Longitudinal Study Research Articles

Effect of artificial natural light on the development of myopia among primary school-age children in China: a three-year longitudinal study

AIM: To assess the efficacy of artificial natural light in preventing incident myopia in primary school-age children. METHODS: This is a prospective, randomized control, intervention study. A total of 1840 students from 39 classes in 4 primary schools in Foshan participated in this study. The whole randomization method was adopted to include classes as a group according to 1:1 randomized control. Classrooms in the control group were illuminated by usual light, and classrooms in the intervention group were illuminated by artificial natural light. All students received uncorrected visual acuity and best-corrected visual acuity measurement, non-cycloplegic autorefraction, ocular biometric examination, slit lamp and strabismus examination. Three-year follow-up, the students underwent same procedures. Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent refraction ≤ -0.50 D and uncorrected visual acuity <20/20. RESULTS: There were 894 students in the control group and 946 students in the intervention group with a mean±SD age of 7.50±0.53y. The three-year cumulative incidence rate of myopia was 26.4% (207 incident cases among 784 eligible participants at baseline) in the control group and 21.2% (164 incident cases among 774 eligible participants at baseline) in the intervention group [difference of 5.2% (95%CI, 3.7% to 10.1%); P=0.035]. There was also a significant difference in the three-year change in spherical equivalent refraction for the control group (-0.81 D) compared with the intervention group [-0.63 D; difference of 0.18 D (95%CI, 0.08 to 0.28 D); P<0.001]. Elongation of axial length was significantly different between in the control group (0.77 mm) and the intervention group [0.72 mm; difference of 0.05 mm (95%CI, 0.01 to 0.09 mm); P=0.003]. CONCLUSION: Artificial natural light in the classroom of primary schools can result in reducing incidence rate of myopia during a period of three years.

Investigating causal links between gastroesophageal reflux disease and essential hypertension

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a prevalent global health concern with a rising incidence. Various risk factors, including obesity, hiatal hernia, and smoking, contribute to its development. Recent research suggests associations between GERD and metabolic syndrome, cardiac diseases, and hypertension (HTN). Mechanisms linking GERD to HTN involve autonomic dysfunction, inflammatory states, and endothelial dysfunction. Furthermore, GERD medications such as proton-pump inhibitors may impact blood pressure regulation. Conversely, antihypertensive medications like beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers can exacerbate GERD symptoms. While bidirectional causality exists between GERD and HTN, longitudinal studies are warranted to elucidate the precise relationship. Treatment of GERD, including anti-reflux surgery, may positively influence HTN control. However, the interplay of lifestyle factors, comorbidities, and medications necessitates further investigation to comprehensively understand this relationship. In this editorial, we comment on the article published by Wei et al in the recent issue of the World Journal of Clinical Cases . We evaluate their claims on the causal association between GERD and HTN.

Affective cognition in response to infant stimuli in pregnant compared with non-pregnant women

ABSTRACT Physiological, neurocognitive, and psychological changes facilitates adaptation to motherhood. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine differences between pregnant and non-pregnant women in affective cognitive and psychophysiological responses to infant stimuli. We hypothesized that pregnant women would display (I) reduced negative emotional reactivity and perception of distressed infant stimuli, (II) increased attention toward infants compared to adults, and (III) greater psychophysiological response to infant distress. The sample comprised 22 pregnant women (22–38 weeks gestation) and 18 non-pregnant nulliparous women. Four computerized tasks were administered to measure affective cognitive processing of infant stimuli, while recording facial expressions, electrodermal activity, and eye gazes. Results indicated that pregnant women exhibited fewer negative facial expressions, reported less frustration when exposed to distressed infant cries, and showed greater attention to emotional infant faces compared to non-pregnant women, but the differences did not remain statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons. No differences were observed in psychophysiological responses. The findings indicate a possible pregnancy-mediated effect regarding the cognitive processing of infant stimuli, potentially as preparation for motherhood. Future research with larger samples and longitudinal design is needed to understand the predictors, timing, and plasticity of cognitive changes during pregnancy.

