Geniposide dosage and administration time: Balancing therapeutic benefits and adverse reactions in liver disease treatment.

Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, a staple in herbal medicine, has long been esteemed for its purported hepatoprotective properties. Its primary bioactive constituent, geniposide, has attracted considerable scientific interest owing to its multifaceted therapeutic benefits across various health conditions. However, recent investigations have unveiled potential adverse effects associated with its metabolite, genipin, particularly at higher doses and prolonged durations of administration, leading to hepatic injury. Determining the optimal dosage and duration of geniposide administration while elucidating its pharmacological and toxicological mechanisms is imperative for safe and effective clinical application. This study aimed to evaluate the safe dosage and administration duration of geniposide in mice and investigate its toxicological mechanisms within a comprehensive dosage-duration-efficacy/toxicity model. Four distinct mouse models were employed, including wild-type mice, cholestasis-induced mice, globally farnesoid X-activated receptor (FXR) knock out mice, and high-fat diet-induced (HFD) NAFLD mice. Various administration protocols, spanning one or four weeks and comprising two or three oral doses, were tailored to each model's requirements. Geniposide has positive effects on bile acid and lipid metabolism at doses below 220 mg/kg/day without causing liver injury in normal mice. However, in mice with NAFLD, this dosage is less effective in improving liver function, lipid profiles, and bile acid metabolism compared to lower doses. In cholestasis-induced mice, prolonged use of geniposide at 220 mg/kg/day worsened liver damage. Additionally, in NAFLD mice, this dosage of geniposide for four weeks led to intestinal pyroptosis and liver inflammation. These results highlight the lipid-lowering and bile acid regulatory effects of geniposide, but also warn of potential negative impacts on intestinal epithelial cells, particularly with higher doses and longer treatment durations. Therefore, achieving optimal therapeutic results requires a decrease in treatment duration as the dosage increases, in order to maintain a balanced approach to the use of geniposide in clinical settings.

Dissecting the vascular-cognitive nexus: energetic vs. conventional hemodynamic parameters.

Blood pressure or flow measurements have been associated with vascular health and cognitive function. We proposed that energetic hemodynamic parameters may provide a more nuanced understanding and stronger correlation with cognitive function, in comparisons with conventional aortic and carotid pressure and flow parameters. The study comprised 1858 participants, in whom we assessed cognitive function via MoCA method, and measured central aortic and carotid pressure and flow waveforms. In addition to various pressure and flow parameters, we calculated energetic hemodynamic parameters through integration of pressure multiplying flow with respect to time. Energetic hemodynamic parameters, particularly aortic and carotid mean and pulsatile energy and pulsatility index (PI), were significantly associated with MoCA score more than any aortic and carotid pressure and flow parameters, after adjusting for age, sex, education, depression score, heart rate, BMI, HDL-cholesterol, and glucose levels. MoCA exhibited a strong positive relationship with carotid mean energy (standardized beta = 0.053, P = 0.0253) and a negative relationship with carotid energy PI (standardized beta = -0.093, P = 0.0002), exceeding the association with all traditional pressure- or flow-based parameters. Aortic pressure reflection coefficient at the aorto-carotid junction was positively correlated with mean carotid energy and negatively correlated with PI. Aortic characteristic impedance positively correlated with carotid energy PI but not mean energy. Our research indicates that energetic hemodynamic parameters, particularly carotid mean energy and carotid energy PI, have a stronger association with MoCA scores than traditional pressure- or flow-based metrics. This correlation with cognitive function is notably influenced by the properties of the aorto-carotid interface.

Landscape genomics reveals genetic signals of environmental adaptation of African wild eggplants.

