Prevalence and Types of Congenital Anomalies in Singleton Pregnancies at a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Introduction Congenital malformations are a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries and are assuming greater importance than ever before. They affect a variety of organ systems and various etiologies have been identified in literature including Toxoplasmosis, Other (syphilis, varicella-zoster, parvovirus B19), Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes Simplex (TORCH) infections, exposure to pollutants, consumption of tobacco and alcohol, and advanced maternal age. In developing countries, diagnosis is frequently delayed which leads to poorer outcomes.

Emerging Trend of Central Precocious Puberty: A Retrospective Study of Cases Diagnosed Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Portuguese Tertiary-Level Hospital.

Introduction: In light of the recent evidence suggesting an increase in idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study aimed to assess the incidence of newly diagnosed ICPP cases and compare differences in demographic, anthropometric, and clinical characteristics pre-pandemic and during the pandemic.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study at a national reference pediatric endocrinology unit in Portugal to evaluate the proportion of referrals for precocious puberty (PP) and, within this group, the number of ICPP cases diagnosed before (group 1: January 2018 to March 2020) and during the pandemic (group 2: April 2020 to June 2022). Additionally, we compared the demographic, anthropometric, and clinical characteristics of ICPP patients between the two groups.

Roxadustat-Induced Central Hypothyroidism Masked by Uremia at the Initiation of Hemodialysis: A Case Report.

Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI) is a novel class of orally administered medications for renal anemia in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Roxadustat, a HIF-PHI, has a structure similar to that of triiodothyronine and may work as an agonist for thyroid hormone receptor-beta in the pituitary gland and/or hypothalamus. Therefore, roxadustat may cause central hypothyroidism due to suppressing thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) release in the pituitary gland and/or thyrotropin-releasing hormone release in the hypothalamus.

Regional Anesthesia in Thyroid Surgery for a Giant Intrathoracic Goiter With Tracheal Compression.

Cervical plexus block (CPB), like other types of regional anesthesia, represents an alternative anesthetic technique in those cases where the performance of general anesthesia (GA) carries an increased risk both for the patient and the outcome of the operative treatment. It has traditionally been used for years in carotid surgery as an alternative to GA, especially due to the possibility of superior monitoring - the awake patient. However, its effectiveness has been proven in other types of neck surgery, primarily in thyroid surgery, neck dissections, tracheostomy, central venous catheter insertion, clavicle surgery, etc.

New insights into the ferroptosis and immune infiltration in endometriosis: a bioinformatics-based analysis.

Background: Ferroptosis, a recently discovered iron-dependent cell death, is linked to various diseases but its role in endometriosis is still not fully understood.

Methods: In this study, we integrated microarray data of endometriosis from the GEO database and ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) from the FerrDb database to further investigate the regulation of ferroptosis in endometriosis and its impact on the immune microenvironment. WGCNA identified ferroptosis-related modules, annotated by GO & KEGG.

functional validation of anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells expressing lysine-specific demethylase 1 short hairpin RNA for the treatment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

Background: Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy is more effective in relapsed or refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) than other therapies, but a high proportion of patients relapse after CAR-T cell therapy owing to antigen escape, limited persistence of CAR-T cells, and immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. CAR-T cell exhaustion is a major cause of relapse. Epigenetic modifications can regulate T cell activation, maturation and depletion; they can be applied to reduce T cell depletion, improve infiltration, and promote memory phenotype formation to reduce relapse after CAR-T cell therapy.

Specific immune response to and ability to control mycobacterial replication are not impaired in subjects with immune-mediated inflammatory disease and tuberculosis infection.

Background: Subjects with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID), such as rheumatoid arthritis, with tuberculosis infection (TBI), have a high probability of progressing to tuberculosis disease (TB). We aim to characterize the impact of IMID on the immune response to (Mtb) in patients with TBI and TB disease.

Methods: We enrolled TBI and TB patients with and without IMID.

