A Unique Simulation Methodology for Practicing Clinical Decision Making.

Background: While bedside teaching offers invaluable clinical experience, its availability is limited. Challenges such as a shortage of clinical placements and qualified teaching physicians, coupled with increasing medical student numbers, exacerbate this issue. Simulation-based learning encompasses varied educational values and has the potential to serve as an important tool in medical students' education.

Association between governmental spending on social services and health care use among low-income older adults.

Prior research demonstrates that local government spending on social policies, excluding health care, is linked to improved population health. Whether such spending is associated with better access to primary care and reduced acute care utilization remains unclear. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the associations between county-level social spending and individual-level health care utilization among low-income Medicare beneficiaries, aged ≥65 years, from 2016 to 2018.

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.

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.

Comparison of clinicodemographic characteristics in patients with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors poisoning: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Our objective of this study was to evaluate patients of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) overdose and compare the toxicological effects of citalopram overdose with other SSRIs in adult poisoning cases.

Methods: This cross-sectional study focused on acute, known-type SSRI ingestions. Demographic and toxicological data were collected on the patients.

Subclinical spp. Infections in a Community Setting in Bangui, Central African Republic.

Background: Malaria is a major public health problem in the Central African Republic (CAR). Data on malaria epidemiology are often derived from confirmed cases of symptomatic malaria using passive detection approaches, with very limited knowledge of the extent of subclinical and submicroscopic infections.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Bangui, the capital of the CAR, to assess the prevalence of subclinical malaria parasitaemia.

A Predictive Model for Pulmonary Aspergillosis in ICU Patients: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Several predictive models for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) based on clinical characteristics have been reported. Nevertheless, the significance of other concurrently detected microorganisms in IPA patients is equally noteworthy. This study aimed to develop a risk prediction model for IPA by integrating clinical and microbiological characteristics.

Evaluation of hypertension knowledge and its association with medication adherence among hypertensive patients attending primary health centers: a cross-sectional study from eastern Saudi Arabia.

Background And Aim: The global healthcare system acknowledged the crucial role of disease knowledge in health outcomes and improving quality of life among patients with chronic disease. A lack of adequate knowledge and understanding of hypertension, its symptoms, and available treatments can lead to poor treatment outcomes. The present study aimed to determine the level of hypertension knowledge and associated factors among hypertensive patients.

Addressing the overuse of hospital emergency departments in the Portuguese NHS: a new paradigm.

The escalating trend of inappropriate visits to Emergency Departments (ED) has led to significant concerns, including resource misallocation, compromised patient care, and an increased burden on healthcare workers. Portugal faces a notable challenge, reporting one of the highest ED visit rates, with an annual average of approximately 6 million ED visits from 2013 to 2023. In response, the "Call First, Save Lives" pilot project was launched by the Portuguese NHS Executive Board, in 2023, at the Local Health Unit (LHU) of Póvoa de Varzim/Vila do Conde.

Designing community-based strategies to reach non-household contacts of people with tuberculosis in Lusaka, Zambia: a rapid qualitative study among key stakeholders.

Background: In high-burden settings, most tuberculosis (TB) transmission likely occurs outside the home. Our qualitative study in Zambia explored the acceptability and preferences for designing TB active case finding (ACF) strategies to reach non-household contacts of people with TB.

Methods: We conducted 56 in-depth interviews with persons with TB ( = 12), TB healthcare workers (HCWs) ( = 10), TB lay HCWs ( = 10), and leaders/owners ( = 12) and attendees ( = 12) of community venue types identified as potential TB transmission locations.

Assessing and comparing compassionate communities benefits across cities in diverse cultural contexts: a step toward the identification of the most important ones.

Background: As Compassionate Communities (CCs) are developing worldwide, there is a growing need to systematically assess if they are having the expected effects on the community. Although having a single strategy would be ideal in terms of standardization and comparison, due to the inherent heterogeneity of CCs, it is not known how feasible this would be.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility of creating a general strategy, based on the results of a series of focus groups conducted across three diverse CCs, to guide the evaluation of already existing programs and the development of new ones.

Association between alcohol consumption and sleep difficulty in a nationwide Korean survey.

Background: The data on the association between alcohol intake and sleep quality in a community-based setting are lacking. This study examined overall sleep difficulty according to alcohol habits among Korean adults.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed data from 4937 adults who responded to questions about sleep difficulty and drinking habits from the 2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Assessing Family Caregiver Readiness for Hospital Discharge of Patients With Serious or Life-Limiting Illness Using Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Self-Reported Data.

Objective: To assess how patient and caregiver factors influence caregiver readiness for hospital discharge in palliative care patients.

Study Setting And Design: This transitional care study uses cross-sectional data from a randomized controlled trial conducted from 2018 to 2023 testing an intervention for caregivers of hospitalized adult patients with a serious or life-limiting illness who received a palliative care consult prior to transitioning out of the hospital.

Data Sources And Analytical Sample: Caregiver readiness was measured with the Family Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (n = 231).

Couple-Based Intervention to Improve HIV Care Engagement for Women and their Partners in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Outcomes of a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

We evaluated a couple-based intervention targeting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care needs of women, with the option to support HIV-related needs of male partners. Adult women with HIV adherence difficulties in a monogamous relationship with a male partner for ≥6 months were recruited in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Twenty couples were randomized (1:1) to either START Together, a five-session manualized behavioral intervention, or treatment as usual, adherence counseling referral.

