Aerodigestive Approach in Evaluating Pediatric Patients With Recurrent Croup.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of coordinated endoscopy with otolaryngology, pulmonology, and gastroenterology in diagnosing and managing recurrent croup in pediatric patients.

Methods: We reviewed our REDCap Pediatric Aerodigestive Database for patients with recurrent croup who underwent coordinated endoscopy between January 2013 and July 2023. We reviewed patient demographics, comorbidities, surgical findings, treatments, and outcomes.

Perspectives on Contraception, Pregnancy, and Reproductive Health Counseling from Young Women With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background/aims: Active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases the risk of pregnancy complications and contraceptive side effects, and contraceptive use may impact the clinical course of IBD. Although young people are at elevated risk for unintended pregnancy, those with IBD receive minimal disease-specific contraceptive guidance. We characterized perspectives and preferences on contraception and reproductive health counseling from young women with IBD.

The uses of right heart catheterization in cardio-pulmonary disease: State-of-the-art.

The right heart catheterization (RHC) remains an important diagnostic tool for a spectrum of cardiovascular disease processes including pulmonary hypertension (PH), shock, valvular heart disease, and unexplained dyspnea. While it gained widespread utilization after its introduction, the role of the RHC has evolved to provide valuable information for the management of advanced therapies in heart failure (HF) and cardiogenic shock (CS) to name a few. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview on the indications, utilization, complications, interpretation, and calculations associated with RHC.

Gastroduodenal artery aneurysm degeneration after coiling necessitating open repair.

A 77-year-old male presented for an incidental 5-cm gastroduodenal artery aneurysm (GDAA). He underwent an endovascular GDAA coil embolization with 6 months of no aneurysmal growth on surveillance imaging. His 12-month scan revealed aneurysmal growth from 5 cm to 7.

Prenatal Stress and Maternal Role in Neurodevelopment.

This review summarizes recent findings on stress-related programming of brain development , with an emphasis on situating findings within the mothers' broader psychosocial experiences. Meta-analyses of observational studies on prenatal stress exposure indicate the direction and size of effects on child neurodevelopment are heterogeneous across studies. Inspired by lifespan and topological frameworks of adversity, we conceptualize individual variation in mothers' lived experience during and prior to pregnancy as a key determinant of these heterogeneous effects across populations.

The Effect of Glycemic Control on Cardiovascular Disease Progression in Adults With Early-Onset Type 2 Diabetes: A Longitudinal Cohort Analysis.

Introduction Rising prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), particularly in younger populations, have made early-onset T2DM (diagnosed before age 40) an increasingly significant health concern. Early-onset T2DM is often associated with more rapid progression and increased complications, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, its specific impact on cardiovascular outcomes remains inadequately understood, particularly compared to T2DM in older populations.

Diffuse, Bilateral Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) 3 Changes Reported as Inflammation and Their Relation to Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Aim/Objective The aim of this study was to investigate if diffuse, bilateral PI-RADS (Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System) 3 changes, reported on MRI Prostate, harbour clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) within them. Methods Data from 108 men with diffuse, bilateral PI-RADS 3 changes on MRI of the prostate who underwent systematic prostate biopsy between January 2000 and November 2023 were analyzed. Histology results were classified as benign or malignant, and clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) was defined according to the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines as ISUP GG (International Society for Urological Pathology Grade Group) 2 or higher.

Lymphomas With Primary Gastrointestinal Presentation: A Retrospective Study Covering a Five-Year Period at a Quaternary Care Center in Southern India.

Background and objective Lymphomas can involve the gastrointestinal (GI) tract as a primary disease or as a secondary spread of systemic disease. The GI tract is a key site for extranodal lymphomas, with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) occurring in this region. This study aimed to analyze the demography, anatomic distribution, histological subtypes, and immunomorphological characteristics of all lymphomas with a primary GI presentation at a quaternary care hospital in southern India.

A Comparative Study of Radiation Dose From Chest CT Scan Examinations in Two Imaging Centers in Duhok Province, Kurdistan, Iraq.

Background CT is among the most widely used diagnostic imaging techniques worldwide, providing significant advantages and invaluable diagnostic insights for detecting a wide range of diseases across various organs. However, it involves exposing patients to relatively high levels of ionizing radiation. Objective This study aims to document the radiation doses from chest CT scans performed at Azadi Teaching Hospital in Duhok Province and compare them with those recorded at the 3-Tesla Center for Advanced MRI and CT Scanning, also located in Duhok, using diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) as a benchmark.

Assessing the Diagnostic Value of Mean Monocyte Volume and Hematological Parameters in Predicting Dengue Fever: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Background And Aim: Distinguishing dengue fever (DF) from other viral infections solely based on common presentations poses a challenge. Therefore, there is a pressing need for additional diagnostic parameters that are reliable, swift, and cost-effective. This study aims to provide novel insights into the diagnostic value of hematological parameters, particularly mean monocyte volume (MMV), in predicting DF in Kelantan, Malaysia.

A Newly Dated Late Pleistocene and Holocene Archaeological Assemblage from Bukhtarma Cave in the Southern Altai Piedmont, East Kazakhstan.

The Altai mountains contain a number of cave and rockshelter sites that have given crucial information about human evolution in Asia. Most of these caves are located in the Gornyi Altai of Siberia, while the southern flank of the range remains much less known. Bukhtarma Cave was a karstic cave located near the former village of Peshchera, on the banks of the Bukhtarma River running through the foothills of the southern (Kazakh) Altai mountains.

Utilization of an undergraduate emergency department research associate program for the screening and recruitment of research subjects with heart failure into a clinical study.

