Warm red light emitting Eu(III) complexes synthesis and analysis including computational methods for photonic applications.

Six luminescent europium organic complexes have been synthesized and studied for their luminescent properties. The synthesized complexes were analyzed through elemental analysis, XRD, SEM, EDAX, FT-IR, NMR and thermogravimetry. The complexes exhibit crystalline behavior and possess decent thermal stability. Photoluminescence study on complexes were conducted in both solid and solution states, the results indicate the characteristic red emission. With the addition of ancillary ligands, water molecules are replaced from inner coordination sphere, leading to enhanced luminescence properties. The colorimetric parameters (CIE, CP%, CCT, u', v') suggest aptness of these complexes in red light illuminating OLEDs. The J-O parameters were calculated experimentally and theoretically with the help of LUMPAC software. Theoretical and experimental results agree well reflecting the efficacy of the outcomes. As a result of red emission, these complexes could have interesting photonics applications. The biological studies indicate the probable use of these complexes in the medical industry.

Potential interventions and interactions of bioactive polyphenols and functional polysaccharides to alleviate inflammatory bowel disease - A review.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a multifaceted condition that is influenced by nutritional, microbial, environmental, genetic, psychological, and immunological factors. Polyphenols and polysaccharides have gained recognition for their therapeutic potential. This review emphasizes the biological effects of polyphenols and polysaccharides, and explores their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and microbiome-modulating properties in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, polyphenols encounter challenges, such as low stability and low bioavailability in the colon during IBD treatment. Hence, polysaccharide-based encapsulation is a promising solution to achieve targeted delivery, improved bioavailability, reduced toxicity, and enhanced stability. This review also discusses the significance of covalent and non-covalent interactions, and simple and complex encapsulation between polyphenols and polysaccharides. The administration of these compounds in appropriate quantities has proven beneficial in preventing the development of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, ultimately leading to the management of IBD. The use of polyphenols and polysaccharides has been found to reduce histological scores and colon injury associated with IBD, increase the abundance of beneficial microbes, inhibit the development of colitis-associated cancer, promote the production of microbial end-products, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and improve anti-inflammatory properties. Despite the combined effects of polyphenols and polysaccharides observed in both in vitro and in vivo studies, further human clinical trials are needed to comprehend their effectiveness on inflammatory bowel disease.

Using GWAS and Machine Learning to Identify and Predict Genetic Variants Associated with Foodborne Bacteria Phenotypic Traits.

One of the main challenges in food microbiology is to prevent the risk of outbreaks by avoiding the distribution of food contaminated by bacteria. This requires constant monitoring of the circulating strains throughout the food production chain. Bacterial genomes contain signatures of natural evolution and adaptive markers that can be exploited to better understand the behavior of pathogen in the food industry. The monitoring of foodborne strains can therefore be facilitated by the use of these genomic markers capable of rapidly providing essential information on isolated strains, such as the source of contamination, risk of illness, potential for biofilm formation, and tolerance or resistance to biocides. The increasing availability of large genome datasets is enhancing the understanding of the genetic basis of complex traits such as host adaptation, virulence, and persistence. Genome-wide association studies have shown very promising results in the discovery of genomic markers that can be integrated into rapid detection tools. In addition, machine learning has successfully predicted phenotypes and classified important traits. Genome-wide association and machine learning tools have therefore the potential to support decision-making circuits intending at reducing the burden of foodborne diseases. The aim of this chapter review is to provide knowledge on the use of these two methods in food microbiology and to recommend their use in the field.

Prevalência de transtornos psiquiátricos de pessoas em situação de rua em um grande centro urbano no Brasil / Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in homeless people in a large urban center in Brazil / Prevalencia de trastornos psiquiátricos en personas sin hogar en un gran centro urbano de Brasil

Introdução: O presente estudo visa descrever as condições de saúde mental mais prevalentes na população de rua em um grande centro urbano brasileiro. Objetivo: Descrever as condições de saúde mental mais prevalentes na população de moradores de rua em um grande centro urbano brasileiro. Métodos: Este é um estudo transversal realizado nas regiões centrais e periferias da cidade de São Paulo (SP), Brasil. Para a descrição dos transtornos psiquiátricos utilizamos o Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) para sintomas depressivos, item 9 do Inventário de Depressão de Beck para ideação suicida, pergunta autorreferida para uso de álcool e drogas ilícitas e item 3 do PHQ-9 para qualidade do sono. Resultados: A média de idade dos participantes foi de 44,54 (desvio padrão ­ DP=12,63) anos, e a maioria era do sexo masculino (n=342; 75%). Quanto à frequência de transtornos psiquiátricos identificados, 49,6% (n=226) dos participantes apresentaram sintomas depressivos, 29,8% (n=136) exibiram ideação suicida, 55,7% (n=254) informaram uso de álcool semanalmente, 34,2% (n=156) informaram usar drogas ilícitas semanalmente e 62,3% (n=284) tinham problemas com sono. Conclusões: A prevalência de condições que afetam a saúde mental entre os participantes é alta. Estes resultados poderão auxiliar profissionais de saúde na elaboração de estratégias de prevenção e tratamento nessa população, pouco estudada.

