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Aurore Margat,1 Benoit Pétré,2 Soizic David,1 Daniela Toro Arrocet,1 Vincent de Andrade,1 Cyril Crozet,1 Delphine Kirkove,2 Rémi Gagnayre1 1Education and Health Promotion Laboratory (LEPS), (UR 3412), UFR SMBH, Sorbonne Paris-Nord University, Bobigny, France; 2Department of Public Health, University of Liege, Liège, BelgiumCorrespondence: Aurore Margat, Email aurore.margat@univ-paris13.frIntroduction: The management of a pandemic, such as COVID-19, requires the full participation of citizens. This recent situation has revealed the undermining of user participation in the decision-making process. Thus, this study aims to assess the involvement of users in the design and administration of surveys for health crisis monitoring and to stimulate reflection on information processes shared upstream during the decision-making process.Methods: A literature search was conducted on population monitoring surveys published during the first containment period in Belgium and France between April and May 2020. The selected studies were first analyzed according to a reading grid based on the criteria proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) for monitoring populations and supplemented by data from a descriptive analysis of the selected studies. Second, with the objective of specifically evaluating the involvement of users in monitoring surveys, this study evaluated the surveys according to the following parameters: content of a study based on themes presented in surveys; inclusion of health literacy (HL); and factors of commitment of the respondents to the survey.Results: A total of 45 studies were selected for final analysis. The majority of the surveys focused on the effect of COVID-19 on well-being. Furthermore, analysis indicated that, in summary, the HL of people concerned as well as the involvement of respondents is poorly considered, which remains limited in terms of the design and administration of the surveys.Discussion: Although the principles of health democracy seemed to have been established, the exceptional regime induced by the epidemic overlooked the observance of such principles. This result indicates the need to reconsider the participation of citizens as real partners in care, including health crisis management.Keywords: COVID-19, health democracy, survey, citizen engagement, health literacy

Benoit Pétré,1 Delphine Kirkove,1 Vincent de Andrade,2 Cyril Crozet,2 Daniela Toro-Arrocet,2 Aurore Margat,2 Rémi Gagnayre2 1Department of Public Health, University of Liege, Liège, Belgium; 2Education and Health Practices Laboratory, UR 3412, UFR Santé Médecine Biologie Humaine, Sorbonne Paris-Nord University, Bobigny, FranceCorrespondence: Benoit PétréDepartment of Public Health, University of Liège, Quartier Hôpital, Avenue Hippocrate 13 (B23), Liège, 4000, BelgiumTel +32 4 366 2505Email benoit.petre@uliege.beAbstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has compelled public authorities to establish preventive measures involving individual behaviour modification strategies (mask-wearing, social distancing, etc.) with a view to community protection. In this context, documenting people’s behaviour changes, the impact of public health measures, and individuals’ knowledge, motivations, and beliefs – even their perception of how the crisis is being managed – is essential for understanding the experience of the population and adapting the management approach accordingly. This article presents findings and lessons on how to monitor a population’s behaviour during a crisis, obtained by reviewing forty-five surveys conducted in Belgium and France during the first Covid-19 stay-at-home order, from April to May 2020. The central message is to argue that the citizens’ role in this type of survey – and in managing the crisis, more generally – should be reconsidered by thinking of them as true health partners and members of a community that could be mobilised to help.Keywords: pandemic, covid 19, community monitoring, preventive health behavior

Benoit Pétré,1 Remi Gagnayre,2 Vincent De Andrade,2 Olivier Ziegler,3 Michèle Guillaume1 1Department of Public Health, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium; 2Educations and Health Practices Laboratory (LEPS), (EA 3412), UFR SMBH, Paris 13 University, Sorbonne Paris Cite, Bobigny, 3Department of Diabetes, Metabolic diseases and Nutrition, Nancy University Hospital, Nancy, France Abstract: Educative attitude is an essential, if implicit, aspect of training to acquire competency in therapeutic patient education (TPE). With multiple (or nonexistent) definitions in the literature, however, the concept needs clarification. The primary aim of this study was to analyze the representations and transformations experienced by health care professionals in the course of TPE training in order to characterize educative attitude. We conducted an exploratory qualitative study using several narrative research-based tools with participants of two TPE continuing education courses. We then performed an inductive thematic analysis. Thirty-three people participated in the study; the majority were women (n=29), nurses (n=17) working in a hospital setting (n=28). Seven categories of statements were identified: time-related (“the right moment, how much time it takes”), the benefits of TPE (to health care professionals’ personal well-being), emotions and feelings (quality of exchanges, sharing), the professional nature of TPE (educational competencies required), the holistic, interdisciplinary approach (complexity of the person and value of teamwork), the educational nature of the care relationship (education an integral part of care) and the ethical dimension (introspection essential). The first three components appear fairly innovative, at least in formulation. The study’s originality rests primarily in its choice of participants – highly motivated novices who expressed themselves in a completely nontheoretical way. Health models see attitude as critical for adopting a behavior. Best TPE practices should encourage personal work on this, opening professionals to the social, experiential and emotional aspects of managing chronic illness. Keywords: therapeutic patient education, attitude of health personnel, competence, professional

Copyright of Ceramica is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Ceramica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Persons with severe to profound hearing loss are potentially vulnerable participants in research trials. Standard enrolment practices are likely to threaten or limit the process of informed consent. Misconceptions held by the hearing community about hearing loss and the impact of amplification of hearing, as well as on the nature of signed language, may jeopardise the process. This is particularly the case in the complex sociopolitical context of South Africa, which has significantly influenced the educational and linguistic status of deaf persons. This paper describes factors of importance, and suggests a number of guidelines for researchers using deaf participants. The paper will highlight some relevant dimensions of deafness to take into account, and the impact of socioeconomic context on this issue. Three case examples will be used to illustrate the complexities of the issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new synthetic method has been developed for the regioselective conversion of epoxides to vicinal chloro-/bromohydrins and vicinal dihalides by reaction with the system trihaloisocyanuric acid/triphenylphosphine in acetonitrile under mild and neutral conditions. The reactions proceed smoothly in high yield at room temperature and at reflux, respectively, over a short time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Carbonaceous chondrites record the action of water at some point of their petrological history. These meteorites are usually connected to low albedo asteroid, which present visible/near-IR absorption explained by iron related absorption within phyllosilicates and oxides. In order to obtain quantitative insight into the mineralogy of iron-bearing phases, we have measured X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy at the iron K-edge of matrix from carbonaceous chondrites. This method enables to constrain the redox state and environment of iron in these meteorites. For this study, we selected seven CM chondrites and the CI Orgueil, expected to span a range of aqueous alteration degrees. Our analysis of the pre-edge features show that the redox state of Orgueil (CI) is dominated by octahedral Fe and that the Fe3+/(Fe3++Fe2+) atomic ratio is above 80%. Full-inversion of the spectra suggests that the iron budget is dominated by iron oxides, with additional contributions from phyllosilicate. In the case of the CM, the iron speciation appears different that in the case of Orgueil. Cronstedtite is identified from the inversion of the spectra, and suggested by the presence of significant amount of tetrahedral Fe3+. Within the CM chondrites, a trend of aqueous alteration appears presents, and which is roughly correlated to the scheme defined by Rubin et al. (2007). This trend is characterized by an increase in the amount of iron oxides. Two shock metamorphosed CM are present in our dataset (PCA 91008, WIS 91600). If WIS 91600 does not appear distinguishable, from the CM trend, in the case of PCA 91008, shock metamorphism did impact the pre-edge intensity and an increased amount of anhydrous silicates is found. Although the matrix was dehydrated, significant amount of Fe3+ is still present, providing a memory of the aqueous alteration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Traditional health practitioners offer a variety of interventions for people who choose traditional health practice services. Hearing impairment, which may cause significant difficulties in communication, employment and learning, is a condition for which people consult with traditional health practitioners in South Africa. The training undergone by traditional health practitioners sets the tone for the types of intervention for persons with hearing loss. As there is a paucity of literature in this area, 15 traditional health practitioners were interviewed about the training they had undergone and more specifically with regards to hearing loss. The content thematic analysis which was conducted on the interview transcripts revealed that the training of traditional health practitioners has a significant supernatural component which includes a spiritual possession through which the ancestors pass on the inspired knowledge on how to assess and treat clients. The calling to become a traditional health practitioner is reportedly a divine vocation and cannot be refused. During their apprenticeships, traditional health practitioners learn to interpret the dreams sent by the ancestors and learn to hone their skills in the identification of appropriate treatments for hearing loss. The findings of this study suggest the need for open communication between traditional and modern health care providers so that traditional and allopathic health practitioners can learn from each other so as to provide an effective and appropriate intervention for their clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assumption that matter charges and currents could generate fields, which are called, in analogy with electromagnetism, gravitoeletric and gravitomagnetic fields, dating from the origins of General Relativity (GR). On the other hand, the Teleparallel Equivalent of GR (TEGR), as a gauge theory, seems to be the ideal scenario to define these fields, based on the gauge field strength components. The purpose of the present work is to investigate the nature of the gravitational electric and magnetic fields in the context of the TEGR, where the tetrad formalism on which it is based seems more suited to deal with phenomena related to observers. As its applications, we have studied the gravito-electromagnetic fields for the Schwarzschild solution and for the geometry produced by a spherical rotating shell in slow motion and weak field regime. The expressions obtained, at the linear regime, are very similar to those of electromagnetism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metals and metalloids including lead (Pb), arsenic (As) and manganese (Mn) can occur as mixtures in occupational contexts, such as mines. These chemicals are all known to be neurotoxic and provoke changes in heme metabolism also known to induce neurotoxicity. The objective of this work was to propose a multi-biomarker (BM) methodology to screen subjects exposed to the mixture of Pb, As and Mn and assess the severity of their exposure/effects, in an individual basis. The urinary levels of the metals, dela-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and porphyrins were determined in Portuguese miners and in a control group. The combination of Pb and As urinary levels had the highest capability to identify subjects occupationally exposed to this mixture in mines, as evaluated through Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) (A = 98.2%; p < 0.05), allowing that 94.2% of 86 studied subjects were properly identified and the generation of an equation indicating the odd of a subject be considered as exposed to the metal mixture. The combination of urinary ALA and porphyrins revealed to be best one to be applied in the assessment of subjects with high, intermediate, and low magnitudes of exposure/effects, with 95.7% of 46 miners classified correctly according to their severity sub-group and allowing to generate equations, which can be applied in new subjects. The proposed methodology showed a satisfactory performance, evaluating in an integrated manner the magnitude of exposure/effects of the exposed workers, may contributing to improve the control of their health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oman blueschists and eclogites lie below the obduction nappe of the Semail ophiolite in one of the key areas on Earth for the study of plate convergence. Here new metamorphic and tectonic constraints are provided for the central, yet poorly constrained Hulw unit, sandwiched between the low-grade units (∼10 kbar, <300 °C) and the As Sifah eclogites ( Pmax ∼ 23 kbar; Tmax ∼ 600 °C). TWEEQU multi-equilibrium thermobarometry, using both compositional mapping and spot analyses, and Raman spectroscopy of carbonaceous material yield a high-precision P–T path for the Hulw and As Sheikh units and reveal that they shared a common P–T history in four stages: (i) a pressure decrease from 10–12 kbar, 250–300 °C to 7–9 kbar, 300–350 °C; (ii) almost isobaric heating at ∼8–10 kbar from 300–350 °C to 450–500 °C; (iii) a pressure decrease at moderate temperatures (∼450–500 °C); and (iv) isobaric cooling at ∼5–6 kbar from 450–500 to 300 °C. No significant pressure or temperature gap is observed across the upper plate–lower plate discontinuity to the north and west of the Hulw unit. The combination of tectonic and P–T data constrains the stacking chronology of the three main metamorphic units comprising the Saih Hatat window (i.e. the Ruwi-Quryat, the Hulw-As Sheikh and the Diqdah-As Sifah units). These results strengthen the view that the tectonic and metamorphic data are conveniently accounted for by a simple, N-vergent continental subduction of the passive Arabian margin below the obduction nappe along a cold P–T gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantification of discrete pressure–temperature domains in deformed chlorite + white mica-bearing metapelites was undertaken on mineral compositions derived by two-dimensional microprobe compositional mapping of selected areas of rock thin sections. In order to achieve compositional information at sufficient analytical