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Liraglutide for Children 6 to <12 Years of Age with Obesity — A Randomized Trial
Preconceptional brain structure and future conception: a prospective brain MRI study among 321 women
Abstract Brain structure may influence female fertility through its reciprocal relationship with the endocrine system, but this hypothesis is underexplored. This study investigated the association between preconceptional brain structure and the likelihood of conception in a prospective population-based neuroimaging cohort. Women intending to conceive within a year were recruited and structural brain MRI scans were collected from 321 participants between June 2019 and March 2021. During the 12-month follow-up, 185 women became pregnant, and 136 did not. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between global brain parameters and conception, adjusting for age, intracranial volume, BMI, prior STD diagnosis, ethnicity, education, household income, smoking, and alcohol use. Unadjusted analyses showed associations between conception and larger occipital lobe and nucleus accumbens volume, increased surface area across all lobes, and occipital cortical thickness, and conception. Adjusted analyses identified a positive association between nucleus accumbens volume and conception (OR = 1.50 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.99), p-value = 0.007). Sensitivity analyses linked caudate volume to conception, but no findings remained significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Further research is needed to understand the potential role of brain structure and function in conception, in relationship with general health and socioeconomic factors.
Surviving a crisis: A multilevel model of leadership styles, employees’ psychological capital and organizational resilience
Building on the emerging research on organizational resilience in crisis, we tested a model of transformational and directive leadership styles and their association with organizational resilience in a crisis via employees’ psychological capital. Three hundred and one small and medium sized enterprises in Kenya provided usable survey data. The hypotheses were tested using multilevel structural equation modelling (MSEM) technique. The results show that both transformational and directive leadership styles were significant and positive predictors of organizational resilience through the mediating role of employees’ psychological capital. From a practical perspective, as SMEs struggle to be resilient during crises, leaders should adopt effective leadership styles such as transformational and directive and also consider their employees’ psychological experience of a crisis.
Atrasentan in Patients with IgA Nephropathy
Pathogenic and periodontal bacteria may contribute to the fatal outcome of critically ill elderly COVID-19 patients
Comparative analysis of grape berry microbiota uncovers sour rot associates from a Maryland vineyard
Grape sour rot (GSR) is a disease complex involving fungi and bacteria that can cause significant yield losses of susceptible varieties. It is widely spread in the eastern U.S. and other grape-growing regions globally. Previous studies suggest that damaged fruit skin and feeding insects like Drosophila spp. are required for the disease to occur. Current control strategies for the management of sour rot are not sustainable, and research on the implications of chemical management of the disease on microbiome diversity is scarce. Our aim was to: i) investigate the effect of insecticide application and netting treatment on the microbiota of GSR-susceptible and tolerant grape varieties; and ii) identify the core microbial assemblages potentially associated with grape sour rot development in Maryland. Using a combined analysis of culture-dependent and independent data, we found that microbiota diversity of healthy grape berries did not change with netting, insecticide application, and between varieties. There was a significant difference in bacterial diversity between healthy and sour rot-affected berries. Komagataeibacter was consistently associated with infected berries followed by Acetobacter and Gluconobacter. This is the first study to report the association of Komagataeibacter with GSR-infected berries. It is thus imperative to investigate its role alongside that of other identified core microbiomes in sour rot development. Candida and Pichia were also consistent genera in infected berries. Several unidentified Candida, Pichia, and other fungal species from infected berries formed the core mycobiomes and it would be worth investigating their involvement in GSR development in Mid-Atlantic vineyards.
