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This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the potential applications of dual-energy CT (DECT) in improving image quality and the diagnostic capabilities of CT arthrography (CTA) in clinical practice. The paper covers the use of virtual non-contrast (VNC) images, in which the injected contrast medium is subtracted from the articular cavity in order to better analyze 2D and 3D images of the bone. Moreover, virtual monoenergetic imaging (VMI) applications and their potential use for the reduction of metal artifacts and improving image contrast are reviewed. The role of virtual non-calcium (VNCa) in detecting bone marrow edema surrounding the imaged joint will be discussed. Furthermore, the role of iodine maps in enhancing the contrast between soft tissues, optimizing the visualization of contrast material, and distinguishing contrast material from calcifications is described. Finally, a case series including different joints is provided to underline the additional advantages of high-spatial-resolution dual-energy CT reconstructed images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies Clinical Transfusion Medicine Committee (CTMC) composes a summary of new and important advances in transfusion medicine (TM) on an annual basis. Since 2018, this has been assembled into a manuscript and published in Transfusion. Study design and methods: CTMC members selected original manuscripts relevant to TM that were published electronically and/or in print during calendar year 2022. Papers were selected based on perceived importance and/or originality. References for selected papers were made available to CTMC members to provide feedback. Members were also encouraged to identify papers that may have been omitted initially. They then worked in groups of two to three to write a summary for each new publication within their broader topic. Each topic summary was then reviewed and edited by two separate committee members. The final manuscript was assembled by the first and senior authors. While this review is extensive, it is not a systematic review and some publications considered important by readers may have been excluded. Results: For calendar year 2022, summaries of key publications were assembled for the following broader topics within TM: blood component therapy; infectious diseases, blood donor testing, and collections; patient blood management; immunohematology and genomics; hemostasis; hemoglobinopathies; apheresis and cell therapy; pediatrics; and health care disparities, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Discussion: This Committee Report reviews and summarizes important publications and advances in TM published during calendar year 2022, and maybe a useful educational tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourette Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental condition that is distinguished by the presence of repeated and involuntary movements and vocalizations, which are referred to as tics. One of the hallmarks of Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive examination of the impact of comorbidities in TS. The research seeks to enhance understanding about comorbid conditions that complicate the clinical presentation and management of TS, leading to increased symptom severity, functional impairment, and reduced treatment response. Moreover, the bidirectional relationship between TS and comorbidities exacerbates the burden on affected individuals and their families. Recent studies have shown that TS and other neurodevelopmental diseases have similar genetic backgrounds and risk factors, which ultimately result in similar neuropathological changes. Integrating multidisciplinary approaches that address both TS and associated comorbidities is essential for optimizing clinical care and enhancing long-term outcomes. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and develop targeted interventions that effectively address the complex needs of patients with TS and comorbidities. This paper highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing comorbidities in the comprehensive management of Tourette Syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical decision-making is a group decision-making process given by the imbalanced decision-making groups, which has hybrid quantitative and qualitative attributes. Data-driven decision-making paradigm is a novel idea for constructing a clinical quantitative decision-making model. The conflict analysis provides an effective method for managing the imbalanced group decision-making problems with hybrid attributes. In this paper, we consider a kind of imbalanced group confilct problems with hybrid quantitative and qualitative attributes information given by large and small groups and use three-way conflict analysis to solve these problems. First, a hybrid information system is repersented the qualitative and quantitative hybrid attribute information given by large and small groups. Further, the real-value information system consisting of hybrid quantitative and qualitative attributes information given by this imbalanced group is transformed into a 19-scale conflict information system. Then, the optimal alternatives are derived by measuring group conflict degree, conflict function, and group conflict measurement in a three-way conflict framework. Finally, the clinical decision-making problem of rheumatoid arthritis treated with integrated TCM and Western medicine clinic as the research object, the conflict analysis process and steps of the theoretical model constructed in this paper are validated and explicitly applied based on the actual clinical data of Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, furthermore the quantitative conflict analysis simulated by actual clinical data is given, which obtains application results that are almost consistent with real clinical scenarios. On the one hand, the paper's research extends a novel conflict analysis model and idea for the group conflict analysis with imbalanced, quantitative, and qualitative hybrid information attributes. On the other hand, it also provides a new attempt and exploration for applyling of three-way conflict analysis in clinical decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an exploration into the practice of narrative medicine in the clinical setting guided by the theory and approaches of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). By adopting the theory of TCM, the author attempted to provide the patients with systematic treatment from the perspective of society-psychology-biology under the guidance of both the unity of Heaven and Man, and the unity of Xing (Body) and Shen (Mind/Spirit) through his clinical practice. Guided by yin-yang and Wu Xing (Five Elements) theory and focusing on the social relations of the patients for any possible relationships between patients' social, psychological and biological state, the author took the patients' emotion management as a point of departure and helped the patients recover both physically and psychologically by promoting positive transformation in patients' social, psychological, and biological state. A clinical case was provided at the end of this paper to demonstrate how the above theory was put into practice. Narrative medicine under the guidance of TCM theory can supplement modern medical humanity practices as well as extend the scope of modern medical treatment from the perspective of the unity of Heaven and Man, by enriching the content of narrative medicine, and promoting the medical model from biological medical model toward social-psychological-biological model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the interpretation of Critically Appraised Papers (CAPs) and Critically Appraised Topics (CATs). CAPs are described, noting the presence of a clinical question and a clinical bottom line. The presence of a critical appraisal and a description of the level of evidence is also discussed. The consideration of several different studies by a CAT is also described, as well as the importance of CAPs and CATs in maintaining evidence-based medicine (EBM).

