Browse Articles

Drivers of Lassa fever in an endemic area of southwestern Nigeria (2017–2021): An epidemiological study

Background Reporting two million human Lassa fever (LF) cases with around 10,000 associated annual mortality, the West African sub-region is endemic for Lassa fever virus (LASV). The true incidence of LF is difficult to determine because most LASV-infected individuals show no differentiating clinical signs and symptoms. We investigated the distribution of cases, post-hospitalization survival patterns, and evaluated factors contributing to infection and clinical course of the disease during an outbreak of LF in Ondo State, Nigeria, from 2017 to 2021. Methods We extracted LF data from the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response weekly report of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control for 2017–2021. Kaplan-Meier estimate was used to describe the probability of survival among the LF cases. Also, a univariable binary logistic regression was used to explore factors associated with mortality among the study participants. Key informant was interviewed and environmental assessments were also done. Results LASV infection was confirmed in 1,115 (24.5%) of 4,551 cases with clinical signs suggestive of LF (age 35.24 ± 20.77) and case fatality rate of 25.5%. Hospitalized patients who did not recover within 17 days had less than 50% chance of survival. Age is a strong predictor of survival; hospitalized patients >40 years were significantly more likely than younger ones to experience mortality (Odds ratio:2.46; 95% CI = 1.67–3.62; p < 0.01). Similarly, male patients were significantly less likely than the females to survive beyond 10 days of hospitalization. Open sun drying of food items and congested urban residential settings with history of frequent rat sightings are possible factors for the increase of LF cases in the study area. Conclusion Current case definition in Ondo State identified close to 25% of laboratory confirmed LASV infection. Human activities during the dry season (October–March) are associated with increased LF cases. We propose a One Health disease surveillance approach that synchronizes farming activities with educational campaigns as a mitigation strategy against LASV infection and mortality in Nigeria.

Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies improve biodistribution of intravenously administered oncolytic adenovirus in human CD46-transgenic mice

Oncolytic viruses are a unique modality with multifaceted mechanisms of action for killing cancer cells and have been developed as a promising therapeutic approach in cancer treatment. The first-in-class agent, talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC), has shown clinical benefit in patients with advanced melanoma. However, intratumoral administration of oncolytic viruses has several limitations which prevent use against a broader range of cancer types. Here, we propose a novel treatment strategy consisting of the intravenous administration of a genetically engineered oncolytic adenovirus type 11 (Ad11) mixed with anti-Ad11 neutralizing monoclonal antibodies. Ad11, which has minimum binding affinity to human erythrocytes, was modified to selectively replicate in cancer cells. New anti-Ad11 antibody clones were generated which inhibit binding between Ad11 fibers and their natural receptor, CD46. The neutralizing antibodies suppressed viral accumulation in the lungs by about 10-fold in human CD46-transgenic mice without loss of infectivity to cancer cells. Our findings are important in ensuring safe and efficient virus delivery following intravenous administration in humans and may expand treatment options.

Treatment and control of blood pressure in Welsh patients with and without depression: A study of whole-population electronic health records

Background To explore differences in blood pressure treatment and control in patients with and without depression and a diagnosis of hypertension (HTN). Also to examine the possible impact of sex, socio-economic status (deprivation) and location of residence on any differences. Methods A retrospective observational cohort study (2010–2019) using individual level linked anonymised routinely-collected electronic health record (EHR) data sources was carried out. Patients with a prior or new diagnosis of hypertension, with and without depression were included. Outcome variables were prescription of antihypertensive therapy (AHT) within one year of entering the study for prior HTN or post for new HTN and documentation of blood pressure <140/90 mmHg. Logistic regression was used to explore the association between depression and outcome variables adjusting for sex, age group, deprivation, location of residence and other risk factors. Results Depression was associated with higher likelihood of AHT prescription in both prior (OR 1.71 95%CI 1.64–1.78 p < 0.001) and new HTN patients (OR 2.67 95%CI 2.38–3.00 p < 0.001). Similarly, depression was associated with successful blood pressure control in both prior (OR 1.42 95%CI 1.37–1.46 p < 0.001) and new HTN (OR 1.23 95%CI 1.08–1.40 p < 0.001). Females were less likely to be prescribed AHT than males, mainly driven by non-depressed females in both HTN groups. Depressed females were the most likely to have controlled blood pressure in both HTN groups. Conclusion Patients with depression are more likely to be prescribed AHT and have documented blood pressure control. Sex differences existed in treatment and control, indicating opportunities for potential improvements in these areas.

