Adult Females Research Articles

The relationship between nocturia and suicidal ideation: A study on The National Health and Nutrition Survey data.

The focus of this research was to explore any potential link between nocturia and the risk of suicidal ideation. Drawing from the National Health and Nutrition Survey, data relating to 25 241 participants was scrutinized. This included 13 421 individuals identifying as male and 11 820 individuals identifying as female. Participants provided information on nocturia and suicidal ideation via self-completed questionnaires. To determine if nocturia was independently related to suicidal ideation, a multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed. Analyses were also undertaken separately for adult males and females. It was found that around 3.5% of participants had experienced suicidal ideation. The results indicated that nocturia increased the risk for suicidal ideation in all adult groups (odds ratio [OR] = 1.67, 95% confidence interval[CI]: 1.37-2.03, p < 0.0001), including both males (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.38-2.65, p < 0.001) and females (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.158-1.90, p = 0.002). The risk for suicidal ideation increased with the severity of nocturia, with significant trends observed in adult males (p for trend = 0.04) and adult females (p for trend = 0.01). Additionally, subgroup examination showed a significant interaction between nocturia and educational level in adult males (p for interaction = 0.03). Among adult females, a noteworthy interaction was observed between nocturia and body mass index (p for interaction = 0.02). The research uncovered a connection between nocturia and an elevated risk of suicidal ideation.

Lecanicillium attenuatum infection and effects on the reproduction of Frankliniella occidentalis

ABSTRACT Frankliniella occidentalis, western flower thrips, is an invasive pest that seriously damages economic crops such as vegetables, flowers, and fruit trees because of its high fecundity, short generation cycle, and strong adaptability. Lecanicillium is an important entomopathogenic fungus, characterised by its wide host range, high pathogenicity, and environmental safety. It plays an important role in the environmentally friendly management of F. occidentalis. This study clarifies whether L. attenuatum infects F. occidentalis and affects its reproduction. The results of scanning electron microscope showed that conidia of L. attenuatum were attached to many parts of thrips adult after 1 h of treatment with 10^8 conidia/mL, and most F. occidentalis were covered by hyphae after 72–120 h. The cumulative mortality rate of the second instar larvae of the F1, F2, and F3 generations exceeded 60% on the seventh day post-infection and that of female adults was higher than 90% when treated by L. attenuatum with 10^8 conidia/mL. Simultaneously, L. attenuatum had strong sublethal effects on the surviving thrips. Indeed, the number of eggs deposited and the lifespan of female adults decreased considerably after the second instar larvae of F. occidentalis were treated with L. attenuatum, and had the impaction on the thrips offspring too. Altogether, our data suggested that L. attenuatum not only exhibited a high degree of pathogenicity towards F. occidentalis second instar larvae and adults but also affected the longevity and reproduction of surviving thrips.

Endocrine Perspective of Cutaneous Lichen Amyloidosis: RET-C634 Pathogenic Variant in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2

Background: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), the third most frequent histological type of thyroid malignancy, may be found isolated or as part of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2). One particular subtype of this autosomal dominant-transmitted syndrome includes an association with cutaneous lichen amyloidosis, although, generally, a tide genotype–phenotype correlation is described in patients who carry RET proto-oncogene pathogenic variants. Methods: Our objective was to provide an endocrine perspective of a case series diagnosed with RET-positive familial MTC associated with cutaneous primary lichen amyloidosis amid the confirmation of MEN2. Six members of the same family had cutaneous lesion with different features (from hyperpigmented, velvety to red/pink appearance) and four of them harbored a RET pathogenic variant at 634 codon (exon 11): c.1900T&gt;G, p.634G (TGC634CGC). Results: All six patients were females with the lesion at the interscapular region. Except for two women, four of these subjects were investigated and had MTC (three of them with postoperatory confirmation). The youngest affected individual was 6 years old. The three adult females were confirmed with RET pathogenic variant during their 30s, while the girl underwent the familial screening as a newborn. None of them had primary hyperparathyroidism until the present time, except for one subject, and two out of the three adults also had bilateral pheochromocytoma. Notably, all patients were rather asymptomatic from the endocrine perspective at the moment when endocrine tumor/cancer was confirmed, and the skin was progressively affected a few years before the actual MEN2 confirmation. Conclusions: This case series highlights the following key message: awareness of the dermatologic findings in MTC/MEN2 patients is essential since lesions such as cutaneous lichen amyloidosis might represent the skin signature of the endocrine condition even before the actual endocrine manifestations. These data add to the limited published reports with respect to this particular presentation, noting the fact that RET-C634 is the most frequent pathogenic variant in MEN2-associated lichen amyloidosis; females are more often affected; the interscapular region is the preferred site; the age of diagnosis might be within the third decade of life, while we reported one of the youngest patients with the lesion. The same RET pathogenic variant is not associated with the same dermatologic features as shown in the vignette. The same RET mutation does not mean that all family members will present the same skin anomaly.

