Urinary DNA Methylation Test for Bladder Cancer Diagnosis.

Importance: An accurate noninvasive biomarker test is needed for the early diagnosis of bladder cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of a urinary DNA methylation test (PENK methylation) and compare its diagnostic accuracy with that of the nuclear matrix protein 22 (NMP22) test or urine cytology test.

Design, Setting, And Participants: In this prospective multicenter study at 10 sites in the Republic of Korea, individuals 40 years and older with hematuria undergoing cystoscopy within 3 months between March 11, 2022, and May 30, 2024, participated.

Automatic Quality Control System and Adenoma Detection Rates During Routine Colonoscopy: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: High-quality colonoscopy reduces the risks of colorectal cancer by increasing the adenoma detection rate. Routine use of an automatic quality control system (AQCS) to assist in colorectal adenoma detection should be considered.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of an AQCS on the adenoma detection rate among colonoscopists who were moderate- and low-level detectors during routine colonoscopy.

Procedural Prescription Denials and Risk of Acute Care Utilization and Spending Among Medicaid Patients.

Importance: Rising prescription medication costs under Medicaid have led to increased procedural prescription denials by health plans. The effect of unresolved denials on chronic condition exacerbation and subsequent acute care utilization remains unclear.

Objective: To examine whether procedural prescription denials are associated with increased net spending through downstream acute care utilization among Medicaid patients not obtaining prescribed medication following a denial.

Management of Psychosis and Schizophrenia by Primary Care GPs: A Cross-Sectional Study in Spain.

Aim: To investigate the detection and initial management of first psychotic episodes, as well as established schizophrenia, within the primary care of the Andalusian Health System.

Background: Delay in detecting and treating psychosis is associated with slower recovery, higher relapse risk, and poorer long-term outcomes. Often, psychotic episodes go unnoticed for years before a diagnosis is established.

Origin and In-Office Treatment of Retrograde Cricopharyngeus Dysfunction.

Importance: Retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (R-CPD) is an emerging disorder associated with disabling symptoms. The origin of R-CPD remains unknown.

Objective: To investigate the development of symptoms, diagnosis approach, and therapeutic outcomes of R-CPD in patients treated with in-office botulinum toxin injection (BTI) into the cricopharyngeus.

Adjuvant Atezolizumab for Early Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: The ALEXANDRA/IMpassion030 Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive subtype with a high incidence in young patients, a high incidence in non-Hispanic Black women, and a high risk of progression to metastatic cancer, a devastating sequela with a 12- to 18-month life expectancy. Until recently, one strategy for treating early-stage triple-negative breast cancer was chemotherapy after surgery. However, it was not known whether the addition of immune therapy to postsurgery chemotherapy would be beneficial.

Studying gender in the experiences of patients with heart failure: A scoping review of qualitative studies and methodological recommendations.

Background: Considering how gendered experiences play a role in the lives of patients with heart failure (HF) is critical in order to understand their experiences, optimise clinical care and reduce health inequalities.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to review how gender is being studied in qualitative research in HF, specifically to (1) analyse how gender is conceptualised and applied in qualitative HF research; and (2) identify methodological opportunities to better understand the gendered experiences of patients with HF.

Eligibility Criteria: We conducted a systematic search of literature, including qualitive or mixed-methods articles focussing on patients' perspectives in HF and using gender as a primary analytical factor, excluding articles published before 2000.

Relaxin in pregnancy: a narrative review of a pleiotropic molecule.

Introduction: Relaxin is a hormone primarily produced by the corpus luteum during pregnancy, and it plays a critical role in various physiological processes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Evidence Acquisition: Studies have suggested a possible link between relaxin levels and preterm birth. Relaxin's effects on the cervix and pelvic ligaments suggest it could influence the mode of delivery.

A Phase 3B, Open-Label Study to Evaluate the Immunogenicity and Safety of the Quadrivalent Meningococcal Nimenrix Vaccine When Given to Healthy Infants at 3 and 12 Months of Age.

Introduction: Infants and young children typically have the highest age-related risk of invasive meningococcal disease. The immunogenicity and safety of a single primary dose and a booster of a meningococcal A/C/W/Y tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (MenACWY-TT; Nimenrix) in infants were evaluated.

Methods: In this phase 3b, open-label, single-arm study, healthy 3-month-old infants received a single Nimenrix dose followed by a booster at age 12 months (1 + 1 series).

Exploring the Role of TRAF6-TAK1 Pathway in Podocyte Pyroptosis and Its Implications for Primary Membranous Nephropathy Therapy.

Primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) is a prevalent renal disorder characterized by immune-mediated damage to the glomerular basement membrane, with recent studies highlighting the significant role of pyroptosis in its progression. In this study, we investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying PMN, focusing on the role of Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) in promoting disease advancement. Specifically, we examine how TRAF6 facilitates PMN progression by inducing the ubiquitination of Transforming growth factor-beta-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), which in turn activates the Gasdermin D (GSDMD)/Caspase-1 axis, leading to podocyte pyroptosis.

