A quality improvement program to reduce surgical site infections after cardiac surgery: A 10-year cohort study.

Objectives: To assess trends in surgical site infection (SSI) incidence in cardiosurgery following a quality improvement initiative in infection prevention and control (IP&C).

Methods: This is a historical cohort study encompassing a 10-year surveillance period (2014-2023) in a cardiosurgical department in a multi-organ transplant center. The study encompassed three periods: a baseline period (Phase_1: January 2014-December 2018); an implementation phase covering quality improvement initiatives targeting various aspects of IP&C including organizational factors, pre-operative, intra-operative, post-operative measures, and post-hospitalization care (Phase_2: January 2019-June 2021); a post-implementation phase (Phase_3: July 2021-September 2023).

Disparities in kidney care in vulnerable populations: A multinational study from the ISN-GKHA.

Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, children, displaced people, and refugees, often encounter challenges in accessing healthcare. In this study, we used data from the third iteration of the International Society of Nephrology Global Kidney Health Atlas (ISN-GKHA) to describe kidney care access and delivery to vulnerable populations across countries and regions. Using data from an international survey of clinicians, policymakers, and patient advocates, we assessed the funding and coverage of vulnerable populations on all aspects of kidney replacement therapies (KRT).

Decades in the Making: The Evolution of Digital Health Research Infrastructure Through Synthetic Data, Common Data Models, and Federated Learning.

Traditionally, medical research is based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for interventions such as drugs and operative procedures. However, increasingly, there is a need for health research to evolve. RCTs are expensive to run, are generally formulated with a single research question in mind, and analyze a limited dataset for a restricted period.

Identifying Paediatric Populations with Increased Risk for Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Acute and Critical Care Settings: A Scoping Review.

Dysphagia is common in hospitalised children. Clarity regarding its prevalence is required to direct service needs. This review reports oropharyngeal dysphagia prevalence in children admitted to acute and/or critical care, following acute illness, medical or surgical intervention.

Virome assembly reveals draft genomes of native Pseudomonas phages isolated from a paediatric bronchoalveolar lavage sample.

We present lung virome data recovered through shotgun metagenomics in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from an infant with cystic fibrosis, who tested positive for infection. Using a bioinformatic pipeline for virus characterization in shotgun metagenomic data, we identified five viral contigs representing Pseudomonas phages classified as Caudoviricetes.

A novel smartphone application for bladder cancer management (BCM App): Design, development, and usability evaluation.

Background: Providing clinical guidelines to clinicians using innovative technologies seems practical and useful. This study aimed to design, develop, and evaluate a smartphone application to assist urologists in managing bladder cancer (BCM App).

Materials And Methods: The study was conducted in three phases, following the user-centered design model, at the urology clinic of Khorshid Hospital (Isfahan, Iran) in 2021.

Feline caudal vena cava to aorta ratio reference interval.

Objectives: The primary objective of this investigation was to ultrasonographically evaluate the caudal vena cava to aorta (CVC:Ao) ratio in healthy, conscious cats and to generate reference intervals. A secondary objective was to identify the site of examination with the least intra- and inter-observer variability. This investigation was undertaken to assess whether the CVC:Ao ratio holds promise as a technique to assess intravascular volume responsiveness in cats.

Integrating oral health into primary care: a proof-of-concept for dry mouth management in the Australian community pharmacy setting.

Background: Xerostomia (dry mouth) is a common yet severe problem, causing difficulty with eating, speaking, dental caries, and discomfort. Access issues to dental services, including cost and availability of dental practitioners, can delay timely diagnosis and management of dry mouth. Thus, there is a need for innovative approaches to manage xerostomia, involving non-dental primary care health practitioners.

Therapeutic Potential of MCC950 in Restoring Autophagy and Cognitive Function in STZ-Induced Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is currently the seventh leading cause of death worldwide. In this study, we explored the critical role of autophagy in AD pathology using a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced AD model in Wistar rats. The experimental groups included sham, STZ-induced AD, and STZ + MCC950-treated animals.

The structural and functional analysis of mycobacteria cysteine desulfurase-loaded encapsulin.

Encapsulin nanocompartments loaded with dedicated cargo proteins via unique targeting peptides, play a key role in stress resistance, iron storage and natural product biosynthesis. Mmp1 and cysteine desulfurase (Enc-CD) have been identified as the most abundant representatives of family 2 encapsulin systems. However, the molecular assembly, catalytic mechanism, and physiological functions of the Mmp1 encapsulin system have not been studied in detail.

Müllerian anomalies and endometriosis: associations and phenotypic variations.

Müllerian anomalies are congenital conditions characterized by the incomplete development of the female reproductive tract. Women affected by Müllerian anomalies often display additional malformations of the renal, skeletal, and cardiovascular system, and are at a higher risk for infertility and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Several Müllerian anomalies have been reported in association with endometriosis, but it is unclear if all classes or anatomical variations are associated with the disease.

Prehabilitation Exercise Training to Target Improved Muscle Strength in Pretransplant Patients Diagnosed With Multiple Myeloma: Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Muscle mass and strength are severely compromised in patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma, such that the risk of poor overall survival increases as the prevalence of low muscle mass, also known as sarcopenia, increases. Additionally, at the time of autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), 51% of patients experience low muscle mass and strength, which can prolong hospitalization and lead to increased risk of obesity, insulin resistance, lowered physical function, and poor quality of life.