Crop wild relatives (CWR) provide a valuable resource for improving crops. They possess desirable traits that confer resilience to various environmental stresses. To fully utilize crop wild relatives in breeding and conservation programs, it is important to understand the genetic basis of their adaptation. Landscape genomics associates environments with genomic variation and allows for examining the genetic basis of adaptation. Our study examined the differences in allele frequency of 15,416 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated through genotyping by sequencing approach among 153 accessions of 15 wild eggplant relatives and two cultivated species from Africa, the principal hotspot of these wild relatives. We also explored the correlation between these variations and the bioclimatic and soil conditions at their collection sites, providing a comprehensive understanding of the genetic signals of environmental adaptation in African wild eggplant. Redundancy analysis (RDA) results showed that the environmental variation explained 6% while the geographical distances among the collection sites explained 15% of the genomic variation in the eggplant wild relative populations when controlling for population structure. Our findings indicate that even though environmental factors are not the main driver of selection in eggplant wild relatives, it is influential in shaping the genomic variation over time. The selected environmental variables and candidate SNPs effectively revealed grouping patterns according to the environmental characteristics of sampling sites. Using four genotype-environment association methods, we detected 396 candidate SNPs (2.5% of the initial SNPs) associated with eight environmental factors. Some of these SNPs signal genes involved in pathways that help adapt to environmental stresses such as drought, heat, cold, salinity, pests, and diseases. These candidate SNPs will be useful for marker-assisted improvement and characterizing the germplasm of this crop for developing climate-resilient eggplant varieties. The study provides a model for applying landscape genomics to other crops' wild relatives.

Rest-Activity Rhythm Differences in Acute Rehabilitation Between Poststroke Patients and Non-Brain Disease Controls: Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: Circadian rhythm disruptions are a common concern for poststroke patients undergoing rehabilitation and might negatively impact their functional outcomes. OBJECTIVE: Our research aimed to uncover unique patterns and disruptions specific to poststroke rehabilitation patients and identify potential differences in specific rest-activity rhythm indicators when compared to inpatient controls with non-brain-related lesions, such as patients with spinal cord injuries. METHODS: We obtained a 7-day recording with a wearable actigraphy device from 25 poststroke patients (n=9, 36% women; median age 56, IQR 46-71) and 25 age- and gender-matched inpatient control participants (n=15, 60% women; median age 57, IQR 46.5-68.5). To assess circadian rhythm, we used a nonparametric method to calculate key rest-activity rhythm indicators-relative amplitude, interdaily stability, and intradaily variability. Relative amplitude, quantifying rest-activity rhythm amplitude while considering daily variations and unbalanced amplitudes, was calculated as the ratio of the difference between the most active 10 continuous hours and the least active 5 continuous hours to the sum of these 10 and 5 continuous hours. We also examined the clinical correlations between rest-activity rhythm indicators and delirium screening tools, such as the 4 A's Test and the Barthel Index, which assess delirium and activities of daily living. RESULTS: Patients who had a stroke had higher least active 5-hour values compared to the control group (median 4.29, IQR 2.88-6.49 vs median 1.84, IQR 0.67-4.34; P=.008). The most active 10-hour values showed no significant differences between the groups (stroke group: median 38.92, IQR 14.60-40.87; control group: median 31.18, IQR 18.02-46.84; P=.93). The stroke group presented a lower relative amplitude compared to the control group (median 0.74, IQR 0.57-0.85 vs median 0.88, IQR 0.71-0.96; P=.009). Further analysis revealed no significant differences in other rest-activity rhythm metrics between the two groups. Among the patients who had a stroke, a negative correlation was observed between the 4 A's Test scores and relative amplitude (ρ=-0.41; P=.045). Across all participants, positive correlations emerged between the Barthel Index scores and both interdaily stability (ρ=0.34; P=.02) and the most active 10-hour value (ρ=0.42; P=.002). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the relevance of circadian rhythm disruptions in poststroke rehabilitation and provides insights into potential diagnostic and prognostic implications for rest-activity rhythm indicators as digital biomarkers.

Robotic Versus Laparoscopic Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Pancreatic Cancer: Evaluation and Analysis of Surgical Efficacy.