Introduction: The present study aims to describe the most prevalent mental health conditions in the homeless population in a large Brazilian urban center. Objective: To describe the most prevalent mental health conditions in the population of homeless people in a large Brazilian urban center. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study carried out in the central and periphery regions of São Paulo, state of São Paulo, Brazil. For the description of psychiatric disorders, the following instruments were used: Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for depressive symptoms, item 9 of the Beck Depression Inventory for suicidal ideation, the self-reported question for the use of alcohol and illicit drugs, and item 3 of the PHQ-9 for sleep quality. Results: The mean age of participants was 44.54 (Standard Deviation=12.63) years, and most were men (n=342; 75%). Regarding the frequency of the identified psychiatric disorders, 49.6% (n=226) of the participants had depressive symptoms, 29.8% (n=136) had suicidal ideation, 55.7% (n=254) reported weekly alcohol use, 34.2% (n=156) reported using illicit drugs weekly, and 62.3% (n=284) had sleep problems. Conclusions: The prevalence of conditions that affect mental health among participants is high. These results may help health professionals to develop prevention and treatment strategies for this understudied population.

Introducción: El presente estudio tiene como objetivo describir las condiciones de salud mental más prevalentes en la población sin hogar en un gran centro urbano brasileño. Objetivo: Describir las condiciones de salud mental más prevalentes en la población de personas sin hogar en un gran centro urbano brasileño. Métodos: Se trata de un estudio transversal realizado en las regiones central y periférica de São Paulo, SP, Brasil. Para la descripción de los trastornos psiquiátricos se utilizó el Cuestionario de Salud del Paciente - 9 (PHQ-9) para síntomas depresivos, el ítem 9 del Inventario de Depresión de Beck para ideación suicida, la pregunta autorreportada para uso de alcohol y drogas ilícitas y ítem 3 del PHQ-9 para la calidad del sueño. Resultados: La edad media de los participantes fue de 44,54 (DE=12,63) años, y la mayoría eran hombres (n=342; 75%). En cuanto a la frecuencia de los trastornos psiquiátricos identificados, el 49,6% (n=226) de los participantes presentaba síntomas depresivos, el 29,8% (n=136) tenía ideación suicida, el 55,7% (n=254) refería consumo semanal de alcohol, el 34,2% (n=156) refirió consumir drogas ilícitas semanalmente y el 62,3% (n=284) presentaba problemas de sueño. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de condiciones que afectan la salud mental entre los participantes es alta. Estos resultados pueden ayudar a los profesionales de la salud a desarrollar estrategias de prevención y tratamiento para esta población poco estudiada.

Association between psychological resilience and all-cause mortality in the Health and Retirement Study.

BACKGROUND: Psychological resilience refers to an individual's ability to cope with and adapt to challenging life circumstances and events. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the association between psychological resilience and all-cause mortality in a national cohort of US older adults by a cross-sectional study. METHODS: The Health and Retirement Study (2006-2008) included 10 569 participants aged ≥50. Mortality outcomes were determined using records up to May 2021. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyse the associations between psychological resilience and all-cause mortality. Restricted cubic splines were applied to examine the association between psychological resilience and mortality risk. FINDINGS: During the follow-up period, 3489 all-cause deaths were recorded. The analysis revealed an almost linear association between psychological resilience and mortality risk. Higher levels of psychological resilience were associated with a reduced risk of all-cause mortality in models adjusting for attained age, sex, race and body mass index (HR=0.750 per 1 SD increase in psychological resilience; 95% CI 0.726, 0.775). This association remained statistically significant after further adjustment for self-reported diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer and hypertension (HR=0.786; 95% CI 0.760, 0.813). The relationship persisted even after accounting for smoking and other health-related behaviours (HR=0.813; 95% CI 0.802, 0.860). CONCLUSIONS: This cohort study highlights the association between psychological resilience and all-cause mortality in older adults in the USA. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Psychological resilience emerges as a protective factor against mortality, emphasising its importance in maintaining health and well-being.

Divergent effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in sepsis: a meta-analysis of experimental studies.

INTRODUCTION: Experimental studies in animals have yielded conflicting results on the role of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) in sepsis and endotoxemia, with some reporting adaptive and others inappropriate effects. A meta-analysis of the available literature was performed to determine the factors explaining this discrepancy. METHODS: The study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020167384) prior to data collection. PubMed and Embase were the databases queried. Risk of bias was evaluated using the SYRCLE Risk of Bias Tool. All animal studies investigating sepsis-related mortality and modified TNF signaling were considered eligible. The exclusion criteria were: lack of mortality data, 7-day mortality rates below 10% in both wild type and TNF-altered pathway animals, and absence of an English abstract. To determine the role of TNF according to the experimental protocol, three approaches were used: first an approach based on the statistical significance of each experiment, then the pooled mortality was calculated, and finally the weighted risk ratio for mortality was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 175 studies were included in the analysis, comprising a total of 760 experiments and involving 19,899 animals. The main species used were mice (77%) and rats (21%). The most common method of TNF pathway modulation was TNF pathway inactivation that was primarily associated with an inappropriate secretion of TNF. At the opposite, TNF injection was associated with an adaptive role of TNF. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection was the most used stimulus to establish an infectious model (42%) and was strongly associated with an inappropriate role of TNF. Conversely, live bacterial models, especially the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model, pneumonia, meningitis, and gastrointestinal infection, were associated with an adaptive role. This was particularly evident for Listeria monocytogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae. CONCLUSION: The role of TNF during infection varies depending on the experimental model used. Models that mimic clinical conditions, based on virulent bacteria that cause high mortality even at low inocula, demonstrated an adaptive role of TNF. Conversely, models based on LPS or low-pathogenic live bacteria, administered at doses well above physiological thresholds and combined with early antibiotic therapy, were associated with an inappropriate role.

