Efficacy and safety of ibuprofen and naproxen in the treatment of oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis: bi-national cohort study.

Objectives: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease in children. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and intra-articular corticosteroid injections are first-line therapy for oligoarticular JIA. NSAIDs Adverse events (AEs) include gastrointestinal ulcers/bleeding and impaired renal function.

Machine Learning and Statistical Analyses of Sensor Data Reveal Variability Between Repeated Trials in Parkinson's Disease Mobility Assessments.

Mobility tasks like the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), cognitive TUG (cogTUG), and walking with turns provide insights into the impact of Parkinson's disease (PD) on motor control, balance, and cognitive function. We assess the test-retest reliability of these tasks in 262 PD participants and 50 controls by evaluating machine learning models based on wearable-sensor-derived measures and statistical metrics. This evaluation examines total duration, subtask duration, and other quantitative measures across two trials.

Choroidal Response to Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injections in Treatment-Naïve Macular Neovascularization Secondary to Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy.

Background/objectives: To evaluate the impact of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) therapy on anatomical and visual outcomes in patients with macular neovascularization (MNV) secondary to chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (cCSC).

Methods: This retrospective observational study reviewed the medical records of treatment-naïve patients diagnosed with cCSC complicated by MNV and treated with IVB injections over a 5-year period. The presence of MNV was confirmed using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Comparison between Spectral-domain and Swept-source OCT Angiography Scans for the Measurement of Hyperreflective Foci in Age-related Macular Degeneration.

Purpose: Spectral-domain OCT angiography (SD-OCTA) scans were used in an algorithm developed for swept-source OCT angiography (SS-OCTA) scans to determine if SD-OCTA scans yielded similar results for the measurement of hyperreflective foci (HRF) in intermediate age-related macular degeneration (iAMD).

Design: Retrospective study.

Participants: Forty eyes from 35 patients with iAMD.

The impact of body mass index on surgical complications in minimally invasive hysterectomy for uterine fibroids.

Research Question: We aimed to assess the impact of Body Mass Index (BMI) on 30-day postoperative complications in patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy (MIH) for fibroids.

Design: Using data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database (2012-2020), we analyzed major and minor 30-day postoperative complications, stratified by BMI, in patients with uterine fibroids who underwent MIH. Complications were stratified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification.

Radiological markers of CSF α-synuclein aggregation in Parkinson's disease patients.

Alpha-synuclein (αS) aggregation is a widely regarded hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) and can be detected through synuclein amplification assays (SAA). This study investigated the association between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) radiological measures in 41 PD patients (14 iPD, 14 GBA1-PD, 13 LRRK2-PD) and 14 age-and-sex-matched healthy controls. Quantitative measures including striatal binding ratios (SBR), whole-brain and deep gray matter volumes, neuromelanin-MRI (NM-MRI), functional connectivity (FC), and white matter (WM) diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) were calculated.

Left Atrial Strain in Omicron-Type COVID-19 Patients.

Background: Information about left atrial (LA) 2-dimensional (2D) strain parameters in patients with the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is limited. The aim of this study is to evaluate LA strain (LAS) in COVID-19 patients with the Omicron variant and compare it to that of propensity-matched patients with the wild-type (WT) variant.

Methods: A total of 148 consecutive patients who were hospitalized with Omicron COVID-19 underwent an echocardiographic evaluation within the first day after hospital admission and were compared to propensity-matched patients (1:1) with the WT variant.

What's new in the pediatric spine?

Introduction: The field of pediatric spine surgery has encountered major changes and evolutions lately, with new treatment options available and the development of enabling technologies. This article aims to summarize the most relevant recent literature.

Materials And Methods: The five most relevant topics were selected and assigned to one or two authors who performed a comprehensive Pubmed database search for articles published in the last 4 years (2021-2024).

Anti-amyloid treatments for Alzheimer's disease: A study on physicians' perspectives.

Advances in amyloid targeting therapies (ATT) for Alzheimer's disease have introduced new options, necessitating an understanding of physicians' perspectives as these therapies move from trials to practice. A survey of Israeli specialists found that 84% were familiar with new ATT, but 60% raised doubts about their ability to significantly impact disease progression. Neurologists were more likely to recommend these treatments, but concerns included treatment costs and limited real-world experience.

Personality and neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals diagnosed with long COVID.

Objective: This study investigates persistent physical and neuropsychiatric symptoms in Long COVID, focusing on their severity and assessing risk/resilience factors, including conscientiousness and neuroticism. The study utilizes a mediation model to explore the potential role of psychological distress in mediating its impact on cognitive decline.

Methods: In an online survey, 114 participants diagnosed with Long COVID completed assessments, including the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) for psychological distress, Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) questionnaire for cognitive decline, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep disorders, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) with "BIG-5 inventory" subscales for risk/resilience factors.

Prognostic Implications of Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Severe Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation.

Background: The prevalence and impact of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) in degenerative mitral regurgitation (DMR) is unknown. We aimed to determine whether RVD assessed by echocardiography in routine clinical practice is independently associated with mortality in patients with DMR.

