COVID-19 in the years 2020 to 2022 in Germany: effects of comorbidities and co-medications based on a large-scale database analysis by Roland Linder, Jonas Peltner, Anatoli Astvatsatourov, Willy Gomm, Britta Haenisch

“…This study examines the effect of medication- and morbidity-associated risk factors suspected to moderate the disease course and progression of COVID-19. Methods The study is based on claims data of the Techniker Krankenkasse, Germany’s largest statutory health insurance. …”
Get full text

Serum calprotectin and renal function decline in ANCA-associated vasculitides: a post hoc analysis of MAINRITSAN trial by Xavier Romand, Benjamin Terrier, Athan Baillet, Philippe Gaudin, Loic Guillevin, Christian Pagnoux, Minh Vu Chuong, Marie Hélène Paclet

“…The aim of this study was to assess whether serum calprotectin levels can predict decline in renal function in AAV patients receiving maintenance therapy.Methods Serum calprotectin levels were assessed at inclusion and month 6 in AAV patients, in complete remission after induction therapy, randomly assigned to rituximab or azathioprine. …”
Get full text

A patient-centered interactive voice response system for supporting self-management in kidney transplantation: design and field testing by Raheleh Ganjali, Raheleh Ganjali, Mahin Ghorban Sabbagh, Mahin Ghorban Sabbagh, Saeid Eslami, Saeid Eslami

“…IntroductionSelf-management is the ability to control one's own responses to treatments, physical and psychological side effects, and lifestyle choices related to a chronic condition.PurposeTo describe the development of a standard and practical user-centered design process for an interactive voice response system (IVRS) to improve self-management in kidney transplant (KT) recipients.MethodsThe IVRS was constructed utilizing the four phases of the Center for eHealth and Wellbeing Research (CeHRes) roadmap: the contextual inquiry, the value specification, the design phase, and evaluation. …”
Get full text

Coping with sand and dust storms: Developing and validating of an adaptation assessment tool by Shiva Salehi, Ali Ardalan, Abbas - Ostadtaghizadeh, Armin Zareiyan, Gholamreza Garmaroudi, Abbas Rahimiforoushani

“…The purpose of this study is to design and psychometrically assess the adaptation of Iranian society to dust. Materials and methods: The present investigation is a sequential exploratory combined study that utilizes an instrumentation approach. …”
Get full text

Mid-term to long-term outcome and risk factors for failure of 158 hips with two-stage revision for periprosthetic hip joint infection by M. Abuelnour, C. McNamee, A. B. Rafi, W. Hohlbein, W. Hohlbein, P. Keogh, J. Cashman

“…<p><strong>Introduction</strong>: This study aimed to evaluate infection-free survival and outcomes after two-stage revision surgery for hip periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) performed in a specialised arthroplasty unit over 20 years. <strong>Methods</strong>: We retrospectively identified 158 hips (154 patients) treated with two-stage revision surgery for hip PJI between 2001 and 2021. …”
Get full text

Premorbid and current intellectual performance reflects different backgrounds in patients with Parkinson's disease by Hidetomo Murakami, Machiko Kezuka, Junnosuke Ozawa, Kaoru Matsuoka, Tatsuya Nakanishi, Atsushi Ishida, Naohito Ito, Mizuki Kanemoto, Mitsuru Kawamura

“…The goal of the study was to compare factors correlated with estimated premorbid intellectual performance using JART and current cognitive function after onset of PD. Methods: Current motor symptoms (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale; UPDRS Part III) and cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment; MoCA) were assessed in 48 patients with PD. …”
Get full text

Accuracy of Lung Ultrasonography for Diagnosis of Heart Failure; a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis by Erfan Rahmani, Masoud Farrokhi, Mehrdad Farrokhi, Shadi Nouri, Atousa Moghadam Fard, Behnam Hoorshad, Ramin Atighi, Erfan Ghadirzadeh, Michael Tajik, Habibollah Afshang, Aida Naseri, Mohadeseh Asoudehfard, Shiva Samami Kojidi, Arsham Ebnemehdi, Mehdi Rezaei, Maziar Daneshvar, Amirali Makhmalbaf, Sepideh Hassanpour Khodaei, Shirin Farsi, Saber Barazandeh Rad, Fateme Nozari, Pouya Rezaei, Negar Babapour, Salman Delavar, Babak Goodarzy, Lida Zare Lahijan, Sanam Mohammadzadeh, Helena Mehran, Fatemeh Gheibi, Ramtin Shemshadigolafzani, Behnaz Dalvandi, Amir Abderam

