Articles

Keratoconus is a progressive, bilateral corneal ectasia characterized by corneal thinning, steepening and scarring [1,2]. Several studies have identified risk factors for keratoconus, including genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and ocular rubbing [3]. Additionally, recent epidemiological data suggest an increased prevalence of keratoconus in populations with higher rates of obesity [4]. In Aotearoa-New Zealand, keratoconus has also been demonstrated to disproportionately affect patients of M?ori and Pacific Peoples ethnicity [5], and the rates of obesity in these ethnicities are 1.9 and 2.5 times higher than in New Zealand Europeans, respectively [6].

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in childhood [1]. Soft tissue sarcomas refer to a group of cancers that arise in connective and supporting tissues such as muscles, nerves and blood vessels [2]. Most of these tumors are located in the head and neck region, genitourinary tract, and extremities [3]. Childhood rhabdomyosarcoma accounts for approximately 3.5% of cancer cases in children aged 0-14 years, and 2% of cases among adolescents and young adults aged 15-19 years. The incidence of this malignancy is 4.5 per million children [4].

Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by retinal degeneration leading to blindness. This study investigates the therapeutic efficacy of N-Acetylcysteine (NAC), an oxygen free radical scavenger, in ameliorating retinal degeneration associated with BBS using a murine model of BBS10. BBS is caused by mutations in BBS genes, the protein products of which are involved in ciliary function; mutant or absent BBS10 protein disrupts the assembly of the BBSome protein complex, disturbing ciliary trafficking and leading to photoreceptor cell dysfunction and death.

Movement disorders may vary with the time of day and with mental state. Despite hypothalamic control of biological timing, we discuss how many cell populations throughout the brain and body, including dopaminergic nuclei, likely have time-keeping functions. We provide a “primer” of movement disorders with significant variation in time or with presentation in a state of altered consciousness. Parkinsonism illustrates our overall argument. 

The focal article provides hand surgeons with an exploration of the basic principles of spinal cord injury (SCI) as well as the role that hand therapy, nerve transfers, and tendon transfers can play in maximizing the quality of life of these patients. In this commentary, we aim to provide a comprehensive guide for physiatrists, who often meet SCI patients early in their recovery course, on the role that nerve transfer and tendon transfer can play in the treatment of SCI patients, with the aim of optimizing referral patterns between providers in order to best serve SCI patients and improve their quality of life.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that generally appears before the age of 3 but can be diagnosed at any age. It is more often in boys than girls and the prevalence is not affected by race. It impacts the normal development of the brain and affects the social interaction, communication skills and cognitive function.

Background/Aim: The relationship between Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) and oral risk habits is still uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the connection between oral risk habits and HSV status in a group of male patients from Sri Lanka who have oral fibroepithelial polyps. Materials and methods: We collected 25 fibroepithelial polyps from nine oro-maxillofacial units in six provinces of Sri Lanka. Tissue samples were taken from frozen excisional biopsies to avoid contamination and tested for HSV- DNA using a real-time PCR assay. 

Arterial stiffness and loss of recoil indicate arterial aging and arteriosclerosis, which heighten the risk of cardiovascular issues, particularly ischemic heart disease. Advances in technology, particularly coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), allow for accurate detection of coronary luminal stenosis with high image quality. Due to its noninvasive nature and high specificity and negative predictive value, CCTA is widely utilized for assessing coronary artery disease (CAD). It also facilitates the analysis of plaque characteristics and calcium levels in the coronary arteries, providing further insights into coronary risk.

Though not a mental health professional, I have benefitted from significant training in mental health first aid, and I encounter the challenges of poor mental health on a weekly, if not daily, basis in my role as a Principal (Headteacher) of an English, publicly funded, all-ability high school, a role I have held in several schools over twenty years, together with professorial roles in higher education, both at the University of Notre Dame (USA), London, and St Mary’s University, England. 

