Male Participants Research Articles

Sex Differences in Natural History and Health Outcomes Among Individuals With Tic Disorders.

To analyze sex differences in outcomes in Tourette syndrome (TS) and Persistent Motor or Vocal tic disorders (PMVT) in the Tourette Association of America International Consortium for Genetics (TAAICG) dataset. The relationship between sex and clinical measures was explored in 2,403 participants (N = 2,109 with TS; N = 294 with PMVT) from the TAAICG dataset using generalized estimating equation regression models, and adjusted for age and family relationships. Female (vs male) participants with TS (25.5% of the sample) had 0.46 times lower odds of being formally diagnosed clinically with TS before the research study (p < 0.00001), later age at symptom onset (6.5 ± 2.8 vs 6.0 ± 2.7; p = 0.001), later age at diagnosis (13.3 ± 11.2 vs 10.7 ± 8.1; p = 0.0001), a longer time-to-diagnosis (3 [1, 7] vs 2 [1, 5], p = 0.01), and lower tic severity (28.4 ± 9.1 vs 30.7 ± 8.7); p < 0.0001). Female (vs male) participants with PMVT (42.9% of the sample) had an earlier age at symptom onset (7.9 ± 3.3 vs 8.9 ± 3.7; p = 0.05). Female (vs male) participants with TS are less likely to be formally diagnosed, have later age at symptom onset, later age at diagnosis, and longer time-to-diagnosis. Female (vs male) participants with PMVT have an earlier age at symptom onset. Future research is needed to understand differences longitudinally in TS and PMVT.

Supplement Use among Hypertensive Patients in Two Rural and Two Urban Health Centers in Guyana, South America

Objective: This study aimed to comparatively assess the knowledge and practices related to the use of dietary supplements as adjunctive treatment and management for hypertension among patients attending two rural and two urban health centers in Guyana. Methods: A cross-sectional, mixed-methods design was employed to evaluate the prevalence, patterns, and motivations for dietary supplement use among 144 hypertensive adults (71 urban, 73 rural) in Guyana, with a focus on the influence of cultural practices on healthcare approaches. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, which was pretested in a pilot study to ensure validity and reliability. Results: The study sample consisted of 64% female and 36% male participants, with the majority (57%) being over 60 years of age. Urban participants predominantly used vitamin and mineral supplements, demonstrating a statistically significant association between supplement use and blood pressure classification (χ² = 7.16, p = .007). Conversely, rural participants more frequently relied on herbal remedies, particularly for preventive purposes. Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for larger-scale, longitudinal studies to comprehensively explore the interplay between cultural influences, dietary supplement use, and hypertension management in Guyana. Such research is essential for informing the development of culturally sensitive public health interventions to enhance hypertension care in diverse populations.

Development of a 3D-knee brace joint using MRI data and a genetic algorithm

Approximately 40% of sports-related injuries affect the knee joint, with the anterior cruciate ligament particularly susceptible to injury. The use of knee orthoses for the prevention of knee injuries has become a common practice in sports such as ice hockey, American football, and alpine skiing. However, orthoses cannot accurately reproduce the complex kinematics of the knee. This might be associated with a decrease in performance and comfort. This study aims to improve the congruence between orthotic joints and a measured knee motion. Knee kinematics of four male participants were recorded using a combination of video motion capture and MRI. Finite helical axes were computed to design the new orthotic joint. The new joint consists of two four-bar linkages optimized by a genetic algorithm to approximate the finite helical axis positions. A multi-body simulation was used to determine the change of constraining forces in the knee using the new orthosis compared to a conventional one. The mean squared error between knee and orthosis motions for the medial joint parts was 0.07 to 2.04 mm and 1.1 to 10.65 mm for the lateral joints. The total MSE was 3.46 mm. The simulation results showed substantially reduced constraining forces for the new joint, indicating a better match with natural knee kinematics. This improvement could increases orthosis effectiveness and comfort, thereby accelerating the healing process. In conclusion, the introduced approach allows a more accurate replication of the knee’s natural movement, thereby minimizing constraining forces in the knee and possibly improving comfort.

