Inconclusive Findings Research Articles

Reconceptualising emotion dysregulation in the context of middle childhood: A scoping review of reviews

AbstractBackgroundRecent research has suggested that emotion dysregulation (ED) is a key mechanism which explains the associations between mental health illnesses, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and internalising problems, among youth. However, literature reviews have led to mixed and inconclusive findings on the conceptualisations of ED. Specifically, understanding ED in the context of middle childhood, otherwise known as ‘the forgotten years’, may be crucial, as it serves as a significant developmental stage, where children develop a sense of self and rationalise their emotions. This scoping review aims to address the present challenge of conceptualising ED during middle childhood.MethodsProQuest, PsycINFO, Scopus and Web of Science were searched in October 2024. Articles were included if ED and emotional dysregulation (including positive emotions) were conceptualised, if the paper was a review (i.e., scoping, literature, meta‐analysis etc), participants of the target age range (6–12‐year) were in the sample, and papers were in English. Studies were excluded if the sample included other age groups, such as infants and pre‐schoolers, alongside focussing on other phenomena, such as self‐regulation.ResultsThe current scoping review explored the conceptualisations drawn from research studies conducted in the United States, Germany, Austria, France, and Australia. 11 studies were included in this review and two key themes were extrapolated (a) issues with processing emotions (i.e., emotion generation/reactivity) and (b) issues with adopting appropriate emotion regulation strategies and the failure in doing so, leading to issues in attaining goal‐directed behaviours.ConclusionsThe findings support the importance of considering how ED should be measured, based on holistic perspectives of the mechanism, alongside clinical screening for emotional deficits at earlier stages of life.

Normative or Confirmative: Effects of Information Quality and Redundancy in Decision Support Systems.

The study investigates users' tendency to access decision support (DS) systems as a function of the correlation between the DS information and the information users already have, the ongoing interaction with such systems, and the effect of correlated information on subjective trust. Previous research has shown inconclusive findings regarding whether people prefer information that correlates with information they already have. Some studies conclude that individuals recognize the value of noncorrelated information, given its unique content, while others suggest that users favor correlated information as it aligns with existing evidence. The impact of the level of correlation on performance, subjective trust, and the decision to use DS remains unclear. In an experiment (N = 481), participants made classification decisions based on available information. They could also purchase additional DS with different degrees of correlation with the available information. Participants tended to purchase information more often when the DS was not correlated with the available information. Correlated information reduced performance, and the effect of correlation on subjective trust and performance depended on DS sensitivity. Additional information may not improve performance when it is correlated with available information (i.e., it is redundant). Hence, the benefits of additional information and DS depend on the information the system and the operator use. It is essential to analyze the correlations between information sources and design the available information to allow optimal task performance and possibly minimize redundancy (e.g., by locating sensors in different positions to capture independent data).

The effects of acupuncture on patients with premature ovarian insufficiency and polycystic ovary syndrome: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

BackgroundPrevious studies have suggested that acupuncture could improve the clinical outcomes of women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However recent meta-analyses have provided inconclusive findings. This umbrella meta-analysis aimed to explore the effect of acupuncture therapies on PCOS and POI outcomes.MethodsA systematic literature search was carried out in in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Chinese databases, including Wan Fang Data Knowledge Service Platform, CBM, CNKI, and VIP up until April 2024 to gather relevant studies. Inclusion criteria were meta-analyses on the effect of acupuncture or combined therapies with standard medications or traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) on PCOS and POI. The outcomes were pregnancy rates, ovulation rates, hormone levels, glycemic indices, resumption of menstruation, endometrial thickness, live birth rates, abortion rates, and body mass index (BMI). Studies with irrelevant interventions, animal studies, reviews without quantitative analysis, and studies with insufficient data were excluded. Standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and relative risk (RR) with a 95% CI were used as effect sizes to pool the data using a random effects model.ResultsA total of 38 meta-analyses, 20 studies (sample size: 27,106 patients) for PCOS and 18 studies (sample size: 19,098 patients) for POI, were included. Overall, in women with PCOS, acupuncture therapies were significantly associated with a higher pregnancy rate, ovulation rate, and reduced serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, LH/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), insulin resistance, and BMI. Moreover, FSH, fasting glucose, and fasting insulin levels were improved in subgroup analyses. For POI, acupuncture significantly improved serum levels of LH, FSH, LH/FSH ratio, and estradiol.ConclusionAcupuncture-related therapies improve pregnancy rate, and metabolic and hormonal imbalances in patients with POI and PCOS.Systematic review registrationThe protocol of the study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024572893). Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024572893.

