Microscopic polyangiitis presenting as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The most detectable form of pulmonary fibrosis in MPA (microscopic polyangiitis) is UIP (usual interstitial pneumonia), occurring in 48 % of MPA patients with pulmonary fibrosis. In some cases, ILD (interstitial lung disease) is the initial clinical manifestation of MPA (22 % of cases). Here, we describe a patient diagnosed with IPF (idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) who later developed pulmonary infiltrates on CT and hemoptysis, found to have diffuse alveolar hemorrhage on bronchoscopy and ultimately was diagnosed with MPA.

Middle meningeal artery embolization alone versus combined with conventional surgery in the management of chronic subdural hematoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To compare outcomes of middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) alone versus combined with conventional surgery in the management of chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH).

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed on PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and CINAHL, followed by a meta-analysis comparing recurrence rates, surgical rescue, mortality, in-hospital complications, and length of hospital stay was conducted. Mean differences and risk ratios were pooled using a random effects model, with subgroup analysis performed using Cochrane RevMan 5.

A historical perspective of Kupffer cells in the context of infection.

The Kupffer cell was first discovered by Karl Wilhelm von Kupffer in 1876, labeling them as "Sternzellen." Since their discovery as the primary macrophages of the liver, researchers have gradually gained an in-depth understanding of the identity, functions, and influential role of Kupffer cells, particularly in infection. It is becoming clear that Kupffer cells perform important tissue-specific functions in homeostasis and disease.

Identifying Frailty and Its Risk Factors in Pediatric Patients with Fontan Physiology.

Frailty is a clinical syndrome common in adults with chronic disease with resultant vulnerability to adverse health outcomes. Little is known about frailty in pediatric patients, including those with single-ventricle heart disease. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of frailty and its associated risk factors in patients with Fontan circulation.

Impact of blood volume, air exposure duration, transport duration, and testing delay on plasma total carbon dioxide in simulated open collections using microtainers.

Background: Exposing blood specimens to air reduces plasma total carbon dioxide (TCO). We evaluated the degree of TCO reduction attributed to open collection of neonatal blood in BD microtainers® (microtainers), microtainer transport duration and delayed testing of open plasma aliquots.

Methods: Venous blood was aliquoted into open microtainers in a 3x4 factorial design to simulate combined effects of blood volume (0.

Do modifiable patient factors increase the risk of postoperative complications after total joint arthroplasty?

Introduction: Numerous studies demonstrate that modifiable lifestyle risk factors can influence patient outcomes including survivability, quality of life, and postoperative complications following orthopaedic surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of modifiable lifestyle risk factors on postoperative medical and surgical complications following a total joint arthroplasty (TJA) in a large national healthcare system.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of a large national health system database was performed to identify patients who underwent TJA between 2017 and 2021.

Exploring How Values of Colorectal Cancer Patients and their Caregivers Influence Treatment Decision-Making.

Background: As we adopt value models to inform drug reimbursement, coverage, clinical trials, and treatment choices, aligning these models to reflect patient values and preferences becomes increasingly relevant. In this study, we focus on colorectal cancer (CRC), which is highly prevalent and a leading cause of death in Canada, and new drug treatment options are costly.

Objective: The aim of this study was to understand how the values and experiences of people with CRC and their caregivers inform their perspectives about new and emerging colorectal cancer drug treatments.

A protocol for the detection of precision genome editing in human cells using One-pot DTECT.

Prime editing is a highly versatile CRISPR-based genome editing technology that allows for the precise installation of desired genetic variants. This protocol describes how to use One-pot DTECT to assess prime editing efficiency in human cells. Key steps include conducting prime editing, extracting genomic DNA, performing AcuI-tagging PCR, capturing genetic signatures, and detecting captured signatures through qualitative, quantitative, and visual methods.

Sexual Activity, Function, and Satisfaction in Reproductive-Aged Females Living with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Up to 80% of women living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) experience sexual dysfunction, though its link with sexual activity and sexual satisfaction is not well understood. Among older women with CKD treated with hemodialysis, the majority report sexual inactivity, though few describe sexual difficulty and most report high sexual satisfaction. Whether this applies to reproductive-aged females living with CKD is yet unknown.

Incidental durotomy during tubular microdiscectomy does not preclude same-day discharge.

Purpose: One of the major advantages of a minimally invasive microdiscectomy is that when CSF leak occurs, there is minimal anatomic dead space for ongoing leakage following removal of the tubular retractor. However, there are no published reports that address the safety and long-term outcomes of same-day discharge for CSF leak after tubular microdiscectomy.

Methods: This is a retrospective compartive study of 30 patients with incidental durotomy during minimally invasive tubular microdiscectomy occurring between January 1, 2009 to August 31, 2023 at our institution.

A rare giant atrial septal cardiac blood cyst in an adult: a case report.

Background: Cardiac blood cysts are exceedingly rare cardiac tumours usually found on cardiac valves in infants. We report and discuss a rare unique case wherein a giant atrial septal cardiac blood cyst was found in an adult.

Case Summary: A 59-year-old Chinese lady with history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia and transient ischaemic attack presented with atypical chest pain.

Scoping review on mental health standards for Black youth: identifying gaps and promoting equity in community, primary care, and educational settings.

Background: Youth mental health is a growing concern in research, practice, and policy. Practice standards, guidelines, or strategies provide an invisible infrastructure that fosters equity, quality, and safety, potentially addressing inconsistencies and more effectively attending to the mental wellness of Black youth as a particular population of concern. This scoping review aimed to address the following question: What standards exist for the delivery of mental health services to Black youth in community, primary care, and educational settings? Due to a limited initial search yield on publications about standards for the delivery of mental health services for Black youth population, our goal was then to identify and map mental health standards, recommendations, or guidelines for the delivery of mental health services using the same settings to all youth.

Screening for depression in patients with epilepsy: same questions but different meaning to different patients.

Purpose: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) such as the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory in Epilepsy (NDDI-E), a 6-item epilepsy-specific PROM, is used to screen for major depressive disorder symptoms for patients with epilepsy (PWE). The validity and interpretation of PROMs can be affected by differential item functioning (DIF), which occurs when subgroups of patients with the same underlying health status respond to and interpret questions about their health status differently. This study aims to determine whether NDDI-E items exhibit DIF and to identify subgroups of PWE that exhibit DIF in NDDI-E items.

Safety of cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injections.

Background: In 2014 the FDA issued a drug safety warning that steroids in the epidural space may result in rare but serious neurological adverse events. The FDA identified 131 cases of neurological adverse events and most complications were related to cervical transforaminal epidural injections (TFESIs). These complications occurred before the standard use of non-particulate steroids.

Implementation of a rural emergency department-initiated buprenorphine program in the mountain west: a study protocol.

Background: Opioid related overdose morbidity and mortality continue to significantly impact rural communities. Nationwide, emergency departments (EDs) have seen an increase in opioid use disorder (OUD)-related visits compared to other substance use disorders (SUD). ED-initiated buprenorphine is associated with increased treatment engagement at 30 days.

Running-induced neurogenesis reduces CA1 perineuronal net density without substantial temporal delay.

Aerobic exercise has many effects on brain function, particularly at the hippocampus. Exercise has been shown to increase the rate of adult neurogenesis within the dentate gyrus and decrease the density of perineuronal nets in area CA1. The relationship between the rate of neurogenesis and the density of perineuronal nets in CA1 is robust; however, these studies only ever examined these effects across longer time scales, with running manipulations of 4 weeks or longer.