Development and evaluation of a Hospice Foundation of Taiwan Bereavement Assessment Scale: A psychometric properties test.

Objectives: Supporting family caregivers (FCs) is a critical core function of palliative care. Brief, reliable tools suitable for busy clinical work in Taiwan are needed to assess bereavement risk factors accurately. The aim is to develop and evaluate a brief bereavement scale completed by FCs and applicable to medical staff.

Effect of High-Fat Diets on the Pharmacokinetics of Bedaquiline Fumarate Tablet: A Trial in Healthy Chinese Participants.

Bedaquiline is employed to treat multidrug-resistant and extensive drug-resistant tuberculosis by inhibiting the proton pump of adenosine triphosphate synthase in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This study aims to investigate the effect of high-fat diets on the pharmacokinetics of bedaquiline through a single-center, open-label, randomized trial in healthy Chinese participants. Bedaquiline fumarate tablets were administered at a dosage of 100 mg under both fasted conditions and high-fat diet conditions.

Serotype-specific serum immunoglobulin G at 18 months of age following one or two doses of a primary series of 10-valent or 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and a booster dose at nine months of age: a randomized controlled study.

Background: Due to high costs of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV), transitioning from a two (2 + 1) to a single dose (1 + 1) primary series with a booster should be considered. This study evaluated the immune response at 18 months of age following a 1 + 1 compared to a 2 + 1 schedule of 10-valent (PCV10) and 13-valent (PCV13) vaccines.

Research Design And Methods: A single-center, open-label, randomized trial conducted in Soweto, South Africa, evaluated the immunogenicity of differing dosing schedule for PCV10 and PCV13.

Autism, ADHD, and Their Traits in Adults With Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder: A Scoping Review.

Objective: This review maps existing literature on the prevalence of autism and ADHD in adult patients with Bulimia Nervosa (BN) and Binge Eating Disorder (BED); patient and stakeholder perspectives on this comorbidity; clinical differences in this population; and potential treatment adaptations or adjunct therapies. This is with the aim to inform future research priorities to improve clinical practice.

Method: As pre-registered, and following PRISMA guidelines, six databases (Embase, MEDLINE via Ovid, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and Scopus) were searched for studies regarding autism and/or ADHD (diagnosed, probable, or traits) in adult patients with BN or BED.

Content validation of drug problem-oriented clinical record.

Background: Worldwide, hospitals are responsible for restoring health. However, poorly executed processes in these institutions can lead to risks and harm to patients, especially in identifying drug related problems. This fact justifies the proposal of tools to support the diagnosis, management and resolution of these problems.

[Guidelines for presymptomatic genetic testing for adult-onset hereditary neuromuscular diseases in Japan].

In Japan, there are no nationwide guidelines for presymptomatic testing for hereditary neuromuscular diseases. Although each institution has been dealing with this situation by using their own procedures to date, it is necessary to develop a standardized guidelines based on the Japanese medical system, because the development of disease-modifying therapies has progressed, and we are entering an era in which early diagnosis and early treatment are necessary. The guidelines presented here were devised by the Committee on Medical Genetics of the Japan Neurological Society.

Consensus recommendations for measuring the impact of contraception on the menstrual cycle in contraceptive clinical trials.

Objective: We sought to develop consensus recommendations for measurement and analysis of data on contraceptive-induced menstrual changes (CIMCs) in contraceptive clinical trials. We built upon previous standardization efforts over the last 50 years and prioritized input from a variety of global experts and current regulatory authority guidance on patient-reported outcomes.

Study Design: We completed a formal consensus-building process with an interdisciplinary group of 57 experts from 30 organizations and 14 countries in five global regions who work across academia, nonprofit research organizations, the pharmaceutical industry, and funding agencies.

A European Delphi Consensus on the Management of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms in Patients with Heritable Aortic Diseases.

Objective: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in a patient with an underlying heritable aortic disease (HAD) is rare, and evidence based recommendations for its management are lacking. This study aimed to generate a consensus from multidisciplinary specialists on the diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of AAA associated with HAD and to define topics of interest for future research.

