Epidemiology of Post-craniotomy Hypertension and Its Association With Adverse Outcome(s): A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

After intracranial surgery, sympathetic overdrive and increased blood catecholamine levels can contribute to postoperative hypertension, a significant clinical problem. The objective of this review was to summarize, quantify, and assess the epidemiological perspective of post-craniotomy hypertension and its association with adverse outcomes. This PROSPERO-registered systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines.

Metal-rich lacustrine sediments from legacy mining perpetuate copper exposure to aquatic-riparian food webs.

Historic copper mining left a legacy of metal-rich tailings resulting in ecological impacts along and within Torch Lake, an area of concern in the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan, USA. Given the toxicity of copper to invertebrates, this study assessed the influence of this legacy on present day nearshore aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. We measured the metal (Co, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd) and metalloid (As) concentrations in sediment, pore water, surface water, larval and adult insects, and two riparian spider taxa collected from Torch Lake and a nearby reference lake.

Effect of exogenous β-hydroxybutyrate on BDNF signalling, cognition, and amyloid precursor protein processing in humans with T2D and insulin resistant rodents.

People with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have a greater risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's disease, in later life. Exogenous ketone supplements containing the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) may be a strategy to protect the brain as β-OHB can support cerebral metabolism and promote neuronal plasticity via expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Parallel human (ClinicalTrials.

In Situ Focused Ion Beam Redeposition Surface Coatings for Site-Specific, Near-Surface Characterization by Atom Probe Tomography.

Atom probe tomography (APT) enables three-dimensional chemical mapping with near-atomic scale resolution. However, this method requires precise sample preparation, which is typically achieved using a focused ion beam (FIB) microscope. As the ion beam induces some degree of damage to the sample, it is necessary to apply a protective layer over the region of interest (ROI).

Improvement in serum eosinophilia is observed in clinical responders to ustekinumab but not adalimumab in inflammatory bowel disease.

Introduction: In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the number of eosinophils increases in the lamina propria of the intestinal tract, but their specific patho-mechanistic role remains unclear. Elevated blood eosinophil counts in active IBD suggest their potential as biomarkers for predicting response to biological therapies. This study evaluates blood eosinophil count trends and their predictive value for clinical response and endoscopic improvement in patients with IBD receiving ustekinumab or adalimumab induction therapy.

Antiviral Medications for Treatment of Nonsevere Influenza: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Importance: The optimal antiviral drug for treatment of nonsevere influenza remains unclear.

Objective: To compare effects of antiviral drugs for treating nonsevere influenza.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, CINAHL, Global Health, Epistemonikos, and ClinicalTrials.

Investigation of the Mesencephalic Astrocyte Derived Neurotrophic Factor-Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Pathway in Mood Disorders.

Background: Bipolar disorder (BD) has been associated with impaired cellular resilience. Recent studies have shown abnormalities in the unfolded protein response (UPR) in BD. The UPR is the cellular response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress.

Allergic Reactivity and Memory Occur Independently of Sequential Switching Through IgG1.

Allergic reactions to foods are primarily driven by allergen-binding immunoglobulin (Ig)E antibodies. IgE-expressing cells can be generated through direct switching from IgM to IgE or a sequential class switching pathway where activated B cells first switch to an intermediary isotype, most frequently IgG1, and then to IgE. It has been proposed that sequential class switch recombination is involved in augmenting the severity of allergic reactions, generating high affinity IgE, differentiation of IgE plasma cells, and in holding the memory of IgE responses.

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.

Metaverse technologies in acute care medical education: A scoping review.

Background: The concept of the metaverse is a virtual world that immerses users, allowing them to interact with the digital environment. Due to metaverse's utility in collaborative and immersive simulation, it can be advantageous for medical education in high-stakes care settings such as emergency, critical, and acute care. Consequently, there has been a growth in educational metaverse use, which has yet to be characterized alongside other simulation modalities literature.

Opioid toxicity deaths in Indigenous people who experienced incarceration in Ontario, Canada 2015-2020: a whole population retrospective cohort study.

