Greater Changes Research Articles

Associations between SARS-CoV-2 Infection or COVID-19 Vaccination and Human Milk Composition: A Multi-Omics Approach

BackgroundThe risk of contracting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) via human milk-feeding is virtually nonexistent. Adverse effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination for lactating individuals are not different from the general population, and no evidence has been found that their infants exhibit adverse effects. Yet, there remains substantial hesitation among this population globally regarding the safety of these vaccines. ObjectivesHerein, we aimed to determine if compositional changes in milk occur following SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 vaccination, including any evidence of vaccine components. MethodsAn extensive multiomics approach was taken using a subset of milk samples obtained as part of our broad studies examining the effects on milk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination. ResultsWe found that compared with unvaccinated individuals, SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with significant compositional differences in 67 proteins, 385 lipids, and 13 metabolites. In contrast, COVID-19 vaccination was not associated with any changes in lipids or metabolites, although it was associated with changes in 13 or fewer proteins. Compositional changes in milk differed by vaccine. Changes following vaccination were greatest after 1–6 h for the mRNA-based Moderna vaccine (8 changed proteins), 3 d for the mRNA-based Pfizer (4 changed proteins), and adenovirus-based Johnson and Johnson (13 changed proteins) vaccines. Proteins that changed after both natural infection and Johnson and Johnson vaccine were associated mainly with systemic inflammatory responses. In addition, no vaccine components were detected in any milk sample. ConclusionsTogether, our data provide evidence of only minimal changes in milk composition because of COVID-19 vaccination, with much greater changes after natural SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Efficacy of a Culturally Adapted Emotion Recognition Training Program in Improving Facial Emotion Recognition in Persons with Schizophrenia.

Facial emotion recognition (FER) deficits are being considered as core features of social cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, associated with socio-occupational dysfunction. Social cognition intervention programs have been shown to improve these deficits; however, there are no such intervention strategies in India. In this study, we aim to examine the efficacy of Training of Affect Recognition - Indian Version (TAR-IV) to enhance the FER abilities of people with schizophrenia. In an open-label experimental design, 36 participants with schizophrenia underwent 12 sessions of TAR-IV as an add-on to treatment as usual (TAU), while 29 participants with schizophrenia continued TAU (pharmacological treatment with or without occupational therapy and vocational rehabilitation services). Clinical and functional assessments were done using the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) and socio-occupational functioning scale. Emotion recognition abilities were assessed on the tool for recognition of emotions in neuropsychiatric disorders at baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up (two to three months post-intervention). The intervention group showed significant improvements in FER (P = .001) and socio-occupational functioning (P = .008) after receiving the TAR-IV, which remained significant at two months follow-up. A lower age of onset and poorer neurocognitive function at baseline predicted greater changes in emotion recognition ability following the intervention. This study demonstrated the efficacy of TAR-IV, the Indian adaptation of social cognition intervention, in improving emotion recognition abilities and socio-occupational functioning in patients with schizophrenia. These findings need to be replicated in randomized controlled trials.

Tele-rehabilitation in COVID-19 survivors (TERCOV): An investigator-initiated, prospective, multi-center, real-world study.

Center-based rehabilitation is limited by COVID-19 infectivity and social distancing policy. We hypothesized that discharged patients benefit from 8-week home-based tele-rehabilitation (tele-PR) using mobile phones and low-cost instruments. The TERCOV (Tele-rehabilitation in COVID-19 survivors) is an investigator-initiated, prospective, multi-center, real-world study. After proper assessment, 186 discharge patients received tele-PR by smartphone, including breathing exercise, respiratory muscle training, aerobic exercise, and resistance training. Physicians, physiotherapists, and nurses provided guidance through smartphone applications. The primary outcome was six-minute walk distance (6MWD). The secondary outcomes included hand grip, short physical performance battery, maximal inspiratory pressure, maximal expiratory pressure, self-rating anxiety/depression scale (SAS/SDS), 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) and international physical activity questionnaire. Dyspnea subgroups were more functionally impaired. After tele-PR, improvements were observed in exercise capacity(∆6MWD: 16.80m, 95% CI 1.18-32.42, p<0.0001), limb muscle function (∆SPPB 0.25 points, 95% CI 0.05-0.46), respiratory muscle strength (∆MIP 16.50cm H2O, 95% CI 9.22-23.78, p<0.0001; ∆MEP: 12.09cm H2O, 95% CI 3.48-20.70, p=0.0002), health-related quality of life (∆SF-36 49.85, 95% CI: 21.01-78.69, p<0.0001), physical activity(∆HEPA 13.01%, p=0.0029). Anxiety reduced in patients with mMRC≥2 (∆SAS=-4.19 points, CI -8.16 to -0.22, p=0.03). Greater change was seen in dyspnea patients. Supervised/semi-supervised tele-PR is a promising option during the pandemic. Patients with Dyspnea benefit more.