Pubertal- and stress-dependent changes in cellular activation and expression of excitatory amino acid receptor subunits in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in male and female rats.

Pubertal maturation is marked by significant changes in stress-induced hormonal responses mediated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, with prepubertal male and female rats often exhibiting greater HPA reactivity compared to adult males and females. Though the implications of these changes are unclear, elevated stress responsiveness might contribute to the stress-related vulnerabilities often associated with puberty. The current experiments sought to determine whether differences in cellular activation, as measured by FOS immunohistochemistry, or excitatory ionotropic glutamate receptor subunit expression, as measured by qRT-PCR, in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were associated with these noted pubertal shifts in stress reactivity in male and female rats. As the PVN is the key nucleus responsible for activating the hormonal stress response, we predicted greater cellular activation and higher expression levels of glutamate receptor subunits in the PVN of prepubertal males and females compared to their adult counterparts. Our FOS data revealed that while prepubertal males showed greater stress-induced activation in the PVN than adult males, prepubertal females showed less activation than adult females. Moreover, many of the NMDA, AMPA, and kainate receptor subunits measured, including Grin1, Grin2b, Gria1, Gria2, Grik1, and Grik2, had higher expression levels in adults, particularly in males. Though not supporting our initial predictions, these data do indicate that age and stress influence the activation of the PVN and the expression of glutamate receptor subunits important in its function. These data also suggest that the effects of age and stress are different in males and females. Though still far from a clear understanding of what mechanism(s) mediate pubertal shift in stress reactivity, these data add to our growing understanding of how age, stress, and sex influence HPA function.

Challenges associated with access to safe water in Rhino Camp refugee settlement in Arua District, Uganda

ABSTRACT The study evaluated water access and disease prevalence in the Rhino Camp refugee settlement by mapping water sources, interviewing residents, and reviewing health centre records. Primary water sources were tanks providing 10.2 litres per person per day (l/p/d). Microbial contamination including total coliforms reaching 2.8 × 104 cfu/ml (household container – Tika), thermotolerant coliforms, and faecal enterococci were observed throughout the water supply chain, suggesting faecal contamination and posing a health risk. We attributed this to poor handling and storage related to poor sanitation in the settlement, highlighting the importance of promoting hygiene practices among refugees, particularly in the Ofua Zone, which had the highest contamination risks and the highest sanitary risk scores. Malaria and typhoid were the most prevalent diseases, with Ofua having the highest disease incidence. Water collection was mostly done by adult females and female children (34.7 and 30.3%, respectively) although water collection was generally low (&amp;lt;4 times a day). Boiling water was associated (p &amp;lt; 0.05) with the incidence of hepatitis A in Ofua. Adequate water (&amp;gt;20 l/p/d), water treatment, and education on hygiene practices especially for adult females are essential in lowering contamination and the incidence of diseases.

A pilot randomized controlled trial of a virtual peer-support exercise intervention for female older adults with cancer

