Accounting for bias due to outcome data missing not at random: comparison and illustration of two approaches to probabilistic bias analysis: a simulation study.

Background: Bias from data missing not at random (MNAR) is a persistent concern in health-related research. A bias analysis quantitatively assesses how conclusions change under different assumptions about missingness using bias parameters that govern the magnitude and direction of the bias. Probabilistic bias analysis specifies a prior distribution for these parameters, explicitly incorporating available information and uncertainty about their true values.

Integrated metabolic-transcriptomic network identifies immunometabolic modulations in human macrophages.

Macrophages exhibit diverse phenotypes and respond flexibly to environmental cues through metabolic remodeling. In this study, we present a comprehensive multi-omics dataset integrating intra- and extracellular metabolomes with transcriptomic data to investigate the metabolic impact on human macrophage function. Our analysis establishes a metabolite-gene correlation network that characterizes macrophage activation.

Chronotropic Response to Exercise is Decreased in Patients With Congenital Heart Disease Compared to Cardiomyopathy Following Pediatric Heart Transplantation.

Background: Two common indications for pediatric heart transplantation are congenital heart disease and cardiomyopathy. Prior studies suggest differences in chronotropy on cardiopulmonary exercise testing outcomes depending on indication for heart transplantation. We aimed to determine whether the number of pretransplant sternotomies is associated with differences in heart rate response during exercise testing.

Indication for Pediatric Heart Transplant Affects Longitudinal Chronotropy on Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing.

Studies have suggested that pediatric patients with heart transplants (HT) due to congenital heart disease (CHD) perform differently on cardiopulmonary exercise testing compared to pediatric patients with HT due to cardiomyopathy (CM). However, it is not known if this relationship changes over time. The aim of this study was to examine the differences in cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) parameters over time between patients with HT due to CHD versus CM.

Mapping associations of polygenic scores with autistic and ADHD traits in a single city region.

Background: The genetic and environmental aetiology of autistic and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) traits is known to vary spatially, but does this translate into variation in the association of specific common genetic variants?

Methods: We mapped associations between polygenic scores for autism and ADHD and their respective traits in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (N = 4,255-6,165) across the area surrounding Bristol, UK, and compared them to maps of environments associated with the prevalence of autism and ADHD.

Results: Our results suggest genetic associations vary spatially, with consistent patterns for autistic traits across polygenic scores constructed at different p-value thresholds. Patterns for ADHD traits were more variable across thresholds.

Airborne DNA reveals predictable spatial and seasonal dynamics of fungi.

Fungi are among the most diverse and ecologically important kingdoms in life. However, the distributional ranges of fungi remain largely unknown as do the ecological mechanisms that shape their distributions. To provide an integrated view of the spatial and seasonal dynamics of fungi, we implemented a globally distributed standardized aerial sampling of fungal spores.

Mice learn to identify and discriminate sugar solutions based on odor cues.

This study examined how olfaction impacts ingestive responses of mice to sugar solutions. Experiment 1 asked whether naïve C57BL/6 (B6) mice could identify 1 M glucose, fructose, or sucrose solutions based on odor cues, during a 30-min 2-bottle acceptability test. We tested mice both before and after they were rendered anosmic with ZnSO4 treatment.

Global Spore Sampling Project: A global, standardized dataset of airborne fungal DNA.

Novel methods for sampling and characterizing biodiversity hold great promise for re-evaluating patterns of life across the planet. The sampling of airborne spores with a cyclone sampler, and the sequencing of their DNA, have been suggested as an efficient and well-calibrated tool for surveying fungal diversity across various environments. Here we present data originating from the Global Spore Sampling Project, comprising 2,768 samples collected during two years at 47 outdoor locations across the world.

Effect of body mass index on exercise capacity following pediatric heart transplantation.

Background: Obesity and impaired exercise tolerance following heart transplantation increase the risk of post-transplant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of body mass index on markers of exercise capacity in pediatric heart transplant recipients and compare this effect with a healthy pediatric cohort.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of cardiopulmonary exercise test data between 2004 and 2022 was performed.

Cardiorespiratory and Muscular Fitness in Children and Adolescents with Obesity.

Purpose Of Review: Examine the current state of literature related to the impact of obesity in children and adolescents on health-related physical fitness and the resultant cardiometabolic disease risk.

Recent Findings: Cardiorespiratory fitness of children and adolescents has declined over the past few decades which corresponds with an increase in obesity rates. Children with obesity are more likely to have low cardiorespiratory fitness which is associated with higher cardiometabolic disease risk and poorer mental health.

The Child Opportunity Index 2.0 and Disparities in Pediatric Cardiorespiratory Fitness.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of neighborhood-level characteristics on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) via peak oxygen consumption (VO) for healthy pediatric patients.

Study Design: The institutional cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) database was analyzed retrospectively. All patients aged ≤ 18 years without a diagnosis of cardiac disease and with a maximal effort CPET were included.

Targeting the ACOD1-itaconate axis stabilizes atherosclerotic plaques.

Inflammatory macrophages are key drivers of atherosclerosis that can induce rupture-prone vulnerable plaques. Skewing the plaque macrophage population towards a more protective phenotype and reducing the occurrence of clinical events is thought to be a promising method of treating atherosclerotic patients. In the current study, we investigate the immunomodulatory properties of itaconate, an immunometabolite derived from the TCA cycle intermediate cis-aconitate and synthesised by the enzyme Aconitate Decarboxylase 1 (ACOD1, also known as IRG1), in the context of atherosclerosis.