Background: While Indigenous people are overrepresented in Canada's prisons and in the toxic drug supply crisis, we lack data on the harms related to opioids for Indigenous people with experiences of incarceration. We aimed to examine opioid toxicity deaths in Indigenous peoples who experienced incarceration and to compare opioid toxicity mortality rates with rates for people with no incarceration.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study linked correctional data for all people who were incarcerated in provincial correctional facilities and coronial data for all people who died from opioid toxicity in Ontario, Canada between 2015 and 2020.

Cardiovascular Risk in Prostate Cancer: State-of-the-Art Review.

Cardiovascular disease is common in patients with prostate cancer and is a significant cause of death. Cardiovascular risk factors are frequent in this population and are often not addressed to thresholds recommended by cardiovascular practice guidelines. Androgen deprivation therapy reduces muscle strength and increases adiposity, increasing the risk for diabetes and hypertension, although its relationship with adverse cardiovascular events requires confirmation.

Cardiovascular Considerations During Cancer Therapy: Gaps in Evidence and Expert Panel Recommendations.

The administration of certain cancer therapies can be associated with the development of cardiovascular toxicity or complications. This spectrum of toxicities is broad and requires nuanced approaches for prevention, identification, and management. This expert panel summarizes the consensus of opinions of diverse health care professionals in several key areas: 1) cardioprotection involves strategies aimed at the primary prevention of cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity; 2) surveillance entails monitoring for cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity during cancer therapy; 3) permissive cardiotoxicity is the informed continuation of cancer therapy in the presence of cardiovascular toxicity, along with the implementation of mitigating cardiovascular treatments; and 4) special considerations include the invasive management of severe cardiovascular disease in patients receiving treatments for advanced cancer and the exploration of drug-drug interactions in cardio-oncology.

Evaluating Intervention Reporting in Nursing Journal RCTs Using the TIDieR Checklist: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aim: To assess the completeness of intervention reporting in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published in nursing journals based on the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: RCTs published in English in nursing journals between January 2022 and December 2022 were identified through PubMed.

Defining Spine Cancer Pain Syndromes: A Systematic Review and Proposed Terminology.

Study Design: Systematic Review.

Objectives: Formalized terminology for pain experienced by spine cancer patients is lacking. The common descriptors of spine cancer pain as mechanical or non-mechanical is not exhaustive.

What is the Optimal Management of Metastatic Spine Patients With Intermediate Spinal Instability Neoplastic Scores: To Operate or Not to Operate?

Study Design: Systematic review.

Objective: In patients with extradural metastatic spine disease, we sought to systematically review the outcomes and complications of patients with intermediate Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS) lesions undergoing radiation therapy, percutaneous interventions, minimally invasive surgeries, or open spinal surgeries.

Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials were queried for studies that reported on SINS intermediate patients who underwent: 1) radiotherapy, 2) percutaneous intervention, 3) minimally invasive, or 4) open surgery.

Impact of age-related changes in buccal epithelial cells on pediatric epigenetic biomarker research.

Cheek swabs, heterogeneous samples consisting primarily of buccal epithelial cells, are widely used in pediatric DNA methylation studies and biomarker creation. However, the decrease in buccal proportion with age in adults remains unexamined in childhood. We analyzed cheek swabs from 4626 typically developing children 2-months to 20-years-old.

Understanding and measuring workplace violence in healthcare: a Canadian systematic framework to address a global healthcare phenomenon.

Background: Globally, healthcare institutions have seen a marked rise in workplace violence (WPV), especially since the Covid-19 pandemic began, affecting primarily acute care and emergency departments (EDs). At the University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto, Canada, WPV incidents in EDs jumped 169% from 0.43 to 1.

Patient and Healthcare Provider Perspectives on Showering for Patients With Hemodialysis Central Venous Catheters: A Survey Study.

Rationale & Objective: Patients on hemodialysis using a central venous catheter (CVC) are often advised not to shower due to infection risk. This study aimed to assess practices and attitudes of patients and healthcare providers about showering with CVCs.

Study Design: Survey study.