“…This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of lung ultrasonography (LUS) for the identification of acute heart failure in patients with suggestive manifestations. Methods: Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science were comprehensively searched from their inception to November 2024 to identify original studies investigating accuracy of LUS for diagnosis of heart failure. …”
Get full text

Effect of Low-Load Blood Flow Restriction Training After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Systematic Review by Baris B. Koc, Alexander Truyens, Marion J.L.F. Heymans, Edwin J.P. Jansen, Martijn G.M. Schotanus

“… # Study design Systematic review # Methods A systematic literature search of PubMed, EMBASE.com, Cochrane Library/Wiley, CINAHL/Ebsco and Web of Science/Clarivate Analytics was performed on 19 February 2021. …”
Get full text

Emotion dysregulation in adolescents is normalized by ADHD pharmacological treatment by Krisztina Kondi, Mária Takács, Evelyn Kovács-Posta, Claudia Szajli, Tünde Sebők-Welker, János M. Réthelyi, Nóra Bunford

“…Gaps in knowledge remain about whether in adolescents, ADHD pharmacotherapy has beneficial effects on ED or about the extent to which effects are apparent for discontinued/ past ADHD pharmacotherapy. Methods Examined, in N = 297 adolescents (M age=15.77 years, SD = 1.06; 39.06% girls; n = 86 classified as with ADHD), whether accounting for depression and oppositional symptoms, concurrent and 18-month prospective measures of parent- and self-reported ED (1) differ across adolescents without ADHD, medication-naïve adolescents with ADHD, and ever-medicated (currently or previously) adolescents with ADHD. …”
Get full text

Effect of galectin-3 and brain natriuretic peptide levels on echocardiographic parameters of left heart chamber following coronary artery bypass grafting by Yulia A. Styazhkina, Irina F. Grishina, Nina B. Poletaeva, Tatyana F. Peretolchina, Olga V. Nikolaenko

“…AIM: To assess the diagnostic value of left heart chamber remodeling, non–conventional markers NT-proBNP and galectin-3 in predicting the risk of prolonged recovery in patients with CAD following CABG. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In total, 100 men with CAD following CABG were enrolled. …”
Get full text

Real-World HbA1c Changes Among Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients Initiating Treatment With a 1.0 Mg Weekly Dose of Semaglutide for Diabetes by Noelle N. Gronroos, Caroline Swift, Monica S. Frazer, Andrew Sargent, Michael Leszko, Erin Buysman, Sara Alvarez, Tyler J. Dunn, Josh Noone

“…**Objectives:** To describe patient characteristics and HbA1c changes for patients prescribed 1.0 mg maintenance dose OW sema T2D. **Methods:** This retrospective study included adult patients with T2DM with a pre-index glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of at least 7%, initiating treatment with OW sema T2D between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019, and prescribed a 1.0 mg maintenance dose. …”
Get full text

Heightened demand for mental health information resources during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Germany: A retrospective longitudinal analysis of helpline calls by Jil Zippelius, Simon Schreynemackers, Ulrich Hegerl, Hanna Reich

“…This study investigated the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on hotline usage trends through a time-series analysis. Methods: Based on longitudinal data from 2018 to 2022 predictive models were developed for caller trends on the Info-Telefon Depression. …”
Get full text

&lsquo;That&rsquo;s Enough&rsquo; - Workplace Violence Against Physicians, Pharmacists, and Nurses in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review of Prevalence, Causes, and Consequences by Alhomoud F

“…This review examines the prevalence, contributing factors, types, sources, potential causes, reactions, and impact of WPV against HCPs in Saudi Arabia.Methods: We conducted a systematic search of electronic databases from January 2010 to November 2024 and reviewed reference lists of included studies focusing on WPV against physicians, pharmacists, and nurses in Saudi Arabia. …”
Get full text