Independent association of metabolic syndrome severity score and risk of diabetes: findings from 18 years of follow-up in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the association between age-specific and sex-specific continuous metabolic syndrome severity score (cMetS-S) and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Additionally, the study aimed to assess the added value of cMetS-S in predicting T2DM compared with traditional MetS criteria. DESIGN: The study used a longitudinal cohort design, following participants for 18 years. SETTING: The research was conducted within the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, a community-based study in Tehran, Iran. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 6957 participants aged 20-60 years were included in the study. INTERVENTIONS/EXPOSURES: The cMetS-S of each participant was determined using age-specific and sex-specific equations and Cox proportional hazard regression models were used to analyse the association between cMetS-S and T2DM using continuous and quantile approaches. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome measure was the association between cMetS-S and the development of T2DM during the 18-year follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 1124 T2DM cases were recorded over 18 years of follow-up. In the fully adjusted model, a 1-SD increase in the cMetS-S was associated with future T2DM (HR 1.72; 95% CI 1.54 to 1.91). Men and women had HRs of 1.65 (95% CI 1.40 to 1.95) and 1.83 (95% CI 1.59 to 2.10) for T2DM per 1-SD increase in cMetS-S, respectively. Higher cMetS-S was associated with increased risk of diabetes in both prediabetic (HR 1.42;95% CI 1.23 to 1.64) and normoglycaemic individuals (HR 2.11;95% CI 1.76 to 2.54); this association was more significant in normoglycaemic individuals. Unlike the traditional-based MetS definitions, the cMetS-S improved diabetes prediction (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The cMetS-S is strongly associated with future diabetes in prediabetic and normoglycaemic individuals independent of MetS components during a long term. As the relationship between cMetS-S and T2DM is more pronounced in normoglycaemic individuals than in those with pre-diabetes, implementing the evaluation of cMetS-S can serve as an early identification tool for individuals at risk of T2DM prior to the onset of pre-diabetes.

Ten years trajectories of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in a multiethnic cohort of people with type 1 diabetes and preserved renal function.

OBJECTIVES: We aim to evaluate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) patterns of progression in a multiethnic cohort of people with type I diabetes mellitus and with baseline eGFR ≥45 mL/min/1.73 m2. DESIGN: Observational cohort. SETTING: People with a clinical diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, attending two university hospital-based outpatient diabetes clinics, in South London between 2004 and 2018. PARTICIPANTS: We studied 1495 participants (52% females, 81% white, 12% African-Caribbean and 7% others). PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical measures including weight and height, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and laboratory results (such as serum creatinine, urine albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR), HbA1c were collected from electronic health records (EHRs) and eGFR was estimated by the Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration. Ethnicity was self-reported. RESULTS: Five predominantly linear patterns/groups of eGFR trajectories were identified. Group I (8.5%) had a fast eGFR decline (>3 mL/min/1.73 m2 year). Group II (23%) stable eGFR, group III (29.8%), groups IV (26.3%) and V (12.4%) have preserved eGFR with no significant fall. Group I had the highest proportion (27.6%) of African-Caribbeans. Significant differences between group I and the other groups were observed in age, gender, HbA1C, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol and urine ACR, p<0.05 for all. At 10 years of follow-up, 33% of group I had eGFR <30 and 16.5%<15 (mL/min/1.73 m2). CONCLUSIONS: Distinct trajectories of eGFR were observed in people with type 1 diabetes. The group with the highest risk of eGFR decline had a greater proportion of African-Caribbeans compared with others and has higher prevalence of traditional modifiable risk factors for kidney disease.

Evaluating the Capabilities of Generative AI Tools in Understanding Medical Papers: Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Reading medical papers is a challenging and time-consuming task for doctors, especially when the papers are long and complex. A tool that can help doctors efficiently process and understand medical papers is needed. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to critically assess and compare the comprehension capabilities of large language models (LLMs) in accurately and efficiently understanding medical research papers using the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) checklist, which provides a standardized framework for evaluating key elements of observational study. METHODS: The study is a methodological type of research. The study aims to evaluate the understanding capabilities of new generative artificial intelligence tools in medical papers. A novel benchmark pipeline processed 50 medical research papers from PubMed, comparing the answers of 6 LLMs (GPT-3.5-Turbo, GPT-4-0613, GPT-4-1106, PaLM 2, Claude v1, and Gemini Pro) to the benchmark established by expert medical professors. Fifteen questions, derived from the STROBE checklist, assessed LLMs' understanding of different sections of a research paper. RESULTS: LLMs exhibited varying performance, with GPT-3.5-Turbo achieving the highest percentage of correct answers (n=3916, 66.9%), followed by GPT-4-1106 (n=3837, 65.6%), PaLM 2 (n=3632, 62.1%), Claude v1 (n=2887, 58.3%), Gemini Pro (n=2878, 49.2%), and GPT-4-0613 (n=2580, 44.1%). Statistical analysis revealed statistically significant differences between LLMs (P<.001), with older models showing inconsistent performance compared to newer versions. LLMs showcased distinct performances for each question across different parts of a scholarly paper-with certain models like PaLM 2 and GPT-3.5 showing remarkable versatility and depth in understanding. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to evaluate the performance of different LLMs in understanding medical papers using the retrieval augmented generation method. The findings highlight the potential of LLMs to enhance medical research by improving efficiency and facilitating evidence-based decision-making. Further research is needed to address limitations such as the influence of question formats, potential biases, and the rapid evolution of LLM models.

