Search

Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from human heart-derived cells have shown promise in suppressing inflammation and fibroblast proliferation. However, their precise benefits in atrial fibrillation (AF) prevention and the role of their antifibrotic/anti-inflammatory properties remain unclear., Objectives: The purpose of this study was to conduct a head-to-head comparison of antiarrhythmic strategies to prevent postoperative AF using a rat model of sterile pericarditis. Specifically, we aimed to assess the efficacy of amiodarone (a classic antiarrhythmic drug), colchicine (an anti-inflammatory agent), and EVs derived from human heart-derived cells, which possess anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic properties, on AF induction, inflammation, and fibrosis progression., Methods: Heart-derived cells were cultured from human atrial appendages under serum-free xenogen-free conditions. Middle-aged Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into different groups, including sham operation, sterile pericarditis with amiodarone treatment, sterile pericarditis with colchicine treatment (2 dose levels), and sterile pericarditis with intra-atrial injection of EVs or vehicle. Invasive electrophysiological testing was performed 3 days after surgery before sacrifice., Results: Sterile pericarditis increased the likelihood of inducing AF. Colchicine and EVs exhibited anti-inflammatory effects, but only EV treatment significantly reduced AF probability, whereas colchicine showed a positive trend without statistical significance. EVs and high-dose colchicine reduced atrial fibrosis by 46% ± 2% and 26% ± 2%, respectively. Amiodarone prevented AF induction but had no effect on inflammation or fibrosis., Conclusions: In this study, both amiodarone and EVs prevented AF, whereas treatment with colchicine was ineffective. The additional anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects of EVs suggest their potential as a comprehensive therapeutic approach for AF prevention, surpassing the effects of amiodarone or colchicine., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures This work was supported by CIHR (Project Grant 410103) and NSERC (CHRPJ 549626–20 and I2IPJ 571244–22). Drs Parent and Davis are coinventors for a patent application submitted regarding extracellular vesicle treatment of atrial fibrillation (US patent filing number 63/278,518). Drs Courtman, Stewart, and Davis hold a patent regarding serum-free and xenogen-free human cardiac explant-derived stem cells (US patent 11083756). All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The prevalence of psychological symptoms in burn survivors has been well documented; however, the role of biological sex requires further investigation. This study explored sex differences among burn survivors and examined the impact of sex, age, and total body surface area (TBSA) of the burn injury on (1) the risk of developing PTSD and depression and, subsequently, (2) the influence of initial risk on symptom outcomes 30 days post-injury. Participants included 374 adult patients enrolled in the Burn Behavioral Health program at a regional Burn Center. T-tests and chi-square tests were conducted to determine differences between sexes on outcome measures. A path analysis was conducted to evaluate relationships between variables of interest. Findings revealed significant sex discrepancies in risk and symptom outcomes. Compared to men, women reported greater total risk scores of developing PTSD and depression (p = .005) early after their burn injury. A subscale analysis showed that women reported greater risk scores on depression (p < .001), but not on PTSD. Women did not report higher depression scores 30 days post-injury compared to men but did report higher PTSD scores than men (p = .020). When sex, age, and TBSA were included in a path analysis, female sex (p=.001), younger age (p<.001), and larger TBSA of the burn injury (p=.024) were associated with greater risk. Additionally, risk scores significantly predicted PTSD (p<.001) and depression (p<.001) symptoms 30 days post-injury. Our research shows how sex, age, and TBSA affect the risk of PTSD and depression among burn survivors. It underscores the importance of accounting for sex and age differences in mental health risk, especially in women and younger patients. This emphasizes the urgency of early screening and intervention., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Burn Association. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Advanced microelectronics in the future may require semiconducting channel materials beyond silicon. Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors, with their atomically thin thickness, hold great promise for future electronic devices. One challenge to achieving high-performance 2D semiconductor field effect transistors (FET) is the high contact resistance at the metal-semiconductor interface. In this study, we develop a charge-transfer doping strategy with WSe 2 /α-RuCl 3 heterostructures to achieve low-resistance ohmic contact for p-type monolayer WSe 2 transistors. We show that hole doping as high as 3 × 10 13 cm -2 can be achieved in the WSe 2 /α-RuCl 3 heterostructure due to its type-III band alignment, resulting in an ohmic contact with resistance of 4 kΩ μm. Based on that, we demonstrate p-type WSe 2 transistors with an on-current of 35 μA·μm -1 and an I ON /I OFF ratio exceeding 10 9 at room temperature.

