Versatility of Tellurium in Heteroanionic Ln2O2Te (Ln = La, Ce, Pr) and Tellurate Ln2TeO6 (Ln = La, Pr).

Heteroanionic compounds continue to gain interest in materials design because the expanded composition space provides opportunities to discover new phases and tune physical properties. Among heteroanionic materials, oxytellurides comprised of oxygen and tellurium anions are relatively underexplored despite the significant role of tellurium in emerging technologies. Herein, we present synthetic strategies toward oxytelluride Ln2O2Te (Ln = La-Pr), whose layered structure features square nets of Te2- anions. Upon heating in H2 or air, we find a reversible phase transition between the oxytelluride and tellurate Ln2TeO6 (Ln = La, Pr), wherein Te is octahedrally coordinated and a 6+ oxidation state is corroborated by bond valence analysis. We use X-ray diffraction along with thermogravimetric analyses to confirm the presence of oxytelluride and tellurate phases and emphasize key structural distinctions. In contrast, we find that Ce2O2Te decomposes to form CeO2 and demonstrate the instability of Ce2O2Te in ambient conditions by timelapse X-ray diffraction and diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy experiments. Band gaps of Ln2O2Te (Ln = La-Pr) were estimated from diffuse-reflectance spectroscopy in the semiconducting range ∼2.1-2.7 eV, while band gaps for La2TeO6 and Pr2TeO6 were much larger at ∼4.3 and ∼3.7 eV, respectively.

Perception of having children through surrogacy in individuals with MRKH in Vietnam: a qualitative study.

Introduction: Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKH) is rare condition that has a negative impact on quality of life because affected women lack a uterus and vagina, and are therefore unable to engage in sexual intercourse and experience natural pregnancy. This study evaluated perceptions of surrogacy in Vietnamese women with MRKH who have started families. Method: Women with MRKH who had undergone successful vaginal reconstruction, were married, and had started families participated in a semi-structured, in-depth, one-on-one online video interview with an experienced female psychologist. Open-ended questions were used to encourage participants to express their perceptions of surrogacy; prominent themes were discussed, compared, and combined. Results: Twenty women (mean age 31 years) agreed to participate. Key themes identified from interviews were the importance of having genetic offspring, consideration of surrogacy as a preferred solution to infertility, the barriers to surrogacy in Vietnam, lack of reproductive information and counselling, individuals concealing their health condition, the impact of religion on the possibility of surrogacy, the economic cost of surrogacy, and the difficulty in finding a surrogate under the restrictions imposed by Vietnamese law. Discussion: Based on the perceptions of women from MRKH from Vietnam, there is an opportunity to improve how infertility is managed in these people, including information about surrogacy. These data show that individuals with MRKH should be provided with information about the possibility of surrogacy, encouraged to be open and seek support, and be managed by a multidisciplinary team that includes psychological support; the provision of economic support for fertility treatments in women with MRKH should also be considered.

The Effect of Dietary Patterns on Reducing Falls and Falls Risk in Adults: A Systematic Review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Falls are a major global public health issue and the second cause of unintentional injury death. Nutrition may be an important factor for falls prevention in adults, but most previous studies examined the associations between single nutrients and falls. The use of dietary patterns is an alternative method to measure whole diet and its relationship with health outcomes. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review all evidence relating to dietary pattern impacts on falls and/or falls risk in adults. RECENT FINDINGS: This systematic review was registered on the PROSPERO (CRD42020171987). Four databases (Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL Complete) were used for searching potential articles on 18th December 2021 and updated the search on 10th July 2023. We included any quantitative study reporting associations between dietary patterns and falls and/or falls risk in healthy adults ≥ 18 years and publishing in English as full text and peer-reviewed. Of 2866 potential articles, five studies (two cross-sectional, three cohorts) were included for the evidence synthesis. The risk of bias was low in cohort studies. Dietary patterns were derived using both "a priori" or "empirical" approaches, and self-report questionnaires used for falls/falls risk in most studies. Associations between dietary patterns and falls/falls risk were inconsistent results by sex and study design. The effect of dietary patterns on reducing falls/falls risk is not clear in the included studies, so this association needs to be confirmed in future research.