BackgroundRegular exercise can mitigate side effects of cancer treatment. However, only a small proportion of adults with cancer meet exercise guidelines, and older adults (> 65 years) are underrepresented in cancer rehabilitation research. Peer support facilitates health-promoting behaviours in general populations, but interventions merging exercise and peer support for older adults with cancer are not examined. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a virtual partner-based peer support exercise intervention for older adult female cancer survivors.MethodsOlder adult female cancer survivors with internet access and currently participating in < 150 min of moderate-vigorous physical activity per week were included in this study. Participants were matched with a partner and given a peer support guide, exercise guidelines, and a Fitbit Inspire©. In addition, intervention group dyads (AgeMatchPLUS) had weekly 1-h virtual sessions with a qualified exercise professional for 10 weeks. Dyads randomized to the control group (AgeMatch) independently supported their partner around exercise for 10 weeks. The primary outcome was feasibility, measured using retention and adherence rates. Secondary outcomes included exercise volume, social support, quality of life, physical function, and physical activity enjoyment. Descriptive statistics were used to report feasibility and an ANCOVA was used to explore between group differences on secondary outcomes at post-intervention (10 weeks post baseline) and post-tapering timepoints (14 weeks post baseline).ResultsEighteen participants (9 dyads; mean age 72 years (SD: 5.7 years)) were included in the pilot trial. Retention and adherence rates to the AgeMatchPLUS intervention were 100% and 95% respectively. All but one participant was satisfied with the quality of their peer match. Preliminary effects were seen between group, favouring AgeMatchPLUS for exercise-related social support post-intervention (effect size (d) = 0.27, 95% CI = 0,0.54) and physical activity enjoyment at post-tapering (d = 0.25, 95% CI = 0,0.52) and favouring the AgeMatch group for 30 s sit-to-stand repetitions at post-tapering (d = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.004, 0.57). No other effects were found.ConclusionsA virtual partner-based exercise intervention for older adults with cancer is feasible and shows preliminary effect benefits. Findings inform future trials aimed at increasing exercise in older adults with cancer.Trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov (ID: NCT05549479, date: 22/09/22).

A rare occurrence of enchondroma with pathological fracture of proximal femur in an adult female: A case report

Enchondroma occurrence in the proximal femur is a very uncommon condition. We report a 40-year-old female with a history of accidental slip and fall, sustained injury to her left lower limb, and was unable to bear weight on the injured leg since the fall. Anteroposterior radiograph of the pelvis with bilateral hips shows a well-defined lytic lesion in the neck of the femur with some calcified matrix and no periosteal reaction with the left femoral subtrochanteric fracture. Magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed hypointense signals on T1 and hyperintense signals on T2 sequence over the proximal femur as well as left subtrochanteric femur fracture. After preanesthetic evaluation, bone curettage with excision biopsy with open reduction and internal fixation with long proximal femoral nail and bolts and iliac crest bone graft was done. A biopsy sample sent for histopathological examination reveals enchondroma. Complete weight bearing was started after four months. No recurrence was noted on follow up.

Case report: Orbital myeloid sarcoma: a report of two rare cases and review of the literature

Myeloid sarcoma (MS) occurs when primitive or naive myeloid cells form outside the bone marrow. It occurs mainly in soft/connective tissue and skin; orbital involvement is rare. We report the cases of two female adults, analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics, and review the literature. The average age of both patients was 28 years and they presented unilateral proptosis combined with varying degrees of impaired visual acuity and restricted ocular motility in the affected eye. Despite this, they maintained good overall health and no notable family history. However, the patients had no systemic clinical manifestations of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Both patients underwent surgical resection of the orbital tumor. Immunohistochemistry showed positive staining for CD43, Leukocyte Common Antigen (LCA), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) and a high level of positive staining for Ki67, which were diagnostic for MS. Bone marrow cytology examination showed no apparent abnormalities. Postoperative chemotherapy, local radiotherapy, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) were performed in Case 1, while the second patient underwent adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. No recurrence or metastasis was found in either patient during follow-up (one more than 5 years, the other more than 10 years). The occurrence of orbital MS is infrequent, with atypical clinical and imaging findings. The diagnosis depends on pathomorphology and immunohistochemical staining, and the prognosis is good with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, local radiotherapy, and allo-HSCT.

Age-Related Changes in Postural Stability in Response to Varying Surface Instability in Young and Middle-Aged Adults

As individuals transition into middle age, subtle declines in postural control may occur due to gradual reductions in neuromuscular control. The current study aimed to examine the effect of age on bipedal postural control across three support surfaces with varying degrees of instability: a firm surface, a foam pad, and a multiaxial balance board. The effect of surface stability was also assessed. Postural accelerations were recorded using a tri-axial accelerometer placed over the lumbar spine (L5) in 24 young female adults (23.9 ± 5.3 years) and 24 middle-aged female adults (51.4 ± 5.9 years). Sample entropy (SampEn) was used to analyze the complexity of postural control by measuring the regularity of postural acceleration. The main results show significant age-related differences in the mediolateral and anteroposterior acceleration directions (p ≤ 0.012). Young adults exhibit more irregular fluctuations in postural acceleration (high SampEn), reflecting greater efficiency or automaticity in postural control compared to middle-aged adults. Increased surface instability also progressively decreases SampEn in the mediolateral direction (p &lt; 0.001), reflecting less automaticity with increased instability. However, no interaction effects are observed. These findings imply that incorporating balance training on unstable surfaces might help middle-aged adults maintain postural control and prevent future falls.

