Prevalence, proportions of elevated liver enzyme levels, and long-term cardiometabolic mortality of patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: This study estimated the prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) according to cardiometabolic risk factors. The long-term impacts of MASLD on all-cause and cardiometabolic-specific mortality were evaluated. METHODS: We enrolled 343 816 adults aged ≥30 years who participated in a health screening program from 1997 through 2013. MASLD was identified on the basis of abdominal ultrasonography and metabolic profiles. The participants were further categorized by liver enzyme elevation. Baseline cardiometabolic comorbidities were classified on the basis of self-reported medication use and clinical seromarkers. All-cause and cardiometabolic-specific deaths were determined through computerized data linkage with nationwide death certifications until December 31, 2020. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of MASLD was 36.4%. Among patients with MASLD, 35.9% had abnormal liver enzyme levels. Compared with patients without MASLD, abnormal liver enzymes were positively associated with cardiometabolic comorbidities in patients with MASLD (Pfor trend < 0.001). After follow-up, patients with MASLD had a 9%-29% higher risk of all-cause, cardiovascular-related, or diabetes-related mortality. In the groups with MASLD and elevated and normal liver enzyme levels, the multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios for cardiovascular deaths were 1.14 (1.05-1.25) and 1.10 (1.03-1.17), respectively, and those for diabetes deaths were 1.42 (1.05-1.93) and 1.24 (0.98-1.57), respectively, compared with those in the non-MASLD group (Pfor trend < 0.001). DISCUSSION: Individuals with MASLD and elevated liver enzyme levels exhibited significantly higher risks of all-cause and cardiometabolic deaths and should be monitored and given consultation on cardiometabolic modifications.

A composite score based on cardiovascular parameters can predict the mortality risk of patients with newly diagnosed interstitial lung disease: A prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: It is crucial to identify factors that can predict the risk of mortality in patients newly diagnosed with interstitial lung disease (ILD). This study sought to develop and assess a composite scoring system for mortality prediction among ILD patients based on cardiovascular parameters, which were previously reported as predictors of survival. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients with newly diagnosed ILD and monitored their survival status for 24 months. Surviving and deceased patients were compared regarding their baseline characteristics including clinical, pulmonary, and cardiovascular parameters. A system of composite scores was established based on significant cardiovascular parameters and the Gender-Age-Physiology (GAP) score. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated to identify their optimal cut-off values. Univariate as well as multiple multivariate regression models were built to investigate the mortality prediction of different individual and combined parameters. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients newly diagnosed with ILD underwent cardiovascular evaluation. In univariate analysis, three cardiovascular parameters were identified as significant predictors of mortality risk in ILD patients, either individually or as a combination of composite scores: tricuspid regurgitation velocity > 3.1 m/s; N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level > 300 pg/ml and computed tomography pulmonary artery/ascending aorta diameter ratio > 0.9. In multivariate analysis, a composite score of those parameters [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.37 (confidence interval [CI]:1.06-5.33); p = 0.037; Score 1] and GAP score [HR = 1.62 (CI: 1.11-2.36); p = 0.012] were the most significant predictors for mortality among ILD patients. Combination of Score 1 and GAP score (Score 2) can increase the accuracy of survival predictions (area under the curve 0.83; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A composite score based on cardiovascular parameters and the GAP score can be used to predict the risk of mortality of patients with ILD. Such a score achieved better diagnostic accuracy than the GAP score alone. Nevertheless, further larger-scale randomized controlled trials are required for evaluation of the newly proposed score and confirmation of our results.

Elastic and Self-Healing Copolymer Coatings with Antimicrobial Function.

