Large Sample Research Articles

Genetic polymorphisms associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in nulliparas

Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) affect a large proportion of pregnancies and represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Yet the pathophysiology of APOs is poorly understood, limiting our ability to prevent and treat these conditions. To search for genetic markers of maternal risk for four APOs, we performed multi-ancestry genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for pregnancy loss, gestational length, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia. We clustered participants by their genetic ancestry and focused our analyses on three sub-cohorts with the largest sample sizes: European, African, and Admixed American. Association tests were carried out separately for each sub-cohort and then meta-analyzed together. Two novel loci were significantly associated with an increased risk of pregnancy loss: a cluster of SNPs located downstream of the TRMU gene (top SNP: rs142795512), and the SNP rs62021480 near RGMA. In the GWAS of gestational length we identified two new variants, rs2550487 and rs58548906 near WFDC1 and AC005052.1, respectively. Lastly, three new loci were significantly associated with gestational diabetes (top SNPs: rs72956265, rs10890563, rs79596863), located on or near ZBTB20, GUCY1A2, and RPL7P20, respectively. Fourteen loci previously correlated with preterm birth, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia were found to be associated with these outcomes as well.

Mesocorticolimbic system reactivity to alcohol use-related visual cues as a function of alcohol sensitivity phenotype: A pilot fMRI study

Low sensitivity (LS) to alcohol is a risk factor for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Compared to peers with high sensitivity (HS), LS individuals drink more, report more problems, and exhibit potentiated alcohol cue reactivity (ACR). Heightened ACR suggests LS confers AUD risk via incentive sensitization, which is thought to take place in the mesocorticolimbic system. This study examined neural ACR in LS and HS individuals. Young adults (N = 32, Mage=20.3) were recruited based on the Alcohol Sensitivity Questionnaire (HS: n = 16; LS: n = 16; 9 females/group). Participants completed an event-related fMRI ACR task. Group LS had higher ACR in left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex than group HS. In group LS, ACR in left caudomedial orbitofrontal cortex or left putamen was low at low alcohol use levels and high at heavier or more problematic alcohol use levels, whereas the opposite was true in group HS. Alcohol use level also was associated with the level of ACR in left substantia nigra among males in group LS. Taken together, results suggest elevated mesocorticolimbic ACR among LS individuals, especially those using alcohol at hazardous levels. Future studies with larger samples are warranted to determine the neurobiological loci underlying LS-based amplified ACR and AUD risk.

Effect of abdominal massage in preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients connected to mechanical ventilators: A systematic review.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is one of the common complications in patients in the intensive care unit. Abdominal massage may prevent the development of VAP by reducing residual gastric volume in enterally fed patients. The purpose of this study is to review the literature on randomized controlled and quasi-experimental studies evaluating the effectiveness of abdominal massage in preventing VAP. The PRISMA-P (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols) criteria were taken as the basis for creating the protocol of the systematic review and writing the article. The systematic review was performed using the Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL and Cochrane Library databases from December 2023 to January 2024. Studies were selected by determining inclusion and exclusion criteria according to the PICOS method. The studies were evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tool for quality assessment. Three randomized controlled and one quasi-experimental study with a total of 225 participants met the inclusion criteria. The four studies conducted on patients in the intensive care unit showed that abdominal massage reduced VAP. The studies reported no adverse effects of abdominal massage. Promising evidence was found for the effect of abdominal massage in preventing VAP. However, scientific studies with larger samples, of higher quality, and using randomized controls and blinding methods are needed to evaluate the unknown dimensions of abdominal massage and determine its beneficial effects on patients. Several non-pharmacological methods may decrease VAP incidence and mortality. Abdominal massage may decrease VAP incidence and mortality.

Genetic variations of penicillin-binding protein 1A: insights into the current status of amoxicillin-based regimens for Helicobacter pylori eradication in Malaysia.