Quantitative sensory testing and chronic pain syndromes: a cross-sectional study from TwinsUK.

OBJECTIVE: The chronic pain syndromes (CPS) include syndromes such as chronic widespread pain (CWP), dry eye disease (DED) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Highly prevalent and lacking pathognomonic biomarkers, the CPS are known to cluster in individuals in part due to their genetic overlap, but patient diagnosis can be difficult. The success of quantitative sensory testing (QST) and inflammatory biomarkers as phenotyping tools in conditions such as painful neuropathies warrant their investigation in CPS. We aimed to examine whether individual QST modalities and candidate inflammatory markers were associated with CWP, DED or IBS in a large, highly phenotyped population sample. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Community-dwelling cohort. PARTICIPANTS: Twins from the TwinsUK cohort PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: We compared 10 QST modalities, measured in participants with and without a CWP diagnosis between 2007 and 2012. We investigated whether inflammatory markers measured by Olink were associated with CWP, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and tumour necrosis factor. All analyses were repeated in DED and IBS with correction for multiple testing. RESULTS: In N=3022 twins (95.8% women), no association was identified between individual QST modalities and CPS diagnoses (CWP, DED and IBS). Analyses of candidate inflammatory marker levels and CPS diagnoses in n=1368 twins also failed to meet statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Our findings in a large population cohort suggest a lack of true association between singular QST modalities or candidate inflammatory markers and CPS.

Two assumptions of the prior event rate ratio approach for controlling confounding can be evaluated by self-controlled case series and dynamic random intercept modeling.

OBJECTIVES: The prior event rate ratio (PERR) is a recently developed approach for controlling confounding by measured and unmeasured covariates in real-world evidence research and observational studies. Despite its rising popularity in studies of safety and effectiveness of biopharmaceutical products, there is no guidance on how to empirically evaluate its model assumptions. We propose two methods to evaluate two of the assumptions required by the PERR, specifically, the assumptions that occurrence of outcome events does not alter the likelihood of receiving treatment, and that earlier event rate does not affect later event rate. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We propose using self-controlled case series (SCCS) and dynamic random intercept modeling (DRIM), respectively, to evaluate the two aforementioned assumptions. A nonmathematical introduction of the methods and their application to evaluate the assumptions are provided. We illustrate the evaluation with secondary analysis of deidentified data on pneumococcal vaccination and clinical pneumonia in The Gambia, West Africa. RESULTS: SCCS analysis of data on 12,901 vaccinated Gambian infants did not reject the assumption of clinical pneumonia episodes had no influence on the likelihood of pneumococcal vaccination. DRIM analysis of 14,325 infants with a total of 1719 episodes of clinical pneumonia did not reject the assumption of earlier episodes of clinical pneumonia had no influence on later incidence of the disease. CONCLUSION: The SCCS and DRIM methods can facilitate appropriate use of the PERR approach to control confounding. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: The prior event rate ratio is a promising approach for analysis of real-world data and observational studies. We propose two statistical methods to evaluate the validity of two assumptions it is based on. They can facilitate appropriate use of the prior even rate ratio.