Health-related Internet Use Among New Urology Clinic Patients

ObjectiveTo assess internet usage among new patients seen by urologists and impact on post-consultation understanding for four common conditions: kidney stones, elevated prostate specific antigen, male voiding, and female voiding. MethodsWe performed a prospective study of new urology patients at our diverse urban, academic urology practice for the above conditions over a 1-year period. A voluntary questionnaire assessed patients’ internet use related to referred conditions prior to encounters. Questions evaluated quality of information and patient understanding of symptoms/condition at baseline, after online searches, and after their urology visit. A patient-reported Likert scale of 1 (poor) to 10 (excellent) was used and internet “searchers” were compared to “non-searchers.” Results215 patients participated. Most respondents were Latino (41%) or Black (35%) and English-speaking (81%). Cohorts comprised 130 searchers (60%) and 85 non-searchers (40%). Searchers were significantly younger (median 53 vs. 63 years, P<0.001), more likely to have home internet access (P<0.001), and more general medical internet use (P<0.001). Overall, patients’ understanding of visit diagnoses increased after their encounters (median pre-visit rating 5 vs. post-visit rating 10). Searchers reported a greater post-visit understanding compared to non-searchers (median rating 10 vs. 9, P<0.001), and a greater change in understanding from baseline (median +4 vs. +3, P=0.02). ConclusionInternet use is common amongst younger patients referred to urologists and may be associated with improved understanding of their condition after urologic consultation. Continued investigation of patient uses of and attitude towards popular online resources can help urologists curate resources to benefit patients and providers alike.

Development, usability, and preliminary efficacy of a virtual reality experience to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors in children: pilot randomized controlled trial.

Virtual reality (VR) shows promise for supporting behavior change in children. This study used user-centered design to translate key tenets of behavioral health interventions into VR for children aged 6-12 years and their caregivers and examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the VR experience in a pilot parallel, two-group randomized controlled trial (RCT). The VR experience incorporates psychoeducational content from evidence-based behavioral health interventions using voiceover and an interactive go-kart game related to the concepts of "food as fuel" and nutrition guidelines. Study 1 involved usability testing with n=5 child-caregiver dyads, which informed technical and content refinements to the experience. Study 2 involved children aged 6-12 years with body mass index (BMI) ≥85th percentile for age and sex who were comfortable speaking English and their caregivers with BMI ≥25 kg/m2. After participants completed baseline assessments in lab on eating-related behavioral cognitions and behaviors, participants were randomly assigned to the 10-minute VR experience or a control condition (i.e., nutrition education video and mobile phone food game), and were unblinded to condition. Child and caregivers completed assessments immediately post-intervention (eating-related behavioral cognitions) and at 2-week follow-up (behaviors, caregiver readiness to change). The objectives were to evaluate the feasibility, usability, and acceptability of the VR experience, and examine the preliminary efficacy of VR compared to the control condition on the primary outcomes of child behavioral cognitions and behaviors. Non-parametric tests examined differences in change scores across conditions as well as overall and within-group changes in outcomes. Twenty-seven child-caregiver dyads (14 in VR, 13 in control) were enrolled (child mean age =10.4 years; 14 girls). Caregivers reported good usability and excellent immersion in the virtual environment. Children reported significantly greater acceptability of VR compared to control (P=0.02). Child self-efficacy for healthy eating, self-efficacy for physical activity, attitudes toward healthy eating, and behavioral intentions for healthy eating increased from pre- to post-test in both conditions. From baseline to 2-week follow-up, all children reported greater weekly vegetable servings and more active days in the past week. Children in the VR condition had greater change in attitudes towards healthy eating from pre- to post-test compared to children in the control condition [effect size r=0.44, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03-0.72]. Readiness to help child change significantly increased for caregivers in the VR condition from pre- to 2-week follow-up, but did not change for caregivers in the control condition. No adverse events were reported. A VR program to promote healthy eating among children shows high feasibility and acceptability, and high potential for improving child and caregiver behavioral cognitions in this pilot RCT. Future work should examine the impact of repeated exposure to the experience over time, and examine long-term effects. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04845568.

