Spatiotemporal association between monthly PM2.5 levels and cardiorespiratory mortality in Thailand (2015-2019).

This study examines the spatiotemporal relationship between PM2.5 exposure and cardiorespiratory mortality across Thailand from 2015 to 2019, addressing a critical research gap in geographical coverage. Analysis of satellite-based PM2.

Evaluation of methotrexate Pharmacogenomic variation to predict acute neurotoxicity in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Background: Methotrexate is an important component of curative therapy in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but the role of genetic variation influencing methotrexate clearance and transport in toxicity susceptibility in children with ALL is not well established. Therefore, we evaluated the association between suspected methotrexate pharmacogenomic variants and methotrexate-related neurotoxicity.

Methods: This study included children (aged 2-20 years) diagnosed with ALL (2005-2019) at six treatment centers in the southwest United States.

Impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the field of hematopoietic cell transplantation in the Asia-Pacific region: APBMT Activity Survey 2020/2021.

COVID-19 became a global pandemic in 2020 and significantly affected the activity of hematopoietic cell transplants (HCT) worldwide. Despite these challenges, a total of 28,793 transplants, including 18,518 allogeneic and 10,275 autologous transplants, were performed in 719 facilities in 2020 in the Asia-Pacific (AP) region. This represented a 5.

A Scoping Review on Food Insecurity Among Asian Americans.

We conducted a scoping review to address the knowledge gap concerning the prevalence of food insecurity and participation in food assistance programs among Asian Americans. In 2022, we searched nine databases for peer-reviewed articles. A team of four authors screened 900 records, identifying 35 studies.

Access to results of patient reported outcome surveys did not improve longitudinal patient reported outcomes in breast cancer patients in a randomized controlled trial.

Background: We assessed the impact of breast cancer (BC) patients receiving their own patient-reported outcome (PRO) results on future PROs.

Methods: Newly diagnosed female BC patients completed validated measures of satisfaction with breasts (SB), and psychosocial (PsyW), physical (PhW), and sexual wellbeing (SW) longitudinally during treatment. Patients were randomized to receive their PRO scores (Intervention) or not (Control).

Improving Soil Quality and Crop Yields Using Enhancing Sustainable Rice Straw Management Through Microbial Enzyme Treatments.

This study develops a model to raise public awareness about the consequences of burning rice straw after harvest, including environmental pollution, soil degradation, and increased CO emissions that contribute to the greenhouse effect. The distinctive feature of the research is the introduction of a post-harvest rice straw treatment process using microbial products capable of secreting cellulase enzymes, which can break down the cellulose in the straw. This process shortens the decomposition time and produces natural organic fertilizer, thus reducing cultivation costs by 60% and increasing crop yields by 20%.

Compliant Interconnects Based on Single Micrometer-sized Metal-Coated Polymer Spheres.

The rapid evolution of multifunctional electronics necessitates interconnection technologies appropriate for large dies with high-density and/or ultrafine pitch input/output pins. Existing technologies face numerous challenges, including demands for bonding equipment that can deliver extremely high force as well as thermo-mechanical stresses induced in the assembled packages due to mismatched thermal expansion of materials involved. This study proposes an approach to compliant interconnects comprising single micrometer-sized metal-coated polymer spheres, being joined to mating electrodes by sintering of Ag nano ink at low temperature (140 °C) and low pressure (∼15 mN/particle).

Oophorectomy Rates in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients with Adnexal Torsion in US Emergency Departments.

Objective: To evaluate oophorectomy rates in pediatric and adolescent patients who presented to a US emergency department with adnexal torsion METHODS: This study was a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis utilizing the National Emergency Department Sample data from 2016 to 2018. It included patients younger than 20 years old and of the female sex. International Classification of Diseases Version 10 and ICD 10 Procedure Coding System codes were utilized to define patients with adnexal torsion who underwent adnexal surgery.

Reducing Learning and Psychosocial Disparities in Latino Children with Cancer: A Randomized Intervention Trial.

Background: We developed a high-intensity parenting intervention (HIP) to help parents support the academic success of childhood cancer survivors (CCSs), who often face post-treatment challenges affecting their school-related functioning. This randomized controlled trial (NCT03178617) evaluated HIP's efficacy compared to lower-intensity, single-session, treatment-as-usual services (LIP) in Latino families. Primary outcomes were parenting efficacy and CCSs' school functioning; secondary outcomes included parenting knowledge and measures of CCSs' academic performance, attention, and functioning outside of school.

Did the exposure of coacervate droplets to rain make them the first stable protocells?

Membraneless coacervate microdroplets have long been proposed as model protocells as they can grow, divide, and concentrate RNA by natural partitioning. However, the rapid exchange of RNA between these compartments, along with their rapid fusion, both within minutes, means that individual droplets would be unable to maintain their separate genetic identities. Hence, Darwinian evolution would not be possible, and the population would be vulnerable to collapse due to the rapid spread of parasitic RNAs.

