Composite Contrast Enhancement of Hydrogel-Based Implants for Photon-Counting Computed Tomography Studies.

Hydrogels have a wide range of medical applications, including use within implantable systems. However, when used in implants, their visibility under conventional medical imaging techniques is limited, creating safety risks for patients. In the current work, we assessed the possibility of enhancing hydrogels using Ln-based contrasting agents to facilitate their visualization in photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT).

The Role of Mast Cells in the Remodeling Effects of Molecular Hydrogen on the Lung Local Tissue Microenvironment under Simulated Pulmonary Hypertension.

Molecular hydrogen (H) has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic effects. In a rat model simulating pulmonary fibrotic changes induced by monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension (MPH), we had previously explored the impact of inhaled H on lung inflammation and blood pressure. In this study, we further focused the biological effects of H on mast cells (MCs) and the parameters of the fibrotic phenotype of the local tissue microenvironment.

Trauma-informed care beliefs scale-comprehensive for child welfare carers using Rasch analysis.

Background: The literature on trauma-informed care practices (TIC) indicates that this framework is beneficial for young people, carers, and staff. However, a significant gap in the literature and practice is the absence of psychometrically sound scales to measure carer adherence to TIC principles. Emerging evidence suggests that TIC practices shift carer attitudes and beliefs, which mediate positive outcomes for both carers and young people.

Presepsin as a biomarker of bacterial translocation and an indicator for the prescription of probiotics in cirrhosis.

Background: The gut-liver axis and bacterial translocation are important in cirrhosis, but there is no available universal biomarker of cellular bacterial translocation, for which presepsin may be a candidate.

Aim: To evaluate the relationship of the blood presepsin levels with the state of the gut microbiota in cirrhosis in the absence of obvious infection.

Methods: This study included 48 patients with Child-Pugh cirrhosis classes B and C and 15 healthy controls.

Gut Microbiota and Biomarkers of Intestinal Barrier Damage in Cirrhosis.

Gut dysbiosis and subclinical intestinal damage are common in cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to examine the association of intestinal damage biomarkers (diamine oxidase [DAO], claudin 3, and intestinal fatty acid binding protein [I-FABP; FABP2]) with the state of the gut microbiota in cirrhosis. The blood levels of DAO were inversely correlated with blood levels of claudin 3, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), presepsin, TNF-α, and the severity of cirrhosis according to Child-Pugh scores.

Gut Microbiota and Biomarkers of Endothelial Dysfunction in Cirrhosis.

Our aim was to study the association of endothelial dysfunction biomarkers with cirrhosis manifestations, bacterial translocation, and gut microbiota taxa. The fecal microbiome was assessed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Plasma levels of nitrite, big endothelin-1, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), presepsin, and claudin were measured as biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction, bacterial translocation, and intestinal barrier dysfunction.

Prospects of Intravenous Coenzyme Q10 Administration in Emergency Ischemic Conditions.

Coenzyme CoQ10 (CoQ10) is an endogenous lipid-soluble antioxidant that effectively protects lipids, proteins, and DNA from oxidation due to its ability to undergo redox transitions between oxidized and reduced forms. Various oxidative stress-associated infectious and somatic diseases have been observed to disrupt the balance of CoQ10 concentration in tissues. As a high molecular weight polar lipophilic compound, CoQ10 exhibits very limited oral bioavailability, which restrains its therapeutic potential.

Hydrogen Inhalation Reduces Lung Inflammation and Blood Pressure in the Experimental Model of Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats.

Hydrogen has been shown to exhibit selective antioxidant properties against hydroxyl radicals, and exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The monocrotaline-induced model of pulmonary hypertension is suitable for studying substances with antioxidant activity because oxidative stress is induced by monocrotaline. On day 1, male Wistar rats were subcutaneously injected with a water-alcohol solution of monocrotaline or a control with an only water-alcohol solution.

Which fatigue scale should I use? A Rasch analysis of two fatigue scales in inflammatory conditions.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of two widely used fatigue scales in a sample of patients with inflammatory conditions.

Methods: Rasch analysis was used to examine scale reliability, item bias, unidimensionality and overall fit to the Rasch model. Subtest methodology was utilized to attempt to improve model fit for the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFQ) and Bristol Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue Multidimensional Questionnaire (BRAF-MDQ).

Usability and feasibility of PreventS-MD web app for stroke prevention.

Background: Most strokes and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are potentially preventable if their risk factors are identified and well controlled. Digital platforms, such as the PreventS-MD web app (PreventS-MD) may aid health care professionals (HCPs) in assessing and managing risk factors and promoting lifestyle changes for their patients.

Methods: This is a mixed-methods cross-sectional two-phase survey using a largely positivist (quantitative and qualitative) framework.

Effects of Coenzyme Q10 on the Biomarkers (Hydrogen, Methane, SCFA and TMA) and Composition of the Gut Microbiome in Rats.

The predominant route of administration of drugs with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is administration . The bioavailability of CoQ10 is about 2-3%. Prolonged use of CoQ10 to achieve pharmacological effects contributes to the creation of elevated concentrations of CoQ10 in the intestinal lumen.

