Time in therapeutic range of tacrolimus in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients is associated with acute graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis.

Intra-patient variability in immunosuppressive blood drug concentrations is a potential biomarker in managing organ transplant patients. However, the association between the time in therapeutic range of tacrolimus blood concentrations and its efficacy in preventing graft-versus-host disease remains unknown. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between the time in therapeutic range of tacrolimus blood concentrations and its efficacy in acute graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Social epidemiology of early adolescent nutrition.

Background: This study aimed to investigate associations between sociodemographic factors and dietary intake among a diverse population of early adolescents ages 10-13 years in the United States.

Methods: We examined data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study in Year 2 (2018-2020, ages 10-13 years, N = 10,280). Multivariable linear regression models were conducted to estimate the adjusted associations between sociodemographic factors (age, sex, race and ethnicity, household income, parental education) and dietary intake of various food groups, measured by the Block Kids Food Screener.

Relationship between neutropenia caused by nanoliposomal irinotecan/fluorouracil/leucovorin and treatment outcomes in the NAPOLEON-2 study (NN-2301).

The relationship between nanoliposomal irinotecan/fluorouracil/leucovorin (NFF) treatment outcomes and neutropenia in patients with pancreatic cancer has not been thoroughly examined. Thus, we conducted a retrospective analysis of data from patients with pancreatic cancer who were treated with NFF to investigate this relationship. Neutropenia was assessed according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events across three cutoffs: A (grade 0 versus grade 1-4), B (grades 0-1 versus 2-4), and C (grades 0-2 versus 3-4).

Multi scale multi attention network for blood vessel segmentation in fundus images.

Precise segmentation of retinal vasculature is crucial for the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of vision-threatening ailments. However, this task is challenging due to limited contextual information, variations in vessel thicknesses, the complexity of vessel structures, and the potential for confusion with lesions. In this paper, we introduce a novel approach, the MSMA Net model, which overcomes these challenges by replacing traditional convolution blocks and skip connections with an improved multi-scale squeeze and excitation block (MSSE Block) and Bottleneck residual paths (B-Res paths) with spatial attention blocks (SAB).

Developing anti-TDE vaccine for sensitizing cancer cells to treatment and metastasis control.

Tumor-derived exosomes (TDEs) mediate oncogenic communication, which modifies target cells to reinforce a tumor-promoting microenvironment. TDEs support cancer progression by suppressing anti-tumor immune responses, promoting metastasis, and conferring drug resistance. Thus, targeting TDEs could improve the efficacy of anti-cancer treatments and control metastasis.

Patients with neurological or psychiatric complications of COVID-19 have worse long-term functional outcomes: COVID-CNS-A multicentre case-control study.

It is established that patients hospitalised with COVID-19 often have ongoing morbidity affecting activity of daily living (ADL), employment, and mental health. However, little is known about the relative outcomes in patients with COVID-19 neurological or psychiatric complications. We conducted a UK multicentre case-control study of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 (controls) and those who developed COVID-19 associated acute neurological or psychiatric complications (cases).

Implementing targeted vaccination activities to address inequalities in vaccination: a qualitative study.

Background: As the UK COVID-19 vaccination programme progressed, greater emphasis was placed on the implementation of localized targeted vaccination activities to address inequalities in vaccination coverage. This study examines one UK region's approach to the delivery of targeted vaccination activities and identifies key factors influencing implementation.

Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of key individuals involved in vaccination delivery across Greater Manchester (GM).

Intensive care unit acquired weakness and physical rehabilitation in the ICU.

Approximately half of critically ill adults experience intensive care unit acquired weakness (ICUAW). Patients who develop ICUAW may have negative outcomes, including longer duration of mechanical ventilation, greater length of stay, and worse mobility, physical functioning, quality of life, and mortality. Early physical rehabilitation interventions have potential for improving ICUAW; however, randomized trials show inconsistent findings on the efficacy of these interventions.

How to: share and reuse data - challenges and solutions from PrIMAVeRa project.

Background: Data sharing accelerates scientific progress and improves evidence quality. Even though journals and funding institutions require investigators to share data, only a small part of studies made their data publicly available upon publication. The procedures necessary to share retrospective data for re-use in secondary data analysis projects can be cumbersome.

Patient-reported Outcomes in Mothers with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection: A cross-sectional analysis.

Background & Aims: The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) during pregnancy has not been well-lidated in mothers with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We aim to compare patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in CHB mothers with those of healthy mothers during pregnancy.

Methods: Between 4/16/2023 and 7/31/2023, we invited consecutive CHB and healthy mothers to complete the self-administered 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and the Chronic Liver Disease Questionnaire (CLDQ) for PRO assessment.

Methods to Adjust for Confounding in Test-Negative Design COVID-19 Effectiveness Studies: Simulation Study.

