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Risk Factors and Predictive Model for Postoperative High Myopia in Children Undergoing Congenital Cataract Surgery With Intraocular Lens Implantation.

PURPOSE: To identify risk factors associated with the development of high myopia following congenital cataract surgery and to establish a robust predictive model. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical cohort study. SUBJECTS: This retrospective study included 106 pediatric patients who underwent congenital cataract surgery with primary IOL implantation (mean follow-up 8.19 years). The model was externally validated in an independent cohort of 72 patients with a mean follow-up of 7.83 years. METHODS: Preoperative and postoperative ocular biometric parameters were collected. Risk factors for postoperative high myopia were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression, which served as the basis for model construction. The predictive performance of the model was rigorously evaluated for discrimination and calibration. Discriminative ability was quantified using Harrell's C-index and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Model calibration was assessed via calibration plots by comparing predicted probabilities with actual observed outcomes. Internal validation was performed using a bootstrapping method (500 iterations) to ensure model stability and adjust for potential overfitting. RESULTS: An initial postoperative refraction of <+0.75D, and a higher IOL Power to Axial length Ratio (IOL/AL ratio) were identified as significant risk factors for the development of postoperative high myopia. Shorter preoperative axial length was associated with a greater magnitude of postoperative myopic shift. The predictive model demonstrated robust performance, achieving a C-index of 0.711 (internal validation C-index: 0.713). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values for predicting high myopia at 5 and 10 years were 0.858 and 0.745, respectively. Furthermore, calibration curves demonstrated excellent agreement between the predicted and observed outcomes throughout the follow-up period. In external validation, the model achieved a C-index of 0.825, 5-year AUC of 0.833, and 10-year AUC of 0.713. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis established that initial postoperative refraction <+0.75D, and an elevated IOL/AL ratio are key determinants of high myopia risk following surgery. Shorter preoperative axial length was associated with a greater magnitude of postoperative myopic shift. This predictive framework provides clinicians with a practical tool to optimize preoperative IOL selection and identify high-risk infants who require vigilant myopia prevention and balanced amblyopia management.

Humans

Culture of infectious human norovirus isolated from live contaminated oysters.

Human noroviruses are a major cause of foodborne outbreaks worldwide. Filter-feeding shellfish, such as oysters, can bioaccumulate these viruses in their digestive tissue when grown in sewage-impacted coastal areas and are often implicated in norovirus foodborne outbreaks. Despite the high sensitivity of current molecular assays, these methods for norovirus detection in shellfish fail to distinguish between infectious and non-infectious particles. Assessing norovirus infectivity in shellfish remains a challenge due to the lack of suitable isolation methods that maintain capsid integrity. In this study, a protocol for isolating infectious norovirus from oyster tissues, based on chloroform-butanol elution and polyethylene glycol concentration (CB-PEG), was optimized for the recovery of human norovirus GI and GII. While CB-PEG method recovered various norovirus GI and GII genotypes, it was less efficient at the genomic level than a protocol based on proteinase K elution (adapted from ISO 15216) and showed genotype-dependent viral recovery rates. By optimizing the flocculation step, we improved the method's compatibility with human intestinal enteroid (HIE) cultures. Using this approach, we successfully quantified infectious norovirus GII.3 titers recovered from artificially-contaminated live oysters. Interestingly, infectious virus was better isolated following a freezing step of the digestive tissues, with titers ranging from 13 to 40 TCID50/mL for positive samples. In conclusion, this study established an optimized methodological approach for the relative quantification of infectious norovirus GII.3 in shellfish, paving the way for future research on viral persistence and inactivation strategies in this foodstuff.

