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A study conducted by researchers at the University at Buffalo found that people with opioid use disorder who also have hepatitis C virus (HCV) were twice as likely to be successfully treated and cured from HCV if they received telemedicine treatment at their opioid treatment program (OTP) rather than being referred off-site. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), is one of the few randomized controlled trials that have examined the effectiveness of telemedicine in improving healthcare access for vulnerable populations. The researchers found that 90.3% of participants in the telemedicine arm were cured of HCV infection compared to 39.4% of participants referred to an off-site specialist. The use of telemedicine also resulted in subsequent improvements in health and well-being for participants, including reductions in substance use. The study suggests that telemedicine should be further explored as an approach to increase healthcare access for underserved populations with other health conditions. [Extracted from the article]

A new clinical proceedings paper from the Clinical Neurological Society of America highlights the underrecognition of a neurological emergency called Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus (NCSE). Unlike convulsive seizures, NCSE does not exhibit clear motor symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose and treat. This delay in treatment increases the risk of morbidity and mortality, with adults experiencing NCSE without convulsions having significantly higher mortality rates. The paper emphasizes the importance of using EEGs for proper diagnosis and emergency monitoring of NCSE. [Extracted from the article]

A report from Complutense University Madrid discusses the current situation of tuberculosis in Spain. The report covers various aspects of the disease, including its incidence, populations most at risk, and healthcare for tuberculosis patients in Spain. It also explores topics such as latent tuberculosis, extrapulmonary disease, diagnosis methods, drug resistance, treatment duration, and special situations like tuberculosis in pediatric age and its implications in surgery and intensive care. The report also addresses the status of the BCG vaccine and the potential for new vaccines to eradicate the disease. Ethical and medicolegal implications of tuberculosis are also discussed. The research has been peer-reviewed. [Extracted from the article]

A review paper led by researchers at Boston University School of Medicine argues that malnutrition, known as nutritionally acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (N-AIDS), is a leading cause of tuberculosis (TB) and deserves more attention in global TB elimination efforts. The researchers emphasize that malnutrition is the leading cause of immunodeficiency worldwide and that action on malnutrition is necessary to make substantive changes in TB incidence and mortality rates. They suggest that leveraging nutritional interventions can help detect, prevent, and treat TB more effectively, and that addressing malnutrition will have benefits beyond TB. The paper also highlights the social aspects of TB and the need for global health investments to eradicate it. [Extracted from the article]

A recent report from University Cote d'Azur in Nice, France, highlights the importance of consumer health informatics and education in the context of "One Health." The researchers conducted a systematic search of articles published in PubMed and selected 12 papers for review. The top five papers were chosen as representative papers on consumer informatics, focusing on topics such as patient engagement, digital health literacy, citizen involvement in science projects, and the relationship between human behavior and the environment. The researchers argue that consumer health informatics should shift its focus from the individual to a more global perspective, considering the impact of individual actions on the population and the environment. [Extracted from the article]

A study conducted at Tel Aviv University examined the impact of electronic medical records (EMR) on medication errors, workload, and medical information availability among qualified nurses in Israel. The study found that nurses perceived EMR systems as reducing medication errors and relieving workload. However, nurses also reported that EMR systems reduced information availability compared to the previous pen-and-paper approach. The study suggests the need for improvements in EMR systems and the provision of technical and educational support to nurses using them. [Extracted from the article]

A new report from University College Hospital London discusses measures to minimize the risk of complications during ureteroscopy and other endourological procedures. The report emphasizes the importance of meticulous planning, interdisciplinary teamwork, and good operative technique in reducing complications. The researchers conducted a literature search and reviewed key papers to provide recommendations for best practice pathways in patient care. The review concludes that by following these principles, the risk of complications in endourology can be minimized. [Extracted from the article]

A scoping review conducted by researchers at Inselspital University Hospital Bern in Switzerland explores the management of synkinesis, a condition that can develop in patients with facial palsy and is associated with functional and psychosocial consequences. The review analyzed 36 original papers and 2 meta-analyses, which provided outcome data on 1408 patients. The study found significant heterogeneity in study population and design, making it difficult to directly compare treatment modalities. The researchers recommend an interdisciplinary approach and an individualized multimodal therapeutic concept consisting of facial therapy, chemodenervation, and surgery to address the specific needs of each patient. [Extracted from the article]