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Evolutionary loss of an antibiotic efflux pump increases Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing mediated virulence in vivo

Prevention of functional and cognitive impairment through a multicomponent exercise program during and after hospitalization of older adults (PREDISC): Study protocol for a multicenter randomized clinical trial

Hospitalisation in older adults is frequently associated with a significant risk of functional and cognitive decline. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a multicomponent exercise program designed to prevent such declines in acutely hospitalised older adults. The intervention will be implemented across three European hospitals with the goal of enhancing the quality of life and functional independence of this vulnerable population. This study will be conducted as a multicentre, randomised controlled trial with two arms: one group will receive a multicomponent exercise program, while the control group will receive standard care. The intervention will consist of individualised sessions focusing on resistance training, balance, and aerobic exercises over four days during hospitalisation. The primary outcome will focus on functional capacity, which will be assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery. The primary outcome will be measured at baseline, discharge, and 30- and 90-days post-discharge. In addition to this primary outcome, secondary outcomes will include the Barthel Index, cognitive function assessed through the Mini-Mental State Examination, quality of life measured by the EuroQol-5D-3L, and psychological well-being evaluated using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Additional metrics will include length of hospital stay and readmission rates within 30- and 90-days post-discharge. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06634147.

Surprisingly Complex Assemblies from Low-Complexity Domains

A specific gene expression program underlies antigen archiving by lymphatic endothelial cells in mammalian lymph nodes

Study to determine the impact of seatbelt on Maxillofacial bone fractures and associated injuries in road traffic accidents in Saudi Arabia: A 10 years retrospective study

Background Every year around the world road traffic accidents (RTAs) cause 1.19 to 1.35 million deaths and 20–50 million non-fatal injuries that result in long-term disabilities and loss of potential life years (YPLL). These injuries have far-reaching consequences that extend beyond the injured person to impact both their families and their wider communities. The Middle East shows a wide range of death rates from RTAs and Saudi Arabia experiences the highest fatality rate. This study aims to identify different maxillofacial fractures and other skeletal fractures in road traffic accident victims while investigating seatbelt usage’s correlation with maxillofacial fractures and also examines demographic variables (age, gender) and crash-related factors (seating position, vehicle type) to contextualize seatbelt efficacy. The study evaluated road traffic accident cases from a retrospective record-based dataset spanning 2011–2021 during the period from January 2023 through May 15th 2023 and marked 542 records with complete details as eligible after filtering. Out of 3629 RTA records, 907 (25%) were randomly selected. Among these, 542 (65%) met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The male population comprised 76% of the 412 victims and 82.8% of the victims neglected seatbelt usage while 284 of the 542 participants experienced multiple bone fractures and 126 individuals suffered from single maxillofacial bone fractures. The mandible fracture was the most common facial bone injury with 246 cases (45.3%), followed by Lefort1 fractures which occurred 244 times (45.0%), and Zygomatic maxillary complex fractures which had 216 occurrences (39.8%). Conclusion Research results highlight the necessity for stronger public health strategies and road safety programs to improve seatbelt usage and decrease injury severity in road traffic accidents. Research findings indicate specific vehicle safety design enhancements needed to prevent facial injuries more effectively.

Digitoxin — A Reminder for Digoxin

One-shot learning for solution operators of partial differential equations

The effect of temperature and nitrogen source modulation on Pseudomonas fluorescens AQP671 ice recrystallization inhibition activity

Cold-adapted organisms have developed many different mechanisms to protect themselves from freezing temperatures. One of these mechanisms is ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) activity. IRI refers to the ability of certain proteins and compounds to prevent the growth of ice crystals during freeze–thaw processes. The IRI activity of Pseudomonas fluorescens AQP 671 culture media was evaluated in relation to various nitrogen sources, incubation temperatures and pH conditions. The highest IRI activities were achieved with amino acids L-asparagine, L-proline, or L-valine, particularly under prolonged low-temperature cultivation. A rapid increase in IRI activity was observed during the first 24 hours, in response to cold shock, correlating with cell density. The activity was detected at temperatures below 15 °C, with the highest IRI activities achieved at 5–10 °C. The optimal pH range for high IRI activity was pH 6–8, and it was negatively affected by low (2–4) and high (10–12) pH values. These findings highlight the importance of both environmental conditions and nutrient composition in the expression of IRI activity in Pseudomonas fluorescens AQP671 culture media.

Systemic Mastocytosis

The genetic diversity of Indonesian cattle has been shaped by multiple introductions and adaptive introgression

Psychometric properties of the Persian version of the hospitalized older adults’ dignity scale for measuring dignity during acute hospitalization

Background Providing dignified care is an essential aspect of high-quality nursing, and upholding patients’ dignity is emphasized in the professional standards for nurses. This research evaluated the reliability and validity of the Persian version of the Dignity of the Elderly in Acute Hospitalization Scale (HOADS-P) for assessing dignity during acute hospitalization. Methods The HOADS was translated into Persian using the forward-backward method. A panel of ten older adults and experts assessed face and content validity. Construct validity was established through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) involving 400 hospitalized older adults aged 60 years and older. Results The EFA found that the HOADS-P exhibited five latent factors, explaining 63.15% of the overall variance. Also, these factors were confirmed by CFA (CMIN = 123.872, DF = 79, p < 0.001, CMIN/DF = 1.568, RMSEA = 0.042, GFI = 0.953, CFI = 0.987, NFI = 0.966, RFI = 0.954, and PCFI = 0.743). Additionally, the HOADS-P demonstrated strong reliability, as indicated by a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (α) of 0.946. Conclusion The Persian version of the Dignity of the Elderly in Acute Hospitalization Scale (HOADS-P) is a valid and reliable tool for assessing dignity during acute hospitalization in Iranian health service centers.

