Objective In this pre-registered study, we aimed to explore the protein leverage hypothesis in a general population, by studying the relationship between habitual dietary protein intake, total energy intake, and body mass index (BMI), and whether proportion of ultra-processed food (UPF) was associated with any of these variables. Methods We used regression-based analyses to investigate […]

Advanced HIV disease (AHD), treatment interruption and viraemia remain key challenges to effectiveness of HIV programmes in South Africa. Understanding the trends of these measures and their variation across geographic regions can inform more targeted and responsive interventions. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using routine, de-identified data from TIER.Net, a national HIV electronic register. […]

Abstract Background: Ambient artificial intelligence (AI) clinical documentation tools have gained rapid adoption in healthcare to address physician burnout from documentation burden. However, current implementations primarily rely on real-time audio capture without systematically incorporating longitudinal patient data, potentially limiting documentation completeness for chronic disease management. Objective: To compare documentation completeness between ambient audio-only workflows and […]

Background MRI-derived organ and tissue volumes are powerful endophenotypes for studying complex disease, but their availability is limited by cost and throughput. We present a scalable framework that combines machine learning-based phenotypic imputation with probabilistic GWAS (POP-GWAS) to enable robust genetic discovery for imaging-derived phenotypes (IDPs). Results Using 37,589 UK Biobank MRI scans and 382 […]

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is an anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis characterized by the manifestation of asthma and eosinophilia in the early phases. Currently, it is not well understood how underlying genetic risk factors affect EGPA and its comorbidity. To address this question, we aim to identify novel genetic associations with EGPA and investigating their […]

Among patients with primary syphilis, sensitivity of TRUST was 55% (6/11) compared to darkfield microscopy (DFM) and 60% (9/15) compared to Treponema pallidum PCR. Sensitivity of RPR was 78% (38/49) and 93% (43/46), respectively. TPPA had a sensitivity of 95% (41/43) compared to DFM and 96% (43/45) compared to PCR.

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kpn) is an important cause of healthcare-associated infections (HAI). In low and middle-income countries, HAI due to Kpn disproportionally affects neonates. In this study, we investigated the genomic changes that occurred during long-term circulation of a Kpn ST39 clone, causing a disproportionate number of infections on the neonatal ward at a tertiary […]

Abstract Background: Long-COVID is a post-acute sequela of SARS-CoV-2 infection characterized by persistent, multi-system symptoms. Neurologic symptoms, such as mental fatigue, are often reported. While vaccination prior to infection is known to lessen symptom burden, its impact on mental fatigue remains unclear. Objective: Examine the association between vaccination and long-COVID-associated mental fatigue. Methods: We analyzed […]

Background: Despite established relationship between atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD), evidence on subclinical atherosclerosis and its differential associations with premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) versus late-onset coronary artery disease (LCAD) remains limited. Aims: This study aims to delve deeper into the associations between subclinical atherosclerosis and the incidence risk of both PCAD and LCAD. […]