Methods And Results: We used data from the MIDA-Q (Mitral Regurgitation International DAtabase-Quantitative) registry, which included patients with isolated DMR due to mitral valve prolapse from January 2003 to January 2020 from 5 tertiary centers across North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

Perioperative Lung Ultrasound Findings in Elective Intra-Abdominal Surgery: Associations with Postoperative Pulmonary Complications.

For patients undergoing abdominal surgery, postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) are a major source of morbidity and mortality. The use of point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS), and specifically POCUS of the lungs, has seen many advancements in recent years. We hypothesize that perioperative lung ultrasonography can be used as a predictor for PPCs.

The characterization of new de novo CACNA1G variants affecting the intracellular gate of Cav3.1 channel broadens the spectrum of neurodevelopmental phenotypes in SCA42ND.

Purpose: Missense de novo variants in CACNA1G, which encodes the Cav3.1 T-type calcium channel, have been associated with a severe, early-onset form of cerebellar disorder with neurodevelopmental deficits (SCA42ND). We explored a large series of pediatric cases carrying heterozygous variants in CACNA1G to further characterize genotype-phenotype correlations in SCA42ND.

Global Insights from Patients, Providers, and Staff on Challenges and Solutions in Managing Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

Introduction: Neovascular age-related macular degeneration is a global public-health concern, associated with a considerable burden to individuals, healthcare systems, and society. The objective of this study was to understand different perspectives on the challenges associated with the clinical management of neovascular age-related macular degeneration, which could elucidate measures to comprehensively improve clinical care and outcomes.

Methods: A survey was carried out of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, their providers, and clinic staff in 77 clinics across 24 countries on six continents, from a diverse range of healthcare systems, settings, and reimbursement models.

Improving Clinical Management of Diabetic Macular Edema: Insights from a Global Survey of Patients, Healthcare Providers, and Clinic Staff.

Introduction: In contrast with patients receiving therapy for retinal disease during clinical trials, those treated in routine clinical practice experience various challenges (including administrative, clinic, social, and patient-related factors) that can often result in high patient and clinic burden, and contribute to suboptimal visual outcomes. The objective of this study was to understand the challenges associated with clinical management of diabetic macular edema from the perspectives of patients, healthcare providers, and clinic staff, and identify opportunities to improve eye care for people with diabetes.

Methods: We conducted a survey of patients with diabetic macular edema, providers, and clinic staff in 78 clinics across 24 countries on six continents, representing a diverse range of individuals, healthcare systems, settings, and reimbursement models.

Pediatric metameric cervical spinal cord arteriovenous malformation managed with staged endovascular and spinal stabilization approach: a case report.

Introduction: Spinal cord arteriovenous malformations (SCAVM) are rare congenital vascular malformations, characterized by two or more AVMs affecting any of the spinal segments. SCAVM has complex pathophysiology and may be associated with acute, or progressively neurological deficits.

Case Presentation: A 12-year old girl, presented with progressive neurologic deficits secondary to compressive cervical myelopathy due to a cervical metameric SCAVM.

Efficacy and Safety of Anti-B-Cell Maturation Antigen Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell for the Treatment of Relapsed and Refractory AL Amyloidosis.

Purpose: The use of anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART) therapy for AL amyloidosis (AL) is limited owing to patient frailty. HBI0101 anti-BCMA CART was the first proof of concept for its applicability to AL. This report addresses the AL patient cohort treated to date within the phase Ia/Ib clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis radiologic features in interstitial lung diseases.

Background: The radiologic criteria of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) guidelines focus on four HP compatible features (HPCF) in high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT): ground glass opacities, mosaic attenuation, air-trapping, and centrilobular nodules. However, evidence to support these criteria are limited.

Methods: Consecutive interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients who underwent HRCT between 2016 and 2021 in three medical centers were included.

Evaluating renal disease in pediatric-onset anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: disease course, outcomes, and predictors of outcome.

Objectives: We aimed to study the disease course, outcomes, and predictors of outcome in pediatric-onset anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) affecting the kidneys.

Methods: Patients eligible for this study had a diagnosis of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), or ANCA positive pauci-immune glomerulonephritis, were ≤ 18 years at diagnosis, had renal disease defined by biopsy or dialysis dependence, and had clinical data at diagnosis and either 12- or 24-months. Ambispective data from the ARChiVE/PedVas Registry was used.

International cross-sectional survey on current and updated definitions of intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome.

Background: The Abdominal Compartment Society (WSACS) established consensus definitions and recommendations for the management of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) in 2006, and they were last updated in 2013. The WSACS conducted an international survey between 2022 and 2023 to seek the agreement of healthcare practitioners (HCPs) worldwide on current and new candidate statements that may be used for future guidelines.

Methods: A self-administered, online cross-sectional survey was conducted under the auspices of the WSACS to assess the level of agreement among HCPs over current and new candidate statements.

Iliococcygeus fixation for the treatment of vaginal vault prolapse: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: It has been reported that approximately 80-90% of apical prolapse repair is through reconstructive or obliterative vaginal surgery. Although several procedures have been described, to date there is a lack of consensus on the best surgical procedure. The aim of this study was to perform a thorough review of the current literature on the efficacy and safety of the iliococcygeus fixation technique for the treatment of vaginal vault prolapse.