Point-of-care ultrasound diagnosis of acute valvular emergencies.

Introduction: Acute valvular emergencies, a time-sensitive diagnosis, are nearly impossible to diagnose without ultrasound, and missing the diagnosis can significantly impact patient outcomes. Many emergency physicians lack access to echo technicians and may be uncomfortable performing the ultrasound themselves. Approaching the paucity of review articles, none of which are focused for the emergency physician, can be quite daunting, even for those with extensive ultrasound training.

Extrarenal manifestations of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS) is categorized as a thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), which arises due to abnormal or unregulated complement pathway activation. While the disease frequently affects renal blood vessels, it can also involve multiple other organ systems. This review examines the prevalence and clinical outcomes of aHUS patients with extrarenal involvement.

The Effectiveness and Safety of Chemoprophylaxis in the Surgical Management of Spinal Trauma: A Systematic Review and Meta Analysis.

Introduction: Chemoprophylaxis for preventing VTE in spine surgery is debated due to effectiveness and safety concerns. Guidelines lack consensus on regimens and timing for spinal trauma. We examined chemoprophylaxis in spine trauma surgery to further guide surgeon decision-making.

Rates, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients Hospitalized for COVID-19 in the United States.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the incidence and predictors of non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) in hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as well as the inpatient outcomes associated with this complication.

Methods: This was an analysis of the National Inpatient Sample Database from January to December 2020. Adult COVID-19 patients were categorized into two groups based on NVUGIB development during hospitalization.

Combined anterior-posterior versus posterior only approach for surgical management of adult spinal deformity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies.

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the clinical outcomes and complication rates for fusion procedures of adult spinal deformity (ASD) performed via an anterior-posterior approach as compared to a posterior-only approach to guide surgical decision-making. Numerous surgical techniques exist for operative management of ASD; however, no systematic review and meta-analysis exists comparing combined anterior-posterior approaches to posterior-only approach, despite significant interest in the current literature.

Methods: Four databases were used to collect articles from database inception until September 9th, 2023.

Pathophysiology of Congenital Anomalies of the Kidney and Urinary Tract: A Comprehensive Review.

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) represent a broad range of diseases with differing mechanisms, clinical presentations, and prognoses. With an estimated prevalence of between 4 and 60 per 10,000 births, CAKUT represents a sizable number of patients for pediatric and adult nephrologists as therapies have progressed, allowing longer life spans. Many CAKUT disorders are associated with genetic mutations, and with advances in genomic sequencing, these genes are being identified at an increasing rate.

A molecular video-derived foundation model for scientific drug discovery.

Accurate molecular representation of compounds is a fundamental challenge for prediction of drug targets and molecular properties. In this study, we present a molecular video-based foundation model, named VideoMol, pretrained on 120 million frames of 2 million unlabeled drug-like and bioactive molecules. VideoMol renders each molecule as a video with 60-frame and designs three self-supervised learning strategies on molecular videos to capture molecular representation.

Economic burden of inpatient hospitalizations for pediatric chronic kidney disease in the US.

Background: Children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) face extensive healthcare needs, leading to substantial financial strain on both families and healthcare systems due to costly kidney replacement therapies and associated comorbidities. Limited research on inpatient healthcare utilization is available for the individual stages of pediatric CKD.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included inpatient encounters for pediatric patients (≤ 18 years) using the Pediatric Health Information System Database (PHIS) between January 2016 and December 2022, with an ICD-10 code for any CKD stage (1-5).

Point-of-care ultrasound training in nephrology: a position statement by the International Alliance for POCUS in Nephrology.

Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) has rapidly evolved from a niche technology to an indispensable tool across medical specialties, including nephrology. This evolution is driven by advancements in technology and the visionary efforts of clinicians in emergency medicine and beyond. Recognizing its potential, medical schools are increasingly integrating POCUS into training curricula, emphasizing its role in enhancing diagnostic accuracy and patient care.

A Case of Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor: Highlighting Diagnostic Challenges and Underscoring the Need for Standardized Treatment Protocols.

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor is a rare and aggressive neoplasm, primarily affecting serosal surfaces within the abdomen and pelvic peritoneum in young males. Because of a low reported incidence, underdiagnosis and lack of current treatment guidelines pose a unique challenge for physicians and patients dealing with this disease. Therefore, it is imperative to present new information regarding this disease so that better detection and treatment guidelines can be created.

CRB2 Depletion Induces YAP Signaling and Disrupts Mechanosensing in Podocytes.

Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a histologic lesion caused by a variety of injurious stimuli that lead to dysfunction/loss of glomerular visceral epithelial cells (i.e. podocytes).

Cervical Laminoplasty is Associated With Lower Health Care Costs as Compared With Cervical Fusion Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Comparative Studies.

Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the cost of CLP versus CF stratified by approach to guide decision-making.

Summary Of Background Data: Cervical laminoplasty (CLP) and cervical fusion (CF) are viable alternatives for surgical management of cervical spine myelopathy, with no clear consensus on clinical superiority.

Sociodemographic Disparities in 1-Year Outcomes of Children With Community-Acquired Acute Kidney Injury.

Importance: Racial disparities have been identified in pediatric community-acquired acute kidney injury (CA-AKI), and they are associated with increased risk of child mortality, morbidity, and progression of kidney disease.

Objective: To assess clinical outcomes at 1 year among children with CA-AKI, stratified by age, race, and ethnicity.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study is a population-based analysis of deidentified, aggregated electronic health record data collected by 61 large health care organizations from 2003 to 2023 and accessed through the TriNetX platform.

The burden of cirrhosis and other chronic liver disease in the middle east and North Africa (MENA) region over three decades.

Background: Cirrhosis comprises a significant health challenge in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region impacting healthcare systems and communities. This study sought to investigate trends in the burden of cirrhosis and other chronic liver disease, different etiologies, deaths, and the disability burden utilizing data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database.

Methods: Analyzing epidemiological trends from 1990 to 2021 across 21 MENA countries, this research utilized data on age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR), age-standardized death rates, and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) to evaluate the burden of cirrhosis and other chronic liver disease.

Reactive Oxygen Species in Cystic Kidney Disease.

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a rare but significant renal condition with major implications for global acute and chronic patient care. Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) can significantly alter its pathophysiology, clinical outcomes, and treatment, contributing to negative outcomes, including hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and kidney failure. Inflammation from ROS and existing cysts propagate the generation and accumulation of ROS, exacerbating kidney injury, pro-fibrotic signaling cascades, and interstitial fibrosis.