Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: The Promoting Independence Through quality Care at Home (PITCH) project aimed to improve outcomes for people with dementia and their carers via a co-designed training intervention for home care workers (HCWs). The results of the primary efficacy analysis of the successful stepped-wedge cluster RCT (n = 172 HCWs in 18 clusters in 7 Australian service providers) were presented at AAIC 2023.

Method: This presentation goes beyond efficacy and discusses the implementation science (process evaluation and behavioural change) and health economic analysis of the intervention.

A scoping review on peer-led interventions to improve youth mental health in low- and middle-income countries.

Youth living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have an increased vulnerability to mental illnesses, with many lacking access to adequate treatment. There has been a growing body of interventions using task sharing with trained peer leaders to address this mental health gap. This scoping review examines the characteristics, effectiveness, components of peer delivery and challenges of peer-led mental health interventions for youth aged 10-24 in LMICs.

Maternal Prepregnancy Obesity and Offspring Intelligence Quotient at 5 Years: A Multicohort Analysis.

Background: The relationship between maternal obesity and childhood cognitive development remains unclear. Prior studies did not adjust for important confounders, and preterm infants are a developmentally distinct group that remains scarcely examined.

Objectives: To determine whether maternal prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) is associated with offspring intelligence quotient (IQ) up to 5 years and whether this relationship varies with gestational age.

Demographic and regional patterns of epilepsy-related mortality in the USA: Insights from CDC WONDER data.

Background: Epilepsy poses significant challenges globally, with varied clinical, social, and economic impacts. Despite advances in treatment, epilepsy-related mortality remains a concern. This study aimed to analyze the demographic and regional distributions of epilepsy-related mortality in the United States (U.

Intrauterine Contraceptive Device Translocation Leading to Right Anteromedial Ovarian Surface Impingement and Laparoscopic Retrieval: A Case Report and Literature Review.

We report a rare case of a 29-year old woman presenting with abdominal pain, whose initial examination failed to identify intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) threads. IUCD migration was confirmed by CT scan and subsequent single-port laparoscopic retrieval alleviated her symptoms.

Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing Versus Right Ventricular Pacing in Patients With Atrioventricular Block: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) is a new technique for patients with atrioventricular block (AVB) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), potentially offering better cardiac function than right ventricular pacing (RVP).

Methods: We searched databases and registries for studies that compared LBBAP with RVP in patients with AVB and preserved LVEF. We extracted data on various outcomes and pooled the effect estimates using random-effects models.

TNF alpha Inhibitors in Cardiac Sarcoidosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Recent studies have focused on treating cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) with corticosteroids primarily mitigating symptoms and reducing the risk of mortality and other cardiovascular complications. A promising new treatment approach involves tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha inhibitors.

Methodology: A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Elsevier's Science Direct databases to identify studies comparing TNF alpha inhibitors with other drugs in CS patients who had heart failure.

Association of iron deficiency anemia with dental caries in the permanent first molars of children aged 7-12 years in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan: protocol for an analytical cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and dental caries are prevalent diseases among Pakistani children. Limited research has been done to explore their association with permanent teeth. Given the caries susceptibility of permanent first molars and their role in the development of ideal occlusion, this study aimed to estimate caries frequency in these molars and assess its association with IDA in 7-12 year-old children.

Synergistic Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide Preconditioning and Valproic Acid on Hepatic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Introduction: Ex vivo preconditioning increases the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in terms of antioxidant activity, growth factor production, homing, differentiation, and immunomodulation. Therefore, it is considered an effective strategy to be used before transplantation and therapeutic application of MSCs. Histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi), valproic acid (VPA), has been reported to induce hepatic differentiation in MSCs.

Identification of as a Potential Biomarker for Progression from Barrett's Esophagus to Esophageal Adenocarcinoma: A Comprehensive Bioinformatic Analysis.

: Barrett's esophagus (BE), with metaplastic columnar epithelium in the lower esophagus, predisposes patients to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Despite extensive research, mechanisms underlying BE progression to EAC remain unclear, and no validated biomarkers are available for clinical use. Progastricsin/Pepsinogen-C (PGC), an aspartic proteinase linked to maintaining normal epithelial morphology, is often absent in advanced gastrointestinal malignancies.

