[Loneliness in times of global polycrises].

Global polycrises comprise the synchronous or consecutive occurrence of various crises, with no intervening phases of stability, e.g., coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, inflation, war and climate crisis.

Covariation of Skull and Brain Morphology in Domestic Dogs.

Despite their distinct embryonic origins, the skull and brain are highly integrated. Understanding the covariation between the skull and brain can shed light on anatomical, cognitive, and behavioral traits in extant and extinct species. Domestic dogs offer a unique opportunity to investigate skull-brain covariation due to their diverse skull morphologies and neural anatomy.

PENTASTOMES IN AUSTRALIAN REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS: A REVIEW OF THE HISTORY AND A CHECKLIST OF RECORDS.

This paper provides a summary of new and revised records of pentastomes published since 1985 and also presents a checklist of all pentastome records from Australian reptiles and amphibians. The need to identify pentastome species, through both morphological and molecular characterization, is highlighted to enable a determination of the true diversity of pentastome species and their distribution within amphibians and reptiles in Australia.

Effects of organic fruit juices on physicochemical, microbiological, and antioxidative aspects of fermented whey beverages from organic goat and cow milk, produced at laboratory and industrial scales.

Fermented milk beverages have been known for years and are characterized by excellent health-promoting properties. Therefore, consumer attention has been drawn to this product type in recent years. In the presented research, the technology of production in laboratory and industrial scales of controlled fermentation of whey beverages containing sweet or sour organic cow or goat whey, with the addition of organic fruit juices (apple, blackcurrant, or Kamchatka berry juice), are described.

Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake Among Individuals With Versus Without Diagnosed Psychiatric Disorders.

Objective: The authors sought to examine influenza and COVID-19 vaccine uptake among individuals diagnosed as having psychiatric disorders compared with those without such diagnoses and to examine variations in vaccine uptake by sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.

Methods: The study was conducted in the Kaiser Permanente Georgia, Washington, and Southern California health care systems. Individuals with psychiatric conditions had at least one diagnosis of any psychiatric disorder during a 12-month study period; individuals in the control group had no psychiatric disorder diagnoses during this period, and the two groups were matched on age and sex.

The National Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Planning Meeting to Address Gaps in Observational and Intervention Trials for Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment.

Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a broad term encompassing subtle cognitive problems to more severe impairment. CRCI severity is influenced by host, disease, and treatment factors and affects patients prior to, during, and following cancer treatment. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Symptom Management and Health-Related Quality of Life Steering Committee (SxQoL SC) convened a Clinical Trial Planning Meeting (CTPM) to review the state of the science on CRCI and to develop both Phase II/III intervention trials aimed at improving cognitive function in cancer survivors with non-central nervous system (CNS) disease and longitudinal studies to understand the trajectory of cognitive impairment and contributing factors.

Smaller Left Ventricular Size But Preserved Function in Adolescents and Adults Born Preterm.

Background: Prematurely born adults have increased risk for cardiovascular disease. There are limited cardiac data on US-born preterm individuals. We aimed to determine whether adolescents and adults born prematurely have altered left ventricular (LV) structure and function, and to interrogate diastolic function using isometric handgrip exercise.

Evaluating the correspondence between the EQ-5D-5L and disease severity and quality of life in adults and adolescents with cystic fibrosis.

Background: The EQ-5D is the recommended measure to capture health-related quality of life (HRQoL), recognised for use in health technology appraisal bodies. In order to assess whether it is appropriate to use the EQ-5D for making decisions about the cost-utility of treatments in cystic fibrosis (CF), this study assesses the performance of the EQ-5D-5L in adults and adolescents with CF.

Method: This was a cross-sectional observational survey study of patients with CF attending a single large CF centre.

Comparison of In-person VS remote learning modalities for ultrasound-guided knee arthrocentesis training using formalin-embalmed cadavers.

Objectives: This study aims to compare the efficacy of remote versus in-person training strategies to teach ultrasound guided knee arthrocentesis using formalin embalmed cadavers.

