Prevalence of Depression in Older Adults and the Potential Protective Role of Volunteering: Findings From the LongROAD Study.

Background: As the US population continues to age, depression and other mental health issues have become a significant challenge for healthy aging. Few studies, however, have examined the prevalence of depression in community-dwelling older adults in the United States.

Methods: Baseline data from the Longitudinal Research on Aging Drivers study were analyzed to examine the prevalence and correlates of depression in a multisite sample of community-dwelling adults aged 65-79 years who were enrolled and assessed between July 2015 and March 2017.

Examining the Association Between Public Health Accreditation and COVID-19 Outcomes.

Objective: To examine the association between local health department (LHD) accreditation and COVID-19 community outcomes, including rates of adult vaccination, hospitalization, and death.

Design: We examined county level rates of adult vaccination, hospitalization, and death by LHD accreditation status over the course of the COVID pandemic. Additional independent variables included time period, COVID-19 Community Vulnerability Index (CCVI), state public health governance structure, and state policy environment.

Challenges and Supports for Implementing Health Equity During National Accreditation Among Small Local Health Departments in the United States.

Objective: This article focuses on supports and challenges to health equity that small local health departments (LHDs) experienced while working toward national reaccreditation or Pathways Recognition with the Public Health Accreditation Board's Standards & Measures Version 2022 (PHAB S&M v2022).

Design: The study team conducted 22 qualitative interview sessions with members of health department leadership teams.

Setting: In the spring of 2024, participants from 4 small LHDs in the western and midwestern regions of the United States participated in individual remote interview sessions.

The association of HDL-cholesterol levels with incident major adverse cardiovascular events and mortality in 0.6 million individuals with type 2 diabetes: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

Background: High levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are previously considered protective against cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but recent studies suggest an increased risk of adverse events at very high HDL-C levels in the general population. It remains to be elucidated such a relationship in diabetes, a condition with high cardiovascular risks. We examined the association of HDL-C levels with the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and mortality in type 2 diabetes.

"I Want to Tell You Something, but Not Here": Governmental Inspection teams' Challenges in Identifying Mistreatment in Nursing Homes.

This study explores the challenges faced by the Ministry of Health's inspection teams in identifying mistreatment within Israeli nursing homes. Four focus groups with 19 multidisciplinary inspectors revealed two main themes. First, the interaction between nursing home management, staff, and inspectors ranged from denial and concealment of mistreatment to cooperation in reporting it.

Perspectives on Public Health Department Accreditation: Lessons Learned From Ohio's Accreditation Mandate.

Context: Ohio is the only state that requires local health departments (LHDs) to be accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB). As of May 2024, 80% of Ohio's 111 LHDs achieved accreditation, making Ohio the state with the highest proportion of accredited LHDs in the country.

Objectives: This study examined the experience of public health accreditation in Ohio including the perceived value of PHAB accreditation for LHDs.

S2k guideline basal cell carcinoma of the skin (update 2023).

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor in the fair-skinned population and its incidence continues to rise. An update of the S2k guideline with the participation of all specialist societies familiar with the clinical picture and previous literature research is of great importance for the quality of care for affected patients. In addition to epidemiology, diagnostics and histology are discussed.

p.C124W variant contributes to schizophrenia by attenuating LLPS-mediated synapse formation.

KCTD10, a member of the potassium channel tetramerization domain (KCTD) family, is implicated in neuropsychiatric disorders and functions as a substrate recognition component within the RING-type ubiquitin ligase complex. A rare de novo variant of KCTD10, p.C124W, was identified in schizophrenia cases, yet its underlying pathogenesis remains unexplored.

The Role of Intersectional Stigma in Coronary Artery Disease Among Cisgender Women Aging with HIV.

Cisgender women living with HIV experience elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk that increases with age, a concern given extended life expectancies for people living with HIV. The CVD risk disparity among cisgender women aging with HIV is understudied and remains unclear. Taking a psychoneuroimmunology approach, given this group's intersecting marginalized identities, one potential driver of the disparity is intersectional stigma.

Artificial daylight photodynamic therapy using methyl aminolevulinate in a real-world setting in Germany - Results from the non-interventional study ArtLight.

Background: Artificial daylight photodynamic therapy (ADL-PDT) is an alternative, all-year applicable, nearly painless treatment approach for actinic keratoses (AK) with comparable effectiveness to daylight or conventional PDT. At the time this study was initiated, methyl aminolevulinate (MAL) was the only photosensitizer approved for ADL-PDT in Germany.

