Atrial fibrillation burden in clinical practice, research, and technology development: a clinical consensus statement of the European Society of Cardiology Council on Stroke and the European Heart Rhythm Association.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common cardiac diseases and a complicating comorbidity for multiple associated diseases. Many clinical decisions regarding AF are currently based on the binary recognition of AF being present or absent with the categorical appraisal of AF as continued or intermittent. Assessment of AF in clinical trials is largely limited to the time to (first) detection of an AF episode.

PINNing cerebral blood flow: analysis of perfusion MRI in infants using physics-informed neural networks.

Arterial spin labelling (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) enables cerebral perfusion measurement, which is crucial in detecting and managing neurological issues in infants born prematurely or after perinatal complications. However, cerebral blood flow (CBF) estimation in infants using ASL remains challenging due to the complex interplay of network physiology, involving dynamic interactions between cardiac output and cerebral perfusion, as well as issues with parameter uncertainty and data noise. We propose a new spatial uncertainty-based physics-informed neural network (PINN), SUPINN, to estimate CBF and other parameters from infant ASL data.

External validation of a prediction model for estimating fat mass in Arab children and adolescents.

Background/aims: Current childhood fat mass (FM) assessment techniques are not suitable for clinical and population-level adiposity assessment. A prediction model, which accurately estimates childhood FM using predictor variables of weight, height, age, sex and ethnicity, requires validation in Arab populations. We evaluate the model's performance in Kuwaiti, Lebanese and Moroccan children/adolescents.

HIV in Latin American migrants in the UK: A neglected population in the 95-95-95 targets.

Background: The UK has reached the UNAIDS 2025 targets (of 95% of those living with HIV to be diagnosed, 95% to be on treatment and 95% of those on treatment to be virally suppressed). However, it is not known whether this target is met in subgroups such as migrant populations. Latin Americans are a fast-growing migrant group in the UK and have low engagement with healthcare services, yet little is known about the HIV profile in this population.

Experiences and perspectives of UK speech and language therapists on telehealth assessment with people living with post-stroke aphasia.

Background: Stroke care in the UK was significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many services switching to telehealth. Post-pandemic, a UK survey of speech and language therapists (SLTs) working with people with aphasia (PWA) showed the vast majority planned to continue to use telehealth alongside in-person intervention. Telehealth is considered a cost-effective and feasible method of service delivery; however, there is limited evidence to support its use in the assessment of people with post-stroke aphasia.

A composite subunit vaccine confers full protection against Buruli ulcer disease in the mouse footpad model of Mycobacterium ulcerans infection.

Buruli ulcer (BU) disease, a neglected necrotizing tropical skin infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, is the third most common mycobacterial disease after tuberculosis and leprosy. Infections mostly occur in remote, rural areas of Central and West Africa, but also in Australia, Japan and Papua New Guinea. There is currently no vaccine against Buruli ulcer disease and all previous attempts using closely related bacteria and subunit proteins have been partially successful only.

Treatment options for post-traumatic epilepsy: an update on clinical and translational aspects.

Introduction: Post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) accounts for 10% to 20% of all symptomatic epilepsies and 5% of all forms of epilepsy, and drug resistance is reported in up to 45% of cases.

Areas Covered: This is a focused narrative review that discusses the available data on the current and new PTE treatments, giving particular attention to the last 10 years.

Expert Opinion: Despite the disappointing results of many antiseizure medications (ASMs) in preventing epileptogenicity, it is still unclear whether the early intervention could lead to different clinical phenotypes in terms, for example, of seizure severity, drug resistance and comorbidity patterns.

The Effectiveness and Safety of Bedaquiline, Pretomanid, and Linezolid (BPaL)-Based Regimens for Rifampicin-Resistant Tuberculosis in Non-Trial Settings-A Prospective Cohort Study in Belarus and Uzbekistan.

Background: Only 63% of patients initiating multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) treatment in 2020 were treated successfully. 24-Week all-oral bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid (BPaL)-based regimens have demonstrated higher rates of treatment success and have been recommended by the World Health Organization. Operational research is urgently required to evaluate these regimens in non-trial settings.

Health outcomes and drug utilisation in children with Noonan syndrome: a European cohort study.

Background: Noonan Syndrome (NS) is a rare multisystemic disorder with heterogeneous phenotypic manifestations. The aim of this study was to analyse rates of survival, hospitalisation, surgeries and prescriptions in children born with NS in the first 10 years of life.

Methods: This is a multi-centre population-based cohort study.

Risk of invasive meningococcal disease in people with sickle cell disease: A systematic review.

Background: Asplenia and splenic dysfunction is associated with an increased risk of severe and fatal infections, especially due to encapsulated bacteria including Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae serotype b (Hib) and Neisseria meningitidis. People with sickle cell disease (SCD) develop recurrent splenic infarcts rendering them functionally asplenic. Consequently, additional vaccination against these three pathogens is recommended.

Increasing Maternal Vaccination Awareness, by Working With Women Influencers in Kawempe Division, Uganda: A Brief Report.