BACKGROUND: Evidence is limited for the treatment of pancreatic cancer among minimally invasive pancreatoduodenectomy. METHODS: This retrospective analysis evaluated patients who underwent robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (RPD) or laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) from April 2016 to April 2023. Their baseline and perioperative data, including operative time, R0 resection rates, and severe complications rates, were analyzed, and the follow-up data, such as disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS), were collected. RESULTS: A total of 253 cases of LPD and RPD were performed, and 101 cases with pancreatic cancer were included, of which 54 were LPD and 47 were RPD. The conversion rate (4.3% vs. 29.6%, p = 0.001) and blood loss (400 vs. 575 mL, p < 0.05) were lower in the RPD group. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of operative time, vessel resection rates, and TNM-stage diagnosis; however, R0 resection rates (80.9% vs. 70.4%) and lymph node harvest (24.2 vs. 21.9) had a higher tendency in the RPD group, and postoperative length of stay was shorter in the RPD cohort (11 vs. 13 days). Moreover, improved 1- to 3-years DFS (75.7%, 61.7%, and 36.0% vs. 59.0%, 35.6%, and 21.9%) and OS (94.7%, 84.7%, and 50.8% vs. 84.1%, 63.6%, and 45.5%) was found in the RPD group in comparison with the LPD group. CONCLUSIONS: RPD had advantages in surgical safety and oncological outcomes compared with LPD, but was similar to the latter in perioperative outcomes. Long-term outcomes require further study.

Analysis of continuous laser-irradiation resistance of liquid-crystal optical switch based on sapphire-substrate GaN.

Developing high-power laser technology and its applications necessitates improvements in the laser-irradiation resistance of liquid-crystal modulation devices. In this study, the thermal characteristics of substrate and electrode materials, including sapphire-substrate indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes, K9 glass-substrate ITO electrodes, sapphire-substrate gallium nitride (GaN) electrodes, and liquid-crystal optical switches, are investigated using simulation and experimental methods. Results show that the sapphire-substrate GaN electrode demonstrates the best heat dissipation and that the maximum temperature at the center of the spot under 75 W laser irradiation is 319 K, 52 K lower than that of an equally thick sapphire-substrate ITO electrode and 225 K lower than that of an equally thick K9 glass-substrate ITO electrode (steady state and test time >2min). Additionally, the experimental results show that the liquid-crystal optical switch, comprising a sapphire substrate and GaN electrode, can endure continuous laser irradiation up to 18 W with a switching ratio of approximately 20:1. The optical switch with GaN electrodes on a sapphire substrate can endure a power density of 156W/c m 2, much higher than that (21W/c m 2, steady state and test time >2min) tolerable by the liquid-crystal optical switch with ITO transparent electrodes and K9 glass substrates.

History of suicidal behavior and clozapine prescribing among people with schizophrenia in China: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Clozapine is an off-label drug used in most countries to prevent suicide in individuals with schizophrenia. However, few studies have reported real-world prescription practices. This study aimed to explore the association between a history of suicidal behavior and clozapine prescribing during eight weeks of hospitalization for individuals with early-stage schizophrenia. METHODS: This observational cohort study used routine health data collected from a mental health hospital in Beijing, China. The study included 1057 inpatients who had schizophrenia onset within 3 years. History of suicidal behavior was coded from reviewing medical notes according to the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Information on antipsychotic use during hospitalization was extracted from the prescription records. Time to clozapine use was analyzed using Cox regression models adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical covariates. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of self-harm, suicidal behavior, and suicide attempt were 12.3%, 7.5%, and 5.4%, respectively. A history of self-harm history was positively associated with clozapine uses upon admission (4.1% vs. 0.8%, exact p = 0.009). Among those who had not used clozapine and had no clozapine contraindication, A history of suicidal behavior increased the possibility of switch to clozapine within 56 days after admission (Hazard Ratio[95% CI], 6.09[2.08-17.83]) or during hospitalization (4.18[1.62-10.78]). CONCLUSION: The use of clozapine for early-stage schizophrenia was more frequent among those with suicidal behavior than among those without suicidal behavior in China, although the drug instructions do not label its use for suicide risk.

Readmission Rates Among Acute Reperfusion Treatment Modalities for Patients With Ischemic Stroke.

