Being a foreign correspondent in one’s life empowers and inspires one to share experiences with others in a way that provides a window into another’s life. I recently listened to a TED Talks Daily podcast titled “How to Find Creativity and Purpose in the Face of Adversity,” featuring Suleika Jaouad, the author of an Emmy Award-winning column in the New York Times, “Life, Interrupted,” and the memoir Between Two Kingdoms. The works chronicled her journey and perspective as a patient diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and her recovery. Her story impressed me. Jaouad first confronted leukemia ..read more

The following is a summary of “Targeted metabolomics profiling in pregnancy associated with vitamin D deficiency,” published in the April 2024 issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology by Li et al. Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy is a prevalent concern, yet its comprehensive impact remains incompletely understood. In this investigation, the researchers employed targeted metabolomics profiling to delve into the intricate relationship between vitamin D status and maternal metabolic profiles during pregnancy. The study encompassed 111 pregnant women, categorized into groups based on their vitamin ..read more

The following is a summary of “Native-lung complications following single-lung transplantation for interstitial lung disease: an in-depth analysis,” published in the April 2024 issue of Pulmonology by Watanabe et al. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) encompasses various lung disorders characterized by fibrotic changes in lung tissue. In regions facing severe donor shortages, single-lung transplantation (SLTx) is a pragmatic solution for advanced ILD cases. However, the long-term trajectory and complications affecting the native lung post-SLTx remain inadequately explored. This retrospective anal ..read more

The following is a summary of “Nuance and profound impact: Evaluating the effects of the unmet full coma scale in patients with mild subdural hemorrhage,” published in the March 2024 issue of Emergency Medicine by Chien, et al. Patients presenting with subdural hemorrhage (SDH) and a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 13–15 are typically categorized as having mild traumatic brain injury. For a study, researchers posit that patients without a maximum GCS score, specifically those with GCS scores of 13 and 14, may manifest poorer neurological outcomes. A retrospective analysis was conducted on SD ..read more

The following is a summary of “DataDerm: Improving trends in performance measurement,” published in the May 2024 issue of Dermatology by Fitzgerald, et al. DataDerm played a crucial role in this study. Researchers sought to examine the potential for and subsequent rate of improvement across 23 performance measures following the consolidation of Medicare’s legacy quality reporting programs into the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in 2015, utilizing data from the DataDerm registry of the American Academy of Dermatology. The study analyzed the level of performance across 23 performanc ..read more

The following is a summary of “Circulating miRNAs Detect High vs Low Visceral Adipose Tissue Inflammation in Patients Living With Obesity,” published in the March 2024 issue of Endocrinology by Makarenkov, et al. The degree of inflammation in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in obese individuals indicates obesity subtypes associated with increased cardiometabolic risk. However, direct sampling of the tissue was not feasible in non-surgical patients. For a study, researchers sought to investigate whether circulating microRNAs (circ-miRs) could serve as biomarkers to differentiate between human obe ..read more

The following is a summary of “Sex-difference in the association between social drinking, structural brain aging, and cognitive function in older individuals free of cognitive impairment,” published in the April 2024 issue of Psychiatry by Abulseoud et al. Researchers conducted a retrospective study to investigate whether there are any differences between men and women in how alcohol consumption relates to cognitive function and the brain age gap in older adults.  They collected data from 269 cognitively fit adults and assessed alcohol consumption on self-report using a food frequency que ..read more

The following is a summary of “Delayed treatment initiation of oral anticoagulants among Medicare patients with atrial fibrillation,” published in the March 2024 issue of Cardiology by Luo et al.  Delaying oral anticoagulant (OAC) treatment in atrial fibrillation (AF) conditions can lead to an increased risk of stroke, systemic embolism, or recurrent thromboembolic events. Researchers conducted a retrospective study to identify factors linked with delayed OAC treatment among patients with AF.  They used a data frame containing information on Medicare beneficiaries with newly diagnose ..read more

The following is a summary of “Calibration of Priority Points for Sensitization Status of Kidney Transplant Candidates in the United States,” published in the March 2024 issue of Nephrology by Schold et al. After 2014, the national organ allocation system underwent a serious change. Using a sliding scale, a deceased donor’s kidney was given based on sensitization (i.e., calculated panel reactive antibody percentage [CRPA%]). The change meant fairer access to transplantation for disadvantaged candidates.  Researchers started a prospective study to determine whether this new system had made ..read more

The following is a summary of “Identification of distinct subgroups of Sjögren’s disease by cluster analysis based on clinical and biological manifestations: data from the cross-sectional Paris-Saclay and the prospective ASSESS cohorts,” published in the April 2024 issue of Rheumatology by Nguyen et al. Researchers conducted a retrospective study to identify different subgroups of Sjögren’s disease through cluster analysis of subjective symptoms and clinical and biological manifestations. They then compared the prognoses of patients within these subgroups. They utilized two independent cohorts ..read more