Early post-operative arrhythmia is a frequent complication after paediatric cardiac surgery. Although usually transient, it contributes to considerable morbidity and may increase mortality. This study aimed to determine the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of early post-operative arrhythmia following paediatric open-heart surgery.

A single-centre retrospective cohort study was conducted on paediatric patients who underwent open-heart surgery for congenital or acquired heart diseases between January 2022 and December 2024. Pre-operative, intraoperative, and post-operative parameters were analysed to identify independent predictors using multivariate logistic regression.

Of 2,096 patients analysed, 220 (10.5%) developed early post-operative arrhythmias, mainly tachyarrhythmias. The most common were complete heart block (3.2%), accelerated junctional rhythm (2.8%), and junctional ectopic tachycardia (1.9%). Tetralogy of Fallot repair had the highest incidence (20.2%). Independent predictors included prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass (OR 1.005, 95% CI 1.002–1.009, p = 0.002), extended aortic cross-clamp time (OR 1.006, 95% CI 1.001–1.011, p = 0.011), and prolonged inotropic support (OR 1.035, 95% CI 1.009–1.063, p = 0.009). Serum magnesium ≥ 1.0 mmol/L was identified as a protective factor. Arrhythmia was associated with longer mechanical ventilation (median 4 vs. 2 days), ICU stay (8 vs. 4 days), and hospitalisation (20 vs. 12 days; all p < 0.001). Mortality was higher but not statistically significant (5.9% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.087).

Post-operative arrhythmia occurred in 10.5% of paediatric cardiac surgeries, most frequently after Tetralogy of Fallot repair. Prolonged bypass, aortic cross-clamp times, hypomagnesemia, and high inotropic support were independent risk factors associated with increased morbidity.

Previous studies indicate that African immigrant women in the United States have lower rates of cervical cancer screening and prevention than other racial and immigrant groups, with additional heterogeneity by country of origin, language proficiency, and length of U.S. residence.

This review aimed to (a) summarize barriers and facilitators to screening, (b) examine how existing studies conceptualize African immigrant identity and employ disaggregated analyses, and (c) apply intersectionality and stress process frameworks to highlight structural determinants shaping screening behaviors.

This systematic review, registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251151600), synthesizes evidence on cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination among African immigrant women in the United States. PubMed, ProQuest, EBSCO, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched for peer-reviewed studies published between January 2010 and December 2024. Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria, including cross-sectional surveys (n = 7), qualitative studies (n = 5), mixed-methods studies (n = 3), retrospective cohort analyses (n = 1), and one randomized controlled trial.

Only 11 of the 17 studies disaggregated African immigrant women by country of origin or related subgroup characteristics. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale for observational studies and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist for qualitative studies. Across studies, African immigrant women consistently faced barriers to screening, including language discordance, lack of insurance, limited HPV awareness, cultural stigma, and unfamiliarity with the U.S. healthcare system. Interventions such as HPV self-sampling and culturally tailored education showed promise in improving screening uptake.

The findings point to the need for standardized disaggregated data collection, culturally responsive interventions, and theory-driven research to reduce cervical cancer prevention disparities among African immigrant women in the United States.

Explore the relationship between the severity of psychological distress symptoms and COVID-19-related bereavement, along with various sociodemographic factors and smoking/substance use behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study used 962 Missouri residents’ (age: mean 44.8, SD 16.7, range 18-86 years; 67% [641] female) responses in the context of COVID-19 during 2022. Severity of psychological distress was measured using combined responses from PHQ-8 and GAD-7 scales and classified as moderate to severe using a cutoff score of ≥15 in PHQ-8 or ≥10 in GAD-7 scale. Predictors were bereavement (yes/no), current smoking (yes/no), and any substance use and polysubstance use (≥2). Logistic regressions adjusted for age, highest educational level, and employment status.

Approximately 19% experienced loss due to COVID-19; 28% exhibited moderate to severe symptoms of psychological distress. Individuals who experienced COVID-19-related deaths were more likely to suffer from moderate to severe psychological distress symptoms (Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR): 1.46; 95% CI:1.00, 2.12). Smoking (AOR:1.68; 95% CI: 1.20, 2.36) and polysubstance use (AOR: 2.44; 95% CI: 1.64, 3.65) also exhibited higher odds.