Migraine or any headaches and white matter hyperintensities and their progression in women and men

BackgroundCross-sectional and longitudinal studies have been conducted to investigate the association between migraine and any headache and white matter hyperintensities (WMH). However, studies are inconsistent regarding the strength of the association and its clinical significance. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between headache and its subtypes (migraine with aura (MigA+), migraine without aura (MigA-), non-migraine headache (nonMigHA)) and WMH and its course in the population-based 1000BRAINS study using state-of-the-art imaging techniques and migraine classification according to modified international classification of headache disorders.MethodsData from 1062 participants (45% women, 60.9 ± 13.0 years) with ever or never headache (neverHA) and complete quantitative (WMH volume) and qualitative (Fazekas classification) WMH data at first imaging and after 3.7 ± 0.7 years (393 participants) were analyzed. The sex-specific association between headache and its subtypes and WMH volume and its change was evaluated by linear regression, between headache and its subtypes and Fazekas score high vs. low (2–3 vs. 0–1) by log-binomial regression, adjusted for confounders.ResultsThe lifetime prevalence of headache was 77.5% (10.5% MigA+, 26.9% MigA-, 40.1% nonMigHA). The median WMH volume was 4005 (IQR: 2454–6880) mm3 in women and 4812 (2842–8445) mm3 in men. Women with any headaches (all headache types combined) had a 1.23 [1.04; 1.45]-fold higher WMH volume than women who reported never having had a headache. There was no indication of higher Fazekas grading or more WMH progression in women with migraine or any headaches. Men with migraine or any headaches did not have more WMH or WMH progression compared to men without migraine or men who never had headache.ConclusionsOur study demonstrated no increased occurrence or progression of WMH in participants with mgiraine. But, our results provide some evidence of greater WMH volume in women with headache of any type including migraine. The underlying pathomechanisms and the reasons why this was not shown in men are unclear and require further research.

Comparison of traditional growth rods and magnetically controlled growing rods in early-onset scoliosis: a case-matched mid term follow-up study.

Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) has always been a challenging situation for spine surgeons. The aim of treatment is to control the direction of curve progression to allow for the complete development of lungs. Among all the growth constructs available, traditional growth rods (TGR) and magnetically controlled growth rods (MCGR) are most widely used. The MCGR has been introduced a few years back and there is a dearth of long-term follow-up studies. The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness of TGR and MCGR for the treatment of EOS. All patients of EOS managed with either TGR or MCGR were included in the study. The patients managed with other methods or having follow-up < 2-years were excluded from the study. A total of 20 patients were recruited in the MCGR group and 28 patients were recruited in the TGR group. Both groups were matched by etiology, gender, pre-operative radiological parameters, and complications including unplanned surgeries. The mean age in our study was 7.90years in the MCGR group and 7.46years in the TGR group. The mean duration of follow-up in the MCGR group was 50.89months and in the TGR group 94.2months. Pre-operative cobb's angle in the coronal plane and T1-S1 were comparable in both groups with a mean cobb's angle of 65.4 in MCGR and 70.5 in TGR. The mean T1-S1 length in the MCGR group was 36.1cms and in the TGR group was 35.2cms (p = 0.18). The average increase in T1-S1 length was 1.3cm/year in the TGR group and 1.1cm/year in the MCGR group (p > 0.05). The TGR patients underwent 186 open lengthening surgeries and 11 unplanned surgeries for various complications. The MCGR group has 180 non-invasive lengthening with only 4 unplanned returns to OT for various causes. The curve correction was similar in both TGR and MCGR groups. The average T1-S1 length achieved on final follow-up was similar in both groups. The MCGR patients have attained similar correction with fewer invasive procedures and lesser complications compared to the TGR group.

