Development, implementation, and evaluation of an innovative clinical trial operations training program for Africa (ClinOps).

Background: Africa's involvement in clinical trials remains very low. Although the crucial role of training initiatives in building clinical trial capacity in Africa has been documented, current efforts fall short as they lack alignment with local contexts. This study aimed to design, develop, implement, and evaluate an innovative clinical trial operations training program for Africa.

A multimodal neural signature of face processing in autism within the fusiform gyrus.

Atypical face processing is commonly reported in autism. Its neural correlates have been explored extensively across single neuroimaging modalities within key regions of the face processing network, such as the fusiform gyrus (FFG). Nonetheless, it is poorly understood how variation in brain anatomy and function jointly impacts face processing and social functioning.

Effects of Zinc-Biofortified Wheat Intake on Plasma Markers of Fatty Acid Metabolism and Oxidative Stress Among Adolescents.

Background/objective: Zinc deficiency is common worldwide and has been linked to reduced growth and immune function, increased risk of and slower recovery from infections, and increased risk of non-communicable diseases. To address the issue, zinc biofortification of wheat has been proposed as a sustainable approach to increase dietary zinc intake in countries like Pakistan, where zinc deficiency rates are high and wheat is the primary staple crop. Since plasma zinc concentration (PZC) does not reliably respond to small changes in zinc intake, biomarkers sensitive to small changes in zinc intake achievable though biofortification are needed.

Hypophosphatemia is a frequent finding in infertile men and is associated with low motile sperm count.

Study Question: Is serum phosphate linked with semen quality and reproductive hormones in infertile men?

Summary Answer: Hypophosphatemia is a frequent finding in infertile men and is associated with lower number of motile sperm.

What Is Known Already: Phosphate is available in fluid from all segments of the male reproductive tract in concentrations manyfold higher than in serum. However, the role of phosphate in male fertility is largely unknown.

Towards standardization of person-reported outcomes (PROs) in pediatric diabetes research: A consensus report.

Background: Diabetes ranks among the most common chronic conditions in childhood and adolescence. It is unique among chronic conditions, in that clinical outcomes are intimately tied to how the child or adolescent living with diabetes and their parents or carers react to and implement good clinical practice guidance. It is widely recognized that the individual's perspective about the impact of trying to manage the disease together with the burden of self-management should be addressed to achieve optimal health outcomes.

Assessing the role of mitonuclear interactions on mitochondrial function and organismal fitness in natural populations.

Mitochondrial function depends on the effective interactions between proteins and RNA encoded by the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. Evidence suggests that both genomes respond to thermal selection and promote adaptation. However, the contribution of their epistatic interactions to life history phenotypes in the wild remains elusive.

Comfort Foods in the Twenty-First Century: Friend or Foe?

The comfort food (CF) concept emerged during the latter half of the twentieth century. Although not well defined, CF can be described as familiar foods that elicit feelings of well-being and play a role in social interactions and psychological health. These foods are often calorically dense and nutrient-poor, and overconsumption of some CF may contribute to negative metabolic health outcomes.

Correction: Titmuss et al. Immune Activation Following Irbesartan Treatment in a Colorectal Cancer Patient: A Case Study. 2023, , 5869.

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Influence of cholecalciferol supplementation on changes in total 25OHD, free 25OHD, and free 25OHD % in relation to calcium, bone, and glucose homeostasis in young, infertile men.

Background And Objective: While all types of vitamin D metabolites are bound to vitamin D binding protein and albumin leaving only a small fraction in its free active form, only serum concentrations of total 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) are used to determine vitamin D status in clinical practice. This study aimed to describe the association of total 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD), calculated free 25OHD, and free 25OHD% (free 25OHD × 100 %/total 25OHD) with mineral, bone, and metabolic variables and assess the impact of cholecalciferol supplementation.

Research Design And Methods: Secondary data from a single-center, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial (NCT01304927) in 307 infertile men.

Managing non-traumatic musculoskeletal conditions presenting to emergency departments: Do patient profiles vary between a physiotherapy-led 'Diversion' pathway and routine care?

Background: Low urgency, non-traumatic musculoskeletal presentations are common in emergency departments. Although care is safe, it is expensive, and low priority. Pathways diverting these patients from emergency departments to physiotherapy care may improve hospital outcomes.

Beyond the fingertips: imagining haptic technologies for a deafblind future.

In this paper, we imagine how future technologies could support people who have severe hearing and visual impairment or a deafblind condition. Much effort has gone into assistive technologies to improve access for people with visual or hearing impairments, and while some of these systems will work for people with dual sensory loss, this is not always the case. Fewer systems have been developed specifically for this group.

Weight Loss Induces Changes in Vitamin D Status in Women with Obesity but not in Men: a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Context: Obesity is associated with low vitamin D and recent studies have suggested a difference in vitamin D metabolism between females and males.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of weight loss on vitamin D status in individuals with obesity, and secondarily, whether vitamin D metabolism differs between women and men.

Methods: Secondary analysis from a randomized placebo-controlled trial, designed to investigate the efficacy of 52 weeks of treatment with either liraglutide, exercise or combined, compared with placebo on weight loss maintenance after an 8-week low-calorie diet-induced weight loss in 195 individuals with obesity (BMI 32-43 kg/m2).

Deletion upstream of MAB21L2 highlights the importance of evolutionarily conserved non-coding sequences for eye development.

Anophthalmia, microphthalmia and coloboma (AMC) comprise a spectrum of developmental eye disorders, accounting for approximately 20% of childhood visual impairment. While non-coding regulatory sequences are increasingly recognised as contributing to disease burden, characterising their impact on gene function and phenotype remains challenging. Furthermore, little is known of the nature and extent of their contribution to AMC phenotypes.

Integrating ERT and SP Techniques for Characterizing Aquifers and Surface-Groundwater Interactions.

This study enhances the understanding of riverbank filtration and improves management of the Mississippi River valley alluvial (MRVA) aquifer during a managed aquifer recharge (MAR) pilot project at Shellmound, MS. Using high-resolution electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and self-potential (SP) geophysical methods, we characterized the heterogeneous MRVA aquifer and monitored groundwater flow near a pumping well. ERT was used to provide detailed spatial characterization, filling gaps left by airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data and soil boring logs, while SP techniques were used to monitor groundwater flow, predict drawdown trends, and investigate surface-groundwater interactions.

Novel approach for oligospermia (NAPO) - Protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Infertility affects millions of couples globally, with up to 40-50 % of cases linked to impaired semen quality. Insemination or in vitro fertilization are used frequently, regardless of the cause of infertility due to the lack of specific medical interventions for male infertility. Denosumab, an antibody blocking RANKL signaling, may enhance semen quality in infertile men.

Strawberry (Fragaria x Ananassa) intake on human health and disease outcomes: a comprehensive literature review.

Strawberries provide a number of potential health promoting phytonutrients to include phenolics, polyphenols, fiber, micronutrients and vitamins. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive summary of recent human studies pertaining to the intake of strawberry and strawberry phytonutrients on human health. A literature search conducted through PubMed and Cochrane databases consolidated studies focusing on the effects of strawberry intake on human health.