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Background: Evidence from animal and human studies suggests glutamatergic dysfunction in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study was to investigate glutamate abnormalities in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLFPC) of individuals with PTSD using 7T MRS, which has better spectral resolution and signal-to-noise ratio than lower field strengths, thus allowing for better spectral quality and higher sensitivity. We hypothesized that individuals with PTSD would have lower glutamate levels compared to trauma-exposed individuals without PTSD and individuals without trauma exposure. Additionally, we explored potential alterations in other neurometabolites and the relationship between glutamate and psychiatric symptoms. Methods: Individuals with PTSD (n = 27), trauma-exposed individuals without PTSD (n = 27), and individuals without trauma exposure (n = 26) underwent 7T MRS to measure glutamate and other neurometabolites in the left DLPFC. The severities of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and dissociation symptoms were assessed. Results: We found that glutamate was lower in the PTSD and trauma-exposed groups compared to the group without trauma exposure. Furthermore, N -acetylaspartate (NAA) was lower and lactate was higher in the PTSD group compared to the group without trauma exposure. Glutamate was negatively correlated with depression symptom severity in the PTSD group. Glutamate was not correlated with PTSD symptom severity. Conclusion: In this first 7T MRS study of PTSD, we observed altered concentrations of glutamate, NAA, and lactate. Our findings provide evidence for multiple possible pathological processes in individuals with PTSD. High-field MRS offers insight into the neurometabolic alterations associated with PTSD and is a powerful tool to probe trauma- and stress-related neurotransmission and metabolism in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Numerous studies have highlighted cognitive benefits in lifelong bilinguals during aging, manifesting as superior performance on cognitive tasks compared to monolingual counterparts. Yet, the cognitive impacts of acquiring a new language in older adulthood remain unexplored. In this study, we assessed both behavioral and fMRI responses during a Stroop task in older adults, preand post language-learning intervention. Methods: A group of 41 participants (age:60-80) from a predominantly monolingual environment underwent a four-month online language course, selecting a new language of their preference. This intervention mandated engagement for 90 minutes a day, five days a week. Daily tracking was employed to monitor progress and retention. All participants completed a color-word Stroop task inside the scanner before and after the language instruction period. Results: We found that performance on the Stroop task, as evidenced by accuracy and reaction time, improved following the language learning intervention. With the neuroimaging data, we observed significant differences in activity between congruent and incongruent trials in key regions in the prefrontal and parietal cortex. These results are consistent with previous reports using the Stroop paradigm. We also found that the amount of time participants spent with the language learning program was related to differential activity in these brain areas. Specifically, we found that people who spent more time with the language learning program showed a greater increase in differential activity between congruent and incongruent trials after the intervention relative to before. Discussion: Future research is needed to determine the optimal parameters for language learning as an effective cognitive intervention for aging populations. We propose that with sufficient engagement, language learning can enhance specific domains of cognition such as the executive functions. These results extend the understanding of cognitive reserve and its augmentation through targeted interventions, setting a foundation for future investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Digital platforms such as YouTube are popular sources of health-related information. Although there are studies evaluating the quality of different online medical content, studies focusing on the quality of dementia-related content are limited. This study aimed to investigate the quality of YouTube videos related to dementia patient care. Material and Methods: Using the term "Dementia care" on the YouTube platform, 100 English videos that met the inclusion criteria were identified and analyzed. In addition to video popularity measurements, to evaluate content quality, the global quality scale (GQS), modified DISCERN scale, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) quality scale, and the patient education materials assessment tool for audio/visual materials (PEMAT-A/V) are used. Results: It was observed that most of the videos were uploaded by non-academic health institutions (36%) and health professionals (23%). When the content of the videos was evaluated, it was determined that general care strategies were the most common content with 52%. Scores indicating high levels of reliability and accuracy were determined on all applied content quality scales. Videos sourced from academic healthcare institutions were found to have the highest scores on content quality scales. In correlation analyses, video metrics such as duration, view ratio, number of comments, and video power index values were positively correlated with content quality scores. Conclusion: Videos about dementia patient care on YouTube generally exhibit high popularity and content quality. Individuals seeking information about dementia care on online platforms should be directed to videos uploaded by healthcare institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is estimated that globally, millions of adolescents experience mental health problems, especially anxiety and depression. Adolescents with high perceptions of stress often encounter mental issues, have negative thoughts or are dissatisfied with daily life events. This study employed a quasi-experimental design with two groups and repeated measures to test an innovative nursing intervention, the Be Aware of Stress Smartphone Application. This application aims to increase positive thinking and reduce perceived stress among at-risk adolescents aged 13 to 16, and we sought to determine their satisfaction with its usability. The study was conducted with 44 junior high school students from an opportunity expansion high school in Eastern Thailand, who were randomly assigned to experimental and comparison groups (22 each). Data were collected between December 2023 and February 2024 using the General Information Questionnaire, Positive Thinking Test, Perceived Stress Questionnaire, and Satisfaction of Application Usability scale. The outcomes were measured at baseline, after completing the program at week 4, and at week 8 after using the application. The chi-square test and repeated measures analysis of variance were used to analyze the data. The results of this study have important implications for future research. They indicate a significant improvement in positive thinking and a reduction in perceived stress within the experimental group, compared to the comparison group, at weeks 4 and 8. Moreover, the experimental group reported high satisfaction with the application's usability. These findings suggest that the Be Aware of Stress application is beneficial for community nurses and others to prevent adolescent stress. The study also highlights the need for future research to enhance the application's functionality and compatibility with various phone operating systems to ensure widespread and effective use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The pre-season preparatory period is considered key for optimizing the physical fitness levels needed to withstand congested match periods and preventing injuries during the regular soccer season. This study contrasted the effects s of neuromuscular training (NMT) versus an endurance-dominated training (ET) program conducted during the preseason on measures of physical fitness and injury occurrence in female soccer players. Methods: Twenty-four female soccer players aged 17.0 ± 1.3 years from a professional soccer club participated in this study. Players were randomly assigned to NMT (n = 12) or ET (n = 12) groups according to their playing position. The preseason intervention program lasted six weeks, with three weekly sessions with a duration of 45–60 min per session. Exercises in the NMT group included muscle strengthening exercises, plyometrics, agility and dynamic stability exercises, while the ET group practiced a traditional pre-season training program consisting of running and sprinting exercises, fartlek, and high-intensity interval training. The training volumes were similar in the two study groups. Anthropometric measurements, physical fitness tests (i.e., linear and change-of-direction speed, muscle strength and power tests) and the overall injury rate per 1000 h of exposure (training, match) were recorded throughout the season. Results: No between group differences were found at pre (T1). Significant group-by-time interactions were observed for the 5, 10, and 30-m linear sprint speed tests (p < 0.001, 2.16 < d < 2.58), the T-test (p = 0.024, d = 1.03), the squat (p < 0.001, d = 4.04), and the countermovement jump test (p < 0.001, d = 2.21), the Loughborough soccer passing test (LSPT) (p = 0.019, d = 1.08), and the 1-RM back squat test (p < 0.001, d = 2.53). Post-hoc tests indicated that NMT provided larger improvements for SJ, CMJ, 1-RM back squat, the 5-m sprint, 10-m sprint, 30-m sprint, T-test and LSPT compared to ET (1.07 > d > 2.77). The injury rate across the season was significantly lower in the NMT (5.1/1000 h exposure) compared to ET (11.8/1000 h exposure) (p = 0.014). Conclusions: The findings support that six-weeks of preseason NMT versus ET induced larger performance improvements, and significantly reduced injury occurrence in elite female soccer players. Key points: • Our results indicate that the integration of 45 to 60 min of preseason neuromuscular training, three times per week, for 6 weeks, can improve physical fitness and prevent injuries in young female soccer players. • The present study demonstrated that the neuromuscular training program can reduce the incidence injury rate by more than 50% and the burden by more than 65% compared to the endurance-dominated training. • Neuromuscular training is an effective approach during the preseason period to improve diverse measures of physical fitness and to reduce injury occurrence. • Preseason neuromuscular training appears to improve the fitness level of female soccer players and as such could allow them to compete at the high level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Accurate imaging biomarkers that indicate disease progression at an early stage are highly important to enable timely mitigation of symptoms in progressive lung disease. In this context, reproducible experimental models and readouts are key. Here, we aim to show reproducibility of a lung injury rat model by inducing disease and assessing disease progression by multi-modal non-invasive imaging techniques at two different research sites. Furthermore, we evaluated the potential of fibroblast activating protein (FAP) as an