Clinic evaluation of cognitive impairment in post-COVID syndrome: Performance on legacy pen-and-paper and new digital cognitive tests.

Background: Cognitive impairment, colloquially termed "brain fog", is one of the most prevalent manifestations of post-Covid syndrome and a major contributor to impaired daily function and reduced quality of life. However, despite the high numbers of affected individuals presenting to clinical services with cognitive impairment, little work has been undertaken to date on the suitability of current memory clinic tests for identifying the cognitive deficits in this new acquired cognitive disorder.The aim of this study was therefore to determine the performance of people with post-Covid syndrome presenting with cognitive impairment on the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-III (ACE-III), a cognitive test used widely in memory clinics.

The impact of psoriatic arthritis on quality of life: a systematic review.

Background: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory condition that can affect individuals of all ages. Patients may experience a range of physical and psychological issues.

Objective: To examine the impact of PsA on an individual's quality of life (QoL) and physical function.

Distinct virologic trajectories in chronic hepatitis B identify heterogeneity in response to nucleos(t)ide analogue therapy.

Background & Aims: The dynamics of HBV viral load (VL) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) on nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) treatment and its relationship with liver disease are poorly understood. We aimed to study longitudinal VL patterns and their associations with CHB clinical outcomes.

Methods: Utilising large scale, routinely collected electronic health records from six centres in England, collated by the National Institute for Health and Care Research Health Informatics Collaborative (NIHR HIC), we applied latent class mixed models to investigate VL trajectory patterns in adults receiving NA treatment.

Perception of Telemedicine and Remote Learning Following the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Health Education England Survey of London Obstetrics and Gynaecology Trainees.

Purpose: To determine the level of uptake of telemedicine among postgraduate obstetrics and gynaecology (O&G) trainees in London, and how they perceive its impact on their training.

Methods: A mixed-methods survey aimed at exploring trainee perspectives of telemedicine use in clinical practice and its implications for training. Study participants were O&G specialist doctors on the London (UK) training programme.

Spotlight on the 2024 ESC/EACTS management of atrial fibrillation guidelines: 10 novel key aspects.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) remains the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) have recently released the 2024 guidelines for the management of AF. This review highlights 10 novel aspects of the ESC/EACTS 2024 Guidelines.

Increasing number of clinically severe of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in children after the COVID-19 pandemic: a single centre case series.

In 2024, there have been increases in laboratory confirmed infections of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae infection worldwide. This case series highlights increasing frequency of Mycoplasma pneumoniae positive PCR specimens and an increased number of hospital admissions with Mycoplasma pneumoniae clinical syndromes. Within this case series, we observed, a change in the epidemiology and clinical burden of childhood Mycoplasma pneumonia disease in the post COVID-19 era.

Response to clozapine in treatment resistant schizophrenia is related to alterations in regional cerebral blood flow.

PET and SPECT studies in treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) have revealed significant alterations in regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) during clozapine treatment, which may vary according to the clinical response. Here, we used the more recent MRI approach of arterial spin labelling (ASL) to evaluate regional CBF in participants with TRS (N = 36) before starting treatment with clozapine compared to in healthy volunteers (N = 16). We then compared CBF in the TRS group, before and after 12 weeks of treatment with clozapine (N = 24); and examined the relationship of those differences against changes in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia (PANSS) scores over the treatment period.

Influence of age and sex on the diagnostic yield of inherited cardiac conditions in sudden arrhythmic death syndrome decedents.

Aims: Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) refers to a sudden death, which remains unexplained despite comprehensive post-mortem examination and a toxicological screen. We aimed to investigate the impact of age and sex on the overall diagnostic yield and underlying aetiology in decedents with SADS using a combined approach of familial evaluation (FE) and molecular autopsy (MA).

Methods And Results: Consecutive referrals to a single centre for FE only, MA only or both, following a SADS death were included.

Management of adult sepsis in resource-limited settings: global expert consensus statements using a Delphi method.

Purpose: To generate consensus and provide expert clinical practice statements for the management of adult sepsis in resource-limited settings.

Methods: An international multidisciplinary Steering Committee with expertise in sepsis management and including a Delphi methodologist was convened by the Asia Pacific Sepsis Alliance (APSA). The committee selected an international panel of clinicians and researchers with expertise in sepsis management.

Prognostic serum biomarkers of synaptic, neuronal and glial injury in patients with acute ischemic stroke of the anterior circulation.

