Predicting Mortality and Hospitalization in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction by Using Machine Learning.

Background: Few studies have incorporated echocardiography and laboratory data to predict clinical outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Objectives: This study aimed to use machine learning to find predictors of heart failure (HF) hospitalization and cardiovascular (CV) death in HFpEF.

Methods: From the Chang Gung Research Database in Taiwan, 6,092 HFpEF patients (2,898 derivation, 3,194 validation) identified between 2008 and 2017 were followed until 2019.

Engineered Perfluorochemical Cancer-Derived Exosomes Loaded with Indocyanine Green and Camptothecin Provide Targeted Photochemotherapy for Effective Cancer Treatment.

Background: Cancer treatments are still limited by various challenges, such as off-target drug delivery, posttreatment inflammation, and the hypoxic conditions in the tumor microenvironment; thus, the development of effective therapeutics remains highly desirable. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles with a size of 30-200 nm that have been widely applied as drug carriers over the last decade. In this study, melanoma-derived exosomes were used to develop a perfluorocarbon (PFC) drug nanocarriers loaded with indocyanine green (ICG) and camptothecin (CPT) (ICFESs) for targeted cancer photochemotherapy.

Unraveling the Role of Oxygen Pulse Variability in Endurance Exercise Training in Individuals with COPD: A Novel Approach to Response of Oxygen Pulse and Quality of Life in Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by airway inflammation, airflow limitation, reduced health-related quality of life (HRQL), and exercise intolerance. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is essential for COPD management, but outcomes may be influenced by individual physiological factors. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) measures oxygen pulse (O2P), an indicator of stroke volume, yet the impact of baseline O2P on PR effectiveness remains unclear.

Informing a sinusitis clinical trial protocol: A focus group study with clinicians and staff.

This study investigates practicing clinician and staff perspectives on potential protocol modifications for the "Nasal Irrigation, Oral Antibiotics, and Subgroup Targeting for Effective Management of Acute Sinusitis" (NOSES) study, a pragmatic randomized controlled trial aiming at improving acute rhinosinusitis management. Focus groups with clinicians and staff at the pretrial stage recommended expanding participant age inclusion criteria, incorporating patients with COVID-19, and shortening the supportive care phase. Participants also discussed patient engagement and recruitment strategies.

Is Thermal Pulsation Therapy Effective for Dry Eyes Before and After Cataract Surgery? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is a primary cause of evaporative dry eye disease (DED), which is often exacerbated by cataract surgery due to surgical trauma and inflammation. Thermal pulsation therapy (TPT) aims to enhance meibomian gland function and relieve dry eye symptoms. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of TPT in managing dry eye symptoms associated with cataract surgery.

The Role of Ultrasonography in Diagnosing and Managing Sialolithiasis: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Sialolith-induced obstructive sialadenitis is a commonly encountered clinical scenario, yet the variations in the size and location of the stone can complicate immediate clinical assessment. Utilizing dynamic ultrasound imaging along with specific structural markers can provide valuable, immediate objective evidence in diagnosing submandibular sialolithiasis. This initial ultrasound evaluation streamlines the decision-making process by facilitating the timely scheduling of confirmatory computed tomography scans and guiding subsequent surgical interventions.

Too Much of a Good Thing: Updated Current Management and Perinatal Outcomes of Polyhydramnios.

Amniotic fluid assessment is crucial in prenatal ultrasound to monitor fetal conditions, with polyhydramnios, characterized by excessive amniotic fluid, affecting 1%-2% of pregnancies. Polyhydramnios is linked to complications such as placental abruption, preterm labor, congenital anomalies, and postpartum hemorrhage, emphasizing the need for early detection and management. While idiopathic causes account for 60%-70% of cases, other causes include impaired fetal swallowing and increased urine production due to maternal, fetal, and placental conditions.

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.

Impact of Tafamidis on [Tc]Tc-pyrophosphate Scintigraphy in Ala97Ser Hereditary Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy: significant initial reduction with stable Long-Term effects.

Objective: Tafamidis has shown potential in slowing disease progression in patients with transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). This study aimed to evaluate serial changes on [Tc]Tc-pyrophosphate (PYP) scintigraphy during tafamidis treatment for hereditary ATTR-CM.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a prospectively collected cohort of Ala97Ser (A97S) hereditary ATTR-CM patients treated with tafamidis (61 mg/day) and a control group comprising A97S hereditary ATTR-CM patients who had not received disease-modifying medications.

A sensitive post-column derivatization approach for enhancing hydroxyl metabolites detection.

Background: Chemical derivatization is a common technique in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) metabolomics used to improve the ionizability and chromatographic properties of metabolites in complex biological samples. This process facilitates better detection and separation of a wide array of compounds. The reagent 2-(4-boronobenzyl) isoquinolin-2-ium bromide (BBII), developed as a glucose labeling reagent for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization MS, enhances ionization for glucose and other hydroxyl metabolites.

Multi-omics models for predicting prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer patients following chemotherapy and radiotherapy: A multi-center study.

Background And Purpose: Quantifying tumor heterogeneity from various dimensions is crucial for precise treatment. This study aimed to develop and validate multi-omics models based on the computed tomography images, pathological images, dose and clinical information to predict treatment response and overall survival of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 220 NSCLC patients from three centers.

