Age-Related Blood Pressure Gradients Are Associated With Blood Pressure Control and Global Population Outcomes.

Background: The strong relationship between blood pressure (BP) and age is well known. Limited evidence suggests that a steeper age-BP slope may be associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes. The May Measurement Month campaign enables an investigation of geographic, socioeconomic, and sex differences in age-related BP gradients and their association with public-health outcomes.

Ocular biomarkers: useful incidental findings by deep learning algorithms in fundus photographs.

Background/objectives: Artificial intelligence can assist with ocular image analysis for screening and diagnosis, but it is not yet capable of autonomous full-spectrum screening. Hypothetically, false-positive results may have unrealized screening potential arising from signals persisting despite training and/or ambiguous signals such as from biomarker overlap or high comorbidity. The study aimed to explore the potential to detect clinically useful incidental ocular biomarkers by screening fundus photographs of hypertensive adults using diabetic deep learning algorithms.

Reproduction toxicity study with the synthetic amorphous silica SYLOID® AL-1 FP, HDK® N20, LUDOX® P T-40 F and SYLOID® MX 107 in the earthworm species Eisenia fetida.

Ecotoxicology studies were performed in the earthworm Eisenia fetida with four different synthetic amorphous silica (SAS) (SYLOID® AL-1 FP, SYLOID® MX 107, LUDOX® P T-40 F, and HDK® N20) mixed into artificial soil to determine a NOEC/LOEC for effects on reproduction (56 days after application), mortality and biomass development (28 days after application) using a standardized artificial soil with 10% peat. The LC50 for test-item effects on adult mortality, and an EC10 and EC50 for reproduction were also determined. Furthermore, earthworms underwent histopathology evaluation, and the amount of silica in different organs from these organisms was evaluated using EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy).

Enhanced study design for acute inhalation studies with hydrophobic surface-treated particles to determine toxicological effects including suffocation.

High concentrations of low-density particles may cause effects in acute inhalation toxicity studies which can be easily underestimated or misinterpreted following strictly the OECD TG 436, i.e., limited parameters as mortality and gross lesions will be evaluated only.