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OBJECTIVE: There is no consensus on which sit-up strategy to adopt in knee osteoarthritis patients of different ages. Therefore, this study evaluated the biomechanical characteristics of sit-ups in knee osteoarthritis patients of different ages compared with healthy individuals by meta-analysis system and analyzed the sit-up movement patterns of patients of different ages to provide a reference for improving the sit-up function of patients. METHODS: By March 2023, observational studies of biomechanical characteristics of sitting up in patients with knee osteoarthritis and healthy population were retrieved on PubMed, Web of Science and CNKI. Subjects were required to be patients over 50 years of age with knee osteoarthritis who had KellgrenLawrence severity grading ≥I on knee imaging and who had regular knee pain. Subjects were analyzed by age (50-60 years vs. over 60 years) and severity (mild to moderate patients vs. severe patients) subgroups according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quality assessment was performed using the modified Down and black scale. Stata 16.0 software was used to perform subgroup analysis to determine the biomechanical characteristics of sitting up in patients with knee osteoarthritis of different ages and severities. RESULTS: A total of 14 randomized controlled trials (824 subjects) were included in the meta-analysis. The mean quality score of all included literature was 76.2, with a range of 66.7 to 86.7, all of which were of medium to high quality and representative. The included studies were of moderate to high quality and representative. Meta-analysis results found that (1) compared to healthy individuals, patients with knee osteoarthritis had longer total sitting up time (SMD=0.92, 95%CI:0.76-1.09), P < 0.001) and longer extension phase time (SMD=0.46, 95%CI:0.18-0.74, P=0.001). Compared to mild to moderate patients, the total duration increased more significantly in severe patients (P < 0.001) and the duration of the extension phase increased more significantly in patients over 60 years of age than in patients 50-60 years of age (P=0.001). (2) Compared to healthy individuals, patients with knee osteoarthritis had greater sitting-up trunk flexion motion range (SMD=0.64, 95%CI:0.37-0.91, P < 0.001); knee flexion motion range (SMD=-0.47, 95%CI: -0.70 to -0.24, P < 0.001) and ankle dorsiflexion motion range (SMD=-0.32, 95%CI:-0.56 to -0.08, P=0.01) were smaller. And knee flexion motion range decreased more significantly in patients over 60 years of age than in patients 50-60 years of age (P < 0.001). (3) The peak hip flexion moment (SMD=-0.57, 95%CI:-0.83 to -0.31, P < 0.001) and peak knee extension moment (SMD=-0.83, 95%CI:-1.08 to -0.59, P < 0.001) were smaller in patients with knee osteoarthritis. CONCLUSION: (1) Patients with knee osteoarthritis over the age of 60 years have a longer sit-up cushion and extension phase than patients aged 50 to 60 years. The increase in total sit-up duration was also more pronounced in patients with higher severity grades. The increased length of sitting up in patients with advanced age and knee osteoarthritis severity may increase the duration of cartilage loading, exacerbate knee pain symptoms, and increase the difficulty of sitting up in this population. (2) Patients with knee osteoarthritis exhibit limited knee and ankle flexion motion range. Knee mobility is more limited in patients over 60 years of age. (3) Patients with knee osteoarthritis have reduced peak hip flexion and knee extension moments, which may be a compensatory strategy for pain relief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cassava roots are widely consumed in tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Although the protein, vitamin, carotenoid, and mineral content in the leaves makes them a nutritionally attractive option, their consumption is limited due to their high levels of cyanogenic compounds (CCs). In this study, the CC content in different parts of the plant (leaves, storage root cortex, and parenchyma) was assessed at harvest for 50 landrace genotypes representative of cassava diversity in Latin America. The changes in CC in leaves at different physiological ages (3, 6, 9, and 11 months after planting) were also investigated. Results: The average CC was higher in the cortex (804 ppm) and leaves (655 ppm) than in root parenchyma (305 ppm). Genotypes from different regions of Latin America, as identified by seven genetic diversity groups, differed significantly in CC levels. The Andean and Amazon groups had, respectively, the lowest (P = 0.0008) and highest (P < 0.0001) CC levels in all three parts of the plants. Cyanogenic compound concentrations were higher in leaves from young plants (P < 0.0001) and decreased with increasing physiological age. Conclusion: The results help to guide the selection of parental lines with low CC levels for breeding and to contribute to the expanded use of cassava and its by‐products for food and feed. Cassava for fresh consumption, especially, requires varieties with low total CC content, especially in the root cortex and parenchyma. COL1108 (204, 213, and 174 ppm, respectively, in the parenchyma, cortex, and leaves) and PER297 (83, 238, and 299 ppm, respectively, in the parenchyma, cortex, and leaves) can fulfill this requirement. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the evolving treatment landscape for new‐onset refractory status epilepticus (NORSE) and the publication of consensus recommendations in 2022, we conducted a comparative analysis of NORSE management over time. Seventy‐seven patients were enrolled by 32 centers, from July 2016 to August 2023, in the NORSE/FIRES biorepository at Yale. Immunotherapy was administered to 88% of patients after a median of 3 days, with 52% receiving second‐line immunotherapy after a median of 12 days (anakinra 29%, rituximab 25%, and tocilizumab 19%). There was an increase in the use of second‐line immunotherapies (odds ratio [OR] = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1–1.8) and ketogenic diet (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.3–2.6) over time. Specifically, patients from 2022 to 2023 more frequently received second‐line immunotherapy (69% vs 40%; OR = 3.3; 95% CI = 1.3–8.9)—particularly anakinra (50% vs 13%; OR = 6.5; 95% CI = 2.3–21.0), and the ketogenic diet (OR = 6.8; 95% CI = 2.5–20.1)—than those before 2022. Among the 27 patients who received anakinra and/or tocilizumab, earlier administration after status epilepticus onset correlated with a shorter duration of status epilepticus (ρ = .519, p = .005). Our findings indicate an evolution in NORSE management, emphasizing the increasing use of second‐line immunotherapies and the ketogenic diet. Future research will clarify the impact of these treatments and their timing on patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent complexity of the university system, with diverse academic trajectories and varying socio‐demographic characteristics of students, has led to increased access for historically underrepresented students. This has resulted in a rising number of adult learners, students with external responsibilities and individuals returning to education. However, despite this enhanced access, it remains unclear whether it has improved graduation. This uncertainty stems from the fact that students' social circumstances and external responsibilities differ significantly based on when they enter university. From a life course perspective, the aim of this paper is to explore the interactive effects of age at university entrance and employment status on the probability of graduating of an entire cohort of new students who entered the Catalan Higher Education System in 2012 (N = 29,463). The results show an interaction effect between age and employment status on the probability of graduation where working decreases the probability of graduation among students younger than 42 years old. Conversely, the negative impact of employment on university graduation diminishes among students entering university at an older age. This underscores the importance of adopting a life course perspective to comprehend students' educational experiences and outcomes within higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Multiple ligament knee injuries (MLKIs) are disruptive injuries, however, there are controversies in the results of acute and delayed reconstruction. Also, clinical outcomes between patients older or younger than 40 have not been compared in MLKIs. This study was designed to investigate the influence of age and timing of reconstruction on the outcomes of single‐stage reconstruction of MLKIs. Methods: The patients who underwent reconstruction of multiple injured ligaments because of MLKIs between May 2013 and July 2019 were added to the cohort. The postoperative complications, knee range of motion (ROM), Lysholm score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) 2000 