Acceptance and affordability of malaria vaccines: issues relating to hesitancy and willingness to pay amongst Nigerian parents of under-five children

BackgroundWith the recent approval of the malaria vaccine by the World Health Organization, it is expected that global acceptance and subsequent uptake of the intervention can help to reduce the burden of the disease in Africa. This study adopted a proactive approach in assessing parents' acceptance of the malaria vaccine, alongside their willingness to pay for the novel public health intervention.MethodsA national cross-sectional survey was undertaken in Nigeria using a questionnaire as the data collection instrument. The study tool was administered to parents of child-bearing age. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 25.ResultsA total of 1413 valid responses were received with male (49.5%) and female (50.5%) participants represented by similar proportions. Close to two-thirds (62.5%) of the participants were between the ages of 31 and 40 years, and 47.4% of the participants were educated up to national diploma level. More than two-thirds (69.6%) of the participants indicated that they were worried about side effects that may be associated with the malaria vaccine. A strong majority (90%) of the participants indicated that the vaccine should be administered at no cost to citizens, while 46.7% of the respondents were willing to pay for the malaria vaccination. Levels of education attained by the respondents influenced their willingness to pay for malaria vaccination. This variable also underpinned participants' reasons for non-acceptance of the vaccine. Those who attained only primary and secondary levels of education were significantly more likely to reject the malaria vaccine because they were against vaccines in general (AOR = 6.63; 95% CI = 1.33 – 39.25; p = 0.021). ConclusionThis study provides critical novel insights which could influence vaccination efforts aimed at reducing the burden of malaria in Nigeria, as well as similar settings.

Comparative Study of Open and Laparoscopic Appendectomy with Complications in Government and Private Sector Hospitals

Background: Patients face a 6% lifetime probability of undergoing appendectomy as an emergency surgical treatment. The surgical treatment methods known as Open Appendectomy (OA) and Laparoscopic Appendectomy (LA) represent the standard approaches for clinical use but each brings specific benefits and restrictions. Significant progress has been made but additional comparative studies are necessary to assess the treatment results together with surgical complications and recovery in different hospital facilities. The research examines outcomes between Open Appendectomy (OA) and Laparoscopic Appendectomy (LA) across government institutions along with private healthcare facilities. Objectives: This project examines the clinical results between OA and LA through evaluations about procedural difficulties alongside pain intensity levels and treatment duration measurements. The secondary analysis measures both surgical operation duration and patients' clinical course by charting hospital stay duration and activity restoration period and adopting patient-based results evaluation. This evaluation seeks to discover whether organizational sector impacts patient results from government sectors compared to private institutions. Methods: This prospective comparative research took place between District Headquarter Hospital and Sandhu Medicare Hospital in Toba Tek Singh, Pakistan. The researcher enrolled 108 appendectomy patients aged between 18 and 50 through random sampling for the study. Patients were divided into two groups based on the surgical approach: OA (n=54) and LA (n=54). A structured questionnaire gathered data for demographic information alongside pre-operative and post-operative metrics and duration of surgery and complications from all participants. The researchers used SPSS software version 24 to run their statistical analysis. Results: Patients within the OA group presented with a mean age of 44.20 years while patients in the LA group maintained a mean age of 44.19 years. Stone operations showed higher male participation than female (62.96% in OA and 61.11% in LA). The duration of surgical procedures measured at 89.22 ± 15.48 minutes in OA and 88.65 ± 18.64 minutes in LA with no significant difference comparison (p=0.8621). The length of hospital stay was comparable between the patients having Open Appendectomy (OA) who spent 5.31 ± 1.04 days (p=0.2364) and patients having Laparoscopic Appendectomy (LA) who stayed 5.56 ± 1.06 days. The incidence of postoperative wound infection reached 37.04% in patients receiving open appendectomy whereas the patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy showed no infections (p&lt;0.05). A greater percentage of patients received general anesthesia during Open Appendectomy (54%) compared to Laparoscopic Appendectomy (46%) representation (p=0.0101). Alternative methods for postoperative pain control revealed equivalent results between groups according to assessments of pain scores and administered analgesic dose measurements. Conclusion: The surgical procedure Laparoscopic Appendectomy performed better after operations due to its decreased wound infections and equal recuperation results which established it as a safer choice than Open Appendectomy. The study reveals that patient outcomes differ significantly between government facilities and private hospitals pointing to a need for common operating standards. The study establishes that surgical methods should adapt to match patient characteristics along with facility operational capabilities.

