Inverse Correlation Research Articles

Relationship between Physical Activity, Physical Literacy Elements, and Gender among Senior Students

The aim of research is to assess the relationship between physical activity, Physical Literacy (PL) and gender among senior students. The research was conducted in 2022 in Lithuania with five city schools. Research participants were selected using a convenience sampling method: grade 10 to 12 (n=287) students 148 boys and 139 girls. A questionnaire survey was used for data collection: Portuguese Physical Literacy Questionnaire for Adolescents (PPLA-Q) to assess the psychological domain of PL (motivation, self-confidence, emotional and physical regulation); Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA) Questionnaire - RAPA1 part, which allows to assess the level of physical activity. After analysing the psychological aspects of PL related to physical activity by gender, the obtained results suggest that boys’ motivation for physical activity, self-confidence, emotional stability, assessment of physical limits score higher compared to the group of girls (p<0.01). PA motivation has a strong positive correlation with self-confidence (p<0.01) and a moderate correlation with physical regulation (p<0.01). Physical regulation has statistically significantly correlated with self-confidence (p<0.01) and better emotional regulation (p<0.01). Statistically significant differences by gender were found with all indicators of the psychological domain: PA motivation, self-confidence, emotional regulation, and physical regulation. Mean ranks of boys were higher in all variables; however, the major differences were found in the areas of self-confidence and physical regulation. PA had a direct correlation with all psychological PL elements (PA motivation, self-confidence, emotional regulation, physical regulation) and an inverse correlation with gender.

Diagnostic Approaches of Palatogingival Groove: A Systematic Review

Palatogingival Grooves (PGG) constitute developmental anatomical irregularities primarily situated along the palatal aspects of the roots of maxillary incisors. Literature is sparse on diagnostic approaches of PGG. Our study aimed to alleviate clinicians the process of recognizing anomaly. Systematic electronic searches of scientific literature without publication date or language restriction were undertaken in 2023.11.03 research was conducted in PubMed, Willey Online Library, Science Direct and Medline Ovid. Using specific keywords 54 articles with 67 cases were included in our study according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Pre-made Cochrane data extraction templates were used for frequency evaluation, nonparametric Spearman’s, Kendall rank correlation coefficients, Mann-Whitney U Test and Odds ratio was assessed by statistic to evaluate significant correlations. Most quantitively expressed symptoms of PGG included increased tooth mobility, appearance of purulent discharge, sinus tract and periodontal pocket with an average mean of 9,14 ± 2,30 mm along with painful vertical per-cussion. However, statistical assessment showed inverse correlation between in-creased mobility and painful percussion. Furthermore, quantitively, deeper perio-dontal pockets were accompanied by more prominent gingival alterations, however only one opposing significant correlation was noted between the depth of per-iodontal pocket and existence of additional root. Frequency evaluation revealed that IPR was the main diagnostic tool used in majority of cases. Deeper periodontal pocket was assessed by conjunction of two or three tools. CBCT was used most with deeper periodontal pocket averaging 9,75 ± 1,02 mm. In conclusion, quantita-tive data suggest that periodontal pockets averaging 9,14 ± 2,30 mm, I or II-degree mobility, painful percussion and purulent discharge are the main PGG characteristics, with sparce significant correlations between them. IPR was noted as the main roentgenological modality as should be used firstly when suspecting PGG, yet both quantitative and statistical data suggest that CBCT is ought to be used to alleviate the assessment.

