Hearing care in low-resourced and humanitarian settings: findings from a pilot study in South Sudan.

Objectives: This longitudinal experimental study aimed to profile audiometric hearing loss, explore the feasibility and efficacy of low-cost hearing devices, and examine their social and emotional impact on participants in South Sudan, a low-resource humanitarian setting.

Design: We performed pure tone hearing screenings on adults with self-reported hearing disability, randomly providing eligible participants with one of two inexpensive devices-Asana Pro 800, a non-customizable hearing device fit unilaterally, or the Super Ear SE9000, a hand-held amplifier with headphones given one per individual.

Study Sample: Between October 2022 and January 2023, 142 adults underwent hearing screening at the Juba Teaching Hospital ENT clinic, of whom 19 eligible individuals were provided with hearing devices.

E. Coli cytotoxic necrotizing factor-1 promotes colorectal carcinogenesis by causing oxidative stress, DNA damage and intestinal permeability alteration.

Background: Bacterial toxins are emerging as promising hallmarks of colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis. In particular, Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor 1 (CNF1) from E. coli deserves special consideration due to the significantly higher prevalence of this toxin gene in CRC patients with respect to healthy subjects, and to the numerous tumor-promoting effects that have been ascribed to the toxin in vitro.

The degree of cross-linking of polyacrylic acid affects the fibrogenicity in rat lungs.

Polyacrylic acid (PAA) with different concentrations of cross-linker was instilled into the trachea of rats to examine the effect of PAA crosslink density on lung disorders. Methods: F344 rats were intratracheally exposed to low and high doses of PAA with cross-linker concentrations of 0.1, 1.

Association of Frailty Index at 66 Years of Age with Health Care Costs and Utilization Over 10 Years in Korea: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: The long-term economic impact of frailty measured at the beginning of elderhood is unknown.

Objective: The objective of our study was to examine the association between an individual's frailty index at 66 years of age and their health care costs and utilization over 10 years.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 215,887 Koreans who participated in the National Screening Program for Transitional Ages at 66 years of age between 2007-2009.

Recovery support services as part of the continuum of care for alcohol or drug use disorders.

Background: The definition of 'recovery' has evolved beyond merely control of problem substance use to include other aspects of health and wellbeing (known as 'recovery capital') which are important to prevent relapse to problematic alcohol or other drug (AOD) use. Developing a Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC) requires consideration of interventions or services (Recovery Support Services, RSS) designed to build recovery capital which are often delivered alongside established treatment structures. Lived experience and its application to the process of engaging people, changing behaviour and relapse prevention is an essential part of these services.

Systemic corticosteroid dose-response effects in asthma: an observational cohort study.

https://bit.ly/3zzl2QN.

Number of patient samples affected before error detection: Strategic implications for internal quality control and patient-based quality control practices.

Introduction: There is a general impression that patient-based quality control (PBQC) requires a high volume of laboratory results to detect errors effectively. However, internal quality control (IQC) performed infrequently may be associated with increased risk of missed error (i.e.

Linking higher amyloid beta 1-38 (Aβ(1-38)) levels to reduced Alzheimer's disease progression risk.

Introduction: The beneficial effects of amyloid beta 1-38, or Aβ(1-38), on Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression in humans in vivo remain controversial. We investigated AD patients' cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ(1-38) and AD progression.

Methods: Cognitive function and diagnostic change were assessed annually for 3 years in 177 Aβ-positive participants with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia from the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) longitudinal cognitive impairment and dementia study (DELCODE) cohort using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Preclinical Alzheimer's Cognitive Composite (PACC), Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), and National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke-Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA) criteria.

Lyme disease associated neurological and musculoskeletal symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Objective: Lyme disease, caused by , presents major health challenges worldwide, leading to serious neurological and musculoskeletal issues that impact patients' lives and healthcare systems. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to determine the prevalence and link between Lyme disease and these complications, aiming to enhance clinical and public health approaches.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science up until April 01, 2024, to find studies reporting the prevalence and severity of neurological and musculoskeletal complications associated with Lyme disease.

An integrative review on the risk factors, prevention, and control strategies for carbapenem-resistant colonization in critically ill patients.

The presence of carbapenem-resistant (CR) has become one of the leading causes of life-threatening, hospital-acquired infections globally, especially with a notable prevalence in intensive care units (ICUs). The cross-transmission of microorganisms between patients and the hospital setting is crucial in the development of CR colonization and subsequent infections. Recent studies indicate that colonization typically precedes infection, suggesting the effectiveness and necessity of preventing CR colonization as a primary method to lower infection risks.

Is there a link between Hepatitis A virus and Guillain-Barré syndrome? A systematic review of case reports.

Introduction: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nervous system, causing acute flaccid paralysis. There have been occasional reports linking Hepatitis A virus (HAV) to GBS. Here we aimed to evaluate the current literature on the association between GBS and HAV, exploring potential mechanisms and clinical implications.

Sperm DNA fragmentation index: limited effectiveness on predicting embryo quality in assisted reproduction technology treatments.

Purpose: Prior sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) thresholds for diagnosing male infertility and predicting assisted reproduction technology (ART) outcomes fluctuated between 15 and 30%, with no agreed standard. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the sperm DFI on early embryonic development during ART treatments and establish appropriate DFI cut-off values.

Methods: Retrospectively analyzed 913 couple's ART cycles from 2021 to 2022, encompassing 1,476 IVF and 295 ICSI cycles, following strict criteria.

