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Sir David Cox published four papers in the Scandinavian Journal of Statistics and two in the Scandinavian Actuarial Journal. This note provides some brief summaries of these papers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) often causes damage to small nerve fibers, leading to distressing painful and autonomic symptoms. Despite this, Small Fiber Neuropathy (SFN) remains an underrecognized complication for SLE patients. In this cross‐sectional study, we aimed to assess SFN in patients with SLE and to explore its correlations with immunologic disease features and clinical manifestations. Methods: We recruited 50 SLE patients (1 male to 12.5 females, aged 20–80 years) reporting painful disturbances. We conducted a comprehensive clinical and neurophysiological evaluation, using Nerve Conduction Studies and Quantitative Sensory Testing. Additionally, we carried out an extensive laboratory assessment of disease‐related serological parameters. We also performed a thorough skin biopsy analysis, investigating somatic and autonomic innervation while detecting complement and inflammatory cell infiltrates within the skin. Results: Out of 50 patients, 19 were diagnosed with SFN, primarily characterized by a non‐length‐dependent distribution; 7 had a mixed neuropathy, with both large and small fiber involvement. Patients with SFN were younger than patients with a mixed neuropathy (p =.0143); furthermore, they were more likely to have a history of hypocomplementemia (p =.0058) and to be treated with cyclosporine A (p =.0053) compared to patients without neuropathy. However, there were no significant differences in painful and autonomic symptoms between patients with and without SFN. Discussion: This study highlights the relevant frequency of SFN with a non‐length‐dependent distribution among SLE patients experiencing painful symptoms. Indeed, SFN emerges as an early manifestation of SLE‐related neuropathy and is closely associated with hypocomplementemia, suggesting a potential pathogenic role of the complement system. Moreover, SFN may be influenced by disease‐modifying therapies. However, the precise role of SFN in shaping painful and autonomic symptoms in patients with SLE remains to be fully elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is minimal research investigating the influence of advice on decision‐making in older age. The present study investigated the effect of different types of bad advice, relative to no advice, on young and older adults' decision‐making in the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Fifty‐four older adults and 59 young adults completed the IGT after receiving no advice, or advice to select from disadvantageous deck A (small, high‐frequency losses), or disadvantageous deck B (larger, low‐frequency losses). Corrugator EMG, memory and fluid intelligence were assessed. Averaged across advice conditions, older adults made more disadvantageous selections than young adults. There were no age‐related differences in responding to bad advice, nor in corrugator activity in response to losses (i.e. frowning), or in learning to avoid deck A faster than deck B. Selecting from deck B was associated with reduced education among older adults, and reduced fluid intelligence among young adults. The data suggest that older adults make more disadvantageous decisions than young adults, and this is not exacerbated by bad advice. Both young and older adults are slower at learning to avoid choices resulting in low frequency relative to high‐frequency losses, and this may be associated with individual differences in cognitive processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effect on adhesive layer thickness, bond strength, and adhesive failure pattern of the application of universal adhesive (Scotchbond Universal) using either manual or rotary brush in dentin previously impregnated with bioceramic sealer (Sealer Plus BC) using a manual brush, at 24 h and 1 year. Eighty‐eight bovine crowns were divided into four groups (n = 22) according to the intervention: (i) use of bioceramic sealer and adhesive application using manual brush, (ii) use of bioceramic sealer and adhesive application using rotary brush, (iii) use of resin sealer and adhesive application using manual brush, and (iv) use of resin sealer and adhesive application using rotary brush. Subsequently, specimens were restored with a composite resin (Filtek Z‐250). Adhesive layer thickness was evaluated using confocal microscopy. Bond strength was assessed using the microtensile bond strength test, and adhesive failure pattern was evaluated under a stereomicroscope. Data were analyzed using two‐way ANOVA/Tukey tests. Specimens where a rotary brush had been used exhibited lower adhesive layer thickness. Specimens treated with resin sealer and using a manual brush showed lower bond strength values and a higher occurrence of adhesive failures at 24 h and 1 year than specimens treated with bioceramic sealer and using rotary brush for adhesive application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of full‐arch conventional implant impressions using two different materials (A‐silicone and polyether) to full‐arch digital implant impressions produced from two intraoral scanning devices. Materials and Methods: A master model was fabricated representing an edentulous mandible with four implants with internal connection placed at the sites of canines and first molars. The anterior implants were parallel to the residual ridge, while the two posterior implants had an angulation of 15° to the distal and 15° to the lingual respectively. The conventional technique was performed with open‐tray of non‐splinted impression copings. Two different impression materials were used, A‐silicone and polyether at monophase medium body consistencies. The digital impressions were obtained with the use of two different intraoral scanners, after the connection of scan bodies. A total of 10 impressions were produced for each of the four experimental groups. The conventional models as well as the master model were digitized using a high‐resolution laboratory scanner. The STL files of the models and of the intraoral impressions were imported in a powerful superimposition software, for the conduction of measurements in pairs of files. The software calculated the 3D deviations, as well as the linear and angular displacements among scan bodies at the digital files. For "trueness" measurements every STL file of each experimental group was superimposed to the digital master model, while for "precision" measurements all STL files of each experimental group were superimposed to each other. Results and Conclusions: The accuracy of full arch mandibular implant impressions was influenced both by the impression technique used (conventional vs. digital) and the impression material used (A‐silicone vs. polyether) or the intraoral scanner used (Trios vs. Heron).In terms of "trueness," A‐silicone showed the highest impression accuracy with the lowest deviation values, followed by polyether and Trios, but the differences between the three groups were in the majority not statistically significant. Heron showed statistically lower accuracy results in all measurements compared to the other groups.In terms of "precision", conventional impressions with the use of A‐Silicone or polyether were statistically significantly superior to digital impressions with either scanner. A‐Silicone and polyether showed no statistically significant difference between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The primary aims of this study were to examine the effects of 9 weeks of aerobic training, comprising three 30‐min sessions per week, on V̇O2max, inhibitory control, and plasma brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels among adolescents aged 16–19 years. Methods: One hundred twenty‐one untrained or recreationally active adolescents from a Danish high school were enrolled in the study, with 58 females (17.8 ± 0.8 years) and 27 males (18.0 ± 0.9 years) completing it. Participants were randomly divided into three groups performing aerobic training at either moderate‐intensity (MIT: 60%–70% heart rate reserve [HRR]) or high‐intensity (HIT: 80%–100% HRR) or a passive control group (CON) continuing their habitual lifestyle. Both the training groups exercised for 3×30 min per week for 9 weeks using a combination of cycling and running. Before and after the intervention period maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) and the primary outcomes (inhibitory control measured by a modified flanker task, and resting plasma levels of BDNF) were evaluated. Results: After the intervention period, the HIT group demonstrated a larger increase in V̇O2max compared to both the CON and MIT groups, while no significant effects were observed on inhibitory control or plasma BDNF levels in any training group. However, compared to the CON group, the HIT group exhibited a tendency for greater improvement in the flanker interference score (accuracy), attributable to enhanced accuracy on the incongruent stimuli from pre to post. Conclusion: Aerobic training in adolescents increased cardiorespiratory fitness in an intensity‐dependent manner, but no clear effects were observed on neither inhibitory control nor resting plasma BDNF levels. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02075944. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent decades, progress has been made in the care of people with polyhandicap/profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) through a better understanding of the pathophysiology and the development of new care management and rehabilitation strategies adapted to these extreme pathologies. Although there is a lack of knowledge about the health status and care management of the oldest people, a better understanding of the natural course of life of people with polyhandicap/PIMD would consequently allow the optimisation of preventive and curative care management strategies. Few robust data on mortality and life expectancy have been documented for this population in France. Our aims are to estimate the median survival time and assess the factors associated with mortality in people with polyhandicap/PIMD receiving care in France. Methods: This study included people with polyhandicap/PIMD, followed by the French national cohort 'Eval‐PLH' since 2015. These individuals were included in specialised rehabilitation centres and residential institutions. The people included in the first wave of the cohort (2015–2016) were eligible for the present study. Vital status on 1 January 2022 (censoring date) was collected in two ways: (1) spontaneous reporting by the participating centre to the coordinating team and (2) systematic checking on the French national death platform. According to the vital status, survival was calculated in years from the date of birth to the date of death or from the date of birth to the censoring date. The factors associated with mortality were evaluated using the Cox proportional regression hazards model. Results: Data from 780 individuals aged between 3 and 67 years were analysed. At the censoring date, 176 (22.6%) had died, and the mean survival was 52.8 years (95% confidence interval: 51.1–54.5). Mortality was significantly associated with a progressive aetiology, recurrent pulmonary infections, drug‐resistant epilepsy and a higher number of medical devices. Conclusions: This study shows for the first time the survival and impact of factors associated with mortality in people with polyhandicap/PIMD in France. Highlights: This study is the first to examine and estimate the median survival of people with polyhandicap/profound intellectual and multiple disabilities in France.Data from a national cohort include a large number of people with polyhandicap/profound intellectual and multiple disabilities.The first results from robust mortality data on people with polyhandicap/profound intellectual and multiple disabilities cared for in France.The instability of this disorder and the high number of medical devices are the main factors associated with earlier mortality in people with polyhandicap/profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psychosocial function of Chinese temporomandibular disorders (TMD) pain patients and the correlation with somatosensory function has not been sufficiently studied. Objective: The study aims at assessing the psychosocial function of Chinese TMD pain patients by visualisation method and evaluating the correlations with somatosensory function quantitatively. Methods: The Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL‐90) questionnaire and standardised quantitative sensory testing (QST) were administered to 70 Chinese TMD pain patients and age‐ and gender‐matched healthy controls (HCs). Of these, 40 TMD arthralgia patients received QST before and after medication. Psychosocial and somatosensory parameters were transformed into standardised scores. Differences within groups were assessed through t tests. Correlations between psychosocial and somatosensory profiles were explored through correlation analyses with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Results: 100% of the Chinese TMD pain patients exhibited psychosocial distress in contrast to HCs. Anger and hostility showed negative correlation with the thermal nonnociceptive parameter (thermal sensory limen, p =.002) and nociceptive parameters (cold pain threshold and pain pressure threshold, p<.001). Correlation analysis indicated that cold detection threshold was negatively correlated with somatization and mechanical pain sensitivity had a negative correlation with anger and hostility through medical treatment (p <.001). Conclusions: Visual psychosocial profiles provided an easy overview of psychosocial function in Chinese TMD pain patients. Anger and hostility was associated with increased thermal nonnociceptive and nociceptive sensitivity to stimuli. Psychosocial distress might be negatively associated with TMD treatment response which indicated a possible need for psychological intervention during treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The present study aimed to assess and compare the effect of Morus alba and chlorhexidine gel as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in treating stage II periodontitis. Methods: A single‐blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted on 180 patients with stage II periodontitis who received full‐mouth SRP. They were randomly assigned to receive chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) gel, Morus alba (MA) and placebo gel for Groups A, B and C, respectively, at the baseline, 15 days and 30 days. Plaque index (PI), Gingival index (GI), periodontal pocket depth (PPD) and quantitative analysis (culture) of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia were assessed at baseline and 45 days. Analysis of variance was used to compare the significant difference in PI, GI, PPD and microbiological parameters between the three groups after the intervention, followed by post hoc Mann–Whitney U and Tukey's HSD test for clinical and microbiological parameters, respectively. Results: Intergroup comparison of the PI, GI and microbiological parameters between the MA and CHX groups at the end of 45 days did not show a statistically significant difference (p > 0.05), whereas a statistically significant difference was observed for PPD between MA and CHX groups with the mean difference of 0.18 mm (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Morus alba gel was found to be effective in decreasing PPD. However, there was no difference between Morus alba and chlorhexidine gel as an adjunct to SRP in treating stage II periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To validate the level of agreement between self‐report and clinical examination for oral conditions and evaluate the effect of sociodemographic conditions on the validity of self‐report among women aged 60 and older. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted in a social community center for seniors in Southern Brazil. Sociodemographic data (age, level of education, and income) were measured. Participants were interviewed and clinically examined for the number of teeth (DMF‐T index) and the use of dental prostheses. The self‐reported number of teeth in each arch and the use of dental prostheses were gathered through interviews. The level of agreement was estimated using the observed agreement, Kappa statistics, sensitivity/specificity (edentulism/prostheses) and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient, and related tests (number of teeth). The validity of the oral conditions was estimated according to sociodemographic information. Results: Ninety‐nine women participated in the study. High levels of agreement were observed for edentulism (97.8%; 95%CI 92.8;99.7; Kappa 0.947) and the use of dental prostheses (97.0%; 95%CI 91.3;99.4; Kappa 0.922). In both conditions, despite achieving similar concordance correlation coefficients (ranging from weak to moderate), the mean number of upper teeth was lower in clinical examination (7.1 ± 5.2) compared with self‐reported (8.6 ± 3.6), while the opposite was observed for lower teeth (clinical examination: 9.1 ± 3.4; self‐reported: 6.6 ± 5.3). Larger differences were found among women of low income and educational levels. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the participants' socio‐economic position might influence their self‐reported number of teeth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aberrant movement in chronic low back pain (CLBP) is associated with a deficit in the lumbar multifidus (LM) and changes in cortical topography. Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a‐tDCS) can be used to enhance cortical excitability by priming the neuromuscular system for motor control exercise (MCE), thereby enhancing LM activation and movement control. This study aimed to determine the effects of a 6‐week MCE program combined with a‐tDCS on cortical topography, LM activation, movement patterns, and clinical outcomes in individuals with CLBP. Methods: Twenty‐two individuals with CLBP were randomly allocated to the a‐tDCS group (a‐tDCS; n = 12) or sham‐tDCS group (s‐tDCS; n = 10). Both groups received 20 min of tDCS followed by 30 min of MCE. The LM and erector spinae (ES) cortical topography, LM activation, movement control battery tests, and clinical outcomes (disability and quality of life) were measured pre‐ and post‐intervention. Results: Significant interaction (group × time; p < 0.01) was found in the distance between LM and ES cortical locations. The a‐tDCS group demonstrated significantly fewer discrete peaks (p < 0.05) in both ES and LM and significant improvements (p < 0.05) in clinical outcomes post‐intervention. The s‐tDCS group demonstrated a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the number of discrete peaks in the LM cortical topography. No significant changes (p > 0.05) in LM activation were observed in either group; however, both groups demonstrated improved movement patterns. Discussion: Our findings suggest that combined a‐tDCS with MCE can separate LM and ES locations over time while s‐tDCS (MCE alone) reduces the distance. Our study did not find superior benefits of adding a‐tDCS before MCE for LM activation, movement patterns, or clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue resistance is vital for success in elite road cycling, as repeated, intense efforts challenge the athletes' ability to sustain peak performance throughout prolonged races. The present study combined recurrent performance testing and physiological measures during 6 h simulated racing with laboratory testing to investigate factors influencing fatigue resistance. Twelve male national elite cyclists (25 ± 3 years; 76 ± 6 kg and VO2max of 5.2 ± 0.5 L/min) completed incremental power and maximal fat oxidation tests. Subsequently, they underwent field testing with physiological measures and fatigue responses evaluated through peak sprint power and 5 km time trial (TT) testing after 0, 2, 4, and 6 h of exercise. Peak power declined from 1362 ± 176 W in first sprint to 1271 ± 152 W after 2 h (p < 0.01) and then stabilized. In contrast, TT mean power gradually declined from 412 ± 38 W in the first TT to 384 ± 41 W in the final trial, with individual losses ranging from 2% to 14% and moderately correlated (r2 = 0.45) to accumulated exercise time above lactate threshold. High carbohydrate intake (~90 g/h) maintained blood glucose levels, but post‐TT [lactate] decreased from 15.1 ± 2 mM to 7.1 ± 2.3 mM, while fat oxidation increased from 0.7 ± 0.3 g/min at 0 h to 1.1 ± 0.1 g/min after 6 h. The study identifies fatigue patterns in national elite cyclists. Peak sprint power stabilized after an initial impairment from 0 to 2 h, while TT power gradually declined over the 6 h simulated race, with increased differentiation in fatigue responses among athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive control is a predictor of later‐life outcomes and may underpin higher order executive processes. The present study examines the development of early cognitive control during the first 24‐month. We evaluated a tablet‐based assessment of cognitive control among infants aged 18‐ and 24‐month. We also examined concurrent and longitudinal associations between attentional disengagement, general cognitive skills and cognitive control. Participants (N = 60, 30 