Comparison of the PROMIS Preference Score (PROPr) and EQ-5D-5L Index Value in General Population Samples in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.

Objectives: The Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Preference score (PROPr) can be used to assess health state utility (HSU) and estimate quality-adjusted life-years in cost-effectiveness analyses. It is based on item response theory and promises to overcome limitations of existing HSU scores such as ceiling effects. The PROPr contains 7 PROMIS domains: cognitive abilities, depression, fatigue, pain, physical function, sleep disturbance, and ability to participate in social roles and activities.

Intrinsic functional brain connectivity is resilient to chronic hypoperfusion caused by unilateral carotid artery stenosis.

Introduction: Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion caused by asymptomatic high-grade stenosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) has been associated with impaired cognitive function. Only few studies exist on underlying changes of functional connectivity (FC).

Methods: 20 patients with unilateral high-grade ICA stenosis without MRI lesions and 25 aged-match controls underwent resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) and neuropsychological assessment.

Systemic autoimmune diseases and work outcomes in Brazil: a scoping review.

Objective: To review articles that assessed work-related outcomes such as workability, work productivity, presenteeism, absenteeism, sick leave, return to work, and employment status of Brazilian patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, Sjögren's syndrome, and systemic autoimmune myopathies.

Methods: This study was conducted in Medline databases (PubMed), SciELO, and Lilacs through a combination of descriptors of interest. Studies published until December 2020 were considered in the search strategy.

[DNVF Memorandum Health Literacy (Part 2) - Operationalisation and Measuring of Health Literacy from a Health Services Research Perspective].

The "DNVF Memorandum Health Literacy (Part 2): Operationalization and Measurement of Health Literacy from the Perspective of Health Services Research" of the German Network for Health Services Research represents the continuation of the memorandum "DNVF Memorandum Health Literacy (Part 1): Background, Subject and Issues in Health Services Research". In addition to the general requirements for the measurement of health literacy, this memorandum also deals with the specific requirements, such as the differentiation of health literacy from related constructs, the differences between performance-based and self-assessment methods, the differences between generic and specific instruments, the use of screening instruments, and the measurement of health literacy in special populations. Furthermore, special considerations about the measurement of digital health literacy, potentials of qualitative and participatory research approaches as well as research ethics in the measurement of health literacy will be elaborated on.

Pulse shape analysis in Gerda Phase II.

The GERmanium Detector Array (Gerda) collaboration searched for neutrinoless double- decay in Ge using isotopically enriched high purity germanium detectors at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso of INFN. After Phase I (2011-2013), the experiment benefited from several upgrades, including an additional active veto based on LAr instrumentation and a significant increase of mass by point-contact germanium detectors that improved the half-life sensitivity of Phase II (2015-2019) by an order of magnitude. At the core of the background mitigation strategy, the analysis of the time profile of individual pulses provides a powerful topological discrimination of signal-like and background-like events.

Impact of Nano- and Micro-Sized Chromium(III) Particles on Cytotoxicity and Gene Expression Profiles Related to Genomic Stability in Human Keratinocytes and Alveolar Epithelial Cells.

Exposure to Cr(VI) compounds has been consistently associated with genotoxicity and carcinogenicity, whereas Cr(III) is far less toxic, due to its poor cellular uptake. However, contradictory results have been published in relation to particulate CrO. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether Cr(III) particles exerted properties comparable to water soluble Cr(III) or to Cr(VI), including two nano-sized and one micro-sized particles.

How Pyroptosis Contributes to Inflammation and Fibroblast-Macrophage Cross-Talk in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

About thirty years ago, a new form of pro-inflammatory lytic cell death was observed and termed pyroptosis. Only in 2015, gasdermins were defined as molecules that create pores at the plasma membrane and drive pyroptosis. Today, we know that gasdermin-mediated death is an important antimicrobial defence mechanism in bacteria, yeast and mammals as it destroys the intracellular niche for pathogen replication.

Consanguineous marriages and their association with women's reproductive health and fertility behavior in Pakistan: secondary data analysis from Demographic and Health Surveys, 1990-2018.

Background: Pakistan has been showing consistently the highest prevalence of consanguinity. The popularity of consanguineous marriages is not declining in the country, because of social, cultural, and religious beliefs as well as economic advantages. However, couples also face various health-related implications, such as poor pregnancy outcomes or multiple reproductive and fertility consequences, having adverse effects on mothers and their children.

Evolutionarily conserved transcription factors as regulators of longevity and targets for geroprotection.

Aging is the single largest risk factor for many debilitating conditions, including heart diseases, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. Although far from understood in its full complexity, it is scientifically well established that aging is influenced by genetic and environmental factors and can be modulated by various interventions. One of aging's early hallmarks is aberrations in transcriptional networks, controlling for example metabolic homeostasis or the response to stress.

Advances in multiscale image processing and its effects on image quality in skeletal radiography.

Multi-frequency processing (MFP) leads to enhanced image quality (IQ) of radiographs. This study is to determine the effect of third generation MFP (M3) on IQ in comparison to standard second-generation MFP (M2). 20 cadavers were examined and post-processing of radiographs was performed with both M2 and M3.

Molecular and Clinical Repercussions of GABA Transporter 1 Variants Gone Amiss: Links to Epilepsy and Developmental Spectrum Disorders.

The human γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) transporter 1 (hGAT-1) is the first member of the solute carrier 6 (SLC6) protein superfamily. GAT-1 () is one of the main GABA transporters in the central nervous system. Its principal physiological role is retrieving GABA from the synapse into neurons and astrocytes, thus swiftly terminating neurotransmission.

