Age Duration Research Articles

Intrasubject reproducibility of supine norepinephrine plasma concentrations in patients with cardiovascular sympathetic failure

BackgroundPlasma levels of the catecholamine norepinephrine (NE) has emerged as a useful tool to help differentiate pre- and post-ganglionic disorders in patients with cardiovascular autonomic failure (AF). However, data on intrasubject reliability in individuals with these conditions are limited. We evaluated the intrasubject reproducibility of supine plasma NE levels drawn across two consecutive time points under controlled conditions during head-up table testing in a large cohort of patients with alpha-synucleinopathies and both pre- and post-ganglionic cardiovascular AF. MethodsAntecubital venous blood drawn via an indwelling cannula with the subject supine was assayed for plasma level of catecholamines. We collected two consecutive samples, the first after 20 min of supine rest (NE1) and the second 5 min later (NE2), from a group of 279 participants including 57 with Parkinson's disease/Lewy body dementia (44 M; 65.5 ± 11.1 y), 131 with multiple system atrophy (81 M; 63.2 ± 8.5 y), 41 with pure autonomic failure (25 M, 65.1 ± 9.3 y), and 50 healthy controls (27 M; 46.7 ± 19.4 y). ResultsWe found no difference between NE1 and NE2 (p = 0.645), with a mean intrasubject reproducibility (NE maximum − NE minimum) × 100 / NE maximum) of 11.5 % ± 10.64. This finding was confirmed when controlling for diagnosis (p = 0.669), gender (p = 0.493), age (p = 0.865), disease duration (p = 0.596) or considering all factors together (p = 0.527). ConclusionsWe found excellent test-retest reliability of consecutive supine NE measurements in patients with alpha-synucleinopathies and cardiovascular AF, independent of age, gender and disease duration. This lends evidence to support the use of a single supine NE measurement in these conditions.

Disentangling Neurodegeneration From Aging in Multiple Sclerosis Using Deep Learning: The Brain-Predicted Disease Duration Gap.

Disentangling brain aging from disease-related neurodegeneration in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) is increasingly topical. The brain-age paradigm offers a window into this problem but may miss disease-specific effects. In this study, we investigated whether a disease-specific model might complement the brain-age gap (BAG) by capturing aspects unique to MS. In this retrospective study, we collected 3D T1-weighted brain MRI scans of PwMS to build (1) a cross-sectional multicentric cohort for age and disease duration (DD) modeling and (2) a longitudinal single-center cohort of patients with early MS as a clinical use case. We trained and evaluated a 3D DenseNet architecture to predict DD from minimally preprocessed images while age predictions were obtained with the DeepBrainNet model. The brain-predicted DD gap (the difference between predicted and actual duration) was proposed as a DD-adjusted global measure of MS-specific brain damage. Model predictions were scrutinized to assess the influence of lesions and brain volumes while the DD gap was biologically and clinically validated within a linear model framework assessing its relationship with BAG and physical disability measured with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). We gathered MRI scans of 4,392 PwMS (69.7% female, age: 42.8 ± 10.6 years, DD: 11.4 ± 9.3 years) from 15 centers while the early MS cohort included 749 sessions from 252 patients (64.7% female, age: 34.5 ± 8.3 years, DD: 0.7 ± 1.2 years). Our model predicted DD better than chance (mean absolute error = 5.63 years, R2 = 0.34) and was nearly orthogonal to the brain-age model (correlation between DD and BAGs: r = 0.06 [0.00-0.13], p = 0.07). Predictions were influenced by distributed variations in brain volume and, unlike brain-predicted age, were sensitive to MS lesions (difference between unfilled and filled scans: 0.55 years [0.51-0.59], p < 0.001). DD gap significantly explained EDSS changes (B = 0.060 [0.038-0.082], p < 0.001), adding to BAG (ΔR2 = 0.012, p < 0.001). Longitudinally, increasing DD gap was associated with greater annualized EDSS change (r = 0.50 [0.39-0.60], p < 0.001), with an incremental contribution in explaining disability worsening compared with changes in BAG alone (ΔR2 = 0.064, p < 0.001). The brain-predicted DD gap is sensitive to MS-related lesions and brain atrophy, adds to the brain-age paradigm in explaining physical disability both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, and may be used as an MS-specific biomarker of disease severity and progression.

