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Negative health effects of dental X-rays: A systematic review

Background This study evaluates whether exposure to dental X-ray examinations in childhood and adolescence results in negative health effects. Material and methods This systematic review includes both primary studies and systematic reviews available in Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases. Six reviewers read the full text of the selected studies. Results The literature search resulted in 10,949 publications. After title and abstract screening, 55 publications were selected for full text reading, resulting in a total of 18 reports, 7 systematic reviews, and 11 primary studies for quality assessment. Conclusion None of the selected studies passed the quality assessment due to high or very high risk of bias. There is a gap of knowledge regarding negative effects of dental X-rays and a need for more accurate and updated studies.

Comparison of pre-treatment with different diluted sufentanil in reducing propofol injection pain in gastrointestinal endoscopy: A randomized controlled study

Background This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of pre-treatment with different concentrations of sufentanil in mitigating propofol injection-induced pain. Methods This study included 421 patients who were scheduled for gastrointestinal endoscopy between June 2023 and December 2024. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the four groups with different concentrations sufentanil: 0 µg/mL group(0.9% normal saline), 0.5 µg/mL group, 1 µg/mL group and 5 µg/mL group. Results Among the four groups, the rates of pain relief were 82 (77.4%), 93 (89.4%), 96 (89.7%), and 91 (87.5%), respectively. Compared to the 0 µg/mL group, the other groups demonstrated significantly reduced pain following propofol injection (p < 0.05). The recovery times were 14.59 ± 3.92 min, 15.13 ± 3.20 min, 14.27 ± 3.06 min, and 15.57 ± 3.24 min, respectively. Notably, the 1 µg/mL group did not exhibit a prolonged recovery time compared to the 0 µg/mL group. The total propofol consumption was recorded as 218.5 ± 36.8 mg, 196.7 ± 31.0 mg, 183.8 ± 25.0 mg, and 189.6 ± 31.4 mg, respectively, with the 1 µg/mL group showing the lowest total propofol consumption among the groups. The incidences of adverse events (AEs) were 61.3%, 70.2%, 58.9%, and 76.9%, respectively. In comparison to the 1 µg/mL group, the 5 µg/mL group exhibited a higher incidence of AEs. Furthermore, multivariate analysis indicated that a 5 µg/mL dilution of sufentanil increases the risk of AEs (p < 0.05). Conclusions The 1 µg/mL group demonstrated greater safety and efficacy when combined with propofol. Trial registration The study has been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR). Link of the registry: http://www.chictr.org.cn. Date of registration: 2023/06/12. Trial registration number: ChiCTR2300072402.

Identification of the immune-associated enhancer RNA SATB1-AS1 as a novel biomarker for thymic cancer prognosis

Objective To screen key enhancer RNAs (eRNAs) in thymoma (THYM) through The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and explore their potential as prognostic molecules and therapeutic targets in THYM. Methods Gene expression RNA-seq profiles of 33 cancer types were retrieved and downloaded from the TCGA database, and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Spearman correlation analysis were applied to screen eRNAs and target genes associated with survival in THYM patients. The correlation of target eRNAs with clinical features was assessed. Gene set enrichment analysis was performed to investigate the potential biological functions of target eRNAs. Finally, the prognostic potential of the eRNA was validated in other cancer types. Results In THYM, SATB1-AS1 and the target gene SATB1 high expression were associated with a positive patient prognosis, and SATB1-AS1 expression was negatively correlated with patient stage ( P  < 0.05). Gene and pathway enrichment analyses revealed that SATB1-AS1 was associated with leukocyte transendothelial migration, natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity, neutrophil extracellular trap formation, PD-L1 expression and the PD-1 checkpoint pathway in cancer. Conclusion SATB1-AS1 may be a key eRNA in THYM and has the potential to be a marker and therapeutic target for the early diagnosis and prognosis of THYM.