Using ADAPT-ITT framework to tailor evidence-based interventions for addressing methamphetamine use among methadone patients in Vietnam.

INTRODUCTION: Methamphetamine use threatens positive treatment outcomes in substance use and HIV, for people with opioid use disorders (POUD) in many countries. This paper describes the adaptation of four evidence-based interventions (EBI) (motivational interviewing, contingency management, Matrix group model and SMS text messaging) for treating methamphetamine use among POUD receiving methadone maintenance therapy in Vietnam. METHODS: Following the ADAPT-ITT (Assessment-Decision-Administration-Production-Topical experts-Training-Testing) framework, we conducted 16 focus group discussions with POUD (n = 25) and providers (n = 22) at four methadone clinics in two largest cities (Hanoi in the North, Ho Chi Minh City in the South) to assess patterns of methamphetamine use and to get feedback on proposed EBIs. The proposed EBIs were properly adapted and used to train providers in two of the four methadone clinics. The revised EBIs were tested over 12 weeks among 42 POUD on methadone who use methamphetamine. Post-intervention feedback served to fine-tune the revised EBIs. RESULTS: Insights about patterns of methamphetamine use suggested that EBIs should focus on different triggers to methamphetamine use among POUD receiving methadone treatment in the two cities. All EBIs should emphasise family-related topics to build a strong motivation for treatment. Participants suggested when, where and how each EBI should be delivered. Most participants were satisfied with the adapted EBIs. Limited human resources at methadone clinics might hinder implementation of the adapted EBIs. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: We successfully completed the adaptation of EBIs for POUD who use methamphetamine on methadone in Vietnam. The pilot testing of the adapted EBIs demonstrated feasibility and acceptability. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04706624. Registered 13 January 2021. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04706624.

Associations between body composition, physical activity, and diet and radial bone microarchitecture in older adults: a 10-year population-based study.

Bone strength is important to prevent osteoporotic fractures and determined by bone mass and microarchitecture. This study suggests that having higher lean mass and lower fat mass, avoiding western dietary patterns, and improving steps per day may all be important for maintaining bone mass and microarchitecture in aging. PURPOSE: To describe associations between exposures of lean mass and fat mass, dietary patterns, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), physical activity and grip strength, and bone outcome measures including bone mineral density and microarchitecture in older adults. METHODS: Data on 201 older adults (mean age 72 years, female 46% at 10.7-year follow-up (phase 4) from a population-based cohort study collected at baseline and follow-up at 2.6 (phase 2), 5.1 (phase 3), and 10.7 years (phase 4) were analyzed. Exposures were lean and fat mass, dietary patterns, physical activity (steps per day), serum 25(OH)D concentrations, and grip strength during follow-ups. Bone measures at phase 4 including areal bone mineral density (aBMD) at the spine, hip, and whole body by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and radial cortical and trabecular bone microarchitecture by high-resolution peripheral computed tomography (HRpQCT). The cumulative average values of exposures were calculated. Multivariable linear regression was used to analyze associations between exposures and bone measures. RESULTS: Lean mass was beneficially associated with the hip, spine, and total body aBMD, radial cortical and trabecular bone area, and trabecular number and separation (ß ranged from - 0.39/standard deviation (SD) to 0.73/SD). Fat mass was detrimentally associated with radial compact cortical and inner transitional zone bone area, vBMD, and porosity (ß ranged from - 0.21 to 0.22/SD). Western dietary pattern scores were detrimentally associated with radial total and cortical bone vBMD and porosity (ß ranged from - 0.20 to 0.20/SD). Steps per day were beneficially associated with inner transitional zone area and thickness (ß = 0.12/SD and 0.19/SD), but no other measures. Grip strength and serum 25(OH)D were not associated with any radial bone measures. CONCLUSIONS: Lean mass was beneficially associated with aBMD, radial bone area, and trabecular bone microarchitecture. Fat mass had detrimental associations with radial bone area, vBMD, and porosity. A western dietary pattern was detrimental for radial bone microarchitecture while more steps per day (but not grip strength or 25(OH)D) appeared beneficial.

