Seeking Care for Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms Among African Americans: Findings From the National Survey of American Life.

Although obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is associated with clinically significant distress, many OCD patients do not seek treatment. Studies show that Black Americans with OCD are even less likely to obtain treatment due to differences in access. This study explored demographic and symptom outcomes associated with mental health service use for obsessions and compulsions among a nationally representative sample of African American adults (n = 3,570).

Clinical Microbiome Analysis by Mass Spectrometry-Based Metaproteomics.

Mass spectrometry-based proteomics and metaproteomics have long been used in the study of human microbiomes, with the potential of metaproteomics only recently being fully harnessed. This progress is due to the advancements of high-performance mass spectrometers, innovative proteomics strategies, and the development of dedicated bioinformatics tools. In this review, we critically examine the recent technological developments that enhance the application of metaproteomics in clinical microbiome analysis.

Spine-Abductor Syndrome: Novel Associations Between Lumbar Spine Disease and Hip Gluteal Muscle Pathology.

Background: Risk factors for gluteal tears include age-related deterioration, female sex, and increased body mass index. As the literature that supports the sagittal relationship between the lumbar spine and the hip is increasing, there may be a parallel relationship between the perturbations in spinopelvic alignment caused by lumbar spine disease and gluteal muscle tears. Because no prior studies other than single-institution series have reported on this phenomenon, we investigated spine-abductor syndrome at the population level.

Beliefs About Autonomic Arousal Sensations Help Explain Differences in Paraphilic Interests in Young Men and Women.

We examined whether beliefs about autonomic arousal sensations and sexual sensation seeking explain some of the gender differences in self-reporting paraphilic sexual interests in 672 university students. A serial mediation model was used to test the direct association of gender and the indirect associations of positive interpretations of autonomic arousal sensations and sexual sensation seeking on paraphilic sexual interests. Anxiety sensitivity (e.

The association between immunoinflammatory biomarkers NLR, PLR, LMR and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disorder closely linked to metabolic syndrome. Identifying novel, easily measurable biomarkers could significantly enhance the diagnosis and management of NAFLD in clinical settings. Recent studies suggest that immunoinflammatory biomarkers-specifically, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR)-may offer diagnostic value for NAFLD.

Incidence and risk factors for skin cancer after heart transplantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Studies have shown that patients who undergo heart transplantation (HTx) are at an increased risk for developing skin cancer. This condition can add physiological and psychological burden to patients. Therefore, assessing the incidence and identifying risk factors for skin cancer are crucial steps in its prevention.

Comparative Performance of the Leading Large Language Models in Answering Complex Rhinoplasty Consultation Questions.

Various large language models (LLMs) can provide human-level medical discussions, but they have not been compared regarding rhinoplasty knowledge. To compare the leading LLMs in answering complex rhinoplasty consultation questions as evaluated by plastic surgeons. Ten open-ended rhinoplasty consultation questions were presented to ChatGPT-4o, Google Gemini, Claude, and Meta-AI LLMs.

Intracellular tenofovir-diphosphate concentrations in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis users who underwent bariatric surgery.

Objective: To measure concentrations of tenofovir diphosphate (TFV-DP) in dried blood spots (DBS) among individuals taking tenofovir disoproxil fumarate plus emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) or tenofovir alafenamide plus emtricitabine (TAF/FTC) who were scheduled to undergo or had already undergone bariatric surgery.

Methods: We enrolled pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users attending clinics in Toronto or Ottawa who were undergoing or had undergone bariatric surgery. After participants completed a minimum of 7 days of consecutive PrEP dosing, we collected DBS samples immediately before they administered their next daily dose of PrEP.

The Impact of Sinus Surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis on Concomitant Depression and Anxiety Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Both anxiety and depression are prevalent among patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and associated with poorer outcomes following treatment for CRS. However, the impact of treatment on CRS on mental health remains uncertain. Therefore, this study seeks to evaluate if surgical intervention for CRS may alleviate comorbid depression and anxiety.

Optimizing Operating Room Efficiency for Primary Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Using Performance Benchmarks.

Background: With increasing demand for total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA), maximizing operating room (OR) efficiency is critical. This paper sought to examine the implementation of time benchmarks when performing primary TKA and THA. We hypothesized that implementing benchmarks would improve efficiency and the number of joints performed per day.

Zebrafish glial-vascular interactions progressively expand over the course of brain development.

Glial-vascular interactions are critical for the formation and maintenance of brain blood vessels and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in mammals, but their role in the zebrafish BBB remains unclear. Using three glial gene promoters-, , and (a truncated )-we explored glial-vascular development in zebrafish. Sparse labeling showed fewer glial-vascular interactions at early stages, with glial coverage and contact area increasing with age.

Targeting menin for precision therapy in high-risk acute myeloid leukemia.

Objective: This mini-review provides an overview of the current evidence for Revumenib, a first-in-class menin inhibitor, in treating AML with KMT2A rearrangements or NPM1 mutations. This therapy represents a promising advancement by selectively disrupting leukemogenic pathways.