Major adverse cardiac events with haloperidol: A meta-analysis

Background Haloperidol is a commonly used antipsychotic drug and a frequent source of medication safety alerts because of its listing as a “known risk” QT interval-prolonging medication (QTPmed). We aimed to summarize the high-quality literature on the frequency and nature of proarrhythmic major adverse cardiac events (MACE) associated with haloperidol. Methods We searched Medline, Embase, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and Cochrane Central for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving patients 18 years or older comparing haloperidol to placebo. The FDA-adapted MACE composite included death, non-fatal cardiac arrest, ventricular tachyarrhythmia including torsades de pointes, and seizure or syncope. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed with a treatment-arm continuity correction for single and double zero event studies. Results 84 RCTs (n = 12180, 46% female), 23.8% of trials reported mean or median ages of their participants to be older than 65 years with 37 (44.0%) involving participants with psychiatric diagnoses, and 50 (59.5%) including electrocardiograms. Median follow-up duration was 28.0 days (interquartile range [IQR]=51.0). There were 1144 events, of which 97.8% were deaths, with 22 ventricular arrhythmias and 3 seizures or syncope. There was no difference in MACE with exposure to haloperidol compared to placebo (risk ratio [RR] 0.93, 95% CI: 0.80–1.08; I2 = 0%). IV haloperidol was not associated with increased risk of mortality (n = 5873, RR: 0.88, 95%CI:0.72–1.08). Conclusions We did not find that haloperidol was arrhythmogenic or increased mortality in these largely short-duration trials. Further research to clarify actual clinical outcomes related to QTPmeds is important to inform safe prescribing practices.

Overexpression of MEKK18 from Arabidopsis pumila in rice significantly enhances stress resistance at the early stage

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascade is a crucial signaling component of eukaryotic cells. It senses endogenous or exogenous stimuli and exerts a critical regulatory influence on stress responses. The MAP kinase kinase kinase (MEKK) gene is located upstream in the MAPK cascade. It is extensively engaged in plant growth and development, playing a pivotal role in tolerance to abiotic stresses such as salt, drought, and extreme temperatures. Arabidopsis pumila, a short-lived cruciferous plant native to the southern desert area of the Gurbantünggüt Desert in Xinjiang exhibits excellent stress adaptation and contains a rich array of stress resistance genes. Previous research has demonstrated that the expression of ApMEKK18 is continuously upregulated under saline stress, although its function in the response to this type of abiotic stress is unclear. The findings of this study reveal that the ApMEKK18 protein is localized in the cell nucleus, and the ApMEKK18 gene is upregulated in response to abscisic acid (ABA), NaCl, PEG6000, and mannitol, exhibiting varying expression patterns under different conditions. Using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, we overexpressed ApMEKK18 in rice. Compared to the control variety Nipponbare (NP), no substantial differences were observed in plant height, number of primary and secondary branches, grain width, and thickness in the ApMEKK18-overexpressing transgenic rice. However, the number of tillers, panicle length, grain length, 1,000-grain weight, and single-plant yield were significantly increased. Furthermore, ApMEKK18 overexpression enhanced seed germination under high salt and ABA stress conditions, while reducing sensitivity to exogenous ABA and improving salt tolerance in seedlings. The results of this study provide a theoretical foundation for further research on the function of ApMEKK18 and lay the groundwork for mining stress-resistance genes from A. pumila. Additionally, the findings offer insights into improving crop stress tolerance through genetic engineering.