Purpose: This paper examines the historical background of accountingization, colonization and hybridization in the health services by exploring the relationship between hospital accounting and clinical medicine in Britain between the late 1960s and the early 2000s. Design/methodology/approach: The paper draws on an analysis of professional journals, government reports and other documentary sources relating to accounting and medical developments. It is informed by Abbott's sociology of professions and Eyal's sociology of expertise. Findings: The paper shows that not only accountants but also elements within the medical profession sought to make the practice of medicine more visible, calculable and standardized, and that accounting and medical attempts to make medicine calculable interacted in a mutually reinforcing manner. Consequently, it argues that a movement towards clinical forms of quantification within the medical profession made it more open to economic calculation, which underpinned hospital accounting reforms and the accountingization, colonization or hybridization of health services. Originality/value: The paper demonstrates that a fuller understanding of the relationship between accounting and public sector professions can be developed if we examine their mutual interactions rather than restricting ourselves to analyzing accounting's effects on public sector professions. The paper moreover illustrates instances of intraprofessional conflict and inter-professional cooperation, and draws on the sociology of expertise to suggests that while hospital accounting reforms have curbed the power of medical professionals, they have also enhanced the power of clinical expertise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Postgraduate supervision takes place within complex training environments, where experiences are shaped by the socio-cultural context and wider profession, and where tensions permeate. Bordin's working alliance-based model of supervision suggests that quality relationships encompass agreement on the goals and tasks of supervision, in the context of an emotional bond. However, as trainees and their supervisors navigate the demands of providing safe clinical care, alongside educational support, disagreement on expectations for supervision may emerge. By applying a critical lens, this research draws on positioning theory to explore General Practice trainees' experiences of supervision. Methods: In 2017–2019 a series of narrative interviews were undertaken with 13 General Practice trainees in the United Kingdom (UK). Participants were purposively sampled based on end-of-year performance, gender, training location and training status. Interviews were analysed using Brown and Gilligan's Listening Guide, which was adapted to incorporate an exploration of positioning, power and agency. Results: Trainees appeared to hold variable positions, such as 'insiders', 'outsiders', 'peers' and 'problem trainees'. Supervisors, through talk and the degree of access afforded, contributed to this positioning. Some trainees viewed their supervisors as brokers and guides as they navigated their training, whilst others were suspicious of the supervisor role. For trainees who raised concerns about their supervisor through formal channels, results were not often satisfactory. Others chose to navigate difficulty in supervision through informal means. This typically involved mastery of artefacts of training, such as the electronic appointment book or training portfolio. Conclusions: This paper builds on Bordin's model of supervision to encourage greater clarity in supervisory discussions, exploring assumptions, and recognising the influences of environment, power, positioning, and agency. We have developed a Model of the Supervisory Alliance in Postgraduate GP Training (MSA-GP) to serve as a springboard for discussion for trainees and their supervisors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paclitaxel, a natural secondary metabolite isolated and purified from the bark of the Taxus tree, is considered one of the most successful natural anticancer drugs due to its low toxicity, high potency and broad-spectrum anticancer activity. Taxus trees are scarce and slow-growing, and with extremely low paclitaxel content, the contradiction between supply and demand in the market is becoming more and more intense. Therefore, researchers have tried to obtain paclitaxel by various methods such as chemical synthesis, artificial culture, microbial fermentation and tissue cell culture to meet the clinical demand for this drug. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of paclitaxel extraction, combination therapy, total synthesis, semi-synthesis and biosynthesis in recent years and provides an outlook, aiming to provide a theoretical basis and reference for further research on the production and application of paclitaxel in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a lack of a safe and effective technology to monitor intracranial pressure accurately and non‐destructively. In this paper, the relationship between reduced scattering coefficient and intracranial pressure in clinical patients under different brain edema states was studied. First, the brain edema MC simulation model was constructed based on different types of brain edema. The results laid a foundation for clinical ICP detection. Second, the changes of ICP and reduced scattering coefficient caused by brain edema were studied in clinical application. It was found that when the patient developed brain edema, the reduced scattering coefficient and ICP showed corresponding changes. Finally, the mathematical model of invasive ICP and reduced scattering coefficient was established. It was found that the sensitivity of 834 nm light to brain tissue changes was higher than that of 692 nm light, which could be used to reflect the changes of brain tissue physiological state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhodiola rosea L. (RRL) is a popular plant in traditional medicine, and Rosavin, a characteristic ingredient of RRL, is considered one of the most important active ingredients in it. In recent years, with deepening research on its pharmacological actions, the clinical application value and demand for Rosavin have been steadily increasing. Various routes for the extraction and all-chemical or biological synthesis of Rosavin have been gradually developed for the large-scale production and broad application of Rosavin. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that Rosavin has a variety of biological activities, including antioxidant, lipid-lowering, analgesic, antiradiation, antitumor and immunomodulation effects. Rosavin showed significant therapeutic effects on a range of chronic diseases, including neurological, digestive, respiratory and bone-related disorders during in vitro and vivo experiments, demonstrating the great potential of Rosavin as a therapeutic drug for diseases. This paper gives a comprehensive and insightful overview of Rosavin, focusing on its extraction and synthesis, pharmacological activities, progress in disease-treatment research and formulation studies, providing a reference for the production and preparation, further clinical research and applications of Rosavin in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Evaluation & Analysis of Drug-Use in Hospitals of China is the property of Evaluation & Analysis of Drug-Use in Hospitals of China Editorial Board and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper describes an interprofessional clinical learning experience for students within two primary care safety-net sites. An interprofessional team of faculty at one university partnered with two safety-net systems to provide students opportunities to work in an interprofessional team providing care for socially and medically complex patients. Our evaluation outcomes are student-centered, focusing on students' perceptions of caring for medically underserved populations and satisfaction with the clinical experience. Students reported