Explaining the diversity in findings on derivatives uses and firm value: Insights from firms' commodity futures use

Empirical studies show mixed and inconclusive findings on the relationship between derivatives uses and firm value, with reasons remaining unclear. This paper addresses this issue by applying the enterprise discounted cash flow (DCF) model. Based on commodity futures uses in China's non-financial publicly listed companies, this paper shows that the use of commodity futures, either for the purpose of hedging or speculation, diminishes the firm value. Specifically, the hedging ones damage the operational portion of firm value through a modest decline in free cash flow—primarily attributable to a substantial increase in capital expenditure—and a relatively stable cost of capital. Conversely, the speculation ones harm the non-operating portion of firm value via a steep rise in the cost of capital and the investment gains. Our findings show that hedging and speculation derivatives impact different aspects of firm value through cash flow and cost of capital channels. These findings help to explain the diverse empirical findings on the relationship between derivatives and firm value.

Deliberative mini-publics as learning schools for democracy? Examining deliberation impact on dissatisfied and radical participants of a citizens’ assembly in Poland

ABSTRACT In a global context of democratic challenges such as dissatisfaction and social polarization, research on Western European democracies suggests that deliberative democracy instruments like deliberative mini-publics (DMPs) may provide a solution with their positive impact on participants’ attitudes towards politics and democracy. Despite the proliferation of citizens’ assemblies, especially locally, little is known about DMPs in newer democracies in Central and Eastern Europe, and it is uncertain whether the findings about the virtues of deliberation would hold. This study assesses the impact of a mini-public in Poland, focusing on the Citizens’ Assembly on Energy Poverty, the country's first national-level deliberative initiative. Poland has faced heightened political dissatisfaction due to eight years of right-wing populist governance and the rise of radical ideologies, raising questions about deliberation's impact on dissatisfied and radical participants. Our results confirm the positive impact of deliberation on participants, improving their percepetion of knowledge, political interest, efficacy, and support for mini-publics. However, we find no significant differences of deliberation between dissatisfied, radical participants, and other groups highlighting the universal benefits of deliberation. These inconclusive findings may be due to a common recruitment bias in DMPs, specifically enrolling politically engaged citizens, thus limiting the potential for a learning curve.

A Comprehensive Review of Advanced Diagnostic Techniques for Endometriosis: New Approaches to Improving Women's Well-Being.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), endometriosis affects roughly 10% (190 million) of reproductive-age women and girls in the world (2023). The diagnostic challenge in endometriosis lies in the limited value of clinical tools, making it crucial to address diagnostic complexities in patients with suggestive symptoms and inconclusive clinical or imaging findings. Saliva micro ribonucleic acid (miRNA) signature, nanotechnologies, and artificial intelligence (AI) have opened up new perspectives on endometriosis diagnosis. The aim of this article is to review innovations at the intersection of new technology and AI when diagnosing endometriosis. Aberrant epigenetic regulation, such as DNA methylation in endometriotic cells (ECs), is associated with the pathogenesis and development of endometriosis. By leveraging nano-sized sensors, biomarkers specific to endometriosis can be detected with high sensitivity and specificity. A chemotherapeutic agent with an LDL-like nano-emulsion targets rapidly dividing cells in patients with endometriosis. The developed sensor demonstrated effective carbohydrate antigen 19-9 detection within the normal physiological range. Researchers have developed magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles composed of iron oxide. As novel methods continue to emerge at the forefront of endometriosis diagnostic research, it becomes imperative to explore the impact of nanotechnology and AI on the development of innovative diagnostic solutions.

