Effectiveness and adverse effects of immersive technologies used for rehabilitation of patients with non-specific neck pain: a systematic review.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of immersive technologies in the rehabilitation of patients with non-specific neck pain and identify any potential side effects associated with their use.

Design: Systematic review.

Subjects/patients: Individuals with non-specific neck pain.

Outcome measures in muscular dystrophy rehabilitation: an ICF content comparison approach to the most commonly used MD scales.

Introduction: Functioning is the reason to be of rehabilitation as it is essential to the lives of people who suffer from a disease. The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) can help in designing a functioning profile of a patient, identifying needs for rehabilitation plans and measuring the results of an intervention.

Objective: To identify the outcome measurement instruments reported in clinical studies in muscular dystrophies (MDs) and provide an ICF content analysis.

Efficacy and Safety of Aldosterone Synthase Inhibitors for Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials and Systematic Review.

Background: Hypertension is a major global health issue. Aldosterone synthase inhibitors (ASIs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for blood pressure control.

Methods: A thorough search of the MEDLINE and Embase databases up to March 30, 2024, identified randomized trials comparing ASIs with a placebo for hypertension treatment.

An Injectable Alginate Hydrogel Modified by Collagen and Fibronectin for Better Cellular Environment.

Encapsulating fibroblasts in alginate hydrogels is a promising strategy to promote wound healing. However, improving the cell function within the alginate matrix remains a challenge. In this study, we engineer an injectable hydrogel through mixing alginate function with collagen and fibronectin, creating a better microenvironment for enhancing fibroblast function and cytokine secretion.

Extensive Arterial Dissection: A Rare Multivascular Emergency.

Aortic dissection is a life-threatening vascular emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality. Clinical manifestations might include severe chest pain to neurological deficits, depending on the arterial segments involved. Extensive dissections involving multiple aortic segments and branch vessel occlusions, such as the carotid arteries, are rare and pose unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.

Malpositioning of a Central Venous Catheter in the Vertebral Vein Through the Cervical Transverse Foramen: A Case Report.

Central venous catheters (CVCs) are commonly used for multiple clinical purposes. The internal jugular vein (IJV) is preferred among the most frequently used insertion sites due to its higher success rates and lower complication risks. Although CVC placement is generally considered a safe procedure, several complications have been reported.

Successful Management of COVID-19-Associated Systemic Capillary Leak Syndrome Using Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Case Report.

Systemic capillary leak syndrome (SCLS) is a rare and life-threatening disorder characterized by acute hypotension, hypoalbuminemia, and hemoconcentration, which often results in severe respiratory complications, such as pulmonary edema. SCLS can be triggered by infections, including COVID-19, and is associated with a high mortality rate. Here, we report a case of COVID-19-associated SCLS in a 68-year-old man.

Epstein-Barr Virus-Induced Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: A Case Report of a Rare and Life-Threatening Syndrome.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, life-threatening syndrome of excessive immune activation, leading to severe inflammation and organ damage. While more common in infants, HLH can occur at any age and is often triggered by infections such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). In this case, a 38-year-old man presented with a three-week history of fevers, night sweats, poor appetite, and severe anemia.

Extreme Heat Exposure and Adolescent Cognitive Function.

Background: Extreme heat exposure is an increasing public health concern, particularly in the context of climate change. Limited research has explored its impact on children's cognitive outcomes. This study investigates the association between extreme heat exposure and cognitive function in 9-10-year-old children, using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study.

Outcomes of a pilot randomized clinical trial testing brief interventions to increase HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake among rural people who inject drugs attending syringe services programs.

Background: Kentucky is one of seven states with high, sustained rural HIV transmission tied to injection drug use. Expanding access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been endorsed as a key HIV prevention strategy; however, uptake among people who inject drugs (PWID) has been negligible in rural areas. Syringe services programs (SSPs) have been implemented throughout Kentucky's Appalachian region, providing an important opportunity to integrate PrEP services.

Expression and localization of two β-carbonic anhydrases in , a single-cell C plant.

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are ubiquitous enzymes that catalyze reversibly both the hydration and dehydration reactions of CO and HCO-, respectively. Higher plants contain many different isoforms of CAs that can be classified into α-, β- and γ-type subfamilies. β-type CAs play a key role in the CO-concentrating mechanism, thereby contributing to efficient photosynthesis in the C plants in addition to many other biochemical reactions in plant metabolism.

Long-term disease control in dedifferentiated liposarcoma: a case report on trabectedin priming followed by PD-1 inhibition.

Background: Dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS) is a rare mesenchymal cancer originating from the adipose tissue, with poor survival rates for most patients, highlighting the critical need for novel treatment options.

