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OBJECTIVE: To identify factors predicting response to first TNF blocking treatment course in patients with established RA with a special focus on gender differences. METHODS: Patients with active RA initiating their first treatment course of TNF-blocking therapy were enrolled. The study period was March 1999 through September 2006. The prospective protocol included information on demographics, cli
Respiratory symptoms among hairdressers are often ascribed to the use of bleaching powders that contain persulfate salts. Such salts can act as allergens and airway irritants but the mechanisms behind the negative health effects are not fully known. In order to understand why some hairdressers experience respiratory symptoms during, and after, sessions of hair bleaching, it is of importance to cha
Aims and objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate, using Rasch model analysis, the measurement invariance of the item ratings of the Individualised Care Scale. Background. Evidence of reliability is needed in cross-cultural comparative studies. To be used in different cultures and languages, the items must function the same way. Design: A methodological and comparative design. Meth
Background There is a lack of contemporary data describing patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction post myocardial infarction (MI) in terms of symptom burden and secondary prevention measures. The aim of this study was to describe patients with various degrees of LV systolic dysfunction after a first MI, their symptom burden, quality of life and adherence to recommended secondary
Aims: Drug–gene interactions (DGIs) modify drug response and safety, yet their influence on diabetic microvascular complications remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the role of DGIs in these complications. Materials and Methods: Using UK Biobank (UKB) data, we identified medications frequently prescribed to individuals with diabetes and defined DGIs based on the Food and Drug Administra
Introduction: Suturing is a fundamental component of surgical procedures, wherein training emphasises the significance of gentle tissue handling. The suturing process involves the pressure exerted by the forceps onto the tissue, as well as the medial traction force applied to stabilise the tissue during the needle bite. This study examined the forces involved in tissue handling during suturing, co
Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are frequently comorbid and are individually associated with increased risk of suicidal behavior. However, whether their comorbidity exacerbates this risk has not been adequately investigated. Methods: Using a Swedish birth cohort (born 1970–1990; N = 799,203–858,983), we employed Aalen’s linear hazards models to evalu
Background: Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) immunocytochemical (ICC) analysis of cell blocks (CBs) has recently emerged in clinical practice. Unlike standardized immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, cytology involves various preparation methods and fixatives. This study investigated how various fixatives influence PD-L1 immunoreactivity in CBs from malignant pleural
Background: We aimed to assess the risk of serious infections in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) exposed to different advanced therapies. Methods: We linked nationwide registers and compared rates of incident serious infections in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) exposed to medical therapies versus matched general population comparators during 2007-2023
GOALS: To assess the incidence, type, and severity of infections in patients with IBD before and after starting thiopurine therapy.BACKGROUND: Thiopurines have been used for decades in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), yet real-world data regarding the extent and types of infections associated with their use are scarce.STUDY: We included all thiopurine-naive adults with IBD who in
Introduction: Using time-limited trials of low-dose, sustained-release morphine to reduce chronic breathlessness to evaluate net effects may generate opioid withdrawal symptoms if medication is ceased. This sub-study of a larger randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial aimed to evaluate if this occurred. Methods: People with modified Medical Research Council breathlessness scores of 3 or
Accurate, high-resolution global land use and land cover (LULC) mapping is crucial for environmental monitoring, but remains challenging when relying solely on multispectral data. Most existing global LULC mapping studies rely exclusively on multispectral observations, and even those that incorporate synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data often fail to fully exploit the information it provides. SAR p
BackgroundThe Job Demand–Control–Support (JD-C-S) model evaluates how psychosocial work factors affect health and performance. We examined how demographics, job title, and experience influence demand, control, and support among Ghanaian pharmacy staff.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of pharmacy personnel from Tamale and Sagnerigu was conducted using the JD-C-S questionnaire. Demand and control ite
Introduction Systemic inflammation is postulated to mediate heat stroke and heat-related organ injury, yet acute inflammatory responses among heat-stressed workers remains poorly understood. We aimed to describe neutrophil mobilisation and potential release of DNA during heat stress in multiple hot occupational settings and a controlled experimental setting. Methods Neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (NL
This paper adds to the growing body of literature on digitally mediated preaching by using actor–network theory (ANT) in conjunction with Amanda Lagerkvist’s work on digital media as theoretical lenses to describe and discuss what we term “the paradox of (im)perfection”. This paradox refers to the tension between an ideal of perfection and an ideal of imperfection (or vulnerability) as experiencedThis paper adds to the growing body of literature on digitally mediated preaching by using actor–network theory (ANT) in conjunction with Amanda Lagerkvist’s work on digital media as theoretical lenses to describe and discuss what we term “the paradox of (im)perfection”. This paradox refers to the tension between an ideal of perfection and an ideal of imperfection (or vulnerability) as experienced
Objectives: Panax ginseng (P. ginseng, C.A. Meyer) is suggested to improve blood glucose regulation, but evidence remains inconsistent. We examined whether consuming P. ginseng as a preload before a carbohydrate-rich meal modulates postprandial glucose and insulin responses. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial, 22 healthy middle-aged adults consumed P. ginseng tablets containin
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Achieving adequate concentrations of beta-lactam antibiotics in patients with severe infections is challenging, and therefore therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) would be optimal for guiding beta-lactam dosing, but is often limited by availability. UV/VIS spectrophotometry can quantify drug levels in saline, and if those levels truly reflect plasma concentrations, it could
BACKGROUND/AIM: Determining the causation of an injury in living individuals is a key task for forensic pathologists. However, little is known about sex-based differences in injury characteristics. The study aims to examine sex-based differences in single stab injuries to the trunk among assault survivors, to potentially identify injury patterns that could aid forensic assessment and help in the m