Introduction. Resistance towards amoxicillin in Helicobacter pylori causes significant therapeutic impasse in healthcare settings worldwide. In Malaysia, the standard H. pylori treatment regimen includes a 14-day course of high-dose proton-pump inhibitor (rabeprazole, 20 mg) with amoxicillin (1000 mg) dual therapy.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. The high eradication rate with amoxicillin-based treatment could be attributed to the primary resistance rates of amoxicillin being relatively low at 0%, however, a low rate of secondary resistance has been documented in Malaysia recently.Aim. This study aims to investigate the amino acid mutations and related genetic variants in PBP1A of H. pylori, correlating with amoxicillin resistance in the Malaysian population.Methodology. The full-length pbp1A gene was amplified via PCR from 50 genomic DNA extracted from gastric biopsy samples of H. pylori-positive treatment-naïve Malaysian patients. The sequences were then compared with reference H. pylori strain ATCC 26695 for mutation and variant detection. A phylogenetic analysis of 50 sequences along with 43 additional sequences from the NCBI database was performed. These additional sequences included both amoxicillin-resistant strains (n=20) and amoxicillin-sensitive strains (n=23).Results. There was a total of 21 variants of amino acids, with three of them located in or near the PBP-motif (SKN402-404). The percentages of these three variants are as follows: K403X, 2%; S405I, 2% and E406K, 16%. Based on the genetic markers identified, the resistance rate for amoxicillin in our sample remained at 0%. The phylogenetic examination suggested that H. pylori might exhibit unique conserved pbp1A sequences within the Malaysian context.Conclusions. Overall, the molecular analysis of PBP1A supported the therapeutic superiority of amoxicillin-based regimens. Therefore, it is crucial to continue monitoring the amoxicillin resistance background of H. pylori with a larger sample size to ensure the sustained effectiveness of amoxicillin-based treatments in Malaysia.

Stem cell therapy outcome for diabetic erectile dysfunction: A pilot analysis

Background Many males encounter the condition of erectile dysfunction (ED), particularly individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Stem cell therapy is a burgeoning treatment modality being explored for individuals with erectile dysfunction in the context of type 2 DM. Nevertheless, the available body of clinical evidence supporting its efficacy remains limited. This study aims to assess the effectiveness and safety of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in managing erectile dysfunction (ED) resulting from type 2 DM. Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Indonesia from October 2020 to January 2023. A total of 26 eligible patients were randomly assigned to two groups: one receiving intracavernosal injections of MSC and the other receiving a placebo. Follow-up assessments were conducted at baseline, month one, and month three. The primary outcomes were measured using the IIEF-5 questionnaire and dorsal artery peak systolic velocity (PSV). Metabolic markers were used as secondary outcomes. Results The IIEF-5 scores for both groups showed a significant increase (p < 0.001) from baseline to month three. There was no significant difference observed between the MSC and placebo groups. Moreover, no significant differences were observed in the PSV of the dorsal artery between the two groups (p>0.05). There were no significant differences in metabolic markers between the groups. The incidence of mild post-injection pain was reported by only 11% of individuals, indicating a low occurrence of adverse events. Conclusions Intracavernous administration of MSC did not demonstrate superior efficacy compared to a placebo in improving metabolic or erectile function in diabetic males with erectile dysfunction. Additional research utilizing larger sample sizes and more extended follow-up periods is necessary.

Therapeutic effect of Wendan Decoction combined with mosapride on gastroesophageal reflux disease after esophageal cancer surgery