The prevalence of autoimmune thyroiditis is not increased in women with polycystic ovary syndrome after adjustment for family predisposition.

Purpose: Several studies suggest a linkage between PCOS and autoimmunity with a high frequency of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) reported in PCOS patients, however, this subject remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of AIT in PCOS women and identify parameters that would serve as independent predictors of AIT.

Methods: Two hundred fifty seven (257) PCOS patients according to the NIH criteria and one hundred forty three (143) controls, women with normal menstrual cycles and without clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism, were recruited for the study.

Is it possible to return to skiing following long-construct spinal deformity surgery?

Background: Alpine skiing requires flexibility, endurance, strength and rotational ability, which may be lost after long fusions to the pelvis for adult spinal deformity (ASD). ASD patients may worry about their ability to return to skiing (RTS) postoperatively. There is currently insufficient data for spine surgeons to adequately address questions about when, or if, their patients might RTS.

Sacral Alar-Iliac (SAI) screw diameter is not associated with pelvic fixation failure for neuromuscular scoliosis patients.

Purpose: Determine if Sacral Alar-Iliac (SAI) screw diameter is associated with pelvic fixation failure in pediatric patients with neuromuscular scoliosis (NMS) treated with posterior spinal fusion (PSF).

Methods: NMS patients from a single institution who underwent PSF with bilateral SAI screw fixation from 2010 to 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical parameters, SAI screw sizes, and radiographic outcomes were analyzed.

Myocardial extracellular volume fraction estimations using late enhancement CT in patients with atrial fibrillation: a comparative study with cardiac MR.

Myocardial extracellular volume fraction (ECV) measured via MRI serves as a quantitative indicator of myocardial fibrosis. However, accurate measurement of ECV using MRI in the presence of AF is challenging. Meanwhile, CT could be a promising alternative tool for measuring ECV regardless of sinus rhythm or AF.

Reversibility of acrocyanosis and improvement of capillaroscopic pattern in a patient with polycythemia vera treated with ruxolitinib: a case report.

This case report describes the clinical course of a 78-year-old patient diagnosed with polycythemia vera (PV), who presented with pronounced acrocyanosis of the hands in 2021. The patient was treated with hydroxyurea (oncocarbide), and nailfold capillaroscopy revealed an "abnormal pattern" characterized by pronounced architectural disarray and capillary tortuosity, which is uncommon in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). In 2023, owing to suboptimal symptom management and hematological side effects, the treatment was switched to ruxolitinib, which led to significant clinical improvements by 2024, including near-complete resolution of acrocyanosis and substantial improvement in capillaroscopic abnormalities, with only residual capillary tortuosity noted.

Spatial single-cell maps reveal ST6GAL1 promoting ovarian cancer metastasis.

In this study, spatial and single-cell transcriptome techniques were used to investigate the role of beta-galactoside alpha-2,6-sialyltransferase 1 (ST6GAL1) in promoting peritoneal metastasis in ovarian cancer epithelial cells. We collected single-cell transcriptomic (GSE130000) and spatial transcriptomic datasets (GSE211956) from the Gene Expression Omnibus and RNA-sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. The Robust Cell Type Decomposition (RCTD) approach was implemented to integrate spatial and single-cell transcriptomic data.

Pathogenesis of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 co-infection at the extremes of age: decipher the ominous tales of immune vulnerability.

The co-circulation of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 has led to co-infection events, primarily affecting children and older adults, who are at higher risk for severe disease. Although co-infection prevalence is relatively low, it is associated with worse outcomes compared to mono-infections. Previous studies have shown that the outcomes of co-infection depend on multiple factors, including viral interference, virus-host interaction and host response.

Clinical presentation, outcomes and risk of relapses of lupus podocytopathy in a multicentre Italian cohort.

Background: In an Italian cohort of lupus podocytopathy patients, we aimed to characterize the presenting features, therapy, and outcomes, and explore differences between relapsing and non-relapsing patients.

Methods: We identified 29 patients with lupus podocytopathy from 1994 to 2023 in 11 Italian Nephrology/Rheumatology Units, and divided them into two groups: relapsing and non-relapsing. Given the limited sample size, a p-value ≤ 0.

The impact of a secondary, rare, non-pathogenic PKD1 variant on disease progression in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Background: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is caused primarily by pathogenic variants in the PKD1 and PKD2 genes. Although the type of ADPKD variant can influence disease severity, rare, hypomorphic PKD1 variants have also been reported to modify disease severity or cause biallelic ADPKD. This study examines whether rare, additional, potentially protein-altering, non-pathogenic PKD1 variants contribute to ADPKD phenotypic outcomes.

Therapeutic gene correction of HBB frameshift CD41-42 (-TCTT) deletion in human hematopoietic stem cells.

Β-thalassemia is one of the global health burdens. The CD41-42 (-TCTT) mutation at HBB is the most prevalent pathogenic mutation of β-thalassemia in both China and Southeast Asia. Previous studies focused on repairing the HBB CD41-42 (-TCTT) mutation in β-thalassemia patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells, which were subsequently differentiated into hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) for transplantation.