Pharmacy customers’ views towards the potential introduction of pharmacist prescribing: A survey study

Background Pharmacist prescribing has been introduced in several countries owing to systemic issues within healthcare. This systematic change can improve general public’s access to prescribed medication. In Germany, pharmacist prescribing and its acceptance among the population remains unexplored because legislators insist on the exclusive right of doctors to prescribe medication. Objectives This study investigated pharmacy customers’ views towards pharmacist prescribing. The study sought to determine whether pharmacy customers in Germany could imagine the introduction of pharmacist prescribing. Methods Pharmacy customers in Germany participated in an anonymised survey in August–October 2023. Participants were recruited using a convenience sampling method, mainly from community pharmacies. The questionnaire comprised 28 questions and covers participants’ characteristics, key aspects of patient care and statements regarding the topic of pharmacists prescribing. The collected data were coded and analysed using IBM SPSS version 28.0.1. Results In total, 316 participants completed the survey. The average age was 51.0 years, and the majority were females (69.6%, n = 220). Overall, participants reported a high level of satisfaction with the general services provided by community pharmacies. A high to very high level of trust in their community pharmacist (CP) was reported by 84.4% of the participants. A total of 79.1% of the participants stated that pharmacists should be trained for prescribing authorisations. A key finding of this research was that most participants (88.0%), regardless of age and gender, agreed that the concept of pharmacist prescribing is favourable. Conclusion Participants across all age groups were generally positive about pharmacist prescribing and supportive of its implementation, while expressing the need for pharmacists to undergo further training tailored to the specific prescribing authorisation. This study provides groundwork for further research and contributes to policy-making considerations.

Drivers of avian genomic change revealed by evolutionary rate decomposition

Respiratory viruses Ct values and association with clinical outcomes among adults visiting the ED with lower respiratory tract infections

Background The correlation between real-time PCR (rt-PCR) cycle threshold (Ct) values for respiratory viruses and clinical outcomes remains unclear. This study evaluates the association between Ct values and clinical outcomes in patients tested via point-of-care testing upon emergency department (ED) admission. Methods This is a retrospective analysis of adults admitted to a French university hospital ED for suspected lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) requiring oxygen therapy between 2019 and 2020. Ct values were assessed for their association with symptom duration and clinical outcomes (hospital length of stay (LOS), Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission, and 28-day mortality) using zero-inflated negative binomial regression (ZINB) and logistic regression models, adjusted for age, sex, co-infection, and symptom duration. Results A total of 410 patients were included, with 37 (9%) having co-infections with two pathogens and 2 (0.5%) with three pathogens. The most common pathogens were human rhinovirus/enterovirus (HRV/EV) (26.3%), influenza A (24.9%), and SARS-CoV-2 (21.9%). Median symptom duration was 3 days [IQR: 2–7]. Of the patients, 308 (75.1%) were hospitalized, 74 (18%) required ICU care, and the 28-day mortality rate was 11.7% (n = 48). Multivariable analysis showed that higher Ct values for SARS-CoV-2 were associated with reduced odds of hospitalization (OR = 0.75, p = 0.04) and shorter LOS (x0.96 days per Ct unit increase, p = 0.04). Similar trends for shorter LOS were observed for HRV/EV and RSV but did not reach statistical significance. Conversely, higher influenza A Ct values were linked to longer LOS (x1.05 days per Ct unit increase, p = 0.025). Higher Ct values for SARS-CoV-2 were also associated with lower 28-day mortality (OR = 0.87, p = 0.049). Ct values were not associated with ICU admission for any virus. Conclusion This study supports the association of higher Ct values with shorter LOS and lower mortality for SARS-CoV-2. In contrast, higher Ct values for influenza A were linked to longer LOS. Ct values were not predictive of ICU admission, underscoring the complexity of the relationship between viral load and clinical outcomes.