Background: Enrolling heart failure (HF) patients in clinical studies is challenging. Emergency department (ED) may use students as research associates programs, such as the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) ED Research Associate (EDRA) program, to screen and consent patients for clinical studies. This manuscript examines the effectiveness of the URMC EDRA program in consenting HF patients into a clinical study.

Evaluation of link between COVID-19 adjacent spike in hydroxychloroquine use and increased reports of pemphigus: a disproportionality analysis of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System.

Importance: Identifying environmental factors that contribute to disease onset/activity in PV stands to improve clinical outcomes and patient quality of life by strategies aimed at reducing specific disease promoting exposures and promoting personalized clinical management strategies.

Objective: To evaluate the association between hydroxychloroquine use and the development of pemphigus using population level, publicly available, FDA-generated data.

Design: Observational, retrospective, case-control, pharmacovigilance analysis.

The association between cardiovascular health and obstructive sleep apnea symptoms: findings from NHANES.

Objective: To investigate the association between cardiovascular health (CVH) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) within the U.S. population.

Association Between Chronic Kidney Disease Risk Categories and Abdominal Aortic Calcification: Insights From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is a critical indicator of cardiovascular risk, particularly in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Traditional classification systems may underestimate the risk in those with moderate CKD. This study aimed to evaluate the association between CKD risk categories - defined by both estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria - and the prevalence of severe AAC.

Challenges Associated With PFAS Detection Method in Africa.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that are widely present in many industries. Monitoring and analyzing PFAS in Africa is challenging due to the limited availability of mass spectrometry (MS), which is an essential technique for detecting PFAS. This review assesses the scope and impact of the shortage of mass spectrometry instruments in Africa, emphasizing the resulting limitations in monitoring environmental and public health threats.

Iron nutrition and COVID-19 among Nigerian healthcare workers.

Background And Objectives: The optimal iron hypothesis (OIH) posits that risk for infection is lowest at a mild level of iron deficiency. The extent to which this protection results from arms race dynamics in the evolution of iron acquisition and sequestration mechanisms is unclear. We evaluated the OIH with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), an emerging infectious agent.

Effects of bilingual language exposure on toddlers with autism spectrum disorder.

Research analyzing the effects of bilingual language exposure on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased in frequency. Utilizing the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition, the current study analyzed the effects of bilingual language exposure and age on language development, cognitive development, and social emotional development in toddlers with ASD. Older children demonstrated higher language scores than younger children.

Adhesion properties of polyimide coated stacks: An in-depth analysis of the cross-sectional nanoindentation method.

Adhesion at the interface between dissimilar materials in the semiconductor industry is an important topic, but reliable quantitative methods for strongly adhesive or highly plastic layers are hardly available. This study aims to investigate the suitability of the cross-sectional nanoindentation (CSN) method for determination of the critical energy release rate of thin film stacks in the presence of a polyimide layer as a representative structure for such a case. For this purpose, the adhesion of a deliberately weakened Si/SiO interface in a Si/SiO/Al/SiN/polyimide stack is examined by systematic variation of the experimental parameters.

Antimicrobial-resistant genes in feces from otters () within the Peñas Blancas river basin, Costa Rica.

Antimicrobial resistance poses a growing threat to human health, yet its implications for wildlife remain a subject of ongoing research. River otters inhabiting the Peñas Blancas River face exposure to various anthropogenic activities in their habitat, potentially leading to the accumulation of antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) with unknown consequences for their health. This study aimed to identify specific ARGs in otter feces from this river basin, employing quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), DNA sequencing of ARGs, and phylogenetic analysis techniques.

The doctor will polygraph you now.

Artificial intelligence (AI) methods have been proposed for the prediction of social behaviors that could be reasonably understood from patient-reported information. This raises novel ethical concerns about respect, privacy, and control over patient data. Ethical concerns surrounding clinical AI systems for social behavior verification can be divided into two main categories: (1) the potential for inaccuracies/biases within such systems, and (2) the impact on trust in patient-provider relationships with the introduction of automated AI systems for "fact-checking", particularly in cases where the data/models may contradict the patient.

Employer Perspective on Pain Fellowship Education: A Survey to Understand the Current State of Pain Medicine Training.

Background: Pain medicine care has expanded to encompass a wider range of conditions, necessitating updated education and training for pain specialists to utilize emerging technologies effectively. A national survey was conducted through several verified Pain organizations regarding pain physician employers' perspectives on pain medicine fellowship training and education. The survey aimed to gather insights from a diverse range of geographic locations, practice types (academic and private practice), and practice settings.

Quantitative and longitudinal assessment of human placental inflammation using diffusion basis spectrum imaging.

Besides exchanging nutrients, gases, and wastes, placenta is an intermediary between maternal and fetal immune systems. However, no method exists to safely image and monitor placental inflammation during pregnancy. We customized a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) method, diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI), to measure immune cells in placenta.

Impaired arbitration between reward-related decision-making strategies in Alcohol Users compared to Alcohol Non-Users: a computational modeling study.

Reinforcement learning studies propose that decision-making is guided by a tradeoff between computationally cheaper model-free (habitual) control and costly model-based (goal-directed) control. Greater model-based control is typically used under highly rewarding conditions to minimize risk and maximize gain. Although prior studies have shown impairments in sensitivity to reward value in individuals with frequent alcohol use, it is unclear how these individuals arbitrate between model-free and model-based control based on the magnitude of reward incentives.

Weight-neutral early time-restricted eating improves glycemic variation and time in range without changes in inflammatory markers.

Early time-restricted eating (eTRE) is a dietary strategy that restricts caloric intake to the first 6-8 h of the day and can effect metabolic benefits independent of weight loss. However, the extent of these benefits is unknown. We conducted a randomized crossover feeding study to investigate the weight-independent effects of eTRE on glycemic variation, multiple time-in-range metrics, and levels of inflammatory markers.