Identifying and Targeting TNF Signaling in Idiopathic Multicentric Castleman’s Disease
A deep ensemble learning framework for glioma segmentation and grading prediction
Prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli in urban and peri-urban garden ecosystems in Bangladesh
In the past decade, there has been a notable rise in foodborne outbreaks, prominently featuring Escherichia coli as a primary pathogen. This bacterium, known for its prevalence in foodborne illnesses and as a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance, was isolated from raw vegetables, soil, and water samples collected from rooftop and surface gardens in urban (Dhaka North City Corporation; DNCC and Dhaka South City Corporation; DSCC) and peri-urban (Gazipur City Corporation; GCC) areas of Bangladesh. In this study, 145 samples including vegetables (n = 88), water (n = 27) and soils (n = 30) from DNCC (n = 85), DSCC (n = 30), and GCC (n = 30) were analyzed to assess the prevalence of E. coli using culture, biochemical tests, and PCR targeting the malB gene. E. coli was detected in 85 samples, indicating an overall prevalence of 58.62% (95% CI: 50.48–66.31). In urban areas (DNCC and DSCC), the prevalence rates were 44.70% and 80.0%, respectively, with surface gardens showing higher contamination rates (70.83%) than rooftop gardens (46.57%). In the peri-urban GCC, overall prevalence of E. coli was 76.7%, with rooftop gardens more contaminated (93.33%) than surface gardens (60.0%). Antibiogram profiling of 54 randomly selected isolates revealed 100% resistance to ampicillin, with varying resistance to ciprofloxacin (25.92%), tetracycline (14.81%), cotrimoxazole (14.81%), imipenem (9.25%), and fosfomycin (1.0%). Notably, all isolates were susceptible to ceftazidime, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, nitrofurantoin, and cefotaxime. Multidrug resistance (MDR) was found in 14.81% of isolates. The blaTEM gene was present in 81.48% of the isolates, while the tetA gene was detected in 3.70%. These findings underscore the urgent global health concern posed by the significant presence of E. coli in fresh vegetables, highlighting the need for improved safety measures and monitoring to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistance through the food chain.
Way Stations in Progress — Burgeoning Treatment Options for IgA Nephropathy
Particle settling in a shear-thinning, viscoelastic fluid in the presence of wall effects
Abstract The settling of particles in fluids is a widespread phenomenon and commonly involves accounting for the effects of walls. Particle settling and wall effects are well understood for Newtonian fluids but the consequences of non-Newtonian fluid properties on particle settling are less well known. Here, we present the results from a set of experiments quantifying wall effects on particle settling within quiescent shear-thinning and viscoelastic (non-Newtonian) fluids for sphere-to-tube diameter ratios $$\lambda \le 0.3$$ λ ≤ 0.3 . We find that wall effects on particle settling are reduced in non-Newtonian fluids and settling velocities are poorly predicted by conventional wall-corrected Stokes’ equations. We show that deviations in settling velocity are due to both the shear-thinning and viscoelastic properties of the fluid. Supported by our experimental dataset, we are able to show that calculating the shear-rate based on the particle diameter length-scale corresponds to an apparent viscosity that appropriately accounts for shear-thinning effects. A further correction factor for viscoelastic behaviour based on $$\lambda$$ λ and the Weissenberg number, Wi, is applied, and shows good agreement with all experimentally measured velocities. Together, we provide a quantitative method to accurately predict the terminal settling velocity of particles in shear-thinning, viscoelastic fluids up to sphere-to-tube diameter ratios of 0.3.
Postnatal cytomegalovirus infection and its effect on hearing and neurodevelopmental outcomes among infants aged 3–10 months: A cohort study in Eastern Uganda
Background Hearing impairment and neurodevelopmental disorders pose a significant global health burden in children. The link between postnatal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and these outcomes remains unclear. This study explored the association of postnatal CMV infection with hearing and neurodevelopmental outcomes in term infants aged 3 to 10 months. Methods This was a cohort sub-study within the BabyGel cluster randomised trial in Eastern Uganda. From 1265 term infants screened for CMV, 219 were negative at birth but positive at 3 months, and were age-matched with 219 CMV-negative controls. CMV status was determined by PCR screening of saliva samples, with positive results confirmed using urine samples (Chai Open qPCR, Santa Clara, CA). From the established cohort, 424 infants were successfully followed up between 3 to 10 months of age. Clinical assessments included neurodevelopmental evaluation using the Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool, the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination, and hearing screening using Otoacoustic Emission testing (Otoport Lite, Otodynamics Limited). Statistical analyses were performed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and log binomial regression models with Stata 18. Results Of the 424 infants included in the study, 206 were postnatal CMV-infected and 218 were uninfected. Neurodevelopmental assessments indicated no differences between postnatal CMV-infected infants and uninfected groups (ARR 0.88, 95% CI [0.67, 1.15], p = 0.346). Hearing screening revealed a 1.99-fold increased risk of a positive result for postnatal CMV-infected infants compared to uninfected infants (67/106 vs. 39/106, 95% CI [1.27, 3.12], p = 0.003). Conclusion Postnatal CMV infection was associated with more positive hearing screenings, though no significant differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes were observed in early infancy. Exploration into the feasibility of incorporating hearing and CMV screening into routine care will play a vital role in early identification and intervention, improving the management of both hearing and CMV-related conditions in resource-limited settings.