Muscle coactivation changes following a fatiguing overhead drilling task: Implications for subacromial impingement syndrome.

Individuals with subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS) demonstrate altered upper limb muscle coactivation during humeral elevation and overhead tasks. This study investigated the effect of an occupationally-relevant overhead task designed to induce global shoulder muscle fatigue on scapular stabilizer and deltoid-rotator cuff muscle coactivation, and upper limb kinematics. Upper limb muscle activity and kinematics were analyzed from 33 right-handed male (n=17) and female (n=16) participants before and immediately following a simulated overhead drilling task. Co-activation was generally not affected by fatigue, however scapulothoracic, thoracohumeral, and elbow angles all displayed significant responses to fatigue. Muscle activity and kinematics were highly variable, with a considerable number of participants displaying muscular and kinematic adaptations that would increase SAIS risk. Disadvantageous scapular kinematics adaptations to fatigue correlated with disadvantageous scapular stabilizer coactivity when working in postures requiring more scapular internal rotation.

Impact of unilateral knee restraint on symmetry adaptation and double-support phase dynamic stability during split-belt walking.

The split-belt treadmill task is an effective tool for studying walking adaptation, particularly the symmetry adaptation of spatiotemporal parameters such as step length and double support time. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between symmetry adaptation of spatiotemporal parameters and dynamic stability during the double-support phase in split-belt walking. We hypothesized that restraining fast-side knee extension, which is necessary for step lengthening during adaptation, would decrease dynamic stability during the double-support phase. Ten able-bodied male participants performed split-belt walking tasks under three conditions: control, fast-side knee restraint, and slow-side knee restraint. Our findings revealed that slow-side knee restraint disrupted symmetry in double support time and significantly decreased stability on the fast side during the early and late adaptation phases. Contrary to our hypothesis, fast-side knee restraint did not have a statistically significant effect on dynamic stability or symmetry. These results suggest that decreased dynamic stability during the double-support phase, particularly due to limitations in the movement of the trailing leg, may hinder the adaptation process. This study highlights the importance of dynamic stability control during the double-support phase for successful walking adaptation. Future studies with larger sample sizes and varying speed conditions are recommended to generalize these findings and develop targeted interventions to improve walking adaptability and dynamic stability.

Phase I study of efineptakin alfa (NT-I7) for the treatment of Kaposi sarcoma

BackgroundCD4+ T-cell lymphocytopenia and immune dysfunction are factors that drive the onset and persistence of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) in people with (PWH) and without HIV. Standard chemotherapy agents for KS...

Effects of Dwell Time and Area on Task Performance of Gaze-Triggered Eye Control in AR-Aided Aircraft Cockpits

Avionics system designers are committed to integrating augmented reality (AR) aided technologies to help enhance pilots’ situation awareness. This work studied the effects of dwell time and area on task performance of gaze-triggered eye control in AR-aided aircraft cockpits. In a 6 × 5 within-subjects experiment (independent variables: dwell time & dwell area; dependent variable: accuracy), 12 male participants completed a visual search task which required them to locate a target once cues appeared on the interface and showed them detailed information on a pop-up window nearby the target. Experimental data was analyzed by statistical tests on significance and effect sizes. Results indicated that both dwell time and area influenced task performance significantly, and optimal values (dwell time: 500 ms; dwell area: 57.6 mm in diameter) were determined. Findings support that enough dwell time should be left to avoid user confusion, and a medium-level dwell area should be adopted for accuracy consideration.

