Weight censorial score: estimation of the weight loss during concurrent chemo-radiotherapy in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients by image features predicts prognosis.

Purpose: Bodyweight loss is commonly found in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma patients during Concurrent Chemo-radiotherapy (CCRT) and has implications for treatment decisions. However, the prognostic value of this weight loss remains uncertain. We addressed it by proposing a novel index Weight Censorial Score (WCS) that characterizes the patient-specific CCRT response on actual to estimated weight loss.

Assessment of Reperfusion Efficacy of Altelyse Versus Actilyse in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Non-inferiority Clinical Trial.

Background: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and fibrinolytic or thrombolytic therapy are common treatments for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Primary percutaneous coronary intervention is more effective than thrombolytic therapy, but fibrinolytic therapy is still a preferable option for patients with limited access to healthcare. Alteplase is a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) used to treat acute myocardial infarction, acute ischemic stroke, and pulmonary embolism.

Construction and validation of a nomogram prediction model for the occurrence of complications in patients following robotic radical surgery for gastric cancer.

Background: In the last two decades, robotic-assisted gastrectomy has become a widely adopted surgical option for gastric cancer (GC) treatment. Despite its popularity, postoperative complications can significantly deteriorate patient quality of life and prognosis. Therefore, identifying risk factors for these complications is crucial for early detection and intervention.

Short common trunk of the occipital artery and ascending pharyngeal artery arising from the internal carotid artery diagnosed by magnetic resonance angiography.

Purpose: To describe a case of short common trunk of the occipital artery (OA) and ascending pharyngeal artery (APA) arising from the internal carotid artery (ICA).

Methods: A 36-year-old woman with a history of surgical resection of a right lateral ventricular meningioma and atheromatous plaque of the right ICA underwent cranial magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR angiography of the head and neck region with a 3-Tesla scanner.

Results: MR angiography of the neck region showed a small atheromatous plaque at the origin of the right ICA and an anomalous artery arising from the posteromedial aspect of the right ICA at the distal end of the carotid bulb.

The role of D-dimer changes in predicting delivery time in preterm premature rupture of membranes: a retrospective analysis.

Introduction: Pregnancy induces a hypercoagulable state, characterized by increased coagulation factors and decreased anticoagulants, alongside ongoing fibrinolysis marked by elevated D-dimer (DD) levels. Reference values for DD in pregnancy often exceed the non-pregnant cutoff due to these changes. Elevated DD levels are common in late pregnancy and may correlate with complications such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, and preterm delivery, particularly in cases of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM).

Impact of lactate levels on admission in STEMI patients with cardiogenic shock treated with IMPELLA.

The concomitant use of IMPELLA and veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO) (ECPELLA) has been increasingly used to treat severe cardiogenic shock. However, the relationship between severity of heart failure on admission and prognosis based on differences in the mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is not fully understood. This study evaluated the association between lactate levels on admission and clinical outcomes based on differences in MCS.

Diffusion tensor imaging features of white matter pathways in the brain after COVID-19 infection.

Purpose: To determine whether there is a difference in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and fractional anisotropy (FA) values in white matter pathways in the subacute period after COVID-19 infection and to evaluate the correlation between diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics and laboratory findings.

Material And Methods: The study included 64 healthy controls and 91 patients. Patients were classified as group 1 (all patients, n = 91), group 2 (outpatients, n = 58), or group 3 (inpatients, n = 33).

Tricuspid regurgitation and outcomes in mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair.

Background And Aims: The association between periprocedural change in tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and outcomes in patients undergoing mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (M-TEER) is unclear. This study aimed to examine the prognostic value of TR before and after M-TEER.

Methods: Patients in the OCEAN-Mitral registry were divided into four groups according to baseline and post-procedure echocardiographic assessments: no TR/no TR (no TR), no TR/significant TR (new-onset TR), significant TR/no TR (normalized TR), and significant TR/significant TR (residual TR) (all represents before/after M-TEER).

Comparison of different microbiome analysis pipelines to validate their reproducibility of gastric mucosal microbiome composition.

Microbiome analysis has become a crucial tool for basic and translational research due to its potential for translation into clinical practice. However, there is ongoing controversy regarding the comparability of different bioinformatic analysis platforms and a lack of recognized standards, which might have an impact on the translational potential of results. This study investigates how the performance of different microbiome analysis platforms impacts the final results of mucosal microbiome signatures.

The Effect of St. John's Wort Oil on Urethral Stricture: An Experimental Study in Rat Model.

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the effect of yellow and red centaury St. John's Wort (St. JW) oil on inflammation and urethral fibrosis development in a rat urethral trauma model.

Effects of kinesiotaping on proprioception, pain, disability, and quality of life in patients with cervical spondylosis: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effects of kinesiotaping (KT) adjunct to physical therapy (PT) on proprioception, cervical range of motion (ROM), pain, disability, anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QoL) in cervical spondylosis.