New Vistas for the Relationship between Empathy and Political Ideology.

The study of ideological asymmetries in empathy has consistently yielded inconclusive findings. Yet, until recently these inconsistencies relied exclusively on self-reports, which are known to be prone to biases and inaccuracies when evaluating empathy levels. Very recently, we reported ideological asymmetries in cognitive-affective empathy while relying on neuroimaging for the first time to address this question. In the present investigation which sampled a large cohort of human individuals from two distant countries and neuroimaging sites, we re-examine this question, but this time from the perspective of empathy to physical pain. The results are unambiguous at the neural and behavioral levels and showcase no asymmetry. This finding raises a novel premise: the question of whether empathy is ideologically asymmetrical depends on the targeted component of empathy (e.g., physical pain vs cognitive-affective) and requires explicit but also unobtrusive techniques for the measure of empathy. Moreover, the findings shed new light on another line of research investigating ideological (a)symmetries in physiological responses to vicarious pain, disgust, and threat.Significance Statement In this study, we challenge the historically inconclusive findings on ideological asymmetries in empathy. By employing neuroimaging techniques, we demonstrated that ideological asymmetry in physical pain empathy is absent. This research underscores the importance of considering various facets of empathy, societal contexts, and unbiased measurement methodologies, such as neuroimaging techniques, in the assessment of empathic responses.

Previously defined variants of uncertain significance may play an important role in epilepsy and interactions between certain variants may become pathogenic.

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder related to various etiologies, and the prevalence of active epilepsy is estimated to be between 4 and 10 per 1000 individuals having a significant role in genetic mutations. Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) panels are utilized for genetic testing, but a substantial proportion of the results remain uncertain and are not considered directly causative of epilepsy. This study aimed to reevaluate pediatric patients diagnosed with epilepsy who underwent genetic investigation using NGS panels, focusing on inconclusive variant findings or multiple variants of uncertain significance (VUSs). A subgroup of pediatric patients aged 0-25 years, diagnosed with epilepsy, who underwent genetic investigation with an NGS epilepsy panel at the Child Neurology Unit, The Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, between 2018 and 2022 through Invitae, was reevaluated. Patients with inconclusive variant findings or multiple VUSs in their test results were included. Genetic data were analyzed to identify potentially pathogenic variants and frequent genetic combinations. Two unrelated potentially pathogenic variants were identified in the SCN9A and QARS1 genes. A frequent genetic combination, RANBP2&RYR3, was also observed among other combinations. The RANBP2 gene consistently co-occurred with RYR3 variants in uncertain results, suggesting potential pathogenicity. Analysis of unaffected parents' data revealed certain combinations inherited from different parents, suggesting specific gene combinations as possible risk factors for the disease. This study highlights the importance of reevaluating genetic data from pediatric epilepsy patients with inconclusive variant findings or multiple VUSs. Identification of potentially pathogenic variants and frequent genetic combinations, such as RANBP2&RYR3, could aid in understanding the genetic basis of epilepsy and identifying potential hotspots. We have performed a retrospective analysis on a subpopulation of pediatric patients diagnosed with epilepsy. We found that specific genetic variants were repeatable, indicating their potential pathogenicity to the disease.

Beyond the threshold: Understanding the asymmetric effects of renewable energy on CO2 emissions

