Male Individuals Research Articles

The Effects of Classical Music on Pain and Spinal Mobility During Stretching Exercises in Healthy Individuals

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the immediate effects of listening to classical music as a cognitive relaxation technique during stretching exercises on trunk flexibility and exercise-induced pain. Method: This study was a randomized controlled trial in which 34 healthy male and female individuals aged between 18-22 years were divided into two groups: classical music listening group (n=17) and control group (n=17). Both groups performed static stretching exercises on the lumbal region and hamstring muscle groups for a total of 15 minutes. During the exercise, participants in the Classical Music Group listened to music with headphones. Control group did not listen to any music. Both groups underwent evaluation of their forward (Sit Reach Test) and lateral trunk flexibility (Trunk Lateral Flexion Test) before and after the exercise. Pain intensity during exercise was measured with Visual Analog Scale. Statistical analysis was performed using the R-Studio 1.4.1103 program, with a significance level of p<0.05. Results: In both groups, there was an increase in all flexibility values compared to before the stretching exercise (p<0.001). Classical Music Group demonstrated greater improvements in flexibility values compared to the Control Group, except for the forward flexibility of the trunk (p<0.05). The two groups had no significant difference in pain levels experienced during static stretching exercises (p>0.05). Conclusion: Performing stretching exercises while listening to classical music has been shown to increase the pain threshold. This decreased sensation of pain resulting from exercise can also lead to increased flexibility.

Exploitation and Application of a New Genetic Sex Marker Based on Intron Insertion Variation of erc2 Gene in Oplegnathus punctatus.

Spotted knifejaw (Oplegnathus punctatus), one of the most valuable mariculture species, grows with significant sexual dimorphism, with males growing significantly faster than females. O. punctatus not only has excellent growth characteristics and high food value, but also shows high economic value in aquaculture, which has become a hotspot in the field of aquaculture. The current insufficiency of sex marker identification in O. punctatus restricts the process of its unisexual breeding. Rapid identification of sex will help to study the mechanisms of sex determination and accelerate the development of sex-controlled breeding. With the completion of the sequencing of the male and female genomes of O. punctatus, the efficient and precise development of genetic sex markers has been made possible. In this study, we used genome-wide information combined with molecular biology techniques from marker sequences to further establish a rapid method for DNA insertion variant detection in the intron of O. punctatus erc2 gene, which can be used to rapidly, accurately, and efficiently identify whether DNA insertion occurs in the intron of O. punctatus erc2 gene to be detected, and to identify the sex of O. punctatus to be detected. It could also be distinguished by agarose gel electrophoresis, which would shorten the time for accurate identification and improves the detection efficiency. Homozygous comparison of male and female individuals showed that the length of the DNA fragment of the erc2 gene was 239bp on chromosome X1 and 1173bp on chromosome Y. It can therefore be inferred that a 934bp insertion fragment exists on the Y chromosome. The PCR amplification results showed that two DNA fragments of 1173bp and 239bp could be amplified in male O. punctatus, and the 1173bp fragment was a marker fragment specific to the variant intron erc2 gene, while only a single DNA fragment of 239bp was amplified in female O. punctatus. It has important significance and application value in the study of neurotransmitter transmission and environmental adaptability of female and male fish based on erc2 gene, as well as the identification of male and female sex, the preparation of high male fry, and family breeding.

Effects of Defatted Rice Bran-Fortified Bread on the Gut Microbiota Composition of Healthy Adults With Low Dietary Fiber Intake: Protocol for a Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial.