Background: Real-world COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) studies are investigating exposures of increasing complexity accounting for time since vaccination. These studies require methods that adjust for the confounding that arises when morbidities and demographics are associated with vaccination and the risk of outcome events. Methods based on propensity scores (PS) are well-suited to this when the exposure is dichotomous, but present challenges when the exposure is multinomial.

Developing Assessments for Key Stakeholders in Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease: Qualitative Pilot Study to Inform Designing of a Medical Education Toy.

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a birth defect of the heart that requires long-term care and often leads to additional health complications. Effective educational strategies are essential for improving health literacy and care outcomes. Despite affecting around 40,000 children annually in the United States, there is a gap in understanding children's health literacy, parental educational burdens, and the efficiency of health care providers in delivering education.

Transient Ischemic Attack in Women: Real-World Hospitalization Incidence, Outcomes, and Risk of Hemorrhage and Stroke.

Background: Sex-specific differences in stroke risk factors, clinical presentation, and outcomes are well documented. However, little is known about real-world differences in transient ischemic attack (TIA) hospitalizations and outcomes between men and women.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of the 2016 to 2021 Nationwide Readmissions Database in the United States.

Using machine learning to forecast peak health care service demand in real-time during the 2022-23 winter season: A pilot in England, UK.

During winter months, there is increased pressure on health care systems in temperature climates due to seasonal increases in respiratory illnesses. Providing real-time short-term forecasts of the demand for health care services helps managers plan their services. During the Winter of 2022-23 we piloted a new forecasting pipeline, using existing surveillance indicators which are sensitive to increases in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Comparing PSA Screening Patterns and Their Role as Predictor of Prostate Cancer Diagnosis: Analysis of a Contemporary North American Cohort.

Introduction: PSA screening remains a pivotal tool for early prostate cancer (PCa) detection. International guidelines rely on evidence from three major randomized clinical trials: ERSPC, PLCO, and CAP. We aim to examine the percentage of patients in real-world practice who get PSA screening as defined by each of the aforementioned trials.

Factor V Serves as an Early Biomarker for Graft Loss After Liver Transplant: A Prospective Evaluation.

Background: Low post-operative day (POD) 1 Factor V has been retrospectively associated with graft loss after liver transplantation when stratified by a cutoff of 0.36 U/mL. We aimed to validate this prospectively.

Severity and Long-Term Mortality of COVID-19, Influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

Importance: SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) contribute to many hospitalizations and deaths each year. Understanding relative disease severity can help to inform vaccination guidance.

Objective: To compare disease severity of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV among US veterans.

Predicting Individual Pain Sensitivity Using a Novel Cortical Biomarker Signature.

Importance: Biomarkers would greatly assist decision-making in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of chronic pain.

Objective: To undertake analytical validation of a sensorimotor cortical biomarker signature for pain consisting of 2 measures: sensorimotor peak alpha frequency (PAF) and corticomotor excitability (CME).

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study at a single center (Neuroscience Research Australia) recruited participants from November 2020 to October 2022 through notices placed online and at universities across Australia.

Comparative Efficacy of Nonsteroid Immunosuppressive Medications in Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome.

Importance: Cyclophosphamide and calcineurin inhibitors are the most used nonsteroid immunosuppressive medications globally for children with various chronic inflammatory conditions. Their comparative effectiveness remains uncertain, leading to worldwide practice variation. Nephrotic syndrome is the most common kidney disease managed by pediatricians globally and suboptimal treatment is associated with high morbidity.

Patient involvement in the development of patient-reported outcome measures used following hip or knee arthroplasty: a scoping review.

Purpose: Involving patients in developing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) is essential for accurately capturing their perspectives. However, understanding how patients were involved in developing PROMs used after hip or knee arthroplasty is limited. This scoping review aimed to evaluate whether patients were involved in the development of these PROMs and how they were involved.

Assessing the role of chest CT in minor blunt trauma: evaluation of the NEXUS decision instrument across an expanded population.

Objective: To evaluate the NEXUS Chest CT ALL decision instrument (DI) in reducing unnecessary chest CT imaging in minor blunt trauma patients while preserving high sensitivity for detecting clinically meaningful injuries. Additionally, we examined the impact of delayed presentation, chronic disease, and anticoagulation/anti-aggregation medications on trauma outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective study included 853 adult minor blunt trauma patients who underwent chest CT in the emergency department (ED) of Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center between 2018 and 2022.

Fuzzy logic modelling of the pollution pattern of potentially toxic elements and naturally occurring radionuclide materials in quarry sites in Ogun State, Nigeria.

The accumulation pattern of some inorganic pollutants in quarry sites around Ogun State was modeled using a Fuzzy comprehensive assessment (FCA). Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and naturally occurring radionuclides materials (NORMs) were assessed from soil samples collected from ten quarry sites in three districts (Odeda, Ajebo, and Ijebu Ode) in Ogun State. Three (3) NORMs ( K, U, Th) were assessed using gamma spectrometer with a NaI detector while ten (10) PTEs (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were determined by digestion method using Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometer.