Cardiovascular risk profiling among South Asian adults in Hong Kong: a latent class analysis.

Background: South Asians living in urbanized settings are facing disproportionate cardiovascular burden largely attributable to modifiable risk factors. Given the rapid surge in South Asian population in Hong Kong, this study aims to identify and distinguish clusters of cardiovascular risk profiles among community-dwelling South Asian adults.

Methods: Between June 2022 and December 2023, 1181 South Asian adults were recruited through territory-wide outreach health assessments on lifestyle, psychological distress, obesity, clinical cardiovascular conditions, and sociodemographic factors.

Microplastic Pollution in the Water Column and Benthic Sediment of the San Pedro Bay, California, USA.

The concentration, character, and distribution of microplastics in coastal marine environments remain poorly understood, with most research focusing on the abundance of microplastics at the sea surface. To address this gap, we conducted one of the first comprehensive assessments of microplastic distribution through the marine water column and in the benthic sediment during the wet and dry season in the coastal waters of the San Pedro Shelf, Southern California, USA. Microplastic concentrations in the water column did not vary significantly across season but were significantly higher in nearshore environments and at the surface of the water column.

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Interventricular Membranous Septal Aneurysms.

Aneurysms of the interventricular membranous septum are a rare anatomical feature that can be detected incidentally on computed tomography or echocardiography. Such aneurysms can pose challenges in the treatment of patients with aortic valve stenosis. A case series of 2 patients with membranous septal aneurysms treated successfully with current-generation balloon-expandable and self-expanding transcatheter heart valves is presented here.

Inhibition of Interleukin-40 prevents multi-organ damage during sepsis by blocking NETosis.

Despite intensive clinical and scientific efforts, the mortality rate of sepsis remains high due to the lack of precise biomarkers for patient stratification and therapeutic guidance. Interleukin 40 (IL-40), a novel cytokine with immune regulatory functions in human diseases, was elevated at admission in two independent cohorts of patients with sepsis. High levels of secreted IL-40 in septic patients were positively correlated with PCT, CRP, lactate (LDH), and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores, in which IL-40 levels were used to stratify the early death of critically ill patients with sepsis.

Emotional Health of Transgender Youth 24 Months After Initiating Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy.

Purpose: Limited data exist about the emotional health of transgender youth, either before or after initiation of gender-affirming hormone (GAH). The objectives were: (1) Investigate and verify the factor structure of the National Institutes of Health Toolbox Emotional Battery (NIHTB-EB) among trans and non-binary (TNB) youth; (2) Examine changes in emotional health over 24 months of GAH treatment; and (3) Examine the extent to which changes in emotional health were associated with improved appearance congruence (AC).

Methods: Study respondents were from Trans Youth Care - United States (TYCUS) study, an observational, prospective, longitudinal study of adolescents initiating GAH enrolled between 2016 and 2019.