The revolutionary self-healing function for long-term and safe service processes has inspired researchers to implement them in various fields, including in the application of antimicrobial protective coatings. Despite the great advances that have been made in the field of fabricating self-healing and antimicrobial polymers, their poor transparency and the trade-off between the mechanical and self-healing properties limit the utility of the materials as transparent antimicrobial protective coatings for wearable optical and display devices. Considering the compatibility in the blending process, our group proposed a self-healing, self-cross-linkable poly{(n-butyl acrylate)-co-[N-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamide]} copolymer (AP)-based protective coating combined with two types of commercial cationic antimicrobial agents (i.e., dimethyl octadecyl (3-trimethoxysilylpropyl) ammonium chloride (DTSACL) and chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)), leading to the fabrication of a multifunctional modified compound film of (AP/b%CHG)-grafted-a%DTSACL. The first highlight of this research is that the reactivity of the hydroxyl group in the N-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamide of the copolymer side chains under thermal conditions facilitates the "grafting to" process with the trimethoxysilane groups of DTSACL to form AP-grafted-DTSACL, yielding favorable thermal stability, improvement in hydrophobicity, and enhancement of mechanical strength. Second, we highlight that the addition of CHG can generate covalent and noncovalent interactions in a complex manner between the two biguanide groups of CHG with the AP and DTSACL via a thermal-triggered cross-linking reaction. The noncovalent interactions synergistically serve as diverse dynamic hydrogen bonds, leading to complete healing upon scratches and even showing over 80% self-healing efficiency on full-cut, while covalent bonding can effectively improve elasticity and mechanical strength. The soft nature of CHG also takes part in improving the self-healing of the copolymer. Moreover, it was discovered that the addition of CHG can enhance antimicrobial effectiveness, as demonstrated by the long-term superior antibacterial activity (100%) against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria and the antifouling function on a glass substrate and/or a silica wafer coated by the modified polymer.

The incidence, pathogenesis, and management of non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer and is divided into two distinct subtypes, clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma (nccRCC). Although many treatments exist for RCC, these are largely based on clinical trials performed in ccRCC and there are limited studies on the management of nccRCC. Non-clear cell RCC consists of multiple histological subtypes: papillary, chromophobe, translocation, medullary, collecting duct, unclassified, and other rare histologies. Due to variations in pathogenesis and therapeutic response, therapy should be tailored to specific variant histologies. For patients with localized nccRCC, surgical resection remains the gold standard. In the metastatic setting, the standard of care has yet to be clearly defined, and most guidelines recommend clinical trial participation. General therapeutic options include immunotherapy, either as monotherapy or in combination, targeted therapies such as vascular endothelial growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitors and MET inhibitors, and chemotherapy in certain subtypes. Here we present a review of the incidence and pathogenesis of the various subtypes, as well as available clinical data to support therapeutic recommendations for these subtypes. We also highlight currently available clinical trials in nccRCC and future directions in investigating novel treatment modalities tailored to patients with variant histology.

Exercise capacity-hemodynamics mismatch in elderly patients with pulmonary hypertension: A nationwide multicenter study from Taiwan Society of Cardiology Pulmonary Hypertension Registry (TAIPANS).

Background: Demographics of pulmonary hypertension (PH) has changed a lot over the past forty years. Several recent registries noted an increase in mean age of PH but only a few of them investigated the characteristics of elderly patients. Thus, we aimed to analyze the characteristics of PH in such a population in this study. Methods: This multicenter study enrolled patients diagnosed with PH in group 1, 3, 4, and 5 consecutively from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020. A total of 490 patients was included, and patients were divided into three groups by age (≤45 years, 45-65 years, and >65 years). Results: The mean age of PH patients diagnosed with PH was 55.3 ± 16.3 years of age. There was higher proportion of elderly patients classified as group 3 PH (≤45: 1.3, 45-65: 4.5, >65: 8.1 %; p = 0.0206) and group 4 PH (≤45: 8.4, 45-65: 14.5, >65: 31.6 %; p < 0.0001) than young patients. Elderly patients had shorter 6-min walking distance (6 MWD) (≤45 vs. >65, mean difference, 77.8 m [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.1-153.6 m]), lower mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) (≤45 vs. >65, mean difference, 10.8 mmHg [95% CI, 6.37-15.2 mmHg]), and higher pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP) (≤45 vs. 45-65, mean difference, -2.1 mmHg [95% CI, -3.9 to -0.3 mmHg]) compared to young patients. Elderly patients had a poorer exercise capacity despite lower mPAP level compared to young population, but they received combination therapy less frequently compared to young patients (triple therapy in group 1 PH, ≤45: 16.7, 45-65: 11.3, >65: 3.8 %; p = 0.0005). Age older than 65 years was an independent predictor of high mortality for PH patients. Conclusions: Elderly PH patients possess unique hemodynamic profiles and epidemiologic patterns. They had higher PAWP, lower mPAP, and received combination therapy less frequently. Moreover, ageing is a predictor of high mortality for PH patients. Exercise capacity-hemodynamics mismatch and inadequate treatment are noteworthy in the approach of elderly population with PH.