Main etiological factors and comorbid pathology in severe cerebral palsy

Introduction The largest number of factors contributing to the development of cerebral palsy (CP) relate to the pre- and intranatal periods. Premature birth and low birth weight are the most important predictors of cerebral palsy and are associated with persistent brain and motor disorders. Purpose To evaluate the main etiological factors of severe cerebral palsy and comorbid pathology in children with severe motor disorders.Material and methods A retrospective observational study included 170 patients with severe forms of cerebral palsy, divided into two groups (85 subjects each) depending on motor disorders: GMFCS IV, GMFCS V. Perinatal risk factors for severe cerebral palsy were assessed, correlations between perinatal risk factors for expressed movement disorders and height/weight indicators, comorbid pathology in children at the time of admission to the trauma and orthopaedic hospital.Results Prenatal risk factors were responsible for the development of cerebral palsy in children in 71 % of cases. In the GMFCS IV group, gestational age had an inverse correlation with preterm birth (R = –0.53; R2 = 28 %). In the GMFCS V group, disorders caused by a shorter gestational age were interrelated with the duration of the antenatal period (R = –0.79; R2 = 62 %), and also directly correlated with delivery by cesarean section (R = 0.58; R2 = 34 %). Among the comorbid pathologies, eye diseases and psychological development disorders were most often detected.Discussion Low height/weight parameters of patients were due to comorbid pathology, rather than phenotypic constitutional features. Inverse correlation between the disorders caused by the gestational age, low birth weight and duration of pregnancy, risk of developing respiratory disorders, and a direct correlation with cesarean section seem logical. Severe conmobid diseases were more frequently diagnosed in patients with GMFCS V, indicating more extensive perinatal catastrophes in the central nervous system and the relationship between the developed pathology and severe motor disorders.Conclusions The main risk factors for the development of cerebral palsy in patients with severe GMFCS IV–V motor impairments are associated with the pre- and intranatal periods. Comorbid pathology of patients with severe forms of cerebral palsy is caused by severe brain damage and movement disorders that have developed against this background.

Microvascular alterations of the ocular surface and retina in connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease.

To examine the disparities in macular retinal vascular density between individuals with connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) and healthy controls (HCs) by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and to investigate the changes in microvascular density in abnormal eyes. For a retrospective case-control study, a total of 16 patients (32 eyes) diagnosed with CTD-ILD were selected as the ILD group. The 16 healthy volunteers with 32 eyes, matched in terms of age and sex with the patients, were recruited as control group. The macular retina's superficial retinal layer (SRL) and deep retinal layer (DRL) were examined and scanned using OCTA in each individual eye. The densities of retinal microvascular (MIR), macrovascular (MAR), and total microvascular (TMI) were calculated and compared. Changes in retinal vascular density in the macular region were analyzed using three different segmentation methods: central annuli segmentation method (C1-C6), hemispheric segmentation method [uperior right (SR), superior left (SL), inferior left (IL), and inferior right (IR)], and Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) methods [superior (S), inferior (I), left (L), and right (R)]. The data were analyzed using Version 9.0 of GraphPad prism and Pearson analysis. The OCTA data demonstrated a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) in macular retinal microvessel density between the two groups. Specifically, in the SRL and DRL analyses, the ILD group exhibited significantly lower surface density of MIR and TMI compared to the HCs group (P<0.05). Furthermore, using the hemispheric segmentation method, the ILD group showed notable reductions in SL, SR, and IL in the superficial retina (P<0.05), as well as marked decreases in SL and IR in the deep retina (P<0.05). Similarly, when employing the ETDRS method, the ILD group displayed substantial drops in superficial retinal S and I (P<0.05), along with notable reductions in deep retinal L, I, and R (P<0.05). In the central annuli segmentation method, the ILD group exhibited a significant decrease in the superficial retinal C2-4 region (P<0.05), whereas the deep retina showed a notable reduction in the C3-5 region (P<0.05). Additionally, there was an observed higher positive likelihood ratio in the superficial SR region and deep MIR. Furthermore, there was a negative correlation between conjunctival vascular density and both deep and superficial retinal TMI (P<0.001). Patients with CTD-ILD exhibits a significantly higher conjunctival vascular density compared to the HCs group. Conversely, their fundus retinal microvascular density is significantly lower. Furthermore, CTD-ILD patients display notably lower superficial and deep retinal vascular density in comparison to the HCs group. The inverse correlation between conjunctival vascular density and both superficial and deep retinal TMI suggests that detecting subtle changes in ocular microcirculation could potentially serve as an early diagnostic indicator for connective tissue diseases, thereby enhancing disease management.

CircRNA_SLC8A1 alleviates hypertrophic scar progression by mediating the Nrf2-ARE pathway.