Association of alcohol abstinence with risk of hyperuricemia in rural Chinese adults: the Henan Rural Cohort Study

BackgroundAlcohol drinking can cause hyperuricemia (HUA), but few studies have explored alcohol abstinence’s health effects, particularly the abstinence duration on HUA. This study aimed to evaluate the associations of abstinence with HUA in rural Chinese adults.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of 38,855 participants (15,371 males and 23,484 females) using the baseline data (2015–2017) from the Henan Rural Cohort Study. A questionnaire survey collected information on alcohol consumption patterns. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the associations of type of alcoholic beverages, abstinence status and abstinence duration with HUA, respectively. Restricted cubic spline models were applied to visualize the dose-response trend of HUA risk with increasing abstinence duration.Results3,978 cases of 38,855 participants were identified with HUA. Total alcohol intake, including beer, liquor and rice wine intake was significantly associated with the increased risk of HUA, especially for male participants. Compared with current drinkers, former drinkers and non-drinkers presented lower ORs (95%CIs) of 0.686 (0.676, 0.844) and 0.718 (0.649, 0.793) for HUA. Furthermore, the aORs (95%CIs) for those former drinkers with < 5, 6–10 and ≥ 11 years abstinence duration were 0.868 (0.693, 1.086), 0.753 (0.519, 1.092) and 0.717 (0.517, 0.990), respectively. In addition, the risk of HUA decreased with the increasing years of abstinence duration (P for trend < 0.050) and negative linear dose-response associations were observed.ConclusionFormer drinkers were associated with a reduced risk of HUA compared with current drinkers. Moreover, sustained alcohol abstinence could be beneficial for preventing HUA.Clinical Trial RegistrationThe Henan Rural Cohort Study was registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Register (Registration number: ChiCTR-OOC-15006699). Date of registration: 2015-07-06 http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=11375.

Clinical Efficacy of Belight3TM on Dark Spot Pigmentation in Caucasian Subjects

Belight3TM, a nutricosmetic formulation containing polyphenol-rich extracts, has previously been demonstrated to be safe and effective in brightening skin color and dark spots in a clinical study involving Asian volunteers. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of this formulation in lightening dark spots in a Caucasian population, which is characterized by lighter skin pigmentation and greater visibility of hyperpigmentation, as well as to determine whether the supplementation increased sensitivity to UV exposure. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study was conducted on 66 male and female participants with skin phototype I to III, all exhibiting facial hyperpigmentation. The color of selected dark spots was assessed using spectrophotometry to measure the L* value of the CIELab color space and the Individual Typology Angle (ITA). L* and ITA levels of dark spots were significantly increased after 6 and 12 weeks of Belight3TM treatment (respectively by +1.2% and +2.5% for L* and by 12.1% and 22.5% for ITA), and this lightening effect was significantly higher than the placebo after 12 weeks (p &lt; 0.05 for L*; p &lt; 0.001 for ITA). Clinical evaluation of skin complexion evenness and dark spot visibility were also improved in subjects receiving the Belight3TM treatment, achieving a significant difference with the placebo after 12 weeks. No changes in MED or skin redness were observed during this study. This study confirmed the safety and efficacy of Belight3TM in lightening dark spots in a Caucasian population without increasing UV sensitivity.