Inadequate dietary fiber (DF) intake is associated with several human diseases. Bread is commonly consumed, and its DF content can be increased by incorporating defatted rice bran (DRB). This first human study on DRB-fortified bread primarily aims to assess the effect of DRB-fortified bread on the relative abundance of a composite of key microbial genera and species in fecal samples. Secondary outcomes include clinical (cardiovascular risk profile), patient-reported (daily bread consumption and bowel movement, gut comfort, general well-being, and total DF intake), biological (fecal microbiota gene abundances, and fecal and plasma metabolites), and physiome (whole-gut and regional transit time and gas fermentation profiles) outcomes in healthy adults with low DF intake. This is a 2-armed, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, crossover randomized controlled trial. The study duration is 14 weeks: 2 weeks of lead-in, 4 weeks of intervention per phase, 2 weeks of washout, and 2 weeks of follow-up. Overall, 60 healthy adults with low DF intake (<18 g [female individuals] or <22 g [male individuals] per day) were recruited in Christchurch, New Zealand, between June and December 2022. Randomly assigned participants consumed 3 (female individuals) or 4 (male individuals) slices of DRB-fortified bread per day and then placebo bread, and vice versa. The DRB-fortified bread provided 8 g (female individuals) or 10.6 g (male individuals) of total DF, whereas the placebo (a matched commercial white toast bread) provided 2.7 g (female individuals) or 3.6 g (male individuals) of total DF. Before and after each intervention phase, participants provided fecal and blood samples to assess biological responses; completed a 3-day food diary to assess usual intakes and web-based questionnaires to assess gut comfort, general and mental well-being, daily bread intake, and bowel movement via an app; underwent anthropometry and blood pressure measurements; and drank blue food dye to assess whole-gut transit time. Additionally, 25% (15/60) of the participants ingested Atmo gas-sensing capsules to assess colonic gas fermentation profile and whole-gut and regional transit time. Mean differences from baseline will be compared between the DRB and placebo groups, as well as within groups (after the intervention vs baseline). For metabolome analyses, comparisons will be made within and between groups using postintervention values. Preliminary analysis included 56 participants (n=33, 59% female; n=23, 41% male). Due to the large dataset, data analysis was planned to be fully completed by the last quarter of 2024, with full results expected to be published in peer-reviewed journals by the end of 2024. This first human study offers insights into the prospect of consuming DRB-fortified bread to effectively modulate health-promoting gut microbes, their metabolism, and DF intake in healthy adults with low DF intake. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12622000884707; https://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=383814. DERR1-10.2196/59227.

Captive-raised western ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) with a bold personality have higher survival rates when released into the wild

We tested if the personality of captive-raised western ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus occidentalis), and the impact of other variables would influence their survival after release using radiotelemetry. We hypothesised a greater survival for individuals: (i) bold; (ii) habituated in advance to food collected from the release area; (iii) juveniles instead of adults, because more easily tolerated by wild individuals, and (iv) released in new dreys (nests) as they would not have the strong odour of old dreys and would be less attractive to foxes. After 3 months of radio tracking, out of 143 possums released, 79 died: 51 (64.6%) were preyed upon by European red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Bold or female individuals had higher survival rates than shy or male individuals (survival rate bold: 53%, shy: 41%, p = 0.046, hazard ratio = 0.352, 95% CI HR [0.126, 0.979]; survival rate females: 44%, males: 35%, p = 0.007, hazard ratio = 2.811, 95% CI HR [1.322, 5.976]). Shooting was a more effective fox control strategy to improve survival compared to baiting (p = 0.019, hazard ratio = 0.167, 95% CI HR [0.038, 0.742]). Our results demonstrate that the control of introduced predators is critical for the success of reintroductions of this critically endangered species.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF ACQUIRED SYPHILIS IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF BRAZIL FROM 2011 TO 2021

Sexually transmitted infections are among society&amp;#39;s most recurring public health dilemmas. Syphilis is aninfectious disease exclusive to humans, transmitted through unprepared sexual contact. It is estimated thatannually, 11 million new cases of syphilis occur in adults aged 15 to 49 years worldwide. The objective ofthe research was to identify the epidemiological profile of syphilis acquired in the states of the NorthernRegion of Brazil between the years 2011 and 2021. This is observational research with a quantitative andretrospective approach, with data collection from the SINAN available on DATASUS. Sociodemographicvariables were analyzed: sex, age, race, education level, and diagnostic criteria. It was found that between2011 and 2021, in the states of the Northern Region of Brazil, 50,810 cases of acquired syphilis werereported. The state of Amazonas had the highest notification rate with 18,709 (36.82%) cases, followed bythe state of Pará with 13,102 (25.79%) notifications and Tocantins with 6,728 (13.24%) reported cases. Theyear 2018 presented the highest incidence rate of the period, decreasing from 2019. Thus, the profile ofsyphilis acquired in the North Region was male individuals aged between 20 and 39 years, mixed race, withunknown education, and in relation to the diagnostic criteria, laboratory diagnosis presented the highest rateof notifications. In this way, the need to promote actions with the aim of clarifying sexual health and offeringeffective measures to combat syphilis in the most affected population is evident, as well as it is essential toreevaluate the mandatory fields for filling out the notification and investigation forms of the SINAN, as theyrepresent an essential source for determining health indicators.