Hypertrophic scar (HS) is associated with cosmetic defects, mobility, and functional impairments, pruritus, and pain. Previous circRNA microarray analysis identified reduced expression of circRNA_SLC8A1 in HS tissues. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the role of circRNA_SLC8A1 in modulating the abnormal behavior of HS-derived fibroblasts (HSFs) in vitro. RT-qPCR and FISH assays were used to assess the differential expression and localization of circRNA_SLC8A1 in normal and HS tissues. Following modulation of circRNA_SLC8A1 expression, CCK-8, flow cytometry, Transwell, and wound healing assays were employed to evaluate the effects of circRNA_SLC8A1 on the biological behaviors of HSFs. The Starbase database, dual-luciferase reporter assays, and Ago2-RIP assays were utilized to predict and validate the interaction between circRNA_SLC8A1 and downstream miRNAs. CircRNA_SLC8A1 was found to be downregulated in HS tissues and was primarily localized in the cytoplasm. Overexpression of circRNA_SLC8A1 reduced cell viability, cell invasion, wound healing, and the expression of Vimentin, N-cadherin, Col I, and Col III, while enhancing apoptosis and E-cadherin expression in HSFs. CircRNA_SLC8A1 activates the Nrf2-ARE pathway by competitively binding to miRNA-27a-3p. miRNA-27a-3p and Nrf2 exhibited high and low expression, respectively in HS tissues, with an inverse correlation between their levels. Overexpression of miRNA-27a-3p counteracted the effects of circRNA_SLC8A1 in HSF proliferation, apoptosis, migration, EMT, collagen deposition, and Nrf2-ARE pathway activity. CircRNA_SLC8A1 inhibits the proliferation, migration, EMT, and collagen deposition of HSF through competitive binding with miRNA-27a-3p, thereby activating the Nrf2-ARE pathway. The circRNA_SLC8A1/miRNA-27a-3p/Nrf2-ARE axis may offer a promising molecular target for HS therapy.

Assessing well-being of university students and evaluation of its determinants

BackgroundOur study aimed to examine the well-being of students studying at the three (non-medical) faculties of Semmelweis University Budapest, to analyse the relationships between well-being, stress, emotional support, sleep patterns, sport, and further variables like smoking, consumption of sleeping pills, sedatives, psychoactive agents, energy drinks, and exam anxiety.MethodsIn our cross-sectional study, we asked 561 students of the Semmelweis University of Budapest; two internationally recognised instruments were used: the WHO-5 well-being index and the Perceived Stress Scale.ResultsThe mean WHO-5 well-being index was 42.62 ± 20.51 on a scale ranging from 0 to 100. We saw an inverse correlation between student well-being and years of study. The average anxiety level regarding oral exams and assessments was 7.63 ± SD = 2.04, while the mean level was lower concerning written exams and assessments 5.74 ± SD = 2.09. The result of a linear regression model indicates that the best level of explaining power by the regression model was with following variables combination: grade average + anxiety before written exam + academic year + stress.ConclusionOur data indicate that some students have poor or very poor well-being, which fluctuates over the study period. The worst state was found in the first and final academic year. The students’ well-being level is positively correlated with emotional support, physical activity, and quality of sleep and correlates negatively with anxiety before exams. Our results suggest that well-being could be improved when universities play an active role, supporting influential activities and offering help regarding coping with stress, like stress management, as well as by providing information on learning methods and techniques.

