Pooled prevalence and associated factors of traditional uvulectom among children in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Traditional childhood uvulectomy (TCU) is an unregulated cultural practice associated with significant health risks, including infections, anemia, aspiration, and oral or pharyngeal injuries. The reuse of unsafe tools such as blades, needles, or thread loops exacerbates the spread of infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis B. Despite its clinical significance, the pooled prevalence and associated factors of TCU have not been adequately examined through systematic reviews or meta-analyses.

Development, validation, and reliability testing of the College Perspectives around Food Insecurity survey.

The objective of this study was to develop and to test the validity and reliability of a survey aimed to evaluate internal and external factors associated with college food insecurity. Researchers used a mixed methods approach to evaluate the College Perspectives around Food Insecurity survey. Survey items were constructed from interview data and assigned a social cognitive theory concept (environment, personal, or behavior).

The Risk of Postoperative Periprosthetic Femoral Fracture After Total Hip Arthroplasty Depends More on Stem Design Than Cement Use: An Analysis of National Health Data from England.

Background: In this study, we estimated the risk of surgically treated postoperative periprosthetic femoral fractures (POPFFs) associated with femoral implants frequently used for total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods: In this cohort study of patients who underwent primary THA in England between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2020, POPFFs were identified from prospectively collected revision records and national hospital records. POPFF incidence rates, adjusting for potential confounders, were estimated for common stems.

Antigen receptor ITAMs provide tonic signaling by acting as guanine nucleotide exchange factors to directly activate R-RAS2.

The small GTPase R-RAS2 regulates homeostatic proliferation and survival of T and B lymphocytes and, when present in high amounts, drives the development of B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In normal and leukemic lymphocytes, R-RAS2 constitutively binds to antigen receptors through their immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) and promotes tonic activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway. Here, we examined the molecular mechanisms underlying this direct interaction and its consequences for R-RAS2 activity.

Pre-treatment subjective sleep quality as a predictive biomarker of tDCS effects in preclinical Alzheimer's disease patients: Secondary analysis of a randomised clinical trial.

Background: Despite transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has demonstrated encouraging potential for modulating the circadian rhythm, little is known about how well and sustainably tDCS might improve the subjective sleep quality in older adults. This study sought to determine how tDCS affected sleep quality and cognition, as well as how well pre-treatment sleep quality predicted tDCS effects on domain-specific cognitive functions in patients with mild neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer's disease (NCD-AD).

Methods: This clinical trial aimed to compare the effectiveness of tDCS and cognitive training in mild NCD-AD patients (n =  201).

Psychometric Evidence and Measurement Invariance by College-Going Status for the Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA).

Numerous versions exist of the Inventory of the Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood (IDEA), which is used to assess normative markers of development in the 18-29 age range. However, their comparative psychometric properties have not been adequately explored, and samples including non-college-going emerging adults are rare. In Study 1, confirmatory factor analyses using survey data from 429 college-going and non-college-going emerging adults (52% female, 44% non-white) showed the IDEA-Short Form (IDEA-SF) to be the most psychometrically and conceptually sound version, demonstrating good fit for the five-factor model proposed by Arnett's (2004) theory of emerging adulthood; initial evidence for concurrent validity of the IDEA-SF scores was also presented.

Evolution of Sagittal Spinal Alignment During Pubertal Growth: A Large-Scale Study in a Chinese Pediatric Population.

Background: Previous studies have reported normative data for sagittal spinal alignment in asymptomatic adults. The sagittal spinal alignment change in European children was recently reported. However, there is a lack of studies on the normative reference values of sagittal spinal and pelvic alignment and how these parameters change at different growth stages in Chinese children.

Lineage tracing studies suggest that the placenta is not a de novo source of hematopoietic stem cells.

Definitive hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) arise from a small number of hemogenic endothelial cells (HECs) within the developing embryo. Understanding the origin and ontogeny of HSPCs is of considerable interest and potential therapeutic value. It has been proposed that the murine placenta contains HECs that differentiate into HSPCs.

