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Background: Arrhythmias are prevalent cardiac disorders with significant impacts on patient quality of life and mortality. Amiodarone, a class III antiarrhythmic agent, is widely used to manage both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias due to its efficacy in prolonging the cardiac action potential and its multiple antiarrhythmic properties. While clinical trials have highlighted the safety and efficacy of amiodarone, there is limited real-world data on adverse events (AEs) associated with different administration routes. This study aims to address this gap by utilizing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) to investigate the spectrum and timing of AEs related to amiodarone administration through disproportionality analysis and stratification methods. Methods: Data from the FAERS database were analyzed using disproportionality analysis and reporting odds ratio (ROR) methods for comparative analysis, and the Weibull distribution for time-to-adverse-event analysis. The study examined data from 2004 through the first quarter of 2024 to analyze adverse event signals and the time of occurrence between intravenous and oral amiodarone administration. Results: A total of 16,749 records of adverse reactions associated with amiodarone were identified. Among these, 2,412 events were related to intravenous amiodarone, and 8,220 events were related to oral amiodarone. The analysis revealed that cardiac and hepatic AEs were more common with intravenous administration, while pulmonary and thyroid-related AEs were more frequent with oral administration. Furthermore, the onset of adverse reactions varied significantly between the routes. The Weibull distribution analysis showed a median onset time of 5 days for intravenous administration compared to 74 days for oral administration. Both routes exhibited early failure-type signals, indicating a decreasing risk of AEs over time. Conclusion: Amiodarone exhibits varying adverse drug reactions and onset times across different routes of administration. Clinicians should carefully consider these differences when selecting the administration route to balance the risks of adverse reactions with therapeutic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Student mental health is linked to improved learning, and there has been significant international investment in policies, practices, and programs focused on preventing and responding to mental health conditions amongst young people. Accordingly, the number of mental health and wellbeing interventions now being implemented in education settings continues to grow, despite a lack of research on teacher readiness to implement such interventions. Numerous studies have associated educator stress and burnout with increased workloads, yet the complexity of student needs, coupled with an ongoing lack of support, continue to result in high rates of educator attrition. This paper presents the findings of a recent mixed methods study of educators from schools and universities in Australia. The research approach included three key activities: (i) a systematic document review and synthesis of literature and policy documents, (ii) a validated "teacher worry" questionnaire that explores reasons for worry amongst educators, and (iii) qualitative interviews with key stakeholders, including educational psychologists, teachers, and preservice education coordinators. Correlation analysis suggests a relationship between individual sources of worry and intention to leave the profession, while thematic analysis offers insights into the experiences of educators, and their need for better support. Overall, the findings suggest that although teachers are already heavily burdened by their workload, they are increasingly subject to elevated expectations of dealing with diverse students' needs and behaviors. The research also indicates that educators' stress and poor mental health reduces their motivation to help students to reach academic goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: One of the central aims in ecology is elucidating the mechanisms that shape community diversity. While biodiversity patterns across geographical gradients are often attributed both to local assembly processes and regional species pools, the distinct roles of these factors in shaping soil aerobic methanotrophic diversity remain underexplored. Methods: Using amplicon sequencing and bioinformatics analysis, this study focuses on comparing the relative importance of species pool and community assembly processes in shaping soil methanotrophic communities across three distinct plateaus in China: the Loess Plateau, the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, and the Inner Mongolian Plateau. Each of these plateaus includes three distinct steppe habitats: desert, meadow, and typical steppe. Results: Our findings reveal that pmoA beta (β)-diversity followed a distance-decay pattern, which declined with geographical distance at different rates depending on the steppe type and area, potentially due to diverse mechanisms of community assembly. Moreover, a decoupling between β -diversity and gamma-diversity observed, suggesting that local community assembly mechanisms primarily account for variations in β -diversity patterns. Furthermore, the relative significance of these assembly processes (e.g., dispersal limitation, drift, environmental filtering, and biotic interactions) varies according to spatial scales and steppe types. Notably, the differential environmental conditions (such as soil pH, yearly average temperature, and precipitation) across scales and steppe habitats primarily modulate the intensity of these assembly processes, thereby influencing β -diversity. Conclusion: In summary, our study emphasizes the crucial role of local community assembly in changing soil methanotrophic β -diversity's geographical patterns, highlighting the significance of a nuanced understanding of these processes for effective conservation and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a metabolic center, the liver prevents inappropriate immune responses to abundant dietary antigens within the liver that could result in liver injury. This self-preservation mechanism can however decrease the efficiency of immunosurveillance of malignant cells by CD8 T cells. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is initiated by chronic viral infections, chronic alcohol consumption, and/or a fatty diet that leads to liver injury, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. HCC patients have high levels of dysfunctional and exhausted T cells, however, it is unclear which stage of HCC development contributes to T cell dysfunction. Repair of liver injury is initiated by interactions between injured hepatocytes and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC), however, chronic injury can lead to fibrosis. Here, using a diethylnitrosamine/carbon tetrachloride (DEN/CCl4) mouse model of early HCC development, we demonstrate that chronic liver injury and fibrosis are sufficient to induce a CD8 T cell exhaustion signature with a corresponding increase in expression of immunosuppressive molecules on LSEC. We show that LSEC alter T cell function at various stages of T cell differentiation/activation. LSEC compete with dendritic cells presenting the same antigen to naïve CD8 T cells resulting in a unique T cell phenotype. Furthermore, LSEC abrogate killing of target cells, in an antigen-dependent manner, by previously activated effector CD8 T cells, and LSEC change the effector cell cytokine profile. Moreover, LSEC induce functional T cell exhaustion under low dose chronic stimulation conditions. Thus, LSEC critically regulate the balance between preventing/limiting liver injury and permitting sufficient tumor immunosurveillance with normal hepatic functions likely contributing to HCC development under conditions of chronic liver insult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell therapy of skeletal muscles is a promising approach for the prevention of muscular diseases and age-related muscle atrophy. However, cell transplantation to treat muscle atrophy that does not involve disease, such as sarcopenia, is considered impossible because externally injected cells rarely engraft into non-injured muscle tissue. Additionally, skeletal muscle-specific somatic stem cells, called satellite cells, lose their ability to adhere to tissue after being cultured in vitro and transforming into myoblasts. To overcome these hurdles, we explored using extracellular matrix (ECM) components to create a niche environment conducive for myoblasts during transplantation. We demonstrated that myoblasts mixed with ECM components can be engrafted into intact skeletal muscle and significantly increase muscle mass in a mouse model. These findings implicate cell transplantation therapy as a viable option for the treatment of sarcopenia. The findings will inform advancements in regenerative medicine for skeletal muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor disorder of the nervous system that is mainly characterized by nighttime leg discomfort and can be accompanied by significant anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. RLS seriously affects the quality of life. Clinical studies have confirmed that acupuncture can alleviate the clinical symptoms of RLS. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of RLS and further explore the central response mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of RLS. Methods and analysis: In this RCT, a total of 124 eligible patients in Shanghai will be randomly assigned to one of the following two groups: treatment group (acupuncture) and control group (sham acupuncture). Treatment will be given three times per week for 4 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome is the International Restless Legs severity rating scale (IRLSS). The secondary outcomes are the RLS-Quality of Life (RLSQoL), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). The objective evaluation tools will be polysomnography, positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET-CT), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain. All adverse effects will be assessed by the Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale. Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline (1 week before the first intervention), during the intervention (the second week of the intervention), after the intervention (at the end of the intervention), at 1-month follow-up, and at 3-month follow-up. Ethics and dissemination: The trial has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (no. 2022-061). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals or presented at academic conferences. Clinical trial registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/ , identifier ChiCTR2000037287. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) infection can cause inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, leading to gastroenteritis, fever and other diseases in humans and animals. More and more studies have emphasized the broad prospects of probiotics in improving inflammation and oxidative stress, but the ability and mechanism of Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) to alleviate the inflammatory/oxidative reaction caused by pathogens are still unclear. Methods and results: In this study, we treated the mice with LA for 14 days, infected them with S. Typhimurium for 24 h, and sacrificed the mice to collect samples. We found that the early intervention of LA alleviated the pathological injury and reversed the down-regulation of the duodenal and hepatic tight junction protein mRNA levels caused by S. Typhimurium infection. Compared with S. Typhimurium group, LA early intervention increased the expression of antioxidant enzymes, but decreased the levels of serum malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Additionally, LA early intervention significantly increased Nrf2 mRNA expression in the liver and decreased Keap1 mRNA expression in the duodenum compared to the S. Typhimurium group. Furthermore, early LA treatment reduced the abundance of Bacteroides acidificiens , increased the abundance of Akkermansia , and alleviated the decrease in SCFAs levels in the cecum of S. Typhimurium-infected mice. Spearman correlation analysis showed that there was a certain correlation between cecal flora and serum indicators and short chain fatty acids. Conclusion: Taken together, the results indicate that LA early intervention may alleviates S. Typhimurium-induced inflammation and oxidative responses in mice by activating the p62-Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway and regulating the gut microbial community. Significance and impact of the study: Exploring the ability of LA to resist animal oxidative stress and microflora regulation caused by pathogenic microbes, so as to provide more options for developing healthy disease-resistant feed additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytes typically coexist with plants in symbiosis and transition into the saprobic system as plant tissues senesce, participating in the decomposition process of litter. However, the dynamic changes of endophytic communities during this