Factors associated with sexual dysfunction in patients with bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of our study were to assess the sexual function in men with bipolar disorder type 1 in remission and to determine the various sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic factors associated with sexual dysfunction. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study over an 18-month period (January 2020-June 2021) in which we included men followed up for bipolar disorder type 1 in the euthymic phase strictly defined by a score <8 on the Young Mania Rating Scale and a score ≤7 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Sexual function was assessed using the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (Asex) in its Arabic-validated version. RESULTS: Sixty patients were included in the study. The mean age was 42.5 (SD=11.1) years. Among the patients, 68% had sexual dysfunction according to the total score of the Asex scale. According to univariate analysis, several factors were significantly associated with sexual dysfunction in patients with bipolar disorder type 1: age (P=0.001), total number of hospitalizations for thymic relapse (P=0.015), total number of depressive episodes (P=0.006) and depressive dominant polarity (P=0.046). The factors identified as modifying sexuality according to the total score of the Asex scale by multivariate analysis were age at first antipsychotic prescription: P=0.01; ORa=1.109; 95% CI [1.021-1.206] and number of hospitalizations for thymic relapse: P=0.015; ORa=1.259; 95% CI [1.046-1.546]. CONCLUSION: Studies assessing factors associated with sexual dysfunction in patients with bipolar disorder type 1 in euthymia were mostly concerned with the effects of psychotropic drugs on sexual function, with factors inherent in bipolar illness itself not widely addressed in the literature. According to the results of our study, sexual dysfunction in patients with bipolar disorder in the euthymic phase is frequent and significantly associated with clinical factors inherent in the bipolar illness itself and its course.

Influence of floor inclination on handle push and pull forces production of the upper limb.

Floor inclination can alter hand force production, and lower limb kinetics, affecting control operations, and threatening operator safety in various domains, such as aviation, naval, construction industry, or agriculture. This study investigates the effects of different floor inclinations, on handle push or pull force production. Participants performed maximal isometric contraction tasks requiring to exert a maximal voluntary force either by pulling or pushing a handle, at different floor inclinations from -30° to +30° about the transverse and longitudinal axes. Maximal hand force and Ground Reaction Forces about both feet were recorded. The results revealed non-equivalent variations in hand and feet responses as a function of inclination angle. Specifically, there was a significant reduction in handle push-pull force production, up to 70% (p < 0.001) for extreme inclinations, around both axes. This study provides critical data for design engineers, highlighting the challenge of production forces at steep angles.

Slovakian glass fibre factory genotoxicity biomonitoring study - unsupported adverse outcome pathway (AOP) from the toxicology and human epidemiological experience of synthetic vitreous fibres (SVFs).

The article by Ceppi and colleagues, Genotoxic Effects of Occupational Exposure to, Glass Fibres - A Human Biomonitoring Study, published in Mutation Research -Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis in 2023 was reviewed with great interest. The authors undertook a novel approach to conducting a biomonitoring study of genotoxicity markers among a population of glass fibre manufacturing workers in Slovakia. On the surface, the Ceppi et al. (2023) study provides an interesting application of genotoxicity markers among a human population of workers to explore potential markers of effect (DNA strand breaks) and potential risk of susceptibility (e.g., genetic damage, disease, death). However, limited data for exposure reconstruction, uncertain influences from smoking history, and lack of consideration of decades of human epidemiology research showing no increased risk of malignant or non-malignant respiratory disease and mortality among glass fibre manufacturing workers, reveals that the conclusions of the authors are overreaching and inconsistent with the existing science. The limitations of this study preclude the ability to draw causal inferences or conclusions about DNA strand breaks as a marker of exposure, effect, or susceptibility within this population of Slovakian glass fibre workers. Further longitudinal research is required (e.g., more robust temporal assessment of occupational exposures - fibres and other compounds - and smoking history) to support the study conclusions.

Upcycling of cellulosic textile waste with bacterial cellulose via Ioncell® technology.