BACKGROUND Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common complication of esophageal cancer surgery that can affect quality of life and increase the risk of esophageal stricture and anastomotic leakage. Wendan Decoction (WDD) is a traditional Chinese herbal formula used to treat various gastrointestinal disorders, such as gastritis, functional dyspepsia, and irritable bowel syndrome. Mosapride, a prokinetic agent, functions as a selective 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 agonist, enhancing gastrointestinal motility. AIM To evaluate the therapeutic effects of WDD combined with mosapride on GERD after esophageal cancer surgery. METHODS Eighty patients with GERD were randomly divided into treatment (receiving WDD combined with mosapride) and control (receiving mosapride alone) groups. The treatment was conducted from January 2021 to January 2023. The primary outcome was improved GERD symptoms as measured using the reflux disease questionnaire (RDQ). The secondary outcomes were improved esophageal motility (measured using esophageal manometry), gastric emptying (measured using gastric scintigraphy), and quality of life [measured via the Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey]. RESULTS The treatment group showed a notably reduced RDQ score and improved esophageal motility parameters, such as lower esophageal sphincter pressure, peristaltic amplitude, and peristaltic velocity compared to the control group. The treatment group showed significantly higher gastric emptying rates and SF-36 scores (in both physical and mental domains) compared to the control group. No serious adverse effects were observed in either group. CONCLUSION WDD combined with mosapride is an effective and safe therapy for GERD after esophageal cancer surgery. It can improve GERD symptoms, esophageal motility, gastric emptying, and the quality of life of patients. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are required to confirm these findings.

Antibiotic duration and gastric dysmotility in preterm neonates.

Prolonged antibiotic use after birth is associated with neonatal feeding intolerance and functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). A gastric dysrhythmia (tachygastria) with frequencies >4-9 cycles per minute, measured by electrogastrography (EGG), is associated with FGIDs. The relationship between prolonged antibiotic use and % time spent in tachygastria is unknown in preterm infants. We aimed to compare weekly changes in % tachygastria between preterm infants receiving long (>48 h) versus short (≤48 h) courses of antibiotics for early onset sepsis evaluation (initiated at <3 days of life). This was a longitudinal, prospective cohort study of 88 preterm infants (<34 weeks' gestation) with weekly EGG recordings from the first week of life until 40 weeks' post-menstrual age, discharge, or death. We calculated % of EGG recording time in tachygastria and determined the mean across weekly sessions. A mixed effects model assessed variance in % tachygastria between the short- and long-antibiotic exposure groups across all weeks. Baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. There was no difference in % tachygastria between short and long antibiotic exposure groups across nine postnatal weeks (p = 0.08). Early, prolonged antibiotic exposure among preterm infants may not lead to significant gastric dysrhythmia. Future studies including larger sample sizes and a "no antibiotic" exposure arm are essential in elucidating this potential relationship.

The Effectiveness and Safety of Fenofibrate and Saroglitazar in the Treatment of Diabetic Dyslipidemia

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of saroglitazar and fenofibrate in treatingdiabetic dyslipidemia.Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study.Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Biochemistry, Nishtar MedicalUniversity and Hospital Multan, Pakistan over 12 months from January 2021 to January 2022.Methods: Following a 4-week run-in phase, sixty newly diagnosed patients with a previous diagnosis ofdiabetes and dyslipidemia were included. Eligible participants were aged 18-65 years, with fasting triglyceride(TG) levels &gt;200–400 mg/dL and documented type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Following baselineassessments, participants were randomised into two treatment groups: Saroglitazar 4 mg with 10 mg ofAtorvastatin and Fenofibrate 200 mg with 10 mg of Atorvastatin. Lipid profiles, fasting blood glucose (FBG), andHbA1c were evaluated at baseline and after 12 weeks. Statistical analysis was conducted using appropriatetests with p&lt; 0.05, which is considered significant.Results: The study enrolled 60 participants, with comparable baseline characteristics between groups. Whileboth treatments showed similar effects on lipid profiles, Saroglitazar showed exceptional effectiveness inlowering HbA1c and FBG levels compared to Fenofibrate. No significant differences in adverse effects wereobserved.Conclusion: Saroglitazar may offer advantages in managing diabetic dyslipidemia and improving glycemiccontrol compared to Fenofibrate in a larger sample size. More investigation is necessary to confirm thesefindings and evaluate long-term safety and efficacy. How to cite this: Farooq B, Cheema RR, Qureshi ZH, Yasmeen N, Sahu EH. The Effectiveness and Safety of Fenofibrate and Saroglitazar in The Treatment of Diabetic Dyslipidemia. Life and Science. 2024; 5(2): 266-272. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.632

Identification of unique electromagnetic signatures from GLRaV-3 infected grapevine leaves in different stages of virus development.