Background: We aimed to investigate the prognostic role of β-synuclein in comparison to that of neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) for predicting functional outcome after acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Methods: We measured serum concentrations of β-synuclein, NfL and GFAP 24 h after hospital admission in 213 consecutive patients with moderate-to-severe AIS. We investigated the association between serum biomarkers and radiological/clinical characteristics, 3-months mortality and functional outcome on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS).

VGLL-fusions define a new class of intraparenchymal CNS schwannoma.

Background: Intracerebral schwannomas are rare tumors resembling their peripheral nerve sheath counterparts but localized in the CNS. They are not classified as a separate tumor type in the 2021 WHO classification. This study aimed to compile and characterize these rare neoplasms morphologically and molecularly.

Anxiety, depression, and perceived wellbeing in antenatal women at risk of preterm birth: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Women identified at risk for preterm may be vulnerable to developing mental health difficulties due to the increased likelihood of poor pregnancy outcome and uncertainty surrounding their delivery. Formal assessment of mental wellbeing in specialist preterm birth clinics is not routinely offered, but may offer the opportunity for early intervention.

Methods: We aimed to investigate if demographic characteristics and obstetric risk factors were associated with psychological wellbeing in women at risk of preterm birth.

Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Professional Performance and Stress Resilience Among Healthcare Practitioners.

Objectives Emotional intelligence (EI) refers to the ability to perceive, understand, and manage emotions effectively, a skill essential in the high-stress environment of healthcare. Research suggests that healthcare professionals with higher EI are better equipped to handle stress, maintain resilience, and make sound judgments under pressure, ultimately enhancing job performance. This paper examines EI's predictive role in managing job performance and resistance to stress among healthcare professionals, aiming to explore how elevated EI may strengthen their coping abilities and contribute to improved stress management, professional judgment, and resilience in challenging work settings.

The role of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis, imaging, and treatment of thoracic empyema.

Purpose Of Review: The management of thoracic empyema is often complicated by diagnostic delays, recurrence, treatment failures and infections with antibiotic resistant bacteria. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare, particularly in clinical decision support, imaging, and diagnostic microbiology raises great expectations in addressing these challenges.

Recent Findings: Machine learning (ML) and AI models have been applied to CT scans and chest X-rays to identify and classify pleural effusions and empyema with greater accuracy.

East London Project: a participatory mixed-method evaluation on how removing enforcement could affect sex workers' safety, health and access to services in East London.

Background: Sex workers' risk of violence and ill-health is shaped by their work environments, community and structural factors, including criminalisation.

Aim: We evaluated the impact of removing police enforcement on sex workers' safety, health and access to services.

Design: Mixed-methods participatory study comprising qualitative research, a prospective cohort study, mathematical modelling and routine data collation.

Working memory processes and the histamine-3 receptor in schizophrenia: a [C]MK-8278 PET-fMRI study.

Rationale: Working memory impairment is a prominent feature of schizophrenia which predicts clinical and functional outcomes. Preclinical data suggest histamine-3 receptor (H3R) expression in cortical pyramidal neurons may have a role in working memory, and post-mortem data has found disruptions of H3R expression in schizophrenia.

Objectives: We examined the role of H3R in vivo to elucidate its role on working memory impairment in schizophrenia.

Phase II randomized study of dostarlimab alone or with bevacizumab versus non-platinum chemotherapy in recurrent gynecological clear cell carcinoma (DOVE/APGOT-OV7/ENGOT-ov80).

Background: Recurrent gynecological clear cell carcinoma (rGCCC) has a low objective response rate (ORR) to chemotherapy. Previous preclinical and clinical data suggest a potential synergy between immune checkpoint inhibitors and bevacizumab in rGCCC. Dostarlimab, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), combined with the anti-angiogenic bevacizumab, presents a novel therapeutic approach.

The collaborative working group method for pre-trial knowledge mobilisation: a qualitative evaluation of a structured process for iteratively refining a complex intervention (DAFNEplus).

Background: There is a lack of practical guidance about how to effectively mobilise knowledge at the pre-trial stage. Despite increased guidance on developing complex interventions in recent years, much of this focuses on the theory and principles behind high-quality intervention development, rather than the practical aspects of how this should be achieved. This paper shares the findings from an embedded, qualitative evaluation of the Collaborative Working Group (CWG) process, a structured approach we developed to iteratively refine a complex intervention prior to a randomised controlled trial.

Management of Posterior Glottic Stenosis: A Systematic Review.

Objective: To review the current literature about surgical management and postoperative outcomes of posterior glottic stenosis (PGS).

Data Sources: PubMED, Scopus, and Cochrane Library.

Methods: Three investigators conducted a comprehensive review of the literature related to the epidemiology, etiologies, and management of adult patients with PGS through the PRISMA statements.