Methods: Sixty-nine patients aged 50-70 years were randomized into three groups: PT, PT plus KT(PT+KT), PT plus sham-taping(PT+ST). All participants underwent standardized 15-session PT, 5 days/week.

Assessing sign language comprehension in adults with intellectual disability and deafness.

Language comprehension is an essential component of human development that is associated not only with expressive language development and knowledge acquisition, but also with social inclusion, mental health, and quality of life. For deaf and hard-of-hearing adults with intellectual disability, there is a paucity of measures of receptive sign language skills, although these are a prerequisite for individualized planning and evaluation of intervention. Assessments require materials and procedures that are accurate, feasible, and suitable for low levels of functioning.

Prevalence and Prognostic Impact of ST Segment Elevation in Lead aVR Among Patients with Cardiac Arrest.

Background: In acute coronary syndrome, ST-segment elevation in lead aVR (STE-aVR) indicates global myocardial ischemia, often related to multivessel or severe left main disease, and correlates with increased mortality. The prevalence and prognostic significance of STE-aVR in cardiac arrest (CA) patients is unknown.

Methods: We identified patients (≥18 years) with CA between 2011 to 2022 who achieved return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC).

Educational or Behavioural Interventions to Improve Long-Term Haemodialysis Vascular Access Self-Management: A Systematic Review.

Background: Globally, haemodialysis is the most frequent type of kidney replacement therapy and necessitates access to the bloodstream either through a native arteriovenous fistula, arteriovenous graft or central venous catheter. Vascular access complications are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in adults receiving haemodialysis, and effective vascular access self-management is required.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of educational or behavioural interventions designed to improve self-management of long-term vascular access in adults receiving haemodialysis.

Co-Producing Peritoneal Dialysis Nursing Sensitive Indicators for Quality Care: A Multinational Consensus Building Design.

Background: Nursing sensitive indicators are a way of measuring aspects of patient care that are most affected by the actions of the nurse. Despite the existence of nursing sensitive indicators, these are largely not suitable to measure peritoneal dialysis nursing practice.

Objective: This project aimed to co-develop a set of peritoneal dialysis nursing-sensitive indicators.

Task-sharing: Abortion care access expansion through training midwives and nurses to provide first trimester abortion in a sub-Saharan setting: A multicenter pre-post study.

Objectives: To determine the effect of training midwives and nurses on access to first trimester abortions and post-abortion family planning.

Methods: This was a pre-post study on first trimester abortion care and post-abortion contraceptive services expansion by training midwives and nurses(task-sharing) from 14 catchment health centers of St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College (Ethiopia).

Advance care planning intervention in chronic kidney care: A qualitative evaluation.

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease and their families request early and continuous advance care planning. Based on user involvement, an advance care planning intervention was developed to support patients, family members and healthcare professionals (HCPs) in advance care planning conversations in a nephrology outpatient setting.

Objective: To explore the experiences and perceptions of an advance care planning intervention among patients with chronic kidney disease, family members and healthcare professionals.

Overweight yet Undernourished: A Common Juxtaposition in the Specialist Diabetes Foot Service.

Aims: To describe the nutritional status of people with diabetes-related foot complications and explore the association between nutrition and ulceration healing.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included attendees of a diabetes foot service who completed a dietary questionnaire. Diet was compared to guideline recommendations and biochemical measures were recorded.

Advances in the use of nanotechnology for treating gout.

Gout is a commonly occurring form of inflammatory arthritis caused by persistently elevated levels of uric acid. Its incidence rate rises with the increases of living standards and poor dietary habits, which has a considerable impact on the quality of life of the patients. Although there is a wide assortment of drugs available for the management of gout, the effectiveness and security of these drugs are limited by their poor chemical stability and insufficient targeting.

Integrating digital technologies in dental technician education: A comparative study of national examination in Asian countries.

Background/purpose: The integration of digital technologies in dental technician education revolutionized the profession in Asian countries. Despite the growing adoption of digital methods, national examinations predominantly relied on traditional techniques. This study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of national examination standards and digital course integration in dental technician education among 5 countries including Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, the Philippines, and China.

Review of Challenges in Performing Real-World Evidence Studies for Nonprescription Products.

In recent years, regulatory authorities have signaled a willingness to consider real-world evidence (RWE) data to support applications for new claims and indications for pharmaceuticals. Historically, RWE studies have been the domain of prescription drugs, driven by the fact that clinical data on patients are routinely captured in medical records, claims databases, registries, etc. However, RWE reports of nonprescription drugs and supplements are relatively sparse due to methodological gaps in this area.

Mpox (monkeypox): a comprehensive updated of current epidemic evidence.

Mpox, formerly referred to as monkeypox, is a viral disease endemic to central Africa, resulting from the monkeypox virus (MPXV). This study provides a current overview of the Mpox epidemic as of 2024, emphasizing significant developments and epidemiological trends. The World Health Organization (WHO) initially designated a clade Ⅱb outbreak as a global health emergency in May 2022, which was subsequently managed through vaccination and public health interventions by May 2023.