The corticospinal tract in multiple sclerosis: correlation between cortical excitability and magnetic resonance imaging measures.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system disease involving gray and white matters. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could help identify potential markers of disease evolution, disability, and treatment response. This work evaluates the relationship between intracortical inhibition and facilitation, motor cortex lesions, and corticospinal tract (CST) integrity. Consecutive adult patients with progressive MS were included. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. MRI was acquired to assess primary motor cortex lesions (double inversion and phase-sensitive inversion recovery) and CST integrity (diffusion tensor imaging). TMS outcomes were obtained: motor evoked potentials (MEP) latency, resting motor threshold, short-interval intracortical facilitation (ICF) and inhibition. Correlation analysis was performed. Twenty-five patients completed the study (13 females, age: 55.60 ± 11.49 years, Expanded Disability Status Score: 6.00 ± 1.25). Inverse correlations were found between ICF mean and each of CST radial diffusivity (RD) (ρ =-0.56; p < 0.01), CST apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) (ρ=-0.44; p = 0.03), and disease duration (ρ=-0.46; p = 0.02). MEP latencies were directly correlated with disability scores (ρ = 0.55; p < 0.01). High ADC/RD and low ICF have been previously reported in patients with MS. While the former could reflect structural damage of the CST, the latter could hint towards an aberrant synaptic transmission as well as a depletion of facilitatory compensatory mechanisms that helps overcoming functional decline. The findings suggest concomitant structural and functional abnormalities at later disease stages that would be accompanied with a heightened disability. The results should be interpreted with caution mainly because of the small sample size that precludes further comparisons (e.g., treated vs. untreated patients, primary vs. secondary progressive MS). The role of these outcomes as potential MS biomarkers merit to be further explored.

An analysis of RNA quality metrics in human brain tissue.

Human brain tissue studies have historically used a range of metrics to assess RNA quality. However, few large-scale cross-comparisons of pre-sequencing quality metrics with RNA-seq quality have been published. Here, we analyze how well metrics gathered before RNA sequencing (post-mortem interval (PMI) and RNA integrity number RIN) relate to analyses of RNA quality after sequencing (Percent of counts in Top Ten genes (PTT), 5' bias, and 3' bias) as well as with individual gene counts across the transcriptome. We conduct this analysis across four different human cortical brain tissue collections sequenced with varying library preparation protocols. PMI and RIN have a low inverse correlation, and both PMI and RIN show consistent and opposing correlations with PTT. Unlike PMI, RIN shows strong consistent correlations with measurements of 3' and 5' bias, and RIN also correlates with 3,933 genes across datasets, in comparison to 138 genes for PMI. Neuronal and immune response genes correlate positively and negatively with RIN respectively, suggesting that different gene sets have divergent relationships with RIN in brain tissue. In summary, these analyses suggest that conventional metrics of RNA quality have varying degrees of value, and that PMI has an overall minimal but reproducible effect on RNA quality.

In Situ STM Study of Roughening of Au(111) Single-Crystal Electrode in Sulfuric Acid Solution during Oxidation-Reduction Cycles.

Oxidation-reduction cycles (ORCs) on Au(111) in 0.1 M sulfuric acid solution change the electrode morphology due to the formation of many new nanosized islands. With increasing the cycle number, the roughness of the surface increases due to the formation of multiatomic-step adatom islands and pits. The final roughness value is a function of the applied potential window, number of ORCs, scan rate, electrolyte concentration, and any applied delay time. In a first experiment, the roughening was tracked by recording the STM images in 11 steps during 200 ORCs. The results show the formation of pyramidal islands and a linear correlation between the roughness amplitude and the cycle number. In a second experiment, the 200 cycles were studied in 38 steps, while after each step, two images were recorded with a 3 min delay by holding the potential in the double-layer window. This leads to a lower roughness increase due to the high surface mobility of the Au surface atoms, which smoothens the surface during the delay time. Finally, the oxidation-reduction charge density per cycle shows an inverse correlation with surface roughness due to the (111) terrace showing a higher surface oxidation charge than the other sites and facets. Each delay causes a strong increase in the oxidation charge which is a consequence of surface smoothening during the delays leading to an enhancement of the (111) related oxidation charge.

Optimization of Desalting Conditions for the Green Seaweed Codium fragile for Use as a Functional Food with Hypnotic Effects.

Codium fragile (CF) contains various bioactive compounds, but its high salt content (39.8%) makes its use as a functional food challenging. Here, we aimed to optimize the desalination process and verify changes in functionality based on variations in salt and total phenolic contents. To optimize the CF immersion conditions for the lowest salt content and monitor the total phenolic content, a response surface methodology was used. The optimal immersion conditions were as follows: X1 (immersion temperature) = 42.8 °C; X2 (immersion time) = 1.0 h. An inverse correlation was noted between salt content and total phenolic content. Among the post-desalination processes, desalination with centrifugal dehydration (CD) significantly reduced salt content. CD ethanol extract (CD-E) induced the longest sleep duration in the pentobarbital-induced sleep test in ethanol extracts. Moreover, 1000 mg/kg CD-E had a significant effect on non-rapid eye movement sleep but did not affect delta activity. These findings highlight the potential of industrializing CF as a functional food through desalination and its promise as a natural aid for sleep promotion.