precision, spatial resolution and sample coverage within a typical analysis time of 1 day, an optimization of measurement methods was necessary. The method presented here allows collection of raw counts for eight different element concentrations at an analytical precision of ∼1–2 wt%. X-ray intensity multiplane maps (one map per measured chemical element) are translated into concentration multiplane maps, utilizing selected conventionally measured spot analyses combined with the Castaing approximation for each mineral. As this step requires identification of the different minerals present in the mapped area, a statistical clustering technique to identify different groups of composition was developed, guided by simple petrographic inspection of the thin section, to delineate the important minerals in the mapped area. Finally, the compositions of each pixel are translated into a mineral structural formula thus yielding a new kind of image with a high content of petrological information. The reliability of the mineral composition images was emphasized by carrying out precision tests on the analytical data. The possible use of chemical maps to infer the P– T–deformation history of metamorphic rocks is illustrated with two samples from the Spitzbergen and the Sambagawa blueschist facies belts. In both samples, a strong correlation between structures and chemistry is observed. Qualitative estimates of P– T conditions from the Si-content of mica and chlorite are in good agreement with their location in microstructures that formed at different times. Therefore, the combination of chemical maps with microstructural observations is a very powerful approach to understand both the evolution of complex metamorphic rocks and the control by deformation of mineral reactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative X-ray maps of composition from a chlorite, K-white mica, albite, quartz and garnet bearing thin section from a Sambagawa blueschist facies metapelite were combined with a multi-equilibrium calculation method to calculate a P– T-Fe3+/Fe2+-deformation map at the millimetre scale. The studied sample was chosen because elongated chlorite crystallization tails (pressure shadows) rimmed by phengite are present, which is an appropriate assemblage for the quantification of the P– T evolution. Chlorite temperature and Fe3+ content maps were calculated by successive iterations for each pixel analysis of Fe3+ until convergence of the four chlorite-quartz-H2O equilibria that can be written using the Fe- and Mg-amesite, clinchlore, daphnite and sudoite chlorite end-members. The calculated map of Fe2+/Fe3+ in chlorite is in good qualitative agreement with the in situ mapping of this ratio using XANES (X-ray absorption near edge structure) techniques. The temperature map indicates that high temperature chlorite zones with low Fe3+ contents alternate with lower temperature zones and higher Fe3+ contents in the crystallization tail. Late fractures perpendicular to the elongation axis of the tail are filled by very low temperature chlorite (<250 °C) showing Fe3+/Fetotal up to 0.4. Groups of chlorite and mica pixels were then identified based on compositional and structural criteria, and a P– T-deformation map was calculated using representative analyses of these groups. The calculated P– T-deformation map suggests that in contrast to chlorite, the composition of most mica did not change significantly during exhumation. Mica reequilibrated in late EW shear bands only. EW shearing was already active at 0.1 GPa, 500 °C, which corresponds to the peak temperature (and probably pressure) conditions, at reduced redox conditions. The intensity of deformation probably decreased with decrease in temperature to ∼350–400 °C. At this temperature, a second main deformation event corresponding to a further EW stretching occurred and was still active below 250 °C and more oxidizing conditions. These results indicate that the scale at which P– T data can be obtained is now close to the scale of observation of structural geologists. A close link between deformation and mineral reaction is therefore possible at the microscopic scale, which provides information about the relationship between deformation and mineral reactivity, the modalities of deformation with time and the P– T conditions at which it occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By generalizing the Hodge dual operator to the case of soldered bundles, and working in the context of the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity, an analysis of the duality symmetry in gravitation is performed. Although the basic conclusion is that, at least in the general case, gravitation is not dual symmetric, there is a particular theory in which this symmetry shows up. It is a self dual (or anti-self dual) teleparallel gravity in which, due to the fact that it does not contribute to the interaction of fermions with gravitation, the purely tensor part of torsion is assumed to vanish. The ensuing fermionic gravitational interaction is found to be chiral. Since duality is intimately related to renormalizability, this theory may eventually be more amenable to renormalization than teleparallel gravity or general relativity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quadratic