Digital Cueing With Laser Shoes Does Not Improve Walking in Parkinson's Disease: Evidence Across Disease Severity and Freezing Status.

Background: Gait impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD) occurs early and pharmaceutical interventions do not fully restore this function. Visual cueing has been shown to improve gait and alleviate freezing of gait (FOG) in PD. Technological development of digital laser shoe visual cues now allows for visual cues to be used continuously when walking.

Drift velocity of bacterial chemotaxis in dynamic chemical environments.

Chemotaxis allows swimming bacteria to navigate through chemical landscapes. To date, continuum models of chemotactic populations (e.g.

Estimands for Early-Phase Dose Optimization Trials in Oncology.

Phase I dose escalation trials in oncology generally aim to find the maximum tolerated dose. However, with the advent of molecular-targeted therapies and antibody drug conjugates, dose-limiting toxicities are less frequently observed, giving rise to the concept of optimal biological dose (OBD), which considers both efficacy and toxicity. The estimand framework presented in the addendum of the ICH E9(R1) guidelines strengthens the dialogue between different stakeholders by bringing in greater clarity in the clinical trial objectives and by providing alignment between the targeted estimand under consideration and the statistical analysis methods.

Mental health effects of unemployment and re-employment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies.

This systematic review examined the impact of unemployment and re-employment on mental health problems (depression, anxiety and psychological distress) among working-age adults. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycINFO and Web of Science (January 2012-March 2024) and included studies from a prior meta-analysis (1990-2012). Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Validating the PECARN rule to identify febrile infants at low risk of serious bacterial infections: an international validation study.

Objective: To externally validate the Paediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) rule for identifying febrile infants aged <60 days at low risk of serious bacterial infections (SBIs) and assess the utility of the rule with C reactive protein (CRP) instead of procalcitonin (PCT).

Methods: Secondary analysis of data from the Management and Outcomes of Fever in Children in Europe (MOFICHE) study (12 paediatric emergency departments in eight European countries, January 2017 to April 2018) and a Swedish study (four paediatric emergency departments, January 2014 to December 2020). Previously healthy febrile infants aged ≤60 days were included.

Sleep Disturbances and Metabolic Syndrome in Shift Workers: A Systematic Review.

Poor sleep has been identified as a strong risk factor for metabolic syndrome. Shift workers, who often experience reduced and misaligned sleep due to nighttime work schedules, are particularly susceptible to both sleep disturbances and metabolic syndrome. However, the interplay among shift work, sleep disturbances, and metabolic syndrome remains insufficiently explored.

Expression and function of new candidate regulators of placodal neurogenesis in Xenopus laevis.

The transcription factor Six1 and its co-activator Eya1 play central and varied roles during the development of sensory neurons derived from the cranial placodes in vertebrates. Previous studies suggested that these proteins promote both the maintenance of proliferative neuronal progenitors and neuronal differentiation. Context-specific interactions of Six1 and/or Eya1 with different cofactors are likely to contribute to the activation of distinct target genes during different stages of placodal neurogenesis.

Screening for depression in new fathers beyond the clinic: An observational study.

Background: Perinatal depression among fathers can impact their own wellbeing, as well as that of their partner and child. Infrastructure to support universal paternal mental health screening is limited. Digital screening embedded within the SMS4dads text messaging program provides an opportunity to reach and refer distressed fathers.

Association between metal(loid)s in different biospecimens and dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Metal (loid)s are widely present in the environment and affect human health, especially the central nervous system. Dementia is a syndrome characterized by cognitive decline that can be caused by neurological degeneration. We aimed to review the current state of knowledge with respect to associations between various metal(loid)s in different biospecimens and dementia.

Autism and the Oral Microbiome: A Systematic Review of Host-microbial Interactions and Diversity.

Background: Emerging evidence suggests a link between the oral microbiome and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by social and behavioural impairments. The vast microbial reservoirs in the gut complement those of the oral cavity, suggesting a potential oral-gut-brain axis that may influence ASD and perhaps other neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. For the first time, this systematic review synthesises the current knowledge of oral microbiome composition, diversity, and functionality in ASD and its potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

Microwave Spectroscopy and Structure of the 1-Fluoronaphthalene···HO Complex: Two Hydrogen Bonds Make the Complex a Rigid Rotor.

The microwave spectrum of the complex formed between 1-fluoronaphthalene and HO has been recorded using a chirped pulse Fourier transform microwave spectrometer within the frequency range of 2.0 to 8.0 GHz, with neon as the carrier gas.

Effects of Injury Registry Data on Policymaking, Hospitalizations, and Mortality: Systematic Review.

Background: The Brazilian project, launched in 2021, aims to establish a nationwide injury registry that systematically collects detailed information on incidents and individuals across the country, regardless of injury severity. The registry integrates information from prehospital and hospital care, various health systems lacking interoperability, and data from sectors such as firefighters and police. Its primary aim is to enhance health surveillance by providing timely, high-quality information that guides prevention strategies and informs policymaking.