A study of asymptpmatic hypoglycemia in at risk newborn babies admitted at a tertiary care hospital

: Babies often have blood glucose levels that are 70% of their mothers at birth. Within an hour, it reaches its lowest point, which can be as low as 20 to 25 mg/dl. All healthy newborns experience this low point and have lower than average blood glucose levels. These are just temporary, and they gradually increase in the first few days of a newborn's life. : To determine the proportion of asymptomatic hypoglycemia in at risk newborn babies. To study plasma sugar level at various time, point during first 48hr of life and the effect of risk factor associated with asymptomatic hypoglycemia. : A Hospital-based longitudinal observational study was conducted among 303 patients at Department of Pediatrics of tertiary care Hospital during June 2021 – July 2021. : Total 159 were males and 154 were females. Among the study participants, 203(83%) cases were from Urban area, while 50(17%) were from Rural area. No. of 114(37.6%) babies had asymptomatic hypoglycemia, identified by routine screening. In total various risk factors was found in which among 29% cases had LGA, 41% had preterm and 30% had weight less than 2 kg. : Screening of at risk newborn helps in the early detection of asymptomatic hypoglycemia which will help in the prevention of adverse neurodevelopmental outcome. Routine screening helped to decrease morbidity and mortality due to hypoglycemia. The first 24 hours of life is a crucial part, at - risk babies are more prone to hypoglycemia hence routine screening is recommended in high-risk babies.

CRISPR-Cas13d screens identify KILR, a breast cancer risk-associated lncRNA that regulates DNA replication and repair

BackgroundLong noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have surpassed the number of protein-coding genes, yet the majority have no known function. We previously discovered 844 lncRNAs that were genetically linked to breast cancer through genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Here, we show that a subset of these lncRNAs alter breast cancer risk by modulating cell proliferation, and provide evidence that a reduced expression on one lncRNA increases breast cancer risk through aberrant DNA replication and repair.MethodsWe performed pooled CRISPR-Cas13d-based knockdown screens in breast cells to identify which of the 844 breast cancer-associated lncRNAs alter cell proliferation. We selected one of the lncRNAs that increased cell proliferation, KILR, for follow-up functional studies. KILR pull-down followed by mass spectrometry was used to identify binding proteins. Knockdown and overexpression studies were performed to assess the mechanism by which KILR regulates proliferation.ResultsWe show that KILR functions as a tumor suppressor, safeguarding breast cells against uncontrolled proliferation. The half-life of KILR is significantly reduced by the risk haplotype, revealing an alternative mechanism by which variants alter cancer risk. Mechanistically, KILR sequesters RPA1, a subunit of the RPA complex required for DNA replication and repair. Reduced KILR expression promotes breast cancer cell proliferation by increasing the available pool of RPA1 and speed of DNA replication. Conversely, KILR overexpression promotes apoptosis in breast cancer cells, but not normal breast cells.ConclusionsOur results confirm lncRNAs as mediators of breast cancer risk, emphasize the need to annotate noncoding transcripts in relevant cell types when investigating GWAS variants and provide a scalable platform for mapping phenotypes associated with lncRNAs.

Maternal milk intake and the foetus growth: A bio-cultural study in Pune

The relationship between maternal diet and foetal parameters has been a matter of debate because of the number of parameters and various dimensions associated with it. The study has gained attraction because of its importance despite of uncertainty and controversy in it.: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between maternal milk consumption and fetal growth as well as the birth weight of the newborn. To achieve this objective, dietary information was collected using a 24-hour diet recall survey, and protein intake was evaluated based on dietary intake. A total of 455 ultrasound observations from 229 respondents were collected by using a Prospective Observational Cohort Mixed Longitudinal study design in the second and last trimester of pregnancy from one private and two government hospitals in Pune, India where direct interviews were taken. Dietary data were collected using 24-hour diet recall. Food Frequency questionnaire was administered to understand the dietary habits and preferences. The average protein intake was 77.33g/day. Birth weight and Protein intake of mother do not show statistically significant linear relationship (=0.605) The descriptive test shows that the majority of respondents had tendency to consume less than one cup (155.64 mL) of milk per day. The study shows better tendency of foetal growth in BPD, HC, AC, FL, FW, Weight at birth in the group of the respondent consuming milk more than 4 cups (&amp;#62;717mL) per day. This growth might be due to the micronutrient intake of mother. There is no association between maternal milk intake and the fetus growth.

