Fibre-reinforced dental composites: Influence of aspect ratio and loading percentage on material performance.

Objective: This experimental investigation explored the optimisation of fibre loading and aspect ratio (AR) of the S-2 Glass fibres in restorative dental composites for improved mechanical and physical characteristics. This study dealt with understanding the influence of two key input parameters, hybridised S-2 Glass fibre AR and fibre wt%, as reinforcement on a dental composite. This study also explores the relationships and effects of these parameters on the performance of the composite material.

Biochemical validation of a food frequency questionnaire measuring immune modulating nutrient intake in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Background And Aims: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a cardiovascular disease affecting approximately 6 % of the population. The condition is associated with claudication, non-healing ischemic ulceration, and a systemic pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidative state. Recently, nutrition therapy is exploring immunonutrition as a novel dietary strategy to reduce the progression of atherosclerosis.

Changing prevalence of psychosocial occupational stressors and their impact on employee mental health across birth cohorts.

Background: Mental illness is the leading cause of employee absence and vocational disability in many countries. The Job Demand-Control model posits that risk factors for mental illness include psychosocial stressors such as high job demands and low job control. We determined (1) if the prevalence of population-level work-related risk factors has changed over time (workplace change) and (2) whether the strength of the association between risk factors and mental health has changed over time (workforce change).

The sick child in art.

There are at least 12 paintings from the late 17th to the early 20th centuries titled, 'The Sick Child'. They were painted by well-known and obscure artists from Holland, Norway, France, England, Spain, North and South America. Most depict infants, and some older children, always in their homes, most with the mother at the bedside.

Geospatial Accessibility to Pediatric Resources according to Child Opportunity, Race/Ethnic Composition and Urbanicity.

Objectives: We analyze drive times to pediatric inpatient and intensive care services in the U.S. according to Child Opportunity Index (COI), racial/ethnic composition, and urbanicity.

Industry perspective, genetics and genomics of peanut blanchability.

Blanching is the process of removing the testa or seed coat (skin) from peanuts, and a genotype's capacity to release its testa is referred to as its blanchability. The genotype, seed quality, harvest date, level of maturity, as well as the length of time and temperature of the post-harvest storage period, are said to have an impact on the peanut's blanchability. This characteristic is of enormous economic significance in the production of food items made from peanuts.

Comprehensive geriatric assessment for frail older people with chronic kidney disease to increase attainment of patient-identified goals: Statistical analysis plan for a cluster-randomised controlled trial.

Background: Frailty is highly prevalent in older people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and associated with more complex healthcare needs. As part of person-centred care, healthcare planning should be tailored to the individual's needs and their desired outcomes. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is an intervention which can help facilitate this by identifying a person's medical, functional, and psychosocial problems, and then tailoring a coordinated, targeted management plan.

Functional genomics in age-related macular degeneration: From genetic associations to understanding disease mechanisms.

Genome-wide association studies have been remarkably successful in identifying genetic variants associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), demonstrating a strong genetic component largely driven by common variants. However, progress in translating these genetic findings into a deeper understanding of disease mechanisms and new therapies has been slow. Slow progress in this area can be attributed to limited knowledge of the functional impact of AMD-associated non-coding variants on gene function, the molecular mechanisms and cell types underlying disease.

Revolutionizing drug delivery strategies with probucol to Combat oxidative stress in retinal Degeneration: A comprehensive review.

Localized oxidative stress plays a key role in the development of retinal degenerative diseases, with diabetic retinopathy (DR) being one of them, contributing significantly to this vision-threatening complication of diabetes. Increased oxidative burden leads to dysfunction across various retinal cell types, including vascular endothelial cells, neurons, glial cells and pericytes. Importantly, even after achieving normalized glycemia, the detrimental effects of oxidative stress persist.

Eating disorder symptoms and profiles of emotion regulation strategy use.

Background: Emotion regulation difficulties are widely thought to be a transdiagnostic risk factor for eating disorders. However, there is limited data on the precise patterns of emotion regulation strategy use that characterize eating-disorder symptoms. Our aim was to comprehensively examine the relationship between emotion-regulation strategy use and eating-disorder symptoms, identifying profiles of strategy use that might characterize these symptoms.

Regular-fat and low-fat dairy foods and cardiovascular diseases: Perspectives for future dietary recommendations.