Methods: 30 first-year medical student participants were randomly assigned to remote or in-person training groups. Pre- and post- training surveys were used to evaluate participant's self-confidence in their ability to perform the procedure.

Characteristics of preschool-age children who engage in problematic sexual behaviors with siblings.

Background: Problematic sexual behavior (PSB) between siblings can be a form of sibling sexual abuse (SSA). A notable gap in research are studies examining PSB among preschool-age children with siblings.

Objective: This study examined the impact of child maltreatment, exposure to family sexuality, and use of coercive sexual behavior on preschool-aged children PSB with siblings and with nonsiblings.

Using Text Messaging Surveys in General Practice Research to Engage With People From Low-Income Groups: Multi-Methods Study.

Background: SMS text messages through mobile phones are a common means of interpersonal communication. SMS text message surveys are gaining traction in health care and research due to their feasibility and patient acceptability. However, challenges arise in implementing SMS text message surveys, especially when targeting marginalized populations, because of barriers to accessing phones and data as well as communication difficulties.

'Making a connection': a qualitative study of experiences from a cancer telerehabilitation program.

Purpose: Specialised group-based exercise rehabilitation is beneficial for cancer survivors but access to these services is limited. Telerehabilitation provides an opportunity to expand reach, but we do not know about the experiences of those who participate in this way. This study explored participant experiences of an exercise-based telerehabilitation program for people with cancer.

Relationships between ankle blood pressure indices and major adverse cardiovascular events in people with and without type 2 diabetes.

Background: The relationship between ankle blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular disease remains unclear. We examined the relationships between known and new ankle BP indices and major cardiovascular outcomes in people with and without type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We used data from 3 large trials with measurements of ankle systolic BP (SBP), ankle-brachial index (ABI, ankle SBP divided by arm SBP), and ankle-pulse pressure difference (APPD, ankle SBP minus arm pulse pressure).

Canadian health care providers' and education workers' hesitance to receive original and bivalent COVID-19 vaccines.

Background: The demand for COVID-19 vaccines has diminished as the pandemic lingers. Understanding vaccine hesitancy among essential workers is important in reducing the impact of future pandemics by providing effective immunization programs delivered expeditiously.

Method: Two surveys exploring COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in 2021 and 2022 were conducted in cohorts of health care providers (HCP) and education workers participating in prospective studies of COVID-19 illnesses and vaccine uptake.

Invasive Treatment Strategy for Older Patients with Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Whether a conservative strategy of medical therapy alone or a strategy of medical therapy plus invasive treatment is more beneficial in older adults with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) remains unclear.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, multicenter, randomized trial involving patients 75 years of age or older with NSTEMI at 48 sites in the United Kingdom. The patients were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to a conservative strategy of the best available medical therapy or an invasive strategy of coronary angiography and revascularization plus the best available medical therapy.

A Decade of Chronic Norovirus Infection Surveillance at the NIH Clinical Research Center: Clinical Characteristics, Molecular Epidemiology, and Replication.

Background: Noroviruses are an important viral cause of chronic diarrhea in immunocompromised individuals.

Method: We collected norovirus-positive stool samples (n=448) from immunocompromised patients (n=88) at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Research Center, U.S.

Development and Application of Automated Sandwich ELISA for Quantitating Residual dsRNA in mRNA Vaccines.

The rise of mRNA as a novel vaccination strategy presents new opportunities to confront global disease. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is an impurity byproduct of the in vitro transcription reaction used to manufacture mRNA that may affect the potency and safety of the mRNA vaccine in patients. Careful quantitation of dsRNA during manufacturing is critical to ensure that residual dsRNA is minimized in purified mRNA drug substances.

COVID-19 Pandemic Effects on the Activity Levels of Yucatan Mini-Swine (Sus scrofa domesticus).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, unexpected activity patterns emerged among Yucatan mini-swine models for heart failure and atrial fibrillation. As part of our laboratory research, we tracked activity data by FitBark™ collars that the Yucatan mini-swine wore. Previously, staff engaged with the swine daily, such as applying lotion and conducting 6-min treadmill runs.