Clinical Manifestations of Subjects With the Non-Specific Pulmonary Function Test Pattern.

Introduction: Non-specific pattern (NSP) is a subgroup of preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) that requires a normal total lung capacity measurement. NSP has been historically classified as being an obstructive lung disease pattern. There has been heightened interest and investigation into PRISm recently as it has been associated with an increased likelihood of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Dynamic networks of cortico-muscular interactions in sleep and neurodegenerative disorders.

The brain plays central role in regulating physiological systems, including the skeleto-muscular and locomotor system. Studies of cortico-muscular coordination have primarily focused on associations between movement tasks and dynamics of specific brain waves. However, the brain-muscle functional networks of synchronous coordination among brain waves and muscle activity rhythms that underlie locomotor control remain unknown.

Safety and efficacy of continuous subcutaneous foslevodopa-foscarbidopa in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease: a randomised, double-blind, active-controlled, phase 3 trial.

Background: Levodopa is the most effective symptomatic therapy for Parkinson's disease, but patients with advanced Parkinson's disease develop motor fluctuations with chronic oral levodopa therapy. Foslevodopa-foscarbidopa is a soluble formulation of levodopa and carbidopa prodrugs that is delivered as a 24-h/day continuous subcutaneous infusion, and we aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of this formulation in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease.

Methods: A 12-week randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, active-controlled study was done at 65 academic and community study centres in the USA and Australia.

Left bundle area pacing: Guiding implant depth by ring measurements.

Background: Criteria for successful left bundle area pacing (LBAP) are in flux and currently guided by lead tip measurements. Lead ring measurements during LBAP have not been well studied.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate dynamics in pacing parameters during successful and unsuccessful lead implant attempts.

Chromosomal phase improves aneuploidy detection in non-invasive prenatal testing at low fetal DNA fractions.

Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) to detect fetal aneuploidy by sequencing the cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in maternal plasma is being broadly adopted. To detect fetal aneuploidies from maternal plasma, where fetal DNA is mixed with far-larger amounts of maternal DNA, NIPT requires a minimum fraction of the circulating cfDNA to be of placental origin, a level which is usually attained beginning at 10 weeks gestational age. We present an approach that leverages the arrangement of alleles along homologous chromosomes-also known as chromosomal phase-to make NIPT analyses more conclusive.

The use of low-cost ruggedized Android tablets to augment in-service training of community health workers in Mukono, Uganda: perspectives and lessons learned from the field.

Background: Despite potential for community health workers (CHWs) to effectively reduce morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, they still face multiple barriers including access to on-going and refresher training. Digital technology offers a potential solution to improve the provision of ongoing training for CHWs.

Objectives: This report shares participant insights and experiences following the implementation of a mobile health (mHealth) assisted Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) refresher training programme for CHWs in Mukono, Uganda.

Identifying three otopathologies in humans.

Objectives: Hearing-in-noise (HIN) is a primary complaint of both the hearing impaired and the hearing aid user. Both auditory nerve (AN) function and outer hair cell (OHC) function are thought to contribute to HIN, but their relative contributions are still being elucidated. OHCs play a critical role in HIN by fine tuning the motion of the basilar membrane.

Subtherapeutic INR due to warfarin interaction with smokeless tobacco.

We report an interesting case of warfarin resistance and subtherapeutic international normalized ratio (INR) in the setting of chronic smokeless tobacco use. A 33-year-old white male with a mechanical mitral valve failed to achieve therapeutic INR despite being on warfarin doses of up to 30 mg by mouth daily. The patient admits to chewing tobacco daily for the past 16 years.

Is competitive atrial pacing a possible trigger for atrial fibrillation? Observations from the RATE registry.

Background: A high incidence of asymptomatic atrial tachycardia and atrial fibrillation (AT/AF) has been recognized in patients with cardiac implantable devices (CIED). The clinical significance of these AT/AF episodes remains unclear. Some "device-detected AT/AF" was previously shown to be triggered by competitive atrial pacing (CAP).

His bundle pacing insights from electroanatomical mapping: Topography and pacing targets.

Objectives: To characterize 3D electroanatomical mapping (EAM) of the His bundle (HB) region.

Background: Visualization of selective (S) and nonselective (NS) HB capture areas by EAM has not been described and may help guide HB pacing (HBP).

Methods: EAM was performed via NavX system in 17 patients (pts) undergoing HBP.