process and their role in litter decomposition remain unclear. This study tracked the microbial composition across the transition from live leaves to litter in Cinnamomum camphora (L.) Presl (C. camphora) , evaluating the contribution of endophytes to litter decomposition by examining microbial diversity, community assembly, and co-occurrence networks along the endophyte-to-saprotroph spectrum. The results revealed increasing bacterial diversity but stable fungal diversity, and the diversity of endogenous microbes is mirrored this in the saprophytic phase. Bacterial community assembly was characterized by deterministic processes during the symbiotic phase, shifted to stochastic processes during the saprophytic phase. In contrast, fungal community assembly was predominantly driven by stochastic processes throughout the continuum. Out of the 49 keystone taxa identified, only Pseudorhodoplanes sinuspersici demonstrated a significant positive correlation with community assembly. All identified bacterial keystone taxa during the saprophytic phase originated from endophytic sources, and around 80% of the fungal keystone taxa in the initial stages of decomposition were similarly endophytic in origin. Additionally, 60% of the dominant bacterial taxa and 28% of the dominant fungal taxa at the commencement of decomposition were of endophytic descent. This suggests that endogenous microbes possess the potential to evolve into both keystone and dominant taxa during the saprophytic phase. Endogenous keystone and dominant microbes both exhibited significant correlations with microbial network, indicating their substantial ecological presence in microbial community. Both endogenous keystone and dominant taxa exerted significant potential influences on litter decomposition. Overall, during the saprophytic phase, endophytes are likely to influence the assemblage of microbial communities, the network structure, and decomposition-related functions. Specifically, it appears that bacterial endophytes may possess a greater adaptability to the decomposition processes of leaf litter compared to their fungal counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bivalve mollusks are globally distributed in marine and freshwater habitats. While exhibiting a relatively uniform bodyplan that is characterized by their eponymous bivalved shell that houses the soft-bodied animal, many lineages have acquired unique morphological, physiological, and molecular innovations that account for their high adaptability to the various properties of aquatic environments such as salinity, flow conditions, or substrate composition. This renders them ideal candidates for studies into the evolutionary trajectories that have resulted in their diversity, but also makes them important players for research concerned with climate change-induced warming and acidification of aquatic habitats. Some species, such as the blue and Mediterranean as well as the zebra and quagga mussels, form biodegradable fibers, the byssus threads. These have significant potential for biomimetic approaches by aiding in developing sustainable textiles and other fiber-based fabrics. Despite this broad span of scientific relevance, bivalves remain dramatically understudied and key resources such as high-quality genomes and developmental transcriptomes in combination with established laboratory protocols to carry out state-of-the-art molecular and morphological studies are only available for less than a handful of species. Here, we report on one of the best-investigated bivalves in this respect, the quagga mussel, Dreissena rostriformis , an invasive freshwater species. We summarize the current state of knowledge and available resources that make the quagga mussel highly amenable for studying adaptive mechanisms for life in hypoosmotic environments, biomineralization, biomimetics, and evolutionary developmental biology. We argue that the unique combination of biological features and the broad relevance of the quagga mussel for the basic and the applied sciences as well as for biomonitoring and conservation biology measures call for intensified research efforts using Dreissena rostriformis as a model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many people with depression, for which self-blame plays a key role, are not amenable to current standard psychological treatments. This calls for novel self-guided interventions, which require less attention and motivation. The present study sought to establish proof-of-concept for a novel self-guided intervention in a non-clinical sample, which prompts people to transform self-blaming feelings into "longing," as a related unpleasant, but presumably more adaptive and approach-related emotion, which plays a key role in many musical and literary genres but has been largely overlooked in clinical research. Methods: Thirty nine participants with no previous self-reported history of mental disorders, but who experienced frequent feelings of self-blame were enrolled remotely (n = 3 lost to follow-up). Self-blaming thoughts, along with depressive symptoms and other outcomes, were assessed pre- and post-intervention to determine the potential of the intervention, which consisted of creating a 10-min video starting with self-blame evoking materials, transitioning to sadness and finally longing. Participants were then asked to watch their video daily for 7 days. Results: The number of participants lost to follow-up was low (n = 3) and engagement with the intervention was very high. As predicted, the intervention significantly reduced depressive symptoms on our primary outcome measure (Beck's Depression Inventory, BDI-II, Cohen's d = 0.40) after 1 week. This was further confirmed by a reduction on the Maudsley-modified Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Unexpectedly, no changes were observed on the non-clinical measures. Limitations: A randomized controlled trial design is needed to determine whether these symptom reductions were causally related to the intervention. Additionally, our findings may not generalize to men, due to our inability to recruit a sex-balanced sample. Conclusion: As predicted, participants benefited from being prompted to transform self-blaming feelings into those related to longing which shows the feasibility and potential to be further developed in people with clinical depression. Our study highlights the adaptive potential of unpleasant approach-related emotions such as longing, which are rarely considered in standard psychotherapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Bridging divides: the bold new era of university internationalization" explores the challenges and opportunities universities face in the current fragmented global context. It discusses how geopolitical tensions, cultural differences, and policy shifts impact internationalization efforts in higher education. The article highlights the importance of leveraging digital education, strategic partnerships, and inclusive campus cultures to expand global networks and prepare students for a interconnected world. Despite obstacles like visa restrictions and funding shortages, universities can foster internationalization through flexible learning models, policy advocacy, and a commitment to global citizenship. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor disorder of the nervous system that is mainly characterized by nighttime leg discomfort and can be accompanied by significant anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. RLS seriously affects the quality of life. Clinical studies have confirmed that acupuncture can alleviate the clinical symptoms of RLS. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of RLS and further explore the central response mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of RLS. Methods and analysis: In this RCT, a total of 124 eligible patients in Shanghai will be randomly assigned to one of the following two groups: treatment group (acupuncture) and control group (sham acupuncture). Treatment will be given three times per week for 4 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome is the International Restless Legs severity rating scale (IRLSS). The secondary outcomes are the RLS-Quality of Life (RLSQoL), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). The objective evaluation tools will be polysomnography, positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET-CT), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain. All adverse effects will be assessed by the Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale. Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline (1 week before the first intervention), during the intervention (the second week of the intervention), after the intervention (at the end of the intervention), at 1-month follow-up, and at 3-month follow-up. Ethics and dissemination: The trial has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (no. 2022-061). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals or presented at academic conferences. Clinical trial registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/ , identifier ChiCTR2000037287. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Empathy is a fundamental element of high-quality healthcare, though it has been shown to be in decline among medical students and residents. Appeals have therefore been made for the development of evidence-based empathy-enhancing experiential learning and training models. Bringing Art to Life (BATL) is a service-learning program designed within experiential learning pedagogy for psychology and pre-healthcare students. Intergenerational relationships are fostered with people with dementia through art therapy and life story/narrative at a community-based adult day services center. Methods: In this sequential mixed methods study, quantitative data were collected via electronic surveys of students in this course compared with students in didactic introductory psychology or psychology and aging courses. Survey measures included empathy, mindfulness, positive and negative affect, future time perspective, and attitudes toward older adults and working with people with dementia. Weekly BATL student journals submitted as part of their course requirements were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Within-subjects analyses of variance revealed increases in empathy and positive affect, broadened time perspective, and improved attitudes toward older adults and people with dementia among students in the BATL course compared with other undergraduate students. Analysis of BATL student journals supported and deepened understanding of these findings, with themes including attitude change, relationship building fostering existential awareness and self-development, art fostering social interactions, and perceived program effectiveness. Discussion: The findings suggest that BATL strongly supports increased empathetic attitudes and decreased stigma of aging in psychology and pre-healthcare students. Intergenerational expressive arts-based programs like BATL should be implemented in healthcare education to enhance empathy and improve attitudes toward aging and dementia care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests are potential habitats for immense terrestrial ecosystems and aquatic biodiversity, performing an essential role in ecological preservation and regulation of climate. The anthropogenic pressures on the forests lead to forest loss, fragmentation and degradation. Requirements for sustainable methodologies for forest protection are of utmost priority under the climate change regime. Among forest trees, poplar trees (Populus L.) have attracted attention in global forestry as a promising material for improving the quality and quantity of urban landscapes. These plants provide wood, which can be utilized as raw resources for the paper industry and as a potential source of biofuel. However, several biotic stresses, such as attacks by pests and pathogens, severely affect poplar production and productivity. The improvement of Populus trees through conventional tree breeding methods is restricted due to their long-life cycles and the lack of suitable donors with resistance genes. Populus has been utilized as a model plant for studying gene functions due to its highly efficient genetic transformation capabilities. The present review will provide a comprehensive overview of pest and pathogen attacks on poplar, focusing on their infection mechanisms, transmission routes, and control strategies. Additionally, it will examine the most widely used genetic transformation methods (gene gun-mediated, Agrobacterium tumefaciens -mediated, protoplast transformation, micro-RNA mediated and micro-RNA clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated (CRISPR-Cas) systems methods and RNA interference) for improving tolerance in poplar trees against pest and pathogens attack. Furthermore, it will delve into prospects, challenges, and recent advances in molecular biology tools and their safe application for genetic transformation to improve insect and pest resistance in poplar trees. Finally, the regeneration of transgenic poplar trees with enhanced resistance, developed through various genetic engineering techniques, is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]