Metabolic syndrome is associated with breast cancer mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses the association between metabolic syndrome and breast cancer (BC) outcomes in BC survivors.

Methods: Systematic searches were carried out in PubMed and Embase using variations of the search terms: breast neoplasms (population), metabolic syndrome (exposure), and survival (outcome). Metabolic syndrome was characterized according to the American Heart Association, which includes the presence of three out of five abnormal findings among the risk factors: high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein, high fasting glucose, and central obesity.

Importance of an N-terminal structural switch in the distinction between small RNA-bound and free ARGONAUTE.

ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins bind to small non-coding RNAs to form RNA-induced silencing complexes. In the RNA-bound state, AGO is stable while RNA-free AGO turns over rapidly. Molecular features unique to RNA-free AGO that allow its specific recognition and degradation remain unknown.

Tipping point-induced abrupt shifts in East Asian hydroclimate since the Last Glacial Maximum.

Multiple tipping points in the Earth system could be triggered when global warming exceeds specific thresholds. However, the degree of their impact on the East Asian hydroclimate remains uncertain due to the lack of quantitative rainfall records. Here we present an ensemble reconstruction of East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) rainfall since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) using nine statistical and machine learning methods based on multi-proxy records from a maar lake in southern China.

Completion of registration of risk factor variables during telephone vs on-site follow-up after myocardial infarction: a nationwide observational study in 101 199 patients from contemporary clinical practice in Sweden.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the completeness of registration of secondary preventive variables comparing on-site visits with telephone consultations during follow-up after myocardial infarction.

Design: This was an observational study based on the Swedish quality registry SWEDEHEART.

Setting And Outcome Measures: We analysed the proportion of missing values for major secondary preventive target data registered at the 2-month and 1-year follow-up visits, during 2006-2022 (n=101 199).

Neuronal CD59 isoforms IRIS-1 and IRIS-2 as regulators of neurotransmitter release with implications for Alzheimer's disease.

We have previously demonstrated that the intracellular, non-GPI anchored CD59 isoforms IRIS-1 and IRIS-2 (Isoforms Rescuing Insulin Secretion 1 and 2) are necessary for insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells. While investigating their expression across human tissues, we identified IRIS-1 and IRIS-2 mRNA in the human brain, though their protein expression and function remained unclear. This study shows the presence of both IRIS-1 and 2 proteins in the human brain, specifically in neurons and astrocytes.

Pervasive horizontal transmission of Wolbachia in natural populations of closely related and widespread tropical skipper butterflies.

Background: The endosymbiotic relationship between Wolbachia bacteria and insects has been of interest for many years due to their diverse types of host reproductive phenotypic manipulation and potential role in the host's evolutionary history and population dynamics. Even though infection rates are high in Lepidoptera and specifically in butterflies, and reproductive manipulation is present in these taxa, less attention has been given to understanding how Wolbachia is acquired and maintained in their natural populations, across and within species having continental geographical distributions.

Results: We used whole genome sequencing data to investigate the phylogenetics, demographic history, and infection rate dynamics of Wolbachia in four species of the Spicauda genus of skipper butterflies (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae), a taxon that presents sympatric and often syntopic distribution, with drastic variability in species abundance in the Neotropical region.

Clarification and Modification of the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group Classification of Patch Test Reactions on Behalf of the International Contact Dermatitis Research Group.

The first ICDRG (International Contact Dermatitis Research Group) classification of patch test reactions was published in 1970. With this classification, many weak reactions were classified as allergic reactions. A second classification was therefore implemented one decade later on behalf of the ICDRG and the North American Contact Dermatitis Group.

A modified iChip for cultivation of bacteria in arid environments.

Antimicrobial resistance is an ever-increasing problem for human health, and with only a few novel antimicrobials discovered in recent decades, an extraordinary effort is needed to circumvent this crisis. A promising source of new microbial-derived antimicrobial compounds resides in the large fraction of microbes that are not readily cultured by standard cultivation. It has previously been shown that nests of the social spider contain a diverse bacterial community, where only a small fraction of the microbes could be recovered by standard cultivation.

Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists and Risk of Thyroid Cancer: An International Multisite Cohort Study.

Concerns have been raised that glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RAs) may increase the risk of thyroid cancer, but evidence remains conflicting. We therefore investigated if GLP1-RA use, compared with use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is), was associated with thyroid cancer risk in patients with type 2 diabetes. This multisite cohort study with subsequent meta-analysis included six population-based databases from Canada (Ontario), Denmark, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, and Taiwan.

Influence of Scanning Strategy on Residual Stresses in Laser-Based Powder Bed Fusion Manufactured Alloy 718: Modeling and Experiments.

In additive manufacturing, the presence of residual stresses in produced parts is a well-recognized phenomenon. These residual stresses not only elevate the risk of crack formation but also impose limitations on in-service performance. Moreover, it can distort printed parts if released, or in the worst case even cause a build to fail due to collision with the powder scraper.

Utility of Simultaneous Left Atrial Strain-Volume Relationship During Passive Leg Lift to Identify Elevated Left Ventricular Filling Pressure-A Proof-of-Concept Study.

