Validating the Accuracy of Parkinson's Disease Clinical Diagnosis: A UK Brain Bank Case-Control Study.

Objective: Despite diagnostic criteria refinements, Parkinson's disease (PD) clinical diagnosis still suffers from a not satisfying accuracy, with the post-mortem examination as the gold standard for diagnosis. Seminal clinicopathological series highlighted that a relevant number of patients alive-diagnosed with idiopathic PD have an alternative post-mortem diagnosis. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of PD comparing the in-vivo clinical diagnosis with the post-mortem diagnosis performed through the pathological examination in 2 groups.

Urine Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in Non-Associative Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia: A Prospective Controlled Study in 22 Dogs.

Background: Urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) is a biomarker for the early diagnosis of AKI.

Objectives: To evaluate uNGAL in dogs with non-associative immune mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) and to evaluate whether uNGAL correlates with disease severity markers, negative prognostic indicators and outcome.

Animals: Twenty-two dogs with non-associative IMHA and 14 healthy dogs.

Determinants of frailty among hospitalized older adults across various wards in a tertiary care hospital in Nepal.

Introduction: Frailty, characterized by decreased resilience due to physiological decline, affects approximately 65% of community-dwelling elderly in Nepal. This study assessed frailty and its factors among hospitalized older adults in a tertiary hospital in Nepal.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 124 participants aged 60 and above, admitted to a tertiary hospital in Nepal.

Promoting Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Medical and Scientific Writing and Publishing of Research: A Statement from the Inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advocacy Team of the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

The Journal of General Internal Medicine (JGIM) has a long-standing history of publishing manuscripts focused on health equity and is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in scientific writing and publishing. This is extremely important in the current climate where false narratives and attacks on DEI and health equity are rampant. To demonstrate their commitment to DEI and health equity, the JGIM Editors-in-Chief created an inaugural DEI Advocacy Team.

Age-threshold for increased risk of developing back disorders: prospective cohort with 74 000 individuals from the UK Biobank.

Objective: To investigate the prospective associations between age and the risk of low back disorders (LBD), dorsal disorders (DD), and cervical disorders (CD), and to identify a potential age-threshold for increased risk of back disorders.

Methods: Prospective cohort from the UK Biobank comprising adults with no history of back disorders. We examined different ages and their association with the risk of back disorders derived from diagnoses of hospital registers.

Preventing the progression of cirrhosis to decompensation and death.

Two main stages are differentiated in patients with advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD), one compensated (cACLD) with an excellent prognosis, and the other decompensated (dACLD), defined by the appearance of complications (ascites, variceal bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy) and associated with high mortality. Preventing the progression to dACLD might dramatically improve prognosis and reduce the burden of care associated with ACLD. Portal hypertension is a major driver of the transition from cACLD to dACLD, and a portal pressure of ≥10 mmHg defines clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) as the threshold from which decompensating events may occur.

Rome Foundation Working Team Report on overlap in disorders of gut-brain interaction.

In patients with disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), overlapping non-gastrointestinal conditions such as fibromyalgia, headaches, gynaecological and urological conditions, sleep disturbances and fatigue are common, as is overlap among DGBI in different regions of the gastrointestinal tract. These overlaps strongly influence patient management and outcome. Shared pathophysiology could explain this scenario, but details are not fully understood.

Maternal cell-free DNA in early pregnancy for preeclampsia screening: a systematic review.

Purpose: To quantify the separation between maternal blood cell-free (cf)DNA markers in preeclampsia and unaffected pregnancies and compare with existing markers. This approach has not been used in previous studies.

Methods: Comprehensive systematic literature search of PubMed to identify studies measuring total cfDNA, fetal cf(f)DNA or the fetal fraction (FF) in pregnant women.

Botulinum toxin-A is ineffective in premature ejaculation treatment: insights from a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

The ejaculatory reflex consists of emission and expulsion, with the latter involving rhythmic muscular contractions that propel seminal fluid. Botulinum toxin, through its inhibitory effects, has been hypothesized to improve premature ejaculation (PE). This study evaluates high-quality evidence on botulinum toxin-A injections into the bulbospongiosal muscle as a treatment for PE.

[Molecularly defined renal cell carcinomas].

Background: The latest edition of the WHO classification of urinary and male genital tumours was published in 2022. The revision was based on the newest scientific literature. This article summarizes the updated recommendations regarding the classification of molecularly defined tumours.

Estimating future heat-related and cold-related mortality under climate change, demographic and adaptation scenarios in 854 European cities.

Previous health impact assessments of temperature-related mortality in Europe indicated that the mortality burden attributable to cold is much larger than for heat. Questions remain as to whether climate change can result in a net decrease in temperature-related mortality. In this study, we estimated how climate change could affect future heat-related and cold-related mortality in 854 European urban areas, under several climate, demographic and adaptation scenarios.

A systematic review of passive data for remote monitoring in psychosis and schizophrenia.

There is increasing use of digital tools to monitor people with psychosis and schizophrenia remotely, but using this type of data is challenging. This systematic review aimed to summarise how studies processed and analysed data collected through digital devices. In total, 203 articles collecting passive data through smartphones or wearable devices, from participants with psychosis or schizophrenia were included in the review.

Preserved ratio impaired spirometry, airflow obstruction, and their trajectories in relationship to chronic kidney disease: a prospective cohort study.