COVID-19 bereavement and smoking/substance use were linked to higher distress. Future research and strategies should integrate bereavement supports with substance-use screening/brief intervention in disaster mental-health services.

Assessing depression symptoms in people with a chronic illness is challenging due to possible bias from overlapping somatic symptoms associated with both depression and chronic illnesses. Previous studies, however, have found that people with a chronic illness do not report more somatic symptoms on depression measures than people without a chronic illness with similar levels of mood and cognitive symptoms. The reason for this surprising finding is unknown. Our primary objective was to evaluate differences in mean sum scores of Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) somatic symptom items (sleep disturbances, fatigue, appetite changes) in people with a chronic illness when the items were administered outside the context of a depression questionnaire versus as part of the PHQ-8. Secondary objectives were to evaluate individual somatic item scores. We hypothesised that people who completed somatic items outside of a depression assessment would have significantly higher scores than those who completed items as part of a depression assessment.

We conducted a randomised controlled experiment within the Scleroderma Patient-centred Intervention Network (SPIN) Cohort, a multinational cohort of people with systemic sclerosis. SPIN Cohort participants were randomly allocated to complete the PHQ-8 with somatic items (sleep disturbances, fatigue, appetite changes) presented separately from psychological items and without any indication that they were part of a depression questionnaire (Reordered Items arm) or in standard format (Standard PHQ-8 arm). Participants were automatically randomised when they logged into the SPIN Cohort platform to complete routine research assessments. The primary outcome was the mean sum score of PHQ-8 somatic items. Secondary outcomes were the mean scores of individual somatic items. Differences were assessed using between-groups t-tests.

In total, 851 participants were included (N = 428 in Reordered Items arm, N = 423 in Standard PHQ-8 arm). Mean (SD) PHQ-8 score was 6.0 (5.3) for all participants. We found no statistically significant differences in PHQ-8 somatic item sum scores (0.05 points; 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.29 to 0.38) or in mean scores for item 3 (sleep disturbances; 0.04 points; 95% CI: −0.09 to 0.19), item 4 (fatigue; 0.03 points; 95% CI: −0.11 to 0.16) and item 5 (appetite changes; −0.03 points; 95% CI: −0.15 to 0.10).

We did not find evidence that responses to PHQ-8 somatic items were influenced by whether participants were aware they were responding to items about depression. This finding supports the validity of self-reported questionnaires for depression symptom assessment in people with chronic medical conditions.

This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of individualised interventional strategies in paediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension, focusing on the outcomes of atrial septostomy, reverse Potts shunt, and partial ASD closure in patients unresponsive to medical therapy or with rapid right ventricular deterioration.

A retrospective analysis included 12 paediatric patients who underwent 18 interventional procedures between 2019 and 2024. Pulmonary arterial hypertension was confirmed by right heart catheterisation, and pre- and post-procedural clinical, echocardiographic, and haemodynamic data were compared.

Interventions included graded balloon atrial septostomy (n = 10), partial ASD closure (n = 2), and reverse Potts shunt via ductal stenting (n = 1). All surviving patients showed clinical improvement with significant reductions in heart rate (p < 0.01), NT-proBNP (p = 0.008), mean right atrial pressure (p < 0.001), and RV/LV end-diastolic diameter ratio (p = 0.014), along with improvements in six-minute walk distance (p = 0.002), WHO functional class (p < 0.001), and TAPSE (p = 0.028). One patient (8.3%) died within days following atrial septostomy due to nonadherence to medical therapy. Three patients required repeat atrial septostomy because of shunt restriction or spontaneous narrowing.

Individualised interventional strategies guided by comprehensive haemodynamic assessment can slow disease progression and improve quality of life in paediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension. Partial ASD closure, as a novel approach in this cohort, reduces excessive left-to-right volume load while preserving a controlled right-to-left shunt, thereby enhancing haemodynamic stability and optimising outcomes. Timely implementation of interventional strategies before disease progression may help reduce mortality.