잠재성장모형(LGM)을 이용한 중학생의 자아개념이 창의성과 학습동기에 미치는 영향 종단분석

Objectives This study sought to find ways to improve policies through a longitudinal analysis of the impact of middle school students' self-concept on creativity and learning motivation using the latent growth model (LGM). Methods For this purpose, data on middle school students from the 2nd to 4th years (2019-2021, Panel 2) of the Jeonnam Education Longitudinal Study (JELS) were used for analysis, and self-concept was selected as an independent variable and creativity and learning motivation were selected as dependent variables in the potential growth model. This panel data (JELS) is a 10-year follow-up survey targeting 2,199 students (Panel 1) in 4th grade elementary school from 2018 and 2,549 students in 1st middle school (Panel 2) from 2019. Among the data (Panel 2) for a total of 75 schools, including 58 general middle school schools and 13 innovative schools, starting in 2019, 1,625 students, excluding missing values, were analyzed as final data. Results The main research results are as follows. First, the average self-concept, creativity, and learning motivation of middle school students was around 3 points for self-concept and creativity, and around 2 points for learning motivation, with learning motivation being the lowest. Second, there was a positive correlation between each variable. Third, middle school students' self-concept, creativity, and learning motivation showed a gradual decrease in change over time, and there were individual differences in the initial values of each variable. Fourth, self-concept and creativity showed group differences in initial values depending on gender, but the differences disappeared over time. It is predicted that there will be individual and group differences in learning motivation both at the initial value and over time. Fifth, the initial value and rate of change of self-concept only had a direct effect on the initial value and rate of change of creativity, and the initial value and rate of change of creativity only had a direct effect on the rate of change of learning motivation. Sixth, the initial value and rate of change of creativity had a positive mediating effect on the initial value and rate of change of self-concept and the initial value and rate of change of learning motivation. Learning motivation, which is essential for academic achievement, is highly correlated with and greatly influenced by self-concept and creativity, and the pattern of change shows a trajectory of gradual decline over time. Conclusions Therefore, it is believed that creativity and learning motivation will improve if self-concept is established and improved.

Possible sarcopenia and risk of chronic kidney disease: a four-year follow-up study and Mendelian randomization analysis

ABSTRACT Introduction Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common risk factor for sarcopenia. However, whether sarcopenia increases the risk of CKD remains unclear. To investigate the longitudinal and causal associations between possible sarcopenia and CKD, this study was performed. Methods Possible sarcopenia was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia in 2019. Participants aged ≥ 40 years were recruited from the baseline survey of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and followed up for four years. Binary logistic regression was used to evaluate the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between possible sarcopenia, low muscle strength, low physical performance and CKD. Propensity score matching was used to balance the intergroup differences. Subgroup and interactive analyses were adopted to identify potential interactive effects. Mendelian Randomization analysis was used to assess the causal association between appendicular lean mass (ALM) and CKD. Results After data cleansing, a total of 7296 participants were included in the baseline survey. In the cross-sectional analyses, the odds ratios (ORs) of prevalent CKD were 1.50 (95% CI = 1.23–1.84, p < 0.001) for possible sarcopenia, 1.37 (95% CI = 1.10–1.70, p < 0.01) for low muscle strength and 1.42 (95% CI = 1.16–1.74, p < 0.001) for low physical performance in the full models. No significant interaction effects of covariates were detected (all P for interaction > 0.05). After four years of follow-up, an increased risk of incident CKD was also observed in participants with possible sarcopenia (OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.13–2.44, p = 0.010) and low physical performance (OR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.16–2.45, p = 0.006), but not in participants with low muscle strength (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 0.75–1.88, p = 0.469). In the Mendelian Randomization analysis, the inverse variance weighted estimator showed that a 1-standard deviation increase of genetically predicted ALM was associated with a lower risk of CKD (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.85–0.99, p = 0.035). All the sensitivity analyses supported the main findings. Conclusions Possible sarcopenia is an independent risk factor for CKD and may serve as a predictor of CKD for early identification and intervention.

