Child mortality in Eastern Ethiopia: acceptability of Postmortem minimally invasive tissue sampling in a predominantly muslim community.

Background: It is crucial to consider cultural, religious, and socio-behavioural factors that may influence the acceptability of Minimally Invasive Tissues Sampling (MITS). MITS is being used to understand the causes of child death and conducted in nine countries within Africa and South Asia with the highest child mortality. Progress has been made in the development of laboratory infrastructures and training for physicians to do MITS, but many communities are concerned about the religious acceptability of taking samples from deceased children.

Exploring Midwives' and Nurse-Midwives' Professional Identity and How Midwifery May Be Best Represented in the Public Realm: A Global Convergent Parallel Mixed-Methods Study.

Aims: With respect to midwives and nurse-midwife populations (1) measure and (2) explore professional identity and (3) explore how the midwifery profession may be best represented in the public realm.

Design: Convergent Parallel Mixed-Methods Design.

Methods: A web-based survey was used to collect data from 860 midwives and nurse-midwives from 102 countries between February and July 2022.

A Micro-CT Based Cadaveric Study Investigating Bone Density Changes During Hip Arthroplasty Surgery.

The impact of broaching and uncemented implantation on bone density during total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains unclear. Previous studies have typically examined extracted bone sections, which may not directly correlate with outcomes in human hip systems. This study aimed to evaluate bone density changes resulting from broaching and uncemented implantation using micro-computed tomography (μCT) on cadaveric samples.

Femoral tunnel enlargement after medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction is common and can be monitored using plain radiographs.

Introduction: medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLr) is a common surgical procedure for treating patellar instability. Grafts can be fixed to the femur using a bone-tunnel technique with an interference screw. However, this may lead to femoral tunnel enlargement (FTE) post-operatively.

Clinical and patient-reported outcomes in women offered oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery as an alternative to mastectomy: ANTHEM multicentre prospective cohort study.

Background: Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery may be a better option than mastectomy, but high-quality comparative evidence is lacking. The aim of the ANTHEM study (ISRCTN18238549) was to explore clinical and patient-reported outcomes in a multicentre cohort of women offered oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery as an alternative to mastectomy with or without immediate breast reconstruction.

Methods: Women with invasive/pre-invasive breast cancer who were offered oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery with volume replacement or displacement techniques to avoid mastectomy were recruited prospectively.

Validation of the Korean Version of the Pain-related Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep (PBAS) scale Among Patients with Chronic Pain.

Objectives: We assessed the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the Pain-related Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep (PBAS) scale among patients with chronic pain. Furthermore, we investigated whether pan-related dysfunctional beliefs about sleep mediate the relationship between sleep severity and pain.

Methods: Overall, 100 participants with chronic pain were recruited using an anonymous online survey.

Genome-wide epigenetic profiling and transcriptome analysis in pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A focus on Black female children.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-related breathing disorder characterized by airway obstruction during sleep. Diagnosing pediatric OSA is challenging, particularly in underrepresented populations, leading to disparities in treatment and long-term negative health outcomes. Our study aimed to identify alternative diagnostic tools by investigating genome-wide epigenetic changes and associated transcriptomic alterations in Black female, pediatric patients with OSA.

Efficacy and Safety of Optilume Drug-Coated Balloon for Urethral Stricture Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The Optilume drug-coated balloon (DCB) (North Plymouth, USA) is a novel treatment option for urethral stricture disease that combines mechanical dilation with localized delivery of paclitaxel, an antiproliferative drug aimed at reducing recurrence rates by inhibiting scar tissue formation. This systematic review and meta-analysis, conducted using studies published in the last 10 years up to November 2024, assessed the efficacy and safety of Optilume DCB across seven studies involving 457 patients. Key outcomes included significant reductions in symptom scores, as measured by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), and improvements in urinary flow rates (QMax).

Theories and Practices in Learning and Assessment for Postgraduate Medical Education: A Review.

This literature review explores key theories and practical strategies in postgraduate medical education. It examines essential learning strategies, such as didactic and experiential teaching methods, structured lesson planning, and models such as Maslow's hierarchy and Kolb's experiential learning cycle. Active learning techniques and feedback models, crucial for guiding medical trainees' growth, are also discussed.

Analysis of Mutations in Dihydropteroate Synthase and Dihydropteroate Reductase Genes Among Non-HIV Patients in China.

Purpose: pneumonia (PJP) shows a high fatality rate in non-HIV patients. However, there are limited data on drug resistance-related gene mutations in these patients. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of mutations in the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) genes of in non-HIV patients in China, providing a reference for drug usage.

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.

Prospective evaluation of lung cancer screening eligibility criteria and lung cancer detection in the Yorkshire Lung Screening Trial.