Currently the textile industry relies strongly on synthetic fibres and cotton, which contribute to many environmental problems. Man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCF) can offer sustainable alternatives. Herein, the development of Lyocell-type MMCF using bacterial cellulose (BC) as alternative raw material in the Ioncell® spinning process was investigated. BC, known for its high degree of polymerization (DP), crystallinity and strength was successfully dissolved in the ionic liquid (IL) 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-enium acetate [DBNH][OAc] to produce solutions with excellent spinnability. BC staple fibres displayed good mechanical properties and crystallinity (CI) and were spun into a yarn which was knitted into garments, demonstrating the potential of BC as suitable cellulose source for textile production. BC is also a valuable additive when recycling waste cellulose textiles (viscose fibres). The high DP and Cl of BC enhanced the spinnability in a viscose/BC blend, consequently improving the mechanical performance of the resulting fibres, as compared to neat viscose fibres.

Unraveling Lymphatic Filariasis in an Old Man: A Case Report.

Lymphatic filariasis, caused by filarial worms such as Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori, represents a significant public health burden in endemic regions. The disease primarily affects the lymphatic system, leading to lymphatic dysfunction and chronic morbidity. This abstract provides a comprehensive overview of lymphatic filariasis, including its transmission dynamics, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, and treatment options. Special attention is given to the socioeconomic impact of the disease and the challenges associated with its control and elimination. The patient in this particular case is a 58-year-old man who had lower limb swelling and pain, characteristic of chronic lymphatic obstruction. Additionally, the swelling tends to worsen during the evening hours often resulting in difficulty in walking and discomfort. Lymphatic filariasis was diagnosed based on clinical presentation.

Prenatal Diagnosis of c.437-1G>A Mutation in the MAN2B1 Gene in a Family With Alpha-Mannosidosis: Unraveling Clinical Presentation and Treatment Outcomes in a Novel Prenatal Case.

Alpha-mannosidosis is a rare lysosomal storage disorder with progressive impairments in motor functions, skeletal deformities, and immunodeficiency. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) should be initiated early to achieve optimal outcomes. This report describes how alpha-mannosidosis diagnosis in a seven-year-old girl led to a successful prenatal diagnosis in the subsequent pregnancy and pre-symptomatic treatment at the early disease stage. The index patient was a seven-year-old girl who was referred with a confirmed diagnosis of alpha-mannosidosis based on the presence of homozygous c.437-1G>A mutation in the MAN2B1 gene. A prenatal diagnosis was made in the subsequent pregnancy through molecular analysis, which revealed the same homozygous variant. The patient was treated at the fifth week of age and showed mild skeletal involvement and normal development at ERT initiation. At 11 months of age, the ERT level increased to 15.8 µmol/l/h. The motor assessment showed that the patient was developmentally normal and was able to maintain her sitting and walking for a few steps only. Prenatal molecular screening in affected families can allow for the early identification and implementation of appropriate management strategies for alpha-mannosidosis.

MAN-C: A masked autoencoder neural cryptography based encryption scheme for CT scan images.

Sharing medical images securely is very important towards keeping patients' data confidential. In this paper we propose MAN-C: a Masked Autoencoder Neural Cryptography based encryption scheme for sharing medical images. The proposed technique builds upon recently proposed masked autoencoders. In the original paper, the masked autoencoders are used as scalable self-supervised learners for computer vision which reconstruct portions of originally patched images. Here, the facility to obfuscate portions of input image and the ability to reconstruct original images is used an encryption-decryption scheme. In the final form, masked autoencoders are combined with neural cryptography consisting of a tree parity machine and Shamir Scheme for secret image sharing. The proposed technique MAN-C helps to recover the loss in image due to noise during secret sharing of image.•Uses recently proposed masked autoencoders, originally designed as scalable self-supervised learners for computer vision, in an encryption-decryption setup.•Combines autoencoders with neural cryptography - the advantage our proposed approach offers over existing technique is that (i) Neural cryptography is a new type of public key cryptography that is not based on number theory, requires less computing time and memory and is non-deterministic in nature, (ii) masked auto-encoders provide additional level of obfuscation through their deep learning architecture.•The proposed scheme was evaluated on dataset consisting of CT scans made public by The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA). The proposed method produces better RMSE values between the input the encrypted image and comparable correlation values between the input and the output image with respect to the existing techniques.

