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Efficacy of the power centering for seniors intervention on physical functional performance in older community-dwelling adults: a secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial
Categorized and individualized behavioral phenotyping approaches for control and triple-hit schizophrenia-like model rats in acute and chronic reward-based systems: A pilot study
A wide variety of acute test procedures are used for the behavioral characterization of schizophrenia rodent models, but prolonged observation in home-cage systems remains underexplored. This study aimed to profile the behavior of control (Wistar) and triple-hit schizophrenia-like (Wisket) model rats under two reward-based test conditions: the acute Ambitus test, a simple reward-collection task, and the delay-discounting paradigm in the HomeManner system, designed for extended observation periods. Wisket rats exhibited significant behavioral impairments compared to Wistar rats in the Ambitus test. However, in the HomeManner system, no significant group differences were observed at the cohort level due to heterogeneous individual behavioral patterns. Specifically, only half of the rats explored both food-providing trays, while others focused on one or ignored both. Subgroup analysis, based on tray activity patterns, revealed that Wisket rats displayed impaired cognitive processes and greater intolerance to delayed food rewards. Furthermore, personalized analysis indicated lower behavioral variability within the Wisket group compared to controls. The absence of a strong correlation between performance in the Ambitus and HomeManner tests suggests that these assessments capture distinct behavioral characteristics. This pilot study provides an extended behavioral phenotyping of rat substrains under both acute and chronic conditions. The automated HomeManner system demonstrates potential as a valuable tool for prolonged behavioral assessments. Importantly, this study underscores the value of categorized and personalized analyses in revealing behavioral differences that may not be apparent in group-level comparisons, thereby enhancing the translational relevance of preclinical research.
Protection from biological hazards at work arrives at last
Straightlining prevalence across domains of social media use and impact on internal consistency and mental health associations in the LifeOnSoMe study
Abstract Straightlining (uniform responses across items), poses a risk in surveys. Among adolescents, previous studies have investigated the prevalence and impact of straightlining in shorter questionnaires within larger surveys. A typical finding is that straightlining is more common among younger respondents, and particularly among boys. A better understanding of straightlining is important for improving data quality. The present study aims to estimate the prevalence of straightlining among adolescents filling out a survey covering different aspects of social media use across 64 items. Additionally, it seeks to assess the impact of straightlining on internal consistency and the associations between six domains of social media use and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Data from the «LifeOnSoMe»-study (N = 3,285), collected from adolescents (aged 16+) in Bergen, Norway. Descriptive and inferential statistics. In total, 5.4% of participants were straightliners, (8.6% of the boys vs. 2.9% of the girls (p < 0.001)). There were no differences in age between straightliners and the remainder of the sample. Overall, the prevalence and impact of straightlining was limited in the present sample. However, there were large discrepancies in terms of both internal consistency, correlations between domains of social media use, and associations with symptoms of anxiety and depression between straightliners and the remainder of the sample. Straightlining behavior had minimal effects on this sample’s analytical epidemiological conclusions. While boys were more prone to straightlining than girls, overall prevalence was low. However, significant discrepancies between straightliners and other respondents suggest potential risks in samples with higher straightlining prevalence.
Behavioral risk factors in oncology patients: A matched case control study from Yemen
Background Cancer is a significant public health challenge globally, marked by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that can lead to severe morbidity and mortality. Modifiable lifestyle factors significantly influence cancer risk. The study aimed to investigate the behavioral risk factors of cancer among Yemeni adults, highlighting the critical need for targeted prevention strategies. Methods A matched case-control study design was used. It carried out at the National Center of Oncology in Sana’a, Yemen, and the largest referral center for cancer patients in Yemen. The study included 680 participants, consisting of 340 newly diagnosed cancer cases and 340 matched controls. Controls matched cases on age, sex, and place of resident. All subjects volunteered to participate and were personally interviewed using a structured questionnaire that covered socio-demographic, behaviors and dietary intake data. Crude odd ratios (COR) and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were estimated using conditional logistic regression and the level of significance was set at p-value < 0.05. Results Our analysis found that those who have any family member with a history of cancer (AOR = 2.84; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.59–5.06), consuming bread or food made from white flour more than once a day (AOR = 2.21; 95% CI: 1.03–4.73), frequently consuming animal oil three to seven times per week (AOR = 3.43; 95% CI: 1.76–6.70), and consuming soft drinks three to seven times per week (AOR = 2.08; 95% CI: 1.08–4.01) were at higher risk of cancer. However, those who had no formal work but supporting family activities (AOR = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.15–0.79), consuming fruit frequently during its seasons (AOR = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.09–0.67), consuming coffee three to seven times (AOR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.21–0.62) or one to two times per week (AOR = 0.44; 95% CI: 0.23–0.81) were less likely to have cancer. Additionally, no significant differences found between cases and controls regarding education level, smoking, chewing shamma, and frequent consumption of other food and beverages. Conclusion Frequent consumption of bread or products made from white flour, animal fats, and soft drinks were statistically associated with cancer. On the contrary, moderate coffee consumption and frequent intake of seasonal fruits showed to be protected from cancer. Additionally, a family history of cancer was identified as a significant risk factor for developing the disease. To mitigate cancer risk in Yemen, implementing health education campaigns through media to promote awareness of these dietary influences are needed. Additionally, community initiatives should encourage healthier eating habits, emphasizing the importance of fresh fruits and moderate consumption of coffee, and reducing the intake of food made from white flour, animal fat and sugary beverages.