positive perceptions of the interprofessional team, clinical experience, primary care, and caring for underserved populations. Strategic development of partnerships between academic and safety-net systems to offer learning opportunities can increase future healthcare providers' exposure and appreciation for interprofessional care of underserved populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In this paper, we are interested in interactions between a high-dimensional -omics dataset and clinical covariates. The goal is to evaluate the relationship between a phenotype of interest and a high-dimensional omics pathway, where the effect of the omics data depends on subjects' clinical covariates (age, sex, smoking status, etc.). For instance, metabolic pathways can vary greatly between sexes which may also change the relationship between certain metabolic pathways and a clinical phenotype of interest. We propose partitioning the clinical covariate space and performing a kernel association test within those partitions. To illustrate this idea, we focus on hierarchical partitions of the clinical covariate space and kernel tests on metabolic pathways. Results: We see that our proposed method outperforms competing methods in most simulation scenarios. It can identify different relationships among clinical groups with higher power in most scenarios while maintaining a proper Type I error rate. The simulation studies also show a robustness to the grouping structure within the clinical space. We also apply the method to the COPDGene study and find several clinically meaningful interactions between metabolic pathways, the clinical space, and lung function. Conclusion: TreeKernel provides a simple and interpretable process for testing for relationships between high-dimensional omics data and clinical outcomes in the presence of interactions within clinical cohorts. The method is broadly applicable to many studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The anatomical basis of pituitary adenomas (PAs) with oculomotor cistern (OC) extension as a growth corridor is overlooked in the literature. In this paper, the authors use the technique of epoxy sheet plastination to study the membranous structure of the OC and validate the results by retrospective analysis of patients with OC extension. Methods: Eighteen specimens were used to study the membranous anatomy surrounding the OC using the epoxy sheet plastination technique. Thirty-four patients with OC extension were retrospectively reviewed. Results: The OC consisted of two thin membranous layers. The inner layer was extended by the arachnoid layer from the posterior fossa, and the lateral layer consisted of the dura mater sinking from the roof of the cavernous sinus. The oculomotor nerve is more likely to displace with a superolateral trajectory due to the weakness of the posterior dura and the relatively large space in the medial and posterior trajectories, which is consistent with the intraoperative observations. Among the anatomical factors that affect the PA by OC extension, we found that the relative position of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and posterior clinoid process may lead to the narrowing of the OC. Of 34 cases, 28 patients achieved total resection. Among 24 preoperative patients with oculomotor nerve palsy, 16 cases were relieved to varying degrees postoperatively. There was no ICA injury or severe intracranial infection found in any of the patients. Conclusions: Extension into the OC is influenced by two anatomical factors: a weak point in the dura in the posterior OC and a potential space beyond this region of the dura. Meticulous knowledge of the membranous anatomy in endoscopic endonasal surgery is required to safely and effectively resect PA with OC extension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer remains a significant public health issue, being a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women globally. Timely diagnosis and efficient treatment are crucial for enhancing patient outcomes, reducing healthcare burdens and advancing community health. This systematic review, following the PRISMA guidelines, aims to comprehensively synthesize the recent advancements in computer-aided diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer. The study covers the latest developments in image analysis and processing, machine learning and deep learning algorithms, multimodal fusion techniques and radiation therapy planning and simulation. The results of the review suggest that machine learning, augmented and virtual reality and data mining are the three major research hotspots in breast cancer management. Moreover, this paper discusses the challenges and opportunities for future research in this field. The conclusion highlights the importance of computer-aided techniques in the management of breast cancer and summarizes the key findings of the review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) has revolutionized the field of medicine. Although highly effective, the rapid expansion of this technology has created some anticipated and unanticipated bioethical considerations. With these powerful applications, there is a necessity for framework regulations to ensure equitable and safe deployment of technology. Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) are emerging ML techniques that have immense applications in medical imaging due to their ability to produce synthetic medical images and aid in medical AI training. Producing accurate synthetic images with GANs can address current limitations in AI development for medical imaging and overcome current dataset type and size constraints. Offsetting these constraints can dramatically improve the development and implementation of AI medical imaging and restructure the practice of medicine. As observed with its other AI predecessors, considerations must be taken into place to help regulate its development for clinical use. In this paper, we discuss the legal, ethical, and technical challenges for future safe integration of this technology in the healthcare sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common disease, characterized by typical symptoms and type 2 inflammation. Standard treatment is usually effective and safe, and most medications are available as over-the-counter (OTC). Therefore, AR patients, mostly at the AR onset or if symptoms are mild, prefer to manage symptoms themselves. However, self-management could be associated with problems, including inadequate control or medication abuse. Therefore, this paper aimed at presenting and discussing this issue. Ideally, self-management should be conducted under medical supervision. In this regard, telemedicine could represent a valuable tool for implementing self-management. Visual analog scale (VAS) is a perfect parameter to measure symptom severity, medications use, and AR control. In addition, VAS is easily monitored over time. Presently, a mobile application allows to AR patients of self-managing themselves. Therefore, mobile healthcare may supply fundamental support in communication and decision-making. In this regard, VAS represents the best tool to monitor symptoms' severity and control over time. Finally, pharmacological and non-pharmacological remedies are numerous and effective but should be used wisely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 21st Century Cures Act was signed into law in 2016, real‐world data (RWD) and real‐world evidence (RWE) have attracted great interest from the healthcare ecosystem globally. The potential and capability of RWD/RWE to inform regulatory decisions and clinical drug development have been extensively reviewed and discussed in the literature. However, a comprehensive review of current applications of RWD/RWE in clinical pharmacology, particularly from an industry perspective, is needed to inspire new insights and identify potential future opportunities for clinical pharmacologists to utilize RWD/RWE to address key drug development questions. In this paper, we review the RWD/RWE applications relevant to clinical pharmacology