"Fear of the unknown": Health, disability, and stakeholder perspectives on the behavioral and social drivers of vaccination in children with disability in Fiji.

Vaccinating children with disability in low- and middle-income countries, such as Fiji, is a key priority for equity. This study aimed to understand the social and behavioral drivers of vaccine uptake among children with disability in Fiji, from the perspectives of health, disability, and community stakeholders. Five qualitative focus groups were conducted with 22 stakeholders, including healthcare workers, disability service providers and advocates, and community and faith leaders (female n = 17, 77%).

Predictors of Cryptococcus gattii clinical presentation and outcome: An international study.

Background: Infection by Cryptococcus gattii can lead to pulmonary or central nervous system (CNS) disease, or both. Whether site of infection and disease severity are associated with C. gattii species and lineages or with certain underlying medical conditions, or both is unclear.

Medication non-adherence and its predictors among patients with bipolar disorder in Northwest Ethiopia.

While pharmacotherapy is the primary approach for treating patients with bipolar disorder, non-adherence is the most common barrier preventing these patients from achieving optimal medication effectiveness. This study aimed to assess medication non-adherence and its predictors among patients with bipolar disorder in Northwest Ethiopia. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 404 patients with bipolar disorder in Northwest Ethiopia from January to March 2024.

The molecular and cellular landscape of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotypes: transition from obstructive to end-stage heart failure.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a myocardial disorder which commonly presents as an obstructive or end-stage disease. This study aims to investigate the transcriptomic changes related to cardiac cell-specific expression profiles that underpin the molecular transition between the HCM phenotypes. This study utilizes bioinformatics meta-analysis to integrate independent datasets to generate a comprehensive gene expression profile of obstructive HCM and end-stage HCM phenotypes compared to donor hearts.

Tuberculosis healthcare service disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, India and South Africa: A model-based analysis of country-level data.

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading infectious disease cause of death worldwide. In recent years, stringent measures to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 have led to considerable disruptions of healthcare services for TB in many countries. The extent to which these measures have affected TB testing, treatment initiation and outcomes has not been comprehensively assessed.

Factors influencing survival outcomes in patients with stroke at three tertiary hospitals in Zimbabwe: A 12-month longitudinal study.

Background: In this longitudinal study, we aimed to determine factors influencing survival outcomes among patients with stroke at three tertiary hospitals over a 12-month period. The investigation sought to uncover influential determinants to enhance the precision of prognostic assessments and inform targeted interventions for individuals affected by stroke.

Methods: Employing a longitudinal study design, participants were observed for 12 months from baseline, censoring survivors at the endpoint.

Health risks evaluation of mycotoxins in plant-based supplements marketed in Malaysia.

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by fungi, pose significant health risks when present in plant-based supplements (PBS), necessitating thorough risk assessment to ensure consumer safety. This study evaluates the health risks associated with mycotoxins, specifically aflatoxins (AFB, AFB) and ochratoxin A (OTA), in PBS sold in Malaysia. Contamination levels of AFB, AFB, and OTA were quantified in 14 PBS samples using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

High-coverage whole-genome sequencing of a Jakun individual from the "Orang Asli" Proto-Malay subtribe from Peninsular Malaysia.

Jakun, a Proto-Malay subtribe from Peninsular Malaysia, is believed to have inhabited the Malay Archipelago during the period of agricultural expansion approximately 4 thousand years ago (kya). However, their genetic structure and population history remain inconclusive. In this study, we report the genome structure of a Jakun female, based on whole-genome sequencing, which yielded an average coverage of 35.

Encountering Arc of Bühler during pancreaticoduodenectomy surgery.

The Arc of Bühler (AoB) is a rare anatomical variant in gastrointestinal vasculature where there is an aberrant anastomotic vessel between coeliac and superior mesenteric arteries. We present a rare case where AoB was noted intraoperatively to have haemodynamically significant flow in the context of coeliac artery stenosis, supplementing arterial supply to the hepatic artery proper via the gastroduodenal artery (GDA). An interpositional jump graft between the aorta and the GDA stump was created using the long saphenous vein, and flow was restored.

Wearable Technology in Mobility and Falls Health Care: Finding Consensus on Their Clinical Utility and Identifying a Roadmap to Actual Use.

Background: Despite the promise wearable technology offers through detailed insight into mobility and fall risk, timely identification of high risk, assessment of risk severity, evaluation of clinical interventions, and potential to redefine the assessment of behaviours which influence health, they are not routinely used in clinical practice.

Objective: Establish consensus on how wearable technology can be applied to support clinical care for people aged 50 and over experiencing changes to mobility and/or who are at increased risk of falling.

Methods: A Delphi study was conducted among 17 hospital-based health professionals.

Utility of Consumer-Grade Wearable Devices for Inferring Physical and Mental Health Outcomes in Severe Mental Illness: Systematic Review.

Background: Digital wearable devices, worn on or close to the body, have potential for passively detecting mental and physical health symptoms among people with severe mental illness (SMI); however, the roles of consumer-grade devices are not well understood.