Most current dietary guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) recommend the consumption of low-fat dairy in place of regular-fat dairy foods, one of the main sources of dietary saturated fatty acids (SFAs). Here, we summarise the data presented and discussions held - relating to the validity of such recommendations - between a panel of international nutrition research experts at a high-level closed workshop on 'Saturated Fat in Dairy and Cardiovascular Diseases', which took place in Amsterdam on 15-16 April 2024. The most recent evidence indicates that overall, consumption of milk, yogurt and cheese, irrespective of fat content, is neutrally associated with CVD risk.

Clinical standards in angina and non-obstructive coronary arteries: A clinician and patient consensus document.

Patients with angina and non-obstructive coronary arteries (ANOCA) or myocardial ischaemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA) comprise a relatively large subgroup within those with ischaemic heart disease. Advances in the understanding of disease mechanisms, diagnostic tests and multidisciplinary care are improving awareness of the needs of affected individuals. However, practice variations and suboptimal management promulgate the health burden and increase health care resource consumption.

Acceptability of Cycling With Virtual Reality Among Older Adults Living Independently in a Retirement Village: An Observational Study.

Background: Improving physical activity and sedentary behaviors can maintain and improve cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and psychosocial function for older adults (≥65 years) but finding acceptable, enjoyable, and safe strategies to achieve this is challenging. The immersive BikeAround technology-which integrates stationary cycling with Google Earth Street View-may be an effective strategy as it enhances acute exercise enjoyment and motivation, but treatment effects, safety, and engagement during prolonged use in free-living environments remain unknown. We evaluated the acceptability of BikeAround among older adults in a retirement village and assessed its preliminary effects on physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, blood pressure, cognitive function, perceived exertion, and balance, and mobility.

Providing integrated mental health care as a neurologist.

Mental health comorbidities are highly prevalent and problematic in epilepsy, making it important for neurologists to be equipped to manage their patients' mental health concerns. This article explores the paradigm shift toward integrated mental health care approaches, aiming to educate early-career neurologists on their role within epilepsy care. We focus on depression and anxiety, how they present in epilepsy, and the role of integrated mental health care in managing these comorbidities.

AI-driven report-generation tools in mental healthcare: A review of commercial tools.

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are increasingly being integrated in clinical care, including for AI-powered note-writing. We aimed to develop and apply a scale for assessing mental health electronic health records (EHRs) that use large language models (LLMs) for note-writing, focusing on their features, security, and ethics. The assessment involved analyzing product information and directly querying vendors about their systems.

A review of the social and local dynamics in South Africa's water-energy-food nexus.

Socioeconomic and environmental factors significantly shape the availability, accessibility, and affordability of water, energy, and food (WEF) resources in households and communities. In this review, we identify a significant gap in understanding how these factors intersect in the South African context, where inequalities in resource distribution persist. We critically examine the conditions influencing resource availability and explore the conceptual value of the WEF Nexus in guiding decision-making at local levels.

Barriers and facilitators to exercise-based rehabilitation in people with musculoskeletal conditions: A systematic review.

Background: Exercise-based rehabilitation is the first line of treatment for people with musculoskeletal conditions. However, uptake and adherence are suboptimal, compromising the success of rehabilitation.

Objectives: To identify the barriers and facilitators that influence adherence to exercise-based rehabilitation in people with musculoskeletal conditions.

Combining non-targeted high resolution mass spectrometry with effect-directed analysis to identify contaminants of emerging concern in the field of ecotoxicology: A systematic quantitative literature review.

Methods for measuring environmental toxicity and identifying chemical toxicity drivers using non-targeted analysis (NTA) were reviewed in this systematic quantitative literature review. Effect-directed analysis (EDA) was used to assess sample toxicity and prioritise NTA sample analysis. The most common bioassays performed were estrogen, androgen and aryl hydrocarbon receptor assays, with many studies using test batteries.

Validation of data capture in the Australasian shunt registry with a prospectively maintained institutional database.

Background: The Australasian Shunt Registry was established in 2016 with the aim of providing safety and quality data in addition to enhancing capacity for research to improve health outcomes for patients with cerebrospinal fluid shunts. The Queensland Children's Hospital is the largest single contributor of paediatric patient data to the Registry and maintains an independent institutional shunt database. The aim of this study was to validate the demographic data and outcomes captured by the Registry against that institutional database.