Quantitative Measurement of Individual and Contextual Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccination in General Population Samples: A Scoping Review.

Background: This scoping review aims to map the quantitative literature investigating vaccine-related individual and contextual determinants of COVID-19 vaccination uptake, identify and define constructs assessed, and describe the characteristics of self-report measures.

Methods: A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted to capture peer-reviewed journal articles published between December 31, 2019, and December 25, 2021. Studies conducted in English and collecting data from general population samples using self-report measures of vaccine-related determinants of COVID-19 vaccination behavior were eligible.

An ergometer dataset to measure muscle bioenergetics with magnetic resonance techniques.

Applying magnetic resonance methods to measure the metabolic response in exercise poses a technical challenge because the construction of the ergometer must use non-magnetic components and assess work in the confined space of a magnet bore. The present report details the fabrication of a non-magnetic ergometer for use in a standard Siemens 3 Tesla (T) spectrometer. Using the ergometer, researchers can measure the P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) signals during leg muscle exercise and exercise recovery.

Review of Exercise Interventions to Improve Clinical Outcomes in Nondialysis CKD.

Exercise interventions in chronic kidney disease (CKD) have received growing interest, with over 30 meta-analyses published in the past 5 years. The potential benefits of exercise training in CKD range from slowing disease progression to improving comorbidities and quality of life. Nevertheless, there is a lack of large, randomized control trials in diverse populations, particularly regarding exercise in nondialysis-dependent CKD (NDD).

Persistent Threat Avoidance Following Negative Reinforcement Is Not Associated with Elevated State Anxiety.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating illness consisting of obsessions and compulsions. OCD severity and treatment response are correlated with avoidant behaviors thought be performed to alleviate obsession-related anxiety. However, little is known about either the role of avoidance in the development of OCD or the interplay between anxiety states and avoidance behaviors.

Impact of antidepressants on the composition of the gut microbiome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of in vivo studies.

Background: There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that antidepressant drugs (ADs) alter the gut microbiome of persons with depressive disorders. Herein, we aim to investigate the gut microbial profile of AD-treated animal models of depression (MoD) and persons with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the gut microbiome community-level diversity and relative abundance of microbial taxa in AD-treated animal MoD and persons with MDD.

Carbon quantum dots composite for enhanced selective detection of dopamine with organic electrochemical transistors.

A compact organic electrochemical transistors (OECT) sensor enriched with carbon quantum dots (CQDs) was developed to enhance the transconductance of an electropolymerized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) film, enabling the precise and selective detection of dopamine (DA). Accurate monitoring of DA levels is critical for diagnosing and managing related conditions. Incorporating CQDs, we have achieved a remarkable up to threefold increase in current at the DA detection peak in differential pulse voltammetry.

Use of Ketamine in Patients with Multifactorial Neuropathic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by the experience of a number of sensory disturbances including pain, burning sensations, paroxysms of stabbing pain, dysesthesias, allodynia, and hyperalgesia. The above-mentioned sensations may occur in a specific dermatome area or other delimited region of the body. The objective of this review was to analyze the evidence for ketamine in multifactorial neuropathic pain.

Association Between English Proficiency and Postoperative Pain Management for Adult Patients Undergoing Gynecologic Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: To determine if language-based disparities in postoperative pain management exist in women undergoing gynecologic surgery.

Design: A retrospective cohort study was performed.

Methods: The electronic medical records were reviewed of individuals, aged 18 to 80, who underwent an abdominal hysterectomy between 2016 and 2021 at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center.

Is there a cost when predictions are not met? A VWP study investigating L1 and L2 speakers.

Research has found that both first language (L1) and second language (L2) speakers make predictions about upcoming linguistic information, with predictive behaviour being impacted by individual differences and methodological factors. However, it is not clear whether a cost is incurred when a prediction is made, but not met. L2 speakers have less experience with their L2 and parsing can be cognitively demanding, which together may lead L2 speakers to incur prediction costs differently relative to L1 speakers.

Communicate to Care: Implementing Health Literacy in a Pediatric Ears, Nose, and Throat Clinic.

Background: Despite positive outcomes in controlled trials, organizations have been slow to adopt health literacy practices. The purpose of the Communicate to CARE (Clear Communication, Achieve Understanding with Teach-Back, Receptive to our patient family needs, Empathetic care delivery) study was to use theories and strategies from implementation science to scale up health literacy practices in a pediatric Ears, Nose, and Throat (ENT) clinic.

Brief Description Of Activity: Expanding on previous efforts that simply reflected on barriers, the CARE team identified barriers within the local context pre-implementation to select strategies to directly address barriers during health literacy implementation.

The interplay between mitochondria, the gut microbiome and metabolites and their therapeutic potential in primary mitochondrial disease.

The various roles of the mitochondria and the microbiome in health and disease have been thoroughly investigated, though they are often examined independently and in the context of chronic disease. However, the mitochondria and microbiome are closely connected, namely, through their evolution, maternal inheritance patterns, overlapping role in many diseases and their importance in the maintenance of human health. The concept known as the "mitochondria-microbiome crosstalk" is the ongoing bidirectional crosstalk between these two entities and warrants further exploration and consideration, especially in the context of primary mitochondrial disease, where mitochondrial dysfunction can be detrimental for clinical manifestation of disease, and the role and composition of the microbiome is rarely investigated.