Farmers experience high levels of stress, disproportionately high rates of depression and anxiety, and have suicide rates much higher than the general population. The authors and colleagues have examined the unique characteristics of farmers (high time demands, stigma around mental health needs, lack of mental health knowledge and ability to access services) and how suicide prevention and stress management interventions must be shaped to respect farmers’ needs. 

In 2024, we published a study named “COVID-19 as a Driver of Professionalization in Work with Families in Germany". The following text is a commentary on this study. It presents key findings and the study's approach but also contextualizes further questions arising from the post-pandemic period. The article presents a comprehensive examination of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family support services in Germany.

The pathological evaluation of ovaries is a critical endpoint in reproductive toxicology assessments. Currently, there is no standardized method for the quantification of oocytes and follicles in preclinical drug safety evaluations. This study developed a simplified quantitative method based on stereological principles to efficiently assess the number of oocytes in experimental rabbits. The quantitative results obtained with this method are consistent with those from traditional counting methods.

Classification of diabetes has always been a challenge for endocrinologists, especially in young patients. Monogenic diabetes results from inheritance of one or more variants in a single gene, accounting for 1–3% of diabetes cases diagnosed within an age of 30 years. 

Cholesterol has long been recognized as a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases with traditional guidelines emphasizing the reduction of LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and the increase of HDL cholesterol to lower morbidity and mortality. However, recent studies have questioned the predictive value of these traditional cholesterol measures in coronary artery disease. The concept of the cholesterol paradox has emerged, highlighting instances where elevated LDL cholesterol or high HDL levels have an inverse relationship with cardiovascular risk, particularly in certain diseased populations.

Lyme disease, or Lyme Borreliosis, is the most prevalent tick-borne illness in the Northern Hemisphere. It is caused by bacteria in the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex, which are transmitted to humans through the bite of infected hard bodied ticks, or Ixodes ticks. Post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS) is a significant complication of Lyme disease, characterized by persistent or recurrent symptoms, such as fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and cognitive issues, which can lead to functional decline. 

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the esophagus. EoE is triggered in most patients by dietary allergens and mediated by type 2 immune responses. Over the past 3 decades, substantial progresses have been made in understanding EoE pathogenesis, management, and natural history. EoE affects children and adults, and the incidence and prevalence have increased over time. Untreated EoE can lead to severe complications including food impaction, small caliber esophagus, esophageal stricture, and esophageal perforation.

Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is the most common cause of optic nerve edema and neuropathy, involving the axons that make up the optic nerve but not including the optic nerve head (also known as posterior ischemic optic neuropathy). Anterior ischemic optic neuropathy can be further divided into arteritic (giant cell arteritis) and non-arteritic subtypes. The pathophysiology of NAION remains unclear and is currently thought to result from impaired blood flow in the posterior ciliary arteries that supply these segments of the optic nerve.

Antimicrobial resistance is a significant global issue, posing a serious threat to the effective prevention and treatment of a growing range of resistant bacterial infections. While resistance trends vary among populations, evidence shows that the prevalence of multi-drug resistance (MDR) is increasing. Infections caused by MDR organisms can lead to higher treatment costs, longer hospital stays, and increased mortality rates. Recently, there has been a rise in resistance among Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens causing both community and hospital-based infections.

A long-standing question in clinical psychology concerns the merits and drawbacks of using diagnostic labels in communication about mental illness. A frequent view is that such labels contribute to mental illness stigma, for example by fostering a categorical view of affected people as part of a distinct out-group. Previous research has found some evidence to support such claims, but results are mixed. 

Since the initial descriptions of Miller Fisher Syndrome (MFS) and Bickerstaff Brainstem Encephalitis (BBE), substantial advancements have refined our understanding of these disorders, highlighting shared features such as anti-GQ1b IgG antibodies, preceding infectious triggers, and overlapping neurophysiological findings. These commonalities support the hypothesis that MFS and BBE are not distinct entities but rather components of a unified autoimmune condition, often referred to as "Fisher-Bickerstaff syndrome."