The role of non-respiratory arousals in residual daytime sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea treated with positive airway pressure: An analysis of the European Sleep Apnea Database registry.

Study Objectives: To assess the impact of the non-respiratory arousal burden at baseline polysomnography (PSG) on residual daytime sleepiness in positive airway pressure (PAP)-treated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: We included OSA patients from the European Sleep Apnea Database registry with available arousal data who had at least 2 treatment follow-up visits. The primary outcome was the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score under PAP.

Trajectories of intrinsic connectivity one year post pediatric mild traumatic brain injury: Neural injury superimposed on neurodevelopment.

The developing brain undergoes rapid changes throughout middle childhood and adolescence. The disambiguation of long-term changes in intrinsic activity following pediatric mild traumatic brain injury (pmTBI) from typical development can therefore only be ascertained in longitudinal studies with large sample size and at least three serial assessments. A comprehensive clinical battery and resting-state fMRI data were collected approximately 1-week (N = 263; 8-18 years old), 4-months (N = 192) and 1-year (N = 153) post-injury, with identical visits in a large cohort (N = 228) of age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC).

Positive mental health interventions for people with schizophrenia: A scoping review.

Background: Promoting positive mental health is crucial for maintaining a healthy balance of mental well-being, both for individuals with and without mental health conditions, including schizophrenia.

Objective: To map interventions that promote positive mental health in individuals with schizophrenia.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review following Joanna Briggs Institute recommendations.

Acute and time-course changes in hemodynamic and physical performance parameters following single and multiple resistance training sets in cognitively impaired individuals: A randomized crossover study.

This study analyzed the acute and time-course changes following one resistance training (RT) set (1SET) and three sets (3SET) on hemodynamic and physical performance parameters in individuals with different cognitive impairment levels. Thirty-nine individuals (22 women and 17 men aged 80 ± 9 years) grouped by cognitive impairment (mild [MILD], moderate [MOD], and severe [SEV]) randomly performed two protocols, each separated by one week, of 1SET or 3SET of 10 repetitions. Before (PRE), immediately (POST), and 72 h after (POST72) protocols, the participants performed the following measurements: systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), 1-kg medicine ball throw (MBT) distance, five-repetition sit-to-stand (STS) time, and handgrip strength (HGS).

Cytochrome P450 electrochemical biosensors transforming in vitro metabolism testing - Opportunities and challenges.

The ability of the living world to flourish in the face of constant exposure to dangerous chemicals depends on the management ability of a widespread group of enzymes known as heme-thiolate monooxygenases or cytochrome P450 superfamily. About three-quarters of all reactions determining the metabolism of endogenous compounds, of those carried in foods, of taken drugs, or even of synthetic chemicals discarded into the environment depend on their catalytic performance. The chromatographic and (photo)luminometric methods routinely used as predictive and analytical tools in laboratories have significant drawbacks ranging from limited shelf-life of reagents, use of synthetic substrates, laborious and tedious procedures for highly sensitive detection.

The 2024 Assisi think tank on breast cancer: Focus on the use of a tumour bed boost after breast conserving therapy.

At the Fifth Assisi Think Tank Meeting (ATTM) on breast cancer, one key topic was the role of tumor bed boost in invasive breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ. The need for a tumor bed boost after whole breast irradiation is controversial. A literature review assessed boost indications, target volume definition, techniques, dose fractionation, and ongoing trials.

Improved daily PM estimates in India reveal inequalities in recent enhancement of air quality.

Poor ambient air quality poses a substantial global health threat. However, accurate measurement remains challenging, particularly in countries such as India where ground monitors are scarce despite high expected exposure and health burdens. This lack of precise measurements impedes understanding of changes in pollution exposure over time and across populations.

Anatomical description and digital reconstruction of the skull of Jeholosaurus shangyuanensis (Dinosauria, Ornithopoda) from China.

Ornithopod dinosaurs appeared during the Middle Jurassic, but it was in the Lower Cretaceous they started their successful evolutionary history. Different phylogenies describing the evolutionary relationships of Ornithopoda are mostly based on cranial features, however there is a lack of well-preserved and complete skulls for the basal member of the clade, hampering our knowledge on the mode and tempo of these herbivorous dinosaurs. Here we describe YLSNHM 01942, a well-preserved skull of a juvenile neornithischian from the Liaoning Province of China.