based on recent publications from member companies in the International Consortium for Innovation and Quality in Pharmaceutical Development (IQ) RWD Working Group, and discuss the future direction of RWE utilization from a clinical pharmacology perspective. A comprehensive review of RWD/RWE use cases is provided and discussed in the following categories of application: drug–drug interaction assessments, dose recommendation for patients with organ impairment, pediatric plan development and study design, model‐informed drug development (e.g., disease progression modeling), prognostic and predictive biomarkers/factors identification, regulatory decisions support (e.g., label expansion), and synthetic/external control generation for rare diseases. Additionally, we describe and discuss common sources of RWD to help guide appropriate data selection to address questions pertaining to clinical pharmacology in drug development and regulatory decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Laser Biology / Acta Laser Biology Sinica is the property of Acta Laser Biology Sinica Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Small interference RNA (siRNA) has emerged as the most desired method for researchers and clinicians who wish to silence a specific gene of interest and has been extensively developed as a therapeutic agent. This review points to collecting all clinical trials on siRNA and understanding its benefits, pharmacokinetics and safety by reading articles published in the last 5 years. Materials and Methods: Searching in the PubMed database using 'siRNA' and 'in vivo' with limits to articles published in the previous 5 years, article type 'clinical trials' and language 'English' to acquire papers on in vivo studies on siRNA approaches. Features of siRNA clinical trials registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ were analysed. Results: So far, 55 clinical studies have been published on siRNA. Many published clinical trials on siRNA showed tolerability, safety and effectiveness in treating cancers like breast, lung, colon, and other organs and other diseases like viral infections and hereditary diseases. Many different routes of administration can silence many genes at the same time. Limitations and uncertainties associated with siRNA treatment include the effectiveness of cellular uptake, precise targeting of the intended tissue or cell and prompt elimination from the body. Conclusions: The siRNA or RNAi method will be one of the most critical and influential techniques to fight against many different diseases. Although the RNAi approach has certain advantages, it also has limitations concerning clinical applications. Overcoming these limitations remains a daunting challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In medical research and clinical applications, the utilization of MRI datasets from multiple centers has become increasingly prevalent. However, inherent variability between these centers presents challenges due to domain shift, which can impact the quality and reliability of the analysis. Regrettably, the absence of adequate tools for domain shift analysis hinders the development and validation of domain adaptation and harmonization techniques. To address this issue, this paper presents a novel Domain Shift analyzer for MRI (DSMRI) framework designed explicitly for domain shift analysis in multi-center MRI datasets. The proposed model assesses the degree of domain shift within an MRI dataset by leveraging various MRI-quality-related metrics derived from the spatial domain. DSMRI also incorporates features from the frequency domain to capture low- and high-frequency information about the image. It further includes the wavelet domain features by effectively measuring the sparsity and energy present in the wavelet coefficients. Furthermore, DSMRI introduces several texture features, thereby enhancing the robustness of the domain shift analysis process. The proposed framework includes visualization techniques such as t-SNE and UMAP to demonstrate that similar data are grouped closely while dissimilar data are in separate clusters. Additionally, quantitative analysis is used to measure the domain shift distance, domain classification accuracy, and the ranking of significant features. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated using experimental evaluations on seven large-scale multi-site neuroimaging datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bernaldo de Quirós et al. [[4]] present a review of the setups for the measurement of movements of stroke patients under free-living conditions using wearable sensors, and for the evaluation of the relation between such sensor-based outcomes and the level of functioning, as assessed using existing clinical evaluation methods. Ferraris et al. [[12]] describe the REHOME project, whose main goal consists of meeting the needs of both clinicians and patients in ensuring continuity of treatment, from healthcare facilities to the patient's home. Ubl et al. [[11]] face the problem of the evaluation of controllers for insulin pumps to be used by patients with diabetes to correctly dose insulin; this is an extremely important task for safety reasons. Among them, we cite micro/nano/cyberphysical systems; AI and machine learning techniques; early pathology detection technologies; e-health, mHealth, telemedicine, and digital solutions; and augmented reality for remote healthcare treatments. [Extracted from the article]

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The burden of cancer on public health is becoming more widely acknowledged. Lung cancer has one of the highest incidence and mortality rates of all cancers. The prevalence of early screening, the emergence of targeted therapy, and the development of immunotherapy have all significantly improved the overall prognosis of lung cancer patients. The current state of affairs, however, is not encouraging, and there are issues like poor treatment outcomes for some patients and extremely poor prognoses for those with advanced lung cancer. Because of their potent immunomodulatory capabilities, thymosin drugs are frequently used in the treatment of tumors. The effectiveness of thymosin drugs in the treatment of lung cancer has been demonstrated in numerous studies, which amply demonstrates the potential and future of thymosin drugs for the treatment of lung cancer. The clinical research on thymosin peptide drugs in lung cancer and the basic research on the mechanism of thymosin drugs in anti-lung cancer are both systematically summarized and analyzed in this paper, along with future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suppressor of mother against decapentaplegic (SMAD) family proteins are central to one of the most versatile cytokine signalling pathways in metazoan biology, the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) pathway. The TGF-β pathway is widely known for its dual role in cancer progression as both an inhibitor of tumour cell growth and an inducer of tumour metastasis. This is mainly mediated through SMAD proteins and their cofactors or regulators. SMAD proteins act as transcription factors, regulating the transcription of a wide range of genes, and their rich post-translational modifications are influenced by a variety of regulators and cofactors. The complex role, mechanisms, and important functions of SMAD proteins in tumours are the hot topics in current oncology research. In this paper, we summarize the recent progress on the effects and mechanisms of SMAD proteins on tumour development, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, and provide clues for subsequent research on SMAD proteins in tumours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate identification of lesions and their use across different medical institutions are the foundation and key to the clinical application of automatic diabetic retinopathy (DR) detection. Existing detection or segmentation methods can achieve acceptable results in DR lesion identification, but they strongly rely on a large number of fine-grained annotations that