Contemporary eDNA methods complement conventional microscopy in zooplankton diet studies: Case study with American lobster postlarvae

The diets of pelagic marine larvae are difficult to analyze due to their small size and even smaller prey. Furthermore, different methods may lead to alternative interpretations of trophic interactions. Conventionally, diet studies have relied primarily on visual identification of prey through dissection and microscopy. While microscopy has clear benefits, it can yield an incomplete assessment of diet since smaller and soft-bodied prey items are often difficult to identify. Here, we combined conventional microscopy and two contemporary environmental DNA (eDNA) methods: DNA metabarcode sequencing (metabarcoding) and real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (rtPCR), comparing their advantages/disadvantages in a diet analysis of planktonic American lobster (Homarus americanus) postlarvae. This is the first application of these molecular techniques on the postlarval lobster diet. We also describe the testing and development of a novel blocking primer designed to inhibit the amplification of lobster DNA, enhancing prey amplification. This approach allowed finer-scale identification of a greater variety of prey than microscopy. The targeted rtPCR approach identified a specific prey taxon with high fidelity – but involves a priori decisions regarding the choice of target. Here, an rtPCR assay was developed to target Calanus finmarchicus, an abundant copepod species in the Gulf of Maine, suspected to be an important prey item of larval lobsters. Microscopy revealed broad prey categories and the importance of arthropod prey in the postlarval diet. Metabarcoding confirmed the importance of arthropod prey, while filling in the gaps with additional prey species. Finally, rtPCR was able to detect a significant level of predation on Calanus finmarchicus that neither of the other two approaches identified. The combination of methods provided a richer understanding of diet than any single method alone and future diet studies of a wide range of consumers would benefit from the application of a mixture of microscopy and molecular-based methodologies.

Direct cost of inpatient wound dressing in South West Nigeria: A cross-sectional study

Background Wound dressing is an integral part of wound care protocol. However, the cost of dressing changes with the associated wound aetiology has not been well studied. The study investigates the cost implications of wound dressing across wound aetiology among hospitalized patients. Methods The study followed a descriptive cross-sectional research design to determine the cost of dressing changes and the associated wound aetiology among hospitalized patients. Study sites included medical-surgical units in three selected hospitals in southwest Nigeria. The study was conducted between May to July 2021. One hundred and ninety patients were recruited for the study. The eligibility criteria focused on patients hospitalized for at least four weeks or about to be discharged. Data collection was via a researcher-administered questionnaire. Ethical approval was received from the university and each of the hospitals. Results The finding shows that 34.2% of the respondents had road traffic accidents, followed by cancers, 22.6%, and surgical wound infections, 16.8%. Most patients were involved in daily (41.6%) or alternate-day (38.4%) wound dressing. Over 50% of the respondents earn less than US$30 per month, 34.7% earn between US$30 – US$60, while only 3.2% earn more than US$ 120. Also, 55.7% require 1–5 moderate or significant dressing packs per week. 75% had wound care paid for by relatives. The average burn injuries cost of wound dressing per week is estimated to be $8.42, while falls ($5.31), occupational injuries ($3.77), gunshot injuries ($3.74), and road traffic accidents ($3.49). The average cost of hospitalization for burn injuries per week was estimated to be $22.35, while for falls, road traffic accidents, and surgical wound infections, was $19.58, $19.32, and $18.37, respectively. Conclusions The cost requirements for prosperous wound dressing place a high financial burden on hospitalized patients in Nigeria. There is a need to scale Nigeria’s health insurance database to include the low socioeconomic class.

Effects of attentional focus on the regulation of torque complexity

Recent scientific evidence suggests that an external focus of attention (vs. an internal focus of attention) promotes a greater number of motor solutions, rendering the system more adaptable and complex. Therefore, the present study investigated the effect of the attentional focus (external vs. internal) on torque complexity and variability as well as its associated intermuscular coordination processes. Fourteen participants performed maximal and submaximal isometric knee extension tasks in three conditions (control, external focus, internal focus) to assess immediate effects of the focus of attention in a within-subjects comparison. Peak torque was extracted from maximal trials. Regarding submaximal trials, torque complexity and the magnitude of variability were assessed through Sample Entropy (SampEn), i.e., a measure of regularity in the temporal structure of torque output and coefficient of variation (CV), respectively. The intermuscular coordination was assessed through co-contraction index. An external focus led to an increase in SampEn (i.e., decreased regularity) when compared to an internal focus (p = 0.032) and a control condition (p = 0.036). Conversely, no differences were found for CV and peak torque. The external focus promoted a decrease in muscular activity of vastus medialis in comparison with the internal focus (p = 0.040) and an increase in muscular activity when compared to the control condition (p < 0.001). Furthermore, an external focus led to decreased muscular activity of semitendinosus as well as a decrease in the co-contraction indices involving semitendinosus in comparison with the internal focus and the control condition (all p < 0.05). The present findings suggest that an external focus leads to an enhanced flexibility of motor control. Moreover, the general decrease in co-contraction and in muscular activity without affecting maximal force parameters that we observed with an external focus suggest a higher efficiency of the motor system caused by intermuscular coordination processes.

