Additive interaction of conjoint tobacco smoking and heavy drinking on hypertension prevalence in rural Uganda: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Background: The prevalence of hypertension is high in Uganda, which places a significant burden on an already strained healthcare system. The behavioural risk factors, such as unhealthy diet, tobacco use, physical inactivity, and heavy drinking, contribute to hypertension development and complications. This study explored the associations of combined tobacco smoking and heavy alcohol consumption with existing hypertension in a community-based cross-sectional study conducted in two rural districts of Uganda.

International expert consensus on micronutrient supplement use during the early life course.

Background: Growing evidence demonstrates that maternal nutrition is crucial for the health of the mother-to-be, and early life course of the offspring. However, for most micronutrients, guidelines are inconsistent. This Delphi study aimed to investigate the level of expert consensus on maternal nutrition and micronutrient needs during preconception, pregnancy and lactation.

Arbovirus exposure and subclinical myocardial dysfunction in an Indigenous population in Northeast Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Human activities, such as urbanization and climate change, have facilitated the spread of arbovirus-carrying vectors, disproportionately affecting vulnerable traditional Indigenous communities.

Objective: To explore the relationships between subclinical myocardial dysfunction, assessed by global longitudinal strain (GLS), and comprehensive arbovirus serology in an Indigenous population, while also describing the serological and epidemiological profile of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses.

Methods: This ancillary study is part of the first phase (2016-2017) of the Project of Atherosclerosis among Indigenous Populations (PAI), a cross-sectional study involving participants from two Indigenous communities with different degrees of urbanization and a highly urbanized city in Northeast Brazil.

Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries.

Science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision makers act on the basis of the best available evidence, especially during crises. However, in recent years the epistemic authority of science has been challenged, causing concerns about low public trust in scientists.

Epigenetic regulation of HOXA2 expression affects tumor progression and predicts breast cancer patient survival.

Accumulating evidence suggests that genetic and epigenetic biomarkers hold potential for enhancing the early detection and monitoring of breast cancer (BC). Epigenetic alterations of the Homeobox A2 (HOXA2) gene have recently garnered significant attention in the clinical management of various malignancies. However, the precise role of HOXA2 in breast tumorigenesis has remained elusive.

The influence of land surface temperature on Ghana's climate variability and implications for sustainable development.

Climate change poses significant global challenges, especially in the West African sub-region, with high temperature and precipitation patterns variability, threatening socio-economic stability and ecosystem health. While global factors such as greenhouse gases and oceanic circulations shape regional climates, this study focuses on the understudied role of local climatic variables in influencing near-surface air temperature (NST) in Ghana from 1981 to 2020. Based on ground observations, our findings reveal significant correlations between land surface temperature (LST) and NST before and after the identified breakpoint year of 2001.

Perceptions of science, science communication, and climate change attitudes in 68 countries - the TISP dataset.

Science is integral to society because it can inform individual, government, corporate, and civil society decision-making on issues such as public health, new technologies or climate change. Yet, public distrust and populist sentiment challenge the relationship between science and society. To help researchers analyse the science-society nexus across different geographical and cultural contexts, we undertook a cross-sectional population survey resulting in a dataset of 71,922 participants in 68 countries.

Brucella abortus impairs T lymphocyte responsiveness by mobilizing IL-1RA-secreting omental neutrophils.

Immune evasion strategies of Brucella, the etiologic agent of brucellosis, a global zoonosis, remain partially understood. The omentum, a tertiary lymphoid organ part of visceral adipose tissue, has never been explored as a Brucella reservoir. We report that B.

Pupylation-based proximity labeling reveals regulatory factors in cellulose biosynthesis in Arabidopsis.

Knowledge about how and where proteins interact provides a pillar for cell biology. Protein proximity-labeling has emerged as an important tool to detect protein interactions. Biotin-related proximity labeling approaches are by far the most commonly used but may have labeling-related drawbacks.

Emulation of ARISTOTLE and ROCKET AF trials in real-world atrial fibrillation patients results in similar efficacy and safety as original landmark trials: insights from the GARFIELD-AF registry.

Aims: This study aimed to determine the robustness, reproducibility and representativeness of the landmark Apixaban for Reduction in Stroke and Other Thromboembolic Events in Atrial Fibrillation (AF) (ARISTOTLE) and Rivaroxaban Once Daily Oral Direct Factor Xa Inhibition Compared with Vitamin K Antagonism for Prevention of Stroke and Embolism Trial in AF (ROCKET AF) randomised trials through replication in an observational AF patient registry.

Methods And Results: Patients from the Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD (GARFIELD)-AF registry treated with apixaban, rivaroxaban or vitamin K antagonist (VKA) were assessed for eligibility for the ARISTOTLE and ROCKET AF trials. HRs of apixaban and rivaroxaban versus comparator for stroke/systemic embolism, major bleeding and all-cause mortality within 2 years follow-up were calculated using propensity score overlap-weighted Cox models.

Plasma transfusions in neonatal intensive care units: a prospective observational study.

Objective: Despite lack of evidence supporting efficacy, prophylactic fresh frozen plasma and Octaplas transfusions may be administered to very preterm infants to reduce bleeding risk. International variation in plasma transfusion practices in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) is poorly understood, therefore, we aimed to describe neonatal plasma transfusion practice in Europe.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Outcomes of extremely preterm infants who participated in a randomised trial of dopamine for treatment of hypotension (the HIP trial) at 2 years corrected age.