Norovirus

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for post COVID-19 condition: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The post COVID-19 condition (PCC) is a disabling condition with urgent need for effective treatments. This pilot randomized controlled trial examined the feasibility and efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for PCC in a parallel-group design. METHODS: N&#xa0;=&#xa0;53 individuals with PCC were randomized to CBT (n&#xa0;=&#xa0;27) or 16-week wait-list control (WLC) condition (n&#xa0;=&#xa0;26). One participant allocated to WLC was excluded after randomization, resulting in an intention-to-treat (ITT) sample of N&#xa0;=&#xa0;52 participants (CBT: n&#xa0;=&#xa0;27, age: M&#xa0;=&#xa0;48.59, SD&#xa0;=&#xa0;11.52, 77.8% female; WLC: n&#xa0;=&#xa0;25, Age: M&#xa0;=&#xa0;48.44, SD&#xa0;=&#xa0;9.81, 60% female). CBT comprised eight group and five individual sessions addressing cognitive and behavioral factors of symptom maintenance (treatment duration if completed: M&#xa0;=&#xa0;14&#xa0;weeks, SD&#xa0;=&#xa0;1&#xa0;week). Primary outcomes included fatigue (FSS), overall somatic symptom burden (PHQ-15), and respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms (SBQ&#x2122;-LC "Breathing" and "Circulation"), assessed at pre-, post-assessment, and follow-up. RESULTS: Participants receiving CBT showed a significant medium-sized reduction in fatigue directly after treatment compared to the WLC condition (d&#xa0;=&#xa0;-0.58, p&#xa0;=&#xa0;.045), whereas the WLC group showed a significant increase in overall somatic symptoms (d&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.60, p&#xa0;=&#xa0;.027). Results for respiratory symptoms were mixed, showing inconsistent patterns across analyses. Retrospectively assessed feasibility and treatment satisfaction were good, with few adverse effects reported. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot trial suggests the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of CBT for PCC. Larger RCTs with active control groups should confirm these findings.

Humans

Sex- and age-specific associations of VEGFA polymorphisms with multiple sclerosis susceptibility.

AIM: To evaluate six VEGFA polymorphisms (rs1570360, rs699947, rs3025033, rs2146323, rs1413711 and rs833061) and serum VEGFA concentrations in 270 Lithuanian patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 270 matched healthy controls. METHODS: Genotyping was performed using real-time PCR, and serum VEGFA levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS version 31.0. RESULTS: Nominal differences in VEGFA genotype and allele distributions were observed in sex- and age-stratified analyses. Among females, the rs1413711 C allele was more frequent (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.005), whereas the rs833061 C allele was less frequent (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.006), in MS patients than controls. In participants aged >38 years, the rs1413711 C allele was also more frequent in MS cases (57.5% vs. 46.0%, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.008). Logistic regression identified nominal associations, particularly for rs1413711, rs699947 and rs833061, but none remained significant after correction for multiple testing. Serum VEGFA levels were higher in MS patients than controls (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.004). Nominal genotype-related differences in serum VEGFA levels and haplotype associations with reduced MS odds were also observed, but did not remain significant after multiple-testing correction. No consistent associations were found between VEGFA variants and clinical parameters. CONCLUSION: VEGFA genetic variation and elevated serum VEGFA may be associated with MS, but the genetic findings require confirmation in larger independent cohorts.

Humans

Does high fructose consumption trigger microglia activation and neuroinflammation? A systematic review.

This systematic review evaluated the effects of fructose intake on neuroinflammatory markers in rodent models. The search terms Fructose AND neuroinflammation OR Neurodegeneration OR chemokines OR interleukins OR microglia OR behaviour OR memory OR cognition were used in Google Scholar, Scopus and Web of Science. Thirteen animal studies investigating fructose-induced neuroinflammation that matched the eligibility criteria were included in the study. Across the studies, 16 inflammatory markers were identified and significantly altered following exposure to fructose. The findings consistently demonstrated elevated expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-&#x3b1;, IL-6, and IL-1&#x3b2;, following fructose administration. Fructose consumption also dysregulated MCP-1, fractalkine, and CX3CR1 levels, thereby promoting inflammatory signalling and microglial activation. Furthermore, fructose exposure significantly increased IBA-1 and CD11b, indicating sustained neuroimmune activation. Alterations in important inflammatory pathways involving TLR4, NLRP3, NF-&#x3ba;B, MyD88, iNOS, and cyclooxygenases (COX-1 and COX-2) were also observed. In contrast, expression of the anti-inflammatory regulator peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR&#x3b3;) was reduced after fructose treatment. Overall, the findings suggest that chronic fructose consumption induces neuroinflammation through multiple inflammatory and immune-related mechanisms in the brain. These effects appear to be dose- and duration-dependent and may contribute significantly to neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment.

Microglia

Melatonin Levels in 89 Individuals With Smith Magenis Syndrome.