Methods: A Delphi consensus was designed involving European multidisciplinary specialists and reported using the ACcurate COnsensus Reporting Document (ACCORD) reporting guideline.

Neoadjuvant or perioperative immunotherapy for resectable melanoma: The need for biomarkers.

Groundbreaking studies have reshaped the treatment landscape for patients with resectable stage ≥IIIB melanoma by demonstrating the benefits of neoadjuvant therapy. Data from the NADINA and SWOG S1801 trials reveal substantial improvements in event-free survival compared to adjuvant therapy alone. These studies employed distinct neoadjuvant immunotherapy approaches - ipilimumab plus nivolumab in NADINA and anti-PD-1 monotherapy in SWOG S1801 - highlighting potential differences in efficacy and toxicity.

Identification of an ANCA-associated vasculitis cohort using deep learning and electronic health records.

Background: ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a rare but serious disease. Traditional case-identification methods using claims data can be time-intensive and may miss important subgroups. We hypothesized that a deep learning model analyzing electronic health records (EHR) can more accurately identify AAV cases.

Exploring the clinical practice training program for Master of Nursing Specialist in anesthesia: A qualitative study.

Background: Clinical practice is key in the development and enhancement of the professional competencies for Master of Nursing Specialist postgraduates in anesthesia; however, there is a lack of unified and standardized clinical practice training programs in China, failing to guarantee teaching quality among institutions.

Objective: To understand perceptions of the clinical practice training program setting for Master of Nursing Specialist postgraduates in anesthesia from the dual perspectives of faculty and students.

Design: A qualitative descriptive study.

An overview of progress in establishing a diagnostic tool for non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Introduction: Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS) is a common disorder characterized by symptoms resembling those of irritable bowel syndrome. In recent years there has been progress in the understanding of the pathogenic pathways and data suggest that NCGS has a distinct immunological profile that differs from celiac disease (CeD). This has fostered the search for a specific biomarker of NCGS.

Expansion of medical school admission quotas in Korea, is it really necessary?

Background: In 2024, the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare enforced a policy to increase the number of medical school students by 2,000 over the next 5 years, despite opposition from doctors. This study aims to predict the trend of excess or shortage of medical personnel in Korea due to the policy of increasing the number of medical school students by 2035.

Methods: Data from multiple sources, including the Ministry of Health and Welfare, National Health Insurance Corporation, and the Korean Medical Association, were used to estimate supply and demand.

Theory-informed refinement and tailored implementation of a quality improvement program in maternity care to reduce unwarranted clinical variation across a health service network.

Background: Unwarranted clinical variation presents a major challenge in contemporary healthcare, indicating potential inequalities and inefficiencies, and unrealised potential for better outcomes. Despite an increasing focus on unwarranted clinical variation, and consideration of efforts to address this challenge, evidence-based strategies which achieve this are limited. Audit and feedback of healthcare processes (process auditing) and clinician engagement are important tools which may help to reduce unwarranted clinical variation, however their application in maternity care is yet to be thoroughly explored.

Explainable vision transformer for automatic visual sleep staging on multimodal PSG signals.

Polysomnography (PSG) is crucial for diagnosing sleep disorders, but manual scoring of PSG is time-consuming and subjective, leading to high variability. While machine-learning models have improved PSG scoring, their clinical use is hindered by the 'black-box' nature. In this study, we present SleepXViT, an automatic sleep staging system using Vision Transformer (ViT) that provides intuitive, consistent explanations by mimicking human 'visual scoring'.

[Expert consensus on the perioperative management of co-ablation system therapy of liver tumors].

This study aims to improve the quality of clinical treatment and nursing care to standardize perioperative management for patients with liver tumors undergoing co-ablation system therapy. The Committee of Ablation Therapy in Oncology, China Anti-Cancer Association; the Expert Committee on Ablation Therapy; Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO); and the Committee of Interventional, Perioperative, and Interventional Physician Branch of Chinese Medical Doctors Association organized medical and nursing experts in China. Based on the clinical practice of co-ablation system therapy in China and relevant domestic literature, an expert consensus about perioperative management was developed.

