Therapeutic Antithrombotic Agent Use and Bleeding Risk in Retrobulbar Anesthesia for Outpatient Ophthalmic Surgery.

Background and objective Retrobulbar block is commonly used for providing effective anesthesia and akinesia for ophthalmic surgery. It can, however, lead to sight-threatening retrobulbar hemorrhage in very rare cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate retrobulbar block quality, to determine the prevalence of retrobulbar hemorrhage associated with these blocks, and to assess whether the use of antithrombotic agents in patients undergoing retrobulbar block for ophthalmic surgery was associated with retrobulbar hemorrhage.

The Perils of Pregnancy: A Case Report of Subglottic Stenosis​.

Subglottic stenosis (SGS) presents a rare, yet challenging condition characterized by airway obstruction below the glottis, with diverse etiologies ranging from congenital to acquired factors like intubation or autoimmune diseases. Diagnosis and management of SGS during pregnancy are particularly complex due to limited literature and diagnostic consensus. This article presents a case of a 26-year-old pregnant woman presenting with escalating dyspnea and stridor attributed to SGS, most likely secondary to idiopathic etiology.

A Scoping Review of Pakistani Healthcare Simulation: Insights for Lower-Middle-Income Countries.

Healthcare simulation has gained global recognition in health professions education, yet its adoption in Pakistan, a lower-middle-income country (LMIC), remains limited. This scoping review aimed to explore how simulation is integrated into healthcare education in Pakistan, highlighting challenges and opportunities to inform similar LMICs. Pakistan serves as a critical case study for LMICs due to its unique challenges, including uneven access to simulation technologies and limited faculty training, which are shared by many similar resource-constrained settings.

A Comprehensive Review of the Role of GLP-1 Agonists in Weight Management and Their Effect on Metabolic Parameters Such as Blood Glucose, Cholesterol, and Blood Pressure.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have been developed to manage type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although, in the last 10 years, the use of GLP-1 RAs, especially semaglutide and liraglutide, has increased, its clinical implications and how it affects metabolic parameters have yet to be fully consolidated. This narrative review explores the metabolic effects of GLP-1 RAs in weight management, blood glucose, cardiovascular health, lipid profiles, and blood pressure.

Parsonage-Turner Syndrome and Occupational Therapy Interventions: A Case Report.

Parsonage-Turner syndrome (PTS) is a rare brachial plexus neuropathy with a sudden onset of upper extremity pain, weakness, and loss of range of motion (ROM). Studies on occupational therapy (OT) interventions are limited. The aim of this case report was to explore the OT experiences, interventions, and outcomes of a patient with PTS.

Successful Percutaneous Coronary Stenting in End-Stage Liver Disease Patients Awaiting Liver Transplantation.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with poor outcomes after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). We report on six high-risk end-stage liver disease (ESLD) patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with bare metal stents during the preoperative evaluation process. There was no mortality or major adverse cardiac event (MACE) within 90 days of OLT.

Comparative Analysis of Bacteremic and Non-bacteremic Sepsis: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Sepsis remains a prevalent critical illness encountered in emergency departments and intensive care units (ICU), with culture-negative sepsis constituting 30-60% of cases. The effect of culture type on treatment and outcomes remains unclear, and conflicting evidence exists regarding disparities between Gram-positive and Gram-negative infections.

Objective: To further describe and compare characteristics and outcomes of culture-positive versus culture-negative sepsis.

Urban sensing in the era of large language models.

Urban sensing has become increasingly important as cities evolve into the centers of human activities. Large language models (LLMs) offer new opportunities for urban sensing based on commonsense and worldview that emerged through their language-centric framework. This paper illustrates the transformative impact of LLMs, particularly in the potential of advancing next-generation urban sensing for exploring urban mechanisms.

The Comparison of Cost-Effectiveness Between Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Provocative Discography in the Identification of Chronic Low Back Pain Surgery Candidates.

Background/context: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a significant US healthcare burden with millions of lumbar spine procedures annually. Diagnostic tests are essential to guide treatment but provocative discography (PD), the most common diagnostic procedure, is without robust evidence of its value. A non-invasive alternative using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) offers a potential solution.

Identification of microorganisms at different times in a bioleaching process for the recovery of gold and silver from minerals in oxide form.

In this study, gold and silver were recovered through a bioleaching process conducted at room temperature over 11 days. Native bacteria and varying ratios of mineral pulp to culture medium (20/80, 37.5/62.

Osmotic Demyelination Syndrome in the Setting of Normonatremia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) is a rare complication associated with rapid sodium changes, typically encountered in patients with severe hyponatremia. ODS in patients with normonatremia (ODSIN) is less recognized. We describe a patient with MRI-detected ODSIN following neurotrauma and reviewed the relevant literature.

Integrated transcriptomic analysis reveals dysregulated immune infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the secretory endometrium of recurrent implantation failure patients.

Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is a leading impediment to assisted reproductive technology, yet the underlying pathogenesis of RIF remains elusive. Recent studies have sought to uncover novel biomarkers and etiological factors of RIF by profiling transcriptomes of endometrial samples. Nonetheless, the inherent heterogeneity among published studies and a scarcity of experimental validations hinder the identification of robust markers of RIF.

