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Objectives: Metabolically-active brown adipose tissue (aBAT) is a common finding on 18 FDG-PET imaging in patients with pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma (PPGL). In addition to its clinical significance, we aimed to explore the prevalence of this finding on FDG-PET imaging in patients with PPGL., Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective and retrospective studies. Publications were identified through searches in MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, and SCOPUS from inception until 2022-11-26, with an update check performed on 2024-05-02. Eligible studies included patients with PPGL who had completed FDG-PET imaging. Data on catecholamine levels stratified by the presence of aBAT was extracted and pooled using the random-effects model with the inverse variance method. For the quantitative synthesis, we used standardized mean differences (SMD) and meta-analysis of proportions. A risk of bias assessment was performed using the QUIPS tool., Results: Our search yielded 6 studies suitable for inclusion. Pooled data showed a statistically significant positive difference in isolated demethylated catecholamine levels in aBAT positive groups compared to aBAT negative. No significant differences were found in multiple domains, including tumor size, tumor burden, germline mutations, or location. The proportion of patients with PPGL who present with aBAT stands at approximately 25%., Conclusions: The demethylated metabolite levels could have potential use in predicting the presence of active brown adipose tissue in patients with PPGL. There is no convincing evidence of increased aBAT prevalence in patients with PPGL and germline mutations. There was, however, evidence suggesting that the presence of aBAT may confer poorer outcomes and decreased life expectancy., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: The needs of people with deafblindness remain poorly understood and addressed globally. This study is part of a larger body of work to develop Core Sets for deafblindness using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF)., Aim: To determine the perspectives on functioning of individuals with lived experience of deafblindness as they relate to the ICF., Design: Cross-sectional interview study., Setting: Global, representing all six regions of the World Health Organization., Population: A diverse cohort of 72 individuals living with deafblindness or as close family members, ranging across the spectrum of severity., Methods: Qualitative interviews and focus groups were used to explore six open-ended questions about perceived barriers and facilitators to functioning of body functions and structures, activities and participation, and environmental and personal factors. Data were synthesized using content analysis, and the resulting topics were linked to the ICF codes using established linking methodology prescribed by the World Health Organization's ICF Research Branch. Descriptive statistics summarized all demographic data., Results: The analyses of the transcripts uncovered 2534 meaning units, leading to the identification of 492 corresponding distinct codes from the ICF framework, and spanning across 93.33% of coding categories available. Sensory (b2) and Mental Functions (b1) emerged as the most frequent Body Functions (b) codes. Most categories referred to Activities & Participation, with Mobility (d4) being the most frequently mentioned topic. Services, Systems and Policies (e5) was the most frequently used Environmental factor., Conclusions: Over 93% of the ICF classification categories were accessed to code the data provided by participants, demonstrating the complexity of functioning with deafblindness. This study provides valuable information to shape policy and research by providing representation of lived experience towards the consensus conference for the comprehensive and abbreviated Core Sets for deafblindness., Clinical Rehabilitation Impact: The inclusion of lived experience provides a holistic understanding of the daily challenges faced by individuals living with deafblindness. By being part of this process, they have a voice in shaping the classification system that will be used to describe their experiences, fostering a sense of ownership and empowerment.

Introduction: Deafblindness, a health condition with varying combinations of hearing and vision impairment, affects functioning and social participation. In 2001, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) to examine human health and functioning. To use the ICF in clinical practice, smaller categories of ICF codes, referred to as Core Sets, were developed for specific health conditions. However, no ICF Core Set exists for deafblindness. As part of an ICF Core Set development, this paper examines the existing literature from an ICF perspective and links relevant data to the ICF categories., Evidence Acquisition: The systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Articles were selected from eight scientific databases, three journals, and Google Scholar. The research team linked outcome measures and qualitative studies to ICF codes using ICF linking rules. For each measure/qualitative study's final code list, they included each code only once after eliminating any duplicates. Subsequently, a frequency analysis was conducted, and ICF categories identified in at least five studies were included in the candidate categories list., Evidence Synthesis: 147 articles met the eligibility criteria. Most studies were from Europe (N.=70) and North America (N.=41). 316 categories were identified in at least five studies that belong to one of four ICF components. This includes 112 categories in the body function component, 3 categories in body structure, 163 in activities and participation, and 38 in environmental factors. Additionally, 21 personal factors relating to demographics were identified. The most frequent category was listening (category d115) at 82.31%, followed by range of emotions (category b1522) at 78.91%, hearing function (category b230) at 68.03%, and assistive products and technology for communication (category e1251) at 63.27%., Conclusions: As the second part of the first four studies in developing ICF Core Sets for deafblindness, this review described the ICF categories relevant to the functioning of individuals with deafblindness. These categories inform the development of the Core Sets on deafblindness from the researcher's perspective. The final Core Sets will guide clinical practice, programs, and policies for individuals with deafblindness.

