Factors Associated with HIV Testing Uptake in Cameroon: Data from the 2018 Cameroon Demographic and Health Survey.

Background: HIV represents a significant public health challenge, contributing to increased mortality and morbidity within the population. Despite the implementation of various HIV testing strategies, the uptake rate of HIV testing remains low.

Objective: This study aims to assess the factors associated with HIV testing uptake among women and men in Cameroon.

Seeing Ourselves in Others: Understanding and Addressing Biases in Medical School Admissions Processes.

Purpose: Medical school admissions is a vital area for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Integrating bias recognition and management (BRM) within the context of admissions is critical in advancing DEI. However, there is a dearth of empirically informed literature on BRM in the admissions context.

Implementing IPE in a Workplace Setting: Educational Design Research Promotes Transformative Participation.

Background: Educators struggle to implement Interprofessional Education (IPE) in workplace settings. We adopted an educational design research (EDR) approach to implement an IPE activity and establish design principles supporting IPE implementation in workplace settings.

Method: We adopted an iterative process of analysis/exploration, design/construction and evaluation/reflection.

Influence of Smartphone Usage on development of Sexuality among Late Adolescent Boys in Health Sciences Colleges of South India.

Background: Better affordability of data plans and an increase in "budget" smartphones have resulted in an exponential rise in internet and smartphone users. The ease of access to sexually explicit material (SEM) coupled with adolescents' impulsivity makes them prone to excessive SEM exposure and may affect the development of sexuality via the perceived realism of such content. This study was done to study the influence between problematic smartphone usage (PSU) and sexuality development among late adolescent boys.

Comparative study between efficacy of topical tofacitinib 2% ointment versus topical clobetasol propionate 0.05% ointment in hand eczema at a tertiary hospital in central India.

Background: Hand eczema is a prevalent dermatological condition that significantly impacts the quality of life of affected individuals. Topical corticosteroids, such as Clobetasol Propionate, are commonly employed for management, but concerns regarding long-term use and potential side effects necessitate exploration of alternative treatments. This study protocol outlines a randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of topical Tofacitinib 2% ointment with Clobetasol Propionate 0.

A Scoping Review of Existing Policy Instruments to Tackle Overweight and Obesity in India: Recommendations for a Social and Behaviour Change Communication Strategy.

Background: The Indian government is committed to addressing various manifestations of malnutrition, including overweight and obesity, inorder to improve individual health and well-being. The scoping review aims to map existing national policy instruments (programmes, schemes, regulations and guidelines) addressing overweight and obesity in India and analysing them for Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) strategies.

Methods: Systematic identification and selection of policy instruments using 'Arksey and O'Malley' framework was conducted from central government ministry websites, between March and June 2023.

Caspase-4 Has Potential Utility as a Colorectal Tissue Biomarker for Dysplasia and Early-Stage Cancer.

Background And Aims: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most deadly cancer globally. The rapidly rising incidence rate of CRC, coupled with increased diagnoses in individuals <50 years, indicates that early detection of CRC, and those at an increased risk of CRC development, is paramount to improve the survival rates of these patients. Here, we profile caspase-4 expression across 2 distinct CRC development pathways, sporadic CRC (sCRC) and inflammatory bowel disease-associated CRC (IBD-CRC), to examine its utility as a novel biomarker for CRC risk and diagnosis.

Cost-Effectiveness of Serum Pepsinogen as a Gastric Cancer Targeted Screening Strategy in the United States.

Background And Aims: Current gastric cancer (GC) screening modalities are invasive and expensive. Noninvasive screening for GC precursors with serum pepsinogen (PG) may improve early detection and prevention. Test characteristics of PG based on US prospective data was recently reported and used to study the cost-effectiveness of PG screening vs no screening in the US.

Understanding the bidirectional association between obesity and risk of psychological distress and depression in young adults in the US: available evidence, knowledge gaps, and future directions.

While the physical health effects of obesity are well-characterized, an emerging branch of research has shown that obesity additionally plays a critical role in one's mental health. Young adults, in a pivotal transition phase in their lives, may be particularly prone to the concurrent effects of obesity and adverse mental health outcomes. The purpose of this review is to comprehensively examine existing data regarding the connection between obesity and two widely validated measures of mental health: psychological distress and depression.

Ukrainian Patients' Perspectives on Advanced Pharmaceutical Services Provided by Polish Pharmacists: A Cross-Border Support Initiative.

Introduction: Pharmacists are essential healthcare professionals which play a pivotal role in public health protection by offering diverse pharmacy services. This includes not only serving individuals in Ukraine but also addressing the needs of Ukrainian citizens residing in Poland. An exemplary initiative is the creation of the website , which provides organized and systematic support.

Sex and race disparities in emergency department patients with chest pain and a detectable or mildly elevated troponin.

Background: Identifying and eliminating health disparities is a public health priority. The goal of this analysis is to determine whether cardiac testing or outcome disparities exist by race or sex in patients with detectable to mildly elevated serum troponin.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of the CMR-IMPACT trial that randomized patients with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome and a detectable or mildly elevated troponin measure from 4 US hospitals to an early invasive angiography or cardiac MRI strategy.

Neurocognitive Markers during Maximum Alcohol Use in Late Adolescence as Predictors of Change in Later Drinking Behaviors.

Background: The influence of alcohol use on later neurocognitive functioning is well researched, yet few studies have investigated whether neurocognition post-drinking initiation in adolescence predicts changes in later alcohol use.

Objective: Investigate neurocognitive task performance during maximum alcohol use in late adolescence as predictors of drinking behaviors 3-7 years later.