Ethnoprimatology reveals new extended distribution of critically endangered banded langur Presbytis femoralis (Martin, 1838) in Pahang, Malaysia: Insights from indigenous traditional knowledge and molecular analysis.

The banded langur (Presbytis femoralis) is a critically endangered primate, restricted to Johor, Malaysia, with an estimated population size of less than 500 individuals. Traditionally, distribution studies on this highly threatened primate have relied on conventional methods such as DNA identification, live counting, and camera trapping. However, ethnoprimatology offers an alternative approach to data collection, involving the active participation of indigenous and local communities possessing valuable knowledge and experience with local primate species. This study employed an integrated approach incorporating ethnoprimatology by utilizing pooled local expert opinion, local surveys, interviews, and fecal DNA analysis, resulting in a novel distribution range for the banded langur. The combination of expert opinions revealed this species' most optimistic distribution scenario across Johor and Pahang, inhabiting various ecosystems, including lowland forests, peat swamps, and human-modified landscapes. Further interviews and surveys conducted within the Orang Asli community in Tasik Chini and Tasek Bera have provided additional support for the revised distribution, documenting occurrences of banded langur utilization in indigenous practices, such as food consumption, cultural beliefs, medicinal applications, and craftsmanship. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated genetic differentiation between populations in Johor and Pahang, with the populations in the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia likely serving as ancestral sources for other populations. Consequently, this study not only elucidated the updated distribution of banded langur through DNA records and direct observations but also established the efficacy of ethnoprimatology as a precursory tool for uncovering the present distribution patterns of other primate species in Malaysia.

Successful revascularization of inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with positive "Dead Man Sign": A case report.

This case report outlines the management of a 43-year-old male with no past medical history presenting with inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and a positive "Dead Man Sign." Prompt administration of antiplatelet therapy and emergent percutaneous coronary intervention led to successful revascularization of the occluded right coronary artery and left anterior descending artery. The patient remained asymptomatic throughout hospitalization and was discharged home with instructions for monthly follow-up for 1 year. Subsequent assessments demonstrated normal echocardiography and Electrocardiography (ECG) findings, indicating favorable cardiac recovery. This case emphasizes the critical importance of rapid recognition and intervention in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction cases, as well as the significance of the Dead Man Sign as a predictor of the occluded culprit coronary vessels, demonstrating favorable outcomes achievable with timely revascularization strategies.

Congenital disorders of glycosylation with multiorgan disruption and immune dysregulation caused by compound heterozygous variants in MAN2B2.

BACKGROUND: Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are a type of inborn error of metabolism (IEM) resulting from defects in glycan synthesis or failed attachment of glycans to proteins or lipids. One rare type of CDG is caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous loss-of-function variants in mannosidase alpha class 2B member 2 (MAN2B2). To date, only two cases of MAN2B2-CDG have been reported worldwide. METHODS: Trio whole-exome sequencing (Trio-WES) was conducted to screen for candidate variants. N-glycan profiles were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). MAN2B2 expression was evaluated by western blotting. MX dynamin like GTPase 1 (MX1) function was estimated via Thogoto virus (THOV) minireplicon assay. RESULTS: Trio-WES identified compound heterozygous MAN2B2 (hg19, NM_015274.1) variants (c.384G>T; c.926T>A) in a CDG patient. This patient exhibited metabolic abnormalities, symptoms of digestive tract dysfunction, infection, dehydration, and seizures. Novel immune dysregulation characterized by abnormal lymphocytes and immunoglobulin was observed. The MAN2B2 protein level was not affected, while LC-MS/MS showed obvious disruption of N-glycans and N-linked glycoproteins. CONCLUSION: We described a CDG patient with novel phenotypes and disruptive N-glycan profiling caused by compound heterozygous MAN2B2 variants (c.384G>T; c.926T>A). Our findings broadened both the genetic and clinical spectra of CDG.