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.

Long-term exposure to air pollution and greenness in association with respiratory emergency room visits and hospitalizations: The Life-GAP project.

Background: Air pollution has been linked to respiratory diseases, while the effects of greenness remain inconclusive.

Objective: We investigated the associations between exposure to particulate matter (PM and PM), black carbon (BC), nitrogen dioxide (NO), ozone (O), and greenness (normalized difference vegetation index, NDVI) with respiratory emergency room visits and hospitalizations across seven Northern European centers in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) study.

Methods: We used modified mixed-effects Poisson regression to analyze associations of exposure in 1990, 2000 and mean exposure 1990-2000 with respiratory outcomes recorded duing ECRHS phases II and III.

Dietary patterns modify the association between body mass index and mortality in older adults.

Background: The potential modifying roles of dietary patterns in the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality in older adults remain unclear. This study aimed to examine the stratified and combined associations of dietary patterns and BMI with all-cause, cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality.

Methods: This prospective cohort study included 3982 Chinese community-dwelling older adults between 2001 and 2003.

Three-year treatment with anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies modifies migraine course: the prospective, multicenter I-GRAINE study.

Objectives: To determine whether extending anti-CGRP mAb treatment beyond 3 years influences migraine course, we analyzed migraine frequency during the first month of treatment discontinuation following three 12-month treatment cycles (Ts).

Methods: This multicenter, prospective, real-world study enrolled 212 patients with high-frequency episodic migraine (HFEM) or chronic migraine (CM) who completed three consecutive Ts of subcutaneous anti-CGRP mAbs. Discontinuation periods (D1, D2, D3) were defined as the first month after T1, T2, and T3, respectively.

Relationship Between the Gut Microbiome, Tryptophan-Derived Metabolites, and Osteoarthritis-Related Pain: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent form of arthritis and affects over 528 million people worldwide. Degenerative joint disease involves cartilage degradation, subchondral bone remodeling, and synovial inflammation, leading to chronic pain, stiffness, and impaired joint function. Initially regarded as a "wear and tear" condition associated with aging and mechanical stress, OA is now recognized as a multifaceted disease influenced by systemic factors such as metabolic syndrome, obesity, and chronic low-grade inflammation.

Probiotics in the Management of Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial to Evaluate a Possible Link Between Gut Microbiota Restoring and Symptom Relief.

Several studies have suggested that probiotics could play a role in the management of patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP). In this randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of consumption of probiotics containing human DG as an add-on treatment in patients with clinical recurrences of CBP, through gut microbiota modification analysis. Enrolled patients with CBP were randomized to receive for 3 months probiotics containing human DG or placebo following 1 month treatment with ciprofloxacin.

Deciphering the Link Between Diagnosis-Related Group Weight and Nursing Care Complexity in Hospitalized Children: An Observational Study.

Background/objectives: The increasing medical and nursing care complexity in hospitalized children represents a significant challenge for healthcare systems. However, the link between these two dimensions remains partially explored. This study aims to decipher the relationship between Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) weight and nursing care complexity in hospitalized children and to identify the determinants of medical complexity.

Stress and Burnout Among Anesthesia Technologists, Technicians, and Trainees: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Occupational burnout poses a significant burden to healthcare personnel, institutions, and service users. Anesthesia technologists and technicians work in the shadow of the perioperative team, and a lack of attention to anesthesia support personnel may pose a significant risk to their wellbeing and the quality of care delivered. To date, only a few studies have investigated the prevalence of burnout among anesthesia technologists and technicians worldwide and in Saudi Arabia.

The role of cGAS-STING pathway in the development of radiation-induced lung injury.

Background And Purpose: Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) limits the efficacy of thoracic radiotherapy. However, the underlying mechanism of RILI remains unclear. cGAS-STING pathway is reported to be involved in the recognization of cytosolic dsDNA and various inflammatory diseases.

Targeting alarmins in asthma- From the bench to the clinic.

Over the past two decades, mechanistic studies of allergic and type 2 (T2)-mediated airway inflammation have led to multiple approved therapies for the treatment of moderate-to-severe asthma. The approval and availability of these monoclonal antibodies targeting immunoglobulin E, a type 2 cytokine (IL-5) and/or cytokine receptors (IL-5Rα, IL-4Rα) has been central to the progresses made in the management of moderate-to-severe asthma over this period. However, there are persistent gaps in clinician's ability to provide precise care given that many patients with type 2-high asthma do not respond to the IgE or T2 cytokine-targeting therapies and patients with type 2-low asthma have limited therapeutic options.

Presentation and Surgical Outcomes of Primary Hyperparathyroidism After Radioactive Iodine Therapy.

Background: Radioactive iodine (RAI) is a common treatment for various thyroid diseases. Previous studies have suggested susceptibility of parathyroid glands to the mutagenic effect of RAI and the development of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). We tested the possible link between prior RAI treatment, disease presentation, and treatment outcomes.

Tolerance for uncertainty and medical students' specialty choices: A myth revisited.

Background: In 1962, the idea emerged that medical students' tolerance of uncertainty could determine their specialty choice. While some studies supported this claim, others refuted it, often using independently developed instruments. We explored whether the reported link between specialty choice and uncertainty tolerance is more myth than evidence by employing established instruments to investigate whether specialty choice could be explained by variance in uncertainty tolerance.