The effect of exposure to radiofrequency fields on cancer risk in the general and working population: A systematic review of human observational studies - Part I: Most researched outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this review was to assess the quality and strength of the evidence provided by human observational studies for a causal association between exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) and risk of the most investigated neoplastic diseases. METHODS: Eligibility criteria: We included cohort and case-control studies of neoplasia risks in relation to three types of exposure to RF-EMF: near-field, head-localized, exposure from wireless phone use (SR-A); far-field, whole body, environmental exposure from fixed-site transmitters (SR-B); near/far-field occupational exposures from use of hand-held transceivers or RF-emitting equipment in the workplace (SR-C). While no restrictions on tumour type were applied, in the current paper we focus on incidence-based studies of selected "critical" neoplasms of the central nervous system (brain, meninges, pituitary gland, acoustic nerve) and salivary gland tumours (SR-A); brain tumours and leukaemias (SR-B, SR-C). We focussed on investigations of specific neoplasms in relation to specific exposure sources (i.e. E-O pairs), noting that a single article may address multiple E-O pairs. INFORMATION SOURCES: Eligible studies were identified by literature searches through Medline, Embase, and EMF-Portal. Risk-of-bias (RoB) assessment: We used a tailored version of the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) RoB tool to evaluate each study's internal validity. At the summary RoB step, studies were classified into three tiers according to their overall potential for bias (low, moderate and high). DATA SYNTHESIS: We synthesized the study results using random effects restricted maximum likelihood (REML) models (overall and subgroup meta-analyses of dichotomous and categorical exposure variables), and weighted mixed effects models (dose-response meta-analyses of lifetime exposure intensity). Evidence assessment: Confidence in evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. RESULTS: We included 63 aetiological articles, published between 1994 and 2022, with participants from 22 countries, reporting on 119 different E-O pairs. RF-EMF exposure from mobile phones (ever or regular use vs no or non-regular use) was not associated with an increased risk of glioma [meta-estimate of the relative risk (mRR) = 1.01, 95 % CI = 0.89-1.13), meningioma (mRR = 0.92, 95 % CI = 0.82-1.02), acoustic neuroma (mRR = 1.03, 95 % CI = 0.85-1.24), pituitary tumours (mRR = 0.81, 95 % CI = 0.61-1.06), salivary gland tumours (mRR = 0.91, 95 % CI = 0.78-1.06), or paediatric (children, adolescents and young adults) brain tumours (mRR = 1.06, 95 % CI = 0.74-1.51), with variable degree of across-study heterogeneity (I2 = 0 %-62 %). There was no observable increase in mRRs for the most investigated neoplasms (glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma) with increasing time since start (TSS) use of mobile phones, cumulative call time (CCT), or cumulative number of calls (CNC). Cordless phone use was not significantly associated with risks of glioma [mRR = 1.04, 95 % CI = 0.74-1.46; I2 = 74 %) meningioma, (mRR = 0.91, 95 % CI = 0.70-1.18; I2 = 59 %), or acoustic neuroma (mRR = 1.16; 95 % CI = 0.83-1.61; I2 = 63 %). Exposure from fixed-site transmitters (broadcasting antennas or base stations) was not associated with childhood leukaemia or paediatric brain tumour risks, independently of the level of the modelled RF exposure. Glioma risk was not significantly increased following occupational RF exposure (ever vs never), and no differences were detected between increasing categories of modelled cumulative exposure levels. DISCUSSION: In the sensitivity analyses of glioma, meningioma, and acoustic neuroma risks in relation to mobile phone use (ever use, TSS, CCT, and CNC) the presented results were robust and not affected by changes in study aggregation. In a leave-one-out meta-analyses of glioma risk in relation to mobile phone use we identified one influential study. In subsequent meta-analyses performed after excluding this study, we observed a substantial reduction in the mRR and the heterogeneity between studies, for both the contrast Ever vs Never (regular) use (mRR = 0.96, 95 % CI = 0.87-1.07, I2 = 47 %), and in the analysis by increasing categories of TSS ("<5 years": mRR = 0.97, 95 % CI = 0.83-1.14, I2 = 41 %; "5-9 years ": mRR = 0.96, 95 % CI = 0.83-1.11, I2 = 34 %; "10+ years": mRR = 0.97, 95 % CI = 0.87-1.08, I2 = 10 %). There was limited variation across studies in RoB for the priority domains (selection/attrition, exposure and outcome information), with the number of studies evenly classified as at low and moderate risk of bias (49 % tier-1 and 51 % tier-2), and no studies classified as at high risk of bias (tier-3). The impact of the biases on the study results (amount and direction) proved difficult to predict, and the RoB tool was inherently unable to account for the effect of competing biases. However, the sensitivity meta-analyses stratified on bias-tier, showed that the heterogeneity observed in our main meta-analyses across studies of glioma and acoustic neuroma in the upper TSS stratum (I2 = 77 % and 76 %), was explained by the summary RoB-tier. In the tier-1 study subgroup, the mRRs (95 % CI; I2) in long-term (10+ years) users were 0.95 (0.85-1.05; 5.5 %) for glioma, and 1.00 (0.78-1.29; 35 %) for acoustic neuroma. The time-trend simulation studies, evaluated as complementary evidence in line with a triangulation approach for external validity, were consistent in showing that the increased risks observed in some case-control studies were incompatible with the actual incidence rates of glioma/brain cancer observed in several countries and over long periods. Three of these simulation studies consistently reported that RR estimates > 1.5 with a 10+ years induction period were definitely implausible, and could be used to set a "credibility benchmark". In the sensitivity meta-analyses of glioma risk in the upper category of TSS excluding five studies reporting implausible effect sizes, we observed strong reductions in both the mRR [mRR of 0.95 (95 % CI = 0.86-1.05)], and the degree of heterogeneity across studies (I2 = 3.6 %). CONCLUSIONS: Consistently with the published protocol, our final conclusions were formulated separately for each exposure-outcome combination, and primarily based on the line of evidence with the highest confidence, taking into account the ranking of RF sources by exposure level as inferred from dosimetric studies, and the external coherence with findings from time-trend simulation studies (limited to glioma in relation to mobile phone use). For near field RF-EMF exposure to the head from mobile phone use, there was moderate certainty evidence that it likely does not increase the risk of glioma, meningioma, acoustic neuroma, pituitary tumours, and salivary gland tumours in adults, or of paediatric brain tumours. For near field RF-EMF exposure to the head from cordless phone use, there was low certainty evidence that it may not increase the risk of glioma, meningioma or acoustic neuroma. For whole-body far-field RF-EMF exposure from fixed-site transmitters (broadcasting antennas or base stations), there was moderate certainty evidence that it likely does not increase childhood leukaemia risk and low certainty evidence that it may not increase the risk of paediatric brain tumours. There were no studies eligible for inclusion investigating RF-EMF exposure from fixed-site transmitters and critical tumours in adults. For occupational RF-EMF exposure, there was low certainty evidence that it may not increase the risk of brain cancer/glioma, but there were no included studies of leukemias (the second critical outcome in SR-C). The evidence rating regarding paediatric brain tumours in relation to environmental RF exposure from fixed-site transmitters should be interpreted with caution, due to the small number of studies. Similar interpretative cautions apply to the evidence rating of the relation between glioma/brain cancer and occupational RF exposure, due to differences in exposure sources and metrics across the few included studies. OTHER: This project was commissioned and partially funded by the World Health Organization (WHO). Co-financing was provided by the New Zealand Ministry of Health; the Istituto Superiore di Sanità in its capacity as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Radiation and Health; and ARPANSA as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Radiation Protection. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42021236798. Published protocol: [(Lagorio et al., 2021) DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2021.106828].

