Improvement in Central Sensitization Following Total Knee Arthroplasty Is Associated With Severe Preoperative Pain and Affects Postoperative Quality of Life: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: Central sensitization (CS) is associated with quality of life (QOL) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, how CS changes after TKA and whether these changes have clinical relevance remain unclear. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify changes in CS after TKA and to assess the clinical significance of these changes.

A preliminary ex vivo diffusion tensor imaging study of distinct aortic morphologies.

Changes in the microstructure of the aortic wall precede the progression of various aortic pathologies, including aneurysms and dissection. Current clinical decisions with regards to surgical planning and/or radiological intervention are guided by geometric features, such as aortic diameter, since clinical imaging lacks tissue microstructural information. The aim of this proof-of-concept work is to investigate a non-invasive imaging method, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), in ex vivo aortic tissue to gain insights into the microstructure.

Using Laboratory Test Results for Surveillance During a New Outbreak of Acute Hepatitis in 3-Week- to 5-Year-Old Children in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Curaçao: Observational Cohort Study.

Background: In March 2022, a concerning rise in cases of unexplained pediatric hepatitis was reported in multiple countries. Cases were defined as acute hepatitis with serum transaminases >500 U/L (aspartate transaminase [AST] or alanine transaminase [ALT]) in children aged 16 years or younger. We explored a simple federated data analytics method to search for evidence of unreported cases using routinely held data.

Using evidence-based imaging referral guidelines to facilitate appropriate imaging: Are they all the same?

Rationale And Objectives: Countries worldwide have selected, adopted, adapted, and translated evidence-based imaging referral guidelines from radiology professional bodies. This study establishes the concordance of three imaging referral guidelines from the ACR, ESR, and RCR, and examines the emergency department cervical spine imaging appropriateness rates.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective analysis of the electronic medical records was performed between October 1st to December 31st, 2022, evaluating 452 radiography and 153 CT imaging referrals.

Breast ultrasound imaging systems performance evaluation using novel Contrast-Detail (C-D) and Anechoic-Target (A-T) phantoms.

Unlabelled: Ultrasound imaging plays an important role in the early detection and management of breast cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the imaging performance of a range of clinically-used breast ultrasound systems using a set of novel spherical lesion contrast-detail (C-D) and anechoic-target (A-T) phantoms.

Methods: C-D and A-T phantoms were imaged using a range of clinical breast ultrasound systems and imaging modes.

Imaging tests as predictors of progression to rheumatoid arthritis in clinically suspect arthralgia: A systematic review & meta-analysis.

Objectives: To determine and compare the diagnostic accuracy of imaging tests for the prediction of RA progression in people with inflammatory joint pain or CSA.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science from 1987 to March 2024. Studies evaluating any imaging tests in participants with inflammatory joint pain or CSA, without clinical synovitis were eligible.

Pituitary adenomas: biology, nomenclature and clinical classification.

An 'adenoma' is a benign neoplasm composed of epithelial tissue, and has been standard nomenclature for primary pituitary neoplasms. In 2022, the fifth edition of the WHO Classification of Endocrine Tumours and of Central Nervous System Tumours, renamed pituitary adenomas as neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), assigning an oncology label to pituitary invariably benign neoplasms. Multidisciplinary workshops convened by the Pituitary Society have questioned the process, validity, and merit of this arbitrary change, while addressing the adverse clinical implications of the proposed new nomenclature.

Minimal extra-cardiac atherosclerosis present in young people with sudden cardiac death due to coronary artery disease.

Aim: To define the association between severe coronary artery disease and widespread atherosclerosis in younger individuals.

Methods: Individuals aged 1-50 years with sudden cardiac death (SCD) from 2019-23, autopsy-proven to be due to coronary artery disease, were identified using the state-wide EndUCD registry. Presence of extra-coronary atherosclerosis greater than modified American Heart Association class III was assessed in 5 arterial beds (intra-cerebral vessels, aorta, carotid, renal and femoral arteries).

Pre-Clinical Rationale for Amcenestrant Combinations in HER2+/ER+ Breast Cancer.

HER2-positive/oestrogen receptor-positive (HER2+/ER+) represents a unique breast cancer subtype. The use of individual HER2- or ER-targeting agents can lead to the acquisition of therapeutic resistance due to compensatory receptor crosstalk. New drug combinations targeting HER2 and ER could improve outcomes for patients with HER2+/ER+ breast cancer.

Exploring Therapists' Experiences of an Educational Website to Support Telehealth Delivery of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy.

Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is an evidence-based intervention for arm recovery after acquired brain injury. Clinician knowledge, time and confidence in delivering CIMT are established barriers to the routine use of CIMT in practice. CIMT delivery via telehealth is one option to help overcome these barriers.

The role of non-respiratory arousals in residual daytime sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea treated with positive airway pressure: An analysis of the European Sleep Apnea Database registry.

Study Objectives: To assess the impact of the non-respiratory arousal burden at baseline polysomnography (PSG) on residual daytime sleepiness in positive airway pressure (PAP)-treated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: We included OSA patients from the European Sleep Apnea Database registry with available arousal data who had at least 2 treatment follow-up visits. The primary outcome was the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score under PAP.

Plasma β-hydroxybutyrate concentration, genetic risk, and the incidence of Alzheimer's disease: A prospective study of 261,933 participants.

