Reading words versus seeing font or handwriting style: a study of hemifield processing.

Tachistoscopic studies have established a right field advantage for the perception of visually presented words, which has been interpreted as reflecting a left hemispheric specialization. However, it is not clear whether this is driven by the linguistic task of word processing, or also occurs when processing properties such as the style and regularity of text. We had 23 subjects perform a tachistoscopic study while they viewed five-letter words in either computer font or handwriting.

Immunotherapy-Resistant Neuropathic Pain and Fatigue Predict Quality-of-Life in Contactin-Associated Protein-Like 2 Antibody Disease.

The long-term clinical outcomes and associated prognostic factors in contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CASPR2)-antibody diseases are unknown. A total of 75 participants with CASPR2 antibodies were longitudinally assessed for disability, quality-of-life, and chronic pain. Although most symptoms improved within 6 months of treatment, neuropathic pain and fatigue were the most immunotherapy refractory, and persisted for up to 6 years.

Safety and Efficacy of Deutetrabenazine at High versus Lower Daily Dosages in the ARC-HD Study to Treat Chorea in Huntington Disease.

Background: Huntington disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes psychiatric and neurological symptoms, including involuntary and irregular muscle movements (chorea). Chorea can disrupt activities of daily living, pose safety issues, and may lead to social withdrawal. The vesicular monoamine transporter 2 inhibitors tetrabenazine, deutetrabenazine, and valbenazine are approved treatments that can reduce chorea.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Division of Household Labor Among Women Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers.

Background: COVID-19 increased the burden of childcare on parents, leaving women vulnerable to increased disparities in the division of domestic labor. Women healthcare workers may be at heightened risk of worsening gender parity in the workplace as a result.

Objective: To examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender parity in the division of household responsibilities among women healthcare workers.

How gender shapes practice choices among family medicine residents and early career family physicians: a Canadian qualitative study.

Background: The practice choices of family medicine residents and early career family physicians shape access to primary care. A growing proportion of family physicians are women.

Aim: This study examined how gender operates in shaping family physician practice choices and subsequent practice patterns.

ECLS-SHOCK and DanGer Shock: Implications for optimal temporary mechanical circulatory support use for cardiogenic shock due to acute myocardial infarction.

Despite concerted efforts to rapidly identify patients with cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction (AMI-CS) and provide timely revascularization, early mortality remains stubbornly high. While artificially augmenting systemic flow through the use of temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS) devices would be expected to reduce the rate of progression to multi-organ dysfunction and thereby enhance survival, reliable evidence for benefit has remained elusive with lingering questions regarding the appropriate selection of both patients and devices, as well as the timing of device implantation relative to other critical interventions. Further complicating matters are the resource-intensive multidisciplinary systems of care that must be brought to bear in this complex patient population.

Dual controls of vapour pressure deficit and soil moisture on photosynthesis in a restored temperate bog.

Despite only covering ~3 % of the land mass, peatlands store more carbon (C) per unit area than any other ecosystem. This is due to the discrepancy between C fixed by the plants (Gross primary productivity (GPP)) and decomposition. However, this C is vulnerable to frequent, severe droughts and changes in the peatland microclimate.

Split tendon transfer of the posterior tibialis for spastic equinovarus foot deformity: Does tendon routing impact post-operative ankle kinematics?

Background: Split tendon transfer of the posterior tibialis (SPOTT) is a surgical procedure in which the split posterior tibialis tendon is transferred posterior to the fibula (PO) with insertion on the peroneus brevis tendon to rebalance the forces across the hindfoot. Routing of the split tendon through the interosseous membrane (IO) is a variation with the potential benefit of augmenting ankle dorsiflexion in swing.

Research Question: Does IO routing improve ankle dorsiflexion in swing and/or varus in stance compared to PO routing?

Methods: A retrospective chart review was completed to identify forty-two patients who underwent a SPOTT procedure for equinovarus foot deformity.

Concordance of non-invasive plasma cell-free DNA with invasive diagnostics for diagnosis of invasive fungal disease.

Background: Mold plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) PCR is a promising non-invasive diagnostic modality for early diagnosis of invasive mold disease (IMD) in immunocompromised patients. Although mold cfDNA PCR has been shown to be highly accurate, the value of invasive procedures to collect specimens for conventional fungal diagnostics following plasma cfDNA testing remains unclear.

Methods: This retrospective single-center cohort study included patients with mold plasma cfDNA PCR performed 7 days before or 2 days after invasive specimen collection.

Single cell approaches define neural stem cell niches and identify microglial ligands that can enhance precursor-mediated oligodendrogenesis.

Here, we used single cell RNA sequencing and single cell spatial transcriptomics to characterize the forebrain neural stem cell (NSC) niche under homeostatic and injury conditions. We defined the dorsal and lateral ventricular-subventricular zones (V-SVZs) as two distinct neighborhoods and showed that, after white matter injury, NSCs are activated to make oligodendrocytes dorsally for remyelination. This activation is coincident with an increase in transcriptionally distinct microglia in the dorsal V-SVZ niche.

A Case Report of Cryoneurolysis With Factor VIII Administration for Cerebral Palsy-related Spasticity in a Patient With Hemophilia A.

Spasticity affects up to 80% of individuals with cerebral palsy and can lead to pain and difficulties with performing activities of daily living. If left untreated, spasticity can progress to contracture and neuro-orthopedic deformities. Cryoneurolysis is an emerging and mini-invasive ultrasound-guided technique that causes secondary axonotmesis of peripheral nerves through the formation of an ice ball and may result in months to years of improved range of motion and reduced pain in patients with spasticity.

Clinical decision points for two plasma p-tau217 laboratory developed tests in neuropathology confirmed samples.