Feasibility of in-home monitoring for people with glaucoma: the I-TRAC mixed-methods study.

Background: Glaucoma is a chronic disease of the optic nerve and a leading cause of severe visual loss in the UK. Once patients have been diagnosed, they need regular monitoring at hospital eye services. Recent advances in technology mean patients with glaucoma can now monitor their disease at home. This could be more convenient for patients and potentially reduce costs and increase capacity for the NHS. However, it is uncertain whether self-monitoring would be acceptable or possible for patients with glaucoma. Objectives: The objectives were to: identify which patients are most appropriate for home monitoring; understand views of key stakeholders (patients, clinicians, researchers) on whether home glaucoma monitoring is feasible and acceptable; develop a conceptual framework for the economic evaluation of home glaucoma monitoring; and explore the need for and provide evidence on the design of a future study to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of digital technologies for home monitoring of glaucoma. Design: In-home Tracking of glaucoma: Reliability, Acceptability, and Cost (I-TRAC) was a multiphase mixed-methods feasibility study with key components informed by theoretical and conceptual frameworks. Setting: Expert glaucoma specialists in the UK recruited through professional glaucoma societies; study site staff and patient participants recruited through three UK hospital eye services (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland); and UK research teams recruited though existing networks. Intervention: Home tonometer that measures intraocular pressure and a tablet computer with a visual function application. Patients were asked to use the technology weekly for 12 weeks. Results: Forty-two patients were recruited. Retention and completion of follow-up procedures was successful, with 95% (n = 40) completing the 3-month follow-up clinic visits. Adherence to the interventions was generally high [adherence to both devices (i.e. ≥ 80% adherence) was 55%]. Overall, patients and healthcare professionals were cautiously optimistic about the acceptability of digital technologies for home monitoring of patients with glaucoma. While most clinicians were supportive of the potential advantages glaucoma home monitoring could offer, concerns about the technologies (e.g. reliability and potential to miss disease progression) and how they would fit into routine care need to be addressed. Additionally, clarity is required on defining the ideal population for this intervention. Plans for how to evaluate value for money in a future study were also identified. However, the study also highlighted several unknowns relating to core components of a future evaluative study that require addressing before progression to a definitive effectiveness trial. Limitations: The main limitation relates to our sample and its generalisability, for example, the over-representation of educated persons of white ethnicity who were generally experienced with technology and research motivated. Conclusions: The In-home Tracking of glaucoma: Reliability, Acceptability, and Cost study has demonstrated 'cautious optimism' when considering patients' and healthcare professionals' views on the acceptability of digital technologies for home monitoring of patients with glaucoma. However, the study also highlighted several unknowns relating to the research question and design of a future evaluative study that require addressing before progression to a randomised controlled trial. Future work: Further research is required to determine the appropriate population (i.e. low vs. high risk of progression) and further refine the intervention components and delivery for planning of future evaluation studies. Study registration: This study is registered as Research Registry #6213. Funding: This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (NIHR award ref: NIHR129248) and is published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 28, No. 44. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

The In-home Tracking of glaucoma: Reliability, Acceptability, and Cost study explored whether glaucoma patients who would normally be monitored in hospital could do some monitoring themselves at home, and whether self-monitoring at home would be acceptable or possible for them. We delivered In-home Tracking of glaucoma: Reliability, Acceptability, and Cost in four phases by: Surveying expert glaucoma specialists to understand which patients would benefit most from home monitoring. Providing glaucoma patients with an iPad tablet and a device which measures eye pressure to use once a week for 3 months. The patients who participated and the clinical staff delivering the study were interviewed about their experiences. Interviewing researchers with experience of running large studies testing digital technologies to monitor patients' health at home to understand challenges. Reviewing other researchers' work and comparing it with ours to help us understand whether home monitoring of glaucoma could be good value for money. Overall, patients and healthcare professionals were cautiously optimistic about the digital technologies for home monitoring of glaucoma. Most patient participants were able to use the technologies, and half told us they preferred home monitoring. Most clinicians recognised the potential advantages of glaucoma home monitoring but had concerns about the technologies (specifically reliability and the risk of missing disease progression) and how they would fit into routine care. Plans for how to evaluate value for money in a future study were identified. The study did not aim to identify whether the digital technology was better than what happens currently; a different study design with many more patients would be required to answer that question. The study did identify several important questions to answer before designing a future larger study; for example, how to ensure diverse patient participation. These questions should be the focus of future research in this area.

Machine learning phenotyping and GWAS reveal genetic basis of Cd tolerance and absorption in jute.

Cadmium (Cd) is a dangerous environmental contaminant. Jute (Corchorus sp.) is an important natural fiber crop with strong absorption and excellent adaptability to metal-stressed environments, used in the phytoextraction of heavy metals. Understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying Cd tolerance and accumulation in plants is essential for efficient phytoremediation strategies and breeding novel Cd-tolerant cultivars. Here, machine learning (ML) and hyperspectral imaging (HSI) combining genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and RNA-seq reveal the genetic basis of Cd resistance and absorption in jute. ML needs a small number of plant phenotypes for training and can complete the plant phenotyping of large-scale populations with efficiency and accuracy greater than 90%. In particular, a candidate gene for Cd resistance (COS02g_02406) and a candidate gene (COS06g_03984) associated with Cd absorption are identified in isoflavonoid biosynthesis and ethylene response signaling pathways. COS02g_02406 may enable plants to cope with metal stress by regulating isoflavonoid biosynthesis involved in antioxidant defense and metal chelation. COS06g_03984 promotes the binding of Cd2+ to ETR/ERS, resulting in Cd absorption and tolerance. The results confirm the feasibility of high-throughput phenotyping for studying plant Cd tolerance by combining HSI and ML approaches, facilitating future molecular breeding.