In patients with Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS), an inverted circadian rhythm of melatonin (MT) contributes to the sleep disturbance. Standard treatment of sleep disturbance with MT often leads to extremely high daytime MT levels, resulting in even more sleep disorders. We therefore retrospectively evaluated the MT data of 89 SMS patients. Mean MT levels in participants on exogenous MT were significantly higher than in participants that did not use MT (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.0001). In 9 participants with very high MT levels, these dropped significantly after discontinuation of exogenous MT (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.0037). In 12 participants, MT levels were significantly higher after MT therapy start compared to MT levels before MT start (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.028). MT is catabolized principally by the CYP1A2 enzyme, with a half-life of about 40&#x2009;min. CYP1A2 genotyping was performed in five participants with high MT levels during MT use. Although clinically suspected to be a poor CYP1A2 metabolizer, all five turned out to have haplotype CYP1A2*1F, which is associated with increased enzyme activity. This shows that genotyping of CYP1A2 is not suitable to estimate the level of CYP1A2 enzyme activity. When prescribing MT, it is strongly recommended to measure a MT level prior to treatment in order to determine the dose to be given. Checks of the MT level during treatment are necessary due to the frequent occurrence of poor CYP1A2 metabolism. Since CYP1A2 genotyping does not provide adequate information about the level of CYP1A2 enzyme activity, we propose a simple way to determine CYP1A2 phenotype.

Humans

Simulating the effects of an alcohol minimum unit price policy on distilled spirits sales in 28 states of the USA.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Excessive alcohol use is a leading preventable chronic disease risk factor. Alcohol minimum unit pricing (MUP) policies are not used in the United States despite evidence of associations with reduced drinking and alcohol-related harms. To inform potential population-level chronic disease prevention strategies, we estimated effects of various hypothetical MUPs on alcohol sales. METHOD: Simulation based on observational time-series data. We used weekly off-premises product-specific alcohol retail sales and prices in 28 states of the United States for November 2022-November 2023 from NielsenIQ to estimate the own-price elasticity of spirits and cross-price elasticities of wine, beer and ready-to-drinks with respect to spirits. Using estimated elasticities, we simulated changes in total alcohol sales associated with hypothetical spirits MUPs ranging from $0.10 to $1.10 per standard drink (0.6 fluid ounces of alcohol). RESULTS: A hypothetical MUP of $0.80 per standard drink on spirits yielded the largest estimated decrease in alcohol sales (-1.7%) and would affect 5374 of 26&#x2009;249 spirits products. To reach the $0.80 MUP, the sales-weighted average price increase among affected products was $0.24 per drink. CONCLUSIONS: Minimum unit pricing policies on distilled spirits in the United States could shift purchasing behavior and help reduce alcohol-related harms.

alcohol policy

Positive Margin Rate Following Transoral Surgery in T2-T3 Laryngeal Carcinoma - a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Transoral endoscopic surgery, using either conventional laser techniques or supported by robotic assistance, represents an established treatment modality for selected patients with T2-T3 laryngeal carcinoma. The goal is complete tumor removal, as positive resection margins have been associated with worse oncological outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the positive margin rate following transoral endoscopic surgery for T2-T3 laryngeal carcinoma and to evaluate its impact on oncologic outcomes. METHODS: A systematic search of Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Google Scholar was performed from inception through March 2025, identifying studies reporting on surgical margin status after transoral resection of T2 and/or T3 laryngeal carcinoma. A random-effects meta-analysis of proportions was used to estimate a pooled positive margin rate. The oncologic impact of margin status is presented descriptively owing to data heterogeneity. RESULTS: Thirty-nine studies comprising 3,281 patients with T2-T3 laryngeal carcinoma met the inclusion criteria. The positive margin rate was 22.0% (95% CI 17.6 - 27.3, I2 = 83.8%) for the total T2-T3 cohort, with stratified rates of 22.4% for T2 and 30.8% for T3 tumors. Among the eight studies assessing the impact of positive margins in T2-T3 stages, three found a significant association with worse oncological outcomes. Conclusion A 22% positive margin rate was identified in T2-T3 laryngeal cancer treated with transoral endoscopic resection. However, the impact of margin status on oncological outcomes remains uncertain, largely due to challenges in sampling and histopathological assessment.

Humans

Bi-compartmental CSF-serum analysis of NfL and GFAP differentiates central and peripheral pathology in neuroinfectious diseases: A monocentric real-world cohort study.

