Multi-modal integration of MRI and global chamber charge density mapping for the evaluation of atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent clinical arrhythmia, posing significant mortality and morbidity challenges. Outcomes of current catheter ablation treatment strategies are suboptimal, highlighting the need for innovative approaches. A major obstacle lies in the inability to comprehensively assess both structural and functional remodelling in AF.

Active cycle of breathing technique versus oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy: Effect on lung function in children with primary ciliary dyskinesia; A feasibility study.

Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disorder requiring airway clearance techniques for mucus removal. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and the effect of the active cycle of breathing technique (ACBT) versus oscillating positive expiratory pressure therapy (OPEP) in improving lung function and functional exercise capacity among children with PCD in Palestine. 32 PCD children (6-18 years) were included in a 12-week home-based feasibility study.

R21 in Matrix-M adjuvant in UK malaria-naive adult men and non-pregnant women aged 18-45 years: an open-label, partially blinded, phase 1-2a controlled human malaria infection study.

Background: R21 is a novel malaria vaccine, composed of a fusion protein of the malaria circumsporozoite protein and hepatitis B surface antigen. Following favourable safety and immunogenicity in a phase 1 study, we aimed to assess the efficacy of R21 administered with Matrix-M (R21/MM) against clinical malaria in adults from the UK who were malaria naive in a controlled human malaria infection study.

Methods: In this open-label, partially blinded, phase 1-2A controlled human malaria infection study undertaken in Oxford, Southampton, and London, UK, we tested five novel vaccination regimens of R21/MM.

Iron deficiency and fatigue in inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review.

Background: It is unclear what impact iron deficiency has on fatigue in people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This systematic review examined the evidence of whether iron deficiency, with or without anaemia, was associated with fatigue in IBD. Fatigue is a common symptom in patients with IBD that can be difficult to manage and treat.

First-Line Chemo-Immunotherapy in SCLC: Outcomes of a Binational Real-World Study.

Introduction: SCLC is characterized by aggressiveness and limited treatment options, especially in extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC). Immunotherapy added to the platinum-etoposide combination has recently become standard in this setting. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of chemo-immunotherapy in patients with ES-SCLC, focusing on subpopulations excluded from clinical trials.

The latest in clinical trial results of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors in combination regimens for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Introduction: BPH/male LUTS is a prevalent condition in the aging male population with multifactorial pathophysiology. Pharmacotherapy remains the cornerstone of treatment in patients who fail conservative treatment. 5-α-Reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) are the only class of medication shown to reduce the risk of acute retention and BPH-related surgery and, thus, are commonly used along with other "short acting" medications in combination treatments.

Procalcitonin-guided duration of antibiotic treatment in children hospitalised with confirmed or suspected bacterial infection in the UK (BATCH): a pragmatic, multicentre, open-label, two-arm, individually randomised, controlled trial.

Background: Procalcitonin is a rapid response biomarker specific for bacterial infection, which is not routinely used in the UK National Health Service. We aimed to assess whether using a procalcitonin-guided algorithm would safely reduce the duration of antibiotic therapy compared with usual care, in which C-reactive protein is the commonly used biomarker.

Methods: The BATCH trial was a pragmatic, multicentre, open-label, parallel, two-arm, individually randomised, controlled trial conducted in 15 hospitals in England and Wales.

Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA) in Cardiac Surgery: A Narrative Review.

Perioperative dysglycaemia in cardiac surgery is associated with poor outcomes. Glycaemic variability rather than glucose levels is a predictor of the length of an ICU stay, a rise in creatinine and acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA) values correspond closely to average blood glucose levels and cut-off values can be used to define a diabetic and pre-diabetic status.

Current Status of Neoadjuvant Treatment Before Surgery in High-Risk Localized Prostate Cancer.

Localized high-risk (HR) prostate cancer (PCa) is a heterogeneous disease whose likelihood of a biochemical recurrence, metastatic progression and cancer-related mortality after initial treatment is higher when compared with patients with low (LR) or intermediate-risk (IR) disease. In the past, neoadjuvant therapy has shown an improvement in postoperative oncological variables but failed to demonstrate any survival advantages. With the promising results from novel treatments in metastatic and non-metastatic castration resistant PCa settings, new evidence has appeared in the literature in the neoadjuvant setting.

The Molecular Biology of Placental Transport of Calcium to the Human Foetus.

From fertilisation to delivery, calcium must be transported into and within the foetoplacental unit for intracellular signalling. This requires very rapid, precisely located Ca transfers. In addition, from around the eighth week of gestation, increasing amounts of calcium must be routed directly from maternal blood to the foetus for bone mineralisation through a flow-through system, which does not impact the intracellular Ca concentration.