imaging biomarker in the early stage of lung fibrosis. Methods: An initial lung injury rat model was set up at one research site (Lund University, Lund, Sweden) and repeated at a second site (Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands). To induce lung injury, Sprague-Dawley rats received intratracheal instillation of bleomycin as one single dose (1,000 iU in 200 µL) or saline as control. Thereafter, longitudinal images were acquired to track inflammation in the lungs, at 1 and 2 weeks after the bleomycin challenge by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and [18F]FDG-PET. After the final [18F] FDG-PET scan, rats received an intravenous tracer [89Zr]Zr-DFO-28H1 (anti-FAP antibody) and were imaged at day 15 to track fibrogenesis. Upon termination, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed to assess cell and protein concentration. Subsequently, the biodistribution of [89Zr]Zr-DFO-28H1 was measured ex vivo and the spatial distribution in lung tissue was studied by autoradiography. Lung sections were stained and fibrosis assessed using the modified Ashcroft score. Results: Bleomycin-challenged rats showed body weight loss and increased numbers of immune cells and protein concentrations after BAL compared with control animals. The initiation and progression of the disease were reproduced at both research sites. Lung lesions in bleomycin-exposed rats were visualized by MRI and confirmed by histology. [18F]FDG uptake was higher in the lungs of bleomycin-challenged rats compared with the controls, similar to that observed in the Lund study. [89Zr]Zr-DFO-28H1 tracer uptake in the lung was increased in bleomycin-challenged rats compared with control rats (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Here, we demonstrate a reproducible lung injury model and monitored disease progression using conventional imaging biomarkers MRI and [18F]FDG-PET. Furthermore, we showed the first proof-of-concept of FAP imaging. This reproducible and robust animal model and imaging experimental set-up allows for future research on new therapeutics or biomarkers in lung disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Design: Hematological parameters have been used as laboratory markers to evaluate the systemic inflammation in several rheumatic disease. The aim of this study is to determine the difference of hematological parameters between the patients who have been just fulfilled the Behçet's disease (BD) criteria and patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with newly diagnosed BD and 47 patients with RAS whose oral ulcerations appeared at least three times a year were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients, complete blood count, C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were recorded. Results: Patients' characteristics including gender, age, duration, and frequency of oral aphthous ulcerations in both study groups were comparable (p>0.05). CRP was significantly higher in newly diagnosed BD group when compared to the RAS group (p=0.001). CRP value higher than 2.7 g/dL, mean platelet volume (MPV) value higher than 7.58 fL and lymphocyte count higher than 2.85 103/μL were found to be the markers for distinguishing patients with BD from patients with RAS [odds ratio (OR): 12.76 (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.86-56.88), OR: 5.61 (95% CI: 1.11-28.42), OR: 15.24 (95% CI: 1.77-131.31), respectively]. Conclusion: The elevated CRP, MPV and lymphocyte count were associated with patients with newly diagnosed BD rather than patients with RAS. Further large prospective studies with the healthy control group are needed to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women's empowerment and health literacy are essential for fostering community well-being. Empowering women through education and diverse training plays a crucial role in ensuring their prosperity and overall health. This study investigates the satisfaction and experiences of underprivileged rural mothers participating in a functional literacy education program in the Kailali district, Nepal. We assess participants' perceptions of program effectiveness, examining training content, facilities, and trainers while exploring menstrual hygiene practices and maternal health awareness. Through convenience sampling, 141 underprivileged women from five rural villages near Tikapur were selected from literacy centers run by Mahima Group. Utilizing structured questionnaires and statistical analyses, including descriptive analyses, Spearman's rho correlation, and Pearson's chi-square test, we found that 65.2% of participants expressed high satisfaction levels. Moreover, 96.5% found the program highly effective, with 97.9% reporting improved literacy skills and 96.5% demonstrating increased awareness of menstrual hygiene practices. Additionally, 97.2% agreed that the program enhanced maternal and child health knowledge. Significant correlations were observed among the training course, facilities, trainers, and overall training perception. In line with this, significant associations were found between age groups (p = 0.003) and geographical areas (p = 0.023) with satisfaction levels with the literacy program. These results underscore the satisfaction of participants within the literacy program and its impact on their lives, and advocates for its broader implementation to empower marginalized communities for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychiatric nurses are challenged with high levels of stress, which, in turn, lower their professional quality of life (ProQoL) and job satisfaction and increase their intention to leave jobs in psychiatric settings. An adequate level of ProQoL improves patient care provision. The purpose of this study is to assess the levels, relationships, and predictors of the professional quality of life of Jordanian psychiatric nurses and their job satisfaction and intention to leave their job. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to collect data using the Professional Quality of Life Scale-5 from a convenience sample. Data were collected from 144 psychiatric nurses working in the largest psychiatric hospitals run by Ministry of Health, military, and university-affiliated hospitals. The results showed that the mean scores for compassion satisfaction (CS), burnout (BO), and secondary traumatic stress (STS) were 35.21, 27.0, and 26.36, respectively. The mean scores for intention to leave and job satisfaction were 2.33 and 3.7, respectively. The income level, educational level, intention to leave, and job satisfaction significantly differed in the CS dimension. Nurses' age, intention to leave, and job satisfaction significantly differed in BO. Nurses' age, years of experience, frequent C-shifts worked, and work affiliation were different in STS. Burnout, STS, and educational level predicted CS. CS, STS, job satisfaction, and level of education predicted BO. BO, CS, and frequently working night C-shifts predicted STS. Due to the presence of nurses reporting low levels of ProQoL, job satisfaction, and intension to leave, more studies are needed to assess the factors that affect ProQoL among psychiatric nurses and to evaluate interventional programs that improve the quality of life of psychiatric nurses. This is important in retaining nurses and increasing their job satisfaction. There is a need for interventions that enhance ProQoL. Also, longitudinal studies that measure ProQoL overtime are recommended. This study was not registered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spinal disorders are some of the most prevalent health concerns, especially among students. Based on student demographics, this cross-sectional study evaluated the correlation between functional tests (FTs) and spinal range of motion (ROM). This study included 206 students (age = 19.85 ± 1.80 years) from the Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacău. Participants' assessments were conducted using the following tests: (i) Ott, (ii) Schober, (iii) Stibor, (iv) finger-to-floor distance, (v) lateral flexion of the cervical and lumbar spine, and (vi) flexion of the cervical spine. Correlation analyses were evaluated using the Spearman correlation coefficient analysis. The results indicated a very strong relationship between lateral flexion of the lumbar spine on the left (LFLSL) and right (LFLSR) for all departments (r = 0.85 to 0.97, p < 0.05). There was a stronger relationship between FT results and spinal ROM for physical-education-department students compared to students from other departments (n = 17, r = −0.38 to 0.93, p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant correlation between FTs and spinal ROM based on age (p > 0.05). The study results provide evidence of the primary risk factors that predispose students to postural deviations. Practitioners and physiotherapists can utilize these values as a reference for potential therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parents of children suffering from congenital heart disease experience high levels of stress and negative emotions. Therefore, recognition of parents' emotional states and their ways of coping with it is becoming more and more important. Methods: The study group consisted of 154 parents of newborns and infants with cyanotic congenital heart disease, before and after cardiac surgery (partial or full). To assess parental negative emotions, the level of stress, and strategies of coping with it, standardized questionnaires, such as HADS-M, PSS-10, and COPE, were used. Results: Stress levels in parents were high and associated with negative emotions (anxiety, depression, irritability), as well as the choice of non-constructive coping strategies, which was observed especially in younger parents. Conclusions: Assessing parents' stress levels and ways of coping with stress can improve family functioning and provide better development conditions for the child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Misconceptions about male nurses not only exacerbate the gender imbalance in the nursing profession but also negatively impact male nurses embarking on their careers. Currently, no tool exists to measure the gender biases toward males in nursing among nursing students in China. Consequently, the primary objective of this study is to assess the validity and reliability of the Chinese translation of the Gender Misconceptions of Men in Nursing (GEMINI) scale among nursing students. