Empathy and helping: the role of affect in response to others' suffering.

Decades of research hold that empathy is a multifaceted construct. A related challenge in empathy research is to describe how each subcomponent of empathy uniquely contributes to social outcomes. Here, we examined distinct mechanisms through which different components of empathy-Empathic Concern, Perspective Taking, and Personal Distress-may relate to prosociality.

Human response times are governed by dual anticipatory processes with distinct neural signatures.

Human behavior is strongly influenced by anticipation, but the underlying neural mechanisms are poorly understood. We obtained intracranial electrocephalography (iEEG) measurements in neurosurgical patients as they performed a simple sensory-motor task with variable (short or long) foreperiod delays that affected anticipation of the cue to respond. Participants showed two forms of anticipatory response biases, distinguished by more premature false alarms (FAs) or faster response times (RTs) on long-delay trials.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis to Assess Safety and Early Mortality in Octogenarians undergoing Fenestrated and Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair for Complex Aortic Aneurysms.

Objectives: The population in the U.S., and across the world is aging rapidly which warrants an assessment of the safety of surgical approaches in elderly individuals to better risk stratify and inform surgeons' decision making for optimal patient care.

Validation of the Postnatal Growth and Retinopathy of Prematurity (G-ROP) criteria in a Slovene cohort.

Purpose To validate the Postnatal Growth and ROP (G-ROP) study criteria for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening in a Slovenian cohort. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of preterm infants screened in 2021 at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia. The G-ROP criteria were systematically applied.

Manzamine A: A Promising Marine-Derived Cancer Therapeutic for Multi-targeted Interactions with E2F8, SIX1, AR, GSK-3β, and V-ATPase - A Systematic Review.

Manzamine A, a natural compound derived from various sponge genera, features a β-carboline structure and exhibits a range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antimalarial effects. Its potential as an anticancer agent has been explored in several tumor models, both in vitro and in vivo, showing effects through mechanisms such as cytotoxicity, regulation of the cell cycle, inhibition of cell migration, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), autophagy, and apoptosis through multi-target interactions of E2F transcriptional factors, ribosomal S6 kinases, androgen receptor (AR), SIX1, GSK-3β, V-ATPase, and p53/p21/p27 cascades. This systematic review evaluates existing literature on the potential application of this marine alkaloid as a novel cancer therapy, highlighting its promising ability to inhibit cancer cell growth while causing minimal side effects.

Knowledge and attitudes of school nurses in caring for sexual and gender minority youth: A national survey.

Background: School nurses (SNs) can play important roles in the health of sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth, yet little is known about their knowledge and attitudes toward this population.

Purpose: To understand SNs' knowledge and attitudes in caring for SGM youth across the United States.

Methods: We designed and disseminated the School Nurses and LGBTQ Youth online survey in May 2023 to U.

The effect of registered nurse staffing and skill mix on length of stay and hospital costs.

Background: Sepsis is a common cause of hospitalization among Medicare beneficiaries, often leading to prolonged hospital stays and high costs.

Purpose: To estimate the impact of registered nurse (RN) staffing and skill mix on hospital lengths of stay and associated costs for Medicare beneficiaries with sepsis.

Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis was conducted using 2018 data from 2,107 acute care hospitals, including 653,496 patients with sepsis.

Management of renal cell carcinoma with ablation in comparison to nephrectomy: A 5-year analysis of inpatient procedural data to evaluate utilization disparities in the United States.

Purpose: To perform a nationwide analysis of ablation compared to partial and total nephrectomy for the management of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) to evaluate utilization trends and disparities in the USA.

Materials And Methods: The 2016-2020 National Inpatient Sample was analyzed. Using ICD-10, we identified the diagnosis of RCC then analyzed the utilization trends of ablation and nephrectomies (both partial and complete).

Utero-placental adaptations in response to intrauterine growth restriction in swine.

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a common condition in swine associated with high piglet mortality and morbidity that develops in early gestation. This review article explores differences in uterine and placental tissues associated with IUGR fetuses compared to their normally-grown littermates at different stages of gestation. Specifically, we will review the available knowledge to date describing differences in 1) structure, 2) cellular apoptosis and proliferation, 3) adhesion, and 4) angiogenesis in endometrial and placental tissues associated with IUGR fetuses across gestation.

Cultural differences on baby loss experiences: A comparison of the US and New Zealand.

Prior research has shown that the death of a baby (whether it be through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss) can have profound effects on the parents involved. However, research has yet to adequately understand how these effects differ cross-culturally. Our research addresses these issues through a qualitative study of 47 bereaved mothers in the United States and New Zealand-cultures that have differing perspectives on death.

Betacoronaviruses Differentially Activate the Integrated Stress Response to Optimize Viral Replication in Lung-Derived Cell Lines.

The betacoronavirus genus contains five of the seven human coronaviruses, making it a particularly critical area of research to prepare for future viral emergence. We utilized three human betacoronaviruses, one from each subgenus-HCoV-OC43 (embecovirus), SARS-CoV-2 (sarbecovirus), and MERS-CoV (merbecovirus)-, to study betacoronavirus interactions with the PKR-like ER kinase (PERK) pathway of the integrated stress response (ISR)/unfolded protein response (UPR). The PERK pathway becomes activated by an abundance of unfolded proteins within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), leading to phosphorylation of eIF2α and translational attenuation.

