Distribution and viability of ocular and non-ocular Chlamydia trachomatis in households in a trachoma-endemic community in Oromia, Ethiopia.

Background: We aimed to determine the household distribution and viability of Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) from the eyes, face, and hands during the initial two visits of a year-long fortnightly cohort study in geographically defined adjacent households.

Methods/findings: We enrolled 298 individuals from 68 neighbouring households in Shashemene Woreda, Oromia, Ethiopia. All individuals above 2 years of age residing in these households were examined for signs of trachoma.

Heart failure risk stratification using artificial intelligence applied to electrocardiogram images: a multinational study.

Background And Aims: Current heart failure (HF) risk stratification strategies require comprehensive clinical evaluation. In this study, artificial intelligence (AI) applied to electrocardiogram (ECG) images was examined as a strategy to predict HF risk.

Methods: Across multinational cohorts in the Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS), UK Biobank (UKB), and Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil), individuals without baseline HF were followed for the first HF hospitalization.

Micronutrients or processing? An analysis of food and drink items from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey based on micronutrient content, the Nova classification and front of package traffic light labelling.

Increased ultra-processed food (UPF) intake is associated with adverse health outcomes. However, with limitations in UPF evidence, and partial overlap between UK front of package labelling (FOPL) and degree of food processing, the value of food processing within dietary guidance is unclear. This study compared food and drink from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) database based on micronutrient content, Nova classification and FOPL.

Self-interactive learning: Fusion and evolution of multi-scale histomorphology features for molecular traits prediction in computational pathology.

Predicting disease-related molecular traits from histomorphology brings great opportunities for precision medicine. Despite the rich information present in histopathological images, extracting fine-grained molecular features from standard whole slide images (WSI) is non-trivial. The task is further complicated by the lack of annotations for subtyping and contextual histomorphological features that might span multiple scales.

Digital Health Technologies for Optimising Treatment and Rehabilitation Following Surgery: Device-Based Measurement of Sling Posture and Adherence.

Background: Following shoulder surgery, controlled and protected mobilisation for an appropriate duration is crucial for appropriate recovery. However, methods for objective assessment of sling wear and use in everyday living are currently lacking. In this pilot study, we aim to determine if a sling-embedded triaxial accelerometer and/or wrist-worn sensor can be used to quantify arm posture during sling wear and adherence to sling wear.

Medical history predicts phenome-wide disease onset and enables the rapid response to emerging health threats.

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a global deficiency of systematic, data-driven guidance to identify high-risk individuals. Here, we illustrate the utility of routinely recorded medical history to predict the risk for 1741 diseases across clinical specialties and support the rapid response to emerging health threats such as COVID-19. We developed a neural network to learn from health records of 502,489 UK Biobank participants.

Mortality risks in different subtypes of masked hypertension in the Spanish ambulatory blood pressure monitoring registry.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the risks of death and cardiovascular death of different subtypes of masked hypertension, defined by either isolated daytime or nighttime blood pressure (BP) elevation, or both, compared with patients with normal both office and 24-h BP.

Methods: We selected 4999 patients with masked hypertension (normal office BP and elevated 24-h BP). They were divided in three different categories: isolated daytime masked hypertension (elevated daytime BP and normal nighttime BP, 800 patients), isolated nighttime masked hypertension (elevated nighttime BP and normal daytime BP, 1069 patients) and daytime and nighttime masked hypertension (elevation of both daytime and nighttime BP, 2989).

Breast Cancer Susceptibility Gene Sequence Variations and Development of Contralateral Breast Cancer.

Importance: Heterogeneity in development of estrogen receptor (ER)-specific first primary breast cancer exists due to deleterious germline variants in moderate- to high-penetrance breast cancer susceptibility genes, but it is unknown if these associations occur in ER-specific CBC.

Objective: To determine the association of deleterious germline variants in breast cancer susceptibility genes with ER-specific CBC development and whether ER status of the first primary breast cancer modifies these associations.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This case-control study included CBC cases and matched unilateral breast cancer controls from The Women's Environment, Cancer, and Radiation Epidemiology (WECARE) Study, a population-based case-control study.

Comparison of P-wave parameter changes after radiofrequency ablation and cryoballoon ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: An observational cohort study.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) can be performed using one-shot cryoballoon ablation (cryo) or point-by-point radiofrequency ablation (RF). This study compares the changes in P-wave parameters between both ablation methods.

Methods: This single-centre retrospective study included contact force RF and second-generation cryo for PAF between 2018 and 2019.

The immunological landscape of primary biliary cholangitis: Mechanisms and therapeutic prospects.

Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease characterized by the progressive destruction of intrahepatic bile ducts, leading to fibrosis, and potentially cirrhosis. PBC has been considered a prototypical autoimmune condition, given the presence of specific autoantibodies and the immune response against well-defined mitochondrial autoantigens. Further evidence supports the interaction of immunogenetic and environmental factors in the aetiology of PBC.

