Differential attainment at national selection for higher surgical training: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: National selection for higher surgical specialty training (HST) in the UK is a high-stakes gatekeeping assessment. If barriers, such as differential attainment, exist at HST selection for some groups and not others, then this will have a significant and lasting impact on trainees' career progression and the diversity of the workforce, which should reflect the population it provides care for. The objective of this study was to characterise the relationship between candidate sociodemographic factors and performance at National Selection for HST in the UK.

Clinical effectiveness and implementation outcomes of pMDI-to-DPI switch in children between 5 and 12 years of age: a scoping review protocol.

Introduction: Inhalers are critical in asthma treatment, and inappropriate inhaler use leads to poor asthma outcomes. In adults and adolescents, dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are safe and effective alternatives to mainstay pressurised metered dose inhalers and could bridge the asthma care gap while also reducing the environmental burden of asthma care. Despite being licensed for use in ages 5 years old and older, the evidence for clinical effectiveness is less clear for patients between ages 5 and 12 years.

Metabolically healthy overweight/obesity with no metabolic abnormalities and incident hyperglycaemia in Chinese adults: analysis of a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To explore whether metabolically healthy overweight (MHOW) and/or metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) increase hyperglycaemia risk in a Chinese population with a broad age range.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Secondary analysis of data from the DATADRYAD database, comprising health check records of participants from 32 regions and 11 cities in China between 2010 and 2016.

Understanding neurocognitive recovery in older adults after total hip arthroplasty-neurocognitive assessment, blood biomarkers and patient experiences: a mixed-methods study.

Objective: Delayed neurocognitive recovery, previously known as postoperative cognitive dysfunction, is a common complication affecting older adults after surgery. This study aims to address the knowledge gap in postoperative neurocognitive recovery by exploring the relationship between subjective experiences, performance-based measurements, and blood biomarkers.

Design: Mixed-methods study with a convergent parallel (QUAL+quan) design.

Improving the diagnostic accuracy of referrals for papilloedema (DIPP) study: protocol for a mixed-methods study.

Introduction: Papilloedema can be the first sign of life-threatening disease, for example, brain tumours. Due to the potential seriousness of this clinical sign, the detection of papilloedema would normally prompt urgent hospital referral for further investigation. The problem is that many benign structural variations of optic nerve anatomy can be mistaken for papilloedema, so-called pseudopapilloedema.

Multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled clinical trial comparing intermittent cefoxitin administration versus loading bolus followed by continuous infusion for the prevention of surgical site infection in colorectal surgery: the PROPHYLOXITIN study protocol.

Introduction: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the second leading cause of healthcare-associated infections in Europe with the highest rates being reported in colorectal surgery (ranging from 9% to 30%). Surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP) is one of the most efficient measures for SSI prevention and should be started before surgical incision. Cefoxitin is an antibiotic widely used as SAP for colorectal surgery, but its continuous administration is currently the subject of debate due to its potential pharmacokinetic advantages.

Efficacy of the Foodbot Factory digital curriculum-based nutrition education intervention in improving children's nutrition knowledge, attitudes and behaviours in elementary school classrooms: protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Schools are an important setting for supporting children's development of food literacy, but minimal research has assessed which strategies are most suitable for school nutrition education. The Foodbot Factory intervention, consisting of serious game (ie, a digital game designed for education) and curriculum-based lesson plans, was developed to support teachers and children ages 8-12 with nutrition education. Pilot data have demonstrated that Foodbot Factory can significantly improve children's nutrition knowledge, but it has not yet been evaluated in classrooms.

Barriers and enablers encountered by bereaved informal motor neuron disease (MND) caregivers when trying to access bereavement support: a qualitative cross-sectional thematic analysis of semistructured interviews with 6-36 months postbereavement informal MND caregivers in the UK.

Background: Caregivers of people with motor neuron disease (MND) face more negative consequences of caregiving than other terminal illnesses. The impact of this caregiver burden can negatively influence bereavement outcomes.

Objectives: This study aims to explore the support needs of caregivers of people with MND, the types of bereavement services they use, or the reasons for not using bereavement services, and understanding the opportunities and barriers to accessing bereavement services.

Clinical implication of NT-proBNP to predict mortality in patients with acute type A aortic dissection: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Acute type A aortic dissection is a life-threatening cardiovascular disease commonly seen in emergency department, resulting in substantial mortality and morbidity. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) among this critically ill population.

Design: The design of this study was a retrospective cohort study.

Sexual and reproductive health from the perspective of patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases in Mexico: a qualitative study.

Objectives: To explore the experiences and perspectives of female patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) regarding sexual and reproductive health, including contraception, family planning, and pregnancy.

Design: Qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured interviews.

Setting: Specialised rheumatology clinic in a tertiary hospital in Monterrey, Mexico.

Global estimates of prevalence of chronic painful neuropathy among patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: systematic review and meta-analysis of data from 28 countries, 2000-24.

Introduction: Although the prevalence of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) has been reported, the proportion of patients with CIPN who report chronic painful neuropathy remains poorly understood, despite its significant impact on patients' quality of life and treatment outcomes.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The primary outcome was the pooled prevalence of chronic (≥3 months) painful CIPN among patients diagnosed with CIPN.

Regional anesthesia in the patient receiving antithrombotic or thrombolytic therapy: American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine Evidence-Based Guidelines (fifth edition).

Hemorrhagic complications associated with regional anesthesia are extremely rare. The fifth edition of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine's Evidence-Based Guidelines on regional anesthesia in the patient receiving antithrombotic or thrombolytic therapy reviews the published evidence since 2018 and provides guidance to help avoid this potentially catastrophic complication.The fifth edition of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine's Evidence-Based Guidelines on regional anesthesia in the patient receiving antithrombotic or thrombolytic therapy uses similar methodology as previous editions but is reorganized and significantly condensed.

