Examining the Efficacy of Five Lactobacillus Species in Treating and Preventing Atopic Dermatitis: A Systemic Literature Review.

Probiotics have garnered increasing attention, particularly within the realm of atopic dermatitis (AD). Although classified as dietary supplements by the Food and Drug Administration, probiotics are being explored for their potential to modify immune system responses and aid in disease recovery. This review aims to provide a current understanding of probiotics, specifically various lactobacilli strains, as a therapeutic option in preventing and treating AD.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities Within Social Determinants of Health Amongst Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Introduction This study aims to identify the influence of social determinants of health (SDoH) on patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), emphasizing racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare. Methods A cross-sectional study used the National Institute of Health's (NIH) All of Us Research Program (AoU). From 727,000 patients, SLE patients were categorized by race, ethnicity, and responses to the Social Determinants of Health survey from May 2018 until March 2023.

Augmented Reality (AR) in Surgery in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs): A Scoping Review.

Surgical disparities persist in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Insufficient access to surgical care places a large burden on these regions, with high mortality rates for otherwise standard procedures performed in high-income countries (HICs). Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) now provide us with a platform to improve the delivery of surgical access and training to LMICs.

Formative Assessment and Cluster Membership of Homeless Persons' Emergency Department Visits.

Background Evidence is limited on whether homeless individuals who visit emergency departments (EDs) share similar clinical characteristics as individuals from private households who, upon examination, require emergency health services beyond preventative healthcare. While the literature is rich with studies on homeless persons in the ED, a comprehensive assessment of similarities and differences with other social groups is lacking. Consequently, there is a gap in knowledge as it pertains to the appropriate approaches that will further support the development of targeted healthcare and emergency health services for the homeless person.

Hurricanes and Health: A Scoping Review of Recent Developments in Physical Injuries, Mental Health, and Emergency Interventions.

Hurricanes, as one of the most devastating natural disasters, significantly impact the public's health, causing both physical injuries and long-lasting mental health issues. Although substantial research has focused on hurricane-related injuries, this study aims to synthesize findings from recent literature, specifically evaluating the 10 most recent hurricanes, to identify research gaps and inform future studies. This scoping review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA-Scr guidelines, assessed studies from PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane databases, and Medline as of February 2024.

Medical Educator Perceptions of Faculty Effort and Intent to Stay in Academic Medicine.

Purpose: Core roles of medical school faculty are increasingly diverse, substantial, and evolving. In alignment with this dynamic nature of medical education, faculty effort should be accurately appraised, constantly evaluated, and rewarded to ensure faculty satisfaction and promote a culture of belonging. The study goal was to examine the imbalance in official assignments and perceptions of medical school faculty effort in various educator domains.

Surgical mentorship in low-resource environments: Opportunities and challenges, a perspective.

Background And Aims: In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), a shortage of skilled surgical practitioners hampers healthcare delivery, impacting well-being and economic growth. Surgical mentorship programs offer a promising solution but face challenges in implementation. This review aims to comprehensively assess the impact of surgical mentorship programs in LMICs and identify challenges and opportunities for their development and implementation.

Assessment of Intraday Variations in Skin Indentation Resistance.

Introduction: Information about the mechanical properties of skin and their changes with age and other conditions is important to help characterize skin physiology and pathological changes. One method to obtain this information is to measure the force required to indent the skin to a specified indentation depth (FORCE). This process measures the tissue's resistance to indentation or its compressibility and is related to the tissue's elastic modulus.

Thyroid Function and Sleep Patterns: A Systematic Review.

Hypothyroidism, defined as a low metabolic function of the thyroid gland that results in low thyroid hormone levels, and insomnia, a condition with the inability to sleep, are two distinct conditions with little overlap that have been extensively established. Both conditions have been studied independently in terms of epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management. The exact causal relationship between the two conditions has yet to be elucidated, and a direct underlying pathophysiology has not been pinpointed.

Rising Costs and Diminishing Surgeon Reimbursement From Primary to Revision Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: An Analysis of Medicare Advantage and Commercial Insurance.

Background: Revision total joint arthroplasty (rTJA) is a resource-intensive procedure addressing failed primary total joint hip (total hip arthroplasty [THA]) and knee arthroplasty (total knee arthroplasty [TKA]). Despite predictions of increased demand, reimbursement for rTJA has not kept pace with increasing costs and may be insufficient compared with primary procedures. The study aimed to highlight the diminishing surgeon reimbursement between primary and revision THA (rTHA) and TKA.