Clinical trainee performance on task-based AR/VR-guided surgical simulation is correlated with their 3D image spatial reasoning scores.

This paper describes a methodology for the assessment of training simulator-based computer-assisted intervention skills on an AR/VR-guided procedure making use of CT axial slice views for a neurosurgical procedure: external ventricular drain (EVD) placement. The task requires that trainees scroll through a stack of axial slices and form a mental representation of the anatomical structures in order to subsequently target the ventricles to insert an EVD. The process of observing the 2D CT image slices in order to build a mental representation of the 3D anatomical structures is the skill being taught, along with the cognitive control of the subsequent targeting, by planned motor actions, of the EVD tip to the ventricular system to drain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Convergence is established towards the validity of this assessment methodology by examining two objective measures of spatial reasoning, along with one subjective expert ranking methodology, and comparing these to AR/VR guidance. These measures have two components: the speed and accuracy of the targeting, which are used to derive the performance metric. Results of these correlations are presented for a population of PGY1 residents attending the Canadian Neurosurgical "Rookie Bootcamp" in 2019.

Vortioxetine-induced syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Vortioxetine, known for its efficacy in treating depression through its effects on various neurotransmitters, has not been previously reported to induce syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH). CASE PRESENTATION: This case report describes a 74-year-old man with major depressive disorder who developed SIADH 1 week after starting treatment with vortioxetine. SIADH is characterized by symptoms such as headache, nausea, disorientation, and seizures, stemming from hyponatremia (123 mEq/L), without dehydration or edema. Vortioxetine was discontinued, and an alternative drug, mianserin, was initiated. The patient was restricted from drinking water due to hyponatremia. The serum Na concentration improved over time to within the normal range by the second week after admission. CONCLUSION: This is the first case report of vortioxetine-induced SIADH.

The factors affecting the performance of the tunnel wall drilling task and their priority.

Clarifying the relationship between the man-machine environment and its impact on the tunnel wall drilling task performance (TWDTP) is crucial for enhancing the task performance. Based on a questionnaire survey, indicators of the man-machine environment that affect the TWDTP were proposed in this study, and exploratory factor analysis and a structural equation model were employed to examine the potential factors influencing the task performance and their degrees of influence. By comparing the discrepancy between the perceived performance and importance, the satisfaction of potential factors was evaluated, and the priority order for optimizing these factors was determined by considering the degree of influence and dissatisfaction. The results of survey data analysis based on actual tunnel drilling operation scenarios indicated that tools had the greatest impact on the TWDTP, followed by the quality of the physical environment, while human factors had the least influence on the task performance. Convenient functional maintenance is the key to improving the TWDTP, along with enhancing the quality of the working environment. Once these main aspects are optimized, it is important to consider additional factors such as availability of spare tools, efficient personnel organization, man-tool matching, and safety and health assurance. This research approach provides significant guidance in understanding the relationships between the man-machine environmental factors affecting the performance of complex engineering tasks and identifying key influencing factors, thus providing essential insights for optimizing the TWDTP.

Oil and gas platforms degrade benthic invertebrate diversity and food web structure.

