Prevalence of depressive symptom and its associated factors among epilepsy patients in Amhara region, Ethiopia: cross-sectional study.

Background: Depressive symptom is the most common type of psychiatric co-morbidity among persons with epilepsy. Epilepsy patients are identified as at higher risk of suffering depressive symptom explicitly in low- and middle-income countries due to poor mental health care systems and financial burdens. The co-occurrence of depressive symptom among epilepsy patients deteriorates the prognosis of the disease and diminishes the quality of life of both the patients and their families.

Age-dependent differences in the association between blood interleukin-6 levels and mortality in patients with sepsis: a retrospective observational study.

Background: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a cytokine that predicts clinical outcomes in critically ill patients, including those with sepsis. Elderly patients have blunted and easily dysregulated host responses to infection, which may influence IL-6 kinetics and alter the association between IL-6 levels and clinical outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective observational study included patients aged ≥ 16 years who were admitted to the intensive care unit at Chiba University Hospital.

Revisiting the oxygen reactivity index in traumatic brain injury: the complementary value of combined focal and global autoregulation monitoring.

Background: The oxygen reactivity index (ORx) reflects the correlation between focal brain tissue oxygen (pbtO) and the cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). Previous, small cohort studies were conflicting on whether ORx conveys cerebral autoregulatory information and if it is related to outcome in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Thus, we aimed to investigate these issues in a larger TBI cohort.

Ethnic and racial discrimination in maternal health care in Mexico: a neglected challenge in the search for universal health coverage.

Background: Ethnic and racial discrimination in maternal health care has been overlooked in academic literature and yet it is critical for achieving universal health coverage (UHC). There is a lack of empirical evidence on its impact on the effective coverage of maternal health interventions (ECMH) for Indigenous women in Mexico. Documenting progress in reducing maternal health inequities, particularly given the disproportionate impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on ethnic minorities, is essential to improving equity in health systems.

Sputum Microbiota Correlates With Metabolome and Clinical Outcomes in Asthma-Bronchiectasis Overlap.

Objectives: To investigate the microbiota and metabolome of patients with ABO compared with bronchiectasis and asthma, and determine the relevance with clinical characteristics, inflammatory endotype and exacerbation risks.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, patients underwent comprehensive assessments, including sputum differential cell count, and sputum collection at baseline. Sputum microbiota was profiled via 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolome via liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Intrarater and interrater reliability of the Clinical Frailty Scale-Es and FRAIL-Es in critically ill patients.

Objective: To evaluate the intrarater and interrater reliability of the Clinical Frailty Scale-Spain (CFS-España) and FRAIL-España and the internal consistency of the FRAIL-España when implemented in critically ill patients by intensive care nurses and physicians.

Design: Descriptive, observational and metric study.

Setting: intensive care unit (ICU) of Spain.

Experience with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in Latin America between 2016 and 2020.

Objective: To document the experience with ECMO therapy in healthcare institutions across Latin America between 2016 and 2020.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Private and public health institutions from 7 countries.

The Efficacy and Safety of Angiotensin II for Treatment of Vasoplegia in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: To summarize evidence regarding intravenous angiotensin II administration in critical illness and provide an updated understanding of its effects on various organ dysfunction and renin-angiotensin system (RAS) biomarkers.

Design: A systematic review.

Setting: A search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from inception to May 3, 2024.

[Radiotherapy Combined with Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy Improves Prognosis and Demonstrates Synergistic Effects in Extensive-stage Small Cell Lung Cancer].

Background: Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) is a malignant tumor with remarkable proliferative and invasive ability, which has very poor clinical prognosis due to lack of effective treatments. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and synergistic effects of radiotherapy (RT) combined with immunotherapy (IT) and chemotherapy (CT) in patients with ES-SCLC.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 145 ES-SCLC patients treated with first-line CT.

Healthcare spending and factors associated with fall injury in Australia residential aged care: a cohort analysis.