Uterine Fibroids
Advanced artificial intelligence with federated learning framework for privacy-preserving cyberthreat detection in IoT-assisted sustainable smart cities
Acceptability and feasibility of pre-exposure prophylaxis for bacterial STIs: a systematic review
Background A recent resurgence of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is placing a major burden on high-risk populations, physicians, and the healthcare system. Treatment in the form of antibiotic pre-exposure prophylaxis (STI PrEP) is a potential solution. However, little is known about the acceptability and feasibility of this approach in high-risk populations. Methods A comprehensive search strategy was developed and executed in October 2024 across six databases adhering to PRISMA guidelines. Results Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies were all conducted in high-income countries, used various methods, and all focussed on sexual minority men. Findings consistently identified moderate to high levels of acceptability among GBMSM (54.3% - 67.5%). Factors such as engagement in perceived ‘high risk’ sexual encounters, and past diagnosis of STIs strengthened acceptability, while others (e.g., antimicrobial resistance concerns and stigma) act as barriers. Only one study included the perspectives of healthcare workers, indicating a moderate willingness to prescribe, which would increase under governing-body endorsement. Discussion Overall, while there is some promise of STI PrEP acceptability among GBMSM, vast gaps in knowledge remain. Knowledge transfer and feasibility and, hence, the sustainability and capacity needed for the success of STI PrEP is yet to be examined and understood. However, for STI PrEP to be successfully adopted, it is essential not only to assess its acceptability and feasibility but also to focus on knowledge transfer. Knowledge transfer is a dynamic and iterative process, involving the synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and application of knowledge in an ethically sound manner. This process supports the improvement of health outcomes, strengthens healthcare systems, and ensures that healthcare interventions, such as STI PrEP, are effectively understood and implemented by both healthcare providers and at-risk populations. Similarly, the perspectives of populations beyond GBMSM have been omitted, and there is little understanding of the impact of their differing socio-cultural contexts around sex-related behaviour and Western pharmaceutical healthcare interventions on their acceptance and uptake. Conclusion Further research into acceptability, feasibility and knowledge transfer among diverse high-risk groups, healthcare professionals, and policymakers is necessary to create a strong foundation for implementing STI PrEP.
Discovery of GLP-1–Based Drugs for the Treatment of Obesity
Exploring the prognostic role of microbial and genetic markers in lung squamous cell carcinoma
Abstract Despite advances in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, the prognosis of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) patients remains poor, and the potential of microbiome-based prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets remains largely unexplored. LUSC patient data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), including microbial genus level abundance data and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) data, were used as a training dataset. Two other independent datasets GSE19188 and GSE157009 serve as validation datasets. A microbiome-based risk score (RS) model was constructed by univariate Cox regression analysis combined with the least absolute contraction and selection operator (LASSO) regression. 18 microbial genera were found to be significantly associated with RFS in LUSC patients. The microbial signature built with these microbial genera, exhibited robust predictive accuracy in both the training and validation datasets. Furthermore, hub mRNA between high- and low-risk groups were selected by XGBOOST and intersect with mRNAs screened by univariate Cox regression analysis, finally identifying four mRNA significantly associated with LUSC prognosis. This study reveals a complex interplay between the lung microbiome and genetic biomarkers, and identifies specific microbial-based and mRNA associated with prognosis in LUSC. These findings provide a basis for future studies aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these associations and provide potential biomarkers for guiding treatment decisions and improving patient outcomes.
A parametric bootstrap control chart for Lindley Geometric percentiles
Control charts are vital for quality control and process monitoring, helping businesses identify variations in production. Traditional control charts, like Shewhart charts, may not work well for skewed distributions, such as the Lindley geometric distribution (LG). This study introduces a new control chart that uses parametric bootstrap techniques to monitor percentiles of the LG distribution, providing a more effective quality control method. The LG distribution is useful for modeling material strength and failures, especially in structural design, where lower percentiles indicate reduced tensile strength. We conducted extensive simulations to assess the proposed control chart’s effectiveness, considering various distribution parameters, percentile values, Type I error rates, and sample sizes. Our findings highlight how subgroup size, percentiles, and significance levels affect control limits, stressing the need for careful parameter selection in monitoring processes. The results show that the new control chart is highly sensitive to changes in LG distribution parameters and performs consistently across different percentiles. This suggests its practical relevance and robustness for industrial applications in quality control. Future research should explore its performance in real-world production settings to confirm its efficiency and reliability.