An epidemiological risk assessment of imported malaria cases and potential local transmission in Qatar.

Preventing local transmission of malaria from imported cases is crucial for achieving and maintaining malaria elimination. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria cases and assess the distribution of malaria vectors in Qatar. Data from January 2016 to December 2022 on imported malaria, including demographic and epidemiological characteristics, travel-related information, and diagnostic results, were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics.

Epidemiological analysis and potential factors affecting the 2022-23 Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever outbreak in Iraq.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an acute tick-borne disease with a case fatality rate of up to 40% in humans, posing a significant health threat. This study investigates the 2022-23 CCHF outbreaks in Iraq, the highest recorded to date, and analyzes potential factors at the human-animal-environmental interface. Data from the Iraqi government, the World Health Organization, and the World Bank were used to analyze CCHF trends and affecting factors.

Overweight, obesity, and cardiovascular disease in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia: the EAS FH Studies Collaboration registry.

Background And Aims: Overweight and obesity are modifiable risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in the general population, but their prevalence in individuals with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH) and whether they confer additional risk of ASCVD independent of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) remains unclear.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 35 540 patients with HeFH across 50 countries, in the EAS FH Studies Collaboration registry. Prevalence of World Health Organization-defined body mass index categories was investigated in adults (n = 29 265) and children/adolescents (n = 6275); and their association with prevalent ASCVD.

Risk Factors for the Development of Neurological Deficits in Metastatic Spinal Disease: An International, Multicenter Delphi Study.

Study Design: Delphi study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify risk factors associated with the development and/or progression of neurological deficits in patients with metastatic spinal disease.

Methods: A three-round Delphi study was conducted between January-May 2023 including AO Spine members, comprising mainly neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons.

A Critical Appraisal of the Application of Frailty and Sarcopenia in the Spinal Oncology Population.

Study Design: Systematic review and clinimetric analysis.

Objectives: Frailty and sarcopenia predict worse surgical outcomes among spinal degenerative and deformity-related populations; this association is less clear in the context of spinal oncology. Here, we sought to identify frailty and sarcopenia tools applied in spinal oncology and appraise their clinimetric properties.

Empowering Regional Conservation: Genetic Diversity Assessments as a Tool for Eelgrass Management.

To halt the loss of biodiversity, collaboration among scientists, managers and decision-makers is vital. Although biodiversity loss is a global problem, management actions influencing diversity are often on a local to regional scale. Our study is an example of a regional conservation genomic assessment developed in collaboration between scientists and managers.

First-Principles Assessment of ZnTe and CdSe as Prospective Tunnel Barriers at the InAs/Al Interface.

Majorana zero modes are predicted to emerge in semiconductor/superconductor interfaces, such as InAs/Al. Majorana modes could be utilized for fault tolerant topological qubits. However, their realization is hindered by materials challenges.

Computer Simulation of Sulfated Cyclodextrin-Based Enantioselective Separation of Weak Bases With Partial, High-Concentration Filling of the Chiral Selector and Analyte Detection on the Cathodic Side.

Computer simulation was utilized to characterize the electrophoretic processes occurring during the enantioselective capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) analysis of ketamine, norketamine, and hydroxynorketamine in a system with partial filling of the capillary with 19 mM (equals 5%) of highly sulfated γ-cyclodextrin (HS-γ-CD) and analyte detection on the cathodic side. Provided that the sample is applied without or with a small amount of the chiral selector, analytes become quickly focused and separated in the thereby formed HS-γ-CD gradient at the cathodic end of the sample compartment. This gradient broadens with time, remains stationary, and gradually reduces its span from the lower side due to diffusion such that analytes with high affinity to the anionic selector become released onto the other side of the focusing gradient where anionic migration and defocusing occur concomitantly.

L-Arginine and L-Citrulline for Prevention and Treatment of Pre-Eclampsia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Evidence suggests L-arginine may be effective at reducing pre-eclampsia and related outcomes. However, whether L-arginine can prevent or only treat pre-eclampsia, and thus the target population and timing of initiation, remains unknown.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of L-arginine and L-citrulline (precursor of L-arginine) on the prevention and treatment of pre-eclampsia.

Revisiting the oxygen reactivity index in traumatic brain injury: the complementary value of combined focal and global autoregulation monitoring.

Background: The oxygen reactivity index (ORx) reflects the correlation between focal brain tissue oxygen (pbtO) and the cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). Previous, small cohort studies were conflicting on whether ORx conveys cerebral autoregulatory information and if it is related to outcome in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Thus, we aimed to investigate these issues in a larger TBI cohort.

Oral Anticancer Therapies: Addressing Nonadherence in Patients With Breast Cancer.

This review aims to investigate the issue of treatment nonadherence and to present the available strategies to improve adherence to oral treatments in breast cancer. A literature search was conducted to contextualise the issue of nonadherence, investigate the reasons behind nonadherence, and demonstrate strategies to address treatment nonadherence in breast cancer. Findings indicate that adherence rates decrease while discontinuation rates increase with increasing lengths of breast cancer treatment course.

