The severity of coronary heart disease and the incidence of later diabetic retinopathy in diabetic population: A retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: The coronary heart disease (CHD) can influence the development of several diseases. The presence of CHD is correlated to a higher incidence of concurrent diabetic retinopathy (DR) in previous study. Herein, we aim to analyze the relationship between the CHD severity and following DR with different severity.

Gender disparities in attitudes, norms, and perceived control related to intentional condomless sexual intercourse: A psychosocial theory-driven comparison among cisgender heterosexual male and female college varsity athletes in Taiwan.

Background: While condom use has been extensively studied as a protective behavior, research directly focusing on condomless sexual intercourse (CSI) as a distinct and intentional risk behavior, particularly regarding gender differences, remains scarce.

Methods: Building upon the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this study addresses this gap by comparing TPB factors and individual TPB items regarding intentional CSI among cisgender heterosexual college varsity athletes in Taiwan ( = 1348).

Results: High CSI intention was more prevalent among men (53.

The role of socioeconomic factors in sex differences in intrinsic capacity among older adults: A cross-sectional study in Taiwan.

Objectives: The World Health Organization's Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) framework launched in 2019 is used to assess the intrinsic capacity of older individuals. Older women may face greater socioeconomic disadvantages, which can impact their physical and mental well-being. Therefore, we examined sex differences in intrinsic capacity and the influence of socioeconomic status.

"Cofactors" for Natural Products.

Cofactors are non-protein entities necessary for proteins to operate. They provide "functional groups" beyond those of the 20 canonical amino acids and enable proteins to carry out more diverse functions. Such a viewpoint is rarely mentioned, if at all, when it comes to natural products and is the theme of this Concept.

Dynamics of pollution and trophic status in selected sub-tropical surface water bodies in Haridwar district, India.

This study provides a detailed approach to evaluating water quality in the Haridwar district, Uttarakhand, India, by integrating physicochemical and microbiological investigations. It employs multivariate analysis and applies water quality and trophic state indices to evaluate the current state of the water and identify potential sources of contamination. The results from the correlation matrix highlight the dynamic interactions between different water quality parameters.

GLAC-Unet: Global-Local Active Contour Loss with an Efficient U-Shaped Architecture for Multiclass Medical Image Segmentation.

The field of medical image segmentation powered by deep learning has recently received substantial attention, with a significant focus on developing novel architectures and designing effective loss functions. Traditional loss functions, such as Dice loss and Cross-Entropy loss, predominantly rely on global metrics to compare predictions with labels. However, these global measures often struggle to address challenges such as occlusion and nonuni-form intensity.

Targeted sputum sequencing for rapid and broad drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Purpose: Rapid detection of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) from clinical samples facilitates the timely provision of optimal treatment regimens for tuberculosis (TB) patients.

Methods: In November, 2023, the WHO released its second catalogue of resistance-conferring mutations in Mtb. Utilizing this information, we developed a single 17-plex PCR assay covering 16 key resistance genes and modified thermo-protection buffer to amplify 30 kbp DNA directly from sputum samples for nanopore sequencing.

Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Reducing Psychological Distress in Nurses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Experimental Studies.

Work-related stress, a major contributor to physical and mental health issues of nurses, has a direct impact on patient safety and nurses' well-being. However, few studies have investigated the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing psychological distress in nurses. Systematic search of six databases including CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, PubMed, and Web of Science from their inception to February 27, 2024.

Validation of a Fingertip Home Sleep Apnea Testing System Using Deep Learning AI and a Temporal Event Localization Analysis.

Study Objectives: This paper validates TipTraQ, a compact home sleep apnea testing (HSAT) system. TipTraQ comprises a fingertip-worn device, a mobile application, and a cloud-based deep learning artificial intelligence (AI) system. The device utilizes PPG (red, infrared, and green channels) and accelerometer sensors to assess sleep apnea by the AI system.

Effects of Exergame Training on Executive Function and Heart Rate Variability in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Exergame has become widely popular and offers great levels of cognitive demands, thus may facilitate cognitive benefits. In addition, researchers have proposed that cardiac autonomic function, assessed via heart rate variability (HRV), is associated with cognitive executive function. However, few exergame training studies have investigated this relationship.

A human oral commensal-mediated protection against Sjögren's syndrome with maintenance of T cell immune homeostasis and improved oral microbiota.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a prevalent systemic autoimmune disease with substantial impacts on women's health worldwide. Although oral Haemophilus parainfluenzae is reduced in SS, its significance remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the pathophysiological role of H.

The effect of healthcare professional-implemented interventions on adherence to oral targeted therapy in patients with cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: This study investigated the impact of healthcare professional-led interventions on adherence to oral targeted therapy and identified the behavior change techniques (BCTs) underpinning the interventions.

Methods: A systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL Plus, PubMed, and Web of Science up to July 2024 identified randomized controlled trials and cohort studies involving adult patients (≥ 18 years) with cancer on oral targeted therapy receiving healthcare professional-led interventions to improve adherence. Adherence-related outcomes, including proportions of patients continuing treatments or with a medication possession ratio (MPR) ≥ 90%, were compared between intervention and control (usual care) groups.

Xylaria iriomotensis sp. nov. from termite nests and notes on X. angulosa.