Introduction: We evaluated the diagnostic performance of two commercial plasma p-tau217 immunoassays compared to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing and neuropathology.

Methods: One hundred and seventy plasma samples from the University of British Columbia Hospital Clinic for Alzheimer's (AD) and Related Disorders were analyzed for p-tau217 using Fujirebio and ALZpath assays. Decision points were determined using CSF testing and autopsy findings as the standard.

Cryoneurolysis and Quadriplegia: A Case Report on Pain and Severe Spasticity Management.

Spasticity, a common symptom after spinal cord injury, often leads to pain, muscle contracture, and compromised daily activities. Cryoneurolysis, a minimally invasive, drug-free procedure for the treatment of pain, is now gaining recognition for treating spasticity. It involves using an ultrasound-guided probe to freeze and destroy overactive target nerves.

Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations: Vascular cognitive impairment, 7th edition practice guidelines update, 2024.

The Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations (CSPR) 7th edition includes this new module on the diagnosis and management of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) with or without neurodegenerative disease. An expert writing group and people with VCI lived experience (PWLE) reviewed current evidence. Existing recommendations were reviewed and revised, and new recommendations added.

Obstructive sleep apnea in bariatric surgery patients: a population-based study.

Purpose: A high proportion of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remains undiagnosed. The main objectives of this study were to measure the prevalence of diagnosed OSA and determine OSA predictors in patients who underwent bariatric surgery, who are predominantly female and pre-menopausal and represent an understudied population in OSA literature.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional population-based study using the Ontario Bariatric Registry (OBR) from 2010 to 2016, linked to ICES databases which include health administrative data on all encounters within a single public-payer system.

Eligibility Criteria of Randomized Clinical Trials in Critical Care Medicine.

Importance: Eligibility criteria for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are designed to select clinically relevant patient populations. However, not all eligibility criteria are strongly justified, potentially excluding marginalized groups, and limiting the generalizability of trial findings.

Objective: To summarize and evaluate the justification of exclusion criteria in published RCTs in critical care medicine.

Real time monitoring of intrarenal pressures while using the flexible and navigable suction ureteral access sheath.

Purpose: To report on in-vivo intrarenal pressure (IRP) during flexible ureteroscopy for treatment of kidney stones while using the novel flexible and navigable suction ureteral access sheath (FANS).

Methods: A retrospective observational analysis was performed for 25 patients undergoing routine flexible ureteroscopy for treatment of renal stones between February 2024 and June 2024 from two centres in Canada. The LithoVue Elite™ ureteroscope (Boston Scientific Corp.

Ancient reticulation, incomplete lineage sorting and the evolution of the pyrenoid at the dawn of hornwort diversification.

Background And Aims: Resolving the phylogeny of hornworts is critical in understanding the evolution of key morphological characters that are unique to the group, including the pyrenoid. Extensive phylogenomic analyses have revealed unexpected complexities in the placement of Leiosporoceros, the previously identified sister taxon to other hornworts. We explore the role of incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) and ancient reticulation in resolving interrelationships and comprehending the diversification and evolutionary processes within hornworts.

Global burden of bacterial skin diseases from 1990 to 2045: an analysis based on global burden disease data.

Bacterial skin diseases are a category of inflammatory skin conditions caused by bacterial infections, which impose a significant global disease burden. However, they have not been well assessed or predicted on a global scale. It is necessary to update the estimates and forecast future trends of the global burden of bacterial skin diseases to evaluate the impact of past healthcare policies and to provide guidance and information for new national and international healthcare strategies.

Experiences of Gender-Diverse Youth Living With Chronic Pain.

Background: Although sex differences in pain are well documented, little is known regarding the relationship between gender and pain. Gender-diverse youth experience unique pain risk factors, including minority stress exposure, but are underrepresented in research.

Objective: Elicit experiences of gender-diverse youth who live with chronic pain.

A Narrative Review of the Vulvar Disease Literature With Images of Women of Color.

Objective: To assess the existing literature on vulvar disease in women of color (WOC).

Methods: A narrative review was conducted to assess the literature on vulvar disease in WOC and evaluate the presence of images in this population. The search encompassed PubMed and OVID using relevant terms related to vulvar conditions and various groups of WOC.

Factors associated with weight loss response to GLP-1 analogues for obesity treatment: a retrospective cohort analysis.

Objectives: The response to glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogues for weight loss varies significantly. We investigated the anthropometric, demographic and clinical characteristics associated with total body weight loss (TBWL) from subcutaneous GLP-1 analogue therapy in patients with obesity in a real-world setting.

Design: Retrospective cohort analysis.

Patient preferences for drug therapy in inflammatory arthritis: protocol for a living systematic review and evidence map to inform clinical practice guidelines.

Introduction: The pharmacological management of inflammatory arthritis often requires choices that involve trade-offs between benefits, risks and other attributes such as administration route, frequency and cost. This living systematic review aims to inform international clinical guidelines on inflammatory arthritis by creating an evidence map of patient preference studies concerning the trade-offs in pharmacological management of inflammatory arthritis.

Methods And Analysis: We will include published and peer-reviewed full-text studies in any language that quantitatively assess preferences of patients for the pharmacological management of inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis).

Opioid agonist therapy discontinuation in British Columbia: a cross-sectional study of people who access harm reduction services.

Objectives: This study evaluates the prevalence and correlates of opioid agonist therapy (OAT) discontinuation across British Columbia (BC), using a sample of individuals who used substances and accessed harm reduction sites.

Design: This study uses data from the 2019 cross-sectional Harm Reduction Client Survey (HRCS).

Setting: The 2019 survey was administered from October to December at 22 harm reduction supply distribution sites across the 5 Regional Health Authorities of BC.