Accelerated atrial pacing reduces left-heart filling pressure: a combined clinical-computational study.

Background And Aims: Accelerated atrial pacing offers potential benefits for patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and atrial fibrillation (AF), compared with standard lower-rate pacing. The study investigates the relationship between atrial pacing rate and left-heart filling pressure.

Methods: Seventy-five consecutive patients undergoing catheter ablation for AF underwent assessment of mean left atrial pressure (mLAP) and atrioventricular (AV) conduction delay (PR interval) in sinus rhythm and accelerated atrial pacing with 10 bpm increments up to Wenckebach block.

Can health impact assessment help tackle commercial determinants of health and support a wellbeing economy?

Commercial activity has positive and negative effects on health. Adverse commercial impacts on health are underpinned by corporate power and economic models and policy that prioritize economic growth, rather than a wellbeing economy that prioritizes health, equity and sustainability. Health in all policies (HiAP) aims to ensure that all policies promote health and health equity, using processes including health impact assessment (HIA).

Evaluating a German learning disorders platform using the RE-AIM framework.

In recent years, online platforms have made educational, medical, and other professional content easily accessible, but research evaluating such platforms is still scarce. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate LONDI, a German learning disorders platform. The platform offers scientifically based information for different user groups, and an algorithm-based help system that professionals can use to facilitate diagnosing and planning interventions.

Photo/thermo-sensitive chitosan and gelatin-based interpenetrating polymer network for mimicking muscle tissue extracellular matrix.

The dynamic interplay between extracellular matrix (ECM), its 3D architecture and resident cells plays a pivotal role in cell behavior influencing essential processes like proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Matrix-based 3D culture systems have emerged as valuable tools to model organ and tissue interactions . A 3D matrix analog must possess high biocompatibility and fully reproduce the characteristics of the native tissue in terms of mechanical properties.

Longitudinal changes in preschoolers' adiposity indicators according to compliance with 24-hour movement behavior guidelines: results from the ToyBox-study.

Background: There is a lack of studies evaluating longitudinal changes in adiposity indicators and the association with 24-hour movement behavior guidelines in preschoolers. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate associations between changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) z-scores, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio, and compliance with the 24-hour movement behavior guidelines in three- to six-year-old children from a European sample.

Methods: In total, data from a European sample of 719 preschoolers (50.

Are symptoms in pathologic scars related to nerve function or density? A scoping review.

Background: Hypertrophic scars and keloids are forms of pathologic scarring that can give rise to pain and pruritus. The link between nerve function and nerve density and the symptoms in pathologic scars (PS) remains unclear.

Objective: We aim to assess current knowledge on nerve function and nerve density in PS, and to explore a possible association between alterations in sensibility/nerve density and pathologic scar symptoms.

The Critical Role of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Multimodal Treatment of Lung Metastasis from Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcomas.

Background: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is increasingly used to treat lung metastasis (LM) in patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) and bone sarcoma (BS).

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the outcomes of patients with BS and STS treated with SBRT for LM between 2010 and 2023.

Results: We enrolled 102 patients (51 each with STS and BS), of whom 71 were males and 31 were females (median age, 40 years; range, 11-81 years).

Engineering of a bilayer antibacterial wound dressing from bovine pericardium and electrospun chitosan/PVA/antibiotics for infectious skin wounds management: An in vitro and in vivo study.

Tissue deterioration and post-injury infections are the primary cause of skin diseases. Tissue engineering has developed various synthetic and natural polymers to generate bioactive scaffolds that can closely replicate the natural extracellular matrix (ECM). Decellularized tissues have emerged as a potential solution for reconstructing cutaneous lesions due to their ability to preserve the intricate protein structure and provide essential functional domains for cellular differentiation.

Assessing diagnostic accuracy: F-FDG PET-CT scans in low-grade infection detection among post-traumatic long bone non-unions; a literature review and clinical data.

Introduction: The diagnosis of low-grade infection in post-traumatic long bone non-unions poses challenges due to the absence of clinical signs. This study aimed to review the available literature on the diagnostic accuracy of imaging techniques for low-grade infections and assess the diagnostic accuracy of F-FDG PET-CT scans for low-grade infection in post-traumatic long bone non-unions.

Methods: A mini-review was conducted using Pubmed in March 2024.

The Application of a Random Forest Classifier to ToF-SIMS Imaging Data.

Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) imaging is a potent analytical tool that provides spatially resolved chemical information on surfaces at the microscale. However, the hyperspectral nature of ToF-SIMS datasets can be challenging to analyze and interpret. Both supervised and unsupervised machine learning (ML) approaches are increasingly useful to help analyze ToF-SIMS data.

Leveraging Blood Components for 3D Printing Applications Through Programmable Ink Engineering Approaches.