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), established biomarkers of neuroaxonal injury and astroglial pathology, are frequently only assessed in blood, which limits conclusions regarding their origin. Bi-compartmental analyses of CSF and serum may help differentiate central or peripheral origin of biomarker elevation. Moreover, studies on NfL and GFAP in distinct neuroinfectious disease (NID) phenotypes, particularly those based on real-world cohorts, are limited. This retrospective monocentric study analyzed CSF and serum from patients with (meningo-)encephalitis/myelitis (TI+; n&#xa0;=&#xa0;48), meningitis (TI-; n&#xa0;=&#xa0;80), (cranial) nerve palsies/polyradiculitis (PND; n&#xa0;=&#xa0;61), and 113 non-neuroinflammatory/non-neurodegenerative controls. A bi-compartmental model using scatter plots and simple linear regression was applied to assess the origin of blood biomarker levels and discriminate between central and peripheral pathology. CSF and serum NfL and GFAP z-scores were significantly higher in TI+ compared with TI- (CSF-GFAP p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001/sGFAP p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.0083; CSF-NfL p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.003/sNfL p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.0004). TI+ and PND differed only in GFAP levels, which were higher in TI+ (CSF-GFAP p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.0049/sGFAP p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.003). The overall group effect (p&#xa0;&#x2264;&#xa0;0.003) and principal findings remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, QAlb, and time since (symptom) onset to LP. Bi-compartmental analysis revealed simultaneous elevation of CSF and serum NfL in TI+, indicating predominantly central origin, whereas PND demonstrated a shift toward higher sNfL levels suggesting peripheral origin. Higher clinical severity (modified Rankin Scale 3-5) was associated with elevated serum and CSF GFAP and NfL (sGFAP p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.012/sNfL p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.002; CSF-GFAP p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.0001/CSF-NfL p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.0001), which also predicted unfavorable outcome at discharge (sGFAP p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.006/sNfL p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.004; CSF-GFAP p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.003/CSF-NfL p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.012). NfL and GFAP were associated with brain/myelon involvement in NID, predominantly reflecting central pathology. Despite strong CSF-serum correlations, bi-compartmental approaches provide additional insight into biomarker origin and disease compartment.

Humans

Cine-derived mitral annular relaxation velocity for detection of preclinical left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

OBJECTIVES: Imaging diastolic dysfunction in pre-clinical heart failure (HF) is challenging. We evaluated a novel cardiac MRI (CMR) biomarker, CMR e-prime (CMR-MARV), in patients at risk of HF. METHODS: In this substudy of the PARABLE trial (NCT04687111), 236 patients (71.6&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;7.7&#xa0;years, 61.6% male) fulfilling trial-defined ALVDD citeria underwent CMR with measurement of mitral annular relaxation velocity (CMR-MARV) at four mitral annular anchor points. Diastolic strain rates from FT were also assessed. Twenty-five age- and sex-matched controls were included (73.8&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;3.1&#xa0;years, 52% male). Group differences were tested with t-tests, diagnostic accuracy with ROC analysis, and predictors of diastolic dysfunction with adjusted logistic regression. RESULTS: Compared with controls, patients had significantly higher indexed maximal left atrial volume (LAVimax), LV end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes, and LV mass (all p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001). Of FT variables, only peak diastolic longitudinal velocity differed between groups (p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001). In multivariate models, CMR-MARV correlated with radial, circumferential, and longitudinal diastolic strain rates, radial and longitudinal diastolic velocities (all p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001), echocardiographic e' (r&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.20, p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.007), LV mass (r&#xa0;=&#xa0;-0.18, p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.008), LAVimax (r&#xa0;=&#xa0;-0.18, p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.008), and NT-proBNP (r&#xa0;=&#xa0;-0.30, p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.0001). LAVimax and CMR-MARV were strongly independently associated with ALVDD (AUC 0.89 and 0.76, respectively; p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.0001). A combined model (LAVimax + CMR-MARV) achieved excellent discrimination (AUC 0.91, 95% CI 0.86-0.97, p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.0001). Independent predictors included LAVimax, CMR-MARV, and peak diastolic longitudinal velocity (all p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001). CONCLUSION: CMR-MARV provides a simple cine-derived measure of longitudinal relaxation that correlates with established structural and biochemical markers of diastolic burden. Within an at-risk population, it offers incremental functional information beyond conventional parameters and may support multiparametric CMR phenotyping of preclinical diastolic dysfunction.