score, Tegner activity level, patient satisfaction, and SF‐36 score were compared between young (≤ 40 years old, n = 41) and old patients (n = 61); acute (≤ 3 weeks after injury, n = 75) and delayed reconstruction (n = 27), using Mann–Whitney U test or χ2 test. Results: A total of 102 MLKI patients managed by single‐stage multi‐ligament reconstruction were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were followed up after surgery for a mean of 7.3 years (5.2‐10.7 years). At the last follow‐up, no significant difference was found in knee ROM, functional scores, and patient‐reported outcomes between patients older or younger than 40; acute and delayed reconstruction (p > 0.05). The rate of complications in the delayed reconstruction group was higher than that of the acute reconstruction group (22.2% vs 5.3%, p < 0.05). The IKDC objective scores reached grade A in 63.7%–80.4% of patients, and grade B in 11.8%–23.5% patients. Conclusion: The single‐stage reconstruction of MLKIs can obtain comparative long‐term functional and objective outcomes regardless of patients older or younger than 40; acute and delayed reconstruction, however, delayed reconstruction is related to a high rate of postoperative complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Homeostasis Theory of Well-being proposes a homeostatic modular system for the creation of human well-being. This article aims to: (i) provide a proof-of-concept demonstration of the feasibility of the theory in its biopsychosocial context; (ii) indicate prima facie empirical support for the homeostatic nature of the 16 proposed modules; (iii) discuss the similarities to and differences from other homeostasis theories of well-being. Following the Central Limit Theorem, any homeostatic system with multiple inputs produces outputs with a Gaussian distribution. The data-base of studies contains approximately 2000 publications reporting U- or inverse U-shaped curves for the 16 homeostatic domains specified in the theory. The Homeostasis Theory of Well-being remains speculative and requires controlled longitudinal study to determine the scientific validity of the causal network proposed by the theory. The theory has implications for our understanding of humans' drive for balance, equilibrium and stability in this increasingly uncertain world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early recognition of dementia like Alzheimer's disease is crucial for disease diagnosis and treatment, and existing objective tools for early screening of cognitive impairment are limited. Objective: To investigate age-related behavioral indicators of dual-task cognitive performance and gait parameters and to explore potential objective markers of early cognitive decline. Methods: The community-based cognitive screening data was analyzed. Hierarchical cluster analysis and Pearson correlation analysis were performed on the 9-item subjective cognitive decline (SCD-9) scores, walking-cognitive dual-task performance, walking speed, and gait parameters of 152 participants. The significant differences of indicators that may related to cognitive decline were statistically analyzed across six age groups. A mathematical model with age as the independent variable and motor cognition composite score as the dependent variable was established to observe the trend of motor cognition dual-task performance with age. Results: Strong correlation was found between motor cognitive scores and SCD and age. Gait parameters like the mean value of ankle angle, the left-right difference rate of ankle angle and knee angle and the coefficient of variation of gait cycle showed an excellent correlation with age. Motor cognition scores showed a decreasing trend with age. The slope of motor cognition scores with age after 50 years (k = –1.06) was six times higher than that before 50 years (k = –0.18). Conclusions: Cognitive performance and gait parameters in the walking-cognitive dual-task state are promising objective markers that could characterize age-related cognitive decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to compare peak speeds, maximal accelerations, and decelerations during football matches and field tests among young players divided into age-categories (U15, U17, U19, and U21). Methods: Performance variables were analyzed during competition across the season. Differences between groups of maximal speeds and accelerations capacities were assessed with field tests (0–30 m and 0–5 m). Differences were estimated with independent mean differences. Results: During matches, U15 reached lower peak speeds than U17 (ES [90% CI]: 0.65 [0.40–0.92]), U19 (ES: 0.77 [0.52–1.03]), and U21 (ES: 0.56 [0.32–0.81]), lower maximal acceleration magnitudes than U17 (ES: 0.32 [0.06–0.58]) and U19 (ES: 0.27 [0.03–0.52]), but higher than U21 (ES: 0.08 [0.00–0.48]) and lower maximal deceleration magnitudes than U17 (ES: 0.71 [0.45–0.98]) and U19 (ES: 0.51 [0.27–0.76]), but higher than U21 (ES: 0.08 [0.16–0.32]). Differences between U17, U19, and U21 of peak speeds and maximal accelerations were unclear. U21 reached higher maximal decelerations than U17 (ES: 0.77 [0.47–1.09]) and U19 (ES: 0.58 [0.30–0.88]), while the difference between U17 and U19 was unclear. Field tests showed better performances as the age increased. Conclusion: During football matches, players may face opportunities to achieve higher speeds and higher accelerations and decelerations. Field tests portrait players' capacities, but the expression of those capacities is dependent of the match context. Tactical approaches can be prepared according to players' capacities and match characteristics of the specific age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compassionate love (CL), a particular kind of love, is centred on enlarging beneficence to another. A short form to assess CL for a romantic partner (CLS-P-SF) was recently developed. The CLS-P-SF is a one-dimensional measure. In this study, we examined CLS-P-SF's measurement invariance (MI) across gender and age, and the relationship of the CL with sexuality measures. There were 1184 Portuguese participants, 48% women and 52% men, aged between 18 to 79 (M = 37.36; SD = 16.89). Confirmatory factor analyses evidenced that the one latent dimension of the CLS-P-SF confirmed an acceptable fit to the data. MI, and internal consistency were adequate. This invariance permitted to perform meaningful latent average comparisons. The effect of gender and age were not significant. CLS-P-SF was positively associated with sexual desire, love is most important, sex demonstrates love, love comes before sex and satisfaction with sex life, and negatively associated with sex is declining and sociosexuality. Findings are discussed in their relationship with existent literature. The CLS-P-SF's brevity makes it a promising tool for researchers and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Persons with MS (PwMS) ≥ 55 years are underrepresented in therapy studies leading to a lack of evidence. Objective and methods: To study the subgroup of PwMS ≥ 55 years in the German MS registry in comparison with PwMS < 55 years. Endpoints of interest were the grade of disability, leading symptoms, clinical and magnetic resonance imaging activity, and use of disease modifying therapy. Results: At the time of analysis, data from 40,428 PwMS were available for analysis. In PwMS aged ≥ 65 and PwMS aged ≥ 55 to 64 years, compared with PwMS aged < 55 years, the mean Expanded Disability Status Scale Scores were higher (5.3, 4.2 and 2.7, respectively), while the proportion of individuals with current use of disease modifying therapy was lower (42.6%, 60.9% and 76.7%, respectively). The older patient groups were more likely to be labeled with progressive MS and the frequency of occupational invalidity was high (38.8% in PwMS aged ≥ 55 to 64 years). Gait disorder, fatigue, bladder dysfunction, and spasticity were among the leading symptoms in PwMS aged ≥ 55 years. Conclusion: PwMS ≥ 55 years have a high degree of disability, but a large proportion do not receive disease modifying therapy, exposing an unmet need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study investigated if the same users are vulnerable to phishing emails, scam text messages, and fake news headlines and if there are universal predictors of susceptibility for all three tasks. Background: Theoretical research provides support for the notion that the same users likely fall for multiple forms of online deception. However, no research has directly compared susceptibility for various online deceptions (eg phishing, disinformation, scam text messages) within the same group of users. Method: Participants completed an online survey consisting of demographic questions, the Cognitive Reflection Test (ie impulsivity), and the Digital Literacy Scale, and classified 90 legitimate and deceptive emails, text messages, and news headlines. Results: Results suggest that individuals who struggle to discriminate between deceptive and legitimate