form of the Dirac equation in a Riemann space-time yields a gravitational gyromagnetic ratio κ[sub S] = 2 for the interaction of a Dirac spinor with curvature. A gravitational gyromagnetic ratio &kappa[sub S] = 1 is also found for the interaction of a vector field with curvature. It is shown that the Dirac equation in a curved background can be obtained as the square-root of the corresponding vector field equation only if the gravitational gyromagnetic ratios are properly taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the framework of the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity, we study the dynamics of a gravitationally coupled electromagnetic field. It is shown that the electromagnetic field is able not only to couple to torsion, but also, through its energy-momentum tensor, produce torsion. Furthermore, it is shown that the coupling of the electromagnetic field with torsion preserves the local gauge invariance of Maxwell's theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the understanding of the toxicity of pentavalent antimony (SbV), we investigated the acute effects of meglumine antimoniate (MA) on the oxidative stress in heart, liver, kidney, spleen and brain tissue of mice. Levels of lipoperoxidation and protein carbonylation were measured to evaluate the oxidative status, whereas superoxide dismutase/catalase activity and glutathione levels were recorded to examine the antioxidative status. We observed that MA caused significant protein carbonylation in the heart, spleen and brain tissue. Increased lipoperoxidation was found in the liver and brain tissue. An imbalance between superoxide dismutase and catalase activities could be observed in heart, liver, spleen and brain tissue. Our results suggest that MA causes oxidative stress in several vital organs of mice. This indicates that the production of highly reactive oxygen and nitrogen species induced by MA might be involved in some of its toxic adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary care actors can play a major role in developing and promoting access to Self-Management Education and Support (SMES) programmes for people with chronic disease. We reviewed studies on SMES programmes in primary care by focusing on the following dimensions: models of SMES programmes in primary care, SMES team's composition, and participants' characteristics., Methods: For this mixed-methods rapid review, we searched the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases to identify articles in English and French that assessed a SMES programme in primary care for four main chronic diseases (diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and/or respiratory chronic disease) and published between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2021. We excluded articles on non-original research and reviews. We evaluated the quality of the selected studies using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. We reported the study results following the PRISMA guidelines., Results: We included 68 studies in the analysis. In 46/68 studies, a SMES model was described by focusing mainly on the organisational dimension (n = 24). The Chronic Care Model was the most used organisational model (n = 9). Only three studies described a multi-dimension model. In general, the SMES team was composed of two healthcare providers (mainly nurses), and partnerships with community actors were rarely reported. Participants were mainly patients with only one chronic disease. Only 20% of the described programmes took into account multimorbidity. Our rapid review focused on two databases and did not identify the SMES programme outcomes., Conclusions: Our findings highlight the limited implication of community actors and the infrequent inclusion of multimorbidity in the SMES programmes, despite the recommendations to develop a more interdisciplinary approach in SMES programmes. This rapid review identified areas of improvement for SMES programme development in primary care, especially the privileged place of nurses in their promotion., Trial Registration: PROSPERO 2021 CRD42021268290 ., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Hearing loss is an important global public health issue which can be alleviated through treatment with hearing aids. However, most people who would benefit from hearing aids do not receive them, in part due to challenges in accessing hearing aids and related services, which are most salient in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and other resource-limited settings. Innovative approaches for hearing aid service delivery can overcome many of the challenges related to access, including that of limited human resources trained to provide ear and hearing care. The purpose of this systematic scoping review is to synthesize evidence on service delivery approaches for hearing aid provision in LMIC and resource-limited settings. We searched 3 databases (PubMed, Scopus, Ovid MEDLINE) for peer-reviewed articles from 2000 to 2022 that focused on service delivery approaches related to hearing aids in LMIC or resource-limited settings. Fifteen peer-reviewed articles were included, which described hospital-based (3 studies), large-scale donation program (1 studies), community-based (7 