Prediction of long-term drug-free outcomes in ACPA-positive and ACPA-negative rheumatoid arthritis by combined clinical and ultrasound assessment of residual disease: a 5-year prospective study.

Objective: To delineate, within the framework of current clinical practice and criteria, the sustainability of first-line immuno-suppressive treatment discontinuation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the impact of residual disease in remission on long-term drug-free (DF) outcomes.

Methods: RA patients, referring to the Pavia early arthritis clinic (EAC) between 2009 and 2021 and achieving remission after Disease Activity Score-driven methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy, were recruited. Eligible patients underwent DF follow-up at 3-month intervals over 5 years after MTX discontinuation.

Work loss in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with abatacept, rituximab, tocilizumab or TNF inhibitors: a nationwide direct drug-to-drug comparison.

Objective: To compare work loss after starting tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), rituximab, abatacept or tocilizumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: We used data from the Swedish Rheumatology Quality Register to identify patients aged 19-62 years who were treated with TNFi (n=15 093), rituximab (n=2123), abatacept (n=1877) or tocilizumab (n=1720) between 2007 and 2020. Data on work loss (0-365 days per year) from sick leave and disability pension were retrieved from linkage to the Social Insurance Agency.

Unveiling Hidden Dangers: Quantitative Analysis of Ischemic Risks in High-Risk Patients with ASCVD and Dyslipidemia.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the foremost causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) identified as a significant risk factor for subsequent ischemic events. Elevated LDL-C contributes to vascular injury and fibrosis by upregulating the expression of connective tissue growth factor and collagen IV, which leads to endothelial cell dysfunction that initiates the process of atherosclerotic diseases. Currently, there is an absence of clear, risk-defined criteria to identify patients who are in greater needs for intensive LDL-C reduction, particularly with PCSK9 inhibitors.

Temporal impacts of diverse concentrations of pilocarpine ophthalmic solution on human accommodation.

Clinical Relevance: Accommodation is crucial for clear near vision and is predominantly affected by presbyopia. The ability to modulate accommodative function with eye drops could offer a pharmacological approach to manage presbyopia.

Background: To investigate the effects of different concentrations of pilocarpine eye drops on ocular accommodation in young volunteers.

A survey of prescribing philosophy in childhood hyperopia among optometrists in Ghana.

Clinical Relevance: Hyperopia is a common refractive error in young children and has the potential to affect their visual, educational and general development. Management of childhood hyperopia presents significant intra-and inter-professional differences partly because evidence-based guidelines to inform when and how to prescribe for hyperopia are insufficient.

Purpose: This study investigated the prescribing philosophy in childhood hyperopia among optometrists in Ghana and the challenges faced in managing childhood hyperopia.

The Use of Artificial Intelligence and Wearable Inertial Measurement Units in Medicine: Systematic Review.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) has already revolutionized the analysis of image, text, and tabular data, bringing significant advances across many medical sectors. Now, by combining with wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs), AI could transform health care again by opening new opportunities in patient care and medical research.

Objective: This systematic review aims to evaluate the integration of AI models with wearable IMUs in health care, identifying current applications, challenges, and future opportunities.

Radiofrequency ablation for thyroid nodules (RATED study) - analysis of a learning curve and predictors of success.

Context: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is used as treatment for symptomatic thyroid nodules. Factors influencing the volume reduction ratio (VRR) at 12 months are not yet fully understood.

Objective: The primary objective was evaluating the VRR at 12 months after RFA.

Metabolic Profiles of Pregnancy with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Insights into Maternal-Fetal Metabolic Communication.

Context: PCOS pregnancies are linked to metabolic disorders affecting maternal and fetal outcomes, with maternal metabolites differing from those in normal pregnancies.

Objective: To investigate the metabolic communication at the maternal-fetal interface in PCOS pregnancies.

Design: Placenta and umbilical cord serum were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

TPepRet: a deep learning model for characterizing T cell receptors-antigen binding patterns.

Motivation: T-cell receptors (TCRs) elicit and mediate the adaptive immune response by recognizing antigenic peptides, a process pivotal for cancer immunotherapy, vaccine design, and autoimmune disease management. Understanding the intricate binding patterns between TCRs and peptides is critical for advancing these clinical applications. While several computational tools have been developed, they neglect the directional semantics inherent in sequence data, which are essential for accurately characterizing TCR-peptide interactions.

Human-in-the-loop machine learning-based quantitative assessment of hemifacial spasm based on volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination MR.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the severity of hemifacial spasm (HFS) through quantitative measures that associated it with neurovascular contact (NVC).

Methods: We enrolled 108 HFS patients (63 severe and 45 mild cases) and implemented a human-in-the-loop approach to develop a quantitative NVC feature package. This process involved using interactive segmentation on three-dimensional volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) MR images to delineate vascular and nerve structures.

The Neuroendocrine Regulation of Reproductive Behavior and Emotional Control by Kisspeptin.

Reproductive success and ultimately species survival at a population level is contingent on a plethora of neuroendocrine signals working in concert to regulate gonadal function and reproductive behavior. Among these, the neuropeptide kisspeptin (encoded by the KISS1/Kiss1 gene) has emerged as the master regulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Besides the hypothalamus, both kisspeptin and its cognate receptor are extensively expressed throughout cortico-limbic brain structures in rodents and humans, which are regions traditionally implicated in behavioral and emotional responses.