Genetic Architectures of Adolescent Depression Trajectories in 2 Longitudinal Population Cohorts.

Adolescent depression is characterized by diverse symptom trajectories over time and has a strong genetic influence. Research has determined genetic overlap between depression and other psychiatric conditions; investigating the shared genetic architecture of heterogeneous depression trajectories is crucial for understanding disease etiology, prediction, and early intervention. To investigate univariate and multivariate genetic risk for adolescent depression trajectories and assess generalizability across ancestries. This cohort study entailed longitudinal growth modeling followed by polygenic risk score (PRS) association testing for individual and multitrait genetic models. Two longitudinal cohorts from the US and UK were used: the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD; N = 11 876) study and the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC; N = 8787) study. Included were adolescents with genetic information and depression measures at up to 8 and 4 occasions, respectively. Study data were analyzed January to July 2023. Trajectories were derived from growth mixture modeling of longitudinal depression symptoms. PRSs were computed for depression, anxiety, neuroticism, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism in European ancestry. Genomic structural equation modeling was used to build multitrait genetic models of psychopathology followed by multitrait PRS. Depression PRSs were computed in African, East Asian, and Hispanic ancestries in the ABCD cohort only. Association testing was performed between all PRSs and trajectories for both cohorts. A total sample size of 14 112 adolescents (at baseline: mean [SD] age, 10.5 [0.5] years; 7269 male sex [52%]) from both cohorts were included in this analysis. Distinct depression trajectories (stable low, adolescent persistent, increasing, and decreasing) were replicated in the ALSPAC cohort (6096 participants; 3091 female [51%]) and ABCD cohort (8016 participants; 4274 male [53%]) between ages 10 and 17 years. Most univariate PRSs showed significant uniform associations with persistent trajectories, but fewer were significantly associated with intermediate (increasing and decreasing) trajectories. Multitrait PRSs-derived from a hierarchical factor model-showed the strongest associations for persistent trajectories (ABCD cohort: OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.26-1.68; ALSPAC cohort: OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.20-1.49), surpassing the effect size of univariate PRS in both cohorts. Multitrait PRSs were associated with intermediate trajectories but to a lesser extent (ABCD cohort: hierarchical increasing, OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.13-1.43; decreasing, OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.09-1.40; ALSPAC cohort: hierarchical increasing, OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.04-1.28; decreasing, OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.18-1.47). Transancestral genetic risk for depression showed no evidence for association with trajectories. Results of this cohort study revealed a high multitrait genetic loading of persistent symptom trajectories, consistent across traits and cohorts. Variability in univariate genetic association with intermediate trajectories may stem from environmental factors. Multitrait genetics may strengthen depression prediction models, but more diverse data are needed for generalizability.

Longitudinal Renal Function Degradation Among Florida Agricultural Workers.

This longitudinal study evaluated renal function and acute kidney injury (AKI) over time in U.S. agricultural workers. We followed Florida agricultural workers from January 2020 to August 2022, collecting blood and urine pre- and post-workday during 5 visits. Pre-workday eGFR function in all participants was lower in summers but relatively consistent over time. In participants who worked almost exclusively in fernery operations (piece-rate compensation), we observed a high incidence of post-workday AKI in 2020 (21%) that increased to 43% by the end of the study. In comparison, 11% of nursery workers (hourly compensation) had AKI, and this rate was fairly stable. AKI risk over time differs according to the type of agricultural work. Piece rate workers who are incentivized to forgo rest breaks and hydration to earn higher wages demonstrate steadily increasing rates of AKI.

Active Rheumatoid Arthritis and Scoliosis: A Mid-Term Cohort Study.