An adaptive design to screen, treat, and retain people with opioid use disorders who use methamphetamine in methadone clinics (STAR-OM): study protocol of a clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine use could jeopardize the current efforts to address opioid use disorder and HIV infection. Evidence-based behavioral interventions (EBI) are effective in reducing methamphetamine use. However, evidence on optimal combinations of EBI is limited. This protocol presents a type-1 effectiveness-implementation hybrid design to evaluate the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness of adaptive methamphetamine use interventions, and their implementation barriers in Vietnam. METHOD: Design: Participants will be first randomized into two frontline interventions for 12 weeks. They will then be placed or randomized to three adaptive strategies for another 12 weeks. An economic evaluation and an ethnographic evaluation will be conducted alongside the interventions. PARTICIPANTS: We will recruit 600 participants in 20 methadone clinics. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: (1) age 16+; (2) Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) scores ≥ 10 for methamphetamine use or confirmed methamphetamine use with urine drug screening; (3) willing to provide three pieces of contact information; and (4) having a cell phone. OUTCOMES: Outcomes are measured at 13, 26, and 49 weeks and throughout the interventions. Primary outcomes include the (1) increase in HIV viral suppression, (2) reduction in HIV risk behaviors, and (3) reduction in methamphetamine use. COVID-19 response: We developed a response plan for interruptions caused by COVID-19 lockdowns to ensure data quality and intervention fidelity. DISCUSSION: This study will provide important evidence for scale-up of EBIs for methamphetamine use among methadone patients in limited-resource settings. As the EBIs will be delivered by methadone providers, they can be readily implemented if the trial demonstrates effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04706624. Registered on 13 January 2021. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04706624.

Associations between dietary patterns and osteoporosis-related outcomes in older adults: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To describe the associations of baseline dietary pattern scores with falls risk, bone mineral density (BMD), and incident fractures measured over 10 years in older adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Dietary patterns were identified using exploratory factor analysis. Femoral neck (FN), hip, and lumbar spine (LS) BMD were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, falls risk z-score using the Physiological Profile Assessment, and incident fractures by self-report. Linear mixed-effects models and log-binomial regression were used to estimate associations between baseline dietary pattern z-scores and outcomes. RESULTS: Of 1098 participants at baseline, 567 were retained over 10 years. Four dietary patterns were derived: fruit and vegetable (FV), animal protein (AP), snack, and Western. FV pattern reduced falls risk at baseline by ß = 0.05-0.08/SD and the annual decreases of FN and hip BMD were less for higher Western or AP pattern scores in all populations and women. The annual increase in LS of the entire population was greater with higher scores of FV, AP, and Western patterns (all ß = 0.001 g/cm2/year/SD, p < 0.05). Higher scores of FV and snack were associated with a higher risk of LS BMD increasing over 10 years (p < 0.05 for all, except snack pattern in men) and incident fracture was not associated with any dietary pattern in the overall cohort and both men and women separately. CONCLUSIONS: An FV dietary pattern may be beneficial for reducing falls risk. The associations of dietary patterns and BMD are modest in magnitude and did not translate into an improved fracture risk. Associations between diet and LS BMD may reflect osteoarthritis rather than osteoporosis.

