A new method for detecting mixed Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and reconstructing constituent strains provides insights into transmission.

Background: Mixed infection with multiple strains of the same pathogen in a single host can present clinical and analytical challenges. Whole genome sequence (WGS) data can identify signals of multiple strains in samples, though the precision of previous methods can be improved. Here, we present MixInfect2, a new tool to accurately detect mixed samples from Mycobacterium tuberculosis short-read WGS data.

Characteristics of TSPO expression in marmoset EAE.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) and is a leading non-traumatic cause of disability in young adults. The 18 kDa Translocator Protein (TSPO) is a mitochondrial protein and positron emission tomography (PET)-imaging target that is highly expressed in MS brain lesions. It is used as an inflammatory biomarker and has been proposed as a therapeutic target.

Evaluation of mobile clinics by MSF in pastoralist community in Doolo Zone, Somali region, Ethiopia.

Background: The Somali region in Ethiopia has poor health infrastructure, coupled with the adversity experienced by the largely pastoralist population through frequent droughts, disease outbreaks and conflict. From January 2019, MSF strategically focused on improving access to primary healthcare in the Doolo zone of the Somali region by providing 15-20 mobile clinics covering a wide geographical area. We aimed to evaluate the extent to which mobile clinics were an appropriate and effective modality to deliver healthcare for populations living in the region.

Echocardiographic assessment of aortic regurgitation: a practical guideline from the British Society of Echocardiography.

Aortic regurgitation is the third most common valve lesion with increasing prevalence secondary to an ageing population. Transthoracic echocardiography plays a vital role in the identification and assessment of aortic regurgitation and proves essential in monitoring severity and determining the timing of intervention. Building on the foundations of previous British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) recommendations, this BSE guideline presents an update on how to approach an echocardiographic assessment of aortic regurgitation.

Cost-effectiveness and budget impact of covering Burkitt lymphoma in children under Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme.

Background: Childhood cancer is not a high priority in health care financing for many countries, including in Ghana. Delayed care seeking and treatment abandonment, often due to the financial burden of care seeking to families, are common reasons for a relatively low overall survival (OS) in low-and middle-income countries. In this study, we analyzed the cost-effectiveness of extending health insurance coverage to children with Burkitt lymphoma (BL) in Ghana.

New job, new habits? A multilevel interrupted time series analysis of changes in diet, physical activity and sleep among young adults starting work for the first time.

Background: The workplace is an important determinant of health that people are exposed to for the first-time during adolescence or early adulthood. This study investigates how diet, physical activity, and sleep change as people aged 16-30 years transition into work and whether this varies for different individuals and job types.

Methods: Multilevel linear regression models assessed changes in fruit and vegetable intake, sleep duration, and physical activity among 3,302 UK Household Longitudinal Study (UKHLS) participants aged 16-30 years, who started work for the first time between 2015 and 2023.

Exploring variation in the six-month review for stroke survivors: a national survey of current practice in England.

Background: The Six-Month Review (6MR) was introduced in the United Kingdom to provide a holistic, systematic review of the ongoing needs faced by stroke survivors. However, a theoretical underpinning regarding how it should work is lacking, potentially leading to wide variation in service provision. This study aimed to understand the current degree of variation in 6MR delivery across England and explore the potential driving factors.

Decision-making regarding place of end-of-life care for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions: a systematic integrative review.

Background: Due to medical advancements the number of children living with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions is rising, meaning more children and their families will require palliative and end-of-life care in the future. While 'home' is often the preferred place of end-of-life care, the evidence around best practice for decision-making about place of end-of-life care remains inadequate.

Aim: To synthesise evidence on the factors influencing decision-making regarding place of end-of-life care for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.

The evolving landscape of COVID-19: factors associated with in-hospital COVID-19 related mortality during the 2023-2024 phase of JN.1 subvariant dominance.

Background: COVID-19 remains a complex health challenge. We analysed the characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19-related hospitalisations during JN.1 variant dominance.

The multi-omics signatures of telomere length in childhood.