Grapevine leafroll associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3) is one of the most common viruses that adversely affect grape production quality around the world. Grapevine virus is usually detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, but the main diagnostic challenges with the PCR are uneven distribution of symptoms, low virus titers in early stage, and the tests are time consuming and expensive. In the absence of effective control and treatment for grapevine virus, the recommendation is to remove infected vines before they become a source of transmission and a rapid and early detection method for viruses is urgently needed. This study investigated how GLRaV-3 infection affects spectral behavior of grapevine leaves and the use of remote sensing tools to identify changes caused by the biotic stress. A Real-Time RT-qPCR test was performed to select representative vines with healthy and GLRaV-3 infection, and changes in electromagnetic (EM) spectrum of leaves were observed with a portable hyperspectral spectrometer and a multispectral sensor on a remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS). The results of this study suggest that foliar EM reflectance may differ depending on the presence or absence of visible symptoms of infected leaves and different stages of virus infection progress could be indicated by changes in the relative rate of reflectance around 700 nm. This research also confirmed that the development of a narrow-band hyperspectral index for the detection of grapevine virus is feasible, further research is recommended in a much more comprehensive investigation including a combination of hyperspectral sensor and chlorophyll fluorescence sensors, interpolation of suspect wavebands into ratios or indices, larger sample sizes and a more controlled study environment.

Association between tooth loss-related speech and psychosocial impairment with cognitive function: A pilot study in Hong Kong's older population.

Tooth loss has been associated with cognitive decline, but the underlying mechanisms involving speech and psychosocial impairment remain unclear. To investigate the impact of tooth loss-related speech and psychosocial impairment on cognitive function in Hong Kong's older population. Seventy-six Cantonese-speaking participants between the ages of 51-92 were classified into three groups: patients with complete dentures (CD), partially edentulous patients with less than 10 occluding tooth pairs (OU <10), and at least 10 occluding tooth pairs (OU ≥10). Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Hong Kong Version, One-minute Verbal Fluency Task and Hayling Sentence Completion Test. Objective and subjective speech assessments were carried out using artificial intelligence speech recognition algorithm and a self-designed speech questionnaire. The impact of tooth loss on psychosocial condition was evaluated by the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test and a self-designed questionnaire. Statistical analyses (one-way ANOVA, ANCOVA, Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman correlation test) were performed. Tooth loss was significantly associated with lower cognitive function (p = .008), speech accuracy (p = .018) and verbal fluency (p = .001). Correlations were found between cognitive function and speech accuracy (p < .0001). No significant difference in tooth loss-related psychosocial impact was found between the three groups. While warranting larger sample sizes, this pilot study highlights the need for further research on the role of speech in the association between tooth loss and cognitive function. The potential cognitive impact of tooth retention, together with its known biological and proprioceptive benefits, supports the preservation of the natural dentition.

Virtual and augmented reality to develop empathy: a systematic literature review

AbstractRecent research suggests that Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) as immersive technologies are effective in developing empathy. The main reason behind this assumption is that immersive technologies allow people to experience perspective-taking. However, there is a lack of systematic literature reviews that summarize the current state of research on VR and AR to elicit empathy. This paper reports a systematic literature review of 37 academic papers published between 2007 and 2023. The following categories were analyzed in this review: field of education, data collection instruments, sample size, statistically significant results, technologies used, research design, advantages, limitations, and future research. The main findings of this review provide an overview of the current state of research on immersive technologies to elicit empathy and the future challenges in this field. Some of the main findings involve: VR/AR immersion devices are effective and appealing to participants; the Interpersonal Reactivity Index was found to be the most relevant self-report measure; and larger sample sizes (over 100 participants) are vital in VR/AR-based empathy research to provide a quantitative perspective on participants distribution.