Excess body weight and its associated factors among first-year health sciences university students in Indonesia

The incidence of overweight/obesity has been increasing among adolescents and young adults worldwide. University graduates majoring in health sciences are expected to become role models and agents of change in the future. Hence, the aim of this study was to understand the prevalence of excess body weight and risk factors among the university students in health sciences from the three biggest universities in Indonesia when they first entered the university. This cross-sectional study recruited all first-year students using a self-administered questionnaire and physical and laboratory examination data in 2022. The outcome was the prevalence of excess body weight, and the associated factors were students’ demographic characteristics, eating habits, and physical activities. Associated factors were measured by computing the odds ratio using logistic regression analysis. A total of 1,552 first-year students were included in the final analysis, and 77.6% were women. The prevalence of excess body weight was 34.7%. Independent factors, which increased the risk of excess body weight, were being male (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.58; 95% CI 1.99–3.35), having a family history of obesity (AOR, 2.91; 95% CI 2.09–4.06), and eating <3 meals/day (AOR, 1.40; 95% CI 1.10–1.80). The prevalence of excess body weight among first-year health sciences university students in Indonesia was high. The health sciences faculties should design a curriculum which not only ensures that the students can provide health care to the communities in the future but also apply the knowledge to improve their health.

Diverse residents’ experiences of policing and attitudes towards law enforcement: Findings from a large community-based survey in San José, California

Despite widespread debate on public safety policy, few studies explore diverse community members’ perspectives on safety and policing. This community-based participatory research study assessed perspectives on city spending, opinions about law enforcement policy, perspectives on police and safety, direct experiences with police, and perspectives on alternatives to policing in San José, California, one of the ten largest cities in the United States. Between July 27, 2021 – January 14, 2022, we conducted an online survey, available in 7 languages, and obtained 1,595 responses. Respondents supported increased funding for community safety resources (73%) and helping residents meet basic needs (67%). A majority of respondents felt policing in San José had serious problems, requiring major reform. Across a range of questions, sexual and gender minorities, younger people, African American/Black, Native American, Chicanx/Latinx/Hispanic respondents, and people with lower incomes had more negative attitudes towards and experiences with police compared to those who identify as men, heterosexual, older, White or Asian, or had higher incomes. There was strong support (72% − 82%) for four alternative-to-police policy proposals. As communities across the country grapple with how to achieve safety, especially for residents who are disproportionately harmed by police, community-based participatory research is a valuable tool for engaging, understanding, and mobilizing communities.

ERNIE-UIE: Advancing information extraction in Chinese medical knowledge graph

Background The field of information extraction (IE) is currently exploring more versatile and efficient methods for minimization of reliance on extensive annotated datasets and integration of knowledge across tasks and domains. Objective We aim to evaluate and refine the application of the universal IE (UIE) technology in the field of Chinese medical expertise in terms of processing accuracy and efficiency. Methods Our model integrates ontology modeling, web scraping, UIE, fine-tuning strategies, and graph databases, thereby covering knowledge modeling, extraction, and storage techniques. The Enhanced Representation through Knowledge Integration-UIE (ERNIE-UIE) model is fine-tuned and optimized using a small amount of annotated data. A medical knowledge graph is then constructed, followed by validating the graph and conducting knowledge mining on the data stored within it. Results Incorporating the characteristics of whole-course management, we implemented a comprehensive medical knowledge graph–construction model and methodology. Entities and relationships were jointly extracted using the pretrained language model, resulting in 8,525 entity data points and 9,522 triple data points. The accuracy of the knowledge graph was verified using graph algorithms. Conclusion We optimized the construction process of a Chinese medical knowledge graph with minimal annotated data by utilizing a generative extraction paradigm, validating the graph’s efficacy and achieving commendable results. This approach addresses the challenge of insufficient annotated training corpora in low-resource knowledge graph construction, thereby contributing to cost savings in the development of knowledge graphs.

Beijing’ s paired assistance program: Mitigating vulnerability, fostering development, and promoting equality in its ecological conservation areas

Interregional cooperation is an important mechanism for promoting regional equality. The paired assistance policy (PAP) has been broadly used to address regional inequality in China. In Beijing, developed plain districts have been paired, one-to-one, with less developed ecological conservation areas (ECAs) in mountainous regions to promote green development and livelihood improvements. In these pairings, lateral inputs from developed regions such as financial inputs, industrial assistance, human resource training, etc., are provided to the ECAs. To analyse the effect of Beijing PAP implementation, the 2013–2022 vulnerability index from each district in the ECAs was evaluated with the Vulnerability-Scoping-Diagram (VSD) model to reflect the changes in the ecological environment before and after PAP implementation. The Propensity Score Matching Difference-in-Differences model (PSM-DID) was used to explore the impact of the PAP mechanism on the green development and livelihoods of rural residents in ECAs. The results revealed that the vulnerability index of the ECAs decreased from 0.45 in 2013 to less than 0.05 in 2022, with an average annual reduction of 9%, attributing to the strict implementation of environment preservation policies. The PAP mechanism also clearly promoted green economy and livelihoods development in the ECAs. In addition to effectively stimulating development in Beijing ECAs, the PAP mechanism can be referenced by similar metropolitan cities to develop regional collaboration for ecological protection and balanced development.

