Estimate bacterial pathogen contamination of healthcare workers’ (HCW) long-sleeved attire.

Prospective observational study.

Tertiary care hospital.

HCWs wearing long-sleeved attire providing direct inpatient care.

Sampling of both sleeves of HCWs wearing long-sleeved attire was performed using a swab and cultured for aerobic bacterial growth classified as potential pathogens or presumptive skin commensals. Potential predictors of sleeve contamination, including participant survey responses related to attire and infection prevention practices, were analyzed using univariate analyses. Whole genome sequencing compared isolates to a genomic surveillance database of patient clinical isolates.

Among 280 samples, 81.1% (n = 227) demonstrated any bacterial growth and 20.7% (n = 58) grew ≥1 potential pathogen. Speciated organisms included alpha-hemolytic streptococci (n = 28), Bacillus sp. (n = 20), and Pantoea/Mixta sp. (n = 8), gram-negative bacilli (n = 6), and Staphylococcus aureus (n = 2). Univariate analysis demonstrated that sleeves sampled on non-intensive care units (P = .038) were significantly associated with any bacterial growth, and attire type (P = .002) and sleeve material (P = .004) were associated with growth of ≥1 potential pathogen. Fleece attire and material were more likely to be contaminated than other attire and material types. Sequenced isolates from sleeve samples were not genetically related to any patient isolates.

HCW long sleeve contamination occurs frequently, including with potential pathogens. Changing trends in attire type may have an impact on bacterial transmissibility. While this study could not infer transmission events associated with clinically diagnosed patient infections, the potential benefit of a “bare below the elbows” attire policy warrants further investigation.

This study aimed to systematically review the evidence on functional outcomes following dorsal preservation rhinoplasty, with a focus on nasal obstruction.

A systematic review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane databases were searched up to March 2025. Studies reporting nasal airway outcomes following dorsal preservation rhinoplasty using subjective or objective measures were included.

Six studies comprising 662 patients were included. Patient-reported outcomes (Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation, Standardized Cosmesis and Health Nasal Outcomes Survey and Visual Analogue Scale) consistently demonstrated significant post-operative improvement. Objective measures (acoustic rhinometry, rhinomanometry and cone-beam computed tomography) showed maintained or improved airway dimensions. dorsal preservation rhinoplasty was functionally equivalent to traditional structural techniques, with low complication (<5 per cent) and revision rates (<2 per cent).

Dorsal preservation rhinoplasty maintains or improves nasal airway function while preserving structural integrity and reducing the need for grafting. It is a safe and effective alternative to traditional dorsal reduction techniques.

Despite the high frequency and severity of fatigue among patients with advanced cancer receiving immunotherapy, there are limited treatment options available. The aim of the study was to explore the effects of the methylphenidate (MP) with standardized physical activity (PA) on cancer related fatigue (CRF).

In this pilot study, patients with advanced cancer with clinically significant CRF (<34 on Functional Assessment of Cancer Illness Therapy – fatigue scale, FACIT-F), on anti-PD1 immunotherapy were eligible. Patients were randomized to standardized PA with either patient-controlled MP 5 mg (MP + PA arm) or matching Placebo (Pl + PA arm) twice daily for 14 days. The primary outcome was the change in the FACIT-F score. Secondary outcomes included changes in fatigue dimensions (Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form (MSFI-SF), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – General (FACT-G), Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System-Fatigue (PROMIS-F), and hospital anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Of the 40 randomized patients, 34 were evaluable. The FACIT-F scores significantly improved in both the arms with mean (SD) change, effect size (ES) of 11(14), 0.87(P < .001); and 9(12), 0.74(P = .04) in MP + PA, and Pl + PA arms respectively. We also found significant improvements in PROMIS-F, ES − 1.05(P = .003), MFSI-SF(global), ES − 1.32(P < .001), and HADS-depression, ES − 0.92(P = .004) in the MP + PA arm; There were no significant differences in adverse events between groups.

Our preliminary study found MP + PA was associated with significant improvement in CRF scores. The fatigue dimensions and depression scores significantly improved in the MP + PA arm. Further comparative studies using MP + PA for CRF are justified.

Dynamic, data-driven predictors of perioperative mortality risks in preterm/early-term neonates with CHD undergoing cardiac surgery in the first 24 months of life are limited.

To identify risk factors of mortality in the first 24 months of life for pre/early-term neonates with CHD.

Retrospective cohort study of patients <39 weeks of gestation undergoing cardiac surgery within 24 months of life from 2013–2020 at a tertiary care centre. Independent risk factors of mortality within 24 months of life were determined by multivariable Cox regression analysis.

Among the 205 neonates, 33 (16.1%) died within 24 months. Multivariable analysis revealed that high-frequency ventilation (hazard ratio = 5.15; 95% confidence interval): 2.51, 10.6; p < 0.001), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support (hazard ratio = 5.77; 95% confidence interval: 2.67, 12.5; p < 0.001), and CHD with a palliated circulation (hazard ratio = 6.07; 95% confidence interval: 2.84, 13; p < 0.001) were significant independent risk factors of mortality at any time during the index hospitalisation or the first 24 months of life.

Identifying and re-evaluating risk factors of mortality for preterm/early-term neonates with CHD at any time during the index hospitalisation or the first 24 months of life may guide resource allocation and therapeutic interventions.

Trial registration number and date of registration: IRB P00028833 5/2/2018. Retrospectively registered.