While renewable energy deployment is essential to mitigate climate change, the interplay between renewable energy consumption and environmental degradation may not be linear. The environmental aspect of renewable energy consumption may change over time, depending on the scale and technique effects. This may be due to asymmetry in the relationship. Nonetheless, most current literature either assumes linearity, or ignores the turning point of the behavioral change. This results in inconclusive empirical findings at the disaggregated level of renewable energy consumption. This paper utilizes threshold estimation technique to capture the asymmetry in the renewable energy-CO2 emissions relation in the top ten renewable energy consumers covering the period 1990–2020. The literature gap is addressed by deriving the threshold effect at the aggregate and disaggregated levels to prevent aggregation bias. Understanding the thresholds of different renewable energy sources would improve policy effectiveness and resource allocation at different consumption levels to better curb climate change. The threshold estimation technique measures total renewables, hydro, solar, wind, and others (bioenergy and geothermal) as threshold variables. The findings indicate that total renewables and solar consumptions have stronger mitigating effects on CO2 emissions beyond the consumption levels of 4363.37 and 43.58 kWh, respectively. The advantageous environmental effect of wind consumption only manifests above the consumption level of 657.40 kWh. For policy implication, this study recommends an increase in the weightage of renewables in the energy mix by formulating energy-specific policies, in order to optimize the environmental benefits of renewable energy adoption.

Fast or slow? A meta-analysis on the performance implications of decision, implementation, and response speed

Speed across various organizational processes, such as decision-making, executing operational activities, and responding to competitive challenges, represents an essential component of firms’ ability to achieve a competitive advantage. However, a theoretical and empirical consensus has yet to form whether decision speed (DS), implementation speed (IS), and response speed (RS) are beneficial or detrimental to firm performance. To help reconcile these inconclusive findings, we meta-analyze 127 studies (representing 239 effect sizes) and report overall direct effects for DS (0.21), IS (0.22), and RS (0.10) on firm performance. In addition, we examine contingencies which reveal that the performance consequences of DS, IS, and RS vary across contextual and methodological conditions.

Prevalence and Determinants of Scabies Among Schoolchildren in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

In deprived and poor communities worldwide, scabies remains an overlooked tropical disease. Numerous individual studies have been conducted in Ethiopia on this issue, demonstrating notable disparities and inconclusive findings. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to establish Ethiopia's pooled scabies prevalence and determinants among schoolchildren. Studies were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online through a systematic search. The Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tool was employed to assess the quality of observational studies (cross-sectional and case-control). The meta-analysis was performed using Stata software version 14 and its metan command. A forest plot was used with a random effects model to calculate the pooled prevalence and its 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were employed to evaluate potential sources of heterogeneity. The funnel plot and Egger's test were used to evaluate publication bias, while heterogeneity was assessed using inverse variance (I 2). In this systematic review and meta-analysis, 14.71% (733/5104) of schoolchildren had scabies, with a 95% CI of 8.90%-20.52%. The highest prevalence is recorded in the Amhara region (17.09%; 95% CI: 2.15-32.04), and the lower prevalence is seen in the Oromia region (12.52%; 95% CI: 10.08-14.95). Children sharing clothes with scabies cases, using common sleeping beds/fomites, having a family history of scabies, and having illiterate parents are significantly associated with scabies among Ethiopian schoolchildren (based on adjusted odds ratios: 7.07; 95% CI: 1.55-12.59, 2.13; 95% CI: 0.04-4.22, 1.45; 95% CI: 0.35-3.94, 1.42; 95% CI: 0.94-0.89). The current prevalence of scabies ranges from 12.52% to 17.09% and is higher in the Amhara region. The national policymakers and health planners should prioritize implementing prevention and control measures of scabies among schoolchildren through ivermectin-based mass drug administration for three to five rounds annually until the prevalence is less than 2%.

Migration and neighbourhood trust: Evidence from urban China

Neighbourhood outcomes of migration have drawn considerable scholarly attention. Previous studies consider neighbourhood trust an indicator of social integration or social resources, revealing inconclusive findings regarding the effects of migration. Unlike previous studies, we view neighbourhood trust as a lifestyle feature. Combining urbanism theory and a typology of trust, we argue that migration causes a reduction in migrants’ neighbourhood trust through the assimilation of the urbanism lifestyle. We provide nationwide empirical evidence of the causal relationship between migration and neighbourhood trust and reveal the underlying mechanism. Our study identifies this relationship in urban China by applying a difference-in-differences empirical strategy and using the China Family Panel Survey. The results show that migration lowers neighbourhood trust levels by 0.473 from a sample mean of 6.692. We find that the declining effect is greater for rural–urban migrants than for within-urban migrants, and it is greater for rural–urban migrants who acquire urban hukou than for those who do not. We also show that rural–urban migration leads to an increase in trust in strangers. Together, these results support our hypothesis that the assimilation of the urbanism lifestyle is a critical mechanism through which migration undermines neighbourhood trust.