Background and purpose: Understanding various aspects associated with readmission after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is an important priority. Our study aims to examine whether 60-day readmission rates differed among patients with AIS who were treated with different acute reperfusion treatment modalities along with associated clinical factors. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of a continuous cohort of patient with AIS, who received either intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV rtPA), endovascular treatment (EVT) or both, and were discharged alive. Patients readmitted within 60 days were identified as the readmission group. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify all-cause readmission post-stroke between treatment groups. Results: The final cohort comprised of 358 patients with AIS receiving IV rtPA only (N = 160), EVT only (N = 106), or both (N = 92). Fifty-six patients were readmitted to the hospital within 60-day follow-up period. The adjusted logistic regression model indicated that compared to patients who received IV tPA only, patients receiving both IV rtPA and EVT had significantly lower odds (OR = .27; 95% CI = .10, .75)) of getting readmitted within 60-day post-discharge from stroke admission. Conclusion: In this sample of AIS hospitalizations, treatment-type was positively associated with 60-day readmission. Future studies are necessary to understand whether treatment-related adverse events, and readmission are avoidable.

Precise recognition of benzonitrile derivatives with supramolecular macrocycle of phosphorylated cavitand by co-crystallization method.

The importance of molecular docking in drug discovery lies in the precise recognition between potential drug compounds and their target receptors, which is generally based on the computational method. However, it will become quite interesting if the rigid cavity structure of supramolecular macrocycles can precisely recognize a series of guests with specific fragments by mimicking molecular docking through co-crystallization experiments. Herein, we report a phenylphosphine oxide-bridged aromatic supramolecular macrocycle, F[3]A1-[P(O)Ph]3, which precisely recognizes benzonitrile derivatives through non-covalent interactions to form key-lock complexes by co-crystallization method. A total of 15 various benzonitrile derivatives as guest molecules are specifically bound by F[3]A1-[P(O)Ph]3 in co-crystal structures, respectively. Notably, among them, crisaborole (anti-dermatitis) and alectinib (anti-cancer) with the benzonitrile fragment, which are two commercial drug molecules approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), could also form a key-lock complex with F[3]A1-[P(O)Ph]3 in the crystal state, respectively.

Venous resection increases risk of chyle leak after total pancreatectomy for pancreatic tumors.

BACKGROUND: Existing research on chyle leak (CL) after pancreatic surgery is mostly focused on pancreaticoduodenectomy and lacks investigation on total pancreatectomy (TP). This study aimed to explore potential risk factors of CL and develop a predictive model for patients with pancreatic tumor undergoing TP. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 90 consecutive patients undergoing TP from January 2015 to December 2023 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital. According to the inclusion criteria, 79 patients were finally included in the following analysis. The LASSO regression and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify risk factors associated with CL and construct a predictive nomogram. Then, the ROC analysis, calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), and clinical impact curve (CIC) were performed to assess its discrimination, accuracy, and efficacy. Due to the small sample size, we adopted the bootstrap resampling method with 500 repetitions for validation. Lastly, we plotted and analyzed the trend of postoperative drainage volume in CL patients. RESULTS: We revealed that venous resection (OR = 4.352, 95%CI 1.404-14.04, P = 0.011) was an independent risk factor for CL after TP. Prolonged operation time (OR = 1.473, 95%CI 1.015-2.237, P = 0.052) was also associated with an increased incidence of CL. We included these two factors in our prediction model. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.752 (95%CI 0.622-0.874) after bootstrap. The calibration curve, DCA and CIC showed great accuracy and clinical benefit of our nomogram. In patients with CL, the mean drainage volume was significantly higher in venous resection group and grade B CL group. CONCLUSION: Venous resection was an independent risk factor for chyle leak after TP. Patients undergoing vascular resection during TP should be alert for the occurrence of CL after surgery. We then constructed a nomogram consisted of venous resection and operation time to predict the odds of CL in patients undergoing TP.