Retrospective cohort study. To elucidate the factors related to progression of scoliosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using longitudinal cohort data. Thirty percent of patients with RA have lumbar scoliosis. However, the effectiveness of current treatment methods in preventing the progression of scoliosis is not well-understood due to a lack of longitudinal studies. We enrolled 180 patients with RA who were followed up for over two years, all of whom underwent standing spinal X-rays. These patients were categorized based on their disease activity score-28 with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) into two groups: those in remission (n=76) and those in non-remission (n=104). We evaluated various radiographic measures, including C7 center sacral vertical line (C7-CSVL), pelvic obliquity, major Cobb angle, and curve location. Fifty-three (29.4%) patients presented progression of scoliosis during a mean follow-up period of 4.8 years. Patients in the non-remission showed larger Cobb angle at baseline and final follow-up, compared to those in remission. The annual progression rate of the curve was also greater in the non-remission group (1.04 degree /year), than in the remission group (0.59 degree /year, P=0.001). There was no difference in the incidence of new vertebral fractures. The presence of a baseline cobb angle of 10 degree or more (OR: 3.14; 95% CI: 1.38-7.13; P=0.006), glucocorticoid use (OR: 2.88; 95% CI: 1.18-7.06; P=0.021), and non-remission at baseline (OR: 2.83; 95% CI: 1.25-6.41; P=0.012) were significant risk factors for progression of scoliosis. RA disease activity is linked to progression of scoliosis in patients with RA. Patients with RA who present with an initial scoliosis of 10 degrees or greater, require glucocorticoids for treatment and are in non-remission at baseline may be at high risk for scoliosis progression.

Predictors and Mechanisms of Resilience for High School Students with ADHD: A Prospective Longitudinal Study.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has primarily been studied from a deficit-focused perspective. However, there are individuals with ADHD who exhibit resilience or a pattern of positive adaptation despite the risks associated with their diagnosis. The present study evaluated whether peer acceptance predicted resilience for adolescents with ADHD and if self-efficacy or a stress-is-enhancing mindset served as mechanisms of those relations. Participants included 113 comprehensively evaluated adolescents with ADHD (67% male) across three time-points (10th-12th grade). Mediation analyses revealed higher T1 peer acceptance significantly predicted higher resilience (β = 0.24) 1.5-2years later, with higher T2 self-efficacy (β = 0.08) demonstrating a significant indirect effect of the association. A stress-is-enhancing mindset directly predicted resilience (β = 0.15) but was not associated with peer acceptance nor mediated the association between peer acceptance and resilience. Present results are the first to provide longitudinal evidence for peer acceptance, self-efficacy, and a stress-is-enhancing mindset as important for promoting resilience among adolescents with ADHD.

Effect of weight loss program using prebiotics and probiotics on body composition, physique, and metabolic products: longitudinal intervention study

The relationship between gut microbiota and obesity has recently been an important subject for research as the gut microbiota is thought to affect body homeostasis including body weight and composition, intervening with pro and prebiotics is an intelligent possible way for obesity management. To evaluate the effect of hypo caloric adequate fiber regimen with probiotic supplementation and physical exercise, whether it will have a good impact on health, body composition, and physique among obese Egyptian women or has no significant effect. The enrolled 58 women, in this longitudinal follow-up intervention study; followed a weight loss eating regimen (prebiotic), including a low-carbohydrate adequate-fiber adequate-protein dietary pattern with decreased energy intake. They additionally received daily probiotic supplements in the form of yogurt and were instructed to exercise regularly for 3 months. Anthropometric measurements, body composition, laboratory investigations, and microbiota analysis were obtained before and after the 3 months weight loss program. Statistically highly significant differences in the anthropometry, body composition parameters: and obesity-related biomarkers (Leptin, ALT, and AST) between the pre and post-follow-up measurements at the end of the study as they were all decreased. The prebiotic and probiotic supplementation induced statistically highly significant alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota with increased relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria, and Bacteroidetes and decreased relative abundance of Firmicutes and Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes Ratio. Hypo caloric adequate fiber regimen diet with probiotics positively impacts body composition and is effective for weight loss normalizing serum Leptin and AST.