studies), and remote (telehealth; 4 studies) service delivery approaches. Key findings are that hearing aid services can be successfully delivered in hospital- and community-based settings, and remotely, and that both qualified hearing care providers and trained non-specialists can provide quality hearing aid services. Service delivery approaches focused on community-based and remote care, and task sharing among qualified hearing care providers and trained non-specialists can likely improve access to hearing aids worldwide, thereby reducing the burden of untreated hearing loss., Competing Interests: I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests. Author De Wet Swanepoel declares: Consultation, equity and potential royalties, hearX Group, Pretoria, South Africa. Author Carrie Nieman declares: Volunteer membership on the nonprofit board of directors for the Hearing Loss Association of America and Access HEARS. No other authors have competing interests to declare., (Copyright: © 2024 Dillard et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

The transition of adolescents with type 1 diabetes should be organized such that loss of follow-up and deterioration of patients' metabolic control are minimized., Objective: Our study aimed to ascertain whether socioeconomic status is featured in the characteristics of adolescents with type 1 diabetes in transition programmes and their inclusion in transition programmes., Research Design and Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed according to PRISMA recommendations. All articles published between 2010 and 2023 were considered. Studies that described a transition programme for adolescents or young adults with T1DM were included., Results: After screening, 18 studies were included. Different transition programmes were proposed (exchanges between professionals, coordinators, and transition clinics). Nine articles described socio-economic factors. The educational level was the most frequently reported. Only three studies evaluated the impact of one parameter on transition success: a lower education level was associated with more hospital visits for hyperglycaemia, and the other did not report any socioeconomic factor associated with clinic attendance., Conclusions: The socioeconomic status of type 1 diabetes is poorly described in transition programmes, and the few that do make mention of it, offer little information about patient management., (© 2023 The Authors. Diabetic Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Diabetes UK.)

Multiple studies have noted the impacts on student mental health of the COVID-19 pandemic, associated national lockdowns and emergency remote teaching. In light of COVID-19 shifting from pandemic to endemic status, this study investigates the developmental and mental health consequences of the pandemic for a group of South African undergraduate students. A qualitative design allowed for the thematic analysis of the narratives of 140 humanities students, gathered through an online survey. This paper presents the 'voices' of this group to convey the intensity of their COVID-19 experience. The results suggest a loss of a sense of freedom and opportunities to explore and experiment, high levels of depression with a notable sense of hopelessness regarding the future and decreased motivation, and significant reports of social anxiety related to delays in the development of social skills due to social isolation, particular to the first-year cohort., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© 2023 Society for the Study of Emerging Adulthood and SAGE Publishing.)

Human mentality develops with age and is altered in psychiatric disorders, though their underlying mechanism is unknown. In this study, we analyzed nanometer-scale three-dimensional structures of brain tissues of the anterior cingulate cortex from eight schizophrenia and eight control cases. The distribution profiles of neurite curvature of the control cases showed a trend depending on their age, resulting in an age-correlated decrease in the standard deviation of neurite curvature (Pearson's r = -0.80, p = 0.018). In contrast to the control cases, the schizophrenia cases deviate upward from this correlation, exhibiting a 60% higher neurite curvature compared with the controls (p = 7.8 × 10-4). The neurite curvature also showed a correlation with a hallucination score (Pearson's r = 0.80, p = 1.8 × 10-4), indicating that neurite structure is relevant to brain function. This report is based on our 3D analysis of human brain tissues over a decade and is unprecedented in terms of the number of cases. We suggest that neurite curvature plays a pivotal role in brain aging and can be used as a hallmark to exploit a novel treatment of schizophrenia., Competing Interests: I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: Masanari Itokawa and Makoto Arai declare a competing interest, being authors of patents regarding therapeutic use of pyridoxamine for schizophrenia. The patent title is "Detection and treatment of schizophrenia" (US-2014335517-A1, JP 5288365, and EP 2189537). This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. All other authors declare no competing interest., (Copyright: This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.)

