How policymakers value end-of-life treatments for rare and common diseases in China: evidence from a contingent valuation study.

Background: Understanding policymakers' value judgements in reimbursement decisions is essential for promoting equity and guiding informed healthcare decision-making. This study aimed to estimate and compare Chinese policymakers' willingness-to-pay (WTP) per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) specifically in end-of-life treatment scenarios involving life-threatening common and rare diseases.

Methods: We conducted a contingent valuation study employing single-bounded dichotomous-choice questions among 120 experts formally appointed by China's National Healthcare Security Administration to serve on the National Reimbursement Drug List Expert Committee in recent years.

Evaluation of health impacts of a disability-inclusive graduation programme among ultra-poor people with disabilities in Uganda: secondary analysis of a cluster randomized trial.

Background: People with disabilities experience significant health inequalities and barriers to healthcare access globally. While poverty alleviation interventions show promise for improving health outcomes, evidence specifically for people with disabilities remains limited. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a disability-inclusive graduation (DIG) programme on health outcomes among ultra-poor people with disabilities in Uganda.

Antibiotic use for common illnesses in children living with disability: a multi-country study across 42 low- and middle-income countries.

Background: Approximately 240 million children worldwide are living with disabilities. Understanding the association between disability status and reported antibiotic use for common illnesses can help develop strategies to address the critical intersection of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and disability.

Methods: Data were collected from 42 low- and middle-income countries through the UNICEF-supported Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (2017-2023).

Discontinuity of social support among US adults with cognitive impairment before and after the confirmed diagnosis of dementia: a matched ambidirectional cohort study.

Background: Despite increased attention on dementia, much remains unknown about the integration of clinical and non-clinical care, particularly regarding long-term social support, a primary source of non-clinical care. This study uniquely examines the effect of receiving a formal dementia diagnosis on the continuity of social support, an understudied transition point in dementia care pathways.

Methods: In this ambidirectional cohort study, we examined ten waves of data from the Health and Retirement Survey(HRS) for US adults over 50 through 2000-2018.

Prevalence and progress of underdiagnosis of probable dementia: a repeated cross-sectional study in 19 European countries.

Background: Underdiagnosis of dementia remains a significant public health challenge in Europe, with nearly half of those meeting clinical criteria not receiving a formal diagnosis. Recent healthcare initiatives have aimed to improve diagnostic processes, but the extent of progress varies across countries.

Methods: We analyzed data of 10,402 participants from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) across 19 countries from 2011-2015 to 2015-2019.

Unleashing Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Activity: Engineering Spin States in Strained Correlated Oxides for Enhanced Performance.

Perovskite oxides have emerged as compelling contenders for catalyzing the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) due to their low cost, high efficiency, and structural flexibility. Nevertheless, unraveling the intricate structure-activity relationships within correlated oxides remains challenging, impeding the rational design of efficient catalysts. Here, using LaCoO epitaxial thin films as a model system, we illustrate a direct correlation between the spin state and OER activity.

Mortality and its predictors among people with dementia receiving psychiatric in-patient care.

Background: Although dementia is a terminal condition, palliation can be a challenge for clinical services. As dementia progresses, people frequently develop behavioural and psychological symptoms, sometimes so severe they require care in specialist dementia mental health wards. Although these are often a marker of late disease, there has been little research on the mortality of people admitted to these wards.

Disability-inclusive graduation programme intervention on social participation among ultra-poor people with disability in North Uganda: a cluster randomized trial.

Background: People with disabilities encounter significant barriers to social participation due to inaccessible environments and negative attitudes. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a comprehensive disability-inclusive graduation (DIG) programme in enhancing social participation among ultra-poor people with disabilities in rural Uganda.

Methods: A two-arm, cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted in four Northern Ugandan districts, involving 96 intervention and 89 control clusters.

Does war moderate the association between mental wellbeing and its predictors among children? A multi-country cross-sectional study.

Background: This study explores how war or conflict influences the established predictors of mental well-being among children, addressing a significant gap in current research.

Methods: Utilizing data from Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS6) collected between 2016 and 2021, we examined children aged 5-17 years in four low or middle-low-income countries experiencing war or conflict and compared them to 20 control countries. We employed logistic models to analyze the data, focusing on mental well-being as the outcome.

Impact of long-term care insurance on medical expenditure and utilization and the comparison between different pilot schemes: evidence from China.

Objective: This study investigates the effect of long-term care insurance (LTCI) on medical expenditure and utilization in China and compares the effects between different pilot schemes.

Methods: We used four-wave data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) 2011-2018, covering 19 cities piloted by national government or local governments. We applied a staggered difference-in-differences (DID) strategy to identify the effect of LTCI.

Impact of all-oral bedaquiline-based shorter regimens in the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) presents a significant global obstacle to TB control efforts, necessitating improved intervention strategies. The introduction of potent drugs, such as bedaquiline (Bdq), has led to the development of shorter treatment regimens. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the impact of these regimens, synthesising data from recent clinical trials and observational studies.

