Antimicrobial peptide glatiramer acetate targets Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharides to breach membranes without altering lipopolysaccharide modification.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are key components of innate immunity across all domains of life. Natural and synthetic AMPs are receiving renewed attention in efforts to combat the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis and the loss of antibiotic efficacy. The gram-negative pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most concerning infecting bacteria in AMR, particularly in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) where respiratory infections are difficult to eradicate and associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

Ultrasound evaluation of clinical mimics of deep vein thrombosis: essential insights for radiologists in interpretation.

Ultrasonography (US) is a sensitive and radiation-free technique for diagnosing deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Therefore, when DVT is clinically suspected but not detected on US, radiologists should consider a range of alternative differential diagnoses. This review article presents the imaging findings of clinical conditions that mimic DVT, which can be distinguished using a multimodal radiologic approach.

Genomics yields biological and phenotypic insights into bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease. Despite high heritability (60-80%), the majority of the underlying genetic determinants remain unknown. We analysed data from participants of European, East Asian, African American and Latino ancestries (n = 158,036 cases with bipolar disorder, 2.

A systematic review of emergency room laparotomy in patients with severe abdominal trauma.

Traumatic intra-abdominal hemorrhage contributes to mortality in patients with trauma. However, initiating an emergent laparotomy in the operating room (OR) as a standard treatment can sometimes be time-consuming. To overcome this issue, laparotomy is performed in the emergency room (ER) in some institutions.

Sex Differences in Clinical Features and Survival Outcomes of Esophageal Cancer: A Comparative Study in the Korean Population.

Purpose: Esophageal cancer is a predominantly male disease. However, the sex differences associated with esophageal cancer have not been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the differences between esophageal cancer in males and females in the Korean population.

Differences in Care and Outcomes in Cardiogenic Shock in Cardiac Intensive Care Units in the United States and Canada: CCCTN Registry Insights.

Background: Mortality in cardiogenic shock (CS) remains high. Significant inter-hospital heterogeneity in critical care therapies have been described, which reflects the lack of high-quality evidence to guide optimal treatment. We aimed to describe differences in practices and clinical outcomes among patients with CS in the United States (US) and Canada.

Hereditary angioedema: patient healthcare experiences within underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

Background: Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disorder in which unpredictable angioedema attacks significantly impact patient quality of life (QoL). There is limited information regarding patient experiences and perspectives of HAE management within underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.

Objective: To gain insight into the experiences and perspectives of medical care and treatment for HAE among underrepresented racial and ethnic groups in the US.

Late-Onset Sepsis Among Extremely Preterm Infants During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objectives: To compare incidence of late-onset sepsis (LOS) among extremely preterm infants before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Multicenter cohort study of infants with birthweight 401 to 1000 g or gestational age 22 to 28 weeks. LOS was defined as a bacterial or fungal pathogen isolated from blood or cerebrospinal fluid culture obtained after 72 hours of age.

Artesunate-multiple pharmacological effects beyond treating malaria.

Artesunate, a semisynthetic derivative of artemisinin, is not only recommended as the first-line drug for treating severe malaria but is also a significant member of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs), used in combination with other artemisinin derivatives for treating uncomplicated malaria. Beyond its potent anti-malarial activity, artesunate has garnered considerable attention for its pharmacological effects, which encompass broad-spectrum anti-tumor, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory properties. It has collectively demonstrated superior drug tolerance, low toxicity, and mild side effects in cell line experiments in vitro, experimental animal models, and clinical drug researches, as a monotherapy or in combination with other agents.

Artificial intelligence-enhanced comprehensive assessment of the aortic valve stenosis continuum in echocardiography.

Background: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the primary modality for diagnosing aortic stenosis (AS), yet it requires skilled operators and can be resource-intensive. We developed and validated an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system for evaluating AS that is effective in both resource-limited and advanced settings.

Methods: We created a dual-pathway AI system for AS evaluation using a nationwide echocardiographic dataset (developmental dataset, n = 8427): 1) a deep learning (DL)-based AS continuum assessment algorithm using limited 2D TTE videos, and 2) automating conventional AS evaluation.

Rare Indocyanine-Induced Anaphylactic Shock During Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator Breast Reconstruction: A Case Report.

Indocyanine green (ICG) is a water-soluble green substance that is detectable through infrared cameras and emits greenish light. Approved for medical use in the 1950s, ICG has gained prominence as a real-time visualization tool. Widely recognized as a generally safe substance, ICG is applied in diverse fields.

Life satisfaction around the world: Measurement invariance of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups.

The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) is a widely used self-report measure of subjective well-being, but studies of its measurement invariance across a large number of nations remain limited. Here, we utilised the Body Image in Nature (BINS) dataset-with data collected between 2020 and 2022 -to assess measurement invariance of the SWLS across 65 nations, 40 languages, gender identities, and age groups (N = 56,968). All participants completed the SWLS under largely uniform conditions.

Sex Differences in Long COVID.

Importance: A substantial number of individuals worldwide experience long COVID, or post-COVID condition. Other postviral and autoimmune conditions have a female predominance, but whether the same is true for long COVID, especially within different subgroups, is uncertain.