Oil and gas exploitation introduces toxic contaminants such as hydrocarbons and heavy metals to the surrounding sediment, resulting in deleterious impacts on marine benthic communities. This study combines benthic monitoring data over a 30-year period in the North Sea with dietary information on >1400 taxa to quantify the effects of active oil and gas platforms on benthic food webs using a multiple before-after control-impact experiment. Contamination from oil and gas platforms caused declines in benthic food web complexity, community abundance, and biodiversity. Fewer trophic interactions and increased connectance indicated that the community became dominated by generalists adapting to alternative resources, leading to simpler but more connected food webs in contaminated environments. Decreased mean body mass, shorter food chains, and the dominance of small detritivores such as Capitella capitata near to structures suggested a disproportionate loss of larger organisms from higher trophic levels. These patterns were associated with concentrations of hydrocarbons and heavy metals that exceed OSPAR's guideline thresholds of sediment toxicity. This study provides new evidence to better quantify and manage the environmental consequences of oil and gas exploitation at sea.

Establishment and application of a quadruplex real-time RT-qPCR assay for differentiation of TGEV, PEDV, PDCoV, and PoRVA.

Porcine viral diarrhea is a common ailment in clinical settings, causing significant economic losses to the swine industry. Notable culprits behind porcine viral diarrhea encompass transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV), and porcine rotavirus-A (PoRVA). Co-infections involving the viruses are a common occurrence in clinical settings, thereby amplifying the complexities associated with differential diagnosis. As a consequence, it is therefore necessary to develop a method that can detect and differentiate all four porcine diarrhea viruses (TGEV, PEDV, PDCoV, and PoRVA) with a high sensitivity and specificity. Presently, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the go-to method for pathogen detection. In comparison to conventional PCR, TaqMan real-time PCR offers heightened sensitivity, superior specificity, and enhanced accuracy. This study aimed to develop a quadruplex real-time RT-qPCR assay, utilizing TaqMan probes, for the distinctive detection of TGEV, PEDV, PDCoV, and PoRVA. The quadruplex real-time RT-qPCR assay, as devised in this study, exhibited the capacity to avoid the detection of unrelated pathogens and demonstrated commendable specificity, sensitivity, repeatability, and reproducibility, boasting a limit of detection (LOD) of 27 copies/µL. In a comparative analysis involving 5483 clinical samples, the results from the commercial RT-qPCR kit and the quadruplex RT-qPCR for TGEV, PEDV, PDCoV, and PoRVA detection were entirely consistent. Following sample collection from October to March in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, we assessed the prevalence of TGEV, PEDV, PDCoV, and PoRVA in piglet diarrhea samples, revealing positive detection rates of 0.2 % (11/5483), 8.82 % (485/5483), 1.22 % (67/5483), and 4.94 % (271/5483), respectively. The co-infection rates of PEDV/PoRVA, PEDV/PDCoV, TGEV/PED/PoRVA, and PDCoV/PoRVA were 0.39 %, 0.11 %, 0.01 %, and 0.03 %, respectively, with no detection of other co-infections, as determined by the quadruplex real-time RT-qPCR. This research not only established a valuable tool for the simultaneous differentiation of TGEV, PEDV, PDCoV, and PoRVA in practical applications but also provided crucial insights into the prevalence of these viral pathogens causing diarrhea in Guangxi.

Long-term radiological assessment of a Mediterranean freshwater ecosystem surrounding a nuclear power plant.

The radionuclide concentration of man-made radionuclides on non-human biota in freshwater ecosystems has been extensively studied in environments affected by the Chernobyl and Fukushima accidents, in both humid continental and subtropical climates, respectively. However, there are very few studies that assess the long-term effects of operating nuclear facilities in Mediterranean environments. In the present study, a temporal analysis of the impact on carp, cattail, and bulrushes in the cooling pond of the currently operating Almaraz nuclear power plant was investigated for the period 2000-2020. The results do not show a general trend in man-made radionuclide concentrations. Instead, depending on their availability and the type of organism, trends decrease over time. This is also reflected in the effective half-lives obtained, which are lower than the physical half-life for some radionuclides. Transfer coefficients for the main man-made radionuclides detected were obtained, and it was found that these were significantly lower than the typical ranges found for benthic fish and vascular plants in freshwater ecosystems. Finally, the internal and external doses received by the carp have been evaluated using ERICA tool, and it has been observed that the main contribution to the total dose is due to the internal dose (0.65-7.04) × 10-4 µGy/h.