stimuli on one task experience similar difficulties on the other two tasks. Additionally, while lower levels of digital literacy and cognitive reflectiveness predicted poorer discrimination abilities across all three tasks, age did not predict performance. Interestingly, participants appeared to be the most susceptible to phishing emails. Conclusion: Overall, individuals who fall for one form of online deception appear to be more likely to fall for other forms of deception, and digital literacy and cognitive reflectiveness can predict widespread vulnerability to online deception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age is an integral part of social interaction and identity but has been largely neglected in studies of early Christ groups. An understanding of the demography (the study of population patterns) of first century Roman cultures in the ancient Mediterranean is critical if one is to avoid, as much as possible, anachronistic and ethnocentric understandings of age in early Christ groups. Although average life expectancy at birth was low (mid-20s to early 30s), people did not expect to die young. This paper reviews ancient demographic evidence used to estimate life expectancy in the ancient Mediterranean (census data in papyri, funerary inscriptions, material culture and model life tables) and assesses Richard P. Saller's simulation of the kin universe (1994). Clarifying the implications of demography is critical for studying the rhetoric and realities of age in early Christ groups in their ancient Mediterranean settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between paternal age and sperm quality in the population level has been previously studied. Only limited data exists regarding the intra-personal variations in semen parameters among fertile and infertile men over time. We aimed to assess trends over time in semen parameters among men with normal and abnormal baseline sperm parameters and investigate potential risk factors for sperm quality deterioration. This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a university-affiliated medical center in vitro fertilization (IVF) unit. Patients with at least two semen analyses (SA) performed > 1 year apart, with the last SA done between 2017 and 2021, were included. The study consisted of two main analyses—comparison of intra-patient's sperm parameters changes in men with normal and abnormal baseline SA (BSA) and analysis of risk factors for developing abnormal semen parameters over time in men who had normal BSA parameters. This study included a total of 902 men assessed for infertility with normal and abnormal BSA. The average time interval between tests was 1015 days (range 366–7709 days). Among individuals with normal BSA, there was a mild decline in most parameters—concentration (− 6.53 M/ml), motility (− 7.74%), and total motile count (TMC) (− 21.80 M) (p < 0.05 for all parameters). In contrast, a slight improvement in most parameters, except for concentration, was noted in men with abnormal BSA—volume (+ 0.21 ml), motility (+ 8.72%), and TMC (+ 14.38 M) (p < 0.05 for all parameters). Focusing on men with normal BSA, 33.5% of individuals developed abnormality in one or more of their sperm parameters over time, within a mean time of 1013 ± 661 days. We also found that only time between tests emerged as an independent prognostic factor for the development of abnormal SA later. Interestingly, sperm deterioration in participants in their third, fourth, and fifth decades of life with normal initial semen analysis was similar. Our study provides evidence of a decline in semen quality over time in individuals with normal BSA, in contrast to men with abnormal BSA. Longer time intervals between tests independently increase the risk of sperm abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this commentary, we review clinical data which helps inform individualized benefit–risk assessment for tofacitinib in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). ORAL Surveillance, a safety trial of patients ≥ 50 years of age with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and cardiovascular risk factors, found increased rates of safety outcomes (including major adverse cardiovascular events [MACE], malignancies excluding non-melanoma skin cancer, and venous thromboembolism) with tofacitinib versus tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi). Post hoc analyses of ORAL Surveillance have identified subpopulations with different relative risk versus TNFi; higher risk with tofacitinib was confined to patients ≥ 65 years of age and/or long-time current/past smokers, and specifically for MACE, patients with a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). In patients without these risk factors, risk differences between tofacitinib and TNFi could not be detected. Given differences in demographics, pathophysiology, and comorbidities, we sought to examine whether the risk stratification observed in RA is also appropriate for PsA and AS. Data from the PsA tofacitinib development program show low absolute risk of safety outcomes in patients < 65 years of age and never smokers, and low MACE risk in patients with no history of ASCVD, consistent with results from ORAL Surveillance. No MACE, malignancies, or venous thromboembolism were reported in the tofacitinib AS development program. The mechanism of the ORAL Surveillance safety findings is unknown, and there are no similar prospective studies of sufficient size and duration. Accordingly, it is appropriate to use a precautionary approach and extrapolate differentiating risk factors identified from ORAL Surveillance (age ≥ 65 years, long-time current/past smoking, and history of ASCVD) to PsA and AS. We recommend an individualized approach to treatment decisions based on these readily identifiable risk factors, in line with updated labeling for Janus kinase inhibitors and international guidelines for the treatment of PsA and AS. Trial Registration: NCT02092467, NCT01262118, NCT01484561, NCT00147498, NCT00413660, NCT00550446, NCT00603512, NCT00687193, NCT01164579, NCT00976599, NCT01059864, NCT01359150, NCT02147587, NCT00960440, NCT00847613, NCT00814307, NCT00856544, NCT00853385, NCT01039688, NCT02281552, NCT02187055, NCT02831855, NCT00413699, NCT00661661, NCT01877668, NCT01882439, NCT01976364, NCT00678210, NCT01710046, NCT01241591, NCT01186744, NCT01276639, NCT01309737, NCT01163253, NCT01786668, NCT03502616. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transient monocular visual loss (TMVL), also known as transient monocular blindness or amaurosis fugax ("fleeting blindness"), is a temporary loss of vision often due to ischemia to the retina. While acute TMVL should be considered an emergency that further requires exhaustive investigation, there are some cases in which TMVL arises secondary to benign causes. Age has a major impact in the diagnosis of ischemia and although the differential diagnosis of TMVL can be broad, timely and appropriate history, examination, diagnostic testing, and treatment can be vision- or life-saving. We review the causes of TMVL and the impact of age on the differential diagnoses and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, age at liver transplantation (LT) has markedly increased. In the context of organ shortage, we investigated the impact of recipient age on post‐transplantation mortality. Methods: All adult patients who received a first LT between 2007 and 2017 were included in this cross‐sectional study. Recipients' characteristics at the time of listing, donor and surgery data, post‐operative complications and follow‐up of vital status were retrieved from the national transplantation database. The impact of age on 5‐year overall mortality post‐LT was estimated using a flexible multivariable parametric model which was also used to estimate the association between age and 10‐year net survival, accounting for expected age‐ and sex‐related mortality. Results: Among the 7610 patients, 21.4% were aged 60–65 years, and 15.7% over 65. With increasing age, comorbidities increased but severity of liver disease decreased. Older recipient age was associated with decreased observed survival at 5 years after LT (p <.001), with a significant effect particularly during the first 2 years. The linear increase in the risk of death associated with age does not allow any definition of an age's threshold for LT (p =.832). Other covariates associated with an increased risk of 5‐year death were dialysis and mechanical ventilation at transplant, transfusion during LT, hepatocellular carcinoma and donor age. Ten‐year flexible net survival analysis confirmed these results. Conclusion: Although there was a selection process for older recipients, increasing age at LT was associated with an increased risk of death, particularly in the first years after LT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interfacial bonding strength (IBS) of a reef limestone anchorage body at different curing ages was investigated based on