Changes in alcohol consumption among Belgian adults participating in the internet-based one-month-abstinence campaign ‘Tournée Minérale’

Background and objectiveTemporary abstinence campaigns (TAC) are a promising approach to reduce alcohol consumption. This study examined changes in (at-risk) alcohol consumption and determinants of alcohol consumption among Belgian adults participating in the Tournée Minérale Campaign (TMC, Belgian TAC). In addition, moderating effects of age, sex, education level, successfully refraining from alcohol during TMC, risk drinking, drinking levels and binge drinking were investigated.MethodsTMC is a fully automated mass media prevention campaign challenging Belgian adults to refrain from alcohol during the month February. This study includes a baseline, post- (four weeks after TMC) and follow-up (six months after TMC) test using online recruitment and an online questionnaire. Participants were self-selected by signing up on the TMC website. Repeated measures ANCOVAs were used to examine changes over time in alcohol consumption (log transformed due to skewness) and determinants among TMC participants (n = 8,730, 48.4 ± 12.9 years old, 37.4% males) who filled in all three measurements. Moderation effects were assessed for age, sex, education level, successfully refraining from alcohol during TMC, risk drinking, drinking levels and binge drinking at baseline. McNemar tests were used to examine the change in prevalence of risk drinking and binge drinking.ResultsTMC participants showed a significant decrease in weekly alcohol consumption (mean exp(x)-1) and CI) from baseline (6.2 [6.4,6.7]) to post (4.2 [4.1,4.3], F = 22.0, p < .001 d = -2.4 [-2.4,-2.3]) and from baseline to follow-up (5.1 [4.9,5.2], F = 24.2, p < .001, d = -1.5 [-1.5,-1.4]), and an increase from post to follow-up (F = 21.1, p < .001). In the short term (from baseline to post), the decreases were stronger among older, male and lower educated TMC participants, those successfully refraining during TMC, higher risk drinkers and binge drinkers. In the medium term (from baseline to follow-up), changes in alcohol consumption were moderated by education (stronger among lower educated) and risk drinking (increase in lower risk drinkers and decrease in higher risk drinkers). Participants’ baseline drinking level moderated changes in alcohol consumption. Both short and medium term increases in alcohol consumption were observed among those with a low drinking level (those who drank 0 to < 4 glasses at baseline), while short and medium term decreases were observed among those with higher drinking levels, i.e. those with moderate (≥ 4 to ≤ 10 glasses), high (> 10 to ≤ 17 glasses) and highest (> 17 glasses) drinking level at baseline. A reduction in the proportion of risk drinkers and binge drinkers and changes in determinants of alcohol consumption (e.g. attitudes towards drinking less alcohol and habit of drinking alcohol) were observed among TMC participants.ConclusionsTMC participants reported favourable changes in (the underlying determinants of) alcohol consumption in the short and medium term. Higher level drinkers appear to be especially attracted to participate in TMC and to experience the strongest decreases in alcohol consumption. However, without comparison with a control group of non-participants or comparison points, we cannot simply attribute the changes over time to participation in TMC. Future research with a stronger study design is needed to rule out possible bias (e.g., selection bias, seasonal effects or regression to the mean) and to examine mechanisms and longer term effects of TACs.

The mediating effects of self-concept on the relationship between parenting styles and young children’s social problem-solving in Türkiye

The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between parenting styles, young children’s social problem-solving skills, and the mediating role of self-concept in a sample of 200 Turkish preschoolers aged 48–72 months, with an equal distribution of male and female participants. The present study was designed using a cross-sectional survey model in order to achieve the descriptive and predictive aims of the research. Data were collected through individual sessions with the children. During these sessions, the children were administered the Wally Social Problems Test and the DeMoulin Self-Concept Development Scale, while the mothers completed the Parenting Attitudes Scale and the Demographic Information Form. The mediating role of self-esteem and self-efficacy in the relationship between parenting styles and children’s social problem-solving skills was examined using PROCESS MACRO. The results supported the proposed model, demonstrating that the impact of democratic parenting style on social problem-solving skills was partially mediated by self-concept, specifically self-esteem, as a parenting measure. These findings suggest that self-esteem is an essential individual characteristic to consider in relation to preschoolers’ social relationships, in addition to the influence of democratic parenting style behaviors.