Greater Changes In Motivation States With Exercise In National-caliber Athletes Compared To University Students

Greater Changes In Motivation States With Exercise In National-caliber Athletes Compared To University Students

Randomized Comparison Trial of Rehabilitation Very Early for Infants with Congenital Hemiplegia

To compare efficacy of constraint-induced movement therapy (Baby-CIMT) with bimanual therapy (Baby-BIM) in infants at high risk of unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP). Single-blind, randomized-comparison-trial that had the following inclusion criteria: (i) asymmetric brain lesion (ii) absent fidgety General Movements, (iii) Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination below cerebral palsy cut-points, (iv) entry at 3 to 9 months corrected age (CA), and (v) >3 point difference between hands on Hand Assessment Infants (HAI). Infants were randomized to Baby-CIMT or Baby-BIM, which comprised 6 to 9 months of home-based intervention. Daily dose varied from 20 to 40-minutes according to age (total 70-89.2 hours). Primary outcome measure was the HAI post intervention, with secondary outcomes Mini-Assisting Hand Assessment and Bayley III cognition at 24-months CA. 96 infants (51 male, 52 right hemiplegia) born median at 37-weeks' gestation were randomized to Baby-CIMT (n=46) or Baby-BIM (n=50) and commenced intervention at a mean 6.5 (SD 1.6) months CA. There were no between group differences immediately post-intervention on HAI (mean difference [MD] 0.98 HAI units, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.94-2.91; p=0.31). Both groups demonstrated significant clinically important improvements from baseline to post-intervention (Baby-BIM MD 3.48, 95%CI 2.09-4.87; Baby-CIMT MD 4.42, 95% CI 3.07-5.77). At 24 months, 64 infants were diagnosed with UCP (35 Baby-CIMT, 29 Baby-BIM). Infants who entered the study between 3 and 6-months CA had greater change in HAI Both Hands Sum Score compared with those who entered at ≥6-months CA (MD 7.17, 95% CI 2.93, 11.41, p=0.001). Baby-CIMT was not superior to Baby-BIM, and both interventions improved hand development. Infants commencing intervention at <6 months CA had greater improvements in hand function.

Long-Term Differences in AutonomicAlterations After Cryoballoonvs Radiofrequency AtrialFibrillation Ablation.

The long-term natural history of autonomic alterations following catheter ablation of drug-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is poorly defined. The authors sought to define the long-term impact of thermal catheter ablation on the cardiac autonomic system. The study included 346 patients with drug-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation undergoing pulmonary vein isolation using thermal ablation energy (radiofrequency or cryoballoon ablation). All patients underwent insertion of a Reveal LINQ implantable cardiac monitor prior to ablation. The implantable cardiac monitor continuously recorded physical activity, heart rate variability (HRV) (measured as the standard deviation of the average normal-to-normal), daytime heart rate, and nighttime heart rate (NHR). Longitudinal autonomic data in the 2-month period prior to the date of ablation were compared with the 3 years following ablation. Following ablation, there was a significant decrease in HRV (10-20ms; P< 0.0001) and significant increases in daytime heart rate and NHR (10 beats/min [P< 0.0001] and 7 beats/min [P< 0.0001], respectively). Changes in autonomic parameters were greatest in the first 3months following ablation but remained significantly different from baseline for 36months following ablation. Greater changes in NHR and HRV were associated with improved freedom from recurrent arrhythmia. The type of thermal ablation energy had no influence on the heart rate and autonomic parameters. Pulmonary vein isolation using thermal ablation energy results in significant sustained changes in the heart rate parameters related to autonomic function. These changes are independent of the ablation technology employed and are associated with procedural success. (Cryoballoon vs Irrigated Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation: Double Short vs Standard Exposure Duration [CIRCA-DOSE]; NCT01913522).