Frame-based versus robot-assisted stereo-electro-encephalography for drug-resistant epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) is an effective presurgical invasive evaluation for drug-resistant epilepsies. The introduction of robotic devices provides a simplified, accurate, and safe alternative to the conventional SEEG technique. We report our institutional experience with robot-assisted SEEG and compare its in vivo accuracy, operation efficiency, and safety with the more traditional SEEG workflow. METHODS: All patients with medically refractory focal epilepsy who underwent SEEG depth electrode implantation between 2014 and 2022 were included in this study. Technical advancements of the robot-assisted technique are described. Analyses of patient demographics, electrode implantation accuracy, operation time, and procedure-related complications were performed. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-six patients underwent 167 SEEG procedures. The first 141 procedures were performed using a conventional approach involving a Leksell stereotactic system, and the last 26 procedures were robot-assisted. Among the 1726 depth electrodes that were inserted, the median entry point localization error was as follows: conventional (1.0 mm; range, 0.1-33.5 mm) and robot-assisted (1.1 mm; range, 0-4.8 mm) (P = 0.17). The median target point localization error was as follows: conventional (2.8 mm; range, 0.1-49 mm) and robot-assisted (1.8 mm; range, 0-30.3 mm) (P < 0.001). The median operation time was significantly reduced with the robot-assisted workflow (90 min vs. 77.5 min; P < 0.01). Total complication rates were as follows: conventional (17.7%) and robot-assisted (11.5%) (P = 0.57). Major complication rates were 3.5% and 7.7% (P = 0.77), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SEEG is a safe and highly accurate method that provides essential guidance for epilepsy surgery. Implementing SEEG in conjunction with multimodal planning systems and robotic devices can further increase safety margin, surgical efficiency, and accuracy.

Comparing Low- or Standard-Dose Alteplase in Endovascular Thrombectomy: Insights From a Nationwide Registry.

BACKGROUND: Timely intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy are the standard reperfusion treatments for large vessel occlusion stroke. Currently, it is unknown whether a low-dose thrombolytic agent (0.6 mg/kg alteplase) can offer similar efficacy to the standard dose (0.9 mg/kg alteplase). METHODS: We enrolled consecutive patients in the multicenter Taiwan Registry of Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke who had received combined thrombolysis (within 4.5 hours of onset) and thrombectomy treatment from January 2019 to April 2023. The choice of low- or standard-dose alteplase was based on the physician's discretion. The outcomes included successful reperfusion (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score, 2b-3), symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, 90-day modified Rankin Scale score, and 90-day mortality. The outcomes between the 2 groups were compared using multivariable logistic regression and inverse probability of treatment weighting-adjusted analysis. RESULTS: Among the 2242 patients in the Taiwan Registry of Endovascular Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke, 734 (33%) received intravenous alteplase. Patients in the low-dose group (n=360) were older, had more women, more atrial fibrillation, and longer onset-to-needle time compared with the standard-dose group (n=374). In comparison to low-dose alteplase, standard-dose alteplase was associated with a lower rate of successful reperfusion (81% versus 87%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.40-0.98]), a numerically higher incidence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (6.7% versus 3.9%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.81 [95% CI, 0.88-3.69]), but better 90-day modified Rankin Scale score (functional independence [modified Rankin Scale score, 0-2], 47% versus 31%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.91 [95% CI, 1.28-2.86]), and a numerically lower mortality rate (9% versus 15%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.43-1.25]) after adjusting for covariates. Similar results were observed in the inverse probability of treatment weighting-adjusted models. The results were consistent across predefined subgroups and age strata. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the lower rate of successful reperfusion and higher risk of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage with standard-dose alteplase, standard-dose alteplase was associated with a better functional outcome in patients receiving combined thrombolysis and thrombectomy.

Ostial right coronary artery lesion morphology and outcomes after treatment with drug-eluting stents.