To address the limitation of overlooking crucial ecological interactions due to relying on single time point samples, we developed a computational approach that analyzes individual samples based on the interspecific microbial relationships. We verify, using both numerical simulations as well as real and shuffled microbial profiles from the human oral cavity, that the method can classify single samples based on their interspecific interactions. By analyzing the gut microbiome of people with autistic spectrum disorder, we found that our interaction-based method can improve the classification of individual subjects based on a single microbial sample. These results demonstrate that the underlying ecological interactions can be practically utilized to facilitate microbiome-based diagnosis and precision medicine., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Electron superlattices allow the engineering of correlated and topological quantum phenomena. The recent emergence of moiré superlattices in two-dimensional heterostructures has led to exciting discoveries related to quantum phenomena. However, the requirement for the moiré pattern poses stringent limitations, and its potential cannot be switched on and off. Here, we demonstrate remote engineering and on/off switching of correlated states in bilayer graphene. Employing a remote Coulomb superlattice realized by localized electrons in twisted bilayer WS 2 , we impose a Coulomb superlattice in the bilayer graphene with period and strength determined by the twisted bilayer WS 2 . When the remote superlattice is turned off, the two-dimensional electron gas in the bilayer graphene is described by a Fermi liquid. When it is turned on, correlated insulating states at both integer and fractional filling factors emerge. This approach enables in situ control of correlated quantum phenomena in two-dimensional materials hosting a two-dimensional electron gas., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Background: Despite well-established guidelines to treat diabetes, many people with diabetes struggle to manage their disease. For many, this struggle is related to challenges achieving nutrition-related lifestyle changes. We examined how people with diabetes describe barriers to maintaining a healthy diet and considered the benefits of using a harm reduction approach to assist patients to achieve nutrition-related goals., Methods: This is a secondary analysis of 89 interviews conducted with adults who had type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Interviews were analyzed using a content analysis approach. Themes regarding food or diet were initially captured in a "food" node. Data in the food node were then sub-coded for this analysis, again using a content analysis approach., Results: Participants frequently used addiction language to talk about their relationship with food, at times referring to themselves as "an addict" and describing food as "their drug." Participants perceived their unhealthy food choices either as a sign of weakness or as "cheating." They also identified food's ability to comfort them and an unwillingness to change as particular challenges to sustaining a healthier diet., Conclusion: Participants often described their relationship with food through an addiction lens. A harm reduction approach has been associated with positive outcomes among those with substance abuse disorder. Patient-centered communication incorporating the harm reduction model may improve the patient-clinician relationship and thus improve patient outcomes and quality-of-life while reducing health-related stigma in diabetes care. Future work should explore the effectiveness of this approach in patients with diabetes., Trial Registration: Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02792777. Registration information submitted 02/06/2016, with the registration first posted on the ClinicalTrials.gov website 08/06/2016. Data collection began on 29/04/2016., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Glioblastoma (GBM) is aggressive and malignant. The methylation status of the O 6 -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter in GBM tissue is considered an important biomarker for developing the most effective treatment plan. Although the standard method for assessing the MGMT promoter methylation status is via bisulfite modification and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing of biopsy or surgical specimens, a secondary automated method based on medical imaging may improve the efficiency and accuracy of those tests., Approach: We propose a deep vision graph neural network (ViG) using multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to predict the MGMT promoter methylation status noninvasively. Our model was compared to the RSNA radiogenomic classification winners. The dataset includes 583 usable patient cases. Combinations of MRI sequences were compared. Our multi-sequence fusion strategy was compared with those using single MR sequences., Results: Our best model [Fluid Attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR), T1-weighted pre-contrast (T1w), T2-weighted (T2)] outperformed the winning models with a test area under the curve (AUC) of 0.628, an accuracy of 0.632, a precision of 0.646, a recall of 0.677, a specificity of 0.581, and an F1 score of 0.661. Compared to the winning models with single MR sequences, our ViG utilizing fused-MRI showed a significant improvement statistically in AUC scores, which are FLAIR ( p = 0.042 ), T1w ( p = 0.017 ), T1wCE ( p = 0.001 ), and T2 ( p = 0.018 )., Conclusions: Our model is superior to challenge champions. A graph representation of the medical images enabled good handling of complexity and irregularity. Our work provides an automatic secondary check pipeline to ensure the correctness of MGMT methylation status prediction., (© 2024 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE).)

Rationale: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from human explant-derived cells injected directly into the atria wall muscle at the time of open chest surgery reduce atrial fibrosis, atrial inflammation, and atrial fibrillation (AF) in a rat model of sterile pericarditis. Albeit a promising solution to prevent postoperative AF, the mechanism(s) underlying this effect are unknown and it is not clear if this benefit is dependent on EV dose. Methods: To determine the dose-efficacy relationship of EVs from human explant-derived cells in a rat model of sterile pericarditis. Increasing doses of EVs (10 6 , 10 7 , 10 8 or 10 9 ) or vehicle control were injected into the atria of middle-age male Sprague-Dawley rats at the time of talc application. A sham control group was included to demonstrate background inducibility. Three days after surgery, all rats underwent invasive electrophysiological testing prior to sacrifice. Results: Pericarditis increased the likelihood of inducing AF (p<0.05 vs. sham). All doses decreased the probability of inducing AF with maximal effects seen after treatment with the highest dose (10 9 , p<0.05 vs. vehicle). Pericarditis increased atrial fibrosis while EV treatment limited the effect of pericarditis on atrial fibrosis with maximal effects seen after treatment with 10 8 or 10 9 EVs. Increasing EV dose was associated with progressive decreases in pro-inflammatory cytokine content, inflammatory cell infiltration, and oxidative stress. EVs decreased NLRP3 (NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein-3) inflammasome activation though a direct effect on resident atrial fibroblasts and macrophages. This suppressive effect was exclusive to EVs produced by heart-derived cells as application of EVs from bone marrow or umbilical cords did not alter NLRP3 activity. Conclusions: Intramyocardial injection of incremental doses of EVs at the time of open chest surgery led to progressive reductions in atrial fibrosis and inflammatory markers. These effects combined to render atria resistant to the pro-arrhythmic effects of pericarditis which is mechanistically related to suppression of the NLRP3 inflammasome., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: SP and DRD are co-inventors for a patent application submitted regarding extracellular vesicle treatment of atrial fibrillation (US patent filing number 63/278,518). DC, DJS and DRD hold a patent regarding serum-free and xenogen-free human cardiac explant-derived stem cells (US patent 11083756)., (© The author(s).)