Pathological Examination in Pilonidal Sinus Surgery: Evaluating Necessity and Cost-Effectiveness: A 10-Year Retrospective Analysis.

Malignancy in pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) is rare, with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) being the most common type. This study aims to assess the incidence of malignancy in PSD and identify risk factors to guide more targeted pathological examination strategies. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1505 patients who underwent surgical excision of PSD between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2023. Patients with incomplete or missing histopathological data were excluded, and no imputation methods were used for missing data. All specimens underwent histopathological examination to detect malignancies. Two cases (0.13%) of SCC were identified, both in males aged 50 and 58 years without a history of Crohn's disease, HIV, prior radiation, or other cancers. Significant risk factors for malignancy included age over 40 years (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.1-9.5) and disease duration over 3 years (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.0-7.6). Both cases were treated surgically and received adjuvant radiotherapy, with both patients being disease-free at the 2-year follow-up. While malignancy in PSD is rare (0.13%), older age and prolonged disease duration are associated with increased risk. Selective pathological examination based on these risk factors could enhance cost-effectiveness by reducing unnecessary routine examinations.

Prediction of spirometry outcome in Croatian patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The current study offers an extensive examination of the influence of 29 diverse parameters on spirometry measurement variables in a cohort of 534 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from five different centers in Croatia. The study elucidates both the magnitude and direction of the effect exerted by the 29 predictors on forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), the ratio FEV1/FVC, and predicted forced expiratory flow at 50% of FVC. Additionally, the development of prediction models for these parameters has been undertaken using several statistical methods. The study identifies fat-free mass index, 6-minute walk distance, predicted diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide, arterial partial pressure of oxygen, and both arterial and tissue hemoglobin oxygen saturation percentage as robust positive predictors for all four spirometry parameters. Body mass index is recognized as a weak positive predictor for FEV1 and FEV1/FVC, commonly observed in COPD patients. As expected, smoking years is identified as a strong negative predictor for all four spirometry parameters, while age and illness duration exhibit strong predictive negative associations. Furthermore, modified medical research council, arterial partial pressure carbon dioxide, St George's respiratory questionnaire, COPD assessment test, depression anxiety stress scales, and nutritional risk screening are identified as weak negative predictors. Charlson comorbidity index, phase angle, and number of comorbidities do not exhibit a significant impact on spirometry variables. Ultimately, the performed factorial analysis categorized the 29 parameters into five groups, which were identified as relating to lung function, health status, nutritional status, age, and smoking. Multiple regression analysis, including four newly derived parameters based on the results of factorial analysis, identified nutritional status as a positive predictor for spirometry readings, while smoking, poor health status, and age were identified as negative predictors in successive order.

Evaluating Inter- and Intraobserver Agreement on Pectus Carinatum Severity and Treatment Outcomes: A Comparison of Subjective and Objective Assessment Methods.

Background Visual examination is crucial for assessing pectus carinatum (PC) severity and treatment results. This cross-sectional study evaluates the inter- and intraobserver agreement of PC deformities before and after treatment. Methods Observers examined medical photographs of patients before and after treatment. Primary outcome was inter- and intraobserver agreement on esthetic results after treatment. Secondary outcomes included inter- and intraobserver agreement on severity and symmetry before treatment, differences in esthetic results after Ravitch surgery and dynamic compression bracing (DCS-bracing), and the impact of scars, age and treatment duration on esthetic results. Results Medical photographs of 201 patients (aged 4-18) were evaluated by five surgeons and five peers. Surgeons and peers demonstrated inadequate (κ<.61) interobserver agreement on esthetic results (κ=.26, κ=.22), severity of PC (κ=.43, κ=.38) and symmetry (κ=.37, surgeons only). Agreement between surgeons and peers on esthetic results (κ=.37) and severity before treatment (κ=.54) was similarly inadequate. Surgeons and peers demonstrated inadequate intraobserver agreement on esthetic results (κ=.49, κ=.34), severity of PC (κ=.54, κ=.48) and symmetry (κ=.60, surgeons only). Deformities treated with Ravitch surgery were perceived as more severe but yielded better results. Peers, unlike surgeons, viewed scars as negatively impacting results. No relationship was found between results after treatment and treatment duration (p=.682, p=.062) or age ( p=.205, p=.527). Conclusions Subjective assessment of PC severity and esthetic results is inconsistent. 3D-scanning could help standardize treatment completion and aid patients and surgeons in determining treatment completion. The psychosocial effects of scars should be addressed when discussing treatment options.