Methods: Analyses () were conducted on a longitudinal dataset involving adolescents (12-13 years-old) who were followed for 16 years.

The relationship between maternal vitamin D levels and osteopenia development in preterm infants: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Osteopenia of prematurity (OP) is characterized by reduced bone mineral content, and vitamin D deficiency may worsen OP by affecting bone metabolism.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between maternal vitamin D levels and biochemical markers related to OP.

Materials And Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study, conducted at Shahid Sadoughi hospital, Yazd, Iran, from June 2022 to September 2023, included 49 pregnant women and their preterm infants.

The Mediating Role of Avoidant Personality Disorder Features in the Relationship Between Stressful Life Events and Depression Among First-Year University Students.

Purpose: Stressful life events are risk factors of depression. To explore whether the avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) features play a mediating role between stressful life events (SLEs) and depression among Chinese first-year university students.

Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from April to October 2018.

Geometrical determinants of cerebral artery fenestration for cerebral infarction.

Purpose: Few data are available on the causality of cerebral artery fenestration (CAF) triggering cerebral infarction (CI) and this study aims to identify representative morphological features that can indicate risks.

Methods: A cohort comprising 89 patients diagnosed with CAF were enrolled from a total of 9,986 cranial MR angiographies. These patients were categorized into Infarction Group ( = 55) and Control Group ( = 34) according to infarction events.

A nomogram for predicting bladder dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a retrospective study.

Background: Diabetic bladder dysfunction (DBD) is a common urinary complication in diabetic patients, significantly affecting their overall well-being and quality of life, and placing a considerable burden on healthcare resources. Early prevention is crucial; however, the absence of a simple and effective tool to predict DBD onset remains a significant challenge. This study aims to identify risk factors for DBD in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and to develop a predictive nomogram for clinical application.

Assessing the readability, quality and reliability of responses produced by ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity regarding most frequently asked keywords about low back pain.

Background: Patients who are informed about the causes, pathophysiology, treatment and prevention of a disease are better able to participate in treatment procedures in the event of illness. Artificial intelligence (AI), which has gained popularity in recent years, is defined as the study of algorithms that provide machines with the ability to reason and perform cognitive functions, including object and word recognition, problem solving and decision making. This study aimed to examine the readability, reliability and quality of responses to frequently asked keywords about low back pain (LBP) given by three different AI-based chatbots (ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini), which are popular applications in online information presentation today.

Live Typhoid and Yellow Fever Vaccines Administered to a Patient With Ulcerative Colitis on Vedolizumab.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease who receive immunosuppressive therapy have an increased risk of infection. Live vaccines are contraindicated in these patients because of the increased risk of unchecked replication of the attenuated vaccine microorganisms. Vedolizumab is a gut-selective biological agent with a low risk of infection approved for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease.

Factors influencing the delivery of automated external defibrillators by lay rescuers to the scene of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in schools.

Aim: Timely use of automated external defibrillators by lay rescuers significantly improves the chances of survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases. We aimed to identify the factors influencing whether lay rescuers bring automated external defibrillators to the scene of nontraumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in schoolchildren in Japan.

Methods: Data on out-of-hospital cardiac arrests among schoolchildren from April 2008 to December 2021 were obtained from the database of the Stop and Prevent cardIac aRrest, Injury, and Trauma in Schools study.

Impact of COVID-19 on resuscitation after hospital arrival for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: An interrupted time series analysis.

Background: In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).

Methods And Results: Using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database, we included patients with OHCA who were transported to hospitals between April 2018 and March 2021. Patients were categorized into groups, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the day of admission (before or after April 1, 2020, respectively).

Association of ambient temperature with social isolation among the community-dwelling Chinese older adults: A cross-sectional study in Hong Kong.

Background: The adverse health impacts of ambient temperature have been well-documented, encompassing not only the mortality and morbidity burden but also mood and mental health disorders. However, the relationship between temperature and social isolation remains unexplored. The objective of the current study was to investigate the potential associations between ambient temperature and social isolation among the aging population.

The strategy to control the outbreak of an emerging respiratory infectious disease in a simulated Chinese megacity.

Objectives: The emergence of respiratory infectious diseases (ERID) poses a significant threat to global public health. However, effectively managing ERID outbreaks in large cities remains a challenge.

Methods: An age-structured Susceptible-Exposed-Infectious-Removed (SEIR) model was developed to predict the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in controlling ERID outbreaks.

Gender difference in metabolic syndrome and quality of life among elderly people in Noakhali, Bangladesh.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that significantly heighten the risk of non-communicable diseases, affecting the quality of life (QOL) of millions, including the elderly. Hence, the study aims to assess the prevalence of MetS and its impact on QOL among elderly population, with a focus on gender differences.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 400 elderly participants sought care at Noakhali General Hospital, Noakhali, Bangladesh.

Reagent efficiency and analytical sensitivity optimization for a reliable SARS-CoV-2 pool-based testing strategy.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic caused millions of infections worldwide. Among the strategies for effective containment, frequent and massive testing was fundamental. Although sample pooling allows multiplying the installed analysis capacity, the definition of the number of samples to include in a pool is commonly guided more by economic parameters than analytical quality.

A Clinical Prediction Rule for Predicting the Health-related Quality of Life after 5 Months in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis Undergoing Conservative Treatment.

Objective: This study aimed to derive a clinical prediction rule (CPR) that can predict changes in health-related quality of life at 5 months for patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) undergoing conservative treatment.

Methods: Patients with KOA receiving physical therapy and exercise therapy at an outpatient clinic were included in this study. The basic characteristics, medical information, and motor function test results were recorded at baseline.