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Background Most international treatment guidelines recommend rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people newly diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection, but experiences with rapid ART initiation remain limited in China. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of efavirenz (400 mg) plus lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (EFV + 3TC + TDF) versus coformulated bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) in rapid ART initiation among men who have sex with men (MSM) who have been diagnosed with HIV. Methods This multicenter, open-label, randomized clinical trial enrolled MSM aged ≥18 years to start ART within 14 days of confirmed HIV diagnosis. The participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive EFV (400 mg) + 3TC + TDF or BIC/FTC/TAF. The primary end point was viral suppression (<50 copies/mL) at 48 weeks per US Food and Drug Administration Snapshot analysis. Results Between March 2021 and July 2022, 300 participants were enrolled; 154 were assigned to receive EFV + 3TC + TDF (EFV group) and 146 BIC/FTC/TAF (BIC group). At week 48, 118 (79.2%) and 140 (95.9%) participants in the EFV and BIC group, respectively, were retained in care with viral suppression, and 24 (16.1%) and 1 (0.7%) participant in the EFV and BIC group (P <.001), respectively, discontinued treatment because of adverse effects, death, or lost to follow-up. The median increase of CD4 count was 181 and 223 cells/μL (P =.020), respectively, for the EFV and BIC group, at week 48. The overall incidence of adverse effects was significantly higher for the EFV group (65.8% vs 37.7%, P <.001). Conclusions BIC/FTC/TAF was more efficacious and safer than EFV (400 mg) + 3TC + TDF for rapid ART initiation among HIV-positive MSM in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiologic evidence suggests that physical activity benefits cognition, but results from randomized trials in sedentary individuals are limited and inconsistent.Objective: To evaluate the effects of physical activity on cognition among sedentary older adults.Objective: A systematic literature search for eligible studies published up to January 1, 2021, was performed on six international (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Sinomed, FMRS, and OVID) and three Chinese databases (Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and VIP). We estimated the effect of physical activity on the cognition of sedentary elderly by standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a random-effects model. We evaluated publication bias using funnel plots and heterogeneity using I2 statistics. Subgroup analyses were conducted by baseline cognition, intervention duration, activity type, and country.Results: Seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comprising 321 (experimental group, 164; control group, 157) sedentary older adults were included in the meta-analysis. Physical activity significantly improved cognition in sedentary elderly adults compared with controls (SMD: 0.50, 95% CI:0.09-0.92). Subgroup analyses showed significant effects of baseline cognition impairment (SMD: 9.80, 95% CI: 5.81-13.80), intervention duration > 12 weeks (SMD: 2.85, 95% CI: 0.73-4.96), aerobic exercise (SMD: 0.74, CI: 0.19-1.29), and countries other than the United States (SMD: 10.50, 95% CI: 7.08-13.92).Conclusion: Physical activity might have a general positive effect on the cognition of sedentary older adults. Intervention > 12 weeks and aerobic exercise can effectively delay their cognitive decline; however, more rigorous RCTs are needed to support our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have reported that dietary and serum concentrations of vitamin D and cholesterol are correlated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, little is known about whether 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], lipids, and oxysterols are related to cognitive function.Objective: This study sought to explore the relations between 25(OH)D, lipids, oxysterols, and cognitive function.Methods: In this study, about 209 MCI patients and 209 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were recruited from the Shanxi province of China (49.5% male; median [IQR] age: 63 [59-66] y). Serum concentrations of 25(OH)D, lipids, and oxysterols were measured using ultra-performance LC-MS. Cognitive performance was determined via comprehensive mental, verbal, and auditory cognitive tests. Dietary information was collected using a semiquantitative FFQ and 3 consecutive days of 24-h dietary recalls. Logistic regression analyses, Spearman's correlation, and partial correlation analyses were used to explore correlation between the variables.Results: Participants with vitamin D deficiency [serum 25(OH)D <20.0 ng/mL] were 3 times more likely to develop MCI compared to those with adequate vitamin D (≥30 ng/mL) concentrations. The AUC of 25(OH)D was 0.72 and the cut-off was 16.5 ng/mL (sensitivity:  50.3%,  specificity: 84.4%). Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were negatively correlated with total cholesterol (TC) (r = -0.19, P = 0.02), LDL-cholesterol (r = -0.17, P = 0.04), and 24S,25-epoxycholesterol (24S,25-epoxy-CHO) (r = -0.21, P = 0.01). Conversely, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (r = 0.185, P < 0.001) and symbol digit modalities test (SDMT) (r = 0.11, P = 0.03) scores were positively correlated with serum 25(OH)D concentrations.Conclusion: The study identified significant differences in serum 25(OH)D concentrations between MCI patients and cognitive healthy controls, and there was a correlation between serum concentrations of 25(OH)D, lipids, and oxysterols and cognitive impairment among people. This study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry as ChiCTR1900025452. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of the Cook vaginal cervical ripening balloon (CCRB) with prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) insert for induction of labor in late pregnancy in primipara.Methods: We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of induction of labor using the improved Bishop score after CCRB or PGE2 administration, total stage of labor, hours until delivery (hours from placement of CCRB or PGE2 insert to parturition and delivery), delivery rate within 24 h, spontaneous delivery rate, successful induction rate, overstimulation syndrome, urgent delivery rate, pain scores, cesarean section rate, and outcomes related to delivery and perinatal morbidity, such as puerperal infection rate, total cost, satisfaction survey, and so on.Results: The improved Bishop Score and delivery rate within 24 h in the CCRB group were significantly higher than in the PGE2 group. The total stage of labor and hours until delivery in the CCRB group were significantly shorter than that in the PGE2 group. Rate of overstimulation syndrome and pain scores in the CCRB group were significantly lower than in the PGE2 group. Compared with the PGE2 group, the mean duration of hospitalization in the CCRB group was shorter and the total cost was less. No difference in satisfaction between the PGE2 and CCRB groups was observed.Conclusions: Compared with PGE2, CCRB reduced the total stage of labor, hours until delivery, pain scores, mean length of hospitalization, and total cost. CCRB increased the rate of delivery within 24 h with similar safety and maternal satisfaction compared with PGE2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have made significant progress in identifying distinct populations of peripheral neurons involved in itch transmission, whereas the cellular identity of spinal interneurons that contribute to itch processing is still a debate. Combining genetic and pharmacological ablation of spinal excitatory neuronal subtypes and behavioral assays, we demonstrate that spinal somatostatin-positive (SOM) excitatory interneurons transmit pruritic sensation. We found that the ablation of spinal SOM/Lbx1 (SOM) neurons caused significant attenuation of scratching responses evoked by various chemical pruritogens (chemical itch). In an attempt to identify substrates of spinal itch neural circuit, we observed that spinal SOM neurons partially overlapped with neurons expressing natriuretic peptide receptor A (Npra), the receptor of peripheral itch transmitter B-type natriuretic peptide. Spinal SOM neurons, however, did not show any overlap with itch transmission neurons expressing gastrin-releasing peptide receptor in the dorsal spinal cord, and the gastrin-releasing peptide-triggered scratching responses were intact after ablating spinal SOM neurons. Dual ablation of SOM and Npra neurons in the spinal cord reduced chemical itch responses to a greater extent than ablation of SOM or Npra neurons alone, suggesting the existence of parallel spinal pathways transmitting chemical itch. Furthermore, we showed that SOM peptide modulated itch processing through disinhibition of somatostatin receptor 2A-positive inhibitory interneuron. Together, our findings reveal a novel spinal mechanism for sensory encoding of itch perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]