Measurement of disease-related knowledge of patients with axial spondyloarthritis-Development and application of the G-ASKQ7 questionnaire

Patient education is an integral component of the treatment of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). However, the validated tools currently available for assessing disease-related knowledge are outdated and, in the case of axSpA, only available in English. The aims of this work were therefore (1) to develop a German-language tool for assessing disease-specific knowledge among axSpA patients and (2) to assess this tool in a pilot study. Available axSpA-specific tools were assessed by a panel of experts and a draft of the current G‑ASKQ7 questionnaire was agreed upon. After evaluation of face validity and subsequent adaptation, consecutive adult axSpA patients of a university hospital (Universitätsklinikum Erlangen) outpatient rheumatology department were asked to complete the questionnaire. Correlation between the patients' overall scores and other collected parameters (age, sex, and disease duration) were investigated. Patients rated the developed G‑ASKQ7 questionnaire comprising seven questions as easy to understand and completed it within an average of 6.3 ± 2.0 min. The final questionnaire was completed by 65 axSpA patients (36 women; mean age 45.3 ± 12.4 years; mean disease duration 8.6 ± 7.3 years). The average G‑AKSQ7 score was 17.8/25, with significantly higher scores among women (19.0/25) than men (16.3/25; p ≤ 0.05). The question most often answered correctly (79.3 %) was question 7 concerning disease self-management, whereas question 4 on measurement of disease activity received the most incorrect answers (55.8 %). No significant correlation between disease duration (p = 0.57; Pearson's correlation coefficient, r = 0.07) or age (p = 0.67; r = -0.05) and disease-specific knowledge was found. The G‑ASKQ7 represents the first German-language instrument for measuring disease-specific knowledge among axSpA patients. Routine application of this questionnaire would enable low-threshold assessment of an individual patient's knowledge requirements and thus provision of appropriate educational information. Continuous updates and further evaluation studies are required.

CPAP delivered via a helmet interface in lightly sedated patients with moderate to severe ARDS: predictors of success outside the ICU

Objective: This study aimed to describe the outcomes and explore predictors of intubation and mortality in patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 treated with CPAP delivered via a helmet interface and light sedation. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study involving patients with COVID-19-related ARDS who received CPAP using a helmet developed in Brazil (ELMOT), associated with a light sedation protocol in a pulmonology ward. Demographic, clinical, imaging, and laboratory data, as well as the duration and response to the ELMO-CPAP sessions, were analyzed. Results: The sample comprised 180 patients. The intubation avoidance rate was 72.8%. The lack of necessity for intubation was positively correlated with younger age, &gt; 24-h continuous HELMET-CPAP use in the first session, &lt; 75% pulmonary involvement on CT, and ROX index &gt; 4.88 in the second hour. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 18.9%, whereas those in the nonintubated and intubated groups were 3.0% and 61.2%, respectively. Advanced age increased the mortality risk by 2.8 times, escalating to 13 times post-intubation. Conclusions: ELMO-CPAP with light sedation in a pulmonology ward was successful in &gt; 70% of patients with moderate to severe ARDS due to COVID-19. Younger age, pulmonary involvement, ROX index, and prolonged first Helmet-CPAP session duration were associated with no need for intubation. Older age and intubation are associated with mortality.