: The assessment of left ventricular (LV) filling pressure in heart failure (HF) poses a diagnostic challenge, as HF patients may have normal LV filling pressures at rest but often display elevated LV filling pressures during exercise. Rapid preload increase during passive leg lift (PLL) may unmask HF in such challenging scenarios. We explored the dynamic interplay between simultaneous left atrial (LA) function and volume using LA strain/volume loops during rest and PLL and compared its diagnostic performance with conventional echocardiographic surrogates to detect elevated LV filling pressure.

Development and Psychometric Properties of the Pain and Sensitivity Reactivity Scale in a Diverse Sample of Autistic People.

Background: Recent studies indicate the need to examine how the gut microbiota-brain axis is implicated in pain, sensory reactivity and gastro-intestinal symptoms in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but no scale exists that assesses all these constructs simultaneously.

Methods: We created a pool of 100 items based on the real-world experience of autistic people, and a multidisciplinary team and stakeholders reduced this pool to 50 items assessing pain, sensory hypersensitivity, and sensory hyposensitivity. In the present study, we present this new assessment tool, the Pain and Sensitivity Reactivity Scale (PSRS), and examine its psychometric properties in a sample of 270 individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; mean age = 9.

Overlapping Systemic Proteins in COVID-19 and Lung Fibrosis Associated with Tissue Remodeling and Inflammation.

A novel patient group with chronic pulmonary fibrosis is emerging post COVID-19. To identify patients at risk of developing post-COVID-19 lung fibrosis, we here aimed to identify systemic proteins that overlap with fibrotic markers identified in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and may predict COVID-19-induced lung fibrosis. Ninety-two proteins were measured in plasma samples from hospitalized patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 in Sweden, before the introduction of the vaccination program, as well as from healthy individuals.

Oat Kilning and Its Effects on Liquid Oat-Base Production.

The aim of this study was to give insights on the effects of an industrially relevant kilning method, with a focus on lipase inactivation and oat-base production. Storage of non-kilned, dehulled oat kernels in either room temperature or at 37 °C for up to 64 days led to increasing lipase activity with time, despite a decrease in moisture content and water activity, demonstrating the importance of kilning before storage. It was shown that the temperature and relative humidity used during the kilning had a major impact on both protein solubility and lipase inactivation.

Endometrial Intraepithelial Neoplasia, Concurrent Endometrial Cancer and Risk for Pelvic Sentinel Node Metastases.

Background/objectives: Given the risk of a progression, or an undiagnosed endometrial cancer (EC), the treatment of choice is hysterectomy in women with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN). The risk of metastatic disease and whether sentinel node (SLN) biopsy should be performed remains unclear. The primary aim of this prospective study was to determine the overall incidence of concurrent EC and the impact of the diagnostic tool used and the type of endometrial lesion.

The dead can talk: Investigating trace element and organic pollutant exposure in mammalian roadkill under contrasting habitats.

Urban environments are exposed to a substantial range of anthropic pressures, including chemical exposure. While trace metals and legacy pollutants have been well documented, the extent of wildlife exposure to emerging contaminants has received little attention, in terrestrial mammals. Concentrations of trace elements (Ag, Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb and Zn) and 48 organic pollutants (Polychlorinated Biphenyls: PCBs, Organochlorine Pesticides: OCPs, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: PAHs, phthalates and pyrethroid pesticides) were measured in tissues of European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in southern Sweden.

Phylogenetic characterization of Bifidobacterium kimbladii sp. nov., a novel species from the honey stomach of the honeybee Apis mellifera.

Six novel Bifidobacterium strains H1HS16N, Bin2N, Hma3N, H6bp22N, H1HS10N, and H6bp9N, were isolated from the honey stomach of Apis mellifera. Cells are Gram-positive, non-motile, non-sporulating, facultatively anaerobic, and fructose 6-phosphate phosphoketolase-positive. Optimal growth conditions occur at 37 °C in anaerobiosis in MRS medium added with 2 % fructose and 0.

Diagnostic accuracy of sino-nasal outcome test-22 and lund-kennedy endoscopic score for chronic rhinosinusitis in pre-bone marrow transplantation assessment.

Background: The diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a crucial and challenging entity in bone marrow transplantation candidates. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and Lund-Kennedy endoscopic score for the diagnosis of CRS in bone marrow transplantation candidates.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a single-center, observational study evaluating bone marrow transplantation candidates by paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) scan without contrast to measure the Lund Mackay score.

Benchmarking Alzheimer's disease prediction: personalised risk assessment using polygenic risk scores across various methodologies and genome-wide studies.

Background: The success of selecting high risk or early-stage Alzheimer's disease individuals for the delivery of clinical trials depends on the design and the appropriate recruitment of participants. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) show potential for identifying individuals at risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our study comprehensively examines AD PRS utility using various methods and models.

The fundamentals of eye tracking part 4: Tools for conducting an eye tracking study.

Researchers using eye tracking are heavily dependent on software and hardware tools to perform their studies, from recording eye tracking data and visualizing it, to processing and analyzing it. This article provides an overview of available tools for research using eye trackers and discusses considerations to make when choosing which tools to adopt for one's study.