Etiological Evaluation of Hyponatremia in Adult Patients Admitted into a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh

Hyponatremia, characterized by low sodium levels in the blood, is indeed a common electrolyte disorder, particularly among hospitalized patients. The clinical diagnosis can be challenging due to the varied symptoms it presents, and its etiology can be diverse. A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from September 2016 to March 2017, to evaluate the causes behind hyponatremia in adult patients. A total of 50 patients presented with clinical features and investigation-proven hyponatremia enrolled in this study as the study population purposively. Data was collected in pre-designed data collection sheet. Data compilation, sorting and analysis were conducted using the MS-Excel &amp; SPSS version 22.0. The majority of patients experienced multifactorial etiology for hyponatremia. The most prevalent cause was gastrointestinal loss (20%), followed by chronic renal insufficiency (16%), congestive cardiac failure (12%), cerebrovascular disease (10%), cirrhosis of the liver (10%), meningitis (6%), and thiazide diuretics (6%). Bronchogenic carcinoma and hypothyroidism were identified as the least common contributors to hyponatremia. Our study revealed a statistically significant difference between male and female participants in gastroenteritis causing hyponatremia (p=0.031). Gastrointestinal loss (gastroenteritis), cirrhosis of the liver, and bronchogenic carcinoma were predominant causes in the male population, accounting for 21.2%, 12.1%, and 6.07% respectively. In contrast, chronic renal insufficiency, hypothyroidism, and meningitis were important causes of hyponatremia in the female population, present in 17.6%, 11.7%, and 11.7% respectively. Recognizing the risk factors associated with symptomatic hyponatremia is crucial for devising effective preventive strategies. Mugda Med Coll J. 2024; 7(2): 77-81

Motor control performance-related modulation of beta-band EEG-sEMG coherence differs between general and local muscular exercise-induced fatigue.

Exercise-induced fatigue can reduce motor control performance and increase the risk of sporting injuries, which are related to functional coupling within the corticomotoneuronal pathway. However, the differences in functional coupling caused by general and local muscular exercise-induced fatigue are unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of exercise-induced fatigue on the beta-band (16-30Hz) functional coupling between the sensorimotor cortex (SM1) and muscles of the dominant lower limb under different fatigue protocols. Twenty-four healthy male participants were recruited to participate in randomized sessions of personalized constant speed running as general muscular exercise (GME) and maximum isokinetic ankle plantar-dorsiflexion as local muscular exercise (LME) to induce fatigue. These sessions were separated by 7days. The electroencephalogram (EEG) signals of SM1 (e.g., FC1, FCz, and Cz) and surface electromyography signals (sEMG) of four muscles (soleus, SOL; medial gastrocnemius, MG; later gastrocnemius, and LG; tibialis anterior, TA) were simultaneously recorded before and after fatigue during the ankle plantar-dorsiflexion task, which were used for beta-band coherence analyses. Following fatigue induced by GME, the EEG-sEMG coherence was significantly greater than that induced by LME (P < 0.04). Compared to pre-fatigue state, the coherence of FC1-SOL, FCz-SOL, and Cz-SOL increased significantly after general fatigue, while these coherences decreased significantly after local fatigue. Fatigue induced by GME indicates an enhancement in beta-band functional coupling between the SM1 and muscles of the dominant lower limb, which is related to higher motor control performance. In contrast, fatigue induced by LME diminishes the functional coupling.

Association of Kisspeptin and KISS1 Gene Polymorphism (rs35431622) with Circulating Sex Hormones and Male Infertility.