Scientists can help stop a slide to nuclear war — don’t shut them out again
Troponin, NT-proBNP and postoperative atrial fibrillation in a prospective cohort undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery
Abstract Troponin and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are biomarkers of cardiac damage and myocyte stretch. The existing evidence on the predictive value of preoperative high-sensitive Troponin and NT-proBNP concentration for the onset of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is inconsistent. Therefore, we aimed to assess these biomarkers as predictors for POAF in a prospective observational cohort study of patients without atrial fibrillation undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). We analysed 423 patients with a median age of 66.3 years, 15.1% were women. About a third of these patients (N = 135, 32.4%) developed POAF. The median concentration of (25th, 75th percentile) high-sensitive Troponin at baseline was 11.8 (5.6, 42.7) ng/l in the POAF group and 11.4 (5.2, 37.0) ng/l in the group without POAF, median NT-proBNP was 255 (131, 621) ng/l in the POAF group and 184 (91, 497) in the group without POAF. In uni- and multivariable analyses neither biomarker showed statistically significant associations with POAF. These findings add further neutral data to the inconsistent results found in the current literature and mandate the search for better clinical or biomarker information to assess the risk of this common complication of CABG surgery.
Barriers to access to care in the implementation of telemedicine in public hospitals in Southern Ethiopia: A phenomenological qualitative study
Background Technological advancement has had a beneficial impact on enhancing healthcare globally. The adoption of telemedicine is a crucial component of digital health, but various obstacles have impeded its adoption in developing nations like Ethiopia. Hence, identifying these influencing factors will aid in fostering its implementation in Ethiopia. Objective To explore challenges in the implementation of telemedicine in public hospitals in southern Ethiopia. Methods This study employed a phenomenological qualitative research design and twelve healthcare professionals and six patients were purposively chosen from sixteen public hospitals in Southern Ethiopia to explore the influencing factors of the implementation of telemedicine. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews and field notes between September 10 and October 10, 2024. The data analysis was conducted using OpenCode 4.02 software, and a content thematic analysis was executed following Colaizzi’s 7-step method. Results During this study, four themes emerged, encompassing eighteen subthemes of challenges to care faced by healthcare professionals and patients during the implementation of telemedicine. These themes were administrative and managerial-related challenges, healthcare professionals-related challenges, patient-related challenges, and technology-related challenges. The most commonly raised subthemes were language and cultural barriers, adaptability, and complexity, privacy and cybersecurity, a lack of clear policies and an implementation climate, a lack of necessary resources, a lack of experience and skills, inadequate knowledge and unfavorable attitudes, poor awareness and understanding of technologies, and the high cost of devices and services. Conclusion and recommendations Healthcare professionals and patients in public hospitals in southern Ethiopia encountered challenges related to technology use, patient-related challenges, management and administrative obstacles, and issues unique to healthcare workers. These considerations shed more light on the unique challenges that healthcare providers and patients face while implementing telemedicine.