female) completed the tablet‐task at 18‐ and 24‐month of age. Attentional disengagement and general cognitive development were assessed at 5‐, 8‐, 12‐, 18‐ and 24‐month using an eye‐tracking measure and the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL), respectively. The cognitive control task demonstrated good internal consistency, sensitivity to age‐related change in performance and stable individual differences. No associations were found between infant cognitive control and MSEL scores longitudinally or concurrently. The eye‐tracking task revealed that slower attentional disengagement at 8‐month, but faster disengagement at 18‐month, predicted higher cognitive control scores at 24‐month. This task may represent a useful tool for measuring emergent cognitive control. The multifaceted relationship between attention and infant cognitive control suggests that the rapid development of the attentional system in infancy results in distinct attentional skills, at different ages, being relevant for cognitive control development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Instagram is the social network with the largest number of adolescent users in Italy; it is also the social network with the largest number of suicide‐related posts. Suicide is the third leading cause of death in Italy in the 15–19 age group. This study aims to describe Italian posts on Instagram related to suicide and to investigate whether there are differences in the number of likes, comments, and hashtags in relation to the characteristics of the posts. We searched for Italian‐language Instagram posts by typing '#suicidio', an Italian translation of the English word 'suicide', and found 303 posts between January and May 2022. Most of the posts were written by ordinary people, while only a small percentage of posts were written by professionals; moreover, the content was predominantly biographical and pro‐suicide, and most posts had no reference to adolescence. Posts with a neutral approach received the most likes, while posts with a negative or positive approach to suicide or that contained references to psychiatric disorders had the most hashtags. These results provide insight regarding guidelines that can be implemented for suicide online prevention and encourage psychologists to enhance online prevention and support using the online community inherent to the Instagram social network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Treatment of anorexia nervosa (AN) sometimes requires hospitalisation, which is often lengthy, with little ability to predict individual trajectory. Depicting specific profiles of treatment response and their clinical predictors could be beneficial to tailor inpatient management. The aim of this research was to identify clusters of weight recovery during inpatient treatment, and their clinical predictors. Methods: A sample of 181 inpatients who completed a treatment programme for AN was included in a retrospective study. A latent class mixed model approach was used to identify distinct weight‐gain trajectories. Clinical variables were introduced in a multinomial logistic regression model as predictors of the different classes. Results: A four‐class quadratic model was retained, able to correctly classify 63.7% of the cohort. It encompassed a late‐rising, flattening, moderate trajectory of body mass index (BMI) increase (class 1), a late‐rising, steady, high trajectory (class 2), an early‐rising, flattening, high trajectory (class 3) and an early‐rising, steady, high trajectory (class 4). Significant predictors of belonging to a class were baseline BMI (all classes), illness duration (class 2), and benzodiazepine prescription (class 3). Conclusion: Predicting different kinetics of weight recovery based on routinely collected clinical indicators could improve clinician awareness and patient engagement by enabling shared expectations of treatment response. Highlights: Treatment of anorexia nervosa lacks tailored strategies to optimise individual patients' management.Latent class mixed model approach is a promising strategy to analyse treatment response as a dynamic entity.Baseline body mass index, duration of illness and benzodiazepine prescription are significant indicators of distinct weight recovery profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psychoeducation constitutes a routine therapeutic practice in most treatment settings for severe alcohol use disorder (sAUD). This technique is considered an efficient way to help patients to learn more about their disease and achieve therapeutic objectives. However, this approach capitalizes on three untested assumptions: namely, that (1) patients with sAUD possess insufficient knowledge about sAUD at treatment entry; (2) patients with sAUD have the cognitive resources to learn new information and benefit from psychoeducation; and (3) psychoeducation positively impacts clinical outcomes. Methods: We tested these assumptions in two experimental studies. In the first experiment in 66 recently detoxified patients with sAUD and 102 matched healthy controls, we measured baseline knowledge on sAUD through self‐reported questionnaires, determined whether an up‐to‐date psychoeducation program can improve this knowledge, explored the role of cognitive abilities in such learning, and established the impact of psychoeducation on relapse rates. In a second experiment in 23 patients and 17 healthy controls, we examined whether the increased knowledge following psychoeducation is alcohol specific, and whether the motivation to change influences the relation between psychoeducation and clinical outcomes. Results: At treatment entry, patients with sAUD presented with more sAUD‐related knowledge than healthy controls, and were able to increase this knowledge following psychoeducation, independently of their cognitive status. However, psychoeducation did not impact either the motivation to change or relapse rates. Conclusions: Psychoeducation can increase patients' knowledge about sAUD, but it does not increase the likelihood of abstinence or controlled low consumption after discharge. Thus, clinicians should question whether psychoeducation should occupy a central position in the therapeutic programs and reconsider what can be expected from psychoeducation in terms of achieving therapeutic objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to examine determinants of undernutrition among children under 2 years of age. Design and Methods: A matched case‐control study design was conducted to recruit 300 mothers comprising 100 mothers with an undernourished child (case group) and 200 mothers with a healthy child (control group). Measurements consisted of demographic characteristics of children data, mother's data, household data, mother's knowledge of child undernutrition, mother's knowledge of nutrition, complementary feeding practices, and undernutrition parameters of the children. A conditional logistic regression was used to identify determinants of undernutrition. The risk of undernutrition was estimated by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Statistical significance was defined as any p value of <.05. Results: Findings showed that mother's knowledge of undernutrition (AOR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.91−0.98), mother's knowledge of nutrition (AOR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.85−0.96), and mother's knowledge (AOR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.67−0.91) and behavior of complementary feeding practices (AOR: 0.97; 95% CI: 0.94−0.99) were significant determinants of undernutrition (p <.05). Practice Implications: Mothers with high scores on knowledge of undernutrition, knowledge of nutrition, and knowledge and behaviors of complementary feeding practices would benefit the children under 2 years to reduce the risk of undernutrition. Healthcare professionals (i.e., pediatric nurses and community health nurses) should provide early assessment of knowledge related to undernutrition, nutrition, and complementary feeding practices for mothers with children under 2 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate the protein profiles in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in relation to clinical outcomes after periodontal surgery and examine if any selected proteins affect the mRNA expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines in human gingival fibroblasts. Materials and Methods: This exploratory study included 21 consecutive patients with periodontitis. GCF was collected, and the protein pattern (n = 92) and clinical parameters were evaluated prior to surgery and 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. Fibroblastic gene expression was analysed by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Surgical treatment reduced periodontal pocket depth (PPD) and changed the GCF protein pattern. Twelve months after surgery, 17% of the pockets showed an increase in PPD. Levels of a number of proteins in the GCF decreased after surgical treatment but increased with early signs of tissue destruction, with LIGHT being one of the proteins that showed the strongest association. Furthermore, LIGHT up‐regulated the mRNA expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐8 and MMP9 in human gingival fibroblasts. Conclusions: LIGHT can potentially detect subjects at high risk of periodontitis recurrence after surgical treatment. Moreover, LIGHT induces the expression of inflammatory cytokines and tissue‐degrading enzymes in gingival fibroblasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral frailty, characterised by reduced oral function, is associated with systemic health issues in older adults. Although the criteria for diminished oral function often focus on motor and secretory abilities, texture perception also plays a crucial role in health due to its impact on food intake and palatability. Objective: This study aimed to explore the relationship between thickness discrimination ability (TDA) and oral motor and secretory functions in healthy young individuals. Methods: Twenty‐eight adults were assessed for texture perception using eight concentrations of aqueous xanthan gum solutions to determine TDA scores. Measurements of occlusal force, masticatory performance, tongue pressure, stimulated salivary flow rate and tongue–lip motor function were conducted. Spearman's correlation analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between TDA scores and oral functions. Participants were divided into high‐sensitivity and low‐sensitivity groups based on their TDA scores to compare oral function test results. Results: The TDA scores varied among the participants, with higher scores correlating with higher masticatory performance (r = 0.41, p <.05). Masticatory performance in the high‐sensitivity group was significantly higher than in the low‐sensitivity group (211.9 ± 59.2 mg/dL vs. 157.9 ± 43.0 mg/dL, p =.013), with no significant differences in other oral functions. Conclusion: Masticatory performance was correlated with TDA, suggesting a link between the selection function of mastication and thickness discrimination. These findings highlight the potential relevance of texture perception in oral function and indicate the need for further exploration, particularly in older adults with declining oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this study was to research the effect of different bed head angles on the hemodynamic parameters of intensive care patients lying in the supine position. Methods: This study was a non‐randomized and non‐controlled, quasi‐experimental repeated measures study. The study was conducted with 50 intensive care patients aged 18 and over in a general surgery intensive care unit in Turkey. With each patient in the supine position, the bed head was raised to an angle of 0°, 20°, 30°, and 45° without a pillow, and the hemodynamic parameters of central venous pressure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and peripheral oxygen saturation were recorded after 0 and 10 min. Results: It was found that the mean central venous pressure value measured at min 0 and 10 was higher when the intensive care patients' bed head angle was raised to 45° than when the bed head was at an angle of 0° or 20° (p <.05). It was found that the patients' other hemodynamic parameters were not affected by different bed head angles. Conclusions: It was concluded as a result of this research that in intensive care patients in the supine position, only central venous pressure was affected by bed head angle, and that central venous pressure measurement can be reliably made at a bed head angle of 30°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: T cells contribute to tissue injury in systemic sclerosis (SSc), yet the specific T cell subsets expanded in patients with SSc remain incompletely defined. Here we evaluated specific phenotypes and functions of peripheral helper T (Tph) and follicular helper T (Tfh) cells, which have been implicated in autoantibody production, and assessed their associations with clinical features in a well‐characterized cohort of patients with SSc. Methods: Mass cytometry of T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with SSc and controls were evaluated using t‐distributed stochastic neighbor embedding visualization, biaxial gating, and marker expression levels. Findings were validated with flow cytometry and in vitro assays. Results: The frequencies of PD‐1highCXCR5+ Tfh cells and PD‐1highCXCR5− Tph cells were similar in patients with SSc and controls. t‐distributed stochastic neighbor embedding visualization (tSNE) revealed distinct populations within the PD‐1highCXCR5− cells distinguished by expression of HLA–DR and inducible costimulator (ICOS). Among PD‐1highCXCR5− cells, only the HLA–DR+ICOS− cell population was expanded in patients with SSc. Cytometric and RNA sequencing analyses indicated that these cells expressed cytotoxic rather than B cell helper features. HLA–DR+ICOS− PD‐1highCXCR5− cells were less potent in inducing B cell plasmablast differentiation and antibody production than comparator T helper cell populations. HLA–DR+ICOS−PD‐1highCXCR5− cells were significantly associated with the presence and severity of interstitial lung disease among patients with SSc. Conclusion: Among PD‐1highCXCR5− T cells, a subset of HLA–DR+ICOS− cells with cytotoxic features is specifically expanded in patients with SSc and is significantly associated with interstitial lung disease severity. This potential cytotoxicity appearing in the CD4 T cell population can be evaluated as a prognostic disease biomarker in patients with SSc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Persistent microvascular obstruction (MVO) after successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been well‐described. MVO predicts lack of recovery of left ventricular function and increased mortality. Sonothrombolysis utilizing diagnostic ultrasound induced cavitation of commercially available microbubble contrast has been effective at reducing infarct size and improving left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) when performed both pre‐ and post‐PCI. However, the effectiveness of post‐PCI sonothrombolysis alone after successful PCI has not been demonstrated. Methods: A prospective randomized controlled trial was performed in 50 consecutive consenting patients with anterior STEMI who underwent a continuous microbubble infusion immediately following successful PCI. Intermittent high mechanical index (MI) impulses were applied only in the sonthrombolysis group. Delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at 48 h and again at 6–8 weeks to assess for differences in infarct size, LVEF, and MVO. Results: There were no differences between groups in age, gender, and cardiovascular risk factors. Significant (> 2 segments) MVO following successful PCI was observed in 66% of patients. Although sonothrombolysis reduced the extent of MVO acutely, there were no differences in infarct size, LVEF, or extent of MVO by MRI at 48 h. Twenty‐eight patients returned for a follow up MRI at 6–8 weeks. LVEF improved only in the sonothrombolysis group (∆LVEF 7.81 ± 4.57% with sonothrombolysis vs. 1.77 ± 7.02% for low MI only, p =.011). Conclusion: Post‐PCI sonothrombolysis had minimal effect on reducing myocardial infarct size but improved left ventricular systolic function in patients with acute anterior wall STEMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to validate the Delirium Observation Screening Scale (DOSS) in a population of long‐term care facility (LTCF) residents in Flanders. Currently there is no validated screening tool for delirium available for the population in this setting in Flanders. Methods: A multisite, cross‐sectional study was conducted in six LTCFs. A total of 338 residents aged 65 years and older were included. Sociodemographic and clinical data, including data from the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and DOSS, were obtained by three trained nurse researchers. For the DOSS, internal consistency was determined, and inter‐rater reliability was calculated. To validate the DOSS, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value of the DOSS relative to the CAM were determined through receiver operating characteristic analysis. This article adheres to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies (STROBE) checklist for observational research. Results: For 338 residents, delirium assessments were completed during an early or late shift. The prevalence of delirium was 14.2% as measured with the DOSS. The reliability (α) for the CAM and DOSS was assessed, as was the inter‐rater reliability (κ) and the area under the curve. The sensitivity and specificity for a cut‐off value of 3 on the DOSS by Youden's index were very high, as was the negative predictive value. The positive predictive value was good. Conclusions: This study showed that the DOSS is a reliable and valid instrument to screen for delirium in LTCF residents in Flanders. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 619–625. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been argued that habitually appraising stressful events as more of a threat (i.e., situational demands exceed personal coping resources) may increase one's risk of ill‐health (e.g., depression). However, while first theorized 15 years ago, little research has tested this assertion. Thus, this study offered a novel test of the associations between trait challenge and threat appraisals and health‐related outcomes (i.e., mental health symptomology, psychological well‐being, and physical health complaints). Three hundred and ninety‐five participants (251 female, 144 male; Mage = 22.50 years, SD = 5.33) completed valid and reliable measures of trait challenge and threat appraisals, mental health (i.e., symptoms of depression and anxiety), well‐being (e.g., subjective vitality), and physical health complaints (e.g., respiratory illnesses). Regression analyses revealed that trait challenge and threat appraisals accounted for a significant proportion of variance in all outcomes after controlling for age and gender, with a tendency to appraise stressful events as more of a threat associated with poorer mental health (i.e., greater depression symptomology), well‐being (e.g., lower vitality), and physical health (e.g., more respiratory illnesses). Taken together, the findings highlight the importance of trait challenge and threat appraisals for health, although further research is needed using stronger designs (e.g., longitudinal) to enable a more causal understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: While thrombosis and pregnancy loss are the best‐known clinical features of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), many patients also exhibit "extra‐criteria" manifestations, such as thrombocytopenia. The mechanisms that drive APS thrombocytopenia are not completely understood, and no clinical biomarkers are available for predicting antiphospholipid antibody (aPL)–mediated thrombocytopenia. Calprotectin is a heterodimer of S100A8 and S100A9 that is abundant in the neutrophil cytoplasm and released upon proinflammatory neutrophil activation. Here, we sought to evaluate the presence, clinical associations, and potential mechanistic roles of circulating calprotectin in a cohort of primary APS and aPL‐positive patients. Methods: Levels of circulating calprotectin were determined in plasma by the QUANTA Flash chemiluminescent assay. A viability dye‐based platelet assay was used to assess the potential impact of calprotectin on aPL‐mediated thrombocytopenia. Results: Circulating calprotectin was measured in 112 patients with primary APS and 30 aPL‐positive (without APS criteria manifestations or lupus) patients as compared to patients with lupus (without APS), patients with unprovoked venous thrombosis (without aPL), and healthy controls. Levels of calprotectin were higher in patients with primary APS and aPL‐positive patients compared to healthy controls. After adjustment for age and sex, calprotectin level correlated positively with absolute neutrophil count (r = 0.41, P < 0.001), positively with C‐reactive protein level (r = 0.34, P = 0.002), and negatively with platelet count (r = −0.24, P = 0.004). Mechanistically, we found that calprotectin provoked aPL‐mediated thrombocytopenia by engaging platelet surface toll‐like receptor 4 and activating the NLRP3‐inflammasome, thereby reducing platelet viability in a caspase‐1‐dependent