Aged

Chemical and sensory profiling of fermented, washed, and artificially flavored coffee beans: Insights into flavour quality, authenticity, and food safety implications.

This study establishes an integrated framework combining chemical profiling, sensory analysis, and molecular mechanism evaluation to compare flavour quality and authenticity among fermented, washed, and artificially flavored coffees. GC&#xa0;&#xd7;&#xa0;GC-TOF-MS and UHPLC-HRMS showed that fermented samples had markedly higher ester and aromatic alcohol levels (total esters 74.5&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;7.8&#xa0;mg&#xa0;kg-1; phenylethanol 27.5&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;3.2&#xa0;mg&#xa0;kg-1, p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.01), enhancing fruity-floral notes. Washed coffees contained the highest organic acid concentrations (45.2&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;3.8&#xa0;mg&#xa0;kg-1, p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.01), supporting brightness and umami. Artificially flavored coffees exhibited elevated exogenous aromatics (vanillin 21.5&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;3.1&#xa0;mg&#xa0;kg-1) but significantly fewer Maillard products (p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05) and reduced flavour retention (55% after 14 days). Molecular docking revealed higher theoretical binding affinities for naturally generated compounds, suggesting a potential molecular basis for their greater sensory persistence. The framework supports constructing coffee quality fingerprints and verifying flavour authenticity.

Flavoring Agents

The Natural History of Residual and Recurrent Disease in Advanced Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review explores the natural history of residual and recurrent juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas (JNAs) to inform clinical decision-making. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. REVIEW METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines across PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to February 20, 2025 and was re-run on September 21, 2025. Studies included patients with advanced JNA and documented follow-up of residual or recurrent disease. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared analysis, and analysis of variance were used to evaluate treatment outcomes across different modalities including surgery, radiotherapy, gamma knife surgery, and medical therapies. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies encompassing 131 male patients (mean age 16.3&#x2009;years) were included. Residual or recurrent disease demonstrated complete involution in 41%, stable disease in 29%, and reduction in size in 25% of cases. Only 2% of patients had progressive disease. A statistically significant association was observed between treatment modality and outcome (p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.015), with radiotherapy, either alone, or as part of a multimodal approach, showing the highest rates of spontaneous involution. CONCLUSION: Residual and recurrent JNAs often remain stable or regress without further intervention. Close surveillance with imaging is a safe and effective strategy for asymptomatic patients, minimizing the risks of additional treatment in a young patient population with disease near critical anatomical structures.

Humans

Pharmacokinetic Differences Between Fast-Acting, Standard, and Placebo Cannabis Edibles.

INTRODUCTION: Edibles have become the second-most used cannabis product in legal U.S. states, wherein 64% of cannabis consumers reported using edibles within the past year. Among expansions to the legal cannabis industry are the newly marketed "fast-acting" edible compounds, which may address many of the issues associated with edible use related to overdose and dose management. The study hypotheses were that fast-acting edibles would reach peak concentration significantly faster than standard edibles and placebo edibles. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty participants completed three arms within-subjects designed study to test hypotheses. The three arms were ingestion of a (1) fast-acting edible, (2) a standard edible, and (3) a &#x394;9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) terpene-derived placebo edible that was indistinguishable from the two THC-containing edibles. Blood plasma was analyzed for the presence of THC and THC analytes. The pharmacokinetic parameters tested were time to max concentration (Tmax), maximum concentration (Cmax), terminal half-life (t1/2), and area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: Results supported study hypotheses in that Tmax was significantly faster for the fast-acting edible, observed 30 min post-ingestion and, on average, 30 min earlier than the Tmax for the standard edible. There were no significant differences between the fast-acting and standard edibles on Cmax, t1/2, and AUC; however, both the fast-acting and standard edibles were significantly different compared with the placebo across all pharmacokinetic parameters. DISCUSSION: The results indicate that the microencapsulation technology used to create the fast-acting edible enabled analyte concentrations to peak significantly faster compared to the standard and placebo edibles.

Humans

Dissociable neural mechanisms of cognitive enhancement through transcranial stimulation and behavioral training.