Background: Given that fall injury is a critical public health concern in Australia, understanding the economic implications of falls among older adults is crucial to allocating healthcare resources efficiently to reduce falls and improve quality of life. This study therefore aimed to estimate the cost and identify factors associated with fall-related injuries within residential aged care (RAC).

Methods: A cohort analysis from the healthcare system perspective based on data from a double-blinded randomised controlled trial-the Opti-Med trial.

Understanding the work-related challenges of organ and tissue donation coordinators during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-method study.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the perceptions of donation coordinators in Canada and understand how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their work activities.

Design: A sequential mixed-method design incorporating a cross-sectional survey investigating demographic data, substance use and abuse and perceived stress related to the pandemic and semistructured qualitative interviews to further investigate those.

Setting: Organ donation organisations across Canada.

Comparison of carbon dioxide control during pressure controlled versus pressure-regulated volume controlled ventilation in children (CoCO2): protocol for a pilot digital randomised controlled trial in a quaternary paediatric intensive care unit.

Introduction: Digital trials are a promising strategy to increase the evidence base for common interventions and may convey considerable efficiency benefits in trial conduct. Although paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) are rich in routine electronic data, highly pragmatic digital trials in this field remain scarce. There are unmet evidence needs for optimal mechanical ventilation modes in paediatric intensive care.

Missed opportunity for nasal continuous positive airway pressure in preterm neonates admitted at a tertiary-level hospital newborn unit in Kenya: a mixed method study.

Background: Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) is the most common complication of preterm neonates. It remains one of the major public health concerns that contribute to neonatal mortality and morbidity, especially in Africa, where 80% of neonatal mortality is estimated to be caused by preterm complications. Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (NCPAP) ventilation is the preferred mode of RDS treatment.

Examining the effect of direct-from-blood bacterial testing on antibiotic administration and clinical outcomes: a protocol and statistical analysis plan for a pragmatic randomised trial.

Introduction: Patients with suspected bacterial infection frequently receive empiric, broad-spectrum antibiotics prior to pathogen identification due to the time required for bacteria to grow in culture. Direct-from-blood diagnostics identifying the presence or absence of bacteria and/or resistance genes from whole blood samples within hours of collection could enable earlier antibiotic optimisation for patients suspected to have bacterial infections. However, few randomised trials have evaluated the effect of using direct-from-blood bacterial testing on antibiotic administration and clinical outcomes.

Stewarding COVID-19 health systems response in Pakistan: what more can be done for a primary health care approach to future pandemics?

We apply a primary healthcare (PHC) perspective to gauge Pakistan's health systems response to COVID-19, to identify stewardship lessons for integrating the PHC pandemic response. Analysis of Pakistan's response against the Astana PHC framework shows that the imperative for national survival helped mobilise an agile response across a fragmented health security context. The findings show effective multisector governance in responding to the health and social aspects of the pandemic, as well as the rapid roll-out of several public health functions and emergency care.

Hyperleukocytosis in a neuroblastoma patient after treatment with natural killer T cells expressing a GD2-specific chimeric antigen receptor and IL-15.

The ability of immune cells to expand numerically after infusion distinguishes adoptive immunotherapies from traditional drugs, providing unique therapeutic advantages as well as the potential for unmanageable toxicities. Here, we describe a case of lethal hyperleukocytosis in a patient with neuroblastoma treated on phase 1 clinical trial (NCT03294954) with autologous natural killer T cells (NKTs) expressing a GD2-specific chimeric antigen receptor and cytokine interleukin 15 (GD2-CAR.15).

Investigation of foot care knowledge and behaviour of older people with type 2 diabetes in Beijing community and analysis of influencing factors.

Good foot care knowledge and behaviour are very important to prevent the occurrence of diabetic foot, but there are few reports on the foot care knowledge and behaviour of older people with diabetes in the community. The purpose of this study was to understand the foot care knowledge and behaviour of older people with type 2 diabetes in Beijing community, and analyse its influencing factors, so as to provide reference for further intervention. We investigated 254 older people with type 2 diabetes in Xinjiekou community, Beijing, including their general information, chronic complications, foot care knowledge and behaviour.

