Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial: effect of an interdisciplinary psycho-educational intervention programme on caregivers of dependent older adults.

Background: Caring for an older dependent adult with cognitive impairment can have negative consequences for the family caregiver. Interdisciplinary interventions are necessary to address their needs jointly and comprehensively. While attempts have been made to improve their situation from different disciplines in isolation, a collaborative approach is required to ensure the best possible outcome.

A Cognitive Training Programme on Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment (CRCI) in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Active Treatment: A RCT Study Protocol.

In light of increasing breast cancer survival rates, it is essential to address cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI), a common yet often underestimated symptom. A randomised controlled trial is proposed involving 50 newly diagnosed participants, divided into a control group (CG) and an intervention group (IG). Both groups will receive an educational leaflet, while the IG will also take part in an individualised cognitive training programme based on everyday cognition (80 sessions distributed across four periods, compiled in a training dossier).

Pretreatments of Ex Vivo Vascularized Composite Allografts: A Scoping Review.

Purpose: The various physiological profiles comprising vascularized composite allografts (VCAs) pose unique challenges to preservation. Minimizing ischemia, reperfusion injury, and rejection remains a primary focus of graft pretreatments (PTs). Currently, the gold standard PT consists of flushing the graft and placing it in static cold storage in the University of Wisconsin solution.

Swallowing Function After Pioneering Partial Face and Whole Eye Transplant: Clinical Insights.

Purpose: There is limited literature reporting swallowing outcomes in the pre- and postoperative period for patients undergoing facial transplantation. This case report aims to utilize a combination of objective and patient-reported outcome measures to highlight swallowing improvements following the world's first face with whole-eye transplantation.

Method: Outcome measures in jaw range of motion, anterior containment, texture progression, airway protection, and pharyngeal swallow function were collected pre-transplantation by two speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and at multiple postoperative visits after the procedure was completed.

Genetic architecture of thermotolerance traits in beef cattle: a novel integration of SNP and breed-of-origin effects.

Background: Rising temperatures increasingly expose beef cattle to heat stress, reducing productivity and welfare, especially in tropical climates. Crossbreeding t and i has emerged as a critical strategy to balance the production efficiency of taurine breeds with the superior thermotolerance of indicine breeds. Understanding the genetic architecture of thermotolerance traits is essential for improving heat resilience in beef cattle populations.

Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation of the Uterus: A Systematic Review of Eligibility Criteria.

Background: Uterus transplantation (UTx) is the sole clinical treatment for patients with a diagnosis of uterine infertility factor to experience gestation and delivery. Following UTx, candidates who have been largely healthy must agree to extensively interface with the healthcare system and practice strict adherence to an immunosuppressive regimen to protect the allograft until delivery of a live birth. Aside from the risks associated with immunosuppression, UTx recipients often face complicated pregnancies, with a possibility of pregnancy loss and allograft failure.

Development and Assessment of a Patient-Reported Outcome Instrument for Gender-Affirming Care.

Importance: There is an urgent need for a validated gender-affirming care-specific patient-reported outcome measure (PROM).

Objective: To field test the GENDER-Q, a new PROM for gender-affirming care, in a large, international sample of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adults and evaluate its psychometric properties.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This international cross-sectional study was conducted among TGD adults aged 18 years and older who were seeking or had received gender-affirming care within the past 5 years at 21 clinical sites across Canada, the United States, the Netherlands, and Spain; participants were also recruited through community groups (eg, crowdsourcing platform, social media).

Chaotic Dynamics in a Mathematical Model of Psychotherapy with Delayed Interaction Reaction.

Psychotherapy is a dynamic, two-person process involving the complex interplay between a client and therapist. Recent perspectives conceptualize psychotherapy as a complex dynamic system, integrating biological, psychological, and social factors. Research suggests that the psychotherapeutic process can be unpredictable, fluctuating, and erratic.

Immunologic Pretreatment of Donor Tissue in Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation: A Systematic Review.

