CT material decomposition with contrast agents: Single or multiple spectral photon-counting CT scans? A simulation study.

Purpose: With the widespread introduction of dual energy computed tomography (DECT), applications utilizing the spectral information to perform material decomposition became available. Among these, a popular application is to decompose contrast-enhanced CT images into virtual non-contrast (VNC) or virtual non-iodine images and into iodine maps. In 2021, photon-counting CT (PCCT) was introduced, which is another spectral CT modality.

Use of psychedelic treatments in psychiatric clinical practice: an EPA policy paper.

Background: Recent years show an exponential increased interest ("renaissance") in the use of psychedelics for the treatment of mental disorders and broader. Some of these treatments, such as psilocybin for depression, are in the process of formal regulation by regulatory bodies in the US (FDA) and Europe (EMA), and as such on the brink of real-world implementation. In the slipstream of these developments increasing commercial initiatives are taking shape.

Country-specific key lifestyle factors and health outcomes for resource allocation in the general population: a network analysis across 29 countries.

Background: We aimed to identify the central lifestyle, the most impactful among lifestyle factor clusters; the central health outcome, the most impactful among health outcome clusters; and the bridge lifestyle, the most strongly connected to health outcome clusters, across 29 countries to optimise resource allocation for local holistic health improvements.

Methods: From July 2020 to August 2021, we surveyed 16 461 adults across 29 countries who self-reported changes in 18 lifestyle factors and 13 health outcomes due to the pandemic. Three networks were generated by network analysis for each country: lifestyle, health outcome, and bridge networks.

Prevalence and correlates of uncontrolled hypertension and cardiovascular morbidity among patients with hypertension at the largest tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka.

Introduction: Hypertension is the leading preventable cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality globally, with a disproportionate impact on low-income and middle-income countries like Sri Lanka. Effective blood pressure (BP) control improves outcomes in patients with hypertension. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension, and its correlates among Sri Lankan patients with hypertension in clinic settings.

Australian Naturopaths Approach to the Clinical Management of Patients Presenting with Sleep Disorders.

Naturopathic practitioners consult an estimated 6.2% of Australian adults, equating to 1,550,000 people receiving their care each year. Sleep is now recognized as a key pillar of health; however, nearly half of all Australian adults report inadequate sleep.

Unhelpful Information About Low Back and Neck Pain on Physiotherapist's Websites.

Background: The internet is increasingly used as a primary source of information for patients with musculoskeletal pain. Private physiotherapy practices provide informative content on low back pain (LBP) and neck pain (NP) on their websites, but the extent to which this information is biopsychosocial, guidelines-consistent, and fear-inducing is unknown. The aim of this study was to analyse the information on websites of private physiotherapy practices in the Netherlands about LBP and NP regarding consistency with the guidelines and the biopsychosocial model and to explore the use of fear-inducing language.

Beyond the Surface: Tracing the Evolution of Inflammatory Mechanism in Depression through Bibliometric Analysis.

Background: Depression is a common mental illness that has become a major economic burden worldwide. Recently, increasing evidence has highlighted the inflammatory mechanism of depression. In order to understand the research status of this field, this study used the bibliometric analysis method to overview the research content and progress, as well as analyze the development trend and limitations.

Prognostic value of biomarkers of ischaemia in patients with peripheral arterial disease following endovascular revascularisation.

Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic value of detectable high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) and ischaemia-modified albumin (IMA) in predicting all-cause death or non-fatal ischaemic events in patients with PAD after endovascular revascularisation of the lower limbs. Patients who underwent successful endovascular revascularisation for chronic limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI) or disabling intermittent claudication (IC) were prospectively included. Pre-procedural levels of hs-cTnI and IMA were measured, and patients were followed for one year for the occurrence of the composite outcome of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, new-onset angina, non-fatal ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack, or progression of PAD.

Development and Examination of an Educational Program Combining E-Learning and Face-to-Face Training That Nurtures Inflammatory Bowel Disease Nurse Specialists.

Introduction: The number of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Japan has continued to increase, leading to diverse and complex patient backgrounds. Despite these challenges, the education of IBD nurse specialists has not kept pace with the evolving circumstances. Therefore, our research aimed to develop and validate an educational program for the training of IBD nurse specialists.

Prediction accuracy of discrete choice experiments in health-related research: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Discrete choice experiments (DCEs) are increasingly used to inform the design of health products and services. It is essential to understand the extent to which DCEs provide reliable predictions outside of experimental settings in real-world decision-making situations. We aimed to compare the prediction accuracy of stated preferences with real-world choices, as modelled from DCE data.

Association Between Dietary Habit Changes and COVID-19 Prophylaxis During the Pandemic Among Japanese Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients.

Background: Following COVID-19, dietary habits have been altered frequently along with other societal lifestyle modifications. However, changes in the dietary habits of maintenance hemodialysis patients (MHPs) before and during COVID-19 have not been investigated.

Methods: A total of 132 MHPs were assessed for changes in their dietary habits before and during the pandemic and their association with COVID-19 prevention.