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 1,102 nursing students from China who participated online. We utilized the Brislin translation technique with a forward-backward approach. To determine the factor structure within the Men in Nursing Gender Misconceptions Scale's Chinese version, both exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were applied. The scale's internal consistency was measured through the Cronbach's alpha coefficient, corrected item-total correlation, and a retest reliability assessment. Results: The scale showed a content validity index of 0.938 and a retest reliability of 0.844. EFA indicated a two-factor structure for the translated instrument. CFA revealed a chi-square/degree of freedom of 3.837, an incremental fit index (IFI) of 0.952, a goodness-of-fit index (GFI) of 0.910, a comparative fit index (CFI) of 0.952, and an RMSEA of 0.073, all of which were within acceptable limits. The scale's Cronbach's α was 0.953, and the corrected item-total correlations ranged between 0.539 and 0.838. Gender-based misconceptions about men in nursing among students appeared to be influenced by their gender and whether they considered a nursing program as their first choice when applying for a major. Misconceptions about male nurses are greater among men and those who do not consider nursing programs as their first choice when applying for a major. Conclusions: The Chinese adaptation of the GEMINI scale showcased high reliability and validity. It stands as a potential instrument to gauge gender misconceptions concerning male nurses among Chinese nursing students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tai Chi has proved to be an effective therapy for balance performance and cognition. However, non-consistency exists in the results of the effect of Tai Chi training on standing balance control in older adults. This study aimed to use traditional and non-traditional methods to investigate the effect of Tai Chi on standing balance in older adults. Methods: Thirty-six Tai Chi practitioners (TC group) and thirty-six older adults with no Tai Chi practice (control group) were recruited in this study. A Nintendo Wii Balance Board was used to record the center of pressure (COP) during standing balance over 20 s in the condition of eyes closed with three repetitions. The wavelet analysis, multiscale entropy, recurrence quantification analysis, and traditional methods were used to evaluate the standing balance control in the anterior-posterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions. Results: (1) Greater sway mean velocity in the AP direction and sway Path length were found in the TC group compared with the control group; (2) lower Very-low frequency band (0.10-0.39Hz) and higher Moderate frequency band (1.56-6.25Hz) in the AP andML directions were found in the TC group compared with the control group; (3) greater complexity index (CI) and lower determinism (DET) in the AP and ML directions were observed in the TC group compared with control group; (4) greater path length linked with smaller Very-low frequency band in the AP and ML directions and higher Moderate frequency band in the AP direction in both groups; (5) greater path length linked with lower DET and higher CI in the AP direction only in the TC group. Conclusion: Long-term Tai Chi practice improved sensory reweighting (more reliance on the proprioception systemand less reliance on the vestibular system) and complexity of standing balance control in older adults. In addition, greater sway velocity may be as an exploratory role in standing balance control of TC older adults, which correlated with greater complexity, but no such significant relationship in the control group. Therefore, the effects of Tai Chi practice on standing balance control in older adults may be attributed to the improvement of sensory reweighting and complexity rather than reduced sway velocity or amplitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Osteoporosis is common among postmenopausal women, and can affect their health and quality of life. However, it can be managed by physical activity. The present study aims to investigate the combined effect of core stability and dynamic resistive exercises on bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women. Material and methods: Sixty postmenopausal women diagnosed with osteoporosis, age 50 to 60, BMI < 30 kg/m², were randomly divided into two equal groups: the study group received core stability and dynamic resistance exercise (two sessions per week) in addition to 70 mg Alendronate (one tablet) per week for four months, while the control group only received 70 mg Alendronate (one tablet) per week (n = 30 each group). Both groups were assessed for BMD (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; DEXA), and quality of life (Oswestry Disability Index; ODI), both pre- and post-treatment. Results: Both groups demonstrated a significantly greater bone mineral density in the lumbar spine and left femoral neck and improved quality of life post-treatment compared to pre-treatment (p < 0.001). However, comparing groups, the study group demonstrated significantly higher lumbar spine (Z value = -5.588) and left femoral neck bone mineral density (Z value = -4.794), and significantly lower ODI score (F value = 243.686), compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Core stability and dynamic resistance exercise appear to be safe and effective methods in the treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of argon-based No-ozone Cold Plasma (NCP) on neuroblastoma cancer cell apoptosis. Methods: Experiments were performed with SK-N-SH and HS 68. Cell cultures were treated with NCP for 1, 3, and 5 min. NCP was applied using three different strategies: direct NCP application to cell cultures, to only media, and to only cells. Evaluation of cell viability and the level of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) was performed. N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) was also used to antagonize intracellular ROS. Cleaved caspase 3, PARP, aquaporin (AQP) 3 and 8 were detected. Results: NCP induced a gradual decrease in the SK-N-SH cell viability. In contrast, the viability of HS 68 cells did not change. SK-N-SH cells viability was reduced the most when the only media-NCP application strategy was employed. Intracellular ROS levels were significantly increased with time. Cleaved caspase 3 and PARP were increased at 6 h after NCP application. SK-N-SH cells remained viable with NAC after NCP application. AQP 3 and 8 were over-expressed in SK-N-SH cells. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the anti-cancer effect of NCP on neuroblastoma cells. NCP enhanced the selective apoptosis of neuroblastoma cells due to the increased intracellular ROS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Subthalamic nucleus (STN) and globus pallidus interna (GPi) are two main structures primarily targeted by deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). A subset of cases with unsatisfactory outcomes may benefit from rescue DBS surgery targeting another structure, while these patients' characteristics have not been well described and this phenomenon has not been well reviewed. Methods: This monocentric retrospective study included patients with PD, who underwent rescue STN DBS following an unsatisfactory outcome of the initial bilateral GPi DBS in a retrospective manner. A short review of the current literature was conducted to report the clinical outcome of rescue DBS surgeries. Results: Eight patients were identified, and six of them were included in this study. The rescue STN DBS was performed 19.8 months after the initial GPi DBS. After 8.8 months from the rescue STN DBS, patients showed a significant off-medication improvement by 29.2% in motor symptoms compared to initial GPi DBS. Non-motor symptoms and the health-related quality of life were also significantly improved. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the rescue STN DBS may improve off-medication motor and non-motor symptoms and quality of life in patients with failure of initial GPi DBS. The short review of the current literature showed that the target switching from GPi to STN was mainly due to poor initial outcomes and was performed by target substitution, whereas the switching from STN to GPi was mainly due to a gradual waning of benefits, long-term axial symptoms, dyskinesia, and dystonia and was performed by target addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diet diversity becomes especially relevant during adolescence to satisfy the adequate micronutrient intake. Diet diversity (DD) and micronutrient probability of adequacy (PA) were studied in 818 Costa Rican (CR) and 1202 Mexican (MX) adolescents aged 13–18 years. DD was compared using the Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD) score. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to identify the optimal MDD for each sample from the respective countries. The mean MDD for the overall CR sample was 4.17 ± 1.43 points, and for the MX sample, the mean MDD was 4.68 ± 1.48 points. The proportion of adolescents with a DD was significantly higher in Costa Rica than in Mexico (66.5% vs. 55.6%; p < 0.0001). Also, DD was higher in rural Costa Rican adolescents, while no difference was found in the MX adolescents by area of residence. CR adolescents reported significantly higher PA than MX participants for 6 of the 11 micronutrients assessed. The calcium PA in MX adolescents was significantly higher than in the CR sample (MX: 0.84 vs. CR: 0.03; p < 0.0001), while low PA was obtained for iron in both countries (CR: 0.01 vs. MX: 0.07; p < 0.0001). In Costa Rica and Mexico, nutritional interventions and assessing the compliance of food-fortifying programs are needed to improve the PA of diverse micronutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alexithymia is the inability to identify and describe one's own emotions. Adolescents who suffer from Restrictive Eating Disorders (REDs) show a higher prevalence of alexithymia than the general population. Methods: The study explored the correlation between levels of alexithymia in mothers, fathers, and adolescents affected by REDs and patients' ability to recognize their emotions. The study also aimed to evaluate if patients' emotional distress can significantly impact the severity of their disorder and functioning measured by the Clinical Global Impression Scale - Severity (CGI-S) and the Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS). We enrolled 67 families of adolescents affected by REDs. Parents and patients' levels of alexithymia were assessed through the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Spearman's correlation shows a statistically significant correlation between mothers and patients' levels of alexithymia. Results: Our findings also suggest that fathers and mothers' TAS scores correlate with each other. However, there is no statistically significant relationship between the influence of the TAS scores of fathers and sons/daughters. Conclusions: In conclusion, mothers' level of alexithymia could influence both fathers and patients' difficulty in identifying and describing their own emotions. This relationship can be investigated further when considering externally oriented thinking. However, the severity of the disease and overall functioning do not appear to be affected by patients' levels of alexithymia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neuroimaging studies have demonstrated alterations in hippocampal volume and hippocampal subfields among individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). However, research on using hippocampal subfield volume modeling to differentiate aMCI from normal controls (NCs) is limited, and the relationship between hippocampal volume and overall cognitive scores remains unclear. Methods: We enrolled 50 subjects with aMCI and 44 NCs for this study. Initially, a univariate general linear model was employed to analyze differences in the volumes of hippocampal subfields. Subsequently, two sets of dimensionality reduction methods and four machine learning techniques were applied to distinguish aMCI from NCs based on hippocampal subfield volumes. Finally, we assessed the correlation between the relative volumes of hippocampal subfields and cognitive test variables (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA)). Results: Significant