The epicaridium larvae of Paragigantione species (Isopoda: Epicaridea: Bopyridae) have external yolk sacs: transfer of the genus to Pleurocryptellinae, description of two new species in the genus and a new species of hyperparasite (Isopoda: Epicaridea: Cabiropidae)

The epicaridean isopods previously known to have epicaridium larvae with posterior yolk sacs were species of Pleurocryptella Bonnier, 1900 and a new subfamily, Pleurocryptellinae, was recently erected for this genus. Epicaridium larvae bearing posterior yolk sacs are newly reported from two species of the genus Paragigantione Barnard, 1920 which is transferred from Pseudioninae to Pleurocryptelline on the basis of this and other shared characters of adult males and females with species of Pleurocryptella. Two new species of Paragigantione are described, one from the northeast Atlantic based on type material that was misidentified as belonging to the type species of the genus, P. papillosa Barnard, 1920 and a second from off New Zealand. One specimen of the New Zealand species had a cryptoniscus larva of a new species of hyperparasite of the genus Bourdonia Rybakov, 1990 in the marsupium while another had a species of Duplorbis (Rhizocephala); the former is described based on this material as well as a specimen from a specimen of Pseudione cf. fibriata Richardson, 1910 from New Zealand. Keys to species of Paragigantione for both males and females are provided.

Are Dermaptera the hosts of the genus Orionis S. R. Shaw (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Euphorinae)?

An observed and photographed instance of apparent oviposition by the euphorine braconid Orionis coxator into an adult female of the earwig Apterygida albipennis is reported from Saxony, Germany. If verified by future work this would be the first host known for the genus Orionis and the first known ichneumonoid primary parasitoid of Dermaptera. This preliminary publication aims to enable others to seek the necessary confirmation.

Behavioral responses of free-ranging Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) to sudden loud noises.

We opportunistically observed 31 cases of responses to sudden loud noises mainly caused by falling rocks and trees in a free-ranging, provisioned group of Japanese macaques, Macaca fuscata, at Katsuyama, Japan, and analyzed 27 cases for which we successfully recorded their responses. In 88% of the 24 cases in which the highest- or second-highest ranking adult male probably heard the noise, one or both of them vocalized aggressively in response. Other males tended to vocalize when they were far away from the two highest-ranking males (in 5 of 7 cases in which they vocalized). Adult females vocalized in only 8% of cases, even when they fled from the noise source. These findings suggest that, unlike tree-shaking and female-directed aggression- both performed often in the mating season and accompanied by vocalizations in both high- and low-ranking males of Japanese macaques- vocalizing in response to sudden loud noises is usually limited to one or two high-ranking males in the vicinity. This vocal response could be a way for the males to advertise their social status; it may also serve to calm group members scared by the noise, preventing them from fleeing in panic and dispersing widely. Our observations also suggest that males may monitor which other males remain nearby, and that whereas females may scream in response to socially induced fear, they are least likely to do so in response to fear arising from non-social contexts.

Uveitis characteristics and multiple sclerosis phenotype of patients with multiple sclerosis-associated uveitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

