Impact of load and movement on arteriovenous fistula flow.

Introduction: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred vascular access for hemodialysis. Whether acute arm movement impacts arteriovenous fistula (AVF) blood flow is unknown.

Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis, we evaluated AVF blood flow using an ultrasound device at resting and after three muscle movements for proximal (elbow flexion, shoulder adduction and abduction) or distal AVF (fist extension and flexion, fingers squeeze), without and with a 2 kg load.

Sex-dependent modulation of caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in C57BL/6J mice.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a life-threatening condition, with a higher mortality rate in men than women and in which estrogens might play a protective role. This study aimed to investigate sex-dependent differences in a mouse model of caerulein-induced AP. Thirty-six C57BL/6J mice (19 females and 17 males) were treated intraperitoneally with phosphate-buffered saline or caerulein, and sacrificed 12 hours, 2 days, or 7 days after the last injection.

Educational Disparities in Age-related Hearing Loss and Hearing Aid Use across Age, Gender, and European Region.

Objectives: Affecting one in five adults in Europe, hearing loss (HL) is linked to adverse health outcomes, including dementia. We aim to investigate educational inequalities in hearing health in Europe and how these inequalities change with age, gender, and region.

Methods: Utilizing 2004-2020 data from the Harmonised Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), a representative sample of Europeans aged 50 and above, we analyse: 1) age-standardized prevalence of HL and hearing aid (HA) use among eligible individuals; 2) educational inequalities therein using the Relative Index of Inequality (RII) across age, gender, and European regions.

In Vitro and In Vivo Anticancer Activities of Water-Soluble Ru(II)(η6--cymene) Complexes via Activating Apoptosis Central Regulators and Possibilities of New Antitumor Strategies in Triple Negative Breast Cancers.

In this study, we synthesized 12 monofunctional tridentate ONS-donor salicylaldimine ligand ()-based Ru(II) complexes with general formula [(Ru()(-cymene)]·Cl (-), characterized by H NMR, C NMR, UV, FT-IR spectroscopy, HR-ESI mass spectrometry, and single-crystal X-ray analysis showing ligand's orientation around the Ru(II) center. All 12 of these 12 complexes were tested for their anticancer activities in multiple cancer cells. The superior antitumor efficacy of , , and was demonstrated by reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, impaired proliferative capacity, and disrupted redox homeostasis, along with enhanced apoptosis through caspase-3 activation and downregulation of Bcl-2 expression.

A rare case of culture-negative infective endocarditis following cataract surgery.

A 70-year-old man developed intermittent fever with chills, severe anorexia, generalized weakness, and mild exertional difficulty in breathing following posterior chamber intraocular lens replacement surgery for a mature white cataract in the left eye. Laboratory tests revealed persistent negative blood cultures, normocytic and normochromic anemia, neutrophilia, and elevated inflammatory markers despite multiple courses of antibiotics. All other investigations conducted to identify the cause of prolonged fever, including transthoracic echocardiography, were negative.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm: a Swiss case series of a very rare disease and a structured review of the literature.

Introduction: Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a very rare disease, with unique diagnostic challenges and often dismal outcome. There are no widely accepted treatment guidelines available. Lymphoma-like regimens with or without autologous or allogenic transplantation were the cornerstone of most therapeutic concepts.

Proposal for a revised Barthel index classification based on mortality risk assessment in functional dependence for basic activities of daily living.

Introduction: Functional dependence on the performance of basic activities of daily living (ADLs) is associated with increased mortality. In this study, the Barthel index and its activities discriminate long-term mortality risk, and whether changes in this index are necessary to adapt it to detect mortality risk is examined.

Methods: Longitudinal study, carried out at the Orcasitas Health Center, Madrid (Spain), on the functional dependent population (Barthel ≤ 60).

Knowledge and Awareness of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Men in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review Protocol.

Introduction: About 39.9 million people were living with HIV as of 2023, and HIV is more prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective in HIV prevention.

An Innovative Use of Maxillofacial Implants for the Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of a Displaced Sternal Fracture: A Case Report.

Sternal fractures resulting from blunt chest trauma often present unique surgical challenges. While conservative management is common, cases with significant displacement, delayed union, or painful dyspnea may require surgical intervention to improve structural stability and relieve symptoms. Here, we report the case of a 46-year-old man who sustained a displaced sternal fracture in a motor vehicle accident.

JAK2 V617F Mutation Leading to Portal Vein Thrombosis in a Young Patient: A Case Report.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorders commonly characterized by excessive production of blood cell lineages. The JAK2 V617F mutation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of these conditions, often leading to thrombotic complications. Here, we present the case of a 21-year-old man who presented with acute abdominal pain and was found to have portal vein thrombosis with splenomegaly.

Subclavian Artery Aneurysm Rupture: A Case Report.

Subclavian artery aneurysm is an extremely rare condition with potentially life-threatening complications, including rupture and embolization. This condition is generally the result of atherosclerosis, medial degeneration, trauma, or infection. We report the case of an 83-year-old man who developed hemoptysis due to the rupture of a saccular aneurysm at the origin of the left subclavian artery.

Seasonal Variations in Testicular Torsion: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Testicular torsion (TT) is a urological emergency requiring prompt intervention to prevent irreversible damage to the testicle.

Objective: This study aims to assess trends in men's TT referrals, diagnostic evaluation through Doppler sonography (DS) scan, symptoms before surgery, orchidectomy rates, and TT laterality in relation to age and seasons of the year.