Background: Vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) holds significant promise for patients with complex structural defects, providing solutions unattainable through traditional methods. Despite technical successes, graft rejection and ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) present major challenges, with high rejection rates even under modern immunosuppression protocols. This review synthesizes current literature on immunologic pretreatments (IPTs) designed to mitigate these issues, focusing on interventions applied to donor tissues between procurement and transplantation.

New Paradigms in Rejection Monitoring: Lymphocyte Subsets as Noninvasive Graft Markers in Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation.

Background: In vascularized composite allotransplantation, face transplantation stands as a transformative intervention for patients with severe facial disfigurement. Monitoring of graft rejection, however, remains a critical challenge. This study aimed to investigate the role of lymphocyte subsets in the early detection and monitoring of graft rejection in face transplantation.

Accuracy of flow volume estimation in the dilated aorta using 4D flow MRI: a pulsatile phantom study.

Aortic dilatation is a severe pathology that increases the risk of rupture and its hemodynamics could be accurately assessed by using the 4D flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) technique but flow assessment under complex flow patterns require validation. The aim of this work was to develop ansystem compatible with CMR to assess the accuracy of volume flow measurements in dilated aortas.Two latex models, one with ascending and the other with abdominal aortic aneurysms were manufactured to ensure a constant and controlled net flow volume along the aortic length.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Genioplasty in Facial Feminization Surgery: A Systematic Review and Institutional Cohort Study.

Facial feminization surgery (FFS) is critical to gender-affirming surgery, consisting of craniomaxillofacial procedures to align facial features with a patient's gender identity. Central to FFS is genioplasty, which reshapes or repositions the chin; however, limited research exists on genioplasty in FFS. This review and cohort analysis aim to evaluate current practices and outcomes for individuals undergoing FFS with genioplasty.

The Effects of Perioperative Gender-affirming Hormone Therapy on Facial Feminization Surgery Adverse Events, Facial Features Addressed, and Esthetic Satisfaction: A Multimodal Analysis.

Objective: Facial feminization surgery (FFS) treats gender dysphoria in transfeminine patients by addressing the facial bony and soft tissue components. Individuals seeking FFS may be taking gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy [gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT)]. This study aims to better characterize the GAHT's impact on venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk, surgical planning, and outcomes.

Reshaping Faces, Redefining Risks: A Systematic Review of Orthognathic Surgery Outcomes in Cleft Lip and Palate Patients.

This study aims to determine a generalized outcome and risk profile for patients undergoing orthognathic surgery for the definitive treatment of cleft lip and palate. Furthermore, we hope to determine the key risk factors that cause increased risk for cleft lip and palate patients undergoing orthognathic surgery. This study includes a systematic review using PubMed, MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Scopus.

Exploring the impact of fatty acid composition on carcass and meat quality in Bos taurus indicus influenced cattle.

The study of fatty acid (FA) and mineral content in beef is crucial for bridging health and taste. Understanding these components is essential for catering to consumer preferences for nutritious and tasty food, in line with current dietary trends and health recommendations. This holistic view of beef quality is key to helping both producers and consumers make more knowledgeable and health-oriented decisions in meat consumption.

Molecular Signature Associated With Acute Rejection in Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation.

Background: A deeper understanding of acute rejection in vascularized composite allotransplantation is paramount for expanding its utility and longevity. There remains a need to develop more precise and accurate tools for diagnosis and prognosis of these allografts, as well as alternatives to traditional immunosuppressive regimens.

Methods: Twenty-seven skin biopsies collected from 3 vascularized composite allotransplantation recipients, consisting of face and hand transplants, were evaluated by histology, immunohistochemistry staining, and gene expression profiling.

An Update on the Survival of the First 50 Face Transplants Worldwide.

Importance: Since 2005, a total of 50 face transplants have been reported from 18 centers in 11 countries. The overall survival of the grafts has not yet been established.

Objective: To assess the survival of the face transplant grafts and evaluate factors potentially influencing it.