Summary: The clinical promise of Revumenib in genetically defined AML highlights its potential role in shaping the future treatment landscape.

Utilization of refuse-derived fuel in industrial applications: Insights from Uttar Pradesh, India.

Urbanization and population growth in India have quickened, leading to an annual generation of around 62 million tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW). Improper management of organic waste presents a major environmental problem due to air and water pollution, soil contamination and greenhouse gas production. This research aims to develop refuse-derived fuel (RDF) as a viable option, converting waste into a high-calorific energy carrier for industrial use.

Assessment of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellowship Programs Website.

The aim of the study was to assess the comprehensiveness of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) fellowship program websites in North America. All active REI fellowship program websites in the United States of America (USA) and Canada were evaluated and assessed using 72-point scoring criteria. Any fellowship programs without publicly accessible websites were excluded.

Sialyl Lewis Glycomimetics as E- and P-Selectin Antagonists Targeting Hyperinflammation.

Inflammatory disorders, such as sepsis, pancreatitis, and severe COVID-19, often cause immune dysfunction and high mortality. These conditions trigger excessive immune cell influx, leading to cytokine storms, organ damage, and compensatory immune suppression that results in immunoparalysis, organ dysfunction, and reinfection. Controlled and reversible immunosuppression limiting immune cell recruitment to inflammation sites could reduce hyperinflammation and prevent immune exhaustion.

Situational analysis of human and agricultural health practice: One Health and antibiotic use in an indigenous village in rural Punjab, India.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents one of the biggest threats to health globally. The rise of AMR has been largely attributed to the misuse and abuse of antimicrobials in veterinary, human, and agricultural medicine. This study aimed to assess human, livestock, and agricultural health profiles, and practices of One Health and antibiotic use through a situational analysis of an Indigenous village Gurah, in a rural area of Mohali district in Punjab state using a demographic and facility survey.

Cost-effectiveness of targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) for detection of tuberculosis drug resistance in India, South Africa and Georgia: a modeling analysis.

Background: Targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) is promising alternative to phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (pDST) for detecting drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRTB). This study explored the potential cost-effectiveness of tNGS for the diagnosis of DR-TB across 3 settings: India, South Africa and Georgia.

Methods: To inform WHO guideline development group (GDG) on tNGS we developed a stochastic decision analysis model and assessed cost-effectiveness of tNGS for DST among rifampicin resistance individuals.

Factors Influencing Recruitment, Retention, and Adherence Rates in Exercise Interventions in ESKD: A Scoping Review.

Rational & Objective: Majority of people with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) are sedentary, which increases risk for decreased quality and quantity of life. Development of exercise programs with characteristics that address individual preferences may increase interest in participating and completing exercise programs. We evaluated which exercise intervention characteristics affect exercise program recruitment, adherence, and completion in people with ESKD receiving dialysis.

Exploring integrated tertiary care for children from Nunavut: experiences of families and healthcare providers at the Aakuluk clinic in Ottawa, Canada.

Children from circumpolar regions must travel long distances to southern tertiary care centres for specialised care. While there are initiatives underway to support care closer to home, medical travel remains a necessity for many families. The Aakuluk clinic has been operating since 2019 at a tertiary hospital in Ottawa, Canada, to provide care to children from Nunavut.

Masking in Active Comparator Designs in Pharmacovigilance: A Retrospective Bias Analysis on the Spontaneous Reporting of Thiazolidinediones and Cardiovascular Events.

Introduction: Masking is a reporting bias where drug safety signals are muffled by elevated reporting of other medications in spontaneous reporting databases. While the impact of masking is often limited, its effect when using restricted designs, such as active comparators, can be consequential.

Methods: We used data from the US Food and Drugs Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (1999Q3-2013Q3) to study masking in a real-world example.

Prevalence and associated factors of malaria among the displaced population in refugee camps in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The increased occurrence of malaria among Africa's displaced communities poses a new humanitarian problem. Understanding malaria epidemiology among the displaced population in African refugee camps is a vital step for implementing effective malaria control and elimination measures. As a result, this study aimed to generate comprehensive and conclusive data from diverse investigations undertaken in Africa.

Social cognition in bipolar I and II disorders: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in reports upon social-cognition impairments in bipolar disorder. This study aimed to compare the characteristics of social cognition domains in bipolar I (BD I) and II (BD II) based on the findings to date.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted on Web of Science and PubMed from inception to 28 August 2024.

The effects of deprivation, age, and regional differences in COVID-19 mortality from 2020 to 2022: a retrospective analysis of public provincial data.

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) quickly spread around the world after its initial identification in Wuhan, China in 2019 and became a global public health crisis. COVID-19 related hospitalizations and deaths as important disease outcomes have been investigated by many studies while less attention has been given to the relationship between these two outcomes at a public health unit level. In this study, we aim to establish the relationship of counts of deaths and hospitalizations caused by COVID-19 over time across 34 public health units in Ontario, Canada, taking demographic, geographic, socio-economic, and vaccination variables into account.