Clinical Evidence Regarding Spermidine–Hyaluronate Gel as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy in Vestibulodynia Management

Background: Vestibulodynia (VBD) represents a summation and overlapping of trigger factors (infections, hormonal disturbances, allergies, genetic aspects, psychological vulnerability, and others) with broad individual variability. As there are no standard treatment options for VBD, the disease is still in need of appropriate therapeutic tools. Objectives: A prospective observational trial was performed to confirm the efficacy of a topical gel containing a spermidine–hyaluronate complex (UBIGEL donna™) as either a stand-alone or companion treatment through a multicenter study on a large sample population. Methods: For women with VBD (n = 154), the treatment consisted of approximately two months (4 + 4 weeks) of applications according to the posology of UBIGEL. Evaluation of symptoms was performed on relevant clinical endpoints: dyspareunia and vulvovaginal pain/burning by a visual scale (VAS); vestibular trophism by a vestibular trophic health (VeTH) score; vulvoscopy through a cotton swab test; and the level of hypertonic pelvic floor by a physical graded assessment of levator ani hypertonus. Results: A total of 154 patients treated with UBIGEL donna™ showed significant improvements across all five evaluated parameters, including pain, dyspareunia, swab test results, muscle hypertonicity, and vestibular trophism. Pain and dyspareunia scores decreased by 46.5% and 33.5%, respectively, while significant improvements were also observed in the other parameters (p &lt; 0.0001). These improvements were consistent across various stratifications, including age and disease duration. Conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that UBIGEL donna™ is effective in alleviating pain and dyspareunia, as well as reducing vestibular hypersensitivity in women with VBD. Although UBIGEL donna™ alone cannot serve as a comprehensive substitute for all recommended therapies, we suggest that multimodal therapy strategies may be crucial for attaining substantial improvement in any aspect of the condition.

Accelerated Hydrothermal Aging and Degradation Mechanism of PE100 Butt-Fusion Welded Joint

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipelines are extensively utilized in energy transportation in the ocean. However, long-term exposure to water can alter the performance of HDPE, potentially leading to pipeline accidents. This study focuses on simulating the aging characteristics of PE100 polyethylene pipeline butt-fusion welded joints (B-FWJs) in water using hydrothermal accelerated aging experiments at various temperature gradients. The performance of the B-FWJ after hydrothermal aging was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), oxidation induction time (OIT), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy, and mechanical testing. Furthermore, this study analyzed the performance characteristics and changes in the micro-molecular chains of an HDPE B-FWJ pipeline following hydrothermal aging. An investigation was conducted into the effects of hydrothermal aging temperature and duration on the physical and chemical characteristics of HDPE B-FWJ, and the aging mechanism under hydrothermal aging conditions was explored. The results indicate that increasing hydrothermal aging temperature leads to a more significant decrease in the mechanical properties of the B-FWJ. These findings contribute to understanding the aging behavior of PE100 pipelines in the joint section and offer insights to mitigate the risks associated with the aging of and damage to B-FWJ pipelines in the ocean.

Abstract 4136509: Children in Foster Care with Heart Disease Have Greater Resource Utilization and Mortality

Background: While children and youth in foster care (CYFC) have greater healthcare needs generally, data are lacking in heart disease. We characterize CYFC with heart disease, assess the impacts of being in foster care on outcomes, and examine validity of ICD-10 code Z62.21 for identification of CYFC in administrative data. Methods: In this single-center, retrospective cohort study of all cardiac surgical patients (&lt;18yo) admitted 2017-2022, CYFC were identified using institutional Electronic Medical Records via natural language processing or ICD codes, with confirmation by chart review. Demographics, medical characteristics and outcomes of CYFC were compared to children not in foster care. Generalized linear models assessed associations with primary outcomes of mortality at current follow-up (logit link) and total hospital days (log link), controlling for clinical factors and length of follow-up. We separately added Child Opportunity Index (COI) and payer to models. This cohort was then studied in the administrative pediatric health information system (PHIS) dataset to calculate ICD code sensitivity and specificity. Results: Of 4,431 cardiac surgical patients, 67 (1.5%) were in foster care. CYFC did not have significantly higher mortality (9% vs 5.8%), 30-day readmission or cardiac reoperation, number of complex chronic conditions (CCC), RACHS-2, or distance from center compared to non-CYFC. CYFC had lower COI (median 61 vs 72, p=0.016) and more Medicaid coverage (87% vs 40%, p&lt;0.001). Length of stay after index surgery was similar; however, cumulative hospital days during the study were significantly higher for CYFC (median 22 [IQR 10,45] vs 12 [6,27], p&lt;0.001). Adjusting for RACHS-2, CCC, age, readmission, reoperation, and follow-up duration, CYFC had higher odds of mortality (2.7 [95%CI 1.0,6.9] p=0.046) and more total hospital days (p=0.008). With COI or payer in the model, CYFC was not associated with mortality but remained an independent risk factor for more total hospital days. Only 16/67 (23.9%) of CYFC were coded with the Z62.21 in PHIS, yielding sensitivity of 21.9% (95%CI 13.1,33.1), and specificity of 100% (99.9,100). Conclusion: CYFC with heart disease have a relative social disadvantage, greater hospital resource utilization, and long-term mortality despite similar illness severity. Improved capture of foster care status in administrative data is needed to guide future studies and reduce health disparities for the vulnerable population of CYFC.