Hepatitis B virus infection among children aged 1– 5 years of Mayurbhanj district (Odisha), India: A prospective study protocol

Background Over past few years, global healthcare landscape has seen an increased recognition of the significance of infectious diseases, especially those affecting vulnerable populations such as young children, one of these diseases, Hepatitis B has emerged as a notable public health concern. Hepatitis B is highly transmissible during early years of life and may lead to complications like long-term chronicity, cirrhosis of liver and the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. To address this growing concern, there is a pressing need for community-based studies to assess the prevalence, transmission patterns, risk factors, and potential interventions for Hepatitis B among children below the age of five. These studies should also assess the community’s knowledge and practices regarding Hepatitis B and immunization. Methods The cross- sectional study will include a sample size of 2700 children aged between 1 to 5 years of Mayurbhanj district, Odisha. The serum samples will be tested for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs). A detailed questionnaire will be prepared after focus group discussions with caregivers and healthcare workers to describe their knowledge and practices regarding HBV disease, associated risk factor and immunization. Discussion The prospective sero-epidemiological study conducted within the community will assist in determining the prevalence of Hepatitis B within the vulnerable population. It will provide valuable insights for monitoring the current status of Hepatitis B in Mayurbhanj district and contribute to enhancing ongoing efforts in vaccination, control, and eradication of Hepatitis B.

Higher-order temporal network prediction and interpretation

A social interaction (so-called higher-order event/interaction) can be regarded as the activation of a hyperlink among the corresponding individuals. Social interactions can be, thus, represented as higher-order temporal networks that record the higher-order events occurring at each time step over time. The prediction of higher-order interactions is usually overlooked in traditional temporal network prediction methods, where a higher-order interaction is regarded as a set of pairwise interactions. The prediction of future higher-order interactions is crucial to forecast and mitigate the spread of information, epidemics and opinion on higher-order social contact networks. In this paper, we propose novel memory-based models for higher-order temporal network prediction. By using these models, we aim to predict the higher-order temporal network one time step ahead, based on the network observed in the past. Importantly, we also intend to understand what network properties and which types of previous interactions enable the prediction. The design and performance analysis of these models is supported by our analysis of the memory property of networks, e.g., similarity of the network and activity of a hyperlink over time, respectively. Our models assume that a target hyperlink’s future activity (active or not) depends on the past activity of the target link and of all or selected types of hyperlinks that overlap with the target. We then compare the performance of our models with three baseline models, which are an activity driven model, a probabilistic group-change model and a pairwise temporal network prediction method. In eight real-world networks, we find that both our models consistently outperform the baselines. Moreover, the refined model, which only uses a subset of all types of overlapping hyperlinks, tends to perform the best. Our models also reveal how past interactions of the target hyperlink and different types of hyperlinks that overlap with the target contribute to the prediction of the target’s future activity.

Behavior classification: Introducing machine learning approaches for classification of sign-tracking, goal-tracking and beyond

