Exploratory study of patients' and carers' preferences for postdischarge surgical wound monitoring using survey and interviews.

Objectives: To explore patients' and carers' preferences for postdischarge surgical wound monitoring.

Design: Explanatory mixed methods study with an online survey followed by online interviews.

Setting: The online survey was distributed via the Cardiothoracic Interdisciplinary Research Network and cardiac surgery patient and public involvement groups in London and Leicester, UK.

Protocol for a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis for risk factors for lung cancer in individuals with lung nodules identified by low-dose CT screening.

Background: Worldwide, lung cancer (LC) is the second most frequent cancer and the leading cause of cancer related mortality. Low-dose CT (LDCT) screening reduced LC mortality by 20-24% in randomised trials of high-risk populations. A significant proportion of those screened have nodules detected that are found to be benign.

Matching model with mechanism: Appropriate rodent models for studying various aspects of diabetes pathophysiology.

Many rodent models are available for preclinical diabetes research making it a challenge for researchers to choose the most appropriate one for their experimental question. To aid in this, models have classically been categorized according to which type of diabetes they represent, and further into whether the model is induced, spontaneous or the result of genetic manipulation. This fails to capture the complexity of pathogenesis seen in diabetes in humans.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody positivity on infection and hospitalisation rates in immunosuppressed populations during the omicron period: the MELODY study.

Background: In the UK, booster COVID-19 vaccinations have been recommended biannually to people considered immune vulnerable. We investigated, at a population level, whether the absence of detectable anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein IgG antibody (anti-S Ab) following three or more vaccinations in immunosuppressed individuals was associated with greater risks of infection and severity of infection.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study using UK national disease registers, we recruited participants with solid organ transplants (SOTs), rare autoimmune rheumatic diseases (RAIRDs), and lymphoid malignancies.

Prognostic performance of the two-step clinical care pathway in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

Background & Aims: Current guidelines recommend a 2-step approach for risk stratification in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) with Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) followed by liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) or similar second-line tests. This study aimed to examine to prognostic performance of this approach.

Methods: The VCTE-Prognosis Study was a longitudinal study of patients with MASLD who had undergone VCTE examinations at 16 centres from the US, Europe and Asia with subsequent follow-up for clinical events.

A mixed method evaluation of a novel targeted health messaging intervention to promote COVID-19 protective behaviours and vaccination among Black and South Asian communities living in the UK (The COBHAM study).

Aim: To evaluate an intervention (a film and electronic leaflet) disseminated via text message by general practices to promote COVID-19 preventative behaviours in Black and South Asian communities.

Methods: We carried out a before-and-after questionnaire study of attitudes to and implementation of COVID-19 preventative behaviours and qualitative interviews about the intervention with people registered with 26 general practices in England who identified as Black or South Asian.

Results: In the 108 people who completed both questionnaires, we found no significant change in attitudes to and implementation of COVID-19 preventative behaviours, although power was too low to detect significant effects.

Unique considerations in the assessment and management of traumatic brain injury in older adults.

The age-specific incidence of traumatic brain injury in older adults is rising in high-income countries, mainly due to an increase in the incidence of falls. The severity of traumatic brain injury in older adults can be underestimated because of a delay in the development of mass effect and symptoms of intracranial haemorrhage. Management and rehabilitation in older adults must consider comorbidities and frailty, the treatment of pre-existing disorders, the reduced potential for recovery, the likelihood of cognitive decline, and the avoidance of future falls.

Extreme heat risk and the potential implications for the scheduling of football matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Climate change is making extreme heat events more frequent and intense. This negatively impacts many aspects of society, including organised sport. As the world's most watched sporting event, the FIFA World Cup commands particular attention around the threat of extreme heat.

Abdominopelvic imaging in the follow-up of testicular germ-cell tumors in adults: recommendations of the Scrotal and Penile Imaging Working Group of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology.

Objectives: The Scrotal and Penile Imaging Working Group (SPIWG) of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) aimed to formulate recommendations on the imaging modalities and minimal technical requirements for abdominopelvic imaging in the follow-up of adult patients treated for testicular germ-cell tumors (TGCT).

Methods: The SPIWG members performed an extensive literature search, reviewed the current clinical practice, and reached a consensus based on the opinions of experts in the field.

Results: Recurrence in patients treated for TGCT mainly occurs in retroperitoneal lymph nodes (LNs).

Grandparental childcare and subjective well-being: The role of activities and reasons for care.

Despite extensive research on the impact of grandchild care on grandparents' well-being, no studies have examined the frequency of activities that grandparents engage in with their grandchildren or the reasons for care using nationally representative data. We address this gap using waves 8 (2016/2017) and 9 (2018/19) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a nationally representative study of English older adults. We employ hybrid regression models to distinguish between within- and between-individual effects on grandparents' subjective wellbeing, as captured by quality of life and depressive symptoms.

Elevated serum vitamin B12 concentrations in a patient with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency.

This case describes a patient with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency and persistently elevated serum vitamin B12 concentrations that were not due to supplementation or associated with hepatic or hematological pathology. Laboratory investigations suggested the presence of macro-B12 as the cause of this patient's raised serum vitamin B12. Macro-B12 is often formed when vitamin B12-vitamin binding proteins (transcobalamin and haptocorrin) complex with immunoglobulins.

NHS-Galleri trial: Enriched enrolment approaches and sociodemographic characteristics of enrolled participants.