are not easily accessible and suffer severe performance degradation in the cross-domain application. In this paper, we propose a cross-domain weakly supervised DR lesion identification method using only easily accessible coarse-grained lesion attribute labels. We first propose the novel lesion-patch multiple instance learning method (LpMIL), which leverages the lesion attribute label for patch-level supervision to complete weakly supervised lesion identification. Then, we design a semantic constraint adaptation method (LpSCA) that improves the lesion identification performance of our model in different domains with semantic constraint loss. Finally, we perform secondary annotation on the open-source dataset EyePACS, to obtain the largest fine-grained annotated dataset EyePACS-pixel, and validate the performance of our model on it. Extensive experimental results on the public dataset FGADR and our EyePACS-pixel demonstrate that compared with the existing detection and segmentation methods, the proposed method can identify lesions accurately and comprehensively, and obtain competitive results using only coarse-grained annotations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, neuro-biomechanical enhancement techniques, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), have been widely used to improve human physical performance, including foot biomechanical characteristics. This review aims to summarize research on the effects of tDCS on foot biomechanics and its clinical applications, and further analyze the underlying ergogenic mechanisms of tDCS. This review was performed for relevant papers until July 2023 in the following databases: Web of Science, PubMed, and EBSCO. The findings demonstrated that tDCS can improve foot biomechanical characteristics in healthy adults, including proprioception, muscle strength, reaction time, and joint range of motion. Additionally, tDCS can be effectively applied in the field of foot sports medicine; in particular, it can be combined with functional training to effectively improve foot biomechanical performance in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). The possible mechanism is that tDCS may excite specific task-related neurons and regulate multiple neurons within the system, ultimately affecting foot biomechanical characteristics. However, the efficacy of tDCS applied to rehabilitate common musculoskeletal injuries (e.g., CAI and plantar fasciitis) still needs to be confirmed using a larger sample size. Future research should use multimodal neuroimaging technology to explore the intrinsic ergogenic mechanism of tDCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan (CTS), a biocompatible and multifunctional material derived from chitin, has caught researchers' attention in electrochemical detection due to its unique properties. This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of the recent progress and applications of CTS-based electrochemical sensors in the analysis of pharmaceutical products and other types of samples, with a particular focus on the detection of medicinal substances. The review covers studies and developments from 2003 to 2023, highlighting the remarkable properties of CTS, such as biocompatibility, chemical versatility, and large surface area, that make it an excellent candidate for sensor modification. Combining CTS with various nanomaterials significantly enhances the detection capabilities of electrochemical sensors. Various types of CTS-based sensors are analyzed, including those utilizing carbon nanomaterials, metallic nanoparticles, conducting polymers, and molecularly imprinted CTS. These sensors exhibit excellent sensitivity, selectivity, and stability, enabling the precise and reliable detection of medications. The manufacturing strategies used for the preparation of CTS-based sensors are described, the underlying detection mechanisms are elucidated, and the integration of CTS sensors with transducer systems is highlighted. The prospects of CTS-based electrochemical sensors are promising, with opportunities for miniaturization, simultaneous detection, and real-time monitoring applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike conventional glasses, corneal contact lenses (CLs) can directly contact the surface of the tear film through the application of biopolymer materials, to achieve therapeutic and cosmetic purposes. Since the advent of polymethylmethacrylate, a material that has gained widespread use and attention, statistically, there are now more than 150 × 106 people around the world who wear corneal contact lenses. However, the associated complications caused by the interaction of contact lenses with the ocular surface, tear film, endogenous and environmental microorganisms, and components of the solution affect nearly one-third of the wearer population. The application of corneal contact lenses in correcting vision and myopia control has been widely recognized. With the development of related materials, corneal contact lenses are applied to the treatment of ocular surface diseases, including corneal bandage lenses, drug-loaded corneal contact lenses, biosensors, and other new products, while minimizing the side effects associated with CL wear. This paper summarized the development history and material properties of CLs, focused on the current main clinical applications and mechanisms, as well as clarified the possible complications in wearing therapeutic contact lenses and the direction for improvement in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the Centers of Excellence in Primary Care Education (CoEPCE), a seven-site collaborative project funded by the Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) within the Veterans Health Administration of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The CoEPCE was established to fulfill OAA's vision of large-scale transformation of the clinical learning environment within VA primary care settings. This was accomplished by funding new Centers within VA facilities to develop models of interprofessional education (IPE) to teach health professions trainees to deliver high quality interprofessional team-based primary care to Veterans. Using reports and data collected and maintained by the National Coordinating Center over the first six years of the project, we describe program inputs, the multicomponent intervention, activities undertaken to develop the intervention, and short-term outcomes. The findings have implications for lessons learned that can be considered by others seeking large-scale transformation of education within the clinical workplace and the development of interprofessional clinical learning environments. Within the VA, the CoEPCE has laid the foundation for IPE and collaborative practice, but much work remains to disseminate this work throughout the national VA system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration, extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, and vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) dysfunction. The inflammatory cells involved in AAA mainly include immune cells including macrophages, neutrophils, T-lymphocytes and B lymphocytes and endothelial cells. As the blood vessel wall expands, more and more lymphocytes infiltrate into the outer membrane. It was found that more than 50% of lymphocytes in AAA tissues were CD3+ T cells, including CD4+, CD8+T cells, gd T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs). Due to the important role of T cells in inflammatory response, an increasing number of researchers have paid attention to the role of T cells in AAA and dug into the relevant mechanism. Therefore, this paper focuses on reviewing the immunoregulatory role of T cells in AAA and their role in immunotherapy, seeking potential targets for immunotherapy and putting forward future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction In recent years, the widespread utilisation of advanced imaging modalities has led to a surge in the detection rate of pancreatic cystic lesions, particularly intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN). Consequently, this