Neuronavigation accuracy of the VOSTARS wearable AR platform vs traditional infrared navigation in a comparative study
Pre-training heart rate variability as a predictor of Air Force Academy completion
Introduction Operational pilots are required to perform complex tasks under high stress and uncertainty. One of the major challenges of aviation medicine is the selection of suitable candidates to serve as pilots. The vagal nerve is a crucial moderator of stress responses, and its activity (indexed by heart rate variability, HRV) reflects psycho-physiological resilience and has been shown to predict performance in various settings. However, its predictive value in pilot training has not been examined. This study examined the relationship between HRV and success in an intensive and long pilot course. Methods In a historical prospective study, we derived an HRV parameter (RMSSD) from a 10-second ECG of 169 male and 16 female candidates attending a 3-year pilots’ course. The ECGs were performed 2–3 months before the courses. The predictive validity of other routinely obtained measures was also considered. Data were analyzed in two ways. First, we analyzed the entire sample using t-tests. Then, significant predictors of success and HRV were entered in a multivariate logistic regression. Second, we focused on a smaller sample of paired candidates (passed vs. failed), matched on significant predictors, and then examined differences in HRV between these groups using a paired t-test. Results High RMSSD significantly predicted the completion of the pilot course in a multivariate logistic regression. RMSSD and the selection test formula score were the only significant predictors. In the paired matched sample, candidates who passed the course had significantly higher initial HRV (M = 121.30ms) compared to those who failed (M = 84.31ms; t(25)= 1.78, p < 0.05). Conclusion The current study supports the predictive value of HRV for aviation selection. Given the high cost of training operational pilots and the physical and mental burdens they undergo, improved accuracy of the selection processes may be crucial.
How I’m electrifying transportation in Tanzania
Gut microbiota maturation and early behavioral and cognitive development
In-depth insight into the short-term effect of floor management practice on young apple trees development and soil microbial biodiversity and activity
Living mulches can be considered a practice providing multi-level benefits and several ecosystem services in orchards. Two multifunctional living mulches (Mix1 – Trifolium repens (20%) and Festuca ovina (80%), Mix2 – a mixture of 10 different species suitable as flowering strip) sown during the establishment of an apple orchard, were evaluated in relation to the impact on the soil nutrient content and bacterial microbiome, as well as the growth and yield potential of the apple trees. Notwithstanding the increase of N-nitrate and N-ammonia forms induced in the soil, both living mulches mixtures limited the growth and yield potential of the apple trees during the first two growing seasons. The two mixtures induced divergent effects on the biodiversity, activity and metabolic potential of the soil bacterial microbiome, not always increasing them compared to natural cover (control). Such effects could be related to modifications that both mixtures induced in the bacterial community capacity of metabolizing some classes of C-sources compared to control. This was particularly evident for Mix2 and in summer, when all classes of C-sources utilised by the bacterial community for its metabolism resulted to be significantly more exploited than in other seasons. In conclusion, the impact of very diverse living mulch mixtures on the growth, yield potential and overall nutrient status of the young apple trees could be related to modification of the tree physiological status, indirectly derived from the modifications observed on the soil bacterial communities’ composition and metabolic capacity during the whole vegetative season. These results could provide hints for the correct soil management of the orchard to foster the exploitation of soil microbiome suitable for the apple trees development and production.
NSPLformer: exploration of non-stationary progressively learning model for time series prediction
Interventions to improve cognitive performance in chronic kidney disease: A scoping review
Rationale & objective Cognitive impairment is commonly associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD. A number of intervention approaches have the potential to improve cognitive performance in CKD. Our objective was to characterize interventions studied to improve cognitive performance for adults with CKD across all categories of severity, including kidney failure. Study design Scoping review following JBI methodology. Setting and study populations Adults (≥18 years) with CKD or kidney failure. Selection criteria for studies We searched 5 electronic databases for studies published up to April 5, 2024. Eligible sources were primary research studies that investigated any intervention targeting cognition in adults (≥18 years) with CKD or kidney failure. Full-text article screening was performed in duplicate. Data extraction Characteristics of interventions, populations studied, and outcomes investigated. Analytical approach Descriptive statistics and narrative syntheses. Results Seventy-one studies were included. Over half (n = 37, 52%) were conducted within the past five years, and most studies (n = 47, 66%) targeted people on maintenance hemodialysis therapy. Just over one-third of studies investigated pharmacological interventions, with much of the pharmacological or medical research focusing on anemia management or dialysis adequacy. Although recent research has expanded in focus, many other purported mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction in CKD remain understudied in interventional research. Exercise training (n = 14) was the most common nonpharmacological approach studied, but few studies have explored other promising nonpharmacological approaches such as cognitive rehabilitation interventions. Limitations Abstract screening not performed in duplicate; non-English studies excluded. Conclusion Research into cognitive interventions for people with kidney disease has primarily focused on the hemodialysis population and investigated erythropoietin stimulating agents, frequent or prolonged dialysis, and exercise, although there has been recent growth of research activity into other interventions. Future research should aim to address a broader range of purported pathophysiological mechanisms of cognitive impairment in CKD, investigate interventions for predialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients, and explore the impacts of established cognitive rehabilitation approaches.