The prevalence of type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has increased over 10-fold in the past 40 years in China, which now has the largest T2DM population in the world. Insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction are the typical features of T2DM. Although both factors play a role, decreased β-cell function and β-cell mass are the predominant factors for progression to T2DM. Considering the differences between Chinese T2DM patients and those of other ethnicities, it is important to characterize β-cell dysfunction in Chinese patients during T2DM progression. Herein, we reviewed the studies on the relationships between β-cell function and T2DM progression in the Chinese population and discussed the differences among individuals of varying ethnicities. Meanwhile, we summarized the risk factors and current treatments of T2DM in Chinese individuals and discussed their impacts on β-cell function with the hope of identifying a better T2DM therapy., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The exercise pressor reflex (EPR) is exaggerated in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the underlying central nervous system aberrations have not been fully delineated. Stimulation of muscle afferents within working skeletal muscle activates the EPR, by sending information to neurons in the brainstem, where it is integrated and results in reflexively increased mean arterial pressure (MAP) and sympathetic nerve activity. Brain insulin is known to regulate neural activity within the brainstem. We hypothesize that brain insulin injection in T2DM rats attenuates the augmented EPR, and that T2DM is associated with decreased brain insulin. Using male Sprague-Dawley rats, T2DM and control rats were generated via an induction protocol with two low doses of streptozotocin (35 and 25 mg/kg, i.p.) in combination with a 14-23-week high-fat diet or saline injections and a low-fat diet, respectively. After decerebration, MAP and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) were evaluated during EPR stimulation, evoked by electrically induced muscle contraction via ventral root stimulation, before and after (1 and 2 h post) intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) insulin microinjections (500 mU, 50 nl). i.c.v. insulin decreased peak MAP (ΔMAP Pre (36 ± 14 mmHg) vs. 1 h (21 ± 14 mmHg) vs. 2 h (11 ± 6 mmHg), P < 0.05) and RSNA (ΔRSNA Pre (107.5 ± 40%), vs. 1 h (75.4 ± 46%) vs. 2 h (51 ± 35%), P < 0.05) responses in T2DM, but not controls. In T2DM rats, cerebrospinal fluid insulin was decreased (0.41 ± 0.19 vs. 0.11 ± 0.05 ng/ml, control (n = 14) vs. T2DM (n = 4), P < 0.01). The results demonstrated that insulin injections into the brain normalized the augmented EPR in brain hypoinsulinaemic T2DM rats, indicating that the EPR can be regulated by brain insulin. KEY POINTS: The reflexive increase in blood pressure and sympathetic nerve activity mediated by the autonomic nervous system during muscle contractions is also known as the exercise pressor reflex. The exercise pressor reflex is dangerously augmented in type 2 diabetes, in both rats and humans. In type 2 diabetic rats both cerebrospinal fluid insulin and phosphoinositide 3-kinase signalling within cardiovascular brainstem neurons decrease in parallel. Brain insulin injections decrease the magnitude of the reflexive pressor and sympathetic responses to hindlimb muscle contraction in type 2 diabetic rats. Partial correction of low insulin within the central nervous system in type 2 diabetes may treat aberrant exercise pressor reflex function., (© 2024 The Author(s). The Journal of Physiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Physiological Society.)

