Reducing outpatient wait times through telemedicine: a systematic review and quantitative analysis.

Objectives: Population ageing and the rise in chronic diseases place continual stress on healthcare systems. Scarce resources often impede equitable access to healthcare, particularly in rural areas, resulting in prolonged waiting times and heightened risks of morbidity and mortality. Telemedicine has emerged as a promising solution, offering remote and equitable care that could potentially bridge access gaps and enhance health outcomes.

Conflicts of interest in the International Agency for Research on Cancer process of identifying carcinogenic hazards to humans.

Managing conflicts of interest (COIs) in scientific decision-making is important for minimizing bias and fostering public trust in science. Proper management of COIs has added significance when scientists are making decisions that impact public policy, such as assessing substances for carcinogenicity. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) organizes expert working groups to identify putative carcinogens and determine whether or not the hazard is likely to present significant potential harm to humans.

Engineered hydrogel biomaterials facilitate lung progenitor cell differentiation from induced pluripotent stem cells.

Lung progenitor (LP) cells identified by the expression of transcription factor NK2 homeobox 1 (NKX2.1) are essential for development of all lung epithelial cell types and hold tremendous potential for pulmonary research and translational regenerative medicine applications. Here we present engineered hydrogels as a promising alternative to the naturally derived materials that are often used to differentiate human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into LP cells.

The Stroll Safe Randomized Controlled Trial: Program Effects on Falls Self-Efficacy.

Objective: Outdoor falls can negatively impact the health and functional abilities of community-dwelling older adults. Although there are existing evidence-based programs for falls prevention, none specifically target outdoor falls. To fill this gap in research and practice, the Stroll Safe program was developed.

Urinary Incontinence Is an Independent Risk Factor for Nursing Home Placement Among Assisted Living Residents.

Objectives: Prior studies suggested that urinary incontinence (UI) may be a risk factor for nursing home (NH) placement among older community-dwelling individuals. Our objectives were to evaluate if UI is an independent risk factor in NH placement among assisted living (AL) residents and assess the impact of UI on NH placement by race/ethnicity.

Design: This retrospective cohort study is based on the 2019-2021 Medicare enrollment and claims data.

Impact of the lung allocation system score modification by blood type on US lung transplant candidates.

The lung continuous distribution system was modified on September 27, 2023, with the goal of increasing transplant access for blood-type-O candidates after an error was discovered in the simulation used to support the development of the initial allocation policy. This retrospective observational study compares national waitlist outcomes (transplant rate, waitlist mortality) under continuous distribution before (3/10/23-9/26/23; premodification) and after (9/27/23-4/14/24; postmodification) the blood-type score modification. We fit adjusted Poisson regression models of the transplant rate and mortality rate.

Outcomes of Patients Treated with Double-Wide Scallop vs Fenestrations for Celiac Artery Incorporation During Repair of Complex Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

Objectives: Celiac artery (CA) incorporation during FB-EVAR for complex abdominal aortic aneurysms (cAAA) is typically performed with fenestrations. Double-wide scallops (DWS) can be used when appropriate. We aimed to assess outcomes of patients treated with DWS for the CA during FB-EVAR for cAAA.

Cluster Analysis of HCC Prognosis Using Preoperative AFP and DCP Levels: A Multi-Institutional Study.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, characterized by high recurrence rates post-curative resection. Tumor markers des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) are crucial for HCC diagnosis and prognosis, yet their roles in the modern era of HCC epidemiology require reevaluation.

Methods: This multi-institutional retrospective study analyzed 1,515 patients who underwent hepatectomy for primary HCC.

Prenatal Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Relation to Antibody Titers and Infections in Childhood.

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent and ubiquitous chemicals posing environmental and health risks. Impact on the human immune system is of particular concern, especially during fetal immune development. Alterations to fetal immune development can impact immunity later in life, e.

The big, the small and the weird: A phylogenomic analysis of extant Priapulida.

Priapulida is a small phylum of 22 described species that are divided into two size classes (microscopic and macroscopic), distinguished by adult and larval morphology. Most priapulidans are rare or live in inaccessible habitats, and freshly collected material for molecular studies is difficult to obtain. With this study, we for the first time aim to resolve the phylogeny of extant Priapulida using transcriptomic, genomic, and morphological data.

Diagnostic accuracy of self-collected tongue swabs for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex detection in individuals being assessed for TB in South Africa using the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay.

Objectives: Tongue swabs (TS) have shown potential for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) through downstream molecular testing. Analytical performance varies, depending on the processing protocol and the molecular test used. This study aimed to first investigate ease-of-use of TS collection in addition to acceptability by individuals being assessed for TB and second to determine the performance of self-collected TS on the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Ultra) assay (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) for MTBC and Rifampicin (RIF) resistance detection.

Bicarbonate, calcium ions, hydrogen peroxide and trypsin modulate activation of Anopheles gambiae sperm motility and protein tyrosine phosphorylation.