Differential gene expression and chromatin accessibility in the medial prefrontal cortex associated with individual differences in rat behavioral models of opioid use disorder.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a neuropsychological disease that has a devastating impact on public health. Substantial individual differences in vulnerability exist, the neurobiological substrates of which remain unclear. To address this question, we investigated genome-wide gene transcription (RNA-seq) and chromatin accessibility (ATAC-seq) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of male and female rats exhibiting differential vulnerability in behavioral paradigms modeling different phases of OUD: Withdrawal-Induced Anhedonia (WIA), Demand, and Reinstatement. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) of RNA-seq revealed greater changes in canonical pathways in Resilient (vs. Saline) rats in comparison to Vulnerable (vs. Saline) rats across 3 paradigms, suggesting brain adaptations that might contribute to resilience to OUD across its trajectory. Analyses of gene networks and upstream regulators implicated processes involved in oligodendrocyte maturation and myelination in WIA, neuroinflammation in Demand, and metabolism in Reinstatement. Motif analysis of ATAC-seq showed changes in chromatin accessibility to a small set of transcription factor (TF) binding sites as a function either of opioid exposure (i.e., morphine versus saline) generally or of individual vulnerability specifically. Some of these were shared across the 3 paradigms and others were unique to each. In conclusion, we have identified changes in biological pathways, TFs, and their binding motifs that vary with paradigm and OUD vulnerability. These findings point to the involvement of distinct transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms in response to opioid exposure, vulnerability to OUD, and different stages of the disorder.

Accuracy of the model derived from red blood cell indices in predicting α0-thalassemia trait among non-anemic pregnant women

BackgroundThe study aims to establish prediction model derived from red blood cell indices to improve the accuracy of α0-thalassemia trait screening in non-anemic pregnant women. MethodA diagnostic study as secondary analysis on the prospective database was conducted. The participants were pregnant women, undergoing α0-thalassemia screening at first visit antenatal care using red blood cell indices with confirmation by PCR method. Diagnostic performance of each of red blood cell parameter and their combination derived from logistic regression analysis in predicting α0-thalassemia trait were determined. FindingsThe total 587 Thai pregnant women were included in the analysis, consisting of 136 cases of α0-thalassemia trait and 451 normal controls. Diagnostic performance analysis revealed that, the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) provided a sensitivity of 98.5 % and a false positive rate of 20.2 %. While The mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) provided a sensitivity of 99.3 % and a false positive rate of 15.7 %. The combined-parameters prediction model including hemoglobin (Hb), MCV, MCH, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), red cell distribution width (RDW), and red blood cell (RBC) count, demonstrated excellent diagnostic performance with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.992, sensitivity of 99.3 %, and much lower false positive rate of 4 %. InterpretationThe combined-parameter prediction model provided excellent diagnostic performance with low false positive rate. The application of the prediction model could decrease unnecessary PCR method for α0-thalassemia testing, thereby decreasing the cost of investigation. Our proposed model can possibly have a great impact or significant change in clinical practice, especially in Southeast Asia.

The Shortest Nuclear Route to Climate Tipping Points to Great Power Competition: Tracing Arctic Security from the Cold War to Now

&lt;p&gt;Arctic security has been growing in popularity across academia, policymaking, and news media. However, this popularity has come with a notable question: what does Arctic security mean and what knowledge underpins it? This study traces the discourse on Arctic security from the Cold War to present examining the emergence of different types of security which range from more traditional variants to wider and deeper readings such as environmental and comprehensive security. I identify key strands of Arctic security discourse, trace their interaction over time, and periodize the region. While the Cold War era was dominated by nuclear and traditional security logics, there have been three main shifts since then including 2) 1990s-2007, 3) 2007-2019, and 4) 2019-present. This research finds that Arctic security knowledge clearly follows global security trends. Thus, as security has widened and deepened globally, so too have the potential meanings of Arctic security expanded. However, there is a clear hierarchy in today’s general discourse regarding what issues take center stage for the Arctic such as great power competition and climate change. This is in contrast to the Arctic Council, which takes into account all but military security definitions for Arctic security and integrates them in a relatively balanced way. This has implications for ocean governance institutions and the degree to which traditional military security concerns should be left out of broader ocean governance.&lt;/p&gt;