Effects of patient race on processes and experiences of clinical interactions in US emergency departments: A mixed-methods systematic review

Background Evidence shows that patients identified as Black experience worse emergency department (ED) care compared to patients identified as White. Clinical interactions (CI) are thought to affect racial disparities, but no systematic reviews to date have synthesized the evidence on the effects of patient race on CI processes and experiences. Objective We synthesized evidence from published studies comparing observed and/or patient-reported CI processes and experiences between patients identified as Black and White in US EDs. Methods This was a mixed-methods systematic review following the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and registered a priori with PROSPERO (CRD42021281653). We used a broad search strategy to query six databases. Peer-reviewed original research reports comparing processes or experiences of CIs between Black and White patients in US EDs from 2004 to 2024 were eligible for inclusion. Results Nine studies met inclusion criteria. Of these, three focused on observational CI processes and six focused on patient-reported CI experiences. Evidence of differences in CI processes and patient-reported experiences between Black and White patients was inconclusive. We identified four themes across measures used in studies of patient reported CI experiences, however, including responsive nonverbal behavior, effective verbal communication, person centeredness, and patient satisfaction. Discussion Research on the effects of patient race on ED CIs is lacking, especially research with observed real-world CI processes. Psychometrically robust instruments and conceptual clarity in the study of racial disparities in CI experiences are needed. We provide groundwork for future research development on racial disparities in ED CIs.

Current status of bed bug <i>Cimex lectularius</i> (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) infestation and prevalence of insecticide-resistant amino acid substitutions in Osaka Prefecture, Japan

To hug or not to hug? Public and private displays of affection and relationship satisfaction among people from Indonesia, Nepal, and Poland

Displays of romantic affection, both public and private, contribute to improved well-being, reduced stress, greater life satisfaction, and enhanced relationship satisfaction. However, cultural norms significantly influence the expression of affection, particularly in public settings. This study aimed to compare individuals from Indonesia, Nepal, and Poland regarding their public and private displays of affection, negative attitudes, and behaviors towards other individuals engaging in public displays of affection. Additionally, we examined relationship satisfaction and its associations with the expression of affection. We collected data from 170 Indonesian participants (62 men and 108 women), 120 Nepali participants (56 men and 64 women), and 171 Polish participants (72 men and 99 women) aged 18 to 49. The results revealed cultural differences in public displays of affection: Polish participants reported the highest level, while Indonesian participants reported the lowest. Differences also emerged for private displays of affection: Polish participants scored higher than Nepali and Indonesian participants, while no differences were observed between participants from Nepal and Indonesia. Negative attitudes and behaviors towards displaying affection publicly were most prevalent in Indonesia and least prevalent in Poland. Nepali participants reported the highest level of relationship satisfaction, followed by Polish participants, with Indonesian participants reporting the lowest. Across all three countries, positive correlations were observed between displays of affection and relationship satisfaction, underscoring the importance of affectionate behaviors in romantic relationships. Moreover, our findings highlight the influence of cultural norms on the expression of romantic affection and suggest that relationship satisfaction is closely tied to affectionate behaviors, albeit with variations shaped by cultural context.