Adolescents’ attitudes, habits, identity and social support in relation to physical activity after the COVID-19 pandemic

This study focuses on adolescents’ cognitive processes, behaviors and social support (SS) as they relate to physical activity (PA) before and after the pandemic. The aims of the study were: (1) to investigate the changes in adolescents’ engagement in moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and examine the changes in PA-related attitudes and behaviors before and after the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) to analyze the correlations between the significant changes that were found, PA engagement, and SS. The survey targeted third-year middle school students of Italian nationality, attending male and female mixed classes, residents in urban, periphery and sub-urban areas, living in families with different incomes, and different habits of engaging in PA. A longitudinal study was developed using a standardized questionnaire. The questionnaire was administered in April–May 2023 to a sample of 952 students aged 11/14 residing in the Marche region in Central Italy. Increasing values were found in the post-COVID-19 phase for all the cognitive processes and attitudes, in particular, those regarding habits (0.66 vs 0.50, + 32%) and identity (0.70 vs 0.55, + 27%) related to PA. Significant correlations were found between these values and VPA engagement and between the values of the same indicators and SS (p < 0.01). The strongest relationship was found with the dimension of identity (r = 0.51; r = 054).

Deadly consequences: lessons from the evolution of terrorist attacks against United States diplomats

ABSTRACT This article sheds light on the complex relationship between adaptive terrorist behaviours and U.S. diplomacy by investigating the interplay between diplomatic security reform and terrorist target selection. A longitudinal study (1970–2019) of 555 terrorist attacks against U.S. diplomats suggests that terrorists targeted U.S. diplomats between 1970 and 1998 because they were perceived as soft, yet symbolic, targets. In response to increasing attacks on diplomats, the U.S. began improving diplomatic security, but an inability to grasp how terrorists operate caused this process to be inefficient and flawed. Terrorists, in turn, exploited these security conditions for decades until, after the deadliest series of coordinated attacks against U.S. diplomats occurred in 1998, security improved to a level where diplomats were no longer a viable target. The findings underscore the critical role of security enhancements and lessons learned in deterring terrorists, emphasising the need for effective intelligence systems and policies. The analysis therefore has numerous implications for understanding how we can learn from our inaction and demonstrates how we should use our understanding of terrorist rationality to predict tomorrow’s terrorist threats.

Distinct gut microbiota signatures associated with progression of atherosclerosis in people living with HIV.

The relationship of microbiota composition dynamics and the progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in people with HIV (PWH) remains unknown. 96-week, prospective, longitudinal study in virologically-suppressed PWH. Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) measurements and stool samples were obtained at baseline, 48-week and 96-week visits. cIMT progression was defined as an increase >10% and/or detection of new carotid plaque. To profile the gut microbiome, amplification and sequencing of 16S ribosomal-RNA (V3-V4 variable regions) were carried out following the Illumina protocol. Sequencing was performed with MiSeq platform. 191, 190 and 167 patients had available fecal samples for microbiome analysis at the baseline, 48- and 96-week visits, respectively. 87 (43%) participants showed atherosclerosis progression, and 54 (26.7%) presented new carotid plaque. No significant differences were observed in adjusted α-diversity indices between groups defined by cIMT progression. Beta-diversity determined through principal coordinate analysis distances showed that the groups exhibited distinct microbial profiles (PERMANOVA p-value = 0.03). Longitudinal analysis with ANCOM-BC2 adjusted for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, MSM and nadir CD4 count revealed that cIMT progression was consistently associated with Agathobacter and Ruminococcus_2, while non-progression was consistently associated with Prevotella_7. Progression of atherosclerosis in PWH might be associated with distinctive signatures in the gut microbiota.