Objective: To gain comprehensive insights into the practicability of MAL-ADL-PDT in patients with AK using different artificial daylight sources under real-world conditions.

AGE-RAGE Axis and Cardiovascular Diseases: Pathophysiologic Mechanisms and Prospects for Clinical Applications.

Advanced glycation end products (AGE), a diverse array of molecules generated through non-enzymatic glycosylation, in conjunction with the receptor of advanced glycation end products (RAGE), play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its associated complications. Recent studies have revealed that the AGE-RAGE axis potentially accelerated the progression of cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, atherosclerosis, myocarditis, pulmonary hypertension, hypertension, arrhythmia, and other related conditions. The AGE-RAGE axis is intricately involved in the initiation and progression of cardiovascular diseases, independently of its engagement in diabetes.

Electroacupuncture alleviated post-stroke cognitive impairment via the mTOR/NLRP3-mediated autophagy-inflammatory pathway.

Background: Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) severely reduces quality of life of patients with stroke. This study aimed to assess the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on PSCI and the role of the mTOR/NLRP3-mediated autophagy-inflammatory pathway in this process.

Methods: The rat focal cerebral ischemia model was established using middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).

Early second radiofrequency ablation treatment gave rise to significantly greater nodule shrinkage at 12 months than single-session treatment for large-volume benign thyroid nodules.

Introduction: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective nonsurgical treatment for symptomatic benign thyroid nodules. Large-volume nodules (≥20-mL) often require 2 or more radiofrequency ablation sessions to achieve desirable shrinkage but the optimal interval between sessions remains unknown. We hypothesized that early (within 6 months) retreatment could improve nodule shrinkage.

Elucidating the Fundamental Process of Methyl-(5hydroxymethyl) Furan-2-Carboxylate Toxin Biosynthesis in Causing Maize Leaf Spot.

Maize leaf spot, which is caused by (Wakkre) Boedijn, was epidemic in the maize-growing regions of northeastern and northern China in the mid-1990s, where it led to large yield losses. Since then, the epidemic has evolved into a kind of common disease. In recent years, however, a tendency of becoming an epidemic disease again has been observed in some areas in China due to significant changes in climate, farming, systems and crop varieties.

Early oral feeding within two hours for parturients compared with delayed oral feeding after cesarean section: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: It is recommended that postpartum women undergo early oral feeding (EOF) after cesarean section (CS). However, the optimal early time for oral feeding after CS is unclear. We performed a meta-analysis to assess whether EOF within two hours is superior to delayed oral feeding (DOF) after CS.

Impact of personalized risk scores on shared decision making in left ventricular assist device implantation: Findings from a qualitative study.

Objective: To assess stakeholders' perspectives on integrating personalized risk scores (PRS) into left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation decisions and how these perspectives might impact shared decision making (SDM).

Methods: We conducted 40 in-depth interviews with physicians, nurse coordinators, patients, and caregivers about integrating PRS into LVAD implantation decisions. A codebook was developed to identify thematic patterns, and quotations were consolidated for analysis.

Patient Consent and The Right to Notice and Explanation of AI Systems Used in Health Care.

Given the need for enforceable guardrails for artificial intelligence (AI) that protect the public and allow for innovation, the U.S. Government recently issued a Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights which outlines five principles of safe AI design, use, and implementation.

Lockbox enrichment facilitates manipulative and cognitive activities for mice.

Background: Due to the lack of complexity and variety of stimuli, conventional housing conditions of laboratory mice do not allow these animals to fully express their behavioral repertoire, including manipulative and cognitive activities. Therefore, we designed mechanical puzzles, so-called lockboxes, for mice that can be provided in their home cages. We investigated the impact of the lockbox enrichment on their phenotype and affective state when compared to conventional housing (CH) and super-environmental enrichment (SEE).

Using National Public Health Accreditation to Explore Quality Improvement and Performance Management in Small Local Health Departments.

Context: This article focuses on 4 small local health departments (LHDs) that were in the process of seeking Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) reaccreditation or Pathways Recognition using PHAB Standards & Measures Version 2022.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the experiences of 4 small LHDs related to Quality Improvement (QI) and Performance Management (PM) in their pursuit of PHAB reaccreditation or Pathways Recognition.

Design: A team of researchers conducted 22 qualitative interviews with health department leaders and staff.