Does Autonomy Improve Satisfaction and Performance? A Case on Learner Choice

Autonomy has been identified as an essential attribute of learner-centered teaching. Allowing learners some choice regarding their learning can positively impact motivation and performance. Some concepts can be illustrated more clearly through film, including agricultural leadership concepts such as the stages of small group development. In this study, we examined differences between learners given autonomy to choose a film for an analysis essay assignment and learners not given a choice. Learners in two sections of an agricultural leadership course focusing on teams and group development were taught the stages of group development. Learners analyzed the development of a team in film. Additionally, learners responded to questions regarding their satisfaction with and perceptions of the assignment. Findings revealed that learners in both sections perceived the assignment as enjoyable. Learners in both groups indicated a preference for their respective treatment in future similar assignments. Both groups performed well on the assignment. Recommendations include replicating this study with an additional measure of motivation, a standardized measure for student satisfaction with learning, and a larger sample size. Given that both groups of learners indicated satisfaction with learning, we recommend instructors consider incorporating films or other media when possible and appropriate.

Is axillary artery cannulation necessary in type II hybrid aortic arch repair for acute type A aortic dissection?

Axillary artery cannulation (AAC) has been widely employed in total arch replacement surgeries using the frozen elephant trunk (FET) technique for acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD), showing better clinical results than femoral artery cannulation (FAC). Nevertheless, in type II hybrid arch repair (HAR), FAC is crucial for lower body perfusion. Hence, it is unclear whether AAC remains necessary or if AAC represents a more advantageous method for initiating cardiopulmonary bypass. We conducted a study involving patients diagnosed with ATAAD who underwent type II HAR from August 2021 to December 2022. Demographic baseline and intraoperative data were collected, and the postoperative outcomes of patients receiving FAC only were compared with those receiving AAC. There were no significant differences in baseline demographics between patients who underwent FAC alone (n = 46) and those who underwent AAC (n = 39). Patients who underwent AAC showed a lower incidence of transient neurological dysfunction (TND) post-surgery compared to those who underwent FAC (12.8% vs 32.6%, p = .032). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of postoperative mortality within 30days, permanent neurological dysfunction (PND), length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and postoperative ward, duration of mechanical ventilation, and other complications. Axillary artery cannulation may decrease the incidence of postoperative transient neurological dysfunction (TND) in type II HAR for ATAAD. Nonetheless, studies with larger sample sizes are necessary.

Self-initiated self-repairs of connected speech and novel vocabulary learning during the first year of recovery from aphasia: four longitudinal case studies

ABSTRACT Background Self-initiated self-repair of problems in speech production has been suggested to be associated with aphasia treatment gains and recovery, but the topic has been little studied. Similarly, the ability to learn novel words has been associated with anomia treatment benefits, although longitudinal data on such learning is lacking. Aims The present study’s aim was to examine whether and how self-initiated self-repairs in connected speech and the ability to learn novel vocabulary reflected recovery from aphasia as measured with cognitive-linguistic tests. Additionally, our aim was to explore whether self-initiated repair and novel word learning changed in parallel during recovery. Methods & Procedures Four people with aphasia (PWA) (2 anomic, 1 Wernicke, and 1 global aphasia) were tested in the subacute (11 to 68 days post stroke) and chronic (12 months post stroke) phases of recovery with cognitive-linguistic tests, connected speech tasks, and a computerized learning task. In the learning task, PWA associated 6 pseudowords with 6 unfamiliar referents. The associations were learned from an ambiguous setup with feedback. At both time points, learning was measured as correct immediate recognition of the items and recognition maintenance one week post-training. The proportion of self-initiated self-repairs and the proportion of unrepaired problems in connected speech were used as measures of self-repair behavior. Outcomes & Results All participants initiated self-repairs both in the subacute and chronic phases, and their self-repairs were most often related to aphasic difficulties in speech production. Between the subacute and chronic phases, self-repairs changed both in quality and quantity. The proportion of self-repair elements decreased in 4/4 participants and the proportion of unrepaired problem segments decreased in 3/4 participants. Of the participants, 3/4 showed significant novel word learning and/or maintenance already in the subacute phase and 4 /4 in the chronic phase. Conclusion Reduction in self-initiated self-repairs of speech reflected recovery from aphasia. Novel word learning improved during aphasia recovery from the subacute to the chronic phase. Novel word learning was possible even in subacute, severe aphasia and even in an ambiguous task set-up with no explicitly provided word-referent connections. Novel word learning and self-initiated self-repairs did not change in a clearly parallel manner; however, these findings need to be tested with a larger sample.