This research delves into the association of Kisspeptin and the KISS1 gene (rs35431622) single nucleotide polymorphism with circulating sex hormones and semen parameters in males diagnosed with infertility. Eighty male participants were recruited from fertility clinic, were divided into two groups: Group A, characterized by normal sperm count and Group B, exhibiting low count. The analysis involved assessing hormone levels Kisspeptin, follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, total testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin by utilizing ELISA, investigating the association of the KISS1 gene SNP with these variables through Tetra amplification refractory mutation system-PCR and Gel Electrophoresis. The findings revealed that males a low sperm count displayed notably reduced levels of Kisspeptin and free testosterone, accompanied by increased luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone. The KISS1 gene SNP rs35431622 (Q36R) demonstrated a 53.3% frequency of the heterozygous mutant TA genotype and OR 0.19 (CI 0.05-0.71) among infertile males, indicating its potential implications a risk factor for male infertility. This study emphasizes the significance of Kisspeptin in overseeing male reproductive health and highlights its potential as a marker for hormonal dysregulation in male infertility.

Using a Consumer Wearable Activity Monitoring Device to Study Physical Activity and Sleep Among Adolescents in Project Viva: Cohort Study.

The increasing prevalence of physical inactivity and insufficient sleep in adolescents likely contribute to worsening cardiometabolic and mental health. However, obtaining accurate behavioral measures is a challenge. Consumer wearable devices offer a user-friendly method to assess physical activity and sleep. This study aimed to describe the process and the preliminary results of physical activity and sleep collected using a consumer wearable Fitbit device in an adolescent cohort. We provided Fitbit Charge 2 or Charge 3 wrist-worn activity monitors to adolescent participants in Project Viva, a Boston, Massachusetts area cohort, from 2017 to 2022. We invited participants to wear the devices for ≥7 days for 24 hours a day to measure their physical activity, heart rate, and sleep, and allowed them to keep the device as a participation incentive. We collected over 7 million minutes of physical activity, heart rate, and sleep data from 677 participants, 53% (356/677) of whom were female. The mean (SD) age of participants was 17.7 (0.7) years. Among the 677 participants, 65% (n=439) were non-Hispanic White, 14% (n=947) were non-Hispanic Black, 10% (n=69) were Hispanic, 3.2% (n=22) were non-Hispanic Asian, and 7.8% (n=53) belonged to other races. Participants demonstrated a high adherence to the research protocol, with the mean (SD) wear duration of 7.5 (1.1) days, and 90% of participants (612/677) had 5 or more days wearing the device for >600 minutes/day. The mean (SD) number of steps was 8883 (3455) steps/day and the mean (SD) awake sedentary time was 564 (138) minutes/day. Male participants were more often engaged in very active (27 minutes/day) and moderately active physical activity (29 minutes/day) compared with female participants (15 and 17 minutes/day, respectively). Over 87% (588/677) of participants had sleep data available for 5 or more days, among whom the average nightly sleep duration was 7.9 (SD 0.9) hours. This study demonstrated the feasibility of using consumer wearable devices to measure physical activity and sleep in a cohort of US adolescents. The high compliance rates provide valuable insights into adolescent behavior patterns and their influence on chronic disease development and mental health outcomes.

Suicidal Ideation and Resilience Among Orphan and Non-orphan Adolescents in the Indian City of Pune.

Fostering a healthy upbringing is of utmost importance to an individual and a supportive family system helps them grow holistically. Adolescence is an important stage for an individual to grow and form strong bonds with their peers. The objective of the current study was to ascertain the level of self-esteem, resilience and suicidal ideation among orphan and non-orphan adolescents. Gender differences in self-esteem, resilience and suicidal ideation were also studied. A sample of 160 adolescents (80 orphan and 80 non-orphan adolescents) comprising of equal number of male and female participants in the age group of 15-18 years were included in the study. Data was collected from adolescent orphans and non-orphans going to government schools in the urban sector in Pune, Maharashtra. Means, S. Ds, Pearson's correlation and t-test were calculated: Mean resilience score was found to be significantly (P = .048) higher among orphans (129.73 + 29.53) as compared to non-orphans (120.39 + 29.70). Mean self-esteem and suicidal ideation did not vary significantly among orphans and non-orphans. The mean self-esteem score was significantly higher (P = .048) among females (27.61 + 4.09) as compared to males (26.43 + 3.41). There was no significant gender difference in resilience and suicidal ideation scores. The high resilience scores emphasise the need to study ways to enhance well-being among both orphans and non-orphan adolescents to foster a healthy fulfilling upbringing. The study goes on to show that a similar upbringing would foster similar results in individuals, irrespective of their backgrounds. Since self-esteem and suicidal ideation are similar among orphans and non-orphans, further research would help identify the various factors that foster self-esteem and resilience among these adolescents and likewise plan interventions in the future.

