The Kidney-Immune-Brain Axis: The Role of Inflammation in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Stroke in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Cardiovascular diseases such as stroke are a major cause of morbidity and mortality for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The underlying mechanisms connecting CKD and cardiovascular disease are yet to be fully elucidated, but inflammation is proposed to play an important role based on genetic association studies, studies of inflammatory biomarkers, and clinical trials of anti-inflammatory drug targets. There are multiple sources of both endogenous and exogenous inflammation in CKD, including increased production and decreased clearance of proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, metabolic acidosis, chronic and recurrent infections, dialysis access, changes in adipose tissue metabolism, and disruptions in intestinal microbiota.

Sex-Specific Clinical and Genetic Factors Associated With Adverse Outcomes in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Females with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy present at a more advanced stage of the disease and have a higher risk of heart failure and death. The factors behind these differences are unclear. We aimed to investigate sex-related differences in clinical and genetic factors affecting adverse outcomes in the Sarcomeric Human Cardiomyopathy Registry.

The use of rehabilitation beds following hip fracture leads to an increased length of stay.

The aim of this paper is to identify if there is a difference in length of stay following hip fractures when using rehabilitation beds. Prospective data was collected on all hip fracture admissions in patients over 50 years from May 2016 to February 2018 from ISD NHS Scotland to identify length of stay. It was found that patients discharged home via rehabilitation wards were less likely to have returned to their own home by 30 days post admission and were also significantly more likely to stay in hospital for 40 days or more when compared to patients discharged directly home.

1990-2041 Global burden of Burkitt lymphoma with 20 years forecast: A systematic analysis using the global burden disease of study of 2021.

Background: To investigate the trends in Burkitt lymphoma incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years, considering sex and age, from 1990 to 2021, with a 20-year forecast.

Method: Data regarding Burkitt lymphoma were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease study for the year 2021.

Results: Globally, there were 19,072 incident cases of Burkitt lymphoma in 2021.

Characterization of saffron from different origins by HS-GC-IMS and authenticity identification combined with deep learning.

With the rising demand of saffron, it is essential to standardize the confirmation of its origin and identify any adulteration to maintain a good quality led market product. However, a rapid and reliable strategy for identifying the adulteration saffron is still lacks. Herein, a combination of headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) and convolutional neural network (CNN) was developed.

Efficacy of spray flushing in the reprocessing of flexible endoscopes.

This article comments on the article by Du , who conducted a randomized controlled trial aiming at evaluating the effectiveness of a novel spray flushing system in cleaning flexible endoscopes while minimizing damage to the working channels. We share our perspective on the importance of improving endoscope reprocessing methods. The findings highlight the spray flushing system's capacity to improve cleaning efficacy while minimizing damage, suggesting that it might be important in enhancing endoscope reprocessing procedures.

A comparative study of hospitalization costs of TKA inpatients before and after National Volume-based Procurement in Guangdong, China: an interrupted time-series analysis.

Background: This study aims to explore the impact of the National Volume-based Procurement Policy in Guangdong Province on hospitalization costs for total knee arthroplasty inpatients.

Methods: Interrupted time-series analysis were used to examine the expenses associated with total knee arthroplasty for inpatients at a hospital in Guangzhou between May 10, 2021, and December 26, 2023. The period was divided into two phases based on the implementation of the policy, the pre-policy phase (May 10, 2021, to April 30, 2022) and the post-policy phase (May 1, 2022, to December 26, 2023).

Technology usage and glycaemic outcomes in a single tertiary centre with an ethnically diverse and socioeconomically deprived cohort of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Background: The UK National Paediatric Diabetes Audit (NPDA) data reports disparities in Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels among children and young people (CYP) with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), with higher levels in those of Black ethnic background and lower socioeconomic status who have less access to technology. We investigate HbA1c differences in a T1D cohort with higher than national average technology uptake where > 60% come from an ethnic minority and/or socioeconomically deprived population.

Design & Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study investigating the influence of demographic factors, technology use, and socioeconomic status (SES) on glycaemic outcomes.

Examining ozone effects on the tropical C crop .