Self-control as mediator and social support as moderator in stress-relapse dynamics of substance dependency

Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) present a significant challenge to global public health, with prolonged drug use not only impairing individual health but also hindering social development. Despite various interventions aimed at addressing drug abuse and dependence, a high relapse rate remains a prominent issue. In light of this, this study aims to explore the impact of perceived stress on the relapse of individuals with SUDs, as well as the mediating role of self-control and the moderating role of social support, in hopes of providing new perspectives for interventions to reduce the risk of relapse among individuals with SUDs. By utilizing a convenience sampling method, 420 male individuals with SUDs were recruited from detoxification centers in Guangxi, China. They completed questionnaires on perceived stress, self-control, social support, and tendencies towards relapse. A total of 401 valid datasets were obtained and analyzed using the SPSS Process plugin to conduct a moderated mediation model analysis. Results: (1) Perceived stress had a positive impact on the relapse of individuals with SUDs, (2) Self-control played a partial mediating role between perceived stress and the relapse, (3) The direct effect of perceived stress on the relapse and its first half of the indirect effect were moderated by social support. The research emphasize the critical importance of learning stress management strategies, enhancing self-control, and receiving comprehensive social support in the prevention and treatment of substance dependence. By strengthening self-control and social support as both internal and external resources, the likelihood of relapse among individuals with SUDs can be reduced, contributing to more effective and comprehensive drug rehabilitation strategies.

A clinical approach in the management of endodontic-periodontal lesions of endodontic origin: Two case reports with 2-year follow-up

Abstract The term “endodontic-periodontal” (endo-perio) lesions describe lesions with the involvement of pulpal tissues and the periodontium of a tooth. These cases regarding the diagnosis, management, and prognosis of teeth are challenging for the clinician. The aim of this article was to discuss two cases of endo-perio lesions in molars with large periapical radiolucencies. Two healthy male individuals came with a chief complaint of pain during chewing. During clinical examination, a deep periodontal pocket of 10 mm and 7 mm, respectively, was noticed in both cases, and large periapical radiolucencies extended to the apical region were confirmed by the intraoral periapical radiographs. Evaluation of the symptoms together with the clinical findings determined the diagnosis endo-perio lesion of endodontic origin and accordingly the decision for the management. The successful treatment outcome with the periodontal healing in both cases was observed soon 40 days after orthograde root canal treatment. Conservative endodontic therapy was the key to the healing of the periapical tissues in endo-perio lesions of endodontic origin. The clinical approach as well as the 2-year follow-up of those compromised endo-perio lesions showed that endodontic therapy resulted in the healing, whereas no periodontal therapy was performed and the initial decision-making was confirmed.

Preclinical Evaluation of a PSMA Aptamer-Based Bifunctional PET and Fluorescent Probe.

Prostate cancer is the most prevalent malignant tumor affecting male individuals worldwide. The accurate early detection of prostate cancer is crucial to preventing unnecessary diagnosis and subsequent excessive treatment. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) has emerged as a promising biomarker for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. In this study, a dual-modality imaging probe utilizing aptamer technology was developed for positron emission tomography/near-infrared fluorescence (PET/NIRF) imaging, and the specificity and sensitivity of the probe toward PSMA were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The probe precursor NOTA-PSMA-Cy5 was synthesized via automated solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis. Subsequently, the PET/NIRF dual-modality probe [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-PSMA-Cy5 was successfully prepared and exhibited favorable fluorescence properties and stability in vitro. The binding specificity of [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-PSMA-Cy5 to PSMA was assessed through flow cytometry, fluorescence imaging, and cellular uptake experiments in LNCaP cells and PC-3 cells. In vivo PET/NIRF imaging studies demonstrated the sensitive and specific binding of [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-PSMA-Cy5 to PSMA. Overall, the PET/NIRF dual-modality probe [68Ga]Ga-NOTA-PSMA-Cy5 shows promise for the diagnosis of prostate cancer and for the fluorescence-guided identification of PSMA-positive cancer lesions during surgical procedures.