Association between chiropractic spinal manipulation for sciatica and opioid-related adverse events: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Patients receiving chiropractic spinal manipulation (CSM) for spinal pain are less likely to be prescribed opioids, and some evidence suggests that these patients have a lower risk of any type of adverse drug event. We hypothesize that adults receiving CSM for sciatica will have a reduced risk of opioid-related adverse drug events (ORADEs) over a one-year follow-up compared to matched controls not receiving CSM.

Methods: We searched a United States (US) claims-based data resource (Diamond Network, TriNetX, Inc.

Short-term effects of combined environmental factors on respiratory disease mortality in Qingdao city: A time-series investigation.

Background: It is crucial to comprehend the interplay between air pollution and meteorological conditions in relation to population health within the framework of "dual-carbon" targets. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of intricate environmental factors, encompassing both meteorological conditions and atmospheric pollutants, on respiratory disease (RD) mortality in Qingdao, a representative coastal city in China.

Methods: The RD mortality cases were collected from the Chronic Disease Surveillance Monitoring System in Qingdao during Jan 1st, 2014 and Dec 31st, 2020.

Evidence that flocking behavior is rewarded by singing, flock mates, and mu opioid receptors in the nucleus accumbens.

It has been proposed that social groups are maintained both by reward resulting from positive social interactions and by the reduction of a negative state that would otherwise be caused by social separation. European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris, develop strong conditioned place preferences for places associated with the production of song in flocks outside the breeding season (gregarious song) and singers are motivated to rejoin the flock following removal. This indicates that the act of singing in flocks is associated with a positive affective state and raises the possibility that reward induced by song in flocks may play a role in flock maintenance.

The international trial of nasal oxygen therapy after cardiac surgery (NOTACS) in patients at high risk of postoperative pulmonary complications: Economic evaluation protocol and analysis plan.

Introduction: High-Flow Nasal Therapy (HFNT) is an innovative non-invasive form of respiratory support. Compared to standard oxygen therapy (SOT), there is an equipoise regarding the effect of HFNT on patient-centred outcomes among those at high risk of developing postoperative pulmonary complications after undergoing cardiac surgery. The NOTACS trial aims to determine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of HFNT compared to SOT within 90 days of surgery in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

Dapagliflozin inhibits ferroptosis to improve chronic heart failure by regulating Nrf2/HO-1/GPX4 signaling pathway.

Objective: To study the effect of Dapagliflozin on ferroptosis in rabbits with chronic heart failure and to reveal its possible mechanism.

Methods: Nine healthy adult male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into Sham group (only thorax opening was performed in Sham group, no ascending aorta circumferential ligation was performed), Heart failure group (HF group, ascending aorta circumferential ligation was performed in HF group to establish the animal model of heart failure), and Dapagliflozin group (DAPA group, after the rabbit chronic heart failure model was successfully made in DAPA group). Dapagliflozin was given by force-feeding method.

Identity as a resource or a demand.

Individuals embody various social identities that can impact how they interface with the social environment. Stigma theories suggest that members of low-status or marginalized groups possess devalued social identities, and therefore, experience more stress. While social identities can lead to increased stress, individuals' appraisals of their identities are not necessarily perceived as harmful/demanding.

Cross-species comparison of AlphaFold-derived G protein-coupled receptor structures reveals novel melatonin-related receptor in Neurospora crassa.

Melatonin, a molecule with diverse biological functions, is ubiquitously present in living organisms. There is significant interest in understanding melatonin signal transduction pathways in humans, particularly due to its critical role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle. However, a knowledge gap remains in fully elucidating the mechanisms by which melatonin influences circadian regulation.

Mechanism of the Non-Kasha Fluorescence in Pyrene.

The high-energy shoulder in the gas-phase fluorescence emission spectrum of pyrene is a well-known example of non-Kasha emission. We comparatively assess two approaches, vibronic perturbation theory and nonadiabatic dynamics, in their ability to predict and explain the gas-phase fluorescence spectrum of pyrene. While both methods qualitatively capture the non-Kasha emission, they differ in their computational requirements, accuracy, and physical interpretation.

Beyond the jab: Unravelling the complexities of vaccine adoption for East Coast Fever in rural Kenya.

