The Effects of Hospital Delivery Volume and Travel Time on Perinatal Mortality and Delivery in Transit: Causal Inference with Triangulation.

Background: Hospital regionalization involves balancing hospital volume and travel time. We investigated how hospital volume and travel time affect perinatal mortality and the risk of delivery in transit using three different study designs.

Methods: This nationwide cohort study used data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (1999-2016) and Statistics Norway.

The international trial of nasal oxygen therapy after cardiac surgery (NOTACS) in patients at high risk of postoperative pulmonary complications: Economic evaluation protocol and analysis plan.

Introduction: High-Flow Nasal Therapy (HFNT) is an innovative non-invasive form of respiratory support. Compared to standard oxygen therapy (SOT), there is an equipoise regarding the effect of HFNT on patient-centred outcomes among those at high risk of developing postoperative pulmonary complications after undergoing cardiac surgery. The NOTACS trial aims to determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of HFNT compared to SOT within 90 days of surgery in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

Translation and cultural adaption of MacLeod Clark professional identity scale among Chinese therapy students.

Background: Fostering a strong professional identity (PI) enhances career fulfillment. In China, therapy education is undergoing development, integrating both Western and traditional health concepts, causing inconsistent PI among therapy students. To date, no validated tools exist to measure and monitor PI of Chinese therapy students.

Clinical derivation and data simulated validation of rule-out and rule-in algorithms for the Siemens Atellica IM high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I assay.

Background: This prospective, two-centre study derived and validated predictive algorithms for the Siemens Atellica IM high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) assay in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: Algorithms for predicting 30-day myocardial infarction type 1 and 2 (MI) and death or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI, type 1 and 2) at index admission were developed from a derivation cohort of 1896 patients and validated using a synthetic dataset with nearly 1 million patient cases. Performance was compared to the European Society of Cardiology algorithms for hs-cTnT (Roche Diagnostics) and hs-cTnI (Abbott Diagnostics).

Milestone events in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB): findings of the PEBLES Study.

Background: In recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), complications like oesophageal strictures, hand contractures, cardiomyopathy and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) may develop, necessitating procedures such as oesophageal dilatation (OD), gastrostomy tube placement and hand surgery.

Objectives: To determine prevalence and age of onset of milestone events by RDEB subtype, specifically dysphagia, first OD, first gastrostomy tube, first hand surgery, cardiomyopathy, first SCC and death.

Methods: The Prospective Epidermolysis Bullosa Longitudinal Evaluation Study (PEBLES) is a register study of individuals with RDEB which records comprehensive EB- and non-EB-related health information.

EULAR recommendations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis: 2023 update.

Objectives: To update the 2017 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommendations for treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc), incorporating new evidence and therapies.

Methods: An international task force was convened in line with EULAR standard operating procedures. A nominal group technique exercise was performed in two rounds to define questions underpinning a subsequent systematic literature review.

Therapeutic interception in individuals at risk of rheumatoid arthritis to prevent clinically impactful disease.

Multiple clinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) prevention have been completed. Here, we set out to report on the lessons learnt from these studies. Researchers who conducted RA prevention trials shared the background, rationale, approach and outcomes and evaluated the lessons learnt to inform the next generation of RA prevention trials.

Insight into the Mechanism of d-Glucose Accelerated Exchange in GLUT1 from Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

Transmembrane glucose transport, facilitated by glucose transporters (GLUTs), is commonly understood through the simple mobile carrier model (SMCM), which suggests that the central binding site alternates exposure between the inside and outside of the cell, facilitating glucose exchange. An alternative "multisite model" posits that glucose transport is a stochastic diffusion process between ligand-operated gates within the transporter's central channel. This study aims to test these models by conducting atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of multiple glucose molecules docked along the central cleft of GLUT1 at temperatures both above and below the lipid bilayer melting point.

Accurate and efficient representation of intramolecular energy in ab initio generation of crystal structures. Part III: partitioning into torsional groups.