Determinants of supraventricular extra beats in elite athletes practicing different sporting disciplines.

Supraventricular extra beats (SVEB) are frequently observed in athletes but data on significance, prognostic role and correlation with cardiac remodeling are contrasting. It is uncertain whether SVEB may indicate the development of more complex arrhythmias and the need for closer monitoring is undetermined. The aim was to assess the prevalence and clinical significance of BESV in Olympic athletes of different sporting disciplines, evaluating potential correlations with cardiac remodeling and clinical features. We enrolled athletes who participated at 2012-2022 Olympic Games, submitted to physical examination, blood tests, echocardiography and exercise tests, categorized into power, skills, endurance and mixed disciplines. We studied 1492 elite athletes: 56% male individuals, mean age 25.8 ± 5.1 years; 29.5% practiced power, 12.3% skills, 21% endurance and 37.2% mixed disciplines. At exercise-stress tests, 6.2% had SVEB, mostly single beats. SVEB were not influenced by anthropometrics or blood test results. They were more common in male individuals (77.4 vs. 54.6%, P < 0.0001) and older athletes (27.1 ± 5.7 vs. 25.7 ± 5.1, P = 0.01). In male athletes with SVEB, higher left atrial volumes were observed (24.2 ± 7.3 vs. 22.2 ± 7.1 ml/m2, P = 0.03). No differences were found in terms of sporting discipline: despite larger left atrial dimensions in aerobic disciplines, SVEB rates were similar in different sporting disciplines (6.1% endurance, 6.3% mixed, 5.2% power and 8.7% skills; P = 0.435). SVEB were more common in older, male athletes and associated with higher left atrial volume (especially in male individuals) regardless of sport practiced. Athletes with greater left atrial volume and SVEB are supposed to have higher risk, in middle age, of developing more complex arrhythmias.

The Impact of Exercise Order on Velocity Performance in the Bench Press and the Squat: A Comparative Study

We analyzed the influence of exercise order using the bench press and squat as the first or second exercise of the session on velocity performance. Ten male trained individuals (20.9 ± 0.7 years) randomly performed two protocols of three sets of six repetitions at 80% of their one-repetition maximum with different exercise sequences: the bench press followed by the squat (BP + S) and the squat followed by the bench press (S + BP). A linear velocity transducer attached to the Smith machine barbell measured the mean propulsive velocity (MPV), peak velocity (PV), and time to peak velocity. Additionally, blood lactate and heart rate were measured. Regarding the bench press, differences were found in the MPV in the first (BP + S: 0.50 ± 0.07 m·s−1 vs. S + BP: 0.42 ± 0.08 m·s−1; p = 0.03, g = 0.72) and second sets (0.50 ± 0.06 m·s−1 vs. 0.42 ± 0.07 m·s−1; p = 0.03, g = 0.73), and in the PV in the second set (0.74 ± 0.09 m·s−1 vs. 0.63 ± 0.09 m·s−1; p = 0.02, g = 0.86). Regarding the squat, although the S + BP sequence tended to show higher velocities, no significant differences were found between protocols. These results showed that squatting first decreased subsequent bench press velocity performance. On the other hand, squat velocity performance was not impaired when preceded by the bench press.

Multicomponent Support Program for Secondary Prevention of Stroke Using Digital Health Technology: Co-Design Study With People Living With Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack.