With the increasing concern of potential loss of transgenic mosquitoes which are candidates as new tools for mosquito-borne disease control, methods for cryopreservation are actively under investigation. Methods to cryopreserve Anopheles gambiae sperm have recently been developed, but there are no artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization tools available. As a step to achieve this, we sought to identify a suitable medium for in vitro incubation of An.

The impact of childhood stressful life events on atopic dermatitis disease activity and severity.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent condition that has been associated with stress, but epidemiologic data on the impact of both common and severe childhood stressors are limited. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of stressful life events throughout early childhood on AD activity and severity. We conducted a longitudinal cohort study of 13,972 children ages 1 to 8.

Comprehensive Extractables and Leachables Sensitization Analysis and Practical Application of a Risk-Based Approach to Sensitization Assessment for Parenteral Drug Products.

The Extractables and Leachables Safety Information Exchange (ELSIE) Consortium added to the sensitization potency analysis of Parris et al. (2023) by including the Product Quality Research Institute (PQRI) extractable and leachable dataset (Johnson et al., 2024; Product Quality Research Institute, 2021).

PREDICTIVE MODELS OF CLINICAL OUTCOME OF ENDOVASCULAR TREATMENT FOR ANTERIOR CIRCULATION STROKE USING MACHINE LEARNING.

Background And Purpose: Mechanical Thrombectomy (MT) has recently become the standard of care for anterior circulation stroke with large vessel occlusion, but predictive factors of successful MT are still not clearly defined. To tailor treatment individually for each patient, the aim of this study was to evaluate the performances of Machine Learning to predict clinical outcome (mRS) at 3 months after MT.

Material And Methods: From the ETIS French prospective multicenter registry, data from patients who underwent MT for anterior circulation stroke with large vessel occlusion between January 2018 and December 2020 were extracted.

The Diagnostic Utility of TRBC1 Immunohistochemistry in Mature T-Cell Lymphomas.

T-cell clonality assessment constitutes an essential part of the diagnostic evaluation of suspected T-cell neoplasms. Recent advances in flow cytometry-based analysis of TCR β chain constant region 1 (TRBC1) have introduced an accurate method of assessment of T-cell clonality. Its broader applicability is constrained due to the requirement of viable cells.

Efficacy of surgical ablation and left atrial appendage occlusion in patients with AF undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: A network meta-analysis.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent cardiac arrhythmia that greatly elevates the risk of stroke. This risk increases both during and after cardiac procedures, such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). There is an increasing interest in non-pharmacological treatments such as left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) and surgical ablation, intending to enhance both immediate and long-term postoperative results.

Public perceptions of brain health in young and middle-aged adults in Cuba: Opportunities for intervention.

Understanding brain health is increasingly important, particularly in light of growing public health challenges related to neurological and psychiatric conditions. These include the rising prevalence of mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety, as well as neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Lifestyle factors, including stress, poor diet, and insufficient physical activity, also significantly impact cognitive function.

Phase separation of EEF1E1 promotes tumor stemness via PTEN/AKT-mediated DNA repair in hepatocellular carcinoma.

This study aimed to investigate the associations of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and tumor stemness in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). LLPS-related genes were extracted from DrLLPS, LLPSDB and PhaSepDB databases. Stemness index (mRNAsi) was calculated based on the data from TCGA and Progenitor Cell Biology Consortium.

Associations of Child Amygdala Development with Borderline Personality Symptoms in Adolescence.

Background: The understanding of the neural correlates of borderline personality disorder (BPD) is limited, but suggests alterations in limbic structures play a role in adult BPD. The developmental course of structural neural differences in BPD is unknown. Whether there is specificity for structural alterations in BPD compared with other psychiatric presentations, such as major depressive disorder (MDD), remains unexplored.

Unlocking insights: Clinical associations from the largest 6-minute walk test collection via the my Heart Counts Cardiovascular Health Study, a fully digital smartphone platform.

Background: The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a prognostic sub-maximal exercise test used clinically as a measure of functional capacity. With the emergence of advanced sensors, 6MWTs are being performed remotely via smartphones and other devices. The My Heart Counts Cardiovascular Health Study is a smartphone application that serves as a digital platform for studies of human cardiovascular health, and has been used to perform 30,475 6MWTs on 8922 unique participants.

HIV immune evasin Nef enhances allogeneic CAR T cell potency.

Autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are a genetically engineered therapy that is highly effective against B cell malignancies and multiple myeloma. However, the length and cost of personalized manufacturing limits access and leaves patients vulnerable to disease progression. Allogeneic cell therapies have the potential to increase patient access and improve treatment outcomes but are limited by immune rejection.

Dying in a Homophobic Nation: Addressing Healthcare Disparities, Advance Care Planning and Surrogate Decision-Making Challenges for Sexual and Gender Minority Older Adults at End-of-Life.

Promoting autonomy in medical decision-making is an essential part of palliative care. Therefore, palliative care providers should prioritize supporting the autonomy of sexual and gender minority (SGM) older adults, a community that has historically suffered from healthcare disparities. This support is particularly significant when an illness or injury renders a patient unable to make medical decisions, necessitating the designation of a surrogate decision-maker.