Does Male Skin Care Content on Instagram Neglect Skin Cancer Prevention?

This research letter assesses male skin care content on social media in order to bring to light the lack of content regarding skin cancer prevention posted on Instagram for male audiences.

Odonata Assemblages in Urban Semi-Natural Wetlands.

As the human population in urban areas is continuously growing, urbanization is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. To mitigate the negative effects, the inclusion of blue zones (aquatic habitats) in modern urban development practices is strongly recommended, as they could be beneficial for the local biodiversity conservation. Odonata are a flagship group and are widely used in freshwater conservation as ecological indicators of habitat integrity and health. However, our understanding of their ecological requirements in urban landscapes is not yet complete. Therefore, we analyzed the taxonomic and functional diversity of Odonata in a semi-natural wetland in the Croatian capital. This study was conducted in the summers of 2020 and 2023. Most taxonomic and functional assemblage metrics were comparable between the two main habitat types, anthropogenically disturbed and natural oxbow lakes. However, significant differences were found in relation to the time scale, where most metrics were lower in 2023, indicating the negative impact of extreme climate events (including droughts) that occurred in this region after 2020. With 19 species recorded, our results indicate that semi-natural urban wetlands, especially natural oxbow lakes, have great potential to function as good habitats for Odonata, where even some species of conservation concern were detected. When developing landscape management plans in urban areas, it is essential to consider the importance of habitat heterogeneity in terms of good structure of aquatic macrophytes (presence of submerged, emergent and floating vegetation), which would ensure the most suitable habitat conditions for local Odonata species.

Acute Cytomegalovirus Infection Associated With Erythema Multiforme-Like Eruption: A Case Report.

Human cytomegalovirus infection usually proceeds asymptomatically in immunocompetent patients. In symptomatic forms, mononucleosis syndrome is the most common manifestation. However, atypical cases of cytomegalovirus infections in immunocompetent subjects are reported in the literature. Here, we describe a case of cytomegalovirus-related mononucleosis syndrome that presented with an atypical erythema multiforme-like skin rash and high fever. Very few cases have been described in the literature previously. In our case, the diagnosis was supported by specific serology, and human cytomegalovirus DNA was detected in the blood sample. The clinical picture resolved without the administration of antiviral therapy.

Impacts of mining disasters on the ambulatory care of the Brazilian national health system: the cases of Mariana and Brumadinho/Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Disasters are events that bring with them effects that contribute to the disruption of the normality of a population and thus highlight the vulnerabilities of the health system. In Mariana and Brumadinho, the collapse of the dam of ore tailings brought with it several impacts that were felt in the short term and will be felt in the medium and long term. And that by being intensely intertwined with issues of economic and productive nature, has as its meaning an uninterrupted result of its activities. METHODS: Through the DATASUS database, two specific variables were chosen to perform the analysis: the approved amount and the approved value. For this research, a methodological device, the segmented regression line, was used to observe the influences that the disasters that occurred in Mariana and Brumadinho had on the ambulatory health systems. RESULTS: The results of the segmented regression line show that, with Mariana, the amount approved continued to grow throughout the period, which shows that there was no change because of the disaster. There was a reduction in spending. In Brumadinho, regarding the amount approved, there was an upward trend in the disaster's month, which did not change immediately afterwards, and regarding expenditure, the growth pattern was maintained in all three periods. Corroborating this data, the relative and absolute base elements show an increase in the amount approved and in the number of services provided at various posts compared with Minas Gerais. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings, it was possible to understand that although disasters exert an influence that may have some effect on the health system, the lack of significance sometimes cannot be interpreted as a lack of impact on the disaster. The segmented regression line outlines some effects that are not conclusive but indicative of a numerical interpretation and a trend interpretation.