Few individuals (<2%) who experience a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) participate in secondary prevention lifestyle programs. Novel approaches that leverage digital health technology may provide a viable alternative to traditional interventions that support secondary prevention in people living with stroke or TIA. To be successful, these strategies should focus on user needs and preferences and be acceptable to clinicians and people living with stroke or TIA. This study aims to co-design, with people with lived experience of stroke or TIA (referred to as consumers) and clinicians, a multicomponent digital technology support program for secondary prevention of stroke. A consumer user needs survey (108 items) was distributed through the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry and the Stroke Association of Victoria. An invitation to a user needs survey (135 items) for clinicians was circulated via web-based professional forums and national organizations (eg, the Stroke Telehealth Community of Practice Microsoft Teams Channel) and the authors' research networks using Twitter (subsequently rebranded X, X Corp) and LinkedIn (LinkedIn Corp). Following the surveys, 2 rounds of user experience workshops (design and usability testing workshops) were completed with representatives from each end user group (consumers and clinicians). Feedback gathered after each round informed the final design of the digital health program. Overall, 112 consumers (male individuals: n=63, 56.3%) and 54 clinicians (female individuals: n=43, 80%) responded to the survey; all items were completed by 75.8% (n=85) of consumers and 78% (n=42) of clinicians. Most clinicians (46/49, 94%) indicated the importance of monitoring health and lifestyle measures more frequently than current practice, particularly physical activity, weight, and sleep. Most consumers (87/96, 90%) and clinicians (41/49, 84%) agreed that providing alerts about potential deterioration in an individual's condition were important functions for a digital program. Intention to use a digital program for stroke prevention and discussing the data collected during face-to-face consultations was high (consumers: 79/99, 80%; clinicians 36/42, 86%). In addition, 7 consumers (male individuals: n=5, 71%) and 9 clinicians (female individuals: n=6, 67%) took part in the user experience workshops. Participants endorsed using a digital health program to help consumers manage stroke or TIA and discussed preferred functions and health measures in a digital solution for secondary prevention of stroke. They also noted the need for a mobile app that is easy to use. Clinician feedback highlighted the need for a customizable clinician portal that captures individual consumer goals. Following an iterative co-design process, supported by evidence from user needs surveys and user experience workshops, a consumer-facing app that integrates wearable activity trackers and a clinician web portal were designed and developed to support secondary prevention of stroke. Feasibility testing is currently in progress to assess acceptability and use.

Development and validation of sex-linked molecular markers for rapid and accurate identification of male and female Hippophae tibetana plants

Hippophae tibetana, one of the highest-altitude woody plants endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, primarily thrives on riverbanks formed by glacial meltwater. As a dioecious species, it demonstrates significant ecological and economic value in extreme alpine environments. However, the lack of sex identification techniques outside of the flowering period severely limits research on sex ratio, differentiation, and breeding. There is an urgent need to develop effective sex-linked molecular markers that are independent of developmental stages, but current research in this area remains limited. This study developed a set of accurate sex-linked molecular markers for the rapid identification of male and female individuals of H. tibetana. Through whole-genome resequencing of 32 sexually differentiated H. tibetana samples, this study offers strong evidence supporting chromosome 2 as the sex chromosome and successfully identified key loci related to sex determination on this chromosome. Utilizing these loci, we, for the first time, developed three reliable pairs of sex-specific molecular markers, which exhibited high accuracy during validation across various geographic populations, offering an effective tool for the sex identification of H. tibetana. Additionally, this study lays the groundwork for further research into the mechanisms of sex determination and the evolution of sex chromosomes in H. tibetana.

A semen-specific deoxyribonucleic acid methylation model for epigenetic age estimation and its robustness under environmental challenges.

In forensic investigations, semen samples are a common form of biological evidence, especially in cases involving sexual assault. Therefore, accurately estimating the age of an individual is crucial in criminal cases. This study presents a novel age estimation model based on semen-specific CpG methylation patterns. A multiplex panel was developed, consisting of 12 CpG sites (PARP14, C5orf25, cg23488376, MXRA5, PFKFB3, DLL1, NOX4, cg12837463, TTC7B, KCNA7, NKX2-1, and SYNE4), which exhibit strong correlations with age. Additionally, this study investigates the resilience of these methylation markers under simulated environmental challenges. We collected ejaculate samples from a diverse cohort of 115 male individuals, aged 20-71 years, who underwent deoxyribonucleic acid extraction and bisulfite conversion. Methylation levels of the selected CpG sites were assessed using a SNaPshot assay, which revealed significant correlations with chronological age. We developed and validated two robust age estimation models through stepwise and enter regression analyses, achieving reliable accuracy with mean absolute errors ranging from 3.81 to 4.1 years. Additionally, the study also investigated the robustness of semen stains under diverse environmental conditions, including fabric type, washing, hematin exposure, and UV-C light. The selected methylation markers demonstrated remarkable resilience despite the challenges posed by washing procedures and environmental exposure, confirming their potential for age estimation in forensic genetics. This research presents successful age estimation models, emphasizing the strong correlations between methylation levels and chronological age. The proposed methodology's accuracy is affirmed through model validation on an independent test set, while also highlighting the resilience of semen stains on fabrics under varying storage and washing conditions.