MANDIBULAR PARAMETERS FOR AGE ESTIMATION: A DIGITAL ORTHOPANTOMOGRAPHIC STUDY IN HYDERABAD POPULATION

Background: Mandible is one of the strongest facial bones, which exhibits great changes in size and morphology during growth and aging. The mandibular ramus and gonial angle in particular show notable alterations with aging. Orthopantomographywhich is a regularly used, non-invasive procedure can be used to assess mandibular morphology with ease. Aim and objectives: To assess the correlation of dimensions of condylar ramus height, coronoid ramus height and gonial angle with chronological age of the individual, andevaluatetheirefficacy in estimating age of the individual. Materials and methods: The study sample included 200 digital orthopantomographs of individuals of diverse age groups. Measurements of condylar ramus height, coronoid ramus height and gonial angle were made on the digital orthopantomographs and data was tabulated. Age estimation formulae were derived for each of the three parameters and age was estimated for each individual using the formulae. Results: No statisticallysignificant difference was found on comparing the chronological age and estimated age obtained using condylar ramus height, coronoid ramus height, and gonial angle. Among the three parameters,coronoid ramus height displayed a statistically significant correlation with chronological age. Conclusion:Present study indicates that coronoid ramus height can be used as a reliable indicator for age estimation.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: TRANSFORMATIVE EFFECTS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

Artificial intelligence (AI) is technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human learning, comprehension, problem solving, decision making, creativity and autonomy. Ancient civilizations contained tales of intelligent robots, such as Greek and Chinese cultures. AI as a modern phenomenon which took shape in the mid-20th century with the advent of digital computers. The first breakthrough, published in 1950, was Alan Turing's paper, ‘Computing Machinery and Intelligence. AI can make provide detailed solution to users and experts. They can act independently, replacing the need for human intelligence or intervention (a classic example being a self-driving car). Many sectors like finance, healthcare, to human resource management (HRM), rely on AI technologies. AI's integration in HRM has brought about great change in conventional HR practices used to measure efficiency, accuracy, strategic decision-making, etc. AI technologies help to provide solution to automation of repetitive tasks, analysis of sprawling volumes of data and insights facilitating decision-making. Through this research paper we try to understand the AI's effects on HR processes, in terms of recruitment, onboarding, performance appraisal, training and development, employee engagement, workforce planning; understanding the benefits and cons of implementing AI in HRM; ethical considerations and potential biases in AI algorithms relevant to HR practices; analysis of emergent AI trends with respect to HRM. Trends in AI in HR tend towards a most promising future, presenting several innovations. Accordingly, HR professionals will be expected to acquire competency with regards to new roles and responsibilities to avail AI in enhancing strategic planning, ethical oversight, and data-driven decision-making.

Genero-ekitaterako bideak marrazten hezkuntzan: Erdi Aroko historiako gaien analisia eta proposamena

Feminism is a social movement that has managed to bring about great changes in society in recent decades. Even so, the gender perspective has not been adequately inserted in the classroom in many areas, especially in educational textbooks. With the aim of going deeper into the subject and finding out the current situation in Primary Education classes, ten didactic units about the Middle Ages, belonging to Social Science books for 5th year of Primary Education that are currently being used have been analysed. From the results obtained, a lack of equity in terms of male and female representation was detected. Thus, it is established that there is a need for a review and change in the teaching material so that it participates in the creation of a fairer, more equitable and critical society.

Upper limb movement control strategy of top-tier elite male badminton players when smashing for different distances

PurposeMastering the skill of smashing in a game can be quite challenging. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to control the distance of the smash. The present study investigated the impact of different smashing distances on muscle activation patterns and kinematics of the upper limbs.Material and methodsTen collegiate athletes from a top-ranked team in Korea participated in the present study with a mean age, weight, and height of 21 ± 1 years, 71.9 ± 9.1 kg, and 1.78 ± 2.24 m, respectively. Three valid data points for each subject at three different distances were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).ResultsThe results demonstrated that with increasing smashing distance, the internal rotation angle of the elbow and wrist joints decreased, while the angular velocity of flexion and internal rotation of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints increased. Muscle activation increased for all muscles except the biceps brachii (BICLO) with increasing distance. The greatest changes in activation levels were observed in the anterior deltoid (DELTA), extensor carpi radialis (ECR), and flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU).ConclusionsDuring tasks with different smashing distances, muscle activation in the upper limbs (except the biceps) increased with increasing distances. Additionally, the internal rotation angle of the upper limbs decreased with increased distances, while the angular velocity of flexion and internal rotation of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints increased.

Functional Properties and Sensory Quality of Kombucha Analogs Based on Herbal Infusions.