Spirometry findings, such as restrictive spirometry and airflow obstruction, are associated with renal outcomes. Effects of spirometry findings such as preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) and its trajectories on renal outcomes are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of baseline and trajectories of spirometry findings on future chronic kidney disease (CKD) events.

International myeloma working group immunotherapy committee recommendation on sequencing immunotherapy for treatment of multiple myeloma.

T-cell redirecting therapy (TCRT), specifically chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR T-cells) and bispecific T-cell engagers (TCEs) represent a remarkable advance in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). There are several products available around the world and several more in development targeting primarily B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) and G protein-coupled receptor class C group 5 member D (GRPC5D). The relatively rapid availability of multiple immunotherapies brings the necessity to understand how a certain agent may affect the safety and efficacy of a subsequent immunotherapy so MM physicians and patients can aim at optimal sequential use of these therapies.

The impact of bleaching using 15% carbamide peroxide on surface properties of CAD-CAM composite structures.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of the home bleaching method on the surface microhardness and surface roughness of both polished and unpolished CAD-CAM resin composite materials. A polymer-infiltrated ceramic network (PICN) block, Enamic (VE), along with four resin composite blocks (RCB) (Grandio [GN], Lava™ Ultimate [LV], BRILLIANT Crios [B], and Cerasmart [CS]), were prepared to dimensions of 14 mm × 12 mm × 2 mm and were categorized into unpolished and polished groups (n = 4). Microhardness measurements were conducted using a Vickers microhardness tester (300 gf load for 20 s) at various time points: before home bleaching, after home bleaching with 15% Opalescence for 8 h and for 56 h, 24 h after bleaching, and one month after bleaching.

Patients with neurological or psychiatric complications of COVID-19 have worse long-term functional outcomes: COVID-CNS-A multicentre case-control study.

It is established that patients hospitalised with COVID-19 often have ongoing morbidity affecting activity of daily living (ADL), employment, and mental health. However, little is known about the relative outcomes in patients with COVID-19 neurological or psychiatric complications. We conducted a UK multicentre case-control study of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 (controls) and those who developed COVID-19 associated acute neurological or psychiatric complications (cases).

Codeveloping a community-based, peer-led psychosocial support intervention to reduce stigma and depression among people with tuberculosis and their households in Indonesia: a mixed-methods participatory action study.

Evidence relating to peer support and community-based psychological and social (psychosocial) interventions to reduce stigma and depression among people with tuberculosis (TB) and their households is limited. This study aimed to engage with multisectoral stakeholders in Indonesia to co-develop a peer-led, community-based psychosocial intervention that is replicable, acceptable, and sustainable. We used a participatory action design and engaged key national, multisectoral stakeholders to ensure that the intervention co-design was relevant and appropriate to the TB health system and the sociocultural context of Indonesia.

Sustainability metrics targeted optimization and electric discharge process modelling by neural networks.

Aluminium and its alloys, especially Al6061, have gathered significant interest among researchers due to its less density, great durability, and high strength. Due to their lightweight properties, the precise machining of these alloys can become expensive through conventional machining operations for intricate products. Therefore, non-traditional machining such as electric discharge machining (EDM) can potentially be opted for the cutting of Al6061.

Genetic coupling of enhancer activity and connectivity in gene expression control.

Gene enhancers often form long-range contacts with promoters, but it remains unclear if the activity of enhancers and their chromosomal contacts are mediated by the same DNA sequences and recruited factors. Here, we study the effects of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) on enhancer activity and promoter contacts in primary monocytes isolated from 34 male individuals. Using eQTL-Capture Hi-C and a Bayesian approach considering both intra- and inter-individual variation, we initially detect 19 eQTLs associated with enhancer-eGene promoter contacts, most of which also associate with enhancer accessibility and activity.

Splicing accuracy varies across human introns, tissues, age and disease.

Alternative splicing impacts most multi-exonic human genes. Inaccuracies during this process may have an important role in ageing and disease. Here, we investigate splicing accuracy using RNA-sequencing data from >14k control samples and 40 human body sites, focusing on split reads partially mapping to known transcripts in annotation.

Implementing targeted vaccination activities to address inequalities in vaccination: a qualitative study.

Background: As the UK COVID-19 vaccination programme progressed, greater emphasis was placed on the implementation of localized targeted vaccination activities to address inequalities in vaccination coverage. This study examines one UK region's approach to the delivery of targeted vaccination activities and identifies key factors influencing implementation.

Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of key individuals involved in vaccination delivery across Greater Manchester (GM).

Continuity and locum use for acute consultations: observational study of subsequent workload.

Background: Workload is probably the biggest challenge facing general practice and little is known about any modifiable factors. For GPs, both continuity and locum status are associated with differences in outcomes.

Aim: To determine whether practice and hospital workload after an index acute consultation depend on the type of GP consulted (locums and practice GPs with [regular] and without [non-regular] continuity, and locums).

A role for mitochondria-ER crosstalk in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 8 pathogenesis.

Protein aggregates in motoneurons, a pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, have been suggested to play a key pathogenetic role. ALS8, characterized by ER-associated inclusions, is caused by a heterozygous mutation in VAPB, which acts at multiple membrane contact sites between the ER and almost all other organelles. The link between protein aggregation and cellular dysfunction is unclear.

Chinese herbal formula Tongxie Yaofang granules for diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II trial.

Objectives: To assess the therapeutic effects and safety of Tongxie Yaofang (TXYF) granules vs placebo as an alternative treatment for diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D). We hypothesised that TXYF would improve clinical responses among patients with IBS-D.

Design: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II, superiority trial.