Asian Thoracic Oncology Research Group expert consensus statement on the peri-operative management of non-small cell lung cancer.

The peri-operative management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in earlier stage disease has seen significant advances in recent years with the incorporation of immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapy. However, many unanswered questions and challenges remain, including the application of clinical trial data to routine clinical practice. Recognising the unique demographic profile of Asian patients with NSCLC and heterogeneous healthcare systems, the Asian Thoracic Oncology Research Group (ATORG) convened a consensus meeting in Singapore on 26 April 2024 to discuss relevant issues spanning diagnostic testing to post-neoadjuvant treatment considerations and future directions.

Prediction of physiological status, community participation, and daily activity function to sleep quality for outpatient dynapenic older people.

Background: The global aging population has increased dynapenia prevalence, leading to mobility issues and poor sleep quality among older adults. Despite its impact, research on sleep quality in dynapenic outpatients is limited. This study investigates how physiological status, community participation, and daily activity function influence sleep quality in this group.

Development and Validation of the Spiritual and Religious Needs Inventory for Muslim Psychiatric Inpatients: A Study in the Indonesian Context.

Spirituality care plays an important role in holistic healthcare. Our previous study found Muslim psychiatric inpatients encounter significant obstacles that hinder their ability to engage in a formal prayer practice in the hospital. To address this gap, we aimed to develop a spirituality and religious needs inventory specifically for Muslim psychiatric inpatients.

Association between activity quotient and cause-specific mortality - A prospective cohort study of 0.5 million participants in Asia.

Background: Regular physical activity (PA) is important for reducing the risk of chronic diseases and improving overall health. Activity Quotient (AQ) is a novel metric that translates heart rate during PA into a weekly score, providing an objective measure of an individual's PA. We prospectively examined the association of AQ with cancer and cardiovascular (CVD) mortality outcomes, the two major causes of death, in a Taiwanese population.

Cemiplimab in recurrent cervical cancer: Final analysis of overall survival in the phase III EMPOWER-Cervical 1/GOG-3016/ENGOT-cx9 trial.

Aim: Cemiplimab has demonstrated significantly longer survival than physician's choice of chemotherapy in patients with recurrent cervical cancer after first-line platinum-containing chemotherapy. We report the final survival analysis from the phase III randomized study (EMPOWER-Cervical 1/GOG-3016/ENGOT-cx9).

Methods: Cemiplimab (n = 304) or chemotherapy (n = 304) were administered every 3 weeks.

Integrating CNN and Bi-LSTM for protein succinylation sites prediction based on Natural Language Processing technique.

Protein succinylation, a post-translational modification wherein a succinyl group (-CO-CH₂-CH₂-CO-) attaches to lysine residues, plays a critical regulatory role in cellular processes. Dysregulated succinylation has been implicated in the onset and progression of various diseases, including liver, cardiac, pulmonary, and neurological disorders. However, identifying succinylation sites through experimental methods is often labor-intensive, costly, and technically challenging.

Association between underlying health conditions and long COVID among non-hospitalized and hospitalized individuals as modified by health literacy: A multi-center study.

Objectives: We investigated the effect modification of health literacy (HL) in ameliorating the negative impact of underlying health conditions (UHC) on long COVID among non-hospitalized and hospitalized survivors.

Study Design: An online cross-sectional study was conducted in Vietnam from December 2021 to October 2022.

Methods: A sample of 4507 participants recruited from 18 hospitals and health centers were those aged 18 or older, had contracted COVID-19 for at least 28 days, and were not in the acute phase of reinfection.

Effects of adjuvant hyperbaric oxygen therapy and real-time fluorescent imaging on deep sternal wound infection: a retrospective study.

Objective: Deep sternal wound infection (DSWI) is a rare but devastating complication that is estimated to occur in 1-2% of patients after median sternotomy. Current standard of care (SoC) comprises antibiotics, debridement and negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) appears to be an effective adjuvant therapy for osteomyelitis.

Identifying Distinct Developmental Patterns of Brain Complexity in Autism: A Cross-Sectional Cohort Analysis Using the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange.

Aim: Autistic traits exhibit neurodiversity with varying behaviors across developmental stages. Brain complexity theory, illustrating the dynamics of neural activity, may elucidate the evolution of autistic traits over time. Our study explored the patterns of brain complexity in autistic individuals from childhood to adulthood.

Efficiency and Safety of Repeated Vertebroplasty for Adjacent Segment Fractures.

To review the outcomes of patients who underwent repeated vertebroplasty (VP) surgery for adjacent segment fractures (ASF), defined as new osteoporotic vertebral fractures occurring at levels immediately above or below a previously treated vertebra. From 1 January 2018, to 31 December 2020, forty-one patients who developed ASF following initial VP and underwent repeated VP were enrolled in our study. Radiographic measurements included single and two-segment kyphotic angles (SKA and TKA), and anterior and mid-vertebral body height (AVH and MVH).

Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome with Pre-Conceptional Hyperandrogenism: A Multi-Institutional Registry-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.

: Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) are at higher risk for pregnancy complications. The PCOS population is heterogeneous, with different phenotypes linked to varying risks of adverse outcomes. However, literature on pre-conceptional hyperandrogenism is limited and based on small sample sizes.