Objective: The PROTECT (Prehabilitation Exercise Training in Multiple Myeloma Patients Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation) trial will examine the preliminary effects of digitally supervised prehabilitative aerobic and resistance exercise on muscle strength in patients with multiple myeloma scheduled for ASCT.

Water-soluble polysaccharides from Torreya grandis nuts: Structural characterization and anti-inflammatory activity.

Torreya grandis (T. grandis) nuts are widely consumed as a functional food in China. In this study, we investigated the structural characteristics of T.

Diagnostic accuracy of neonatal structural MRI scores to predict 6-year motor outcomes of children born very preterm.

Aims: This study aimed to (1) evaluate associations between Early and Term structural MRI (sMRI) brain abnormality scores and adverse motor outcomes at 6-years corrected age (CA), (2) determine their diagnostic accuracy in predicting adverse motor outcomes and cerebral palsy (CP) at 6-years CA.

Methods: Infants born < 31-weeks gestational age (GA) returning for 6-year follow-up were included. Early and Term sMRI were scored using a validated method, deriving white matter, cortical grey matter, deep grey matter, cerebellar and global brain abnormality scores (GBAS).

An upward trend of dyslipidemia among adult population in Vietnam: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: It is critical to assess the progress toward achieving the national goal of reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by one-third by 2030 in Vietnam. This study aimed to examine the pooled prevalence of dyslipidemia among the Vietnamese adult population.

Method: Five databases, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and local peer-reviewed journals were searched from inception to May 2024 without language restrictions.

Objective priming from pre-imagining inputs before binocular rivalry presentations does not predict individual differences in the subjective intensity of imagined experiences.

Most people can imagine images that they experience within their mind's eye. However, there are marked individual differences, with some people reporting that they are unable to visualise (aphantasics), and others who report having imagined experiences that are as realistic as seeing (hyper-phantasics). The vividness of imagery is most often measured via subjective self-report.

An intimal-lumen model in a microfluidic device: potential platform for atherosclerosis-related studies.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory vascular disorder driven by factors such as endothelial dysfunction, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and arterial calcification, and is considered a leading global cause of death. Existing atherosclerosis models have limitations due to the absence of an appropriate hemodynamic microenvironment and interspecies differences . Here, we develop a simple but robust microfluidic intimal-lumen model of early atherosclerosis using interconnected dual channels for studying monocyte transmigration and foam cell formation at an arterial shear rate.

Outcomes of patients registered with the Queensland Trophoblast Centre diagnosed with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia who develop resistance to chemotherapy.

Objectives: To audit outcomes of patients registered in the Queensland Trophoblast Centre (QTC) database who develop resistance to primary chemotherapy. To determine any risk factors that may predict first-line chemotherapy resistance in patients diagnosed with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN).

Methods: Patients within the QTC who were diagnosed with GTN between January 2012 and December 2020 were reviewed.

Immunoaffinity-enriched salivary small extracellular vesicles in periodontitis.

Aim: aliva extracellular vesicles (EVs) serve as a significant reservoir of biomarkers that may be of clinical use in disease diagnosis. Saliva, however, contains EVs of both host- and bacterial- origin. Identifying suitable EVs for disease diagnosis involves enriching host EVs and limiting non-host contamination with effective isolation methods.

The Sweet Spirits of the Mineral Acids: Diethyl Ether, Ethyl Nitrite, and Chloroethane. Late Medieval-Early Modern Organic Chemistry.

The "sweet spirits" of sulfuric, nitric, and hydrochloric acids, viz. diethyl ether, ethyl nitrite, and chloroethane, have a history dating back to the late Middle Ages. The compound variously known as philosophorum spiritus vini, aqua Lulliana, Paracelsus' Schwefel süss, Cordus' dulce Vitrioli oleum, and Frobenius' æther is identical with diethyl ether.

Exploration of In Situ Extraction for Enhanced Triterpenoid Production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Plant-derived triterpenoids are in high demand due to their valuable applications in cosmetic, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. To meet this demand, microbial production of triterpenoids is being developed for large-scale production. However, a prominent limitation of microbial synthesis is the intracellular accumulation, requiring cell disruption during downstream processing.

Students' experiences of placements in urban indigenous health contexts: developing a culturally responsive workforce.

Background: A culturally responsive health workforce is essential to ensure the delivery of culturally safe health services that meet Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples needs. In partnership with universities, placement providers play an essential role in creating opportunities for immersive experiences that enable students to develop their cultural responsiveness. This study evaluated students' experiences of an innovative student placement model embedded within an urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Health Organisation.

Hyperkalaemia among hospital admissions: prevalence, risk factors, treatment and impact on length of stay.

Background: Hyperkalaemia is one of the common electrolyte disorders among hospital patients, affected by many risk factors including medications and medical conditions. Prompt treatment is important given its impact on patient mortality and morbidity, which can lead to negative patient outcomes and healthcare resource utilisation. This study aims to describe the prevalence, characteristics, and treatment of patients admitted to hospitals with hyperkalaemia and compare findings between patients with kidney failure on maintenance haemodialysis therapy and patients without kidney failure.