review aims to provide a comprehensive examination of IPMN, focusing on elucidating its intricate facets including definition, epidemiology, pathogenesis, classification, imaging modalities for diagnosis, analysis of pancreatic cyst fluid, evaluation of malignant potential, and identification of pertinent features. Brief Overview of Current Knowledge: IPMN represents a diagnostic conundrum owing to its variable biological behaviour encompassing both benign and malignant spectra, necessitating meticulous evaluation and risk stratification. Various imaging techniques such as MRI, CT, EUS and abdominal ultrasonography serve pivotal roles in the diagnostic algorithm and risk assessment of IPMN. Additionally, the analysis of pancreatic cyst fluid, incorporating biomarkers and the string sign test, assumes a critical role in discerning mucinous from non-mucinous cysts and gauging malignant potential. Discriminating high-risk stigmata and worrisome features serve as a compass for clinical decision-making regarding the imperative of surgical intervention versus vigilant surveillance. Summary Despite persistent challenges, the ongoing evolution of diagnostic modalities and risk assessment methodologies augur well for refining therapeutic strategies and enhancing clinical outcomes in managing IPMN. This review underscores the imperative of sustained research endeavours in the realm of pancreatic oncology to enrich our comprehension of IPMN pathophysiology and to optimise clinical care paradigms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Purpose: Phototherapy, involving the therapeutic use of ultraviolet and visible light, has been a cornerstone in dermatology for treating various skin disorders. This review aims to consolidate current knowledge on the mechanisms of action and clinical applications of phototherapy, with a focus on enhancing understanding among clinicians and researchers. State of Knowledge: Phototherapy is particularly effective for chronic conditions such as psoriasis, vitiligo, and atopic dermatitis, where traditional therapies might not suffice. The mechanism involves modulation of immune response and inhibition of cellular proliferation, achieved through various wavelengths, including UVA and UVB. Recent advancements have introduced narrow-band UVB, which offers targeted therapy with fewer side effects compared to broad-band UVB. Moreover, the review explores innovations such as LED-based therapies and photodynamic therapy, expanding the spectrum of phototherapeutic options. Summary: Phototherapy remains a vital and evolving treatment modality in dermatology, offering safe and effective management for multiple skin disorders. Its success hinges on precise application and adherence to treatment protocols. Future research should aim to optimize treatment regimens, reduce side effects, and enhance patient compliance to improve outcomes. By advancing our understanding and application of phototherapy, we can better tailor treatments to meet individual patient needs, thereby improving the quality of life for those afflicted with chronic skin conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim was to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing literature concerning the clinical applications of positron emission computed tomography (PET) with radiopharmaceuticals targeting the translocator protein (TSPO) in gliomas. A literature search for studies about TSPO PET in the last 10 years (from 2013 to February 2023) was carried out on PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using the following keywords: "PET" AND "Gliomas" AND "TSPO". The Critical Appraisal Skills Program checklist for diagnostic test studies was used for testing the quality of selected papers. Ten articles were selected, encompassing 314 glioma patients submitted to PET/CT (9/10) or PET/MRI (1/10) with TSPO ligands. Among the various available TSPO tracers, the most frequently used was the third-generation ligand, [18F]-GE-180. TSPO PET results were useful to identify anaplastic transformation in gliomas and for the prognostic stratification of patients bearing homogeneous genetic alterations. When compared to amino-acid PET, TSPO PET with [18F]-GE-180 presented superior image quality and provided larger and only partially overlapping PET-based volumes. Although biased by some issues (i.e., small sample size, most of the studies coming from the same country), preliminary applications of TSPO PET were encouraging. Further studies are needed to define implications in clinical practice and shape the role of TSPO PET for patients' selection for potential TSPO-targeted molecular therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of clinical practice education is to develop the ability to apply theoretical knowledge in a clinical setting and to foster growth as a professional healthcare provider. One effective method of achieving this is through the utilization of Standardized Patients (SP) in education, which familiarizes students with real patient interviews and allows educators to assess their clinical performance skills. However, SP education faces challenges such as the cost of hiring actors and the shortage of professional educators to train them. In this paper, we aim to alleviate these issues by utilizing deep learning models to replace the actors. We employ the Conformer model for the implementation of the AI patient, and we develop a Korean SP scenario data generator to collect data for training responses to diagnostic questions. Our Korean SP scenario data generator is devised to generate SP scenarios based on the provided patient information, using pre-prepared questions and answers. In the AI patient training process, two types of data are employed: common data and personalized data. The common data are employed to develop natural general conversation skills, while personalized data, from the SP scenario, are utilized to learn specific clinical information relevant to a patient's role. Based on these data, to evaluate the learning efficiency of the Conformer structure, a comparison was conducted with the Transformer using the BLEU score and WER as evaluation metrics. Experimental results showed that the Conformer-based model demonstrated a 3.92% and 6.74% improvement in BLEU and WER performance compared to the Transformer-based model, respectively. The dental AI patient for SP simulation presented in this paper has the potential to be applied to other medical and nursing fields, provided that additional data collection processes are conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivating and connecting to hope can be a great source of support for clients seeking greater health and wellness but a potentially underused component of counseling treatment. In this paper, we review the literature on hope, applications in counseling, and related hope constructs. Then, we provide counselors with a developmentally, culturally responsive five-step process for integrating hope into counseling utilizing the client's belief system. An example vignette that illustrates usings the five-step stage process in clinical practice is included. Clinical resources to support counselors in utilizing hope in treatment are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platinum (Pt) drugs have developed rapidly in clinical applications because of their broad and highly effective antitumor effects. In recent years, with the rapid development of immunotherapy, Pt-based antitumor agents have gained new challenges and opportunities. Since the discovery of their pharmacological effects in immunotherapy and tumor microenvironment regulation, research into Pt drugs has progressed to multi-ligand and multi-functional Pt precursors and their own shortcomings have been further highlighted. With the development of antitumor immunotherapy and the rise of combination therapy, the development of Pt-based drugs has started to move in the direction of multi-targeting, nanocarrier modification, immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy. In this paper, we first overview the recent applications