Acute skin failure knowledge, attitudes and practices amongst intensive care unit nurses in China: A multicentre cross-sectional survey.

Purpose: To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses regarding acute skin failure (ASF) and analyse the influencing factors thereof.

Methods: From 22 December 2023 to 24 January 2024, a cross-sectional study was conducted amongst ICU nurses from 21 hospitals in eight provinces in China. The ASF knowledge, attitude and practice scores were determined using questionnaires, and multiple linear regression was used for further analysis.

Ropivacaine and celecoxib-loaded injectable composite hydrogel for improved chronic pain-exacerbated myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Chronic pain is a prevalent condition affecting a significant portion of the global population and is known to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Despite the clinical relevance, the mechanisms underlying the link between chronic pain and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (MI/R) injury remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) in mediating the effects of chronic pain on MI/R injury and to develop a novel therapeutic strategy.

Melatonin Low-Dose for Prevention of Delirium in Critically Ill Patients: A Multi-centre, Randomized, Placebo-controlled Feasibility Trial (MELLOW).

Background: Delirium is a common and serious syndrome of acute brain dysfunction associated with negative outcomes. Melatonin may have a role in delirium prevention for critically ill adults based on data from non-critically ill patient populations. Our objective was to assess the feasibility of a multi-centre, randomized, placebo-controlled trial testing the hypothesis that low-dose melatonin prevents delirium in critically ill adults.

RET-AREAL: a multi-center, real-world data analysis on the efficacy of pralsetinib in acquired RET fusion after resistance to EGFR/ALK-TKIs.

Pralsetinib demonstrated impressive improvement of survival in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harbored de novo RET fusion. However, the efficacy in patients with acquired RET fusion after resistance to EGFR/ALK-TKIs has only been reported on a case-by-case basis, and the strategy for overcoming the acquired RET fusion has not been fully investigated. This multicenter, real-world analysis enrolled 32 patients with unresectable NSCLC harbored acquired RET fusion after resistance to EGFR/ALK-TKIs in 23 centers across China from July 1, 2018 to Nov 23, 2022.

Novel oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Carcinogenesis, progression, and therapeutic targets.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the primary malignancy affecting the liver and the leading cause of mortality among individuals with cirrhosis. This complex disease is associated with various risk factors, including environmental, pathological, and genetic influences, which dysregulate gene expression crucial for the cell cycle and cellular/molecular pathways. The disruption of the balance between tumor suppressors and proto-oncogenes amplifies the pathogenic cascade.

Noncoding RNAs in sepsis-associated acute liver injury: Roles, mechanisms, and therapeutic applications.

Sepsis is a life-threatening syndrome characterized by organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. Sepsis-associated acute liver injury (SA-ALI) is a frequent and serious complication of sepsis that considerably impacts both short-term and long-term survival outcomes. In intensive care units (ICUs), the mortality rate of patients with SA-ALI remains high, mostly due to the absence of effective early diagnostic markers and suitable therapeutic strategies.

High Prevalence of Burnout in Veterinary Medicine: Exploring Interventions to Improve Well-being.

The veterinary profession faces a critical challenge: burnout. Long hours, emotional strain, financial pressures, and difficult client interactions contribute to stress and drive veterinary professionals from the field. This harms not only their well-being but also patient care and workplace morale.

Korean Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management of Interstitial Lung Diseases: Connective Tissue Disease Associated Interstitial Lung Disease.

Connective tissue disease (CTD) comprising a various range of autoimmune disorders is often accompanied by lung involvement, which can lead to life-threatening complications. The main types of CTDs that can present as interstitial lung disease (ILD) include rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, Sjögren's syndrome, mixed connective tissue disease, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, and systemic lupus erythematosus. CTD-ILD poses a significant challenge in clinical diagnosis and management due to its heterogeneous nature and variable prognosis.