Background/aims: Certain sociodemographic groups are routinely underrepresented in clinical trials, limiting generalisability. Here, we describe the extent to which enriched enrolment approaches yielded a diverse trial population enriched for older age in a randomised controlled trial of a blood-based multi-cancer early detection test (NCT05611632).

Methods: Participants aged 50-77 years were recruited from eight Cancer Alliance regions in England.

The Impact of Modifiable Risk Factors on the Endothelial Cell Methylome and Cardiovascular Disease Development.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most prevalent cause of mortality and morbidity in the Western world. A common underlying hallmark of CVD is the plaque-associated arterial thickening, termed atherosclerosis. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying the aetiology of atherosclerosis remain unknown, it is clear that both its development and progression are associated with significant changes in the pattern of DNA methylation within the vascular cell wall.

Caution when using network partners for target identification in drug discovery.

Identifying novel, high-yield drug targets is challenging and often results in a high failure rate. However, recent data indicates that leveraging human genetic evidence to identify and validate these targets significantly increases the likelihood of success in drug development. Two recent papers from Open Targets claimed that around half of FDA-approved drugs had targets with direct human genetic evidence.

Interdisciplinary Oral Nutrition Support and Supplementation After Hip Fracture Surgery in Older Adult Inpatients: A Global Cross-Sectional Survey (ONS-STUDY).

Background: Malnutrition predicts poor outcomes following hip fracture, affecting patient recovery, healthcare performance, and costs. Evidence-based guidelines recommend multicomponent, interdisciplinary nutrition care to improve intake, reduce complications, and enhance outcomes. This study examines global variation in oral nutrition support for older (65+ years) hip fracture inpatients.

Minimizing Delay and Power Consumption at the Edge.

Edge computing systems must offer low latency at low cost and low power consumption for sensors and other applications, including the IoT, smart vehicles, smart homes, and 6G. Thus, substantial research has been conducted to identify optimum task allocation schemes in this context using non-linear optimization, machine learning, and market-based algorithms. Prior work has mainly focused on two methodologies: (i) formulating non-linear optimizations that lead to NP-hard problems, which are processed via heuristics, and (ii) using AI-based formulations, such as reinforcement learning, that are then tested with simulations.

EEG-to-EEG: Scalp-to-Intracranial EEG Translation Using a Combination of Variational Autoencoder and Generative Adversarial Networks.

A generative adversarial network (GAN) makes it possible to map a data sample from one domain to another one. It has extensively been employed in image-to-image and text-to image translation. We propose an EEG-to-EEG translation model to map the scalp-mounted EEG (scEEG) sensor signals to intracranial EEG (iEEG) sensor signals recorded by foramen ovale sensors inserted into the brain.

Design of a Cost-Effective Ultrasound Force Sensor and Force Control System for Robotic Extra-Body Ultrasound Imaging.

Ultrasound imaging is widely valued for its safety, non-invasiveness, and real-time capabilities but is often limited by operator variability, affecting image quality and reproducibility. Robot-assisted ultrasound may provide a solution by delivering more consistent, precise, and faster scans, potentially reducing human error and healthcare costs. Effective force control is crucial in robotic ultrasound scanning to ensure consistent image quality and patient safety.

Embedding Trust in the Media Access Control Protocol for Wireless Networks.

IEEE 802.11 is one of the most common medium access control (MAC) protocols used in wireless networks. The carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) mechanisms in 802.

TMJ Replacement in Degenerative Disease: A Systematic Review.

: This study aims to describe and analyze the indications and clinical results of total TMJ replacement in participants with degenerative and/or inflammatory joint diseases, defining patient and intervention conditions. : A systematic review was conducted according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Intervention and reported according to the PRISMA Items update. The search strategy was from 1997 to July 2024 in Pubmed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science.

An Update on Deaths in the United Kingdom from 'Poppers' (Alkyl Nitrites), with a Particular Focus on 'Swallowing' Fatalities.

Alkyl nitrites are a class of inhalant, commonly known as 'poppers'. Although having medical uses, some other effects include a 'rush', 'high', 'euphoria', or feeling of excitement. This has led to their recreational use, in different scenarios, since the mid-1960s.

Exosomal Liquid Biopsy in Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review of Biomarkers for Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment Response.

Prostate cancer, a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among men, often presents challenges in accurate diagnosis and effective monitoring. This systematic review explores the potential of exosomal biomolecules as noninvasive biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment response of prostate cancer. A thorough systematic literature search through online public databases (Medline via PubMed, Scopus, and Web of science) using structured search terms and screening using predefined eligibility criteria resulted in 137 studies that we analyzed in this systematic review.

Soluble Herpes Virus Entry Mediator and Type II/III Interferons Are Upregulated in Primary Biliary Cholangitis.

Bacterial translocation-induced inflammation and immune dysfunction are recognised factors contributing to the pathogenesis of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). However, the specific involvement of interferons (IFNs) and soluble checkpoints (sol-CRs) in shaping the immune landscape in PBC patients remains unexplored. Furthermore, the influence of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDC) on these immune mediators is unknown.

Targeting Fibroblast-Derived Interleukin 6: A Strategy to Overcome Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Radioresistance in Head and Neck Cancer.

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts have been reported to play a central role in driving cancer progression, promoting metastasis, and conferring resistance to therapy in HNSCC.

Methods: Indirect and direct co-culture models of HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC cells with fibroblasts were developed to study the effect of fibroblasts on cancer cells. ELISA was used to measure IL-6 secretion in these models.