This study proposes a tunable ink engineering methodology to allow 3D printing processability of highly bioactive but otherwise low-viscous and unprintable blood-derived materials. The hypothesis relies on improving the viscoelasticity and shear thinning behavior of platelet lysates (PL) and albumins (BSA) solutions by covalent coupling, enabling simultaneous extrusion and photocrosslinking upon filament deposition. The available amine groups on proteins (PL and BSA) are exploited for coupling with carboxyl groups present in methacrylated proteins (hPLMA and BSAMA), by leveraging carbodiimide chemistry.

Still Higher Risk for Burnout and Low Work Engagement Among Female Residents After 10 Years of Demographic Feminisation.

Objectives: We explored whether gender differences in burnout and work engagement characteristics among residents changed after the representation of female physicians has surpassed the 30% threshold of critical mass between 2005 and 2015, as well as if these gender differences are influenced by working in a surgical versus a non-surgical specialty.

Methods: This study used data of two questionnaire surveys on the well-being of Dutch residents, collected in 2005 ( = 2115) and 2015 ( = 1231). Burnout was measured with the validated Dutch translation of the Maslach Burnout Inventory, covering the characteristics emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and personal accomplishment.

A hybrid construct with tailored 3D structure for directing pre-vascularization in engineered tissues.

Hybrid 3D constructs combining different structural components afford unique opportunities to engineer functional tissues. Creating functional microvascular networks within these constructs is crucial for promoting integration with host vessels and ensuring successful engraftment. Here, we present a hybrid 3D system in which poly (ethylene oxide terephthalate)/poly (butylene terephthalate) fibrous scaffolds are combined with pectin hydrogels to provide internal topography and guide the formation of microvascular beds.

Semantic fMRI neurofeedback of emotions: from basic principles to clinical applications.

During fMRI neurofeedback participants learn to self-regulate activity in relevant brain areas and networks based on ongoing feedback extracted from measured responses in those regions. This closed-loop approach has been successfully applied to reduce symptoms in mood disorders such as depression by showing participants a thermometer-like display indicating the strength of activity in emotion-related brain areas. The hitherto employed conventional neurofeedback is, however, 'blind' with respect to emotional content, i.

Increased Levels of Circulating Methylglyoxal Have No Consequence for Cerebral Microvascular Integrity and Cognitive Function in Young Healthy Mice.

Diabetes and other age-related diseases are associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Methylglyoxal (MGO), a by-product of glycolysis and a major precursor in the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), is increased in individuals with diabetes and other age-related diseases and is associated with microvascular dysfunction. We now investigated whether increased levels of circulating MGO can lead to cerebral microvascular dysfunction, blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, and cognitive impairment.

Social networks and COVID-19 vaccination intention in Dutch middle-aged and older adults in 2020: Insights into individual, interpersonal, community, and societal determinants - The SaNAE study.

Background: Social networks, our social relationships, influence the spread of infectious diseases and preventive behaviors such as vaccination. Here, we aimed to assess which individual, interpersonal (social network characteristics), community and societal factors are associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination intention during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, prior to vaccine availability.

Methods: This cross-sectional study collected primary data from 5,001 community-dwelling adults aged 40 years and older in the Netherlands, using an online questionnaire from August and November 2020.

Facilitating microplastic ingestion in aquatic models: A verified protocol for daphnia magna as a trojan horse vector.

Microplastic pollution poses a significant environmental threat due to its persistence, widespread distribution, and inherent toxic potential. Despite the increasing number of publications in this field, a standardized protocol for the laboratory intake of microplastics by has yet to be established. In this study, we introduce a verified protocol designed to facilitate the ingestion of microplastic particles (MPs) by , ranging in size from 5-55 µm.

Optimizing Resistance Training for Sprint and Endurance Athletes: Balancing Positive and Negative Adaptations.

Resistance training (RT) triggers diverse morphological and physiological adaptations that are broadly considered beneficial for performance enhancement as well as injury risk reduction. Some athletes and coaches therefore engage in, or prescribe, substantial amounts of RT under the assumption that continued increments in maximal strength capacity and/or muscle mass will lead to improved sports performance. In contrast, others employ minimal or no RT under the assumption that RT may impair endurance or sprint performances.

The quantification of bone mineral density using photon counting computed tomography and its implications for detecting bone remodeling.

HR-pQCT has become standard practice when quantifying volumetric BMD (vBMD) in vivo. Yet, it is only accessible to peripheral sites, with small fields of view and lengthy scanning times. This limits general applicability in clinical workflows.

Diet and risk of atrial fibrillation: a systematic review.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent sustained cardiac arrhythmia. Comprehensive modification of established AF risk factors combined with dietary interventions and breaking deleterious habits has been shown to reduce AF burden and recurrence. Numerous AF risk factors, such as diabetes, obesity or hypertension can be partially related to dietary and lifestyle choices.

Combined portal and hepatic vein embolisation in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Major hepatectomy in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) patients with a small future liver remnant (FLR) risks posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF). This study examines combined portal and hepatic vein embolisation (PVE/HVE) to increase preoperative FLR volume and potentially decrease PHLF rates.

Methods: In this retrospective, multicentre, observational study, data was collected from centres affiliated with the DRAGON Trials Collaborative and the EuroLVD registry.