The importance of mother-child interaction on smart device usage and behavior outcomes among toddlers: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, smart devices have become an integral part of daily life. However, longitudinal studies, particularly those regarding the relationship between toddlers' smart device usage and behavioral outcomes, are limited. Understanding the impact of parent-child interactions on this relationship is crucial for enhancing toddlers' developmental outcomes. Accordingly, this study examined the influence of early screen time and media content exposure on toddlers' behaviors, as well as the positive effects of mother-child interactions on this influence. METHODS: We used relevant data related to 277 children born between November 2016 and July 2020 and who were part of an ongoing prospective follow-up study conducted across five hospitals in Taipei City, Taiwan. We analyzed (1) data from maternal reports regarding children's behavior by using the Child Behavior Checklist (for ages 11/2-5 years), (2) assessments of mother-child interactions by using the Brigance Parent-Child Interactions Scale, and (3) self-reported parental data covering the first 3 postpartum years. Statistical analyses involved group-based trajectory modeling and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: A considerable increase in screen time between the ages of 1 and 3 years was associated with less favorable behavioral outcomes at age 3. These outcomes included somatic complaints [adjusted beta coefficient (aß) = 2.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.39-3.95, p-value = 0.01], withdrawal (aß = 2.42, 95% CI = 0.15-4.69, p-value = 0.04), and aggressive behavior (aß = 6.53, 95% CI = 0.25-12.81, p-value = 0.04). This association was particularly evident among children with lower levels of mother-child interaction. Nevertheless, positive mother-child interactions mitigated most of the adverse effects. Additionally, increased exposure to games and cartoons was associated with poorer behavioral outcomes in all children except for those experiencing positive mother-child interactions. CONCLUSION: Early mother-child interactions play a crucial role in mitigating the risk of behavioral problems in toddlers who spend prolonged periods looking at screens and who are frequently exposed to game and cartoon content.

Effect of fear of falling on turning performance among patients with chronic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Turning difficulties have been reported in stroke persons, but studies have indicated that fall history might not significantly affect turning performance. Fear of falling (FOF) is common after a fall, although it can occur in individuals without a fall history. RESEARCH QUESTION: Could FOF have an impact on turning performance among chronic stroke patients? METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited 97 stroke persons. They were instructed to perform 180° and 360° turns, and their performance was represented by angular velocity. FOF was evaluated using the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I). Falls that occurred 12 months prior to the study assessment were recorded. RESULTS: A higher FES-I score was significantly correlated with a decline in angular velocity in all turning tasks after adjustment for demographic data. The correlation remained significant after controlling for falls history. Participants with a high level of FOF exhibited significantly slower angular velocities during all turning tasks compared with those with a low level of FOF. Participants with a moderate level of FOF had a significantly slower angular velocity than did those with a low level of FOF during the 360° turn to the paretic side only. SIGNIFICANCE: A higher level of FOF, regardless of fall history, was significantly associated with a reduced angular velocity during turning. A high level of FOF affected turning performance in all tasks. Turning performance may not be affected by fall experience. Anxiety about falling may have a greater effect on turning performance than does fall history.

Visualization of Individual RNA Molecules by Proximity Ligation-Based Chromogenic In Situ Hybridization Assay.

RNA in situ hybridization reveals the abundance and location of gene expression in cells or tissues, providing a technical basis for the clinical diagnosis of diseases. In this chapter, we show a "V" shape probe-mediated single-molecule chromogenic in situ hybridization (vsmCISH) technique for bright-field visualization of individual RNA molecules. In our method, several pairs of target hybridization probes are hybridized to RNA molecules and each probe pair forms a "V" shape overhang. The overhang oligonucleotides then mediated the proximity ligation to form DNA circles, followed by rolling circle amplification for signal enhancement and enzyme-catalyzed chromogenic reaction-based readout. The colorimetric assay avoids problems such as photobleaching and autofluorescence of current fluorescent in situ hybridization-based single-molecule RNA detection techniques. Furthermore, the relatively straightforward protocol makes the method useful for biological research and clinical diagnosis applications.

A Robust α-l-Fucosidase from Prevotella nigrescens for Glycoengineering Therapeutic Antibodies.