We present an approach to reduce this computational cost substantially, based on the partitioning of the molecule into geometrically separated torsional groups, with the dependence of the intramolecular energy and atomic point charges and dependent degrees of freedom on molecular conformation being computed as a linear combination of the contributions of these groups. This can lead to large savings in computational cost without a significant impact on accuracy, as demonstrated in the cases of N-acetyl-para-aminophenol (paracetamol) and methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (methyl paraben). The approach is also applied successfully to two larger molecules, benzyl [4-(4-methyl-5-[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbamate (molecule XX from the fifth CSP blind test) and (2S)-2-[4-(3-fluorobenzyloxy)benzylamino]propionamide (safinamide), for which we conduct the first reported CSP study.

Incident heart failure and recurrent coronary events following acute myocardial infarction.

Background And Aims: Recurrent myocardial infarction (MI) and incident heart failure (HF) are major post-MI complications. Herein, contemporary post-MI risks for recurrent MI and HF are described.

Methods: A total of 6804 patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of MI at 28 Baylor Scott & White Health hospitals (January 2015 to December 2021) were studied.

Can exercise reduce fatigue in people living with kidney disease?

Purpose Of Review: In people living with kidney disease (KD) Fatigue is a whole-body tiredness that is not related to activity or exertion. Often self-reported, fatigue is a common and highly burdensome symptom, yet poorly defined and understood. While its mechanisms are complex, many fatigue-related factors may be altered by exercise and physical activity intervention.

Antiretroviral therapy in people with HIV and end-stage kidney disease.

Objective: To summarize antiretroviral therapy (ART) use in the setting of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).

Design: Cross-sectional analysis.

Methods: Descriptive analysis of ART regimens and dose of nucleoside/nucleotide reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) in people with HIV and ESKD (dialysis, kidney transplantation, or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <15 mL/min/1.

What Next for the Science of Patient Preference? Interoperability, Standardization, and Transferability.

Using patient preference information (PPI) to incorporate patient voices into the drug development lifecycle can help align therapies with the needs and values of patients. However, several barriers have limited the use of PPI, including a lack of clarity on its use by decision-makers, a need for greater decision-maker trust in PPI, and a lack of time, budgets, and access to specialist expertise. The value proposition for PPI could be enhanced by making it FAIR: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.

Assessing Preferences of Patients with Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria for Injectable Treatment Profiles.

Background: In the context of injectable biologic products approved or in development for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), it is important to capture which treatment attributes matter most to patient and what trade-offs patients are willing to make.

Objectives: The CHOICE-CSU study aimed to quantify patient preferences toward injectable treatment attributes among patients with CSU, inadequately controlled by H1-antihistamines.

Methods: This was a two-phase cross-sectional patient preference study in adult patients with a diagnosis of CSU, inadequately controlled by H1-antihistamines.

Can surgeons trust AI? Perspectives on machine learning in surgery and the importance of eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI).

Purpose: This brief report aims to summarize and discuss the methodologies of eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) and their potential applications in surgery.

Methods: We briefly introduce explainability methods, including global and individual explanatory features, methods for imaging data and time series, as well as similarity classification, and unraveled rules and laws.

Results: Given the increasing interest in artificial intelligence within the surgical field, we emphasize the critical importance of transparency and interpretability in the outputs of applied models.

Longitudinal impact of extended-hours hemodialysis with a liberalized diet on nutritional status and survival outcomes: findings from the LIBERTY cohort.

Background: Protein-energy wasting (PEW), a unique weight loss linked to nutritional and metabolic abnormalities, is common in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and associated with adverse outcomes. This study investigated whether extended-hours HD combined with a liberalized diet could overcome PEW and improve survival.

Methods: The body mass index (BMI) and survival outcomes in patients undergoing extended-hours HD were evaluated for up to 8 years using data from the LIBeralized diet Extended-houRs hemodialysis Therapy (LIBERTY) cohort.

International Urogynecology Consultation Chapter 3 Committee 1 - Pessary Management.