Methods: This observational retrospective cohort study included all patients treated for TT at King Abdullah University Hospital between 2009 and 2021.

Otitis Media and Its Intracranial Complications: A Delicate Scenario.

Intracranial complications of otitis media are rare but pose a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. We report a case of a 27-year-old man with cognitive impairment who presented with fever, right-sided otalgia, otorrhea, and vomiting for three days. His neurological examination was unremarkable, and a brain computed tomography (CT) revealed right-sided otomastoiditis without intraparenchymal lesions.

Intussusception of Meckel's Diverticulum: A Case Report.

Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is a common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract, present in approximately 2% of the population. While typically asymptomatic, MD can lead to complications such as obstruction and intussusception. Here, we present a case report of a man presenting with abdominal pain with an incidental finding of MD complicated by intussusception and our management approach.

Comparison of dark-field chest radiography and CT for the assessment of COVID-19 pneumonia.

Background: Dark-field chest radiography allows the assessment of the structural integrity of the alveoli by exploiting the wave properties of x-rays.

Purpose: To compare the qualitative and quantitative features of dark-field chest radiography in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia with conventional CT imaging.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective study conducted from May 2020 to December 2020, patients aged at least 18 years who underwent chest CT for clinically suspected COVID-19 infection were screened for participation.

Urethrocutaneous fistula and subcutaneous abscess in the inguinal region with bacteremia caused by in a Japanese patient: A case report.

is an anaerobic, gram-negative bacillus commonly associated with acute appendicitis. However, bacteremia is exceedingly rare. Herein, we report a case of bacteremia associated with a urethrocutaneous fistula and a subcutaneous abscess in the left inguinal region.

Mild liver injury following withdrawal of long-term prednisone therapy: A case report.

Background: Liver injury manifesting as hepatic enzyme abnormalities, has been occasionally identified to be a feature of primary or secondary Addison's disease, an uncommon endocrine disease characterized by adrenal insufficiency. There have been no more than 30 reported cases of liver injury explicitly attributed to Addison's disease. Liver injury resulting from adrenal insufficiency due to glucocorticoid withdrawal is exceptionally rarer.

Advanced anaplastic thyroid carcinoma with positive expression of PD-L1 response to immune checkpoint inhibitors: A case report.

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is one rare type of thyroid carcinoma without standard systemic treatment for advanced disease. Recent evidence has demonstrated promising efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors, particularly those targeting programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), in a variety of solid tumors. However, there have been no research of immune checkpoint inhibitors plus chemotherapy in ATC.

Heart Failure in Atrial Fibrillation Subtypes in Women and Men in the Tromsø Study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) often coexist and impact morbidity and mortality. There is limited knowledge on the association of AF subtypes with HF according to sex.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore sex-specific associations between AF subtypes and subsequent HF, identifying HF risk factors in participants with AF, and exploring the combined impact on mortality.

Clinical validation of a biopsy-based six-gene signature prognostic for aggressive prostate cancer.

Objectives: This study aimed to clinically validate the six-gene prognostic molecular clinical risk score (MCRS) for the prediction of aggressive prostate cancer in diagnostic biopsy tissue.

Methods: MCRS was evaluated in prostate biopsy tissue from a Swedish cohort of men with prostate cancer (UPCA,  = 100). The primary outcome of adverse pathology and secondary outcomes of high primary Gleason (≥G4) and high pathological T-stage (≥T3) were assessed by likelihood ratio statistics and area under the receiver operating characteristic curves from logistic regression models; time to biochemical recurrence was assessed by likelihood ratio statistics and C-indexes from Cox proportional hazard regression models.

Focal therapy of prostate cancer: Use of artificial intelligence to define tumour volume and predict treatment outcomes.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate new software (Unfold AI) in the estimation of prostate tumour volume (TV) and prediction of focal therapy outcomes.

Subjects/patients And Methods: Subjects were 204 men with prostate cancer (PCa) of grade groups 2-4 (GG ≥ 2), who were enrolled in a trial of partial gland cryoablation (PGA) at UCLA from 2017 to 2022. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided biopsy (MRGB) was performed at diagnosis and at 6 and 18 months following PGA.

Sociodemographic and Economic Correlates of Dialysis Vintage in a Resource Challenged Setting: A Four-Year Prospective Study in Southwest Nigeria.

Background: Dialysis vintage is largely dependent on the effectiveness of the delivered dose coupled with the extent of patient compliance with the prescribed treatment regimen. This study assessed the determinants and correlates of dialysis vintage. : This was a 4-year prospective, observational study.

Predictive Value of Prostate-Specific Antigen Density on Tumour Grade in Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Prostate cancer is the most common urologic malignancy in men, it is witnessing a huge burden in developing countries. Prostate-specific antigen has served as a tool in diagnosis and prognostication. To improve its sensitivity, Prostate-specific antigen density is being used to discriminate between benign and malignant conditions to avoid the incidence of unnecessary biopsy.

The Hypertriglyceridemic Waist Phenotype is Associated with an Adverse Cardiometabolic Profile in this Cohort of Nigerians.

Background: The hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTGW) phenotype was introduced as a means of identifying individuals at risk of developing metabolic syndrome as well as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. However, studies surrounding the prevalence of the phenotype and its relationship with established markers of cardiometabolic risk, especially in the Nigerian population, remain sparse. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of the HTGW phenotype and explore its relationship with cardiovascular risk markers, namely Castelli Risk Indices I and II (CRI-I and CRI-II), Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) and serum triglyceride-HDL cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL).