Dictyota cyanoloma (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae), a Newly Introduced Brown Algal Species in California.

Here, we report for the first time the presence of Dictyota cyanoloma in southern California. Dictyota cyanoloma is conspicuous in harbors and bays by its distinctive bright blue-iridescent margins. This species was originally described from Europe, but subsequent studies have revealed that it represented an introduction from Australia. The current distribution of D. cyanoloma comprises southern Australia and the North East Atlantic, including the Mediterranean Sea and the Macaronesian islands. The presence of D. cyanoloma in southern California is supported by molecular cox1 and psbA gene sequences. A reconstruction of the invasive history based on nine polymorphic microsatellite markers reveals a close affinity of the Californian specimens with European populations. Dictyota cyanoloma in the United States appears to be (so far) restricted to the Californian coast from San Diego Bay in the south to Santa Catalina Island and Long Beach Harbor in the north. A correlative species distribution model suggests gradually declining habitat suitability north of the Southern Californian Bight and high suitability in Baja California, including the Gulf of California. Finally, its widespread abundance in bays and harbors suggests shipping is a likely transport mechanism.

Population adjusted-indirect comparisons in health technology assessment: A methodological systematic review.

In health technology assessment (HTA), population-adjusted indirect comparisons (PAICs) are increasingly considered to adjust for the difference in the target population between studies. We aim to assess the conduct and reporting of PAICs in recent HTA practice, by performing, a methodological systematic review of studies implementing PAICs from PubMed, EMBASE Classic, Embase/Ovid Medline All, and Cochrane databases from January 1, 2010 to Feb 13, 2023. Four independent researchers screened the titles, abstracts, and full-texts of the identified records, then extracted data on methodological and reporting characteristics of 106 eligible articles. Most PAIC analyses (96.9%, n = 157) were conducted by (or received funding from) pharmaceutical companies. Prior to adjustment, 44.5% of analyses (n = 72) (partially) aligned the eligibility criteria of different studies to enhance the similarity of their target populations. In 37.0% of analyses (n = 60), the clinical and methodological heterogeneity across studies were extensively assessed. In 9.3% of analyses (n = 15), the quality (or bias) of individual studies was evaluated. Among 18 analyses using methods that required an outcome model specification, results of the model fitting procedure were adequately reported in three analyses (16.7%). These findings suggest that the conduct and reporting of PAICs are remarkably heterogeneous and suboptimal in current practice. More recommendations and guidelines on PAICs are thus warranted to enhance the quality of these analyses in the future.

Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine and Its Role in Psychiatry.

This paper reviews the current literature to examine what elements of osteopathic medicine can be used in psychiatry. The aim of this study was to use the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to conduct a systematic review of studies describing the efficacy of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) in treating psychiatric problems directly and indirectly. The authors searched the databases PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), reviewing peer-reviewed articles from 1980 to April 2023. The literature demonstrates that OMM has a positive effect on psychiatric symptoms indirectly when treating certain medical conditions, such as chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome; however, there are many limitations on these studies, and further research is required prior to making firm recommendations. The evidence is lacking for osteopathic manual medicine being used directly to treat psychiatric conditions. This review demonstrates that in some populations, such as individuals with chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome, OMM could be considered by an osteopathic psychiatrist as an adjunct treatment. More research should be conducted in this area due to the many limitations in the available studies but current research suggests that the use of OMM by osteopathic psychiatrists could be beneficial for some patient populations.

A High Incidence of Intussusception Revealed by a Retrospective Hospital-Based Study in Nha Trang, Vietnam between 2009 and 2011.

Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrhea among children worldwide. Thus, the World Health Organization recommended including rotavirus vaccines in national immunization programs. One concern about rotavirus vaccine, however, is a possible association with intussusception. Thus, it is crucial to know the baseline incidence of intussusception in the first year of life. A study conducted in Hanoi, Vietnam showed that the incidence of intussusception was the highest in the world. This retrospective cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the incidence of intussusception among children <5 years of age in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Hospital charts between 2009 and 2011 were reviewed in Khanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital where virtually all cases of intussusception occurring in the city were assumed to have been encountered. The incidence of intussusception among children <1 year of age was 296 per 100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI]: 225-382), and that among children <5 years of age was 196 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI: 169-226), confirming the high incidence of intussusception in Vietnam. Nevertheless, there was no intussusception in the first three months of life. We therefore recommend that the first dose of any rotavirus vaccine be administered to infants between 6 and 12 weeks of age.