Identifying cognitive test scores associated with early tau burden in Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: This study aimed to identify cognitive tests that optimally relate to tau positron emission tomography (PET) signal in the inferior temporal cortex (ITC), a neocortical region associated with early tau accumulation in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the harvard aging brain study (HABS) (= 128) and the Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer's (A4) study (= 393). We used elastic net regression to identify the most robust cognitive correlates of tau PET signal in the ITC.

Characterization of liver, adipose, and fecal microbiome in obese patients with MASLD: links with disease severity and metabolic dysfunction parameters.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) encompasses a range of histological findings from the generally benign simple steatosis to steatohepatitis (MASH) which can progress to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Several factors, including the microbiome, may contribute to disease progression.

Results: Here, we demonstrate links between the presence and abundance of specific bacteria in the adipose and liver tissues, inflammatory genes, immune cell responses, and disease severity.

Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair in severe mitral regurgitation following acute myocardial infarction - aetiology-based analysis.

Aims: To evaluate the association between transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) and outcomes in patients with significant mitral regurgitation (MR) following acute myocardial infarction (MI), focusing on the aetiology of acute post-MI MR in high-risk surgical patients.

Methods And Results: The International Registry of MitraClip in Acute Mitral Regurgitation following Acute Myocardial Infarction (IREMMI) includes 187 patients with severe MR post-MI managed with TEER. Of these, 176 were included in the analysis, 23 (13%) patients had acute papillary muscle rupture (PMR) and 153 (87%) acute secondary MR.

Delivery of N-Cadherin Targeting Peptides to Vascular Tissues by Surface-Modified Polyurethane Nanoparticles via a Drug-Coated Balloon.

Restenosis remains a long-standing limitation to effectively maintain functional blood flow after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). While the use of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) containing antiproliferative drugs has improved patient outcomes, limited tissue transfer and poor therapeutic targeting capabilities contribute to off-target cytotoxicity, precluding adequate endothelial repair. In this work, a DCB system was designed and tested to achieve defined arterial delivery of an antirestenosis therapeutic candidate, cadherin-2 (N-cadherin) mimetic peptides (NCad), shown to selectively inhibit smooth muscle cell migration and limit intimal thickening in early animal PTA models.

Heterogeneous knowledge of childhood seizures and epilepsy care in Canadian healthcare Providers: Identifying the gaps.

Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological condition in children. Many barriers exist in early recognition which cause delay in care and impact quality of life. Some of these children require advanced treatments which are underutilized due to lack of education, awareness and referrals.

Syphilis Point of Care Rapid Test and Immediate Treatment Evaluation (SPRITE) study: a mixed-methods implementation science research protocol of eight public health units in Ontario, Canada.

Introduction: Urgent, tailored and equitable action is needed to address the alarming rise in syphilis rates in Canada. In the last decade, the rates of infectious syphilis have increased by 345% in Ontario, Canada. Underserved populations-people who use drugs, un(der)housed individuals and those living in rural and remote areas-face unique social and healthcare challenges that increase their vulnerability to syphilis infections and hinder their access to timely diagnosis and treatment.

Development and Implementation of a Structured and Innovative Faculty-Wide Mentorship Program for a Large Department of Psychiatry.

Objectives: Mentorship supports faculty to succeed in their careers with confidence, resilience, and satisfaction. To address inequities evident with an informal approach, a formal mentorship program was designed and implemented.

Methods: The Quality Implementation Framework (QIF) was applied.

Validity of the Diabetic Wound Assessment Learning Tool.

Purpose: The development of the Diabetic Wound Assessment Learning Tool (DiWALT) has previously been described. However, an examination of its application to a larger, more heterogeneous group of participants is lacking. In order to allow for a more robust assessment of the psychometric properties of the DiWALT, we applied it to a broader group of participants.

Rejuvenating the immune system.

Rejuvenation of elementary immune system components has emerged as a promising strategy to deal with increased susceptibility to infections, cancers, autoimmune disorders, and low efficacy to vaccines, frequently accompanying aging. In this context, the thymus has gained significant attention. A recent study by Santamaria et al.

Risk of stroke with reduced dose direct oral anticoagulants vs standard dose anticoagulation after cardioversion of atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There is consensus on the safety of standard dose direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for stroke prevention in patients undergoing cardioversion of atrial fibrillation (AF), but outcomes of reduced dose DOACs in this setting remain unclear.

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the rate of cardioversion-associated thromboembolic events between patients taking reduced dose DOACs and those receiving standard dose anticoagulation.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted for studies published between January 1, 2009, and February 16, 2024 in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials.

Insights into Radiology Publications.

The evolution of modern medicine has been significantly driven by medical and health care research, underscoring the importance of disseminating findings to advance health care. Medical literature, encompassing various publication types such as case reports, review articles, and original research, plays a crucial role in this process by facilitating the communication and discussion of new discoveries. This review article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and navigating radiologic publications.

Genomic characterization of Huntington's disease genetic modifiers informs drug target tractability.

Huntington's disease is caused by a CAG repeat in the gene. Repeat length correlates inversely with the age of onset but only explains part of the observed clinical variability. Genome-wide association studies highlight DNA repair genes in modifying disease onset, but further research is required to identify causal genes and evaluate their tractability as drug targets.

Impact of obesity on outcome in children diagnosed with cancer in Canada: A report from Cancer in Young People in Canada.

Background: Childhood obesity can result in adverse health outcomes. The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence of obesity and determine the association between obesity at cancer diagnosis and event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) in children diagnosed with cancer in Canada.

Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Cancer in Young People in Canada database, including all children with newly diagnosed cancer aged 2-18 years across Canada from 2001 to 2020.

Serratia Infections in Burn Care.

Serratia marcescens is an opportunistic nosocomial pathogen with significant implications for burn care due to its multidrug resistance, virulence, and ability to colonize hospital environments. This retrospective study, conducted at an American Burn Association Verified Burn Centre, reviewed 22 cases of S. marcescens infections from 2015 to 2020.

Overview of Molecular Prognostication for Common Solid Tumor Histologies - What the Surgeon Should Know.

Study Design: Narrative Literature review.

Objective: To provide a general overview of important molecular markers and targeted therapies for the most common neoplasms (lung, breast, prostate and melanoma) that metastasize to the spine and offer guidance on how to best incorporate them in the clinical setting.

Methods: A narrative review of the literature was performed using PubMed, Google Scholar, Medline databases, as well as the histology-specific National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines to identify relevant articles limited to the English language.

Risk Factors for the Development of Neurological Deficits in Metastatic Spinal Disease: An International, Multicenter Delphi Study.

Study Design: Delphi study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify risk factors associated with the development and/or progression of neurological deficits in patients with metastatic spinal disease.

Methods: A three-round Delphi study was conducted between January-May 2023 including AO Spine members, comprising mainly neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons.

A Critical Appraisal of the Application of Frailty and Sarcopenia in the Spinal Oncology Population.

Study Design: Systematic review and clinimetric analysis.

Objectives: Frailty and sarcopenia predict worse surgical outcomes among spinal degenerative and deformity-related populations; this association is less clear in the context of spinal oncology. Here, we sought to identify frailty and sarcopenia tools applied in spinal oncology and appraise their clinimetric properties.

Advanced Radiotherapy Technologies in Spine Tumors: What the Surgeon Needs to Know.

Study Design: Narrative review of existing literature.

Objectives: Significant technological advancements in radiotherapy planning and delivery have enabled new radiotherapy techniques for the management of spine tumors. The objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive summary of these treatment techniques for practicing spine surgeons.