BACKGROUND: Outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for de novo ostial right coronary artery (RCA) lesions are poor. AIMS: We used intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to clarify the morphological patterns of de novo ostial RCA lesions and their associated clinical outcome. METHODS: Among 5,102 RCA IVUS studies, 170 de novo ostial RCA stenoses (within 3 mm from the aorto-ostium) were identified. These were classified as 1) isolated ostial lesions (no disease extending beyond 10 mm from the ostium and without a calcified nodule [CN]); 2) ostial CN, typically with diffuse disease (disease extending beyond 10 mm); and 3) ostial lesions with diffuse disease but without a CN. The primary outcome was target lesion failure (TLF: cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, definite stent thrombosis, and ischaemia-driven target lesion revascularisation). RESULTS: The prevalence of an isolated ostial lesion was 11.8% (n=20), 47.6% (n=81) were ostial CN, and 40.6% (n=69) were ostial lesions with diffuse disease. Compared to ostial lesions with diffuse disease, isolated lesions were more common in women (75.0% vs 42.0%; p=0.01), and CN were associated with older age (median [first, third quartile] 76 [70, 83] vs 69 [63, 81] years old; p=0.002). The Kaplan-Meier rate of TLF at 2 years was significantly higher in patients with CN (21.6%) compared to diffuse lesions (8.2%) (p=0.04), and patients with isolated lesions had no events. A multivariable Cox proportional hazard model revealed that CN were significantly associated with TLF (hazard ratio 6.63, 95% confidence interval: 1.28-34.3; p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Ostial RCA lesions have specific morphologies - detectable by IVUS - that may be associated with long-term clinical outcomes.

Large-Scale Cancer Genomic Analysis Reveals Significant Disparities between Microsatellite Instability and Tumor Mutational Burden.

BACKGROUND: Microsatellite instability (MSI) and tumor mutational burden (TMB) are predictive biomarkers for pan-cancer immunotherapy. The interrelationship between MSI-high (MSI-H) and TMB-high (TMB-H) in human cancers and their predictive value for immunotherapy in lung cancer remain unclear. METHODS: We analyzed somatic mutation data from the Genomics Evidence Neoplasia Information Exchange (n = 46,320) to determine the relationship between MSI-H and TMB-H in human cancers using adjusted multivariate regression models. Patient survival was examined using the Cox proportional hazards model. The association between MSI and genetic mutations was assessed. RESULTS: Patients (31-89%) with MSI-H had TMB-low phenotypes across 22 cancer types. Colorectal and stomach cancers showed the strongest association between TMB and MSI. TMB-H patients with lung cancer who received immunotherapy exhibited significantly higher overall survival [HR, 0.61; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.44-0.86] and progression-free survival (HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.47-0.91) compared to the TMB-low group; no significant benefit was observed in the MSI-H group. Patients with TMB and MSI phenotypes showed further improvement in overall survival and PFS. We identified several mutated genes associated with MSI-H phenotypes, including known mismatch repair genes and novel mutated genes, such as ARID1A and ARID1B. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that TMB-H and/or a combination of MSI-H can serve as biomarkers for immunotherapies in lung cancer. IMPACT: These findings suggest that distinct or combined biomarkers should be considered for immunotherapy in human cancers because notable discrepancies exist between MSI-H and TMB-H across different cancer types.

Evaluation of the Feasibility of In Vitro Metabolic Interruption of Trimethylamine with Resveratrol Butyrate Esters and Its Purified Monomers.

Resveratrol (RSV), obtained from dietary sources, has been shown to reduce trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) levels in humans, and much research indicates that TMAO is recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of RSV and RSV-butyrate esters (RBE) on the proliferation of co-cultured bacteria and HepG2 cell lines, respectively, and also investigated the changes in trimethylamine (TMA) and TMOA content in the medium and flavin-containing monooxygenase-3 (FMO3) gene expression. This study revealed that 50 µg/mL of RBE could increase the population percentage of Bifidobacterium longum at a rate of 53%, while the rate was 48% for Clostridium asparagiforme. In contrast, co-cultivation of the two bacterial strains effectively reduced TMA levels from 561 ppm to 449 ppm. In addition, regarding TMA-induced HepG2 cell lines, treatment with 50 µM each of RBE, 3,4'-di-O-butanoylresveratrol (ED2), and 3-O-butanoylresveratrol (ED4) significantly reduced FMO3 gene expression from 2.13 to 0.40-1.40, which would also contribute to the reduction of TMAO content. This study demonstrated the potential of RBE, ED2, and ED4 for regulating TMA metabolism in microbial co-cultures and cell line cultures, which also suggests that the resveratrol derivative might be a daily dietary supplement that will be beneficial for health promotion in the future.