Chronic pain research studies are important for both finding new treatments and improving existing treatments for individuals with chronic pain. For clinical trials to be effective, participants need to be engaged and willing to participate in treatment groups. Our research applies the theory of planned behavior (TPB) to understand how attitudes, perceived social norms, and perceived control over intervention engagement are associated with willingness to participate in interventions for chronic low back pain (CLBP).

Adult Michigan Medicine patients were identified using electronic medical records and emailed a link to an online, cross-sectional survey. Participants who self-reported CLBP, ability to read and write in English, and consented to participate were able to complete the survey (N = 405).

The results showed more positive attitudes, positive social norms, and higher perceived behavioral control related to specific chronic low back pain interventions are associated with greater willingness to participate after controlling for demographic and pain-related characteristics.

The findings suggest that TPB constructs may be useful in guiding recruitment efforts for chronic pain intervention trials.

General Practitioners (GPs) in Australia continue to provide primary medical care for patients enrolled in specialist-led clinical trials (CTs), yet research on GPs’ experiences in this role remains limited. This study explored Australian GPs’ experiences managing CT patients and their perspectives on primary care involvement in clinical research.

This phenomenological study involved 11 semi-structured interviews with GPs in New South Wales, Australia, between July to October 2024, who previously managed patients enrolled in other non-GP subspecialist CTs. The recruitment applied purposive, snowballing and convenience sampling approaches. Interviews were transcribed, inductively coded and thematically analyzed.

Analysis revealed four themes: (i) lack of communication from CT teams, (ii) patients’ insufficient understanding about their CTs, (iii) time and resource barriers to GP involvement in CTs, (iv) varied opinions about GPs playing an active role as researchers in CTs.

This exploratory study highlighted the lack of proper communication gaps between CT teams and GPs, potentially compromising the quality of patient care. Digital health records (such as Australia’s My Health Record) could facilitate information sharing. While GPs support primary care research, barriers include limited research training, time constraints, and inadequate resources. Integrating research education into GP training and establishing practice-based research networks could enhance GP participation in CTs.

Having a child with a psychiatric diagnosis is associated with parents’ greater risk of subsequent mental disorders but no immediate change in their annual labour market metrics. This discrepancy could be explained by shorter absences from work. We examined first-time psychiatric sickness absences in parents whose children have psychiatric diagnoses.

Using several linked nationwide Finnish registers, in this cohort study we examined time to first psychiatric sickness absence in parents whose children were born in 2001–2012 (early-childhood-onset diagnoses) or 2005–2016 (late-childhood-onset diagnoses). Exposure was having a child with a psychiatric diagnosis. Follow-up started when the parent’s eldest turned 1 (early-childhood-onset diagnoses) or 5 (late-childhood-onset diagnoses) and ended at psychiatric sickness absence, emigration, 68th birthday, death, or 31 December 2020, whichever occurred first.

The 2001–2012 and 2005–2016 cohorts included 357 135 and 397 874 parents followed for 3.31 and 3.70 million person-years. Having a diagnosed child was associated with greater risk of psychiatric sickness absence in all except men whose children had substance use or psychotic disorder diagnoses. Time-varying analyses showed the greatest associations for women (HR: 4.92; 95% CI: 3.97–6.10) and men (HR: 2.48; 95% CI: 1.61–3.80) within 6 months of a child’s eating disorder diagnosis.

Parents of children with psychiatric diagnoses may be at a greater risk of a psychiatric sickness absence. Associations differed by child’s diagnosis, parent’s gender and time since diagnosis.

Although extensive research has been conducted on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global mental health, a systematic synthesis of the cross-time dynamics of suicidal ideation (SI) remains lacking. This study aims to systematically synthesise the global aggregated prevalence of SI before and after the pandemic, investigate the potential association between pandemic exposure and the SI risk through meta-regression analysis of longitudinal studies, and explore key moderating factors.

A systematic search was conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO and ProQuest databases up to August 2025. Observational studies were included if they employed cross-sectional or longitudinal designs and reported the prevalence of SI before and after the pandemic across global regions.

The analysis included 354 cross-sectional studies (N = 8,247,875) and 27 longitudinal studies. In cross-sectional studies, the pooled prevalence of SI was 13.20% [95% CI 12.06%–14.42%]. Pre-pandemic prevalence was 12.52% [95% CI 8.46%–18.14%], and post-pandemic prevalence was 13.24% [95% CI 12.07%–14.50%], with no significant difference. Meta-regression analysis identified three moderators. Specifically, larger sample sizes (n) were associated with lower prevalence (β = −0.232, P < 0.0001); higher study quality predicted lower prevalence (β = −0.278, P < 0.001); and studies on adults reported significantly lower prevalence than adolescents (β = −0.366, P < 0.05). Conversely, time progression during the pandemic, development level, geographical area, gender and measurement method did not show significant independent effects. Interaction analyses also found no significant moderating effect of economic development level or geographical area on the temporal trend of SI prevalence. Longitudinal analysis found no significant increase in prevalence from the pre-pandemic to the post-pandemic period (P = 0.101). However, a small but significant increase occurred between early and late stages within the pandemic (β = 0.265, P = 0.021). Subgroup analyses showed no significant moderation of these temporal changes.

The COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on SI was dynamic. While no significant prevalence change was found between pre- and post-pandemic periods, a significant increase occurred as the crisis progressed. This deteriorating trend was more pronounced in adolescents, identifying them as a key vulnerable group. Methodologically, findings were moderated by the measurement instrument, study quality and sample size, with evidence suggesting potential small-study effects. These findings underscore the need for robust mental health surveillance and targeted interventions for at-risk populations during prolonged public health crises.

The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024603151).