Objective: To determine survival and neurodevelopmental outcomes in the Hypotension in Preterm (HIP) trial.

Design: Prospective follow-up of infants enrolled in randomised controlled trial.

Participants: 58 infants born before 28 weeks of gestation with low mean arterial blood pressure.

Determinants of adherence to obesity medication: A narrative review.

The increasing prevalence of obesity, complex nature of this chronic disease, and risks of developing obesity-related comorbidities outline the need for sustainable and effective management for people living with obesity. In addition to behavioral interventions, obesity medications (OMs) are increasingly considered an integral part of management of people living with obesity. OM adherence is essential to achieve the health benefits of these medications.

Chitosan/γ-PGA nanoparticles and IFN-γ immunotherapy: A dual approach for triple-negative breast cancer treatment.

Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is a key mediator in antitumor immunity and immunotherapy responses, yet its clinical applications remain restricted to chronic granulomatous disease and malignant osteopetrosis. IFN-γ effectiveness as a standalone treatment has shown limited success in clinical trials and its potential for synergistic effects when combined with immunotherapies is under clinical exploration. A particularly compelling combination is that of IFN-γ with Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists that holds significant promise for cancer treatment.

Pain intensity and lower limb dynamic balance were related to the laterality judgment test of patients with patellofemoral pain.

Introduction: Laterality judgement evaluates the capacity to differentiate between the left and right sides of bodily parts. Cortical body representations are impaired in various musculoskeletal conditions, yet this remains unexplored in individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP).

Objective: This study compared laterality judgement performance between individuals with PFP and asymptomatic controls.

A New Smartphone-Based Cognitive Screening Battery for Multiple Sclerosis (icognition): Validation Study.

Background: Cognitive deterioration is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and requires regular follow-up. Currently, cognitive status is measured in clinical practice using paper-and-pencil tests, which are both time-consuming and costly. Remote monitoring of cognitive status could offer a solution because previous studies on telemedicine tools have proved its feasibility and acceptance among people with MS.

The clinical assessment of lung involvement in patients with Still's disease, results from the multicentre international AIDA Network Still's Disease Registry.

Objectives: To assess the lung involvement in patients with Still's disease, an inflammatory disease assessing both children and adults. To exploit possible associated factors for parenchymal lung involvement in these patients.

Methods: A multicentre observational study was arranged assessing consecutive patients with Still's disease characterized by the lung involvement among those included in the AIDA (AutoInflammatory Disease Alliance) Network Still's Disease Registry.

Effect of targeted education of patients with atrial fibrillation on unplanned cardiovascular outcomes: results of the multicentre randomized AF-EduCare trial.

Aims: Trials on integrated care for atrial fibrillation (AF) showed mixed results in different AF populations using various approaches. The multicentre, randomized AF-EduCare trial evaluated the effect of targeted patient education on unplanned cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods And Results: Patients willing to participate were randomly assigned to in-person education, online education, or standard care (SC) and followed for minimum 18 months.

Wall shear stress modulates metabolic pathways in endothelial cells.

Introduction: Hemodynamic forces play a crucial role in modulating endothelial cell (EC) behavior, significantly influencing blood vessel responses. While traditional in vitro studies often explore ECs under static conditions, ECs are exposed to various hemodynamic forces in vivo. This study investigates how wall shear stress (WSS) influences EC metabolism, focusing on the interplay between WSS and key metabolic pathways.

Comparison between ZenoTOF 7600 system and QTOF for plant metabolome: an example of metabolomics applied to coffee leaves.

Introduction: ZenoTOF is new class of high-resolution mass spectrometer that combines resolution and sensitivity. This mass spectrometer is well designed to perform metabolomics.

Methods: In this context, we compared the performance of ZenoTOF 7600 system (Sciex) with QTOF6520 (Agilent Technologies) through the leaf metabolome analysis of two Coffea species, namely C.

Carving Metal-Organic-Framework Glass Based Solid-State Electrolyte Via a Top-Down Strategy for Lithium-Metal Battery.

Traditional polymer solid electrolytes (PSEs) suffer from low Li conductivity, poor kinetics and safety concerns. Here, we present a novel porous MOF glass gelled polymer electrolyte (PMG-GPE) prepared via a top-down strategy, which features a unique three-dimensional interconnected graded-aperture structure for efficient ion transport. Comprehensive analyses, including time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), Solid-state 7Li magic-angle-spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR), Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations, and electrochemical tests, quantify the pore structures, revealing their relationship with ion conductivity that increases and then decreases as macropore proportion rises.

Unmet needs in the management of patients with bilateral synchronous renal masses: the rationale for clinical decision-making.

Background: Bilateral synchronous renal masses (BSRMs) are a rare finding, and the optimal treatment strategy remains undetermined. This study depicts the management of BSRM at eight European high-volume centers.

Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of prospective institutional databases collecting all patients presenting with clinical T1-2 N0 M0 BSRMs between 1993 and 2020 at 8 tertiary referral high-volume centers for renal cancer treatment in Europe.