Enhancing precision of the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-Modified (TICS-M) using the Rasch model.

The Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status-modified (TICS-M) is a well-established and widely used screening instrument for dementia and assessment of global cognitive function in older people. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the TICS-M and to enhance the accuracy of the instrument using Rasch methodology. Partial Credit Rasch model was applied to the TICS-M scores.

Using network analysis to validate domains of the modified telephone interview for cognitive status.

Background: The modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-M) is a widely used tool for assessing global cognitive functions and screening for cognitive impairments. The tool was conceptualised to capture various cognitive domains, but the validity of such domains has not been investigated against comprehensive neuropsychological assessments tools. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the associations between the TICS-M domains and neuropsychological domains to evaluate the validity of the TICS-M domains using network analysis.

Network of mental activities, cognitive function and depression in older men and women.

Background: Evidence suggests that lifestyle activities impact cognitive and mental health in older populations. However, how lifestyle factors are associated with one another, and which factors are most important for cognitive function and mental health has received comparatively little attention.

Design: Bayesian-Gaussian network analysis was used to investigate unique associations between mental activities (MA; i.

Evaluating depression anxiety and stress assessment before and during the COVID-19 pandemic using generalisability theory.

The current study investigated the assessment of depression, anxiety, and stress during normal and COVID-19 pandemic conditions. Generalisability theory (G-theory) was applied to examine stable and dynamic aspects of psychological distress and the overall reliability of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21), using data from two independent samples collected on three occasions with 2- to 4-week intervals. The US data (n = 115) was collected before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the New Zealand (NZ) data (n = 114) was obtained during the pandemic.

Establishing conversion of the 16-item Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly scores into interval-level data across multiple samples using Rasch methodology.

Background: The 16-item Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE-16) is a well-validated and widely-used measure of cognitive changes (CCs) among older adults. This study aimed to use Rasch methodology to establish psychometric properties of the IQCODE-16 and validate the existing ordinal-to-interval transformation algorithms across multiple large samples.

Methods: A Partial Credit Rasch model was employed to examine psychometric properties of the IQCODE-16 using data (n = 918) from two longitudinal studies of participants aged 57-99 years: the Older Australian Twins Study (n = 450) and the Canberra Longitudinal Study (n = 468), and reusing the Sydney Memory and Ageing Study (MAS) sample (n = 400).

Implications for COVID-19 vaccine uptake: A systematic review.

Background: Globally, increasing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination coverage remains a major public health concern in the face of high rates of COVID-19 hesitancy among the general population. We must understand the impact of the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake when designing national vaccination programmes. We aimed to synthesise nationwide evidence regarding COVID-19 infodemics and the demographic, psychological, and social predictors of COVID-19 vaccination uptake.

Mindfulness-Based Attention Training in the Navy: A Feasibility Study.

Mind wandering is common during daily activities and is even more prevalent under stressful conditions, which could lead to lapses in attention and poor performance. Newly recruited military personnel who undergo demanding training often experience high levels of stress. It is therefore imperative to find ways to foster mental health and avoid performance deterioration related to mind wandering in times of intense military training.

A Pilot Study of Application of the Stroke Riskometer Mobile App for Assessment of the Course and Clinical Outcomes of COVID-19 among Hospitalized Patients.

Introduction: Early determination of COVID-19 severity and health outcomes could facilitate better treatment of patients. Different methods and tools have been developed for predicting outcomes of COVID-19, but they are difficult to use in routine clinical practice.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of inpatients aged 20-92 years, diagnosed with COVID-19 to determine whether their individual 5-year absolute risk of stroke at the time of hospital admission predicts the course of COVID-19 severity and mortality.

New Composite Contrast Agents Based on Ln and Graphene Matrix for Multi-Energy Computed Tomography.

The subject of the current research study is aimed at the development of novel types of contrast agents (CAs) for multi-energy computed tomography (CT) based on Ln-graphene composites, which include Ln (Ln = La, Nd, and Gd) nanoparticles with a size of 2-3 nm, acting as key contrasting elements, and graphene nanoflakes (GNFs) acting as the matrix. The synthesis and surface modifications of the GNFs and the properties of the new CAs are presented herein. The samples have had their characteristics determined using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Raman spectroscopy.

The Impact of a Mindfulness App on Postnatal Distress.

Objectives: The present study investigated the effectiveness of an 8-week mindfulness mobile phone app on women's depression, anxiety, stress and mindful attention/awareness in the postnatal period.

Methods: The study enrolled 99 mothers of a child under 1 year old, and randomly assigned them to intervention ( = 49, mean age = 31.11,  = 4.

Effects of Mindful Practices on Terror of Mortality: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: Early Buddhist thought clearly recognizes the need for learning how to face one's own mortality, for which purpose mindfulness practice has a central role to play. Fear of death has also been studied in cognitive psychology, leading to what is known as the terror management theory. Actual research evidence in psychology has already shown that mindfulness practice may reduce fear and anxiety in general.