Analytical review of facial nerve palsy following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: comprehensive assessment.

Purpose: The SARS-CoV-2 vaccination has reduced COVID-19 infection, though facial nerve palsy (FNP) has emerged as a notable side effect of the vaccine. We evaluated the current literature on the clinical presentation and outcomes of FNP related to COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods: A comprehensive search of seven databases was conducted for studies up to January 2023.

"Blindness" is not a contraindication for voretigene neparvovec-rzyl treatment-a review of 9 cases.

Objective: Biallelic RPE65 pathogenic variants may cause Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). Voretigene neparvovec-rzyl (VN, Luxturna) is the only approved subretinal gene therapy that demonstrated benefit and safety. The eligibility criteria are vague and variable between centres.

Covert Vascular Brain Injury and Cognitive Dysfunction Among Chinese Adults Living in Canada and China: The CAHHM and PURE-MIND Studies.

Background And Objective: It is unclear whether variation in covert cerebrovascular disease prevalence is attributable to ethnic differences or to other factors. We aimed to examine the associations of country of residence with covert vascular brain injury (VBI) and cognitive dysfunction among Chinese adults residing in Canada and China.

Methods: This was a multisite cross-sectional study of Chinese adults aged 40-80 years in the Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Healthy Minds (CAHHM; January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2018) and Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiological-Mind (PURE-MIND; November 1, 2010, to July 31, 2015) cohorts living in Canada and China.

Restrictive or Liberal Blood Transfusion in Patients with Myocardial Infarction and CKD.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with higher risk of myocardial infarction and anemia. Among patients with anemia and CKD who experience myocardial infarction, it remains uncertain if a liberal red blood cell transfusion threshold strategy (hemoglobin cutoff [Hgb] < 10 g/dL) is superior to a restrictive transfusion threshold (Hgb 7-8 g/dL) strategy.

Methods: Among the 3,504 patients enrolled in the Myocardial Ischemia and Transfusion (MINT) trial with non-missing creatinine, we compared baseline characteristics and 30-day and 6-month outcomes of patients without CKD (N = 1279), CKD with eGFR 30-60 mL/min/1.

Stuck in Transition: Clinical and Patient Factors Behind Prolonged Paramedic to Emergency Department Transfer of Care.

Objectives: Paramedic services face increasing challenges due to delays in patient transfer of care (TOC) at emergency departments (EDs). Prolonged TOC times directly impact paramedic services' ability to provide emergency response, though the patient and clinical factors contributing to these delays remain unclear. We examined TOC times for all transports to the ED and analyzed factors associated with prolonged TOC.

Parental and Medical Classification of Neurodevelopment in Children Born Preterm.

Background And Objectives: The likelihood and severity of neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) affects critical health care decisions. NDI definitions were developed without parental perspectives. We investigated the agreement between parental vs medical classification of NDI among children born preterm.

Combination Antithrombotic Therapy for Reduction of Recurrent Ischemic Stroke in Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease.

Background: Stroke secondary to intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) is associated with high recurrence risk despite currently available secondary prevention strategies. In patients with systemic atherosclerosis, a significant reduction of stroke risk with no increase in intracranial or fatal hemorrhage was seen when rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily was added to aspirin.

Using behavioural science to improve antibiotic stewardship in Canadian long-term care homes: Protocol for a multi-center cluster randomized quality improvement study.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is associated with significant human and financial costs, particularly among vulnerable populations like older adults living in long-term care homes (LTCHs). Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the leading indication for antibiotic use in this population, with some estimates suggesting that up to 70% of these prescriptions may be avoidable.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to develop and test novel behavioural science-informed antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) quality improvement strategies in Canadian LTCHs, which aim to decrease unnecessary testing and treatment for residents who lack the minimum clinical signs and symptoms of UTI.

Implementation of O-RADS Ultrasound Reporting System: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

To determine the feasibility of implementing Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting & Data System (O-RADS) ultrasound (US) for reporting of adnexal masses at our institution, with a specific goal of increasing the use of O-RADS from a baseline of <5% to at least 75% over a 16-month period. A prospective interrupted time series quality improvement study was undertaken over a 16-month period. Plan, do, study, act cycles included: (1) Engagement of interested parties, (2) Targeted educational sessions, (3) Development of reporting templates, (4) Weekly audit-feedback.

Comparative assessment of a virtual performance measure with self-report and performance-based outcomes in patients with hip osteoarthritis.

Background: The purposes of this study were to examine the reliability and factorial and convergent validity of a virtual performance measure (VPM) in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip joint and to compare the known-group validity of the VPM with traditional self-report and performance-based outcomes.

Methods: The VPM score was based on the results of 10 videos showing increasing difficulty in performing specific functional tasks. Patients were requested to choose the video that best reflected their own level of function.

Frequency of Missing TNM Stage Data for Adults With Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities in a Provincial Cancer Registry-A Brief Report.

Background: Adults with intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) are at higher risk for incomplete cancer staging.

Aim: To compare unknown stage data between those with and without IDD.

Materials And Methods: We used the Ontario Cancer Registry linked to administrative health data between 2007 and 2019.

Temporal trends in mental health terminology in Alzheimer's disease clinical trials.