Autoimmune hepatitis displays distinctively high multi-antennary sialylation on plasma N-glycans compared to other liver diseases

BackgroundChanges in plasma protein glycosylation are known to functionally affect proteins and to associate with liver diseases, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a liver disease characterized by liver inflammation and raised serum levels of IgG, and is difficult to distinguish from other liver diseases. The aim of this study was to examine plasma and IgG-specific N-glycosylation in AIH and compare it with healthy controls and other liver diseases.MethodsIn this cross-sectional cohort study, total plasma N-glycosylation and IgG Fc glycosylation analysis was performed by mass spectrometry for 66 AIH patients, 60 age- and sex-matched healthy controls, 31 primary biliary cholangitis patients, 10 primary sclerosing cholangitis patients, 30 non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients and 74 patients with viral or alcoholic hepatitis. A total of 121 glycans were quantified per individual. Associations between glycosylation traits and AIH were investigated as compared to healthy controls and other liver diseases.ResultsGlycan traits bisection (OR: 3.78 [1.88–9.35], p-value: 5.88 × 10− 3), tetraantennary sialylation per galactose (A4GS) (OR: 2.88 [1.75–5.16], p-value: 1.63 × 10− 3), IgG1 galactosylation (OR: 0.35 [0.2–0.58], p-value: 3.47 × 10− 5) and hybrid type glycans (OR: 2.73 [1.67–4.89], p-value: 2.31 × 10− 3) were found as discriminators between AIH and healthy controls. High A4GS differentiated AIH from other liver diseases, while bisection associated with cirrhosis severity.ConclusionsCompared to other liver diseases, AIH shows distinctively high A4GS levels in plasma, with potential implications on glycoprotein function and clearance. Plasma-derived glycosylation has potential to be used as a diagnostic marker for AIH in the future. This may alleviate the need for a liver biopsy at diagnosis. Glycosidic changes should be investigated further in longitudinal studies and may be used for diagnostic and monitoring purposes in the future.

The triple helix collaboration: lessons from a Chinese provincial innovation ecosystem

Purpose Innovation is vital for sustainable regional development. Government is generally not a source of innovation per se, but the authors shows that by establishing and funding an industrial innovation ecosystem, it can create fertile conditions for research institutions to introduce innovative technologies into industry and for industry to introduce its gaps and needs to motivate and direct academic research. This paper aims to present a case study of the Jiangsu Industrial Technology Research Institute (JITRI) as a “triple helix” collaboration model engaging Industry-University-Research (IUR) institutions. The authors aim to provide a fresh perspective on constructing innovation ecosystems, promoting value creation and advancing the adoption of industrial technology. Design/methodology/approach Taking JITRI as a case study, this research examines its innovative approaches to interfacing with IUR organizations within China’s Yangtze Delta region. The authors propose a multilayered framework where JITRI serves as the core, facilitating the formation of a robust innovation ecosystem with diverse IUR entities. Findings This framework comprises three layers: core, platform and support. JITRI acts as the central nexus, binding these elements together and fostering a cohesive innovation ecosystem. By analyzing the operational mechanisms of the Jiangsu Provincial innovation system, the authors gain valuable insights into how JITRI bridges the gap between academia and industry. This facilitates the efficient commercialization of technologies. The success of the JITRI approach presents a compelling model for emulation by other provincial innovation ecosystems seeking to enhance their innovation capabilities. Research limitations/implications This study enriches the ongoing conversation on innovation ecosystems, proposing novel avenues for further research. However, the field requires continuous monitoring through longitudinal studies. Given the long-term nature of such initiatives, the full impact of this approach might only be realized over several decades. Practical implications JITRI aims to create a robust and innovative provincial innovation ecosystem through its focus on IUR collaboration. This unique approach offers valuable insights and ideas for fostering the development of thriving innovation ecosystems in other provinces. These insights encompass new perspectives on innovation ecosystem development, value creation and industrial advancement. Originality/value This study pioneers the use of the JITRI system as a case study, offering valuable insights with potential application to innovation ecosystems across China and globally.