volume differences were observed in several hippocampal subfields, notably in the left hippocampus. Specifically, the volumes of the hippocampal tail, subiculum, CA1, presubiculum, molecular layer, GC-ML-DG, CA3, CA4, and fimbria differed significantly between the two groups. The highest area under the curve (AUC) values for left and right hippocampal machine learning classifiers were 0.678 and 0.701, respectively. Moreover, the volumes of the left subiculum, left molecular layer, right subiculum, right CA1, right molecular layer, right GC-ML-DG, and right CA4 exhibited the strongest and most consistent correlations with MoCA scores. Conclusion: Hippocampal subfield volume may serve as a predictive marker for aMCI. These findings underscore the sensitivity of hippocampal subfield volume to overall cognitive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Our aim was to determine whether child attachment to parents, parent attachment style, and morning cortisol levels were related to diabetes outcomes measured by average glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), HbA1c variability over 4 years and time in range (TIR) in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Research design and methods: 101 children with T1D and one of their parents were assessed at baseline for child attachment (Child Attachment Interview; CAI) and parent attachment (Relationship Structures Questionnaire; ECR-RS). Serum samples were collected for cortisol measurements before the interviews. HbA1c levels were measured during a 4-year follow-up period at regular 3-monthly visits, and data for TIR were exported from blood glucose measuring devices. Multivariate linear regression models were constructed to identify independent predictors of glycemic outcomes. Results: More girls than boys exhibited secure attachment to their mothers. The results of the regression models showed that securely attached girls (CAI) had higher average HbA1c than did insecurely attached girls (B = −0.64, p = 0.03). In boys, the more insecure the parent's attachment style, the worse the child's glycemic outcome: the higher the average Hb1Ac (B = 0.51, p = 0.005), the higher the HbA1c variability (B = 0.017, p = 0.011), and the lower the TIR (B = −8.543, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Attachment in close relationships is associated with glycemic outcomes in children with T1D, and we observed significant differences between sexes. A sex- and attachment-specific approach is recommended when treating children with less favorable glycemic outcomes. Special attention and tailored support should be offered to securely attached girls in transferring responsibility for diabetes care and at least to male children of insecurely attached parents to prevent suboptimal glycemic control. Further studies in larger samples and more daily cortisol measurements may help us better understand the links between stress response, attachment and T1D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate humoral responses after vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Patients with IBD enrolled in a tertiary outpatient unit were followed up between September 2021 and September 2022 via serial blood collection. Immunoglobulin G antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 were measured before administration and 1 and 6 months after the administration of two doses of different vaccination regimens. The results were compared with those of a healthy control group obtained during the same period. The mean pre-vaccination antibody titers were 452.0 and 93.3 AU/mL in the IBD (n = 42) and control (n = 89) groups, respectively. After two doses of the vaccine, the titers significantly increased in both groups (IBD, 8568.0 AU/mL; control, 7471.0 AU/mL; p < 0.001). One month after the second dose, no significant differences were observed between the two groups (p = 0.955). Significant differences between vaccination schemes in the IBD group were observed, with higher titers in those who received Pfizer, younger patients (p < 0.005), and those with a previous coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection (p < 0.012). The use of immunosuppressants and immunobiologicals did not affect the overall humoral response to COVID-19 vaccine in patients with IBD, but specific vaccine regimens, age, and previous coronavirus infection significantly did. This study reinforces the positive impact of booster doses and the safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sense of belongingness in the academic environment has been associated with positive student outcomes and increased student success. To cultivate belongingness, graduate nursing students were invited to participate in a virtual fitness challenge. Sense of belongingness was measured through pre-(n = 103) and post-intervention (n = 64) surveys with three subscales: other students, faculty, and the university. Students reported improved sense of belongingness following the intervention for all subscales, with statistically significant improvements related to other students (p = .007) and the university (p = .023). A virtual fitness challenge may improve sense of belongingness among graduate nursing students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Men with prostate cancer who undergo radical prostatectomy experience a decrease in quality of life, often related to sexual disfunction and urinary incontinence. Knowing and measuring the impact of radical prostatectomy on the individual's social, emotional, and family quality of life could help to plan and develop an appropriate, patient-centred therapeutic approach. Aim: In this study, we aimed to evaluate changes in quality of life of patients with prostate cancer before and after radical prostatectomy. Methods: A longitudinal, observational study of 114 participants was conducted using the method of test–retest. Quality of life before and after radical prostatectomy was measured through the following self-administered questionnaires: (1) The EORTC QLQ-C30 in its Spanish version was used to assess the generic quality of life the participants; (2) the EORTC QLQ-PR25 in its Spanish version was used to assess the specific, health-related quality of life of prostate cancer patients. Results: A total of 114 men took part in this study. The results from the QLQ-C30 questionnaire indicated an improvement in the dimensions of emotional role and cognitive function, as well as in the symptoms of fatigue, pain, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, and loss of appetite, after surgery. Patients scored lower in the dimensions of role functioning, social function, and economic impact after radical prostatectomy. According to the results from the QLQ-PR25 questionnaire, 61.40% of the participants experienced sexual impotence and 26.31% suffered urinary incontinence after surgery. There were significant differences in some postsurgical outcomes between patients who had neurovascular bundles preserved and those who had not. Conclusions: In-depth knowledge of, and measurement of changes in, quality of life after radical prostatectomy should allow for comprehensive, multidisciplinary, patient-centred care planning. Psychosocial assessment, both before and after surgery, is crucial in patients with prostate cancer. This study was prospectively registered with the CEIC-A on 2012-06-27, with registration number C.P.-C.I. PI12/0088 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Previous studies aiming at relating exposure to phenols and phthalates with child social behavior characterized exposure using one or a few spot urine samples, resulting in substantial exposure misclassification. Moreover, early infancy exposure was rarely studied. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to examine the associations of phthalates and phenols with child social behavior in a cohort with improved exposure assessment and to a priori identify the chemicals supported by a higher weight of evidence. METHODS: Among 406 mother-child pairs from the French Assessment of Air Pollution exposure during Pregnancy and Effect on Health (SEPAGES) cohort, 25 phenols/phthalate metabolites were measured in within-subject pools of repeated urine samples collected at the second and third pregnancy trimesters (∼21 samples/trimester) and at 2 months and 1-year of age (∼7 samples/period). Social behavior was parent-reported at 3 years of age of the child using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). A structured literature review of the animal and human evidence was performed to prioritize the measured phthalates/phenols based on their likelihood to affect social behavior. Both adjusted linear regression and Bayesian Weighted Quantile Sum (BWQS) regression models were fitted. False discovery rate (FDR) correction was applied only to nonprioritized chemicals. RESULTS: Prioritized compounds included bisphenol A, bisphenol S, triclosan (TCS), diethyl-hexyl phthalate (RDEHP), mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP), and mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP). With the exception of bisphenols, which showed a mixed pattern of positive and negative associations in pregnant mothers and neonates, few prenatal associations were observed. Most associations were observed with prioritized chemicals measured in 1-y-old infants: Each doubling in urinary TCS (β=0.78; 95% CI: 0.00, 1.55) and MEP (β=0.92; 95% CI: -0.11, 1.96) concentrations were associated with worse total SRS scores, whereas MnBP and RDEHP were associated with worse Social Awareness (β=0.25; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.50) and Social Communication (β=0.43; 95% CI: -0.02, 0.89) scores, respectively. BWQS also suggested worse total SRS [Beta 1=1.38; 95% credible interval (CrI): -0.18, 2.97], Social Awareness (Beta 1=0.37; 95% CrI: 0.06, 0.70), and Social Communication (Beta 1=0.91; 95% CrI: 0.31, 1.53) scores per quartile increase in the mixture of prioritized compounds assessed in 1-y-old infants. The few associations observed with nonprioritized chemicals did not remain after FDR correction, with the exception of benzophenone-3 exposure in 1-y-old infants, which was suggestively associated with worse Social Communication scores (corrected 푝=0.07). DISCUSSION: The literature search allowed us to adapt our statistical analysis according to the weight of evidence and create a corpus of experimental and epidemiological knowledge to better interpret our findings. Early infancy appears to be a sensitive exposure window that should be further investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effect of physical activity on health-related quality of life. Data from the 2019 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. The participants were 1495 (56.7% women) older individuals older than 65 years of age. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple regression analysis were performed to determine the effect of walking and strength exercise on the health-related quality of life using the Korean version of the health-related quality of life questionnaire called the Korean Health-Related Quality of Life Instrument with 8 Items (HINT-8). The one-way ANOVA revealed that the health-related quality of life (according to the HINT-8) differed depending on increases in walking and strength exercise. Furthermore, walking and strength exercise positively influenced the health-related quality of life according to the HINT-8. Therefore, this study showed that walking and strength exercise were associated with the health-related quality of life among older Korean individuals. This study will be helpful for future studies on the health-related quality of life of older individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: This study aims to examine the role of neurovascular coupling (NVC) in vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) by investigating the relationship between white matter lesion (WML) burden, NVC, and cognitive deficits. Additionally, we aim to explore the potential of NVC as a tool for understanding the neural mechanisms underlying VCI. Methods: This study included thirty-eight small vessel disease cognitive impairment (SVCI) patients, 34 post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) patients, and 43 healthy controls (HC). Comprehensive assessments, including neuroimaging and neuropsychological testing, were conducted to evaluate cognitive function. WML burden was measured and correlated with NVC coefficients to examine the relationship between white matter pathology and NVC. Mediation analysis was employed to explore the link relationship between NVC, WML burden, and cognitive function. Results: The present study showed that NVC was significantly reduced in the SVCI and PSCI groups compared with HCs at both whole-brain and brain region level. The analysis revealed notable findings regarding NVC in relation to WML burden and cognitive function in VCI patients. Specifically, reduced NVC coefficients were observed within higher order brain systems responsible for cognitive control and emotion regulation. Mediation analysis demonstrated that NVC played a mediating role in the relationship between WML burden and cognitive impairment. Conclusion: This study reveals the mediating role of NVC in the relationship between WML burden and cognitive function in VCI patients. The results demonstrate the potential of the NVC as an accurate measure of cognitive impairment and its ability to identify specific neural circuits affected by WML burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Consumption of an organic diet reduces exposure to a range of agricultural pesticides. Only three studies have examined the effect of an organic diet intervention on exposure to the herbicide glyphosate, the most heavily used agricultural chemical in the world. Despite its widespread use, the primary sources of glyphosate exposure in humans are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to examine the effect of an organic diet intervention on urinary glyphosate concentrations among pregnant individuals. METHODS: We conducted a 2-wk randomized crossover trial in which 39 pregnant participants living near (≤0.5 km) and far (>0.5 km) from agricultural fields received a 1-wk supply of conventional groceries and 1 wk of organic groceries, randomized to order. We collected daily first morning void urine samples and analyzed composite samples from each week for glyphosate. We examined differences in urinary glyphosate concentrations between the conventional week and the organic week among all participants and stratified by residential proximity to an agricultural field. RESULTS: Median specific gravity-adjusted glyphosate concentrations were 0.19 μg/L and 0.16 μg/L during the conventional and organic weeks, respectively. We observed modest decreases in urinary glyphosate concentrations from the conventional to organic week among far-field participants, but no difference among near-field participants. In secondary analyses excluding participants who did not meet a priori criteria of compliance with the intervention, we observed significant decreases in urinary glyphosate concentrations, particularly among far-field participants (푝< 0.01-0.02, depending on exclusion criteria). DISCUSSION: This trial is the first to examine the effect of an organic diet intervention on glyphosate among people living near and far from agricultural fields. Our results suggest that diet is an important contributor to glyphosate exposure in people living >0.5 km from agricultural fields; for people living near crops, agriculture may be a dominant exposure source during the pesticide spray season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most frequently used and universally accepted technique for removing caries is mechanical ablation of decayed tissues by rotating drills. New minimally invasive strategies, such as the use of lasers to perform highly controlled tissue ablation, have been introduced in dental practice. The aim of this study was to assess and compare treatment with a 2940 nm erbium/yttrium–aluminum–garnet (Er:YAG) laser versus a conventional rotary treatment during cavity preparation in children with regard to restoration integrity. In a randomized, controlled, blinded trial using a split-mouth design, 40 (9–12-year-old) children with 80 carious primary molars were included. The cavity in one quadrant was randomized to be treated conventionally using a bur, while the cavity in the other quadrant was prepared using an Er:YAG laser. At the one-year follow-up, clinical examinations were conducted to assess the integrity of the restorations according to the Ryge criteria. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 (IBM Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The average age of the participants was 9.4 ± 1.29 years. Males accounted for 51.4% of the participants. The Ryge criteria showed clinical success of restorations, and there was no discernible difference between the conventional and laser intervention techniques. Over one year, no statistically significant differences in the clinical integrity based on the Ryge criteria were found following class I cavity preparation in primary teeth with either procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laptop use appears to contribute to poor working postures and neck pain among university students. Postural braces have the potential to improve upper back/neck posture and therefore might have a role as an ergonomic aid for this population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the short-term effects of scapular bracing on pain, fatigue, cervicothoracic posture, and the activity of the neck and upper-back muscles in healthy college students. A randomized controlled crossover trial was conducted to evaluate the self-reported pain and fatigue, the amplitude and median frequency of surface electromyography in neck extensors, upper trapezius, and lower trapezius, as well as the neck and shoulder sagittal alignment (measured by inertial sensors and digital photographs) during a 30-min typing task in a sample of young, healthy university students with or without a scapular brace. The brace condition resulted in significantly smaller levels of bilateral trapezius muscle activity (p < 0.01). Rounded shoulder posture was slightly better in the brace condition, but these differences were not significant (p > 0.05). There were no significant immediate differences in pain or fatigue scores, neck alignment, or the electromyographic activity of the other muscles tested between brace and non-brace conditions (all p > 0.05). However, bracing appears to immediately reduce the electromyographic activity of the lower trapezius muscles (p < 0.05). These findings shed some light on the possible advantages of scapular bracing for enhancing laptop ergonomics in this group of individuals. Future studies are warranted to evaluate the effects of different types of braces, the importance of matching the brace to the user, and the short- and long-term effects of brace use on computer posture and muscle activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumption of unhealthy commercial foods and beverages (UCFB) is common among infants and young children living in low- and middle-income countries. Such foods can displace other nutritious foods, however, there is limited evidence on how this consumption tracks across time. This study assessed and tracked UCFB consumption of children living in rural/peri-urban Cambodia during the complementary feeding period, identified UCFB consumption patterns of these children, and explored the association between UCFB consumption and growth. A 6-month longitudinal cohort study was implemented among 567 caregivers of children aged 10-14 months at recruitment. UCFB consumption was estimated each month via a telephone-administered 7-day food frequency questionnaire, and UCFB consumption patterns were identified based on changes in this frequency of consumption over time. The majority of children either maintained (45.7%, n = 246) or developed (43.5%, n = 234) an unhealthy consumption pattern and only 10.8% (n = 58) of children maintained/transitioned into a healthy consumption pattern. High consumers of UCFB at 10-14 months had a 4.7 (CI: 4.7 [3.1-7.2]) times odds of being high consumers of UCFB at 15-19 months (p < 0.001). There was a trend of lower length- for-age z-scores (LAZ) among children maintaining or developing an unhealthy consumption pattern (~-0. SD LAZ) compared to children maintaining/transitioning into a healthy consumption pattern, however, this association was not statistically significant. Findings indicate that high UCFB consumption begins during infancy and tracks into early childhood. National policies and programmes centred on early interventions addressing the use of UCFB for infant and young child feeding are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trauma anesthesia care can be among the most challenging situations anesthesia providers may encounter. The challenges encountered are helped by providing anesthesia providers on forward-deployed surgical teams with the best equipment available that meets the limitations of light weight, easily movable, and not reliant on electrical supply. This study assesses three questions derived out of the recent formation and equipping of the U.S. Army's Forward Resuscitative and Surgical Detachment. The highly advanced field transport ventilator, the Hamilton-T1 is being used by the detachments' anesthetists with the Universal Portable Anesthesia, Complete (UPAC) draw-over vaporizer. However, no literature supports best use practices regarding use in a push- or pull-through configuration, adding supplemental oxygen, and the impact on the ventilator from contamination with inhaled anesthetics. Utilizing a human patient simulator, these questions were examined in a quasiexperimental and descriptive manner, using the Hamilton-T1 and UPAC vaporizer in multiple configurations. The findings support the efficacy of both push- and pull-through configurations, offer options for the most efficacious use of oxygen, and appear to show no adverse effects from anesthetic vapor entering the ventilator's compression mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying mental distress is a complex task, particularly when individuals experience physical symptoms. Traditional self-report questionnaires that detect psychiatric symptoms using emotional words may not work for these individuals. Consequently, there is a need for a screening tool that can identify both the physical and mental symptoms of mental distress in individuals without a clinical diagnosis. Our study aimed to develop and validate a scale that measures mental distress by measuring the extent of brain overwork, which can be extrapolated as the burden of mental distress. In this population-based