The Relationship Between Gut Microbiota, Muscle Mass and Physical Function in Older Individuals: A Systematic Review.

Background: Recent evidence suggests that sarcopenia and subsequent changes in muscle mass and functional outcomes are linked to disruption to the gastrointestinal microbiota composition and/or function via the microbiota-gut-muscle axis. Despite growing interest, few studies have systemically analysed (1) the relationship between the gut microbiota, muscle mass and physical performance and (2) the effects of gut-modulating dietary interventions on these outcomes within older individuals with or without sarcopenia.

Methods: Four electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus) were searched for articles published from the year 2004 until July 2023.

The Role of Nutrient Supplements in Female Infertility: An Umbrella Review and Hierarchical Evidence Synthesis.

Background And Objectives: Nutrient supplements are commonly used to improve fertility outcomes by women with infertility trying to conceive spontaneously or utilising medically assisted reproduction (MAR). However, despite their widespread use and perceived safety, there is a lack of clear guidance on the efficacy and safety of these supplements for female infertility. The aim of this umbrella review was to identify the best available and most recent evidence on the efficacy and safety of nutrient supplements for female infertility to provide evidence-based guidance for clinicians and reproductive couples.

Vitamin D, C-Reactive Protein, and Increased Fall Risk: A Genetic Epidemiological Study.

: Falls are a major public health concern. Daily vitamin D supplementation is a proposed fall prevention strategy; however, safety concerns have arisen from some clinical trials showing increased fall risk when using higher vitamin D dosing methods. The relationship between vitamin D and falls may be influenced by factors, such as inflammation, which can alter the balance of essential nutrients like vitamin D and retinol, potentially affecting motor function.

Microbial Fermentation in Food and Beverage Industries: Innovations, Challenges, and Opportunities.

Microbial fermentation is a primary method by which a variety of foods and beverages are produced. The term refers to the use of microbes such as bacteria, yeasts, and molds to transform carbohydrates into different substances. Fermentation is important for preserving, enhancing flavor, and improving the nutritional quality of various perishable foods.

Data Mining Approach to Melatonin Treatment in Alzheimer's Disease: New Gene Targets and .

Melatonin is a hormone released by the pineal gland that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. It has been widely studied for its therapeutic effects on Alzheimer's disease (AD), particularly through the amyloidosis, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation pathways. Nevertheless, the mechanisms through which it exerts its neuroprotective effects in AD are still largely unknown.

An Overview of Zika Virus and Zika Virus Induced Neuropathies.

Flaviviruses pose a major public health concern across the globe. Among them, Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging and reemerging arthropod-borne flavivirus that has become a major international public health problem following multiple large outbreaks over the past two decades. The majority of infections caused by ZIKV exhibit mild symptoms.

The Accuracy of the Passive Leg Raising Test Using the Perfusion Index to Identify Preload Responsiveness-A Single Center Study in a Resource-Limited Setting.

We investigated the accuracy of predicting preload responsiveness by means of a passive leg raising test (PLR) using the perfusion index (PI) in critically ill patients showing signs of hypoperfusion in a resource-limited setting. We carried out a prospective observational single center study in patients admitted for sepsis or severe malaria with signs of hypoperfusion in Chattogram, Bangladesh. A PLR was performed at baseline, and at 6, 24, 48, and 72 h.

Portrait of a Cerebral Killer.

: Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) caused by is a rare and devastating infection of the central nervous system, often diagnosed late, due to its rapid progression and nonspecific symptoms. We report one of the youngest documented pediatric Vietnamese cases of PAM in a 10-month-old girl from the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. The diagnosis was confirmed through multiplex real-time PCR (MPL-rPCR), microscopy, and sequencing.

Significance of Biogenetic Markers in Giant Cell Tumor Differentiation and Prognosis: A Narrative Review.

: Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a locally aggressive tumor. It accounts for only 5% of all bony tumors. Early diagnosis, and follow-up for recurrence is often difficult due to a lack of biogenetic markers.

Seizures Following Carotid Endarterectomy: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of 69,479 Patients and Evidence-Based Recommendations for Perioperative Care.

Seizures are a rare but potentially serious complication following carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Understanding their prevalence and associated factors is crucial for optimizing perioperative care and improving patient outcomes. This meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of seizures following CEA and explore clinical and procedural factors contributing to their occurrence.

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Application Triggers Plant Dehydration but Does Not Accurately Simulate Drought.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG), especially at high molecular weights, is highly soluble in water, and these solutions have reduced water potential. It is convenient to use PEG in hydroponics (liquid nutrient solution) for experiments with plants. However, some authors have been found to describe the application of PEG to plants incorrectly, such as drought, dehydration, osmotic, or water stresses, which can mislead readers.

Impact of Year and Genotype on Benzoxazinoids and Their Microbial Metabolites in the Rhizosphere of Early-Vigour Wheat Genotypes in Southern Australia.