Introduction: The use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors may be associated with an increased risk of gallbladder and bile duct disease among patients with type 2 diabetes., Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study using an active comparator, new-user design. We used data from the United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink to identify patients newly treated with either a DPP-4 inhibitor or sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor between January 2013 and December 2020. We fitted Cox proportional hazards models with propensity score fine stratification weighting to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) for incident gallbladder and bile duct disease associated with DPP-4 inhibitors compared to SGLT-2 inhibitors., Results: DPP-4 inhibitors were associated with a 46% increased risk of gallbladder and bile duct disease (4.3 vs. 3.0 events per 1000 person-years, HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.17-1.83). At 6 months and 1 year, 745 and 948 patients, respectively, would need to be treated with DPP-4 inhibitors for one patient to experience a gallbladder or bile duct disease., Conclusions: In this population-based cohort study, the use of DPP-4 inhibitors, when compared with SGLT-2 inhibitors, was associated with a moderately increased risk of gallbladder and bile duct disease among patients with type 2 diabetes. This outcome was still quite rare with a high number needed to harm at 6 months and 1 year., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Protein quality control mechanisms oversee numerous aspects of protein lifetime. From the point of protein synthesis, protein homeostasis machineries take part in folding, solubilization, and/or degradation of impaired proteins. Some proteins follow an alternative path upon loss of their solubility, thus are secluded from the cytosol and form protein aggregates. Protein aggregates differ in their function and composition, rendering protein aggregation a complex phenomenon that continues to receive plenty of attention in the scientific and medical communities. Traditionally, protein aggregates have been associated with aging and a large spectrum of protein folding diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, type 2 diabetes, or cataract. However, a body of evidence suggests that they may act as an adaptive mechanism to overcome transient stressful conditions, serving as a sink for the removal of misfolded proteins from the cytosol or storage compartments for machineries required upon stress release. In this review, we present examples and evidence elaborating different possible roles of protein aggregation and discuss their potential roles in stress survival, aging, and disease, as well as possible anti-aggregation interventions., (© 2023 International Society for Neurochemistry.)

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to comprehensively explore the current trends and therapeutic approaches in which an operating microscope (OM) is used in periodontics and dental implant surgeries., Materials and Methods: A systematic search strategy was built to detect studies including various surgical techniques performed under an OM. PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases were searched. No limitations in terms of time and language were applied. The data regarding the study design, type of procedure, treatment groups, and surgical outcomes were collected and analyzed descriptively. In addition, a bibliometric analysis was performed concerning the co-authorship and keyword co-occurrence network., Results: Out of 1985 articles, finally, 55 met the inclusion criteria. Current periodontal and implant microsurgery trends consist of: periodontal therapy, dental implant microsurgery, soft tissue grafting and periodontal plastic surgery, bone augmentation, ridge preservation, and ortho-perio microsurgery. The bibliometric analysis revealed "guided tissue regeneration", "periodontal regeneration" and "root coverage" being the most repeated keywords (landmark nodes). 132 authors within 29 clusters were identified, publishing within the frameworks of "periodontal and implant microsurgery"., Conclusion: Within its limitations, this systematic review provides an overview of the latest trends in periodontal and implant microsurgery when considering the use of an OM as the magnification tool. Also, it discusses the reported success and outcomes of the mentioned procedures., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to British Dental Association.)

How do parenthood and publishing contribute to gender gaps in academic career advancement? While extensive research examines the causes of gender disparities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers, we know much less about the factors that constrain women's advancement in the social sciences. Combining detailed career- and administrative register data on 976 Danish social scientists in Business and Management, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology (5703 person-years) that obtained a PhD degree between 2000 and 2015, we estimate gender differences in attainment of senior research positions and parse out how publication outputs, parenthood and parental leave contribute to these differences. Our approach is advantageous over previous longitudinal studies in that we track the careers and publication outputs of graduates from the outset of their PhD education and match this data with time-sensitive information on each individual's publication activities and family situation. In discrete time-event history models, we observe a ∼24 per cent female disadvantage in advancement likelihoods within the first 7 years after PhD graduation, with gender differences increasing over the observation period. A decomposition indicates that variations in publishing, parenthood and parental leave account for ∼ 40 per cent of the gender gap in career advancement, suggesting that other factors, including recruitment disparities, asymmetries in social capital and experiences of unequal treatment at work, may also constrain women's careers., (© 2024 The Authors. The British Journal of Sociology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of London School of Economics and Political Science.)