manner. Conclusion: These data suggest that calprotectin has the potential to be a functional biomarker and a new therapeutic target for APS thrombocytopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passive hamstring stiffness varies proximo‐distally, resulting in inhomogeneous tissue strain during stretching that may affect localized adaptations and risk of muscle injuries. The purpose of the present study was to determine the acute and chronic effects of static stretching (SS) on intramuscular hamstring stiffness. Thirty healthy active participants had acute changes in passive biceps femoris (BF), semimembranosus (SM), and semitendinosus (ST) stiffness measured at 25% (proximal), 50% (middle), and 75% (distal) muscle length, using shear‐wave elastography, immediately after SS. Participants then completed 4 weeks of either a SS intervention (n = 15) or no intervention (CON, n = 15) with stiffness measured before and after the interventions. The acute and chronic effects of SS were compared between anatomical regions and between regions on the basis of their relative stiffness pre‐intervention. Acutely, SS decreased stiffness throughout the BF and SM (p ≤ 0.05) but not the ST (p = 0.326). However, a regional effect of stretching was observed for SM and ST with greater reduction in stiffness occurring in stiffer muscular regions (p = 0.001–0.013). Chronically, SS increased BF and ST (p < 0.05), but not SM (p = 0.422) stiffness compared with CON, but no regional effect of stretching was observed in any muscle (p = 0.361–0.833). SS resulted in contrasting acute and chronic effects, acutely decreasing stiffness in stiffer regions while chronically increasing stiffness. These results indicate that the acute effects of SS vary along the muscle's length on the basis of the relative stiffness of the muscle and that acute changes in stiffness from SS are unrelated to chronic adaptations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Active migration and globalization have led to increased opportunities for critical care nurses to care for patients from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds. This study thus aimed to identify the individual, interpersonal, and organizational factors affecting cultural competence levels among neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurses based on an ecological model. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that included 135 NICU nurses in South Korea. A hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis was conducted using the proposed ecological model, and a regression model for each of the four subdomains of cultural competence was constructed and compared. NICU nurses' cultural competencies were influenced not only by the "necessity of multicultural education" and "ethnocultural empathy" at the individual level but by the "hospital's readiness and support for cultural competencies" at the organizational level. To promote the cultural competence of nurses in critical care settings, environmental and organizational support should be improved, along with developing strategies that focus on nurses' individual characteristics. It is also necessary to investigate the "intersectionality" of the effects of individual and environmental factors on cultural competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Dolutegravir + rilpivirine (DTG + RPV) is an effective antiretroviral therapy regimen approved in clinical guidelines as a switch therapy for virologically suppressed people with HIV. Our study aimed to compare the effectiveness and tolerability of DTG + RPV in women and men in real‐world clinical practice. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of treatment‐experienced people with HIV from a large HIV unit who switched to DTG + RPV. We analysed treatment effectiveness, rates of adverse events and discontinuation, and metabolic changes after 48 weeks of treatment. HIV‐RNA levels <50 copies/mL were analysed at 48 weeks using both intention‐to treat analysis (where missing data were interpreted as failures) and per‐protocol analysis (excluding those with missing data or changes due to reasons other than virological failure). Outcomes were compared between women and men based on sex at birth. Results: A total of 307 patients were selected (71 women and 236 men). No transgender people were included. At baseline, women had lived with HIV infection and received antiretroviral therapy for longer than men (23.2 vs 17.4 years and 18.9 vs 14.2 years, respectively). In the intention‐to‐treat analysis, 74.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 63.4–83.3%) of women and 83.5% (95% CI 78.2–87.7) of men had HIV‐RNA <50 copies/mL. In the per‐protocol analysis, 96.4% (95% CI 87.7–99) of women and 99% (95% CI 98.9–99.7) of men had HIV‐RNA levels <50 copies/mL. Two women and two men had HIV‐RNA >50 copies/mL at 48 weeks. Discontinuation due to adverse events was more frequent in women than in men: 12.7% vs 7.2% (p < 0.02). Neuropsychiatric and gastrointestinal events were the most frequently reported. A median (interquartile range) weight gain of 1.9 kg (0–4.2) in women and 1.2 kg (−1–3.1) in men was reported (median of differences between baseline visit and week 48); the remaining changes in metabolic parameters were neutral. Conclusions: DTG + RPV exhibited good and similar virological effectiveness in women and men in real‐world settings. However, poorer tolerability and more treatment interruptions were observed in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess whether systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may be genetically causally associated with migraine, including the two primary subtypes: migraine with aura (MWA) and migraine without aura (MWoA). Background: The association between SLE and migraine has been investigated extensively. Previous studies have shown a higher prevalence of migraine in patients with SLE, although the exact relationship remains unclear. This study investigated the potential causal association between SLE and migraine using the powerful analytical tool of Mendelian randomization (MR). Methods: We performed two‐sample MR analysis of publicly available summary statistic datasets using inverse variance‐weighted (IVW), weighted median, and MR‐Egger methods based on an SLE genome‐wide association study (GWAS; 5201 cases; 9066 controls; the exposure frequency is 36.5%) as an exposure and migraine GWAS (15,905 cases; 264,662 controls) in individuals with European ancestry as outcomes, focusing on the two migraine subtypes MWA (6780 cases; 264,662 controls) and MWoA (5787 cases; 264,662 controls). Thepleiotropy and heterogeneity were performed. Results: We selected 42 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms from SLE GWAS as instrumental variables (IVs) for SLE on migraine, and 41 SNP IVs for SLE on MWA or MWoA. The IVW (odds ratio [OR] = 1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.99, 1.03], p = 0.271), weighted median (OR = 1.00, 95% CI = [0.97, 1.03], p = 0.914), and MR‐Egger (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = [0.99, 1.09], p = 0.153) methods showed no causal effect of SLE on migraine. A causal effect of SLE was observed on MWA (IVW: OR = 1.05, 95% CI = [1.02, 1.08], p = 0.001; weighted median: OR = 1.05, 95% CI = [1.01, 1.10], p = 0.018; MR‐Egger: OR = 1.07, 95% CI = [1.01, 1.14], p = 0.035 and pIVW < 0.017 [Bonferroni correction]) but not MWoA (IVW: OR = 0.99, 95% CI = [0.96, 1.02], p = 0.331; weighted median: OR = 0.98, 95% CI = [0.94, 1.03], p = 0.496; MR‐Egger: OR = 1.02, 95% CI = [0.95, 1.09], p = 0.652). The results showed no significant pleiotropy or heterogeneity. Conclusion: Our MR analysis demonstrated the complex relationship between SLE and migraine, suggesting a potential effect of SLE on the risk of MWA but not MWoA. These findings can aid in the development of improved subtype‐specific management of migraine in patients with SLE. Plain Language Summary: Using a method called Mendelian randomization, our study looked into whether there is a genetic relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and migraine. Our findings revealed a complex connection between SLE and migraine. It seems that having SLE could increase the likelihood of having migraine with aura; however, this doesn't seem to be the case for migraine without aura. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There has been a significant increase in scientific investigations of the hearing‐dementia association among the research on potentially modifiable risk factors for cognitive impairment. We tested two clinical questions. Analysis 1: does persistent hearing aid (HA) use decrease the decline in cognitive function caused by ageing? Analysis 2: does cognitive function at the time of HA fitting predict future persistent HA use? Methods: This case–control study performed at two referral centres reported data obtained over a 4.5‐year period. We recruited a group of patients with cognitive decline, aged 65 or older with or without hearing loss. The intervention consisted of the use of HAs. The primary outcome measures were adherence to continuous HA use and cognitive function measured using the Japanese version of the Mini‐Mental State Examination Test and the Reading Cognitive Test Kyoto. Results: Eighteen HA users and 18 controls were included in the first analysis. HA use was associated with a deceleration of cognitive decline 12 months later. In the second analysis, 11 participants with good adherence to HA use were compared with 12 participants who showed poor adherence to HA use. Among the variables employed in this study, cognitive function measured using the Reading Cognitive Test Kyoto was significantly lower in participants with poor adherence to HA. Conclusions: HA use in cognitively impaired individuals with hearing loss can slow age‐related cognitive decline. Cognitively impaired people with hearing loss who fail to commit to HA use tend to have lower cognitive measurement scores before HA fitting. HA use is generally more challenging as people age and their cognitive abilities decline. Therefore, it is desirable that HAs be used when hearing loss and dementia are in their early stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate whether attentional control serves as a mediator for mindfulness‐based interventions for emotional distress, utilizing a randomized waitlist (WL)‐controlled design. Methods: A total of 498 participants with high emotional distress was recruited online and randomly assigned to a 49‐day online Mindfulness Intervention for Emotional Distress (MIED) group (N = 249) or a WL control group (N = 249). Levels of attentional control, anxiety and depression were assessed at baseline (T0), Week 3 (T3), Week 5 (T5) and Week 7 (postintervention, T7). Results: Linear mixed models revealed significant Group‐by‐Time interaction effects for attentional control (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001) and depression (p < 0.05). Latent growth curve analyses demonstrated a significant increase in attentional control and a decrease in anxiety and depression levels during the MIED programme. These changes becoming evident starting Week 3. Longitudinal mediation analyses revealed that the slope of attentional control significantly mediated the effects of the MIED programme on the slope of anxiety and depression levels. Further, attentional control level at Week 3 significantly mediates the effect of MIED programme on anxiety and depression levels at Weeks 5 and 7. Similarly, attentional control level at Week 5 significantly mediates the MIED programme's effects on anxiety and depression levels at Week 7. Conclusions: The present trial provides evidence suggesting that mindfulness interventions may alleviate emotional distress through the enhancement of attentional control. Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry number: ChiCTR2200064140 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This clinical study aimed to evaluate the effect of virtual reality (VR) technology on anxiety and pain levels in patients undergoing gingivectomy and gingivoplasty procedures. Materials and Methods: The patients were randomized into test (surgery with VR glasses) and control (surgery without VR glasses) groups. Before the surgery, the anxiety level was measured using the modified dental anxiety scale (MDAS), and anticipated pain (AP) was measured by a visual analog scale (VAS). Immediately after the surgery, the pain and discomfort associated with the surgery (VASP), procedure time (T), and time perception (TP) were evaluated. The patients in the test group were requested to assess the immersion (VASI), satisfaction (VASS), perception of reduced anxiety (VASA), and perceived control (VASC). One week after surgery, MDAS was applied to all patients. Results: This trial was conducted with 41 female and 17 male subjects with a mean age of 29.69 ± 12.32. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of age, sex, preoperative MDAS, or AP. After surgery, MDAS, VASP, T, and TP failed to differ significantly between the groups. The subject age was positively correlated with VASI, VASS, VASA, and VASC (r = 0.60, p = 0.00; r = 0.44, p = 0.02; r = 0.46, p = 0.02; r = 0.50, p = 0.01, respectively) and negatively correlated with VASP (r = 0.47, p = 0.04). Conclusions: VR application did not affect anxiety and pain levels in patients undergoing periodontal surgery. More studies are needed to evaluate VR distraction in periodontal surgeries with diverse age samples and video options. Clinical Significance: VR does not affect anxiety and pain levels during gingivectomy and gingivoplasty surgeries in the young adult population. It should be evaluated in older age groups. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06092177. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to explore the structural validity and internal consistency reliability of General Anxiety Disorder‐7, Patient Health Questionnaire‐8, 15 and Jaw Functional Limitation Scale‐20 in patients with chronic pain of temporomandibular disorders. Materials and Methods: Validity and reliability were assessed in 129 patients diagnosed according to the diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders. Structural validity was explored using factor analysis, and internal consistency by calculating Cronbach α. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a suitable 2‐factor model for Patient Health Questionnaire‐8, with Cronbach α of 0.89, and 0.86. One and 2‐factor models were suitable for General Anxiety Disorder‐7, with overall Cronbach α of 0.93 for the 1‐factor model, and 0.91 and 0.84 for both factors in a 2‐factor model. A 4‐factor solution was appropriate for Patient Health Questionnaire‐15, with Cronbach α of 0.72, 0.57, 0.71 and 0.73 for each factor separately. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to explore the factor structure of Jaw Functional Limitation Scale 20, and a 3‐factor solution was appropriate. Conclusions: This study provides positive evidence of structural validity and internal consistency of these questionnaires in patients with pain of temporomandibular disorders. However, additional testing is required to explore further psychometric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Sjögren's disease (SjD) has a strong sex bias, suggesting an association with sex hormones. Male SjD represents a distinct subset of the disease, but the pathogenic mechanisms of male SjD is poorly characterized. The aim of this study is to identify initiating events related to the development of gland hypofunction and autoimmunity in male SjD patients. Materials and methods: Human minor salivary glands were transcriptomically analyzed with microarrays to detect differentially expressed genes in male SjD patients. Identified genes were tested on their involvement in the disease using conditional transgenic mice and gene‐overexpressing cells. Results: GPR78, an orphan G protein–coupled receptor, was overexpressed in the salivary glands of male SjD patients compared with male healthy controls and female SjD patients. Male GPR78 transgenic mice developed salivary gland hypofunction with increased epithelial apoptosis, which was not seen in control or female transgenic mice. In cell culture, GPR78 overexpression decreased lysosomal integrity, leading to caspase‐dependent apoptotic cell death. GPR78‐induced cell death in vitro was inhibited by treatment with estradiol. Conclusion: GPR78 overexpression can induce apoptosis and salivary gland hypofunction in male mice through lysosomal dysfunction and increased caspase‐dependent apoptosis in salivary gland epithelium, which may drive disease in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine how the nighttime sleep patterns of older adults in a long‐term care facility vary according to cognitive function and participation in daytime activities. Methods: This observational study was conducted with older adults aged ≥65 years who are residents of a long‐term care facility. Nighttime sleep was monitored using a non‐wearable sleep monitor for 8 weeks. Based on the Mini‐Mental State Examination scores for assessment of cognitive function, participants were classified into non‐dementia, mild‐to‐moderate dementia, and severe dementia groups. The Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis test were used to analyze the data. Results: Twenty three older adults were included in this study. Sleep onset latency was significantly longer in the severe dementia group than in the non‐dementia (p =.027) and mild‐to‐moderate dementia (p =.041) groups. Sleep efficiency was significantly lower in the severe dementia group than in the mild‐to‐moderate dementia group (p =.003), whereas wakefulness after sleep onset was significantly longer in the severe dementia group than in the mild‐to‐moderate dementia group (p =.011). The number of days spent engaging in recreational activities was <50%, whereas those spent taking a nap was >60% in all older adults. Older adults with mild‐to‐moderate dementia had better sleep and participated in more daytime activities than those with severe or no dementia. Moreover, bathing in a bathtub improved sleep onset latency. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that participation in daytime activities and bathing in a bathtub affect nighttime sleep in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aims to examine the relationship between older adults' health literacy and their psychological well‐being and the role of worry about future unmet needs for medical care in mediating this relationship. Methods: We adopted a sample of 965 older Chinese people aged 60+ (49.74% female) from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey. A series of structural equation models (SEMs) were performed. Health literacy was measured by three items regarding older people's ability to understand medical professionals, ask them questions, and read medical instructions. A single‐item question was adopted to measure participants' worry about unmet needs for future medical care. Psychological well‐being was measured by three items regarding emotional problems and depressed or anxious mood in the past 4 weeks. Results: Worry about future unmet needs for medical care mediates the relationship between lack of health literacy and Chinese older people's psychological well‐being. The indirect effect accounts for 22.3% of the total effect. The SEM model has a satisfactory model fit (goodness of fit index = 1.000, comparative fit index = 0.999, Tucker‐Lewis index = 0.997, root mean square error of approximation = 0.009, standardized root mean square residual = 0.023, chi‐square test = 50.96, P = 0.321). Conclusions: The findings of this study underscore the importance of improving communication quality between healthcare providers and older adults. Clinical interventions that promote health literacy and address worries about unmet needs for medical services may benefit older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 202–207. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This cross‐sectional study investigated the association of periodontitis with the metabolic status and hepatic function in pregnant women. Materials and Methods: Full‐mouth periodontal conditions, metabolic profiles, and hepatic function were assessed in 219 self‐reported healthy pregnant females. The association of periodontal status with the systemic parameters was evaluated by parametric and non‐parametric tests, and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: Overall, periodontal status was positively associated with the metabolic profiles and hepatic function test results. The subjects with periodontitis exhibited higher levels of body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.01) and serum aspartate transaminase (AST) (p < 0.05), elevated diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p < 0.05), and lower levels of high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.05) than those of the counterparts. The periodontitis severity was strongly correlated with BMI and AST levels, and the extent of periodontal inflammation was related to DBP (p < 0.01). The periodontitis patients at 34–36 gestational weeks showed higher blood pressure and AST levels than those of non‐periodontitis subjects (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings on the notable links of periodontitis to concurrent metabolic disorders and abnormal liver function in pregnant women highlight the need of proactive integration of regular periodontal screening and healthcare in maternal programs for promoting optimal health and wellbeing of mothers‐to‐be and newborns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Negative urgency (NU), the tendency to act rashly during negative emotional states, is a robust risk factor for alcohol misuse that is posited to function in part through alcohol‐related cognitions. Nonetheless, relatively little research has examined mood‐based fluctuations in such cognitions, which could help to explain how the trait of NU translates to impulsive alcohol‐related behaviors. We examined how NU impacted several alcohol cognitions (positive/negative alcohol expectancies, positive/negative alcohol valuations, and alcohol craving for positive/negative emotional reinforcement) before and after negative, neutral, or positive mood inductions. We hypothesized that NU would predict greater and more favorable endorsement of alcohol and its effects following negative (vs. positive or neutral) mood induction. Methods: Participants (N = 428) were southern‐midwestern college students recruited for an online experiment. Following the provision of consent, participants rated NU and preinduction alcohol cognitions, and were then randomly assigned to one of three (negative, neutral, or positive) mood inductions; subsequently, postinduction alcohol‐cognition ratings were immediately obtained. We conducted six robust multilevel linear models (one per DV) examining NU's influence on within‐person changes in alcohol cognitions across each mood induction. Results: No three‐way interactions were identified and only one two‐way interaction involving NU was identified. There were main effects across mood induction conditions and time points for NU predicting greater endorsement of positive and negative alcohol outcome expectancies, and greater alcohol craving for positive and negative emotional reinforcement. Conclusions: Greater NU predicts greater perceived likelihood of alcohol's effects, alongside greater desire for mood improvement from alcohol. The absence of three‐way interactive effects indicates NU's influence on mood‐dependent fluctuations in alcohol cognitions may manifest over longer timescales (e.g., months and years), involve alternative cognitive processes (e.g., drinking motives and implicit alcohol cognitions), and apply more broadly to desires for mood improvement than purely negative emotional reinforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to assess the quality and reliability of pressure injury‐related videos uploaded on YouTube, analyse the sources and contents, and examine the correlation between video parameters. We searched YouTube using two keywords, "pressure ulcer" and "pressure sore", on August 20, 2022. We sorted the videos according to their number of views and included the top 100 videos for each keyword. The quality of videos was assessed using the Global Quality Scale (GQS), while their reliability was evaluated by the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) tool. In addition, we evaluated the videos in which content was included, analysed the correlations and differences between GQS, mDISCERN, and video parameters. We initially found a total of 100 videos for each keyword and finally included and analysed 77 videos. The mean scores for the mDISCERN and GQS were 2.35 ± 0.98 and 3.09 ± 0.99, respectively. Both GQS and mDISCERN showed statistically significant correlations with each other (rho = 0.54, p < 0.0001*) and with the length of the videos, respectively (rho = 0.36, p = 0.001*), (rho = 0.29, p = 0.01*). Of the videos created by physicians, 8 (57.1%) included content related to treatment, while of the videos created by nonphysician health personnel, 22 (57.9%) included content related to prevention. Analysing whether there were differences in video parameters based on the sources, we observed significant differences between sources in GQS (p < 0.0001*), mDISCERN (p < 0.0001*), and video length (p = 0.001*). In the post‐hoc analysis, videos uploaded by physicians or nonphysician health personnel showed higher quality and reliability than videos uploaded by other sources. Therefore, the results of this study could be useful for healthcare providers, as well as patients and caregivers, to search for high‐quality and reliable YouTube videos related to pressure injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A crisis of confidence in research findings in consumer psychology and other academic disciplines has led to various proposals to abandon, replace, strengthen, or supplement the null hypothesis significance testing paradigm. The proliferation of such proposals, and their often‐conflicting recommendations, can increase confusion among researchers. We aim to bring some clarity by proposing five simple principles for the new era of data analysis and reporting of research in consumer psychology. We avoid adding to researchers' confusion and proposing more onerous or rigid standards. Our goal is to offer straightforward practical principles that are easy for researchers to keep in mind while analyzing their data and reporting their findings. These principles involve (1) interpreting p‐values as continuous measures of the strength of evidence, (2) being aware of assumptions that determine whether one can rely on p‐values, (3) using theory to establish the applicability of findings to new settings, (4) employing multiple measures of evidence and various processes to obtain them, but assigning special privilege to none, and (5) reporting procedures and findings transparently and completely. We hope that these principles provide researchers with some guidance and help to strengthen the reliability of the conclusions derived from their data, analyses, and findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron deficiency (ID) and ID with anaemia (IDA) are serious global health problems that disproportionately affect women aged 15–49 years. Although food fortification is one of the most effective and sustainable ways to combat nutritional deficiencies, iron remains one of the most difficult micronutrients to fortify, given its tendency to react strongly with food constituents. Therefore, it is important to assess the sensory properties of foods fortified with iron to determine the acceptability and palatability in target populations. We aimed to determine the palatability and acceptability of a novel iron and zinc‐enriched powder fortified in tap water by conducting sensory evaluations in 35 women of reproductive age using a 9‐point hedonic scale, where participants rated the sensory properties of six samples containing different amounts of the active or placebo powder. We found significant differences between samples reconstituted at 1, 2, and 3 g/L for sensory properties, including overall taste. Participants were found to be more willing to drink the mineral‐enriched powder when prepared at the lowest concentration (1 g/L) compared to higher concentrations. Our results provide important insight into the sensory qualities of a novel formulation of an iron and zinc‐enriched powder for at‐home fortification and indicate consumer acceptability in reproductive‐aged women, a key group at risk for ID/IDA. If found to improve iron status, novel treatments like this product will contribute to global efforts to develop safe, acceptable and sustainable interventions for ID and IDA. Key messages: There is a need to develop effective and acceptable treatments for ID/IDA in women of reproductive age, a population most at risk for these conditions.Fortification is one of the most sustainable approaches to combat nutritional deficiencies.Iron is one of the most difficult micronutrients to fortify, as it can result in unacceptable sensory changes that lead to poor long‐term adherence and decreased treatment efficacy.This study provides novel insights into the sensory perceptions of an iron fortification system in reproductive aged women, and can support global efforts towards developing acceptable treatments for ID/IDA in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When counselors experience interpersonal stress, they appraise counseling events using a similar appraisal process as the well‐known stress theory, the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping. Using structural equation modeling, we tested a mediation model representing the appraisal process in counselor interpersonal stress theory using a sample of professional counselors (n = 221). We hypothesized preventive resources and counseling self‐efficacy would partially mediate the relationship between counselor interpersonal stress and counselor burnout. In the model, counselor interpersonal stress and preventive resources showed statistically significant direct effects on counselor burnout. Preventive resources partially mediated the relationship between counselor interpersonal stress and counselor burnout. Implications for clinical practice and counselor wellness are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to compare mobility range, level of pain and sleep quality in patients with venous leg ulcers to age‐ and gender‐matched controls without ulcers. Twenty patients with venous leg ulceration and 20 matched controls each answered a questionnaire, completed the short‐physical performance battery, filled in a subject diary and wore a smartwatch for 1 week. The median daily step counts of the ulcer group (3622 steps/day) and the control group (5133 steps/day) were significantly different (P =.017). Significant correlations between total step count and age, duration of physical outdoor activities and scores in the short‐physical performance battery were observed in the ulcer group. The scores in the short‐physical performance battery were significantly different in both groups (P =.005), indicating weaker physical performance in the ulcer group. The greatest difference in the self‐reported level of pain between the two groups was stated during movement. On average, the ulcer group slept shorter by 1 h 38 min (P =.002) and had 0.7 wake phases per night (P =.019) more than the control group. Assessing mobility in patients with venous leg ulcers can be used to develop preventive and interventional concepts to improve and individualise physical therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica (AOGS) has updated its guidelines for authors to report methods and statistical analyses. The guidelines reflect recent advancements in research methodology and address concerns about the misuse of statistical hypothesis testing. The guidelines aim to promote transparency and best practices in scholarly publishing by encouraging consistent and standardized reporting. They also emphasize the interpretation of effect sizes and confidence intervals, rather than relying solely on statistical significance. The guidelines cover various aspects of experimental and observational studies and are aligned with the EQUATOR network's guidelines for health research. AOGS encourages authors to adhere to these guidelines to enhance the credibility and understanding of their research. [Extracted from the article]

