Evaluating and Comparing the Content Coverage of Quality Measure Sets from Israel, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Background: Quality of care can be measured in several dimensions: different clinical disciplines, structures/processes/outcomes of care (SPO), and also different domains of quality (effectiveness, safety, care coordination, patient-centeredness, efficiency, timeliness, and community/population health). To our knowledge, no previous study has compared different sets of performance measures in terms of how well they cover these different aspects of quality.

Objective: Compare the content coverage of major quality measure sets from Israel, the US, and the UK.

Engineering Saccharomyces cerevisiae for growth on xylose using an oxidative pathway.

The fermentative production of valuable chemicals from lignocellulosic feedstocks has attracted considerable attention. Although Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a promising microbial host, it lacks the ability to efficiently metabolize xylose, a major component of lignocellulosic feedstocks. The xylose oxidative pathway offers advantages such as simplified metabolic regulation and fewer enzymatic steps.

In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy with photosensitizers and calcium hydroxide on bond strength, chemical composition, and sealing of glass-fiber posts to root dentin.

Investigate the impact of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) using different photosensitizers (PSs) such as indocyanine green (IG), curcumin (CC), and methylene blue (MB), with or without intracanal application of calcium hydroxide (CH), on the push-out bond strength of glass-fiber posts (GFPs) to intraradicular dentin, the chemical composition of the root substrate, and the sealing of the adhesive interface across different thirds of intraradicular dentin. A total of 112 bovine teeth underwent biomechanical preparation and were divided into eight experimental groups (n = 14 each): Negative control with deionized water; positive control with deionized water + CH; IG group with indocyanine green and infrared laser; IG + CH group; CC group with curcumin and blue LED; CC + CH group; MB group with methylene blue and red laser; and MB + CH group. The push-out bond strength was measured using a universal testing machine (n = 8), and scanning electron microscopy characterized the fracture patterns.

Trigeminal Neuralgia: Disease Characterization and Prediction of Response to Surgical Intervention.

Purpose Of Review: Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a highly heterogeneous condition with a wide choice of successful treatment options. However, differences between subtypes are poorly understood and it remains unknown which patients will respond to different treatments. This review aims to summarize the current state of the TN field and explore the problem of predicting surgical outcomes.

Head and Neck Classic Hodgkin, T and NK Lymphomas with Eosinophilia.

Eosinophilia is a notable feature in various hematological malignancies, including specific types of leukemias and lymphomas that may occur in the head and neck. In hematologic malignancies, eosinophilia can be primary, driven by genetic abnormalities, or secondary, resulting from cytokine and chemokine production by the neoplastic cells or the tumor microenvironment. This review examines the association between eosinophilia and head and neck hematolymphoid malignancies including Classic Hodgkin lymphoma, T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia, mature T and NK-cell lymphomas, and Langerhans cell histiocytosis.

Follow-up biopsies with microvascular inflammation and persistent donor specific antibodies identify ongoing rejection in pediatric kidney transplant recipients.

Background: Inadequate treatment of acute rejection (AR) in pediatric kidney transplant recipients (KTR) can contribute to early allograft failure. Serum creatinine is an insensitive marker of allograft function, especially in the pediatric population, and may not detect ongoing rejection after treatment. We evaluated the utility of follow-up biopsies to detect persistent inflammation and future episodes of rejection.

Identifying care gaps and referral patterns in acute dermatology at urgent care centers.

Limited urgent access to board-certified dermatologists drives patients to seek dermatologic care at urgent care centers (UCC). UCC are staffed by clinicians with comparatively limited dermatology training, often resulting in lower quality care for acute dermatology conditions. Using a retrospective cohort of 839 referrals, this study investigates health care referral outcomes for patients seeking dermatologic care at UCC.

International Urogynecology Consultation Chapter 3 Committee 1 - Pessary Management.

Introduction And Hypothesis: This manuscript is part of the International Urogynecological Consultation (IUC) on Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP), Chapter 3, Committee 1 focusing on pessary management of POP.

Methods: A narrative review was conducted by an international, multi-disciplinary group of clinicians working in the field of pelvic health following a search of the literature using the MeSH terms "pelvic organ prolapse" OR "urogenital prolapse" OR "vaginal prolapse" OR "uterovaginal prolapse" AND "pessary" OR "support device" OR "intravaginal device." Relevant studies, as determined after review using the Covidence manuscript review platform, were included.

Incorporating Perineorrhaphy into the LeFort Colpocleisis: A Modified Surgical Approach.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Perineorrhaphy with levator myorrhaphy is considered a standard part of colpocleisis. Typically, this is done through a separate incision after colpocleisis is completed. We present a video to demonstrate a modified approach to LeFort colpocleisis incorporating perineorrhaphy into the procedure.

Assessing Kinesiophobia and Catastrophizing Patient-Reported Outcomes in a Randomized Controlled Trial: Efficacy of Capacitive-Resistive Monopolar Radiofrequency Combined with Myofascial Techniques vs. Sham Radiofrequency in Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome-A Secondary Analysis.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome causes psychological distress, worsened by kinesiophobia and pain catastrophizing. This study assesses whether combining capacitive-resistive monopolar radiofrequency with myofascial techniques is more effective than myofascial techniques alone for improving psychological outcomes such as kinesiophobia and catastrophizing.

Methods: This double-blind, randomized controlled trial enrolled 81 chronic pelvic pain syndrome patients (67.

In silico screening and immunogenic features of putative tick cement protein PA107 from Ixodes ricinus tick.

Tick salivary proteins are crucial for efficient and successful tick feeding. Most of them are still uncharacterized, especially those involved in the formation of tick cement. Tick salivary protein PA107 is a putative cement protein, which is transcribed in salivary glands during the initial phase of tick feeding.

