NACI

OBJECTIVE: Contact tracing aids epidemic control by enabling early detection and isolation without overburdening healthcare systems despite potential challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the practical application of contact and risk assessment-based models in predicting SARS-CoV-2 infection following exposure among healthcare workers in a large tertiary public university hospital in Türkiye. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as a retrospective cohort study, including contact tracing data from 3389 exposed healthcare workers from March 23, 2020, to October 22, 2021...

Background : The introduction of endovascular thrombectomy dramatically changed acute stroke management and became the standard treatment. Balloon guide catheters provide flow arrest during the clot retrieval process and have several advantages.This study aimed to compare balloon guide catheters (BGCs) versus non-balloon guide catheters (NBGCs) as a part of a combined treatment modality in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke. Methods : This retrospective study included n = 65 patients who underwent a combined endovascular stroke treatment for distal internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy (NACI) combined with transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in the treatment of locally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). Methods: This was a retrospective study of 15 patients with locally advanced OPSCC who underwent TORS after neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from April 2019 to February 2023. There were 12 males and 3 females, aged 31 to 74 years...

BACKGROUND: Perceived delays in cancer drug approvals have been a major concern for policymakers in China. Policies have been implemented to accelerate the launch of new cancer drugs and indications. This study aimed to assess similarities and differences between China and the United States in the approvals, timing, and clinical benefit evidence of cancer drug indications between 2001 and 2020. METHODS: This study retrospectively identified all cancer drugs and indications approved in both China and the United States from January 1st, 2001 to December 31, 2020, and described differences in approval times as well as in submission and review times...

Healthy nutrition is widely considered the cornerstone of optimal athletic performance, both physically and mentally. This study investigates the critical role of healthy nutrition in shaping the physical and mental performance of athletes, with a specific focus on taekwondo. This research aims to explore the potential relationship between taekwondo athletes' attitudes towards healthy nutrition and their mental toughness. The research group comprised 276 active and licensed taekwondo athletes who voluntarily participated in the study (Age M = 17...

AIM: The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between negative acute-phase reactants and positive acute-phase reactants with in-hospital mortality in patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the emergency department (ED). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Patients aged 18 and older who presented to the ED of a tertiary hospital with AIS were included in the study. Demographic and clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, acute-phase reactants, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and outcome data of the included patients were recorded on a standard data form...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

BACKGROUND: The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) reviews the evolving evidence on influenza immunization and provides annual recommendations regarding the use of seasonal influenza vaccines. The NACI Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2023-2024 updates the 2022-2023 NACI recommendations. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the 2023-2024 NACI seasonal influenza vaccine recommendations and to highlight new and updated information. METHODS: In the preparation of the Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccine for 2023-2024 , the NACI Influenza Working Group applied the NACI evidence-based process to critically appraise the available evidence and to propose recommendations...

Following recent outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Canada and updates to provincial vaccination guidelines, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) conducted a targeted review of evidence with a focus on immunization of adolescents and young adults. NACI reviewed national and international immunization recommendations for populations at high-risk of IMD, national IMD epidemiology and program-relevant considerations. Given the varied IMD epidemiology, NACI determined that recommending a pan-Canadian targeted program is currently challenging and that regional programs may be better suited to prevent IMD in population groups considered to be at high-risk of exposure...

BACKGROUND: Statistics show that over the past 2 decades, even in high-income countries, fewer and fewer students have listed neurosurgery as their top career option. Literature on medical students' pursuit of neurosurgical careers in middle- and low-income countries are scarce. The aim of this research, conducted in Turkey with a middle-income economy, was to contribute insights relevant to medical education and neurosurgery across the world. METHODS: A survey was conducted with a target sample of fourth-year (167 students), fifth-year (169 students), and sixth-year (140 students) medical students (476 in total) from the Medical School at Istanbul Medeniyet University in Turkey...