Background: Telomere length is an important indicator of biological age and a complex multi-factor trait. To date, the telomere interactome for comprehending the high-dimensional biological aspects linked to telomere regulation during childhood remains unexplored. Here we describe the multi-omics signatures associated with childhood telomere length.

Falls and balance impairment; what and how has this been measured in adults with joint hypermobility? A scoping review.

Background: People with joint hypermobility have excessive joint flexibility, which is more common in young women. The people with symptomatic hypermobility report poor balance and even falls. This scoping review aims to identify and map the available evidence related to balance and falling in adults with joint hypermobility to support research planning and ideas for treatment direction.

Understanding how, for whom and under what circumstances telecare can support independence in community-dwelling older adults: a realist review.

Background: There is substantial interest among policy makers in using telecare to support independence in older adults. However, research on how telecare can be most beneficial in promoting independence is limited. This realist review aimed to understand the contexts in which telecare can support independence and for whom, to aid older people in remaining at home.

Prevalence and dynamics of antimicrobial resistance in pioneer and developing Arctic soils.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in soil is an ancient phenomenon with widespread spatial presence in terrestrial ecosystems. However, the natural processes shaping the temporal dissemination of AMR in soils are not well understood. We aimed to determine whether, how, and why AMR varies with soil age in recently deglaciated pioneer and developing Arctic soils using a space-for-time approach.

Promoting Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Medical and Scientific Writing and Publishing of Research: A Statement from the Inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advocacy Team of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

The Journal of General Internal Medicine (JGIM) has a long-standing history of publishing manuscripts focused on health equity and is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in scientific writing and publishing. This is extremely important in the current climate where false narratives and attacks on DEI and health equity are rampant. To demonstrate their commitment to DEI and health equity, the JGIM Editors-in-Chief created an inaugural DEI Advocacy Team.

Climatically Specialized Lineages of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, and its Likely Asian Origins.

Chytridiomycosis is a wildlife disease that has caused significant declines in amphibian populations and species extinctions worldwide. Asia, where the causal pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and B. salamndrivorans (Bsal) originated, has not witnessed mass die-offs.

Machine learning meta-analysis identifies individual characteristics moderating cognitive intervention efficacy for anxiety and depression symptoms.

Cognitive training is a promising intervention for psychological distress; however, its effectiveness has yielded inconsistent outcomes across studies. This research is a pre-registered individual-level meta-analysis to identify factors contributing to cognitive training efficacy for anxiety and depression symptoms. Machine learning methods, alongside traditional statistical approaches, were employed to analyze 22 datasets with 1544 participants who underwent working memory training, attention bias modification, interpretation bias modification, or inhibitory control training.

Estimating future heat-related and cold-related mortality under climate change, demographic and adaptation scenarios in 854 European cities.

Previous health impact assessments of temperature-related mortality in Europe indicated that the mortality burden attributable to cold is much larger than for heat. Questions remain as to whether climate change can result in a net decrease in temperature-related mortality. In this study, we estimated how climate change could affect future heat-related and cold-related mortality in 854 European urban areas, under several climate, demographic and adaptation scenarios.

International myeloma working group immunotherapy committee recommendation on sequencing immunotherapy for treatment of multiple myeloma.

T-cell redirecting therapy (TCRT), specifically chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR T-cells) and bispecific T-cell engagers (TCEs) represent a remarkable advance in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). There are several products available around the world and several more in development targeting primarily B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and G protein-coupled receptor class C group 5 member D (GRPC5D). The relatively rapid availability of multiple immunotherapies brings the necessity to understand how a certain agent may affect the safety and efficacy of a subsequent immunotherapy so MM physicians and patients can aim at optimal sequential use of these therapies.

Patients with neurological or psychiatric complications of COVID-19 have worse long-term functional outcomes: COVID-CNS-A multicentre case-control study.

It is established that patients hospitalised with COVID-19 often have ongoing morbidity affecting activity of daily living (ADL), employment, and mental health. However, little is known about the relative outcomes in patients with COVID-19 neurological or psychiatric complications. We conducted a UK multicentre case-control study of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 (controls) and those who developed COVID-19 associated acute neurological or psychiatric complications (cases).