Low-cost and scalable machine learning model for identifying children and adolescents with poor oral health using survey data: An empirical study in Portugal.

This empirical study assessed the potential of developing a machine-learning model to identify children and adolescents with poor oral health using only self-reported survey data. Such a model could enable scalable and cost-effective screening and targeted interventions, optimizing limited resources to improve oral health outcomes. To train and test the model, we used data from 2,133 students attending schools in a Portuguese municipality.

Validation of the brief physical activity assessment tool: Comparison of telephone and in-person administration.

We examined the reliability and validity of the Brief Physical Activity Assessment Tool (BPAAT) when administered by telephone interview compared to in-person administration. We analyzed data from the Epi-asthma study. Adult participants registered in the participating Portuguese primary health care centres (PCC) completed the BPAAT via telephone.

The measurement reliability and equivalence of print versus online versions of the Youth Activity Profile.

Purpose: The Youth Activity Profile (YAP) is a 7-day self-report designed to quantify physical activity and sedentary behaviors among youth. This study evaluated the reliability of the online version of the YAP and equivalence with the paper-based version.

Method: A total of 2,490 participants from 17 schools in Iowa and Texas completed the YAP.

Evaluation of the perception of information from ChatGPT in myopia education: Perspectives of students and professionals.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the perception and understanding of the information provided by ChatGPT regarding myopia among optometry students, optometrists undertaking a Master degree and practicing optometrists.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study using a structured questionnaire distributed via Wooclap to 225 participants (125 optometry students, 21 Masters students and 79 practicing optometrists). All participants evaluated the responses generated by ChatGPT Version 4.

Gold Single Atom Doped Defective Nanoporous Copper Octahedrons for Electrocatalytic Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Ethylene.

Electrocatalytic CO reduction into high-value multicarbon products offers a sustainable approach to closing the anthropogenic carbon cycle and contributing to carbon neutrality, particularly when renewable electricity is used to power the reaction. However, the lack of efficient and durable electrocatalysts with high selectivity for multicarbons severely hinders the practical application of this promising technology. Herein, a nanoporous defective AuCu single-atom alloy (De-AuCu SAA) catalyst is developed through facile low-temperature thermal reduction in hydrogen and a subsequent dealloying process, which shows high selectivity toward ethylene (CH), with a Faradaic efficiency of 52% at the current density of 252 mA cm under a potential of -1.

Iron Drives Eosinophil Differentiation in Allergic Airway Inflammation Through Mitochondrial Metabolic Adaptation.

Eosinophils play a crucial role as effector cells in asthma pathogenesis, with their differentiation being tightly regulated by metabolic mechanisms. While the involvement of iron in various cellular processes is well known, its specific role in eosinophil differentiation has largely remained unexplored. This study demonstrates that iron levels are increased during the differentiation process from eosinophil progenitors to mature and activated eosinophils in the context of allergic airway inflammation.

Clinical, Analytical, and Echocardiographic Associations of Impaired Cardiorespiratory Fitness After Anthracycline Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer: EPIC Fitness Study.

Purpose: This study explores the effects of anthracycline chemotherapy (AC) on breast cancer patients, focusing on changes in body composition, advanced echocardiographic parameters at rest and during exercise, and biomarkers; and subsequently assesses whether these parameters are associated with impaired cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF).

Methods: In this prospective study, we evaluated women with early-stage breast cancer undergoing AC at three visits: before AC, 1 month after, and 6 months post-AC.

Results: The study included 32 women with breast cancer, with functional disability increasing from 9.

Machine learning-driven discovery of structurally related natural products as activators of the cardiac calcium pump SERCA2a.

A key molecular dysfunction in heart failure is the reduced activity of the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA2a) in cardiac muscle cells. Reactivating SERCA2a improves cardiac function in heart failure models, making it a validated target and an attractive therapeutic approach for heart failure therapy. However, finding small-molecule SERCA2a activators is challenging.

Defining Health Management: A Conceptual Foundation for Excellence Through Efficiency, Sustainability and Equity.

