University of Health Sciences Antigua

Acute exercise-related changes in hematological parameters and lymphocyte subsets before and after short‑term rapid weight loss in national‑level wrestlers: a pilot study

Abstract Background Rapid weight loss (RWL) is commonly used by wrestlers to qualify for lower weight categories, but the combined effects of RWL and intense exercise on circulating immune cell profiles, particularly lymphocyte subsets, remain incompletely characterized. This stu...

Cytomorphological clues and progression potential according to high-risk human papillomavirus types in low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions: An observational study

Background: Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs) are frequently associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infections; however, the cytomorphological differences among high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) genotypes remain underexplored. In this retrospective study, we aimed to as...

Follicular-Fluid Organic Acid Profiling in Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome, Poor Responders, and Controls

Follicular-fluid (FF) organic acid concentrations may differ among women with normal ovarian reserve (NOR), polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), and poor ovarian response (POR), reflecting alterations in central carbon and amino-acid-related metabolic pathways. PMOS a...

Effect of Sodium–Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitor Use on Bowel Preparation Quality in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Undergoing Colonoscopy: A Prospective Comparative Observational Study

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an independent risk factor for inadequate bowel preparation. Sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors promote osmotic diuresis and natriuresis and might therefore impair preparation quality during the fluid-restricted, fasting state of...

The relationship between parents’ child-rearing attitudes and adolescents’ self-perception

Adolescence is a critical phase for personality development. Although numerous factors influence adolescent development, parenting styles and practices are also recognised to significantly impact healthy development. Thus, the main problem of this study is to determine whether th...

The readability and quality paradox: Comparing ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity outputs on pediatric chest pain queries

Pediatric chest pain represents a frequently encountered symptom in emergency departments and outpatient clinics throughout childhood, often generating substantial parental anxiety. This study aims to comparatively analyze the readability, information quality, and scientific reli...

Real-world outcomes of children with first relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated according to the ALL-IC REL 2016 guideline in Türkiye

Relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remains a major challenge in pediatric oncology, particularly where access to modern immunotherapies is limited. This national multicenter study evaluated real-world outcomes of children with first relapsed ALL treated according to the...

Near-complete circumferential intramural bladder gas in emphysematous cystitis: a case report

Abstract Background Emphysematous cystitis is a gas-forming infection of the urinary bladder characterized by intramural and occasionally intraluminal gas. Although diabetes mellitus is a common predisposing condition, the disease may also develop in association with urinary stas...

Dynamic Changes in Serum Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin for Discrimination of Creatinine-Defined Acute Kidney Injury After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study

Background/Objectives: Acute kidney injury (AKI) may occur after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) as a result of obesity-related renal vulnerability, pneumoperitoneum-induced changes in renal perfusion, and perioperative hemodynamic stress. Serum creatinine remains the stand...

Effects of vasopressor dose on microcirculation despite preserved macrohemodynamic targets in septic shock: a prospective observational study

Background Septic shock may be complicated by hemodynamic incoherence, in which macrohemodynamic targets are achieved despite persistent microcirculatory alterations. Whether norepinephrine requirement is associated with dynamic microvascular reactivity after initial resuscitatio...

Longitudinal Assessment of Diastolic Function and Myocardial Strain in Type 2 Diabetes: A Comparison of Empagliflozin and Linagliptin

OBJECTIVE: The cardiovascular effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors have attracted increasing interest in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to compare the time-dependent effects of empagliflozin and linag...

Mid-Term Outcomes of the Ozaki Procedure: A Single-Center Experience

BACKGROUND: To assess the midterm clinical and echocardiographic outcomes of the Ozaki (aortic valve neocuspidization (AVNeo)) procedure performed at a single center. METHODS: A total of 258 patients who underwent the AVNeo procedure between February 2019 and February 2025 were r...

Evaluation of the pSOFA Score in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Its Discriminative Performance Compared with PRISM 4 and PIM 3

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the performance of the age-adapted Pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (pSOFA) score, as a predictor of mortality in patients admitted to pediatric intensive care units (PICUs), and to compare it with the Pediatric Risk of Mortality 4 (P...

Incremental Anatomical Value of CT Angiography Beyond Echocardiography in the Preoperative Assessment of Pediatric Conotruncal Anomalies: A Surgical Correlation Study

Background: Conotruncal anomalies frequently involve extracardiac vascular structures that are critical for surgical planning yet incompletely assessed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). We evaluated the incremental diagnostic value of CT angiography (CTA) beyond TTE using...

Clinical Outcomes in Initial Hirudotherapy versus Standard Treatment in Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis: A Comparative Cohort Study

Objective: Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by a high risk of recurrence and fistula formation. Spontaneous remission has been reported in up to 50% of cases, particularly in mild forms, within 6-24 months without interventio...

Depression, anxiety and stress symptoms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome with and without fertility treatment and in non-PCOS controls: a cross-sectional comparative study

Abstract Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder of reproductive-aged women that has been linked to psychological difficulties such as depressive and anxiety symptoms. We compared Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) scores between women...

Prognostic markers in pulmonary embolism: from risk scores to clinical outcomes

Abstract Background Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially fatal cardiopulmonary emergency with unpredictable outcomes. Accurate risk stratification is critical for guiding intensive care unit (ICU) admission, optimizing resources, and improving prognosis. Clinical scores such...

Diagnostic concordance of remote WSI-based thyroid cytology compared to conventional cytological diagnosis: a pilot study

Abstract Background Whole slide imaging (WSI) has emerged as a key component of digital pathology, enabling remote diagnostics and standardized evaluation. However, its diagnostic concordance in thyroid cytopathology, particularly under real-world conditions, remains insufficient...

Machine Learning and MILP for Capacity Optimization and Educational Workload in Academic Endodontics

ABSTRACT Objectives Appointment scheduling in endodontic clinics is challenging due to heterogeneous treatment durations and varying practitioner competencies. Conventional scheduling methods frequently overlook these complexities, leading to underutilized unit capacity, extended...

Association of Monocyte Subsets with Carotid Artery Stenosis Severity

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between circulating monocyte subset profiles and carotid artery stenosis (CAS) severity and to examine their relationships with inflammatory and atherosclerosis-related parameters. Materials and Methods: T...