Shaping the future rural healthcare landscape: perspectives of young healthcare professionals.

Introduction: Rural communities continue to struggle to access quality healthcare services. Even in countries where the majority of the population live in rural and remote areas, resources are concentrated in big cities, and this is continuing. As a result, countries with the highest proportion of rural residents correlate with the poorest access, which has negative implications for the health and wellbeing of people.

The fungal microbiota modulate neonatal oxygen-induced lung injury.

Background: The immature lungs of very preterm infants are exposed to supraphysiologic oxygen, contributing to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic lung disease that is the most common morbidity of prematurity. While the microbiota significantly influences neonatal health, the relationship between the intestinal microbiome, particularly micro-eukaryotic members such as fungi and yeast, and lung injury severity in newborns remains unknown.

Results: Here, we show that the fungal microbiota modulates hyperoxia-induced lung injury severity in very low birth weight premature infants and preclinical pseudohumanized and altered fungal colonization mouse models.

Increased interferon I signaling, DNA damage response and evidence of T-cell exhaustion in a patient with combined interferonopathy (Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome, AGS) and cohesinopathy (Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, CdLS).

Background: Type I interferonopathies including Aicardi-Goutiéres Syndrome (AGS) represent a heterogeneous group of clinical phenotypes. Herein, we present a Case with combined AGS and Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS)-a cohesinopathy-with comprehensive analysis of the immune and genomic abnormalities.

Case And Methods: A 20-year old man presented with chilblain lesions and resorption of distal phalanges of fingers and toes, somatic and psychomotor retardation, microcephaly, synophrys, hearing losing and other aberrancies consistent with the phenotype of CdLS.

Evaluation of mobile clinics by MSF in pastoralist community in Doolo Zone, Somali region, Ethiopia.

Background: The Somali region in Ethiopia has poor health infrastructure, coupled with the adversity experienced by the largely pastoralist population through frequent droughts, disease outbreaks and conflict. From January 2019, MSF strategically focused on improving access to primary healthcare in the Doolo zone of the Somali region by providing 15-20 mobile clinics covering a wide geographical area. We aimed to evaluate the extent to which mobile clinics were an appropriate and effective modality to deliver healthcare for populations living in the region.

The quest for environmental analytical microbiology: absolute quantitative microbiome using cellular internal standards.

Background: High-throughput sequencing has revolutionized environmental microbiome research, providing both quantitative and qualitative insights into nucleic acid targets in the environment. The resulting microbial composition (community structure) data are essential for environmental analytical microbiology, enabling characterization of community dynamics and assessing microbial pollutants for the development of intervention strategies. However, the relative abundances derived from sequencing impede comparisons across samples and studies.

Trend of the lipid profile in a cohort with severe hypercholesterolemia in Osona county (Barcelona, Spain), between 2009 and 2021.

Background: Various studies confirm that the prevalence of dyslipidemia and other cardiovascular factors is high.

Objective: To evaluate the trend of the lipid profile (LP) in a cohort with severe hypercholesterolemia and its relationship with lipid-lowering treatment during the period 2009-2021.

Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out in the Osona county (Barcelona).

Evaluating stakeholder coordination and partnerships for NTD elimination in Taraba state, Nigeria: a multi-level analysis.

Introduction: Nigeria has a significant burden of NTDs with more than 120 million people at risk of the dominant NTDs namely Lymphatic Filariasis, Onchocerciasis, and Schistosomiasis. Control efforts have involved the four levels of governance with programs focused on vector control, preventive chemotherapy, water, sanitation and health education. However, the coordination across these levels and with multiple stakeholders remains unclear especially in states like Taraba that have received significant funding from local non-governmental organisations.

The effect of a comprehensive intervention on anthropometric indices, dietary intake, and physical activity of adolescent boys with overweight.

Background: Non-communicable diseases in adulthood are reported to be strongly associated with adolescent obesity. The present study aimed to assess the effect of a comprehensive lifestyle modification intervention on the anthropometric indices, dietary intake, and physical activity of adolescent boys with overweight.

Methods: This pragmatic trial was conducted on 126 adolescent boys with overweight.

The obesity paradox in osteoporosis risk among older adults is mostly driven by women: a population-based prospective study.

Objectives: The obesity paradox is common among older adults at risk for various diseases. Although this paradox has also been observed in the association between obesity and osteoporosis, the available evidence remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the association between obesity and OP risk in an older population.

Antenatal care and breastfeeding practices in Sub-Saharan Africa: an analysis of demographic and health surveys.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends immediate breastfeeding (within the first hour after birth) and exclusive breastfeeding (for the first six months of life), particularly in low-resource settings such as sub-Saharan Africa. In 2016, WHO updated its antenatal care (ANC) guidelines, recommending at least eight (8+) ANC contacts during pregnancy to improve maternal and child health outcomes. This study investigates i) trends in breastfeeding practices across sub-Saharan Africa following the rollout of the revised WHO 2016 ANC policy and ii) the relationship between ANC uptake and exclusive or early breastfeeding.