Emergency and postoperative access to critical and enhanced care: a multicentre prospective observational study.

Introduction: The ability to admit patients to enhanced or critical care may be limited by bed availability. In a network with low provision of critical and enhanced care beds, we aimed to assess the proportion of patients having surgery with moderate (1%-< 5%) or high (≥ 5%) predicted risk of 30-day postoperative mortality and their postoperative care location. We also aimed to study referral and admission outcomes to critical care.

Is there an association between birth characteristics and fractures in young adults? The HUNT Study, Norway.

Unlabelled: This population study investigated the association between birth characteristics and fracture risk in 11,099 young adults (aged 19-54 years). Our findings indicate that birth weight, gestational age, and birth weight for gestational age were not associated with fractures in the wrist, humerus, hip, and spine in this population.

Purpose: Skeletal development starts during fetal life, and it is estimated that most bone formation occurs in the 3rd trimester.

Optimisation of the patient having oncological surgical through prehabilitation: a narrative review.

Introduction: Prehabilitation aims to improve physiological reserve and psychological resilience, enabling patients to better tolerate the physiological stress of major surgery, thereby reducing the risk of complications and improving surgical outcomes. In this review, we provide an update of the development of prehabilitation in patients having cancer surgery.

Methods: We searched databases of peer-reviewed research to identify appropriate papers.

Safety and efficacy of laser lithotripsy for treatment of bladder calculi: evidence from a systematic literature review.

Purpose Of Review: Bladder stones account for 5% of all urinary tract calculi. Contributing factors include bladder outflow obstruction, infections, foreign bodies, or neurogenic voiding dysfunction. This necessitates an effective treatment modality, and with advances in medical technology, minimally invasive techniques using lasers are being widely adopted.

Cohort profile: creation of the SAIL MELD-B e-cohort (SMC) and SAIL MELD-B children and young adult e-cohort (SMYC) to investigate the lived experience of the 'burdensomeness' of multimorbidity.

Purpose: We have established the SAIL MELD-B electronic cohort (e-cohort SMC) and the SAIL MELD-B children and Young adults e-cohort (SMYC) as a part of the Multidisciplinary Ecosystem to study Lifecourse Determinants and Prevention of Early-onset Burdensome Multimorbidity (MELD-B) project. Each cohort has been created to investigate and develop a deeper understanding of the lived experience of the 'burdensomeness' of multimorbidity by identifying new clusters of burdensomeness concepts, exploring early life risk factors of multimorbidity and modelling hypothetical prevention scenarios.

Participants: The SMC and SMYC are longitudinal e-cohorts created from routinely collected individual-level population-scale anonymised data sources available within the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank.

Myocardial Fibroblast Activation After Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Positron Emission Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Study.

Background: Myocardial fibrosis is a key healing response after myocardial infarction driven by activated fibroblasts. Gallium-68-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor ([Ga]-FAPI) is a novel positron-emitting radiotracer that binds activated fibroblasts.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the intensity, distribution, and time-course of fibroblast activation after acute myocardial infarction.

Mitrofanoff Appendicovesicostomy in Robotic Paediatric Surgery-A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Proper bladder drainage is crucial. Children with bladder dysfunction may require alternative methods like clean intermittent catheterisation (CIC). However, CIC can be challenging for individuals with impairments.

Network-based biomarkers in background electroencephalography in childhood epilepsies-A scoping review and narrative synthesis.

Background: Brain network analysis is an emerging field of research that could lead to the development, testing and validation of novel biomarkers for epilepsy. This could shorten the diagnostic uncertainty period, improve treatment, decrease seizure risk and lead to better management. This scoping review summarises the current state of electroencephalogram (EEG)-based network abnormalities for childhood epilepsies.

Critical Time Points for Assessing Long-Term Clinical Response After Sleeve Gastrectomy-A Retrospective Study of Patients with 13-Year Follow-Up.

Background: Weight loss after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) demonstrates significant diversity in the long term and the implicated mechanisms behind suboptimal clinical response (SCR) or recurrent weight gain (RWG) need to be scrutinized. This study retrospectively examines weight-loss trajectories, aiming to identify critical time points to optimize follow-up strategies and guide future prospective research.

Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective study of 104 patients that underwent SG.

Achievements, priorities and strategies in pediatric nephrology in Europe: need for unifying approaches or acceptance of differences?

Background: There is a lack of information on the current healthcare systems for children with kidney diseases across Europe. The aim of this study was to explore the different national approaches to the organization and delivery of pediatric nephrology services within Europe.

Methods: In 2020, the European society for Paediatric Nephrology (ESPN) conducted a cross-sectional survey to identify the existing pediatric nephrology healthcare systems in 48 European countries covering a population of more than 200 million children.