Enhancing individual glomerular filtration rate assessment: can we trust the equation? Development and validation of machine learning models to assess the trustworthiness of estimated GFR compared to measured GFR.

Background: Creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations are widely used in clinical practice but exhibit inherent limitations. On the other side, measuring GFR is time consuming and not available in routine clinical practice. We developed and validated machine learning models to assess the trustworthiness (i.

Peripheral nerve regeneration using a bioresorbable silk fibroin-based artificial nerve conduit fabricated via a novel freeze-thaw process.

While silk fibroin (SF) obtained from silkworm cocoons is expected to become a next-generation natural polymer, a fabrication method for SF-based artificial nerve conduits (SFCs) has not yet been established. Here, we report a bioresorbable SFC, fabricated using a novel freeze-thaw process, which ensures biosafety by avoiding any harmful chemical additives. The SFC demonstrated favorable biocompatibility (high hydrophilicity and porosity with a water content of > 90%), structural stability (stiffness, toughness, and elasticity), and biodegradability, making it an ideal candidate for nerve regeneration.

Effects of intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring on body weight and glycemic variability in overweight individuals with impaired glucose tolerance or mild diabetes: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To investigate the effect of visualizing blood glucose variability by intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) on weight reduction in overweight individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or mild type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Materials And Methods: Forty overweight (BMI, ≥25 kg/m2) individuals with IGT or T2DM (drug naïve; HbA1c, ≤7.0 %) were included in this 24-week randomized controlled trial.

Volumetric assessment of the soft tissue envelope in unilateral closed ankle fractures using a portable 3D scanner.

Management of ankle fractures necessitating surgery is impacted by soft tissue swelling, often delaying open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Subjective evaluations are inconsistent, and traditional measurement methods are often inaccurate or impractical. This prospective observational study included 17 adults with unilateral closed ankle fractures requiring surgical fixation.

Novel genetic insight for psoriasis: integrative genome-wide analyses in 863 080 individuals and proteome-wide Mendelian randomization.

Psoriasis affects a significant proportion of the worldwide population and causes an extremely heavy psychological and physical burden. The existing therapeutic schemes have many deficiencies such as limited efficacies and various side effects. Therefore, novel ways of treating psoriasis are urgently needed.

Vietnamese religiosity, premarital sexual permissiveness, and abortion attitudes: the mediating role of filial piety.

This study focuses on filial piety, a fundamental psychological factor in Vietnam and its relationship with religiosity and attitudes toward abortion. Drawing on data from 656 participants, the research employed the Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method and identified significant differences in intrinsic religiosity (IR) based on various forms of cohabitation with parents. Furthermore, the findings revealed a positive association between age and religiosity.

First-line biologics as a treatment for ulcerative colitis: a multicenter randomized control study.

Background: Despite the availability of several biologics for ulcerative colitis (UC), there remains a critical need to identify first-line treatment biologics. The superiority of infliximab (IFX) over vedolizumab (VED) and ustekinumab (UST) was evaluated as initial UC treatments in patients with biologic-naïve UC.

Methods: This multicenter, randomized control trial was conducted across 20 Japanese medical institutions.

Management Strategies for Truncus Arteriosus: A Comparative Analysis of Staged vs. Primary Repair.

We reviewed the outcomes of truncus arteriosus repair (primary vs. staged repair incorporating bilateral pulmonary artery banding), focusing on survival, reintervention, and functional data. We analyzed 39 patients who underwent a first intervention for truncus arteriosus (staged, n = 19; primary, n = 20) between 1992 and 2022.

Technical aspects of neuraxial analgesia during labor and maternity care: an updated overview.

Labor analgesia is increasingly widespread throughout the world with a rate ranging from 10 to 60%. The benefits regarding clinical and non-clinical maternal-fetal outcomes are currently discussed in international scientific literature. Even stage of labor needs a different and appropriate approach to control the pain; however, different techniques are reported in literature.

Alpha/beta values in pediatric medulloblastoma: implications for tailored approaches in radiation oncology.

Background: Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor, typically treated with normofractionated craniospinal irradiation (CSI) with an additional boost over about 6 weeks in children older than 3 years. This study investigates the sensitivity of pediatric medulloblastoma cell lines to different radiation fractionation schedules. While extensively studied in adult tumors, these ratios remain unknown in pediatric cases due to the rarity of the disease.

Impact of hospital formulary intervention on carbapenem use: a segmented time-series analysis of consumption and a propensity score-matched non-inferiority study of treatment efficacy.

Background: Pharmaceutical formularies play a crucial role in guiding medication use by balancing clinical effectiveness and cost efficiency. Although formulary implementation has been increasing in Japan, comprehensive evaluations of its impact on both clinical and economic outcomes are limited. This study aimed to assess the effect of introducing an antimicrobial formulary at Yokohama City University Hospital on antibiotic usage and treatment outcomes in intra-abdominal infections.

Comparison of clinical and virological features in pediatric and adult dengue cases at Insein General Hospital during Myanmar's 2022 dengue season.

Background: Myanmar is one of the countries in Southeast Asia where serious dengue outbreaks occur and Yangon is among the regions with the highest number of cases in the country. Many infections including dengue are common in Yangon during the rainy season, and co-infections may also occur. Adults are more likely than children to experience co-infections of dengue and other diseases.

Predictive factors of fibrotic interstitial lung abnormality on high-resolution computed tomography scans: a prospective observational study.