Case Description: This report examines the efficacy and safety of sequential pre-treatment with the marine-derived alkaloid trabectedin followed by checkpoint inhibition using the anti-PD-1 antibody nivolumab in a 63-year-old male patient with unresectable retroperitoneal DDLPS. Treatment was initiated at the time of the seventh relapse as part of the NitraSarc phase 2 multicenter trial for inoperable soft tissue sarcoma conducted by the German Interdisciplinary Sarcoma Group (GISG-15, ).

Heat Exposure Predicts Earlier Childhood Pubertal Initiation, Behavioral Problems, and Tobacco Use.

Background: Climate change has raised significant concerns about its impact on health, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children and adolescents. While extensive research has examined physical health effects, limited attention has been given to the influence of extreme heat on developmental and behavioral outcomes.

Objectives: This study investigates the association between extreme heat exposure and early puberty initiation (ages 9-10), using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study.

An extracellular vesicle based hypothesis for the genesis of the polycystic kidney diseases.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney (ADPKD) disease is the commonest genetic cause of kidney failure (affecting 1:800 individuals) and is due to heterozygous germline mutations in either of two genes, and . Homozygous germline mutations in are responsible for autosomal recessive polycystic kidney (ARPKD) disease a rare (1:20,000) but severe neonatal disease. The products of these three genes, (polycystin-1 (PC1 4302(3)aa)), (polycystin-2 (PC2 968aa)) and (fibrocystin (4074aa)) are all present on extracellular vesicles (EVs) termed, PKD-exosome-like vesicles (PKD-ELVs).

Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement With EVOQUE and Mitral Valve Repair With PASCAL in One Procedure.

Mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, linked to high morbidity and mortality, are increasingly treated with interventional edge-to-edge repair, showing excellent results in favorable anatomy. Recently, interventional valve replacement strategies have emerged. We present a patient with severe dyspnea and leg edema who was diagnosed with severe mitral and torrential tricuspid regurgitation.

Therapeutic Flecainide Toxicity Causing VT Storm.

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) storm is a fatal arrhythmia with multiple contributory etiologies. This paper presents a case of a 71-year-old woman who developed VT storm from flecainide toxicity occurring at therapeutic flecainide levels. Flecainide toxicity should be considered in any patient on flecainide presenting with VT.

A Common Diagnostic Dilemma: Inflammation or Infarction.

Early infarct-associated pericarditis is a rare entity, given the availability of early coronary angiography and intervention. Although the electrocardiogram and the surface echocardiogram are initial studies, definitive imaging with cardiac magnetic resonance is recommended. We present a case of early infarct-associated pericarditis in the setting of a late-presenting silent right coronary artery myocardial infarction.

POEMS Syndrome Presenting as First-Time Heart Failure Exacerbation.

We highlight the case of a 40-year-old man who presented with heart failure exacerbation and was ultimately discovered to have POEMS (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal plasma cell disorder, and skin changes) syndrome.

Associations Among Sleep, Pain, and Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: a Scoping Review.

Purpose Of Review: We present current evidence on the associations among sleep, pain, and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD).

Recent Findings: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from inception until September 2023 for original research studies examining sleep, pain, and MOUD. We identified 19 manuscripts (14 were cross-sectional studies, four were prospective cohort studies, and one was a randomized controlled trial).

Alcohol Use Disorder and Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease: New Definitions, Screening, and Treatment.

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) poses a significant global health burden and is a leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. ALD encompasses a spectrum of disease states ranging from asymptomatic steatosis to acute hepatitis and cirrhosis. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) significantly increases the risk of developing ALD, and insight into AUD can provide a more complete understanding of ALD and the patients affected by these interrelated diseases.

Noninvasive Assessment to Identify Patients With At-Risk Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously termed nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, is a major global health issue and a leading cause of chronic liver disease. The prevalence of MASLD is increasing globally, with the disease in some patients progressing to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which significantly raises the risk of fibrosis, cirrhosis, and adverse outcomes. Accurate identification of patients with at-risk MASH, defined as MASH with a fibrosis stage of 2 or higher, is critical for timely intervention and management.

Psychometric evaluation of the psychosis screening questionnaire in South Africa with attention to overlap between symptoms and normative cultural beliefs.

We evaluated the 5-item Psychosis Screening Questionnaire (PSQ) against a diagnostic gold standard in South Africa. 1885 adults at primary and tertiary health facilities were screened with the PSQ and diagnosed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview-V. Minor adaptations were required of both instruments to distinguish between psychiatric symptoms and normative cultural beliefs.

Multiorgan Dysfunction and its Association With Congestion and Outcome in Aortic Stenosis Treated With TAVI.

Background: Degenerative severe aortic stenosis (AS) is treated by valve replacement to improve outcome. Despite diagnostic advancements, many AS patients are still diagnosed late with advanced heart failure.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess multiorgan dysfunction in severe AS using blood biomarkers and their association with quantitative fluid levels and clinical outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).