Chronotropic Incompetence During Exercise Testing as a Marker of Autonomic Dysfunction in Individuals with Early Parkinson's Disease.

Background: An attenuated heart rate response to exercise, termed chronotropic incompetence, has been reported in Parkinson's disease (PD). Chronotropic incompetence may be a marker of autonomic dysfunction and a cause of exercise intolerance in early stages of PD.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between chronotropic incompetence, orthostatic blood pressure change (supine - standing), and exercise performance (maximal oxygen consumption, VO2peak) in individuals with early PD within 5 years of diagnosis not on dopaminergic medications.

A Reference Equation for Peak Oxygen Uptake for Pediatric Patients Who Undergo Treadmill Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing.

Pediatric patients are often referred to cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) laboratories for assessment of exercise-related symptoms. For clinicians to understand results in the context of performance relative to peers, adequate fitness-based prediction equations must be available. However, reference equations for prediction of peak oxygen uptake (VO) in pediatrics are largely developed from field-based testing, and equations derived from CPET are primarily developed using adult data.

Mindfulness as a Potential Moderator Between Child Behavior Problems and Maternal Well-Being.

Mindfulness-based programs can help lower psychological distress among parents of children with developmental disabilities. However, less is known about the functions of mindfulness in relation to parental outcomes. In a cross-sectional survey, mothers of children with developmental disabilities (N = 313) reported on their child's behavior problems, trait mindfulness, mindful parenting, and a range of outcomes (anxiety and depression symptoms, parenting stress, family satisfaction, and positive gain).

Reference Values for Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Patients Aged 6 to 18 Years.

Objective: To develop reference values for cardiorespiratory fitness, as quantified by peak oxygen uptake (VO) and treadmill time, in patients aged 6 through 18 years referred for cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).

Study Design: We reviewed a clinical pediatric CPET database for fitness data in children aged 6-18 years with no underlying heart disease. CPET was obtained via the Bruce protocol utilizing objectively confirmed maximal effort via respiratory exchange ratio.

Time-sensitive testing pressures and COVID-19 outcomes: are socioeconomic inequalities over the first year of the pandemic explained by selection bias?

Background: There are many ways in which selection bias might impact COVID-19 research. Here we focus on selection for receiving a polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) SARS-CoV-2 test and how known changes to selection pressures over time may bias research into COVID-19 infection.

Methods: Using UK Biobank (N = 420,231; 55% female; mean age = 66.

Home-based exercise improves subclinical atherosclerosis marker in multiple sclerosis.

Purpose: Using a 12-week, randomized controlled trial coupled with social cognitive theory behavioral coaching, we aimed to assess the effect of a home-based aerobic training intervention versus an attention-control on aerobic fitness, subclinical atherosclerosis, and mobility in persons with MS.

Methods: Persons with MS with an expanded disability status scale score between 0 and 4 were randomized to a 12-week aerobic exercise (EX) (n = 26; 19 females; 49 yrs; 28.8 kg/m) or attention-control (CON) condition (stretching; n = 22; 16 females; 44 yrs; 29.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C): Reduced Exercise Duration and Capacity at Six Month Follow-Up.

Myocarditis is common in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), and the mechanism may differ from idiopathic/viral myocarditis as MIS-C involves a hyper-inflammatory state weeks after COVID-19. We sought to evaluate exercise stress testing (EST) in these patients as EST may help guide return-to-play recommendations. Retrospective cohort study evaluating ESTs (standard Bruce treadmill protocol) from MIS-C patients from 2020 to 2022, compared to myocarditis patients and age, sex, and weight matched controls from 2005 to 2019.

Topical Drug Delivery in the Treatment of Skin Wounds and Ocular Trauma Using the Platform Wound Device.

Topical treatment of injuries such as skin wounds and ocular trauma is the favored route of administration. Local drug delivery systems can be applied directly to the injured area, and their properties for releasing therapeutics can be tailored. Topical treatment also reduces the risk of adverse systemic effects while providing very high therapeutic concentrations at the target site.

How an Interest in Mindfulness Influences Linguistic Markers in Online Microblogging Discourse.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the linguistic markers of an interest in mindfulness. Specifically, it examined whether individuals who follow mindfulness experts on Twitter use different language in their tweets compared to a random sample of Twitter users. This is a first step which may complement commonly used self-report measures of mindfulness with quantifiable behavioural metrics.

IgA2 immune complexes selectively promote inflammation by human CD103 dendritic cells.

While immunoglobulin A (IgA) is well known for its neutralizing and anti-inflammatory function, it is becoming increasingly clear that IgA can also induce human inflammatory responses by various different immune cells. Yet, little is known about the relative role of induction of inflammation by the two IgA subclasses i.e.

Mindfulness-based programmes and 'bigger than self' issues: protocol for a scoping review.

Introduction: Mindfulness-based programmes (MBPs) have an established, growing evidence base as interventions to optimise health, well-being and performance of individual participants. Emerging evidence suggests that MBPs also enhance prosociality, encouraging individuals to contribute to positive social change. This study focuses on the potential of MBPs to facilitate development of participants' inner resources that support prosocial shifts.