pull-out and push-out experiments. By combining the experiments with dynamic impact disturbance, the damage evolution of the IBS for the reef limestone anchorage body was determined. The IBSs of the bolt-mortar (B-M) interface and reef limestone-mortar (R-M) interface increase logarithmically with curing age: IBSs are positively correlated with curing age. Under the effect of impact disturbance, the IBSs of two types of anchorage body both show a descending tendency; while as the curing age increases, the impact-resistant capabilities of the anchorage body are enhanced, accompanied by the gradual decrease of interfacial damage. Hence, engineering activities characterized by strong dynamic disturbance should be avoided as much as possible at early curing ages of the limestone anchorage body in engineering practice. In the meanwhile, the calculations using wave velocities to denote rock damage deviate significantly from the real damage strength of anchorage body interfaces. Therefore, one should be cautious in adopting damage thresholds for an anchorage body calculated using wave velocities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have revealed that an antioxidant diet is a protective factor against migraine. However, the association between zinc, an important antioxidant obtained from the diet, and migraine has received little attention. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between zinc intake with migraine. The present study used cross-sectional data from individuals who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2004. Logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline models were performed to explore the association between zinc intake and migraine. A total of 9849 adults aged 20 years or older were included in this study. Zinc intake was negatively associated with migraine. Compared to participants in the lowest group of dietary zinc intake Q1 (≤5.93 mg/day), the adjusted ORs for migraine in Q2 (5.94–8.38 mg/day), Q3 (8.39–11.26 mg/day), Q4 (11.27–15.75 mg/day), and Q5 (≥15.76 mg/day) were 0.73 (95% CI: 0.60–0.89, p = 0.004), 0.72 (95% CI: 0.55–0.95, p = 0.02), 0.76 (95% CI: 0.58–0.99, p = 0.04) and 0.73 (95% CI: 0.50–1.05, p = 0.08), respectively. Our findings also suggested an interaction between zinc intake and age (P for interaction = 0.007). Additionally, the relationship between zinc intake and migraine in adults with 20–50 years was non-linear. A higher zinc intake is significantly associated with a decreased prevalence of migraine, and age can modify the association between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With decreasing wool values, interest is increasing regarding shedding sheep. To investigate this, two long-term studies introducing Wiltshire genes into Romney flocks were initiated. Data from these two studies provide phenotypic relationships between a range of shedding scores at different ages. The data included shedding scores (on a 0–5 scale) repeated on lambs (∼5 months), hoggets (∼14–18 months) and two-tooths (∼27 months), and lamb fleece weights. Positive relationships between shedding scores on the same animals were observed. Lamb fleece weight was negatively correlated with all shedding scores. Lamb shedding score in February had a correlation of 0.54 (P < 0.001) with the February score as a hogget at Riverside farm. Scoring wool shedding is a laborious activity requiring individual animals to be scored in the shearing position. Therefore, lamb fleece weight was investigated for its relationship with shedding scores, as a potentially easier alternative. Lamb fleece weight had a greater correlation with February hogget shedding score than with the lamb shedding score (−0.76 vs −0.52, P < 0.001). This study indicated that February scores are an accurate predictor of future shedding phenotypes, and when used in conjunction with fleece weight, are a good predictor of phenotypes expressed at later ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Previous research has revealed that mental health professionals (MHPs) often experience severe, yet varying, levels of short-term impact in the aftermath of client suicide. Individual differences are significant, yet what factors help explain these differences remains unclear. The current study investigated the role of the MHPs' and the clients' age and gender upon the impact of client suicide. Method: An international sample of 213 MHPs, aged between 18 and 75, reported on a client's suicide and its short-term impact (IES-R). Results: The results indicate that both MHPs' and clients' gender did not affect impact. MHPs' and clients' age did not affect impact individually, although a significant interaction effect was revealed. Conclusion: Age, not gender, of the MHP and client are relevant in light of the impact of client suicide. Potential implications and suggestions for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) experience health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) and patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) impairments. We assessed and identified predictors of HRQoL and PROs in CLD patients from Saudi Arabia (SA), Turkey and Egypt. Patients enrolled in Global Liver Registry™ with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) were included. Clinical data and PRO questionnaires (FACIT‐F, CLDQ and WPAI) were compared across countries. Linear regression identified PRO predictors. Of the 4014 included patients, 26.9% had CHB, 26.9% CHC and 46.1% NAFLD/NASH; 19.2% advanced fibrosis. Compared across countries, CHB patients were younger in Egypt (mean age [years] 41.2 ± 11.4 vs. 45.0 ± 10.3 SA, 46.1 ± 12.0 Turkey), most often employed in SA (64.8% vs. 53.2% Turkey) and had the lowest prevalence of obesity in Turkey (26.7% vs. 37.8% SA, 38.5% Egypt). In SA, CHB patients had lowest prevalence of fibrosis and comorbidities (all p <.01). There was a higher frequency of males with NAFLD/NASH in SA (70.0% vs. 49.6% Turkey, and 35.5% Egypt). Among NAFLD/NASH patients, CLDQ‐NAFLD/NASH scores were highest in SA (mean total score: 5.3 ± 1.2 vs. 4.8 ± 1.2 Turkey, 4.1 ± 0.9 Egypt, p <.01). Independent predictors of worse PROs included younger age, female sex, advanced fibrosis, non‐hepatic comorbidities and lack of regular exercise (all p <.05). Clinical presentation and PRO scores of CLD patients vary across SA, Turkey and Egypt. Impairment of HRQoL is associated with demographic factors, lack of regular exercise, advanced fibrosis and non‐hepatic comorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The results demonstrate a clear pattern of increasing aneuploidy with donor age. • Younger donors exhibited a reduced rate of aneuploid embryos. • The rate of embryonic mosaicism seems comparable irrespective of the age of the donor. Conflicting data exists regarding whether a younger age of donors has a negative influence on the outcomes of oocyte donation cycles. Is there any correlation between a younger age of donors and the rate of embryonic aneuploidy in oocyte donation cycles? Retrospective study including 515 oocyte donation cycles carried out between February 2017 and November 2022. Comprehensive chromosomal screening was performed on 1831 blastocysts. 1793 had a result which were categorised into groups based on the age of the donor: 18–22 (n = 415), 23–25 (n = 600), 26–30 (n = 488), and 31–35 years (n = 290). The analysis aimed to determine the percentage of biopsy samples that were euploid and the number that were aneuploid, relative to the age group of the oocyte donor. Additionally, linear regression was employed to examine the relationship between age and the proportion of aneuploid embryos, while controlling for relevant variables. Aneuploidy increased predictably with donor age: 18–22 years: 27.5 %; 23–25 years: 31.2 %; 26–30 years: 31.8 %; and 31–35 years: 38.6 %. In the donor group aged 31–35 years, a higher percentage of aneuploid embryos was observed compared to younger donors in univariate analysis (OR: 1.66, 95 % CI: 1.21–2.29, p = 0.002) and multivariate logistic analysis (OR: 2.65, 95 % CI: 1.67–4.23, p < 0.001). The rates of embryonic mosaicism revealed no significant differences. The lowest risk of embryonic aneuploidy was found among donors aged <22 years. Conversely, an elevated prevalence was evident within the donor group aged 31–35 years, in contrast to the younger cohorts. The incidence of mosaic embryos remained consistent across all age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a need to fully understand intra‐skeletal variability within different populations to develop and improve age‐at‐death estimation methods. This study evaluates age‐related histomorphometric changes in three different bones intra‐individually in a modern Australian sample. Four female and 13 male elderly Australian adult donors (67–93 years) were examined for osteon population density (OPD), osteon area (On.Ar), and Haversian canal area (H.Ar) of secondary osteons to compare between femora, ribs, and humeri and assess