Objective: To conduct a study to improve diabetes knowledge through a web-based diabetes course in the general adult population. We hypothesised that participation in a web-based diabetes course would have a positive impact on diabetes knowledge retention., Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. Participants in the experimental group attended an interactive web-based diabetes course. The Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ24) was used to assess the diabetes knowledge levels. The DKQ24 was completed at the beginning and end of the observation period of 3 months. The experimental group also completed it immediately after the intervention., Results: At the end of the observation period, a statistically significant difference in the mean rank of DKQ24 scores was found in favor of the experimental group (p < .001). The results of the experimental group had a lower interquartile range (IQR = 3) than those of the control group (IQR = 5)., Conclusions: This study suggests that providing a web-based diabetes course to the general population is effective and can improve diabetes knowledge and retention., (© 2024 The Authors. Public Health Nursing published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Rational design, synthesis, and characterization of a new efficient versatile n-type dopant with a closed-shell electronic structure are described. By employing the tetraphenyl-dipyranylidene (DP0) framework with two 7π-electron systems modified with N,N-dimethylamino groups as the strong electron-donating substituent, 2,2',6,6'-tetrakis[4-(dimethylamino)phenyl]-4,4'-dipyranylidene (DP7), a closed-shell molecule with an extremely high-lying energy level of the highest occupied molecular orbital, close to 4.0 eV below the vacuum level, is successfully developed. Thanks to its thermal stability, DP7 is applicable to vacuum deposition, which allows utilization of DP7 in bulk doping for the development of n-type organic thermoelectric materials and contact doping for reducing contact resistance in n-type organic field-effect transistors. As vacuum-deposition processable n-type dopants are very limited, DP7 stands out as a useful n-type dopant, particularly for the latter purpose., (© 2024 The Authors. Advanced Materials published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a massive clinical challenge, annually affecting millions of patients globally. VTE is a particularly consequential pathology, as incidence is correlated with extremely common risk factors, and a large cohort of patients experience recurrent VTE after initial intervention. Altered hemodynamics, hypercoagulability, and damaged vascular tissue cause deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, the two permutations of VTE. Venous valves have been identified as likely locations for initial blood clot formation, but the exact pathway by which thrombosis occurs in this environment is not entirely clear. Several risk factors are known to increase the likelihood of VTE, particularly those that increase inflammation and coagulability, increase venous resistance, and damage the endothelial lining. While these risk factors are useful as predictive tools, VTE diagnosis prior to presentation of outward symptoms is difficult, chiefly due to challenges in successfully imaging deep-vein thrombi. Clinically, VTE can be managed by anticoagulants or mechanical intervention. Recently, direct oral anticoagulants and catheter-directed thrombolysis have emerged as leading tools in resolution of venous thrombosis. While a satisfactory VTE model has yet to be developed, recent strides have been made in advancing in silico models of venous hemodynamics, hemorheology, fluid-structure interaction, and clot growth. These models are often guided by imaging-informed boundary conditions or inspired by benchtop animal models. These gaps in knowledge are critical targets to address necessary improvements in prediction and diagnosis, clinical management, and VTE experimental and computational models., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Biomedical Engineering Society.)

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the fourth most common preventable hospital-acquired complication for hospitalized trauma patients. Mechanical prophylaxis, using sequential compression or intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) devices, is recommended alongside pharmacologic prophylaxis for VTE prevention. However, compliance with device use is a barrier that reduces the effectiveness of mechanical prophylaxis., Objective: This study aimed to determine whether using the Movement and Compressions (MAC) system compared with an IPC device impacts compliance with mechanical VTE prophylaxis in trauma patients., Methods: This study used a before-and-after design with historical control at a Level II trauma center with a convenience sample of adult trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit or acute care floor for at least 24 h. We trialed the MAC device for 2 weeks in November and December 2022 with prospective data collection. Data collection for the historical control group occurred retrospectively using patients from a point-in-time audit of IPC device compliance from August and September of 2022., Results: A total of 51 patients met inclusion criteria, with 34 patients in the IPC group and 17 patients in the MAC group. The mean (SD) prophylaxis time was 17.2 h per day (4.0) in the MAC group and 7.5 h per day (8.8) in the IPC group, which was statistically significant (p < .001)., Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the MAC device can improve compliance with mechanical prophylaxis., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Society of Trauma Nurses.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate clinical periodontal parameters after treatment using the Minimally Invasive Surgical Technique (MIST), Modified Minimally Invasive Surgical Technique (M-MIST), and/or any technique for papilla preservation, such as Entire Papilla Preservation (EPP), modified-papilla preservation technique (M-PPT), or simplified-papilla preservation technique (SPPT)., Methods: The focus question was "For patients with periodontal intrabony defects (P), what is the best minimally invasive regenerative approach (I), comparing MIST, M-MIST, and papilla preservation techniques' outcomes (C) to improve PD, CAL, GR, and periodontal stability (O)?" An online search was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase. Only randomized clinical trials and case series with a minimum of 10 enrolled patients were included. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Critical Appraisal tools in JBI Systematic Reviews. The meta-analysis compared the data obtained for the periodontal parameters analyzed, and the heterogeneity was verified., Results: After the screening, nine articles were included. Seven studies applied MIST and its modifications; two used M-PPT, one SPPT, and one approached EPP. A general statistically significant PD reduction and CAL gain were noted between the groups, comparing baseline and follow-up for all articles, independently of the technique or materials used. Also, all studies showed a non-significant increase in the gingival recession. Four studies had a low risk of bias, four had a moderate risk, and only 1 had a high risk. Moderate heterogeneity was found in one analysis for CAL (65.73%); moderate and substantial heterogeneity was found in the PD results (71.91% and 89.19%); and no heterogeneity was found within all analyses for gingival recession (0%)., Conclusion: MIST, M-MIST, and papilla preservation techniques demonstrated their potential and efficacy to improve periodontal conditions of sites with intrabony defects with minimal morbidity., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to British Dental Association.)