Altered Spike Immunoglobulin G Fc N-Linked Glycans Are Associated With Hyperinflammatory State in Adult Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) are characterized by excessive inflammatory cytokines/chemokines. In adults, disease severity is associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) Fc afucosylation, which induces proinflammatory cytokine secretion from innate immune cells. This study aimed to define spike IgG Fc glycosylation following SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults and children and following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in adults and the relationships between glycan modifications and cytokines/chemokines. We analyzed longitudinal (n = 146) and cross-sectional (n = 49) serum/plasma samples from adult and pediatric COVID-19 patients, MIS-C patients, adult vaccinees, and adult and pediatric controls. We developed methods for characterizing bulk and spike IgG Fc glycosylation by capillary electrophoresis and measured levels of 10 inflammatory cytokines/chemokines by multiplexed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Spike IgG was more afucosylated than bulk IgG during acute adult COVID-19 and MIS-C. We observed an opposite trend following vaccination, but it was not significant. Spike IgG was more galactosylated and sialylated and less bisected than bulk IgG during adult COVID-19, with similar trends observed during pediatric COVID-19/MIS-C and following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Spike IgG glycosylation changed with time following adult COVID-19 or vaccination. Afucosylated spike IgG exhibited inverse and positive correlations with inflammatory markers in MIS-C and following vaccination, respectively; galactosylated and sialylated spike IgG inversely correlated with proinflammatory cytokines in adult COVID-19 and MIS-C; and bisected spike IgG positively correlated with inflammatory cytokines/chemokines in multiple groups. We identified previously undescribed relationships between spike IgG glycan modifications and inflammatory cytokines/chemokines that expand our understanding of IgG glycosylation changes that may impact COVID-19 and MIS-C immunopathology.

Association of Extraosseous Arterial Diameter With Talar Dome Osteochondral Lesions.

Etiology of osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT) is multifactorial and may develop from trauma, genetics, or hypovascularity. The talar dome is supplied by the posterior tibial artery (PTA) and, to a lesser degree, the sinus tarsi artery (STA). The role of talar dome hypovascularity on OLT remains poorly studied. We aimed to determine any relationship between the diameter of PTA (dPTA) and STA (dSTA) and the incidence and characteristics of talus OLT. This retrospective study included 77 patients with OLT and 77 subjects as a matched control group (age range: 30-40 years). Using magnetic resonance imaging, the dPTA was measured 1 cm above the tibial plafond, at the plafond, and at the level of medial malleolar tip. Likewise, dSTA was measured at the level of the talar neck. The area, volume, depth, localization, and surgical intervention for OLT were recorded as well. The study group had significantly smaller dPTA at all 3 levels (1.05 ± 0.22 mm, 0.99 ± 0.18 mm, 0.98 ± 0.31 mm, proximal to distal, respectively) compared with controls (1.25 ± 0.23 mm, 1.20 ± 0.22 mm, 1.14 ± 0.18 mm, respectively) (P < .001). The dSTA was also significantly smaller in the study group compared with the control group (0.5 ± 0.11 mm vs 0.57 ± 0.08 mm, respectively; P = .001). The mean dPTA (of all 3 levels) cutoff value for predicting the occurrence of OLT was 1.1 mm with 74% sensitivity and 75% specificity. A significant inverse correlation was observed between OLT area and arterial diameters (P < .001). Smaller luminal dPTA and dSTA appear to be associated with higher incidence of OLT, with defect size inversely correlated to arterial diameter.