against age. In the pooled sex sample, no statistically significant correlations were observed between age and each histological variable. In the males, OPD of the femur increased significantly with age, as did porosity in the rib. In the male humeri, OPD increased moderately with age, while H.Ar was decreased moderately with age. Intra‐bone comparisons showed that males had significantly higher osteon counts in their ribs compared to their femora, while their ribs showed statistically significantly less porosity than their humeri. When bone size was accounted for, by adjusting the femur and humerus histology data by robusticity indices, histology values were found to be similar between bones within the same individual. This is despite the upper and lower limbs receiving different ranges and types of biomechanical load. Our findings demonstrate that bone size influences histomorphometry, and this could confound age‐at‐death estimations that have not been adjusted for robusticity. Future studies would benefit from examining bone histomorphometry within a larger sample size and incorporating bone robusticity measures into histology analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the ontogenetic age and sex composition of zooarchaeological assemblages can reveal details about past human hunting and herding strategies as well as past animal morphology and behavior. As such, the accuracy of our estimates underlies our ability to ascertain details about site formation and gain insights into how people interacted with different animals in the past. Unfortunately, our estimates typically rely on only a small number of bones, limiting our ability to fruitfully use these estimates to make meaningful comparisons to theoretical expectations or even between multiple assemblages. This paper describes a method to use zooarchaeological remains with standard biometric measurements to estimate the ontogenetic age and sex composition of the assemblage, focused on immature, adult-sized female, and adult-sized male specimens. The model uses a Bayesian framework to ensure that the parameter estimates are biologically meaningful. Simulated assemblages show that the model can accurately estimate the biometry and composition of zooarchaeological assemblages. Two archaeological case studies also show how the model can be applied to produce tangible insights. The first, focused on sheep from Neolithic Pinarbaşı B, highlights the model's ability to elucidate site formation and function. The second, focused on cattle remains from four assemblages from 7th-6th millennium BCE northwestern Anatolia, showcases how to use the mixture modeling results to compare assemblages to one another and to specific hypotheses. This modeling framework provides a new avenue for investigating long-term trajectories in animal biometry alongside contextual analyses of past human choices in butchery and consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of temporal image forensics, it is not evident that a neural network, trained on images from different time-slots (classes), exploits solely image age related features. Usually, images taken in close temporal proximity (e.g. , belonging to the same age class) share some common content properties. Such content bias can be exploited by a neural network. In this work, a novel approach is proposed that evaluates the influence of image content. This approach is verified using synthetic images (where content bias can be ruled out) with an age signal embedded. Based on the proposed approach, it is shown that a deep learning approach proposed in the context of age classification is most likely highly dependent on the image content. As a possible countermeasure, two different models from the field of image steganalysis, along with three different preprocessing techniques to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (age signal to image content), are evaluated using the proposed method. • A novel approach in the context of XAI and deep learning image age approximation. • The approach evaluates the influence of image content on the classification accuracy. • The approach is verified using synthetic images with an age signal embedded. • Deep learning age approximation can be strongly biased by image content. • Different CNN models trained in the context of age classification are evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Although diabetes is a risk factor for walking speed decline in older adults, it remains unclear how glycaemic control [assessed by glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)] might affect the long‐term trajectories of walking speed. We investigated whether the glycaemic control status accelerates the walking speed decline and whether this decline differs depending on previous mobility conditions. Materials and Methods: In total, 3202 individuals aged ≥60 years from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) were classified at baseline and after 4 and 8 years of follow‐up according to glycaemic control status as 'without diabetes' (no self‐reported diabetes and HbA1c <6.5%), 'good glycaemic control' (self‐reported diabetes and HbA1c ≥6.5% and <7.0%) and 'poor glycaemic control' (PGC) (self‐reported diabetes and HbA1c ≥7.0%). The generalized linear mixed models verified the walking speed trajectories in m/s. A second analysis was performed, including only participants without slowness at baseline (>0.8 m/s). Results: Compared with the status 'without diabetes', the annual walking speed decline was −0.015 m/s for PGC and −0.011 m/s for good glycaemic control, totalling −0.160 and −0.130 m/s, respectively, over 8 years. Among those without slowness at baseline, only PGC had a significant walking speed decline, corresponding to −0.014 m/s per year and −0.222 m/s over 8 years. Conclusions: Poor glycaemic control is a discriminator of walking speed decline in older adults, regardless of previous mobility conditions. It may serve as an early screening tool for those at risk of decreased functional performance later in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the epidemiology of nonfatal head injuries among children aged 1 to 4 years associated with consumer products and identifies the specific consumer products associated with these injuries. Data for children aged 1 to 4 years who presented to emergency departments (EDs) from 2015 to 2019 for a nonfatal head injury were extracted from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. An estimated 1 032 429 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 675 822-1 389 063) children presented to US EDs for head injuries, averaging 566 injuries daily. The average rate of head injury did not change over the 5-year study period (slope = −0.003; P =.852); it was highest among children aged 1 year (2.06 per 100 children aged 1 year), which was nearly 3 times that of children aged 4 years (rate ratio = 2.75; 95% CI: 2.73-2.77). Most injuries occurred at home (80.4%) and occurred from interacting with home furnishings (45.1%). This study underscores the need for increased head injury mitigation efforts among young children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the interaction force between an in‐plane elliptical inclusion and a crack is evaluated using the Eshelby equivalent inclusion and material configurational force method. The toughening effect of coarse aggregates on concrete is investigated. The fracture criteria for mixed‐mode cracks based on the characteristics of the crack‐tip plastic zone assessed by the principal configurational stress difference are proposed and verified by experimental results in the literature. The fracture probability is then used to improve the fracture criteria, and the dimensionless factor associated with stress intensity factors is introduced to determine the fracture probability. Additionally, the volume fraction of coarse aggregates, the age and fatigue life of concrete are considered in the present fracture criteria. Theoretical studies show that the interaction between a crack and a hard or soft inclusion exhibits mutual repulsion and attraction. The size and shape of the crack‐tip plastic zones assessed by the Mises stress and the principal configurational stress difference are essentially the same. The fracture load envelopes increase with the increase in the volume fraction of coarse aggregates and the age of concrete and shrink with the increase in the life ratio. Highlights: The interaction force between a crack and an elliptical inclusion and toughening effect of coarse aggregates on concrete are evaluated.Fracture criteria based on the characteristics of the crack‐tip plastic zone by the principal configurational stress difference for mixed‐mode cracks are proposed.The fracture probability is introduced to elucidate the fracture mechanism of concrete.The impacts of the volume fraction of coarse aggregates, the age, and fatigue life on concrete fracture are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schizophrenia