Background: Fibrotic types of interstitial lung abnormalities seen on high-resolution computed tomography scans, characterised by traction bronchiolectasis/bronchiectasis with or without honeycombing, are predictors of progression and poor prognostic factors of interstitial lung abnormalities. There are no reports on the clinical characteristics of fibrotic interstitial lung abnormalities on high-resolution computed tomography scans. Therefore, we aimed to examine these clinical characteristics and clarify the predictive factors of fibrotic interstitial lung abnormalities on high-resolution computed tomography scans.

Is the treatment of ankle osteoarthritis changing over time in Italy? Analysis of temporal trends for fusion and arthroplasty in a population-based study from 2001 to 2022 on the National Hospital Discharge Record database.

Background: Treatment of ankle osteoarthritis by total ankle replacement (TAR) is increasing worldwide. The aim of the study was to present the overall temporal trends of TAR throughout 22 years (2001-2022) in Italy, analyzing the distributions of hospitals by volume of activity and patients by age and sex, drawing on the National Hospital Discharge Record database. Furthermore, as a secondary aim, we compared these trends with those of ankle fusions.

Effect of anterior chamber depth on corneal endothelium following phacoemulsification among patients with different axial lengths.

Purpose: To assess the effect of anterior chamber depth on corneal endothelium using specular microscopy following uneventful phacoemulsification among cataract patients with different axial lengths.

Methods: The study was conducted in a quasi-experimental design including 300 eyes of 300 patients with grade three age-related nuclear cataract distributed equally based on their axial length into three equal groups. All eyes had grade three nuclear cataract.

A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Clinical Impact of Prophylactic Quinolones with Adjuvant Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Instillation for Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer.

Background And Objective: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) reduces disease recurrence and progression in intermediate- and high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). BCG-associated adverse events during instillations are common, leading to treatment cessation. Prophylactic use of quinolones in conjunction with BCG instillations is one approach for reducing BCG-associated adverse events.

Safety comparison between Pfizer BNT162b2, Moderna mRNA-1273, and AstraZeneca AZD1222 in a Nationwide prospective cohort survey at the beginning of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccination in Japan.

This study was conducted at 112 government and Juntendo University hospitals in February 2021 for the primary series of SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations. We compared the timing of solicited adverse event (AE) onset and prevalence of unsolicited AEs for Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines in a nationwide, large-scale prospective cohort study. The Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines were associated with a higher frequency of fever after the second dose than after the first dose.

miR378a-3p in serum extracellular vesicles is associated with pancreatic beta-cell mass in diabetic states.

The condition in which the insulin secretory ability of pancreatic β-cells decreases in diabetes is extremely important, but there are currently no biomarkers that reflect pancreatic β-cell failure. Therefore, we conducted a search for biomarkers, using pancreatic β-cell-specific 3-Phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) knockout mice, which develop severe hyperglycemia due to a decrease in pancreatic β-cell mass without insulin resistance. The analysis was performed in young mice when metabolic abnormalities were not yet apparent.

Nurses and allied professionals' engagement in clinical research-in-practice: a statement of the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing & Allied Professions of the European Society of Cardiology.

Many nurses and allied professionals (NAPs) lack the skills, knowledge and confidence to engage in conducting and implementing research. This statement describes the importance of NAPs' involvement in clinical research within the context of cardiovascular care. The existing gaps, barriers and enablers to NAPs involvement in research as a potential response to workforce issues in these professions as well as to contribute to excellence in patient care delivery and associated outcomes are identified.

Stair-descent phenotypes in community-dwelling older adults determined using high-level balance tasks.

Background: Falls on stairs are a major cause of severe injuries among older adults, with stair descent posing significantly greater risks than ascent. Variations in stair descent phenotypes may reflect differences in physical function and biomechanical stability, and their identification may prevent falls.

Aims: This study aims to classify stair descent phenotypes in older adults and investigate the biomechanical and physical functional differences between these phenotypes using hierarchical cluster analysis.

Intramural pregnancy after intrauterine insemination in a nulligravid patient without previous uterine trauma, complicated by idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: A case report.

Intramural pregnancy (IMP) is an extremely rare form of ectopic pregnancy (EP), typically associated with previous uterine trauma, adenomyosis, or assisted reproductive technology (ART), such as embryo transfer (ET). Despite its potentially life-threatening nature, the absence of definitive preoperative diagnostic criteria for IMP complicates its early detection and management, especially in patients without known risk factors. Additionally, management becomes more challenging when there is an elevated risk of hemorrhage.

Long-term effect of short-term exercise instructions in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes: observation study after randomized controlled study.

Aims: To clarify the long-term effects of short-term exercise instructions by physical therapists in Japanese people with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: This was a follow-up study of 2 years after randomized controlled study of short-term exercise instructions included 18 patients (5 in the non-intervention and 13 in the intervention groups). Motor skills, including 6 min walk test scores, and transtheoretical model was evaluated at baseline (week 0) the end of the study of the previous study (week 8), and 2 years after (2 years).

Cost-effective analysis focused on hypoglycemia of intermittent-scanning continuous glucose monitoring in type 1 diabetes adults: a ISCHIA randomized clinical trial.

Background: This study aimed to compare the economic value of intermittent-scanning continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) with self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Methods: Participants were placed on either an isCGM or SMBG arm for 84 days, in a randomized, crossover setup with a 28-day washout period. Clinically relevant hypoglycemia (<54 mg/dL) and severe hypoglycemia (SH) risks were calculated by analyzing the data from isCGM.