We studied the distribution and population status of the Cheer pheasant (Catreus wallichii) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K). Study was mainly conducted in four localities Jhelum Valley (JV), Machiara National Park (MNP), Haveli and Nar Sher Ali Khan (NSAK) from 2016-2020, for five breeding seasons. Population status of Cheer pheasant was determined by the call counts method. In total 105 breeding pairs (210 birds) were estimated highest (134) being recorded from Jhelum valley followed by MNP, Haveli and Nar Sher Ali Khan While applying correction factor 158 birds were recorded. Extensive surveys were carried out in an area of 19.23 km2. Our results indicate an expansion in distribution ranges of Cheer pheasant and population has established in several new sites. Highest Mean population density of 6.11pair/km2 was recorded in Qazi Nag area of Jhelum Valley. The mean population density of Cheer pheasant was slightly higher in the month of May. Furthermore, 58% of the calling birds were detected at elevations ranging from 2300-2600m, while 17% were found at elevations between 1900-2200m. Expansion in distribution ranges of Cheer might be due to reason that bird might have been underestimated in the past or conservation measures and community awareness programs taken by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, AJ&K.

Background: Arabian killifish, Aphanius dispar, lives in marine coastal areas of the Middle East, as well as in streams that experience a wide range of salinities and temperatures. It has been used as a mosquito control agent and for studying the toxicities of environmental pollutants. A. dispar's eggshell (chorion) and embryos are highly transparent and are suitable for high resolution microscopic observations, offering excellent visibility of live tissues., Results: In this study, the staging of normal embryonic development of A. dispar was described and investigated at different temperatures. Embryonic development was then examined under different thermal environments from 26 to 34°C. Our data suggest that temperature has a significant effect on embryonic development, with accelerated development at higher temperatures., Conclusion: A. dispar exhibits broad thermal tolerance and extended independent feeding capabilities, making it a promising model organism for toxicology and pathogenesis studies conducted over an extended period of time (12 days post-fertilization)., (© 2024 The Author(s). Developmental Dynamics published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Association for Anatomy.)

Objectives: This study aims to create a first visualization of global prevalence of age-related dual sensory loss (DSL), significantly affecting older people's quality of life. Methods: Data from World Health Organization (WHO) regions, particularly African, American, and European, were analyzed. The study focused on DSL onset and prevalence, using adjusted life expectancy for regional comparison. Results: There were notable regional variations in DSL onset and prevalence. The African region showed consistent data, thanks to standardized methods from the World Federation of the Deafblind. However, global patterns varied when adjusted for life expectancy, hinting at possible DSL prevalence stabilization at older ages. Discussion: The study identifies a lack of standardization in DSL prevalence research regarding definitions, methodologies, and reporting. It calls for more uniform and thorough research methods for accurate global DSL understanding. The research highlights the complexity and challenges in determining DSL prevalence worldwide., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Individuals with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) face increased accident risks due to excessive daytime sleepiness. PERCLOS, a recognized drowsiness detection method, encounters challenges from image quality, eyewear interference, and lighting variations, impacting its performance, and requiring validation through physiological signals. We propose visual-based scoring using adaptive thresholding for eye aspect ratio with OpenCV for face detection and Dlib for eye detection from video recordings. This technique identified 453 drowsiness (PERCLOS ≥ 0.3 || CLOSDUR ≥ 2 s) and 474 wakefulness episodes (PERCLOS < 0.3 and CLOSDUR < 2 s) among fifty OSA drivers in a 50 min driving simulation while wearing six-channel EEG electrodes. Applying discrete wavelet transform, we derived ten EEG features, correlated them with visual-based episodes using various criteria, and assessed the sensitivity of brain regions and individual EEG channels. Among these features, theta-alpha-ratio exhibited robust mapping (94.7%) with visual-based scoring, followed by delta-alpha-ratio (87.2%) and delta-theta-ratio (86.7%). Frontal area (86.4%) and channel F4 (75.4%) aligned most episodes with theta-alpha-ratio, while frontal, and occipital regions, particularly channels F4 and O2, displayed superior alignment across multiple features. Adding frontal or occipital channels could correlate all episodes with EEG patterns, reducing hardware needs. Our work could potentially enhance real-time drowsiness detection reliability and assess fitness to drive in OSA drivers.

Accurate quantification of microsleep (MS) in drivers is crucial for preventing real-time accidents. We propose one-to-one correlation between events of high-fidelity driving simulator (DS) and corresponding brain patterns, unlike previous studies focusing general impact of MS on driving performance. Fifty professional drivers with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) participated in a 50-minute driving simulation, wearing six-channel Electroencephalography (EEG) electrodes. 970 out-of-road OOR (microsleep) events (wheel and boundary contact ≥1 s), and 1020 on-road OR (wakefulness) events (wheel and boundary disconnection ≥1 s), were recorded. Power spectrum density, computed using discrete wavelet transform, analyzed power in different frequency bands and theta/alpha ratios were calculated for each event. We classified OOR (microsleep) events with higher theta/alpha ratio compared to neighboring OR (wakefulness) episodes as true MS and those with lower ratio as false MS. Comparative analysis, focusing on frontal brain, matched 791 of 970 OOR (microsleep) events with true MS episodes, outperforming other brain regions, and suggested that some unmatched instances were due to driving performance, not sleepiness. Combining frontal channels F3 and F4 yielded increased sensitivity in detecting MS, achieving 83.7% combined mean identification rate (CMIR), surpassing individual channel's MIR, highlighting potential for further improvement with additional frontal channels. We quantified MS duration, with 95% of total episodes lasting between 1 to 15 seconds, and pioneered a robust correlation (r = 0.8913, p<0.001) between maximum drowsiness level and MS density. Validating simulator's signals with EEG patterns by establishing a direct correlation improves reliability of MS identification for assessing fitness-to-drive of OSA-afflicted adults.