The Association Between Lactational Infective Mastitis and the Microbiome: Development, Onset, and Treatments.

Lactational infective mastitis (LIM) was previously thought to occur due to trapped milk causing inadequate milk drainage and consequent infection. However, advances in genome sequencing techniques have shown that the abundance of , , species, and species in the breast milk of lactating women play a key role in the development of LIM. Recent discoveries have revealed that the breast milk microbiome is composed of bacteria and other microorganisms, which are seeded through multiple pathways and are influenced by maternal factors.

Association of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) With Vaginal Microbiome Dysbiosis: A Scoping Review.

The aim of this scoping review was to explore the potential relationship between vaginal microbiome dysbiosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Four databases were utilized to identify primary literature based on a pre-determined exclusion and inclusion criteria. The electronic databases searched include MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Web of Science.

Sjogren's Antibodies and Neonatal Lupus: A Scoping Review.

Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation of exocrine glands. The disorder predominantly affects middle-aged women. Autoantibodies, including anti-SS-A/Ro and anti-SS-B/La antibodies, are present in most cases of SS.

Assessment of enhancing curcumin's solubility versus uptake on its anti-cancer efficacy.

Curcumin (CUR) exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. However, its poor solubility and bioavailability limit its therapeutic applications. Several CUR nano-formulations have been developed to enhance its solubility and uptake, thereby improving its anti-cancer activity.

Developing culturally competent physicians: Empathy, inclusivity, moral distress training and ethical reflections during the Medicine Clerkship.

Purpose: We aimed to develop a tool that would allow assessment of ethics competency and moral distress during the Internal Medicine Clerkship and to introduce curricular changes that could empower students to better address ethical dilemmas and challenges encountered during the clerkship.

Materials And Methods: A structured ethics assignment was introduced where students could reflect on impactful stressful scenarios and address questions related to emotional responses, identified ethical issues, management themes, and professional obligations. A 4-tiered grading rubric and individual narrative feedback was provided for each assignment, and small-group debriefing sessions were introduced for reflective thought and future planning.

A Scoping Review of Medical Mistrust Among Racial, Ethnic, and Gender Minorities With Breast and Ovarian Cancer.

An overarching theme in clinical literature suggests an inherent mistrust among populations of color within the healthcare system and the importance of healthcare professionals to bridge this gap in care. This is especially true when addressing cancer care in underserved populations due to mistrust in providers, diagnostic tools, and treatments. Ovarian cancer is difficult to diagnose early in all populations; however, women of color who have an intrinsic mistrust of the medical community will delay or refuse screenings or treatments that could be greatly beneficial.

Exploring optimal microscopic keyhole access to the skull base: an anatomical evaluation of transciliary supraorbital and transpalpebral orbitofrontal craniotomy approaches.

Purpose: The past two decades have witnessed the rise of keyhole microscopic minimally invasive surgeries, including the transciliary supraorbital approach (TCA) and transpalpebral approach (TPA), commonly known as the transorbital approach. This study aims to elucidate the nuances, specific indications, and advantages of each approach.

Methods: A series of dissections were conducted on five formalin-fixed, alcohol-preserved cadaver heads.

Uses of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Neurodegenerative Disease: A Scoping Review.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is the administration of fecal bacteria from a healthy donor into the intestinal tract of a recipient in order to directly change the recipient's gut microbial composition and confer a health benefit. The relationship between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system, termed the gut-brain axis, has been a frequent topic of gut microbiome studies. Commensal gut bacteria communicate with the central nervous system through various hormones, cytokines, and neural pathways.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Rhinitis and Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are valuable in the assessment and management of rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). They measure outcomes that may include symptoms, disease control, well-being, and health-related quality of life (QOL). PROMs for rhinitis and rhinosinusitis are often used before and after an intervention, for example, medication, therapeutic procedure, or, in allergic rhinitis (AR), allergen immunotherapy.

Opioid-Related Emergency Department Visits Before and During COVID-19: Association with Community-Level Factors.

Background: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between community-level variables and emergency department (ED) visit rates before and during COVID-19. The focus was on opioid-related ED visits. Despite large declines in overall ED visits during COVID-19, opioid-related visits increased.

Intra-day variations in volar forearm skin hydration.

Background: Skin hydration (SKH) measurements are used for multiple purposes: to study skin physiology, to clinically investigate dermatological issues, and to assess localized skin water in pathologies like diabetes and lymphedema. Often the volar forearm is measured at various times of day (TOD). This report aims to characterize intra-day variations in volar forearm SKH to provide guidance on expected TOD dependence.