Outdoor particulate matter exposure and upper respiratory tract infections in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: While the relationship between outdoor particulate matter (PM) and lower respiratory tract infections in children and adolescents is accepted, we know little about the impacts of outdoor PM on the risk of developing or aggravating upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs).

Methods: We aimed to review the literature examining the relationship between outdoor PM exposure and URTIs in children and adolescents. A systematic search of EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and Web of Science databases was undertaken on April 3, 2020 and October 27, 2021.

Cystic meningioangiomatosis and cerebellar ependymoma in a child with neurofibromatosis type 2.

We report a case of multifocal cystic meningioangiomatosis (MA), an exceptionally uncommon diagnosis even in patients with type 2 neurofibromatosis (NF2). A 2-year-old male with personal as well as family history of genetically-confirmed NF2 presented with incidental findings of MA after imaging for closed-head injury. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed multifocal subcortical and basal ganglia cysts, enhancing tumor-like vascular encasement, and a cerebellar ependymoma with atypical features.

A multidisciplinary approach and consensus statement to establish standards of care for Angelman syndrome.

Background: Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neurogenetic disorder present in approximately 1/12,000 individuals and characterized by developmental delay, cognitive impairment, motor dysfunction, seizures, gastrointestinal concerns, and abnormal electroencephalographic background. AS is caused by absent expression of the paternally imprinted gene UBE3A in the central nervous system. Disparities in the management of AS are a major problem in preparing for precision therapies and occur even in patients with access to experts and recognized clinics.

Hox proteins interact to pattern neuronal subtypes in Caenorhabditis elegans males.

Hox transcription factors are conserved regulators of neuronal subtype specification on the anteroposterior axis in animals, with disruption of Hox gene expression leading to homeotic transformations of neuronal identities. We have taken advantage of an unusual mutation in the Caenorhabditis elegans Hox gene lin-39, lin-39(ccc16), which transforms neuronal fates in the C. elegans male ventral nerve cord in a manner that depends on a second Hox gene, mab-5.

The impact of COVID-19 on the spatial distribution of shooting violence in Buffalo, NY.

Objectives: This paper examines the extent to which hotspots of shooting violence changed following the emergence of COVID-19.

Methods: This analysis uses Andresen's Spatial Point Pattern test on 1500 by 1500 foot grid cells, correcting for multiple comparisons, on a 10-year sample of geocoded shooting data from Buffalo New York.

Results: This work finds zero micro-grid cells are not statistically different from pre to post COVID stay at home orders and instead that the observed rise in shootings in the sample appears to be a consistent proportional increase across the city.

Urban Neighbourhood Environments, Cardiometabolic Health and Cognitive Function: A National Cross-Sectional Study of Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Australia.

Population ageing and urbanisation are global phenomena that call for an understanding of the impacts of features of the urban environment on older adults' cognitive function. Because neighbourhood characteristics that can potentially have opposite effects on cognitive function are interdependent, they need to be considered in conjunction. Using data from an Australian national sample of 4141 adult urban dwellers, we examined the extent to which the associations of interrelated built and natural environment features and ambient air pollution with cognitive function are explained by cardiometabolic risk factors relevant to cognitive health.

Case Series of Thrombosis With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome After COVID-19 Vaccination-United States, December 2020 to August 2021.

Background: Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) is a potentially life-threatening condition associated with adenoviral-vectored COVID-19 vaccination. It presents similarly to spontaneous heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Twelve cases of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis after vaccination with the Ad26.

Compromised hepatic mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and reduced markers of mitochondrial turnover in human NAFLD.

Background And Aims: NAFLD and its more-advanced form, steatohepatitis (NASH), is associated with obesity and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular, liver-related, and all-cause mortality. Available human data examining hepatic mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and hepatic mitochondrial turnover in NAFLD and NASH are scant.

Approach And Results: To investigate this relationship, liver biopsies were obtained from patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery and data clustered into four groups based on hepatic histopathological classification: Control (CTRL; no disease); NAFL (steatosis only); Borderline-NASH (steatosis with lobular inflammation or hepatocellular ballooning); and Definite-NASH (D-NASH; steatosis, lobular inflammation, and hepatocellular ballooning).

Patterns of change in cortical morphometry following traumatic brain injury in adults.

Progressive cortical volumetric loss following moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been observed; however, regionally specific changes in the structural determinants of cortical volume, namely, cortical thickness (CT) and cortical surface area (CSA), are unknown and may inform the patterns and neural substrates of neurodegeneration and plasticity following injury. We aimed to (a) assess differences in CT and CSA between TBI participants and controls in the early chronic stage post-injury, (b) describe longitudinal changes in cortical morphometry following TBI, and (c) examine how regional changes in CT and CSA are associated. We acquired magnetic resonance images for 67 participants with TBI at up to 4 time-points spanning 5 months to 7 years post-injury, and 18 controls at 2 time-points.

From urban neighbourhood environments to cognitive health: a cross-sectional analysis of the role of physical activity and sedentary behaviours.