Mathematics is a limited component of solutions to real‐world problems, as it expresses only what is expected to be true if all our assumptions are correct, including implicit assumptions that are omnipresent and often incorrect. Statistical methods are rife with implicit assumptions whose violation can be life‐threatening when results from them are used to set policy. Among them are that there is human equipoise or unbiasedness in data generation, management, analysis, and reporting. These assumptions correspond to levels of cooperation, competence, neutrality, and integrity that are absent more often than we would like to believe. Given this harsh reality, we should ask what meaning, if any, we can assign to the P‐values, "statistical significance" declarations, "confidence" intervals, and posterior probabilities that are used to decide what and how to present (or spin) discussions of analyzed data. By themselves, P‐values and CI do not test any hypothesis, nor do they measure the significance of results or the confidence we should have in them. The sense otherwise is an ongoing cultural error perpetuated by large segments of the statistical and research community via misleading terminology. So‐called inferential statistics can only become contextually interpretable when derived explicitly from causal stories about the real data generator (such as randomization), and can only become reliable when those stories are based on valid and public documentation of the physical mechanisms that generated the data. Absent these assurances, traditional interpretations of statistical results become pernicious fictions that need to be replaced by far more circumspect descriptions of data and model relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)/regulatory T cell (Treg)/T‐helper 17 (Th17) cell pathway on the pathogenesis of migraine. Background: Migraine is a disabling neurovascular disease that imposes an enormous burden on both individuals and society. The pathophysiological mechanisms of migraine remain controversial. Recent studies have suggested that immune dysfunction may be involved in the pathogenesis of migraine. The AHR, a receptor expressed on most immune cells, has been implicated in the occurrence of many autoimmune diseases; however, whether it is involved in the pathogenesis of migraine is unclear. Methods: A chronic migraine rat model was established through repeated intraperitoneal injection of nitroglycerin (NTG). The mechanical and thermal pain thresholds were assessed using von Frey filaments and radiant heat. Next, the protein expression levels of AHR in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC) region of chronic migraine (CM)‐like rats were quantified and the changes in Treg/Th17‐related transcription factors and inflammatory factors in the TNC were explored. To determine the role of AHR in CM, we examined the effects of the AHR agonist 2‐(1′‐indole‐3′‐carbonyl)‐thiazole‐4‐carboxylic acid methyl ester (ITE), and AHR antagonist CH‐223191 on pain behavior, c‐Fos, calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP), AHR, and Treg/Th17‐related factor expression in CM‐like rats. Results: Repeated administration of NTG significantly enhanced nociceptive hypersensitivity and increased expression of c‐Fos and CGRP in rats, while AHR was significantly decreased in the TNC. In addition, the expression of the transcription factor forkhead box protein P3 and the signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 decreased significantly. In contrast, the expression of the transcription factor retinoic acid receptor‐related orphan receptor γ t and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 were significantly increased. Moreover, the mRNA level of transforming growth factor beta‐1 was decreased, while that of interleukin (IL)‐10 and IL‐22 was increased in the TNC. The AHR agonist ITE alleviated migraine‐like pain behaviors in rats, activated the AHR signaling pathway, and improved the imbalance of Treg/Th17‐related transcription factors and inflammatory factors. Conversely, the AHR antagonist CH‐223191 did not alleviate migraine‐like pain behaviors in rats; and even exacerbated them. Conclusions: The AHR participates in the development of CM by regulating Treg/Th17‐related homeostasis. Therefore, treatments targeting the AHR/Treg/Th17 signaling pathway could be new effective interventions for CM treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of irrigating solutions containing 5% boric acid + 1% citric acid or 1% peracetic acid + high concentration hydrogen peroxide on root cleaning and bond strength of cementation systems after 24 h and 6 months of glass fiber post cementation. One hundred and twenty roots were endodontically treated. The specimens were randomized into one of four treatments (n = 10): DW (distilled water); NaOCl2.5% + EDTA17% (2.5% sodium hypochlorite solution + 17% EDTA); PA1% + HP (1% peracetic acid solution + high concentration of hydrogen peroxide); BA5% + CA1% (5% boric acid associated with 1% citric acid). The cleaning efficacy in the cervical, middle, and apical thirds of the post‐space, and the push‐out bond strength at 24 h and 6 months after post cementation were evaluated by Kruskal‐Wallis and two‐way ANOVA tests, respectively. BA5% + CA1% showed statistically significantly superior cleaning efficacy compared to the other solutions. This irrigation protocol also resulted in higher bond strength at 24 h and 6 months, regardless of the root third considered, and this was statistically significantly higher than those seen for DW and PA1% + HP. For BA5% + CA1% irrigation protocol, type 1 adhesive failure was the most prevalent. Post‐space irrigation with BA5% + CA1% provided both higher cleaning efficacy and better bond strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tables and charts have long been seen as effective ways to convey data. Much attention has been focused on improving charts, following ideas of human perception and brain function. Tables can also be viewed as two‐dimensional representations of data; yet, it is only fairly recently that we have begun to apply principles of design that aid the communication of information between the author and reader. In this study, we collated guidelines for the design of data and statistical tables. These guidelines fall under three principles: aiding comparisons, reducing visual clutter, and increasing readability. We surveyed tables published in recent issues of 43 journals in the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology for their adherence to these three principles, as well as author guidelines on journal publisher websites. We found that most of the over 1000 tables we sampled had no heavy grid lines and little visual clutter. They were also easy to read, with clear headers and horizontal orientation. However, most tables did not aid the vertical comparison of numeric data. We suggest that authors could improve their tables by the right‐flush alignment of numeric columns typeset with a tabular font, clearly identify statistical significance, and use clear titles and captions. Journal publishers could easily implement these formatting guidelines when typesetting manuscripts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) can be distinguished as type I without and type II with electrophysiological evidence of major nerve lesion. The pathophysiology of both subgroups is still under investigation. The aim of this research is to demonstrate the nerve morphology and electrophysiology in CRPS type I patients. Materials and Methods: Bilateral median and ulnar nerve cross‐sectional areas were evaluated with ultrasound and also median and ulnar nerve conduction studies of both hands were performed. Cross‐sectional areas of median and ulnar nerves and nerve conduction studies in healthy controls were also obtained and compared with the patients. Results: Twenty‐five male patients and 11 healthy male controls were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the patients was 24.08 ± 5.50 years and controls was 23.18 ± 5.09 (p > 0.05). Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitudes of the diseased side were found significantly lower than the healthy side (p < 0.05). Both median and ulnar nerve distal motor latency values were significantly higher in the patient group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the median and ulnar nerve cross‐sectional area when compared with the opposite extremity and healthy volunteers. Conclusion: The lower SNAP and CMAP amplitudes of the median and ulnar nerves compared to the healthy side and the prolongation of the affected side median and ulnar nerve distal motor latencies of the affected individuals may indicate axonal involvement in patients with CRPS type 1. Decreased CMAP amplitudes may also indicate muscle atrophy due to a decrease in the number of functional motor units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the factors affecting the prevention of cross‐infection with coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) among Korean dental hygienists. Methods: The level of knowledge about COVID‐19 (KNWCO), level of awareness of infection control (AWRIC), degree of performance for infection control (PRFIC), and organizational factors for infection control (OFWIC) of clinical dental hygienists in Korea to prevent COVID‐19 transmission were investigated. A self‐written online questionnaire was administered to dental hygienists currently working in dental clinics or hospitals, and the survey results of 263 participants were analysed. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated for relationships between the KNWCO, AWRIC, PRFIC, and OFWIC. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify the factors affecting the PRFIC. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Knowledge about COVID‐19, AWRIC, PRFIC, and OFWIC were significantly correlated with each other. OFWIC (β = 0.491, p < 0.001), followed by AWRIC (β = 0.428, p < 0.001) and KNWCO (β = 0.095, p = 0.013), had the greatest impact on PRFIC with regard to the prevention of COVID‐19 transmission. Conclusions: Organizational factors for infection control and AWRIC should be strengthened to improve PRFIC and prevent COVID‐19 transmission during dental care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]