Classifying behaviors in research often relies on predetermined or subjective cutoff values, which can introduce inconsistencies and reduce objectivity. For example, in Pavlovian conditioning studies, rodents display diverse behaviors which can be quantified using the Pavlovian Conditioning Approach (PavCA) Index score. This score is used to categorize subjects as sign-trackers (ST), goal-trackers (GT), or intermediate (IN) groups, but the cutoff values used to distinguish these categories are often arbitrary and inconsistent. The inconsistencies stem from variability in the skewness and kurtosis of score distributions across laboratories, influenced by a range of biological and environmental factors. To address this issue, we explored two approaches to PavCA Index score classification: the k-Means classification and the derivative method. These methods determine cutoff values based on the distribution of PavCA Index scores in the sample, allowing for broader applicability to various types of behavioral data. Our results suggest that these methods, particularly the derivative method based on mean scores from the final days of conditioning, are effective tools for identifying sign-trackers and goal-trackers, especially in relatively small samples. In contrast to existing methods, our approaches provide a standardized classification framework that reflects unique distributions. Furthermore, these methods are adaptable to a researcher’s specific needs, accommodating different models and sample sizes. To facilitate implementation, we provide MATLAB code for classifying subjects using both the k-Means classifier and the derivative method.

Two cancer cell lines utilize Myosin 10 and the kinesin HSET differentially to maintain mitotic spindle bipolarity

Cancer cells often undergo mitosis possessing more than two centrosomes. To avoid a multipolar mitosis, the consequences of which are typically aneuploidy induced senescence, they must cluster their extra centrosomes to create a pseudo-bipolar spindle. Such supernumerary centrosome clustering (SNCC) requires Myosin 10 (Myo10) and the pole-focusing kinesin HSET. We showed recently that Myo10 promotes SNCC in HeLa cells by promoting retraction fiber-based cell adhesion, and that it further supports spindle bipolarity by preventing the generation of extra spindle poles via pericentriolar material (PCM) fragmentation. Here we quantified the contribution that Myo10 and HSET make individually and together to SNCC and PCM/pole integrity in HeLa cells and in MDA-MB-231 cells, which differ from HeLa in being more dependent on SNCC and less dependent on retraction fiber-based cell adhesion. As expected, knockdown of Myo10 and HSET individually increased the frequency of multipolar spindles in both cell types. Their effects were surprisingly not additive, however. For HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cells undergoing mitosis with more than two centrosomes, the defect in SNCC was almost entirely responsible for their multipolar phenotype following knockdown of either Myo10 or HSET. For HeLa and MDA-MB-231 cells undergoing mitosis with two centrosomes, PCM/pole fragmentation was the primary cause of multipolar spindles following HSET knockdown. Unlike HeLa, however, MDA-MB-231 cells exhibited very little PCM/pole fragmentation following Myo10 knockdown. This difference may be due to the smaller role that Myo10 plays in retraction fiber-based adhesion in MDA-MB-231. Finally, we show that HSET knockdown disrupts retraction fiber formation and organization, which may explain why the defects in double knockdown cells were not significantly greater than in HSET knockdown cells. These and other results can inform efforts to target these two motor proteins to selectively kill cancer cells by increasing their frequency of multipolar divisions.

Impute the missing data by combining retrieved dropouts and return to baseline method

Currently, various methods have been proposed to handle missing data in clinical trials. Some methods assume that the missing data are missing at random (MAR), which means that it is assumed that subjects who stopped treatment would still maintain the treatment effect. In many cases, however, researchers often assume that the missing data are missing not at random (MNAR) to conduct additional sensitivity analyses. Under the MNAR assumption, whether using some conservative imputation methods such as RTB (return to baseline) method, J2R (jump to reference) method, and CR (copy reference) method, or optimistic imputation methods like multiple imputation (MI) and its derivative RD (retrieved dropout) method, biases compared to the true treatment effect can occur in some scenarios. This paper aims to propose a method that can impute results while considering the occurrence of intercurrent events, thereby reducing the bias compared to the true treatment effect. This method combines the RD method with the RTB formula, reducing the biases and standard errors associated with using either method alone. Considering the differing treatment effects between RD subjects and non-RD subjects, our imputation results often align more closely with the true drug efficacy.

Optimized Grasshopper Optimisation Algorithm enabled DETR (DEtection TRansformer) model for skin disease classification

Skin disease classification is a choir cognate for early diagnosis and therapy. The novelty of this study lies in integrating the Grasshopper Optimisation Algorithm (GOA) with a DETR (DEtection TRansformer) model which is developed for the classification of skin disease. Hyperparameter tuning using GOA optimizes the critical parameters of the proposed model to improve classification accuracy. After extensive testing on a large dataset of skin disease photos, the optimised DETR model returned an accuracy of at least 99.26%. The superiority of the DETR improved using GOA compared to standard ones indicates its potential to be used for automatically diagnosing skin diseases. Findings demonstrate that the proposed method contributes to enhancing diagnostic accuracy and creates a basis for improving transformer-based medical image analysis.