Cockroaches as Reservoirs, Vectors, and Potential Sentinels of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria in Ugandan Communities: A Retrospective Analysis.

Cockroaches could play a role in the transmission dynamics of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) at variable interfaces in Ugandan communities, acting as both reservoirs and vectors. This study investigated the burden and diversity of ARB carried by cockroaches in human settlements in Uganda, so as to understand their role in the spread of these pathogens and their potential as sentinels in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance programs. A retrospective analysis was conducted on two unpublished studies by Makerere University students.

Concurrent Nasal Symptoms in Non-Rhinogenic Headache.

Objective: This study aims to characterize concurrent nasal symptoms in a cohort of patients with non-rhinogenic headache (NRH) presenting to an otolaryngology clinic.

Study Design: A prospective cohort.

Setting: Single tertiary care institution.

Medicare Resource Use Differs by English Reading Proficiency.

Background And Objectives: Medicare coverage decisions are complex. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provides a hotline, handbook, and website to help Medicare beneficiaries understand their benefits and coverage options, yet it is unclear what factors affect beneficiary use of these resources. We examined limited English speaking and English reading proficiency status as predictors of CMS Medicare informational resource use in a nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries.

Development and Delivery of Enhanced Implementation Support to Disseminate a National Caregiver Skills Training Program.

Background And Objectives: As the population ages there is an increasing need for caregiver training programs, but little is known about how to deliver implementation support for diverse sites in large-scale implementation efforts. External group-based implementation facilitation may be one promising approach. This study's objective is to detail the development and delivery of a pragmatic implementation facilitation approach to support the national rollout of caregiver training, Caregivers FIRST, at over 140 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) sites.

β-Caryophyllene and Statins in Bone Fracture Healing - A Narrative Review.

Bone fractures are a leading cause of morbidity and healthcare expenditure globally. The complex healing process involves inflammation, cartilage formation, mineralization, and bone remodeling. Current treatments like immobilization, surgery, and bone grafting, though effective, pose significant challenges, such as prolonged recovery and high costs.

Effect of Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination on immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 vaccination.

Objectives: Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination has off-target effects on disease risk for unrelated infections and immune responses to vaccines. This study aimed to determine the immunomodulatory effects of BCG vaccination on immune responses to vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: Blood samples, from a subset of 275 SARS-CoV-2-naïve healthcare workers randomised to BCG vaccination (BCG group) or no BCG vaccination (Control group) in the BRACE trial, were collected before and 28 days after the primary course (two doses) of ChAdOx1-S (Oxford-AstraZeneca) or BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccination.

IGF-1 Assessment During Weekly Somatrogon Treatment in Pediatric Patients With GH Deficiency.

Context: In patients with GH deficiency (GHD) receiving GH treatment, IGF-1 concentrations are used by physicians to monitor treatment safety and efficacy and guide dosing decisions. Somatrogon is a long-acting GH approved as a once-weekly treatment for pediatric GHD. Somatrogon administration results in characteristic changes in the IGF-1 profile, with values measured at 96 hours postdose representing mean IGF-1 concentrations that best reflect overall somatrogon exposure.

Brensocatib in patients with bronchiectasis: subgroup analyses from the WILLOW trial.

Introduction: Bronchiectasis is a chronic inflammatory airway disease. Brensocatib, an oral, reversible inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase 1 (DPP1), reduces pulmonary inflammation by preventing the activation of neutrophil serine proteases. In the phase II WILLOW trial, brensocatib prolonged time to first exacerbation in patients with bronchiectasis.

Systemic corticosteroid dose-response effects in asthma: an observational cohort study.

https://bit.ly/3zzl2QN.

Utility of a Wearable Tracker to Assess Sleep Quality in Nurses and Their Spouses: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: Sleep disturbances among nurses engaged in night duty and their spouses need to be improved to ensure their ability to provide care and perform daily tasks. Therefore, an objective investigation is needed to establish a sleep improvement strategy.

Objective: To investigate the utility of a sleep tracker to assess sleep quality in nurses and spouses.

Biochemical mechanisms and molecular interactions of vitamins in cancer therapy.

Recently, the potential role of vitamins in cancer therapy has attracted considerable research attention. However, the reported findings are inconsistent, with limited information on the biochemical and molecular interactions of different vitamins in various cancer cells. Importantly, the presence of vitamin receptors in tumor cells suggests that vitamins play a significant role in the molecular and biochemical interactions in cancers.

Loss of phosphatase and tensin homolog () increases Lysyl oxidase-like 2 () expression enhancing the growth of fallopian tube epithelial cells as three-dimensional spheroids.

Background: High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) accounts for 70-80% of all ovarian cancer-related deaths. Multiple studies have suggested that the fallopian tube epithelium (FTE) serves as the cell of origin of HGSOC. Phosphatase and tensin homolog () is a tumor suppressor and its loss is sufficient to induce numerous tumorigenic changes in FTE, including increased migration, formation of multicellular tumor spheroids (MTSs), and ovarian colonization.