Although the World Health Organization recommends 2 tetanus vaccine-containing injections in pregnancy, in Uganda, only 59.2% of pregnant women received a 2nd dose in 2022. We set out to (1) create awareness of maternal vaccine-preventable diseases, maternal immunization benefits and vaccination safety through the use of media; (2) determine the effectiveness of maternal immunization campaigns and (3) assess stakeholder's acceptability of project interventions' delivery methods.

Impact of HIV Status on Group B Streptococcus Colonization and Antibody Responses in Serum and Vaginal Mucosa.

Background: Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a commensal bacterium of the digestive and genital tracts that can occasionally cause maternal and neonatal disease. GBS is particularly a burden in low-resource settings, where infections with HIV are also highly prevalent. This study investigates the impact of HIV status on GBS colonization and antibody levels.

Brain neurons internalise polymeric micron-sized capsules: Insights from and studies.

Nanoengineered encapsulation presents a promising strategy for targeted drug delivery to specific regions in the body. While polyelectrolyte-based biodegradable microcapsules can achieve highly localised drug release in tissues and cell cultures, delivering drugs to intracellular sites in the brain remains a significant challenge. In this study, we utilized advanced imaging techniques, both and , to investigate whether brain neurons can internalise polyelectrolyte-based microcapsules designed for drug delivery.

Blood folate level needed for fully effective fortification in the prevention of neural tube defects.

Objective: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are a preventable folate deficiency disorder; increasing folic acid intake through food fortification increases serum and red blood cell folate and reduces the risk of an NTD pregnancy. There is controversy over the blood folate level needed to achieve the full preventive effect because of discrepant study conclusions.

Methods: Results from two published studies were used to determine the relationship between serum folate and NTD risk which was compared with the observed result in a randomised trial of folic acid that increased serum folate from 5 ng/mL to 44 ng/mL among women who took a 4 mg daily periconceptional folic acid supplement.

Detection and management of postoperative atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting or non-cardiac surgery: a survey by the AF-SCREEN International Collaboration.

We developed a survey to describe current practice on the detection and management of new-onset postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) occurring after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or non-cardiac surgery. We e-mailed an online anonymous questionnaire of 17 multiple choice or rank questions to an international network of healthcare professionals. Between June 2023 and June 2024, 158 participants from 25 countries completed the survey.

Role of von Willebrand factor, platelets, and aberrant flow in the initiation of venous thrombosis.

Deep vein thrombosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, because of the absence of overt blood vessel damage, how venous thrombosis is actually initiated remains unclear. Using endothelialized fluidic devices, we show that aberrant flow patterns that may occur in venous valve pockets of individuals with common stasis-related risk factors can cause the formation of von Willebrand factor-platelet tangles that are resistant to ADAMTS13 removal.

Knowledge, attitudes, motivations and expectations regarding antimicrobial use among community members seeking care at the primary healthcare level: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Inappropriate antibiotic use in (primary healthcare, PHC) settings fuels antimicrobial resistance (AMR), threatens patient safety and burdens healthcare systems. Patients' knowledge, attitudes, motivations and expectations play a crucial role in antibiotic use behaviour, especially in low-income and middle-income countries including South Africa. There is a need to ensure measures of antibiotic use, interventions and future guidance reflect cultural, community and demographic issues associated with patient views to reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics and associated AMR.

Causes of HIV-related CNS infection in Cameroon, Malawi, and Tanzania: epidemiological findings from the DREAMM HIV-related CNS implementation study.

Background: CNS infections cause approximately a third of HIV-related deaths. The Driving Reduced AIDS-Associated Meningo-encephalitis Mortality DREAMM study aimed to prospectively diagnose the aetiology of HIV-related CNS infection in five public hospitals in Cameroon, Malawi, and Tanzania.

Methods: DREAMM was a multicentre, hybrid type-2 implementation science project.

Recommendations for Improving Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies in Europe Using Healthcare Databases.

Background: Although accessing administrative data in healthcare databases may be a more time-efficient and cost-effective method of conducting surveillance, there is evidence suggesting that administrative data alone are not sufficient for population-based surveillance of congenital anomalies.

Objective: To propose recommendations to maximise the potential use of healthcare databases for surveillance of congenital anomalies based on our data linkage experiences and results from the EUROlinkCAT study.

Methods: EUROlinkCAT is a population-based cohort study of 99,416 children with anomalies born between 1995 and 2014.

Lymphatic Embolization for Primary Genital Lymphorrhea and Chylous Reflux-Related Lower Limb Lymphedema.

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of lymphatic embolization for primary genital lymphorrhea.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent lymphatic embolization for primary genital lymphorrhea and/or lower limb lymphedema between May 2016 and January 2022 at three specialized lymphatic centers. Following radiological evaluation of genital lymphorrhea, affected lymphatic vessels were selectively embolized to occlude abnormal lymphatic flow using a mixture of N-butyl cyanoacrylate glue and ethiodized oil.

Challenges and opportunities of vaccination during pregnancy: perspectives of 20 healthcare professionals.

Vaccination during pregnancy is crucial due to increased maternal vulnerability to infectious diseases. However, uptake of recommended vaccines (influenza, pertussis, COVID-19) remains suboptimal, particularly among disadvantaged groups. This qualitative study explored healthcare professionals' (HCPs) perspectives, selected purposively, on factors influencing maternal vaccination in London.