BACKGROUND: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and adaptive working memory (WM) training are promising cognitive enhancement approaches; however, their neural mechanisms and potential synergies remain poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: We directly compared how tDCS and WM training modulate neural oscillations during WM performance and examined whether combining both interventions produces additive effects. METHODS: We randomized 112 healthy adults into four groups: control (sham tDCS&#xa0;+&#xa0;non-adaptive 1-back), tDCS-only (active tDCS&#xa0;+&#xa0;non-adaptive 1-back), training-only (sham tDCS&#xa0;+&#xa0;adaptive n-back training), or combined (active tDCS&#xa0;+&#xa0;adaptive training). Participants underwent five daily intervention sessions. We recorded high-density EEG during transfer n-back tasks at baseline, post-intervention, and one-week follow-up. RESULTS: All active interventions improved WM performance relative to the control group, with the combined group showing the largest gains (n-back accuracy: +15.6% vs.&#xa0;+&#xa0;10.1% tDCS-only, +9.7% training-only, +0.7% control; all p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001). Critically, tDCS selectively increased gamma-band (30-50&#xa0;Hz) power in the frontal and parietal regions (cluster p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.018, d&#xa0;>&#xa0;1.0), whereas WM training enhanced frontal theta-band (4-8&#xa0;Hz) power and theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling (both cluster p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.012, d&#xa0;>&#xa0;0.85). The combined group exhibited both neural signatures. Brain-behavior correlations revealed dissociable relationships: gamma increases predicted n-back accuracy improvements (r&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.61, p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001), whereas theta enhancements correlated with operation span gains (r&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.58, p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.002). CONCLUSIONS: tDCS and WM training enhance cognition through distinct yet complementary neural mechanisms: tDCS via gamma-mediated cortical excitability and WM training via theta-mediated cognitive control. These findings provide neurophysiological evidence for multimodal enhancement strategies that target parallel pathways within WM networks.

Humans

Effects of free-weight resistance training based on hexagonal barbell deadlift in older women: A 24-week randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: This randomized controlled trial examined effects of a 24-week hexagonal barbell deadlift (HBDL)-based free-weight resistance training program on body composition, trunk muscle function, and functional performance in older women. METHODS: Thirty-two women (67.6&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;6.3&#xa0;years) were randomly assigned to an HBDL group (DG, n&#xa0;=&#xa0;16) or control group (CG, n&#xa0;=&#xa0;16). DG trained twice weekly for 24&#xa0;weeks under supervision. Primary outcomes were body composition and isokinetic trunk peak torque and average power at 60&#xb0;/s and 120&#xb0;/s. Secondary outcomes were isokinetic knee function, mobility, and maximal isotonic strength. Between-group differences after the intervention were examined by analysis of covariance (&#x3b1;&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.05). RESULTS: After intervention, DG showed greater trunk lean mass (+0.4&#xa0;kg vs. -0.2&#xa0;kg, p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.006) than CG, and reductions in body fat percentage (-1.4% vs. +0.3%, p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.003), total fat mass (-1.1&#xa0;kg vs. +0.3&#xa0;kg, p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.013), and regional fat mass (trunk, gluteal, thigh; all p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05). Trunk extensor peak torque at 60&#xb0;/s (+26.0% vs. -6.3%, p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001) and average power at 60&#xb0;/s (+38.1% vs. -7.6%, p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001) and 120&#xb0;/s (+33.2% vs. +0.1%, p&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.002) improved significantly. DG also showed better eyes-closed static balance and 6-min walk performance (both p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.05). Whole-body lean mass and lower-limb isokinetic strength did not differ between groups. Attendance was 89.6% with no adverse events. CONCLUSION: HBDL-based free-weight resistance training is a safe, feasible, and effective strategy to improve body composition, trunk extensor function, and mobility in older women.

Humans

IgA Vasculitis with necrotizing arteritis: a multicenter retrospective study from the French Vasculitis Study Group and systematic review of the literature.