Identifying dehydration-induced shear velocity anomaly in the Earth's core-mantle boundary.

The steep temperature gradient near the bottom of the mantle is known to generate a negative correlation between the shear wave velocity ( ) and the depth in most regions of the D″ layer, as detected by seismological observations. However, increasing with depth is observed at the D″ layer beneath Central America, where the Farallon slab sinks, and the origin of this anomaly has not been well constrained. Here, we calculate the thermoelastic constants and obtain the elastic wave velocities of hydrous phase H with various Al contents and cation configurations, which may act as a water carrier to the D″ layer.

Urban sensing in the era of large language models.

Urban sensing has become increasingly important as cities evolve into the centers of human activities. Large language models (LLMs) offer new opportunities for urban sensing based on commonsense and worldview that emerged through their language-centric framework. This paper illustrates the transformative impact of LLMs, particularly in the potential of advancing next-generation urban sensing for exploring urban mechanisms.

Famitinib plus camrelizumab in patients with advanced colorectal cancer: Data from a multicenter, basket study.

Concurrent inhibition of angiogenesis and immune checkpoints represents a potent therapeutic approach. We conducted a phase 2, multicenter, basket study to assess the efficacy and safety of combination therapy of famitinib (anti-angiogenic agent) plus camrelizumab (PD-1 antagonist) in patients with metastatic solid tumors across 11 cohorts (this study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov [NCT04346381]).

Community-based model for management and follow-up by non-physician healthcare workers to improve awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension: The COTRACO study protocol.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide, with a significantly higher burden in low- and middle-income countries. Hypertension, a major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, remains under-diagnosed and poorly controlled, especially in regions such as Latin America. The HOPE-4 study demonstrated that the involvement of non-physician health workers (NPHWs), the use of standardized treatment algorithms, the provision of free antihypertensive drugs and home follow-up can significantly improve hypertension control and reduce cardiovascular risk, as demonstrated in Colombia and Malaysia.

Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome in the Setting of Normonatremia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) is a rare complication associated with rapid sodium changes, typically encountered in patients with severe hyponatremia. ODS in patients with normonatremia (ODSIN) is less recognized. We describe a patient with MRI-detected ODSIN following neurotrauma and reviewed the relevant literature.

Cockroaches as Reservoirs, Vectors, and Potential Sentinels of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria in Ugandan Communities: A Retrospective Analysis.

Cockroaches could play a role in the transmission dynamics of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) at variable interfaces in Ugandan communities, acting as both reservoirs and vectors. This study investigated the burden and diversity of ARB carried by cockroaches in human settlements in Uganda, so as to understand their role in the spread of these pathogens and their potential as sentinels in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance programs. A retrospective analysis was conducted on two unpublished studies by Makerere University students.

AI-assisted neurocognitive assessment protocol for older adults with psychiatric disorders.

Introduction: Evaluating neurocognitive functions and diagnosing psychiatric disorders in older adults is challenging due to the complexity of symptoms and individual differences. An innovative approach that combines the accuracy of artificial intelligence (AI) with the depth of neuropsychological assessments is needed.

Objectives: This paper presents a novel protocol for AI-assisted neurocognitive assessment aimed at addressing the cognitive, emotional, and functional dimensions of older adults with psychiatric disorders.

Network modeling of problematic social media use components in college student social media users.

Background: While the constitutive features of problematic social media use (PSMU) have been formulated, there has been a lack of studies in the field examining the structure of relationships among PSMU components.

Method: This study employed network analytic methods to investigate the connectivity among PSMU components in a large sample of 1,136 college student social media users ( = 19.69, = 1.

Revision quadriceps tendon repair: A case series and technique guide to a novel repair.

Introduction: Revision quadriceps tendon repair is a challenging problem. In this four-case series, novel quadriceps tendon revision resulted in improved range of motion and durable repair for patients with recurrent rupture.