Long-term efficacy of superior laryngeal nerve block for the treatment of chronic neurogenic cough.

Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) block for treating chronic neurogenic cough (CNC) in a large patient cohort.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on patients treated between January 2019 and October 2023. Data collected included patient demographics, number of injections, follow-up times, subjective cough severity, and Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) scores.

Combining clinical and radiological features improves prediction of bowel ischemia in patients with CT findings of pneumatosis intestinalis.

Background: Pneumatosis intestinalis on CT presents a diagnostic dilemma, because it could reflect bowel ischemia or benign finding.

Purpose: To determine radiological and clinical features that can predict bowel ischemia in patients with pneumatosis intestinalis on CT.

Materials And Methods: Patients with "pneumatosis" in abdominal CT reports performed between 1/1/2002 and 12/31/2018 were retrospectively included.

Dual-energy CT iodine concentration as a biomarker for immunotherapy treatment response in metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma patients.

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of tumor iodine concentration obtained with dual-energy CT (DECT) for treatment response in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI).

Materials And Methods: Retrospective single-center study of consecutive metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients undergoing first-line ICI treatment. The iodine concentration measurement time points include prior to initiation of therapy (baseline [BL]), after initiation (follow-up [FU1]), and either time point nearest to 12 months or at time of progression (final follow-up [FFU]).

An integrated ecotoxicological study reliability (EcoSR) framework for use in toxicity value development.

A key component of ecological risk assessments is to develop evidence-based benchmarks to assess potential hazards to various receptors. To ensure that toxicity value development is performed using the best available science, the reliability (or inherent scientific quality) of these studies must be considered. The degree of reliability can be evaluated via critical appraisal tools (CATs), though application of such methods assessing ecotoxicological literature for toxicity value development is not well established compared to human health assessments.

Time trend analysis of osteoporosis prevalence among adults 50 years of age and older in the USA, 2005-2018.

Unlabelled: Using data from NHANES for years 2005-2018, we examined temporal trends in osteoporosis prevalence and the proportion of undiagnosed osteoporosis in the United States of America. Our results suggested statistically significant increases in osteoporosis prevalence across several demographic groups. These findings carry profound implications for public health, given increased life expectancy and burden of chronic diseases.

Ultra-processed food intake and prevalence of osteoporosis in US adults aged 50 years and older: a cross-sectional analysis.

Unlabelled: Dietary quality may be a factor in the progression of non-communicable, chronic diseases. This analysis of NHANES data demonstrates association between consumption of UPF and prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in adults 50 years and older. UPF intake is an important consideration when recommending dietary patterns for optimum bone health PURPOSE: Declining bone mineral density in older adults can result in osteoporosis, leading to decreased physical function, quality of life, and increased risk of mortality.

Clinical Trials in Cancer Theranostics with Potential Near-Term Impact on Clinical Practice.

Theranostics has its roots with the first radioiodine therapy for thyroid diseases in about 80 years ago. More recently the field has experienced a remarkable renascence with the regulatory approval of paired imaging and radiopharmaceutical therapy agents in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer that are now employed in routine clinical practice. The momentum is strong for identification and testing of new theranostic agents for use in various cancers and finding new clinical incications of the available agents.

Effects of in situ Selenium Exposure and Maternal Transfer on Survival and Abnormalities of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri) Fry.

Offspring of adult Yellowstone cutthroat trout (YCT) exposed to a range of selenium (Se) concentrations in situ were reared in a laboratory setting to assess effects on survival, growth and abnormalities. Maternal whole body Se concentrations ranged from 2.6 to 25.

Barriers and facilitators to sustaining a lupus patient decision aid in regular rheumatology outpatient care in the US.

Objective: This study investigates the barriers and facilitators to sustaining a decision aid (DA) tool for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in routine rheumatology outpatient care across the U.S. The DA was initially developed for assisting Patients with SLE in making informed medication choices by providing personalized information on their treatment process.

Evidence for the anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects of three semi-synthetic derivatives of xylopic acid in mice.

Purpose: Major depressive disorder is one of the most common and burdensome psychiatric disorders worldwide. This study evaluated the anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like activity of three semi-synthetic derivatives of xylopic acid (XA) to identify the most promising derivative based on mechanism(s) of action, in vivo pharmacokinetics and in vitro cytotoxicity.

Methods: The anxiolytic potential and the involvement of GABAergic mechanisms were assessed in the elevated plus-maze and open field tests in mice.

Posterior cruciate ligament resection increases intraoperative lateral and medial flexion laxity during total knee arthroplasty.

Purpose: This study reports the relationship between posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) retention vs resection and soft tissue laxity and balance throughout flexion using a robotically controlled ligament tensioner.

Methods: 55 robotic-assisted TKAs (Total knee arthroplasty) were retrospectively reviewe. The robotic ligament tensioner collected laxity data both before and after PCL resection.

Don't Sleep on Vitamin D: Vitamin D is Associated with Sleep Variability in Apparently Healthy Adults.

Vitamin D is associated with sleep quality and duration, but it's unclear whether vitamin D status influences sleep variability. Therefore, we sought to determine whether vitamin D status was associated with sleep variability in healthy adults. We assessed objective sleep, including timing and duration standard deviation () using the Philips Actiwatch Spectrum and subjective sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in 130 adults.

Duration of aromatase inhibitor use and long-term cardiovascular risk in breast cancer survivors.

Background: There are limited data on duration of aromatase inhibitor (AI) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in breast cancer (BC) survivors. We examined risk of CVD and mortality associated with duration of AI use in postmenopausal women with early-stage hormone receptor-positive BC.

Methods: Postmenopausal women diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive BC (n = 5,853) who used an AI were included.