Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy Is Associated with Increased Odds of Screening for Sexually Transmitted Infections in a Clinical Cohort of Transgender and Nonbinary Adults.

Purpose: Transgender and nonbinary adults (TNB) are disproportionately burdened by sexually transmitted infections (STI) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study investigated whether gender-affirming hormone therapy was associated with TNB adults' odds of screening for STI and HIV.

Methods: Longitudinal data came from the electronic medical records of TNB primary care patients receiving care at two community health centers located in Boston, Massachusetts, and New York City, New York, between January 2013 and December 2019.

Polygenic score distribution differences across European ancestry populations: implications for breast cancer risk prediction.

Background: The 313-variant polygenic risk score (PRS) provides a promising tool for clinical breast cancer risk prediction. However, evaluation of the PRS across different European populations which could influence risk estimation has not been performed.

Methods: We explored the distribution of PRS across European populations using genotype data from 94,072 females without breast cancer diagnosis, of European-ancestry from 21 countries participating in the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC) and 223,316 females without breast cancer diagnosis from the UK Biobank.

A robust Parkinson's disease detection model based on time-varying synaptic efficacy function in spiking neural network.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting millions of people around the world. Conventional PD detection algorithms are generally based on first and second-generation artificial neural network (ANN) models which consume high energy and have complex architecture. Considering these limitations, a time-varying synaptic efficacy function based leaky-integrate and fire neuron model, called SEFRON is used for the detection of PD.

Brain phosphoproteomic analysis identifies diabetes-related substrates in Alzheimer's disease pathology in older adults.

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. Insulin signaling dysfunction exacerbates tau protein phosphorylation, a hallmark of AD pathology. However, the comprehensive impact of diabetes on patterns of AD-related phosphoprotein in the human brain remains underexplored.

Enhancing toxicity prediction for natural products in herbal medicine and dietary supplements: Integrating (Q)STR models and in vitro assays.

New approach methods (NAMs) are required to predict human toxicity effectively, particularly due to limitations in conducting in vivo studies. While NAMs have been established for various industries, such as cosmetics, pesticides, and drugs, their applications in natural products (NPs) are lacking. NPs' complexity (multiple ingredients and structural differences from synthetic compounds) complicates NAM development.

#Skin-Lightening: A content analysis of the most popular videos promoting skin-lightening products on TikTok.

Highly visual and appearance-focused social media often exhibit appearance ideals that center around fairness and whiteness, resulting in the promotion of dangerous over-the-counter skin-lightening products to consumers to achieve such ideals. Our study aims to better understand the skin-lightening claims and products that TikTok users are exposed to on the platform. We conducted a cross-sectional content analysis to examine the top 100 most-viewed videos across the most popular skin-lightening hashtag (#skinlightening) through the TikTok website interface (N = 79) and generated descriptive statistics.

Aging-induced changes in lymphatic muscle cell transcriptomes are associated with reduced pumping of peripheral collecting lymphatic vessels in mice.

Lymphatic muscle cells (LMCs) within the wall of collecting lymphatic vessels exhibit tonic and autonomous phasic contractions, which drive active lymph transport to maintain tissue-fluid homeostasis and support immune surveillance. Damage to LMCs disrupts lymphatic function and is related to various diseases. Despite their importance, knowledge of the gene transcriptional signatures in LMCs and how they relate to lymphatic function in normal and disease contexts is largely missing.

Molecular profiles of blood from numerous species that differ in sensitivity to acute inflammation.

Vertebrates differ over 100,000-fold in responses to pro-inflammatory agonists such as bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), complicating use of animal models to study human sepsis or inflammatory disorders. We compared transcriptomes of resting and LPS-exposed blood from six LPS-sensitive species (rabbit, pig, sheep, cow, chimpanzee, human) and four LPS-resilient species (mice, rats, baboon, rhesus), as well as plasma proteomes and lipidomes. Unexpectedly, at baseline, sensitive species already had enhanced expression of LPS-responsive genes relative to resilient species.

Appnome analysis reveals small or no associations between social media app-specific usage and adolescent well-being.

The debate on how social media use (SMU) influences adolescent well-being is mostly based on self-reports of SMU. By collecting data and screenshots donated from 374 Swiss adolescents (Meanage = 15.71; SDage = 0.

Positive and negative framing of complication risk and long-term outcomes influences decision-making in hip and knee arthroplasty.

Background: The framing effect has been demonstrated in a variety of settings. This study aimed to determine whether framing of complication risk in total hip arthroplasty (THA) and long-term patient satisfaction rates in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) influences patient decision-making and 'worry' using hypothetical vignettes.

Methods: Two cross-sectional survey studies were undertaken, one based on a THA vignette and one based on a TKA vignette.

Deployment to bases with open burn pits and mortality of US Military Veterans.

Introduction: Five million US Veterans had possible exposure to open burn pits used for waste disposal through service in Iraq (2003-2011) and Afghanistan (2001-2014). Burn pits generate toxic exposures that may be associated with adverse health outcomes. We examined all-cause and cause-specific mortality in relation to deployment to bases with open burn pits.