Association between dietary fiber intake and chronic kidney disease in adults with and without hypertension in the United States: a cross-sectional study of NHANES 2009–2020

While previous research has highlighted the potential advantages of increasing dietary fiber intake (DFI) for managing hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD), there is a gap in large-scale empirical studies examining the relationship between DFI and CKD among hypertensive and nonhypertensive cohorts independently. This study involved 22,871 participants sourced from the NHANES database spanning 2009 to 2020, who were divided into hypertensive (n = 9,861) and nonhypertensive (n = 13,010) groups. The analysis revealed a significant inverse correlation between DFI and CKD prevalence across the sample after adjusting for various covariates (OR = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97–0.99, p = 0.001). Within the subset of hypertensive individuals, this inverse association mirrors the findings of the overall sample, indicating that a higher DFI was associated with a reduced occurrence of CKD (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.96–0.99, p < 0.001). However, this correlation was not detected in the nonhypertensive group (OR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.98–1.01, p = 0.285). The RCS analysis further confirmed a pronounced nonlinear inverse relationship between DFI and CKD prevalence in both the entire cohort and the hypertensive group but not in the nonhypertensive group. Further scrutiny of the hypertensive group revealed that individuals with a higher DFI had 33% lower odds of CKD progression for the moderate risk level and 36% lower odds for the high to very high risk level. Subgroup analyses confirmed the consistency of these relationships across various demographics. In summary, this investigation revealed a significant inverse relationship between DFI and CKD prevalence in US adults with hypertension, a relationship not observed in nonhypertensive individuals.

Association the Level of Glutathione S-Transferases with GST Genotyping in Automotive Maintenance Workers

The present study aims to investigate the GST level with GST null genotyping in automotive maintenance workers; null genotyping's PCR and PCR-SSCP were used in the present study, including GSTT1, GSTM1, and GSTP1) with detection of GST level in the serum. The present study found sig changes in the mean of age between groups (p 0.000), nonsig changes in BMI, and non-sig changes in elevation in GSH between groups; the work duration was (7.68±4.88) years. The results of the present study show that (37.5%) of cases have deletion mutation in GSTT1 in significant association (p 0.0495). In contrast, the deletion mutation in GSTM1 was not observed in study groups. The haplotypes of GSTP1 found single and double haplotypes, both haplotypes observed in cases and control group in non-sig differences (p 0.8548); the correlation between GST level with age, BMI and duration showed weak inverse correlation (r -0.141, p 0.434) with age. a Weak positive correlation with duration (r 0.099, p 0.589) and a weak inverse correlation with BMI (r -0.046, p 0.798) in the case group. In the control group, a weak inverse relation with age (r -0.280, p 0.157) and a weak inverse relation with BMI (r -0.131, p 0.514). According to GST gene genotyping, the GST levels were shown to slightly elevate the GST level in the group with GSTT1 deletion in case of non-sig differences (p 0.475). The slight changes between case and control in non-significantly (p 0.247), no significant changes between the groups have normal GSTM1 (p 0.093), the output referred to elevation GST level in the case with single haplotype in non-sig differences (p 0.094), others showed slight changes in non-significant differences also, conclusion: we can conclude that the GSTT1 was a strong association with an automotive technician but GSTM1 and GSTP1 have no affected in this employee, on the other hand, the GST level don't changes by this employee, also didn't affect by GST genotypes.

Incertidumbre, Estrés, Ansiedad, Depresión e Información en Personas con Esclerosis Múltiple

Theoretical Framework. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with increased depression and anxiety, which in turn are related to stress and uncertainty. The amount and quality of information, relevant due to their association with uncertainty in different populations, have not been investigated in people with MS. Method. Through MS associations, a questionnaire was distributed that collected demographic data, information (attendance at informational talks, internet searches, etc.), stress, uncertainty, anxiety, and depression. A total of 119 people with MS participated, mostly Spanish women belonging to an association with an average age of 46 years and Relapsing-Remitting MS. Results. 57% and 39% of the sample might have anxiety and depression problems, respectively. There were differences in anxiety and stress according to the type of MS. Uncertainty showed correlations of .21-.26 with stress, anxiety, and depression. The sample was generally satisfied with the information they had, especially with that provided by healthcare professionals, and the latter was the only information source that showed a significant inverse correlation with uncertainty (r = -.22). Depression was correlated with the amount of information searched on the internet (r = .17). There were no differences in uncertainty, stress, anxiety, or depression according to membership in associations or attendance at informational talks. Conclusions. Providing people with MS with reliable, clear, and tailored information is crucial to fostering their understanding of the disease and their psychological well-being, with healthcare professionals playing a key role in this.