A comparison between Polovodova and Detinova methods for parity determination of field-collected <i>Aedes albopictus</i> and fluctuation of nulliparous and parous densities

RETRACTED: Edge computing based english translation model using fuzzy semantic optimal control technique

People’s need for English translation is gradually growing in the modern era of technological advancements, and a computer that can comprehend and interpret English is now more crucial than ever. Some issues, including ambiguity in English translation and improper word choice in translation techniques, must be addressed to enhance the quality of the English translation model and accuracy based on the corpus. Hence, an edge computing-based translation model (FSRL-P2O) is proposed to improve translation accuracy by using huge bilingual corpora, considering Fuzzy Semantic (FS) properties, and maximizing the translation output using optimal control techniques with the incorporation of Reinforcement Learning and Proximal Policy Optimisation (PPO) techniques. The corpus data is initially gathered, and necessary preprocessing and feature extraction techniques are made. The preprocessed sentences are given as input to the fuzzy semantic similarity phase, which aims to avoid uncertainties by measuring the semantic resemblance between two linguistic elements, such as phrases, words, or sentences involved in a translation using the Jaccard similarity coefficient. The fuzzy semantic resemblance component’s training estimates the degree of overlap or similarity between two sentences, such as calculating the percentage of characters and length of the longest matching sequence of characters. The suggested Reinforcement learning and PPO can address specific uncertainty causes in machine translation assessment, like out-of-domain data and low-quality references. In addition to simple word-level comparison, it permits a more complex grasp of the semantic link. Reinforcement Learning (RL) and Proximal Policy Optimisation (PPO) techniques are implemented as optimal control techniques to optimize the translation procedures and enhance the quality and precision of generated translations. RL and PPO aim to improve a machine translation system’s translation policy depending on a predetermined reward signal or quality parameter. The system’s effectiveness is evaluated by various metrics such as accuracy, Fuzzy semantic similarity, Bi-Lingual Evaluation Understudy (BLEU), and National Institute of Standards and Technology score (NIST). Thus, the proposed system achieves higher quality and translation accuracy of the text that has been translated and produces higher semantic similarity.

Evaluation of nerve function after Bell’s palsy based on different facial nerve assessment scales HBGS/SFGS/MPS: A comparative study

Background Studies have shown that approximately 30% of patients with Bell’s palsy may experience permanent disfigurement due to muscle weakness affecting facial expressions. The prognosis for Bell’s palsy is often correlated with the degree of impairment in facial nerve function observed in the early stages of the condition. Selecting appropriate assessment tools is essential for the effective treatment and prognosis of patients with Bell’s palsy. Objective Examine and compare three scales used to measure Bell’s palsy: the House-Brackmann Grading Scale (HBGS), the Sunnybrook Facial Grading System (SFGS), and the Modified Portmann Scale (MPS). Methods A retrospective study involved 97 patients with Bell’s palsy treated at the authors’ institution from 2021 to 2022. The authors accessed these data for research purposes in February 2025. The patient cohort underwent HBGS, SFGS, and MPS to assess facial nerve function before and after treatment. We compared the results of these three evaluation methods. Additionally, we performed correlation analyses and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses of the post-treatment data to examine the relationships between HBGS and SFGS and between HBGS and MPS, using the internationally recognized and most widely utilized HBGS as the standard. Results The HBGS demonstrated moderate consistency with both the FSGS and MPS, revealing significant negative correlations (r = −0.876, P < 0.01; r = −0.860, P < 0.01). All three scales exhibited high reactivity and showed no ceiling/floor effect. The optimal cut-off values for the FSGS and MPS were determined to be ≤ 68 and ≤ 16 points, respectively, with AUC of 0.948 (95% CI: 0.910–0.984) and 0.931 (95% CI: 0.883–0.968). Conclusion HBGS, SFGS, and MPS are all appropriate tools for assessing Bell’s palsy. The severity of facial nerve palsy can be clinically classified using a transect score of 68 on the SFGS and 16 on the MPS. However, the results should be interpreted with caution, as objective indicators were not utilized as criteria.