Feminism, Femininity, and Negative Embodiment: A Contemporary Meta-Analytic Test

AbstractPrevious work has examined the relations between feminism, feminine gender roles, and body image concerns with inconclusive findings. The purpose of this study was to conduct an updated meta-analysis of the relation between feminist identity and negative embodiment, and to conduct new analyses to test how endorsement of femininity relates to negative embodiment. Through the technique of meta-analysis, we analyzed 80 studies (87 samples, N = 24,308) and 217 effect sizes to examine these associations. The predictor variables were measures of feminist identity and endorsement of femininity. The negative embodiment criterion variables were measures of body dissatisfaction, self-objectification, internalization of cultural body ideals, and disordered eating attitudes. Feminist identity was found to be negatively associated with negative embodiment, but only modestly, with small but significant effect sizes across most variables. Endorsement of femininity was found to be positively associated with negative embodiment, with mostly significant effect sizes ranging from small to large. These findings underscore the importance of considering the roles of feminist identity and traditional gender ideology in the etiology and prevention of women’s experiences of negative embodiment.

The effect of blended tube feeding compared to conventional formula on clinical outcomes in adults: A systematic review.

To explore the effect of blended tube feeding compared to conventional formulas on nutritional status, quality of life, anthropometry, diarrhoea and tube blockages in adults receiving tube feeding. The protocol was registered (PROSPERO CRD42022372443). Five databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, CENTRAL) were searched from commencement of database to 14th June 2023 to identify studies comparing blended tube feeding to conventional formulas in adults receiving tube feeding. Certainty assessment was conducted using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tools and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations framework, and a narrative synthesis of results is provided. From 4227 studies screened, eight were included (total n = 763 patients, 9-215 patients). Three studies were hospital-based and five were home-based with duration from 8 days-8 months. Blended tube feeding and conventional formulas were nutritionally equivalent in only three studies; energy and protein concentration of formulas ranged from 1.7-7.1 kJ/mL and 21-68.5 g/L for the blended tube feeding groups, and 4.2-6.7 kJ/mL and 39-100 g/L for the conventional groups. No studies assessed nutrition status or quality of life using validated measures. Blended tube feeding was associated with a clinically relevant reduction in diarrhoea with a low level of certainty. For remaining outcomes, there were inconclusive findings and an overall very low certainty of evidence for each. The effect of blended tube feeding compared to conventional formulas on all outcomes remains uncertain. Blended tube feeding may reduce the incidence of diarrhoea. Future research using nutritionally equivalent comparisons and validated outcome measures is required.

Filling in the missing pieces: Personality traits (un)related to dishonest behavior

Despite notable progress in the study of dishonest behavior and in particular the identification of personality traits (most notably, Honesty-Humility) that are robust predictors of individual differences in dishonesty, prior research has also left several traits untested or yielded inconsistent or inconclusive findings for other traits. We herein provide corresponding evidence, testing the associations between dishonesty and six operationalizations of Big Five Agreeableness, the dark tetrad traits, impression management and lie scales, and self-control versus impulsivity. We relied on a large dataset ( N = 1,916) across two incentivized measurements of dishonesty (separated by about 5 weeks) and tailored hierarchical modeling, and preregistered all hypotheses prior to data analysis. As expected, neither impression management and lie scales nor self-control versus impulsivity were related to dishonesty. By contrast, dark tetrad traits were consistently associated with dishonesty, though almost entirely due to their shared aversive core, the dark factor of personality. Finally, several (but not all) operationalizations of Big Five Agreeableness were associated with dishonesty, but none explained incremental variance above Honesty-Humility whereas the opposite was always the case. We discuss the implications of these findings for recent controversies about basic personality structure, the question of theoretical parsimony, and the dangers of jingle-fallacies.

