Using games as part of the intervention and support process (sometimes referred to as 'gaming therapy') is an increasingly popular method of supporting autistic youth to develop social competencies and other skills because they are believed to be inherently motivating and fun for youth. Some emerging research has indicated that intervention programmes using games can be beneficial for autistic youth, but little is currently known about why, how and for whom they work. This study conducted a realist evaluation of a programme using the video game "Minecraft" for autistic youth, comprising interviews and observations with autistic youth ( = 4), facilitators ( = 2) and caregivers ( = 6).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn vitro production of porcine-hatched blastocysts is important for various applications. However, the mechanobiology of blastocoel expansion and hatching remains poorly understood. Our study aimed to efficiently produce hatched blastocysts and investigate the hatching mechanics of late-stage porcine embryos using time-lapse assessment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Body composition influences physical fitness (PF) and risk of musculoskeletal injury (MSKI). Assessing the relationship between body fat (BF), PF and MSKI risk in a large diverse military population may provide evidence basis informing health-care policies, practices, and programs for military and civilian populations.
Objective: Evaluate the validity of expedient methods to estimate BF (e.
Background And Aims: Updated data on the survival of patients with cirrhosis are limited, especially for subgroups by specific liver disease aetiology. To inform practice, future modelling studies, and public health planning, our study aimed to provide updated and granular data on survival outcomes of patients with cirrhosis stratified by liver disease aetiology. We also assessed their changes over time.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is commonly encountered in patients hospitalized for decompensated cirrhosis and is associated with prolonged hospital stays, increased treatment burden, and even mortality. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of and develop a predictive nomogram for AKI in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.
Methods: This cross-sectional, double-center study involved 544 patients hospitalized with decompensated cirrhosis.
Cognitive impairment among older adults is a growing public health challenge and environmental chemicals may be modifiable risk factors. A wide array of chemicals has not yet been tested for association with cognition in an environment-wide association framework. In the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2000 and 2011-2014 cross-sectional cycles, cognition was assessed using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST, scores 0-117) among participants aged 60 years and older.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Elemental analysis of teeth allows for exposure assessment during critical windows of development and is increasingly used to link early life exposures and health. The measurement of inorganic elements in teeth is challenging; laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) is the most widely used technique.
Objective: Both synchrotron x-ray fluorescence (SXRF) and LA-ICP-MS have the capability to measure elemental distributions in teeth with each having distinct advantages and disadvantages.
Clin Cosmet Investig Dent
December 2024
The tight junction (TJ), a type of cell-cell junction, regulates the permeability of solutes across epithelial and endothelial cellular sheets and is believed to maintain cell polarity. However, recent studies have provided conflicting views on the roles of TJs in epithelial polarity. Membrane proteins, including occludin, claudin, and the junction adhesion molecule, have been identified as TJ components.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMotivation: The prediction of the T-cell receptor (TCR) and antigen bindings is crucial for advancements in immunotherapy. However, most current TCR-peptide interaction predictors struggle to perform well on unseen data. This limitation may stem from the conventional use of TCR and/or peptide sequences as input, which may not adequately capture their structural characteristics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: We investigated the association of metabolic risk factors (MRFs) and statin use with liver and nonliver outcomes in a nationwide cohort of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in the United States.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with CHB using the MarketScan Databases (January 2007-December 2021). Incidence of liver and nonliver outcomes (cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and extrahepatic cancer) was analyzed.
Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM
November 2024
Preterm birth remains the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Efforts aimed at reducing preterm birth rates have largely focused on mitigating risks in those who have already experienced a preterm delivery. Of note, 1 intervention, the placement of a cervical cerclage, has been shown to reduce the risk of subsequent preterm delivery in appropriate candidates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSome pathogens use heme-containing nitric oxide reductases (NORs) to reduce NO to NO as their defense mechanism to detoxify NO and reduce nitrosative stress. This reduction is also significant in the global N cycle. Our previous experimental work showed that Fe and Co porphyrin NO complexes can couple with external NO to form NO when activated by the Lewis acid BF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Meckel's diverticulum, a congenital anomaly arising from incomplete obliteration of the omphalomesenteric duct, often remains asymptomatic but can lead to complications such as diverticulitis and perforation. These complications pose significant diagnostic challenges, especially in adults, and require prompt surgical intervention to achieve optimal outcomes.
Case Reports: We report two cases of complicated Meckel's diverticulum in adult male patients.
Dengue is endemic in Vietnam with circulation of all four serotypes (DENV1-4) all year-round. It is hard to estimate the disease's true serotype-specific transmission patterns from cases due to its high asymptomatic rate, low reporting rate and complex immunity and transmission dynamics. Seroprevalence studies have been used to great effect for understanding patterns of dengue transmission.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Objective: Penile prostheses are an option for the management of erectile dysfunction (ED). Over the years penile prosthesis surgery has become increasingly safe owing to improvements such as antibiotic usage, coated devices, and surgical techniques. However, infection remains a dreaded complication during prosthesis surgery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Body dissatisfaction can drive individuals to use personal care products, exposing themselves to Benzophenone-3 (BP3). Yet, no study has examined the link between body dissatisfaction and elevated chemical exposures.
Objectives: Our study examines how body dissatisfaction impacts the racial differences in BP3 exposures.
Background/aims: With polarizing income disparities, this study investigated the prevalence and trends of liver disease in a U.S. population-based sample based on income-to-poverty ratio (IPR).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMammalian membrane proteins perform essential physiologic functions that rely on their accurate insertion and folding at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Using forward and arrayed genetic screens, we systematically studied the biogenesis of a panel of membrane proteins, including several G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). We observed a central role for the insertase, the ER membrane protein complex (EMC), and developed a dual-guide approach to identify genetic modifiers of the EMC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlcohols are common alkylating agents and starting materials alternative to harmful alkyl halides. In this study, a simple, benign and efficient pathway was developed to synthesize 1,3-diphenylpropan-1-ols via the β-alkylation of 1-phenylethanol with benzyl alcohols. Unlike conventional borrowing hydrogen processes in which alcohols were activated by transition-metal catalyzed dehydrogenation, in this work, t-BuONa was suggested to be a dual-role reagent, namely, both base and radical initiator, for the radical coupling of aromatic alcohols.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) is a computerized cognitive test system used extensively with military service members. The aim of this study was to develop a nationally representative normative dataset of Army National Guard (ARNG) personnel and to explore potential relationships between ANAM performances and select military service, demographic, and health factors.
Methods: ANAM performance data were collected using standardized procedures from a representative sample of ARNG service members in six U.
Cognitive impairment among older adults is a growing public health challenge and environmental chemicals may be modifiable risk factors. A wide array of chemicals has not yet been tested for association with cognition in an environment-wide association framework. In the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2000 and 2011-2014 cross-sectional cycles, cognition was assessed using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST, scores 0-117) among participants aged 60 years and older.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe authors would like to make the following corrections to the paper published [...
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