Psychedelic control of neuroimmune interactions governing fear

Three-month functional outcomes of acute ischemic stroke in patients with chronic renal function impairment

Background Chronic renal function impairment (RFI) increases the risk of acute ischemic stroke (AIS), greater stroke severity, and post-stroke disability and mortality. Objective We aimed to assess the three-month functional outcomes of AIS in patients with chronic RFI. Methods In this prospective study, stroke severity was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and functional outcomes were assessed using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Outcomes were analyzed based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Results Among the 205 patients included (median age: 70 years, IQR: 61–82), 123 (60%) were male. Patients with lower eGFR had higher NIHSS scores (more severe strokes) and higher mRS scores at both baseline and three months (poorer functional outcomes). Based on a logistic regression model adjusted for confounding factors, higher eGFR was significantly associated with good three-month functional outcomes (adjusted OR = 2.634, 95% CI [1.207, 5.748], p = 0.015). Conclusions Chronic RFI is associated with more severe strokes and poorer baseline and three-month functional outcomes after AIS. Future research should explore targeted management strategies to improve post-stroke recovery in this population.

Application and evaluation of traditional garden culture in modern urban landscape design under the context of cultural sustainability

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) views cultural diversity as a core driver of sustainable development. Traditional garden culture, as an essential component of Chinese culture, encompasses rich historical significance and unique aesthetic values. Integrating elements of traditional garden culture into modern urban landscape design can enhance the cultural depth of urban spaces and increase the attractiveness and cultural identity of urban environments, thereby fostering sustainable urban development. In this context, this study proposes a method framework for the innovative design and evaluation of urban landscapes. Urban public landscape streetlights are used as a case study. First, the Grounded Theory (GT) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) are combined to construct its hierarchical model of design evaluation indicators, and the weights and priority rankings of these indicators are calculated. Based on the AHP analysis results, the study draws inspiration from the traditional garden cultural elements of the Jinci Temple in Shanxi to carry out an innovative design practice for local urban landscape streetlights. Finally, the Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation (FCE) method is employed to assess and select the design proposals. This study explores the application and evaluation methods of traditional garden culture in modern urban landscape design based on the GT-AHP-FCE framework. The feasibility and effectiveness of this framework are validated through design examples, providing innovative theoretical and practical guidance for future designers and offering new pathways for the inheritance and innovation of traditional garden culture.

Clarifying the meaning of a positive living environment in nursing homes: A scoping review protocol

Background Nursing homes provide permanent residence and care for older individuals who can no longer live independently. Despite efforts to create a safe and homelike environment, concerns persist regarding residents’ well-being. Current research often focuses on different aspects, such as quality of life, sense of home or thriving in the nursing home, each only providing a partial understanding of what constitutes a positive living environment. To address this, we will explore what entails the concept of ‘a positive living environment’ in nursing homes from the perspectives of residents, staff, and informal caregivers. Methods We will follow Levac and colleagues’ scoping review framework, integrating Walker and Avant’s concept analysis methodology. Searches will be conducted in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and CINAHL. We will include peer-reviewed qualitative or mixed-method studies, published in English or Dutch in the last 20 years. Studies must address nursing home settings and explore perspectives of residents, staff, or informal caregivers on what constitutes a positive living environment. Title and abstract screening will be performed by one reviewer, with a second reviewer assessing a subset of papers until reaching a 90% agreement rate. Full-text screening will be conducted by one reviewer, with any doubts discussed with the research team. Forward and backward snowballing techniques will be used on papers that pass full-text screening. Data will be extracted and analyzed using concept analysis methodology by examining uses of the concept, defining attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews will be used as the reporting guideline. Conclusion This protocol outlines the methods for our scoping review to clarify the concept of a positive living environment in nursing homes. Its findings will guide the development of nursing home environments to better meet residents’ needs and preferences.