Methods: Our technique includes a combination of a running locked #5 FiberWire or 2 mm SutureTape suture placed through parallel medial, lateral, and central drill holes in the patella with running Krackow-type quadriceps tendon repair medially and laterally resulting in four strands, delivering the vastus medialis and medial quadriceps tendon to an anatomic repair at the superior pole of the patella, with 2 sutures passed centrally and 1 each passed medially and laterally and then tied.

Impact of muscle fatigue on anticipatory postural adjustments during gait initiation.

Introduction: Prolonged or strenuous exercise leads to a temporary decrease in muscle function and performance, which interferes with activity of both prime movers and postural muscles. This effect of fatigue has been reported both for single segment movements and for locomotion. However, little is known regarding the effects of fatigue on anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) during gait initiation, a task in which the control of focal movement should be strictly coupled to a feedforward control of posture.

Development of a Complex Intervention for Promoting Participation in Resistance Exercise Among Community-Dwelling Frail Older Adults in China: A Multimethod Qualitative Study.

Background And Objectives: Regular resistance exercise (RE) showed a promising effect in reducing frailty in older adults. However, the participation of RE among this population remains low. This study was, therefore, aimed at developing a complex intervention tailored to community-dwelling frail older adults in China to promote participation in RE and reduce frailty ultimately.

Development and Delivery of Enhanced Implementation Support to Disseminate a National Caregiver Skills Training Program.

Background And Objectives: As the population ages there is an increasing need for caregiver training programs, but little is known about how to deliver implementation support for diverse sites in large-scale implementation efforts. External group-based implementation facilitation may be one promising approach. This study's objective is to detail the development and delivery of a pragmatic implementation facilitation approach to support the national rollout of caregiver training, Caregivers FIRST, at over 140 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) sites.

Indocyanine green fluorescence-guided laparoscopic central pancreatectomy for complete pancreatic transection trauma: a rare case and literature review.

Background: Pancreatic trauma is a rare solid organ injury. Conservative treatment is often indicated in patients with no pancreatic duct injury, while patients with high-grade pancreatic damage most often require surgical intervention. Laparoscopic central pancreatectomy (LCP) is a parenchyma-sparing approach and can prevent endocrine and exocrine insufficiency after pancreatic resection.

A biomarker framework for liver aging: the Aging Biomarker Consortium consensus statement.

In human aging, liver aging per se not only increases susceptibility to liver diseases but also increases vulnerability of other organs given its central role in regulating metabolism. Total liver function tends to be well maintained in the healthy elderly, so liver aging is generally difficult to identify early. In response to this critical challenge, the Aging Biomarker Consortium of China has formulated an expert consensus on biomarkers of liver aging by synthesizing the latest scientific literature, comprising insights from both scientists and clinicians.

Despicable role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer metastasis: Exhibiting restorative regimens.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent cancer in women globally. Anti-cancer advancements have enabled the killing of BC cells through various therapies; however, cancer relapse is still a major limitation and decreases patient survival and quality of life. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is responsible for tumor relapse in several cancers.

Medialization of shaft of humerus to provide medial buttress and prevent varus collapse in 3- and 4-part proximal humerus fractures: review of the surgical technique.

Hypothesis: Proximal humerus fractures present a treatment challenge due to varied fracture configurations and a lack of consensus on optimal management. Locking plate designs offer promising solutions, yet technical guidelines for successful outcomes remain elusive. Complications are common, with fixation-related failures often attributed to varus collapse.

A comprehensive analysis of erectile dysfunction prevalence and the impact of prostate conditions on ED among US adults: evidence from NHANES 2001-2004.

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is characterized by the inability to achieve or maintain penile erection sufficient for intercourse. While previous research suggests a potential link between ED and prostate pathologies, the association between benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, prostatic cancer (PCa), and ED remains to be elucidated.

Methods: Data from participants (40-80 years, n=2225) were extracted from the NHANES 2001-2004 for this observational study.