Development of algorithms for estimating the Child Health Utility 9D from Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disability.

The primary aim was to determine Child Health Utility 9D (CHU9D) utilities from the Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disabilities (CPCHILD) for non-ambulatory children with cerebral palsy (CP). One hundred and eight surveys completed by Australian parents/caregivers of children with CP were analysed. Spearman's coefficients were used to investigate the correlations between the two instruments. Ordinary least square, robust MM-estimator, and generalised linear models (GLM) with four combinations of families and links were developed to estimate CHU9D utilities from either the CPCHILD total score or CPCHILD domains scores. Internal validation was performed using 5-fold cross-validation and random sampling validation. The best performing algorithms were identified based on mean absolute error (MAE), concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), and the difference between predicted and observed means of CHU9D. Moderate correlations (ρ 0.4-0.6) were observed between domains of the CHU9D and CPCHILD instruments. The best performing algorithm when considering the CPCHILD total score was a generalised linear regression (GLM) Gamma family and logit link (MAE=0.156, CCC=0.508). Additionally, the GLM Gamma family logit link using CPCHILD comfort and emotion, quality of life, and health domain scores also performed well (MAE=0.152, CCC=0.552). This study established algorithms for estimating CHU9D utilities from CPCHILD scores for non-ambulatory children with CP. The determined algorithms can be valuable for estimating quality-adjusted life years for cost-utility analysis when only the CPCHILD instrument is available. However, further studies with larger sample sizes and external validation are recommended to validate these findings.

Comparative efficacy and safety of ginkgo-based Chinese patent medicines in patients with hypertension: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

The efficacy and safety of different oral ginkgo-based Chinese patent medicines (CPMs) regimens for hypertension patients were analyzed based on the network meta-analysis of the frequency framework. We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database to gather data on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of 8 ginkgo biloba oral preparations for the treatment of hypertension. The trials included in the analysis were conducted from the inception of the databases up to September 2023. Methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using the RoB 2.0 evaluation tool, and a reticulated meta-analysis was conducted using STATA MP 14 software. The RCTs included in this study were published studies and therefore did not require ethics committee review or patient consent. We ultimately included 46 RCTs covering 8 CPMs including ginkgo biloba tablet (GBT), GB capsule (GBC), ginkgo biloba drop (GBD), ginkgo biloba ketone ester drop, Fufangyinxing capsule, fufangyinxingtongmai oral liquid, Yinxingmihuan oral liquid, Yindanxinanotong softgel capsule (YDXNT). GBD + CT demonstrated the highest effectiveness in reducing systolic blood pressure (surface under the cumulative ranking [SUCRA] = 78.7%) and improving total effective rate (SUCRA = 86.7%). GBC + CT exhibited the greatest efficacy in reducing diastolic blood pressure (SUCRA = 92.6%). GBT + CT was identified as the most effective in lowering total cholesterol (TC) (SUCRA = 100%). Additionally, YDXNT + CT demonstrated notable improvements in triglyceride levels (SUCRA = 92.2%), Nitric oxide (NO) (SUCRA = 93.9%), and ET-1 (SUCRA = 67.5%). In terms of safety, 14 studies reported the occurrence of adverse reactions with a high degree of clinical heterogeneity, which was only qualitatively analyzed in this study. We found that a combination of 8 ginkgo-based CPMs + CT was effective in hypertension compared with CT. The evidence showed that GBD + CT were the best in improving systolic blood pressure and total effective rate, GBC + CT improved diastolic blood pressure, GBT + CT were the most effective in improving TC, and YDXNT + CT was the most effective in improving TG, NO, and ET-1. Adverse effects were only analyzed qualitatively, and the number of adverse effects of CPMs treatment was relatively low compared to CT. In addition, the quality of the literature included in the study was low, and further validation through RCTs with larger sample sizes, higher quality, and more rigorously designed is needed.