Background: Fungus gardens of the termite Odontotermes formosanus, excavated from Iriomote Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, were subsequently incubated under laboratory conditions. A Xylaria species emerging from these fungus gardens was initially identified as X. angulosa, a species originally described from North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

An assessment of physiological and health responses in Catla catla fingerlings after polystyrene microplastic exposure.

Microplastics (MPs) form when plastic debris is released into the aquatic environment, where they decompose and have deleterious effects on aquatic life. This study aimed to examine the harmful impacts of polystyrene MPs (PS-MPs) on the growth, carcass composition, hematology, digestibility, histopathology, and mineral analysis of Catla catla (11.09 ± 0.

Foliar image-based characterization of airborne particulate matter in an urban area and its implications for remediation.

This study addresses the pervasive issue of particulate matter (PM) emission in urban areas, proposing a better approach using scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques to identify plant species effective in airborne PM removal. Conducted in Bilaspur city, the research strategically selected six plant species across four distinct sites and applied the SEM-Image J method for analysis, yielding significant insights, especially in the respirable PM range. Among the tested plant species, Senna Siamea and Dalbergia Sissoo emerged as consistent and standout performers, displaying the highest PM removal efficiency across all sites.

Melanophilin-induced primary cilia promote pancreatic cancer metastasis.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most malignant tumors because of its high metastatic ability. The glutamine (Gln)-deficient microenvironment contributes to PDAC metastasis; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we demonstrated that melanophilin (MLPH) promotes PDAC metastasis by inducing the regrowth of primary cilia.

Tubulin Acetylation Enhances Microtubule Stability in Trabecular Meshwork Cells Under Mechanical Stress.

Purpose: To study the roles of tubulin acetylation and cyclic mechanical stretch (CMS) in trabecular meshwork (TM) cells and their impact on outflow pathway physiology and pathology.

Methods: Primary TM cell cultures were subjected to CMS (8% elongation, 24 hours), and acetylated α-tubulin at lysine 40 (Ac-TUBA4) was assessed by western blotting and immunofluorescence. Enzymes regulating tubulin acetylation were identified via siRNA-mediated knockdowns of ATAT1, HDAC6, and SIRT2.

The Effects of Gymnastics Programs with Different Cognitive Loads on Working Memory and Prefrontal Cortex Oxygenation: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: This study used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to investigate the effects of gymnastics programs with high versus low cognitive load on children's visuospatial working memory (VSWM) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation.

Methods: Eighty-one healthy children aged 7 to 10 from Taipei City were randomly assigned to high cognitive load (HG), low cognitive load (LG), and control (SC) groups. The HG and LG groups underwent an 8-week gymnastics program with different levels of cognitive load, while the SC group participated in a static course.

Study of endophytic fungi of Ipomoea pes-caprae reveals the superiority of in situ plant conservation over ex situ conservation from a mycological view.

In nature conservation, ex situ and in situ conservation strategies are discussed for protecting endangered species of plants and animals. However, the impacts of these strategies on the microbes associated with these species are rarely considered. In our study, we chose the endophytic fungi of the pantropical creeping plant Ipomoea pes-caprae as representative coastal plant in two natural coastal populations and two botanical gardens in Taiwan as collection sites in order to investigate the potential effect of ex situ plantation on the biodiversity of microbes intimately associated with this plant.

Exploring mental health symptoms in elite athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis on sex differences.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected elite athletes, leading to increased mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, and depression. Sex differences in mental health may exist among athletes during the COVID-19 crisis. This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine sex differences in mental health symptoms among elite athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Economic burden of musculoskeletal disorders in Tanzania: results from a community-based survey.

Objectives: To identify, measure and value the economic burden of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders in the Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania.

Design: Community-based cross-sectional survey (undertaken between January and September 2021).

Setting: Hai district, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

Cross-sectional survey on public attitudes and factors related to physician-assisted dying in Taiwan.

Objective: To examine the public's stance on physician-assisted dying (PAD) in Taiwan across different PAD scenarios and identify demographic and psychosocial factors associated with the levels of support.

Design: Cross-sectional survey design. Independent variables included individual sociodemographic characteristics, healthcare professionals, perceived quality of life, formal caregiver experience, Patient Right to Autonomy Act (PRAA) awareness and advance care planning (ACP) preparedness.

Prostate cancer cells elevate glycolysis and G6PD in response to caffeic acid phenethyl ester-induced growth inhibition.

Background: Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is the main bioactive component of poplar type propolis. We previously reported that treatment with caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) suppressed the cell proliferation, tumor growth, as well as migration and invasion of prostate cancer (PCa) cells via inhibition of signaling pathways of AKT, c-Myc, Wnt and EGFR. We also demonstrated that combined treatment of CAPE and docetaxel altered the genes involved in glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle.

Combined effects of global DNA methylation, blood lead and total urinary arsenic levels on developmental delay in preschool children.

DNA methylation is a critical step in brain development, 5-Methyl-2'-deoxycytidine (5mdC) is one of the global DNA methylation markers. Arsenic and lead exposures have been associated with neurotoxicity, which may be linked to epigenetic changes. Our research sought to investigate the correlation between 5mdC and developmental delay (DD) among preschoolers.

Young Hearts: A Film Review.

Young Hearts, a gay movie from Belgium directed by Anthony Schatteman, was released in December 2024. It offers a tender and nuanced portrayal of queer love, identity, and self-discovery. The film follows Elias and Alexander, two 14-year-olds navigating the complexities of a budding relationship amidst societal expectations in a conservative town.