Spatial transcriptomics reveals human cortical layer and area specification
Abstract The human cerebral cortex is composed of six layers and dozens of areas that are molecularly and structurally distinct1–4. Although single-cell transcriptomic studies have advanced the molecular characterization of human cortical development, a substantial gap exists owing to the loss of spatial context during cell dissociation5–8. Here we used multiplexed error-robust fluorescence in situ hybridization (MERFISH)9, augmented with deep-learning-based nucleus segmentation, to examine the molecular, cellular and cytoarchitectural development of the human fetal cortex with spatially resolved single-cell resolution. Our extensive spatial atlas, encompassing more than 18 million single cells, spans eight cortical areas across seven developmental time points. We uncovered the early establishment of the six-layer structure, identifiable by the laminar distribution of excitatory neuron subtypes, 3 months before the emergence of cytoarchitectural layers. Notably, we discovered two distinct modes of cortical areal specification during mid-gestation: (1) a continuous, gradual transition observed across most cortical areas along the anterior–posterior axis and (2) a discrete, abrupt boundary specifically identified between the primary (V1) and secondary (V2) visual cortices as early as gestational week 20. This sharp binary transition in V1–V2 neuronal subtypes challenges the notion that mid-gestation cortical arealization involves only gradient-like transitions6,10. Furthermore, integrating single-nucleus RNA sequencing with MERFISH revealed an early upregulation of synaptogenesis in V1-specific layer 4 neurons. Collectively, our findings underscore the crucial role of spatial relationships in determining the molecular specification of cortical layers and areas. This study establishes a spatially resolved single-cell analysis paradigm and paves the way for the construction of a comprehensive developmental atlas of the human brain.
Investigating the correlation between IDO1/PD-L1 expression or co-expression and EGFR/KRAS gene mutations in advanced NSCLC
Ghrelin improves small intestinal barrier damage in sepsis by promoting miR-143/ATG2B-mediated autophagy
Intestinal barrier damage is crucial for the development of sepsis. Ghrelin (GHS) can restore intestinal barrier function. However, the mechanisms of GHS on intestinal barrier damage in sepsis remain unclear. We aimed to explore the mechanisms of GHS against intestinal barrier damage in sepsis. Septic models were established by cecal ligation and puncture surgery for rats and lipopolysaccharides exposure for IEC-6 cells. Furthermore, these septic models were overexpressed miR-143 and treated with GHS. In vivo, small intestinal pathological injury and D-lactic acid level were detected. Tight junction protein (Claudin-1, Occludin and ZO-1) expressions and autophagosome number were evaluated. In vitro, cell viability, autolysosome number, and relationship between miR-143 and ATG2B were determined. miR-143, ATG2B and autophagy-related protein (Beclin-1, p62 and LC3I/LC3II) levels were evaluated in rats and cells. GHS mitigated small intestinal pathological injury and decreased D-lactic acid level for septic rats. Additionally, GHS elevated tight junction protein expressions, ATG2B, Beclin-1 and LC3I/LC3II levels, and autophagosome number, but reduced miR-143 and p62 levels for septic rats. However, miR-143 overexpression presented the opposite results. Consistently, cellular experiments found that GHS increased cell viability, autolysosome number, and presented similar results for miR-143, ATG2B and autophagy-related protein levels for lipopolysaccharides-exposed cells. Additionally, ATG2B directly targeted miR-143 in IEC-6 cells. Both animal and cellular experiments found the effects of GHS on sepsis-induced small intestinal barrier damage were reversed by miR-143 overexpression. GHS may improve small intestinal barrier damage in sepsis through miR-143/ATG2B-mediated autophagy, indicating miR-143/ATG2B was an underlying therapeutic target for sepsis.