A new species of Kirkaldy (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) in a cacao plantation from the Colombian Napo Province, including a key to species, and taxonomic notes of the genus.

A new species of the genus Kirkaldy, 1909 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Reduviidae: Harpactorinae: Harpactorini) is described and illustrated. Gamboa & Gil-Santana, represents the first record of the genus for the Province of Napo in Colombia, and the first description of a male individual in the genus. The male specimen representing the new species was collected on a leaf of cacao ( L.

Intermuscular adipose tissue accumulation is associated with higher tissue sodium in healthy individuals.

Background And Aims: High tissue sodium accumulation and intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) are associated with aging, type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. In this study, we aim to investigate whether high lower-extremity tissue sodium accumulation relates to IMAT quantity and whether systemic inflammatory mediators and adipocytokines contribute to such association.

Methods: Tissue sodium content and IMAT accumulation (percentage of IMAT area to muscle area) were measured in 83 healthy individuals using sodium imaging (Na-MRI) and proton (1H-MRI) imaging of the calf.

Implementing Standard Diagnosis and Treatment for Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Through Global Research in Latin America: Results From a Multicountry Pragmatic Trial.

Purpose: Breast cancer mortality rates in Latin America (LA) are higher than those in the United States, possibly because of advanced disease presentation, health care disparities, or unfavorable molecular subtypes. The Latin American Cancer Research Network was established to address these challenges and to promote collaborative clinical research. The Molecular Profiling of Breast Cancer Study (MPBCS) aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of LA participants with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC).

Aptamers for the Delivery of Plant-Based Compounds: A Review.

Natural compounds have a high potential for the treatment of various conditions, including infections, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. However, they usually present poor pharmacokinetics, low specificity, and even toxicity, which limits their use. Therefore, targeted drug delivery systems, typically composed of a carrier and a targeting ligand, can enhance natural product selectivity and effectiveness.

Biomimetic Strategies for Peripheral Nerve Injury Repair: An Exploration of Microarchitecture and Cellularization.

Injuries to the nervous system present formidable challenges to scientists, clinicians, and patients. While regeneration within the central nervous system is minimal, peripheral nerves can regenerate, albeit with limitations. The regenerative mechanisms of the peripheral nervous system thus provide fertile ground for clinical and scientific advancement, and opportunities to learn fundamental lessons regarding nerve behavior in the context of regeneration, particularly the relationship of axons to their support cells and the extracellular matrix environment.

Impaired incretin homeostasis in non-diabetic moderate-severe CKD.

Background: Incretins are regulators of insulin secretion and glucose homeostasis that are metabolized by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4). Moderate-severe CKD may modify incretin release, metabolism, or response.

Methods: We performed 2-hour oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) in 59 people with non-diabetic CKD (eGFR<60 ml/min per 1.

A randomized controlled pilot trial of anakinra and pioglitazone for protein metabolism in patients on maintenance haemodialysis.

Background: Chronic inflammation and insulin resistance are highly prevalent in patients on maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) and are strongly associated with protein energy wasting. We conducted a pilot, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and pioglitazone to explore the safety, feasibility and efficacy for insulin-mediated protein metabolism in patients undergoing MHD.

Methods: Twenty-four patients were randomized to receive IL-1ra, pioglitazone or placebo for 12 weeks.

Bradykinin B receptor blockade and intradialytic hypotension.

Introduction: Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a common clinical complication and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). The pathogenesis of IDH has been attributed to the rapid reduction of plasma volume during hemodialysis and the inadequate compensatory mechanisms in response to hypovolemia, such as the lack of vasoconstriction. This may be due to the increased production of vasodilators, such as bradykinin.

Randomized crossover clinical trial of coenzyme Q10 and nicotinamide riboside in chronic kidney disease.

BackgroundCurrent studies suggest mitochondrial dysfunction is a major contributor to impaired physical performance and exercise intolerance in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We conducted a clinical trial of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and nicotinamide riboside (NR) to determine their impact on exercise tolerance and metabolic profile in patients with CKD.MethodsWe conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trial comparing CoQ10, NR, and placebo in 25 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of less than 60mL/min/1.

Recent Progress in Biomedical Sensors Based on Conducting Polymer Hydrogels.

Biosensors are increasingly taking a more active role in health science. The current needs for the constant monitoring of biomedical signals, as well as the growing spending on public health, make it necessary to search for materials with a combination of properties such as biocompatibility, electroactivity, resorption, and high selectivity to certain bioanalytes. Conducting polymer hydrogels seem to be a very promising materials, since they present many of the necessary properties to be used as biosensors.

and the risk of adverse renal outcomes in patients of African ancestry with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disproportionately affects individuals of African ancestry (AA) compared to European ancestry (EA). In the general population, high risk (HR) variants in the apolipoprotein L1 ( gene increase the risk of renal and hypertensive disorders in individuals of AA. Since SLE is characterized by an interferon signature and expression is driven by interferon, we examined the hypothesis that HR genotypes predominantly drive higher rates of renal and hypertensive-related comorbidities observed in SLE patients of AA versus those of EA.