3-Month Melatonin Supplementation to Reduce Brain Oxidative Stress and Improve Sleep in Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomised Controlled Feasibility Trial.

Melatonin has multiple proposed therapeutic benefits including antioxidant properties, circadian rhythm synchronisation and sleep promotion. Since these areas are also recognised risk factors for dementia, melatonin has been hypothesised to slow cognitive decline in older adults. Participants with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) were recruited from the community for a 12-week randomised placebo-controlled parallel, feasibility trial of 25 mg oral melatonin nightly.

A Meta-Analysis of Levofloxacin for Contacts of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis.

Background: Data from randomized trials evaluating the effectiveness of tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatment for contacts of multidrug-resistant (MDR)-TB are lacking. Two recently published randomized trials that did not achieve statistical significance provide the opportunity for a meta-analysis.

Methods: We conducted combined analyses of two phase 3 trials of levofloxacin MDR-TB preventive treatment - Levofloxacin for the Prevention of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (VQUIN) trial and the Levofloxacin preventive treatment in children exposed to MDR-TB (TB-CHAMP) trial.

Levofloxacin for the Prevention of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Vietnam.

Background: Prevention of drug-resistant tuberculosis is a global health priority. However, trials evaluating the effectiveness of treating infection among contacts of persons with drug-resistant tuberculosis are lacking.

Methods: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial comparing 6 months of daily levofloxacin (weight-based doses) with placebo to treat infection.

Cognitive and behavioural therapy for insomnia in the treatment of adolescent insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Insomnia is common in adolescents with associated negative health consequences. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effect of cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia interventions on insomnia symptoms and subjective sleep quality in adolescents aged 10-19 years. Key electronic databases, including CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Scopus, were systematically searched from inception to October 2024, and five randomised controlled trials met inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis.

Exploring the pharmacist role in insomnia management and care provision: A scoping review.

Background: Insomnia is a highly burdensome sleep disorder, with a global prevalence of approximately 30% in adults. Insomnia has negative effects on daily functioning and can play a pivotal role in the development and progression of comorbid mental and physical disease. Therefore, appropriate and timely management is essential.

Qualitative Evaluation of mHealth Implementation for Infectious Disease Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Narrative Review.

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) interventions have the potential to improve health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) by aiding health workers to strengthen service delivery, as well as by helping patients and communities manage and prevent diseases. It is crucial to understand how best to implement mHealth within already burdened health services to maximally improve health outcomes and sustain the intervention in LMICs.

Objective: We aimed to identify key barriers to and facilitators of the implementation of mHealth interventions for infectious diseases in LMICs, drawing on a health systems analysis framework.

Chinese herbal medicine for obstructive sleep apnoea: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

Purpose: Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) may have a place in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), but the evidence has not been systematically assessed. The objective of this study is to evaluate the evidence for the effectiveness of CHM for OSA.

Methods: CENTRAL, EMBase, PubMed, CINAHL, CNKI, Wanfang and Chongqing VIP were searched from database inception to the 13th of August 2023.

Evaluation of curcumin nanoparticles of various sizes for targeting multidrug-resistant lung cancer cells via inhalation.

Introduction: Inhalation drug delivery can deliver high doses of chemotherapeutic drugs to the lung tumor. This study evaluates the efficacy and the mechanistic pathways of nebulized Cur NPs at various sizes to treat multidrug resistant lung cancer.

Methods And Results: Cur-NPs (30 nm and 200 nm) were nebulized separately onto the multidrug-resistant lung cancer cells (H69AR).

The more stars, the brighter! Interview with the ECM award winner 2023.

https://bit.ly/4f0AiVY.

Predicting the risk of mortality in children with dengue-induced hepatitis admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit.

Background: Dengue-associated acute liver failure (PALF) accounts for a high mortality rate in children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). To date, there is a lack of data on clinical algorithms for estimating the risk of mortality in pediatric patients with dengue-induced severe hepatitis (DISH).

Aim: To determine the prevalence of PALF and identify the predictors of mortality among patients with DISH.

A machine learning-based risk score for prediction of mechanical ventilation in children with dengue shock syndrome: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Patients with severe dengue who develop severe respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) support have significantly increased mortality rates. This study aimed to develop a robust machine learning-based risk score to predict the need for MV in children with dengue shock syndrome (DSS) who developed acute respiratory failure.

Methods: This single-institution retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary pediatric hospital in Vietnam between 2013 and 2022.

Screening for obstructive sleep apnea in the memory clinic: A comparison of questionnaires, pulse oximetry, and polysomnography.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent among older adults and has been associated with cognitive decline and dementia risk. The suitability of screening tools for detecting OSA in memory clinic settings is unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the utility and validity of the STOP-Bang questionnaire (SBQ) and pulse oximeter as a screening tool, compared to gold-standard polysomnography (PSG) in older adults attending a memory clinic.

The effect of expiratory flow limitation on supine persistent hyperinflation in COPD: a prospective observational study.

Introduction: COPD is characterised by airflow obstruction, expiratory airway collapse and closure causing expiratory flow limitation (EFL) and hyperinflation. Supine posture may worsen ventilatory function in COPD, which may cause hyperinflation to persist and contribute to symptoms of orthopnoea and sleep disturbance. Our aim was to determine the impact of supine posture on hyperinflation, dynamic elastance and EFL in COPD and healthy subjects.

Cross-Generational Impact of Maternal Exposure to Low Level of PM2.5 on Kidney Health.

Introduction: Inhaled fine and ultrafine particulate matter may affect organs other than the lung, including the kidney. Recent studies have consistently shown the possibility of air pollution in highly polluted countries to be nephrotoxic. However, in countries like Australia, where air quality generally adheres to or remains below the WHO standards, the subtle yet consequential impacts of chronic exposure to seemingly safe levels of traffic PM2.

Environmental impact of inhaled medicines: A Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand position statement.

Globally, more than 1.2 billion inhalers are purchased for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) annually. In Australia and New Zealand, pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) are the leading delivery device prescribed and pMDI salbutamol can be purchased over the counter in Australia.

Management of central sleep apnoea: a review of non-hypercapnic causes.

Central sleep apnoea (CSA) is characterised by recurrent episodes of airway cessation or reduction in the absence of respiratory effort. Although CSA is less common than obstructive sleep apnoea, it shares similar symptoms. CSA can be secondary to various medical conditions, high altitude and medication exposure.

Integrating digital behavioural therapy for insomnia into primary care: A feasibility mixed-methods study.

Digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia has been developed to increase capacity and scalability for patients with insomnia, but implementation in primary care remains limited. The aim of the trial was to evaluate the implementation of digital insomnia therapy into primary care practice for patients with insomnia. We conducted a single-arm feasibility trial of digital behavioural therapy for insomnia (SleepFix) providing sleep restriction therapy with insomnia patients in primary care.

The effect of restricted and free-living conditions on light exposure and sleep in older adults.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, studies reported that restricted living conditions were associated with worse subjective sleep quality. This effect might have been caused by reduced light exposure during lockdowns. We investigated light exposure levels, subjective and objective sleep and physical activity levels in older adults during restricted and free-living conditions after the pandemic.