Objective: To evaluate sex differences in the risk of developing long COVID among adults with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

South Korean study to prevent cognitive impairment and protect brain health through multidomain interventions via face-to-face and video communication platforms in mild cognitive impairment (SUPERBRAIN-MEET): A randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: We investigated the efficacy of a multidomain intervention (MI) via face-to-face and video communication platforms using a tablet personal computer application in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods: Three hundred participants with MCI and ≥ 1 modifiable dementia risk factor, aged 60-85 years, were randomly assigned to either the MI group, who underwent a 24-week intervention, or the control group, who received usual care.

Results: The overall adherence rate to MI was 84.

Long-acting nifedipine in the management of essential hypertension: a review for cardiologists.

Calcium channel antagonists, specifically long-acting nifedipine formulations, play a crucial role in treating hypertension and angina. Originally used for angina, nifedipine has been widely employed as an antihypertensive medication for over 40 years. It offers rapid action and oral bioavailability with minimal maternal or fetal side effects, making it suitable for treating hypertensive crises during pregnancy.

Antimicrobial prescribing quality in Australian emergency departments: an analysis of the Hospital NAPS data set.

Objective: To analyze antimicrobial prescribing practices in Australian emergency departments (ED), identifying prescribing areas requiring improvement. This aims to inform antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) strategies to enhance antimicrobial prescribing quality.

Design: Retrospective analysis of the Hospital National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (NAPS) data set.

Prone Transpsoas Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Degenerative Disc Disease.

Background: Prone transpsoas lumbar interbody fusion (PTP) is a newer technique to treat various spinal disc pathologies. PTP is a variation of lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) that is performed with the patient prone rather than in the lateral decubitus position. This approach offers similar benefits of lateral spinal surgery, which include less blood loss, shorter hospital stay, and quicker recovery compared with traditional open spine surgery.

Review of Attributes and Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients with Alcohol Withdrawal.

Background: Alcohol abuse leads to millions of hospital admissions each year in the United States. Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is associated with several serious complications, including seizures, delirium tremens, and death. Benzodiazepines have been the mainstay of treatment for hospitalized patients with alcohol withdrawal.

Effect of nationwide postoperative rehabilitation at home program after lower extremity surgeries in older and younger people.

Background: A nationwide Rehabilitation at Home Care Pilot Program for patients undergoing lower extremity orthopedic surgeries has been ongoing since 2020. The program was designed to improve clinical outcomes through early mobilization and rehabilitation after discharge. This study aimed to analyze the interim data to assess its effectiveness and suggest improvements, particularly for older patients who are more vulnerable compared to younger patients.

Short-term variability of Alzheimer's disease plasma biomarkers in a mixed memory clinic cohort.

Background: For clinical implementation of Alzheimer's disease (AD) blood-based biomarkers (BBMs), knowledge of short-term variability, is crucial to ensure safe and correct biomarker interpretation, i.e., to capture changes or treatment effects that lie beyond that of expected short-term variability and considered clinically relevant.

YHSeqY3000 panel captures all founding lineages in the Chinese paternal genomic diversity database.

Background: The advancements in second-/third-generation sequencing technologies, alongside computational innovations, have significantly enhanced our understanding of the genomic structure of Y-chromosomes and their unique phylogenetic characteristics. These researches, despite the challenges posed by the lack of population-scale genomic databases, have the potential to revolutionize our approach to high-resolution, population-specific Y-chromosome panels and databases for anthropological and forensic applications.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop the highest-resolution Y-targeted sequencing panel, utilizing time-stamped, core phylogenetic informative mutations identified from high-coverage sequences in the YanHuang cohort.

Pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in high-risk, early-stage, ER/HER2 breast cancer: a randomized phase 3 trial.

Addition of pembrolizumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by adjuvant pembrolizumab improved outcomes in patients with high-risk, early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer. However, whether the addition of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab to chemotherapy would improve outcomes in high-risk, early-stage, estrogen receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER/HER2) breast cancer remains unclear. We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study (KEYNOTE-756) in which patients with previously untreated ER/HER2 grade 3 high-risk invasive breast cancer (T1c-2 (≥2 cm), cN1-2 or T3-4, cN0-2) were randomly assigned (1:1) to neoadjuvant pembrolizumab 200 mg or placebo Q3W given with paclitaxel QW for 12 weeks, followed by four cycles of doxorubicin or epirubicin plus cyclophosphamide Q2W or Q3W.

The Renal Effect of 20% Human Albumin Solution Fluid Bolus Therapy in Patients After Cardiac Surgery. A Secondary Analysis of the HAS FLAIR II Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective: To compare the effects of fluid bolus therapy (FBT) with 20% albumin to crystalloid FBT on the incidence of cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) and its severity and duration.

Design: Secondary analysis of the multicenter, parallel-group, open-label, randomized HAS FLAIR-II trial.

Setting: Six intensive care units.

Genetic variations underlying aminoglycoside resistance in antibiotic-induced Mycobacterium intracellulare mutants.

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is an emerging pathogen leading to public health concerns in developing and developed countries, particularly among immunocompromised individuals and patients with structural lung diseases. Current clinical guidelines recommend combination antibiotic therapy for treating MAC pulmonary disease (MAC-PD). However, the rising prevalence of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges, including treatment failure and clinical recurrence.

Effect of epinephrine administration interval on cerebral perfusion in a porcine cardiac arrest model.

Objectives: The recommended epinephrine administration interval during CPR is between 3 and 5 min. However, the optimal interval for improving cerebral perfusion remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of epinephrine administration interval of 3 min or 5 min on cerebral perfusion pressure (CEPP) and cortical cerebral blood flow (CCBF) in a porcine cardiac arrest model.