Eliminating the core fucose from the N-glycans of the Fc antibody segment by pathway engineering or enzymatic methods has been shown to enhance the potency of therapeutic antibodies, especially in the context of antibody-dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC). However, there is a significant challenge due to the limited defucosylation efficiency of commercially available α-l-fucosidases. In this study, we report a unique α-l-fucosidase (PnfucA) from the bacterium Prevotella nigrescens that has a low sequence identity compared with all other known α-l-fucosidases and is highly reactive toward a core disaccharide substrate with fucose α(1,3)-, α (1,4)-and α(1,6)-linked to GlcNAc, and is less reactive toward the Fuc-α(1,2)-Gal on the terminal trisaccharide of the oligosaccharide Globo H (Bb3). The kinetic properties of the enzyme, such as its Km and kcat, were determined and the optimized expression of PnfucA gave a yield exceeding 30 mg/L. The recombinant enzyme retained its full activity even after being incubated for 6 h at 37 °C. Moreover, it retained 92 and 87% of its activity after freezing and freeze-drying treatments, respectively, for over 28 days. In a representative glycoengineering of adalimumab (Humira), PnfucA showed remarkable hydrolytic efficiency in cleaving the α(1,6)-linked core fucose from FucGlcNAc on the antibody with a quantitative yield. This enabled the seamless incorporation of biantennary sialylglycans by Endo-S2 D184 M in a one-pot fashion to yield adalimumab in a homogeneous afucosylated glycoform with an improved binding affinity toward Fcγ receptor IIIa.

Effects of Subchronic Buspirone Treatment on Depressive Profile in Socially Isolated Rats: Implication of Early Life Experience on 5-HT1A Receptor-Related Depression.

The heterogeneity of etiology may serve as a crucial factor in the challenges of treatment, including the low response rate and the delay in establishing therapeutic effect. In the present study, we examined whether social experience since early life is one of the etiologies, with the involvement of the 5-HT1A receptors, and explored the potentially therapeutic action of the subchronic administration of buspirone, a partial 5-HT1A agonist. Rats were isolation reared (IR) since their weaning, and the depressive profile indexed by the forced-swim test (FST) was examined in adulthood. Nonspecific locomotor activity was used for the IR validation. Buspirone administration (1 mg/kg/day) was introduced for 14 days (week 9-11). The immobility score of the FST was examined before and after the buspirone administration. Tissue levels of serotonin (5-HT) and its metabolite 5-HIAA were measured in the hippocampus, the amygdala, and the prefrontal cortex. Efflux levels of 5-HT, dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE) were detected in the hippocampus by brain dialysis. Finally, the full 5-HT1A agonist 8-OH-DPAT (0.5 mg/kg) was acutely administered in both behavioral testing and the dialysis experiment. Our results showed (i) increased immobility time in the FST for the IR rats as compared to the social controls, which could not be reversed by the buspirone administration; (ii) IR-induced FST immobility in rats receiving buspirone was corrected by the 8-OH-DPAT; and (iii) IR-induced reduction in hippocampal 5-HT levels can be reversed by the buspirone administration. Our data indicated the 5-HT1A receptor-linked early life social experience as one of the mechanisms of later life depressive mood.

Predictors of Incident Stroke and Subsequent Mortality Among a Sample of Veterans with Experience of Housing Instability.

Homelessness is associated with poor health outcomes and early development of cardiovascular disease. This study investigated the correlates of incident stroke and its association with mortality among Veterans experiencing housing instability. Using a national sample of Veterans (n=565,608) with incident housing instability between 2014-2018, we compared characteristics of Veterans who did and did not experience incident stroke and conducted logistic regressions to assess two outcomes: incident stroke and mortality. Almost four percent experienced a first stroke and were more frequently male, older than 55 years, Black, and non-Hispanic. A higher rate of mortality was observed among those with a first stroke compared with those with no stroke (17.6% vs. 10.8%), although the difference was not statistically significant. Incident stroke was associated with triple the odds of death among unstably-housed Veterans compared with those who did not have an incident stroke. Implications include the need to screen and monitor for stroke risk among Veterans with experience of housing instability, particularly for those who are older.