Influences on Food Choices of Cambodian Women for Themselves and Their Families.

BackgroundThe nutritional status of Cambodian women and children remain poor despite implementation of dietary intake interventions. Cambodia-specific studies have explored how education influences nutrition and health behavior, but not factors influencing Cambodian women's food decision-making for themselves and their families.ObjectiveTo understand Cambodian women's food decision-making, particularly related to barriers and enablers of healthy eating for themselves and their families.

A protocol to develop a Quality Assessment Tool for Realist Synthesis (QUATRES).

A realist synthesis or review is a theory-driven, realist-informed interpretive approach to synthesizing secondary data, informing evidence-based practice, and explaining social phenomena. Realist syntheses use flexible and iterative methods to achieve this goal, including drawing on stakeholders' knowledge. Thus, realist syntheses require robust planning to be conducted and reported.

Preclinical and first-in-human evidence of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid for mitochondrial COQ2 deficiency.

Primary coenzyme Q (CoQ) deficiency is a mitochondrial disorder with variable clinical presentation and limited response to standard CoQ10 supplementation. Recent studies suggest that 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HBA), a biosynthetic precursor of CoQ, may serve as a substrate enhancement treatment in cases caused by pathogenic variants in COQ2, a gene encoding a key enzyme in CoQ biosynthesis. However, it remains unclear whether 4-HBA is required throughout life to maintain health, whether it offers advantages over CoQ10 treatment, and whether these findings are translatable to humans.

Displacement, personal loss, and psychological strain among physicians and nurses working in Gaza, 2023-2024.

On January 26th 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) recognized plausible grounds for genocide being committed in Gaza by Israel. A hallmark of the violence has been unprecedented attacks on health workers since October 7th, 2023. We use the word "genocide" to refer to this period of accelerated violence and displacement in Gaza, following ICJ findings, detailed reports by human rights organizations, and statements by genocide scholars concluding that Israel is indeed committing genocide.

Accessing Care Across Cultures: Qualitative Insights Into the Reality of Informal Caregivers From Ethnically Minoritised Groups.

Introduction: There remains limited research exploring the experiences of informal carers from ethnically minoritised groups, particularly to illustrate perceptions of caring roles and challenges they may face to address unmet needs. While barriers such as language, cultural expectations and discrimination are acknowledged in wider literature, little is known about how these influence caregiving experiences or access to services in practice. This work seeks to better describe the barriers and facilitators impacting carers from ethnically minoritised groups, as well as illustrate possible influences of culture and carer identity affecting this under-researched population.

Comparative Safety of JAK Inhibitors vs TNF Antagonists in Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Importance: Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are highly effective medications for several immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). However, safety concerns have led to regulatory restrictions.

Objective: To compare the risk of adverse events with JAK inhibitors vs tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists in patients with IMIDs in head-to-head comparative effectiveness studies.

Maintaining independence at home after a fall: a process evaluation of the MAINTAIN multicomponent intervention for people living with dementia.

Background: People with dementia who have a fall can experience both physical and psychological effects, often leading to diminished independence. Falls impose economic costs on the healthcare system. Despite elevated fall risks in dementia populations, evidence supporting effective home-based interventions remains limited.

Investigating the mechanisms of indocyanine green tumour uptake in sarcoma cell lines and ex vivo human tissue.

Indocyanine green (ICG) is a well-established near-infrared dye which has been used clinically for several decades. Recently, it has been utilised for fluorescence-guided surgery in a range of solid cancer types, including sarcoma, with the aim of reducing the positive margin rate. The increased uptake and retention of ICG within tumours, compared with normal tissue, gives surgeons a visual reference to aid resection when viewed through a near-infrared camera.

Ultrasonographic assessment of bypass capacity after revascularization surgery in moyamoya disease: a systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis.

Purpose: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a chronic cerebrovascular disorder characterized by progressive arterial stenosis and fragile collateral formation, elevating stroke risk. Revascularization is the standard treatment, yet up to 27% of patients experience ischemic events within a year due to bypass insufficiency. While digital subtraction angiography (DSA) remains the gold standard for assessing bypass function, it is invasive and time-consuming.

Antifungal Prescribing in European Pediatric Intensive Care Units: Results of a multinational 3-month weekly point-prevalence survey.

Background: Critically ill pediatric patients admitted to the PICU are highly vulnerable to infections, including invasive fungal diseases and antifungal agents are frequently prescribed. Little is known about antifungal usage in PICUs across Europe.

Methods: A multinational 3-month weekly point-prevalence study for measuring antifungal drug use was organized.

Use of the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour Model and Theoretical Domains Framework to Understand Barriers and Enablers of Research Capacity and Culture for Speech and Language Therapy Staff.

Background: Research Capacity and Culture (RCC) is important for research engagement. Little is known of what speech and language therapy staff perceives to be the barriers or enablers to this at individual, team and organisational levels.

Aims: To identify the barriers and enablers to RCC among speech and language therapy staff, using behaviour change theory as a framework, and to explore their self-reported level of research engagement.