Objective: This study aims to examine the utility of data from consumer-grade, digital, wearable devices (including smartphones or wrist-worn devices) for remotely monitoring or predicting changes in mental or physical health among adults with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Studies were included that passively collected physiological data (including sleep duration, heart rate, sleep and wake patterns, or physical activity) for at least 3 days.

Older Adults' Experiences With an Online Survey.

The study explored older adults' perceptions after participating in an online survey about medication decisions, finding that approximately 80% of participants provided positive feedback about the research methodology and their experience.

Impact of resistance training on cardiometabolic health-related indices in patients with type 2 diabetes and overweight/obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of resistance training on cardiometabolic health-related outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and overweight/obesity.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs).

Data Sources: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar databases were searched from inception up to May 2024.

Exploring oral health challenges and integration strategies in opioid treatment programs: perspectives from clinicians and clients.

Background Despite the paramount importance of oral health, individuals undergoing treatment for opioid use disorder face unique challenges beyond traditional addiction care. This qualitative study explores the challenges Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) clients in Australia encounter when accessing oral health care, aiming to understand the underlying factors and identify effective strategies for integrating oral health into an OTP. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with OTP clients, OTP clinicians and oral health clinicians using tested interview guides.

The role of CBT in enhancing health outcomes in coronary artery bypass graft patients: a systematic review.

Background: Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is a common intervention for managing coronary artery disease, which is often accompanied by postoperative psychological challenges such as anxiety and depression. This systematic review aims to evaluate the benefits of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in reducing anxiety and depression symptoms and improving overall health outcomes in patients' post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

Methods: A search of Science Direct, PsycINFO, PubMed, Google Scholar, VHL, Cochrane, and Scopus databases was conducted until October 2023.

Can home care work be organized to promote musculoskeletal health for workers? Results from the GoldiCare cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: Workers in home care have high sick leave rates, predominantly because of musculoskeletal pain. The Goldilocks Work Principle proposes that health should be promoted by a "just right" composition of work tasks. Weekly workloads differ substantially between home care workers, suggesting that certain workers may have workloads that are too high, impacting their musculoskeletal health.

The short-term impact of copayment reductions for government subsidized medicines in Australia.

Background: This study aimed to examine the short-term, population-level effects of the 2023 Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) copayment reduction on prescription volume, patients' out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure, and government contributions.

Research Design And Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental study using national data from January 2021 to April 2024. For system-level analysis, we examined all drugs used by general patients, focusing on 252 drugs that were 'above copayment' during 2022-2023.

Innovations that helped with accessing and delivering primary care for infants and young children during COVID-19.

Background: For children under age six, regular preventative primary care is needed for administration of vaccinations, surveillance of development, and early diagnosis and intervention for any potential health conditions or developmental delays. The COVID-19 pandemic created many barriers to providing and accessing primary care. While many studies have explored these barriers, it is important to understand how primary care adapted to ensure these crucial early-years appointments were not missed throughout the pandemic.

Mouse strain-specific responses along the gut-brain axis upon fecal microbiota transplantation from children with autism.

Several factors are linked to the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD); however, the molecular mechanisms of the condition remain unknown. As intestinal problems and gut microbiota dysbiosis are associated with ASD development and severity, recent studies have focused on elucidating the microbiota-gut-brain axis' involvement. This study aims to explore mechanisms through which gut microbiota might influence ASD.

Managing cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: an update of the literature.

Introduction: Cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD) substantially affects patient outcomes, function, and quality of life. PD-related cognitive dysfunction is often heterogeneous in clinical presentation and rates of progression. As cognitive changes occur in many people with PD, it is essential to evaluate cognition, provide education, and implement management strategies for cognitive symptoms.

Extending the Lund-Malmö creatinine-based GFR equation to cystatin C - validation results from the European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) cohort of children and adults.

The aim of the present study was to extend the creatinine-based Lund-Malmö GFR equation for use with rescaled cystatin C (r-LMR) and validate it against measured GFR (mGFR) in the EKFC cystatin C cohort of children ( = 2,293) and adults ( = 7,727). Rescaling was obtained by dividing each biomarker by a Q-value, representing the population-specific median biomarker level among healthy individuals. Validation included median bias/precision/accuracy (percent estimates within ±30% of mGFR, P).

Assessing ChatGPT's Accuracy and Reliability in Asthma General Knowledge: Implications for Artificial Intelligence Use in Public Health Education.

Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into public health education represents a pivotal advancement in medical knowledge dissemination, particularly for chronic diseases such as asthma. This study assesses the accuracy and comprehensiveness of ChatGPT, a conversational AI model, in providing asthma-related information. Employing a rigorous mixed-methods approach, healthcare professionals evaluated ChatGPT's responses to the Asthma General Knowledge Questionnaire for Adults (AGKQA), a standardized instrument covering various asthma-related topics.

The Association Between Delaying Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Adolescents and Increasing Meniscal and Chondral Pathology: A Cohort Study of 2740 Adolescents.

Background: A growing body of evidence surrounds secondary meniscal and cartilage pathology after delay to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR). Many of these studies focus on or include an adult population.

Purpose: To elucidate the prevalence of secondary meniscal and chondral pathology with delay to ACLR in the adolescent population as well as examine the influence of sex, skeletal maturity, and trends over the years.