Psychometric properties of the PROMIS Preference score (PROPr) in patients with rheumatological and psychosomatic conditions.

Background: The PROMIS Preference score (PROPr) is a new generic preference-based health-related quality of life (HRQoL) score that can be used as a health state utility (HSU) score for quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) in cost-utility analyses (CUAs). It is the first HSU score based on item response theory (IRT) and has demonstrated favorable psychometric properties in first analyses. The PROPr combines the seven PROMIS domains: cognition, depression, fatigue, pain, physical function, sleep disturbance, and ability to participate in social roles and activities.

WhatsApp-Delivered Intervention for Continued Learning for Nurses in Pakistan During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of a Randomized-Controlled Trial.

The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated support for continued learning in frontline practitioners through online digital mediums that are convenient and fast to maintain physical distancing. Nurses are already neglected professionals for support in training for infection control, leadership, and communication in Pakistan and other developing countries. For that reason, we aimed to deliver a WhatsApp-based intervention for continued learning in nurses who are currently working in both private and public sector.

Alternative migratory strategies related to life history differences in the Walleye (Sander vitreus).

Background: While Pace of Life Syndrome predicts behavioural differences between individuals with differential growth and survival, testing these predictions in nature is challenging due to difficulties with measuring individual behaviour in the field. However, recent advances in acoustic telemetry technology have facilitated measurements of individual behaviour at scales not previously possible in aquatic ecosystems.

Methods: Using a Walleye (Sander vitreus) population inhabiting Black Bay, Lake Superior, we examine whether life history characteristics differ between more and less mobile individuals as predicted by Pace of Life Syndrome.

Perception and Knowledge of Mercury by Occupationally Exposed Health Care Personnel.

Unlabelled: Thermometers and baumanometers frequently contain mercury, a toxic heavy metal. Inadequate management of this substance can constitute an occupational hazard by exposing health care professionals to health risks including memory loss, psychosomatic symptoms, fatigue, and other signs of cognitive dysfunction as reported in several studies.

Purpose: To assess Mexico's health care professionals' health and mercury-related knowledge and risk perception and to explore the measurement properties of a questionnaire assessing that level of knowledge.

Analysis of patient-physician discrepancy in global assessment of systemic autoimmune myopathy disease activity.

Objectives: To compare the perception of disease activity (DA) between adult patients with systemic autoimmune myopathies (SAMs) and their physicians, and analyse possible sources of discordance.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 75 patients with SAMs. Patients and physicians rated the global DA on a 0-10 cm visual analogue scale.

[Assessment of Patient-reported Outcomes in Routine Medical Care: Patient-reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) and Patient-reported Experience Measures (PREMs)].

Information from patients about their own quality of life, experiences in care, and individual assessments of treatment processes and outcomes are becoming increasingly important. Patient-reported characteristics can refer to subjective information about their own health (Patient-Reported Outcome Measures [PROMs]) or to objective information about their experience during the treatment process (Patient-Reported Experience Measures [PREMs]). This article provides an overview of the similarities and differences between PROMs and PREMs.

RNA-dependent synthesis of ergosteryl-3β-O-glycine in Ascomycota expands the diversity of steryl-amino acids.

A wide range of bacteria possess virulence factors such as aminoacyl-tRNA transferases (ATTs) that are capable of rerouting aminoacyl-transfer RNAs away from protein synthesis to conjugate amino acids onto glycerolipids. We recently showed that, although these pathways were thought to be restricted to bacteria, higher fungi also possess ergosteryl-3β-O-L-aspartate synthases (ErdSs), which transfer the L-Asp moiety of aspartyl-tRNA onto the 3β-OH group of ergosterol (Erg), yielding ergosteryl-3β-O-L-aspartate (Erg-Asp). Here, we report the discovery, in fungi, of a second type of fungal sterol-specific ATTs, namely, ergosteryl-3β-O-glycine (Erg-Gly) synthase (ErgS).

An Evidence Map on Serious Games in Preventing Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Adolescents: Systematic Review About Outcome Categories Investigated in Primary Studies.

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a global health risk. Adolescents are at increased risk of infection for several reasons such as lack of knowledge, risky sexual behaviors, and lack of behavioral sills (eg, to negotiate safer sex). Given the fact that adolescents often use digital media and that serious games are considered to have the potential to change knowledge, attitudes and behavior, serious games represent an opportunity for the prevention of STIs.

Challenges perceived by nursing professionals in physician-centred organizations: An exploratory qualitative study.

Aim: To explore and analyse contextual challenges in nursing that have affected nurses' perceptions and role performance.

Background: Health system hierarchy and patient/family-centred care has led to a high demand for skilled nurses. However, patriarchal organizations create challenges for nursing clinicians in Pakistan and elsewhere.

Protein visualization and manipulation in through the use of epitope tags recognized by nanobodies.

Expansion of the available repertoire of reagents for visualization and manipulation of proteins will help understand their function. Short epitope tags linked to proteins of interest and recognized by existing binders such as nanobodies facilitate protein studies by obviating the need to isolate new antibodies directed against them. Nanobodies have several advantages over conventional antibodies, as they can be expressed and used as tools for visualization and manipulation of proteins in vivo.

Search for Lepton-Flavor Violation in Z-Boson Decays with τ Leptons with the ATLAS Detector.

A search for lepton-flavor-violating Z→eτ and Z→μτ decays with pp collision data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC is presented. This analysis uses 139  fb^{-1} of Run 2 pp collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV and is combined with the results of a similar ATLAS search in the final state in which the τ lepton decays hadronically, using the same data set as well as Run 1 data. The addition of leptonically decaying τ leptons significantly improves the sensitivity reach for Z→ℓτ decays.