Flavonoids and chalcones are two major classes of chemical moieties that have a vast background of pharmacological activities. Chalcone is a subclass of flavonoids whose therapeutic potential has been implicated due to an array of bioactivities. A lot of research works have shown interest in investigating the neuroprotective effect of these molecules, and have revealed them to be much more potent molecules that can be used to treat neurodegenerative disorders. Beta-site APP cleaving enzyme (BACE1), which is majorly found in the brain, is one of the reasons behind the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Flavonoids and chalcones have proven clinical data that they inhibit the production of Aβ plaques that are involved in the progression of AD. In this article, we have provided a detailed chronological review of the research work on the BACE1 inhibiting potency of both flavonoids and chalcones. Almost all the flavonoids and chalcones mentioned in this article have shown very good in vitro and in vivo BACE1 inhibiting activity. The docking studies and the structural importance of some BACE1-inhibiting flavonoids, as well as chalcones, are also mentioned here., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Understanding the connection between the properties of black holes (BHs) and their progenitors is interesting in many branches of astrophysics. Discovering BHs in detached orbits with luminous companions (LCs) promises to help establish this connection since the LC and BH progenitor are expected to have the same metallicity and formation time. We explore the possibility of detecting BH–LC binaries in detached orbits using photometric variations of the LC flux, induced by tidal ellipsoidal variation, relativistic beaming, and self-lensing. We create realistic present-day populations of detached BH–LC binaries in the Milky Way (MW) using binary population synthesis where we adopt observationally motivated initial stellar and binary properties, star formation history, and the present-day distribution of these sources in the MW based on detailed cosmological simulations. We test detectability of these sources via photometric variability by Gaia and TESS missions by incorporating their respective detailed detection biases as well as interstellar extinction. We find that Gaia is expected to resolve ∼300–1000 (∼700–1500) detached BH–LC binaries with signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) ≥ 10 (1) depending on the photometric precision and details of supernova physics. Similarly, the number of resolved BH–LC binaries with TESS is ∼50–200 (∼140–350). We find that 136 − 15 + 15 BH–LC binaries would be common between Gaia and TESS. Moreover, ∼60–70 (∼50–200) BH–LC binaries identifiable using photometry with SNR ≥ 10 may also be resolved using Gaia's radial velocity (astrometry). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venous thromboembolism is responsible for a significant burden of disease worldwide. Despite the publication of multiple international guidelines, anecdotal evidence suggests significant clinical variation exists in the diagnostic and management pathways of pulmonary embolism (PE). We conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic medical records to examine clinical variation in patients admitted to a tertiary referral center in Australia with a diagnosis of PE between November 2018 and January 2020. Three hundred cases met the inclusion criteria; we found variation in rates of compression ultrasonography, acute investigation of the right ventricle, and planning of repeat imaging at specialist follow‐up. Guidelines do not address the use of compression ultrasonography in already diagnosed PE, are conflicting in their recommendation for acute investigation of the right ventricle, and recommend repeat imaging only if there are persistent symptoms at the time of specialist follow‐up. The variations we found in this study may in part be due to physician preference or due to the paucity of evidence for some of these diagnostic practices. Robust future studies are required to guide the use of these investigations in PE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to longstanding inequities and injustices within STEM, this review addresses the pressing need to decolonize STEM education and redefine the purpose of its disciplinary fields. Focusing on the influence of entrenched power structures, particularly the military-industrial complex, this review examines the relatively under-theorized impact of these forces on shaping the goals and scope of certain bodies of STEM education within UK higher education. The first section offers an overview of militarized STEM education and its connections to the challenges of decolonization. The second section explores strategies and interventions for decolonial pedagogy aimed at challenging discourses and practices that reinforce colonial and militarized narratives within curriculum and teaching. This review highlights how critical pedagogy and Indigenous Knowledge Systems offer educators' methods to cultivate criticality and humanity in their teaching practices. Ultimately, the review attempts to highlight how STEM education can be re-envisioned to serve broader, more emancipatory, and just purposes. Here the review advocates for a transformative educational paradigm that integrates inclusive pedagogical interventions with critical engagement in the ethical and moral dimensions of STEM practice, with the overarching goal of advancing social justice in teaching practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has demonstrated high rates of mental health problems in university students, and even higher rates in students belonging to historicallymarginalised populations. However, research on disparities in student mental health has almost exclusively focused on internalising problems (like symptoms of depression and anxiety), overlooking other ways in which individuals experience and express negative emotion. To address this limitation, the present study employed the Brief Problem Monitor to examine three types of mental health problems--internalising, externalising, and attentional problems--across six sociodemographic characteristics: gender (male vs. female), sexual orientation (heterosexual vs. non-heterosexual), ethnicity (Dutch without vs. with migration background), internationality (domestic vs. international), disability (no disabilities vs. disabilities), and parental education (continuing- vs. first-generation). These sociodemographic variables were included in regressionmodels simultaneously, thereby controlling for the effects of the others. Across a sample of 2,256 students, internalising problems were significantly higher in students who were female, non-heterosexual, international, and in those with disabilities. Higher externalising problems were found in female students, students with disabilities, those with a migration background, and first-generation students. Finally, attentional problems were higher in non-heterosexual students and students with disabilities. These findings support the premise that different