A Compound Containing Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Relieves the Effects of Alcohol Consumption and Hangover Symptoms in Healthy Men: An Open-Labeled Comparative Study.

This open-labeled and comparative study aimed to test the efficacy and safety of a fermented rice extract-based substance containing yeast-fermented powder having aldehyde dehydrogenase (KisLip®, Pico Entech, Republic of Korea) in healthy male individuals. Healthy male subjects (n = 20) consumed 90 g of alcohol at their first visit. At the second visit, participants consumed 90 g of alcohol or alcohol with a low dose of KISLip® (2000 mg, KL-L) and then 90 g of alcohol or alcohol with a high dose of KISLip® (3000 mg, KL-H) at the third visit. The efficacy of KISLip® depends on the mutational status of important genes related to alcohol metabolism, including alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1B), cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1 (5B) and CYP2E1 (6)), and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2). KISLip® significantly reduced the highest level (Cmax) of alcohol and overall levels of acetaldehyde compared to the alcohol-only group in a dose-dependent manner. These significant effects of KISLip® on alcohol metabolism were observed independent of mutations in the four genes. In addition, hangover symptoms were significantly decreased in the KISLip® treated groups. During the study, the participants did not show any adverse events after KISLip® intake. This clinical study suggested that supplementation of KISLip® had beneficial effects on alcohol metabolism and might ameliorate the severity of hangovers without any adverse events.

Identifying clinically relevant agranulocytosis in people registered on the UK clozapine Central Non-Rechallenge Database: retrospective cohort study.

Clozapine is the most effective antipsychotic for treatment-resistant psychosis. However, clozapine is underutilised in part because of potential agranulocytosis. Accumulating evidence indicates that below-threshold haematological readings in isolation are not diagnostic of life-threatening clozapine-induced agranulocytosis (CIA). To examine the prevalence and timing of CIA using different diagnostic criteria and to explore demographic differences of CIA in patients registered on the UK Central Non-Rechallenge Database (CNRD). We analysed data of all patients registered on the UK Clozaril® Patient Monitoring Service Central Non-Rechallenge Database (at least one absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 1.5 × 109/L and/or white blood cell count < 3.0 × 109/L) between May 2000 and February 2021. We calculated prevalence rates of agranulocytosis using threshold-based and pattern-based criteria, stratified by demographic factors (gender, age and ethnicity). Differences in epidemiology based on rechallenge status and clozapine indication were explored. The proportion of patients who recorded agranulocytosis from a normal ANC was explored. Of the 3029 patients registered on the CNRD with 283 726 blood measurements, 593 (19.6%) were determined to have threshold-based agranulocytosis and 348 (11.4%) pattern-based agranulocytosis. In the total sample (75 533), the prevalence of threshold-based agranulocytosis and pattern-based agranulocytosis was 0.8% and 0.5%, respectively. The median time to threshold-based agranulocytosis was 32 weeks (IQR 184) and 15 (IQR 170) weeks for pattern-based agranulocytosis. Among age groups, the prevalence of pattern-based agranulocytosis and threshold-based agranulocytosis was highest in the >48 age group. Prevalence rates were greatest for White (18%) and male individuals (13%), and lowest for Black individuals (0.1%). The proportion of people who were determined to have pattern-based agranulocytosis without passing through neutropenia was 70%. Threshold-based definition of agranulocytosis may over-diagnose CIA. Monitoring schemes should take into consideration neutrophil patterns to correctly identify clinically relevant CIA. In marked contrast to previous studies, CIA occurred least in Black individuals and most in White individuals.