Background: We investigated whether plasma β-hydroxybutyrate levels, a genetic risk score for Alzheimer's disease, and their interaction are associated with incident Alzheimer's disease.

Methods: Using data from the UK Biobank-a population-based cohort study of adults aged 40-69 years, we assessed associations between baseline plasma β-hydroxybutyrate level, genetic risk score for Alzheimer's disease, and incident Alzheimer's disease. Incident Alzheimer's disease data were collected through linked data from hospital admissions and death registries.

The relationship between vitamin A and myopia: A population-based study.

Purpose: We sought to evaluate the relationship between blood vitamin A levels and myopia in adults aged ≥20 years in Korea.

Methods: We collected data of 15,899 participants aged ≥20 years from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants underwent refraction tests to identify myopia and high myopia, and their blood pressure and obesity levels were measured.

Reference Values for Water-Specific T1, Intermuscular and Intramuscular Fat Content in Skeletal Muscle at 2.89 T.

Background: MRI offers quantification of proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and tissue characteristics with T1 mapping. The influence of age, sex, and the potential confounding effects of fat on T1 values in skeletal muscle in healthy adults are insufficiently known.

Purpose: To determine the accuracy and repeatability of a saturation-recovery chemical-shift encoded multiparametric approach (SR-CSE) for quantification of T1 and muscle fat content, and establish normative values (age, sex) from a healthy cohort.

Associations between the gut microbiome, inflammation and cardiovascular profiles in people with HIV.

Background: Inflammation and innate immune activation are associated with chronic HIV infection, despite effective treatment. Although gut microbiota alterations are linked to systemic inflammation, the relationships between the gut microbiome, inflammation and HIV remain unclear.

Methods: The UPBEAT-CAD sub-study, examining cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in HIV, enrolled participants matched on HIV status and traditional CVD risk factors.

The MASCC COG-IMPACT: An unmet needs assessment for cancer-related cognitive impairment impact developed by the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer.

Purpose: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) can have a profound impact on the lives of cancer survivors. A multitude of subjective and objective assessment tools exist to assess the presence and severity of CRCI. However, no purpose-built tool exists to assess the unmet needs of cancer survivors directly relating to CRCI.

Effects of epidural dexmedetomidine on patient-controlled epidural analgesia after total knee arthroplasty: a single-center, prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled study.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of adding epidural dexmedetomidine to low-concentration patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) on pain control and side effects in total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods: In this double-blind study, American Society of Anesthesiologists I to II patients undergoing TKA were assigned to receive 0.125% bupivacaine + fentanyl 4 µg/mL (group R) or 0.

Immune Gene Expression Profiling in Individuals with Turner Syndrome, Graves' Disease, and a Healthy Female by Single-Cell RNA Sequencing: A Comparative Study.

Turner syndrome (TS) can be determined by karyotype analysis, marked by the loss of one X chromosome in females. However, the genes involved in autoimmunity in TS patients remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to analyze differences in immune gene expression between a patient with TS, a healthy female, and a female patient with Graves' disease using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of antigen-specific CD4(+) T cells.

Elderly Onset Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia-A Rare Case.

Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia (PIL) is a rare protein-losing gastroenteropathy characterized by diffuse or localized ectasia of the enteric lymphatics, which can be accompanied by lymphatic abnormalities in other parts of the body. This condition results in hypoalbuminemia, hypogammaglobulinemia, and lymphopenia due to the abnormal leakage of lymphatic fluid into the gastrointestinal tract. As there are no specific serological or radiological tests available, the gold standard for diagnosing intestinal lymphangiectasia is endoscopic examination with histopathological examination of intestinal biopsy specimens.

Predicting Neoplastic Gallbladder Polyps: The Role of Current Surgical Indications and Preoperative Images.

Background/aims: Cholecystectomy for gallbladder (GB) polyps is performed primarily based on preoperative images. This study examined the accuracy of surgical indications commonly used in clinical practice for detecting neoplastic polyps and investigated further clues for predicting neoplastic polyps.

Methods: This retrospective study included 385 patients who underwent a cholecystectomy for GB polyps.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy After Resection of Localized Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Following Preoperative FOLFIRINOX.

Importance: The effect of adjuvant chemotherapy following resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma after preoperative (m)FOLFIRINOX (combination leucovorin calcium [folinic acid], fluorouracil, irinotecan hydrochloride, and oxaliplatin in full or modified dosing) chemotherapy on overall survival (OS) is unclear because current studies do not account for the number of cycles of preoperative chemotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy regimen.

Objective: To investigate the association of adjuvant chemotherapy following resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma after preoperative (m)FOLFIRINOX with OS, taking into account the number of cycles of preoperative chemotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy regimen.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study included patients with localized pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated with 2 to 11 cycles of preoperative (m)FOLFIRINOX followed by resection across 48 centers in 20 countries from 2010 to 2018.

Community prevalence of blood-borne viruses (hepatitis B and HIV) in Ireland.

Background: Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus and HIV causes significant morbidity and mortality. Effective antiviral treatment is available for both. Ireland has historically been considered a low prevalence country.

Judaism, Women's Health and COVID-19.

This issue commences with a review of the top 100 most cited papers in the Journal of Religion and Health. This is followed by Part 2 of a series examining Judaism and health related research, which is subsequently followed by an extensive collection of research specifically connected to women's health. Finally, research continues to present the unique and ongoing effects of COVID-19.