Editorial diversity correlates with journal impact factor and author diversity in cardiothoracic surgery.

While there are no widely accepted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) metrics for journals, geographic and sex diversity across a journal's editorial board may provide a surrogate measure of its commitment to DEI. We explored the association between journal quality and DEI metrics for cardiothoracic surgery (CTS) journals and investigated whether editorial diversity correlates with diversity across published articles. We collected the following data for 30 CTS journals: country of publication (categorized by income level), journal quality metrics (citation-based metrics, e.g., impact factor (IF) or H-index), and sex and geographic representation across editorial boards and published articles. Bivariate correlations between numeric variables were assessed using Spearman's correlation. Female representation across editorial boards was 12.1%. Most editorial board members belonged to the United States (35.2%), with only 7.4% from the lower-middle-income countries and 0% from low-income countries. IF showed a strong positive correlation with female editorial representation (r=0.70) but an inverse correlation with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) editorial representation (r=-0.45). Female editorial representation demonstrated a significant positive correlation with female first authorship (r=0.45), whereas LMIC editorial representation correlated strongly with LMIC corresponding authorship (r=0.85). Women and researchers from LMICs are in the minority across editorial boards of CTS journals. However, a strong correlation between journal H-index and female editorial representation indicates that top-ranked journals are spearheading efforts to improve equitable sex-based and gender representations. Similar efforts are required to ensure more global geographic representation across editorial boards and top-ranked CTS journals are the best placed to lead by example.

EVALUATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RADIOTHERAPY CLINICAL TARGET VOLUME AND GAIT ACTIVITY IN HIGH GRADE GLIOMA

Abstract AIMS Walking speed or peak cadence serves as a potential indicator of overall health, particularly in older individuals, with documented predictive value for various health-related outcomes. The emergence of wearable technology for gait analysis has facilitated early disease detection and monitoring in conditions like Parkinson’s disease. This study aimed to explore the association between gait metrics and radiotherapy Clinical Target Volume (CTV) in participants with High-Grade Glioma (HGG) enrolled in the BrainWear study, which captures longitudinal physical activity data through wearable devices. METHOD 21 HGG participants provided accelerometer data before and after a course of radiotherapy. Using Spearman rank correlation analysis, we examined the relationship between CTV and gait features while considering the total radiotherapy dose and tumour location. Participant data was cut at the same time point of 14-days either side of the start or end of radiotherapy to ensure the data was aligned. RESULTS The analysis revealed a moderately negative correlation between CTV and peak cadence at the onset of radiotherapy. At the end of radiotherapy and in the two weeks following completion, both peak cadence in 1 minute and 30 minutes showed a stronger inverse correlation with CTV (Spearman’s ρ = -0.52 and ρ = -0.44 respectively, p-value &amp;lt;0.05). This suggests that higher CTV may be associated with decreased peak cadence, particularly at the time of expected radiotherapy toxicity. Subgroup analysis focusing on patients with CTV covering the motor cortex further illustrated a more significant inverse correlation between CTV size and peak cadence (Spearman’s ρ = -0.77, p-value &amp;lt;0.05). CONCLUSION This study highlights the importance of understanding the interplay between tumour treatment volume, location and physical function. Further exploration of CTV volume in relation to anatomical areas such as the motor cortex could provide deeper insights into this relationship and provide opportunities for personalised monitoring in HGG.

Association between dietary fatty acids and depressive symptoms in Chinese haemodialysis patients: a cross-sectional study.