Increased cardiovascular risk in people with LADA in comparison to type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes: Findings from the DPV registry in Germany and Austria.

We aimed to characterise and compare individuals diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D), latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), in a real-world setting. Anthropometric and clinical data from 36 959 people with diabetes diagnosed at age 30-70 years enrolled in the prospective diabetes patients follow-up (DPV) registry from 1995 to 2022 were analysed cross-sectionally at diagnosis and follow-up (≥6 months after diagnosis). LADA was defined as clinical diagnosis of T2D, positivity of ≥1 islet autoantibody and an insulin-free interval of ≥6 months upon diabetes diagnosis. At diagnosis, age, body mass index, waist circumference, C-peptide and HbA1c in people with LADA (n = 747) fell in between individuals with T1D (n = 940) and T2D (n = 35 272) (all p-values < 0.01). At follow-up, after adjusting for age, sex and diabetes duration, the prevalence of dyslipidemia and hypertension was the highest in people with LADA (90.6%, 77.7%) compared to people with T2D (81.8%, 60.4%) and T1D (75.7%, 39.7%) (p < 0.01). The prevalence of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) was higher in LADA (44.2%), than in T1D (19.9%) (p < 0.01). The prevalence of peripheral neuropathy was higher in individuals with LADA (55.1%) than in T2D (43.9%) and T1D (42.1%) (p < 0.05). Coverage of treatment for hypertension and dyslipidemia were 22.4% and 15.0% in T1D, 63.0% and 36.6% in LADA and 29.4% and 18.2% in T2D. People with LADA had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (dyslipidemia, hypertension) and cardiovascular complications (DKD and peripheral neuropathy), suggesting that people with LADA are at need for improved recognition and care.

Cardiovascular Profile of Patients With COVID-19 Infection Admitted in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Manila, Philippines: A 2-Year Single-Center Retrospective Study

INTRODUCTION: Respiratory symptoms are the most commonly observed clinical manifestations in patients with COVID-19 infection; however, some patients may present with cardiovascular complications. Patients with underlying cardiovascular diseases are associated with increased mortality risk. This study aimed to provide local data on the clinical profile and cardiovascular outcomes and to determine predictors of in-hospital mortality among COVID-19 patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital in the Philippines. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study included hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between March 2020 and May 2022. Clinical parameters were subjected to univariate and multivariate regression analyses, with in-hospital mortality as the dependent variable. RESULTS: A total of 1341 patients were admitted with a mean age of 50 years, half of whom were males. Hypertension is the most common comorbidity (728 [54.3%]), followed by diabetes mellitus (393 [29.3%]) and heart disease (136 [10.1%]). Patients admitted to the intensive care unit had significantly higher systolic blood pressure than non–intensive care unit patients (127 ± 19 vs 139 ± 26 mm Hg; P &lt; 0.001), as well as higher plasma erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, D-dimer, troponin, ferritin, and lactate dehydrogenase. The most common cardiac complications observed were heart failure (39%), acute cardiac injury (30%), and arrhythmia (30%). During hospitalization, 100 patients (7.4%) died; almost half were admitted to the critical care unit, and 84 had cardiac complications, with heart failure (21%) being the most common. Sinus tachycardia was the most common electrocardiographic abnormality (436 [32%]). Univariate analysis showed diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 2.7; P = 0.029) and hypertension (OR, 3.4; P = 0.11). Multivariate analysis revealed that age (OR, 1.095; P &lt; 0.05) and admission duration (OR, 0.906; P &lt; 0.05) were significantly associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the clinical characteristics of patients contracted with COVID-19 who may experience several cardiac conditions. Therefore, particular attention should be given to the role of preexisting cardiovascular diseases and cardiac complications that may contribute to long-term outcomes. KEYWORDS: cardiac complications, COVID-19, cardiovascular outcomes

Exercise Interventions and Intelligence in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis.