Effects of a liquefied petroleum gas stove and fuel intervention on head circumference and length at birth: A multi-country household air pollution intervention network (HAPIN) trial.

Background: Air pollution may impair child growth and cognitive development, with potential markers including birth length and head circumference.

Methods: The Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) trial was an open label multi-country-randomized controlled trial, with 3200 pregnant women aged 18-34 years (9-19 weeks of gestation) randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stove intervention compared to women continuing to cook with solid fuels for 18 months. Particulate matter ≤ 2.

Breast cancer treatment delay and the Hispanic paradox: A SEER database analysis.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in US women. Knowledge gaps exist regarding healthcare inequities in Hispanic BC patients. This study assessed BC characteristics and treatment patterns among Hispanics.

Improved Generalizability in Medical Computer Vision: Hyperbolic Deep Learning in Multi-Modality Neuroimaging.

Deep learning has shown significant value in automating radiological diagnostics but can be limited by a lack of generalizability to external datasets. Leveraging the geometric principles of non-Euclidean space, certain geometric deep learning approaches may offer an alternative means of improving model generalizability. This study investigates the potential advantages of hyperbolic convolutional neural networks (HCNNs) over traditional convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in neuroimaging tasks.

Sex differences in clinically diagnosed psychiatric disorders over the lifespan: a nationwide register-based study in Sweden.

Background: Limited studies exist on sex differences in incidence rates of psychiatric disorders across the lifespan. This study aims to analyze sex differences in the incidence rates of clinically diagnosed psychiatric disorders over the lifespan.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide register-based cohort study, including all individuals who were born in Sweden and lived in Sweden between 2003 and 2019, including 4,818,071 females and 4,837,829 males.

Age-dependent pathogenic profiles of enterotoxigenic diarrhea in Bangladesh.

Background: Age plays a significant role in susceptibility to enterotoxigenic (ETEC) infections, yet the distribution of ETEC virulence factors across age groups remains understudied. This study investigated the differential pathogenic profiles ETEC across various age groups, emphasizing the importance of selecting potential ETEC antigens tailored to infection patterns in infants and adults in Bangladesh.

Methods: This study utilized the icddr,b's 2% systematic hospital surveillance data of diarrheal patients ( = 14,515) from 2017 to 2022 to examine the age-specific pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of ETEC infections.

The Continued Implementation and Perceived Impact of an Elementary School Wellness Policy After Extended COVID-19-Related School Closures.

Background: Schools play a key role in children's health. Following COVID-19, programs that promote students' well-being are needed more than ever. This study examines the continuation of a wellness initiative in Anchorage, Alaska, in the 2021-2022 school year.

Impact of maternal antenatal nutrition and infection treatment interventions on Longitudinal Infant Development and Growth in rural Ethiopia: protocol of the LIDG child follow-up study.

Introduction: Maternal undernutrition and inflammation in utero may significantly impact the neurodevelopmental potential of offspring. However, few studies have investigated the effects of pregnancy interventions on long-term child growth and development. This study will examine the effects of prenatal nutrition and infection management interventions on long-term growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes of offspring.

Early-life microRNA signatures in cord blood associated with allergic rhinitis and asthma development.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the biological regulation of asthma and allergies.

Objectives: To investigate the association between cord blood miRNAs and the development of allergic rhinitis and early childhood asthma.

Methods: miRNAs were sequenced from cord blood of subjects participating in the Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dengue in Brazil: Interrupted time series analysis of changes in surveillance and transmission.

Measures to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2 impacted not only COVID-19 dynamics, but also other infectious diseases, such as dengue in Brazil. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted not only transmission dynamics due to changes in mobility patterns, but also several aspects of surveillance, such as care seeking behavior and clinical capacity. However, we lack a clear understanding of the overall impact on dengue in different parts of Brazil and the contribution of individual causal drivers.

Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein as Biomarkers of Cognitive Decline in People Living with HIV.

Background: This study examined the relationship between neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and cognition in people living with HIV (PLWH) at baseline and over time.

Methods: Plasma and clinical data were available from PLWH aged ≥45 years with HIV RNA <200 copies/mL enrolled in the AIDS Clinical Trials Group HAILO cohort study. We measured plasma NfL and GFAP using a single molecule array platform.

Effect of an intensive lifestyle intervention on cystatin C-based kidney function in adults with overweight and obesity: From the PREDIMED-Plus trial.

Background: Large-scale trials evaluating a multicomponent lifestyle intervention aimed at weight loss on kidney function are lacking.

Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of the "PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea-Plus" (PREDIMED-Plus) randomized controlled trial, including patients with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome, measured cystatin C and creatinine. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to an intensive weight loss lifestyle intervention (intervention group [IG]) consisting of an energy-restricted Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), physical activity promotion and behavioral support, or a control group (CG) receiving ad libitum MedDiet recommendations.

The mental health care system for children and adolescents in Greece: a review and structure assessment.

Background: The mental health system in Greece faces challenges to complete its transition to a community-oriented model, having significant concerns for child and adolescent care due to lower coverage and service gaps. This component of the mental health system has not been comprehensively evaluated.

Methods: We conducted a review of the mental health care system for children and adolescents in Greece.