Impact of pulmonary hypertension on short and long-term outcome after mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair: A meta-analysis.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (pHTN) has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality after mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair (TEER), but the association remains uncertain. This study aims to evaluate the impact of pHTN on cardiovascular outcomes following TEER.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, and Medline to identify studies reporting outcomes after TEER in individuals with pHTN.

Efficacy of Intravenous Versus Oral Administration of Levocarnitine in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating Therapeutic Approaches to Renal Anemia.

Background And Aim: Carnitine deficiency contributes to various comorbidities in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. This study aims to assess the impact of levocarnitine supplementation on hematological and serum iron profile parameters, comparing the efficacy of oral versus intravenous (IV) administration in these patients.

Materials And Methods: This was a multicenter, randomized controlled trial was conducted on patients undergoing MHD at the hemodialysis unit of our study center in Karachi, Pakistan.

Applications of MicroED in structural biology and structure-based drug discovery.

Microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) is an emerging method for the structure determination of proteins and peptides, enzyme-inhibitor complexes. Several structures of biomolecules, including lysozyme, proteinase K, adenosine receptor A2A, insulin, xylanase, thermolysin, DNA, and Granulovirus occlusion bodies, have been successfully determined through MicroED. As MicroED uses very small crystals for structure determination, therefore, it has several advantages over conventional X-ray diffraction methods.

Patterns in mortality associated with heart failure and lung cancer among older adults in the United States: An analysis of 20 years.

Background: Despite an established association between heart failure (HF) and lung cancer (LC), there is limited evidence available regarding mortality patterns among the older (≥65 years) population in the United States.

Methods: The mortality data, spanning 1999 to 2019, was surveyed using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) database with HF and LC identified as underlying or contributing causes of death. Crude and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) were calculated per 100,000 individuals.

Trends in stroke-related mortality in atrial fibrillation patients in the United States: Insights from the CDC WONDER database.

Background: Stroke associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) is a significant cause of mortality. This study analyzed demographic trends and disparities in mortality rates due to stroke in AF patients aged ≥25 years.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted to acquire death data using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention database from 1999 to 2020.

Occult Breast Cancer in High-Risk Gene-Positive Pakistani Women Undergoing Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy/Prophylactic Mastectomy: Implications for Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy.

Introduction: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) of the axilla is standard in breast cancer (BC) management; however, its role in prophylactic/contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) is still questioned. To avoid future consequences on surgical morbidity and socioeconomic aspects in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), we intend to determine the prevalence of occult breast cancer (OBC) among CPM cases.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of OBC in patients undergoing prophylactic mastectomy (PM).

Clazosentan's dual edge in managing vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: an updated systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression of clinical outcomes and safety profiles.

Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (aSAH), resulting from ruptured aneurysms, is a major contributor to stroke-related mortality and morbidity. Despite advances in healthcare, aSAH remains severe and often leads to complications such as cerebral vasospasm (CV), cerebral infarction, and delayed ischemic neurological deficits (DIND). Clazosentan, an endothelin receptor antagonist, has demonstrated potential in alleviating vasospasm and its associated outcomes, although evidence of its efficacy remains unclear.

Trends in Iatrogenic Error-Related Mortality in the US From 1999 to 2020: Age-Period-CohortAnalysis.

Introduction: There is a noticeable lack of information on iatrogenic error (IE)-related deaths in the United States. To address this, we conducted a retrospective analysis examining temporal, regional, urbanization, and age-related trends in IE-related mortality from 1999 to 2020.

Methods: Utilizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research database, we identified crude and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 100,000 persons.

Investigating the Relationship Between Anti-seizure Medications and Bleeding Disorders: A Comprehensive Review of the Current Literature.

Anti-seizure medications (ASMs) are specific types of anticonvulsants used to treat epileptic seizures. However, several studies have shown an association between ASMs and an increased risk of hematological disorders, such as thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia, and platelet function disorders leading to prolonged bleeding times. This review explores the existing literature on this topic, investigating a wide variety of ASMs, ranging from first-generation medications to newer ones.

Trends in Mortality Due to Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the United States: A CDC WONDER Database Analysis (1999-2020).

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a global health issue profoundly impacting quality of life. The United States accounts for nearly a quarter of the world's IBD patients, with the highest prevalence rates. This study aims to identify the demographic and regional trends of IBD-related mortality in the U.