Background: Despite several studies having correlated Alzheimer's disease with mental health conditions, the extent to which they have been incorporated into Alzheimer's disease clinical trials remains unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the temporal trends in mental health-related terminology in Alzheimer's disease clinical trials as a proxy measure of research interest. Additionally, it sought to determine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the frequency of these terms through pre-pandemic and post-pandemic trend assessment.

Sepsis subtypes and differential treatment response to vitamin C: biological sub-study of the LOVIT trial.

Purpose: We hypothesised that the biological heterogeneity of sepsis may highlight sepsis subtypes with differences in response to intravenous vitamin C treatment in the Lessening Organ Dysfunction with VITamin C (LOVIT) trial. Our aims were to identify sepsis subtypes and to test whether sepsis subtypes have differences in treatment effect to vitamin C and describe putative biological effects of vitamin C treatment.

Methods: We measured biomarkers of inflammation, at baseline and at 7 days post-randomisation, in 457/863 (53.

Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists and Risk of Thyroid Cancer: An International Multisite Cohort Study.

Concerns have been raised that glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) may increase the risk of thyroid cancer, but evidence remains conflicting. We therefore investigated if GLP1-RA use, compared with use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is), was associated with thyroid cancer risk in patients with type 2 diabetes. This multisite cohort study with subsequent meta-analysis included six population-based databases from Canada (Ontario), Denmark, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, and Taiwan.

Bosniak Classification of Cystic Renal Masses Version 2019: Proportion of Malignancy by Class and Subclass-Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Bosniak classification version 2019 (v2019) was a major revision to version 2005 (v2005) that defined cystic renal mass subclasses based on wall or septa features. To determine the proportion of malignancy within cystic renal masses stratified by Bosniak classification v2019 class and feature-based subclass. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched on July 24, 2023 for studies published in 2019 or later that reported cystic renal masses that underwent renal-mass CT or MRI, were assessed using Bosniak v2019, and had a reference standard (histopathology indicating benignity or malignancy or ≥5-year imaging follow-up indicating benignity).

Neurological Biomarker Profiles in Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Pilots and Aircrew.

Background/objectives: Military aviators can be exposed to extreme physiological stressors, including decompression stress, G-forces, as well as intermittent hypoxia and/or hyperoxia, which may contribute to neurobiological dysfunction/damage. This study aimed to investigate the levels of neurological biomarkers in military aviators to assess the potential risk of long-term brain injury and neurodegeneration.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 48 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) aviators and 48 non-aviator CAF controls.

CircRNA: Functions, Applications and Prospects.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) represent a distinct class of covalently closed non-coding RNA molecules characterized by the absence of free 5' and 3' ends [...

A Scoping Review on the Influence of Housing on the Health and Well-Being of People with a Spinal Cord Injury/Dysfunction.

Background/objectives: Despite the growing recognition of housing as a significant concern for individuals with a spinal cord injury/dysfunction (SCI/D), there is limited research available on this topic. This scoping review aimed to identify and describe the literature on housing across the continuum for people with an SCI/D.

Methods: This review utilized Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review framework.

Leveraging Large Language Models in Radiology Research: A Comprehensive User Guide.

Large Language Models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT have been increasingly integrated into radiology research, revolutionizing the research landscape. The Radiology Research Alliance (RRA) of the Association for Academic Radiology (AAR) has convened a Task Force to develop this guide to help radiology researchers responsibly adopt LLM technologies. LLMs can improve various phases of the research process by helping to automate literature reviews, generate research questions, analyze complex datasets, and draft manuscripts.

Not for everyone: Factors influencing who receives psychotherapy in people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Although depression and anxiety are common in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), access to psychotherapy remains limited.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify clinical factors that predict use of psychotherapy among pwMS.

Methods: From a retrospective chart review of a tertiary neuropsychiatry clinic in Toronto, Canada, data were obtained for 267 pwMS who received neuropsychiatric treatment (either with antidepressants or psychotherapy).

Hospital antimicrobial stewardship funding and resourcing impact on broad-spectrum antibiotic use: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) aim to mitigate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by optimizing antibiotic use including reducing unnecessary broad-spectrum therapy. This study evaluates the impact of ASP funding and resources on the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in Ontario hospitals.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of antimicrobial use (AMU) across 63 Ontario hospitals from April 2020 to March 2023.

Preferred labels and language to improve communication about lesions at low risk of progressing to cancer: qualitative interviews with patients and physicians.

Objectives: We explored how to improve communication about low-risk lesions including labels, language and other strategies.

Design: Qualitative description and thematic analysis to examine the transcripts of telephone interviews with patients who had low-risk lesions and physicians; and mapping to Communication Accommodation Theory to interpret themes.

Setting: Canada PARTICIPANTS: 15 patients: 6 (40%) bladder, 5 (33%) prostate and 4 (27%) cervix lesions; and 13 physicians: 7 (54%) cervix, 3 (23%) bladder and 3 (23%) prostate lesions.

International Consensus Guidance for the Management of Glucocorticoid Related Complications in Neuromuscular Disease.

Introduction/aims: Glucocorticoid (GC)-related adverse reactions and risks are commonly seen during the treatment of immune-mediated and inflammatory neuromuscular disorders. There is wide variation in the management of associated complications. The aim of this study is to develop international consensus guidance on the management of GC-related complications in neuromuscular disorders.