From Selfies to Surgery: Unveiling Trends and Ethical Considerations in Facial Feminization on Instagram.

Facial feminization surgery (FFS) is a critical gender-affirming intervention utilized to alleviate gender dysphoria. This study investigates the role of Instagram in shaping public perceptions and disseminating information about FFS. The authors analyzed the most recent 500 Instagram posts using the hashtag "#facialfeminizationsurgery" through a nonbiased data scraping platform between June 1, 2023 and October 13, 2023.

Combined Whole Eye and Face Transplant: Microsurgical Strategy and 1-Year Clinical Course.

Importance: Catastrophic facial injury with globe loss remains a formidable clinical problem with no previous reports of reconstruction by whole eye or combined whole eye and facial transplant.

Objective: To develop a microsurgical strategy for combined whole eye and facial transplant and describe the clinical findings during the first year following transplant.

Design, Setting, And Participant: A 46-year-old man who sustained a high-voltage electrical injury with catastrophic tissue loss to his face and left globe underwent combined whole eye and face transplant using personalized surgical devices and a novel microsurgical strategy at a specialized center for vascularized composite allotransplantation.

Computerized Surgical Planning in Face Transplantation.

Face transplantation (FT) has emerged as a critical intervention for patients with complex facial deformities unsuitable for conventional reconstructive methods. It aims to restore essential functions such as facial expression, mastication, and speech, while also improving psychosocial health. The procedure utilizes various surgical principles, addressing unique challenges of craniofacial complexity and diverse injury patterns.

Novel Osteomyocutaneous Flap Model for Vascularized Composite Allotransplantation.

Background: Vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) has become a viable option for restoration of devastating injuries that are not amenable to conventional reconstructive techniques. However, the relative scarcity of procedures performed worldwide, as well as the potential for iatrogenic injury with biopsies, makes studying the immunopathogenesis of acute rejection challenging. Translational VCA research focuses on developing strategies to overcome these barriers with the use of animal models can be technically challenging and difficult to replicate without highly trained microsurgeons.

Technical Pearls and Pitfalls of Facial Feminization Surgery: A Review of Techniques From a Single Institutional Practice.

Background: Facial feminization surgery (FFS) is an emerging practice that falls under the broader umbrella of gender-affirming surgery. Various approaches exist to feminize the face, yet few published articles describe in detail the techniques of each component procedure. Considering the diversity of interventions employed, the objective of this manuscript is to highlight FFS techniques utilized by the senior author and create a corresponding media gallery.

Breed of origin analysis in genome-wide association studies: enhancing SNP-based insights into production traits in a commercial Brangus population.

Background: Carcass weight (HCW) and marbling (MARB) are critical for meat quality and market value in beef cattle. In composite breeds like Brangus, which meld the genetics of Angus and Brahman, SNP-based analyses have illuminated some genetic influences on these traits, but they fall short in fully capturing the nuanced effects of breed of origin alleles (BOA) on these traits. Focus on the impacts of BOA on phenotypic features within Brangus populations can result in a more profound understanding of the specific influences of Angus and Brahman genetics.

Exploring the genetic control of sweat gland characteristics in beef cattle for enhanced heat tolerance.

Background: Thermal stress in subtropical regions is a major limiting factor in beef cattle production systems with around $369 million being lost annually due to reduced performance. Heat stress causes numerous physiological and behavioral disturbances including reduced feed intake and decreased production levels. Cattle utilize various physiological mechanisms such as sweating to regulate internal heat.

Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension Worsen Bowel Preparation for Screening Colonoscopy.

Background: Colonoscopy is a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure that reduces colorectal cancer incidence and mortality but requires adequate bowel cleansing for high-quality examination. Past studies have suggested cirrhosis as a risk factor for worse bowel preparation.

Methods: We carried out a match-controlled retrospective study evaluating patients with and without cirrhosis who underwent outpatient screening colonoscopies to assess the effect of cirrhosis and portal hypertension complications on preparation quality and endoscopic measures.