Wheat () is grown on more arable acreage than any other food crop and has been well documented to produce allelochemicals. Wheat allelochemicals include numerous benzoxazinoids and their microbially transformed metabolites that actively suppress growth of weed seedlings. Production and subsequent release of these metabolites by commercial wheat cultivars, however, has not yet been targeted by focussed breeding programmes seeking to develop more competitive crops.

Competitive Pasture Species to Suppress the Growth of Annual Riceflower ( Lindl.) at Different Planting Densities and Spatial Arrangements.

This study assessed the effectiveness of four competitive pasture species-Premier digit grass ( Steud. var. Premier), Rhodes grass ( Kunth.

Comparative Analysis of Mechanistic and Correlative Models for Global and Bhutan-Specific Suitability of Parthenium Weed and Vulnerability of Agriculture in Bhutan.

Parthenium weed ( L.) is one of the most noxious and fast-spreading invasive alien species, posing a major threat to ecosystems, agriculture, and public health worldwide. Mechanistic and correlative species distribution models are commonly employed to determine the potential habitat suitability of parthenium weed.

The Geometric Series Hypothesis of Leaf Area Distribution and Its Link to the Calculation of the Total Leaf Area per Shoot of 'Aureostriatus'.

Total leaf area per shoot () can reflect the photosynthetic capacity of a shoot. A prior study hypothesized that is proportional to the product of the sum of the individual leaf widths per shoot () and the maximum individual leaf length per shoot (), referred to as the Montgomery-Koyama-Smith equation (MKSE). However, empirical evidence does not support such a proportional relationship hypothesis, as was found to allometrically scale with , i.

Predicting the Global Distribution of L. Under Climate Change Based on Optimized MaxEnt Modeling.

The genus of L. are Tertiary-relict desert sand-fixing plants, which are an important forage and agricultural product, as well as an important source of medicinal and woody vegetable oil. In order to provide a theoretical basis for better protection and utilization of species in the L.

Chemical Control of the Invasive Weed : Nethouse Studies.

L. (Aizoaceae), commonly known as desert horse purslane or black pigweed, is a C4 dicot succulent invasive annual plant that is widespread in agricultural fields in Southeast Asia, tropical America, Africa, and Australia. In Israel, is an invasive weed of increasing importance in agricultural fields, including mainly corn, tomato, alfalfa watermelon, and groundnut crops.

Holy Basil ( L.) Flower and Fenofibrate Improve Lipid Profiles in Rats with Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): The Role of Choline Metabolism.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is linked to choline metabolism. The present study investigated the effect of holy basil ( L.) flower water extract (OSLY) on MASLD with choline metabolism as an underlying mechanism.

Effectiveness of Different Organic Solvent Additions to Water Samples for Reducing the Adsorption Effects of Organic Pesticides Using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

This study systematically investigated the effect of organic solvent addition on the detection signal intensity of 15 organic pesticides in water using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS). The analysis of chromatographic peak area ratios in ultrapure water (UPW) versus 30% methanol (MeOH)-UPW showed that the adsorption effects (AEs, mainly from injection vials with weaker polarity) were the main factor influencing the detection intensity of the organic pesticides. The AEs varied with pesticide type and concentration, especially for those with high logK values and longer retention times, such as malathion, triadimefon, prometryn, S-metolachlor, diazinon, and profenofos.

Human-Caused High Direct Mortality in Birds: Unsustainable Trends and Ameliorative Actions.

Human interaction with birds has never been more positive and supported by so many private citizens and professional groups. However, direct mortality of birds from anthropogenic causes has increased and has led to significant annual losses of birds. We know of the crucial impact of habitat loss on the survival of birds and its effects on biodiversity.

Brush Use in Lot-Fed Cattle Shows Continued Use and Positive Behaviour.

Feedlot cattle were assessed for the consistency of enrichment brush use, higher incidence of natural behaviour, and less agonistic or abnormal behaviour compared to cattle without the brush. Cattle were assigned to one of two treatment pens, (1) access to a vertical grooming brush (EB; = 89) or (2) no access control (CON; = 80), for a period of 107 days. A Principal Component (PC) analysis was used on pen-side demeanour scores.

Scaffolding informed consent.

The principle of respecting patient autonomy underpins the concept and practice of informed consent. Yet current approaches to consent often ignore the ways in which the exercise of autonomy is deeply epistemically dependent.In this paper, we draw on philosophical descriptions of autonomy 'scaffolding' and apply them to informed consent in medicine.

Creating futures out of the conference: 20 years of strengthening mental health capacity in the Pacific.

Creating Futures (CF) is an independent, collaborative taskforce supported by in-kind commitments from organisations and practitioners. This paper summarises CF 2023 themes and provides an overview of 20 years of CF activities. It highlights challenges and opportunities to integrate global mental health partnerships and regional mental health projects.