groups of students experience different types of mental health concerns, emphasising the importance of measuring mental health multidimensionally. As an example, had the present study only examined internalising problems, we would not have found mental health disparities for students with a migration background and first-generation students, which has clear implications for outreach and resources offered to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why are females, compared with males, both more likely to have strong STEM-related performance and less likely to enter a STEM field later on? We exploit random classroom assignment to identify the impact of comparative STEM advantage on specialization decisions. Comparative STEM advantage is proxied by the within-classroom ranking of the ratio of STEM over non-STEM performance. We find that females with a higher comparative STEM advantage are more likely to choose a STEM school track and apply for a STEM degree. Comparative STEM advantage explains 12 percent of the underrepresentation of qualified females in the earliest instance of STEM specialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the challenges, needs and capacities of girls born of conflict-related sexual violence during the 1994 Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi. Twenty-nine interviews and 11 focus groups were conducted with girls born of genocidal rape, alongside 44 interviews with mothers of children born of genocidal rape. In a society where Umwana w'umugore – being 'the child of a woman' – is considered an insult for children born of rape, gendered realities profoundly shape girls' experiences. Data reveal that girls born of genocidal rape face challenges related to identity and belonging, multiple forms of violence and economic challenges. Moreover, girls sustain the indirect consequences of gender-based injustices committed against their mothers, making stigma and social exclusion shared and intergenerational experiences, alongside mutual care and support. Policy development must take into account the unique needs of girls born of rape, the precarious situation of their mothers and broader gender inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of obesity is rapidly increasing, contributing to 678 million obese adults and rapidly increasing in lower-income countries. This study assessed the magnitude of central obesity and associated factors among public service office employees in Adama Town in the Oromia Regional State in Ethiopia. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1 to February 26, 2020, among 590 public service employees. The data were collected by using interviewer-administered questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. The data were coded, entered, cleaned, and entered into Epi Info version 7, and subsequently exported to SPSS version 26 for statistical analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to check the associations between the explanatory and outcome variables. The adjusted odds ratio at a 95% confidence interval was used to estimate the strength of associations. A P value < 0.05 indicated statistical significance. The overall prevalence of central obesity among public service office employees was 24.2% (95% CI 20.9, 27.8). In a stratified analysis, the prevalence of central obesity was 29.9% in male and 14.9% in female employees. The multivariate analysis showed that using motorized transportation (AOR = 2.20, 95% CI 1.110, 4.385), eating food out of the home (AOR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.107, 2.800), drinking alcohol (AOR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.104, 3.128), being aged 33–42 years (AOR = 3.83, 95% CI 1.964, 7.472), 43–52 years (AOR = 4.34, 95% CI 2.151, 8.765) and 53 years and above (AOR = 10.33, 95% CI 3.783, 28.242), not engaging in moderate physical activity (AOR = 2.32, 95% CI 1.484, 3.631) and having a chronic illness (AOR = 1.97, 95% CI 1.177, 3.316) were statistically associated with central obesity among public service office employees in the study area. Nearly 25% of public service employees in the town had central obesity, which is a risk factor for metabolic syndromes. Mode of transportation, eating food out of home, drinking alcohol, age, level of physical activity, and presence of chronic illnesses were found to be independent predictors of central obesity. The public administration in the town should design a feasible preventive strategy to reduce the burden of obesity among public service employees in the study setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, the prevalence of childhood obesity has escalated alarmingly, posing significant threats to the physical and mental well-being of children, with an elevated likelihood of persisting into adulthood. Notably, recent investigations have uncovered a profound association between intestinal microbiota, a crucial component of the internal milieu, and childhood obesity. Disturbances in intestinal microbiota and their by-products are now understood to be profoundly intertwined with the evolutionary pathway of childhood obesity. Bibliometric analysis offers a deep understanding of the current research landscape, so we apply it to a review of the emerging trends and patterns between childhood obesity and gut microbiota. Materials and methods: We conducted a rigorous and extensive search of the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection database, spanning the years from 1900 to 2023, to analyze scholarly articles pertaining to childhood obesity and gut microbiota. Utilizing VOSviewer, CiteSpace, the R package "bibliometrix," and the online bibliometric analysis platform (https://bibliometric.com/), we delved into the intricate details of research hotspots, academic collaborations, and emerging trends within this domain. Results: The exhaustive search encompassed the globe, uncovering a cumulative total of 1,384 pertinent studies originating from 429 nations. The results were compelling, revealing a profound influence exerted by the United States and China in this specific field of research. Furthermore, it was observed that the volume of scholarly works pertaining to childhood obesity and gut microbiota is steadily growing year on year. The current hot topics in this field include "abuse," "maltreatment," "adverse childhood experiences," "students," and "food addiction". Conclusion: This comprehensive review offers a meticulous exploration of the evolving trends and emerging research agendas pertaining to childhood obesity and gut microbiota over the past two decades. It strives to equip researchers with a thorough understanding of the key nations, institutions, journals, and potential collaborators in these specialized fields. Additionally, it sheds light on the current frontiers of research and strategic avenues for further exploration, thus serving as an invaluable resource for scholars delving deeper into the intricacies of childhood obesity and the gut microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Music teacher preparation programs typically provide preservice