The health benefit of a vegetarian diet is still under debate as it may result in a higher intake of some beneficial micronutrients, while others may be reduced, thus influencing various metabolic pathways and health-related biomarkers. This scoping review discusses inflammatory, oxidative and DNA damage status in vegetarians and vegans compared to omnivores. Most of the reviewed studies indicated favorable effects of a vegetarian diet on oxidative status compared to omnivores but did not clearly associate particular dietary habits to genome damage. The evidence on the effect of vegetarian diet on the inflammatory and immunological biomarkers is poor, which could at least partly be explained by methodological constraints such as small sample size, short duration of vegetarianism and inconsistent definitions of the omnivorous diet. The only inflammatory biomarker that seems to be associated with the vegetarian diet was inflammatory mediator C-reactive protein, which in several studies showed lower values in vegetarians as compared to omnivores. There were very few studies on immunological markers and the results on the difference between vegetarians and omnivores were inconclusive. Although several biomarkers involved in oxidative stress and inflammation showed a beneficial association with the vegetarian diet, further research in well-defined and sufficiently sized cohorts is needed to provide more evidence.

Background: Speech-language therapists and audiologists (SLT&As) may encounter difficulties when confronted with patient death and dying, which may conflict with their moral beliefs and result in moral injury. Furthermore, South African SLT&As practice in a country with a high mortality rate, which may add to the complexity of their experience. Moreover, they may be influenced by African philosophies promoting care, which might conflict with their experiences of patient death and dying., Aims: To explore the moral injury experienced by South African SLT&As in patient death and dying, and how they overcame the injury., Methods & Procedures: This article forms part of a larger qualitative study that explored SLT&As' experiences of patient death and dying in South Africa. Thematic analysis was conducted on the transcripts of 25 episodic narrative interviews conducted with South African SLT&As on their experiences of patient death and dying., Outcomes & Results: Findings suggest that South African SLT&As experienced helplessness, guilt and anger in patient death and dying. However, with support from the allied team, engaging in self-reflection and religious practices, they reported alleviation of moral injury., Conclusions & Implications: In order to mitigate moral injury in South African SLT&As, they require professional education, self-care strategies, guidelines and support from the teams in which they work and their supervisors. Research is needed that explores how SLT&As' biographical characteristics and interactions with significant others of dying and deceased patients, may result in moral injury. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS?: What is already known on this subject? Moral injury and measures used to overcome the injury have been explored in military personnel, doctors and nurses, but not in SLT&As. However, studies that explored the perceptions of SLTs and/or audiologists regarding providing palliative care and of death and dying, particularly that by Rivers et al. in 2009, suggested that these professionals may be at risk of experiencing emotional trauma due to patient death, particularly when not receiving undergraduate education on this subject. However, the extent of this trauma and the support needed to overcome it is unknown because the participants in these studies may have not experienced patient death, and were only students or just SLTs. What this article adds? This article highlights the complexity of speech-language therapy and audiology practice when confronted with patient death and dying. South African SLT&As may have to make decisions that conflict with their morals and professional practice standards, especially as the helping nature of their profession is characterized by African philosophies that promote care, which may result in moral injury. Clinical implications of this article This article indicates that in addition to undergraduate education on patient death and dying, SLTs and audiologists require continuous professional education on this topic, self-care strategies, support from the teams in which they work, and their supervisors and guidelines for when they encounter patient death and dying., (© 2022 The Authors. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.)

Caffeine is a widely consumed substance, and there is a discussion about its effects when ingested by women during pregnancy and lactation. We aimed to identify the genotoxic effects of caffeine in female mice that consumed it during pregnancy and lactation periods and its consequences in their offspring. Thirty-six couples of Swiss mice received water or caffeine (0.3 and 1.0 mg/mL) treatment during pregnancy and lactation. The male and female offspring were divided into 12 groups according to the treatment administered to the female mice. Genotoxicity was assessed using the comet assay and the micronucleus test. Both doses of caffeine showed genotoxic effects in pregnant and lactating mice groups compared to groups not administered caffeine. In relation to offspring, it can be observed that females and males of the offspring had low weight in early life. In both female and male offspring, genotoxicity was detected in the blood, liver, and kidney tissues. Thus, from the present study, we can suggest that the caffeine consumed by female mice during the periods of pregnancy and lactation led to genotoxic effects in their offspring.