Relationship Between Maternal Serum Amyloid A Levels and Neonatal Outcomes in Preterm Births.

This study investigated the relationship between maternal serum amyloid A (SAA) levels, a biomarker of systemic inflammation, and specific neonatal outcomes in preterm birth (PTB). The study included 66 consecutive pregnant women hospitalized for spontaneous preterm delivery (ranging from 28 to 36 gestational weeks), at the Timisoara Municipal Hospital. The study measured mSAA levels to assess their potential as predictors of fetal outcomes (respiratory distress syndrome [RDS]), as well as their association with APGAR score, neonatal leukocyte count, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels as indicators of neonatal status and response.

Safety Study and Compositional Analysis of the Svarnvir-IV Tablet With Special Reference to Its Therapeutic Utility in SARS-CoV-2.

Aim Traditional Ayurvedic herbo-mineral medicines have proven their potential in managing COVID-19. Cell-based assays of the Svarnvir-IV tablet demonstrated the virucidal activity against SARS-CoV-2 and its therapeutic action, along with safety in cytotoxicity, has been proved. In the present study, in vivo, safety profile and compositional analysis of the Svarnvir-IV tablet were performed.

The status of sodium intake and excretion and the primary dietary sources of sodium in Iranian adults, a comprehensive pilot study.

Background: Coronary artery disease and hypertension are the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, primarily due to high sodium intake. Therefore, accurate assessment of the status of sodium intake and excretion is crucial. The present study aimed to assess the dietary sodium intake and excretion in Iranian population.

Trend of Representation of Women in Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endoscopy Conferences in Asia.

Objectives: Despite progress in promoting gender equality, gender bias remains a significant obstacle for women and hinders their academic advancement. We aim to survey and critically analyze women's representation in conferences and changes over time in various regions of Asian countries.

Methods: An international survey was conducted with representatives from East Asia (Hong Kong, China, and Japan), South Asia (India and Pakistan), and Southeast Asia (Vietnam and Thailand).

Effects of Manual Therapy on Fascial Distortion Model in Adolescent Ankle Sprain: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the feasibility of investigating the effects of manual therapy on ankle functional muscle strength, static balance, and disability in adolescent patients with an ankle sprain.

Methods: The study was a nonrandomized prepost clinical feasibility trial. From September 2021 to February 2022, 31 patients with ankle sprain received manual therapy.

Do oxidized low-density lipoproteins link to extra hepatic manifestations in chronic, non-cirrhotic HCV patients?

Background: Tissue damage by viral hepatitis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Oxidation reactions and reactive oxygen species (ROS) transform proteins and lipids in plasma low-density lipoproteins (LDL) into the abnormal oxidized LDL (ox-LDL). Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection induces oxidative/nitrosative stress from multiple sources, including the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), the mitochondrial electron transport chain, hepatocyte NAD(P)H oxidases (NOX enzymes), and inflammation.

The impact of war on ACS admissions and triage - a single center experience.

Introduction: Contemporary data regarding the impact of war on cardiovascular disease is scarce. The Israel-Gaza war that erupted on October 7th, 2023, provided a tragic opportunity to explore the effect of war on the epidemiology, characteristics, and management of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) living in areas of active armed conflict.

Methods: All patients admitted with ACS to our medical center, between October 7th, 2023, and January 6th, 2024, were retrospectively included.

Black posterior vitreous detachment: A 10-year historical cohort of pigmented uveal tumors.

Objective: Pigmentary posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), referred to as "black PVD," is a rare entity describing PVD along with pigment dispersion in the vitreous. There are a few case reports describing pigmentary PVD, yet the association between pigmentary PVD and uveal and optic disc tumors was not described before. The aim of this study was to report the clinical features of patients with pigmentary PVD associated with these tumors.

Evaluation of efficiency and effectiveness of different recruitment strategies for the FINGER-NL multidomain lifestyle intervention trial via the Dutch Brain Research Registry.

Introduction: Recruitment of participants for intervention studies is challenging. We evaluated the effectiveness and efficiency of a participant recruitment campaign through an online registry for the FINGER-NL study, a multi-domain lifestyle intervention trial targeting cognitively healthy individuals aged 60-79 with dementia prevention potential. Additionally, we explored which recruitment strategy successfully reached individuals from underrepresented groups in research.

Anaemia of Inflammation Preceding Dyspnoea, Dry Cough and Weight Loss in Primary Pulmonary Lymphoma.

Introduction: There is little information in the literature on the early, sub-clinical stage and laboratory test results in patients with primary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the lung, a rare disease.

Case Description: In a 75-year-old man, an open lung biopsy-confirmed diagnosis of primary pulmonary lymphoma was preceded by almost six months of anaemia of inflammatory disease and monocytosis without any pulmonary symptoms. When he developed a dry cough, increasing dyspnoea and marked weight loss, these changes deepened and became associated with reactive thrombocytosis; markedly increased ferritin and C-reactive protein (positive acute-phase reactants), as well as reduced albumin and transferrin (negative acute-phase reactants).