Amblyopic binocular imbalance quantified by the dichoptic contrast ordering test and dichoptic letters test.

In amblyopia, abnormal binocular interactions lead to an overwhelming dominance of one eye. One mechanism implied in this imbalance is the suppression between the inputs from the two eyes. This interocular suppression involves two components: an overlay suppression and a surround suppression.

Systematic Review of Ex Vivo and In Vivo Pharmacokinetic Studies of Drugs Commonly Used During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a lifesaving treatment for critically ill patients in cardiac or respiratory failure refractory to conventional treatment. Patients on an ECMO circuit (pump, oxygenator, tubing) require numerous medications including sedatives, analgesics, cardioactive medications, and anticonvulsants. Currently, there are few dosing guidelines to optimize pharmacotherapy in this situation.

Effect of depressive symptoms on health services utilization in the HIV and hepatitis C co-infected population in Canada.

Depression is common among people living with HCV and HIV, which contributes to health services utilization (HSU). It is unknown whether successful HCV treatment affects this. We examined depressive symptoms and HSU in people co-infected with HIV-HCV and their association with sustained virologic response (SVR) during the direct-acting antiviral era.

Identification of a Founder GLDN Variant Associated With "Lethal" Arthrogryposis in Nunavik Inuit: Implications for Obstetrical and Long-Term Survivors' Management.

Biallelic variants in GLDN have recently been associated with lethal congenital contracture syndrome 11 (LCCS11), a form of fetal akinesia deformation sequence (FADS) with high neonatal mortality. In this report, we describe five individuals from two Canadian Inuit families originating from different communities in Nunavik all affected with FADS and harboring a rare homozygous missense variant, [NM_181789.4:c.

Enhanced recovery after surgery in Pakistan: a qualitative descriptive analysis of current practices and future directions.

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) is a cost-effective perioperative approach that has been shown to shorten patients' hospital length of stay, improve resource utilization, and reduce postoperative costs for both patients and hospitals. While ERAS has the potential to offer even greater benefits in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) its successful long-term implementation remains incomplete in Pakistan. This study aimed to explore insights and identify opportunities for implementing ERAS within the local socio-environmental context.

Optimized computer-assisted technique for increasing adenoma detection during colonoscopy: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Efforts to improve colonoscopy have recently focused on improving adenoma detection through individual interventions. We evaluated an optimized computer-assisted technique (CADopt) versus standard colonoscopy.

Methods: A prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted enrolling adults (45-80 years) undergoing elective colonoscopy.

A Positive Parathyroid Washout May Obviate the Need for Nuclear Scintigraphy in Parathyroid Adenoma Localization: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP) in patients with a parathyroid adenoma (PA) requires imaging modalities for precise localization. Parathyroid hormone assay on ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration washout, or PTH washout, can be used for this purpose. It is unclear whether PTH washout complements traditional PA localization techniques such as a sestamibi (MIBI) scan or diminishes its need.

Comparing machine learning techniques for neonatal mortality prediction: insights from a modeling competition.

Background: Predicting mortality risk in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) is challenging due to complex, variable clinical and physiological data. Machine learning (ML) offers potential for more accurate risk stratification.

Objective: To compare the performance of various ML models in predicting NICU mortality using a team-based modeling competition.

ABHD6 loss-of-function in mesoaccumbens postsynaptic but not presynaptic neurons prevents diet-induced obesity in male mice.

α/β-hydrolase domain 6 (ABHD6) is a lipase linked to physiological functions affecting energy metabolism. Brain ABHD6 degrades 2-arachidonoylglycerol and thereby modifies cannabinoid receptor signalling. However, its functional role within mesoaccumbens circuitry critical for motivated behaviour and considerably modulated by endocannabinoids was unknown.

Acute kappa opioid receptor blocking disrupts the pro-cognitive effect of cannabidiol in neuropathic rats.

Cannabidiol has been shown to ameliorate neuropathic pain and its affective components. Previous studies highlighted the pharmacological interaction between the CBD and opioid system, particularly the MOR, but the understanding of the interaction between CBD and kappa opioid receptor (KOR), physiologically stimulated by the endogenous opioid dynorphin, remains elusive. We assessed the pharmacological interactions between CBD and nor-BNI, a selective KOR antagonist in a rat neuropathic pain model.

Effectiveness of Ustekinumab for patients with moderate to severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Multi-Center Real-World Canadian Study.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the real-world effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab for the treatment of both bio-naïve and bio-exposed ulcerative colitis (UC) patients in a real-world setting.

Methods: Retrospective, Canadian multicenter cohort study. Primary outcomes were clinical remission and endoscopic remission.

Tricuspid Valve S-Curves and Chamber Views: Implications for Transcatheter Tricuspid and Pulmonary Valve Interventions, Part 2 of the S-Curves and Chamber Views Series.

Despite the challenges associated with periprocedural imaging, transcatheter tricuspid valve interventions have shown important impact on outcomes. A comprehensive understanding of the anatomy of the right heart and surrounding structures is crucial. One way to optimize these interventions is by identifying the optimal fluoroscopic viewing angles along the S-curve of the tricuspid valve.

Low Back Pain During and After Spaceflight: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

Space flights can produce physiological changes in the spine, leading to the development of acute and chronic pain in passengers. However, there is a lack of comprehensive literature exploring physiological spine changes and acute and chronic pain in space passengers (astronauts and animals). The first aim of this study was to identify the physiological changes experienced by passengers (humans and animals) after space flight.

Urticaria.

Urticaria (hives) is a common disorder that may be associated with angioedema (swelling that occurs beneath the skin). It is generally classified as acute or chronic, and chronic urticaria is further classified as spontaneous or inducible Second-generation, non-sedating histamine type 1 (H1)-receptor antihistamines represent the mainstay of therapy for both acute and chronic urticaria. Second-line treatment for uncontrolled chronic urticaria includes omalizumab (a monoclonal anti-immunoglobulin E [IgE] antibody).

TransCatheter aortic valve implantation and fractional flow reserve-guided percutaneous coronary intervention versus conventional surgical aortic valve replacement and coronary bypass grafting for treatment of patients with aortic valve stenosis and complex or multivessel coronary disease (TCW): an international, multicentre, prospective, open-label, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial.

Background: Patients with severe aortic stenosis present frequently (∼50%) with concomitant obstructive coronary artery disease. Current guidelines recommend combined surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) as the preferred treatment. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) represent a valid treatment alternative.

Guiding drug provocation testing for ibuprofen hypersensitivity in a pediatric population: Development of the I3A risk-stratification tool.

Background: Ibuprofen is a main cause of drug hypersensitivity reactions in children. The gold standard for diagnosis is the drug provocation test (DPT).

Objective: We aimed to create a clinical risk-stratification tool to guide this high-risk procedure.

Clinical characteristics and outcome of central nervous system tumors harboring NTRK gene fusions.

Purpose: TRK fusions are detected in less than 2% of central nervous system tumors. There are limited data on the clinical course of affected patients.

Experimental Design: We conducted an international retrospective cohort study of patients with TRK fusion-driven CNS tumors.

Extracellular vesicles derived from creeping fat stem cells promote lymphatic function and restrain inflammation of Crohn's disease.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease in the intestinal tract. Mesenteric fat wrapping and thickening, or creeping fat (CrF), is a typical characteristic of CD and it involves lymphangiogenesis and altered lymphatic function. By releasing extracellular vesicles (EVs), adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) can regulate their adjacent cells.