The Role of Air Pollution and Olfactory Dysfunction in Alzheimer's Disease Pathogenesis.

The escalating issue of air pollution contributes to an alarming number of premature fatalities each year, thereby posing a significant threat to global health. The focus of recent research has shifted towards understanding its potential association with neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is recognised for its characteristic deposition of toxic proteins within the brain, leading to a steady deterioration of cognitive capabilities, memory failure, and, ultimately, death.

Unraveling complexity and leveraging opportunities in uncommon breast cancer subtypes.

Special histologic subtypes of breast cancer (BC) exhibit unique phenotypes and molecular profiles with diagnostic and therapeutic implications, often differing in behavior and clinical trajectory from common BC forms. Novel methodologies, such as artificial intelligence may improve classification. Genetic predisposition plays roles in a subset of cases.

Communicating scientific evidence: drugs for Alzheimer's disease as a case study.

This paper reviews the scientific evidence on new anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies for treating Alzheimer's disease as a case study for improving scientific evidence communication. We introduce five guidelines condensed from the biomedical evidence literature but adapted to the short format of science communication in e.g.

'Despite the Pain, I Keep Moving Forward': A Qualitative Study on Brazilian Older Adults' Experiences With Chronic Low Back Pain.

Objective: The burden of chronic low back pain (CLBP) is increasing rapidly along with the global population ageing. Such an increase will occur more rapidly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Yet, few studies have explored the experiences of older adults with CLBP, and these are primarily conducted in high-income countries.

Reactogenicity and Immunogenicity Against MPXV of the Intradermal Administration of Modified Vaccinia Ankara Compared to the Standard Subcutaneous Route.

Background: The recent resurgence of mpox in central Africa has been declared a new public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) requiring coordinated international responses. Vaccination is a priority to expand protection and enhance control strategies, but the vaccine's need exceeds the currently available doses. Intradermal (ID) administration of one-fifth of the standard modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA-BN) dose was temporarily authorized during the 2022 PHEIC.

Laboratory Comparison of Rapid Antigen Diagnostic Tests for Lymphatic Filariasis: STANDARD Q Filariasis Antigen Test (QFAT) Versus Bioline Filariasis Test Strip (FTS).

Accurate rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are needed to diagnose lymphatic filariasis (LF) in global elimination programmes. We evaluated the performance of the new STANDARD Q Filariasis Antigen Test (QFAT) against the Bioline Filariasis Test Strip (FTS) for detecting antigen (Ag) in laboratory conditions, using serum (n = 195) and plasma (n = 189) from LF-endemic areas (Samoa, American Samoa and Myanmar) and Australian negative controls (n = 46). The prior Ag status of endemic samples (54.

Integrated Serosurveillance of Infectious Diseases Using Multiplex Bead Assays: A Systematic Review.

Integrated serological surveillance (serosurveillance) involves testing for antibodies to multiple pathogens (or species) simultaneously and can be achieved using multiplex bead assays (MBAs). This systematic review aims to describe pathogens studied using MBAs, the operational implementation of MBAs, and how the data generated were synthesised. In November and December 2023, four databases were searched for studies utilising MBAs for the integrated serosurveillance of infectious diseases.

Short-term outcomes from the 'Watch and Wait' (WoW) study: prospective cohort study.

Background: Despite absence of level 1 evidence on the long-term oncological safety of non-operative management for rectal cancer (watch and wait), increased implementation has occurred globally over the past decades. In Sweden, a pan-national prospective non-randomized study was initiated in 2017 to assess its implementation.

Method: Patients with biopsy-proven rectal cancer receiving neoadjuvant therapy according to national guidelines in whom a clinical complete response was detected at reassessment were eligible for inclusion following informed consent.

A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis of intravenous tranexamic acid in adult patients undergoing elective total hip arthroplasty (ORACLE).

Background: Uncertainty about optimal tranexamic acid (TXA) dosage has led to significant practice variation in hip arthroplasty. We aimed to identify the optimal i.v.

Impact of COVID-19 on Antimicrobial Stewardship Activities in Hospitalised Children: A Scoping Review.

Aim: COVID-19 has brought unprecedented challenges to the healthcare system. The rapid spread of the virus, laboratory burn-out, exhausted staff, diagnostic uncertainty and lack of guidelines cumulatively disrupted hospital antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) programs. This scoping review evaluated how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the implementation of AMS, particularly within the context of clinical audits.

Long-term immunogenicity of a single-dose live recombinant chimeric Japanese encephalitis vaccine in adults.

Background: Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) is a leading cause of viral encephalitis in Asia, with high case-fatality rate and morbidity. Although the live recombinant Japanese encephalitis chimeric vaccine (Imojev®) offers strong initial immunity, data on long-term efficacy beyond five years remain limited.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on adults vaccinated with Imojev® at a specialist travel clinic in Brisbane, Australia.

Is methamphetamine blood concentration in emergency department patients associated with the clinical picture?

Aims: This study aimed to describe clinical features and outcomes of patients presenting to the emergency department with analytically confirmed methamphetamine intoxication, to determine the blood concentration of methamphetamine and to test its association with clinical findings.

Design: The Western Australian Illicit Substance Evaluation (WISE) study is a prospective observational cohort study.

