The potential role of synthetic computed tomography in spinal surgery: generation, applications, and implications for future clinical practice.

Computed tomography (CT) is widely used for the diagnosis and surgical treatment of spinal pathologies, particularly for pedicle screw placement. However, CT's limitations, notably radiation exposure, necessitate the development of alternative imaging techniques. Synthetic CT (sCT), which generates CT-like images from existing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, offers a promising alternative to reduce radiation exposure.

Informing Implementation of a National Integrated Clinical Pathway for Low Back Pain in Ireland: A Pre-Implementation Qualitative Study With General Practitioners.

Introduction: Ireland's Health Service Executive is developing a new national integrated low back pain (LBP) pathway spanning primary and secondary care to improve LBP healthcare. Clinical pathways are frequently employed to optimise clinical outcomes and resource use but are challenging to implement. Context-specific implementation planning, leveraging implementation science and its conceptual frameworks, should inform successful implementation.

Risk-factor modification to prevent recurrent atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation.

More and more patients with atrial fibrillation are undergoing catheter ablation as a rhythm-control strategy, but the recurrence rate after the procedure is high. A wide array of risk factors contribute to the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity. This review summarizes the emerging evidence for periablation risk-factor modification to optimize postablation outcomes.

Robotic transthoracic approach to ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma: A case report.

Introduction: Ectopic parathyroid adenomas represent an important cause of refractory hyperparathyroidism. While most ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenomas can be accessed through a transcervical approach, this is not always feasible, posing a significant challenge.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a 60-year-old female patient who presented with symptomatic hyperparathyroidism.

Effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes targeting quality of life, psychological wellbeing, and functional capacity in pulmonary embolism survivors; a systematic review and best evidence synthesis.

Background: Half of people post pulmonary embolism (PE) experience ongoing symptoms such as dyspnoea, anxiety and depression, exercise limitation and fatigue. These symptoms can reduce their quality of life (QoL), psychological wellbeing, and functional capacity. The efficacy of rehabilitation interventions to prevent and manage these symptoms has not been established.

The effectiveness of digital tools to maintain physical activity among people with a long-term condition(s): A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Given the well-accepted health benefits, it is important to identify scalable ways to support people with long-term conditions (LTCs) to remain physically active. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effect of digital tools on the maintenance of physical activity (PA) amongst this population.

Methods: Electronic databases were searched for randomised controlled trials investigating the effect of digital tools on PA maintenance at least three months post-intervention compared with a non-digital control in participants with long-term conditions.

Assessing the Quality, Readability, and Acceptability of AI-Generated Information in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery.

Introduction: Within plastic surgery, a patient's most commonly used first point of information before consulting a surgeon is the internet. Free-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) websites like ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformers) are attractive applications for patient information due to their ability to instantaneously answer almost any query. Although relatively new, ChatGPT is now one of the most popular artificial intelligence conversational software tools.

Covered Stent Correction for Sinus Venosus Atrial Septal Defects, an Emerging Alternative to Surgical Repair: Results of an International Registry.

Background: Covered stent correction for a sinus venosus atrial septal defect (SVASD) was first performed in 2009. This innovative approach was initially viewed as experimental and was reserved for highly selected patients with unusual anatomic variants. In 2016, increasing numbers of procedures began to be performed, and in several centers, it is now offered as a standard of care option alongside surgical repair.

Clinical and Biomarker Determinants for Recurrent Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Objectives: Despite effective secondary prevention, including oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy, the risk of recurrent stroke (RS) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) remains substantial with an annualized risk of 3.2%-6.5% per year.

Surveillance of low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasms for progression to pseudomyxoma peritonei: Results from a structured surveillance programme.

Aim: Low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (LAMN) of the appendix is a rare tumour that can progress to pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). There is a lack of standardization of surveillance following resection of LAMN as the progression rate to PMP is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of progression following resection of LAMN to PMP in a structured surveillance programme.

A Case Report of Extra-pericardial Tamponade From a Low-Level Fall.

A 61-year-old man in critical condition was admitted to the resuscitation room in the emergency department, presenting with chest pain and shortness of breath. His medical history included recent treatment with oral antibiotics for pneumonia, long-standing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a 40-pack-year smoking history, and a left popliteal artery embolus. He was also on chronic medications, including apixaban and aspirin.

A 4-year outbreak of MRSA ST72-MRSA-IV type t1597 in a surgical high dependency unit in Ireland linked to repeated healthcare worker recolonisation.

Background: Patients undergoing cardiac surgery are identified as high risk for infection, including MRSA. An outbreak of MRSA was identified when two patients experienced MRSA infection concurrently in a cardiothoracic high dependency unit with uncommon detection of MRSA previously and an established screening programme.

Methods: An outbreak control team was convened and interventions applied including refresher training in hand and environmental hygiene, review of practice with regard to aseptic access of medical devices and consideration of antibiotic use in the unit.

Reactions of clinical neuropsychologists to the Alzheimer's Association workgroup's draft diagnostic and staging criteria for Alzheimer's disease.

Background: An Alzheimer's Association (AA) workgroup published criteria for the diagnosis and staging of Alzheimer's disease (AD). To date, there have not been empirical investigations of professionals' opinions regarding the AA criteria for AD.

Objective: Our goal was to survey clinical neuropsychologists with expertise in dementia about these criteria.

Successful Direct Current Cardioversion (DCCV) in Pregnancy in a Non-Obstetric Emergency Department.

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is uncommon in pregnancy but associated with significant mortality. Although controlled studies evaluating therapeutic management of AF in pregnancy are lacking, current guidelines suggest that direct current cardioversion (DCCV) is safe in cases of maternal arrhythmia with hemodynamic compromise. In this report, we discuss a female patient of 22 weeks gestation who presented to the non-obstetric Emergency Department (ED) with acute onset, symptomatic AF.

Unraveling the mysteries of parsonage turner syndrome: A journey towards optimal management. A systematic review.

Aims: Parsonage Turner Syndrome (PTS) is a peripheral neuropathy manifesting as sudden onset pain, muscle weakness, and atrophy. This review aims to analyse long-term outcomes reported in adult patients with PTS, and establish an optimised management approach.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed using MEDLINE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library.

Emergency clinician perceptions of end-of-life care in Irish emergency departments: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Patients with end-of-life care (EoLC) needs present to the emergency departments (ED) frequently and at times, it can be difficult to provide a high standard of care. Within the Irish setting, there is limited literature on the provision of EoLC in EDs and this study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the perceptions of emergency medicine (EM) clinicians regarding the provision of EoLC in EDs in Ireland.

Methods: The End-of-Life Care in Emergency Department Study was a cross-sectional electronic survey study of EM doctors working across 23 of the 29 EDs in the Ireland.

HIV, the gut microbiome and clinical outcomes, a systematic review.

Background: Effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved the life expectancy of people with HIV (PWH). However, this population is now experiencing accelerated age-related comorbidities, contributed to by chronic immune activation and inflammation, with dysbiosis of the gut microbiome also implicated.

Method: We conducted a systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane reviews and international conference abstracts for articles that examined for the following non-communicable diseases (NCDs); cardiovascular disease, cancer, frailty, metabolic, bone, renal and neurocognitive disease, in PWH aged >18 years.

Textbook Outcomes and Quality of Life Assessment Following Liver Resection for Colorectal Metastasis.

Background: It is unknown if textbook outcomes (TBOs) correlate with patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) parameters in patients undergoing hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastasises. Understanding this relationship is required to inform treatment decisions and optimise patient care. This single-centre analysis aims to assess this correlation and provide insight into the impact of liver resection on patient well-being in this population.