Mixed evidence exists on whether physical exercise interventions influence intelligence measures in children and adolescents. To determine the effect of exercise interventions on intelligence in children and adolescents. Relevant articles were identified in PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Scopus (until February 22, 2024). Randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of exercise interventions on intelligence in youth (≤19 years). A random-effects meta-analysis was performed for intelligence measures reported in ≥3 studies. Subanalyses examined the moderating effect of variables such as participants' intelligence quotient (IQ), age, or intervention duration. Fourteen randomized controlled trials (n = 3203 participants; age range = 5-14 years) were included. Exercise interventions significantly improved general intelligence compared with control groups (standardized mean difference = 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.11-0.97, P = .01), which corresponded to a mean improvement in the IQ score of 4.0 points (95% CI = 1.44-6.64, P = .01). Significant benefits of exercise interventions were also observed for fluid intelligence (standard mean difference = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.06-0.34, P = .006). Crystallized intelligence could not be meta-analyzed because of a lack of studies. Subanalyses revealed similar benefits in participants with low/borderline versus normal IQ, children versus adolescents, and interventions with different durations. The heterogeneity observed in the characteristics of the exercise interventions and the populations included can be a potential confounding factor. Exercise interventions are associated with improvements in intelligence (including both general and fluid intelligence) in youth.

Self-compassion and psychological distress in chronic illness: A meta-analysis.

Self-compassion is a positive psychological factor linked to improved physical and psychological outcomes across different chronic illness populations. However, the extent to which self-compassion contributes to reduced distress across different conditions or as a function of participant factors is not clear. The current meta-analysis aimed to quantify the association between self-compassion and psychological distress in different chronic illness populations and evaluate the factors that moderate this association. A systematic search of three electronic databases identified research reporting associations between self-compassion and psychological distress in chronic illness. A random effects meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between self-compassion and psychological distress. Moderator analyses were conducted for sample characteristics and distress types. A bespoke tool evaluated study quality. Searches yielded 51 eligible studies with 57 effect sizes. Meta-analysis revealed that self-compassion was negatively associated with psychological distress (r = -.516; 95% CIs [-.55, -.48]; p = .000). Moderator analyses were significant for distress type and chronic illness group, with effects being largest for stress and neurological conditions. Effects did not vary by sex, age or illness duration. Findings from this first comprehensive investigation of the link between self-compassion and distress in chronic illness highlight the protective role of self-compassion for chronic illness populations. These results lay the foundation for further research into understanding the processes that link self-compassion to lower psychological distress, and that examine the effectiveness of self-compassion interventions in chronic illness populations, to further advance knowledge and inform practice in this area.

“Deterioration” and “aging” can modify or breakdown the phytochemical and biochemical characteristics of green cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), although their effects differ

Deterioration of medicinal plant and herb's spices seeds has two important aspects; its impact on viability and its influence on food and medicine feedstock. So, in this study was investigated of phytochemical and biochemical composition of green cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) were evaluated under natural seed storage (NSS) for one and two years and accelerated seed aging process (ASA) for 24, 48, 72 and 96h. Oil percent declined by prolonging ageing duration. The highest amount was measured in control (21.60 %) and the lowest amounts in 2Y NSS (17.83 %) and 96h ASA (15.83 %). There was no significant difference among all treatments in unsaturated fatty acids (USFA) terms, yet percent of saturated fatty acids (SFA) rose by severe ageing condition. Among fatty acids, NSS had a strong correlation with oleic acid (C18:1) (R2 = 0.99 %), while ASA was correlation with stearic acid (C18:0) (R2 = 84 %). Total phenolic content, and under severe ageing were found in cumin. In the oil and essential oil (EO), DPPH showed an ascending trend in NSS treatments and a descending trend in ASA treatments. Additionally, the maximum IC50 was observed in the oil treatment, being approximately 8.6 times higher than that of the EO. 85 %–90 % of the EO compounds present in all treatments consisted of Myrcene, p-Cymene, Cumin aldehyde, and γ-Terpinene-7-al. NSS led to a significant increase in Cumin aldehyde (R2 = 0.99), indicating that enhancing the aroma of green cumin is subject to a period of cumin fruit storage. Finally, it is concluded that ASA can simulate NSS induced changes in oil content, EO components and antioxidant capacity.