Comparison of objectively measured and estimated cardiorespiratory fitness to predict all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 42 studies representing 35 cohorts and 3.8 million observations.

BACKGROUND: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a powerful health marker recommended by the American Heart Association as a clinical vital sign. Comparing the predictive validity of objectively measured CRF (the "gold standard") and estimated CRF is clinically relevant because estimated CRF is more feasible. Our objective was to meta-analyze cohort studies to compare the associations of objectively measured, exercise-estimated, and non-exercise-estimated CRF with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in adults. METHODS: Systematic searches were conducted in 9 databases (MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library) up to April 11, 2024. We included full-text refereed cohort studies published in English that quantified the association (using risk estimates with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs)) of objectively measured, exercise-estimated, and non-exercise-estimated CRF with all-cause and CVD mortality in adults. CRF was expressed as metabolic equivalents (METs) of task. Pooled relative risks (RR) for all-cause and CVD mortality per 1-MET (3.5 mL/kg/min) higher level of CRF were quantified using random-effects models. RESULTS: Forty-two studies representing 35 cohorts and 3,813,484 observations (81% male) (362,771 all-cause and 56,471 CVD deaths) were included. The pooled RRs for all-cause and CVD mortality per higher MET were 0.86 (95%CI: 0.83-0.88) and 0.84 (95%CI: 0.80-0.87), respectively. For both all-cause and CVD mortality, there were no statistically significant differences in RR per higher MET between objectively measured (RR range: 0.86-0.90) and maximal exercise-estimated (RR range: 0.85-0.86), submaximal exercise-estimated (RR range: 0.91-0.94), and non-exercise-estimated CRF (RR range: 0.81-0.85). CONCLUSION: Objectively measured and estimated CRF showed similar dose-response associations for all-cause and CVD mortality in adults. Estimated CRF could provide a practical and robust alternative to objectively measured CRF for assessing mortality risk across diverse populations. Our findings underscore the health-related benefits of higher CRF and advocate for its integration into clinical practice to enhance risk stratification.

Inpatient Hospitalizations for COVID-19 Among Patients with Prader-Willi Syndrome: a National Inpatient Sample Analysis.

Background: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder associated with baseline respiratory impairment caused by multiple contributing etiologies. While this may be expected to increase the risk of severe COVID-19 infections in PWS patients, survey studies have suggested paradoxically low disease severity. To better characterize the course of COVID-19 infection in patients with PWS, this study analyzes the outcomes of hospitalizations for COVID-19 among patients with and without PWS. Methods: The National Inpatient Sample, an all-payors administrative claims database of hospitalizations in the United States, was queried for patients with a coded diagnosis COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021. Hospitalizations for patients with PWS compared to those for patients without PWS using Augmented Inverse Propensity Weighting (AIPW). Results: There were 295 (95% CI: 228 to 362) COVID-19 hospitalizations for individuals with PWS and 4,112,400 (95% CI: 4,051,497 to 4,173,303) for individuals without PWS. PWS patients had a median age of 33 years compared to 63 for those without PWS. Individuals with PWS had higher baseline rates of obesity (47.5% vs. 28.4%). AIPW models show that PWS diagnosis is associated with increased hospital length of stay by 7.43 days, hospital charges by $80,126, and the odds of mechanical ventilation and in-hospital death (odds ratios of 1.79 and 1.67, respectively). Conclusions: PWS patients hospitalized with COVID-19 experienced longer hospital stays, higher charges, and increased risk of mechanical ventilation and death. PWS should be considered a risk factor for severe COVID-19, warranting continued protective measures and vaccination efforts. Further research is needed to validate coding for PWS and assess the impact of evolving COVID-19 variants and population immunity on this vulnerable population.

Prehabilitation for frail patients undergoing hip and knee replacement in the UK: Joint PREP feasibility study for a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the feasibility of conducting a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate a prehabilitation programme for frail patients undergoing total hip replacement (THR) or total knee replacement (TKR). DESIGN: Randomised feasibility study with embedded qualitative work. SETTING: Three National Health Service hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged ≥65 years, frail and scheduled for primary THR or TKR. INTERVENTION: Appointment with a physiotherapist to individualise a home-based exercise programme. Participants were encouraged to do the home exercises daily for 12 weeks pre-operative and were provided with a daily protein supplement. Participants were supported by six telephone calls over the 12-week intervention period. OUTCOME MEASURES: Eligibility and recruitment rates, intervention adherence, data completion rates of patient-reported outcome measures, retention rates and acceptability of the trial and intervention. Qualitative interviews were conducted with participants and non-participants and analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Between December 2022 and August 2023, 411 patients were sent a screening pack. Of the 168 patients who returned a screening questionnaire, 79 were eligible and consented to participate, and 64 were randomised. Of the 33 participants randomised to the intervention, 26 attended the intervention appointment. Eighteen participants (69%) received all six intervention follow-up telephone calls. Nineteen participants (73%) completed an intervention adherence log; 13 (68%) adhered to the exercise programme and 11 (58%) adhered to the protein supplementation. The overall retention rate was 86% (55/64 overall) at 12 weeks. The 12-week follow-up questionnaire was returned by 46 of the 55 participants (84%) who were sent a questionnaire. Interviews with 19 patients found that the trial processes and intervention were generally acceptable, but areas of potential improvements were identified. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that a larger study is possible and has identified improvements to optimise the design of an RCT. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN11121506.