Ozone (O), a major air pollutant, can negatively impact plant growth and yield. While O impacts have been widely documented in crops such as wheat and soybean, few studies have looked at the effects of O on sorghum, a C plant and the fifth most important cereal crop worldwide. We exposed grain sorghum ( cv.

Effects of mosquito-proofing storm drains on adult and larvae mosquito abundance: Protocol of the IDAlErt storm drAin randomiSed controlled trial (IDEAS).

and mosquitoes, known for spreading arboviruses like dengue and West Nile, thrive in cities, posing health risks to urban populations. Climate change can create suitable climatic conditions for these vectors to spread further in Europe. Cities contain numerous landscape and infrastructure elements, such as storm drains, that allow stagnant water build-up facilitating mosquito breeding.

Recent Advancements in Robotic-assisted Plastic Surgery Procedures: A Systematic Review.

Background: There has been a delayed, yet steady uptake of robotic-assisted surgery over the past decade within the field of plastic surgery. In an era of rapidly evolving scientific and technological development, there is a need for an update on the current literature for robotic-assisted plastic surgery procedures.

Methods: Searches were conducted across major databases, including MEDLINE, Embase, and Central for published literature from March 2023 to December 2024.

Is there a role for nutritional advice during breastfeeding for infant colic relief? A mixed-method study.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the extent and impact of maternal dietary change for colic relief in a cohort of breastfeeding women.

Method: A mixed-method non-sequential approach was devised, including a web-based survey (n = 66) and three semi-structured interviews.

Results: Most women (70 %) changed their diet while breastfeeding a baby with colic and perceived a positive impact on their babies (63 %).

Acute beneficial effects of a functional energy shot on cognitive performance and mood states during cognitively demanding task performance: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.

Introduction: Functional beverages are increasingly popular but it is important to validate their purported effects through research. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of a new functional energy shot on cognitive performance and mood states in healthy adults, with a focus on measuring mental energy enhancement and attenuation of negative effects associated with extended performance of mentally demanding tasks.

Methods: This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.

Definition of a European pre-vasectomy scoring system to identify patients at risk of vasectomy regret.

Introduction: Vasectomy is a widely used, safe, effective method of permanent contraception and contributes to healthy sexuality.

Aims: We have conducted a 3-step observational clinical study to develop a vasectomy regret risk score and guide patients and clinicians when discussing a vasectomy.

Methods: A 3-step approach has been followed.

Generative AI in Higher Education: Balancing Innovation and Integrity.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is rapidly transforming the landscape of higher education, offering novel opportunities for personalised learning and innovative assessment methods. This paper explores the dual-edged nature of GenAI's integration into educational practices, focusing on both its potential to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes and the significant challenges it poses to academic integrity and equity. Through a comprehensive review of current literature, we examine the implications of GenAI on assessment practices, highlighting the need for robust ethical frameworks to guide its use.

Flexible inference in heterogeneous and attributed multilayer networks.

Networked datasets can be enriched by different types of information about individual nodes or edges. However, most existing methods for analyzing such datasets struggle to handle the complexity of heterogeneous data, often requiring substantial model-specific analysis. In this article, we develop a probabilistic generative model to perform inference in multilayer networks with arbitrary types of information.

Platelet rich plasma and anterior cruciate ligament repair: A new frontier, or a short term adjunct.

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous blood product rich in platelets, showing promise in reducing inflammation and accelerating healing. While extensively utilized in plastic surgery, dermatology, and osteoarthritis treatment, its application in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries is limited. This article examines PRP's potential in ACL reconstruction (ACLR), exploring its history, current usage, controversies and future directions.

Detection of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in wastewater samples: a wake-up call, Finland, Germany, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, 2024.

In 2024, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) was detected in wastewater samples in Finland, Germany, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom (UK). All strains were genetically linked, but sequence analysis showed high genetic diversity among the strains identified within individual wastewater sites and countries and an unexpected high genetic proximity among isolates from different countries. Taken together these results, with sequential samples having tested positive in various sites, a broader geographic distribution beyond positive sampling sites must be considered.