Evaluation of Biologics ACE2/Ang(1-7) Encapsulated in Plant Cells for FDA Approval: Safety and Toxicology Studies.

For several decades, protein drugs (biologics) made in cell cultures have been delivered as sterile injections, decreasing their affordability and patient preference. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) gum is the first engineered human blood protein expressed in plant cells approved by the FDA without the need for purification and is a cold-chain and noninvasive drug delivery. This biologic is currently being evaluated in human clinical studies to debulk SARS-CoV-2 in the oral cavity to reduce coronavirus infection/transmission (NCT00543318).

Hormonal Contraception and Bone Metabolism: Emerging Evidence from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Studies on Post-Pubertal and Reproductive-Age Women.

Background/objectives: This study aims to assess the effects of combined hormonal contraceptives (CHCs) on bone metabolism markers. It primarily measures osteocalcin and additionally examines other bone health markers, seeking to determine their responses to estrogen-progestogen treatments.

Methods: This study involved a comprehensive evaluation of the pertinent literature and a meta-analysis explicitly conducted on data describing women of reproductive age.

Inferring Tripartite Associations of Vector-Borne Plant Pathogens Using a Next-Generation Sequencing Approach.

Phytoplasmas are a group of plant-pathogenic, cell-wall-less bacteria vectored primarily by leafhoppers (Hemiptera Cicadellidae), one of the most diverse families of insects. Despite the importance of documenting associations between phytoplasmas, their insect vectors, and plant hosts to prevent disease outbreaks, such knowledge is currently highly incomplete and largely neglects the diversity of the system in natural areas. Here, we used anchored hybrid enrichment (AHE) to recover the DNA of five plant genes (, , , , and ) in 58 phloem-feeding leafhoppers from around the world that had previously tested positive for phytoplasma infection.

Relatedness of White-Tailed Deer from Culling Efforts Within Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zones in Minnesota.

In white-tailed deer (), closely related females form social groups, avoiding other social groups. Consequently, females infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD) are more likely to infect social group members. Culling has been used to reduce CWD transmission in high-risk areas; however, its effectiveness in removing related individuals has not been assessed.

The Effect of COVID-19 on Neonatal Outcomes in a Community Hospital.

: Despite considerable research on pregnancy outcomes affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, the consequences for infants exposed to the virus in utero remain unclear. : A retrospective cohort study was conducted, encompassing 392 mother-infant pairs delivered between April 2020 and July 2021 at a community hospital network in northeastern Pennsylvania, USA. Of these, 198 mothers had a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, while 194 did not.

Harnessing Insect Chemosensory and Mechanosensory Receptors Involved in Feeding for Precision Pest Management.

Chemosensation and mechanosensation are vital to insects' survival and behavior, shaping critical physiological processes such as feeding, metabolism, mating, and reproduction. During feeding, insects rely on diverse chemosensory and mechanosensory receptors to distinguish between nutritious and harmful substances, enabling them to select suitable food sources while avoiding toxins. These receptors are distributed across various body parts, allowing insects to detect environmental cues about food quality and adjust their behaviors accordingly.

Diagnostic and Therapeutic Utility of Extracellular Vesicles in Ocular Disease.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayer particles released by virtually all cells, with prominent roles in both physiological and pathological processes. The size, number, and molecular composition of released EVs correlate to the cells of origin, modulated by the cell's environment and pathologic state. The proteins, DNA, RNA, and protein cargo carried by EVs are protected by degradation, with a prominent role in targeted intercellular signaling.

Exploring the Pharmacogenomic Map of Croatia: PGx Clustering of 522-Patient Cohort Based on UMAP + HDBSCAN Algorithm.

Pharmacogenetics is a branch of genomic medicine aiming to personalize drug prescription guidelines based on individual genetic information. This concept might lead to a reduction in adverse drug reactions, which place a heavy burden on individual patients' health and the economy of the healthcare system. The aim of this study was to present insights gained from the pharmacogenetics-based clustering of over 500 patients from the Croatian population.

Protocadherin-7 Regulates Monocyte Migration Through Regulation of Small GTPase RhoA and Rac1.

Protocadherin-7 (Pcdh7) is a member of the non-clustered protocadherin δ1 subgroup within the cadherin superfamily. Pcdh7 has been shown to control osteoclast differentiation via the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A)-glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β)-small GTPase signaling axis. As protocadherins serve multiple biological functions, a deeper understanding of Pcdh7's biological features is valuable.

Enhancing Radiation Therapy Response in Prostate Cancer Through Metabolic Modulation by Mito-Lonidamine: A H and P Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study.

Radiation therapy (RT) is the cornerstone treatment for prostate cancer; however, it frequently induces gastrointestinal and genitourinary toxicities that substantially diminish the patients' quality of life. While many individuals experience transient side effects, a subset endures persistent, long-term complications. A promising strategy to mitigate these toxicities involves enhancing tumor radiosensitivity, potentially allowing for lower radiation doses.