of Pt-based drugs in antitumor inorganic chemistry, with a focus on summarizing the application of Pt-based drugs and their precursors in the anticancer immune response. The paper also provides a reasonable outlook on the future development of Pt-based drugs from the chemical and immunological perspectives, relying on the existing content and problems of Pt-based drug development. On the basis of the gathered information, joint multidisciplinary programs on implementing comprehensive immune analyses for the future development of novel anticancer metal compounds should be initiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is one of the most common clinical pathogens and a typical multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterium. With the increase of drug-resistant A. baumannii infections, it is urgent to find some new treatment strategies, such as phage therapy. In this paper, we described the different drug resistances of A. baumannii and some basic properties of A. baumannii phages, analyzed the interaction between phages and their hosts, and focused on A. baumannii phage therapies. Finally, we discussed the chance and challenge of phage therapy. This paper aims to provide a more comprehensive understanding of A. baumannii phages and theoretical support for the clinical application of A. baumannii phages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper concentrates on the solitary waves that are retrievable from the generalized Boussinesq equation. The numerical simulations are displayed in the paper that gives a visual perspective to the model studied in neurosciences. The Laplace–Adomian decomposition scheme makes this visualization of the solitons possible. The numerical simulations are being reported for the first time using an elegant approach. The results would be helpful for neuroscientists and clinical studies in Medicine. The novelty lies in the modeling that is successfully conducted with an impressively small error measure. In the past, the model was integrated analytically only to recover soliton solutions and its conserved quantities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Summary: Multi‐organ segmentation is a critical prerequisite for many clinical applications. Deep learning‐based approaches have recently achieved promising results on this task. However, they heavily rely on massive data with multi‐organ annotated, which is labor‐ and expert‐intensive and thus difficult to obtain. In contrast, single‐organ datasets are easier to acquire, and many well‐annotated ones are publicly available. It leads to the partially labeled issue: How to learn a unified multi‐organ segmentation model from several single‐organ datasets? Pseudo‐label‐based methods and conditional information‐based methods make up the majority of existing solutions, where the former largely depends on the accuracy of pseudo‐labels, and the latter has a limited capacity for task‐related features. In this paper, we propose the Conditional Dynamic Attention Network (CDANet). Our approach is designed with two key components: (1) multisource parameter generator, fusing the conditional and multiscale information to better distinguish among different tasks, and (2) dynamic attention module, promoting more attention to task‐related features. We have conducted extensive experiments on seven partially labeled challenging datasets. The results show that our method achieved competitive results compared with the advanced approaches, with an average Dice score of 75.08%. Additionally, the Hausdorff Distance is 26.31, which is a competitive result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perforator flaps have become a popular option for soft tissue reconstruction due to their ability to provide pliable and durable coverage without the donor site morbidities of more traditional "workhorse" pedicled and free musculocutaneous flaps. Over the last several years, the medial sural artery perforator flap has been increasingly employed as a reconstructive option in both head and neck surgery and for coverage of extremity defects. The goal of this paper is to review the anatomy of the medial sural artery flap through cadaveric study and highlight the utility of this reconstructive option over other more traditional options including the anterolateral thigh flap and radial forearm free flap through the treatment of several extremity defects at our institution in both pedicled and free tissue transfer. Methods: Four cadaveric lower extremities were dissected and the pedicle of the medial sural artery flap evaluated. Three clinical cases involving lower extremity reconstruction with the medial sural artery perforator flap at our institution were reviewed. Results: Four cadaveric specimens with medial sural artery perforator (MSAP) flap dissected were evaluated for pedicle length (11–16.5 cm) and diameter (2–5 mm). Three clinical cases are described highlighting the utility of this reconstructive method. Conclusions: Through our clinical implementation and cadaveric dissection, the MSAP flap was demonstrated to be a thin and pliable perforator option for reconstruction of the lower extremity in both pedicled and free fashion without significant sacrifice of pedicle length or donor skin paddle diameter. Advantages over more traditional "workhorse" flaps are highlighted. Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deformable image registration can align two images acquired at different times or under different conditions, and thus has important theoretical research and clinical application value. However, existing learning-based registration methods are typically narrowly restricted to small displacement deformations. So to overcome this difficulty, we propose a recursive cascaded parallel network for image registration (RCPN). RCPN optimizes the image registration performance in a coarse-to-fine manner by multiple cascades to incrementally enhance the registration of target image pairs. In addition, the cascaded subnetwork always maintains a high-resolution representation. It connects multi-resolution streams in parallel, thus strengthening the feature representation capability in a finite perceptual field, which allows the registration network focus more on the small displacement deformations beyond the large displacement deformations of the image in space and enhances the registration capability. The experiments based on standard MRI images of the brain indicate that RCPN has significantly improved the registration performance compared with the benchmark method, and the effectiveness of this method can be effectively verified by combining other comparative results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trib. Lorantheae is one of the important medicinal plants in traditional medicine. There are 41 genera. 6 genera of which are produced in China, mainly distributed in Southwest China. South China and Central South China. There ar«-many kinds of plants in this family, and 22 species can be used as Chinese medicinal materials in China. The branches and leaves of Trib. Lorantheae are rich in flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids. polysaccharides. organic acids and other functional substances. among which flavonoids are one of the important chemical components to exert pharmacological activity. and play an important role in hypoglycemic. lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory. anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, anti-osteoporosis and so on. In this paper, the chemical composition, extraction method, component analysis and pharmacological action of flavonoids in Trib. Lorantheae plants were reviewed. in order to provide scientific reference for further development and clinical application of flavonoids in Trib. Lorantheae plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke clinical guidelines recommend care processes that optimize patient outcomes and minimize hospital‐acquired complications. However, audits and surveys illustrate that recommended care is not always consistently or thoroughly implemented. This paper outlines