Design of CMOS Analog Front-End Local-Field Potential Chopper Amplifier with Stimulation Artifact Tolerance for Real-Time Closed-Loop Deep Brain Stimulation SoC Applications.

A CMOS analog front-end (AFE) local-field potential (LFP) chopper amplifier with stimulation artifact tolerance, improved right-leg driven (RLD) circuit, and improved auxiliary path is proposed. In the proposed CMOS AFE LFP chopper amplifier, common-mode artifact voltage (CMAV) and differential-mode artifact voltage (DMAV) removal using the analog template removal method are proposed to achieve good signal linearity during stimulation. An improved auxiliary path is employed to boost the input impedance and allow the negative stimulation artifact voltage passing through. The common-mode noise is suppressed by the improved RLD circuit. The chip is implemented in 0.18-µm CMOS technology and the total chip area is 5.46-mm2. With the improved auxiliary path, the measured input impedance is larger than 133 MΩ in the signal bandwidth and reaches 8.2 GΩ at DC. With the improved RLD circuit, the measured CMRR is 131 - 144 dB in the signal bandwidth. Under 60-µs pulse width and 130-Hz constant current stimulation (CCS) with ±1-V CMAV and ±50-mV DMAV, the measured THD at the SC Amp output of fabricated AFE LFP chopper amplifier is 1.28%. The measurement results of In vitro agar tests have shown that with ±1.6-mA CCS pulses injecting to agar, the measured THD is 1.69%. Experimental results of both electrical and agar tests have verified that the proposed AFE LFP chopper amplifier has good stimulation artifact tolerance. The proposed CMOS AFE LFP chopper amplifier with analog template removal method is suitable for real-time closed-loop deep drain stimulation (DBS) SoC applications.

Cardiovascular risk of dietary trimethylamine oxide precursors and the therapeutic potential of resveratrol and its derivatives.

Overall diet, lifestyle choices, genetic predisposition, and other underlying health conditions may contribute to higher trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) levels and increased cardiovascular risk. This review explores the potential therapeutic ability of RSV to protect against cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and affect TMAO levels. This review considers recent studies on the association of TMAO with CVD. It also examines the sources, mechanisms, and metabolism of TMAO along with TMAO-induced cardiovascular events. Plant polyphenolic compounds, including resveratrol (RSV), and their cardioprotective mechanism of regulating TMAO levels and modifying gut microbiota are also discussed here. RSV's salient features and bioactive properties in reducing CVD have been evaluated. The close relationship between TMAO and CVD is clearly understood from currently available data, making it a potent biomarker for CVD. Precise investigation, including clinical trials, must be performed to understand RSV's mechanism, dose, effects, and derivatives as a cardioprotectant agent.

Treatment Landscape of Renal Cell Carcinoma.

OPINION STATEMENT: The treatment landscape of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has evolved significantly over the past three decades. Active surveillance and tumor ablation are alternatives to extirpative therapy in appropriately selected patients. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is an emerging noninvasive alternative to treat primary RCC tumors. The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has greatly improved the overall survival of advanced RCC, and now the ICI-based doublet (dual ICI-ICI doublet; or ICI in combination with a vascular endothelial growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, ICI-TKI doublet) has become the standard frontline therapy. Based on unprecedented outcomes in the metastatic with ICIs, they are also being explored in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant setting for patients with high-risk disease. Adjuvant pembrolizumab has proven efficacy to reduce the risk of RCC recurrence after nephrectomy. Historically considered a radioresistant tumor, SBRT occupies an expanding role to treat RCC with oligometastasis or oligoprogression in combination with systemic therapy. Furthermore, SBRT is being investigated in combination with ICI-doublet in the advanced disease setting. Lastly, given the treatment paradigm is shifting to adopt ICIs at earlier disease course, the prospective studies guiding treatment sequencing in the post-ICI setting is maturing. The effort is ongoing in search of predictive biomarkers to guide optimal treatment option in RCC.

Translation and validation of the Chinese version of the stroke knowledge test for the hypertension patient.