Dementia and Cognitive Decline: A HEALM Approach.

Dementia and cognitive decline pose significant global public health challenges, with prevalence expected to rise in the coming decades. Lifestyle medicine offers a promising approach to mitigating cognitive issues through six key interventions: diet, physical activity, restorative sleep, social connections, stress management, and avoiding risky substances. Traditional methods like randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have limitations in capturing the long-term impacts of these interventions. To overcome these challenges, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) and the True Health Initiative (THI) developed the Hierarchies of Evidence Applied to Lifestyle Medicine (HEALM) framework, informed by the Evidence Threshold Pathway Mapping (ETPM) approach. This framework integrates diverse evidence sources to assess intervention effects over time. Applying HEALM, this review evaluates lifestyle factors' impact on dementia and cognitive decline. It finds strong evidence supporting plant-based nutrition, physical activity, restorative sleep, and avoiding risky substances in promoting cognitive health. Social connections may mitigate cognitive decline, while stress management requires further investigation due to inconclusive findings. Integrating these findings into public health strategies could effectively address the growing dementia burden and enhance overall well-being in aging populations, underscoring the need for continued research in cognitive health.

Contrast enhanced mammography (CEM) guided biopsy using a prone table: A retrospective analysis of the preliminary experience in a single CEM referral center

BackgroundThis study evaluates the procedural efficacy and patient experience of Contrast Enhanced Mammography (CEM)-guided biopsies performed in a prone position using the Giotto Class 30,000 system. The emphasis is on the procedural advantages and clinical outcomes for “enhancing-only lesions” (EOLs). MethodsA retrospective analysis of 524 CEM examinations conducted from December 2023 to June 2024 at a tertiary referral center was performed. Patients referred for pre-surgical staging or evaluation of inconclusive findings from conventional imaging were included. The study utilized dual-energy imaging and vacuum-assisted biopsy techniques, focusing on patients with at least one EOL identified in their initial CEM. Exclusions were based on the absence of a primary or follow-up CEM conducted at our facility Endpoints of this work included procedure efficiency which was evaluated in terms of technical success (biopsy completion with adequate sampling), dose distribution and timing and detection of additional lesions and patients’ comfort evaluation, based on the rate of complications (hematomas) and procedure interruption due to patients’ specific request or fainting events. ResultsAmong the evaluated cases, 37 EOLs were biopsied. The average procedure time was 15.8 min. Biopsies were successfully completed in 100% of cases. However, complications occurred in 27% of cases, primarily as hematomas and a significant histological finding rate of 97.3% was recorded. ConclusionsThe use of the Giotto Class 30,000 system for CEM-guided biopsies in a prone position demonstrated high procedural success and was well-tolerated by patients, highlighting its potential to enhance procedural comfort and efficiency. These preliminary results validate the innovative approach, though further studies are required to solidify these findings and explore long-term outcomes.

Golden-angle radial sparse parallel (GRASP) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for endoleak evaluation after endovascular repair of the aorta: a prospective comparison to conventional time-resolved MRA.