is associated with increased risk of developing multiple aging-related diseases, including metabolic, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases, and Alzheimer's and related dementias, leading to the hypothesis that schizophrenia is accompanied by accelerated biological aging. This has been difficult to test because there is no widely accepted measure of biological aging. Epigenetic clocks are promising algorithms that are used to calculate biological age on the basis of information from combined cytosine-phosphate-guanine sites (CpGs) across the genome, but they have yielded inconsistent and often negative results about the association between schizophrenia and accelerated aging. Here, we tested the schizophrenia-aging hypothesis using a DNA methylation measure that is uniquely designed to predict an individual's rate of aging. We brought together 5 case-control datasets to calculate DunedinPACE (Pace of Aging Calculated from the Epigenome), a new measure trained on longitudinal data to detect differences between people in their pace of aging over time. Data were available from 1812 psychosis cases (schizophrenia or first-episode psychosis) and 1753 controls. Mean chronological age was 38.9 (SD = 13.6) years. We observed consistent associations across datasets between schizophrenia and accelerated aging as measured by DunedinPACE. These associations were not attributable to tobacco smoking or clozapine medication. Schizophrenia is accompanied by accelerated biological aging by midlife. This may explain the wide-ranging risk among people with schizophrenia for developing multiple different age-related physical diseases, including metabolic, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases, and dementia. Measures of biological aging could prove valuable for assessing patients' risk for physical and cognitive decline and for evaluating intervention effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thin lenses and bands of ultra-high temperature (UHT) granulites with diagnostic sapphirine and quartz in contact are occasionally found on the western flank of the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt (EGMB), which inherits the suturing and over-thrusting signatures of the EGMB with the Greater Indian Landmass (GIL). The mineral biotite contains an abnormally high fluorine concentration, as revealed by the geochemical examination of these granulites from the research area (Kothuru), which was caused by the F-OH substitution to withstand extreme thermal metamorphic conditions. The geochemical results from the multi-element spider diagram and the Harker's variation diagram with primitive-mantle normalization also show an enrichment of light rare earth elements and large-ion lithophile elements over depleted heavy rare earth elements and high-field strength elements. An evolutionary history has been established for the high-grade rocks that were subjected to ultra-high temperature metamorphism, based on the geochemical signatures of the examined granulites. The use of isotopic K-Ar cooling ages and electron microprobe monazite chemical ages of the thermal episodes, which act as useful tools to explain the time and span of the polycyclic metamorphic terrane, is another significant component of the current work. Numerous researchers have attempted to estimate the thermal episodes in various areas of the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt, but their cooling ages are still poorly understood. Consequently, two thermal episodes that happened at 842 Ma and 637 Ma ago, as well as a cooling age of about 448 Ma that marked the quick exhumation of the high-grade rocks under study, have been recorded in the current investigation. The association between the Greater Indian Landmass and Eastern Antarctica during the existence of the Rodinian supercontinent has been established by recorded geochronological events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how the age of female survivors impacts public perceptions of rape in China. In our online survey experiment, participants consider rape as less serious when the survivor is a middle-aged woman compared to other groups of women (younger, older, or age unknown). Participants also request shorter sentencing when the survivor is a middle-aged woman than a younger woman. In China, moral codes surrounding chastity and respect for elders lead to greater emotional responses toward rape against younger and older survivors than middle-aged survivors. Our study expands studies of rape perception by theorizing public attitudes toward middle-aged survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cell population data (CPD) parameters may be putative biomarkers for the screening of various diseases including some infections and myelodysplastic syndrome. This study aimed to establish the age‐ and sex‐specific reference intervals (RIs) for the CPD parameters in the Korean population. Methods: The reference population for the RIs of CPD parameters comprised 124 856 subjects aged 20–99 years. CPD parameters were obtained from Sysmex XN‐2000 (Kobe, Japan) datasets from 17 health promotion centers in 13 South Korean cities. We determined significant partitions for age and sex, and calculated RIs according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute C28‐A3 guidelines. Results: The side scattered light intensity in the neutrophil area and the lymphocyte area did not require sex‐related partitioning except in those over the age of 50, among whom the lower limit (LL) and upper limit (UL) were lower in females. However, the side scattered light distribution width in the lymphocyte area required age‐ and sex‐related partitioning, in which LL and UL were higher in females. The LL and UL of the fluorescent light distribution width were higher in males in the neutrophil area and higher in females in the lymphocyte area, but age‐related partitioning was not required. The forward scattered light intensity in the neutrophil area, lymphocyte area, and monocyte area did not require age‐related partitioning in males. Conclusion: This study has determined comprehensive age‐ and sex‐specific RIs for CPD parameters, which could help to prove the clinical significance of these parameters in the Sysmex XN‐2000. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Patient trust in physicians is associated with patient satisfaction with healthcare, patients engaging in follow-up care, and positive health-related outcomes. The current study investigated whether age moderated the relation between trust in physicians and four health outcome variables, including patient satisfaction, doctor visits, emergency room visits, and hospital admissions. Methods: 398 English-speaking, community-dwelling adults completed measures of physician trust and important health outcome variables via Amazon Mechanical Turk. Results: Age significantly moderated relations between trust in physicians and hospital admissions, and trust in physicians and patient satisfaction, with both positive relations becoming stronger with increasing age. Discussion: The results highlight the need for a lifespan approach to the study of physician trust and related health outcomes. They offer an avenue for increasing physician trust, engagement with the healthcare system prior to the need for hospitalization, and the reduction of healthcare costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cybergossip involves making evaluative comments about third parties through digital devices, a behaviour accentuated by the use of social networks and associated with the intensification of cyberbullying, especially among adolescents. Certain studies suggest that there may be a relationship between cybergossip and socio-emotional variables. However, few studies have analysed this, and even fewer have considered a further series of variables that are evaluated in the online environment, taking into account gender and age differences. Thus, the aim of this study is to analyse the predictive capacity of social competency, empathy, emotional online content (e-motions), and socio-emotional e-competencies in relation to cybergossip. In order to achieve this, we conducted a large-scale survey among Spanish adolescents (n = 992) aged 12–16 (54.4% girls, M = 13.80, and SD = 1.27). Results showed that cybergossip increases with age, with a similar frequency in boys and girls. Regression analysis showed that the variables we evaluated in the online environment can improve our knowledge about cybergossip in relation to social competency and empathy. Moreover, e-motions, which tend to come into play in the transmission of online messages, increase the frequency of cybergossip. Socio-emotional e-competencies, however, can reduce its occurrence, thereby helping adolescents adapt to online interaction environments. Certain socio-emotional e-competencies stand out: e-regulation of emotions in girls, e-self-control of impulsivity in boys, and emotional e-independence in both genders