In the present study, we investigated gender differences in personality and psychiatric correlates among adults ( N = 115) seeking treatment for problematic internet use (PIU) at a specialized clinic in São Paulo, Brazil. All participants were assessed at the beginning of their treatment for co-occurring psychiatric conditions, other addictive behaviors, and personality characteristics. Women ( n = 20) were more likely to present with greater rates of psychiatric comorbidity compared to men ( n = 95 ), including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and bulimia nervosa. Women also had a greater severity of certain behavioral addictions, such as compulsive buying and disordered eating. Gender differences were also found across personality characteristics, with women scoring higher on impulsivity, novelty seeking, and self-transcendence compared to men. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to investigate gender differences for PIU in a clinical sample. The results suggest that there are notable gender differences in individuals seeking treatment for PIU which underscores the importance of assessing for co-occurring conditions, especially in women. Understanding the characteristics associated with PIU can help serve to inform the most appropriate interventions to bolster treatment outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Machado, Kim, Oliveira de Andrade, Snaychuk, Moura, Belliero Martini, de Abreu, Hodgins and Tavares.)

The organization and cellular composition of tissues are key determinants of their biological function. In the mammalian gastrointestinal (GI) tract, the enteric nervous system (ENS) intercalates between muscular and epithelial layers of the gut wall and can control GI function independent of central nervous system (CNS) input. 1 As in the CNS, distinct regions of the GI tract are highly specialized and support diverse functions, yet the regional and spatial organization of the ENS remains poorly characterized. 2 Cellular arrangements, 3 , 4 circuit connectivity patterns, 5 , 6 and diverse cell types 7-9 are known to underpin ENS functional complexity and GI function, but enteric neurons are most typically described only as a uniform meshwork of interconnected ganglia. Here, we present a bird's eye view of the mouse ENS, describing its previously underappreciated cytoarchitecture and regional variation. We visually and computationally demonstrate that enteric neurons are organized in circumferential neuronal stripes. This organization emerges gradually during the perinatal period, with neuronal stripe formation in the small intestine (SI) preceding that in the colon. The width of neuronal stripes varies throughout the length of the GI tract, and distinct neuronal subtypes differentially populate specific regions of the GI tract, with stark contrasts between SI and colon as well as within subregions of each. This characterization provides a blueprint for future understanding of region-specific GI function and identifying ENS structural correlates of diverse GI disorders., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

South Africa has experienced considerable international outward migration in the last half century, which has had a severe psychological impact on members of families affected by this phenomenon. Older parents who remain behind may experience feelings of loss and isolation. Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) are useful in maintaining relationships between family members separated by migration and increasingly allow migrant families to experience a virtual co-presence despite geographical separation. However, the process may be challenging, especially for older people with hearing difficulties. This article reports on a qualitative study exploring the perceptions of a group of older adults who have difficulty hearing and who live in a residential care home about using ICTs to communicate with family abroad. Interview data were analysed using thematic analysis. Most of the participants used either a fixed line telephone or a mobile phone. They reported challenges in communicating with family members abroad arising from their deafness, as well as difficulties using technological devices together with their hearing aids. These challenges resulted in feelings of helplessness and frustration. Although the data collection took place prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, these findings may be of particular relevance to situations such as those during the pandemic when many older adults became more reliant on technology to communicate with family members because of restrictions on direct contact. Accordingly, suggestions are made to address challenges in communication between older adults and loved ones who are geographically separated., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder. Living with ASD requires that individuals and parents develop skills in order to cope with daily life. Education interventions are recommended to support them. This study aims to get an overview of education and training interventions in ASD., Methods: A scoping review of international literature was conducted., Results: 43 articles were analyzed. Four main types of intervention stand out: support groups, parental training; psychoeducation; therapeutic patient education. However, the majority of publications is focused on the parents rather than on individuals living with ASD, and the needs assessments identified focused on general needs rather than educational needs., Conclusion: While educational interventions for parents and individuals with ASD are now encouraged, considerable heterogeneity is observed. But this variety is not based on a reasoned approach to matching supply and needs. Future studies could focus more on the educational needs of individuals with ASD., Practice Implications: Overview of education and training interventions in ASD help health care providers to better understand the strengths and limitations of their interventions., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)