Longitudinal associations of dietary patterns with sociodemographic and lifestyle factors in older adults: the TASOAC study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To derive dietary patterns and examine their longitudinal associations with sociodemographic and lifestyle factors in the Tasmanian Older Adult Cohort. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This is a corrected analysis of a retracted paper. We followed 1098 adults aged ≥50 years for 5 years. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Baseline dietary patterns were identified using exploratory factor analysis and scores at each time point calculated using the weighted sum score method. Associations of energy-adjusted dietary pattern scores with participant characteristics were assessed using linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: The four dietary patterns identified were: fruit and vegetable (vegetables, potatoes, fruits); animal protein (poultry, red meats, fish); snack (snacks, sweets, nuts); western (meat pies, hamburgers, pizzas). Fruit and vegetable pattern scores were lower in men and current smokers at baseline. Animal protein scores were lower in older and retired people but higher in men and smokers at baseline. The sex difference in animal protein score increased over time (p = 0.012). At baseline, snack score was positively associated with age and physical activity, but lower in men and current smokers. The effect of age on snack score lessened over time (p = 0.035). Western scores were lower in older people but higher in men, current smokers and those living in disadvantaged areas at baseline. The effect of age on western score reduced over time (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The higher scores for healthy and/or lower scores for unhealthy patterns in men, smokers, retirees and those experiencing social disadvantage suggest these could be target groups for interventions to improve diet quality in older adults.

Retraction Note: Dietary patterns and their associations with socio-demographic and lifestyle factors in Tasmanian older adults: a longitudinal cohort study.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Dietary patterns and their associations with socio-demographic and lifestyle factors in Tasmanian older adults: a longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We aimed to examine dietary patterns and their longitudinal associations with socio-demographic and lifestyle factors in older adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cohort of 1098 participants aged 50-80 years were followed for 5 years. Dietary intake was assessed at baseline, 2.6 and 5 years using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were identified at baseline using exploratory factor analysis and pattern scores for each calculated using the weighted sum score method. Associations of dietary pattern scores with participants' characteristics were assessed using linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: The three dietary patterns identified and the food groups of which they were predominantly composed were as follows: a healthy dietary pattern (vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains); a western dietary pattern (pizza, hamburgers, chips, and potatoes); and a meat and vegetable dietary pattern (red meat, fish, poultry, vegetables, potatoes, and legumes). Being a man, unemployed, a current smoker, less educated, and residing in a socially disadvantaged area were associated with lower healthy dietary pattern scores, but these differences lessened over time, except in current smokers (p < 0.03 for interactions with time). Being a man was associated with higher, but being a current smoker with lower western dietary pattern scores (ß = 8.0, 95% CI: 5.3,10.7 and - 6.7: - 10.1,- 3.3, respectively). For the meat and vegetable dietary pattern, being a man and a current smoker were associated with lower scores (ß = - 24.9, 95% CI: - 44.9,- 4.9 and - 66.8: - 98.3,- 35.3, respectively), while being unemployed was associated with higher scores but this difference lessened over time (p = 0.018 for interaction with time). CONCLUSIONS: In older adults, men, smokers, and those experiencing social disadvantage could be target groups for interventions to improve diets.

Early Alterations in Operant Performance and Prominent Huntingtin Aggregation in a Congenic F344 Rat Line of the Classical CAGn51trunc Model of Huntington Disease.

The transgenic rat model of Huntington disease expressing a fragment of mutant HTT (tgHD rat) has been thoroughly characterized and reproduces hallmark symptoms of human adult-onset HD. Pursuing the optimization of this model for evaluation of translational therapeutic approaches, the F344 inbred rat strain was considered as advantageous genetic background for the expression of the HD transgenic construct. In the present study, a novel congenic line of the SPRDtgHD transgenic model of HD, carrying 51 CAG repeats, was generated on the F344 rat genetic background. To assess the behavioral phenotype, classical assays investigating motor function, emotion, and sensorimotor gating were applied, along with automated screening of metabolic and activity parameters as well as operant conditioning tasks. The neuropathological phenotype was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and ex vivo magnetic resonance imaging. F344tgHD rats displayed markedly reduced anxiety-like behavior in the social interaction test and elevated impulsivity traits already at 3 months of age. Neuropathologically, reduced striatal volume and pronounced aggregation of mutant huntingtin in several brain regions were detected at later disease stage. In conclusion, the congenic F344tgHD model reproduces key aspects of the human HD phenotype, substantiating its value for translational therapeutic approaches.