Finding the right tool for the specific task: navigating RWE tools and checklists.

Real-world evidence (RWE) is increasingly used to support product approvals and label expansions, as well as clinical and payer decision-making. Various tools (e.g.

Implementation of the Age-Friendly Health Systems Initiative in the Department of Veterans Affairs: 5 Years of Improving Quality for Older Veterans.

Introduction: The Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative (AFHS) was developed to spread principles of high-quality care for older adults using the 4Ms Framework: What Matters, Medications, Mentation and Mobility. In 2020, the Veterans Health Affairs (VA) set a goal to become an AFHS, given nearly half of Veterans are over aged 65.

Methods: This quality improvement study followed the Model for Improvement which guided a series of Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycles to implement and spread the AFHS model within the VA, as measured by clinical sites receiving AFHS recognition from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).

Win ratio aligns with and enhances interpretation of REPRIEVE's primary findings.

We performed a win ratio (WR) analysis of REPRIEVE, a randomized trial of pitavastatin vs placebo for CVD in people with HIV, to assess robustness to event severity. WR aligns with primary findings, and provides insight into pitavastatin protections: persistent advantage over placebo on CV Death, Stroke, and Myocardial Infarction.

Automatic Identification of Potential Cellular Metabolites for Untargeted NMR Metabolomics.

An organism's metabolic profile provides vital information pertaining to its physiology or pathology. To monitor these biochemical changes, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has found success in non-invasively observing metabolite changes within intact samples in an untargeted manner. However, biological samples are chemically complex, comprised of many different constituents (amino acids, carbohydrates, and lipids) at varying concentrations depending on physiological and pathological conditions.

The prevalence and correlates of obstructive lung disease among adults aged 45 and above in India: Findings from the longitudinal aging study in India.

Despite its high disease burden, few existing estimates of the prevalence of obstructive lung disease in India are based on high-quality data sources. To our knowledge, prior studies at the national level have not included objective measurements of lung function. The Longitudinal Aging Study in India administered spirometry to adults 45 years and older (N = 31,103).

Regular glucosamine supplementation and risk of age-related chronic diseases: evidence from a propensity score-matched cohort study.

Background: Glucosamine is a widely used dietary supplement, particularly among middle-aged and older adults, with potential health benefits beyond joint health. However, its potential role in the prevention of chronic diseases remains uncertain.

Aims: To investigate the association between regular glucosamine use and the risk of age-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in a large prospective cohort.

Association of two cut-off points for the -3 index with cardiometabolic risk factors in Brazilian and Puerto Rican middle-aged adults.

The -3 index has been proposed as a risk factor for CVD endpoints. However, the association of the O3I defined with different cut-offs and cardiometabolic risk factors has been less studied. This study aimed to investigate the association between two cut-off points of the O3I and cardiometabolic risk factors in Brazilian and Puerto Rican adults.

Long-term effectiveness of ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers in myocardial infarction with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction.

Aims: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) are effective in the long-term treatment of myocardial infarction with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, it is unknown whether there is a benefit in myocardial infarction with preserved LVEF (≥50%).

Methods And Results: We used Swedish healthcare registries to emulate a target trial of ACEi/ARBs vs.

Clinical features modifying the cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) reduce major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), but heterogeneity exists across cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs). A comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library was conducted through November 2024. Eligible CVOTs compared GLP-1 RAs with placebo in T2D patients.

Global air pollution exposure and hepatocellular carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies.

Introduction: Air pollution poses a significant public health threat worldwide, contributing to adverse health outcomes and reduced life expectancy. Recent research has highlighted a growing interest in understanding the association between air pollution and cancer. This meta-analysis aims to comprehensively evaluate the association between prolonged exposure to air pollution and the risk of HCC.

Epidemiological and demographic trends and projections in global health from 1970 to 2050: a descriptive analysis from the third Lancet Commission on Investing in Health, Global Health 2050.

Background: Systematic analyses of global health trends can provide an accurate narrative of progress and challenges. We analysed the impact of changing age-specific mortality (epidemiology) and age structure (demography) on crude death rates (CDRs) and causes of death with large or rising mortality to inform the third Lancet Commission on Investing in Health.

Methods: Data from the World Population Prospects 2024 and Global Health Estimates 2021 were used to assess epidemiological and demographic trends, including CDR (defined as the total number of deaths divided by the total mid-year population, reported per 1000 population), all-cause age-specific mortality rates for 1970-2050, and selected cause-specific mortality rates from 2000-19.

Performance and improvement strategies for adapting generative large language models for electronic health record applications: A systematic review.

Purpose: To synthesize performance and improvement strategies for adapting generative LLMs in EHR analyses and applications.

Methods: We followed the PRISMA guidelines to conduct a systematic review of articles from PubMed and Web of Science published between January 1, 2023 and November 9, 2024. Multiple reviewers including biomedical informaticians and a clinician involved in the article reviewing process.

Food Insecurity Prevalence Among US Medical Students.