Introduction And Hypothesis: This manuscript is part of the International Urogynecological Consultation (IUC) on Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP), Chapter 3, Committee 1 focusing on pessary management of POP.

Methods: A narrative review was conducted by an international, multi-disciplinary group of clinicians working in the field of pelvic health following a search of the literature using the MeSH terms "pelvic organ prolapse" OR "urogenital prolapse" OR "vaginal prolapse" OR "uterovaginal prolapse" AND "pessary" OR "support device" OR "intravaginal device." Relevant studies, as determined after review using the Covidence manuscript review platform, were included.

Investigating the longitudinal bi-directional relationship between self-reported restrictive eating behaviours and sleep in UK adolescents within the Millennium Cohort Study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the longitudinal bi-directional relationship between self-reported restrictive eating behaviours and sleep characteristics within a sample of UK adolescents from the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS).

Method: Using a Structural Equation Modelling approach, the present study investigated the prospective associations between individual sleep behaviours (e.g.

Patients' views on stroke prevention for atrial fibrillation after an intracerebral haemorrhage: a qualitative study.

Aim: (i) To explore the attitudes of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) towards oral anti-coagulation (OAC) for stroke prevention post-intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) and (ii) to explore factors that influence patients' decision-making process for stroke prevention.

Methods And Results: Patients with documented diagnosis of AF and history of a non-traumatic ICH, who were eligible for long-term OAC were recruited from eight hospitals in England, using purposive sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed using Framework analysis.

Estimating hypothetical estimands with causal inference and missing data estimators in a diabetes trial case study.

The ICH E9 addendum on estimands in clinical trials provides a framework for precisely defining the treatment effect that is to be estimated, but says little about estimation methods. Here, we report analyses of a clinical trial in type 2 diabetes, targeting the effects of randomized treatment, handling rescue treatment and discontinuation of randomized treatment using the so-called hypothetical strategy. We show how this can be estimated using mixed models for repeated measures, multiple imputation, inverse probability of treatment weighting, G-formula, and G-estimation.

Carboxy-Amidated AamAP1-Lys has Superior Conformational Flexibility and Accelerated Killing of Gram-Negative Bacteria.

C-terminal amidation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is a frequent minor modification used to improve antibacterial potency, commonly ascribed to increased positive charge, protection from proteases, and a stabilized secondary structure. Although the activity of AMPs is primarily associated with the ability to penetrate bacterial membranes, hitherto the effect of amidation on this interaction has not been understood in detail. Here, we show that amidation of the scorpion-derived membranolytic peptide AamAP1-Lys produces a potent analog with faster bactericidal activity, increased membrane permeabilization, and greater Gram-negative membrane penetration associated with greater conformational flexibility.

Use of AI in Cardiac CT and MRI: A Scientific Statement from the ESCR, EuSoMII, NASCI, SCCT, SCMR, SIIM, and RSNA.

Artificial intelligence (AI) offers promising solutions for many steps of the cardiac imaging workflow, from patient and test selection through image acquisition, reconstruction, and interpretation, extending to prognostication and reporting. Despite the development of many cardiac imaging AI algorithms, AI tools are at various stages of development and face challenges for clinical implementation. This scientific statement, endorsed by several societies in the field, provides an overview of the current landscape and challenges of AI applications in cardiac CT and MRI.

Deep Learning Superresolution for Simultaneous Multislice Parallel Imaging-Accelerated Knee MRI Using Arthroscopy Validation.

Background Deep learning (DL) methods can improve accelerated MRI but require validation against an independent reference standard to ensure robustness and accuracy. Purpose To validate the diagnostic performance of twofold-simultaneous-multislice (SMSx2) twofold-parallel-imaging (PIx2)-accelerated DL superresolution MRI in the knee against conventional SMSx2-PIx2-accelerated MRI using arthroscopy as the reference standard. Materials and Methods Adults with painful knee conditions were prospectively enrolled from December 2021 to October 2022.