The practice of healthcare management is essential for the efficient operation of health services, encompassing leadership, management, and direction within healthcare organisations. 'Health management' extends beyond healthcare management by integrating principles of public health and health policy. As health management is commonly practised but not cohesively recognised, the European Health Management Association (EHMA) conducted this study to develop a cohesive definition of health management.

Association and substitution analyses of dietary sugars, starch and fiber for indices of body fat and cardiometabolic risk- a NoHoW sub-study.

Purpose: To examine the associations and substitutions of dietary sugars [extrinsic (free) or intrinsic (non-free)] as well as dietary starch and fiber intakes for indices of body fat and cardiometabolic health.

Methods: Dietary intake was assessed at multiple times using multi-day 24-hour recalls over 18-months for indices of body fat (body fat %, waist circumference, BMI, and weight change) (n = 1066) and at baseline and 12 months for cardiometabolic outcomes (LDL, HDL, HbA1c) (n = 736). Bayesian modeling was applied to analyze the probabilistic impact of dietary carbohydrate components using credible intervals for association and substitution analyses with repeated measures random effects modeling.

Molecular Survey of Protist Enteroparasites in Bats (Order Chiroptera) from Portugal.

Purpose: Bats constitute 20% of all mammal species, playing a vital role in ecosystem health as pollinators, seed dispersers, and regulators of insect populations. However, these animals can also be reservoirs for infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria, and enteroparasites such as Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Balantioides coli, raising questions about their role in the epidemiology of these agents.

Age, cancer, and the dual burden of cancer and doxorubicin in skeletal muscle wasting in female rats: which one to blame?

Sarcopenia and cancer cachexia are two life-threatening conditions often misdiagnosed. The skeletal muscle is one of the organs most adversely affected by these conditions, culminating in poor quality of life and premature mortality. In addition, it has been suggested that chemotherapeutic agents exacerbate cancer cachexia, as is the case of doxorubicin.

Forensic sex classification by convolutional neural network approach by VGG16 model: accuracy, precision and sensitivity.

Introduction: In the reconstructive phase of medico-legal human identification, the sex estimation is crucial in the reconstruction of the biological profile and can be applied both in identifying victims of mass disasters and in the autopsy room. Due to the inherent subjectivity associated with traditional methods, artificial intelligence, specifically, convolutional neural networks (CNN) may present a competitive option.

Objectives: This study evaluates the reliability of VGG16 model as an accurate forensic sex prediction algorithm and its performance using orthopantomography (OPGs).

Volumetric Absorptive Microsampling in Toxicology.

Volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) is an emerging technique in clinical and forensic toxicology. It is recognized as a promising alternative to traditional sampling methods, offering an accurate and minimally invasive means of collecting small volumes of biological samples, such as blood, urine, and saliva. Unlike conventional methods, VAMS provides advantages in terms of sample stability, storage, and transportation, as it enables samples to be collected outside laboratory environments without requiring refrigeration.

A One Health Perspective on Multidrug Resistance Amongst Iberian Exotic Pet Owners.

Understanding owners' realities and perceptions may be crucial to helping veterinarians be more effective in their daily work. Noticing the lack of publications in this area, specifically on exotic pets, prompted us to gather insights into non-traditional companion animal owners. A survey was conducted, resulting in 541 respondents from Portugal and Spain.

Potential of Pine Biochar to Mitigate Bacterial Hazards Present in Recycled Manure Solids from Dairy Cows.

The use of recycled manure solids (RMS) as cow bedding in dairy farms poses concerns due to its potential to harbor pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This study evaluated the impact of RMS supplementation with biochar at three concentrations (2.5%, 5%, and 10%) on bacterial counts and on the antimicrobial resistance and virulence profiles of and isolates.

Immunobridging Trials: An Important Tool to Protect Vulnerable and Immunocompromised Patients Against Evolving Pathogens.

Safeguarding patients from emerging infectious diseases demands strategies that prioritise patient well-being and protection. Immunobridging is an established trial methodology which has been increasingly employed to ensure patient protection and provide clinicians with swift access to vaccines. It uses immunological markers to infer the effectiveness of a new drug through a surrogate measure of efficacy.