Utilizing a combination of experimental and machine learning methods to predict and correlate between accelerated and natural aging of CFRP/AL adhesive joints under hygrothermal conditions

AbstractThis study investigates how carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP)‐to‐aluminum adhesive joints behave under accelerated aging conditions with hygrothermal exposure and compares these findings against naturally aged samples to evaluate material reliability in challenging environments. The CFRP‐to‐aluminum adhesive joints were manufactured and subjected to natural aging for durations ranging from 1 to 3 years with 6‐month intervals, as well as accelerated aging (hygrothermal) for periods ranging from 100 to 1200 h, with intervals of 50 h. Subsequently, the mechanical properties of the joints were evaluated using a three‐point bending test. To forecast natural aging times from accelerated aging data, five machine learning models were utilized: artificial neural network, support vector regression, linear regression, polynomial regression, and random forest regression. Hygrothermal aging significantly degraded the matrix, causing a shift in failure modes from cohesive to mixed types (cohesive, adhesive, and fiber tear failures), leading to a notable decline in bending strength. The study observed a 23.13% strength reduction in samples aged naturally for 3 years and a 24.33% decrease in those subjected to 1000 h of accelerated aging. The random forest regressor demonstrated superior accuracy in predicting natural aging times across different accelerated aging periods. Through the application of machine learning models, this study introduces a novel approach to forecast natural aging durations using data from accelerated aging experiments. This method shows potential for optimizing joints and composite structures, ultimately improving their durability and minimizing the likelihood of failures during operational use.Highlights Studied hygrothermal effects on accelerated aging of carbon fiber reinforced polymer/Aluminum (AL) adhesive joints. Noted strength reduction from hygrothermal aging. Used five machine learning models; random forest regression had the highest accuracy. Analyzed correlation between natural and accelerated aging of dissimilar adhesive joints.

Evaluation of seminal plasma levels of vaspin and visfatin in infertile males with elevated sperm DNA fragmentation index: a comparative study

BackgroundSperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) can significantly impact male fertility, especially in cases where there is a substantial level of DNA damage. We aimed in the current study to assess seminal plasma (SP) levels of vaspin and visfatin in infertile men with an elevated SDF index (SDFI ≥ 30%) compared to infertile males with a normal SDFI (SDFI < 30%).ResultsGroups with good and medium DNA integrity exhibited significantly higher total motile sperm count and sperm motility in comparison to the group with poor DNA integrity. Significant negative correlations were noticed between SDF index (SDFI) and numerous semen parameters. Similarly, a significant negative correlation was observed between SDFI and SP vaspin. On the other hand, a significant positive correlation was found between SDFI and abnormal forms percentage. A statistically significant negative correlation was identified SP vaspin with age (r = -0.305, P = 0.006) and infertility duration (r = -0.263, P = 0.019). Statistically significant negative correlation was also identified between SP visfatin and abnormal forms percentage (r = -0.239, P = 0.034). The receiver operating characterisitic curve for predicting poor DNA integrity (SDFI ≥ 30%) revealed fair discriminative power for SP vaspin, with a cutoff value of < 0.55 ng/ml. It demonstrated a sensitivity of 58.8% and a specificity of 64.5% (area under the cureve (AUC) 0.685, p = 0.008). Meanwhile, SP visfatin had little discriminative power (AUC 0.562, p = 0.408). Finally, the results of a linear regression analysis indicated that sperm motility and SP vaspin were significant independent predictors of poor DNA integrity (SDFI ≥ 30%). The analysis was done with a 95% confidence interval and showed upper and lower bounds of -0.302 and -0.623, and -1.362 and -16.101, p < 0.001, p = 0.021, respectively.ConclusionSP Level of vaspin had shown promise as potential biomarkers for sperm DNA integrity. However, vaspin appeared to have greater specificity than visfatin in this point. Future studies are required to validate these findings, evaluate the role of SP vaspin in maintaining sperm DNA integrity, and investigate the potential relationship between SP adipocytokines and other clinical-demographic variables.