East Coast Fever (ECF) is one of the leading causes of livestock mortality and reduced productivity across Eastern Africa, and while a live vaccine against it known as the Infection and Treatment Method has existed for three decades now, its adoption by affected communities remains low. This study sought to provide a detailed examination of the dynamics that shape Infection Treatment Method (ITM) vaccine adoption behaviours. The study examined individual, socio-cultural and ecological- level factors influencing ITM adoption using the socio-ecological model.

3D ophthalmic ultrasonography at the slit lamp using existing ultrasound systems.

Purpose: This study aims to explore the feasibility and performance of three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) imaging in ophthalmology using commercially available ultrasound probes adapted to a slit lamp.

Significance: Despite ultrasound's long-standing application in eye care for visualizing ocular components, the evolution of 3DUS technology has remained inactive, with limited development and commercial availability. This study introduces a novel method that could potentially enhance ophthalmic diagnostics and treatment planning by providing comprehensive 3D views of ocular structures using existing ultrasound probes adapted to the conventional slit lamp.

Fipronil in sub-lethal doses leads to immuno-toxicological effects in broiler birds.

Pesticides, including fipronil, are used mainly in agriculture; however, in veterinary and animal husbandry, their potential use is to control the pests responsible for vector-borne diseases. Their residues in agriculture products and direct use on farms are responsible for potentially harming livestock and poultry. So, this study was designed to evaluate the toxico-pathological effects of fipronil on the immune system of poultry birds.

Use of evidence-based health professions education: Attitudes and practices of academic leaders.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to explore the attitudes, practices, supports, and barriers of academic leaders regarding the use of Evidence-Based Health Professional Education (EBHPE).

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 79 faculty members in leadership positions, from four different undergraduate colleges at Qassim University. A pre-validated questionnaire was distributed electronically.

Investigating Pb2 CAP-binding domain inhibitors from marine bacteria for targeting the influenza A H5N1.

The ongoing increase in the prevalence and mutation rate of the influenza virus remains a critical global health issue. A promising strategy for antiviral drug development involves targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, specifically the PB2-cap binding domain of Influenza A H5N1. This study employs an in-silico approach to inhibit this domain, crucial for viral replication, using potential inhibitors derived from marine bacterial compounds.

Impact of antibiotics, iron oxide, and sodium sulfate on microbial community composition in laboratory-built municipal solid waste microcosms.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills represent underexplored microbial ecosystems. Landfills contain variable amounts of antibiotic and construction and demolition (C&D) wastes, which have the potential to alter microbial metabolism due to biocidal or redox active components, and these effects are largely underexplored. To circumvent the challenge of MSW heterogeneity, we conducted a 65-day time series study on simulated MSW microcosms to assess microbiome changes using 16S rRNA sequencing in response to 1) Fe(OH)3 and 2) Na2SO4 to represent redox active components of C&D waste as well as 3) antibiotics.

The liminal space between hope and grief: The phenomenon of uncertainty as experienced by people living with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background: People with the chronic disease Multiple Sclerosis are subjected to different degrees of profound uncertainty. Uncertainty has been linked to adverse psychological effects such as feelings of heightened vulnerability, avoidance of decision-making, fear, worry, anxiety disorders, and even depression. Research into Multiple Sclerosis has a predominant focus on the scientific, practical, and psychosocial issues of uncertainty.

Impact of exercise with blood flow restriction on muscle hypertrophy and performance outcomes in men and women.

Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) has been previously studied as an alternative form of resistance training to gain lean mass and improve performance outcomes. However, in all exercise studies of BFRT, the proportion of female participants represents only 17-29% of all research participants. This highlights a strong underrepresentation of females and the need for more knowledge on the impact of BFRT and sex differences.

Translation and cultural adaption of MacLeod Clark professional identity scale among Chinese therapy students.

Background: Fostering a strong professional identity (PI) enhances career fulfillment. In China, therapy education is undergoing development, integrating both Western and traditional health concepts, causing inconsistent PI among therapy students. To date, no validated tools exist to measure and monitor PI of Chinese therapy students.