cross-sectional study, we recruited a total of 739 adults aged 16–65 years from 64 sampling centers of a cohort in Mongolia to validate a 10-item self-report questionnaire. Internal consistency was measured using McDonald's ω coefficient. Test–retest reliability was analyzed using intraclass correlation coefficients. Construct and convergent validities were examined using principal component analysis (PCA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the abbreviated version of World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to evaluate criterion validity. Among the participants, 70.9% were women, 22% held a bachelor's degree or higher, 38.8% were employed, and 66% were married. The overall McDonald's ω coefficient was 0.861, demonstrating evidence of excellent internal consistency. The total intraclass correlation coefficient of the test–retest analysis was 0.75, indicating moderate external reliability. PCA and CFA established a three-domain structure that provided an excellent fit to the data (RMSEA = 0.033, TLI = 0.984, CFI = 0.989, χ2 = 58, p = 0.003). This 10-item scale, the Brain Overwork Scale (BOS-10), determines mental distress in three dimensions: excessive thinking, hypersensitivity, and restless behavior. All the items had higher item-total correlations with their corresponding domain than they did with the other domains, and correlations between the domain scores had a range of 0.547–0.615. BOS-10 correlated with HADS, whereas it was inversely correlated with WHOQOL-BREF. In conclusion, the results suggest that BOS-10 is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing mental distress in the general population. The scale screens for mental distress that is characterized by subjective symptoms such as excessive thinking, hypersensitivity, and restless behavior. The current findings also demonstrate that the BOS-10 is quantitative, simple, and applicable for large group testing. This scale may be useful for identifying at-risk individuals who may require further evaluation and treatment for mental distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a non-invasive imaging technique used to quantify the elasticity/stiffness of any tissue. There are normative SWE studies on tonsils in healthy children in the literature. The purpose of this study is to analyze the palatine tonsils in children with acute tonsillitis using ultrasound and SWE. In this prospective study, pediatric patients aged 4–18 years diagnosed with acute tonsillitis and healthy children were included. Those with antibiotic use, chronic tonsillitis, adenoid hypertrophy, and having chronic disease, immunodeficiency, and autoimmune disease, or any rheumatological disease were excluded. The volume and elasticity of palatine tonsil were measured via ultrasound and SWE. The study included 81 (46 female, 35 male) acute tonsillitis patients, and 63 (38 female, 25 male) healthy children between the ages of 4 and 18. Elasticity (kPa) values of tonsils were found significantly higher in the tonsillitis group (SWE-R: 25.39 ± 4.64, SWE-L: 25.01 ± 4.17) compared to the normal group (SWE-R: 9.71 ± 2.37, SWE-L: 9.39 ± 2.19) (p < 0.001). In the tonsillitis group, a significant positive correlation was found between tonsil volume and elasticity (r: 0.774, p: 0.002). In conclusion, in pediatric patients with acute tonsillitis, higher kPa values were obtained with SWE in the palatine tonsils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The number of pigmented moles is the most important risk factor for melanoma. This "real world" study conducted in 25 Australian childcare centers is the first to show it is possible to prevent a significant proportion of pigmented moles in young Caucasian children by dressing them in UPF 30-50+ clothing that covers at least half their body on a daily basis. Regularly wearing this clothing for 3.5 years was sufficient to prevent almost one-quarter of the pigmented moles that young children developed on their skin. This should, by implication, reduce their risk of developing melanoma in the future. Primary health care providers should stress the importance of garment coverage when recommending sun protection for children and should lobby for all sun-protective clothing standards to assess and report garment coverage, in addition to the transmission of ultraviolet radiation through the fabric (reported as UPF), on clothing labels and packaging for children's clothing, including school uniforms. Numerous pigmented moles are associated with sun exposure and melanomarisk. This cluster randomized controlled trial aimed to determine if sun-protective clothing could prevent a significant proportion of the moles developing in young children (ACTRN12617000621314; Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry. Twenty-five childcare centers in Townsville (19.25° S), Australia, were matched on shade provision and socioeconomic status. One center from each pair was randomized to the intervention arm and the other to the control arm. Children at 13 intervention centers wore study garments and legionnaire hats at childcare and received sun-protective swimwear and hats for home use, while children at the 12 control centers did not. The 1–35-month-old children (334 intervention; 210 control) were examined for moles at baseline (1999–2002) and were re-examined annually for up to 4 years. Both groups were similar at baseline. Children at intervention centers acquired fewer new moles overall (median 12.5 versus 16, p = 0.02; 0.46 versus 0.68 moles/month, p = 0.001) and fewer new moles on clothing-protected skin (6 vs. 8; p = 0.021 adjusted for confounding and cluster sampling) than controls. Intervention children had 24.3% fewer new moles overall (26.5 versus 35) and 31.6% (13 versus 19) fewer moles on clothing-protected skin than controls after 3.5 years. Sunlight's influence on nevogenesis is mitigated when children regularly wear UPF 30-50+ clothing covering half their body, implying that increased clothing cover reduces melanoma risk. Sun-protective clothing standards should mandate reporting of the percentage of garment coverage for childrenswear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Stepping accuracy, speed, and stability are lower in older compared to young adults. Lower stepping performance in older adults may be due to larger accuracy-speed-stability trade-offs because of reduced ability to simultaneously fulfill these task-level goals. Our goal was to evaluate whether trade-offs are larger in older compared to young adults in a targeted stepping task. Since sensorimotor function declines with age, our secondary goal was to evaluate whether poorer sensorimotor function was associated with larger trade-offs. Methods: Twenty-five young (median 22 years old) and 25 older (median 70 years old) adults stepped into projected targets in conditions with various levels of accuracy, speed, and stability requirements. We determined trade-offs as the change in performance, i.e., foot placement error, step duration, and mediolateral center of pressure path length, between each of these conditions and a control condition. To assess age-related differences in the magnitude of trade-offs, we compared the change in performance between age groups. Associations between trade-offs and measures of sensorimotor function were tested using correlations. Results: We found an accuracy-speed and an accuracy-stability trade-off in both young and older adults, but trade-offs were not different between young and older adults. Inter-subject differences in sensorimotor function could not explain inter-subject differences in trade-offs. Conclusion: Age-related differences in the ability to combine task-level goals do not explain why older adults stepped less accurate and less stable than young adults. However, lower stability combined with an age-independent accuracystability trade-off could explain lower accuracy in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: New daily persistent headache (NPDH) is a rare primary headache that is highly disabling. The pathophysiology of NDPH is still unclear, and we aimed to reveal the underlying mechanism of NDPH through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analysis. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, thirty patients with NDPH and 30 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. The blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) sequences of all participants were obtained using the GE 3.0 T system. We performed ReHo, ALFF (conventional band: 0.01–0.08 Hz, slow-5: 0.01–0.027 Hz, slow-4: 0.027–0.073 Hz) and seed-based to the whole brain functional connectivity (FC) analysis in the NDPH and HC groups. The sex difference analysis of ReHo, ALFF, and FC values was conducted in the NDPH group. We also conducted Pearson's correlation analysis between ReHo, ALFF, FC values and clinical characteristics (pain intensity, disease duration, HIT-6, GAD-7, PHQ-9, and PSQI scores). Results: Both increased ReHo (PFWE-corr = 0.012) and ALFF values (0.01–0.08 Hz, PFWE-corr = 0.009; 0.027–0.073 Hz, PFWE-corr =0.044) of the left middle occipital gyrus (MOG_L) were found in the NDPH group compared to the HC group. There was no significant difference in FC maps between the two groups. Compared to the HC group, no difference was found in ReHo (p = 0.284), ALFF (p = 0.246), and FC (p = 0.118) z scores of the MOG_L in the NDPH group. There was also no sex difference in ReHo (p = 0.288), ALFF (p = 0.859), or FC z score (p = 0.118) of the MOG_L in patients with NDPH. There was no correlation between ReHo, ALFF, FC z scores and clinical characteristics after Bonferroni correction (p < 0.05/18). Conclusions: Patients with NDPH may have abnormal activation of the visual system. Abnormal visual activation may occur mainly in higher frequency band of the classical band. No sex differences in brain activity were found in patients with NDPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Sodium butyrate (NaB) is a short-chain fatty acid produced by intestinal microbial fermentation of dietary fiber. It has been shown to be effective in inhibiting colorectal cancer (CRC), but the mechanism is not known. We verified the ability of NaB to induce ferroptosis and the effect on relevant genotypes in normal intestinal cells and colorectal tumor cells, respectively. Moreover, better inhibition of tumor cells was observed when NaB was combined with Erastin (a ferroptosis-positive drug), suggesting that NaB combined with Erastin might have a stronger anti-CRC effect. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies, and effective treatment and prevention methods are lacking. Sodium butyrate (NaB) is a short-chain fatty acid produced by intestinal microbial fermentation of dietary fiber. It has been shown to be effective in inhibiting CRC, but the mechanism is not known. Methods: Human normal intestinal epithelial cell line FHT and colorectal tumor cell line HCT-116 were treated with NaB alone or in combination with different programmed cell death inhibitors. Cell activity was then assessed with MTT assays and PI staining; ferroptosis with Fe2+, glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxidation assays; signaling pathway screening with PCR arrays; and CD44, SCL7A11, and GPX4 expression with Western blotting. A CD44-overexpressing HCT-116 cell line was constructed to determine the effect of the overexpression of CD44 on NaB-induced ferroptosis. The synergistic effect of co-treatment with NaB and Erastin was assessed by isobolographic analysis. Results: NaB induced apoptosis and ferroptosis in HCT-116 cells but only induced low-level apoptosis in FHC cells. Moreover, NaB significantly increased intracellular Fe2+ and promoted GSH depletion and lipid peroxidation in HCT-116 cells. Ferroptosis-related qPCR array analysis identified CD44/SLC7A11 as a potential effector molecular of NaB-induced ferroptosis. NaB significantly inhibited the expression of CD44 and SLC7A11 in mouse CRC tissues. A CD44 overexpressed HCT-116 cell line was used to verify that CD44/SLC7A11 was a key signaling pathway that NaB-induced GSH depletion, lipid peroxidation accumulation, and ferroptosis in HCT-116 cells. Examination of whether NaB can increase the effect of ferroptosis agents showed that NaB, in combination with Erastin, a ferroptosis inducer, further promoted HCT-116 cell death and increased changes of ferroptosis markers. Conclusions: Our results suggest that NaB induces ferroptosis in CRC cells through the CD44/SLC7A11 signaling pathway and has synergistic effects with Erastin. These results may provide new insights into CRC prevention and the combined use of NaB and ferroptosis-inducing agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has heavily impacted medical clinical education in Taiwan. Medical curricula have been altered to minimize exposure and limit transmission. This study investigated the effect of COVID-19 on Taiwanese medical students' clinical performance using online standardized evaluation systems and explored the factors influencing medical education during the pandemic. Methods: Medical students were scored from 0 to 100 based on their clinical performance from 1/1/2018 to 6/31/2021. The students were placed into pre-COVID-19 (before 2/1/2020) and midst-COVID-19 (on and after 2/1/2020) groups. Each group was further categorized into COVID-19-affected specialties (pulmonary, infectious, and emergency medicine) and other specialties. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to compare and examine the effects of relevant variables on student performance. Results: In total, 16,944 clinical scores were obtained for COVID-19-affected specialties and other specialties. For the COVID-19-affected specialties, the midst-COVID-19 score (88.51-3.52) was significantly lower than the pre-COVID-19 score (90.14-3.55) (P<0.0001). For the other specialties, the midst-COVID-19 score (88.32-3.68) was also significantly lower than the pre-COVID-19 score (90.06-3.58) (P<0.0001). There were 1,322 students (837 males and 485 females). Male students had significantly lower scores than female students (89.33-3.68 vs. 89.99-3.66, P=0.0017). GEE analysis revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic (unstandardized beta coefficient=-1.99, standard error [SE]=0.13, P<0.0001), COVID-19-affected specialties (B=0.26, SE=0.11, P=0.0184), female students (B=1.10, SE=0.20, P<0.0001), and female attending physicians (B=-0.19, SE=0.08, P=0.0145) were independently associated with students' scores. Conclusion: COVID-19 negatively impacted medical students' clinical performance, regardless of their specialty. Female students outperformed male students, irrespective of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the effect of simulation teaching in critical care courses in a nursing study program on the quality of chest compressions of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted at the Faculty of Health Studies at the Technical University of Liberec. The success rate of CPR was tested in exams comparing 2 groups of students, totaling 66 different individuals, who completed half a year (group 1: intermediate exam with model simulation) or 1.5 years (group 2: final theoretical critical care exam with model simulation) of undergraduate nursing critical care education taught completely with a Laerdal SimMan 3G simulator. The quality of CPR was evaluated according to 4 components: compression depth, compression rate, time of correct frequency, and time of correct chest release. Results: Compression depth was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (P=0.016). There were no significant differences in the compression rate (P=0.210), time of correct frequency (P=0.586), or time of correct chest release (P=0.514). Conclusion: Nursing students who completed the final critical care exam showed an improvement in compression depth during CPR after 2 additional semesters of critical care teaching compared to those who completed the intermediate exam. The above results indicate that regularly scheduled CPR training is necessary during critical care education for nursing students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), a major heart surgery can trigger off emotional and cognitive reactions. Depression pre- and postsurgery can impair the quality of life (QOL) of these patients. Aim: This study was done to assess the prevalence of depression and QOL in patients undergoing CABG surgery over a period of 3 months. Materials and Methods: A total of 33 patients of age group 56-75 years at a tertiary care hospital undergoing CABG were administered Depression in Medically Ill Scale before and after 15 days and 3 months of surgery. The World Health Organization QOL-BREF Scale was applied before and 3 months after the surgery. Results: The mean age of patients was 64.03 years. The prevalence of depression was 36.36% before surgery and 30.30% and 24.24% after 15 days and 3 months of surgery, respectively. QOL improved at 3 months of surgery specifically in physical, psychological, and environmental domains. Depression scores were negatively correlated with QOL before and after the surgery. Conclusions: A number of patients have persistent depression after CABG although its prevalence and severity decrease. All patients undergoing CABG should be screened for depression. Timely detection and treatment can result in a better QOL after surgery. Identifying and addressing psychosocial problems are of paramount importance in cardiac rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aging process is an important phenomenon in global health. In fact, the psychological and physical well-being of elderly women must be taken into consideration. This study was conducted in order to determine the effect of Mindfulness-Based Compassion-Therapy (MBCT) on sleep quality and satisfaction with life in elderly women. Method: This study was a quasi-experimental investigation with a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up along with a control group. For this purpose, 15 elderly women were randomly assigned to the intervention or the control group. The intervention group received mindfulness-based compassiontherapy over eight weeks, one session per week, while the control group did not receive any intervention. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI; 1989) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS; 1985) were completed by elderly women to evaluate the research variables during the intervention’s pre-test, post-test, and follow-up periods. Descriptive statistics, Levene’s test, Box’s M Test, Bonferroni, and repeated measures ANOVA using SPSS-22 were used for data analysis. In the control group, no therapy was applied. After the intervention, both groups were tested. Results: Findings showed that the intervention group’s mean sleep quality and satisfaction with life improved after mindfulness training. In addition, the study revealed that the mean sleep quality and satisfaction with life levels between the intervention and control groups were significantly different (p<0.01). Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, mindfulness-based compassion- therapy improved sleep quality and satisfaction with the life of elderly women. This intervention represents new horizons in psychological interventions and can improve the mental health and well-being of elderly women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a prospective cohort study, stools from children <3 years with and without diarrhea who were Clostridioides difficile nucleic acid amplification test-positive underwent ultrasensitive and quantitative toxin measurement. Among 37 cases and 46 controls, toxin concentration distributions overlapped substantially. Toxin concentration alone does not distinguish C. difficile infection from colonization in young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maintenance of memory and synaptic plasticity depends on de novo protein synthesis, and accumulating evidence implicates a role of dysregulated mRNA translation in cognitive impairments associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Accumulating evidence demonstrates hyper-phosphorylation of translation factor eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) in the hippocampi of human AD patients as well as transgenic AD model mice. Phosphorylation of eEF2 (at the Thr 56 site) by its only known kinase, eEF2K, leads to inhibition of general protein synthesis. A recent study suggests that amyloid β (Aβ)-induced neurotoxicity could be associated with an interaction between eEF2 phosphorylation and the transcription factor nuclear erythroid 2-related factor (NRF2)-mediated antioxidant response. In this brief communication, we report that global homozygous knockout of the eEF2K gene alleviates deficits of long-term recognition and spatial learning in a mouse model of AD (APP/PS1). Moreover, eEF2K knockout does not alter brain Ab pathology in APP/PS1 mice. The hippocampal NRF2 antioxidant response in the APP/PS1 mice, measured by expression levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide plus hydrogen (NADPH) quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), is ameliorated by suppression of eEF2K signaling. Together, the findings may contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying AD pathogenesis, indicating that suppression of eEF2K activity could be a beneficial therapeutic option for this devastating neurodegenerative disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute SARS-CoV-2 infections in children and adolescents are usually mild. However, they can suffer from ongoing symptoms, generally referred to as long COVID. Sleep disorders are one of the most frequent complaints in long COVID although precise data are missing. We assessed the sleep behavior of children and adolescents who presented at our outpatient clinic between January 2021 and May 2022 with the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ-DE). We compared the sleep behavior at three different time points: pre-COVID-19; post-COVID-19 at the initial presentation; and post-COVID-19 at re-presentation. Data from 45 patients were analyzed. Of those, 64% were female and the median age was 10 years (range: 0–18 years). Asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 disease was experienced in 89% of patients; 11% experienced moderate disease. The initial presentation occurred at a median of 20.4 weeks (6 weeks–14 months) after the infection. The CSHQ-DE score increased significantly from pre-COVID-19 (45.82 ± 8.7 points) to post-COVID-19 (49.40 ± 8.3 points; p ≤ 0.01). The score then normalized at re-presentation (46.98 ± 7.8; p = 0.1). The greatest changes were seen in the CSHQ-DE subscale score "daytime sleepiness". Our data showed that children and adolescents with long COVID often suffer from sleep disturbances. For most children and