed hospital.

Integrated analysis of cell cycle and p53 signaling pathways related genes in breast, colorectal, lung, and pancreatic cancers: implications for prognosis and drug sensitivity for therapeutic potential.

Cancer, a leading cause of death worldwide, is projected to increase by 76.6% in new cases and 89.7% in mortality by 2050 (WHO 2022).

Social disconnectedness, subsequent medical conditions, and, the role of pre-existing mental disorders: a population-based cohort study.

Aims: Individuals with diminished social connections are at higher risk of mental disorders, dementia, circulatory conditions and musculoskeletal conditions. However, evidence is limited by a disease-specific focus and no systematic examination of sex differences or the role of pre-existing mental disorders.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study using data on social disconnectedness (loneliness, social isolation, low social support and a composite measure) from the 2013 and 2017 Danish National Health Survey linked with register data on 11 broad categories of medical conditions through 2021.

Clinical decision support tool-guided, selective intensive induction strategy of ustekinumab in patients with Crohn's disease: A multicenter cohort study.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of clinical decision support tool (CDST)-guided initial selective intensive induction therapy (IIT) for patients with Crohn's disease (CD) who were treated with ustekinumab (UST) and to identify those most likely to benefit from IIT.

Methods: Patients with active CD were included in this multicenter retrospective study and were categorized as low-, intermediate-, and high-probability responders according to the UST-CDST. IIT was defined as intensive induction by two or three initial doses of weight-based intravenous UST administration.

Activities of the Research Group for Comprehensive Research of Gene Mutation-related Rare and Intractable Diseases of the Skin within the Project for Research on Intractable Diseases of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan.

The Hashimoto Research Group for Comprehensive Research of Gene Mutation-related Rare and Intractable Diseases of the Skin is a contributor to the Project for Research on Intractable Diseases of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan. Our research group performs clinical research on 23 rare intractable genetic skin diseases that are classified into eight disease groups. Among the 23 diseases, 17 are mainly studied by our research group, and 6 diseases are studied in collaboration with other research groups.

Stroke-bleeding risk score pairings within individuals in the outcomes registry for better informed treatment of atrial fibrillation (ORBIT-AF) registry.

Background: Decisions about stroke prevention strategies in atrial fibrillation (AF) typically balance thromboembolism reduction against increased bleeding from oral anticoagulation therapy (OAC). When determining eligibility for OAC, guidelines recommend calculation of thromboembolic event rates using a validated score such as CHA2DS2-VASc. In contrast, routine calculation of bleeding scores is not recommended, in part because many patient factors associated with an increased risk of bleeding are associated with an even larger increased risk of ischemic stroke.

A bioprinted and scalable model of human tubulo-interstitial kidney fibrosis.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 10% of the global population. As kidney function negatively correlates with the presence of interstitial fibrosis, the development of new anti-fibrotic therapies holds promise to stabilize functional decline in CKD patients. The goal of the study was to generate a scalable bioprinted 3-dimensional kidney tubulo-interstitial disease model of kidney fibrosis.

Resting Heart Rate and Associations With Clinical Measures From the Project Baseline Health Study: Observational Study.

Background: Though widely used, resting heart rate (RHR), as measured by a wearable device, has not been previously evaluated in a large cohort against a variety of important baseline characteristics.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the validity of the RHR measured by a wearable device compared against the gold standard of ECG (electrocardiography), and assess the relationships between device-measured RHR and a broad range of clinical characteristics.

Methods: The Project Baseline Health Study (PHBS) captured detailed demographic, occupational, social, lifestyle, and clinical data to generate a deeply phenotyped cohort.