music educators (PMEs) experiences working with many student populations, including students with disabilities. Researchers have shown the positive impact field experience and coursework has on PMEs preparation to teach music to students with disabilities (SWD). Yet, few music education programs provide PMEs with experiences teaching SWD. The purpose of this explanatory mixed methods study was to examine the influence of a 6-week online field experience, in combination with content-specific coursework, on PME's perceptions related to teaching music to SWD. From pretest to posttest, participants reported a significant decrease in these perceptions. In subsequent interviews, the authors found that participants' perceptions may have decreased due to feelings of inadequacy and the desire for more experience. Participants stated that the field experience was the most meaningful part of the course overall. Implications for preservice music teacher education are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Candida albicans is an "opportunistic fungal agent" in cancer patients that can become colonized in both mucosal and deep tissues and cause severe infections. Most evidence has shown that C. albicans can enhance the progress of different cancers by several mechanisms such as generating virulence factors, participation in endogenous production of pro-inflammatory mediators, and stimulating a wide range of immune cells in the host. The main idea of this review is to describe a range of Candida-used mechanisms that are important in candidiasis-associated malignant processes and cancer development, particularly breast cancer. This review intends to provide a detailed discussion on different regulatory mechanisms of C. albicans that undoubtedly help to open new therapeutic horizons of cancer therapy in patients with fungal infection. The current therapeutic approach is not fully effective in immunocompromised and cancer patients, and further studies are required to find new products with effective antifungal properties and minimal side effects to increase the susceptibility of opportunistic fungal infections to conventional antifungal agents. So, in this situation, a special therapy should be considered to control the infection and simultaneously have the most therapeutic index on tumor patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) affects both adults and children, impacting their quality of life and productivity; however, traditional systemic treatments such as cyclosporine have limitations. Emerging novel systemic interventions, including monoclonal antibodies and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, have been shown to improve patient outcomes. Objective: This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of novel systemic interventions for moderate-to-severe AD in adults compared with the best supportive care (BSC) in Singapore. Methods: The economic evaluation used a hybrid model consisting of a decision tree and Markov model. Treatment responses at 16 weeks were based on a network meta-analysis that was developed specifically for this study. Long-term response, discontinuation rates, episodes of flares and treatment-emergent adverse events were obtained from key dupilumab, abrocitinib, baricitinib and upadacitinib trials. The study had a 5-year time horizon and considered the healthcare payer's perspective. Sensitivity and scenario analyses were performed as well. Results: Baricitinib 4 mg and 2 mg have the lowest incremental cost-effectiveness ratios, at Singapore dollars (S$) 60,730/quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) and S$66,842/QALY, respectively. Upadacitinib 30 mg offers the highest incremental QALY gain, while baricitinib 2 mg offers the least. The cost of the intervention drugs accounted for the highest proportion of the overall expenses (68–93%) for those in the maintenance state. Other influential factors within the model included (1) the incremental utility derived from intervention response; (2) the probability of achieving Eczema Area and Severity Index 75 (EASI-75) with BSC; and (3) the relative risk of achieving EASI-75 with the interventions. In a scenario where the cost of all drugs is matched to the lowest-priced drug, the top three cost-effectiveness interventions are dupilumab, upadacitinib 30 mg and abrocitinib 200 mg, respectively. Conclusion: The interventions are not found to be cost-effective at their existing prices when compared with BSC. Ideally, a composite score of treatment success and quality-of-life scores ought to be included, but such data were unavailable. Future research should consider conditional discontinuation data and long-term outcomes when such data become accessible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latino gay men asylum seekers leave their homeland to avoid traditional male-dominated societies where they endure persistent sexual and physical violence, homonegativity, and discrimination within their communities. These men often arrive in the U.S. with mental health issues brought on by traumatic events experienced in their home countries. In the U.S. Latino gay asylum seekers experience additional stressors due to their multiple identities as an ethnic minority, a sexual minority, and an immigrant. This practice corner addresses the need to explore Latino gay men asylum seekers' pre- and post-migration experiences in the U.S. and its impact on their mental health. Culturally responsive strategies for clinicians are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Elucidating the dynamics of gene expression across developmental stages, including the genomic characteristics of brain expression during infancy, is pivotal in deciphering human psychiatric and neurological disorders and providing insights into developmental disorders. Results: Leveraging comprehensive human GWAS associations with temporal and spatial brain expression data, we discovered a distinctive co-expression cluster comprising 897 genes highly expressed specifically during infancy, enriched in functions related to the neuronal system. This gene cluster notably harbors the highest ratio of genes linked to psychiatric and neurological disorders. Through computational analysis, MYT1L emerged as a potential central transcription factor governing these genes. Remarkably, the infancy-specific expressed genes, including SYT1, exhibit prominent colocalization within human accelerated regions. Additionally, chromatin state analysis unveiled prevalent epigenetic markers associated with enhancer-specific modifications. In addition, this cluster of genes has demonstrated to be specifically highly expressed in cell-types including excitatory neurons, medial ganglionic eminence and caudal ganglionic eminence. Conclusions: This study comprehensively characterizes the genomics and epigenomics of genes specifically expressed during infancy, identifying crucial hub genes and transcription factors. These findings offer valuable insights into early detection strategies and interventions for psychiatric and neurological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]