adolescents, these sleep disorders decreased over time without any further medical intervention aside from a basic sleep consultation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease. The treatment of AD through multiple pathological targets may generate therapeutic efficacy better. The multifunctional molecules that simultaneously hit several pathological targets have been of great interest in the intervention of AD. Methods: Here, we combined the chalcone scaffold with carbamate moiety and 5,6-dimethoxy-indanone moiety to generate a novel multi-target-directed ligand (MTDL) molecule (E)-3-((5,6-dimethoxy-1-oxo-1,3-dihydro-2H-inden-2-ylidene)- methyl)phenylethyl(methyl) carbamate (named AP5). In silico approaches were used to virtually predict the binding interaction of AP5 with AChE, the drug-likeness, and BBB penetrance, and later validated by evaluation of pharmacokinetics (PK) in vivo by LCMS/ MS. Moreover, studies were conducted to examine the potential of AP5 for inhibiting AChE and AChE-induced amyloid-b (Ab) aggregation, attenuating neuroinflammation, and providing neuroprotection in the APP/PS1 model of AD. Results: We found that AP5 can simultaneously bind to the peripheral and catalytic sites of AChE by molecular docking. AP5 exhibited desirable pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics including oral bioavailability (67.2%), >10% brain penetrance, and favorable drug-likeness. AP5 inhibited AChE activity and AChE-induced Ab aggregation in vivo and in vitro. Further, AP5 lowered Ab plaque deposition and insoluble Ab levels in APP/PS1 mice. Moreover, AP5 exerted anti-inflammatory responses by switching microglia to a disease-associated microglia (DAM) phenotype and preventing A1 astrocytes formation. The phagocytic activity of microglial cells to Ab was recovered upon AP5 treatment. Importantly, chronic AP5 treatment significantly prevented neuronal and synaptic damage and memory deficits in AD mice. Conclusion: Together, our work demonstrated that AP5 inhibited the AChE activity, decreased Ab plaque deposition by interfering Ab aggregation and promoting microglial Ab phagocytosis, and suppressed inflammation, thereby rescuing neuronal and synaptic damage and relieving cognitive decline. Thus, AP5 can be a new promising candidate for the treatment of AD [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-efficacy (SE) can affect athletic training students' progression during their professional education and transition to autonomous clinical practice. It is unclear how course delivery may affect athletic training students' SE in various injury evaluation courses. Determine the relationship of course delivery modality and athletic training students' injury evaluation SE. Cross-sectional investigation. Web-based survey. Ninety-five noncertified National Athletic Trainers' Association student members (38/95 undergraduate athletic training students; 57/95 graduate athletic training students). A 2-part survey including participant characteristic questions and piloted adapted General Self Efficacy (GSE) scales were distributed using the National Athletic Trainers' Association's Research Survey Service. The adapted GSE scales asked participants to rate their agreeance from 1 (not at all true) to 4 (exactly true) for 10 statements focused on injury evaluations in 6 areas. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and nonparametric tests were used to determine the differences in GSE scores based on course delivery modality (online model, hybrid model, and traditional face-to-face model). Measures of central tendencies were also calculated. Only completed surveys (66.4%; 95/143) were included in the analysis (access rate = 14.3%). A significant difference existed between course delivery modality and upper extremity GSE scores (P =.001). No significant differences were found between GSE scores for courses with delivery modalities affected or not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as between athletic training students who had or did not have previous online or hybrid course experiences. As health care education continues to shift toward technology-rich environments, educators can consider offering courses through various delivery modalities to promote didactic and clinical education. However, consideration of the content area and difficulty may be warranted while purposefully planning courses to best address learning objectives and students' SE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies the Type I error, false positive rates, and power of four versions of the Lagrange multiplier test to detect measurement noninvariance in item response theory (IRT) models for binary data under model misspecification. The tests considered are the Lagrange multiplier test computed with the Hessian and cross-product approach, the generalized Lagrange multiplier test and the generalized jackknife score test. The two model misspecifications are those of local dependence among items and nonnormal distribution of the latent variable. The power of the tests is computed in two ways, empirically through Monte Carlo simulation methods and asymptotically, using the asymptotic distribution of each test under the alternative hypothesis. The performance of these tests is evaluated by means of a simulation study. The results highlight that, under mild model misspecification, all tests have good performance while, under strong model misspecification, the tests performance deteriorates, especially for false positive rates under local dependence and power for small sample size under misspecification of the latent variable distribution. In general, the Lagrange multiplier test computed with the Hessian approach and the generalized Lagrange multiplier test have better performance in terms of false positive rates while the Lagrange multiplier test computed with the cross-product approach has the highest power for small sample sizes. The asymptotic power turns out to be a good alternative to the classic empirical power because it is less time consuming. The Lagrange tests studied here have been also applied to a real data set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simulation study was conducted to investigate the heuristics of the SIBTEST procedure and how it compares with ETS classification guidelines used with the Mantel–Haenszel procedure. Prior heuristics have been used for nearly 25 years, but they are based on a simulation study that was restricted due to computer limitations and that modeled item parameters from estimates of ACT and ASVAB tests from 1987 and 1984, respectively. Further, suggested heuristics for data fitting a two-parameter logistic model (2PL) have essentially went unused since their original presentation. This simulation study incorporates a wide range of data conditions to recommend heuristics for both 2PL and three-parameter logistic (3PL) data that correspond with ETS's Mantel–Haenszel heuristics. Levels of agreement between the new SIBTEST heuristics and Mantel–Haenszel heuristics were similar for 2PL data and higher than prior SIBTEST heuristics for 3PL data. The new recommendations provide higher true-positive rates for 2PL data. Conversely, they displayed decreased true-positive rates for 3PL data. False-positive rates, overall, remained below the level of significance for the new heuristics. Unequal group sizes resulted in slightly larger false-positive rates than balanced designs for both prior and new SIBTEST heuristics, with rates less than alpha levels for equal ability distributions and unbalanced designs versus false-positive rates slightly higher than alpha with unequal ability distributions and unbalanced designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) are a common condition found in patients with chronic ankle pain after previous ankle sprains. Surgical management is indicated after conservative management has failed. Hypothesis/Purpose: This study evaluates the influence of body mass index (BMI) on the early clinical outcomes of arthroscopic debridement and microfracture of OLTs. Methods: A total of 252 patients with symptomatic OLTs who failed conservative management underwent arthroscopic debridement and microfracture of OLTs over the affected ankle between 2007 and 2017. Patients from this cohort were divided into 2 groups based on BMI: the normal BMI group (NB Group) (BMI 18.5-25.0) and overweight and obese BMI group (OB Group) (BMI ≥25). Visual analogue scale (VAS), American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot score, and the physical and mental component summaries of the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (PCS and MCS, respectively) were prospectively collected from the cohort during their standard postoperative outpatient follow-up. Results: The NB Group (n=105) and OB Group (n=147) were well matched demographically. The operative duration was significantly shorter for the NB Group compared to the OB Group. Patients from both groups had significant improvements in VAS, AOFAS, and PCS scores postoperatively at 6 and 24 months after surgery (P < .05). Between both groups, patients had comparable VAS, AOFAS, and PCS scores at preoperation, 6 months postoperation, and 24 months postoperation (P > .05). However, MCS in the OB Group was lower at 24 months postoperatively compared with the NB Group (P < .05). The OB Group reported better satisfaction scores (82.4% vs 72.6%, P < .05), and a greater proportion had their expectations met (88.2% vs 77.9%, P < .05). Conclusion: A BMI ≥25 was not associated with worse postoperative pain and functional outcomes, but rather was found to be associated with greater satisfaction and fulfillment. However, patients with BMI ≥25 required longer procedure duration and had poorer MCS scores at 24 months after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ball skill performance changes over time during childhood and depends on the child's physical and psychological characteristics, environmental opportunities, and task constraints. The aim of this study was to examine whether different standardized ball skill-items measure similar constructs and whether results differentiate among age groups. Methods: A total of 250 children (6–10 years) were administered the Movement Assessment Battery for children second edition (MABC-2), the subtest upper-limb coordination of the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency second edition (BOT-2), the tennis ball throw of the Fitness Test Battery (FTB), and the ball skills and overhead throw of the Performance and Fitness test (PERF-FIT). Results: Correlations among scores of BOT-2, FTB, and PERF-FIT ranged from fair to moderate, but correlations were low with the MABC-2. Principal component analysis retrieved three components: the first component contained catch, dribble, bounce, and throw items (MABC-2, BOT-2-SF, and PERF-FIT, respectively); the second contained throwing for distance (PERF-FIT and FTB); the third contained aiming (MABC-2). Most ball skill scores differed significantly between 6–7 and 7–8 years, but less between 8–9 years; the PERF-FIT discriminated best between age groups. Conclusion: Most ball skill items in motor tests belong to a comparable construct containing throw, dribble, bounce, and catch skills. However, aiming tasks belong to a separate category. Additionally, throwing for distance is a task that requires predominantly explosive power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]