Time-resolved angiography with interleaved stochastic trajectories (TWIST) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) may obscure smaller vessels and is highly susceptibility to motion artifacts, potentially reducing endoleak detection accuracy after endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). The novel golden-angle radial sparse parallel (GRASP) sequence enhances spatial and temporal resolution with continuous, motion-robust datasets, showing promise for accurate endoleak detection post-EVAR. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic effectiveness of contrast-enhanced compressed-sensing radial GRASP-volume interpolated breath-hold examination (VIBE) sequence with standard contrast-enhanced dynamic TWIST-VIBE sequence in patients with inconclusive computed tomography angiography (CTA) findings regarding endoleak after EVAR. This single-center prospective study consecutively enrolled adults with inconclusive findings regarding the presence or type of endoleak in multiphasic CTA following EVAR for abdominal aortic aneurysms. Participants underwent contrast-enhanced MRA, acquiring dynamic TWIST-VIBE and GRASP-VIBE sequences. Two independent radiologists assessed the datasets for image quality, diagnostic confidence, and the presence and type of endoleak. Additionally, quantitative assessments with signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) were performed. Statistical analyses included interrater and intermethod agreement, and diagnostic performance testing. Twenty participants (mean age, 72±9 years; 13 males) were included. GRASP-VIBE demonstrated superior image quality over TWIST-VIBE sequence with predominantly absent motion artifacts and increased diagnostic confidence (all P<0.001). Diagnostic performance significantly improved for detecting type II endoleaks in GRASP-VIBE compared to TWIST-VIBE scans [area under the curve (AUC): 0.96 vs. 0.73; P=0.04]. Diagnostic accuracy improved with GRASP-VIBE for overall (AUC: 0.94 vs. 0.79) and endoleak type I detection (AUC: 1.0 vs. 0.90), however, not significantly (P≥0.05). TWIST-VIBE sequences demonstrated significantly higher SNR for measurements in the clotted aneurysm sac (P=0.01). No significant differences were observed in CNR for the aorta and any aneurysm sacs across the compared imaging sequences. Compressed-sensing dynamic GRASP-VIBE sequence, with its superior image quality, diagnostic confidence, and performance, may be preferred over standard TWIST-VIBE sequence in inconclusive endoleak cases.

Effects of soy on fertility: Current evidence and controversies

The impact of soy consumption on fertility has been a subject of ongoing debate. Soy contains phytoestrogens such as isoflavones, which have a chemical structure similar to estrogen and can bind to estrogen receptors in the body, influencing fertility outcomes. Animal studies have demonstrated that high soy or isoflavone levels may disrupt the hormonal balance and negatively affect fertility. However, human studies have reported conflicting results, with some indicating no association and others showing a strong association between soy consumption and infertility. Variability in study designs, populations, lack of randomized controlled trials, inadequate understanding of the underlying mechanisms, and dietary intake assessment methods contribute to inconclusive findings. While some studies have suggested potential concerns about soy and fertility, the overall evidence remains inconclusive, and further research is required to elucidate this complex relationship. Personalized advice from healthcare professionals remains optimal for individuals with fertility issues.

Prenatal exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and sex-specific associations with offspring adiposity at 10 years of age: Metabolic perturbation plays a role

BackgroundPer- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been suspected as potential environmental obesogens, with several mechanisms being proposed, including the role of metabolomics. However, current epidemiological studies have yielded inconclusive findings. ObjectivesWe aimed to estimate the associations of prenatal exposure to PFAS with offspring adiposity measures, and to explore the potential metabolic pathways underlying these associations. MethodsA total of 464 mother–child pairs from the Sheyang Mini Birth Cohort Study (SMBCS) were included in this study. Cord serum concentrations of 12 PFAS and urine metabolite profiles at age 10 were obtained from the SMBCS database. Adiposity-related anthropometric measurements and body composition estimates of children aged 10 were used to assess offspring obesity. Multiple linear regression models and quantile g-computation were conducted to estimate the associations of prenatal exposure to individual and multiple PFAS with obesity at 10 years old. Metabolomics analysis was performed to characterize the biological pathways associated with PFAS exposure or obesity, subsequently identifying the overlapping metabolic pathways underlying the PFAS-obesity relationship. ResultsPrenatal exposure to several PFAS was significantly associated with elevated obesity-related markers in 10-year-old children. After stratification by sex, the effects were more pronounced in girls. Quantile g-computation results indicated that exposure to higher levels of PFAS mixtures during pregnancy was associated with increased odds of obesity in girls, with PFNA emerging as the predominant driving compound. Untargeted metabolomics results showed that several amino acid metabolic pathways were characterized as the overlapping pathways underlying the above associations. ConclusionsTaken together, our findings suggested the potential obesogenic effects of prenatal exposure to PFAS and offered insight into the possible metabolic mechanisms underlying PFAS-related offspring obesity.