To summarize and meta-analyze uveitis characteristics and multiple sclerosis (MS) phenotype of patients with multiple sclerosis-associated uveitis (MSAU) within a systematic review and meta-analysis. A comprehensive literature search was performed on January 25, 2023, utilizing PubMed, Embase, and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases. We included studies involving patients with MSAU, such as case series with over 10 patients, cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies. Quality and risk of bias were assessed using CLARITY tools and validated metrics like the Hoy et al. and Hassan Murad et al. tools. The pooled analysis focused on 1) uveitis characteristics, 2) ocular complications, 3) MS phenotype, and 3) administered treatments for uveitis and MS. Gender-based subgroup analysis was conducted across continents; heterogeneity was measured using the I2 statistic. Statistical analysis was performed using R software version 4.3.1. The study was registered in PROSPERO with CRD42023453495 number. Thirty-six studies were analyzed (24 with a low risk of bias, 8 with some concerns, and 4 with a high risk of bias), including 1,257 patients and 2,034 eyes with MSAU. The pooled analysis showed a mean age of 38.2 ± 12.1 years with a notable female predominance (67%, 95% CI [59%-73%]). MS before uveitis was seen in 59% of the cases (95% CI [48%-69%]), while uveitis was present before MS in 38% (95% CI [30%-48%]). The mean age for the first uveitis episode was 35.7 ± 8.3 years, predominantly affecting both eyes (77%, 95% CI [69%-83%], from 23 studies involving 452 patients). Intermediate uveitis was the most frequent anatomical location (68%, 95% CI [49%-82%], from 22 studies involving 530 patients), often following a recurrent course (63%, 95% CI [38%-83%]). Key complications included vision reduction (42%, 95% CI [19%-70%], from five articles involving 90 eyes), macular compromise (45%, 95% CI [20%-73%], from 4 studies involving 95 eyes), and cataracts (46%, 95% CI [32%-61%], from eight articles involving 230 eyes). Concerning MS phenotype, relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) was the most common subtype (74%, 95% CI [64%-82%], from eight articles involving 134 patients), followed by secondary progressive MS (24%, 95% CI [18%-33%], from eight articles involving 125 patients). The most frequently occurring central nervous lesions were supratentorial (95%, 95% CI [70%-99%], from two articles involving 17 patients) and spinal cord (39%, 95% CI [16%-68%], from two articles involving 29 patients). The mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score and annual recurrence rates were 2.9 ± 0.6 and 1.07 ± 0.56, respectively. Treatment trends showed the prevalent use of Fingolimod (96%, 95% CI [17%-100%], from two articles involving 196 patients), Mycophenolate (48%, 95% CI [11%-87%], from four articles involving 51 patients), and Interferon-beta (43%, 95% CI [24%-65%], from 11 articles involving 325 patients). MSAU primarily affects young adult females, typically presenting as bilateral intermediate uveitis with vision-related complications. The most common MS phenotype is RRMS, often associated with supratentorial and spinal cord lesions on imaging. These findings give ophthalmologists and neurologists a comprehensive clinical picture of MSAU, facilitating prompt diagnosis.

The larva and pupa of Anabolia appendix (Ulmer 1905) (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae) from China

Adult females from the town of Xin-si, Ding-xi County, Gan-su Province, as well as larvae and pupae from Tian-jun and Qi-lian Counties, Hai-bei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qing-hai Province, were examined, and their COI sequences were extracted and analyzed. Adult females were identified as Anabolia appendix (Ulmer 1905) and were associated with larvae and pupae by their COI sequences. The larva and pupa of A. appendix are described and diagnosed for the first time and morphological photos of the larva and pupa of A. appendix are also provided. All the COI sequences have been uploaded to GenBank. All specimens are deposited in the Insect Collection, Nan-jing Agricultural University, Nan-jing, Jiang-su Province, P. R. China.

Exploring the longitudinal expression dynamics of midguts in adult female Amblyomma americanum ticks

BackgroundFemale ticks remain attached to their host for multiple days to complete a blood meal. This prolonged feeding period is accompanied by a significant increase in the tick’s size and body weight, paralleled by noteworthy changes to the tick midgut. While the midgut is recognized for its established role in blood storage and processing, its importance extends to playing a crucial role in the acquisition, survival, and proliferation of pathogens. Despite this, our overall understanding of tick midgut biology is limited.ResultsOur transcriptome analysis identified 15,599 putative DNA coding sequences (CDS), which were classified into 26 functional groups. Dimensional and differential expression analyses revealed four primary transcriptional profiles corresponding to unfed, slow-feeding, transitory (from slow- to rapid-feeding), and rapid-feeding stages. Additionally, comparing the current dataset with previously deposited transcriptome from other tick species allowed the identification of commonly expressed transcripts across different feeding stages.ConclusionOur findings provide a detailed temporal resolution of numerous metabolic pathways in the midgut of A. americanum adult females throughout the feeding process, highlighting the dynamic transcriptional regulation of the tick’s midgut as feeding progresses. Furthermore, we identified conserved transcripts across three different tick species that exhibit similar expression patterns. This knowledge not only enhances our understanding of the physiological processes within the tick midgut but also opens up potential avenues for developing control methods that target multiple tick species.

