Practical guide

AIM: Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) test for solid tumors is now increasingly utilized in clinical practice, especially in pancreatobiliary cancer, and specimens obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided tissue acquisition (EUS-TA) are often submitted for tissue-based CGP test. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of EUS-TA using a 22-gauge Franseen needle for the CGP test. METHODS: Consecutive patients with solid tumors who underwent EUS-TA using a 22-gauge Franseen needle, and whose tissue samples were pre-checked for suitability for CGP test, were included in this single-center, retrospective analysis...

Advanced stages of breast cancer are frequently complicated by bone metastases, which cause significant cancer-related bone destruction and mortality. However, the early precise theranostics of bone metastasis remains a formidable challenge in clinical practice. Herein,a novel all-in-one nanotheranostic system (ABI NYs) combining NIR-II FL/PA dual-modal imaging with photothermal-immunity therapeutic functionalities in one component was designed to precisely localize bone metastasis microscopic lesions and achieve complete tumor ablation at an early stage...

BACKGROUND: Midwifery specialisation was introduced in 1993 as a response to escalating maternal and neonatal mortalities and shortage of physicians in rural parts of South Africa. Basic midwives enrolled into a postgraduate midwifery qualification to extend their knowledge and skills which enabled them to manage complicated obstetric conditions. The postgraduate midwifery qualification rendered them midwife specialists upon completion of the course. Yet, MS remain underutilised in clinical facilities due to limiting practice regulations and fear of medico-legal litigations, leading to forfeiture of skills...

BACKGROUND: Clinical training, supervision and practice are the most important aspects of health profession education, including optometry. Institutions implore various methods for students to gain access, exposure and experience in different clinical environments, away from their normal academic settings. AIM: This review aimed to investigate studies and related documentary evidence to determine existing standards and methods for educational institutions in conducting optometry clinical training at the external sites...

OBJECTIVE: This article addresses the persistent challenge of Delayed Hospital Discharge (DHD) and aims to provide a comprehensive overview, synthesis, and actionable, sustainable plan based on the synthesis of the systematic review articles spanning the past 24 years. Our research aims to comprehensively examine DHD, identifying its primary causes and emphasizing the significance of effective communication and management in healthcare settings. METHODS: We conducted the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) method for synthesizing findings from 23 review papers published over the last two decades, encompassing over 700 studies...

Chronic liver disease has emerged as a significant global concern, with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) representing a critical consequence of this disease. However, early detection of HCC remains challenging in clinical practice. Recently, there has been a growing interest in applying endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) as a diagnostic tool for gastrointestinal diseases. Nevertheless, using EUS to diagnose and treat HCC is uncommon. In this review we described the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of EUS in primary HCC and evaluated its clinical significance...

PURPOSE: Empowering parents to deliver evidenced-based interventions improves outcomes for children with or infants at risk of cerebral palsy (CP), by integrating repetition and contextual learning into daily routines. We aimed to identify the barriers and facilitators to parent-delivered interventions and suggest practice improvements guided by behaviour change models. METHODS: Eight electronic databases were searched to identify studies presenting parent and therapist perspectives on parent-delivered interventions in CP...

BACKGROUND: Antiseptics, disinfectants, and hand hygiene products can be contaminated with bacteria and cause healthcare-associated infections, which are underreported from low- and middle-income countries. To better understand the user-related risk factors, we conducted a knowledge, awareness, and practice survey among hospital staff in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: Self-administered questionnaire distributed among healthcare workers in three tertiary care hospitals (Burkina Faso, Benin, Democratic Republic of the Congo)...

Interictal Epileptiform Discharges (IED) and High Frequency Oscillations (HFO) in intraoperative electrocorticography (ECoG) may guide the surgeon by delineating the epileptogenic zone. We designed a modular spiking neural network (SNN) in a mixed-signal neuromorphic device to process the ECoG in real-time. We exploit the variability of the inhomogeneous silicon neurons to achieve efficient sparse and decorrelated temporal signal encoding. We interface the full-custom SNN device to the BCI2000 real-time framework and configure the setup to detect HFO and IED co-occurring with HFO (IED-HFO)...

Accurate and efficient motion estimation is a crucial component of real-time ultrasound elastography (USE). However, obtaining radiofrequency ultrasound (RF) data in clinical practice can be challenging. In contrast, although B-mode (BM) data is readily available, elastographic data derived from BM data results in sub-optimal elastographic images. Furthermore, existing conventional ultrasound devices (e.g., portable devices) cannot provide elastography modes, which has become a significant obstacle to the widespread use of traditional ultrasound devices...