Background: There is a dearth of studies on the effects of the neighbourhood environment on adults' cognitive function. We examined how interrelated aspects of the built and natural neighbourhood environment, including air pollution, correlate with adults' cognitive function, and the roles of physical activity and sedentary behaviours in these associations.

Methods: We used data from 4,141 adult urban dwellers who participated in the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle 3 study on socio-demographic characteristics, neighbourhood self-selection, physical activity and sedentary behaviours, and cognitive function.

Temporal patterns of microglial activation in white matter following experimental mild traumatic brain injury: a systematic literature review.

Mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) are a prevalent form of injury that can result in persistent neurological impairments. Microglial activation has become increasingly recognized as a key process regulating the pathology of white matter in a wide range of brain injury and disease contexts. As white matter damage is known to be a major contributor to the impairments that follow mTBI, microglia have rightfully become a common target of investigation for the development of mTBI therapies and biomarkers.

Comparison of anxiety and depression rates among LGBTQ college students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: To compare rates of anxiety and depression among LGBTQ college students before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine pandemic-related stressors and protective factors.

Participants: Two cohorts of LGBTQ college students, aged 18-25, sampled before ( = 3,484) and during ( = 1,647) the pandemic.

Methods: The Healthy Minds Study (HMS) is an annual mental health survey administered to college students in the United States, which included additional items related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dissecting Differential Complex Behavioral Responses to Simulated Space Radiation Exposures.

This study has established the impact that space radiation exposure has on the capability of rats to successfully negotiate behavioral tasks of increasing complexity. Rats previously exposed to a low dose (10 cGy) of either 4He ions or a cocktail of 6 ions that simulates the galactic cosmic ray spectrum (GCRSim) were screened initially on an attentional set shifting (ATSET) task that provides a measure of executive function. Rats that exhibited superior ATSET performance were then selected for follow up behavioral assessments designed to evaluate how the cohort of "good performers" would fare when presented with a novel behavioral paradigm termed the Associative Recognition Memory and Interference Touchscreen (ARMIT) task.

Analysis of the effects of aryl hydrocarbon receptor expression on cancer cell invasion three-dimensional microfluidic invasion assays.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that binds to xenobiotics and activates expression of response elements to metabolize these compounds. The AHR pathway has been associated with a long list of diseases including cancer; however, it is debated whether AHR is tumorigenic or tumour-inhibiting. In particular, there are contradictory reports in the literature regarding the effects of AHR expression level on metastatic breast cancer.

A Systematic Scoping Review of New Attention Problems Following Traumatic Brain Injury in Children.

To summarize existing knowledge about the characteristics of attention problems secondary to traumatic brain injuries (TBI) of all severities in children. Computerized databases PubMed and PsychINFO and gray literature sources were used to identify relevant studies. Search terms were selected to identify original research examining new ADHD diagnosis or attention problems after TBI in children.

Through COVID-19 and beyond: developing a multidisciplinary telehealth family intervention in first episode psychosis.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents unique challenges to high quality, safe Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) service provision. Due to the necessity to ensure EIP continues despite this, we developed a multidisciplinary, blended, telehealth intervention, incorporating psychoeducation and peer support, for family members of first episode psychosis service users: PERCEPTION. This perspective article aims to: describe PERCEPTION; offer reflections on our experience of delivering it; make recommendations for future research; and synthesise key learning to assist the integration of similar interventions in other EIP services.

Traffic exposure, air pollution and children's physical activity at early childhood education and care.

Background: A significant number of children attend Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). ECEC is an important environment and behaviour setting for young children. Time spent outdoors is positively associated with children's physical activity levels, yet increased time spent physically active outdoors may expose young children to traffic-related air pollution, particularly in ECEC centres located in high traffic areas.

Performance and Deployment of Low-Cost Particle Sensor Units to Monitor Biomass Burning Events and Their Application in an Educational Initiative.

Biomass burning smoke is often a significant source of airborne fine particles in regional areas where air quality monitoring is scarce. Emerging sensor technology provides opportunities to monitor air quality on a much larger geographical scale with much finer spatial resolution. It can also engage communities in the conversation around local pollution sources.

Wheel of Wellbeing (WoW) health promotion program: Australian participants report on their experiences and impacts.

Background: Community-based mental health promotion programs focus on improving individual and community wellbeing by strengthening resilience and building capacity to support positive health outcomes. The Wheel of Wellbeing (WoW) is an example of such a program, promoting activities that support social engagement and positive emotions within a holistic framework underpinned by positive psychology. WoW is intended to be flexibly implemented in each community, training community members who implement behaviour change activities in their local community, workplace and educational settings.

Interaction between positive and negative dielectric microparticles/microorganism in optoelectronic tweezers.

Optoelectronic tweezers (OET) is a noncontact micromanipulation technology for controlling microparticles and cells. In the OET, it is necessary to configure a medium with different electrical properties to manipulate different particles and to avoid the interaction between two particles. Here, a new method exploiting the interaction between different dielectric properties of micro-objects to achieve the trapping, transport, and release of particles in the OET system was proposed.