Flow electrolytic separation of radionuclides for interference suppression in γ-spectrometry.

Background: The direct and accurate measurement of low-level γ-emitters in samples from nuclear facilities is a challenging task due to the presence of high activities of dominant radionuclides. In this case a complex chemical separation is required to remove interfering radionuclides prior to γ-spectrometric analysis. Several radionuclides such as, Ag, Sb, Sn and Te are of relevance for radioanalytical analysis in nuclear facilities.

Point of view: Challenges in implementation of new immunotherapies for Alzheimer's disease.

The advancement of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) for Alzheimer's disease (AD), along with the approval of three amyloid-targeting therapies in the US and several other countries, represents a significant development in the treatment landscape, offering new hope for addressing this once untreatable chronic progressive disease. However, significant challenges persist that could impede the successful integration of this class of drugs into clinical practice. These challenges include determining patient eligibility, appropriate use of diagnostic tools and genetic testing in patient care pathways, effective detection and monitoring of side effects, and improving the healthcare system's readiness by engaging both primary care and dementia specialists.

Evaluation of three diagnostic algorithms to reduce normal scan rates, radiation exposure and costs in patients with suspected chronic coronary syndrome referred for 82Rb-Positron Emission Tomography (Rb-PET).

Background: The majority of functional ischemia tests in patients with suspected chronic coronary syndromes (CCS) yield normal results. Implementing gatekeepers for patient preselection, such as pretest probability (PTP) and/or coronary artery calcium score (CACS), could reduce the number of normal scan results, radiation exposure and costs. However, the efficacy and safety of these approaches remain unclear.

Comparison of carbon dioxide control during pressure controlled versus pressure-regulated volume controlled ventilation in children (CoCO2): protocol for a pilot digital randomised controlled trial in a quaternary paediatric intensive care unit.

Introduction: Digital trials are a promising strategy to increase the evidence base for common interventions and may convey considerable efficiency benefits in trial conduct. Although paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) are rich in routine electronic data, highly pragmatic digital trials in this field remain scarce. There are unmet evidence needs for optimal mechanical ventilation modes in paediatric intensive care.

Frailty and comorbidity in older adults with and without diabetes and chronic leg ulcer: A cross-sectional study.

This descriptive, cross-sectional study aimed to identify whether having a chronic leg ulcer (CLU), in addition to diabetes, contributed to frailty in individuals ≥65 years old. It also explored the associations between frailty, pre-frailty and other factors. 125 participants aged ≥65 attending outpatient clinics in Ireland were categorised into three groups: (1) diabetes-only and no CLU, (2) CLU-only and no diabetes, and (3) diabetes and CLU.

Estimating the environmental burden of disease resulting from exposure to chemicals in European countries - potentials and challenges revealed in selected case studies.

Background: The increased use of chemicals leads to a continuous deposition of chemicals in the environment and to a continuous increase in exposure of the global and the European population. Comprehensive burden of disease analyses are however still missing for many countries.

Methods: Using the World Health Organization's Environmental Burden of Disease (EBD) approach and combining data from the European Human Biomonitoring (HBM) dashboard with disease and population data, we estimated the comprehensive attributable burden (AB) for the year 2021, in the best-case quantified by disability-adjusted life years (DALY).

Acute pulmonary embolism with and without hemodynamic instability (2003-2022): A Swiss nationwide epidemiological study.

Background: Data on the epidemiological burden of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in Switzerland is unavailable. Knowledge gaps remain on trends in PE-related comorbidities, PE severity, and length of in-hospital stay (LOS) at a nationwide level.

Methods: We used nationwide, patient-level data including all patients aged 15 years or older hospitalized for PE in Switzerland from 2003 to 2022, amounting to N=180,600.

Effects of periodontal disease on the proteomic profile of the periodontal ligament.

Periodontal disease affects over 1 billion people globally. This study investigated how periodontitis affects the protein profile of the periodontal ligament (PDL) in rats. Eight Holtzman rats were divided into the control and experimental periodontitis groups.

Hyperacute Effects of Mitral Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair on Left Ventricular Volumes and Functions.

Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) is an effective intervention for high-risk patients with severe symptomatic mitral regurgitation (MR), but its acute impact on left ventricular (LV) function has not been well studied using advanced echocardiographic techniques. This study investigated the immediate effects of TEER on LV volumes and functions, as well as their influence on mid-term outcomes, using high-resolution 3D transesophageal echocardiography. In 80 patients undergoing TEER for severe MR (mean age 79±8 years, 49% with primary MR), LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and stroke volume significantly decreased (161±61 to 147±54 ml and 69±18 to 50±15 ml, respectively), while end-systolic volume increased (92±60 to 97±45 ml; p<0.

Balloon atrioseptostomy for transposition of the great arteries in Europe: characteristics and outcomes.

Introduction And Objectives: Balloon atrial septostomy (BAS) improves oxygenation in neonates with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and restrictive foramen ovale. Currently, there is a global shortage of dedicated BAS catheters, while new unmarked catheters have recently become available at some European centers. This study aimed to characterize BAS outcomes using the currently available BAS catheters in Europe.