BACKGROUND: The aim was to evaluate the changes in the audiovestibular system in adult patients with the diagnosis of chronic renal failure who were treated with hemodialysis. METHODS: Thirty-five patients diagnosed with chronic renal failure and receiving hemodialysis treatment 3 days a week and 35 healthy individuals were tested with pure tone audiometry, video head impulse test, and post-head shake nystagmus test. Dizziness Handicap Inventory was applied to all participants...

OBJECTIVE: The total annual count of reported tuberculosis (TB) cases continues to decline throughout Turkey. Recognizing the regions with high and low burdens and revealing the factors affecting TB notification rates may play a role in guiding national control programs. This study aimed to analyze the spatial distribution of TB notification rates from 2005 to 2018 and evaluate the factors contributing to TB rates. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this ecological study, we used freely available open data from the Internet...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The optimal antiplatelet regimen after flow diverter treatment of cerebral aneurysms is still a matter of debate. A single antiplatelet therapy might be advantageous in determined clinical scenarios. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of prasugrel single antiplatelet therapy versus aspirin and clopidogrel dual antiplatelet therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a post hoc analysis of 4 retrospective multicenter studies including ruptured and unruptured aneurysms treated with flow diversion using either prasugrel single antiplatelet therapy or dual antiplatelet therapy...

A reduction in the volume of the thalamus and its nuclei has been reported in Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment and asymptomatic individuals with risk factors for early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Some studies have reported thalamic atrophy to occur prior to hippocampal atrophy, suggesting thalamic pathology may be an early sign of cognitive decline. We aimed to investigate volumetric differences in thalamic nuclei in middle-aged, cognitively unimpaired people with respect to dementia family history and apolipoprotein ε4 allele carriership and the relationship with cognition...

BACKGROUND: Detecting cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer's disease early and tracking it over time is essential for individuals at risk of cognitive decline. OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to validate the Beynex app's gamified assessment tests and the Beynex Performance Index (BPI) score, which monitor cognitive performance across seven categories, considering age and education data. METHODS: Beynex test cut-off scores of participants ( n  = 91) were derived from the optimization function and compared to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test...

The apolipoprotein E ɛ4 allele is the primary genetic risk factor for the sporadic type of Alzheimer's disease. However, the mechanisms by which apolipoprotein E ɛ4 are associated with neurodegeneration are still poorly understood. We applied the Neurite Orientation Dispersion Model to characterize the effects of apolipoprotein ɛ4 and its interactions with age and education on cortical microstructure in cognitively normal individuals. Data from 1954 participants were included from the PREVENT-Dementia and ALFA (ALzheimer and FAmilies) studies (mean age = 57, 1197 non-carriers and 757 apolipoprotein E ɛ4 carriers)...

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability with substantial healthcare costs, and efficient nonsurgical treatment methods are still needed. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and exercise therapy are used frequently in clinical practice. Whether PRP or PRP combined with exercise is more effective than exercise alone is unclear. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Which treatment relieves knee osteoarthritis pain better: PRP alone, exercise, or PRP combined with exercise? (2) Does PRP alone, exercise, or PRP combined with exercise yield better results in terms of the WOMAC score, performance on the 40-m fast-paced walk test and stair climbing test, and the SF-12 health-related quality of life score? METHODS: In this randomized, controlled, three-arm clinical trial, we recruited patients with mild-to-moderate (Kellgren-Lawrence Grade II or III) knee osteoarthritis with a minimum of 3 points on the 11-point numeric rating scale for pain...

BACKGROUND: At the commencement of a pandemic, it is important to consider the impact of respiratory infections on the health system and the possibility of vaccine shortages due to increased demand. In the event of an influenza vaccine shortage, a strategy for administration of fractional influenza vaccine doses might be considered. This article reviews the available evidence for efficacy, effectiveness, immunogenicity and safety of fractional influenza vaccine dosing, and summarizes the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommendations on fractional dosing strategies by public health programs in Canada...