Primary cilia signaling in astrocytes mediates development and regional-specific functional specification.

Astrocyte diversity is greatly influenced by local environmental modulation. Here we report that the majority of astrocytes across the mouse brain possess a singular primary cilium localized to the cell soma. Comparative single-cell transcriptomics reveals that primary cilia mediate canonical SHH signaling to modulate astrocyte subtype-specific core features in synaptic regulation, intracellular transport, energy and metabolism.

Longitudinal Trends in Patient-Reported Outcomes in the First Year After Lumpectomy Versus Mastectomy.

Background: It is unclear how patient-reported outcomes (PROs) change longitudinally after breast cancer surgery. We sought to compare trends in PROs among patients who underwent lumpectomy versus mastectomy over the first year after surgery.

Patients And Methods: Newly diagnosed stage 0-III female patients with breast cancer who underwent lumpectomy or mastectomy at an academic breast center between June 2019 and March 2023 were invited to participate in a longitudinal PRO study.

Breast Cancer Surgery: A Qualitative Exploration of Concerns Over Time.

Introduction: As outcomes for breast cancer patients improve, addressing the side effects and distress of treatment can optimize survivorship. Although distress in breast cancer is well known in literature, there is a lack of information on how these concerns change through the phases of the cancer care continuum. Therefore, this study investigates the longitudinal trajectory of worry in patients with nonmetastatic breast cancer.

Exploration of Patient Retention in Seeking a Second Opinion: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Introduction: It is common for cancer patients to seek a second opinion for a variety of reasons. Understanding what drives patients to choose to receive treatment with their second opinion provider may uncover opportunities to improve the second opinion process. Therefore, we sought to identify the patient, disease, and treatment characteristics that were associated with second opinion retention rates in patients seeking a second surgical opinion for breast, colon, and pancreatic cancer.

Navigating Public Policy Responses to a Pandemic: The Balancing Act Between Physical Health, Mental Health, and Household Income.

Objective: During COVID-19, governments imposed restrictions that reduced pandemic-related health risks but likely increased personal and societal mental health risk, partly through reductions in household income. This study aimed to quantify the public's willingness to accept trade-offs between pandemic health risks, household income reduction, and increased risk of mental illness that may result from future pandemic-related policies.

Methods: A total of 547 adults from an online panel participated in a discrete choice experiment where they were asked to choose between hypothetical future pandemic scenarios.

Getting it right with discrete choice experiments: Are we hot or cold?

Discrete Choice Experiments (DCEs) are widely employed survey-based methods to assess preferences for healthcare services and products. While they offer an experimental way to represent health-related decisions, the stylized representation of scenarios in DCEs may overlook contextual factors that could influence decision-making. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the predictive validity of preferences elicited through a DCE in decisions likely influenced by a hot-cold empathy gap, and compare it to another commonly used method, a direct-elicitation question.

The Use of Guanfacine to Mediate Anxiety-related Reactivity and Reduce Associated Agonistic Behavior in Two Pigtail Macaques ().

Guanfacine, an α ₂adrenoceptor agonist, has been used to successfully treat self-injurious behavior in nonhuman primates, including macaques () and baboons (). It does so by facilitating a correction to the dopaminergic system that mediates a reduction in impulsivity and reactivity. Given this, we assessed the potential efficacy of guanfacine to treat socially directed agonistic behavior in primates with an apparent reactive behavioral phenotype.

Adaptive response of under serial ciprofloxacin exposure.

Understanding the evolution of antibiotic resistance is important for combating drug-resistant bacteria. In this work, we investigated the adaptive response of to ciprofloxacin. Ciprofloxacin-susceptible ATCC 9027, CIP-E1 ( ATCC 9027 exposed to ciprofloxacin for 14 days) and CIP-E2 (CIP-E1 cultured in antibiotic-free broth for 10 days) were compared.

[Antenatal care for fetuses with congenital diaphragmatic hernia].

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) can be diagnosed prenatally and its severity assessed by fetal imaging. The prognosis of a fetus with CDH is based on whether or not the hernia is isolated, the measurement of lung volume on ultrasound and MRI, and the position of the liver. The birth of a child with CDH should take place in a center adapted to the care of such children, and in accordance with the recommendations defined by the French National Diagnosis and Care Protocol.

Anxiety and its risk factors among non-Japanese residents living in Japan undergoing COVID-19 situation: A cross-sectional survey.

Introduction: In the context of collective efforts taken in Japan to control the spread of COVID-19, the state of emergency and social distancing have caused a negative impact on the mental health of all residents, including foreign communities in Japan. This study aimed to evaluate the level of anxiety and its associated factors among non-Japanese residents residing in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A web-based survey in 13 languages was conducted among non-Japanese residents living in Japan during the COVID-19 situation.