Predictors of response to low-dose amitriptyline for irritable bowel syndrome and efficacy and tolerability according to subtype: post hoc analyses from the ATLANTIS trial.

Background: Low-dose amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA), was superior to placebo for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the AmitripTyline at Low-dose ANd Titrated for Irritable bowel syndrome as Second-line treatment (ATLANTIS) trial.

Objective: To perform post hoc analyses of ATLANTIS for predictors of response to, and tolerability of, a TCA.

Design: ATLANTIS randomised 463 adults with IBS to amitriptyline (232) or placebo (231).

Neuropsychiatric manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjogren's disease.

Introduction: Autoimmune diseases often present in a systemic manner, affecting various organs and tissues. Involvement of the central and peripheral nervous system is not uncommon in these conditions and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, early recognition of the neuropsychiatric manifestations associated with rheumatologic diseases is essential for the introduction of appropriate therapies with the objective of providing a better quality of life for individuals.

Apixaban versus aspirin for stroke prevention in people with subclinical atrial fibrillation and a history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack: subgroup analysis of the ARTESiA randomised controlled trial.

Background: People with subclinical atrial fibrillation are at increased risk of stroke, albeit to a lesser extent than those with clinical atrial fibrillation, leading to an ongoing debate regarding the benefit of anticoagulation in these individuals. In the ARTESiA trial, the direct-acting oral anticoagulant apixaban reduced stroke or systemic embolism compared with aspirin in people with subclinical atrial fibrillation, but the risk of major bleeding was increased with apixaban. In a prespecified subgroup analysis of ARTESiA, we tested the hypothesis that people with subclinical atrial fibrillation and a history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack, who are known to have an increased risk of recurrent stroke, would show a greater benefit from oral anticoagulation for secondary stroke prevention compared with those without a history of stroke or transient ischaemic attack.

Intranasal oxytocin for apathy in people with frontotemporal dementia (FOXY): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, adaptive, crossover, phase 2a/2b superiority trial.

Background: No treatments exist for apathy in people with frontotemporal dementia. Previously, in a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study, intranasal oxytocin administration in people with frontotemporal dementia improved apathy ratings on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory over 1 week and, in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, a single dose of 72 IU oxytocin increased blood-oxygen-level-dependent signal in limbic brain regions. We aimed to determine whether longer treatment with oxytocin improves apathy in people with frontotemporal dementia.

Three-year treatment with anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies modifies migraine course: the prospective, multicenter I-GRAINE study.

Objectives: To determine whether extending anti-CGRP mAb treatment beyond 3 years influences migraine course, we analyzed migraine frequency during the first month of treatment discontinuation following three 12-month treatment cycles (Ts).

Methods: This multicenter, prospective, real-world study enrolled 212 patients with high-frequency episodic migraine (HFEM) or chronic migraine (CM) who completed three consecutive Ts of subcutaneous anti-CGRP mAbs. Discontinuation periods (D1, D2, D3) were defined as the first month after T1, T2, and T3, respectively.

Biological therapy in Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Introduction: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a heterogeneous disease. High proportions of patients with CRSwNP characterized by type 2 inflammation fail to gain adequate control with conventional medical and surgical approaches. The application of biologics in clinical practice and assessments of novel biologics in clinical trials are blooming in expectations to fulfill the unmet medical needs of patients with CRSwNP with type 2 inflammation.

Animal models of kabuki syndrome and their applicability to novel drug discovery.

Introduction: Kabuki Syndrome (KS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by distinctive facial features, intellectual disability, and multiple congenital anomalies. It is caused by pathogenic variants in the and genes. Despite its significant disease burden, there are currently no approved therapies for KS, highlighting the need for advanced research and therapeutic development.

Evaluation of the evidence-based practices for the management of PCOS in the Latin America context: the consensus of the Latin American Association of Gynecological Endocrinology (ALEG).

Objectives: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex condition affecting approximately 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. However, limited data are available regarding the specific characteristics and needs of women with PCOS in Latin America. This consensus sought to evaluate the evidence-based practices for the management of PCOS for Latin American populations, consolidate regional insights, identify eventual gaps in implementation and identify key research opportunities.