Introduction: Low dose CT (LDCT) screening for lung cancer reduces lung cancer mortality, but there is a lack of international consensus regarding the optimal eligibility criteria for screening. The Yorkshire Lung Screening Trial (YLST) was designed to evaluate lung cancer screening (LCS) implementation and a primary objective was prospective evaluation of 3 pre-defined eligibility criteria.

Methods: Individuals who had ever smoked, aged 55-80yrs, who responded to written invitation, underwent telephone risk assessment and if eligible by at least one criteria (PLCO≥1.

Management of partial extensor tendon lacerations of the hand and forearm: A national survey of practice in the United Kingdom.

Background: Partial extensor tendon lacerations of the hand and forearm are common. There is a lack of evidence to guide their management and it is also unclear at what threshold surgeons would consider repair necessary. This study aimed to identify national surgical management of partial extensor tendon lacerations of the hand and forearm (zones 2-8) and assess surgeons' willingness to randomise in a future trial.

An expert consensus statement on biomarkers of ageing for use in intervention studies.

Biomarkers of ageing serve as important outcome measures in longevity-promoting interventions. However, there is limited consensus on which specific biomarkers are most appropriate for human intervention studies. This work aimed to address this need by establishing an expert consensus on biomarkers of ageing for use in intervention studies via the Delphi method.

Review: Systematic review and meta-analysis - financial incentives increase engagement with parenting programs for disruptive behavior problems.

Background: To evaluate the effect of financial incentives on engagement in parenting programs for disruptive behavior disorders, as well as effect on child behavior. As a secondary aim, demographic differences were investigated as effect modifiers.

Methods: We searched PubMed, CINAHL, Sociological Abstracts, Cochrane Trials, and PsycINFO for randomized controlled trials and quasi experimental studies offering parents a financial incentive for engagement with parenting programs targeting disruptive behavior in children aged under 18, vs no incentive.

Characterizing the Clinical Trajectory and Predicting Persistence and Deterioration of Attenuated Psychotic Symptoms in Ultra-High-Risk Individuals.

Background: Almost 40% of individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis experience persistent attenuated psychotic symptoms (APS) yet it is unclear (1) whether they share overlapping clinical and functional outcomes compared to individuals who transition to psychosis, (2) when symptom and functioning trajectories begin to diverge between UHR individuals with different clinical outcomes, and (3) whether non-remission (persistent APS or transition) can be predicted using baseline and/or longitudinal data.

Study Design: Participants were drawn from 2 randomized clinical trials: Neurapro (n = 220; discovery sample) and STEP (n = 180; external validation sample). First, 12-24 month symptoms and functioning were compared between UHR individuals with persistent APS, sustained remission, or transition to psychosis.

Injury prevention programmes (IPPs) for preventing anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (intervention). The objectives are as follows: To determine the benefits and harms of injury prevention programmes on anterior cruciate ligament injuries.

How Does Thyroid Hormone Profile Differ on and Off Replacement Treatment?

Introduction: There continues to be much discussion around optimisation of thyroid hormone status in hypothyroid individuals. We here looked the way that free T4(FT4) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) related to each other in a large laboratory sample of people who underwent a thyroid function test (TFT), split between those on levothyroxine replacement (monitoring test) and those who underwent a test to check for thyroid hormone imbalance (diagnostic test; not on levothyroxine).

Methods: TFT test (FT4/TSH) results were extracted from the Salford Royal Hospital Laboratory Information Management System during 2009-2012.

Evaluation of effect of cooled haemodialysis on cognition in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ECHECKED) feasibility randomised controlled trial results.

Background: Cognitive impairment is common in haemodialysis patients with no known beneficial interventions. Cooler dialysate slows brain white-matter changes, but its effect on cognition is unknown. This feasibility trial was performed to inform a fully-powered, randomised trial to assess this.

Management of penetrating splenic trauma; is it different to the management of blunt trauma?

Purpose: We compare the treatment and outcomes of penetrating and blunt splenic trauma at Major Trauma Centres (MTC) within the UK.

Methods: Data obtained from the national Trauma Audit Research Network database identified all eligible splenic injuries admitted to MTC within England between 01/01/17-31/12/21. Demographics, mechanism of injury, splenic injury classification, associated injuries, treatment, and outcomes were compared.

Diagnostic performance of metagenomic next-generation sequencing based on alveolar lavage fluid in unexplained lung shadows.

Background: Unexplained lung shadows are challenging in respiratory medicine, with both infectious and non-infectious etiologies. Lung biopsy is definitive but invasive, prompting a need for non-invasive alternatives. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) is emerging as a promising diagnostic tool.

Uncertainty-aware automatic TNM staging classification for [F] Fluorodeoxyglucose PET-CT reports for lung cancer utilising transformer-based language models and multi-task learning.

Background: [F] Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET-CT is a clinical imaging modality widely used in diagnosing and staging lung cancer. The clinical findings of PET-CT studies are contained within free text reports, which can currently only be categorised by experts manually reading them. Pre-trained transformer-based language models (PLMs) have shown success in extracting complex linguistic features from text.