IgA vasculitis (IgAV) primarily affects small vessels, but rare cases with necrotizing arteritis (NA) raise questions about overlap with polyarteritis nodosa (PAN). To characterize IgAV with necrotizing arteritis (IgAV-NA) and compare its phenotype with classical IgAV and PAN. We performed a multicenter retrospective study combined with a systematic literature review (1990-2025). Patients fulfilled EULAR/PRINTO/PRES IgAV criteria, had pathological or imaging evidence of NA in small or medium arteries, and were ANCA-negative. Thirty patients were included (7 from databases, 23 from the literature). NA was confirmed by biopsy (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;16) or vascular imaging (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;14). Clinical features, treatments, remission, and mortality were compared with 257 adult IgAV and 196 PAN patients. Median age was 54.5 years. IgAV-NA was characterized by severe manifestations, including gastrointestinal bleeding, perforation, surgical abdomen, neuropathy, pancreatitis, and livedo. Compared with classical IgAV, IgAV-NA showed significantly higher rates of multi-organ involvement and mortality. Compared with PAN, IgAV-NA shared vascular complications but had less fever and neuropathy. Despite arterial involvement, patients did not fulfil PAN criteria. IgAV-NA represents a rare, severe IgAV phenotype with life-threatening complications rather than an IgAV-PAN overlap. Severe or atypical IgAV presentations should prompt vascular imaging and intensified immunosuppression.

Humans

Exploring the role of successful exercise-induced body weight loss on cardiometabolic health in individuals with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is known to improve cardiorespiratory fitness (i.e., VO2MAX), a key marker of cardiometabolic health in individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Nonetheless, body weight loss is widely recognized as a crucial factor in reducing insulin resistance and improving metabolic risk factors. Thus, we aimed to determine the importance of body weight loss following exercise training on improving MetS. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-eight adults (55.3&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;7.9&#xa0;yr) with overweight/obesity (32.5&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;4.6&#xa0;kg&#xb7;m-2) and MetS were randomized to: a) standard health care non-exercise group (CONTROL group, N=58) or b) standard health care plus 16 weeks of HIIT (EXER group, N=170). MetS (MetS z-score), insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2PEAK), maximal cycling power (WPEAK), and body weight/composition were assessed. After intervention, EXER group participants were divided according to their weight loss response to training: i) those achieving the weight loss predicted from estimated exercise energy expenditure (-BW group, n=78; -3.3&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;2.2&#xa0;kg); ii) those not reaching the expected weight loss (=BW group, n=38; -0.7&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;0.5&#xa0;kg); iii) and those who gained weight (+BW group, n=54; 1.1&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;1.0&#xa0;kg). VO2PEAK significantly improved regardless of body weight loss response (-BW, 0.3&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;0.3; =BW, 0.2&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;0.3; +BW, 0.3&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;0.2&#xa0;L&#xb7;min-1; all p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001) compared to CONTROL group (0.0&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;0.3&#xa0;L&#xb7;min-1). However, significant improvements in MetS z-score (-0.31&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;0.41) and HOMA-IR (-0.7&#xa0;&#xb1;&#xa0;1.6) were observed only in the -BW group (both p&#xa0;<&#xa0;0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise recommendations should consider that greater improvements in MetS are observed when interventions are accompanied by successful body weight loss. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05120778.

Humans

Systems Factors Contributing to Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Maternal Health: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Despite ongoing efforts to reduce adverse maternal outcomes, including maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity, racial/ethnic disparities in outcomes persist in high-income countries, including the United States (US) and Canada. Limited research has examined hospital-level factors that may drive disparities and contribute to adverse outcomes. This systematic review summarizes factors within the health system contributing to adverse outcomes and racial/ethnic disparities in the US and Canada to inform future policies and practices. METHOD: We searched SCOPUS, PubMed, EBSCOhost, and ProQuest Healthcare Administration for studies that reported hospital-level factors contributing to adverse maternal outcomes and racial/ethnic disparities. The review followed a two-stage screening process. The risk of bias of the included studies was evaluated using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. The System Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) 2.0 framework guided the identification and categorization of factors. RESULTS: Of 2441 studies retrieved, 30 met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-eight studies were conducted in the US, and 2 were conducted in Canada. The review included 16 qualitative, 11 quantitative, and 3 mixed-methods studies. We identified 60 factors associated with different system components, including person(s) (12%), tasks (28%), tools and technology (7%), internal environment (10%), organization (28%), and external environment (15%). Shortage of resources, including staffing, poor care coordination, and discriminatory organizational practices, were key factors described in the studies. CONCLUSION: Addressing health system factors in addition to broader societal factors is important to reduce adverse outcomes and promote equity for all women and birthing persons.

Humans