Point-of-care testing reduces antibiotic prescribing in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Challenges in identifying the causes of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) have led to overuse of antibiotics. The advantages of point-of-care testing (POCT) may help to identify pathogens and use antibiotics more appropriately.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review to evaluate the effect of POCT to guide antibiotic prescriptions for AECOPD.

Network analysis of functional disabilities and their association with mental well-being in children and adolescents: multi-country study across low- and middle-income countries.

Background: To develop effective mental health interventions for children and adolescents, it is essential to understand the intricate link between functional disability and mental well-being in this group.

Aims: To explore the network connections between various aspects of functional disability and mental well-being in young people with disabilities.

Method: We analysed data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys in 47 low- and middle-income countries, tracking progress towards health-related sustainable development goals.

Absence of care among community-dwelling older adults with dementia and functional limitations.

Assistance with daily activities is crucial for persons living with dementia and functional limitations, yet many face substantial challenges in accessing adequate care and support. Using harmonized longitudinal survey data (2012-2018) from the United States, England, 18 European countries, Israel and China, we found that at least one-fifth of persons with dementia and functional limitations received no personal assistance for basic activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living, regardless of regional development level. Care gaps were widespread across both basic activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living limitations, as well as for informal and formal care.

Economic burden of myasthenia gravis in China: a nationwide registry-based study.

Background: The long-term treatment of myasthenia gravis (MG) and impaired productivity related to physical decline incur significant economic burdens on affected populations and society. This study aims to evaluate the costs of MG in China from a societal perspective and to identify the cost-driving factors.

Methods: A web-based survey was conducted on 1020 MG patients recruited through a national registry system in China.

Development and validation of a dynamic nomogram for predicting cognitive impairment risk in older adults with dentures: analysis from CHARLS and CLHLS data.

Background And Aims: Cognitive impairment is a common issue among older adults, with denture use identified as a potential, easily recognizable clinical risk factor. However, the link between denture wear and cognitive decline in older Chinese adults remains understudied. This study aimed to develop and validate a dynamic nomogram to predict the risk of cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults who wear dentures.

Superior electron transport in the single-crystalline TiCoSb-based half-Heuslers.

Half-Heuslers emerged as promising candidates for medium- and high-temperature thermoelectric power generation. However, polycrystalline half-Heuslers inevitably suffer from the defect-dominated scattering of electrons that greatly limits the optimization of their electronic properties. Herein, high-quality TiCoSb-based single-crystals with a dimension above 1 cm have been obtained.

Data-driven discovery of associations between prescribed drugs and dementia risk: A systematic review.

Abstract: Recent clinical trials on slowing dementia progression have led to renewed focus on finding safer, more effective treatments. One approach to identify plausible candidates is to assess whether existing medications for other conditions may affect dementia risk. We conducted a systematic review to identify studies adopting a data-driven approach to investigate the association between a wide range of prescribed medications and dementia risk.

Graphene oxide-based fluorescent biosensors for pathogenic bacteria detection: A review.

Background: Pathogenic bacteria are widespread in nature and can cause infections and various complications, thereby posing a severe risk to public health. Therefore, simple, rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective methods must be developed to detect pathogenic bacteria. Biosensors are prominent platforms for detecting pathogenic bacteria owing to their high sensitivity, specificity, repeatability, and stability.

Impact of diagnosis-related group payment on medical expenditure and treatment efficiency on people with drug-resistant tuberculosis: a quasi-experimental study design.

Background: The severe health challenge and financial burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) continues to be an impediment in China and worldwide. This study aimed to explore the impact of Diagnosis-related group (DRG) payment on medical expenditure and treatment efficiency among DR-TB patients.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all DR-TB patients from the digitized Hospital Information System (HIS) of Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital and the TB Information Management System (TBIMS) with completed full course of National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) standard treatment in Wuhan from January 2016 to December 2022, excluding patients whose treatment spanned both before and after the DRG timepoint.

Global burden of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias attributed to metabolic risks from 1990 to 2021: results from the global burden of disease study 2021.

Objective: The risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias increases with greater global exposure to metabolic risks, making this a crucial public health issue. This study aimed to report the metabolism-attributable global burden of AD and other dementias from 1990 to 2021.

Methods: The Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2021 collected data on the number of deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) related to AD and other dementias caused by metabolic risks, including high fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and high body mass index (BMI).

Association between adherence to behavioral intervention and capability well-being among parents of autistic children: a cross-sectional study from China.

Background: High adherence to behavioral interventions among parents of autistic children contribute to improvement in children's behaviors and parental outcomes. However, most of previous studies focused on the effects of intervention adherence on health-related well-being among parents, which is inadequate to capture the multi-dimensional parental burden of caring for autistic children. The aim of this study is to assess the association between parents' adherence to behavioral intervention and their capability well-being.