Epigenome-wide association study of lung cancer among never smokers in two prospective cohorts in Shanghai, China

BackgroundThe aetiology of lung cancer among individuals who never smoked remains elusive, despite 15% of lung cancer cases in men and 53% in women worldwide being unrelated to smoking. Epigenetic...

Background TV and infant-family interactions: Insights from home observations.

Background television has been found to negatively impact children's language development and self-regulatory skills, possibly due to decreased parent-child interactions. Most of the research on the relationship between background TV and caregiver-child interactions has been conducted in laboratory settings. In the current study, we conducted home observations and investigated whether infants engage in fewer interactions with family members in homes where background TV is more prevalent. We observed 32 infants at the ages of 8, 10, and 18months in their home environments, coding for dyadic interactions (e.g., parent talking to and/or engaging with the child), triadic interactions (e.g., parent and infant play with a toy together), and infants' individual activities. Our findings revealed that background TV was negatively associated with the time infants spent in triadic interactions, positively associated with time spent engaging in individual activities, and not significantly related to the time spent in dyadic interactions. Apart from the relationship between background TV and individual activity time at 8months, these associations remained significant even after accounting for families' socioeconomic status. These findings imply a correlation between background TV exposure and caregiver-infant-object interactions, warranting a longitudinal analysis with larger sample sizes.

Mandibular Fixed Prosthesis With A 3d-Printed Subperiosteal Implant: A Case Report.

This case report aims to present the successful restoration of the atrophic partially edentulous posterior mandible using custom-made subperiosteal implants. The fixed prosthesis restoration was achieved using CAD-CAM technologies and 3D metal printing methods. The partially edentulous 58-year-old patient expressed a preference not to undergo bone augmentation procedures. The patient with teeth in the anterior mandible was treated with two separate custom-made subperiosteal implants. A custom-made prosthesis was fabricated from sintered titanium using machined subperiosteal implants with a universal external connection. Subperiosteal implants offer several advantages over conventional bone grafting plus intraosseous implant placement techniques, such as the simple, one-step procedure for atrophic jaws, streamlining the treatment process and reducing the overall time involved. Treatments using subperiosteal implants can be an alternative solution for individuals with severely atrophic jaws. Longer-term studies in a larger sample are warranted to corroborate previous reports.

Trainability of affordance judgments in right and left hemisphere stroke patients.

Whenever we are confronted with action opportunities in everyday life, e.g., when passing an opening, we rely on our ability to precisely estimate our own bodily capabilities in relation to the environmental conditions. So-called affordance judgments can be affected after brain damage. Previous studies with healthy adults showed that such judgments appeared to be trainable within one session. In the current study, we examined whether stroke patients with either right brain damage (n = 30) or left brain damage (n = 30) may similarly profit from training in an aperture task. Further, the role of neuropsychological deficits in trainability was investigated. In the administered task, stroke patients decided whether their hand would fit into a presented opening with varying horizontal width (Aperture Task). During one training session, patients were asked to try to fit their hand into the opening and received feedback on their decisions. We analyzed accuracy and the detection theory parameters perceptual sensitivity and judgment tendency. Both patients with right brain damage and patients with left brain damage showed improved performance during training as well as post training. High variability with differential profiles of trainability was revealed in these patients. Patients with impaired performance in a visuo-spatial or motor-cognitive task appeared to profit considerably from the target-driven action phase with feedback, but the performance increase in judgments did not last when the action was withdrawn. Future studies applying lesion analysis with a larger sample may shed further light on the dissociation in the trainability of affordance judgments observed in patients with versus without visuo-spatial or motor-cognitive deficits.