and in older adolescents. Finally, we highlight the need for adolescents to develop specific online emotional competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between early suicidality and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) onset in patients with physical injuries, focusing on age as a modifying factor. At baseline, 1014 patients were evaluated for suicidality, age divided into younger (<60 years) vs. older (≥60 years) groups, and potential covariates. PTSD was diagnosed at follow-up at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months, and then were categorized into early-onset (within the first six months after trauma) and delayed-onset (more than six months after trauma). Logistic regression models were used after adjusting for covariates. Presence of suicidality at baseline was significantly associated with delayed-onset PTSD in older but not younger patients with significant interaction terms, whereas it was significantly associated with early-onset PTSD across all age groups. Age-specific associations were found between suicidality and PTSD onset. The findings highlight the importance of early suicidality assessment, especially in older patients for ongoing monitoring and support, and underscore the critical need for early PTSD identification and intervention for all ages. • Prospective associations of suicidality with both early- and delayed onset PTSD after; physical injuries were evaluated. • Potential modifying effect of age on the associations was investigated. • Suicidality was linked to early-onset PTSD in patients across all age groups. • Suicidality was significantly associated with delayed-onset PTSD in older but not in younger group. • Patients' age and suicidality should be considered for predicting delayed-onset PTSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Obesity is a grave concern within the United States, resulting in lost productivity, increased medical costs, and comorbidities with lifelong repercussions. The laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a treatment option for obesity. The following meta‐analysis sought to combine adolescent and adult literature to determine the overall effect of the sleeve gastrectomy on weight loss, to evaluate the effect of age at the time of surgery on weight loss, and to describe and explore variation in weight loss by sample characteristics. Overall weight loss was assessed at proximal and distal points, a dichotomous moderator variable analysis was conducted with subjects ≤21 years of age and >21 years of age, and a meta‐regression assessing % male, % female, and baseline BMI was conducted to assess moderator variables. The laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy was effective at facilitating weight loss with effect sizes varying from 0.916 to2.816. Age, biological sex, and baseline BMI were not found to have an impact on weight loss. The clinical consequences of prolonged obesity are evident and earlier intervention may be justified to counter the long‐term effects caused by obesity related comorbidities. Standardized reporting of comorbidities and the effect of bariatric surgery on comorbid conditions is essential to allow further analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The head domain of the hemagglutinin of influenza viruses plays a dominant role in the antibody response due to the presence of immunodominant antigenic sites that are the main targets of host neutralizing antibodies. For the H1 hemagglutinin, five major antigenic sites defined as Sa, Sb, Ca1, Ca2, and Cb have been described. Although previous studies have focused on defining the hierarchy of the antigenic sites of the hemagglutinin in different human cohorts, it is still unclear if the immunodominance profile of the antigenic sites might change with the antibody levels of individuals or if other demographic factors (such as exposure history, sex, or age) could also influence the importance of the antigenic sites. The major antigenic sites of influenza viruses hemagglutinins are responsible for eliciting most of the hemagglutination inhibition antibodies in the host. To determine the antibody prevalence towards each major antigenic site, we evaluated the hemagglutination inhibition against a panel of mutant H1 viruses, each one lacking one of the "classic" antigenic sites. Our results showed that the individuals from the Stop Flu NYU cohort had an immunodominant response towards the sites Sb and Ca2 of H1 hemagglutinin. A simple logistic regression analysis of the immunodominance profiles and the hemagglutination inhibition titers displayed by each donor revealed that individuals with high hemagglutination inhibition titers against the wild-type influenza virus exhibited higher probabilities of displaying an immunodominance profile dominated by Sb, followed by Ca2 (Sb > Ca2 profile), while individuals with low hemagglutination inhibition titers presented a higher chance of displaying an immunodominance profile in which Sb and Ca2 presented the same level of immunodominance (Sb = Ca2 profile). Finally, while age exhibited an influence on the immunodominance of the antigenic sites, biological sex was not related to displaying a specific immunodominance profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Conclusions Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people are at increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors relative to their cisgender heterosexual peers. However, most research in this area has focused on youth, limiting our understanding of suicide risk among SGM adults.To address this gap in the literature, the present study examined suicidal thoughts and behaviors among SGM adults across different age groups using a sample of 10,620 US adults.Consistent with the literature on youth, SGM adults showed higher rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors than cisgender heterosexual adults. When examining prevalence rates across various age groups, young adults (18–24) showed greater lifetime and past month suicidal thoughts and behaviors relative to adults ages 45+. Adults ages 18–24 also showed greater past month suicidal ideation than adults ages 25–44; however, there were no group differences in lifetime suicidal thoughts and behaviors and past month suicidal behavior between adults ages 18–24 and 25–44.Although suicidal thoughts and behaviors are most common among young SGM adults, other age groups do still show concerning rates of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, suggesting that this risk might extend to later years of life. Additional resources for SGM adults that are not only tailored toward youth and young adults are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron deficiency is the most common extraintestinal sign of colonic neoplasia, including colorectal cancer (CRC) and other lower gastrointestinal pathology. Both upper endoscopy and colonoscopy is usually recommended in the work‐up of patients with unexplained iron deficiency, particularly in men and postmenopausal women. As the incidence of early‐onset CRC (age <50 years) rises in the United States, there is an increasing need to identify risk predictors to aid in the early detection of CRC. It remains unknown if serum ferritin (SF), and what specific threshold, can be used as a marker to stratify those at risk for CRC and other lower gastrointestinal pathology. In this current review of the literature, we aimed to review guidelines for diagnostic workup of colonic neoplasia in the setting of iron deficiency and examine the association and specific thresholds of SF and risk of CRC by age. Some of the published findings are conflicting, and conclusions specific to younger patients are limited. Though further investigation is warranted, the cumulative findings suggest that SF, in addition to considering the clinical context and screening guidelines, may have potential utility in the assessment of colonic neoplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous to this study, there is no data relating to the reproductive physiology of the Cirneco dell’Etna breed. The birth date of 141 bitches and 104 sires registered at the National Agency of the Italian Kennel Club (ENCI) from all Sicilian breeders, and data related their fertile matings, which produced 266 whelps over a 14-year period, (2009–2022) were collected. Total whelping produced 1069 pups. The mean bitch age at first whelping was 39.13 ± 21.7 months and the mean litter size was 3.84 ± 2.08. The birth period of the bitches and sires was significantly influenced by the month of the year (p < 0.01), as was the distribution of the first (p < 0.05) and subsequent whelping periods (p < 0.01). Whelping distributions show a significant difference between the highest peak in April (which roughly corresponds to a period of heat in February) and in July (which roughly corresponds to a period of heat in May) and the lowest peak in March. No influence of month on litter size and sex