The measurement of hypertensive patients' stroke knowledge is an important stroke prevention indicator of health care service quality. The aim of this study was to develop a Chinese version of the Stroke Knowledge Test and examine its psychometric properties, reliability, and validity for hypertensive patients. A sample of 200 hypertensive patients completed the Chinese version of the Stroke Knowledge Test, and 30 of the participants were retested after 2 weeks. The final Chinese version of the Stroke Knowledge Test included 20 items with acceptable content validity (I-CVI = 0.88 ~ 1.00, S-CVI/Ave = 0.97). These items showed satisfactory internal reliability consistency (Kuder Richardson-20 = 0.62) and test-retest reliability was 0.77. The 40% of the difficulty index was in the acceptable range, and 25% was in the difficult range, as well as the 90% items overall values for discrimination were ranged from 0.2 to > 0.4. Known-group validity testing was performed based on the education level, and the result exhibited significant difference (F = 21.21, p < 0.001). The Chinese version of the Stroke Knowledge Test demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties, thus providing a new tool for the future care of hypertensive patients in Taiwan. It also could be as a reference for healthcare providers to educate hypertensive patients on stroke prevention.

The impact of coping behaviors on perceived competence and social anxiety in the everyday social engagement of autistic adolescents.

LAY ABSTRACT: Individuals who cope well with challenges may engage in social situations more successfully. We examined how well autistic adolescents coped, depending on how competent they felt and how much anxiety they experienced during social activities. We included 133 individuals (82 autistic, 51 neurotypical) between the ages of 10 and 16 years. Participants carried a mobile device that prompted them seven times a day for 7 days to record what they were doing, how competent they felt and how much anxiety they experienced. We used the Coping Inventory to understand how well participants coped with environmental challenges and met their needs for growth. Autistic adolescents were more likely than neurotypical peers to feel anxious while doing activities with adults. Autistic adolescents who had more difficulty coping with challenges were more likely to feel anxious when doing leisure activities with peers. Interestingly, autistic adolescents who coped better with challenges tended to feel less competent in social situations. However, those better able to meet their needs for growth tended to perceive their social competence positively. These findings can help practitioners develop strategies and programs to reduce the negative social experiences of autistic adolescents by helping them cope better.

Sources, Degradation, Ingestion and Effects of Microplastics on Humans: A Review.

Celluloid, the predecessor to plastic, was synthesized in 1869, and due to technological advancements, plastic products appear to be ubiquitous in daily life. The massive production, rampant usage, and inadequate disposal of plastic products have led to severe environmental pollution. Consequently, reducing the employment of plastic has emerged as a pressing concern for governments globally. This review explores microplastics, including their origins, absorption, and harmful effects on the environment and humans. Several methods exist for breaking down plastics, including thermal, mechanical, light, catalytic, and biological processes. Despite these methods, microplastics (MPs, between 1 and 5 mm in size) continue to be produced during degradation. Acknowledging the significant threat that MPs pose to the environment and human health is imperative. This form of pollution is pervasive in the air and food and infiltrates our bodies through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact. It is essential to assess the potential hazards that MPs can introduce. There is evidence suggesting that MPs may have negative impacts on different areas of human health. These include the respiratory, gastrointestinal, immune, nervous, and reproductive systems, the liver and organs, the skin, and even the placenta and placental barrier. It is encouraging to see that most of the countries have taken steps to regulate plastic particles. These measures aim to reduce plastic usage, which is essential today. At the same time, this review summarizes the degradation mechanism of plastics, their impact on human health, and plastic reduction policies worldwide. It provides valuable information for future research on MPs and regulatory development.

[Analysis on the Current Situation of Phytoplankton in the Typical River-Lake Ecotone of Lake Poyang].