Impact of patient characteristics on ASDAS disease activity state cut-offs in axial spondyloarthritis: results from nine European rheumatology registries.

To re-evaluate cut-offs for disease activity states according to the Axial Spondyloarthritis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS), and study the impact of sex, age, calendar time, disease and symptom duration on ASDAS and ASDAS cut-offs in a large contemporary cohort. Data from 2939 patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) starting their first tumour necrosis factor inhibitor in nine European registries were pooled and analysed. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed to identify cut-offs against external criteria. Six-month data including patient and physician global assessments, both ≤1 (0-10 integer scale), and Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society partial remission were used for separation of inactive disease (ID) from low disease activity (LDA), while patient and physician global ≤3 were applied as external criteria to separate LDA from high disease activity (HDA). Patient and physician global ≥6 were applied to separate HDA from very high disease activity in baseline data. The three ASDAS cut-offs identified to separate the four disease activity states in the overall patient population were <1.3, <2.0 and >3.5. Cut-offs for ID and LDA in women were higher (<1.5 and <2.0, respectively) than in men (<1.3 and <1.9), as were cut-offs in patients ≥45 years (<1.5 and <2.2) versus ≤34 years (<1.2 and <1.9) and 35-44 years (<1.3 and <1.8). Cut-offs were independent of calendar time and disease duration. Re-evaluation of ASDAS cut-offs for disease activity states in a large multi-national axSpA cohort resulted in cut-offs similar to those currently endorsed. Differences in cut-offs between sex and age groups for ID and LDA were observed, but the differences were minor.

Magnitude and Correlates of Nicotine Dependence Among Brick Kiln Workers in A Rural Block of Murshidabad District, West Bengal, India

Background: Nicotine dependence, a major public health problem, causes respiratory illnesses like asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis, pneumoconiosis (e.g. silicosis) and respiratory infections. Occupational exposure of smoke and dust among brick kiln workers, in addition to tobacco addiction result in worsening of lung function and increase the risk of mortality. This study planned to estimate the prevalence of nicotine dependence among tobacco users of a brick kiln factory and identify the factors associated with nicotine dependence among them. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted for a period of one month in a brick kiln of Murshidabad district among 135 adult workers who had been consuming any form of tobacco. Nicotine dependence was assessed by interviewing the participants using Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and Fagerstrom Nicotine Dependence Scale for smokeless Tobacco (FTND-ST) questionnaire. Results: About, 52.6% were smokers, 24.4% were smokeless tobacco users and 23% were addicted to both. Approximately 73.6% and 78.2% were nicotine dependent among smokers and smokeless tobacco users respectively. Age, illiteracy, initiation of nicotine consumption at an adult age and long duration of consumption were found to be significantly associated with nicotine dependence. Conclusions: A high level of nicotine dependence was found among workers. Awareness generation and behavior change communication is recommended.

Predictors of Fertility Desire During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: Fertility, the most important factor in population growth, is affected by various factors, including pandemics. COVID-19 (CV) was a global challenge that spread rapidly around the world. Objective: This study aimed to investigate predictors of fertility desire during the covid virus pandemic. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 315 women who visited health centers in northern Iran for vaccination against covid virus were recruited using convenient sampling. The participants completed the sociodemographic information, Fertility Desire Scale, and Fear of covid virus scale. Logistic regression analysis was employed to assess the predictive factors of fertility desire. Results: The participants' mean age and marriage duration were 34.4 ± 6.7, and 7.3±11.5 years, respectively. It showed fertility desire among household women was about twofold more compared to employed ones [Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.96, p = 0.009)]. The fertility desire was decreased among more educated women (OR = 0.43, p= 0.035), women with one child (OR = 0.44, p= 0.030), and women with no infant gender preferences (OR = 0.53, p= 0.032). Fear of covid virus and any history of covid virus infection in the participants or their close relatives did not change fertility desire (P &gt; 0.05). Conclusion: In conclusion, health policymakers should pay more attention to the potential effects of women's employment, their educational status, and their attitude toward infant gender preferences on fertility desire during the development of programs. Further research is needed to examine this empirical association on a global scale and its effect on trying to conceive.