Influence of mate and nest-site fidelity on a declining, urban avian population

As urbanization reduces species’ habitats and population sizes, managers need information on whether within-population processes, such as changes in mate and nest-site fidelity and dispersal distances, may be contributing to declines. Few avian studies have examined changes in these behaviors in declining populations or in urban settings. We investigated whether mate fidelity, nest-site fidelity or breeding dispersal distance changed over time in a population of burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia), a short-lived, socially-monogamous species. During the 18-year period of the study, the population declined by 69% in urban Santa Clara County, California, USA--a region of rapid urbanization. We assessed whether these behaviors were influenced by key factors including age, breeding success in the previous year, and years with the same mate, and examined the relationship between mate and nest-site fidelity over time and annual reproductive success. Our analyses showed no change over time in mate fidelity rates, nest-site fidelity rates, dispersal distances or annual reproductive success, indicating these behaviors remained stable even during a severe population decline. Although burrowing owls are a short-lived species, we found that increasing years with the same mate resulted in increased nest-site fidelity and annual reproductive success. To achieve increasing annual reproductive success in this species and others with similar fidelity behaviors, nest sites and pairs must be protected over many years allowing mates to stay together in the same nest territory. Since these fidelity behaviors were maintained during the population decline, other factors require investigation to determine the causes for decreases in this population. Burrowing owls are an urban-adaptable species that can maintain important fidelity behaviors in human-altered habitats. However, even such species are subject to population declines in urban settings.

Left ventricular segmentation method based on optimized UNet and improved CBAM: ESV and EDV tracking study

This paper introduces an optimized nested UNet model for automated left ventricular segmentation in cardiac function assessment. We utilize the EchoNet-Dynamic dataset, which contains both video data and expert annotations. Unlike conventional methods such as DeepLabv3 that struggle with large model sizes and imprecise segmentation, Our proposed model introduces a deeper feature extraction module to effectively capture multi-scale features and reduce computational overhead. By integrating the CBAM (Attention module) attention mechanism and a lightweight SimAM (Simple Attention Module) module, we enhance feature selectivity and minimize redundancy. To further stabilize training and address gradient issues, we combine binary cross-entropy and Dice loss functions. Experimental results reveal that our model significantly outperforms existing methods, achieving a 1.05% increase in the Dice coefficient and reducing model size to 15% of the original. These improvements not only enhance the accuracy of cardiac function assessments but also provide a more efficient solution for automated diagnosis in clinical practice.

Associations between genetic HPV 16 diversity and cervical cancer prognosis

Introduction Cervical cancer (CC) arises as a result of chronic and persistent female infection by different oncogenic human papillomaviruses (HPV). The incidence of this disease is still high in developing countries, such as Brazil, where diagnosis is often made in advanced stages. HPV 16 is the most common Papillomavirus genotype in CC worldwide. Studies regarding the association of different HPV 16 lineages with overall and disease-free CC survival rates can contribute to further understanding the behavior of different HPV 16 lineages concerning the prognosis of CC cases. Objective To assess the CC prognosis of patients treated in a Brazilian institution concerning HPV16 lineages. Methods Data were obtained from a prospective cohort of 334 patients with CC recruited between July 2011 and March 2014 and treated at the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. HPV 16 lineages were identified in tumor tissue samples. Genetic HPV 16 diversity comprised 218 cases of lineage A, 10 of lineage B, 10 of lineage C, and 96 of lineage D. In addition to HPV 16 lineages, age, histopathological type, staging, and treatment completion were evaluated as predictors of CC prognosis. Results The median patient age was 48 years. The most common histopathological type was squamous cell carcinoma (82.3%), followed by adenocarcinoma. Locally advanced disease staging was the most frequently detected, represented by similar stage II and III percentages (36.2% and 37.7%), followed by initial stage I (19.2%) and stage IV (6.9%). Two hundred two patients completed CC treatment. Age, histological type, staging, and treatment completion were associated with a higher risk of death, which was not observed for the HPV 16 lineage variable. With regard to age, an increase in each year of life led to approximately a 1% increase in the risk of death. Other histopathological types (poorly differentiated carcinoma, adenosquamous, neuroendocrine, and sarcoma) were associated with a higher risk of death compared with adenocarcinoma. Patients diagnosed in advanced stages exhibited a higher risk of death, and those who did not complete treatment exhibited an over 2-fold increased risk of death. Conclusion This study found no associations between HPV 16 lineages A, B, C, and D and CC prognosis.