Comparing Human-Smartphone Interactions and Actigraphy Measurements for Circadian Rhythm Stability and Adiposity: Algorithm Development and Validation Study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between adiposity and circadian rhythm and compare the measurement of circadian rhythm using both actigraphy and a smartphone app that tracks human-smartphone interactions. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that the app-based measurement may provide more comprehensive information, including light-sensitive melatonin secretion and social rhythm, and have stronger correlations with adiposity indicators. METHODS: We enrolled a total of 78 participants (mean age 41.5, SD 9.9 years; 46/78, 59% women) from both an obesity outpatient clinic and a workplace health promotion program. All participants (n=29 with obesity, n=16 overweight, and n=33 controls) were required to wear a wrist actigraphy device and install the Rhythm app for a minimum of 4 weeks, contributing to a total of 2182 person-days of data collection. The Rhythm app estimates sleep and circadian rhythm indicators by tracking human-smartphone interactions, which correspond to actigraphy. We examined the correlations between adiposity indices and sleep and circadian rhythm indicators, including sleep time, chronotype, and regularity of circadian rhythm, while controlling for physical activity level, age, and gender. RESULTS: Sleep onset and wake time measurements did not differ significantly between the app and actigraphy; however, wake after sleep onset was longer (13.5, SD 19.5 minutes) with the app, resulting in a longer actigraphy-measured total sleep time (TST) of 20.2 (SD 66.7) minutes. The obesity group had a significantly longer TST with both methods. App-measured circadian rhythm indicators were significantly lower than their actigraphy-measured counterparts. The obesity group had significantly lower interdaily stability (IS) than the control group with both methods. The multivariable-adjusted model revealed a negative correlation between BMI and app-measured IS (P=.007). Body fat percentage (BF%) and visceral adipose tissue area (VAT) showed significant correlations with both app-measured IS and actigraphy-measured IS. The app-measured midpoint of sleep showed a positive correlation with both BF% and VAT. Actigraphy-measured TST exhibited a positive correlation with BMI, VAT, and BF%, while no significant correlation was found between app-measured TST and either BMI, VAT, or BF%. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that IS is strongly correlated with various adiposity indicators. Further exploration of the role of circadian rhythm, particularly measured through human-smartphone interactions, in obesity prevention could be warranted.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of adolescent depression among parents of children diagnosed with depression in Ningbo City, eastern China.

Objective: To investigate parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) toward adolescent depression. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 2022 and October 2023 at The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University among parents of adolescents diagnosed with depression. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the parents' demographic characteristics and KAP toward adolescent depression. Results: A total of 522 questionnaires were collected from parents of depressed adolescents. Among the participants, 383 (73.37%) were female. In addition, 426 participants (81.61%) had children aged 14-18. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were 9.09 ± 2.37 (possible range: 0-12), 37.04 ± 4.11 (possible range: 11-55), and 31.53 ± 3.84 (possible range: 8-40), respectively. There were significant positive correlations between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.225, p < 0.001), knowledge and practice (r = 0.240, p < 0.001), and attitude and practice (r = 0.381, p < 0.001). The path analysis showed significant direct effects of knowledge on attitude (ß = 0.422, p < 0.001) and practice (ß = 0.283, p < 0.001). There was an indirect effect of knowledge on practice through attitude (ß = 0.131, p = 0.004). Attitude directly impacted practice (ß = 0.311, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Parents of adolescents diagnosed with depression exhibited moderate KAP regarding adolescent depression. The study underscored the importance of targeted interventions to improve parental KAP in supporting adolescents with depression. Moreover, future research should explore additional factors influencing parental attitudes and behaviors toward adolescent depression to develop more effective interventions.

Nanoarchitectonics-Based Materials as a Promising Strategy in the Treatment of Endodontic Infections.

Endodontic infections arise from the interactive activities of microbial communities colonizing in the intricate root canal system. The present study aims to update the latest knowledge of nanomaterials, their antimicrobial mechanisms, and their applications in endodontics. A detailed literature review of the current knowledge of nanomaterials used in endodontic applications was performed using the PubMed database. Antimicrobial nanomaterials with a small size, large specific surface area, and high chemical activity are introduced to act as irrigants, photosensitizer delivery systems, and medicaments, or to modify sealers. The application of nanomaterials in the endodontic field could enhance antimicrobial efficiency, increase dentin tubule penetration, and improve treatment outcomes. This study supports the potential of nanomaterials as a promising strategy in treating endodontic infections.