A New Method for Feeding Laboratory-Reared Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Adult Females1

Abstract The mosquito Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) transmits arboviruses including the causative agent for yellow fever and threatens human health in tropical and subtropical areas. To reduce the incidence of infection, a variety of tactics is being developed to keep the population density of this vector mosquito as low as possible. Laboratory research directed to this end requires maintaining laboratory colonies of the insect, which, in this case, requires providing immobilized live animals to A. aegypti adult females for a source of blood for production of viable eggs. Using live animals for this procedure is costly, time consuming, and requires rearing mammalian species in the laboratoy. This study evaluated the impact of supplying the adult females with blood from a domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica L.) mixed with an anticoagulant (7 ml of heparin per liter of blood) on the oviposition rate of A. aegypti. Feeding A. aegypti females with pig blood obtained from a slaughter facility and mixed with heparin produced more eggs (6,994 ± 168) than those allowed to feed on a living hamster as a source of blood (5,483 ± 171). Thus, this methodology is more efficient and economical than the current use of live animals to feed females of A. aegypti.

The adverse dyadic friendship (ADF): An exploratory retrospective view of female adolescents.

Friendships of adolescent girls play a significant role in providing socio-emotional support and enabling the attainment of developmental tasks. The present exploratory paper focuses on an aspect of close friendships that has yet to be widely examined, which we described as the Adverse Dyadic Friendship (ADF). This is a friendship whose negative elements are perceived from the distance of time as outweighing its positive ones. To examine the features of ADF, a qualitative study based on retrospective data obtained from 34 young adult females (Mage = 31.14, SD = 5.59) was conducted in Israel. Using a semi-structured online questionnaire, participants were asked to address a specific close same-sex friendship they had during their middle or high school years that has negatively affected them. The emerging themes (such as negative feelings and various coping strategies) suggest that ADF comprises an intense emotional condition, having implications on the development of individuals' self-perception. The consequences of ADF may be detrimental to adolescent girls' self-worth and friendship skills and extend into their adult life. Whereas the developmental literature emphasizes the positive aspects of friendship for adolescent girls, this study points out how ADF can also become a developmental challenge for them: on the one hand, ADF comprises a risk factor for their socio-emotional development, and on the other hand, presents an opportunity to learn and introduce changes in their lives. The main contribution of this paper is that ADF can stimulate further research on the complex aspects of friendship between adolescent girls.

Association between tea consumption and stroke in the American adult females: analyses of NHANES 2011–2018 data

BackgroundEpidemiological surveys show that there is a significant gender difference in the incidence of stroke, with females having a noticeably higher rate than males. Accordingly, it is crucial to seek preventive measures for stroke specifically targeted at females. Although previous studies have shown that tea has been proven to be negatively correlated with stroke, the relationship between tea and stroke in American adult females is still unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between tea consumption and the occurrence of stroke in American adult females.MethodsThe data analyzed is derived from the NHANES database between 2011 and 2018. The quantity of tea consumed was gathered from a 24-h dietary review. Stroke was identified by using questionnaire. The association between tea consumption and stroke was investigated using a weighted regression model. Then we used interaction testing and subgroup analysis to conduct a thorough analysis. Simultaneously, the association between the sugar content in tea and stroke was examined.ResultsThis study included 5731 adult females aged between 20 and 60 years. Compared to those who did not consume tea, the likelihood of stroke decreased by 9% for each additional 100 g of tea ingested by participants (OR = 0.91, 95%CI: 0.83–1.00). In the unadjusted model, those who drank 307.5–480 g of tea per day had a substantially decreased risk of stroke than those who did not drink tea (OR = 0.23, 95%CI: 0.08–0.64). After adjustment, this relationship also persisted (Model II: OR = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.08–0.64; Model III: OR = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.08–0.66). In both Model II and Model III, there was a statistically significant relationship between consuming 480–744 g of tea per day and the risk of stroke (Model II: OR = 0.39, 95%CI: 0.16–0.94; Model III: OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.18–0.98). Subgroup analysis revealed an interaction only with level of education (P = 0.031). Ultimately, we also demonstrated that people who drink sugar free tea have a lower risk of stroke, and even after adjusting for mixed factors.ConclusionThis study suggested that proper tea consumption was associated with a lower risk of stroke in adult females, which recommended drinking sugar free tea.

Ecological features and insecticide resistance of Aedes albopictus in Xi'an, a high-risk dengue transmission area in China.

Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease, has occurred in many cities in China, and it tends to spread to higher latitudes (Huang et al., 2023). Xi'an, situated in central-west China, has witnessed an increase imported cases in the past few years, raising concerns of local dengue transmission. It is crucial to investigate the population density of Aedes albopictus and its insecticides resistance to enhance early warning of dengue fever. Eight sampling sites in eight counties (YT, BL, WY, CH, YL, LN, LT, ZZ) of Xi'an city were surveyed by larval dipping and human-baited double net trap biweekly from June 2021 to September 2022. The Breteau Index (BI, number of positive containers per 100 houses) and Container Index (CI, the percentage of containers containing larvae or pupae) were used to assess larval density, and the human-baited double net trap (HDN, the number of Ae. albopictus females collected per person per hour) to indicate human bating rate (HBR). Meanwhile, the association between the meteorological factors and mosquito density was analyzed. The Ae. albopictus adult insecticides resistance was evaluated by the World Health Organization (WHO) standard resistance bioassay. Adult females were exposed to insecticide-impregnated paper for 1 h, then transferred to the recovery tube, and mortality rate was calculated after 24 h. According to the Implementation Plan for National Vector Surveillance (2016), resistance status was classified into three levels based on mortality: <80% mortality as resistant, between 80% and 98% mortality as possibly resistant, and >98% mortality as sensitive. From June 2021 to September 2022, a total of 1,065 houses were surveyed for water holding containers, and 99 of 430 water holding containers were checked to be positive for Ae. albopictus larvae and pupae. A total of 1,048 Ae. albopictus females were collected. The average BI, CI and HBR were 10.39, 21.41, and 11.20 female/man/hour in 2021 and 8.86, 20.86, and 11.63 f/m/h in 2022, respectively. The findings showed that the BI exceeded 5 in most months and reached above 20 in specific months. The CI varied in different months and monitoring sites, with the highest CI in August 2021 and July 2022. The discarded tires had the highest positivity rate, with up to 40.32% testing positive for Ae. albopictus larvae. The monthly average temperature showed a positive correlation with CI (r = 0.77), and the monthly BI was positively associated with CI (r = 0.93). The BI, CI, and HBR were significantly higher in the rainy season than other seasons. The bioassay results showed that the mortality rate of Ae. albopictus at the YT monitoring site was 76.92%, indicating resistance to deltamethrin. The mortality rate of Ae. Albopictus at BL, WY, CH, YL, LN, LT, and ZZ sampling sites were varying from 81.25%∼100%, suggesting possibly resistant or still sensitive to beta-cypermethrin, alpha-cypermethrin, malathion, chlorpyrifos, and propoxur.

Budget impact analysis on the use of Sysmex PA-100 AST system as a point of care for uncomplicated urinary tract infections detection and treatment in Spanish females

Objective Efficient diagnostic methods, such as the Sysmex PA-100, provide rapid antimicrobial susceptibility test results directly from urine samples with high sensitivity and specificity, and improve treatment recommendations. Our study analyzes the economic impact of integrating the Sysmex PA-100 to assess its potential benefits and cost implications for uncomplicated urinary tract infection (uUTI) management in Spain. Methodology A budget impact model was developed using a decision tree framework to compare current UTI management practices with a new scenario incorporating the Sysmex PA-100. The clinical inputs were extracted from published literature. The model, representing adult females with uUTIs, assessed direct medical and indirect costs over three years, including diagnostic procedures, treatment costs, staff time costs, and productivity loss. The cost data was captured from two Spanish hospitals. Two scenario analyses were conducted in the model: scenario A included costs for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) emergence in patients receiving unnecessary empirical antibiotics, whereas scenario B assumed no AMR costs. Results In scenario A, 100% implementation of PA-100 within various Spanish healthcare settings over one year resulted in total cost savings of EUR 323,657,712 (EUR 119.10 per patient per year). The total overall cost savings attributable to the implementation of PA-100 over three years were EUR 970,973,137. In scenario B, the total annual savings were EUR 4,254,795 (EUR 1.57 per patient per year), and the 3-year savings were EUR 12,764,385. Conclusion The adoption of this point-of-care system results in overall cost savings, driven by reductions in direct and indirect costs related to UTI management. The model highlights potential savings over three years owing to appropriate rapid management (reduction in time to diagnosis and treatment, which leads to fewer complications and secondary infections) and reduced staff time and productivity loss costs. These findings support the potential benefits of adopting the Sysmex PA-100 to enhance UTI management and allocate healthcare resource utilization in Spain.