ratio was found. Available data suggests that some ancient breeds such as the Cirneco dell’Etna may show seasonal patterns as a vestige of the stricter seasonality of its closest relative the wolf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objective: The relationship between heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) indices has been repeatedly studied in adults but limited data are available on the relationship in paediatric populations. Methods: Continuous 12-lead electrocardiograms were recorded in 1016 healthy children and adolescents (534 females) aged 4 to 19 years during postural manoeuvres with rapid changes between 10-min positions of supine → sitting → standing → supine → standing → sitting → supine. In each position, the averaged RR interval was measured together with four HRV indices, namely the SDNN, RMSSD, quasi-normalised high-frequency components (qnHF), and the proportions of low- and high-frequency components (LF/HF). In each subject, the slope of the linear regression between the repeated HRV measurements and the corresponding RR interval averages was calculated. Results: The intra-subject regression slopes, including their confidence intervals, were related to the age and sex of the subjects. The SDNN/RR, RMSSD/RR, and qnHF/RR slopes were significantly steeper (p < 0.001) and the (LF/HF)/RR slopes were significantly shallower (p < 0.001) in younger children compared to older children and adolescents. Conclusions: The study suggests that sympathetic and vagal influences on heart rate are present in both younger and older children. With advancing age, the sympatho-vagal balance gradually develops and allows the vagal control to suppress the sympathetic drive towards higher heart rates seen in younger age children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous animal models have demonstrated that caloric restriction (CR) is an excellent tool to delay aging and increase the quality of life, likely because it counteracts age-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. The aging process can affect the prostate in three ways: the onset of benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostatitis, and prostate cancer. In this study, we used 14 aged male Sprague Dawley rats, which were allocated into two groups, at the age of 18 months old. One group was fed ad libitum (a normal diet (ND)), and the other group followed a caloric restriction diet with a 60% decrease in intake. The rats were sacrificed at the age of 24 months. By immunohistochemical (IHC) and Western blot (WB) analyses, we studied the variations between the two groups in immune inflammation and fibrosis-related markers in aged prostate tissues. Morphological examinations showed lower levels of prostatic hyperplasia and fibrosis in the CR rats vs. the ND rats. The IHC results revealed that the prostates of the CR rats exhibited a lower immune proinflammatory infiltrate level and a reduced expression of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, together with significantly reduced expressions of mesenchymal markers and the profibrotic factor TGFβ1. Finally, by WB analysis, we observed a reduced expression of ERα, which is notoriously implicated in prostate stromal proliferation, and increased expressions of SOD1 and Hsp70, both exerting protective effects against oxidative stress. Overall, these data suggest that CR brings potential benefits to prostatic tissues as it reduces the physiological immune–inflammatory processes and the tissue remodeling caused by aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The larynx undergoes significant age and sex-related changes in structure and function across the lifespan. Emerging evidence suggests that laryngeal microbiota influences immunological processes. Thus, there is a critical need to delineate microbial mechanisms that may underlie laryngeal physiological and immunological changes. As a first step, the present study explored potential age and sex-related changes in the laryngeal microbiota across the lifespan in a murine model. We compared laryngeal microbial profiles of mice across the lifespan (adolescents, young adults, older adults and elderly) to determine age and sex-related microbial variation on 16s rRNA gene sequencing. Measures of alpha diversity and beta diversity were obtained, along with differentially abundant taxa across age groups and biological sexes. There was relative stability of the laryngeal microbiota within each age group and no significant bacterial compositional shift in the laryngeal microbiome across the lifespan. There was an abundance of short-chain fatty acid producing bacteria in the adolescent group, unique to the laryngeal microbiota; taxonomic changes in the elderly resembled that of the aged gut microbiome. There were no significant changes in the laryngeal microbiota relating to biological sex. This is the first study to report age and sex-related variation in laryngeal microbiota. This data lays the groundwork for defining how age-related microbial mechanisms may govern laryngeal health and disease. Bacterial compositional changes, as a result of environmental or systemic stimuli, may not only be indicative of laryngeal-specific metabolic and immunoregulatory processes, but may precede structural and functional age-related changes in laryngeal physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epigenetic ageing in a human context, has been used to better understand the relationship between age and factors such as lifestyle and genetics. In an ecological setting, it has been used to predict the age of individual animals for wildlife management. Despite the importance of epigenetic ageing in a range of research fields, the assays to measure epigenetic ageing are either expensive on a large scale or complex. In this study, we aimed to improve the efficiency and sequencing quality of an existing epigenetic ageing assay for the Australian Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri). We used an enzyme-based alternative to bisulfite conversion to reduce DNA fragmentation and evaluated its performance relative to bisulfite conversion. We found the sequencing quality to be 12% higher with the enzymatic alternative compared to bisulfite treatment (p-value < 0.01). This new enzymatic based approach, although currently double the cost of bisulfite treatment can increases the throughput and sequencing quality. We envisage this assay setup being adopted increasingly as the scope and scale of epigenetic ageing research continues to grow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, healthcare has lagged relative to its economic boom during the past 40 years. While the top tier hospitals offer pediatric perioperative care like high‐income countries, lower‐tier hospitals deliver lesser services of variable quality and safety related to equipment, supplies, clinician education, and availability. The national residency training program and the pediatric anesthesia fellowship program was established in 2013 and 2018 respectively. Increasing clinician workload from patient demand and a lack of consistency in quality and capability between rural and urban areas remain challenging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forensic age assessment in the living can provide legal certainty when an individual's chronological age is unknown or when age-related information is questionable. An established method involves assessing the eruption of mandibular third molars through dental panoramic radiographs (PAN). In age assessment procedures, the respective findings are compared to reference data. The objective of this study was to generate new reference data in line with the required standards for mandibular third molar eruption within a German population. For this purpose, 605 PANs from 302 females and 303 males aged 15.04 to 25.99 years were examined. The PANs were acquired between 2013 and 2020, and the development of the mandibular third molars was rated independently by two experienced examiners using the Olze et al. staging scale from 2012. In case of disagreement in the assigned ratings, a consensus was reached through arbitration. While the mean, median and minimum ages were observed to increase with each stage of mandibular third molar eruption according to the Olze method, there was considerable overlap in the distribution of age between the stages. The minimum age for stage D, which corresponds to complete tooth eruption, was 16.1 years for females and 17.1 years for males. Thus, the completion of mandibular third molar eruption was found in both sexes before reaching the age of 18. In all individuals who had at least one tooth with completed eruption and who were younger than 17.4 years of age (n = 10), mineralization of the teeth in question was not complete. Based on our findings, the feature of assessing mandibular third molar eruption in PAN cannot be relied upon for determining age of majority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]