Importance: Food insecurity affects nearly 13.5% of US households and has worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the prevalence, associated factors, and impact on medical students is unclear, hindering targeted interventions.

Sialyl-T Antigen: A Novel Red Blood Cell Determinant for Plasmodium falciparum Invasion.

Malaria continues to pose significant health challenges globally despite advances in control measures. Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for most severe malaria cases, uses multiple redundant invasion pathways to enter the red blood cell (RBC) during the blood stage of infection. Through a combination of RNA interference screening in erythroid cells and validation by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout in primary human hematopoietic stem cells, we identified the glycosyltransferase Core 1 Synthase Glycoprotein-N-Acetylgalactosamine 3-Beta-Galactosyltransferase 1 (C1GALT1) as a novel host determinant for P.

Developmental Trajectories of Anxiety Subtypes from Childhood to Early Adolescence: the Role of Parenting Practices and Maternal Distress.

The present study was embedded in an Asian birth cohort to (a) investigate the trajectories of specific anxiety subtypes from middle childhood to early adolescence, (b) compare developmental trajectories by child sex, and (c) examine their associations with caregiving factors including parenting practices and maternal distress. Data from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) cohort were analyzed (N = 547; 52.8% boys; 57.

Short-term association between hot nights and mortality: a multicountry analysis in 178 locations considering hourly ambient temperature.

Background: The rise in hot nights over recent decades and projections of further increases due to climate change underscores the critical need to understand their impact. This knowledge is essential for shaping public health strategies and guiding adaptation efforts. Despite their significance, research on the implications of hot nights remains limited.

Tissue-specific distribution of microplastics in human blood and carotid plaques: A paired sample analysis.

Backgrounds: Microplastics (MPs) have been increasingly detected in human tissues, raising concerns about their role in cardiovascular disease. However, their distribution in matched blood and vascular tissues, such as atherosclerotic plaques, remains poorly understood.

Methods: Paired blood and carotid plaque samples were analyzed for 12 polymer types of MPs using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry among twenty patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy.

Estimating racial and ethnic healthcare quality disparities using exploratory item response theory and latent class item response theory models.

Healthcare quality metrics refer to a variety of measures used to characterize what should have been done or not done for a patient or the health consequences of what was or was not done. When estimating healthcare quality, many metrics are measured and combined to provide an overall estimate either at the patient level or at higher levels, such as the provider organization or insurer. Racial and ethnic disparities are defined as the mean difference in quality between minorities and Whites not justified by underlying health conditions or patient preferences.

Adenotonsillectomy and Blood Pressure in Children With Mild Obstructive Sleep-Disordered Breathing: An Exploratory Analysis of the PATS Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The impact of adenotonsillectomy on blood pressure (BP) in children with mild obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (oSDB) remains unclear.

Objective: To compare BP trajectories in children with mild oSDB randomized to early adenotonsillectomy (eAT) vs watchful waiting with supportive care (WWSC).

Design, Setting, And Participants: This was a secondary outcome exploratory analysis of the Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy Trial for Snoring (PATS), a randomized clinical trial where children aged 3 to 12.

Association of Comorbidities with Adverse Outcomes in Adults Hospitalized with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection: A Retrospective Cohort Study from Switzerland (2022-2024).

Introduction: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection causes seasonal respiratory illness in both children and adults, with increasing recognition of its impact in older adults with chronic comorbidities. This study aimed to characterize adult patients hospitalized with RSV infection in Switzerland and identify comorbidities linked to poor outcomes.

Methods: Adults hospitalized with RSV infection between May 2022 and April 2024 at a Swiss public teaching hospital were included in this retrospective observational study.

Maternal Adherence to Healthy Dietary Patterns During Pregnancy and Gestational Weight Gain.

: Suboptimal gestational weight gain (GWG) has been linked to increased risks of adverse maternal outcomes. Evidence linking diet in pregnancy to GWG remains limited. We assessed relationships between adherence to five dietary patterns (Planetary Health Diet [PHD], Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension [DASH], Alternate Mediterranean Diet [AMED], Healthy Eating Index [HEI], and Alternate Healthy Eating Index [AHEI]) and 2009 Institute of Medicine GWG categories.

Association of Healthy Predominantly Plant-Based Diet with Reduced Cardiovascular Disease Incidence and Mortality and Development of Novel Heart-Protective Diet Index.

Previous research examining the effects of omnivorous and plant-based diets on cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes has produced inconsistent findings, and the importance of diet quality is overlooked. Our study aimed to develop a novel heart-protective diet index to assess the association of a high-quality, predominantly plant-based diet-including fish, eggs, and low-fat dairy products-with CVD incidence and mortality. This study included 192,274 participants in the UK Biobank (mean age: 56.

Patient healthcare spending after the No Surprises Act: quasi-experimental difference-in-differences study.

Objective: To estimate changes in healthcare spending in the US after implementation of the No Surprises Act (NSA) in 2022 among adults with direct purchase private insurance.

Design: Quasi-experimental difference-in-differences study.

Setting: 24 US states.