Investigating the cardiorespiratory fitness gene COX7A2L in cardiomyocytes: Viability and mitochondrial function

Low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. Since CRF is largely genetically determined, understanding the genetic influences on CRF might reveal the protective mechanisms of high CRF. One gene found to be associated with CRF is COX7A2L. COX7A2L is a mitochondrial supercomplex assembly factor, but its role in cellular metabolism remains a topic of discussion. We hypothesized that COX7A2L could play a role in cellular respiration in cardiomyocytes, affecting cardiac function and CRF. To determine the effect of COX7A2L on cardiomyocyte function, we overexpressed and knocked down COX7A2L in human AC16 cardiomyocytes and performed MTT assays and Seahorse XF Cell Mito Stress Tests to assess cell viability and mitochondrial function. For the mitochondrial function measurements, we stimulated the cells with isoproterenol to investigate if the effect of altering COX7A2L levels would be larger under simulated increased energy demand. Overexpression and knockdown were validated using sandwich ELISA. Our findings showed that altering COX7A2L expression in human AC16 cardiomyocytes did not significantly affect cell viability or mitochondrial function. Further research is necessary to determine whether COX7A2L influences cardiomyocyte function and CRF.

Diagnostic accuracy of triglyceride to glucose index and triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein index for insulin resistance among children and adolescents: A systematic review

Introduction Insulin resistance (IR) is a common metabolic disorder associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. There is a need for simpler and more cost-effective indices to diagnose IR in pediatric populations. While the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp is the gold standard for diagnosing IR, it is costly and complex. Consequently, simpler indices like the triglyceride-to-glucose (TyG) and triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein (Tg/HDL) indices have been explored as alternative diagnostic tools for IR. Methods This systematic review adhered to PRISMA-DTA guidelines. Analytical studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of TyG and Tg/HDL indices for IR in children and adolescents were included. Eligibility criteria required studies to report sensitivity, specificity, or area under the curve (AUC) values compared against reference standards for IR. Excluded studies were those without reported diagnostic accuracy measures. Data were extracted from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and SciELO Citation Index up to April 2024. Due to high heterogeneity, a narrative synthesis was performed. Results Twenty-one studies involving 28,768 participants were included. The TyG index showed sensitivities ranging from 60–92% and specificities of 54–100%, with AUCs between 0.610 and 0.960. For the Tg/HDL index, sensitivities varied from 14.8–85.7%, specificities from 60.9–97.6%, and AUCs from 0.687 to 0.809. These results suggest that the TyG index generally demonstrates higher diagnostic precision than the Tg/HDL index, but both exhibit moderate accuracy with considerable heterogeneity. Conclusion The TyG and Tg/HDL indices are promising tools for diagnosing IR in children and adolescents, but further studies with rigorous methodology are needed. Future research should focus on standardizing cut-off points and exploring their predictive value in diverse populations.

Social capital, digital economy and the entrepreneurship of the new generation of migrant youth: Empirical analysis based on CMDS data

In the era of digital economy, the form of digital production promotes the transformation of enterprise organization and business operation mechanism. It also affects the development of regional entrepreneurship and the choice of individual entrepreneurship. Youth is the future of the country and the hope of the nation, and youth employment is related to people’s well-being, economic development and the future of the country. From the perspective of social capital, this paper examines the entrepreneurship of the new generation of migrant youth by using the dynamic monitoring data of the floating population in 2018(CMDS). The empirical results show that the improvement of social capital can significantly promote the entrepreneurship of the new generation of migrant youth; From the perspective of social capital, social network, social trust and social status promote entrepreneurship significantly. However, the role of social participation is not obvious. From the perspective of different types of entrepreneurship, compared with survival entrepreneurship, social capital has a more significant impact on opportunity entrepreneurship. Heterogeneity analysis found that, Social capital has a significant impact on opportunistic entrepreneurship of groups with higher education level, higher family income and modern service industry; In the central cities and coastal areas, social capital can promote the opportunity entrepreneurship of the new generation of migrant youth. Expansion analysis further found that the digital economy can significantly promote the entrepreneurial effect of social capital.