Setting: Royal Perth Hospital Emergency Department, Perth, Australia, between 2016 and 2018.

Clinical toxicity of nitazene detections in two Australian emergency department toxicosurveillance systems.

Introduction: Nitazenes are a group of potent synthetic opioids that have had increasing prominence as novel psychoactive drugs in the last 5 years. We describe emergency department nitazene-related presentations.

Methods: This is a prospective series of patients with analytically confirmed nitazene presentations identified by the Emerging Drugs Network of Australia and Emerging Drugs Network of Australia Victoria.

Prevalence, misclassification, and clinical consequences of the heteroresistant phenotype in Escherichia coli bloodstream infections in patients in Uppsala, Sweden: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Antibiotic heteroresistance is a common bacterial phenotype characterised by the presence of small resistant subpopulations within a susceptible population. During antibiotic exposure, these resistant subpopulations can be enriched and potentially lead to treatment failure. In this study, we examined the prevalence, misclassification, and clinical effect of heteroresistance in Escherichia coli bloodstream infections for the clinically important antibiotics cefotaxime, gentamicin, and piperacillin-tazobactam.

Comparison of Piperacillin-tazobactam and Vancomycin (TZP-VAN) with Piperacillin-tazobactam and Teicoplanin (TZP-TEI) for the risk of Acute Kidney Injury (CONCOMITANT): A prospective observational, multinational, multi-centre cohort study.

Objectives: Both vancomycin (VAN) and teicoplanin (TEI) augment the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) when combined with piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP). We aimed to compare the risk of AKI among patients receiving TZP-VAN versus TZP-TEI.

Methods: This was a prospective, multinational, multicentre cohort study conducted in 12 centres from Turkiye, Italy and Spain between June 1, 2022, and December 31, 2023.

Integrating post-validation surveillance of lymphatic filariasis with the WHO STEPwise approach to non-communicable disease risk factor surveillance in Niue, a study protocol.

Background: Lymphatic filariasis (LF), a mosquito-borne parasitic disease caused by three species of filarial worms, was first detected in Niue, a small Pacific Island nation of approximately 1,600 people, in 1954. After extensive efforts involving multiple rounds of Mass Drug Administration, Niue was validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having e4liminated LF as a public health problem in 2016. However, no surveillance has been conducted since validation to confirm infection rates have remained below WHO's elimination threshold.

Collaboration between ambulance services and primary care: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Making decisions about the appropriate level of care is a significant challenge for healthcare professionals, especially when older patients present with diffuse symptoms. Collaboration between ambulance services and primary care may promote a comprehensive understanding of patient needs. However, such collaboration remains limited, potentially leading to lower care quality and higher costs.

Transitioning to high-sensitivity troponin: 1-year mortality outcomes in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome presenting to emergency departments.

Background: Switching from a conventional to a high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assay enables detection of smaller amounts of myocardial damage, but the clinical benefit is unclear. We investigated whether switching to a hs-cTnI assay with a sex-specific 99th centile diagnostic threshold was associated with lower 1-year death or new myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: This pre-post study included nine tertiary hospitals in Australia.

Updates on neonatal cell and novel therapeutics: Proceedings of the Second Neonatal Cell Therapies Symposium (2024).

Cell therapies as treatments for neonatal conditions have attracted significant research and parent interest over the last two decades. Mesenchymal stromal cells, umbilical cord blood cells and neural stem cells translate from lab, to preclinical and into clinical trials, with contributions being made from all over the world. Effective and timely translation involves frequent reflection and consultation from research-adjacent fields (i.

Comparison of Random Forest and Stepwise Regression for Variable Selection Using Low Prevalence Predictors: A case Study in Paediatric Sepsis.

Introduction: Variable selection is a common technique to identify the most predictive variables from a pool of candidate predictors. Low prevalence predictors (LPPs) are frequently found in clinical data, yet few studies have explored their impact on model performance during variable selection. This study compared the Random Forest (RF) algorithm and stepwise regression (SWR) for variable selection using data from a paediatric sepsis screening tool, where 18 out of 32 predictors had a prevalence < 10%.

Predictors of Length of Hospitalization for Neonatal Sepsis at Kenyatta Nation Hospital, Kenya: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Background And Aims: Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of neonatal mortality worldwide. It remains a detrimental bottleneck to the WHO goal of eradicating preventable deaths for children below 5 years of age by 2030. Though the risk factors for adverse clinical outcomes for neonatal sepsis have been widely studied there is no universal consensus.

Factors associated with true-positive and false-positive diagnoses of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia in 100 consecutive referrals from specialist physicians.

Background: The behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is a challenging diagnosis due to overlapping symptoms with psychiatric and other neurological conditions. Accordingly, misdiagnosis is common. The present study aimed to identify clinical factors contributing to misdiagnoses of bvFTD by specialist physicians.

Diagnosing Late-Onset Tay-Sachs Through Next Generation Sequencing and Functional Enzyme Testing: From Genes to Enzymes.

Tay-Sachs disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive neurologic impairment due to pathogenic variants in the gene that codes for the alpha subunit of β-hexosaminidase. We report 2 cases of adult-onset progressive weakness, ataxia, and neuropsychiatric symptoms in a 30-year-old man and 37-year-old woman. Both patients had compound heterozygosity in the gene with 4 distinct variants.