Traditionally, kombucha is produced by the fermentation of black or green tea infusions with the use of SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeasts). However, SCOBY exhibits the ability to ferment other substrates as well, which can be used to create novel products with new sensory and health-promoting properties. This paper investigates the antioxidant activity, chemical composition, and sensory properties of mint, nettle, and blackcurrant leaf-based kombucha analogs. It has been demonstrated that the fermentation process with SCOBY significantly influenced (p ≤ 0.05) sugar, organic acids, and mineral contents, with the increase in iron, magnesium, and calcium amounts in all tested herbal kombucha. The study shows that the type of herb infusion has a significant influence on the parameters associated with antioxidant potential. The fermentation with SCOBY resulted in an increase in antioxidant activity as measured by the superoxide anion radical (O2•-) inhibition of all three tested herbal infusions, with the greatest changes observed in nettle kombucha. Herbal kombucha was characterized by significantly increased total phenolic content as determined by Folin's reagent and a changed phenolic compound profile by LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry) in comparison to nonfermented infusions. Very high sensory scores were achieved for fermented mint and blackcurrant-based kombucha.

In Search of Optimal Criteria for Iron Deficiency in CHF Patients. Post-hoc Analysis of the Study "Prevalence of Iron Deficiency in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure in the Russian Federation (ID-CHF-RF)".

Comparative analysis of clinical, anamnestic, and laboratory and instrumental data of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and iron deficiency (ID) diagnosed according to the AHA/ESC/RSC criteria, and CHF patients diagnosed with ID based on decreased transferrin saturation (TSAT) ≤19.8% or serum iron (Fe) ≤13 μmol/l. An additional analysis of the ID-CHF-RF study was performed. The analyzed population included 498 patients (198 women) with CHF. In addition to the ID criteria provided by the protocol (AHA/ESC/RSC criteria: ferritin &lt;100 μg/l or ferritin from 100 to 299 μg/l and TSAT&lt;20%), concentrations of ID biomarkers were assessed, which showed high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of ID compared to the morphological picture of the bone marrow (TSAT&lt;19.8% or Fe ≤13 μmol/l). Subgroups of patients with ID determined only by the AHA/ESC/RSC criteria, only by the TSAT≤19.8% and Fe ≤13 μmol/l criteria, and by both were analyzed. ID diagnosed by the AHA/ESC/RSC criteria was found in 83.1% of patients. The TSAT ≤19.8% and Fe ≤13 μmol/l criteria revealed ID in 74.5% of patients. In 341 patients (76.8%), ID was diagnosed using both criteria. Patients with ID diagnosed by the TSAT≤19.8% and Fe≤13 μmol/l criteria, compared with patients with ID diagnosed by the AHA/ESC/RKO criteria, had a 50% lower Fe (9.8 μmol/l vs. 19.4 μmol/l) and a higher incidence of anemia (43.3% vs. 23.3%) and diabetes mellitus (DM) (36.7% and 24.7%). Also, these patients had higher values of body mass index (BMI) and NT-proBNP concentration (2317 [1305;9092] vs. 1691 [709;3856] pg/ml), and lower LV EF values (41.5 [29.0;54.5]% vs. 45.0 [34.0;54.0]%), respectively. The most severe course of CHF and the greatest changes in laboratory tests associated with ID and anemia were observed in patients with ID determined by two criteria. Patients in this group were older, with a higher BMI, more frequent presence of atrial fibrillation, and higher NT-proBNP (4182 [1854;9341] pg/ml). Patients with isolated low ferritin are characterized by less severe clinical and functional impairment compared to patients with low TSAT or Fe. At the same time, patients with ferritin higher than 300 μg/l and low TSAT and/or Fe were characterized by very severe CHF and a low functional status, although this may not be related with ID. Thus, the use of the ferritin-based criteria of ID may lead to overdiagnosis of ID in some patients and, at the same time, miss some of the most "severe" patients who likely require the ID correction. Patients with ID who show a decrease in all three parameters are likely to benefit most from Fe supplementation. It is advisable to perform additional studies on the effect of Fe supplements on the course and prognosis of the disease in this cohort of patients.