Novel Immunohistochemical and Morphological Approaches in a Retrospective Study of Post-Mortem Myocarditis.

Background and Objectives: This study presents a retrospective analysis of 26 autopsy cases from a single centre, primarily focusing on forensic cases, with a majority of male individuals. Materials and Methods: We systematically analysed autopsy reports and cardiac tissue slides using haematoxylin-eosin stain and immunohistochemistry for CD3, CD163, and IL-6. The histological assessment evaluated key variables such as inflammation severity, necrosis, and background changes using a standardised grading system. Quantitative analysis of immunohistochemical markers was performed, calculating the percentage of positively stained cells within the inflammatory infiltrate. Results: The average age was 51.6 years, slightly skewed towards older males. The fatalities varied widely, with sudden death and drug abuse being the most common conditions linked to myocarditis findings on histological examination. A strong correlation was found between the severity of inflammation (measured by size within a myocardium section) and the scoring system based on the number of inflammatory foci per section (p ≤ 0.001). Most cases showed mild to minimal fibrosis, with some exhibiting moderate to severe fibrosis, arteriosclerosis, and myocyte hypertrophy. The presence of protein CD3 in the inflammatory infiltrate revealed a moderate inverse correlation between the CD3 values and the severity of inflammation and necrosis, and a strong inverse correlation with neutrophil levels. CD3 levels were higher in sudden death cases and lower in cases with numerous inflammatory foci, highlighting the discreet nature of lymphocytic myocarditis. Macrophage presence, assessed using CD163, showed a moderate inverse correlation with neutrophil levels and significant differences between sudden death and non-sudden death cases. Macrophage-rich inflammation was observed in cases with pneumonia/bronchopneumonia-associated lesions. IL-6 expression showed a moderate direct correlation with inflammation severity (p = 0.028), severity of necrosis (p = 0.005), and the number of inflammatory foci per section (p = 0.047). A moderate inverse correlation was found between CD3 and IL-6 expression (p = 0.005). Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for a unique immunohistochemical approach in forensic cases of myocarditis, differing from guidelines for endomyocardial biopsies due to diverse inflammatory cells. The study suggests exploring inflammatory chemokines within myocarditis foci for their significance in clinical scenarios. Specifically, IL-6, a crucial pro-inflammatory interleukin, correlated significantly with the severity of inflammation and necrosis (p < 0.05). This study provides novel and valuable insights into the histopathological and immunological markers of myocarditis in autopsy cases.

Growth and Mortality Models of Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus; Peters, 1852) Wildly Enter Inside the Fish Farming Ponds in Tarakan City, North Kalimantan

Graphical Abstract Highlight Research The results of this research showed that allometric growth in males and females had negative allometric growth characteristics. The growth condition index in male and female fish is dominated by thin and fat body shapes.The maximum length growth (L∞) and growth speed of males is higher than that of females. Total mortality and fishing mortality for males is higher than for females, but natural mortality for females is higher than for males. The exploitation rate of males and females is in the Under-exploitation category because the E value is &lt;0.5. Abstract Exploring the length-weight relationship of fish and characterising growth parameters is essential in fisheries as they offer fundamental biology and population dynamics data to establish good management strategies for fisheries resources. This study examines the growth and mortality patterns of Oreochromis mossambicus. Data was collected between September and December 2022 using quantitative descriptive survey sampling. The study involved 20 repeats and deliberate random sampling of 30-50 fish per sample, emphasising total length, weight, and sex parameters. Based on 726 samples of O. mossambicus (352 fish identified as male and 374 fish identified as female). The growth model study revealed the typical negative allometric growth for both sexes (male and female). Male individuals attained a length of 33.449 cm after 37 days has a growth trend ± 0.3265 year-1, and females reached 21.150 cm in 34 days with a growth rate around 0.3135 year-1, as per the von Bertalanffy growth model. There were complex mortality patterns, with males contributing to most total deaths. This study emphasises the complex biology of tilapia and its untapped potential in the aquaculture pond system ecology in Tarakan.