the methods for implementing and evaluating a new bundle of care. Screen‐Clean‐Hydrate bundles together recommendations from the Australian Clinical Guidelines for Stroke Management and supplements these with evidence‐informed best practice from the literature for: swallow screening within 4 h of presentation to hospital (Screen); oral health assessment and delivery of oral care (Clean); and hydration assessment and management (Hydrate). The study is a pre−post Type 2 hybrid effectiveness/implementation design with an embedded process evaluation, which will be conducted in two acute stroke units in a capital city of Australia. The integrated‐Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (iPARIHS) framework will be used to guide study design, conduct, and evaluation. Clinical effectiveness will be measured by rates of hospital‐acquired complications and proxy measures of cost (length of stay, procedure costs) for 60 patient participants pre‐ and postimplementation. Implementation outcomes will focus on acceptability, feasibility, uptake and fidelity, and identification of barriers and enablers to implementation through staff interviews, medical record audits, and researcher field notes. Due to its design as a hybrid effectiveness/implementation study, once completed, the study will provide information on both intervention and implementation effectiveness, including details of successful and unsuccessful multidisciplinary implementation strategies. This will inform a larger multisite effectiveness/implementation trial for future upscale, leading to improved compliance with stroke guidelines and therefore stroke outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wedelolide is a coumarin-like active substance extracted from Ecliptae Herba. It not only has pharmacological effects of anti-pulmo- nary fihosis, anti-arthritis, blood vessel protection and liver protection, but also effectively inhibits the poliferation of cancer cells and induces apoptosis of cancer cells, thereby delaying the further development of malignant tumors. In this paper, the pharmacological effects and mecha- nisms of wedelactone were reviewed to lay a foundation for further study and clinical application of wedelactone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mongolian medicine and traditional Chinese medicine have different interpretations of Bistortae Rhizoma, including its name, nature and taste, function and efficacy. This paper sorted out the related application of Chinese and Mongolian medicine from the records of Materia Medica. The chemical components and pharmacological effects of Bistortae Rhizoma were summarized to provide a reference for the clinical application of Bistortae Rhizoma in traditional Chinese medicine and Mongolian medicine, and for the better development and utilization of national medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this second part of a two‐part paper, we intend to demonstrate the impact of the previously proposed advanced quality control pipeline. To understand its benefit and challenge the proposed methodology in a real scenario, we chose to compare the outcome when applying it to the analysis of two patient populations with significant but highly different types of fatigue: COVID‐19 and multiple sclerosis (MS). 31P‐MRS was performed on a 3 T clinical MRI, in 19 COVID‐19 patients, 38 MS patients, and 40 matched healthy controls. Dynamic acquisitions using an MR‐compatible ergometer ran over a rest (40 s), exercise (2 min), and a recovery phase (6 min). Long and short TR acquisitions were also made at rest for T1 correction. The advanced data quality control pipeline presented in Part 1 is applied to the selected patient cohorts to investigate its impact on clinical outcomes. We first used power and sample size analysis to estimate objectively the impact of adding the quality control score (QCS). Then, comparisons between patients and healthy control groups using the validated QCS were performed using unpaired t tests or Mann–Whitney tests (p < 0.05). The application of the QCS resulted in increased statistical power, changed the values of several outcome measures, and reduced variability (standard deviation). A significant difference was found between the T1PCr and T1Pi values of MS patients and healthy controls. Furthermore, the use of a fixed correction factor led to systematically higher estimated concentrations of PCr and Pi than when using individually corrected factors. We observed significant differences between the two patient populations and healthy controls for resting [PCr]—MS only, [Pi], [ADP], [H2PO4−], and pH—COVID‐19 only, and post‐exercise [PCr], [Pi], and [H2PO4−]—MS only. The dynamic indicators τPCr, τPi, ViPCr, and Vmax were reduced for COVID‐19 and MS patients compared with controls. Our results show that QCS in dynamic 31P‐MRS studies results in smaller data variability and therefore impacts study sample size and power. Although QCS resulted in discarded data and therefore reduced the acceptable data and subject numbers, this rigorous and unbiased approach allowed for proper assessment of muscle metabolites and metabolism in patient populations. The outcomes include an increased metabolite T1, which directly affects the T1 correction factor applied to the amplitudes of the metabolite, and a prolonged τPCr, indicating reduced muscle oxidative capacity for patients with MS and COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Reports of patients with hepatitis B have highlighted associations between polymorphisms in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐DPB1, CXCL13, and CXCR5 genes and disease pathology. Owing to its potential to contribute to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic methods, we aimed to establish a reliable host genome analysis technique that can be used in countries with inadequate infrastructure. Method: We compared multiple commercially available kits for dried blood spot (DBS)‐based sample collection to develop a basic DBS‐based host genome analysis technique. We then collected blood samples from Cambodian patients with hepatitis B and performed single‐nucleotide polymorphism genotyping and HLA allele typing by the DBS system. Result: We were able to perform single‐nucleotide polymorphism genotyping and HLA allele typing with host DNA samples obtained using a combination of a HemaSpot™ filter paper‐based device and a SMITEST® EX‐R&D DNA extraction kit. The accuracy of genotyping using samples obtained by this method was not inferior to one using samples obtained by venipuncture. In the Cambodian population, significant associations of HLA‐DPB1*04:01 with protection against chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, and HLA‐DPB1*05:01 and HLA‐DPB1*13:01 with susceptibility to chronic HBV infection were identified. Conclusion: Based on the DBS system, we clarified the associations of HLA‐DPB1 alleles with chronic HBV infection in the Cambodian population for the first time. Because the DBS is a low‐cost, durable, transportable, and easy‐to‐handle modality, genetic analysis based on the DBS system is a feasible strategy for obtaining a deeper understanding of HBV epidemiology, especially in middle‐ or low‐income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a special issue of the Journal of Clinical Medicine focusing on the latest advances in urinary incontinence (UI). The issue includes contributions from experts in functional and neuro-urology, providing new scientific evidence on the diagnosis and management of UI. Topics covered include strategies to reduce catheter-associated infections, treatment options for neurogenic urinary incontinence, the impact of UI on patients' quality of life, UI after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy, treatment options for female stress and mixed urinary incontinence, and patients' preferences and expectations for overactive bladder treatment. The authors believe that the papers included in this special issue will be a valuable resource for researchers and inspire further research in the field. [Extracted from the article]