Relationships of dog behavior and cattle illness signs to dogs’ ability to distinguish between sick and healthy cattle

Dogs are highly successful at detecting disease using olfaction; however, performance varies among dogs. Training detection dogs represents a substantial investment of time and resources; thus, identifying behavioral markers of a successful detection dog and factors that affect dog performance is needed. In a previous study, one of four dogs was able to distinguish between nasal and saliva swabs from healthy cattle and cattle undergoing an inflammatory response at a rate greater than chance, with 73 % accuracy. The present study evaluated how dogs’ accuracy changed throughout training and testing, whether dogs’ responses were related to illness signs present in cattle, and whether dogs’ accuracy was related to their own behavior on a per-trial and per-sample basis. Trial number, or the order of a detection trial within a 20-trial training or test session, was slightly positively correlated with accuracy for one dog. Sample number, the order in which the dogs encountered samples, was slightly positively correlated with per-session accuracy for all dogs. Dog accuracy declined across training sessions that used the same sample (F4381 = 3.48, P = 0.01), suggesting a deterioration in sample quality over time. Among the clinical illness signs measured in cattle, the strongest association demonstrated that greater changes in cattle body temperature were positively associated with dog accuracy (r = 0.32, P < 0.01). During training and testing, positive (sickness-model), negative (healthy) and blank (unscented) samples were presented at equal rates. Dogs spent more time sniffing and made more visits to investigate the positive samples than negative samples, and spent more time sniffing and made more visits to negative samples than blank samples, indicating that less time was required for dogs to rule out unscented stations than to distinguish between cattle swabs. Visits to the negative sample and visits to the positive sample were negatively (r = −0.581, P < 0.01) and positively (r = 0.761, P < 0.01) correlated with accuracy, respectively. Increased latency to search was negatively correlated with accuracy (r = −0.10, P < 0.01). This represents another potential behavioral marker of successful detection dogs.

Identification, Cloning, and Characterization of Two Acupuncture-Injury-Inducing Promoters in Rice

As an important global food crop, rice is damaged by a variety of piercing–sucking pests. Identifying a broad-spectrum promoter induced by the physical signal of sucking pests and applying it to transgenic breeding to mitigate the damage caused by different sucking pests will significantly improve the efficiency of our breeding. This study compared the transcriptome changes in two rice varieties under needle-wounding stress to investigate their differential responses to mechanical damage. The results showed that the insect-susceptible variety TN1 exhibited more differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and greater changes in expression levels after needle treatment, indicating a more active internal gene regulatory network. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis further revealed that TN1 not only exhibited changes in genes related to the extracellular environment, but also mobilized more genes associated with stress response and defense. By screening the differentially expressed genes, we identified two promoters (P1 and P2) with inducible expression characteristics in both the resistant and susceptible rice varieties. These promoters were able to effectively drive the expression of the insect resistance gene OsLecRK1* and enhance the resistance of transgenic plants against the brown planthopper. This study provides promoter resources for the development of insect-resistant transgenic crops.

The influence of insulin on diabetic retinopathy and retinal vessel parameters in diabetes

AimTo investigate the associations between insulin use and diabetic retinopathy (DR), and retinal vascular parameters in type 2 diabetes (T2DM).MethodsA total of 6,374 T2DM patients, consisting of 2,231 patients receiving insulin alone and 4143 patients without any hypoglycemic medication, were included in cross-sectional analyses. Among those without DR at baseline, 791 patients were followed for three years in longitudinal analyses. Fundus photography was taken to diagnose DR and calculate central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE), central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE), arteriolar-to-venular ratio (AVR), and vascular tortuosity. Inverse probability treatment-weighted analyses were performed.ResultsAfter adjusting for gender, age, body mass index, blood pressure, blood glucose, T2DM duration, smoking, and alcohol use, insulin users showed a higher risk of DR (odds ratio (OR) = 2.27, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 2.08–2.48, P < 0.001), larger CRVE (β = 3.92, 95%CI = 2.46–5.37, P < 0.001), smaller AVR (β=-0.0083, 95%CI=-0.0121- -0.0046, P < 0.001), and larger vascular curvature (β = 0.19, 95%CI = 0.05–0.33, P = 0.008). After 3 years, insulin users had a higher risk of developing DR (OR = 1.94; 95% CI = 1.37–2.73, P = 0.002), and greater change in CRVE (β = 3.92, 95%CI = 0.96–6.88, P = 0.009).ConclusionsThe impact of insulin on the retinal microvasculature provides support for linking insulin to the increased risk of DR, as well as cardiovascular events in T2DM.