Estimating the impact of school closures on the COVID-19 dynamics in 74 countries: A modelling analysis. by Romain Ragonnet, Angus E Hughes, David S Shipman, Michael T Meehan, Alec S Henderson, Guillaume Briffoteaux, Nouredine Melab, Daniel Tuyttens, Emma S McBryde, James M Trauer

“…However, their effect on viral transmission, COVID-19 mortality and health care system pressure remains incompletely understood, as traditional observational studies fall short in assessing such population-level impacts.<h4>Methods and findings</h4>We used a mathematical model to simulate the COVID-19 epidemics of 74 countries, incorporating observed data from 2020 to 2022 and historical school closure timelines. …”
Get full text

Reliability and Validity of the ActivForce Digital Dynamometer in Assessing Shoulder Muscle Force across Different User Experience Levels by Christos Karagiannopoulos, Sean Griech, Brian Leggin

“… # Design Descriptive observational study. # Methods A convenience sample of 29 healthy adults were assessed twice by each of three testers (two experienced clinicians and a novice PT student) on shoulder external rotation (ER), internal rotation (IR), and forward elevation (FE) using both the AF and MF2 devices. …”
Get full text

Ankle Arthrodesis: Epidemiology, Etiology, and Complications in Diabetic vs Nondiabetic Patients Using US Nationwide Inpatient Sample Data by Assil Mahamid MD, David Maman MD, Summer Sofer, Mykhail Pavlenko MD, Amr Mansour MD, Marah Hodruj MD, Yaron Berkovich MD, Eyal Behrbalk MD

“…This study aims to compare the outcomes of AA in diabetic vs nondiabetic patients, using data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2016 to 2019. Methods: Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, 12 325 patients who underwent ankle arthrodesis were identified from 2016 to 2019 based on ICD-10 procedure codes. χ 2 tests and t tests were used for univariate analysis, followed by multivariate logistic regression to assess complications between diabetic and nondiabetic patients. …”
Get full text

Designing a Digital Transformation Model in the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry in Iran by Saeid Noadoust, Mostafa Safdari Ranjbar

“…Digital transformation, when implemented in the Iranian offshore oil and gas industry, helps the sector become a world leader, therefore benefiting from all the benefits that come along with digital achievements.   Methods This research adopts a qualitative approach and utilizes the grounded theory research strategy. …”
Get full text

EEG alpha/beta features as a biomarker for quantifying pain in patients with lumbar disk herniation by Rumei Li, Wanqi Shao, Shumei Zhao, Lingli Wang, Chao Yu, Lanying Liu, Kuiying Yin

“…This study aimed to analyze the EEG changes in patients with lumbar disk herniation (LDH) under traditional Chinese medicine small needle knife and to further explore the feasibility of EEG as an indicator of pain assessment in patients with LDH.MethodsThis study conducted resting-state electroencephalography on 20 patients with LDH before and after treatment and on 20 healthy controls, respectively. …”
Get full text

Identification and functional analysis of energy metabolism and pyroptosis-related genes in diabetic nephropathy by Shan He, Jian Ye, Yu Wang, Lu yang Xie, Si Yi Liu, Qin kai Chen

“…This study aims to elucidate the roles of energy metabolism- and pyroptosis-related differentially expressed genes (EMAPRDEGs) in DN development. Methods: EMAPRDEGs were identified by querying the GeneCards and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. …”
Get full text

Verbal fluency and semantic association deficits in children with in birth nonprogressive neuromuscular diseases by Maria Koriakina, Maria Koriakina, Olga E. Agranovich, Ioannis Ntoumanis, Maxim Ulanov, Isak B. Blank, Anna Shestakova, Evgeny Blagovechtchenski

“…This relevance is particularly noted in children with severe motor disorders (MD) from birth, highlighting a need to explore how these disorders may impede cognitive functions.MethodsIn this study, we assessed verbal fluency, a critical component of speech function, in 68 children aged 7 to 15. …”
Get full text