Risky sexual behaviour and its determinants among undergraduate students residing in hostels of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Nepal: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of risky sexual behaviour (RSB) and its associated factors among Nepalese undergraduates residing in hostels of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Nepal. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study SETTING: Hostels operating inside Kathmandu Metropolitan City were taken as the study setting. PARTICIPANT: A total of 361 undergraduate students residing in hostels in the Metropolitan City OUTCOME MEASURES: RSB was the outcome measure assessed using nine questions able to trace any risky sexual practice practiced by the participants within the past year prior to data collection. The question included participants' engagement in sexual activity before the age of consent, having unprotected vaginal sex even when pregnancy is not intended, engaging in vaginal sex with strangers without a condom, risky oral sex with a stranger and/or intimate partner, risky condom use, having multiple sex partners, having sex under the influence of alcohol and having sex with commercial sex workers. A positive response to any of these nine questions was considered indicative of RSB. Pearson's χ2 test and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed to determine factors associated with RSB at the 5% level of significance. RESULTS: The prevalence of RSB was found to be 35.7% (95% CI: 30.2 to 40.2). RSB was found to be associated with higher age (≥25 years) (aOR: 3.938; 95% CI: 1.707 to 8.673), male gender (aOR: 3.233; 95% CI: 1.623 to 6.439), being in relationships in the past/current (aOR: 3.914, 95% CI: 2.099 to 7.012), lower education of mother (aOR: 3.655; 95% CI: 1.189 to 9.237) and peer pressure to have a sexual relationship (aOR: 2.356; 95% CI: 1.260 to 4.349). Notably, bivariate analysis illustrated problematic pornographic consumption to have a statistical relation with RSB, which was weakened and became non-significant after accounting for other factors in the adjusted model (aOR:1.213, 95% CI: 0.331 to 4.442). CONCLUSION: RSB is a concerning behaviour among undergraduate students and is linked with age, gender, relationship status, parental education and peer pressure. There is a need for comprehensive sex education programmes that equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate healthy relationships, make safe choices and embrace responsible sexual practices.

A turn-on anthraquinone-derived colorimetric and fluorometric dual-mode probe for highly selective Hg2+ determination and bioimaging in living organisms.

Mercury ion (Hg2+) is considered a harmful neurotoxin, and real-time monitoring of Hg2+ concentrations in environmental and biological samples is critical. Fluorescent probes are a rapidly emerging visualization tool owing to their simple design and good selectivity. Herein, a novel fluorescence (FL) probe 2-(4-((6-((quinolin-8-yloxy)methyl)pyridin-2-yl)methyl)piperazin-1-yl)anthracene-9,10-dione (QPPA) is designed using piperazine as a linker between the anthraquinone group, which serves as a fluorophore, and N4O as the Hg2+ ligand. The probe exhibits FL "turn-on" sensing of Hg2+ because the complex inhibits the photo-induced electron transfer (PET) process. Moreover, QPPA can overcome the invasion by other possible cations, resulting in a clear color change from orange to colorless with the addition Hg2+. The chelation of QPPA with Hg2+ in a 1:1 ratio. Subsequently, the theoretically determined binding sites of the ligand to Hg2+ are validated through 1H NMR titration. The in situQPPA-Hg2+ complex can be subjected to Hg2+ extraction following the introduction of S2- owing to its robust binding capacity. The exceptional limit of detection values for Hg2+ and S2- are obtained as 63.0 and 79.1 nM (S/N = 3), respectively. Moreover, QPPA can display bright red FL in the presence of Hg2+ in different biological specimens such as HeLa cells, zebrafish, onion root tip tissues, and water flea Daphnia carinata, further providing an effective strategy for environmental monitoring and bioimaging of Hg2+ in living organisms.

Piperine's potential in treating polycystic ovarian syndrome explored through in-silico docking.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaceted metabolic and hormonal condition that impacts women in their procreative ages, identified by ovarian dysfunction, hyperandrogenaemia overweight and insulin insensitivity. The piperine, an important alkaloid compound of black pepper has shown promise in modulating various physiological processes. In this work, employed computational docking studies to explore the potential of piperine as a treatment for PCOS. Utilizing computational methods, we analyzed the binding interactions between piperine and key molecular targets implicated in PCOS pathogenesis, including hyperandrogenism, and "oligomenorrhea. The network pharmacology analysis report found 988 PCOS-related genes, 108 hyperandrogenism-related genes, and 377 oligomenorrhea-related genes, and we finally shortlisted 5 common genes in PCOS, hyperandrogenism, and "oligomenorrhea": NR3C1, PPARG, FOS, CYP17A1, and H6PD. Our results reveal favorable binding affinities with PPARG (-8.34 Kcal/mol) and H6PD (-8.70 Kcal/mol) and interaction patterns, suggesting the potential of piperine to modulate these targets. Moreover, the reliability of the piperine-target interactions was revealed by molecular simulations studies. These findings support further experimental investigations to validate the therapeutic efficacy of piperine in PCOS management. The integration of computational approaches with experimental studies has the potential to lay the groundwork for the creation of new therapies specifically targeting PCOS and related endocrine disorders.