A systematic review of pre-pandemic resilience factors and mental health outcomes in adolescents and young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adolescence and young adulthood are sensitive developmental periods to environmental influences. Investigating pre-emptive measures against stressors, such as those associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, on mental health is crucial. We aimed to synthesize evidence on pre-pandemic resilience factors shaping youth mental health outcomes during this period.

Multiple introductions of NRCS-A to the neonatal intensive care unit drive neonatal bloodstream infections: a case-control and environmental genomic survey.

The NRCS-A strain has emerged as a global cause of late-onset sepsis associated with outbreaks in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) whose transmission is incompletely understood. Demographic and clinical data for 45 neonates with and 90 with other coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) isolated from sterile sites were reviewed, and clinical significance was determined. isolated from 27 neonates at 2 hospitals between 2017 and 2022 underwent long-read (ONT) (=27) and short-read (Illumina) sequencing (=18).

High Detection Rate of Rotavirus Infection Among Children Admitted with Acute Gastroenteritis to Six Public Hospitals in Luanda Province After the Introduction of Rotarix Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Rotavirus group A (RVA) is a major cause of pediatric acute gastroenteritis (AGE). Vaccination is an effective public health strategy and Angola implemented it in 2014. This hospital-based study aimed to estimate the prevalence of RVA infection and the severity of AGE in children under five years of age treated at six hospitals in Luanda Province.

Health and Liver Diagnostic Markers Influencing Glycemia in Subjects with Prediabetes: Preview Study.

Introduction: Glucose homeostasis may be dependent on liver conditions and influence health-related markers and quality of life (QoL) objective measurements. This study aimed to analyze the interactions of glycemia with liver and health status in a prediabetic population.

Subjects And Methods: This study included 2220 overweight/obese prediabetics from the multinational PREVIEW project.

COLOFIT: Development and Internal-External Validation of Models Using Age, Sex, Faecal Immunochemical and Blood Tests to Optimise Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer in Symptomatic Patients.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the United Kingdom and the second largest cause of cancer death.

Aim: To develop and validate a model using available information at the time of faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) in primary care to improve selection of symptomatic patients for CRC investigations.

Methods: We included all adults (≥ 18 years) referred to Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust between 2018 and 2022 with symptoms of suspected CRC who had a FIT.

Association between glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists use and change in alcohol consumption: a systematic review.

Background: Despite the availability of various pharmacological and behavioural interventions, alcohol-related mortality is rising. This systematic review aimed to critically evaluate the existing literature on the association between glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists use (GLP-1 RAs) and alcohol consumption.

Methods: Electronic searches were conducted on Ovid Medline, EMBASE, PsycINFO, clintrials.

Deep Learning to Predict the Future Growth of Geographic Atrophy from Fundus Autofluorescence.

Purpose: The region of growth (ROG) of geographic atrophy (GA) throughout the macular area has an impact on visual outcomes. Here, we developed multiple deep learning models to predict the 1-year ROG of GA lesions using fundus autofluorescence (FAF) images.

Design: In this retrospective analysis, 3 types of models were developed using FAF images collected 6 months after baseline to predict the GA lesion area (segmented lesion mask) at 1.

Molecular and spatial analysis of tertiary lymphoid structures in Sjogren's syndrome.

Tertiary lymphoid structures play important roles in autoimmune and non-autoimmune conditions. While many of the molecular mechanisms involved in tertiary lymphoid structure formation have been identified, the cellular sources and temporal and spatial relationship remain unknown. Here we use combine single-cell RNA-sequencing, spatial transcriptomics and proteomics of minor salivary glands of patients with Sjogren's disease and Sicca Syndrome, with ex-vivo functional studies to construct a cellular and spatial map of key components involved in the formation and function of tertiary lymphoid structures.

The association between adverse childhood experiences and adult cardiac function in the UK Biobank.

Aims: The importance of early life factors in determining health in later adulthood is increasingly recognized. This study evaluated the association of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) phenotypes.

Methods And Results: UK Biobank participants who had completed CMR and the self-reported questionnaire on traumatic childhood experiences were included.

General practice chlamydia testing: qualitative study of staff approaches using behavioural change theory.

Background: Chlamydia is the most diagnosed bacterial sexually transmitted infection in England, but opportunistic testing remains low in general practice despite high prevalence among young people. Attempts to increase testing have been met with little success; therefore, there is a need to explore why rates remain low and how this may be improved.

Aim: To explore general practice staff perceptions of opportunistic chlamydia testing, including barriers, facilitators, interventions, and policies, using the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW).

The Value of P-Wave Parameters Changes in Predicting Catheter Ablation Outcomes for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is the most promising management method for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). The P wave in the electrocardiogram (ECG) represents atrial depolarization. This study aims to correlate P-wave parameters after PVI with outcomes.

Microscopic changes in the multifidus muscle in people with low back pain associated with lumbar disc herniation.

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common degenerative condition causing low back pain (LBP) due to nerve compression. Previous studies show conflicting findings regarding the multifidus (MF) muscle's microscopic changes in LDH patients. So, this study aimed to compare the affected MF to the adjacent MF on the ipsilateral and contralateral sides in LDH patients and examined correlations with clinical features of LBP.