Molecular and Phylogenetic Evidence of Interfamilial Transmission of HTLV-1 in the Afro-Descendant Community of São José de Icatú in the Brazilian Amazon.

This study aimed to describe the prevalence of HTLV-1/2 in quilombola communities in the state of Pará and investigate the possible sociodemographic risk factors associated with the infection, as well as to trace the occurrence of the familial transmission of the virus. A total of 310 individuals living in eight quilombos located in the state of Pará (northern Brazil) were investigated for the presence of anti-HTLV-1/2 antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and positive samples were confirmed using Western blot and/or real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Participants answered a questionnaire about sociodemographic aspects and risk factors for infection. Anti-HTLV-1/2 antibodies were detected in two individuals (one man and one woman), for an overall seroprevalence of 0.65%. Both individuals belonged to the community of São José de Icatú. The search for intrafamilial infection identified two other infected women, which increased the general prevalence of HTLV-1 among the Icatú to 6.25% (4/64). Western blot and qPCR confirmed their HTLV-1 infection, and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the isolates were of the cosmopolitan subtype and transcontinental subgroup. Epidemiological investigation of the cases revealed that the three women, at some point in their lives, had a relationship with the infected male individual. HTLV-1 is transmitted silently between individuals in the community of São José de Icatú with a present or past family relationship, stressing the need for screening and laboratory diagnosis to prevent further dissemination of the virus and surveillance of disease emergence.

Manual Inter-Structural Release Procedure Can Alter Muscle Shear Modulus.

Inter-structural release (ISR) procedure to skeletal muscles is believed to attenuate adhesion between neighboring muscles and alleviate subjective symptoms, including perceived stiffness and associated pain. However, objective evidence about the effect of ISR on the mechanical properties of the muscles is limited. The purpose of this study was to test the acute effect of ISR on the shear modulus of adjacent muscles. It was hypothesized that ISR applied to the border between synergistic muscles would acutely reduce the resting shear modulus of the involved muscle. To assess the effect of ISR, the shear modulus of the resting peroneus longus (PL) and soleus (SOL) muscles was measured at various ankle joint positions (inversion/eversion) before and after interventions in nine non-symptomatic male individuals (age: 21.9 ± 1.4 years, height: 170 ± 6.6 cm, body mass: 64.3 ± 4.0 kg). Potential muscle activity during the measurement was assessed by recording surface electromyogram from these muscles. The interventions were ISR to the lower leg between the deep fascia of the PL and SOL and sham (massage). As the ankle joint position was passively varied toward inversion, the shear modulus increased substantially in PL and decreased moderately in SOL. Shear modulus of the proximal PL in the most inverted position increased acutely after ISR (by 11.4 ± 5.8%, P < 0.001), but not after the sham, without any change in the amplitude of electromyogram. These results provide objective evidence that the ISR procedure can acutely alter shear modulus, at least in a specific site in a resting muscle.

Modeling and predicting meat yield and growth performance using morphological features of narrow-clawed crayfish with machine learning techniques

In recent studies, artificial intelligence and machine learning methods give higher accuracy than other prediction methods in large data sets with complex structures. Instead of statistical methods, artificial intelligence, and machine learning are used due to the difficulty of constructing mathematical models in multi-parameter and multivariate problems. In this study, predictions of length–weight relationships and meat productivity were generated by machine learning models using measurement data of male and female crayfish in the narrow-clawed crayfish population living in Apolyont Lake. The data set was created using the growth performance and morphometric characters from 1416 crayfish in different years to determine the length–weight relationship and length-meat yield. Statistical methods, artificial intelligence, and machine learning are used due to the difficulty of constructing mathematical models in multi-parameter and multivariate problems. The analysis results show that most models designed as an alternative to traditional estimation methods in future planning studies in sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, and natural sources management are valid for machine learning and artificial intelligence. Seven different machine learning algorithms were applied to the data set and the length–weight relationships and length-meat yields were evaluated for both male and female individuals. Support vector regression (SVR) has achieved the best prediction performance accuracy with 0.996 and 0.992 values for the length–weight of males and females, with 0.996 and 0.995 values for the length-meat yield of males and females. The results showed that the SVR outperforms the others for all scenarios regarding the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity metrics.