BACKGROUND: Macro and meso level factors that influence the participation by clinical pharmacists in ward rounds include pharmacy management culture, commitment to ward rounds and adequate time for ward rounds being included in workload models. The 'micro' level factors that affect the involvement of clinical pharmacists in ward rounds have not been widely explored. OBJECTIVE: Explore 'micro' level factors to gain insight into clinical pharmacists' participation in interprofessional ward rounds in inpatient settings through the lens of social cognitive theory...

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to explore how people living with obesity who use obesity services perceive healthcare professionals' (HCPs) online representation of the disease on social media. By exploring their perspective, we aimed to develop a framework to inform good practice around social media use for HCPs. DESIGN: This was a qualitative study using a phenomenological framework. Following in-depth semi-structured interviews, analysis was undertaken to identify superordinate themes relating to how HCPs portray living with obesity online...

Information may be required within a short time-frame for making decisions about programmes and interventions in health professions education. Rapid research methods have been increasingly used in healthcare, especially for qualitative research studies and literature reviews. An essential aspect of using rapid research methods is pragmatism, in which there is a balance between the constraints of the short time frame (typically less than 3 months), the available resources, and the rigour for an appropriate standard of quality...

BACKGROUND: Financial toxicity, defined as both the objective financial burden and subjective financial distress from a cancer diagnosis and its treatment, is a topic of interest in the assessment of the quality of life of patients with cancer and their families. Current evidence implicates financial toxicity in psychosocial, economic and other harms, leading to suboptimal cancer outcomes along the entire trajectory of diagnosis, treatment, supportive care, survivorship and palliation...

OBJECTIVE: We expand on prior systematic reviews of Tai chi/Qigong (TCQ) practice on depression or anxiety symptoms in adults with cancer to estimate the mean effect of TCQ on depression and anxiety in randomized controlled trials. Additionally, we perform moderator analysis to examine whether effects vary based on patient features, TCQ stimuli properties, or characteristics of research design. METHODS: Guided by PRISMA guidelines, we located articles published before August 31, 2023 using a combination of electronic database search and a complementary manual search through reference lists of articles and published reviews...

Since 2010, there has been little published data on the state of equipment and infrastructure in veterinary radiation oncology clinical practice. These data are important not only to identify the status and use of technology within the veterinary radiation oncology community but also to help identify the extent of medical physics support. The purpose of our study is to report findings from a survey of veterinary radiation oncologists in the USA, Canada, and select centers outside of North America in 2022. A 40-question survey covering topics such as type of radiotherapy equipment, techniques offered, treatment planning systems and dose calculation algorithms, special techniques, board-certified radiation oncologists and residents, and extent of medical physics support was distributed through an online survey tool...

BACKGROUND: Positron emission tomography (PET) is extensively employed for diagnosing and staging various tumors, including liver cancer, lung cancer, and lymphoma. Accurate subtype classification of tumors plays a crucial role in formulating effective treatment plans for patients. Notably, lymphoma comprises subtypes like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma, while lung cancer encompasses adenocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Similarly, liver cancer consists of subtypes such as cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma...

BACKGROUND: The ongoing debate regarding off-pump CABG and on-pump CABG has endured for over three decades. Although numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses have been reported, new evidence has emerged. Therefore, an updated and comprehensive meta-analysis to guide clinical practice is essential. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive search for eligible articles published after 2000, reporting RCTs involving at least 100 patients and comparing off-pump CABG with on-pump CABG, was performed throughout the databases including Embase, Ovid Medline and Web of Science...

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has developed an Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for Treatment of Shoulder Osteoarthritis with Intact Rotator Cuff and Severe Glenoid Retroversion. Evidence-based information, in conjunction with the clinical expertise of physicians, was used to develop the criteria to determine the appropriateness of various treatments of shoulder osteoarthritis with intact rotator cuff and severe glenoid retroversion. The AUC for Treatment of Shoulder Osteoarthritis with Intact Rotator Cuff and Severe Glenoid Retroversion were derived by identifying scenarios evident during the clinical decision-making process on this topic...

Interfacial solar vapor generation (ISVG) is an emerging technology to alleviate the global freshwater crisis. However, high-cost, low freshwater collection rate, and salt-blockage issues significantly hinder the practical application of solar-driven desalination devices based on ISVG. Herein, with a low-cost copper plate (CP), nonwoven fabric (NWF), and insulating ethylene-vinyl acetate foam (EVA foam), a multistage device is elaborately fabricated for highly efficient simultaneous freshwater and salt collection...