The typical river-lake ecotone (tail end area) of Poyang Lake, which is a sensitive area and prone to outbreaks of cyanobacteria bloom, is vulnerable to frequent human activities. To explore the diversity of phytoplankton community structure and the relevant driving mechanism in the typical river lake junction area of Poyang Lake, the water quality and phytoplankton at seven sampling points in the typical river lake junction area of Poyang Lake, at six sampling points in the middle section of Poyang Lake River, and at one sampling point in the main lake area were investigated in the field from 2019 to 2020 (dry season), April (flood season), July (wet season), and October (recession period). The results showed that there were seven phyla and 64 genera of phytoplankton in the typical river-lake ecotone of Poyang Lake, and the biomass and relative abundance of phytoplankton were dominated by diatoms and cyanobacteria. The biomass and abundance in the east of the typical river-lake ecotone of Poyang Lake were generally higher than those in the west, and the biomass and abundance in the river-lake ecotone were higher than those in the middle of the river. The dominant degree of cyanobacteria in the lake area and the river-lake ecotone was large, and the dominant degree of diatoms in the middle section of the river was large. The Monte Carlo test results showed that total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), orthophosphate phosphorus (PO43--P), water depth (WD), water temperature (WT), and transparency (SD) were significantly related environmental factors affecting the distribution of the phytoplankton community. Redundancy analysis results showed that the typical river-lake ecotone in the west of Poyang Lake was highly affected by the hydration factors (TN, TP, and PO43--P), and the hydrological factors (WT, WD, and SD) in the typical river-lake ecotone in the east were highly significant. The impact factors of phytoplankton in the typical river-lake ecotone of Poyang Lake were seasonal, being greatly affected by hydration factors in winter and hydrological factors in summer.

The friendships of children and youth with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience substantial difficulty maintaining meaningful friendships, which has implications for social functioning and mental health. No systematic review has investigated their friendship difficulties. OBJECTIVES: To systematically review and methodologically appraise the quality of existing studies reporting on friendships of children with ADHD. To compare their friendships to typically-developing children, and examine associations between friendship and children's social-emotional wellbeing and mental health. METHOD: Six databases were searched. The methodological quality of studies was assessed using the QualSyst appraisal tool and the Appraisal tool for Cross-Sectional Studies. Aspects of friendships measured were charted, along with comparisons between children with ADHD and typically-developing children and the associations between friendships and social-emotional wellbeing and mental health. RESULTS: Twenty-three cross-sectional studies and one longitudinal follow-up study were included. Studies included 1509 participants with ADHD, with 1197 typically-developing participants used as a companion in 19 of the 24 studies. Friendship quantity was the most investigated aspect of friendship. Children and youth with ADHD had significantly fewer friends, lower quality friendships and poorer friendship interactions. There were mixed findings from studies investigating the role or impact of friendship on social-emotional wellbeing and mental health. Twenty-two had strong methodological quality. CONCLUSION: Limited longitudinal studies, small sample sizes and variability in measurement restrict the interpretations of friendship over time and the causal impact of friendship on social and emotional outcomes. Further research should investigate the role and impact of friendships on the social-emotional wellbeing of children and youth with ADHD.

Transitions of dialysis status and outcomes after the unplanned first dialysis: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

In Taiwan, most first-time dialysis was started without the creation of an arteriovenous shunt. Here, we aimed to elucidate the transitions of dialysis status in the unplanned first dialysis patients and determine factors associated with their outcomes. A total of 50,315 unplanned first dialysis patients aged more than 18 years were identified from the National Health Insurance Dataset in Taiwan between 2001 and 2012. All patients were followed for 5 years for the transitions in dialysis status, including robust (dialysis-free), sporadic dialysis, continued dialysis, and death. Furthermore, factors associated with the development of continued dialysis and death were examined by the Cox proportional hazard models. After 5 years after the first dialysis occurrence, there were 5.39% with robust status, 1.67% with sporadic dialysis, 8.45% with continued dialysis, and 84.48% with death. Notably, we have identified common risk factors for developing maintenance dialysis and deaths, including male gender, older age, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, sepsis, and surgery. There was an extremely high mortality rate among the first unplanned dialysis patients in Taiwan. Less than 10% of these patients underwent continued dialysis during the 5-year follow-up period. This study highlighted the urgent need for interventions to improve patient outcomes.

The Long Shadow of Intimate Partner Violence: Associations of Mental and Physical Health With Employment, Housing, and Demographic Factors.

Ongoing health issues influence the postseparation lives of survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). This study identified associations between health following IPV and demographic, housing, employment, and social participation factors. Survivors of IPV in Australia were surveyed. Logistic regression assessed factors of interest with physical and mental health conditions. Six hundred and fifty-eight women participated. Physical health issues were associated with reduced skills and confidence in employment. A mental health diagnosis was associated with women not working as desired and lower incomes. Screening for health impacts and longer-term responses to women could reduce the long shadow of IPV impacts.