Apixaban for Extended Treatment of Provoked Venous Thromboembolism

Metal-free para-selective C-H amination and azidation of N-arylhydroxylamines

Investigation of phytochemical and biochemical attributes of hypoglycemic activity of Atriplex crassifolia (C.A. Mey) extracts in alloxan diabetic animal model

Diabetes mellitus is a widespread medical and public health issue that can lead to significant health impairment. The objective of the study was to assess the antidiabetic effectiveness of various extracts of Atriplex crassifolia (A. crassifolia), namely n-hexane (ACNH), dichloromethane (ACDCM), ethyl acetate (ACEA), and n-butanol (ACNB). The initial qualitative analysis revealed the presence of bioactive components in all extracts, such as alkaloids, glycosides, phenols, flavonoids, terpenes, and saponins. ACEA and ACNB exhibited considerable radical scavenging activity at different doses, as determined by the DPPH free radical scavenging experiment used to assess in-vitro antioxidant activity. Male rats were administered 150 mg/kg of alloxan monohydrate to develop diabetes. A preliminary investigation was conducted to evaluate the potential of all extracts to lower blood glucose levels using an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at three different doses (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg/day). ACEA and ACNB exhibited promising results in the OGTT, thus prompting a 28-day hypoglycemic research to confirm their biological effectiveness in treating diabetes. When taken orally, ACEA at doses of 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day, and ACNB at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg/day, effectively recovered the concentrations of urea, creatinine, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and liver enzymes (AST, ALT, and ALP). The histopathological evidence corroborated the conclusions. HPLC and GC-MS were employed to identify the presence of medically important phytoconstituents in ACEA and ACNB. Myrecitin and Quercitin were found using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) in ACEA, while sinapic acid was identified in ACNB. The GC-MS analyses of ACEA and ACNB revealed the presence of several compounds with hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and anti-diabetic properties. The present study suggests that A. crassifolia has potential as a natural remedy for managing hyperglycemia, diabetic hyperlipidemia, and other diabetes-related problems.

From Health to Wealth — Reframing Global Aid through the Gates Foundation’s Final Chapter

Localized mass transport channels for electro-upgrade of dilute CO2 toward high-yield C2+ products

Obstructive airway disorders affecting individuals with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: A database review

Rationale and objective Dyspnea is a common symptom with varied causes. Pulmonary vascular involvement in Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) includes pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) and pulmonary hypertension (PH), both which can result in dyspnea. Additionally, dyspnea is a common symptom in individuals with obstructive airway disorders (OADs) such as asthma, bronchiectasis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These respiratory conditions are not mutually exclusive, individuals with HHT can have pulmonary vascular involvement and a concomitant OAD. However, the likelihood of this co-occurrence is not currently known. We aimed to determine the prevalence of co-occurrence to improve patient diagnosis and management. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional review of individuals seen in the Edmonton HHT Center as of July 2023 with a definite diagnosis of HHT to assess the proportion of patients with a concomitant OAD (asthma, bronchiectasis, or COPD). Results 132 patient charts were included. 55.3% had at least one identified PAVM and 28.0% had a documented OAD (asthma = 15.9%, COPD = 10.6%, Bronchiectasis = 2.3%). More importantly, 18.9% of individuals had both an OAD and a PAVM. Conclusions Dyspnea as a symptom of OADs requires specialized assessment and management. PAVMs in HHT also require specialized care, but involve different treatment approaches. It is important to identify individuals who have both HHT and an OAD to improve management which takes both OADs and pulmonary vascular disorders into account when assessing HHT patients with dyspnea. Early recognition creates better precision health and more effective care of individuals with HHT and dyspnea.

Dr. Kolhouse and the Cowboy

Universities under fire must harness more of the financial value they create

Structural assessment of family and educational influences on student health behaviours: Insights from a public health perspective

The 2024 World Health Organization report reveals that 81% of adolescents worldwide fail to meet the recommended level of physical activity, highlighting a serious global public health challenge. This study approaches the issue from a public health perspective by focusing on the structural determinants of health behavior among university students. Although student health behaviors are shaped by both individual and structural factors, existing research has predominantly emphasized individual-level influences, overlooking the broader educational and systemic context. Employing a structural analysis framework, this study mapped the causal and hierarchical relationships among factors influencing student health behaviors. Data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to undergraduate and postgraduate students in Hunan Province, China. The model identifies family support as the foundational layer in the hierarchy, exerting significant influence on psychological well-being and health motivation, which in turn regulate physical activity and dietary choices. The findings underscore the critical mediating role of educational environments in amplifying the effects of family structures. Based on these insights, this study advocates for the integration of family resources into school-based health promotion interventions, such as digital platforms for parent–student communication, joint family–university health workshops, and collaborative educational health campaigns. Embedding family-oriented strategies into formal education systems may enable universities to enhance student physical and mental well-being in a more integrated and sustainable manner within a public health framework.