Depression is highly prevalent in haemodialysis patients, and diet might play an important role. Therefore, we conducted this cross-sectional study to determine the association between dietary fatty acids (FA) consumption and the prevalence of depression in maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) patients. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated FFQ between December 2021 and January 2022. The daily intake of dietary FA was categorised into three groups, and the lowest tertile was used as the reference category. Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) models were applied to assess the relationship between dietary FA intake and the prevalence of depression. As a result, after adjustment for potential confounders, a higher intake of total FA [odds ratio (OR)T3 vs. T1 = 1·59, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1·04, 2·46] and saturated fatty acids (SFA)(ORT3 vs. T1 = 1·83, 95 % CI = 1·19, 2·84) was associated with a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms. Significant positive linear trends were also observed (P < 0·05) except for SFA intake. Similarly, the prevalence of depression in MHD patients increasedby 20% (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.01-1.43)foreach standard deviation increment in SFA intake. RCS analysis indicated an inverse U-shaped correlation between SFA and depression (P nonlinear > 0·05). Additionally, the sensitivity analysis produced similar results. Furthermore, no statistically significant association was observed in the subgroup analysis with significant interaction. In conclusion, higher total dietary FA and SFA were positively associated with depressive symptoms among MHD patients. These findings inform future research exploring potential mechanism underlying the association between dietary FA and depressive symptoms in MHD patients.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) expressions in Ethiopian female breast cancer and their association with histopathologic features.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGF) play important role in breast tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, patient survival and drug resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protein expression status of EGFR and VEGF-A, as well as their association with hormone receptor status and histopathological characteristics in the invasive type of female breast cancer among Ethiopians. The primary breast tumor tissues were obtained from 85 Ethiopian invasive breast cancer cases that underwent modified radical mastectomy (MRM) from June 2014 to June 2015. Their FFPE blocks were analyzed for EGFR and VEGF protein expressions using immunohistochemical techniques. The expressions were also correlated with histopathologic features. Epidermal growth factor receptor over-expression was observed in 22% of the tumor samples. VEGF-A expression was negative in 13.41%, low in 63.41%, moderate in 20.73%, and high in 2.44%. EGFR expression, but not VEGF-A, showed a significant inverse correlation with both estrogen receptor (ER) (P = 0.01) and progesterone receptor (PR) statuses (P = 0.04). EGFR and VEGF expressions did not show significant association with tumor size, grade, lymph node status or age at diagnosis. Epidermal growth factor receptor expression was most likely associated with ER and PR negative tumors. Assessments of multiple molecular markers aid to understand the biological behavior of the disease in Ethiopian population. It might also help to predict which group of patients might get more benefit from the selected treatment strategies and which are not.

Oxygen-Carbon and Strontium Isotope Composition in Primary Carbonatites of the World: The Data Summary and Linear Trends

A statistical regression analysis was performed of a summary of borrowed literary isotopic data on 176 carbonatite occurrences worldwide (a total of 1829 paired δ18О-δ13С values in primary carbonatites). For most of the occurrences, distinct linear trends in δ18О-δ13С values were revealed, approximated in diagrams by vectors using the regression formula y = kx + b. Trends in three directions are distinguished. The dominating trend possesses the angular coefficient k in the range of 0.0÷+0.6, averaging at + 0.31 (direct correlation δ18О-δ13С). In the literature, it is associated with the Rayleigh high-temperature fractionation of carbonatite melts or with their sedimentary crustal contamination. The second trend with k from 0.0 to -0.7 (inverse correlation δ18О-δ13С) is associated with CO2 degassing from the melts. The third trend with k from +0.6 to +1.5 is rare. In other carbonatite occurrences, no linear trends in δ18О-δ13С values are detected. This may be a consequence of a combined action of the multidirectional linear trends. In this regard, the initial point of the trend vectors is accepted as a universal isotope indicator for all the carbonatite occurrences. In the δ18О-δ13С diagram, the box PC-90 is outlined in the field of the initial points, including 90 % of the primary carbonatite occurrences. The coordinates of the corner points of the box in δ18О-δ13С ‰ are (+5÷-8), (+5÷-5), (+5.5÷-2.5), (+12÷-2.5), (+12÷-7), (+9÷-8.5). The box PC-90 is subdivided into two parts by the carbon isotope composition, using the value δ13C = -5.2 ‰. This suggests that the deep sources differ in carbon isotope composition. No correlation is found in the oxygen-carbon and strontium isotope compositions in the carbonatites, which suggests that the deep sources are also heterogeneous in the strontium isotope composition.