The effect of mild-stage Alzheimer’s disease on the acoustic parameters of voice

Abstract Objective Our study aimed to reveal the differences by comparing the objective and subjective voice features of individuals diagnosed with mild-stage Alzheimer’s disease (AD) with those with normal cognitive abilities. Methods The study comprised 51 participants, who were divided into two groups: those with AD (study group, n = 28) and those with normal cognitive abilities (control group, n = 23). In the objective voice assessments of the participants, s/z ratio, maximum phonation time (MPT), F0, F1, F2, F3, jitter, shimmer, and NHR values were examined. The Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10) and Voice-Related Quality of Life Scale (V-RQOL) were employed for the subjective assessments. Results In both males and females, the jitter and shimmer values in the study group were considerably higher than those in the control group (p &lt; 0.000). The MPT of male participants in the study group was significantly lower than that of male participants in the control group (p &lt; 0.036). Regarding VHI-10 and V-RQOL, the groups showed no statistically significant variation (p &gt; 0.005). Conclusion Differences in shimmer, jitter, and MPT values based on gender among individuals with mild-stage AD indicate an impact on voice quality. It is suggested that clinicians should consider voice parameters during the assessment and intervention processes for mild-stage AD.

Use of 3D-DXA in the assessment of bone structure among patients with chronic kidney disease

IntroductionPatients in later stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a 2- to 14-fold increase in fracture risk. Bone mineral density (BMD) assessment is limited due to the inability to measure trabecular and cortical bone characteristics and the interference of aortic calcifications.Study objectiveThis study aimed to assess the trabecular bone score (TBS) and three-dimensional dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (3D-DXA) in participants across all CKD stages.Patients and methodsIn total, 64 CKD patients (consisting of 28 female participants and 36 male participants, with an average age of 69.5 years) were included. There were 9, 12, 8, 9, 11, and 15 participants in stages G1, G2, G3a, G3b, G4, and G5 of CKD, respectively. BMD at the lumbar spine (LS) and proximal femur, as well as the LS TBS, were analyzed. The proximal femur parameters such as cortical and trabecular volumetric (v)BMD, cortical thickness (CTh), and surface (s)BMD at the total hip (TH) and femoral neck (FN) were analyzed using 3D-Shaper software.ResultsComparison between the earlier stages (G1-G3a) and the later CKD stages (G3b-G5) showed significant differences in carboxy terminal collagen crosslinks (CTx) (386 vs.1053 ng/L), TH areal bone mineral density (aBMD; 0.991 vs. 0.859 g/cm2), cortical TH vBMD (831 vs. 795 mg/cm3), FN (837 vs. 788 mg/cm3), TH cortical sBMD (170 mg/cm2), and TH Cth (2.03 vs. 1.92 mm; all p &amp;lt; 0.05). Cross-sectional comparisons between each CKD stage showed a gradual decrease in the LS BMD, TH cortical vBMD, sBMD (FN and TH), and TH Cth. Strong positive associations between the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and cortical parameters (FN/TH vBMD and TH Cth) were observed (p &amp;lt; 0.01).ConclusionIn conclusion, advanced stages of CKD (G3b–G5) were associated with lower cortical bone parameters. The majority of the cortical parameters were correlated with the GFR, demonstrating a direct relationship between the kidney function and bone structure.